《A Tail’s Misfortune》 A Change In Writing Schedule Due to life schedule changes, I will get straight to the point about the schedule and talk a bit later in the post. I know these posts can come with some dread. I hope you understand. o7 Monday: 1. Write The Oscillation. 2. Give The Oscillation to editors to edit through the night. Tuesday: 1. Go through TO edits made through the night & day. 2. Release The Oscillation in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. 3. Write Pokesync. 4. Give Pokesync to editors to edit through the night. Wednesday: 1. Go through Pokesync edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Pokesync in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write A Tail''s Misfortune. 4. Give A Tail''s Misfortune to editors to edit through the night. Thursday: 1. Go through A Tail''s Misfortune edits made through the night & day. 2. Release A Tail''s Misfortune in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Write Undying Empire. 4. Give Undying Empire to editors to edit through the night. Friday: 1. Go through Undying Empire edits made through the night & day. 2. Release Undying Empire in the afternoon (12 p.m. to 5 p.m. MST). 3. Do edits that need to be made that have been pointed out throughout the week by patrons/public readers. See the Patreon Message for further details ---> Here <--- B1 — 1. Ten Days; Free? Sora rubbed her left shoulder as she stood in front of Miami Beach Senior High¡¯s psychologist¡¯s office; Ms. Patterson wasn¡¯t there at the moment, and there was a reason for it. Doctor Mary Jernigan¡ªa highly regarded psychiatrist that specialized in teenage development¡ªwas currently borrowing the office to meet with her during school days since the time suited Mary¡¯s schedule. She was the fourth one that her father had hired to help her work through her ¡®troubles.¡¯ Taking a deep breath, Sora¡¯s hand hovered over the blocked window, showing a chart with a happy face at the top and a frowny face at the bottom. When can I finally be through with all these people¡­ No one helps me anyway. She glanced up and down the hall where a few seniors seemed to have snuck out a few minutes early since the end-of-school bell was about to ring. If only I could get out early to see her at ¡®her¡¯ office rather than here¡­ At least then she¡¯d be doing something for me. Sora knocked on the door. ¡°Come in.¡± Entering the cozy office, Sora dully scanned the far-brighter-than-needed atmosphere; it reminded her of how she hated the school psychologist always waving at her in the hallways as if she didn¡¯t know what was happening. At least she didn¡¯t have to deal with her BS. A couch and cushioned chairs were put in a circle to ¡®share emotions¡¯ with filing cabinets and a computer desk strategically placed. Different tests and games meant to gauge aptitude were sorted by age group on shelves, and the ordinary school carpet was covered by many colorful rugs. Odd abstract paintings adorned the walls¡ªthings her father might like¡ªattempted to make the room even more vibrant. Sora slid off her backpack to drop it beside the couch, falling into the well-conditioned leather in silence. Mary gave her a small smile before it fell a tad as she scanned a thick clipboard filled with papers. She¡¯s going to make me start! ¡°Gah¡­ always the same¡­ There, I started. Happy?¡± Her psychiatrists were some of the few people she could actually be openly hostile with and not face many consequences. Mary puffed out a small stream of air before swapping her legs in the opposite direction and setting the documents to the side. ¡°Good afternoon, Sora.¡± ¡°Mmmgh¡­¡± Trying not to look at the smiling woman, Sora crossed her arms. It was challenging not to with how the chairs were set up as Mary sat facing the couch on one of the cushioned seats. In her mid-thirties, she was a thin lady with a kind face, standing a little taller than Sora with curly brown hair. Her speckled navy-blue dress shifted with her legs, drawing attention to her similarly colored six-centimeter cutout heels. ¡°Did you have a good day?¡± Hidden left index finger tapping against her side, Sora¡¯s green eyes slid to her knee-length black skirt, trying not to let her temper get the better of her. ¡°What does it matter¡­ Can we just skip past all this nonsense about you actually caring?¡± Pushing herself straighter, Sora refused to make eye contact. ¡°Humph. Nothing¡¯s going to change. You¡¯re just like Dr. Mason, Dr. Jones, and Dr. Hallmark, after all. You¡¯re going to pretend to be sad for me and then stab me in the back. You¡¯ll make my dad believe I¡¯m an attention whore, and keep me in this hell hole.¡± She bit her lower lip, stomach twisting as the silence stretched after her outburst. Several seconds passed before Sora caught Mary moving her clipboard off of her lap to the desk beside her. Sighing deeply, the psychiatrist started, ¡°Haaa¡­ It¡¯s been four weeks since I took over for Dr. Hallmark, and I¡¯ve had a chance to go over many of the records they¡¯ve kept, which I will say has been¡­ concerning, to say the least.¡± Sora forced a toothy smile, trying to release some of the tension in her breast. ¡°Great! So, we can move past all the monotonous crap so I can go home and cry into my pillow?¡± Mary folded her fingers together in her lap, a frown on her lips as she studied her in that perplexing way that didn¡¯t let on what she was thinking. ¡°Mmh¡­ Would you mind if I started this time, instead of me allowing you to repeat everything and further agitating you?¡± ¡°Huh? Heh. You want to tell me how I should be feeling? Wow, we skipped a ton of sessions!¡± ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ You¡¯ll be turning sixteen soon, right?¡± ¡°Ten days¡­ Why¡ªwant an invitation?¡± she mocked, rolling her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t expect anything from you, Sora¡­ Your father hired me after Dr. Hallmark left the state following his¡­ accident, and I was recommended to him.¡± ¡°Yeah, do you see the pattern?¡± Sora growled, arms tightening against her stomach. ¡°I get a psychiatrist and they end up booking it to a new state and get hurt¡ªa new country for Dr. Jones¡ªheh, I¡¯m the cursed, attention-seeking client that ruins practices.¡± Mary¡¯s fingers unwound to pick up her clipboard again. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re attention-seeking or cursed, Sora¡­ Despite what I¡¯ve read so far from Hallmark, Jones, and Mason¡­ I think you have been severely overdiagnosed, so I¡¯m taking you off all of your meds.¡± Mind coming to a screeching halt, Sora¡¯s eyebrows came together as she studied the unhappy psychiatrist. ¡°Excuse me¡­ I don¡¯t need to have Howie or Ron watch me take my meds anymore?¡± ¡°No,¡± she promptly replied, flipping through a few pages of the thick stack of papers she was browsing, ¡°and I notified all the concerned parties before our meeting.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ You¡¯re lying,¡± Sora snapped, unable to believe the abrupt change. ¡°You will be able to confirm it when we are finished, and to be clear, we shouldn¡¯t take you completely off your anti-psychosis medication all at once, and we don¡¯t want to upset the balance on the others too quickly, but we can slowly start cutting it down¡­¡± ¡°I knew it!¡± ¡°You can confirm what I¡¯m saying with Ron and Howie, if you want. I totally understand if you have trouble believing me after everything I¡¯ve read. To be honest, after speaking to Ron and Howie, I have confirmed you have experienced adverse effects congruent with a severe misdiagnosis that is¡­ most troubling,¡± she mumbled, flipping to a new page. ¡°I¡¯ve gone over your school history, the tests administered by your previous psychiatrists, their notes, interviewed hotel staff, your previous caretaker, and many statements you¡¯ve made¡ª¡± ¡°Not all of those are mine; some are lies! I¡¯m not making it up!¡± ¡°I believe you.¡± A shiver ran down Sora¡¯s spine at the declaration. ¡°I¡¯ve¡­ heard that before. You¡¯re just trying to trick me. T-To keep me calm.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ One recurring theme I¡¯ve seen in these files is a lack of foundation at the start for many of the medications they¡¯ve put you on¡­ Some I¡¯m appalled at, and find the evidence given for their diagnosis quite lacking in regards to any of the DSM standards, which is¡­ troubling considering the reputation and standing I¡¯ve heard of my esteemed colleagues.¡± She put a finger on one of the pages. ¡°There is quite a bit of characterization regarding the girl named Kari, and an¡­ unusual amount of coverage and emphasis on her innocence to the accusations you¡¯ve levied against her.¡± ¡°She¡¯s the worst! I swear, she has mind control powers!¡± Sora hissed, leaning forward in frustration to dig her nails into her thighs. ¡°You say all this, but give it a few weeks, and you¡¯ll be calling her an angel like everyone else, but all she does is bully me! And no one believes me!¡± Tears forming in her eyes, Sora coughed. ¡°I just want to go to a new school¡­ I want to leave! Why do you doctors always convince my dad I need to stay here? That I¡¯m lying and want attention?!¡± A small puff of air came from Mary. ¡°It¡¯s not a hard case to make¡­ If I¡¯m being honest, Sora, your father is away on business as a highly regarded financial consultant for Fortune 500 companies and is often away for months at a time between jobs. You refused any more caretakers after your previous one quit¡­¡± ¡°Nobody but Ron and Howie even try to understand, they¡¯re all so patronizing and bossy! I¡¯m just this spoiled rich girl that doesn¡¯t deserve anything. No, I have to give people money or expensive stuff, and if I don¡¯t, they¡¯ll rip my clothes or put gum in my hair! What am I supposed to do?!¡± Mary slowly nodded. ¡°I¡¯m not saying they were right, Sora. What I¡¯m saying is that it isn¡¯t a hard case for someone to make. Your friend Wendy cut ties with you¡ª¡± ¡°Kari! It was all Kari¡¯s bullying! Wendy didn¡¯t want to get involved with her¡ªI don¡¯t blame her. It¡¯s, no, everything is Kari¡¯s fault!¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Everything goes back to Kari¡­ Three years ago, when she moved to Miami from Russia, is that right?¡± ¡°She¡¯s a monster! A succubus or something! I know I sound crazy¡ªbut I¡¯m not! She has p-powers over people or something! Everyone¡¯s scared to talk about her. So¡­ So, I had to go to someone who will help me!¡± Mary¡¯s lips pulled in, vision lifting to study her. ¡°What¡­ did you do, Sora?¡± ¡°I¡ªdid something yesterday that I probably shouldn¡¯t have, but¡­ I don¡¯t have any other choice¡­ Dr. Hallmark didn¡¯t do anything about the video I gave him!¡± ¡°What video?¡± ¡°See! Everyone covers up for Kari¡­¡± Sora took a deep breath. ¡°So¡­ So, before Summer Break, when Kari shaved off all my hair¡­ You¡¯ve seen how fast it grows in the pictures, right?¡± ¡°I¡­ haven¡¯t, no¡­ There is a mention of you claiming she cut off your hair, but Dr. Hallmark stated you eventually admitted it was your own doing.¡± ¡°Damn him!¡± Sora cried. ¡°No¡ªit¡¯s not¡­ I know it looks fine now, but this is how fast it grows! Three months, and it¡¯s already halfway down my back¡­¡± she trailed off, sniffling a bit after hearing Dr. Hallmark¡¯s lie. ¡°You do have pretty hair,¡± Mary commented, ¡° thick, shiny copper; it¡¯s your most striking feature, given your unique Japanese and Irish genes¡­ but what does that have to do with someone that will listen to you?¡± Sora¡¯s nose twisted as she pulled around a few of her silky locks. ¡°I hate it, but I can¡¯t get rid of it! All the girls bully me about it¡ªcall it a weed that won¡¯t die¡­¡± Mary cleared her throat. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ horrible. Many girls would be jealous¡ªespecially if it grows as fast as you say,¡± she agreed, eyebrows coming together with concern as she continued. ¡°I-I didn¡¯t want the bullying to continue, but I was scared. The last three years were just¡­ Last year I set up a camera in the locker room where some of the girls normally bullied me, and¡ªand I recorded her and her group shaving me¡­ while saying all the nasty things she usually says, like how I stink all the time,¡± she mumbled. Mary rubbed her hands, uncomfortable vision shifting to the wall as her features turned more serious. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ What did you do with it if Dr. Hallmark didn¡¯t help you?¡± Biting her lip, Sora shifted on her seat. She hadn¡¯t had a psychiatrist take this tone with her before, and it made her even more nervous. ¡°I-I, umm¡­ I sent it to the police station yesterday.¡± Mary¡¯s left hand closed around her mouth as she looked down at the floor; she seemed to need a moment to contemplate a response, making Sora¡¯s feet knot together. A small lump moved down the woman¡¯s throat before her fingers locked together, and she took a deep breath before saying, ¡°Sora¡­ You know this isn¡¯t¡ª¡± She cut off as the bell rang throughout the school, causing Mary to go silent, deep in thought. ¡°Hmm¡­ Since I¡¯ve gotten your file, I¡¯ve been trying to piece together the inconsistencies and faults in your files, and¡­¡± Mary closed her eyes and leaned back, hands tightening against her abdomen. ¡°I¡¯ve learned that Kari is connected to some very¡­ very dangerous people, Sora. I don¡¯t know who they are, but you know Kari better than most, and I don¡¯t know their intentions yet, but you¡¯ve told me about the teachers and students that suddenly change their opinions of her overnight. Right?¡± ¡°Yeah! So, I¡¯m right? You don¡¯t think I¡¯m making this up?¡± Sora asked, hope sparking in her heart. ¡°She has some kind of power over people!¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ I don¡¯t know about powers, Sora,¡± Mary muttered, rubbing her left arm and looking to the door, ¡°but she certainly is connected to people in powerful positions that don¡¯t like people snooping around. ¡°You¡¯ve also expressed your suspicions that your previous psychiatrist, Dr. Hallmark¡¯s, hospitalization was, umm, due to Kari¡¯s involvement, and¡­ I wouldn¡¯t say it is her, but possibly someone connected to her. It¡¯s¡­ a courageous thing you did, but¡­ No. Hmm, let¡¯s be hopeful,¡± she smiled. ¡°Have you received any calls from the department?¡± Sora held her breath as she nervously shook her head. Anger, frustration, and anxiety boiled to the surface, and she couldn¡¯t hold back any longer. ¡°The students know Kari¡¯s a bully¡­ teachers know¡­ you know¡­ everyone seems to know. Yet¡ªyet everyone made my dad think I¡¯m crazy! Makes me stay for some exposure therapy crap! ¡°They told him I¡¯m seeking attention because he¡¯s always gone on business. For three years¡ªthree years, she¡¯s bullied me! Bullied everyone! Yet no one stops her. No one will help me, so I had to go to the police!¡± Mary nodded and set her clipboard to the side the moment she took a breath. ¡°I¡¯m not saying it didn¡¯t happen, Sora. I¡¯ve been¡­¡± She trailed off as her phone vibrated on the desk beside her. It caught Sora¡¯s attention because typically she had it on silent¡ªthe conversation had come up in the past. Glancing at it, Mary¡¯s lips tightened. ¡°Sora¡­ I have to take this, but¡ªmmgm¡­ Why don¡¯t we continue our discussions away from the school next time? I¡¯ll write the principal a note excusing you from class.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sora¡¯s heart sang for the first time in what seemed forever. Anything to get away from Kari was a light at the end of the tunnel. Maybe, just maybe, this doctor would be different. ¡°You won¡¯t go back on it?¡± Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. ¡°No¡­¡± Sora hesitated at Mary¡¯s tone while she read whatever text she¡¯d received. It seemed to bother her, so it had to be important, which concerned Sora. ¡°Is¡­ everything okay, Dr. Jernigan?¡± ¡°Mmm-hmm? Oh, yes, well¡­ No, it appears to be something involving my husband, but we needn¡¯t talk about personal matters,¡± she smiled, and even if it didn¡¯t look fake, Sora believed it must be. ¡°Okay¡­ My pills?¡± ¡°I left instructions with the hotel staff assigned to you, and¡­ I left some notes with your father.¡± She swiftly replied back to the text as she got to her feet, Sora following. ¡°I¡¯ll message you later today about rescheduling, and naturally, heh, I won¡¯t be charging your father for this since we didn¡¯t even get ten minutes in! Sorry, Sora.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯ve¡­¡± Sora¡¯s voice caught, feeling a bit of heat rise to her face. ¡°I¡¯ve just¡­ You really believe me?¡± Mary puffed out a short breath, her smile softening. ¡°Yes, Sora. I¡¯m not trying to placate you; it wouldn¡¯t help you in the least. We¡¯ll talk in-depth about this when we meet next but in the meantime¡­ As I¡¯ve told you¡­¡± ¡°I know. I know. Heh, don¡¯t cause trouble, right?¡± Mary would have hugged her, Sora assumed, but after the number of psychiatrists and therapists she¡¯d had, she knew they needed to keep boundaries. Still, Mary was becoming one of her favorites, just by this short conversation. If she was being genuine, that was. Moving to the door, she opened it to head into the hallway, where the wave of students flooded the walkway, preparing to head home. Just before the door closed, though, she saw Mary get a phone call, and the paranoia started to set in. Mary said Kari was connected to influential people¡­ But Dad has a lot of friends in powerful positions, too. If she can get him to believe me, then maybe¡­ No, if she can help him see I¡¯m not crazy, then I could just be homeschooled¡­ Maybe Wendy would actually be friends with me again. Lost in thought as she walked to the front entrance, she almost tripped when someone called out her name. ¡°Sora! Hmm-hmm. Done so soon?¡± Sucking in her bottom lip, Sora looked to her right to find Jenny leaning against the wall. Despite her popularity, most of the teenagers gave her nervous waves or cheerful, quick greetings, obviously threatened by the girl. Having incredibly thick, long, brown hair, Jenny usually tied it back into a ponytail since she was the school¡¯s second-best athlete behind Kari. The tall girl was the Queen Bee¡¯s right-hand gal. If there was someone that had nearly as much influence as Kari¡ªor made her life as much of a hell¡ªit was a close toss-up between Jenny and Lori. ¡°Jenny¡­ Umm, yeah¡­ what¡¯s up?¡± Pushing away from the wall, Sora was forced to look up at the giant girl¡ª185 cm tall¡ªas she casually strode up to her. The brunette was intimidating, for sure, at only slightly shorter than Kari, and as could be expected, she was wearing her gym clothes. ¡°Yo, Kari wanted to see you.¡± Expecting as much, Sora tried to release the tension that tightened her chest, which felt impossible. Also, she knew if she resisted too much, it would only be worse tomorrow. Now was the game of mitigation. ¡°Haaa¡­ right now? I-Isn¡¯t it almost volleyball practice?¡± Jenny just snickered and slung her arm around her shoulder in a friendly way, guiding her toward the gym. ¡°Teach is a bit busy, so we should have enough time for a short chat with the girls!¡± ¡°Perfect¡­¡± Hoping she didn¡¯t plan on anything too extreme today, Sora breathed to ease her knotted stomach; it might just be money, but she didn¡¯t bring her purse, and generally, that was more Lori¡¯s department as the 3rd in command. The crowd parted for Jenny, more awkward waves and chuckles as they passed, knowing precisely what was up if Sora was with any of Kari¡¯s little pack of ravenous wolves. Sora glanced up at the lanky girl¡ªshe was shockingly strong for her thin arms and legs. It was rare for her to come and fetch her herself, and that made Sora believe Kari demanded it. No one bossed Jenny around but the Alpha Bully. ¡°Umm¡­ What¡¯s Kari w-want?¡± ¡°Stuttering again, huh; meds not working?¡± she joked, giving her a small smirk. Bitch¡­ Mary basically confirmed they¡¯re probably causing all of the problems! ¡°Eh-heh¡­ I, umm, I-I guess not.¡± They stopped outside of the gym, a small, unreadable smirk on the bully¡¯s face as she smacked Sora¡¯s butt to move forward, making her yelp. ¡°Ack! Jenny¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t keep the boss lady waitin¡¯, flat-ass. I¡¯d love to see you meet up with your ol¡¯ pal again, but I got somewhere to be.¡± The bully probably did it on purpose because she was wearing a skirt. A few boys¡¯ eyes darted their way, making Sora blush while trying to restrain herself from rubbing the tingling area. Hesitantly moving through the closed double doors to escape a second threatening slap, Sora hissed out a long stream of air as they closed behind her. Tingles ran along Sora¡¯s spine when a girl on the opposite side locked it with a key only the janitors were supposed to have. As she feared, the only janitor she knew was standing a short distance away¡ª Wendy¡ªher old best friend who worked part-time for the school. She grabbed the straps of her backpack to stop her hands from shaking as she saw Wendy¡¯s muddy, brown eyes centered on the floor, her left hand rubbing her elbow and refusing to look at her. Kari¡­ Why did you force Wendy to be here? Looking between the scattered teenagers setting up volleyball nets for the girl¡¯s volleyball team to see if there were anyone besides Kari¡¯s gang, she couldn¡¯t spot one that wasn¡¯t connected to the girl. She realized she wouldn¡¯t have the cushion of strangers with the door locked, as well. Kayla stepped around her after locking the door, a big grin on her goofy face as she motioned her thumb to the locker room. ¡°Kari¡¯s waiting! Oi, thanks for the key, Wendy! Hah, c¡¯mon, Sora, let¡¯s go!¡± Sora walked silently past the athletes, and she saw Wendy join them out of the corner of her eye; neither of them managed to look at each other. ¡°Gloomy much?¡± Kayla giggled, slapping Sora on the back. It seemed the other girls were more comfortable getting physical lately. ¡°C¡¯mon, lighten up!¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Sora let out a weak laugh. ¡°What¡¯s this about, Kayla?¡± ¡°Hmm? Wi-dunno,¡± she shrugged with a cackle. ¡°I was told to lock the door and bring ya in; I¡¯m the fisher today!¡± ¡°A fisher, huh¡­ funny.¡± Glancing at Wendy, she saw she was wearing a pair of ripped jeans they¡¯d gotten together three years ago, around the time Kari showed up in their middle school. They looked a little small on her, but she was also a lot skinnier since the last time they¡¯d spoken. Sora cursed at Kari, Wendy¡¯s terrible drunk mother, and her fate; life had only gotten worse by the year. Nerves mounting as they entered the girls¡¯ locker room, Sora¡¯s fear settled in when she finally saw the pack leader herself. ¡°Brought her, Boss!¡± Kari sat on a bench between them, amber eyes somehow shimmering with her neutral expression as she appraised Sora. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± Wearing all-black sportswear, a fitted polyester t-shirt, shorts, and training shoes, Kari was ready for her rigorous sports routine. A gym freak, she played and excelled in everything. Being 190 cm tall, and as toned as a Sports Magazine model, she had everyone wrapped around her pinky finger. Kari wasn¡¯t smiling like the other six girls standing around her, causing a nervous silence to ensue as they waited for her to speak. Lori sat next to her, using one of the brushes she¡¯d stolen from her a few months back to straighten her long brown locks, not looking particularly interested in the gathering. After the awkward pause, Kari scratched the back of her head, shoulder-length, black hair shifting, and she seemed a lot more agitated than normal. ¡°I didn¡¯t see you at lunch, Sora¡­ I was hoping to catch you before the school day ended, but I got a call that pissed me off. So, I had to cool down a bit.¡± Sora held her breath, clearing her throat, and crossed her arms under her bust as the girl¡¯s assaulting eyes berated her. All the girls stood stock still as Kari continued, nose twitching, and Lori even stopped brushing her hair. ¡°I like to think of myself as a patient and understanding person¡­ I¡¯ve learned a lot since moving here. But some things really¡­ set me off.¡± Fingernails digging into her side, Sora saw a concerned look across Wendy¡¯s face, still refusing to meet anyone¡¯s gaze. Wanting to pull Kari¡¯s attention away from her, Sora cleared her throat¡ªprobably not a good idea, but she never liked putting Wendy in Kari¡¯s crosshairs. ¡°Umm¡ªahem¡ªd-did I, umm¡­ What d-did I do this time?¡± She flinched as Kari stretched, cracking her neck, seemingly attempting to work off some tension before dropping back to the bench with a low grunt. Sora could have heard a pin drop in the still atmosphere. She hadn¡¯t seen Kari this upset in a long time. ¡°Show her.¡± Lori clicked her tongue, a grimace crossing her face as she set the brush down to take out her phone from her back pocket. ¡°Dammit, Sora¡­ You¡¯re always so stupid. Kari may just kill you if you do shit like this.¡± She made a short guttural grunt before opening a video and holding it up for Wendy and her to see. Sora¡¯s face drained of color; it was the video she¡¯d sent to the police department. ¡°I-I d-don¡¯t¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s stammers cut off as Kari loosely held up her hand, closing her eyes and taking a long, deliberate breath. ¡°I get it¡­ I do.¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Sora took a step back, but two of Kari¡¯s girls blocked the exit. It didn¡¯t make sense. How did she get a video she sent to the police? She couldn¡¯t think properly as Kari continued talking. ¡°Being the¡­ little vixen you are, you thought you could upset the balance of my school by sending this to the police. Surely, if anyone could help your place in life, it would be the good defenders of the people. Right?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t speak¡ªshe didn¡¯t know what else she could do or say¡ªKari¡¯s underlying livid tone and tense stretches said it all: she was dead meat. All she could do now was wait for whatever punishment Kari had in-store. It wasn¡¯t like screaming or yelling would get her anywhere while trapped inside the locker room, and Kari knew it. Kari mournfully shook her head, eyes opening to stare at Sora. ¡°I let you live here, Sora. I let you stay, despite everything everyone told me, but you¡¯ve forgotten the cardinal rule¡­ ¡°Life is simple, Sora,¡± she snapped, flexing her fingers, ¡°you have power, or you don¡¯t¡­ you don¡¯t, Sora. You don¡¯t have a backbone¡ªat all¡ªso you didn¡¯t confront me, and instead¡­ you did this¡­ ¡°Well, at least you did surprise me a little,¡± she grunted, hands resting on the bench as she leaned back to stare at the ceiling. ¡°Hmm¡­ What to do with you now?¡± ¡°You could always kill her! Heh, like she did her mom!¡± Lori chimed, making Sora¡¯s skin crawl and several of the girls shift nervously. ¡°I mean, how many chances have you already given the girl?¡± Dammit! It¡¯s not like I meant to kill my mom in childbirth, you son of a¡­ Kari clicked her tongue a few times, leaning forward to give the smirking, brown-haired girl a side-long look. ¡°Lori¡­ What did you tell me when I first came to Miami?¡± ¡°Humph,¡± she grunted, looking to the left with a slight pout. ¡°It was different back then; gah, she¡¯s just¡­ such an eye-sore.¡± Seeing the casual girl return to playing with her phone, Sora wouldn¡¯t put it past the insane bully to actually stab someone, and the others could see it too by their shifting eyes. Wendy forced a chuckle, drawing everyone¡¯s focus to her. ¡°U-Umm¡­ Can I go now, Kari?¡± Just as everything went quiet, a twinkle appeared in Lori¡¯s brown eyes, her vision shifting between them. ¡°Oh! I know what our little fox¡¯s punishment should be, Kari!¡± Sora felt like she¡¯d been punched in the gut. Out of everyone, Lori was the worst¡ªeven worse than Kari in some respects. She¡¯d been the one to suggest butchering her hair, to begin with. ¡°S-Should I buy everyone c-clothes?¡± Sora stammered, trying to get ahead of it. ¡°How kind of you!¡± Lori cooed, getting up to move behind the nearby lockers to pull out Wendy¡¯s janitor trashcan with its supplies in pouches on the side. ¡°We can do that on Saturday with your new fashion statement!¡± A lump formed in Sora¡¯s throat as she extracted a pair of scissors. ¡°Again¡­¡± Kari rolled her eyes. ¡°Lori, I¡¯m not feeling like¡­¡± ¡°Just give me a chance,¡± Lori defended, flexing the blades with a bright grin, and Sora wondered if she¡¯d jump forward to stab her as her eyes twinkled. ¡°I know it needs to be worse than before¡ªshe won¡¯t get the lesson otherwise¡ªso¡­¡± ¡°Worse?¡± Sora choked, reaching up to grip her copper locks. ¡°Our little fox¡¯s hair grows too fast anyway, so, hmm-hmm¡­ why not do the hair and clothes this time.¡± ¡°H-Huh?¡± Sora squeaked, eyes going wide. ¡°Y-You can¡¯t¡­ if I go b-back¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll give you a towel!¡± Lori scoffed, wearing a big grin; as if that was the issue. ¡°We gotta make it stick, and what better way to do that than showing everyone juuust how crazy you are!¡± She¡¯s the devil¡­ You¡¯re the crazy one, Sora internally shouted, knowing pushing Lori would only dig her a deeper hole through experience. ¡°Please, don¡¯t do this to me, Kari¡­¡± Sora cried, attempting to supersede Lori¡¯s insanity as her face turned red and her nose burned. ¡°I can¡¯t g-go out n-naked!¡± ¡°Towel!¡± Lori sang in response, pulling out the white article from her locker that would just barely cover her top and bottom. If it was windy or she stumbled, the embarrassment would kill her for life, and she knew there would be girls following to take pictures. Wendy¡¯s hands tightened at her front, nervous gaze darting to her. Sora¡¯s thoughts went wild. No! Don¡¯t do it, Wendy! They might make you join me! ¡°Isn¡¯t¡­ that a bit much?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Lori¡¯s smile faded, pointed eyes drifting to her. ¡°Did you say something, garbage collector?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes shot to the floor, fingernails digging into her stomach, unable to respond. ¡°That¡¯s what I thought¡­ Well, Kari? You saw how she reacted. Is that a worthy punishment for that phone call you got?¡± If that¡¯s all¡­ No, if Mary called Ron and Howie then this could further prove my point! It¡¯s just¡­ but¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can go through with it! Realizing she was quaking, her focus darted to Kari as the Alpha Bully dumped cold water on her head. ¡°Mmgh¡­ No.¡± ¡°No?¡± Lori blinked. ¡°I was sure you¡¯d be willing to do that¡­ What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Kari rolled around her head and streamed out a hot puff of air that Sora believed she could feel on the back of her neck. ¡°I¡¯m sick of this game, Lori¡­ You and Jenny keep convincing me to let her stay, but I¡¯m not having fun.¡± What¡­ Lori and Jenny convince her to let me stay? Kick me out! Sora wanted to scream. Let me leave! Lori¡¯s fingers curled into a fist at her side, vision wandering back to the bent-over black-haired girl. ¡°What¡­ heh, are you saying, Kari?¡± Sora¡¯s whole body went numb as Kari spoke. ¡°It¡¯s a little harsher than what I was thinking, Lori, but¡­ we¡¯ll go with your suggestion this one last time.¡± ¡°Last?¡± Lori whispered. The hums and mumbled words of the surrounding girls died at the statement. Kari¡¯s bright amber gaze iced. ¡°I¡¯m finished with this game. After today, I want you to leave, Sora¡­ for good.¡± Lori choked. ¡°W-Wait, what? But think of¡ª¡± She cut off as Kari¡¯s stern glare slid to her, making all the girls shiver at Kari¡¯s intensity¡ªshe was serious. It was a look that said, challenge me one more time, and see what happens. Kari¡¯s focus slowly returned to Sora. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a week to set everything up¡ªhomeschool, transfer schools, leave the state, I don¡¯t care. I want your foul stench of an existence out of Miami Beach Senior High by the end of the week. Period.¡± She stood, her penetrating, frigid stare making Sora quake with fear as an aura of imminent danger cascaded like ice through her bones; the girl looked four meters tall, towering over her. ¡°If you stay¡­¡± Kari trailed off with a murderous look of contempt before leaving the locker room, carrying the crushing atmosphere with her. ¡°And don¡¯t make a scene, Sora; I¡¯m pissed as it is.¡± Sora finally managed to choke for air with every other girl present, including Lori, at a loss for time for several seconds. ¡°Shit¡­¡± Lori cleared her throat before walking around the girls to face her, one hand on her hip and looking more agitated than Sora had ever seen the psychopath. ¡°Humph¡­ Guess Kari couldn¡¯t help herself¡­ you, eh, really did piss her off. Mmgm¡­ Honestly, I¡¯m shocked she was that civil. Hehe¡­ dammit.¡± She took a deep breath, her bright smile returned as she held out the scissors to Wendy. ¡°You do the honors!¡± ¡°I-I¡¯ll do it¡ª¡± Sora instantly replied, reaching for the scissors, but Lori tilted them at the last second, poking her palm and making her wince. ¡°Uh-uh-uh!¡± Lori growled. ¡°Wendy does it, or she joins you!¡± A lump dropped down her old best friend¡¯s throat as they gave each other frightened stares; Sora never wanted to put Wendy in this position. ¡°It¡¯s f-fine, Wendy,¡± Sora coughed, trying to force a smile. It may not seem like it to those watching, but this was the happiest day of her life. ¡°I¡ªumm¡­ It¡¯s fine¡­¡± ¡°But Sora¡­¡± ¡°Just do it already!¡± she snapped, making Wendy jump and clutch her breast, causing Lori to smirk. ¡°Yeah, Wendy; just do it already,¡± she mirrored, dangling the scissors in front of her. Shakily taking them, Wendy¡¯s shame-filled eyes fell to Sora¡¯s flats and stockings, but Sora gave her a look that said it was okay. She¡¯d gladly have this temporary embarrassment¡ªeven if it was extreme¡ªif it meant she could finally be free of Kari, Jenny, and, most of all, Lori. Wendy tentatively reached up and took a clump of Sora¡¯s hair, slid the blade between the locks, and cut, a tear running down her cheek as Lori snickered. ¡°Oh, I love watching old friends meet up again! Wendy was your first friend, right, Sora? Grade school, as I remember. Humph. I remembered hearing a rather funny joke she told you at lunch one time¡­ I hated those days.¡± Sora only partially heard her as happy tears flowed down her cheeks. The image made Lori¡¯s eyes light up with delight. ¡°Make sure it¡¯s sloppy and looks bad, Wendy! Don¡¯t be so even with it¡ªthere we go¡ªand don¡¯t forget the underwear! Ooh, pink today, Sora?¡± Lori smirked as if asking who she was possibly trying to impress. The only thing going through Sora¡¯s mind was, ¡¯I¡¯m free.¡¯ B1 — 2. Ten Days; Hope Remaining as still as possible, Sora couldn¡¯t make Wendy feel any more awkward than they both felt, so she kept her focus on Lori¡¯s light-brown eyes. Sora burned in anger, the psychopath seemed to get off on her bright-red cheeks as each article was cut off, yet she noticed Lori¡¯s nervous taps against her folded arms. The other girls around the locker room looked uncomfortable yet obviously wouldn¡¯t speak up and draw Lori¡¯s attention; not that Sora wanted their pity. Still, if this was the end of it, then she could handle at least this much, and the order came straight from Kari¡¯s mouth. There wasn¡¯t a damn thing Lori could do to go against the Alpha Bully, which made Sora want to smirk¡ªfortunately, she managed to hold herself back. Several tight expressions came from Lori¡¯s mutters as Wendy moved to her underwear, moving through her clothing as quickly as possible after snipping off most of her hair in uneven patches to be done with the horrible experience. ¡°Mmgm¡­ Why¡­ Dammit! Slow down a bit, Wendy, or do you want to join her?¡± ¡°S-Sorry¡­¡± Attempting not to look too vulnerable as she hugged herself, Sora internally poked at Lori¡¯s barely subdued agitation. What¡¯s wrong, Lori? Trying to figure out how to convince Kari to get me to stay? Dammit, I can¡¯t believe it was you and Jenny who were the ones forcing me to stay! Why?! Is it because you kept wanting free stuff? Well, get used to not having a little money bank, bitch, because I¡¯m out of¡ª Once the last clothing fell away from her hips, she stumbled back a bit as Lori threw the white towel at her. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare use your gym clothes¡­ Hey, you, Hannah¡­¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± the taller pretty blonde to her left gave a start. The forgettable girl¡ªat least, to Sora¡ªwas fairly popular and, in order to not be bullied in middle school for outshining Lori, had become somewhat of a reluctant lapdog. ¡°You know what to do.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± ¡°Alright, I gotta go¡ªI¡¯m pissed¡ªoh, and make sure to clean this shit up, dumpster girl,¡± she grunted, ramming into Sora as she exited, making Sora almost trip on the bench. Yeah, she¡¯s gotten ten times worse since last year. What¡¯s up her ass; no more free makeup to cover her pimples? Boo-hoo! The other girls filed out, including Hannah, who would likely be waiting to follow behind and record her for Lori. Now alone, Sora let her pent-up lungs release their air in a slow stream while giving Wendy a melancholy smile. She could only hope that finally, maybe, they could both be free from this hell. ¡°Sorry, Wendy, b-but if I leave¡ª¡± ¡°Sora¡­¡± Wendy cut her off, moving with defeated shoulders to her trashcan, getting the dustpan and broom to clean up the clothing and hair. ¡°Can we just¡­ not? Look, it¡¯s great¡ªI¡¯m happy for you, but yeah¡­ My life¡¯s hard enough¡ªI don¡¯t need a target on my back.¡± Open lips closing, Sora¡¯s fingers tightened against her naked sides, vision drifting to her old friend¡¯s shuffling, beat-up shoes. Right¡­ Wendy doesn¡¯t just have Kari to worry about¡­ There¡¯s no way Jane would be okay with Wendy hanging out with me again¡ªstupid¡­ If only¡­ Swallowing the saliva caught in her mouth, Sora cleared her throat and walked beside Wendy, whispering, ¡°Yeah, I d-don¡¯t want to cause y-y-you trouble at home either¡­ Can I use the scissors?¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± Not looking at each other, Sora took the item to the mirror to try and make her hair at least somewhat presentable; stepping away, she turned her head left and right to examine her handiwork. With sparkling, larger-than-typical jade irises, copper hair that stemmed from her father¡¯s Irish side, and Asian, smooth skin that tanned well from her mother¡¯s Japanese side, people had generally commented on her beauty throughout her life. She wasn¡¯t too ¡®shapely¡¯ yet, but she still had at least two years before her curves stopped growing, so there was still hope for a bit more of a figure than she currently had. Sora knew she wasn¡¯t ugly, and even with short-cut hair, she could pull it off fine like this, yet being told day after day by other girls that she stunk, had weed hair, and looked weird didn¡¯t help her self-image, as much as she tried to ignore them. Her focus shifted to Wendy in the mirror while wrapping the towel under her armpits, positioning it as low as possible to give her bottom a decent amount of cover. Sora was worried, sometimes her balance wasn¡¯t the best¡ªprobably because of the meds, as Mary insinuated, like her stuttering¡ªand she didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself further if she stumbled. Wendy¡¯s cheeks were flushed while bent down, passively staring at Sora¡¯s chopped-off hair, and seemingly deep in thought. By her trembling lower lip, she could guess the brown-haired girl was wondering if she¡¯d be the next target if Sora left. If I can just get Jane to let her be homeschooled with me¡­ Why does she even hate me so much? I mean, why do I even need to question it? It¡¯s obviously because I¡¯m a spoiled rich girl, and she¡¯s a drunk loser that forces her daughter to get a job to help pay for rent. I wish I could help you¡­ but Jane¡¯s too proud to accept money from a rich girl. Stupid. Everyone¡¯s stupid. Not wanting to put any more pressure on Wendy, Sora ran to the sink and tried to get the rest of her cut hair out before washing her face with cold water and drying off with her own towel; a decent amount of lingering, loose hair was stuck to the cloth. ¡°Sorry¡­¡± she whispered as she left, but Sora hesitated by the entrance as she heard Wendy start to cry when she left her sight. Leaning against the side of the tiled wall, Sora¡¯s nose burned again as she clutched the towel at her chest. Wendy¡­ I¡¯m sorry being my friend hurt you so much. She gathered her courage and moved into the gym; Kari was the center of everyone¡¯s attention as she served, spiking the volleyball so hard it made the opposing girl wince upon redirecting it to bounce off the ceiling and hit out of bounds. There was a reason she¡¯d had scouts tracking her progress through seasons since middle school: she was the pretty sports prodigy with a shining future, and everyone wanted to feed off her indomitable confidence. Sora would have admired her too if she didn¡¯t know how ruthless she really was; the girl really was physically gifted and, after what Kari said, she wondered if Lori and Jenny were the influences that drew the rotten side of her out. Shivering as she caught sight of Hannah, Sora¡¯s jaw tightened in her momentarily lapse in judgment. No¡­ Kari only believes in the strong. There¡¯s no room for weakness when it comes to her, and if someone does show it, she¡¯ll eat them alive. She is the Alpha Bully that makes it easy for everyone under her to pick on whoever they want. Kari didn¡¯t look her way once, as if she wasn¡¯t even worth her time as she dominated the volleyball practice, drawing a moderate crowd that couldn¡¯t keep their eyes off her. She really is a succubus¡­ There¡¯s no way she can be stronger than all the boys and not be using some kind of magic, Sora internally grumbled while double-checking her towel, and shoved open the door to exit out the back. Her hand came up to shield her eyes from the blazing sun that touched her tan skin. Swallowing a hard lump in her throat, Sora¡¯s fingernails pressed against her arms as the soft sea breeze tingled her hair with the cloudless sky, doing nothing to mitigate the Miami heat. Hannah followed soon after, not looking too thrilled about the task she¡¯d been given, but Sora knew it was more about Sora wasting her precious after-school time than the act itself. No, Hannah could care less about bullying Sora¡ªshe wasn¡¯t worth her attention. Sora¡¯s cheeks flushed further as she caught confused glances from a few of her peers walking through the field to hit up the nearby shopping centers of Miami¡¯s lively South Beach area, and to pull her mind away from the questioning stares, she tried to pretend no one was around her. No one will think a thing when I get further away from school; they¡¯ll just think I¡¯m heading to the beach! I just need to get away from school¡­ Quivering, Sora thought about the hotel staff that managed the over fifty-million dollar suite her father owned in South Beach. Ron and Howie never judge me when I tell them about Kari, but there¡¯s not much they can do about it since they¡¯re just staffers at the hotel. She¡¯d refrained from mentioning anything about Kari having powers to the two since when she¡¯d brought up her thoughts to Dr. Jones, it had given just the ammunition needed to convince her dad she was making things up. Mary had the documents, so it didn¡¯t matter what she said. Still, she had to keep what few people she had in her corner and not scare them away to remain sane¡ªthe unneeded meds didn¡¯t help¡ªit hurt a lot that her dad didn¡¯t believe her, but he was trying to do his best. Instead, it was the stupid people Mary mentioned that were screwing her life up. It doesn¡¯t make sense! she internally screamed, feeding off her boiling blood to move past the shame of only having a towel on as a covering in the middle of the bustling city of Miami. Kari didn¡¯t sound like she wanted me around at all¡ªwhich is fine; I¡¯ll leave. Yet Lori and Jenny want me to stay to bully me? The hell?! Lori, sure¡ªshe¡¯s a damn psychopath¡­ But Jenny? Jenny doesn¡¯t really care for me; she mostly ignores me. Why would she want me to stay? Everything she¡¯d come to think about the Trinity of Bullies had come into question after Kari shut down Lori. It had been shockingly therapeutic to see the nutcase get a taste of Kari¡¯s heat, but it still didn¡¯t make sense. Taking a deep breath, Sora started down Dade Boulevard toward 24th Street. Students avoided her by habit while most tourists and joggers ignored her, which was nice. At the intersection, she crossed over to Pedestrian Bridge. Finally away from school! I just need¡­ No¡­ Halfway across, she slowed to a stop, her heart thumping against her ribs as the crowd of tourists and locals flowed around her without pause. Straight ahead of her was Lori, making Sora¡¯s throat catch as she leaned against a green signpost with an innocent smile. There¡¯s no way she¡¯d do anything in public, right? Although¡­ it is Lori¡­ Teeth grinding together, Sora pushed forward; she couldn¡¯t cross without moving past her. It was the middle of the day with tourists flocking, and joggers running up and down the avenue, but she¡¯d recently learned about something called the ¡®bystander effect,¡¯ which she had first-hand experience in. A low growl rumbled in Sora¡¯s throat as Lori¡¯s smile widened with each step closer she took. Don¡¯t, Lori¡­ Get your kicks out of seeing me naked with a towel in public, and let me go¡­ Lori played with a fruit smoothie in her hands, taking a few sips while waiting, and when the straw dropped from her glossy lips, Sora¡¯s gut tightened. ¡°Well, well, well,¡± Lori clicked her tongue, showing a testing grin as she looked her body up and down, ¡°what a bold little fox you are. Going out with only a towel on¡ªmmh, daring.¡± Sora¡¯s chest tensed, cheeks burning; a few tourists frowned as they scooted around them, but carried on, and Lori swiftly closed the distance, whispering in Sora¡¯s ear, ¡°You aren¡¯t going to transfer.¡± Sora forced a smile. Lori didn¡¯t have the balls to go against Kari¡ªshe was bluffing. ¡°K-Kari told me I had to. Are y-you telling me I should let her know you want to c-challenge her?¡± ¡°Mmh, stuttering as usual¡­¡± Lori¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as she shook her head. ¡°No, no, no¡ªyou are going to go against Kari¡¯s order.¡± ¡°Hah! Funny. I don¡¯t think so! If she s-says I need to go, then I go.¡± Shaking her head again, Lori licked her lower lip and her tone darkened. ¡°I¡¯m telling you¡­ you aren¡¯t going anywhere.¡± Lori walked past, the wind of her movement grazing her hot cheeks, and Sora took a shuddering breath and exhaled; it was over. Her tension eased, and she took another breath to calm her pounding heart. She didn¡¯t¡­ A freezing smoothie poured over her head and into her towel front, yet Lori¡¯s whispered words against her ear were colder than her drink. ¡°I said, you¡¯re not going anywhere! Don¡¯t think of skipping class tomorrow, or Wendy will get it.¡± The surrounding crowd backed away with surprised shouts as the remainder of the smoothie splashed across the ground, and Sora stood in silence as Lori continued across the bridge without a backward glance. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. Terror seized her at the implication; she couldn¡¯t breathe. Wendy¡­ Dammit! What do I do¡­ What can I do? I can¡¯t let this opportunity pass me, but if Lori starts targeting Wendy if I don¡¯t¡­ What can I do?! Sora¡¯s frozen mind snapped back to reality as a man ran over to her from a nearby boat booth. ¡°Hey¡ªyou alright, girl? That was horrible! Do you have her name? I¡¯ll let the¡­¡± She nervously checked to ensure her now-stained towel was secure before putting on an embarrassed smile and wiping a clump of the smoothie out of her hair. ¡°N-No¡ªno, I¡¯m fine. Just a little¡­ heh, a l-little school-girl fun¡ªit¡¯s nothing serious.¡± She looked up at the man¡¯s doubtful lifted eyebrow, noting how tightly she was holding onto her towel. ¡°Mmh¡­¡± He was thin, but muscular, with light scruff and thick, light-brown hair that curled slightly around his palm tree hat; his face was chiseled by a master sculptor, and his bronze irises were penetrating with concern. Shifting to look past the gathering throng, he crossed his arms with a low grunt. ¡°Humph¡­ She slipped into the crowd. Do you know her address and name?¡± Sora put up a hand. ¡°No¡ªI s-said it¡¯s fine.¡± Nose twisting with agitation, he eyed her while rubbing the back of his neck, and the crowd started to disperse as they saw him handling the disturbance. Sora knew he couldn¡¯t do anything, and just wanted to go back to her hotel, take a shower, and cry into the spray. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± He nudged his head back to where he¡¯d come. ¡°I work at the little boat stand over there. We sell a few pieces of clothing; you can take a shirt and shorts.¡± Sora was about to refuse but stopped at the man¡¯s next statement. ¡°If you don¡¯t at least take the clothes, I¡¯ll call the police and see what they have to say about an underage girl going around with only a towel on!¡± She nodded, thankful that he had at least spoken quietly so others wouldn¡¯t hear. ¡°Thank you¡­¡± He clearly wanted to see some kind of punishment come to Lori, and as much as Sora would have loved that¡ªshe wasn¡¯t feeling the most secure at the moment¡ªshe knew she couldn¡¯t pursue it. The man¡¯s sympathetic smile and attempts to stick up for her helped her pained heart. ¡°The name¡¯s Frank, and I don¡¯t think that was a prank, or, humph, ¡®school-girl fun.¡¯ Your hair was slaughtered for starters¡­ You know, there are people you can talk to¡­¡± Sora shook her head emphatically. ¡°Really, thank you again, Frank, and I have s-someone that believes me¡­ I think.¡± ¡°So, it¡¯s not just school-girl fun,¡± he growled, his hard stare making Sora swiftly retreat, her face sheet-white. ¡°I don¡¯t like what I just saw, and no one even stepped up¡­ Pathetic.¡± His tone made Sora quiver a bit; it was as if he¡¯d taken Lori¡¯s action as a personal attack. ¡°Umm¡­ I¡¯ll take the clothes and pay you back later, b-but I¡¯m fine¡­ I¡¯ll b-be fine¡­ I don¡¯t want to talk about it right now¡­¡± she mumbled, gingerly following him back to the booth with multiple people¡¯s eyes on her. Frank reached into his pocket to extract an old, vintage brass watch with two mechanisms, one sprouting out of the first, and opened it to reveal a bizarre, tangled mess of gears that had the illusion of shifting around each other into infinity. As she stared at it, it flipped and turned in oddly out-of-sync directions, confusing her. He scowled as he watched the horizontal, vertical, and slanted gears work and flip around one another. ¡°It¡¯s not right. Mmm¡­ adjustments need to be made.¡± Popping his tongue once against the roof of his mouth in a slight agitation, he snapped it shut and stuffed it back into his pocket, but not before she saw a rough, black, chalk-like drawing of a man inside. Shuffling behind the stand while poking through the merchandise between sizes, he mumbled, ¡°Just know there are people that care about you that can help¡ªno matter what you¡¯re facing.¡± Sora just chuckled weakly. ¡°Y-Yeah.¡± Sora nodded as he produce a red t-shirt with the word Life! written across the back with a white, outlined heart and cream shorts that came just above the knee, a red heart on the left side. She used the stand as best she could for cover, pulling the baggy shirt on first before pulling the shorts over the ruined towel and shirt; shockingly, it fit her hips perfectly. Exiting the booth, towel in hand, she wiped at her hair to remove what she could of the smoothie as Frank stood nearby, looking at his unusual watch again. ¡°Is¡­ there anyone I can call?¡± Sora felt tears coming on at how protective he was being, and she could totally see her father doing the same once Mary set all the fake doctor reports straight. ¡°No¡­ I¡¯m f-fine now. Thank you¡ªa lot¡ªit m-means a lot.¡± Frank¡¯s lips pressed together as he scratched at his lower back and pocketed the watch again. ¡°Huh¡­ If that¡¯s what you want. Just¡­ don¡¯t ever think that you¡¯re alone.¡± Thanking him again, she walked back to the fancy hotel she called home, adding a light smile as she passed the barrier gates and entered the main lobby. Finally, she was away from the cruel world and in her safe little bubble. Cynthia, a hotel tenant, frowned at her appearance; the woman¡¯s sharp eyes were always watching to make sure she made it back to the hotel, recording the timing. Sora observed her light-brown pigtail disappear into the office, likely to tell a senior staff member about her appearance. A short sigh leaving her lungs, Sora waved to the front desk tenants as they called for the private elevator to take her up to the suite her father owned. She stared at her reflection in the metallic door while waiting: what remained of her hair was matted with blended fruit, but the clothes Frank had given her weren¡¯t a bad fit. She bit the inside of her cheek as the doors opened, and she entered to direct a feigned grin at Howie. ¡°Hey, Howie!¡± ¡°W-What happened?¡± Howie gasped, looking utterly mortified. ¡°Your clothes¡ªhair¡­¡± She rubbed her shoulder with a wry smirk, shrugging while glancing to the left. ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know; what excuse should I use this time¡­ I know! Heh, I got a f-fly strip stuck in my hair¡ªand, uh¡­ on the way back I s-spilled a¡ªumm, my smoothie on my¡­ ¡°No, that¡¯s not right,¡± she huffed between stutters, eyes rolling as she thought of another angle. ¡°Honestly, a friend thought it w-would be funny to spill a smoothie on my head¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s a g-good one, huh? It was all for fun, of course,¡± she sarcastically chuckled. ¡°I know what it must look like¡ªI¡¯m totally crazy¡ªhuh?¡± Howie let a low hiss blow through his teeth. ¡°Good one¡­ Your friend spilled a smoothie, on your head as¡­ a joke? And if something like a fly strip got stuck in your hair, obviously, being the ¡®thrifty¡¯ girl you are, you wouldn¡¯t go to a hairdresser¡­ like three months ago with the gum?¡± Sora backed into the corner, tight gut and pent-up tension easing as she talked to the frowning man. ¡°That¡¯s what happened¡ªat least, that¡¯s what Dr. Hallmark would have everyone believe¡­ But good n-news!¡± Closing the double doors and taking out the key to lock them inside so no one could interrupt them, Howie crossed his arms. ¡°Are you going to slide past everything else?¡± Mary¡¯s conversation suddenly sparked to life in Sora¡¯s mind, she pivoted the conversation. ¡°Wait¡­ Mary¡ªdid she¡­¡± ¡°Yeah, Sora¡­¡± he said with tight eyes. ¡°I heard about you being taken off your pills from Dr. Jernigan, and, after she interviewed all of the hotel staff, everyone started to see that everything we were told had been a lie¡­ Why the hell would a doctor¡ªmultiple doctors¡ªdo that to you?! The lawsuit coming once your dad is back in town¡­ It doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Trying unsuccessfully to hold back tears as he confirmed Mary was on her side, Sora sucked in her trembling lips. ¡°So¡­ s-so¡­ you b-believe that I¡¯ve been¡ªI¡¯ve been bullied f-for the past¡ªthe p-past three¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t get the words out before Howie nodded and moved in to bring her into his arms as liquid fell from his own eyes. ¡°Yeah, Sora¡­ Ron and I always suspected there was something else going on but¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Sora.¡± ¡°N-No¡ªit¡¯s just¡­ Thank you for always listening, H-Howie¡­ I¡¯m going to¡ªto get my dad to h-have me homeschooled¡­ My meds?¡± ¡°Dr. Jernigan told us to have you taper off the anti-psychotics with one pill rather than two, and we¡¯re reducing the others too. Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll eventually get you off them¡­ She seemed to really care about helping you, Sora, and attempting to follow up all the inconsistencies in your files¡­ She asked us so many questions.¡± Sora let out a nervous chuckle. ¡°My, heh, friend isn¡¯t a p-professional at cutting hair, h-huh?¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Sora felt her laugh escape her, and she just focused on breathing. Letting out her emotions for several minutes, hope filled her breast. Thankfully, everything was changing, and so rapidly¡ªthree years¡ªafter so many people who would cave to whoever stood behind Kari. Her father finally found the right woman to help her¡ªthat actually wanted to help her. Frank was right: there were people out there that would help. Howie supported her for several minutes until she could get her tears under control, making her feel secure in his big arms. He input her penthouse ID for the forty-eighth floor, her eight-year-long elevator attendant sniffed before clearing his throat and saying, ¡°I hope you know that I¡¯ll be texting your dad about this one¡­ They won¡¯t get away with everything they¡¯ve done to you, Sora.¡± Cheeks already puffy, Sora tried to laugh through her building emotions again. ¡°You don¡¯t h-have to! He¡¯ll be here in eight days¡­ He can see f-for himself.¡± Howie¡¯s lips pursed as he scrutinized her again, lower lip pulled in. He¡¯d known her since she was eight years old¡ªwithout a doubt, he¡¯d call him the moment she left. ¡°You don¡¯t need to go to school¡ªprobably ever, after this¡­¡± he trailed off as Sora choked and shook her head, rubbing her wet cheeks. ¡°I have to¡ªat least for t-tomorrow¡­ Wendy m-might be targeted if I don¡¯t go, and¡­ and you know how much her mom h-hates me. I¡¯m a strong girl¡ªI can handle this m-much with you, and¡­ and¡­¡± She smiled , for the first time in what seemed ages, it felt real as she held up her arm and flexed. If she had people to believe in her, that was all she needed, and if all she had to deal with was Lori, she could do that. ¡°With t-things changing¡­ I know it may b-be a pipe-dream, b-but I want her to join me¡ªi-in homeschool¡ªis w-what I mean.¡± Howie tried to reflect her positivity, but she could see the hurt, shame, and anger he tried to hide, which saddened her. ¡°If¡­ you¡¯re¡­ I know how much Wendy means to you¡­¡± Sucking in his lips for a moment, he choked, ¡°I¡¯d love to see that happen.¡± The elevator dinged at her penthouse, and Sora exited into the foyer, waving Howie off and feeling on cloud-9; she really was free. Spinning in a circle as she entered the hallway, she tried to calm her racing heart while studying the extravagant living space. Her father was friends with the owner of the hotel and had purchased it ten years back for a bargain; a deal because of his connections. It was a three-story, ten-thousand square meter penthouse with a contemporary design around Bubinga wood. It hosted close to seven-meter, double-open level, ceilings, with expansive views of the ocean and the Miami Beach cityscape. One of the selling perks was the car elevator and massive garage that could house eleven cars¡ªher father was a car guy and filled every spot¡ªthere was also an on-premises restaurant, lobby bar, fitness center, cigar and wine lounge, and east and west pools, with many more entertainment options. She had the whole penthouse to herself while her dad went around the world on business¡ªoften for many months at a time. Several international companies paid him very well for his services as a consultant, but he always made time to come home on major holidays. There were also times her father hosted extravagant parties in the penthouse, and while growing up, she¡¯d had a rather amazing caretaker that set up all sorts of fun activities for Wendy and her to do. She walked past the foyer and into the massive living-dining room to release a hot stream of air while leaning against a white, leather couch to collect herself. ¡°Hmm¡­ Thanks, Howie¡­ M-Mary.¡± Recalling the psychiatrist¡¯s comment, she did a quick glance at the expansive ocean view, and a worried sting struck her chest at the possibility of someone getting to her, but the fact she¡¯d conducted her investigation for the last several weeks without her catching on at all and how everyone¡¯s opinions were already changing told Sora the cat was out of the bag. Sora¡¯s vision shifted to the front room¡¯s granite floor, which gleamed beneath the natural light shining through the colossal windows, before staring out of the stunning, vast ocean view. Even if Kari has powers, she wants me gone¡­ This has to be real¡­ It has to be! This is the time for me to not back down¡­ I won¡¯t be Lori¡¯s pin-cushion anymore; I won¡¯t back down! Taking in a deep breath, she let it out with a grin as her focus moved to the large balcony and infinity edge spa visible through one of the dining room doors; a long, charcoal-black, granite countertop bar with padded chairs was spaced in the center overlooking the vast view. Should I get cleaned up and go get some chicken to grill tonight? I could order room service, but¡­ where¡¯s the fun in that?! Humming cheerfully as she went to the stairs to reach the second landing, she passed through the flex room to the second master bedroom; it was time to set her feet in and start fighting back in this battle if Lori¡¯s alpha general and whoever backed her wasn¡¯t going to interfere. Should I call Dad tonight about homeschooling? She felt a wave of relief pass over her at just the thought. Yes! I just need to fight against Lori¡¯s bullying for the week, and then I¡¯ll be free¡­ I¡¯ll get Wendy to join me, too. Somehow. No! Whatever it takes! This isn¡¯t for me now; it¡¯s for Wendy!. She opened her immense wardrobe to pick out a chiffon white and gray strap dress that extended to her ankles and placed it on her bed. Selecting white undergarments, a pair of brown heels, and a silver bracelet, she took them to her bathroom. Sora undressed and threw the garments Frank had given her in the laundry chute; the staff downstairs would clean them and she could return the articles the following day. She activated the tablet embedded in the dark-tiled wall and opened the calendar. Wednesday is picture day¡­ But that doesn¡¯t matter now; I¡¯m out! Turning on Spotify, she played the pop station as she washed, getting out part way through to find scissors to even out her hair in the fogless shower mirror, and, once satisfied, put on her chosen attire. Returning to her room in high spirits, she took her purse off the dresser¡ªnot taking the expensive items to school for obvious reasons¡ªand moved to sit on her bed to extract her phone; she should have left it on the wireless charger but forgot the night before. ¡°Hmm¡­¡± She frowned while looking at the front screen; she had a voicemail from her father. Activating the recording, her dad¡¯s deep, Irish-accented voice came through on speaker, adding their cultural endearments that made her giggle. ¡°A mhuirn¨ªn, how are you? I, uh, got a rather shocking text from Mary. No more meds? I have questions, but that will have to wait; I¡¯m swamped at the moment¡ªeh¡­¡± His voice cut out as someone hesitantly spoke to him, sounding as if he had the same stuttering speech problem that her meds had caused and a Chinese accent. ¡°The hell you mean the files aren¡¯t complete? Dammit, I got places to be in a week, man! what do ya think you¡¯re bein¡¯ paid for, huh?! ¡°Ahem, sorry, Darlin¡¯,¡± he mumbled, making Sora giggle. ¡°Aye, I can¡¯t be happier if I understood what Mary''s text implied, and¡­ Aye, I have questions, of course. I, eh¡ªI know I didn¡¯t call much the, umm, the last few days, but I have a massive gift for ya this year regardless¡ªit¡¯ll be great. ¡°On that note, I have a massive deal this week, which will require me to go dark¡ªugh, worse time possible¡ªbelieve me, I know. It¡¯s such a major deal that they want everyone involved to hand over their phones and hash everything out. ¡°Only the CEO and Chairman will have theirs to communicate. I love you so much, a chro¨ª, and I will do everything in my power to get done as soon as possible! I¡¯ll move heaven and hell to make it back for your birthday¡ªbelieve it! ¡°The company is sending me back on their private jet Monday, so I¡¯ll be there Tuesday morning! Sorry, you know how long a flight it is from Seoul.¡± He cut out for a second. ¡°Ahh, got to go, a chuisle¡ªheh, people not doin¡¯ their jobs, which cuts out on my time with you¡­ Ya hear that, Kazuko?!¡± ¡°Yes, Mr. Moore! Apologies, Mr. Moore!¡± ¡°Just get it done; we¡¯re on a tight schedule! Eh, sorry, again, a chro¨ª! I¡¯ll see you next Tuesday!¡± Sora couldn¡¯t stop her chest from shaking with laughter; her father sounded like the man he was hassling about getting all the company information to him¡ªstumbling all over the place¡ªas if his daughter were his boss. ¡°Hmm¡­ No, t-that¡¯s f-fine, Dad,¡± she brightly replied to herself, flipping to her phone¡¯s front page to smile at the last picture she¡¯d taken with Wendy; her dad¡¯s large smiling grin behind them on their last Tahiti vacation. ¡°I can be strong like you, too.¡± ¡°Mmgm.¡± Loosening her neck, she couldn¡¯t find anything from Mary¡ªit would probably come later¡ªso she stood up and set her resolve. ¡°Nothing t-to worry about! Okay, pull yourself together, Sora, and let¡¯s go get some stuff to celebrate! Whatever Lori has planned¡ªwhatever¡ªI can h-handle it!¡± Placing her cell phone inside her purse while looping it back around her left shoulder, she made her way to the elevator. Let¡¯s do this! B1 — 3. Ten Days; New Acquaintances Making her way to the elevator, Sora waved at Howie again. ¡°Hey!¡± The man chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t I just say goodbye to you an hour or two ago?! And aren¡¯t you looking pretty? It¡¯s great to see you smiling again.¡± ¡°Aww, thanks! Just going to run down to the c-corner store and grab a steak to cook on the grill! Want me to pick you up one, too?¡± ¡°If you¡¯re offering, I won¡¯t turn down a steak!¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± she grinned, getting into the elevator. He pressed the button for the lobby, leaning against the side as they dropped floors. ¡°Oh, before I forget, the meds, eh, med¡ªsingular, heh¡ªit¡¯s in the morning with Ron. We¡¯re supposed to alternate your other ones every second day to start with.¡± ¡°Normal t-time?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Man,¡± she ran her fingers through her still slightly damp hair, ¡°it¡¯s gonna be so nice when I don¡¯t need to take any of this crap.¡± ¡°I hear you! Let¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°I k-know. I know. Haaa,¡± Sora let out a sigh. ¡°Temper my expectations.¡± Going silent for a second while folding his arms and staring at her, Sora glanced at her front with a frown. ¡°Is there¡­ something on my dress?¡± ¡°No. No¡­ I¡¯m just happy seeing you excited to go out. It¡¯s been a while since you¡¯ve worn something like that or your jewelry.¡± ¡°Yeah, well¡­ I didn¡¯t want my nice clothes to get ripped or my jewelry stolen and pawned off. Umm¡­ any barbecue sauce? You can take it home just before Ron trades out for the night.¡± ¡°Heh, whatever you want, and you know I¡¯m not¡­ picky.¡± She gave a short sigh upon seeing the dark rings under his eyes. ¡°It must be tough since Ray and Ireen got new jobs. Never liked them anyway, but yeah¡­ Must suck for Ron and you having to work such crazy hours until they find a replacement.¡± Howie eased around his tight neck with a low chuckle. ¡°It¡¯s been a bit rough, and standing around in an elevator all day can kill my legs¡ªespecially when you can¡¯t sit down in case one of the VIPs come in, but, heh, you make it worthwhile!¡± ¡°S-Stop it!¡± Sora giggled, playfully punching his shoulder as the doors opened to the lobby. ¡°Gah, and I can¡¯t w-wait until this s-stupid stutter is gone!¡± ¡°I know how much it bothers you, but it can be super cute!¡± She exited, giving him a doubtful backward glance as he waved her off. ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Pushing her purse strap up, she sighed and returned passing greetings to the veteran staff. Stepping outside, the blazing Miami sun kissed her skin and she released a pleasant, unbridled purr upon smelling the nearby ocean breeze. Okay! Know what, I should grab some cash for Frank! He did scare off Hannah and Lori, she thought while proceeding to the two-story corner store that carried just about anything she generally needed. A smile brightened her lips as she relived the look on the blonde¡¯s face when the big, 205-centimeter-tall, bear-like man¡¯s eyes settled on her. It¡¯s not often people stick up for me. Holding her wrist behind her back as she basked in the Miami Beach''s vivid energy, attitude changed, it was great to see packs of tourists and locals dressed in bikinis and beachwear. Sora could have picked out a good, summer hat after seeing a few women with various shades of the covering, but then again, she could also play her butchered hair off as a fashion statement. Few people noticed her, far more busy going about their day. Taking another deep breath to flavor the refreshing scent of palm trees and the salty ocean wind of her home, Sora giggled as she saw a car driving down the street, missing most of its parts, a mattress tied to the hood. Good ol¡¯ Miami¡­ Never a dull moment in the city of entertainment and insanity. She didn¡¯t rush to the corner store, but, eventually, the large windows and stucco came into view. Sora made it to the corner store without issue; the two-story building was spackled white and locally owned. It was the closest market to the hotel, so she visited it regularly for anything she needed. Catching her reflection in the glass as she neared, a small frown came on. She had liked her long hair, despite what other girls said about its copper color. ¡°Well, it will be back in a few months,¡± she sighed, reshaping it for a second before entering the store; once inside, she did her typical scan for any of Kari¡¯s girls. Not many kids from her school lived in the busy heart of Miami Beach¡¯s ritzy district, considering there were few actual living areas since most of the housing in this area was dedicated to expensive hotels for tourists. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for the high school girls to cruise around the place, but only Lori was psychotic enough to try something in such a public area and away from Kari¡¯s little bubble. Luckily, she didn¡¯t find anyone she knew, and it seemed shockingly bare for its location and the time of the day. There were only a few packs of people she could see, and most appeared to be tourists. A man and woman in their forties, apparently on vacation, were recording each other with their phones and speaking French; Sora picked up on a few words but didn¡¯t pay them more than a passing glance. The middle school girl killing time in the unique clothing section near the front left stole her eyes for a moment, yet it was the two girls around her age, partially hidden to the side of an aisle browsing food, that kept her focus as she proceeded to the ATM. She took them as tourists by the very unusual sing-songy language they spoke that Sora couldn¡¯t place, and the blonde certainly made them stand out; she was about the same size as Kari and perhaps even more toned. The short girl¡ªaround ten centimeters less than Sora¡ªlooked Korean, if she had to take a guess. She had silky, raven-black hair, a thin body, somewhat tan skin, and stern eyes that were a clouded, topaz hue. A hand on her hip as she pointed at various items with a slightly exasperated tone, she wore tight, black jeans and a close-fitting, white and black split shirt; Sora couldn¡¯t figure out how she wasn¡¯t burning up with the humidity and heat outside. Slightly jealous, Sora noticed that she didn¡¯t seem to wear nor need makeup. Sora¡¯s hands hesitated at her purse as the Korean cut off before shifting her posture to stare right at her, and caused her to fixate on the slitted contact lenses she wore. Weird¡­ but it is Miami. Extracting her wallet from within her purse, a shiver ran down Sora¡¯s spine as a sense of danger cascaded through her bones; turning back to the pair, the air in her lungs froze. The Korean¡¯s eyes flashed crimson, an intense glare locking Sora in place, yet the pressure collapsed when the blonde put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed, muttering something in their odd language that made the shorter girl¡¯s brow furrow and take a second look at her. A few more words passed between them before the Korean grunted and walked around the corner, leaving the blonde to smile and wave at her as if nothing had happened. Releasing an uneven stream of air, Sora blinked a few times while rubbing her dry throat. No one else seemed to notice the rapid exchange, but Sora wasn¡¯t sure if part of it had been her meds making her see things. Ever since she¡¯d started taking pills, she did occasionally hear voices and imagine things that weren¡¯t there, but nothing that intense. It almost felt like¡­ Kari can sometimes give me that feeling. A shiver ran through her body again as she shook her head and rubbed her temple. Just chill¡­ Damn. She did a double-take on the blonde, who did notice her gaze and wave, working through very broken and incorrect English. ¡°Sal-u¡­ citations¡­¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ hey,¡± she muttered, scanning her appearance. The girl¡¯s beach-golden hair was intertwined in a soft, fishtail braid that hung below her shoulder blades, her glittering, bright-blue irises holding a curiosity in everything she examined. Her brown, leather bandeau bikini seemed to be made of actual animal hide that was stitched together, and around her neck was the most beautiful gold-twined laced necklace she¡¯d ever seen. Sora traced the twined, aureate threads of the ornament that played around each other in a diamond design of a gem-encrusted eye, some kind of radiant ivory jewel the size of a golf ball with a void-like core, with silver spikes on the top and bottom of the center-piece connecting it to the golden twine. She must have come from a phenomenally wealthy family to wear something like that around, and Sora couldn¡¯t help but notice the contrast in her wild-looking attire¡ªincluding the leather wrap around her feet and shins¡ªto the stunning showpiece. Shaking her head and discounting her previous experience to one of her somewhat infrequent episodes, Sora returned a weak smile and gesture before returning to her business. I gotta get off these meds¡­ Sora shot one last look back, leaning to the side a bit to stare down the aisle to confirm if the Korean girl¡¯s eyes were still glowing red, but it just got her a dull look from the raven-haired girl with her slit-contact yellow eyes. It had been her imagination. Stupid pills. Scratching her elbow with agitation, Sora tried to filter out the loud French tourists¡¯ conversation in the back and got her card out to access her checking account that her dad regularly allocated funds to for her every-day-use. Hmm¡­ $93,234 available¡­ I¡¯ve been using more than I generally do on Lori¡¯s stupid perfume collection. I must have bought almost every damn brand in that ridiculous chic store she always has me go to¡­ Well, that ends now! Extracting $100 in twenty-dollar bills with a huff, she placed them in her purse and glanced over at the clothing section, where the middle school girl was browsing swimsuits. Continuing to look around, the summer hats nearby caught her interest. I have a spot for a new hat¡­ after Hannah took my black one last week. She moved to the area, sliding by the brown-haired girl, and looked between the three available colors; the floppy, tan hat with a big bowknot wrapped around it looked cute and could go with a few outfits. Taking it off the rack, she jumped as the younger girl touched her back, attempting to scoot by. ¡°Sorry, but can I¡­¡± ¡°Oh, yeah! No problem.¡± The teen paused about a meter away, studying the item in her hand before looking Sora up and down. ¡°Umm¡­ super cute clothes, by the way, but¡­ I think you¡¯d look better with long hair.¡± Is she trying to compliment or diss me? ¡°Thanks, uh, I¡¯m going to grow it out again. That¡­ eh, is a pretty floral pareo. T-The black with blue and white flowers is nice. Where did you get it?¡± She glanced down with a grimace. ¡°Ugh¡­ I like my pure white one better with this bathing suit, but I got it for sale online. Thanks for noticing.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± Expecting the conversation to be over, Sora turned away to study the stitching to see if the bow was just wrapped around or sown into the article when the girl chuckled, scrutinizing her again. ¡°Lori really did a number on your hair; my sister told me about it on the walk home today. I heard she has something planned for you tomorrow.¡± Sora closed her eyes and released the air filling her lungs before turning to the younger girl. ¡°Figures, and here I thought you were just being awkwardly friendly. Who¡¯s your sister¡ªJackie?¡± ¡°Amanda. I heard Kari wants you to leave, so, heh, I guess she won¡¯t be coming home with a bunch of clothes anymore. To be honest, I was always jealous because she¡¯d always hang it over my head¡­ But jokes on her; I sometimes steal her clothes!¡± Not expecting the snickering girl to make her chuckle, Sora rubbed the back of her neck and shrugged. ¡°Meh, Amanda¡¯s not that bad, to be honest; she usually lets the others walk all over her.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The girl¡¯s smile fell. ¡°I thought¡­ Huh. Anyway, umm¡­ later, rich girl.¡± Sora watched her return the tank top she was carrying to the rack before leaving with downcast eyes. Guess she thought her sister was one of the cool kids¡­ Not really how it works with Lori in the mix. Walking to the small fresh-meat section while picking out a mineral water along the way to wash away the bitter taste in her mouth, Sora selected two decently-sized tenderloin cuts and made her way to the front to checkout. Of the three registers, two were backed up with four people waiting, with the center only having one, and it seemed for good reason: the foreign girls she¡¯d seen before were attempting to check out¡ªat least, it looked like they were trying. Sora got behind them, a curious smile playing at the corner of her lips as she studied the long horde of miscellaneous goods the pair had placed for purchase; the selection ranged from snacks and sodas to cereals and various types of meat. Zack, one of the employees Sora had talked with before, had his arms crossed and a matching expression on his face while glaring at the two. ¡°As I said, it¡¯ll be five-hundred, thirty-three, seventy-two. Do I need to take off a few items?¡± Sora believed she caught their names between the odd language the two spoke; Jin¡ªthe Korean girl¡ªappeared to be frustrated with Eyia¡ªthe tall, confused blonde¡ªas she attempted to explain something to her. After a few cryptic phrases, Jin turned back to Zack, and to Sora¡¯s amazement, spoke perfect English; it was so casual that her accent even carried a Miami cadence, utterly deviating from her previous tempo. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! ¡°Ugh¡­ Sorry, we¡¯re new to this place. Is it possible to barter?¡± Zack¡¯s face blanked. ¡°Is¡­ this a social media video? You¡¯re joking, right¡ªthere¡¯s no hidden camera?¡± Jin blinked in bewilderment. ¡°An online video for amusement? No¡­ Is bartering not something done here? I was sure bottlecaps were a thing here,¡± she mumbled to herself. ¡°What¡­ bottlecaps? Uh, yeah¡­ we only accept cash or credit.¡± ¡°What¡­ type of credit?¡± Jin pressed, left eyebrow narrowing fishily. Zack sighed and rubbed between his eyes, repeating, ¡°What type of credit¡­ Mmmgm¡­ Mastercard.¡± ¡°Ah¡­ those plastic currencies,¡± she mumbled with a somber nod before turning to the blonde and flipping to the sing-song language on a dime to explain the problem. Eyia¡¯s eyes brightened with her smile as she held up her left hand, where a golden ring that hadn¡¯t been there previously¡ªSora was sure¡ªwas promptly pulled off and offered to the grinning Korean. Flipping around to offer it, she presented the item. ¡°I am afraid we do not have such plastic credit but might gold be an option? We have a ring¡­¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but giggle at the girl¡¯s attempted payment. ¡°R-Really? You are t-trying to barter with jewelry!¡± Unfortunately, the comment brought everyone¡¯s gaze, eliciting instant regret as Jin¡¯s cheeks reddened, her cold, golden irises darting to her. ¡°Is that a problem, Little Fox? I¡¯m not in the mood for tricks.¡± Sora¡¯s cheeks flushed as she stepped back, unsure what to say with the questioning stares aimed at her. Fingers tightening against her purse, Sora hastily shook her head. ¡°N-No, I¡¯m sorry. Ugh, that was pretty rude of me.¡± I can¡¯t believe I just came out and did that¡­ Yeah, they¡¯re definitely not from the US, and I made fun of them¡­ Not cool. The ¡®Little Fox,¡¯ though¡­ Does she think I¡¯m Native American? Hot air shot through Jin¡¯s nose as she haughtily tilted her head. ¡°It was rude, but at least you have the guts to admit it; we are not used to this Miami, so naturally, we¡¯d have trouble.¡± Sora took a deep breath to calm her racing heart as a sudden thought drew her away from the conversation. Wait, is that the inside joke Kari¡¯s group always uses against me? These girls definitely aren¡¯t with Kari, though¡­ Is it that I look Native American? Feeling bad now, she cleared her throat, attempting not to stutter, not that it typically helped. ¡°Umm¡­ Here, I¡¯ll pay for your stuff as an a-apology.¡± Dammit! It had to be the last word! Jin¡¯s tight jaw slackened, a suspicious edge narrowing her eyes and bypassing the stutter as if she hadn¡¯t even heard it. ¡°What¡­ is your game?¡± ¡°Heh. To say sorry and g-get out of here faster,¡± she laughed, internally cursing again; it always got worse when she was nervous. ¡°Zack, umm¡­ if you c-could add these to the order¡­¡± Knowing she was good for it, Zack happily snatched her items and scanned them to place them in a separate bag as Sora scooted past the pair to tap her card against the machine. ¡°And¡­ there. We good, Z-Zack?¡± ¡°Yup. Receipt, right?¡± Sora puffed out a long stream of air. ¡°You know I n-need it to track my purchases for my dad.¡± ¡°Just had to ask,¡± he said, with a wry grin, handing it to her to place in her receipt pocket. ¡°Alright, uh¡­ Want some help carrying some of this out? Do you have a taxi or car nearby?¡± Jin and Eyia looked at each other uncertainly, the Korean mumbling something that the blonde nodded to. ¡°Eh¡­ Sure. I wanted to ask you something anyway.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Sora shrugged, moving to load the items in the cart, but the super-tall amazon of a girl somehow snatched up most of the plastic straps herself and effortlessly hoisted them over the side. The Korean rolled her slit golden eyes with a short huff as the blonde shot a victorious smirk in her direction. ¡°This doesn¡¯t count as a victory,¡± she grumbled. ¡°Damn¡­¡± Zack whispered, lifting an eyebrow at the somewhat unreasonable number of items Eyia seemed to effortlessly balance and leave with. Of course, she was smashing a lot of goods, but it was still more than a little impressive. ¡°We¡¯re gonna stop off at a sitting area at the nearby park. You good with that, Little Fox?¡± Jin queried with a lifted eyebrow. ¡°Sure¡­ and, heh, can we drop the L-Little Fox stuff? My name is S-Sora.¡± ¡°Mmmgh¡­¡± A bit put off by the girl¡¯s disinterested grunt, Sora kept her silence as she followed behind them. Eyia appeared to want to be a little ahead of Jin, and there was an unmistakable rivalry of sorts that was primarily initiated by the blonde. Their unusual language caught her ears again as they went; she couldn¡¯t place it, and eventually, the question bubbled out of her mouth. ¡°Uh¡­ Would you mind telling me where y-you¡¯re from? Jin huffed, making the bags sway in her hands as she passively scanned the crowds; Eyia drew a ton of attention. ¡°Nowhere you¡¯d be interested in.¡± Not knowing if she was rude or just blunt, she rephrased it. ¡°I¡¯m just w-wondering what language you¡¯re speaking. It sounds pretty,¡± she added, hoping the genuine compliment would break the ice a bit. ¡°Pretty?¡± Jin started chuckling while leering at the proud blonde ahead of them, her head held high. ¡°Personally, I think it¡¯s pretty lame, and limited, might I add, but what other language would you expect from a blockhead race like Asgardians?¡± ¡°Huh¡­ Like¡­ the m-movies? Is it a made-up language Eyia created?¡± Jin shot her a side-long look. ¡°How¡¯d you know her name?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ I guessed based on what sounded like names from your c-conversation?¡± ¡°Humph. Are you being facetious? Typical foxes,¡± she huffed, rolling her eyes. ¡°F-Facetious? No. I don¡¯t know if you¡¯re being serious or not.¡± She repositioned her hands around the bags to readjust the hat on her head. ¡°I just wanted to help a bit since you aren¡¯t from here, but now you¡¯re being rude.¡± Eyia shot a questioning look back at them for Jin to groan, ¡°Freaking Asgardians¡­ Haaa. Fine.¡± She motioned for them to stop off at a park beach table that led to the sandy shore to their far left. ¡°We can wait here; Eyia wanted to thank you personally for paying for our stuff. Although¡­ I still expect the guy to run after us and accuse us of having false plastic money.¡± ¡°Wow, uh¡­ I guess you don¡¯t have a lot of t-trust for people,¡± Sora hummed, more interested in their past than put off by the comment¡ªshe could relate, in a way¡ªeveryone was always looking for handouts from her or expecting things. Setting everything down, Sora was a little taken aback when Eyia stepped up and hugged her, practically squeezing the air out of her and lifting her off the ground. ¡°I¡ªs-ooo¡ªsalu-tation!¡± she brokenly cheered. The crushing embrace was as if she¡¯d been put inside a vice-grip. ¡°Feed¡ªnice!¡± ¡°You¡¯re hopeless¡­¡± Jin moaned, a palm to her shaking forehead as she seemed to instruct the blonde to set her down. ¡°Haaa! I¡ªack¡­ She¡¯s so¡­ s-strong!¡± Sora cried, choking with tears in her eyes as she bent over to wheeze and try to fill her compressed lungs again. The confused blonde gave the bored and frustrated Korean a worried look, speaking more gibberish for her to return it. ¡°Eyia says she¡¯s sorry. She hasn¡¯t met many people¡­ like, ever¡­ in her life, so¡­ yeah.¡± ¡°N-No problem¡­ Ack¡­ Umm¡ªj-just give me a sec¡­¡± The blonde hovered nearby, shooting questions at Jin as Sora recovered, and, after several seconds, they all sat down. ¡°I-I¡¯m fine now¡­ Wow, but that¡¯s¡­ insane. How often does she w-work out?¡± ¡°Irrelevant. Anyway,¡± Jin bypassed, taking out some salt and vinegar chips to start sampling their food, ¡°what¡¯s up with you?¡± ¡°What do you mean? Do you, umm, not like Japanese people or something?¡± ¡°Huh? No. That made no sense; why would I hate someone Japanese? Humph, these chips, though, are¡­ interesting.¡± Eyia took a handful to chow on before chattering with the Korean. Sora didn¡¯t know what was even happening anymore, but it tickled a bit of fascination inside her. Even for Miami, these two were pretty weird, and she¡¯d seen some odd foreigners. After a few back and forths with the blonde, Jin seemed to give up. ¡°Haaa¡­ Alright, I guess you¡¯re a different kind of fox, Sora¡­ I suppose you¡¯re not too bad.¡± ¡°Thanks? Umm, by the way,¡± she whispered, now truly curious about her characterization, ¡°why do you keep calling me a fox?¡± ¡°Why would I¡­¡± Jin seemed totally at a loss for words as she scratched her forehead before glancing at Eyia to make a few comments; the blonde shot her the same bewildered expression as Jin hummed and leaned forward to scrutinize her. ¡°You don¡¯t believe you¡¯re a fox?¡± ¡°No?¡± Sora questioned, wondering if this was some kind of furry test as her focus wandered between the two girls. ¡°Should¡­ I?¡± ¡°Hmm. Weird¡­¡± ¡°Right? Uh¡­ why would I, heh, be a fox? D-Do you think I¡¯m a furry? Because¡­ I¡¯m not¡ªnot that there¡¯s anything wrong with that!¡± Worried she might have crossed a line, Sora¡¯s attention moved to study the pile of meats in one of their bags, ¡°You, umm¡­ Do you have a place to store the meat?¡± Jin¡¯s serious expression broke into a short snort as she jabbed a thumb at Eyia, now happily scarfing down fruits without a care in the world. ¡°Got it covered. Eh¡­ so, names are a good start, I suppose¡­¡± Running her fingers through her silky-smooth, raven locks, she brushed them back before giving her a half-smile. ¡°My name is Jin-Kyong, and this is Eyia¡­ Sorry about her speech. I¡¯ve been trying to teach her how to roll English off the tongue, but¡ªugh¡­ alright, Sora; I suppose I have been a bit rude. Water under the bridge,¡± she casually waved off. Breaking away from her previous topic, the girl leaned to the side and looked away as she spoke. ¡°Thank you for the food. Oh, but you can call me Jin, since we¡¯re in America,¡± she mumbled before saying something in that strange language and nudging the blonde next to her. Fiddling a little with her necklace, the tall girl looked unsure how to answer but eventually fumbled through a response. ¡°M-My¡ªna¡ªmmgm¡­ name is Eyia?¡± She struggled to work the words around her tongue, making Jin¡¯s lips tighten. ¡°Yeah¡­ As you can see, it¡¯s a work in progress.¡± The raven-haired girl swapped to ¡®Asgardian¡¯ to talk to Eyia again, and Sora heard her focalize on the word is. Swallowing and clearing her throat, Eyia put on an expression that said she was ready for battle, ¡°My¡­ name¡ªis¡ªEyia!¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile a little. She¡¯s actually super cute. The Korean started teaching the other girl something else soon after, giving her a thumbs up to show she¡¯d done well as they opened some soda and took a sip. Jin immediately shut her mouth, smacked her lips, and looked down at the bottle in disbelief. Her focus darted to Sora, down at the item, at Eyia, who was already chugging the liquid, and to end the entertaining show, Jin followed suit, finishing it in one go before pointing at the label in wonder. ¡°This can¡¯t be¡­ orange!?¡± ¡°Eh¡­ yeah?¡± ¡°For real? Wow¡­ That¡¯s actually pretty magical, all things considered.¡± Magical¡­ I wouldn¡¯t go that far, but okay. ¡°Uh¡­ Can I ask where did you guys come from now? Out of the country, I assume, since you seem so excited to be in America?¡± Examining another bottle of soda, Jin popped her tongue against the roof of her mouth a few times. ¡°I came from Tibet, I guess you could say, and Eyia¡­ from some island off Norway. I met her when exploring¡ªwhat flavor is this one?¡± It must have been a pretty remote island, and I guess reading English is hard for her, but damn, vocal-wise, she¡¯s perfect. Sora sat back and crossed her legs, beginning to enjoy the conversation after the bizarre start. ¡°What are you two doing in the United States? It¡¯s grape flavored, by the way.¡± ¡°Meh. Just traveling. Eyia wanted to see a sunny place, and this was near, so we came here. That¡¯s that. This is supposed to taste like a grape? Well, it doesn¡¯t.¡± Intrigued, Sora shrugged, ¡°Yeah, I guess it kind of doesn¡¯t. Where did you learn to speak English so fluently, and how do you not have any money if you are traveling abroad; are you traveling with your parents?¡± Jin¡¯s brow creased at her questions. ¡°I speak every language¡­ And definitely not with my parents.¡± Her eyes narrowed as she looked up at Sora. ¡°But you should know I can speak anything?¡± Sucking in her lower lip for a moment before releasing it, Sora pushed her hat up with a frown. ¡°Huh? Why would I know that? Besides, isn¡¯t it impossible to speak every language? You¡¯re joking, right?¡± Jin sat back with a thoughtful hum, the bottle lip tapping against her mouth as she thought. ¡°You think we¡¯re speaking a made-up language?¡± Forcing a smile, Sora chuckled. ¡°I suppose all languages are kind of made up, to be fair.¡± ¡°Heh¡­ I guess Asgardian isn¡¯t the most common language around this area, and it is a little less refined than Olympian, I suppose, but it gets the job done¡­ barely.¡± Sora shook her head in bewilderment. ¡°Asgardian¡­ L-Like the movies? I-I thought I heard wrong¡­¡± Jin looked over at Eyia and scratched her head before struggling to speak again, but the Korean cut her off. ¡°Anyways. It¡¯s been great talking with you, Sora, and thanks for the food, but we really should get going.¡± She spoke to Eyia again as the blonde gathered up all the bags, and just before leaving, Eyia waved, all the goods swinging in a frenzy before practically screaming, ¡°Salutations!¡± Returning it with a strained smile and wave, Jin chuckled before correcting the apparent Asgardian girl¡ªSora would have bet on Amazon first¡ªand she couldn¡¯t help but giggle at hearing the Korean focalize on goodbye between the strange phrases. Eyia flushed and waved again, voice dropping octaves. ¡°Goodbye, Sora.¡± ¡°Ooh!¡± Sora clapped. ¡°Impressive, Eyia; that was s-super clear!¡± Jin made a dismissive gesture. ¡°Yeah, yeah. Later, Sora. We¡¯ll probably see each other sometime in the next few days. At least, I expect we will.¡± With pursed lips, Sora watched them go without pushing the topic. We¡¯ll see each other again in the next few days? I must have heard that from the pills¡­ She blinked, and they were gone, making her internally panic for a second. ¡°No¡­ Please, don¡¯t say I just had a conversation with¡­ Ugh¡­¡± Not wanting to think about it, Sora clung to the idea it must have been real; after all, she had the receipt, so maybe they actually left at some point, and she just kept hearing the voices, but that still didn¡¯t make sense, she hadn¡¯t had an episode that bad before. Sora groaned while looking up at the still-bright Miami sky. Just¡­ Let¡¯s go home, make some steak, and go to bed! She saw a few middle school girls walking across the street and a lot of elderly folks¡ªit was Miami, after all¡ªbut no one else paid her much mind. Whatever Lori had planned tomorrow, she¡¯d handle then; it was about time she stood up to the psycho. I just hope Lori doesn¡¯t stab me by the end of the week; that¡¯d be the worst. ¡°Mmh¡­¡± Not the worst¡ªstabbing Wendy would be the worst¡­ No, heh, stabbing both of us and then herself as some kind of insane final revenge would be the worst, she half-jokingly concluded. She passed security into her hotel lobby and took the elevator up, joking around with Howie about the girls she¡¯d met. Once inside her penthouse, she kicked off her heels, dropped off her stuff, and got everything ready to grill the steaks. She followed a recipe to do a 20-minute marinade before throwing it on the heated metal and making dinner for two. She got done sooner than she thought, blending up some mashed potatoes and using some leftover gravy she¡¯d made. Cooking was fun to do when she was younger, and it always tasted better when eating with someone else. Unfortunately, Howie and Ron had practically been her only friends for the last three years. Once finished, she had Howie go on his 15-minute break to eat inside with her. After waving the man off to complete his shift in peace, Sora groaned and went to her bedroom to stretch and shed her public attire. Slipping off her dress and accessories before removing her bra, she put them away and changed into white, silky pajama shorts, spaghetti-strap shirt, and slippers; it was comfy mode time! Instead of going to her office to get homework done¡ªbecause she was out this week¡ªSora had an enjoyable time flipping through streaming platforms until she found a good show: an Asian Drama, her favorite. Bundling up in a blanket on the loveseat of the long couches in the theater room, she grabbed some popcorn to finish out the night. She paused the show halfway through when she heard a ding sound through the overhead speakers, indicating the laundry crew had finished their job, which was earlier than usual, and suddenly Frank¡¯s handsome face popped back into her head. Crap. He¡¯d definitely be gone by this hour. I¡¯ll have to give him the money tomorrow; hopefully he¡¯ll still be working the booth. She resumed the show, knowing the staff would place it on her desk to put away where she wanted, and once the credits hit, Sora rechecked her phone, but Mary still hadn¡¯t messaged her, spiking her paranoia. I hope she¡¯s okay. Feeling the stress, she changed into her bikini at 8 p.m., ready to contemplate in her personal spa on the deck and unwind. She pretended to be the steak she¡¯d just marinaded a few hours earlier with an amused smile, allowing the heat to melt her worries away. Kari¡¯s done with me, and I can finally move on with my life. She soaked for the healthy side of an hour before cleaning up and jumping in bed, but it didn¡¯t take long for a groan to bubble through her lips. ¡°How could I forget my phone on the patio¡­¡± Rolling out of bed again, she slunk downstairs to the first level to open the sliding glass door to the strong ocean breeze. Snatching up the item, she returned upstairs and plopped her butt into bed while shooting her dad a text: I know you won¡¯t get this for a while, and I¡¯m really liking Mary. Like, you have no idea how much! I know I said I hated her before, but she actually seems like she wants to help me. So, about what we talked about a few times¡­ She paused, fingers hovering over the keys. I want to start homeschooling and get away from the public stuff. I¡¯m sure Mary will agree. I¡¯m pretty sure she will. I¡¯ll look up a list of possible instructors tomorrow that I can send you, but I know you¡¯ll probably want to find someone you¡¯ll like, too. I also want Wendy to join me. I know it¡¯s asking a lot, and I¡¯ll talk to her about it. I just want things to go back to how they were. She sent it before following it up with another. Love you! And I hope the big deal goes through! Things are looking up here, and I can¡¯t wait to see you next week! Scooting to the side of her bed, she smiled and placed it on her wireless charger, so that it wouldn¡¯t be almost dead tomorrow, and nestled underneath her blankets, feeling the bliss of lying in bed after a challenging day filled with emotion. Not only that, but it was the first night in over three years she hadn¡¯t had to take any pills. Can I really make this happen in a week? What¡¯s Lori planning to do tomorrow? It took over thirty minutes to clear her mind and fall asleep, with her last thoughts being: Now, nine days until my sixteenth birthday and seven days ¡®till dad¡¯s back home. B2 — 1. A Dream on the Moon A gentle pulse of power filled Sora¡¯s mind as she surfaced from a flaming sea, flashes of memories streaking through scenes of her time transforming, Kari¡¯s bullying, and the events leading up to the hellish amphitheater. Abruptly, the chaos was silenced, relief coming in the breeze of a field of nothingness. Peace came to her turbulent dreams as she cracked open her eyes to white, yet it was only an abstract impression since no other color could describe the void that surrounded her. Sora looked up to find a black star, golden rays beaming out of its center to bathe her in radiance. Squinting, she saw vines of obsidian thorns snaking out of the abyssal hole in reality, reaching out to embrace her; she wasn¡¯t frightened; in fact, there was something curious about their tentative touch, and a feminine voice caressed her soul. ¡°And who might you be?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t open her mouth; she didn¡¯t know how to speak wherever this was since there was no atmosphere. A resigned sigh came from the black thorns entity. ¡°Unfortunately, it seems our time together has come to an end¡­ I will see you soon, Little Existence Walker.¡± The slam of a dresser snapped her out of her mental haze. Shooting up, her vision flying open, Sora¡¯s copper locks swung left and right as she tried to orient herself; she discovered a dimly lit, fairly decorated, and spacious room. A groan close to her lips, as she mumbled, ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± ¡°Finally awake, are we, Princess?¡± Throat constricted and tail bristling under her sheets, Sora¡¯s gaze drifted to a cross-armed, black-haired vulpes standing beside her open dresser. The woman¡¯s three tails¡ªtwo dark and one pure white¡ªflicked with agitation as her dull-yellow eyes centered on her. ¡°Who are you?¡± she instinctively asked, scooting to the metal wall at her back. Was she in a dungeon of some kind? ¡°What¡­ happened?¡± ¡°Typical teenagers, always slow on the uptake,¡± the vulpes sighed, using her hips to bump the drawer back in as she moved to a closet that slid open at a pulse of magic. ¡°Credit where credit is due¡­ you do know how to pick clothes,¡± she stated while sliding through a small selection of her wardrobe. Falling silent, Sora did a swift take of her room and the single fox lady occupying it, putting her on high alert. The last thing she remembered was meeting her mother, and then¡­ nothing but that weird dream about the black star and thorns. Left ear rising, her right remained back while gauging the casual attitude of what she assumed was a Huli Jing by her black fur; although, the white tail was supposed to only belong to her Aunt Inari¡¯s Kitsune. Her traditional, red-and-black-themed qipao Chinese dress matched her Eastern appearance as she huffed and stopped to examine a particular article. ¡°You aren¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°One of your aunt¡¯s Kitsune?¡± the woman asked, rolling her eyes while turning to toss a blue dress for her to change into on the bed. ¡°I wish, Princess. Hurry up and change; you have a dinner date.¡± Having had enough of being confused over the last few weeks, Sora pulled her tail up and hugged it, remaining in the corner of her bed. ¡°I¡¯m not going to do whatever you say, lady. I just woke up in this random¡­ metal room with a lot of my belongings, which obviously means you broke into my home to steal them. I¡¯ve had my fair share of weird recently, so I¡¯m not very trusting.¡± ¡°My, the arrogance and privilege of a vulpes Founder¡­¡± The vulpes¡¯ fox-like eyes narrowed, yet her voice was patient as she swept to the side of her bed to sit in a proper pose, making Sora tense. ¡°Why don¡¯t we introduce ourselves then? My name is Fen, a humble three-tailed Huli Jing. And I am a prisoner¡ªbasically slave¡ªof the most powerful organization on your planet, which has charged me with¡­ once again, essentially being your slave.¡± Her fake smile and sarcastic chime were a little off-putting as she gestured to the wall beside them, sending a pulse of refined magic through it. ¡°Welcome to Lunar Area-01.¡± Sora¡¯s mouth fell open as the shutters pulled back to reveal the blackness of space, the stars shining in the background brighter than anything she¡¯d seen looking up at the night sky. ¡°Is that¡­ Earth; we¡¯re on the moon?! No way!¡± She sat up to press against the chilly glass. A giant cityscape of futuristic white buildings and space shuttles stretched out into a miniature metropolis with a high-speed railway connecting the facilities. Fen followed her gaze with tight lips. ¡°Trust me, it grows stale¡­ especially when your movements are limited. Now, can we skip this phase of you freaking out and gawking? Your friend Wendy is in the next room over.¡± Taking a deep breath, Sora let the jitters in her stomach ease as she glanced left at the dark-haired vulpes, now realizing what her three tails meant: she had to be at least two centuries old. The woman¡¯s offhand comment about an organization brought back memories of her time with the Homeland agents. ¡°What about everyone else I was with¡ªmy dad? Did this organization bring them here, too?¡± Fen slid her back against the glass to give her a thoughtful look for several awkward seconds before streaming out a slightly agitated sigh. ¡°Let us make a deal then, Princess. You get up and get ready for dinner, and I will inform you of your position to the best of my knowledge. Is that fair?¡± Feeling as if she had more power in this situation due to Fen¡¯s attitude, Sora smiled and held out a hand. ¡°Only if you call me by my name and not Princess. I¡¯m not a prisoner, am I?¡± The woman accepted but didn¡¯t change her tone. ¡°A question without dressing is met with silence.¡± ¡°Understood, Ma¡¯am,¡± Sora snickered, not feeling particularly threatened by her agitation. Getting up, she stretched out while studying her green nightgown; she wasn¡¯t wearing a bra but had bottoms. ¡°Umm¡­ who dressed me, by the way?¡± ¡°Who do you think?¡± Fen returned, eyes closing before falling on her bed to stretch out and get comfortable. ¡°That unpleasant job was tasked to me¡­ If I am being candid, you don¡¯t seem all that bothered now,¡± she casually stated, Chinese accent thickening. Sora spotted Fen¡¯s long tails stretch out while plucking out a new set of garments from her dresser; they were still in her typical drawer, which wasn¡¯t creepy at all. It was worth noting that she didn¡¯t feel all that rushed or threatened after meeting with her mother. ¡°Well, I¡¯ve dealt with a lot of weird crap recently, and you don¡¯t seem all that hostile. If you were assigned to me, then I¡¯m given special treatment, and obviously, you know I¡¯m a Founder and who my mother is, so¡­ yeah. As you said, heh, I¡¯m a princess,¡± she chimed, shooting a wink at the woman that she knew would get under her fur. The woman¡¯s right ear folded against the bed as she tilted her head to frown at her. ¡°As entitled as I thought you¡¯d be. What it must feel like to have influential family and power¡­ In any case,¡± she grunted, forcing herself up by her core to fix her hair as Sora faced away to slip off her gown and change, ¡°no, you are not a prisoner but a guest of the Foundation.¡± ¡°Thought so!¡± Sora chirped, brushing back her hair to connect her bra. ¡°I¡¯m getting dressed, so keep me updated, Ms. Fluffy Tail.¡± Her tail weaved to the left as she caught Fen¡¯s scowl; it felt good to have a bit of fun in a tense situation. ¡°What¡¯s the damage?¡± ¡°So¡­ far as I am aware, everyone at the site we found you in has been placed under what I assume is an unbreakable sleeping charm, courtesy of your mother. No one can detect it, but it is most certainly there. Speculation has it that once you awaken one, the others will rouse. I¡¯m not so sure. I actually have a bet with Jian on it.¡± Once her undergarments were on, she hesitantly tossed them into the dirty laundry hamper inside the closet. Did these people think she¡¯d be living here now? Not if she had anything to say about it. Feeling somewhat agitated now that she had a chance to look around at all her stolen items, Sora went to slip on the dress beside the fox woman, again flipping out her hair and brushing her bangs to the side. With a simple desire, her magic cascaded down her frame, making her perfectly presentable, cleaning her mouth and coloring her manicured nails blue to match her dress while slipping into some footwear. ¡°Bets are fun. I bet I¡¯ll be back in Miami soon. Ready. Let¡¯s wake up Wendy!¡± Fen gave her a sour look that screamed jealousy. ¡°The confidence is blinding¡­ Are you even aware of the intricacy of the magic you just used without so much as the blink of an eye? No, never mind,¡± she snarled, rising to her feet to look from her sandal wedge heels to her copper locks, done up in a Gibson tuck style from the accessories on her dresser. ¡°You¡¯re the one who wanted me to get on with it,¡± Sora returned with a short laugh, looking at herself in the full-length mirror by the corner. ¡°By the way, what is up with that weird magic coming from your stomach? It feels similar to that cursed item I destroyed that had ghosts inside. Well, yours is a lot less dark, I suppose.¡± Fen¡¯s face tightened, hands darting to her belly as Sora did a magical sweep of her environment. ¡°How else do you think they keep me amiable, a collar? It is a ticking bomb that could kill me at my captor¡¯s whim.¡± ¡°It would fit the trope,¡± Sora chuckled, putting a hand on her hip and snapping her fingers on her own whim. ¡°Well, consider this an act of good faith because you¡¯ve been so welcoming!¡± Fen¡¯s tails stiffened at the loud sound, vision wide and claws extending to press against her abdomen. Red fire spun off her copper tail to encircle the stunned vulpes, and a bright, rectangular light took shape, shining through the fabric. ¡°Wait!¡± It was too late; Sora¡¯s desire ate through at least half of her magical power to sink her fangs into whatever was attached to Fen¡¯s soul. It was harder and more energy expensive than she would have liked, but her impulsive decision discovered a flaw in the seal to make it turn on itself. A paper seal materialized before being disintegrated by the twinkling flames before they dispersed, leaving Fen tense and semi-panicked. ¡°How¡­ Why would you do that?!¡± Sora flashed her teeth, trying not to look weak after that considerable expenditure of energy. ¡°Because I¡¯m not a fan of taking away someone¡¯s free will, and if you¡¯re in my service against your will, then this is the way I¡¯d have it. Simple as that. Fight back where you can, right? And what are they going to do, kill me?¡± ¡°Fool!¡± Fen¡¯s face turned white as the lights overhead turned crimson. ¡°Kill me! You don¡¯t think they¡¯re monitoring contained creatures?!¡± Gut tightening ever-so-slightly, Sora¡¯s brain caught up to her whim; maybe she had been a bit hasty since waking up. In fact, should she be acting this calm in the first place? She glanced at the Earth in the distance; she was on the moon, for crying out loud. Typically, she wouldn¡¯t have done something like this without mulling it over. Was it a product of her complete transformation into a vulpes Founder? A female voice spoke over the intercom above them, drawing their gaze. ¡°Gray Delta: Peasant - Anomaly Containment Breach. Protocol Beta-799. Those in Area 232, please follow proper procedures. A-9333, Huli Jing, Xu Fen is free from her restriction ward. Room 205. Gamma Force: Whirlwind, en route.¡± A little stunned at the rapid escalation, Sora oddly didn¡¯t feel that worried as she smoothly slid in front of the panicking, dark-haired vulpes. Quickly guiding her to the bed to sit, she threw the sheet over the confused fox¡¯s head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it!¡± If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°This isn¡¯t a game!¡± she whimpered. ¡°These people aren¡¯t to be played with¡­¡± Fen choked, stiff as a board as Sora sensed a stretch in space; nine people were bending through it to flicker into the room on all sides. They took up an offensive position with futuristic assault rifles aimed at the now timid Huli Jing, quivering under her sheet. ¡°It¡¯s okay! It¡¯s okay!¡± Sora held up her hands. ¡°It¡¯s my fault. She¡¯s not causing any trouble.¡± Her ears twitched as a French woman¡¯s voice came through one of the men¡¯s headsets. ¡°Let it slide, Sergeant Jacob. Fen is more intelligent than to believe she will be fine running amok inside a Lunar Containment facility. Let Sora have her fun.¡± The lights turned normal, and the female voice returned, Sora now realizing it was probably an AI in charge of the place. ¡°Breach overruled. The Threat Designation returned to Safe. Please return to your activities.¡± Jacob lowered his gun, eyes hardened and ready for any action as his other men lowered their weapons. ¡°I apologize for barging in, Ma¡¯am. Please, excuse us.¡± With another twist of spatial reality, they phased out of the room, and Sora grabbed her elbow, pressure now binding her chest after sensing the aura of these soldiers. All nine of them had magic-resistant artifacts that would have made trying to influence them an absolute nightmare. Fen wasn¡¯t wrong; instinct told her they would have pulled the trigger without a second thought, and the response time was within twenty seconds of her disabling the fox¡¯s restriction. She gulped as Fen shakily pulled down the sheet, chest heaving and now holding her three tails against her breast with one arm. Face turning red, she checked her tone, yet the heat in her yellow eyes was unmistakable. ¡°You¡­ are unbelievable! Thinking the world revolves around you, Princess, and maybe it does, but did you hear her¡­ I am a peasant. Not even close to a threat. And that is the response to someone that low on the totem pole. Think a little more, please.¡± Sucking in her bottom lip, Sora gave herself a bit of time to let her nerves settle. She stumbled back as Fen stood up. Yeah, she was now feeling the weight of the situation. ¡°I¡¯m supposed to have dinner with, umm, with the big shots, right?¡± Fen held her hands against her belly, her rapid breaths diminishing as she slowed their rhythm; her aura took on a new wavelength, though, based on relief and gratitude. ¡°Yes. And while I do appreciate your concern. Please, be a little smarter in how you step, Lady Sora¡­¡± She looked away, claws retracting now that her fur was easing up. ¡°Thank you. Let¡¯s move to the room next door to wake your friend.¡± Sora followed her to the door that the men had filed out of, sensing their lingering presence now that she was on high alert. She paused at the entrance as Fen opened their way, glancing back at the room; the high after leaving her mother was fading now. ¡°A lot of things are from¡­ my room? ¡± Fen rolled her eyes, showing a slight smile that wasn¡¯t quite as bitter, and she turned to the side to let her pass while slowly clapping her hands. ¡°How very observant, My Lady. Can we move beyond this sense of monotony? For the record, I am not accustomed to being demoted to a¡­ messenger.¡± Scattered mind finding its feet after the reality-inducing incident of having guns pointed at her, Sora groaned and rubbed her forehead. ¡°Alright, Ms. High Class. I¡¯m coming. Can you tell me a little more about how I got here and these people?¡± The woman¡¯s three tails flicked away with agitation back in her tone, yet she went over a short account of what they¡¯d found when discovering her. Her fears abated upon hearing that the werewolf curse had vanished from all those infected; in the rush of things, it had totally slipped her mind. Wendy was in the room over, and her father had stabilized. Throughout the brief story, Sora¡¯s focus rested on the girl¡¯s single, glowing white tail. ¡°¡­My eyes are here, by the way,¡± Fen sighed, shivering a little and stepping away. ¡°Go ahead and ask,¡± she growled. ¡°Your constant stares are starting to make me feel uncomfortable¡­ If only Jian would pay more than a glance; instead, I have puppy eyes glued on my fur.¡± Sora¡¯s thoughts were back to the conversations she¡¯d had throughout the last few weeks. ¡°You have to be in contact with my Aunt Inari, right? Maybe you¡¯re not a full Kitsune, but you do know my aunt, right?¡± ¡°Mmm. It¡¯s a bit of a tale,¡± Fen grumbled. Her white tail drew around for the woman to run her claws along the fur. ¡°I do not know how ignorant you are to your own kind, but one cannot just¡­ become a Kitsune overnight. Inari has rules and limitations on those she allows to represent her¡ªthere are levels.¡± A lump formed in Sora¡¯s throat at the real information; the woman had met her aunt. Yet, the white tail gave her the sense of a pit viper; the curiosity was eating her up inside, though. If I touch that¡­ I might have my second tail forced on me. I could see Mom again¡­ and probably die. Fen¡¯s head tilted with confusion at her tight expression. ¡°Anyway¡­ this room up ahead is where your friend is.¡± ¡°Long way for just being next door,¡± Sora mumbled, eyes still on the dangerous white fluffy appendage weaving behind the woman. ¡°Heh. Indeed, it is. Also, why the sudden change? You¡¯re looking at me as if I¡¯m about to gobble you up. There¡¯s no need to look at me in that light. I am the smart, obedient fox because otherwise, I die. ¡± Stopping in front of the door, Sora looked up and down the hallway; not a person was seen in the spacious corridor that could easily fit two cars. ¡°Where is everyone? It feels like a ghost town.¡± ¡°Not here!¡± Fen chimed, pressing the button for the steel panel to slide back and gesturing her inside. ¡°Your friend awaits. Grab some clothes for her, and I would say I¡¯d take you to the locker room, where you both can get freshened up, but I take it that won¡¯t be necessary due to your absurd magic. And, please, for the love of Inari, don¡¯t make me wait longer than is absolutely necessary.¡± Sora was a little put off by her bristly attitude that flip-flopped from ¡®somewhat acceptable¡¯ to bitter and jealous, but considering she was a prisoner, Sora could see herself being the same way. She was releasing stress in her own way. Adding a smile, Sora took one look inside before her focus returned to Fen, the Huli Jing¡¯s attitude a swirling mix of uncertainty. ¡°I am sorry for putting us both in that position. I was reckless, and I¡¯m trying to figure out being a vulpes, Founder or not, since I lived as a human up until a few weeks ago¡­ however long it¡¯s been. Are you feeling better without it, though?¡± Fen nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared at her, folding her arms under her bust in a defensive way. ¡°Maybe¡­ I did misjudge you. Yes, I am feeling less¡­ I¡¯m feeling better. Now, let me enjoy my silence in the hallway while you¡­ do whatever with the human. Take as much time as you need.¡± Sora walked in, Fen shutting the door behind her. Once inside, she half-turned, ears falling back as she heard a depressed sigh come from the vulpes outside; it felt like the woman was going to cry. Rules for thee, and not for me¡­ she thought, trying to see it from the captured woman¡¯s point of view. Here this organization is catering to me while using Fen like a disposable tool. Life isn¡¯t fair¡­ Mouth drawing in, goosebumps ran across her arms as she examined the room her best friend had been given: posters of bands, manga Sailor Princess characters, and many more items she recognized from Wendy¡¯s home decorated the space. It¡¯s like¡­ they really expect us to move in! No, I have to get us out of here. Trying to shove the stressful environment and situation down, she smiled at her resting best friend. She was breathing somewhat heavily, to the point it was just below a snore; Sora recalled teasing Wendy about it a lot when they were younger. She never truly snored, but she was a heavy breather, which brought on a chuckle when spotting the brunette grinning in her sleep, giggly mumbles breaking the silence about some dream she was having. Oddly, she talked a lot about princes and noble boys; she was a lover of the otome genre, though. ¡°Theo, no¡­ that¡¯s my job¡­¡± Sitting at the edge of the bed, she watched Wendy shift and gargle something unintelligible as some drool fell out of the corner of her mouth; clearly, she had moved on from anime princes to wonderful dreams involving her co-worker and crush, Theodore Thomas. A light weave of very familiar magic was wrapped around the brunette¡¯s spirit that stood out to Sora like a bright red target on white paper. Her mother¡¯s magic; she knew it instinctively. It was crazy to think Fen couldn¡¯t sense it. Then again, the thread was so thin that the slightest touch would break the spell. Sora figured her mother had done the same to others to give her a chance to explain the situation to them rather than the abrupt awakening she¡¯d gotten. Eyia waking up in this base was sure to be a disaster. Plucking the string, it snapped without effort. Wendy¡¯s eyes snapped open, coughing and wiping away the drool that leaked down her chin. ¡°H-Huh?! Sora, wha¡ªJenny, she¡­¡± Lurching forward, Sora tackled Wendy to the bed, making the brunette squeak; there wasn¡¯t a trace of the werewolf curse marring her soul. In fact, there was something comforting embedded inside of her best friend¡¯s core that she knew was some kind of gift from her mother. It wasn¡¯t actually her mother¡¯s power but an impression she felt that Wendy had been visited by the fiery fox goddess, too. ¡°I w-was so scared!¡± she wept, feeling the weight of the hellish amphitheater suddenly collapse over her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Wendy returned the hug and teared up, unable to speak as they babbled to one another, locked in an embrace; Sora had no clue what either of them was saying, but the pressure compressing her chest gradually faded. She had Wendy again. Her brown-haired childhood friend was the first to choke out a laugh and pull away. ¡°Heh, I¡¯m okay¡­ I think. Umm. So¡­ what¡¯s with this weird room filled with, like¡­ everything I own¡ªis that really my K-Pop poster? I thought my mom got rid of it.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know! Well, not the poster part. I was just told to get ready for dinner. Haha-haaa. Do I look good?¡± ¡°Pfft! Are you kidding me? You always look good,¡± Wendy snorted, scooting back and crossing her legs while gesturing at her yellow polka-dot pajamas. ¡°Eh? Classic, huh? Wait¡­ Who undressed me?! Was I naked after I turned into a werewolf¡ªyikes¡­ I have so many questions!¡± ¡°Same! Want to figure out what¡¯s going on with me?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Using some of the tissue beside the bed to clean up, Wendy suddenly screamed, making Sora jump and almost clock her head against the ceiling. ¡°What?!¡± she gasped, glancing for danger as the door flew open to reveal Fen. ¡°What is it?¡± Wendy was clasping her red and puffy cheeks, eyes wide and staring into empty space. There were no magical attacks or anything dangerous that Sora could sense. However, the brunette¡¯s explanation made Sora¡¯s body go numb. ¡°This gorgeous nine-tailed fox lady came to me in my dreams¡ªit was so real. I-I think she was your mom¡­ Mia?¡± Throat constricting, Sora moved to sit on the bed with her. ¡°Yeah¡­ I thought I sensed her on you. It¡¯s almost like I can smell her¡­ it¡¯s like fire lilies. What did she say?¡± ¡°No! No! You don¡¯t get it!¡± Wendy shook her head, suddenly spotting Fen in the doorway. ¡°Uh¡­ who¡¯s the pretty fox lady?¡± ¡°Our guide¡ªno, more like our maid?¡± ¡°Lovely¡­¡± Fen mumbled with renewed bitterness. ¡°Happy to do your dirty laundry, Princess.¡± ¡°Anyway, her name¡¯s Fen,¡± Sora swiftly dismissed. ¡°But that¡¯s not as important as my mom! You met her?!¡± Wendy gulped and fidgeted with her feet and hands. ¡°She, umm, she came to me in a dream and told me¡ª¡± Turning to look straight into her eyes, she said, ¡°Sora, she told me that in two days, she¡¯s going to be in Miami, to be where she should have been all along¡­ She said you could use your magic on me to play her message since she couldn¡¯t leave it with you, or it could cause problems.¡± Sora¡¯s fur stood up; it was as if cold water had been dumped on her head before the sun broke free of the clouds to douse her in lighter fluid. Fen had a similar expression of disbelief; Mia, the youngest of the vulpes Founders, was coming to this planet. It changed everything. Her mother was coming home to be her mother? Did that mean they could be a complete family? Dad would have his wife back? She had Wendy back as her best friend. Was everything she dreamed about to come true? ¡°How?¡± Sora whispered, throat suddenly scratchy. ¡°My mom said she couldn¡¯t see me because¡­ because it could kill me. What changed?¡± An encouraging smile brightened Wendy¡¯s shiny red cheeks as she reached out to squeeze her hand. ¡°Do your magic thing! I can¡¯t remember it all¡ªit¡¯s really fuzzy. I¡¯m excited for you! Oh, and make sure to, uh¡­ I think she said, desire for her to interact with the environment?¡± Fighting down the pressure punching her in the chest with every heartbeat, Sora held her arm against her belly; she felt lightheaded. Wrapping her tail around the back of Wendy, dazzling, magical flames ignited as she fed the desire, the fire wrapping around the brunette before exploding outward to create a visual representation of her mother. She couldn¡¯t breathe, and Fen fell to her knees. A small, familiar smile brightened her mother¡¯s freckled face as she looked down on them; yet, as she¡¯d come to expect, her elegant, beautiful mother started to flounder the moment she opened her mouth. ¡°Hello, Little Ember. I hope to see you soon¡­ Hmm-eh-hehe. Where to begin? Yeesh. Haha. I¡¯m so bad at this!¡± B2 — 2. A Mother’s Resolution Goosebumps prickled Sora¡¯s arms at her mother¡¯s voice, the flaming goddess of vulpes giving her a wave that made her want to cry and laugh at the same time. She almost lurched to her feet to tackle the redhead, but reality quickly caught up to her stunned brain; this was a projected dream version of her mom. She felt a little lightheaded, yet her energy was returning at a fairly steady pace to counteract her brain fog, which was probably due to her literally being on the moon. Between breaking Fen free and creating this realistic dream, Sora was starting to understand some of her limits; there was still so much she had yet to explore with her change. ¡°Mom,¡± she choked with a chuckle, trying to fight the emotion in her cracking voice. ¡°Are you really coming home? You said you¡¯d send me a dream, but I didn¡¯t expect it this fast, and heh, you sent it to the wrong girl!¡± Her mother chortled, shifting to stare at the study desk in the corner with its tucked-in chair. ¡°I didn¡¯t send it to the wrong girl, Sora. Once your change was completed, I couldn¡¯t interact with you, or it would cause trouble¡­ ¡°Wendy,¡± she rediverted, showing the brunette a small smile, ¡°if you could pull that out for me, then I¡¯d love to explain¡­ I¡¯m, umm, I¡¯m more than a little nervous, and there are some things I need to say that may be¡­ difficult for you to accept, Sora.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Wendy mumbled, jumping up first to comply as the woman stepped back to give her room. ¡°Should I, uh, call you Ms. Moore?¡± ¡°Thank you, Wendy, and no, Mia would be wonderful,¡± the fox said. ¡°L-Lady Mia¡ª¡± The chair half pulled out, Wendy froze as the nine-tailed vulpes¡¯ voice turned harsh, the woman shifting her intense, flaming irises onto the quaking Huli Jing. ¡°Do not speak or move a muscle, Fen.¡± A lump formed in Sora¡¯s own throat at the venom in her mother¡¯s voice, and she watched as the three-tailed vulpes almost fainted as panic and stress flooded her aura, keeping her gaze locked on the floor. She didn¡¯t even so much as squeak a reply, snapping her jaw shut; it was almost as if Sora could feel the heat in her mother¡¯s very words scorch her cheeks. Wendy mechanically finished pulling out the chair in the lingering tense atmosphere as her mom kept her focus on the fox slave. And after a few seconds, she folded her tails together in her lap and sat, frigid ruby irises fixated on the dark-haired woman; she wasn¡¯t finished, though. ¡°Wait in the hallway, and place a muting spell within this room. Do not tempt me, Fen, and if you get within two meters of my daughter again, I will erase you.¡± Sora felt stricken at the abrupt ire that was thrown at the Huli Jing, her mind trying to catch up as Fen pressed her face further into the carpet before casting the area in a magical bubble to remove sound; it almost fell apart as she gulped and crawled out of the room, stiff tails tucked against her side. Utterly baffled and somewhat taken aback by her mother¡¯s spontaneous blow-up, Sora¡¯s eyebrows came together. ¡°Mom, that was¡­ that was so rude! Why did you do that? Sure, Fen¡¯s been a bit prickly and sarcastic, but she¡¯s a slave.¡± Her mother¡¯s temper simmered as the hydraulic door snapped shut, and Mia took a deep breath to calm herself. ¡°Sora, let me explain.¡± She returned her gaze to them, ears pulling back and suddenly the exact opposite of the vision of hellfire she¡¯d been before, rubbing her elbow with a melancholy expression. Wendy was biting her bottom lip and hugging herself as she settled back in beside her. ¡°Again, I apologize, Sora, Wendy, but¡­ there are things a mother must concern herself with, and the threat that Fen is to you¡­ to all of us, including herself, cannot be overstated. She will not listen to us out of fear because fear rules her, and she fears Inari more than me.¡± Now back in reality after the slap-inducing greeting Fen had gotten, Sora¡¯s bubbly feelings became more grounded, and she took Wendy¡¯s hand to help comfort her friend. ¡°For the record, Mom, not the way I wanted Wendy to meet you¡­ but okay, I¡¯m listening.¡± Complying and expecting a good explanation, she glanced around at Fen¡¯s barrier; it was strengthening now that the Huli Jing was outside and further reinforcing it. ¡°What¡¯s the problem with Fen? I get that vulpes don¡¯t have the best reputation, especially Huli Jing and Kumiho, but Fen was kind of warming up to me¡­ I think. Wait, how can she be dangerous for you?!¡± A long sigh streamed out of her mother¡¯s lips as she stroked her bristly fur, clearly upset at having this conversation. ¡°You two becoming close is my concern, Sora¡­ This will be challenging for you to grasp, but my sister has infused a tiny portion of her power inside of Fen¡¯s tail. It¡¯s a complicated process, and something I cannot do anything about without alerting her.¡± Sora sucked in the corner of her lip, vision moving to Wendy¡¯s posters on the wall. The conversations about her aunt over the last few weeks returned to the forefront of her mind. Jin hated Inari and her Kitsune, so that raised some red flags, but she¡¯d started to see things differently after having the rug pulled out from under her feet regarding Kari. There was always another angle to consider. Then again, she was beginning to have her speculations as to the reason her mother did this from their previous talk. At the same time, she had strong feelings about seeing other people getting bullied, and Fen didn¡¯t really do anything wrong. In fact, Sora had been the one to put her life in danger by jumping the gun; she¡¯d done a lot of that over the last week. ¡°Let me guess,¡± she sighed, ¡°you don¡¯t like Aunt Inari because it¡¯s complicated. Yes, she doesn¡¯t know about me, and¡­ I¡¯m lost from there.¡± She reflected on what her mother said, attempting to work through her own thoughts. ¡°Let me see if I¡¯ve got this straight. We¡¯re in this big house that is Grandma¡¯s territory, and you split it in half with Aunt Inari, or something. I get that, but why would her Kitsune candidate be on your side of the house or cause us trouble? I¡¯m just trying to wrap my head around it.¡± Her mother rubbed her cheeks and let go of a low groan. ¡°I debated whether a strong or weak approach would be better, but I¡¯m not good at dealing with things that scare me¡­ I lash out,¡± she mumbled. ¡°It¡¯s a flaw, I know. Haaa.¡± Sora huffed and crossed her arms as the brunette kept her mouth shut. ¡°You¡¯re trying to derail me, Mom. I don¡¯t get why you wouldn¡¯t see I¡¯d have a problem with that kind of introduction.¡± Her tail flicked to the side, ears twitching while trying to figure out her mom¡¯s angle. ¡°It¡¯s not like you didn¡¯t think this through before sending this dream. I¡¯m confused.¡± The dream representation of her mom knotted her fingers in her lap and took a moment to respond while staring at the floor. It reaffirmed to Sora that this wasn¡¯t really her mom but a recording of sorts. Yet, it was so real and interactive that it appeared genuine. It also meant her mother had predicted precisely how this scenario would turn out, and she couldn¡¯t see her desiring an argument to start this conversation off. ¡°You¡­ wanted this reaction?¡± Sora tentatively questioned. ¡°Sora¡­ you must understand,¡± her mother implored, ¡°I see and know things that are to come¡­ so many things¡­ terrible things. There are things I desperately want to prevent, and I wish from the bottom of my heart that I could wipe Fen from Existence so that the threat she poses to you is gone¡­ the threat Inari is to you.¡± Her mother looked up to stare right into her eyes without a hint of humor, and it wasn¡¯t the awkward or powerful figure she¡¯d seen up to this point; there was genuine fear in her red eyes as her big ears drew back. ¡°My sister¡¯s power is inside one of Fen¡¯s tails¡ªan insignificant amount¡ªyet Inari is so skilled and powerful that one of a few scenarios could collapse everything. Yes,¡± she insisted, glancing at Wendy as she peeked a look. ¡°Everything, as in everything. If I or Sora were to interact with Fen¡­ there is a real chance that Inari could sense it and, quite literally, burn the house down to reach you.¡± A shiver ran down her frame at the statement, making Sora scoot closer to Wendy. Sora¡¯s fingernails dug into her lap at the image her mother had painted. The house represented something mind-boggling; universes were specks of dust in this structure, and she didn¡¯t want to believe her aunt was some heartless, totally evil person. ¡°That didn¡¯t happen, though! This is your prediction, not fact. You told me all of these things are predictions. I already interacted with Fen, and everything is still here.¡± Her mother was swift to counter her argument. ¡°No,¡± she flatly returned, lightly shaking her head while rubbing between her eyes. ¡°I am not trying to manipulate you, Sora, but to express to you how seriously I am taking this situation. Fen is very, very dangerous!¡± Red eyes opening, she directed them toward the door where Fen waited outside, emotional aura spiraling out of control, thinking she could be erased at any moment. Yet, her mother slapped Sora across the face with her inexperience as she explained what Sora had done to the woman. ¡°When you broke the seal that bound her powers, you only interacted with the binding spell, not Fen¡¯s spirit itself. If you were to so much as graze tails¡­ you could trigger one of the countless sensors waiting to activate from my sister¡¯s weave¡­ and, in the worst case, be spiritually transported out of my territory. I would need to battle my sister to get you back, and¡­ I¡¯m not sure how well that would turn out for all of us.¡± ¡°Why would it do that, though¡ªthe teleport part?¡± Wendy whispered. ¡°If Fen is so low on the totem pole, and not even a Kitsune, then why would it do something like that? Why would Inari care?¡± Mia sighed and ran her fingers through her hair to shake it out to the side. ¡°Because Inari has a thread attached to every candidate she accepts. Think of it like a spider¡¯s web, and it spans everywhere. She can pick up tiny signals from the vibrations along that thread, and if snapped, it is intricate enough to give her an idea of how it was severed with its surroundings.¡± Sora pressed her free hand against her stomach, looking back at all the insanity that had been the last two weeks¡ªat least, two weeks as far as she knew since it could be a month for all she knew. Her mother was trying to look out for her, and while she would be lying if she said she didn¡¯t want to meet her mom¡¯s side of the family, she could understand that. That being said, she knew the risks of diving head first without thinking from her blunder in the Miami Monster Council and just recently with Fen¡¯s seal. That still didn¡¯t change her opinion, though. Setting her resolve, she saw a pained smile on her mother¡¯s face that said she knew what she was about to say. ¡°Okay. I get what you¡¯re saying. You are doing this to warn Fen and to try and show me how serious you are about this¡­ But you also told me that you can¡¯t see or know everything since the more single beings in one place, or whatever, the harder it is to predict the future. Do you know Fen will cause trouble for me, or is it a guess?¡± Sitting back, her mother shook her head. ¡°If I were to put a number behind it¡­ After this incident, I¡¯d say you have a 78% chance since I¡¯ve put the fear of, well, me into her, and that is rounding it down. Note that this number is not just the potential of drawing in Inari but other disasters she could open you up to. Fen is a Huli Jing.¡± Wendy shifted uncomfortably before squeezing Sora¡¯s hand with a smile before letting go. ¡°Why do you say that as if it¡¯s a bad thing? I get pop culture¡¯s take on them. Still, why is she different from other vulpes? Aren¡¯t they individuals and can make their own decisions?¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t entirely wrong,¡± her mother whispered, glancing toward the door again, ¡°but it isn¡¯t so simply stated. There is a reason Huli Jing culture and stereotypes exist. Huli Jing do not gain their energy from natural forces, as Nogitsune or Kitsune do,¡± she educated. ¡°Kumiho needs human flesh so their own doesn¡¯t decay, and Huli Jing can only rebuild their power by sapping spiritual energy from others. Huli Jing culture hates the other vulpes races and is jealous of them, believing they have the worst requirement to live since, to reach their nine tails, they must take life force. They especially despise Nogitsune.¡± Sora chuckled, crossing her arms and grinning. ¡°Easy! I¡¯ve already saved a Succubus from hunger. I could just give her a Seed like¡­¡± she trailed off as her mother¡¯s previous statement hit her in the forehead. ¡°Wait, I can¡¯t use my magic on her, can I?¡± ¡°No, Sora,¡± Her mother firmly confirmed. ¡°You can¡¯t even try to defend yourself against her with your magic without Inari being made aware. That is why I want you to remove her from your life¡­ There are other vulpes you can meet. Hehe. Yes, Wendy, fox boys,¡± she winked, making the brunette blush. ¡°Nogitsune who can use some friends.¡± ¡°Not pivoting at all,¡± Sora grumbled, trying to come up with another solution. Sitting a little straighter, her mother breathed out a long sigh. ¡°I know you don¡¯t feel good about rejecting someone when you feel like you¡¯re discriminating against them. Yes, it does reinforce the idea of stereotypical terrible Huli Jing¡­ and I have tried to be the bad guy here, pushing her away so you don¡¯t have to¡­ but you aren¡¯t the type to be frightened off by probabilities.¡± Sora looked down at her lap and straightened her dress a little; she was now thinking about the short interactions she¡¯d had with the sarcastic, jaded Huli Jing, and a solution did pop up courtesy of her mother¡¯s previous explanation. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Hmm. I hear what you¡¯re saying, Mom¡­ I get it¡¯s potentially dangerous. Honestly, I¡¯m starting to worry that even Aunt Inari is a probability to you. Like you told me, you don¡¯t know, and that is what scares you¡­¡± Her mother swallowed and closed her eyes with a shiver running down the goddess¡¯ frame. ¡°And¡­ I feared letting you know that reality. Yes, I don¡¯t know what my sister would do¡­ but I know what she has done and her obsession. It will only cause pain for all of us; I¡¯m almost positive.¡± Her focus returned to her melancholy, shaking mom, forcing a smile. ¡°I can¡¯t live like that, though. I don¡¯t see a billion timelines or how scary things are. I know the danger with Fen now, so that¡¯s good, but I feel like shoving her away may cause even more problems.¡± She bumped shoulders with Wendy and laughed, drawing a smile out of her best friend as she dispelled the tense atmosphere. ¡°Life is fun because of the randomness. Hell, I might actually become Kari¡¯s friend! Am I terrified of all the craziness that I just went through? Absolutely! Wendy was turned into a werewolf for crying out loud. Dad was hurt¡­¡± Sora could feel herself becoming more comfortable as she went on; it felt right. ¡°But since I¡¯ve been better understanding why Kari is the way she is, and how wrong I was about Daisy¡­ No, yeah, I¡¯ve just been seeing a lot of sides to people I didn¡¯t think existed. I want to give people the benefit of the doubt.¡± Wendy curled in slightly. ¡°Even if you get hurt? I, umm, I couldn¡¯t really make more friends after I¡­ I abandoned you. I felt guilty¡­ I still feel guilty.¡± Reaching over to bring her into a hug, Sora squeezed her tight for a moment before slackening and letting her go. ¡°I get that¡­ I do! I felt guilty for getting you involved with Kari. It¡¯s not like it was either of our fault,¡± she reasoned. ¡°It just sucked, and feelings suck! But¡­ I can¡¯t deny how I¡¯m feeling now. I want to help Kari, I think¡ªI don¡¯t know¡ªI¡¯m figuring it out,¡± she laughed, making her mother sigh. ¡°I have a plan!¡± ¡°By a plan,¡± the redhead whispered, gulping and drawing in her bottom lip, ¡°you mean you have reversed my explanation regarding what you did to Fen¡¯s seal and applied it to yourself¡­ creating a separation field that will automatically repel you and her from ever touching.¡± Flashing her teeth and giving a thumbs up, Sora giggled. ¡°Don¡¯t think you¡¯re not sly and said that to give me the idea. A desire that our magic, aura, and spirit never meet, and boom! An anti-Sora repel zone is created. Problem solved.¡± It took a moment before her mom responded, looking at her in a way that reminded her of her dad, and after a second, she slowly nodded. ¡°¡­Hmm. Given your temperament, and how alike you are to me when I was your age, it is the best solution to my worries that has the least likely chance to fail¡­ Haaa.¡± Her mother hugged herself. ¡°You are going through a very challenging developmental stage, Sora.¡± ¡°Well, I am sixteen!¡± Sora snickered. ¡°I¡¯ve got to hit my rebellious phase sometime. Dad will be happy you¡¯re coming back for that. Mom?¡± Her mother gripped her elbows and glanced away, ears falling back. ¡°I always feel like a failure. Haha-haaa¡­¡± Sora¡¯s cheer diminished, seeing Wendy¡¯s apprehensive face as she connected the dots. ¡°Dad¡­ isn¡¯t going to be waking up for a bit, is he?¡± Red eyes downcast, her mother shook her head. ¡°Your father is¡­ unique¡ªthings have changed¡ªand it isn¡¯t as easy as it once was for me to fix the damage. It could be months or a year, and it is because of that, mmgm¡­¡± Swallowing her nerves, the nine-tailed woman lifted her head to give her a firm stare. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can be the mother you need me to be from the sidelines anymore¡­ maybe I was always wrong to do things the way I did¡­ which means I need to do something drastic.¡± Sora forced a laugh, brushing her bangs out of the way as she looked at her lap. ¡°Eh-hehe. What, give up your powers and confine yourself to a mortal body or something clich¨¦ like that?¡± Her mother didn¡¯t blink. ¡°Yes.¡± Heart coming to a complete stop, she choked. ¡°W-What?! That¡¯s¡­ would that even work?¡± Changing positions to sit on the bed beside her, Wendy scooted over to allow them to be side-by-side as her mom pressed her fingers against her lap; Sora could sense the sparkling flames the illusion was crafted out of tickling her skin from the proximity. ¡°It isn¡¯t that simple, and it will cause some grave concerns¡­ at least they are to me, and Fen is high on that list.¡± She looked up to stare into her eyes. ¡°This magic that allows me to speak to you is yours and not mine, and this is only a role-play session I did in Wendy¡¯s mind through Astral Projecting my Intelligence, which is separate from my spiritual and physical presence.¡± Sora tried to grab her hand, only for her fingers to slip right through it. ¡°Hold up! That¡¯s crazy¡­ Won¡¯t you tear yourself apart if the smallest thing happens that you could have stopped?¡± Vision narrowing, her mother¡¯s voice became hoarse. ¡°Maybe I will¡­ maybe I won¡¯t. I have¡­ never¡­ never, in millions of years, limited myself to such a state. I am going to insert my Intelligence into an artificial body with a newly crafted spirit, unrelated to you, while placing my immortal spirit and body in a safe place¡­ I am going to become essentially no different than a human since there is no other way for me to be the mother you desire¡­ that I desire to be.¡± ¡°Mom¡­¡± Choking up, Sora fought back her tears. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°No,¡± she chortled, tears leaking out of her own eyes. ¡°No, I can¡¯t even retain the smallest degree of power since that has a 100% chance to trigger your change and kill you, but I¡¯m as sure of this decision as you are that Fen won¡¯t be a problem. I know, to you, it is a horrible thing to wish for Fen¡¯s failure, but I hope she does not get an invitation to Inari¡¯s Kitsune Academy¡­ or that I¡¯m wrong about my sister.¡± ¡°Kitsune Academy?¡± Wendy repeated, Sora¡¯s own mind latching onto the concept. ¡°Aunt Inari has¡­ a Kitsune Academy?!¡± Images of a giant, magical city, filled with vulpes attending classes sparked inside Sora¡¯s mind. ¡°That is what a single white tail means?¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± Her mother shifted back to her seat, wiping away her tears and adding a cute smile. ¡°I know you two are obsessed with such concepts. Wendy, your otome games are quite fun to observe.¡± Sora¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Oooh! You got hooked on those, huh?¡± she teased, nudging her best friend and glad to move away from the more depressing and sober topic. Wendy¡¯s cheeks colored. ¡°Oh, shut your tail, J-Drama zealot.¡± ¡°Sailor Scout fanatic!¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the brunette grunted with a laugh, ¡°now that¡¯s a self-own because we both know you¡¯re into that, too.¡± ¡°Hahaha. True! True¡­¡± Attention returning to her mom, Sora sat at the edge of the bed, now interested in the topic of a magical school after her mother brought it up. ¡°Aunt Inari really has a school that teaches fox girls? Could Wendy learn magic, too? Not from that school! I¡¯m just asking in general.¡± Wendy¡¯s bright brown eyes darted to the fox mom, holding her breath for confirmation. Sora expected her to stonewall or bash it since she was anti-sister, but instead, she leaned into it. Crossing her legs, Mia rested against the side of her chair. ¡°First, let me clarify things. If you manage to help Fen become more in line with your aunt¡¯s moral framework, and she changes her way of life¡­ then she could earn the right to enter the Kitsune Academy. It is the dream of countless vulpes, including those who live in other territories, or houses, as you understand it.¡± Wendy gulped and looked at her with stars in her eyes. Sora felt the same way after hearing those two magical words put together, feeling invigorated by the topic. ¡°Uh¡­ sorry, Mom, but that sounds awesome! Kitsune Academy? Like, sign me up! Right, Wendy?¡± ¡°Mhm! Mhm! Is it filled with fox boys? Please, tell me it has a bunch of hot fox boys! What about Sora¡¯s question: can I learn magic?¡± She paused, eyes going big as her fingers tightened around Sora¡¯s. ¡°Wait! I turned into a werewolf, right? So, could I turn into, like¡­ a magical werefox?!¡± ¡°That¡¯d be so cool!¡± Sora chimed, eyes sparkling as she saw visions of her and Wendy going to a giant, fancy academy for vulpes. ¡°I want to go to a school like that! Wait¡­ but what if you start growing hair in weird places?¡± ¡°Pfft. You can fix that with your super-magic, right?¡± Wendy played off. ¡°Besides, I think it¡¯d be so cute for us to get our tail fur trimmed at the barber. I mean, we go and get haircuts anyway, so why not tail trims while we¡¯re at it, right?¡± ¡°Good point! Good point!¡± Sora flipped to her side on the bed to face her best friend, tail wagging. ¡°Magic fox girls by day and mysterious fox heroines by night!¡± ¡°Can you magic our outfits on and off¡ªyou know, like Sailor Scouts do it?¡± ¡°You know it,¡± she boasted, puffing up her chest with pride. ¡°My magic can basically do anything I want. Well, so long as I have the energy to dump into it. Maybe you¡¯ll find your bad-guy-turned-lover trope you talked about when we were thirteen, hmm?¡± ¡°Oh, bite your tail; I¡¯m so over that right now!¡± Wendy giggled, reaching over to grab a pillow and hit her in the face with it. ¡°Until you¡¯re not! Oof¡­¡± Grabbing it mid-strike, she peeked over with a wink as her tail curled around. ¡°Okay, what about tall, dark, and handsome villian kidnapping the poor Sailor Scout¡ªtrapped in his dungeon¡ªthe romantic tension!¡± She snicked as Wendy¡¯s cheeks started to flush, but there was a smile on her lips. ¡°I expect him to torture me, but instead, he invites me to dinner, and we talk¡­ Mmmgm! Stop it, Sora! You¡¯re putting thoughts in my head!¡± she yelled, trying to fight back the pillow to hit her again. ¡°Hehehe. I¡¯m getting so pumped! Way to go, Mom. I want to go!¡± Her mother forced a smile at their rebounding vigor and giggles. ¡°Not¡­ to ruin your fantasies, girls¡­ I doubt Wendy would want to be a, ahem, full furry fox that feeds off the sensual desires of men. Also, it¡¯s a new life drained every month as a price to keep your sanity for werefoxes. They also tend to, eh, have a very potent smell.¡± Their shared dream shattered. Shooting a dull glare at her freckled mom, Sora huffed. ¡°Way to kill the vibe, Mom. Is there seriously no way for Wendy to share in my foxy lifestyle?¡± Wendy secured her bangs behind her ear with a weak chuckle, timid voice returning. ¡°No, it¡¯s okay, Sora. I was just having a bit of fun¡­ I¡¯d be happy with just fox boys! Well¡­ unless they¡¯re racist against humans. Unless¡­ hehe, unless there was a handsome prince fox boy that would stick up for me and defy the¡ªshut up! Shut up!¡± she self-chided, hiding her flaming face. ¡°Besides¡­ what would my mom think if I suddenly got powers?¡± Shoulders abruptly slumping, the brunette chuckled. ¡°Yeah, she¡¯s probably worried sick about me. And we had such a big fight before¡­ Jenny¡¯s whole thing. She¡¯s okay, right, Ms. Moore? What happened?¡± Tension bound around Sora¡¯s chest at the pivot, seeing the pleading look on her best friend¡¯s face. Wendy really did care about her verbally and emotionally abusive alcoholic mother; she didn¡¯t get it. It was so obvious that Jane didn¡¯t care about her. Mia¡¯s expression softened, and Sora felt the message running out as she gave them her parting words. ¡°There¡­ are a lot of changes that will happen shortly, Sora, and I¡¯d like to discuss options regarding Wendy when I make it home in two days.¡± A pained note came to her mom¡¯s voice as she shifted to face the brunette. ¡°Wendy, there will be things that make you feel powerless¡­ Hard things to accept. I have made arrangements to provide you a way forward.¡± Aura mixing with apprehension, goosebumps ran along her best friend¡¯s arm. ¡°That¡­ scares me a little, Ms. Moore. Why me? What is it?¡± Red locks shifting with her shaking head, Mia lifted to her feet. ¡°It is not something you can be prepared for¡­ However, don¡¯t discard your dreams of going to a magical school just yet, girls. Have a little faith in your mom knowing what her daughter wants, Sora,¡± she winked, vanishing in a swirl of sparkling fire. ¡°I respect your decisions and desires, My Little Ember¡­ I only want to make you happy.¡± Sora¡¯s heartbeat increased at the implications and warnings as her mother¡¯s illusion vanished. Trouble was coming, but she couldn¡¯t imagine her mom not setting everything up for her to succeed after the lead-up to her chaotic birthday; sure, things would probably spiral out of her goddess fox mom¡¯s predictions every new day once she took on a mortal form, but if they could spend time as mother-daughter, then it was a sacrifice worth gambling on. ¡°Mysterious! Huh, Wendy? My mom¡¯s coming home! Ahhh!¡± she squealed. Eyebrow creasing, Wendy looked at a Sailor Scout poster on her wall. ¡°I¡¯m kind of worried about what she said about me¡­ And was she talking about our heroine dream or the magic academy dream?¡± ¡°I say both!¡± Sora cheered, yet her chipper mood fell back into orbit upon aiming her ears at the door. ¡°Hmm. I¡¯m still not happy about her shooting down Fen¡­ She¡¯s the first other vulpes I¡¯ve met, and she just literally said, ¡®If you come near my daughter, I¡¯ll kill you!¡¯ Not cool,¡± she huffed, making Wendy chuckle at her framing. Wendy rubbed her elbows, trying to be brave and not worry about what might be around the corner. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can give her a piece of your mind in two days. So, uh¡­ what next?¡± Silence suddenly gripped them as their eyes wandered the room, and Sora¡¯s mind returned to the situation at hand. They were on the moon, and someone in this shady organization wanted to have dinner with them. Hopping off the bed, she went to the girl¡¯s closet to extract one of her dresses; most were a bit small on her since she likely hadn¡¯t bought a new one since Sora¡¯s last gift. Yet, the beauty of a dress was the fact it could work regardless of height gain. Waist and bust size, though? That could pose a problem since her best friend seemed to be filling out faster than her. ¡°Hmm. Let¡¯s¡­ go back to my room and look through my closet,¡± she said with a strained smile while flipping through her options. ¡°Have you bought anything new?¡± Wendy¡¯s cheeks colored as she got up and went to bump her aside, rummaging through her items. ¡°Not as fancy as your designer crap, but I bought this with my own money, thank you! What do you think?¡± She plucked out a vertical-stripped, shin-length, shoulderless pink summer dress with pouf sleeves. ¡°I, umm, had it for when I went on my first date¡­ whenever that would be. Are the pockets cringe?¡± ¡°No!¡± Sora lied as she held it up to her figure. ¡°I like it!¡± Wendy¡¯s creased mouth said she didn¡¯t believe her, making Sora rub the back of her neck and look away as she confessed. ¡°Okay, yeah, you know giant pockets like that aren¡¯t my thing. It¡¯s like, whatever you put in them makes it look terrible; that¡¯s why we have purses. I like the rest!¡± ¡°Not love, though,¡± Wendy huffed, looking down at it with concern. ¡°I thought I looked cute with, like¡­ four fingers in a pocket? I don¡¯t know¡­¡± Sora summoned up an illusion beside her best friend to demonstrate what she described and was surprised at how adorable the look was as she held a purse in one hand while her other was tucked into the pocket. ¡°I stand corrected; super cute! You hungry for answers and food?¡± ¡°Starving!¡± Wendy groaned, folding it over an arm to rub her face. ¡°Where even are we?¡± Happily sending a pulse of magic to the window blast shield, as she¡¯d seen Fen do, it lifted with Sora¡¯s grin. ¡°Wendy, welcome to the secret moon base!¡± Wendy¡¯s dress fell to the floor as she stumbled forward to stare out of the window at the spaceships coming out of cloak to dock or take off, transporting supplies or people. ¡°Don¡¯t gawk,¡± Sora chided, scooping up her dress to hand to her best friend, ¡°we have a moon dinner to get to, and my mom provided the appetizer. But¡­ before that, I need to have a proper chat with Fen¡­¡± Her heart returned to all the hate and disgust she¡¯d sometimes felt about herself throughout her three years of being bullied. There were times when it first started that she¡¯d thought she was the problem: her looks, half-Asian heritage, wealth¡­ there were so many things to hate about herself when she was thirteen and fourteen. Eventually, she¡¯d come to the conclusion it was their problem, not hers, but she knew what it was like to hate yourself for things outside of your control. Still, that only came after Dr. Hallmark had supported her through that phase in her life. At least, before Jenny got to him and forced him to betray her, which was why his comments to Mary had hurt so much. Her fingers tightened; Sora could feel the self-hate and anger within Fen¡¯s magic, her animosity toward her mother and her¡­ but most of all, she resonated with the Huli Jing¡¯s feelings of powerlessness and mistrust for others. It took Mary months of effort, digging to find the truth, and proving to her that she was on her side without a shadow of a doubt for Sora to start opening up again. Sure, her transformation had helped; that being said, Mary was a huge part of gaining her initial confidence back, and she wanted to give that same lifeline to others. Making up her mind, she strolled to the door, with Wendy lost in her own thoughts regarding the ominous portion of the message they¡¯d received. ¡°I¡¯ll be outside with Fen. Go ahead and get ready; I¡¯ll do the touch-up when you figure out what you want to wear.¡± B2 — 3. Mending Bridges Not knowing what she¡¯d say or do, Sora exited the creepy room the organization had created for Wendy, leaving her best friend to figure out her wardrobe. She bet the brunette would spend some time staring out of the window, though; after all, they were on the flipping moon! Yet Sora¡¯s mind was on more significant problems. She awkwardly found her elbow behind her back as the door silently slid shut, and Fen scrambled to her knees across the large, empty hallway; in a bowed position, the terrified vulpes pressed her face against the polished steel floor, tails quivering. Instinctively, she wanted to jump forward and tell her to drop the whole holier than thou act, yet her years of bullying kept her motionless while putting herself in Fen¡¯s shoes. This wasn¡¯t going to be solved by playing it off or in the same way she¡¯d pushed Daisy into a more positive state of mind. Vision flicking to the left and right with her tail hanging low, Sora spotted security cameras lining the zone; they were being watched. Now thinking about it, she wouldn¡¯t be surprised if there were some inside the room she¡¯d woken up in. From what she¡¯d learned from the assault team¡¯s swift departure, it was fair to say that these people feared her mother, and for good reason. The question was, what did they want from her? Scooted to the side of the door, she slid down to her butt, fixing her dress to spread over her crossed legs. Sora let the silence drag on as she let her feelings and thoughts work through the problems she¡¯d awoken to since this was the first time she¡¯d had the chance to process things without interruption. Closing her eyes, she drew her hair over her shoulders to lean her head against the wall, listening intently, yet the only sounds came from Fen and her since the isolation field was still active in the room. It was as if they were the only people in existence. Fen fidgeted uncomfortably, waiting for whatever order came next. Sora didn¡¯t plan on giving any, though. She hated it when her bullies ordered her around. Then again, she would have been happy for them to ignore her and act as if she didn¡¯t exist; Fen wasn¡¯t in the exact same circumstance, and she had far more life experience than her. There was very little she could say that the vulpes wouldn¡¯t have already thought. ¡°Haaa.¡± She let go of a long sigh, mind returning to the battle and insanity that had been her sixteenth birthday: The memory of Kari, broken and pleading, lost and scared, unable to face her tyrannical brother alone. Aiden¡¯s desperate attempts at keeping his family together and mitigate the damage. Her part in building the wolf up to face her trauma. Seeing the brother and sister tear each other apart, blood soaking the hellish stadium¡¯s red stone floor. When Jenny tackled her and broke the illusion she¡¯d cast on Kari, shattering the black wolf¡¯s courage and sending her into a spiral that resulted in her loss. Eyia¡¯s chilly rescue, killing Jenny, and the consequences that came from it¡­ Consequences, such as Wendy attacking and mortally wounding her father. Sora¡¯s throat constricted at the picture of her best friend transforming into a mindless animal to savage her father. A cyclone of horrendous possibilities gripped her chest as she imagined the panic that her father must have felt, not wanting to leave her alone in the world and knowing who was attacking him; Jenny¡¯s laughter at winning in life or death burned her ears. Jin stepping into the ring to face Eric, enhanced by Aiden¡¯s feather, yet he¡¯d been utterly outclassed by the dominating dragon, only for Jenny¡¯s true plot to spring. That ominous abyss that produced the galaxy-chewing 4th Generation Fenris Wolf shook everyone to their core, well, except for the Cat Mother. Ylva¡¯s powerful entrance, her indomitable sky-blue eyes that made her feel like an insect, while effortlessly shutting down Eyia with a simple tap of her cosmic sucker. Yet, the gray-tailed wolf had subverted her expectations by dropping down in front of her to talk. Nilly¡¯s involvement and Ylva¡¯s respect as she sat in front of her still baffled her, offering a way forward to save Kari once revealing the truth behind her uncle¡¯s horrific plot. It had been so much pressure that even now, Sora clutched at her chest, attempting to regulate her breathing. Wendy had no clue that she¡¯d been the cause of her father¡¯s injuries; she knew her best friend couldn¡¯t handle the guilt that her father was in a coma because she attacked him as a werewolf. It was Jenny¡¯s fault, but she knew all too well that wouldn¡¯t matter to Wendy herself. Some things were better left unsaid. ¡°¡­Lady Sora, is something wrong?¡± Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sora opened her eyes to stare at the three-tailed Huli Jing, focus still locked on the ground. However, her streaked makeup and puffy red face reflected her internal struggle. At least she¡¯d been the one to initiate, which was always what Mary had done to her. ¡°We should talk. Lean against the wall; it¡¯s okay. I told my mom I didn¡¯t like the way she treated you. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Her heartfelt apology seemed to make the woman¡¯s ears twitch as she straightened and mirrored her posture, which was far less decent due to her short qipao¡¯s design, showing parts of her silky purple underwear. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t understand. What do you want¡ªis there something you want from me?¡± she corrected, tone lowered and becoming more meek; the fox still refused to look at her. Sora searched her soul for an honest answer that she could give instead of some half-baked response; just saying she wanted her to feel free and live a better life probably wasn¡¯t going to fly. As Dr. Mason once told her, it wasn¡¯t what you said, but how you said it that could change an entire conversation. ¡°Hmm. I guess I¡¯m a bit conflicted and confused. So¡­ will you talk to me honestly so I can better sort out my feelings?¡± she asked with a small, strained smile. ¡°I promise, I¡¯m not here to judge, and I¡¯ll leave myself as open as possible so you can see it in my aura. You can see aura, right?¡± Fen¡¯s brow furrowed with bewilderment. ¡°I can sense your spiritual pressure and determine mood from it, but it¡¯s not all that easy with the array of energy you absorb and produce¡­ What do you mean when you say you are not here to judge?¡± she whispered, fingers knotting against her tight belly. ¡°Is¡­ your mother judging me in this discussion?¡± Sora¡¯s head tilted to the side at the unexpected angle, realizing Fen would always take the most negative route. ¡°No¡­ Well, heh, she probably will and does, but I¡¯ve made it pretty clear that I¡¯ll make up my own opinion about you. Want to know what that is?¡± The black-haired woman glanced to the side, somehow looking even more vulnerable as her Chinese accent thickened. ¡°Do I have a choice?¡± ¡°Sure. If you want, I¡¯ll shut up, let you take me to this dinner, and let whoever is in charge know that I¡¯d rather have someone else do, eh, whatever job this is that they gave you. But¡­ I¡¯d rather not do that.¡± She rubbed her arm and showed a pained grin. ¡°I mean, sure, you¡¯re kind of prickly and sarcastic, but you¡¯re pretty and skilled. I want to learn more about other vulpes cultures, and you¡¯re the first one I¡¯ve met¡ªwell, other than my mom, and she¡¯s biased, so¡­ yeah.¡± Fen slowly moved her three tails to her lap, stroking them in what seemed to be a self-comforting gesture as she processed her rambles. Sora could sense the ebb and flow of her emotions as she debated multiple angles. Her spirit was totally open, leaving herself defenseless, which was probably on purpose to not give the impression she was a threat. ¡°¡­In essence, you freed me of my seal, almost getting me killed. You don¡¯t want me calling you ¡®Princess¡¯ or any other honorary title. And your, ahem, mother¡­ threatened to erase me if I got close to you¡­ Now, you claim to have reprimanded Lady Mia¡­ Lady Mia,¡± she stated with serious emphasis, ¡°who no one speaks ill of on fear of death while saying you want me close to be your¡­ vulpes instructor?¡± Her guarded yellow irises lifted to show her an apprehensive look. ¡°Forgive my inability to follow what might be an appropriate response.¡± Sora scratched her left ear, and she tilted her body with each contrasting statement. ¡°Hmm. How about I rephrase it, then?¡± she asked, letting out a dry laugh. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m trying to work my way through this, too. Umm¡­ I¡¯ll be more blunt: my mom fears what will happen if you touch me and trigger my Aunt Inari¡¯s magic inside your tail.¡± Fen¡¯s face turned ashen as her claws paused in the act of combing her fur. ¡°Why¡­ would you give up such a weakness?¡± The woman collapsed to her knees, forehead touching the metal again. ¡°Please, Lady Mia, I will strike the memory from my mind!¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Sora¡¯s mind blanked. ¡°My mom¡¯s not going to hurt you, or I¡¯d get pissed!¡± The Chinese woman¡¯s red and tear-stained face lifted to glare at her. ¡°Why else than to attempt to murder me again, then to inform me that someone like your mother has her hands tied and can do nothing against me due to fear of her sister?! Do you not think that she can¡¯t compel someone from this organization to do her dirty work? You never reveal a weakness when in a position of power!¡± Utterly thrown off her game, Sora hadn¡¯t even seen that side of things. ¡°Ugh. Look, my mom says that Huli Jing culture is toxic and makes them hate other vulpes. I think that everyone¡¯s an individual and that we can work together. She says I should kick you out of my life to be safe. I said that I¡¯d only do that if you proved to be someone I don¡¯t want hanging around¡­ Well, I¡¯m paraphrasing, but that¡¯s the gist of it,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to kill you!¡± Fen¡¯s aura smeared with one sensation, forcing Sora¡¯s mouth to become a line. Is this fox stupid? It was swiftly brushed aside as the Huli Jing¡¯s defenses restored, now blocking most of her ability to perceive her emotional state. ¡°Ahem.¡± The woman took a deep breath and straightened. ¡°If I am interpreting this correctly, and pardon my language, Lady Sora¡­ You are an idiot pup who has no idea how the universe works due to your privilege and you want to know if I am a good person to¡­ hang around with? And,¡± she chortled, ¡°this according to humanity¡¯s morality, of which we are not,¡± she firmly stated, vision narrowing as she went into a small tirade. ¡°Humans feast on animals, so do I feast on humans. Judge me; all of you do. I have consumed the souls of over eight hundred people in my two hundred and eighty-three years of living¡­ I¡¯ve manipulated nations into war to obtain more power and seduced emperors for my ends¡­ All in order to survive. ¡°Yet,¡± she showed a lilting smirk as mirth touched her voice, ¡°that isn¡¯t a speck of dust in the universe compared to what your mother has done to countless multiverses¡­ And we Huli Jing are the bad foxes? Of course. Why? Because Founders have power. And we weak Huli Jing¡­ do not! I reject your idea of ¡®good,¡¯ Princess.¡± Sora fell to her side to straighten out and look up at the ceiling, pondering the Chinese woman¡¯s words that she no doubt thought would be her last. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°Bold. I like it,¡± she mumbled. ¡°I¡¯ve never really been challenged on stuff like this or thought about it¡­ I don¡¯t know what to think about ¡®good¡¯ or ¡®bad¡¯ overall, if I¡¯m being honest. I mean, you have a point with the animals and humans, too. What makes humans so special?¡± ¡°Power,¡± Fen answered without a second thought, a huff following while she shifted to pull her knees up to her chin. ¡°Humans exert power over other creatures because they can domesticate them¡­ dominate them. Humans need to eat, and I see no problem in it as much as natural foxes need sustenance. Humans are just so much more efficient. So they kill to survive.¡± Her eyes widened while pulling her messy locks back. ¡°Some¡­ vulpes are the same. I cannot gain my sustenance and live through typical animals due to their incompatible spiritual energy for my needs. Yet again, to you uppity, privileged vulpes, I am the villain. I cannot laze my days away having fun and tricking people like Nogitsune, so I am judged for what I cannot change. If that is what it means to be evil, then I was born evil so, once again, blame the Founders!¡± Resting her hands behind her head, Sora streamed out a long breath. Daisy was in the same position as Fen. Although true to her convictions, she was willing to slowly die before letting herself feel the guilt and betrayal of her feelings by using other men besides Howie to fulfill that need. On the other hand, it wasn¡¯t like Daisy¡¯s moral values would be the same as Fen¡¯s or that it should be expected of her to conform to them. A new thought sparked in Sora¡¯s mind as she contemplated Fen¡¯s position; it helped better ground her in the monster world and its gray moral spectrum. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ trying to get into my aunt¡¯s Kitsune Academy, right? If so, why? If you enjoy feeding off human souls, as my mother implied, which comes from Huli Jing culture, then why go there?¡± Fen spread out her fingers across her forehead and cheeks, frustration in every word she spoke. ¡°The ignorance¡­¡± she breathed, trying to remain calm and swallow other biting remarks. ¡°Have you ever tasted a human soul and its variety? The sensual pleasures of desire freely given, the sadness of a mother¡¯s loss at her child¡¯s death, or the succulent nectar of a man desperately in search of love that he can never satisfy?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t say I have,¡± Sora mumbled, shifting to look at the spiraling woman, believing her life would be over at any moment. She did have her own experiences, though. ¡°I know how soothing and refreshing it can be to walk inside of a rain storm, feeling the energy wash through me. The comforting arms of the earth when I¡¯m inside of her. I can feel the mysterious pulse of the moon, whispering secrets underneath me, despite not being inside its rays or the warm embrace of the sun that can fill me with joy.¡± ¡°Nogitsune privilege,¡± Fen spat. ¡°No, so much more than that since they are limited to elements¡­ Founders can obtain their energy from essentially everything¡ªthe fabric of magic itself! You don¡¯t know what it is like to be starved¡­ you could never know¡­ to fear of feeding on someone with the chance you are discovered and are too weak to defend yourself¡­ to be hated by everyone, including your own kind.¡± ¡°Haaa.¡± Sora slowly shook her head. ¡°You¡¯re right; I don¡¯t. It sounds horrible¡­ And I have been privileged my whole life, I won¡¯t deny that, as a human and now as a vulpes¡­ But I went through my own hell for three years, so I can empathize. Comparatively, three years for me is like fifty to you. I want to help those I can.¡± Sora chuckled and forced herself up to lean on her side. ¡°Not help everyone in the whole world or universe or anything stupid like that.¡± She flashed her teeth. ¡°I¡¯m not a saint. I¡¯m not totally selfless, either. I don¡¯t want you hurting others to live. I want to have fun. I want to grow stronger and have adventures with friends. So, I¡¯m going to offer you this¡­¡± Standing up, Sora poured most of the energy she¡¯d regained into her desire, spinning the magic around the alarmed Huli Jing as she scrambled to her feet. ¡°What are you doing?! This is¡­ What?¡± The dark-furred vulpes calmed down as Sora puffed out a tired sigh and tried to remain standing. ¡°I¡¯ve never sensed a more complex repulsion spell¡­ for it to only apply to you, and filter past any magic or spiritual force I use? Wait!¡± Sora pushed herself forward, making Fen stumble against the wall in a panic, yet nothing happened. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not erased?¡± ¡°Hehehe. Oops. My bad,¡± she said with a true smile, having forgotten about her mother¡¯s threat as she fought the spots dancing across her vision. ¡°How about this? I will teach you how to create your own magical seed to convert natural energy to spiritual energy and let you live in Miami with me if you promise to follow the house rules. Wait¡­¡± Her fingers curled slightly, dizziness subsiding as lunar energy rushed back inside her. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that sound like I¡¯m asking you to be my pet fox that I¡¯ll feed and play with? Hmm. Hehe. Probably not the best line I could have come up with. Am I right?¡± Fen looked stricken, staring at her hand as if a viper as the woman held her arms against her chest. ¡°You placed this repulsion field around me¡­ to prevent us from ever coming into contact?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± She raised her hand and made a fist. ¡°Bump knuckles if you¡¯re cool with trying out something new. If you don¡¯t want to ever be hungry, then I¡¯ll work with you to fix that. In truth, the barrier around you is a condition my mother gave me if I wanted to have you around since she knew she wouldn¡¯t get me to budge on the topic. So long as we don¡¯t touch, then she is cool with you. No erasing!¡± she chimed. ¡°We cool?¡± ¡°No erasing?¡± the Chinese fox slowly repeated, her back and tails remaining against the wall as she processed. ¡°No matter what you say¡­ I am still your slave. Either I do what you say, or I am killed by the Foundation or your mother. If you want to play this¡­ game, then so be it; I¡¯ll be your pet until you get bored.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Sora groaned, lowering her fist and rubbing the back of her neck as Wendy exited her room in her strapless summer dress, wearing earrings and a necklace. She studied them silently, trying to gauge the situation. ¡°Look at it however you want, but what I¡¯m trying to say is¡­ I want to help you become more independent, and hopefully, you won¡¯t prove my mom right. Deal?¡± ¡°I am still slightly confused,¡± Fen whispered, her voice fluctuating a bit while forcing herself forward, ¡°and half concerned that you¡¯re too energy-deprived to know what it is you are saying, but¡­ any deal you want to propose must have an addition.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Fen lifted her fist, clearly having never done this before by her unsure and knuckle-raised position. ¡°If you will free Jian and keep him by my side.¡± Sora immediately wanted to go for a hug instead but thought better of it as her half-lifted hand paused, brain catching up with her. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know who that is, but so long as they follow my house rules, then I¡¯ll do whatever I can.¡± ¡°I have your word as a Founder?¡± Fen asked, gulping and showing how serious this topic was by the intensity of her eyes. ¡°You will allow him to remain by my side?¡± ¡°Is¡­ it something I can do?¡± Sora tentatively asked, now on the opposite side of the spectrum. ¡°You¡¯re not trying to trick me into something that¡¯s unreasonable, right? Can I have him come to this meeting?¡± Fen¡¯s tails twisted around each other. ¡°I do not see why not?¡± ¡°Okay!¡± Her fist shot forward to meet the Huli Jing¡¯s, only for all of her momentum to strike a buffer field of her own creation, keeping them centimeters apart. ¡°Feel that?¡± ¡°No? Why are you tempting fate? I thought your mother didn¡¯t want you near me. Is this another attempt to end my life? My heart can¡¯t take this anymore,¡± she whimpered. ¡°Sora!¡± Wendy huffed, grabbing her arm to pull her back as she laughed. ¡°What is going on?!¡± ¡°Huh. Sorry! I just needed to see how it would work, and it worked. I have to have faith in my magic!¡± Glancing around, she frowned at the makeup smear marks and puffy red cheeks of the Huli Jing. ¡°Cool. Cool. Uh, let¡¯s go to a bathroom, or whatever, so you can freshen up. Here, Wendy¡­¡± She snapped her fingers, sending the very easy and inexpensive magical wave over her best friend to polish up her fingernails, clean her skin, and make her hair shine. ¡°Perfect!¡± Fen glared at her as Wendy smiled and spun around to examine the makeover. ¡°What?¡± Sora defended as she started down the hallway. ¡°I¡¯d do you, too, if I could use magic on you, so don¡¯t be cringe and think I¡¯m discriminat¡ª¡± The three-tailed vulpes wiped her cheeks and cast a shockingly elegant weave of magic over herself, causing a twinkling glow around her frame. Half of it was to clear away makeup and tear marks, while the rest were light-based illusions, bending the photons to enhance her appearance. ¡°Nice!¡± Sora chirped, flipping backward while still walking to grin at the woman. ¡°I think we¡¯re ready for dinner. And you¡¯re joining us, Fen! Wait¡­ do Huli Jing eat normal food?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be silly,¡± Fen sniffed, her previous attitude returning and popping the sound bubble inside Wendy¡¯s temporary room. ¡°Not only do Huli Jing have energy needs, but we also require physical sustenance. One more thing to worry about.¡± ¡°Tough,¡± Wendy hummed, peeking around Sora as the vulpes caught up to them. ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m Wendy, but, uh, I guess you already knew that. Do you know what happened to everyone else? Will they be at the dinner?¡± Fen shook her head as they came to a branching hallway that she turned them onto; a giant window ran on all sides to give a full view of space. It momentarily snatched her attention as they walked. The futuristic, smooth, and simple designs of the small metropolis on the moon must have supported over 500,000 people, or at least that¡¯s what Sora thought at first glance. And in the center of it all was a colossal black tower without a bubble or sphere separating it from outer space, yet a vast forest surrounded the structure. ¡°What is that?¡± Wendy asked, awe bringing them to the glass wall to follow the path of spaceships the size of an ocean freighter, outlined with red lights and a sleek frame. ¡°Are those¡­ planets circling that tower?¡± Fen¡¯s mouth became a line as she followed the colorful spheres rotating around the solitary dark structure, the phases of the lunar cycle slowly passing down its visible length with the moons orbiting it. ¡°That¡­ is the reason the humans on your planet don¡¯t know the truth about the moon¡­ The Moon Wizard¡¯s Tower, as I¡¯m told. It distorts this space, cloaking it.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes grew to the size of saucers. ¡°Moon Wizard? Cool. Is he in charge of this place?¡± ¡°No,¡± Fen bluntly replied, bringing them back on course to reach the next building over, which was dwarfed by the gigantic black monolith. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, he has refused almost all contact from the Foundation, and this city acts as a containment precaution since¡­ that is the Foundation¡¯s whole goal¡­ Lock up and keep hidden whatever threatens humanity.¡± The bitterness in the woman¡¯s voice stole Sora¡¯s attention; Wendy was too taken in by the scenery, though, looking every which way. ¡°How did you get here?¡± Sora asked, spotting people in futuristic suits exiting out of the side of a building to reach some giant metal cap over a crater; on a desire, her vision overlaid with colors, showing her festering darkness trapped within that made her gulp. ¡°Do they¡­ keep prisoners or evil creatures here?¡± Fen gave her a tight smile. ¡°Only some of the worst, I hear. Why, thinking of having a little fun and letting them loose? Haha. No, you don¡¯t seem like the type,¡± she answered, following her gaze to the spot as they drew closer to the next building. ¡°I went to a meeting your aunt holds every century in order to scout candidates for her school¡­ Unfortunately, I stayed a bit too long doing¡­ things, and the portal back to my multiverse collapsed¡­ flinging me to this Inari-forsaken territory¡­ where your mother provides no support for vulpes, unlike her benevolent sister.¡± The spiteful shade thrown at her mother certainly did paint a picture of how people viewed her mother. Mia kept to herself and didn¡¯t typically get involved. It also brought up another concern that poked at the edge of her mind. ¡°So you met my aunt personally?¡± Wendy gave her a nervous glance before returning to her scrutiny of their surroundings. Fen looked away and rubbed her left elbow. ¡°Lady Inari is very¡­ thorough when it comes to screening candidates. If your mother is fire in its purest, chaotic form, Lady Inari is the earth¡­ firm and stable. I felt¡­ Never mind. Humph. She demands the impossible.¡± Sora frowned at her smirk and haughty huff; it was a mask. A crack formed in her strong defenses, proving how monumental the event had been for her, yet the sensation she had was one of unworthiness, guilt, and shame. ¡°It is here.¡± The thick steel door automatically opened as they neared, the same AI¡¯s voice speaking from some hidden speaker nearby. ¡°Welcome, Lady Sora, Wendy, and Fen. Doctor Ferdinand Fischer and Doctor Diane Auclair are awaiting your arrival behind the fifth door to your right.¡± Taking a deep breath, she strode into the lavish living quarters; the steel and plain architecture changed to polished redwood and pristine white carpets. Extravagant paintings that her father would have loved hung between other works of poetry and strange alien devices radiating electromagnetic pulses. Her gut cramped a little as she scanned the area; everything, from the walls to the decorations, was laced with fairly potent magic. Fen opened the door as they neared. Inside was a rectangular, marble dining table, trimmed with gold. The whole aesthetic was bathed in a light coppery glow that cast a classically rustic look to the space. From the huge chandelier to the showcases filled with artifacts to the comfortable, cushioned gray chairs, everything matched the ritzy atmosphere that even made her privileged upbringing look poor in comparison. Cross-legged and sitting inside a chair at the head of the table was a dark-haired, middle-aged woman. She wore an ebony gown and a half-smile as she appraised them, her bronze skin shining in the overhead light. Beside her was a well-dressed man wearing a white business suit. ¡°Please,¡± Diane greeted, her French accent thick as she gestured to the chairs beside her, ¡°join us, Lady Sora; we have much to discuss regarding your mother¡¯s desire to see you enrolled at the Fae¡¯s Avalon Academy.¡± B2 — 4. A Mothers Failing Sora didn¡¯t move to a seat as she appraised the waiting pair, Wendy and Fen behind her. All of the magical items and constant humming weaves of otherworldly forces pulsing around her were distracting, but she kept her focus aimed at the two doctors. ¡°Nice try pivoting from the real issue. We¡¯re not going to do anything until you answer my questions.¡± Ferdinand¡¯s smile faltered as he sighed and folded his fingers in his lap. ¡°I can totally understand that you¡¯re not in the most trusting mood since being essentially kidnapped and transported to the moon. Let¡¯s try to remain calm.¡± ¡°Hahaha!¡± Sora flashed her teeth in a pointed way. ¡°That¡¯s an understatement. Let¡¯s not include stealing a bunch of my stuff and acting like I¡¯ve moved into space. Creepy much? I¡¯ve heard that everyone is okay, but I want to see it for myself.¡± Diane¡¯s casual cadence didn¡¯t slip as she held up a finger and slid it across the golden rim of the marble table. It glowed before a hologram materialized, and she pressed a few icons while speaking, maintaining eye contact. ¡°Let¡¯s not be childish, Lady Sora. Take a seat, and we can discuss this civilly. If you want to see live feeds of those we¡¯ve taken into custody, then by all means, we can do that. But do not think that crimes will not go unpunished. Be rational and not an angsty teen.¡± A rock dropped into her gut at the statement, and the woman¡¯s associate jumped in to play good cop. ¡°Diane, the Executive Chamberlain Council, and the Ethics Bureau agreed on not trying to strong-arm anything. We are guests in Sora¡¯s mother¡¯s territory. By virtue of birthright, haha, we all might as well be in her doll house.¡± The dark-haired woman smirked and pulled up a live feed of her father before flicking it across the table; it swapped between cameras to show other individuals. Some she knew, some she didn¡¯t. ¡°I am under no illusion of anything otherwise, Dr. Ferdinand. Councilor Raven made it very clear what Lady Mia expected from us, and placating or coddling her daughter was not on the agenda. If I were in her shoes, I¡¯d want us to be blunt and to the point. What is the point? The situation is complicated and not a one-sided, tantrum-ridden demand-fest.¡± ¡°Talk about me like I¡¯m not here,¡± Sora growled. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®crimes will not go unpunished?¡¯ Who are you talking about? And I am civil. I haven¡¯t tried to manipulate you with magic yet, have I? Dad¡­¡± She jogged forward to stand beside the chair to check on her dad¡¯s condition; it split into new windows when she tapped it, maintaining the ones she selected. Mary was among them, but she couldn¡¯t find Eyia, Jin, or Kari, yet Aiden eventually cycled through the strangers. Fen and Wendy gingerly kept pace with her and stuck close by while she identified the people she knew. Her father seemed to be in an advanced-looking medical ward, the same as the others; the bed he was in showed a light blue glow around its edges, and a tablet in a nurse¡¯s hands showed a hologram of his vitals and other information. Across the table, the well-dressed man¡¯s lips became a line as he took a disapproving tone with his colleague. ¡°Then I object to how you are presenting our attitude, Dr. Diane. Please, Lady Sora, go through and find everyone you are concerned about, and we can sort all of this out. Fen, would you please wait outside?¡± Sora¡¯s eyes tightened as her tail flicked with agitation, vision rising to glare at the man. ¡°No. Fen will be staying here, and before I sit, I want to make it clear that we are going back to Miami. Not next week. Not tomorrow. Today. I¡¯m not going to get distracted by your fancy moon base and get caught up in some random shadow organization plot.¡± She could practically feel Fen on the verge of fainting with her sharp tone and demand, yet Ferdinand held up his hands defensively and nodded as she returned to her hunt for Eyia and Jin. ¡°If that is what you want when we¡¯re done here, then I can see about arranging it. However, your mother told us that we are to do things in a particular order, and¡­ I am not trying to be mean, but your mother¡¯s demands are¡­ supreme. I¡¯m sure you can understand that.¡± Not sensing any lies in his completely open aura, Sora grunted and scooted out the seat to drop into it; the chair adjusted to her size, and the back magically cut out to allow her tail room to swing. Wendy and Fen carefully did the same. ¡°Just because you were told to do something by your superiors doesn¡¯t mean all of those orders came from my mom. I¡¯m not stupid. Plenty of interpretations there,¡± she snarled, looking past the hologram and gesturing at Diane. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not going to get distracted by this ¡®Fae Academy¡¯ crap without dealing with the other stuff. First, I have some of my own demands¡­ Where are Eyia and Jin?¡± Diane reached to the side to pick up a cup of what smelled like coffee. Sipping at it, she snorted through her nose with an entertained smirk, ¡°Okay. Let us hear your demands, Princess, and if they are not on that list, then they have been taken to a more secure holding area due to them being deemed dangerous or other factors, such as grave crimes that require extradition to other realms.¡± The nickname and fear of her friends getting deported caused her tail to flash with fire, but she took a few deep breaths to calm herself. ¡°What about a tall blonde Nordic girl and a small Korean girl?¡± The man rubbed his chin while looking at a few digital reports. ¡°If you are talking about the two powerful creatures your mother singled out, then they are in their own section awaiting the conclusion to this meeting.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Sora breathed, relief coming over her as she felt her emotions flaring again. ¡°Also, I am a princess, and don¡¯t forget it. I rule this doll house,¡± she laughed back at the black-haired doctor, throwing the man¡¯s statement in the woman¡¯s face. ¡°My first demand? I want Jian and, umm, Aiden here,¡± she concluded, figuring he¡¯d be a good ally to help her through this negotiation. Her earlier comment about punishments also made her worry about him and Kari. ¡°If you¡¯re going to do some kind of trial on the monsters in Miami, or whatever, then you don¡¯t have the facts. Eric¡¯s the real ring leader.¡± Diane¡¯s smirk lifted a tad as she lazily pulled up more windows to tap her manicured fingernails across the hologram. ¡°Oh, we know more than you can fathom, Princess. Also, when I am referring to punishment and a trial, I am not entirely speaking to Eric¡¯s position since he was acting in semi-compliance with the Foundation.¡± A shiver ran down Sora¡¯s spine at the woman¡¯s admission, and a closer scan of her magical presence revealed something chilling. ¡°You¡­ were working with Eric? No, that¡¯s¡­ You created the cursed item that the Homeland agent and¡­ and Jenny were using? You collected child murderer wraths and forced them into becoming a power source?¡± Diane¡¯s finger paused over her screen, a frown creasing her eyes. ¡°Jenny¡®s father was a part of the program. She inherited it from him, and Eric¡­ Hmm. Eric is a special case. As for Homeland? You¡¯ll have to forgive me; it¡¯s too low on the ladder for me to bother commenting on my memory.¡± Sora hugged herself as this group took a darker turn than she¡¯d expected. The agent had been worried about either having her memory wiped, killed, or her team being forcefully brought into this organization. Aiden and Sela didn¡¯t know about this institution from what she¡¯d gathered; they were this new group that had started to make waves, causing trouble for Yez¡¯ela and likely taking out Sela¡¯s network. Ferdinand sighed and began playing with his own hologram window that popped up, reading through reports as he tried to clarify. ¡°The Foundation has protected this world for quite some time, and our goal has been the stability of humanity¡­ Yes, our primary objective is the protection of humanity, not the monster or alien communities. However, that does not mean we have no feelings or moral obligations regarding the ethical treatment of diverse communities. One such instance is Avalon, as has been mentioned.¡± He motioned to Fen, making the three-tailed vulpes go stiff as a board. ¡°You must understand that it can be difficult to handle things on a global scale when creatures spontaneously slip into our world through dimensional and alternate reality portals, such as Ms. Fen here. There are also much more¡­ influential figures that require more¡­ creative ways to contain and not have humanity destroyed. Eric happens to fall into that category for certain reasons.¡± Fen forced a laugh, looking down at her lap as she mumbled, ¡°Do you think humanity deserves such high protection with how weak they are?¡± ¡°Weak?¡± Diane cooed, holding her belly as she shook with laughter and seemed to complete some report on one of her windows. ¡°The Foundation is a human-based organization, Fen, and so by your logic, the weak, like you and every other monster we¡¯ve subjugated, should have no issue with being annihilated. Yet, humanity has a more¡­ refined sense of morality.¡± She swiped over a window for Sora to see a massive, futuristic cell block of some sort, where hundreds of people and monsters were laid on medical beds. Force fields sealed them into their individual units, and with a few taps from Diane¡¯s fingers on her window, it zoomed in to show two men being transported out to join them¡ªAiden was one of them. ¡°No, The Foundation may be cold, but we are not genocidal. That being said, there are other organizations that we fight against that do have such lofty ideals. Luckily, we are the sole superpower on this planet, keeping stability through an iron fist. Now, why don¡¯t we get to a few facts you seem to be missing, Princess.¡± Sora¡¯s fingernails pressed into her sides as the window expanded, showing drone footage of a rural area. It had been sectioned off by Homeland vehicles, with agents standing around, waiting for something. A large ripple in space weaved at its center, where a dark-haired, three-tailed vulpes exited with a giant tiger more than 3 meters tall behind her. Fen¡¯s face became ashen. ¡°No, I, umm, I had just left Lady Inari¡¯s gathering,¡± the fox stammered. ¡°I thought they were hostile¡­¡± ¡°Hehehe. Hostile? Are we not to believe our eyes? Sora has experienced the ¡®hostility¡¯ of Homeland. How hostile were they, Princess?¡± ¡°They were nice,¡± she hoarsely replied. ¡°Quite pushovers with the typical monsters they deal with since we handle the actual threats,¡± the woman liltingly hummed while pulling up their hallway conversation. ¡°You confessed to Sora about eating souls to survive¡­ but does this look like a desperate, starving girl seeking a meal before death?¡± Diane zoomed in, showing a curious, playful smirk lift the Huli Jing¡¯s mouth as the Homeland agents spoke on megaphones, asking for her to remain calm and open up a dialogue. Fen lifted her hand, where a bright blue orb appeared, and after a flash of light, everyone present turned on each other, gunfire ripping into their fellow agents as they were stirred into a maddening frenzy, the woman laughing and playing with them like puppets. Resisting the urge to brush the window away, Sora fought down her squirming gut; her mother¡¯s warning about Huli Jing resurfaced as she twisted her nose and condensed some ground. ¡°I¡­ know that was wrong¡­ horrible. I can see that Fen needs to answer for things like that, but I also think she can become better, and Jian didn¡¯t hurt anyone.¡± ¡°He¡­ would have,¡± Ferdinand carefully articulated. ¡°The Foundation is more than adequately equipped to handle monsters on their level, which is why they surrendered without a fight once our local force mobilized. If Jian knew he could free Fen without her being harmed, he has stated he would.¡± Fen locked her jaw, a low growl in her throat that said the tiger was stupid. Sora still wanted to see if Fen could be rehabilitated, though. Her death wouldn¡¯t solve anything. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s say all of that is true,¡± she argued, ¡°I still have ways of doing things that typically can¡¯t be done since I¡¯m a Founder. I can fix her need for feeding and other problems. So, unless you¡¯re saying all Huli Jing are fundamentally evil, then there can be a way for her to co-exist with others. It¡¯s not all black and white.¡± The man¡¯s frown became a smile, and he nodded. ¡°I can agree with you there, Sora. It is something the Ethics Bureau has argued for.¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± Diane rolled her eyes, making Fen glare at her. ¡°Sure, it¡¯s easy to want to save one life¡ªeven a monster¡ªbut how many others are you willing to risk for your lofty ideals and pride? Maybe she only kills five people every six months instead of a hundred. Oops. It was just a slip. She¡¯s on track to getting better! Maybe another fifteen sacrifices, and we can get her down to once a year!¡± Ferdinand shot a scowl at the woman¡¯s caustic responses. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend you care about sacrifices, Diane. You used to work for the Occult World Order. You have no morals. Your only goal is to win whatever argument you¡¯re in favor of. You had no issue using Fen to get further information on Sora or in the field.¡± ¡°When did I say I was arguing my position?¡± the woman chortled, leaning over the table and smiling at her. ¡°If you want to play dress-up with the Huli Jing, I¡¯m not against it. Make no mistake that others will pose these arguments. Will you also wish for the Unseelie queen to be pardoned for her crimes against the fae?¡± Sora¡¯s heart almost stopped at the question, hand rising to press against her chest, attempting to feel for Sela¡¯s contract; her mother had purged it, though. A lump formed in her throat as her mind processed the news, yet Diane just sighed and skipped by the subject as if it bored her. ¡°Why don¡¯t we get to what you should really be concerned about, Sora?¡± The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She caught Fen¡¯s flash of hatred and murderous intent aimed at the blunt and unapologetic witch. Yet, who Diane was now looking at put a vice around Sora¡¯s heart, and her best friend sank lower in her chair, trying to evade eye contact. ¡°Why¡­ are you looking at Wendy like that?¡± ¡°Ferdinand,¡± the dark-haired woman laughed, rising to her feet to move to the door, ¡°why don¡¯t you handle this¡­ delicate situation while I deal with a few other things? I¡¯ll return when it is less¡­ emotional. Besides, I¡¯m sure Sora is sick of my candid approach and wants sweet words to honey her ears instead of brutal honesty¡­ ¨¤ tout ¨¤ l¡¯heure,¡± she said, placing a tablet in front of Wendy and swapping to French as she left. The well-dressed man streamed out a sad sigh while running his fingers through his hair. ¡°Apologies, Sora, Wendy; she¡¯s upset that our superiors shot some of her suggestions down. And, Fen¡­¡± ¡°My ears are up,¡± the black-furred vulpes mumbled, trying to remain meek. ¡°I¡¯m not looking for pity.¡± ¡°Haha.¡± He leaned back and shook his head. ¡°No, you¡¯re looking for a way to keep your tails from being chopped off. And you may not like it, but you¡¯ll take pity if it means you¡¯ll live. Your life literally rests on Sora¡¯s word, so I¡¯d think long and hard on that.¡± ¡°Umm. Excuse me¡­¡± Their attention shifted to the teenage brunette as she pushed herself up, the tablet held in her hand. ¡°Why¡­ is there an adoption sheet with my name on it here?¡± ¡°What?¡± Sora leaned over to scan over the tablet data as Wendy pressed the video icon on the side, which played a high-quality recording. ¡°Is that your mom¡¯s signature at the¡­¡± She trailed off as it activated, and Ferdinand leaned against the table, rubbing his forehead with the back of his fingers. Jane¡¯s slightly obese figure came on the display, red-faced, rum bottle in her hand, and much of her front living room absolutely thrashed by Jenny¡¯s werewolves. It looked like much of the apartment had been totaled by their attack to kidnap Wendy, which was super unnecessary, but it probably was to make a point to Wendy. Jane didn¡¯t sound all that drunk as she spoke, but her tone was as nasty as ever while speaking to the two female businesswomen who stood nearby. ¡°You¡¯re with some kind of government monster organization? Shit! Why didn¡¯t you grab Sora¡¯s monster ass sooner before her gang of wolves trashed my apartment? I want to press charges!¡± A band clamped around Sora¡¯s heart when the mother didn¡¯t even mention the part about her daughter getting taken. Instead, she just kept on with her one-sided rant, swinging her bottle around threateningly as the two agents listened, holding tablets against their chests and waiting for her to finish. ¡°Sora ruined my life! She made my daughter a rebellious monster and used mind control on me¡ªdo you know how much these damages are going to cost me? Dammit! No wonder her good-for-nothing, absent father was so rich and successful. The bitch used mind control to get all their wealth. Take that shit and give it to people who need it, like me! What the hell¡¯s this¡ªsome kind of hush contract or something¡­¡± The woman calmly handed her the tablet with a business-like, understanding smile. ¡°I¡¯m sure you had quite the horrific night, Ms. Elise, and we are here to help. We do require you to sign an acceptance form to have your memories erased of the horrific events, which I am sure you would be happy to forego with¡­ compensation. Below are some of the Foundation¡¯s compensation packages.¡± Jane¡¯s mood instantly changed as she sat a little straighter and set her bottle on the ground to scroll down the options. ¡°Hold up¡­ you¡¯re serious? All I gotta do is forget about this monster shit, and you¡¯ll give me one of these deals? Damn¡­ 50k a year for life, no job, top medical insurance, and two full-expense vacations a year with housing options across the world¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s just one of the more popular options, but given your circumstances, there are other, more exclusive offers that can be offered to you. All you need to do is¡­ tap that back button, and you¡¯ll see the extended options,¡± the second woman stated. ¡°As you can see¡­¡± ¡°Wait! Wait! Wait!¡± Jane threw up a hand, tapping something on the device. ¡°What are these¡­ Adoption options?¡± Sora reached over to grab Wendy¡¯s hand as a tear fell down her cheek. ¡°No¡­ Mom, what are you doing?¡± The video kept going, and Sora looked up to glare at the somber Ethics Burau man, but his aura showed he was 100% sympathetic and disgusted. ¡°Ah,¡± the woman that handed the alcoholic her tablet faltered slightly, ¡°that is primarily for families that have monster children that are less¡­ capable of handling a public life without incident and usually for those of eight or younger.¡± A small smile lifted Jane¡¯s lips as she read through the options. ¡°It¡¯s an option that¡¯s open, though¡ªit shows on the screen¡ª¡± she argued, pointing at the highlighted sections. ¡°Why¡¯s that?¡± The agent¡¯s partner jumped in to explain. ¡°Due to the unique circumstances surrounding Sora Moore and your daughter¡¯s attachment to her, it could be challenging for Sora¡¯s behavioral stability if Wendy, as her perceived best friend, were to be separated from her. It was one of the concerns drawn up by the Ethics Burau¡¯s Chairman, yet it seems likely that she will return to Miami.¡± ¡°Humph.¡± Jane shifted in her chair with a scowl, scratching her belly and looking over the data again. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I don¡¯t want to be anywhere near Florida. I hate that half-Jap rich girl¡­ Huh. It says here in the adoption profile that I could get 90k a year, some¡­ 5-year youth injections. Yes! I¡¯m with that if it comes with all the benefits in the other package. Plus, my child will get the best development plan customized to her unique experience. Hah. I think that¡¯s a pretty sweet deal.¡± Wendy shook her head, sniffling, cheeks red and eyes becoming puffy. ¡°It¡¯s a lie¡­¡± The two agents looked at one another, likely just trying to close whatever deal they could with the alcoholic woman. ¡°Are¡­ you sure, Ma¡¯am? There are larger packages available. For instance, the 250k package¡­ with so much more¡ªa 12-year youth injection and youth supplement plan¡ªthat keeps your daughter and you together while near Sora.¡± Jane shoved the tablet back into the woman¡¯s hands. ¡°Look, I¡¯ve chosen already, bitch. I told you I want nothing to do with that monster. Hey, throw in that youth supplement plan, too, and you¡¯ve got a deal because you could give me a million dollars a day, and I¡¯d tell you the same.¡± Sora could feel Wendy¡¯s world collapsing around her with the memories of the fight she had with her mother before skipping school. Yet, Jane¡¯s cold-hearted laugh continued, stabbing into her daughter¡¯s vulnerable chest. ¡°Heh, besides, Wendy always liked Sora and her dad better than me anyway. She never wanted to be home growing up. Yeah, I wonder why, and now that thing has you assholes dancing to her strings, so I want to be cut out of that fox bitch¡¯s life. Wendy can have her ritzy, cartoon dream¡ªanime, or whatever she calls it, fantasy life. I¡¯m done with this bullshit. Hey, in fact, can you even make me forget about my¡ª¡± Wendy threw the tablet against the wall, shattering the screen and making the video die. ¡°It¡¯s a lie!¡± she cried. ¡°Sora, they¡­ they had to manipulate it¡ªAI or something¡ªit¡¯s not real! My mom wouldn¡¯t¡­ she wouldn¡¯t abandon me¡ªsell me off to some weird organization that fast? She¡¯s my¡­ She¡¯s my mom¡­¡± Sora¡¯s thick throat wouldn¡¯t let her speak as she leaned over to hug her best friend, truly unsure if she could trust anything as her whole world fell apart. Sora knew the truth; she¡¯d felt her alcoholic, abusive mom¡¯s raw emotions first-hand. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Wendy¡­ I¡¯m sorry.¡± It took some time before Wendy¡¯s hiccups and trembles ceased, but she was far from stable. ¡°Wendy?¡± She gulped, using magic to clean the brunette¡¯s face as emptiness and darkness clouded her thoughts and heart. ¡°I¡­ want to talk to her.¡± Ferdinand sighed, rubbing between his eyes. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ she¡¯s already signed all the documentation as your legal guardian¡­ and went through the process yesterday. The video goes on to show her waving any desire to be in your life or¡ª¡± ¡°It¡¯s a lie!¡± Wendy choked. ¡°No, she¡­ we fought, b-but all moms and daughters fight¡­ She loved me. She used to treat me after¡­ after I got a good grade when I was a kid, and we¡¯d talk¡­ even if we didn¡¯t have enough money¡­ I tried¡­ I tried sooo hard¡­¡± Her voice cracked, and she broke away from Sora¡¯s grip to stand, hugging herself. ¡°Wendy? What can I do?¡± Sora pleaded as she rubbed her wet cheeks again and blinked her puffy eyes. ¡°What do you want me to do?¡± ¡°I¡­ ¡° Wendy shook her head, hugging herself. ¡°I just need some time to think¡­ I just need to be¡­ to be alone for a while. Sorry, Sora¡­¡± Rubbing her nose, she walked out and went into the next room to curl up on what sounded like a sofa. Sora turned her glare to the man across the table. ¡°That¡­ was so horrible! Why show her Jane¡¯s true feelings like that?! It¡¯s cruel!¡± Fen huffed, looking away and not particularly moved by the scene. ¡°My family life was far worse. She¡¯s better off alone.¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Ferdinand gave her a sober stare. ¡°I agree that there was probably a better way to handle that. Sadly, I doubt it would have softened the blow all the same. You don¡¯t seem particularly surprised about her mother giving her up. I can say that the Foundation is primed and ready to transfer parental custody over to your father; all documents can be officialized by the time you¡¯re back in Miami.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­ not the point,¡± Sora mumbled, gripping her arm and glancing over at the destroyed tablet. Of course, she wanted Wendy to become her sister, but not like this. Leaning forward to rub her forehead, she groaned, ¡°Why does everything around me fall apart?! It was supposed to get better.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Sora frowned, looking through her teary eyes at the soft-spoken, typically sarcastic Huli Jing beside her, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat; her aura presented itself as genuine. ¡°Your friend had a toxic mother, who seemed to not give a damn about her, and she was delusional regarding her contempt for caring for her. Clearly, she had no maternal bonds and only saw her daughter as a parasite, leeching off of her. Yes, it may hurt for a short time¡­ I was in pain for weeks after my mother and sisters abandoned me to fend for myself, yet¡­ Jian helped me through it.¡± Sitting back, Sora fidgeted with her dress as she contended with the swirl of disgust, hate, and disbelief that had come from Jane. Sure, she was a horrible mom¡ªnothing new to Sora¡ªbut to actually so candidly give up and forget about her daughter? Yeah, that was even a new low for the abusive mother. No, she couldn¡¯t even call herself a mother anymore; she¡¯d willingly given up that right. ¡°It¡¯s not right,¡± she whispered, wanting to punch the woman in the face for hurting her best friend. ¡°None of this is right¡­ Why is my family coming together and everyone else¡¯s falling apart?¡± The door opened, and Diane entered the room again nonchalantly as a male nurse pushed a bed with Aiden in it while a giant, black-haired man stood beside her. ¡°Who¡¯s family is falling apart, Sora?¡± the witch asked, dropping the lady and princess bit. ¡°Jian!¡± Fen cried, lurching out of her chair to run into the giant man¡¯s arms. Diane huffed and took a seat, pulling up more windows to swipe between several dozen active feeds at once. ¡°Yes, yes, your father figure has returned. I don¡¯t need to tell you that he¡¯s accepted a death curse into his Core that will activate if he falls out of line. Take your seats, 3rd wheels. Now, have we gotten past the drama and can get down to business?¡± ¡°You¡¯re a bitch,¡± Sora snarled, glowering at the unbothered doctor. ¡°What did you even want from me that made you this crabby?¡± ¡°Mmm-hehehe. Personally,¡± the woman scoffed, taking note of Jian and Fen sitting next to each other, the vulpes¡¯ shaky hand holding his, ¡°I prefer the insult ¡®witch¡¯ since it is far more appropriate. As for what I want¡­ I am sure I will get it in time. After all, the Moon Wizard will want to speak to you eventually, and I will be accompanying you to meet his royal excellency.¡± She made a dismissive gesture to the sleeping firebird. ¡°As for what to expect moving forward? Why don¡¯t we answer your big questions regarding what will happen moving forward? Mind waking up Aiden?¡± Her teeth flashed as she promptly dismissed the holograms to lean forward. ¡°He¡¯s going to be needed as we move to the next stage.¡± Sora carefully got up and placed her palms on the table, leering at the witch. ¡°Okay, Diane, let¡¯s cut the bullshit attitude then and get real.¡± Fen pulled Jian¡¯s hand to her lap, glancing between them as Ferdinand crossed his arms to listen to her. Diane, on the other hand, only smiled at her, anticipation rising within the witch¡¯s projected aura. ¡°My mom is coming home. Apparently, she wants me to go to some fae school. Cool. I¡¯m totally fine with that. In fact, it sounds fun. Let me be crystal clear, though. I¡¯m done with this whole shady organization vibe you have going on. My best friend is in trouble, so I¡¯m going to go and be with her. In the meantime, I¡¯m going to leave Aiden in control to figure out what the hell is going on. So please, please, hehe, keep pushing me because I¡¯m not in a good mood!¡± ¡°Finally,¡± Diane chuckled, eyes narrowing with a thrilled expression. ¡°So, I was right. Your mother is returning. Excellent. Get pushy, Sora. Show an attitude. You and Aiden are going to fill in the vacuum as the new bosses of Florida that keep all the little monster communities in check because¡­ if you don¡¯t, then we¡¯ll have to step in, and that could get ugly.¡± Ferdinand sat a little straighter. Sora didn¡¯t blink, green eyes drilling into the woman¡¯s deep brown; in essence, she was threatening to lock up every monster in Florida, and after a few seconds, she grunted and turned to wake Aiden. ¡°What about Eric?¡± ¡°Eric? Well, he and his sister are off in a very, very deep hole. We have to give your mother her dues for containing them because, heh, while Eric is far from the most destructive creature, he is practically impossible to contain. We¡¯ve even theorized throwing him into the sun since volcanoes didn¡¯t do the job.¡± Her fingernails extended to bite into the marble table, vision falling to her claws. ¡°I¡­ want Kari to be brought back to Miami with me. Aiden won¡¯t settle for anything else. It¡¯s unconditional,¡± she firmly stated, shocking herself at the admission. Diane¡¯s eyebrows drew together for the first time, confused eyes snapping to an open window by her side, and Sora noticed it was the video she¡¯d sent to the police of Kari¡¯s gang shaving her hair. ¡°Why¡­ would you want the bully that has been picking on you for years to return to Miami?¡± ¡°Are you serious?¡± Ferdinand asked as she went to shake Aiden¡¯s shoulder and snap her mother¡¯s magic keeping him in suspended animation. ¡°You want Eric to return, as well? When is your mother actually coming to this planet?¡± Sora huffed, recalling everything he¡¯d done to his little sister. ¡°No. Eric can rot for all I care, and you can let Aiden know my feelings on that if you want. Kari deserves¡­ a chance to become who she wants to be. Now, I¡¯m going to go comfort my friend.¡± Aiden stirred as she touched him, and he cracked open an eye, a small, confused smile lifting his mouth. He groggily pushed himself up, running his hand through his messy blond hair. ¡°Well, I guess I¡¯m waking up in vulpes heaven¡­ And then reality hits,¡± he sighed with disappointment upon spotting the others in the room. ¡°Haaa. Shame. What¡¯d I miss?¡± Offering him an encouraging thumbs up, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be in the next room over listening. Ready for the insanity?¡± Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, adjusting his frumpy hospital gown, and brushing back his bangs, he flashed a smile. ¡°Lay it on me, girl. I feel the downer vibes, so how can I help¡ªneed a spark of hope?¡± he offered, soothing rainbow flames igniting down his left arm. ¡°It¡¯s addicting!¡± Relief flooded Sora¡¯s veins at the handsome boy¡¯s jokes and offers of support; it was nice having someone who could actually take some of the load off of her. ¡°Save it for my friend. Short version: we¡¯re on the moon, a shady organization Yez¡¯ela was on about, they¡¯ll do basically whatever I say because my mom¡¯s scary as all crap, and I¡¯m going to run damage control on my best friend¡¯s broken heart. Got my back?¡± Aiden¡¯s mouth pulled together as he scanned the eyes on him before offering her a two-fingered salute. ¡°Roger that, Lt. Fluffy Tail. Operation: Get Answers and Find Solutions is underway¡­ Let me know if you need any help,¡± he whispered as he pushed himself up. ¡°How¡¯s Kari?¡± ¡°Ask them,¡± she sighed, heading for the door. ¡°I might not like her, but I¡¯m open for things to change. Eric¡­¡± She shook her head while backing out of the door, leaving the firebird to sigh and rub the back of his neck with all eyes on him. Making it into the hallway, she closed the door, leaning against it and breathing out her stress. Maybe she was being a bit too confrontational and emotional. What did they expect, though? She¡¯d woken up on the freaking moon! Sora rubbed her face and tried to let go of the heat in her chest before trying to comfort Wendy. Yet just before reaching the room that her bestie was in, a sharp bell made her freeze, and a cat¡¯s meow came from inside. Gingerly opening the door, Sora felt as if hands were enclosed around her throat. Wendy lay on a couch, fighting depression with a two-tailed cat on her best friend¡¯s stomach; the brunette stroked the purring creature, not a clue as to who was on her belly. Nilly was back and on the moon. B2 — 5. What Friends Do A little nervous by Nilly¡¯s sudden appearance, Sora quietly slipped into the room and closed the door behind her. Backing into the frame, its cool wooden surface passed through her dress, shooting tingles down her spine to the tip of her tail. Arm pressed under her bust, she clasped her elbow and tried to think of which topic she should address first. It was so hard to find the proper response, making her throat tighten and her heart thump. Wendy made the decision before she could utter a word, though. Voice cracking, the brunette fought back tears as she took a shuddering breath and gently asked, ¡°Sora¡­ what is happening? How did it end up like this? I¡­ I couldn¡¯t even say¡­¡± Wendy cut off with a choke, unable to finish the sentence. Not able to restrain her own tears, Sora wiped at her moist eyes while moving forward to rub her best friend¡¯s hot shoulder for support as Wendy¡¯s body started to quake. Not needing to say a word since she knew she didn¡¯t want to hear any, Sora dropped to her butt beside the couch and scooted against it. A hug would be too much, so she let her presence be felt by leaning her head against Wendy¡¯s shaking arm. They sat quietly for a time, combating the emotions that silently surged between them. A dull throbbing compressed Sora¡¯s chest as she thought about Jane and Wendy¡¯s fight before she¡¯d taken her best friend out to have a good day. It felt so right at the time¡ªjustified justice for all the times the jealous mother had gotten between their friendship¡ªyet, now she wondered if it was the right thing to push Wendy into it. Am I the selfish one? she asked herself internally, looking for some kind of way that she could have avoided this heartbreak and turmoil sinking her best friend into the pits of despair. Was my magic the last straw that drove a wedge between Wendy and her mom? Was¡­ this what I wanted? Wendy¡¯s aura radiated guilt and shame, the same as hers, which hurt Sora because she knew it wasn¡¯t Wendy¡¯s fault. Wendy was the victim, caught between her mother and best friend, yet it wasn¡¯t like telling her that was going to help her through the spiral. She was stuck in a trench, counting all her sins while pushing herself further into these ditches of reopened wounds along her bruised and battered heart. It¡¯s not fair¡­ Wendy¡¯s done everything right. She worked multiple jobs to help her mom, gave up her social life, and even tried to find a balance between her mom and me, but¡­ still, she was hurt in the end¡­ If there was one silver lining, it was Nilly¡¯s presence, which seemed to be helping, allowing Wendy to break through the panic and self-blame. The cat¡¯s purrs, nuzzles, and warm body were there to keep her grounded and feel loved. Bottom lip quivering, Sora rubbed her slick eyes, sniffing back the pain digging into her breast. Wendy was trying to fight the urge to blame her, desperately looking for a way out of this emotional tug-of-war she was stuck inside, terrified of where her mind was taking her. She was looking for someone or something to hold her steady, yet Sora couldn¡¯t be those hands at this time, which made her feel so useless and frustrated. What good is my magic? Should I use it, or will that only make things worse? Sora puffed out the stress binding her chest in a hot stream of air. Ears pulled back, she moved her tail to her lap, stroking it while looking for her own comfort; her best friend¡¯s whole world was collapsing, leaving her broken, and there was nothing Sora could do. If she used her magic, then it could turn out exactly like what she¡¯d done to Jane when preventing her from punishing Wendy: it could further upset her best friend. It was a conflict in her friend¡¯s mind; her magic could be the reason her mother cut ties. Would trying to calm her down with magic just make it worse, or be betraying Wendy¡¯s own agency? It was this monster and magical world that had allowed and caused this split between Wendy and her mom in the first place, which Sora was a part of. Everything was such a mess. Sora wanted to bash her head against a wall. What am I supposed to do when I¡¯m a part of her pain?! Jane blames me for the problems with her daughter. Wendy¡¯s heard it over and over again. I¡¯m the bad influence. Yes, Jane sucks and is a horrible mom! But¡­ am I a bad influence, too? Why does she love such a terrible mom?! Arms falling over her tail, Sora stared at her dress, fighting herself. No, it doesn¡¯t matter why Wendy loves Jane. Wendy loves her mom, no matter how abusive she is, and Jane¡¯s love matters to Wendy. Wendy was pulled in half by both of us¡­ I should have seen it before it came to this! No, I did¡­ I just believed I would never hurt Wendy¡­ I was wrong. Mom, she internally pleaded, what am I supposed to do? I don¡¯t want Wendy to become jaded and bitter like Jane¡­ I can feel the void in her chest getting deeper and deeper. What can I do to make Wendy not feel worthless¡­ powerless, and unworthy of love? I want to help her¡­ but I can¡¯t. I can¡¯t¡­ Coughing, Sora shakily got to her feet, drawing her best friend¡¯s puffy, bloodshot eyes. Sora rubbed her wet cheeks and showed a weak smile while reaching for Nilly¡¯s ears to rub them. Her voice was a whisper, thick with emotion. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ going to go into the other room for a second, but I¡¯ll be right back. I¡¯m sorry, Wendy. I know I can¡¯t help you through this¡­ Magic won¡¯t help, so¡­ I want to get someone I trust who can. Love you, Bestie.¡± She rubbed Wendy¡¯s arm as the brunette looked away, too much emotion clogging her throat to respond. It made her throat catch, and she fought it down with a shiver. ¡°It will get better, Wendy. I promise. I¡¯ll never leave you. Okay? I¡¯ve always thought about you more as a sister than a friend. So¡­ I¡¯m sorry I hurt you. But I¡¯ll never leave you.¡± Wendy¡¯s aura was like a dagger to her heart as Sora felt the subdued emotions trying to prepare her for another blow, believing she¡¯d now abandon her too; after all, she never thought her mother could abandon her, yet she had. It was becoming harder for her to deny it. ¡°I won¡¯t leave you,¡± Sora softly repeated, squeezing her limp wrist before slowly moving to the door. ¡°Thank you for being with her, Nilly.¡± ¡°Mmrow.¡± Wendy¡¯s lips sucked in as she glanced down at the cuddly kitty stretching out across her chest and legs. Sora had told her about the scary and weird cat, which might be enough of a distraction to help mitigate her short absence. Turning the knob, she gave a teary-eyed smile at her best friend to reassure her before slipping outside, closing the door softly behind her. A weight fell over her shoulders as she exited, making a quake run down her frame. She swallowed the emotion threatening to crush her heart, vision opening to watch a few men in uniforms enter the hallway with carts of food; it seemed the food portion of the meeting was about to start. Pointing to one of the servers to catch his attention, she gestured to the wall beside the door she¡¯d just exited. ¡°Could you please leave a cart with food here for later?¡± He nodded without hesitation, his aura becoming concerned by her puffy cheeks and tone, yet he didn¡¯t vocalize his thoughts. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it.¡± Walking with them into the fancy dining room, Sora crossed her arms as Ferdinand, Diane, and Aiden¡¯s conversation died; the firebird had been gaining more details regarding the SCC Foundation and their activities regarding Eric and the monster world. The blond shifted his full attention to her when she came into view. ¡°What do you need, Sora? Wendy seems to be doing a little better by her spiritual waves.¡± Thankful for those reassuring words since she wasn¡¯t so sure she¡¯d helped that much, Sora returned his smile. ¡°It¡¯s a work in progress.¡± She leveled her puffy red eyes right on the somewhat apathetic French woman; at this time, she was the face of this organization in her mind. ¡°I want you to bring Mary up and provide her with something decent to wear. Let me know when she¡¯s here.¡± Diane sighed, leaning back to study the men loading up the large table with platters of food. ¡°I hate teenage drama; I suppose I am out of touch due to my age. Haaa. Sure, Sora, I will have her brought up, but we are on a time crunch. We have invited King Oberon and Queen Titania of Avalon to join us. I don¡¯t know why you are so hesitant in using your powers, even for the ¡®good¡¯ of your friend, to expedite this process.¡± Ferdinand sat a little straighter, disapproval on his face. ¡°That was out of line, Diane. Our emotional fortitude comes from experience and age. We still have quite some time before they make their appearance. They haven¡¯t even arrived to take the Florida Unseelie queen into their custody.¡± The dark-haired woman clicked her tongue with a bored look directed at the ethics guy of the Foundation, showing a slight smirk in response to Sora¡¯s glare. ¡°Which is why I clearly said I may be out of touch. Still, you cannot deny or underestimate the time wasted on teenage insecurities, family dynamics, and drama. I can already see the direction Aiden is taking in this conversation, which is added to Sora¡¯s troubles and will cause conflict for us to hash out. Go ahead, waste my time,¡± she muttered, dismissively waving her hand. Aiden flashed his teeth. ¡°Glad I¡¯m asking the hard questions! Don¡¯t worry about the mouthy witch, Sora; I¡¯m getting a pretty good picture of things. Be with your best friend, and we can talk when you get things sorted. I¡¯ve got your back.¡± The witch snorted, curling in with laughter. ¡°The blind flames of youth on display. Honestly, while I do find some joy in this drama, I just can¡¯t wait for the next arc,¡± she chimed. ¡°You¡¯re a bitch,¡± Sora snarled, directing a grateful thumbs up at the firebird before giving the smug French woman the bird and storming out. Her best friend was still in her lying position, observing the resting cat across her chest. All the fire she¡¯d built from interacting with the cold doctor evaporated as she gently shut the door. She showed a strained smile, trepidation returning while silently holding up a hand to communicate that she¡¯d kept her word. ¡°I¡¯m back!¡± ¡°Mmm¡­¡± Her lips drooped a bit as Wendy only momentarily acknowledged her, mood less chaotic and more melancholy now, but the haunting ghosts of her own thoughts and emotions continued to torment her. Time moved on, leaving Sora to sit in her previous position to lean against Wendy¡¯s arm, and several seconds went by before Wendy¡¯s weak voice broke the oppressive silence. ¡°You want Mary to talk to me?¡± Intestines twisting, Sora pressed her hands against her abdomen while shifting slightly to see the hollow look on the brunette¡¯s face. Gulping, she smoothed her copper hair over her shoulder, combing through it while trying to ease the pressure closing in around her chest. ¡°Is¡­ that the wrong thing to do? I mean, was it, umm, not something you¡¯d like? How did you know I¡¯d get Mary? I¡¯m not trying to shove you off on someone else; I promise! It¡¯s just¡­ I don¡¯t know how else to help you. I want to help you,¡± she mumbled, now fidgeting with her fingers on her lap, ¡°but¡­ I don¡¯t know how.¡± Unable to look at the tortured teenager with the bone-chilling vibes brushing against her senses, Sora¡¯s focus wandered to the fancy sitting space. In the crushing atmosphere, its wooden aesthetic pressed in around her. The rugs, paintings, and cabinets of magical items couldn¡¯t distract her from Wendy¡¯s gloomy whimper. ¡°Hehe. It¡¯s not hard to guess who you¡¯d get when the people you trust can be counted on one hand, and¡­ well, your dad isn¡¯t really an option, so, yeah¡­ Mary is the obvious answer. Hey, you okay?¡± ¡°Mrroww?¡± If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Her focus wandered to Nilly as the cat yawned and stretched out, paws pressing against Wendy¡¯s chin. She flipped to the opposite side of Wendy¡¯s breast and relaxed again, falling asleep to the brunette¡¯s gentle strokes. Sora smiled a little and reached up to scratch the Undead Cat Mother¡¯s neck. ¡°The number is growing lately, but if we¡¯re talking a single hand, you¡¯d be on it, Wendy.¡± A short pause passed between them as they gave the lazy cat their attention, yet a sad smile soon lifted her best friend¡¯s wet cheeks, making Sora cheer a little inside. She had to celebrate the small victories. A few more minutes went by as they settled in, Sora returning the back of her head against Wendy¡¯s warm arm. The squeaky wheels of carts seemed to be present even on the moon station because she could hear every click they made against the wooden floor of the hallway, and the heavenly smells of the food soon came through the vents to them. She heard Wendy¡¯s stomach growl, yet the brunette didn¡¯t react to it, pulling at Sora¡¯s heartstrings. Her internal turmoil had eased more, but there were now dark emotions sinking into the bedrock of her best friend¡¯s core that worried her. The chaos could be whipped back up with a single wrong word, but Sora didn¡¯t want to walk on eggshells. It took fifteen more minutes for her to speak again. ¡°¡­How can I say goodbye when there¡¯s nobody left? I don¡¯t know if my mom really wanted to forget me or if they made her, and that¡¯s¡­ so scary. I tried to make all the right decisions¡­ I tried to be a good daughter, a good friend¡­ a good person. So¡­ so why does everything bad happen to me?¡± Rubbing at the liquid threatening to leave her eyes, Sora sniffed, yet Wendy had one request that made her fingernails press against her burning chest. ¡°Sora¡­ can you undo what they did to my mom¡¯s memories so¡­ so I can talk to her?¡± Nervous jitters sent a quake through Sora¡¯s frame as she tried to control her breathing, and she had to be honest, but it was so hard for her to form the words. So, she worked through her emotions, letting her own feelings be known. ¡°I¡­ could try¡ªI don¡¯t know¡­ I¡¯ll bring it up to Diane, but¡­ will you listen to¡­ to what I have to say?¡± ¡°¡­I¡¯m listening,¡± she whispered, sounding breathless and defeated as if she were about to slap her across the face. ¡°You¡­ don¡¯t want to.¡± Rubbing her arms as chills ran through her, Sora cleared her throat. ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­ Well, it¡¯s¡­ hard for me. Just¡­ listen, okay?¡± Gathering her courage, Sora scooted out to face her fears. Fixing her dress around her crossed legs, she rubbed her knees and tried not to let her emotions ruin everything by taking a long, controlled breath, catching Wendy¡¯s guarded eyes; she never wanted to have her best friend look at her in that way. ¡°I know¡­ if our positions were reversed, and¡­ and it was my dad¡ªI¡¯d be totally devastated, too. I hate your mom because I really know how she feels, but that doesn¡¯t matter because¡­ because I know you love her.¡± Wendy¡¯s lower lip quivered, a lump forming in her throat as tears fell down her cheeks again, and she nodded. ¡°I do¡­ I love my mom¡ªI don¡¯t know how I c-can¡¯t¡ªI just¡­ she¡¯s my mom, Sora¡­ She¡¯s my mom! Who can fix me if I¡¯m a part of the problem?!¡± Unable to stop herself, Sora blinked rapidly as liquid fell from her own eyes, and she crawled forward to hug her and Nilly. ¡°I know¡­ I know. I don¡¯t know¡­ I really think you¡¯re my sister, Wendy¡ªwe¡¯ve grown up together forever, and¡­ and I hate that this is happening to you. I want to stop it! I want to make all of your pain go away, and I feel so useless¡­ I don¡¯t want you to hurt more, and I feel like if I do this¡ªif you find out what your mom really feels, then¡­ then it¡¯ll crush you. I don¡¯t want to hurt you!¡± ¡°I have to know!¡± Wendy cried back, Nilly squeezing out to hop off the couch as Sora pulled her sister up into a full embrace. ¡°I have to know¡­¡± Fear gripping Sora¡¯s chest, she choked, body quaking; in reality, Wendy had been breaking since she could remember due to her neglectful mother as more cracks appeared every year. ¡°Okay. Just¡­ just talk to Mary, okay? Tell her everything! I¡¯ll make a barrier so I can¡¯t hear anything¡ªjust¡­ I know I can¡¯t help you like she can.¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Thank you, Sora¡­ Thanks for being my sister.¡± Lungs spasming as she hugged her tighter, Sora nodded as words failed her; not long after, a knock came at the door. Pulling away, she showed a messy smile, both of their hair a royal mess that she straightened out with magic. ¡°I¡¯m just going to be in the next room whipping these guys into shape to get us back home¡­ I swear, I¡¯ll make it work.¡± Wendy¡¯s head bobbed, now feeling apprehensive and scared to talk to her mom again as she entered another tug-of-war with her many internalized fears. Touching foreheads, Sora breathed before pulling away to show an encouraging grin and move to the door. ¡°We¡¯ll make it through this, Big Sis.¡± ¡°Hehe. I may be older, but you feel more like the big sister,¡± Wendy chuckled through her tears. ¡°Just¡­ give me a few minutes to, umm, to collect myself. And, Sora¡­¡± Sora paused, fingers on the knob to exit. ¡°Hmm?¡± Wendy gave her a real smile while fixing her dress. ¡°Thank you for caring so much about me. I know you¡¯re dealing with, heh, a lot would be an understatement.¡± she let out a dry laugh from her cracked throat. ¡°Of course! Like I said, you¡¯re my sister, and family comes first. I¡¯ll always be here for you¡­¡± She caught herself before going further and talking about her mom coming back and her dad healing since ¡®parents¡¯ would be a sore spot right now. ¡°Talk to you soon, so take care of Nilly.¡± Wendy¡¯s muddy brown eyes wandered to the lazy cat, now in one of the armchairs and half falling off of it in her stretched-out position. ¡°Just to be clear, you¡¯re talking about the, uh, Nekomata¡­ that you told me about when we were with Eyia?¡± ¡°That¡¯s the one,¡± Sora chimed. ¡°She just wants friends to cuddle with¡­ I think. Heh. Well, I hope. Treat her nicely, and she¡¯ll be nice to you. You didn¡¯t recognize her from my description?¡± Wendy¡¯s hesitation melted away as she got up to bring the cat against her chest, getting a yawn from Nilly as her purrs continued, and the brunette carried her to the couch to snuggle. ¡°Haha. It¡¯s not like we¡¯re on the moon or anything. I just thought two-tailed cats might be a little more common in the monster community, and she was so sweet and lovely,¡± she whispered, leaning in to kiss the Nekomata¡¯s ear and folding it down. Happy her best friend was in a bit of a resurgence¡ªdespite the reason for that being a disaster waiting to happen¡ªSora was revitalized with the idea her parents might actually adopt the brunette, and they¡¯d be official sisters. Entering the hallway, she found Mary lying in the advanced medical bed they¡¯d transported her on. Spelling the room to give Wendy privacy while adding a detective desire to know if anyone else entered to cover her bases, Sora turned her attention to the woman she¡¯d come to trust. She wore the medical gown of the station, which did look fancy. As a bonus, the opposite door to the dining room was closed, which was fine with her, and the female nurse was waiting to be of service. ¡°Ms. Moore, I was told to wait for your instructions and to inform you that Mary¡¯s husband is in the first batch of people being transported back to Miami. Only a few individuals seem to be experiencing the sleeping condition they arrived in, which the Foundation has placed in a special ward, awaiting your touch to free them.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Sora said, ignoring her after the delivery as she placed a hand on Mary¡¯s wrist. Her mother¡¯s tiny thread snapped just before she touched the woman, burning itself into oblivion, which now Sora realized was to not interact with her. Mary groggily opened her eyes, blinking a few times in confusion as Sora drew her attention, hearing Aiden in the other room discussing this fae school that she was supposedly going to. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Her gentle prompts brought Mary to push herself up and slowly study her surroundings. The woman¡¯s practical mindset and high stress threshold were clearly on display while gauging the situation; it was something she¡¯d come to respect about the psychiatrist. ¡°Sora, we were¡­ turned into werewolves, Kari was fighting her brother, and¡­ then Jenny went after you. Now, I wake up in¡­ a mansion hallway, I assume, in a medical gown with a nurse? Hmm.¡± She pressed a hand against her chest, searching for something as she stared down at her lap. ¡°I don¡¯t feel the weird¡­ itch? That is all I can do to describe the sensation of the werewolf infection on first impression. Am I¡­ cured still? What about my husband?¡± Sora noted the emotion and concern that touched her voice. ¡°He¡¯s fine, Mary,¡± she soothed, taking her hand to reassure the doctor. ¡°He is resting right now, and there is a¡­ lot I need to tell you about. Care to follow me to the, uh¡­¡± The nurse held up a white bag that she assumed had her clothes inside before gesturing down the hall. ¡°Third door on your right for the washroom, Ma¡¯am. Also, here are the garments you requested; they were taken from the patient¡¯s personal wardrobe back on Earth.¡± Mary¡¯s left eye lifted in question as she took the offered bag, spreading it apart to peek inside. ¡°On Earth? Hmm.¡± Her lips drew in, and curiously, the brown-haired woman¡¯s cheeks colored slightly while seeing the contents, just out of view from Sora¡¯s position. ¡°Well, those are certainly from my wardrobe, and I wonder why they would be the first choice.¡± The nurse showed a rosy smile in return that made Sora want to look inside, but the psychiatrist snapped the opening shut upon getting out of bed. In the next instant, the nurse wheeled the medical table out, and they were on to the washroom. When they arrived, Sora stood in the doorway for a moment, marveling at the size of the place for a space station, not that Mary knew that yet. She wouldn¡¯t be surprised if a spa were hidden behind one of the connecting rooms as Mary went to the wide open window that could be shuttered by the slide of a sensor. ¡°This¡­ isn¡¯t an illusion?¡± the woman asked, stopping in front of the glass to look out across the colossal sealed crater and lunar surface; the planet wasn¡¯t visible from their angle. ¡°Are we on the moon?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Sora sighed, taking one of the seats outside of the shower that Mary would likely change inside. ¡°Wow¡­ Hahaha. My husband and I are super nerds when it comes to science fiction. He¡¯d love this¡­¡± ¡°I think I can make some things happen¡­ probably,¡± Sora mumbled, ears falling back and tail looping around to hold against her belly. ¡°I can fill you in while you get dressed and process. But I, umm, I need your help with Wendy¡­ It¡¯s really bad.¡± Mary took her gaze away from the moon and didn¡¯t return to it. Concern touched her face while examining her body language. ¡°Alright, Sora, I get the impression that you¡¯ve sorted things out to the point where I will have the opportunity to decompress. I will be available to think about where all of us are so I can properly evaluate, though; I know how you feel about Wendy, so I¡¯ll be sure to try to be of help. I, eh, feel like, ugh, I need a shower after growing hair everywhere, however¡­ and maybe a few dozen razors. A tail was a¡­ interesting thing to experience.¡± Sora followed her gaze to her fluffy appendage with a giggle. ¡°Absolutely! Take a shower and relax a little. I might ramble a bit¡­ maybe cry, so¡­ fair warning.¡± ¡°Haha. I might cry with you. This has been¡­ this has been a little more than life-altering. Tell me all about it while I try to rid myself of that traumatic sensation. What is happening with Wendy?¡± Expressing everything she¡¯d gone through as the woman listened, guiding the discussion down specific topics to get a more rounded view, Mary washed herself behind the partially opened door. Sora felt warm fuzzies when she got congratulations from the brown-haired woman upon learning that her mother would be returning soon. Yes, things were kind of crazy, like her mom said they would be, but Mary was a person who could help her calm things down. She¡¯d come to really rely on the psychiatrist and her advice. She still wanted to keep their relationship at a professional distance, which was understandable, but she still tried to learn more about the woman since she wanted to build more trust with her¡ªshe¡¯d accepted her for a vulpes, after all, which was huge. Mary exited the shower in the same outfit Sora had seen her wear on her first day of school. The wash area had everything one might want to clean up and prepare for a dinner date, making Sora believe this was some kind of important person¡¯s personal living space that they¡¯d commandeered. The woman was obviously a science fiction superfan by the way she looked out of the window to observe the moon and spaceships flying around them; Sora could feel it was hard for her to keep her curiosity curbed, which was another juicy detail she¡¯d learned about her doctor. Yet, her cheeks seemed slightly more flushed, and her skin was far hotter than it should have been, even after the shower. A quick desire illuminated her eyes, and a sly smirk came on when the woman¡¯s dress was filtered out, giving her a full view of the scandalous lingerie that lay underneath. Sora¡¯s own cheeks colored at the bold design, taking her back to the time she¡¯d shopped for undergarments with Daisy. Mary was surprisingly more of a Succubus than the blonde. ¡°Sora¡­¡± Mary hummed, vision narrowing slightly as she crossed her arms and shifted her hips, suddenly becoming a tad guarded. ¡°Why would you be blushing and looking at me like that right after your eyes started to glow? I think we need to discuss boundaries again.¡± Letting her see-through vision fade, the maroon colors turned blue as her dress overlaid the underwear, and Sora¡¯s ears laid back as she looked away, now putting herself in the woman¡¯s position. It had been a pretty invasive thing to do, and while they were closer than they¡¯d been before, it wasn¡¯t like she shared the same relationship with the psychiatrist as she did with Wendy. ¡°Sorry, Mary. I was just so curious about how you acted when getting the bag, but, umm, eh-heh, I think you look great!¡± She winced, gulped, and gripped her elbow while looking at her feet, shame touching her softening voice. ¡°No¡ªthat wasn¡¯t what I should have said. Sorry¡­¡± Mary¡¯s stern and defensive aura lessened. ¡°It was very invasive, Sora, but I do understand you may be having trouble with your vulpes instincts, which may have an influence on that behavior. That being said, it doesn¡¯t make me feel more comfortable or safer with how you might act in public and could push your friends away if not carefully controlled.¡± ¡°I know¡­ I have abilities that can cause a lot of harm to people,¡± she sighed. ¡°I messed up. I wouldn¡¯t want some guy to do that to me. I won¡¯t do it again.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll hold you to it,¡± Mary said with an encouraging tone. ¡°I also get that you are under a lot of stress and are trying to brighten the mood. That¡­ isn¡¯t the way to do it with me. Let¡¯s try to focus on what we can do to help Wendy and not deflect from the problems you¡¯re facing.¡± ¡°Mhm! Thanks, Mary¡­ I¡¯d hug you, but, heh, boundaries, right?¡± ¡°Right. Lead the way.¡± Her spirits rose a bit after her blunder, and her tail swished a bit. She knew what she had done was wrong; still, learning a little more about her psychiatrist¡¯s more ¡®naughty¡¯ side had helped her realize that the brunette woman was a regular girl herself and not just this super-sophisticated doctor. She guided Mary to the room her best friend was waiting in. Now that she could leave Wendy with someone she trusted to support her through the turbulent emotions, it was time to confront this big bad organization! B2 — 6. Avalon High Royalty Sora looked up at the vents as a strong breeze kept the space filled with clean air. The weird vibe from the moon crawled up her tail again, the stress of everything that had happened pressing in on her. Calm down. Everyone is okay¡­ Mom said it would be hectic after I woke up, but things would settle down. Breathe¡­ Closing her eyes and letting her ears fold a little, she tried to filter out the noisy buzz of the magical and scientific artifacts around her. It was hard to concentrate, which could be Diane trying to mess with her; she wouldn¡¯t put it past the witch. Standing outside the room, hand on the golden handle of the ornate wooden door, Sora eased her heart rate. Wendy¡¯s aura spiked with emotion, and she added an amendment to her soundproof spell to block that sense, giving her best friend her privacy. Mary has it¡­ Trust the process. In the ensuing silence, she listened to Aiden as he continued to grill the two SCC members¡ªwhatever that acronym stood for¡ªon their part in world affairs. Fen and Jian awkwardly listened, trying not to draw attention to themselves by the scent the fox women released; it sparked her interest a little, unable to remember exactly when her senses had become keen enough to smell discomfort. She could hear the Huli Jing shift uncomfortably at times. The conversation between the blond and doctors had taken quite a few turns that she¡¯d only partially followed at times; a lot of it sounded a little random to her, but she hadn¡¯t heard the whole thing. The firebird said he¡¯d get all the details for her, and she trusted him. It was time to see what Diane and Ferdinand were all about. Lime-green eyes opening, she pressed the lever down, yet didn¡¯t open the door. Something bizarre met her clearing vision, making the entire world come to a freezing halt; not a sound could be heard, from the vents to the discussion that had been so vivid a moment before. Black thorns? Her saliva thickened while staring at the handle, where pure black vines twisted out of her hands to wrap around the door and sink through the polished wood. It was so out of left field that all she could do was watch it for a second. She blinked, and it was gone, the world coming back into focus. Slow brain catching up to the event, she carefully lifted her hand to stare at it, blinking a few more times. It didn¡¯t return. Did I imagine that? Stress? Ugh. Yeah¡­ probably stress. It looked just like those vines and thorns in that nightmare I had just before I woke up? Weird. Yeah, let¡¯s just get back on topic. Mary¡¯s right: I shouldn¡¯t distract myself from what I need to do right now. Setting her resolve, she walked inside, interrupting the topic of black budgets and the USA¡¯s top-secret monster department; apparently, they wouldn¡¯t be going through that program since they were too classified. ¡°Okay, where are we, Aiden?¡± she mumbled, making her agitation known while moving to sit across from the witch again. ¡°I heard that King Oberon and Queen Titania have arrived and are securing Sela. They¡¯re here to talk to me about this Avalon Academy?¡± Fen¡¯s fingers tightened in her lap as she sat next to the vulpes at the mention of a prisoner transfer, yet Jian was stoic and passive. On the complete opposite spectrum, Diane leaned against her hand, elbow resting on the table while dully swiping through hologram displays. She seemed to be letting Ferdinand handle most of Aiden¡¯s questions. The firebird sat back and crossed his arms, adding a smile as she swept into the space. ¡°Can I first ask how your friend is doing? She feels stable now from her spiritual waves, but¡ªwell, there she goes with another emotional spike. Hmm. I guess therapy can do that to you.¡± Sora¡¯s lips pushed to the side; she hadn¡¯t considered including a spiritual cloaking affix in her silence zone since she thought auras were the same thing, which, apparently, they were not. Maybe she really did need to go to school for magic because there were so many things she didn¡¯t know about. ¡°I¡¯m sure Mary will get things under control. Wendy¡¯s just¡­ going through a rough time. So, what¡¯s up, Rainbow Wings?¡± Aiden¡¯s smile lifted at the nickname, but it soon fell. ¡°I¡¯m glad you¡¯re feeling better¡­ That being said, I think you are going to hate me for what I¡¯m about to suggest.¡± Diane¡¯s mouth twitched, her bored expression fading as she swiped away the displays, leaning back and crossing her legs. ¡°Finally, we are getting to the crux of this conflict raging in the background. Your questions certainly have posed a fascinating hidden message that the Ethics Bureau will be against.¡± ¡°Excuse me¡­ What are we suggesting here?¡± Ferdinand asked, adjusting his suit front while glancing between the smirking witch and the blond boy. ¡°What have we been discussing that I will have an issue with?¡± Diane opened a bottle of wine and directed it at Aiden, now shifting in his chair and rubbing the back of his neck with a deep frown. ¡°By all means, tell the audience what you¡¯ve concluded. The Ethics Bureau severely overestimates Sora.¡± Sora¡¯s nose crinkled at the accusation. ¡°Uh¡­ What is she talking about, Aiden? Are you saying my magic isn¡¯t strong enough or something? It sounds like she¡¯s trying to pick a fight.¡± Aiden sighed and slid his finger across the runic lining at the edge of the marble table, creating a display before mirroring it and pushing the hologram to the middle of them to all see. He seemed to have grown shockingly accustomed to this weird technology in the time Sora had been away. ¡°Sora, please, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but I want to make it clear what the SCC Foundation is asking us to do.¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Sora grumbled as the boy began writing on his display, which was transferred to the center panel. ¡°They want us to bring stability to Miami. If I can handle Yez¡¯ela, then I think I¡¯m strong enough. Plus, I¡¯m fully transformed now. I¡¯m at least twice as strong as I was.¡± Aiden lifted his eyebrows, fingers still in motion. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you don¡¯t have power, Sora¡­ but are you remembering what happened after you fought Yez¡¯ela? Let me explain my perspective real fast before you jump to conclusions.¡± ¡°Okay¡­¡± Sora sat back, hands tucked under her armpits as she stared at the list Aiden was making. The more he put on, the tighter her gut became, and a shiver ran down her spine to her tail with every new line that sparked memories and emotions.
  1. Friends
  2. Kind Heart
  3. Ruthless, Ignorant Monsters
  4. Increased Authority
  5. Priorities
  6. Mother¡¯s Expectations
  7. School
  8. Limited Availability
¡°First, Sora, you have friends and family to worry about. What happened to Wendy, Howie, and Daisy? You¡¯re vulnerable, and yes, you did show that you can bring the fire when pressed, but that was only when put into a corner. I can almost guarantee that you could not have done what you did without internalizing Hell Force.¡± Her bottom lip tucked under, goosebumps prickling her arms. He wasn¡¯t wrong. Causing waves had put a target on her friends. Plus, now her mom was going to be entering her life, and without her powers. Surely, no one would dare poke her mom, though; she had to have countermeasures in case that happened. Her conversation with her mom during her transformation made a lump form in her throat. She told me to work this out with Aiden¡­ So, does that mean this discussion is actually extremely important? No, of course, it is. I really haven¡¯t thought any of this through, and Aiden has personal experience running Eric¡¯s empire. ¡°Which brings me to my next point, and please, don¡¯t misunderstand me, Sora,¡± he urged with a smile. He underlined ¡®Kind Heart,¡¯ making her arms tighten against her chest. ¡°I¡¯m not saying you¡¯re soft or weak. You¡¯ve met some of the creatures in Miami, but only a very small number of them. Yes, you could most likely dominate much of the fodder, but some bigger players were kept in strict order by the council Eric formed.¡± He paused to bridge his fingers and lean forward to look at her, giving her his attention as his blue eyes softened. ¡°The Trolls and Ogres, among many other factions that are arguably even stronger. Eric had a presence so great that no one dared to challenge them after meeting him once. For three years, he spread terror throughout the monster world, which was largely guided by the SCC Foundation.¡± Aiden pressed his forehead against his linked fingers, releasing a long puff of air. ¡°I understand how you might feel¡­ but I believe you must release Eric from your mother¡¯s spell.¡± Fur bristling, her thighs pressed against each other upon seeing a giant, shirtless wolf, tattoos gleaming against his tanned skin in the Hellish stadium¡¯s light. The memory of Kari¡¯s hopeless emotions swelled up within her, and it felt like Aiden had punched her in the gut. ¡°What? No way!¡± she flatly refused, vision hardening. ¡°There is zero chance that Kari will ever overcome her trauma or trust me if I do that. It¡¯s like¡­ the one thing I can do to make her feel like she can actually live! Do you have any idea what I had to go through to even say these things about Kari?!¡± she asked, arms unlinking to slam her fist on the table, making it shake. ¡°Kari deserves a chance to show me that she isn¡¯t a total bitch! And that¡¯s me saying that!¡± Diane snickered, pulling up a video that showed Eric getting pummeled by Jin as Aiden rubbed his forehead with a groan. ¡°By all means, you could get your Korean friend to take his place, Sora. Aiden¡¯s plan would work wonders with her at the helm. I¡¯m still astonished such weak attacks had such an impact on the Fenris Wolf. What is she?¡± Scratching her left ear as it itched, Sora snorted. ¡°Yeah, good luck getting Jin to do anything she doesn¡¯t want to do, and that sounds like too much work for her personality. Wait, what do you mean ¡®weak?¡¯ Jin was slaying!¡± Aiden puffed out a breath. ¡°Those kinds of blows would do almost nothing to Eric if it hadn¡¯t been for Jin¡¯s unusual energy that utterly shut down Eric¡¯s natural defenses. As Diane said, he¡¯s bathed in volcanos and fought far stronger creatures than what Jin showed, but her battle intelligence and innate powers were on a whole different level than what Eric had dealt with since fighting his mother.¡± Diane hummed, watching the wolf and dragon fight with a curious flame in her twinkling eyes. ¡°A shame you¡¯re being so mysterious about her because she is the one I am most interested in.¡± Sora nibbled at the inside of her lip, appreciating the fact he hadn¡¯t mentioned to Diane that she was a Dragon Founder. Aiden wasn¡¯t wrong, though, and Aiden had only gone over two of the several points he¡¯d written down. ¡°I just¡­ can¡¯t do that to Kari. What do you mean by ¡®Increased Authority?¡¯ Are you saying I can get these guys to keep him in line?¡± Ferdinand had been silent while studying the words Aiden had written, his voice becoming somewhat of a whisper. ¡°¡­That¡­ would be very troublesome, Lady Sora, which is why the EC Council approved the Site Directors to use him as a club.¡± His face twisted with distaste. ¡°It brought us back to the more savage era of the SCC, moving us backward. We¡¯ve been trying to devise a means to contain him, yet all attempts have failed. Eric is¡­ a very ruthless creature, and is practically immune to any of our capture methods. Am I to assume you have a method of putting a leash on him, Aiden?¡± The bird chuckled, his mood brightening as he rested his folded hands under his chin and directed everyone¡¯s eyes to her. ¡°There¡¯s no need for a leash¡­ because Sora is the new Alpha. Sora, Eric is at your beck and call. You can change everything, and that is what I was trying to say.¡± ¡°Ylva,¡± Sora whispered. The bone-shivering vision of the gray-furred, scarred wolf¡¯s sapphire irises shimmering with the intensity of a supernova exploded in her mind, the galaxy-ender holding the man by the throat. ¡°She told Eric to get in line because she was only a few skips away; this is my family territory.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Diane¡¯s interest spiked, fingers folding together as she slid her chair forward. ¡°Ylva is a new name I haven¡¯t heard. Who is this creature?¡± Aiden waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Someone you wouldn¡¯t want to bother, and, more importantly, someone Eric respects like his mother. Sora, I am interested in this school they¡¯ve mentioned, too. Heh, I must admit, I¡¯ve always wanted to try out the school environment since Kari went,¡± he said, flashing his teeth and taking on a more positive vibe. ¡°If you tell Eric to give Kari space and to work with the SCC Foundation, he¡¯ll do it! Say what you want about Eric, but he brings order.¡± Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Sora had the gut-churning daydream of the dominating man beside her, taking whatever order she gave, darkness swirling around her. A quiver ran through her frame in terror, thinking about the power she¡¯d give the Foundation by giving them Eric¡¯s leash. The wolf would do anything and had no limits or sympathy for humanity; in the wrong hands, he¡¯d burn the world, all while laughing at how pathetic humanity was. ¡°I¡­ will think about it,¡± she mumbled, trying not to let the pressure get to her at what evil the Attack Wolf could do. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. I¡¯ll need to talk to Kari about it and get her permission since it really affects her¡­ Wait.¡± She saw Aiden and Ferdinand¡¯s accepting nod, but it suddenly hit her that there was a question no one had answered yet. ¡°Why¡­ can¡¯t the SCC handle it without Eric or us if I tell him to back down? Weren¡¯t you guys doing great before Eric showed up?¡± Aiden¡¯s hazel eyes drew inward. ¡°I¡­ didn¡¯t think about that, to be honest. I was just concerned about the pressure on you, Eric¡¯s freedom, and maybe a way for Kari and him to reconcile now that you¡¯re in the picture. We aren¡¯t worried about their uncles now, after all. Kari can take her time to grow.¡± He shifted his gaze to the well-dressed man as Ferdinand¡¯s hands tightened in his lap. ¡°I am inclined to agree with you¡­ but the Ethics Bureau does not direct the vision of the Foundation; that task is delegated to the EC Council¡­¡± ¡°Which,¡± Diane mused, keeping smug eye contact with Sora, ¡°has heard the demands of your mother and made a bold decision.¡± ¡°Keep being mysterious and hyping up the tension to waste my time,¡± she grumbled, fiddling with her fingers in her lap and playing the uno reverse card. ¡°I understand Aiden¡¯s other points: ¡°My priority is not playing sheriff or running around the world to fight random monsters. I want to hang out with my friends and figure out my life. ¡°My mom wants me in school and to spend time as a family. ¡°School is going to take up a lot of time, I bet, with everything else in my life.¡± Regaining her composure, she brushed out her hair with a huff. Fen and Jian seemed to be getting more comfortable, as well, as the fox followed the giant, white-haired man¡¯s lead in indulging themselves in their provided meal. ¡°Essentially, I¡¯m going to be very busy. I hear you, Aiden, and I¡¯ll talk to Kari about it before I make any decision. So, just tell me what plots your leaders are cooking, Diane?¡± Diane licked her lips and sat back, crossing her legs and adding a sly smirk. ¡°There are multiple realms that have been long sealed shut due to my master¡¯s actions, which is why you hardly see any monsters or creatures popping out of nowhere these days, with the exception of the realm she created¡­ Avalon.¡± Tapping a few icons on her screen, she replaced Aiden¡¯s list with a stunning and vast video of a colossal plain of misty seas, fog obscuring much of the background. Lush islands of rock lifted out of the mysterious depths, waterfalls flowing down their stony sides as the heavens opened up to a cosmic marvel of planets and wondrous fields of nebula-like clouds floating across a pristine tapestry of space. Lips parting in disbelief, she watched a giant stone city rise out of the mist, where creatures of all types walked. Flying boats sailed through the twinkling haze, elves manning the sails through the skies to transport passengers to other islands. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­ a castle built into a city. It all looks so¡­ magical.¡± Diane snickered and swiped to another video of a cracking gate of a similar design to the city, only it was inside a hellscape of fire and magma. ¡°This is one of many sealed realms that are beginning to break free, opening humanity up to threats that we will need to address. One such gate already broke open, providing passage to a pocket dimension located on Saturn¡¯s rings, which brought a terrifying stag to our world that is practically a god¡­ She demands blood sacrifice and cannot be contained. We call her A-2845.¡± Aiden stood up to look closer at the colorful deer, shimmering with colors of purple, turquoise, pink, and light-greens. Her horns were massive, and the creature stood nearly eight meters tall. Crystals circled her antlers with a halo-like ring, radiating light. From her muscular legs that ended in delicate hooves, twinkling fur, and fox-like tail, it showed an elegance that Sora couldn¡¯t deny, radiating with power. Her eyelids were closed, and an almond pearl gem was attached to her forehead. However, perhaps the most disturbing part was her feminine head, which resembled a green-haired, elf-like woman. ¡°I never saw anything like that when Eric was expanding his territory.¡± ¡°You wouldn¡¯t,¡± Ferdinand growled, rubbing between his eyes. ¡°She was the one who put us on Eric¡¯s trail, when she demanded we get rid of him, and A-2845 vanished nine days before Sora¡¯s birthday.¡± Diane¡¯s eyes narrowed, her gleeful voice brimming with excitement. ¡°We managed to satiate her gluttony for souls by feeding her criminals on death row; like Eric, she defied all restraining attempts we made. We believe she has returned to her Saturn realm to build up her strength for a confrontation with him¡­ or you.¡± Sora gulped while watching the stag turn a giant laser and the large spaceship that fired it into flowers as the beam reached fifty meters from her, blanketing the area in bloody petals. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think I could do that.¡± ¡°Oh, sweetie,¡± Diane laughed, ¡°that was one of our earlier¡­ more tempered attempts to neutralize her. She isn¡¯t all-knowing, so we can pin the blame on other¡­ less favorable factions. Hehe. Eric was the first creature she refused to attack.¡± ¡°Because she couldn¡¯t affect him with her magic, or whatever she uses, I bet,¡± Sora whispered, now wondering if she really did need to put Eric on the hunt for the stag. He was a wolf, after all; it was his thing. ¡°You want me to lend you Eric to¡­ handle these breaking seals? How does Fen fit into that?¡± The black-furred vulpes choked on her sushi. ¡°Ack¡ªme? Why would I have anything to do with that?! I am the victim of¡­ whatever weird attraction this world has. How else could I have been transported halfway across your territory¡ªomniverses without number¡ªdue to anything else than some elaborate plot!?¡± ¡°I agree!¡± Diane chimed, snatching all of their eyes as the French woman removed the videos to take a sip of her wine. ¡°¡­It is more than obvious that other forces are at work behind the scenes that perhaps not even your mother has a full grasp of, Sora. Is it possible that is one of many reasons why she is taking action to be in your life now?¡± She directed them to the uncomfortable Huli Jing. ¡°Why would so many Founders, and, of all chances, a vulpes that has met your aunt, Sora, be brought into your life other than foul play? How could a Wolfwere and Succubus construct such a unique summoning Hell Circle? Why did the Fenrir family come into this tiny universe? I believe we need as much help as we can get, no?¡± Aiden rubbed his elbow, catching her gaze. Sora knew very well why so many random encounters had happened to her and this planet; Aiden¡¯s causality played a massive part in bringing all of this together to save his adopted family. She couldn¡¯t help putting Wendy in Aiden¡¯s shoes. How would it be for her best friend if she¡¯d been adopted into her family, and she was trying to¡ªno, maybe that wasn¡¯t the best parallel. Still, Sora could put herself in his shoes; he wanted to save his family and regain the peace they¡¯d lost. There was no way she could fault him for that. Sitting straighter, Sora felt darkness festering in her chest. She was the one in control, and she had to make the final decisions. Yet, she didn¡¯t feel right doing this without Kari; it was too important to the wolf to leave her out of it, but the threats were real. Silence took them as Diane began to eat, and Ferdinand pondered Diane¡¯s concerns about a conspiracy. Stephanie¡¯s warning about forces pulling the strings in the background came back to her mind. The fenris brothers had plotted a method to burrow into vulpes territory; even Ylva seemed surprised at the boldness and craftiness of her grandfather, but what if it wasn¡¯t him? She¡¯d insinuated it, yet burrowing into their territory, which was protected by her grandmother¡¯s magic, didn¡¯t seem right. Her mother would probably know. This was too much, though! If all this speculation wasn¡¯t enough, she had so much more to deal with from the fallout at the Hell Stadium. Eyia had lost trust in Jin and was trying to make friends, which meant Sora had to help her through this challenging time. It was pretty complicated, though. Jin was only hanging around the Primordial Asgardian to piss off her mother, chilling in vulpes territory to boot, when the Dragon Mother hated her Aunt Inari for killing her first-born son. There was a lot to unpack there. Her mother was coming home. Her dad was unconscious and healing. Wendy had a world-shattering moment that needed to be addressed. Nilly, the freaking First Cat Mother, was back and nuzzling her best friend! The mess with Kari was a bombshell waiting to go off, and now she had to deal with this stupid SCC drama. ¡°Yup!¡± she blurted out, giving Aiden and Diane a pointed stare. ¡°I¡¯m leaving Eric in the hands of his little sister. You guys can do your job and keep the world safe. I¡¯m sixteen! I¡¯m going to school and hanging with friends. So, as Kari likes to say, bite me!¡± Aiden chuckled, looking far more positive than she thought he would be. ¡°Thank you, Sora. I¡¯m with you. So, let¡¯s talk about this school business.¡± ¡°That shouldn¡¯t be too difficult,¡± Diane said, seemingly unbothered by her declaration, unlike Ferdinand, who was deep in thought about how things were progressing. ¡°The King and Queen are nearly here, so let us get the small details out of the way.¡± Tapping a few things on her digital display, Diane brought up pictures of each subject she rapidly shotgunned out. ¡°We acquired your hotel and are in the process of relocating all the residents, excluding those who are close to you or who believe they are close to you. Renovations are being made to expand your suite. Personnel have been brought into the knowledge of the SCC Foundation with appropriate pay raises for such an important job. ¡°Security is being established around your buildings with a gateway that will bring you to Avalon; the school will be in charge of linking it, which they have already agreed to. It will be linked to the floor directly below yours. It is quite a risk to Avalon, which is why they will have their own guards overseeing its passage.¡± ¡°H-Huh?!¡± Sora¡¯s mind spun as she plowed on. ¡°I will act as the SCC representative that will be allowed access into Avalon Territory in order to oversee that you are receiving the appropriate needs. I am quite thrilled to have a pass to enter the realm again after such a long time! A personal assistant will be assigned to your mother to provide you with anything you desire, although I suppose she would be able to create whatever she desires with a thought,¡± she mused. ¡°The EC Council wishes to be entirely accommodating to your every whim.¡± The French woman leaned forward, resting her arms on the table to give her a thoughtful smile. ¡°I suggest you ask for Fen and Jian to be given a staff position within Avalon Academy; from rumors I¡¯ve heard, one of the vulpes instructors is in need of an aide, and the combat instructor mysteriously died last semester.¡± Sora¡¯s hands went to her squirming belly as Ferdinand gave the witch a pointed stare that said she did something she shouldn¡¯t. ¡°Stop! Stop!¡± ¡°Yes, please, clarify that, Doctor Diane,¡± Fen asked after forcing down her fish, face turning ashen. ¡°You wish for me to take on a¡­ teacher¡¯s assistant role in this academy where staff have been killed? It seems like a¡ª¡± The woman¡¯s spine arched, three tails bristling and ears pulling back as the door in the hallway opened, and a small feminine voice hummed with interest. Sora¡¯s own heart rate picked up at the womanly tone the queen of Avalon spoke with. ¡°How interesting. It seems the Supernatural Containment and Conservation Foundation has spies inside our realm, despite our precautions, and now they seek to add more listening ears. How sneaky of them.¡± A deep voice followed as the guide opened the door to allow the tall, beautiful elf to enter, his black hair curled as if in braids, only without bindings. ¡°Will you punish Trish? Her Maple Syrup addiction does seem to be causing a conflict of interests.¡± His golden, pupilless eyes swept through the entire room, radiating a controlled, dominating presence that snatched all attention. His aurelian crown was highlighted by his black horns and fancy obsidian apparel, lined with glistening gold. Hovering beside him was a glowing fairy, no more than 10 centimeters tall, and her tiered, butterfly-like wings shimmered with colors and mesmerized Sora with the elegant and perfect picture the woman radiated. Her azure top was a flaring flower, and a silken gown framed her shapely figure and long legs from her ample bust down. ¡°Trish sells harmless information; someone else is passing along hushed details in the school. I¡¯ll have to light a fire under Magsatra¡¯s wings to investigate the source amongst her staff. Well, aren¡¯t you a picture of fluffy snuggles!¡± she playfully chimed, speeding up in a dazzle of sparkles to spin around her. ¡°Lady Sora, I believe!¡± Diane chuckled, popping up a personnel file and tossing it toward the dark-haired elf king as he flicked his wrist, using magic Sora couldn¡¯t even sense or maybe telekinesis to pull out a seat beside Aiden before the man guiding them could act. ¡°Welcome, High King Oberon, High Queen Titania. You needn¡¯t go on a fairy hunt since I am positive she was also one of your missing instructors¡­ I have lost contact with her, which means she is likely dead. What is happening in your realm¡¯s illustrious school? I am so intrigued!¡± What does she mean the instructor is probably dead?! How many dead instructors are there at this school?! Mom, what the crap?! Titania touched her glossy pink lips, smiling neon-blue eyes illuminating as she started to glow; her long, absurdly thick, spiraling gray hair floated back, the flowers adorning it and unique jewelry blazing with light. ¡°When The Darkness comes, Unseelie move through the shadows. Even we can have trouble pinning them down when they are so deeply rooted in their obscure and toxic tunnels.¡± Sora watched in awe as the tiny woman grew to match her size, Titania¡¯s giant wings folding down to drape around her figure like a fancy cloak and melding into her silky dress to add intricate texture to it. Smoothly taking the chair that her husband scooted out for her, she allowed herself to be pushed in before he gracefully teleported into his own beside her. ¡°Speaking of,¡± Titania mischievously cooed, lifting her hand to materialize a tiny cage that matched her previous size, ¡°Your ever-so-radiant mother tells me that you are acquainted with this little troublemaker?¡± Sela appeared within the iron cage, shrunk down and unconscious in the prison. ¡°I¡­ am,¡± Sora uncomfortably mumbled, causing the fairy queen¡¯s lips to lift thoughtfully. ¡°You have developed an attachment to this corrupted queen? Interesting¡­¡± Oberon¡¯s strong voice followed, his illuminated eyes on her. ¡°She will be put on trial; there is nothing else to be said about the subject.¡± ¡°Oh, I disagree, Husband,¡± Titania softly returned, twinkling eyes narrowing while appraising her. ¡°Perhaps this Unseelie will be of more help than we initially believed. Won¡¯t you come to the trial, My Lady?¡± Sora¡¯s fingernails pressed against the back of her hand. ¡°I¡­ actually wanted to ask you that.¡± ¡°Wonderful! We need your assistance in breaking her spell, in any case,¡± she said, radiating charming energy. ¡°Why don¡¯t we let her rest? Hmm. I would so hate to harm her when we attended her coronation within her little kingdom; a shame it fell to The Darkness, but hope is never lost. Oh, what of the hiring of this lovely fox?¡± Oberon released a sigh at her batting eyes that told of millennia of dealing with a mercurial wife. ¡°That is a subject to be taken up with Queen Magsatra. We do not interfere in her school.¡± ¡°Speak for yourself,¡± the fairy slyly chortled, winking at Fen, who shrank into her chair. ¡°I would love to speak on your behalf, Initiate of Lady Inari. I am positive Professor Himi Giichi would adore you as an aide; he is rather fond of the Huli Jing, hmm-hmm, personality,¡± she said in a way that made the three-tailed vulpes gulp. ¡°I believe you are near your fourth tail, as well. How exciting!¡± ¡°Tia,¡± Oberon tiredly prompted, rubbing his temple and making the woman laugh. ¡°Yes! Yes!¡± she sang, slipping Sela into some sort of pocket world, from what Sora could tell, and turning her dazzling face to her. ¡°Lady Sora, it is our pleasure to welcome you to our realm personally. I am High Queen Titania, and this is my husband, High King Oberon. Your mother came to us and began the enrollment process, which includes any friends you might wish to bring. Any questions?¡± She giggled as Sora hesitated, definitely wanting more info on the professors dropping like flies; the woman shifted her weight in the chair and folded her arm under her bust while giving her an impish smile, plowing right through without giving her a chance to answer. ¡°What am I saying? Of course, you have questions! Where would you like to begin?¡± B2 — 7. The Mórrígan And A Cuddly Cat At the open invitation to grill her and her husband for answers, Sora¡¯s thoughts flitted to various topics, and it took her a second to process what was on her mind. From Wendy to Kari now, so many problems that needed to be solved, and Titania had dropped so many little details to be explored in her short entrance. ¡°Can¡­ I have a moment?¡± Sora asked, trying to show a smile at the attention Oberon and Titania were giving her. ¡°I woke up, and everything has just been¡­¡± ¡°A whirlwind?¡± the silver-haired fairy mused. ¡°Yeah¡­ Hehe. That¡¯s one way to say it. Umm, let¡¯s see¡­¡± She sucked in her lip, pondering some of the things on her mind: was it really that much to begin with? Mom¡¯s coming home¡­ totally powerless, which is a little scary¡­ Heh. Then again, maybe it could come with some funny moments. How much will she know how to do? I bet she won¡¯t be able to work a computer. Wendy wants closure with her mom, Kari needs a chance to discover who she really is, and apparently, we have this new, magical fae school we¡¯re attending. Oh, and let¡¯s not forget Eyia and Jin¡¯s issues. Yikes. Yeah, that¡¯s a whole can of worms to be opened¡­ No, let¡¯s first stick with the murder school I¡¯m supposed to visit! How am I supposed to take Wendy to a dangerous place like that? Although¡­ why would Mom even suggest that if she thought we¡¯d get hurt? There has to be something else going on¡­ She breathed out her stress and glanced at each person around the table, trying to gauge everyone¡¯s mood. This was her future at stake and the future of her friends. She had to consider Wendy, Eyia, and everyone else in her life¡ªher powerless mom. Obviously, the two rulers were the most immediately eye-catching, and their subtle, dominating auras told Sora that the pair were far outside her current power range. In fact, looking back, she had to wonder if she¡¯d properly assessed Sela¡¯s strength. That being said, the husband and wife were also, without a doubt, leagues beyond the Unseelie. Perhaps the more intriguing part was the pull from their aura; they had polar opposite natures: Oberon was a sturdy mountain, and Titania an electrified, chaotic ocean. Then there were Fen and Jian: the three-tailed Huli Jing may have looked composed, but her scent screamed anxiety, while Jian was a gentle breeze, observing the conversation and waiting to be brought into it. Aiden¡¯s soothing vibes mixed with Oberon¡¯s to provide a welcomed peace to the atmosphere, which was more than welcomed as the blond boy offered her a supportive nod. She half wanted to strangle him for how much of a peacemaker he was, not only wanting to help Kari, but Eric, as well. Not to mention taking charge of the vicious monster communities the Fenris Wolf¡¯s tyranny had brought to manageable levels. And lastly, her gaze rested on the two SCC Members: Diane was entirely enthralled by the fae High Royalty, clearly wanting to ask her own questions and waiting for her turn. Ferdinand, on the other hand, was considering some troubling thoughts he didn¡¯t seem to want to share, which were probably about their previous topic with Eric. All of this was winding down and starting to sink in; this was her life now, and she had to get used to it. There were other realms, dimensional onion wars, and magic she hardly understood. Resting her palms in her lap, feeling much calmer, she gave her full attention to the High Queen. ¡°I know my mom came to you to enroll me in Avalon Academy, and she must have her reasons, which I¡¯ll interrogate her on when she shows up,¡± Sora grumbled, getting a giggle from the magical woman. ¡°That being said, the first question is why professors, or instructors who are supposed to provide a safe space, are being murdered.¡± She fiddled with her thumbs as Titania¡¯s neon-blue irises patiently waited for her to finish. ¡°I know you said something about The Darkness and Unseelie. I¡¯m guessing it has something to do with how Sela got corrupted, but¡­ yeah, can you elaborate on that?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Titania tilted her head to the side to bat her eyelashes at her husband. ¡°Would you like to start? I¡¯d love to get into the topic of Sela, which I am most invested in, but that can wait. You know I do not enjoy this line of conversation.¡± Oberon¡¯s smooth, deep voice drew her in as he lifted a hand to create an intricate illusion. ¡°You love to give me the hard discussions.¡± ¡°Because you¡¯re so good at them!¡± ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm. If you say so, Tia¡­ If you would like a comprehensive answer, Sora, then we should start with what life was like before Avalon¡¯s creation¡­ when Titania and I were young rulers on Earth before humanity had developed a language to communicate with one another¡­¡± Sora sat back, observing the caveman-like packs of people trying to huddle in caverns and escape the magical creatures that lived in their unique habitats. Ordinary animals, many of which Sora had never seen, roamed freely across the land that the pre-developed humans hunted, yet barriers from the magical entities kept them well isolated in their pockets. ¡°In the beginning, we ruled this Earth and only went to war with each other. Over time, other realms and aliens beyond our solar system invaded¡­ pulling us together and introducing more enemies as the ages went on.¡± Titania hummed, leaning into the back of her hand while spinning her own illusions on top of her husband¡¯s story, showing the illuminated white frame of a beautiful woman and the dark shape of a man. ¡°Interesting start, Husband. Hehe.¡± A reminiscent gleam touched her bright eyes while studying the figures. ¡°You¡¯d be surprised to learn that Oberon and my parents hated one another and fought constantly¡ªit was exhausting.¡± The man¡¯s tilted head and slight smirk seemed to tell a different story, but Titania ignored him. ¡°When they passed, it left a gap that we both could not fill alone, which is why we grew so close. And no, you were not the one to initiate, Obby!¡± ¡°You¡¯re positive? I recall a certain lily dancing ceremony where some young, crafty elf disguised himself and wooed an impressionable ditzy fairy.¡± ¡±False framing! Humph. Oh! I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t want to get into our boring origin story,¡± she chortled, clearly deflecting and making Sora giggle. ¡°Obby can be so sappy; I could die!¡± She shook her head and hugged her tail against her chest; the lighter subject was a fun detail. ¡°I¡¯m enjoying the tale. I kind of feel like this will be on the test in Avalon history class or something, and it is interesting¡ªoh, not your love life¡­ Maybe? No, I¡¯d love the drama! Hehe. Anyway, humans were just kind of, what¡­ chilling while the world was at magical war?¡± Titania¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter. ¡°Oh, M¨®rr¨ªgan, no! Moving on from Oberon¡¯s awkward teen phase, we can get into the nitty-gritty,¡± she chirped, flashing her perfect teeth. The dark-haired man¡¯s expression told a lifetime of troubles with his woman. ¡°Due to all the magical energy and experimentation done between many creatures, humanity started to develop at an alarming rate. It was a real problem! There was so much trouble between queens and kings of various fae tribes. The disrespect was so infuriating! Just because we were young and in love, we had a target on our backs from the elders of other clans.¡± Oberon sighed, looking back with tired eyes; Titania always seemed to have to add a little more detail to their lives. ¡°With our focus elsewhere,¡± he continued, ¡°humanity went from little more than garden pests to actual threats as they became tools of war between factions. Their magical aptitude grew, and their tactics and technological advancements from alien forces brought a dark time for the fae¡­ This is where your stories of Atlantis came from, and that was when she appeared.¡± ¡°The M¨®rr¨ªgan, as the fae know her,¡± Diane whispered with excitement, drawing Titania¡¯s sharp gaze, ¡°was three fae Founders; they took many names throughout the ages, filling in the gaps of humanity. By the time I got to know of them, two had little to do with us mortals anymore, and only the one known as Badb visited us humans.¡± Her smile grew at the Fae Queen¡¯s displeasure. ¡°While the fae called her Badb, we humans knew her as Morgen la F¨¦e, one of the three Supreme Rulers of Avalon¡ªcollectively, The M¨®rr¨ªgan. Fae Founders, which now makes me wonder how they managed to make it into Vulpes Territory and has me believe your mother had something to do with their disappearance three centuries ago. Thoughts? ¡°Also, respectfully,¡± the Frenchwoman stated toward the two enigmatic rulers, powering right on after asking for her opinion, ¡°the SCC has been left in the dark in such regards upon Morgen¡¯s return to Avalon. Her sudden absence caused some to believe the High Rulers or her sisters may have had something to do with it. Baseless, mind you, hehe, but what else have you given us to rely on?¡± Ferdinand cleared his throat. ¡°As tactful as ever, Diane. That said, there are a great many¡­ inquiries from the Ethics Bureau that have been met with hostility from Avalon. I am thankful for this chance for all of us to clear the air¡­¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Titania showed a sweet smile that didn¡¯t reflect her cold words, making the well-dressed man gulp. ¡°Clear the air? And why would we need to provide the SCC any explanation when they have shown us nothing but blatant disrespect and withheld key information that we requested? Oh, but you would know nothing about that, Witch. Perhaps you should appeal to your Lord Raven or mysterious President for answers.¡± ¡°My apologies, High Queen,¡± Diane smoothly responded, ¡°I was merely expressing the opinion of my colleagues within the Foundation when you closed off Avalon, and such an important figure to us was taken away; now, you only allow refugee monster groups inside. It is not my belief, of course.¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± the fairy mused, illuminated eyes narrowing slightly, ¡°wherewith you specifically planted multiple spies in order to find another way into our realm. Surely, you do not have ulterior motives for regaining access to our land. You may be surprised to see how different it is from what you remember.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Sora nodded, ignoring Diane¡¯s question and feeling the tension rising. ¡°I can taste the bitter history! So, The M¨®rr¨ªgan¡ªthree Founder sisters¡ªcame in, power blazing, stopped all the attacks against the fae, and made Avalon. And one was¡­ somewhat benevolent to humans? She vanished, leaving questions on¡­ both sides, I think? Are the other two still around? I¡¯m a little confused at what happened to them?¡± ¡°You and me both, Sora!¡± Diane said with a grin at the Fae High Queen. ¡°No spy I send in can get a thread of information; it is as if they are too scared or the fae Founders¡¯ names have been erased from fae history, which is odd, considering your nigh immortality.¡± Oberon shifted in his chair, maintaining his dignified tone. ¡°It is more than bitter history, Lady Sora. Tia¡­¡± ¡°Fine¡­¡± The woman looked away, not wanting to engage with the subject, and her husband seemed to be warning her that he was going to dip his toes into it. ¡°I cannot deny Lady Mia¡¯s demand. Tell them all of the secrets I¡¯ve kept tightly knotted away. I suppose it is a part of Lady Sora¡¯s question, in any case.¡± Ferdinand and Diane sat straighter as Oberon leaned forward, bridging his fingers on the table. ¡°Upon returning from her meeting with the SCC Foundation, Lady Badb was infected by a disease of Negative Force¡­ The Darkness. It latched onto Lady Macha and Lady Anu, after which, our entire realm was beset by the virus; they were swallowed within the void.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Diane stood up, chair scooting back and looking truly stunned by the news. ¡°Lady Morgen could not have been the root cause! Are you insinuating our Lady Morgen became an Unseelie?! An Unseelie that then force-infected her sisters?! Why would Lady Mia allow such a thing? All of them would be ostracized from her family, would she not? Who could have even done such a thing to a Founder of her power within our universe?!¡± Titania¡¯s lips became a line while showing a vast, magical land, the edges being consumed by creeping shadows; now that the cat was out of the bag, it seemed she wasn¡¯t so averse to talking about it. ¡°You, and many other humans she taught are proof of her affinity to the Unseelie Arts. She instituted the very practice within the Academy curriculum¡ªagainst her sister¡¯s wishes. We cannot be sure what happened since the SCC has been mute on the subject, but what I do know is that Oberon and I knew her far, far longer than you, and her personality began to change the longer she spent with humanity. All of Avalon was growing concerned about her behavior.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Diane defended, French accent thick, ¡°but what is your point? None of that means that she took that step into Unseelie or turned her sisters. She dabbled in the Unseelie Arts, as you said, and set up the curriculum within your realm, but a fae can use Unseelie practices without becoming corrupted. It is proof within your very school, or have you rid yourself of my favorite course that your mistress set up?¡± ¡°And why would I indulge your questions?¡± Titania dryly chuckled. The dark-haired elf rubbed between his eyes. ¡°We have maintained the rules and courses The M¨®rr¨ªgan instituted¡­ to popular unease from the kings and queens after The Darkness.¡± ¡°Oberon!¡± Titania huffed, sitting back in a rage, her dress and flowers flashing a reddish tint. ¡°You know how active I¡¯ve been at clipping her little informants¡¯ wings¡­ I am not thrilled about communicating with these¡­ these childish whelps who care nothing for our tribulations and losses. Power and destruction are always their motivation.¡± Diane calmed down and sat back to input a few things into a notepad, and Ferdinand rubbed his chin, deep in thought. ¡°The Foundation infecting a Founder seems unlikely, and with this Negative Force? It had to be someone of Mia¡¯s strength, no?¡± ¡°As I said, ask your President,¡± the fairy snapped back, shivering a little in her crimson-hued emotion and causing the room to be tinted in her fiery indignation, her charged aura radiating. ¡°We suffered the loss of our goddesses. After her meeting with your leaders three centuries ago, our realm was split in two! The Unseelie¡ªcorrupted fae that Oberon and I knew very well¡ªand those of us who were left untainted to fight back the scourge. ¡°It takes much of our united power to keep it at bay. We were able to halt its progress through our efforts in creating the Millennial Star Ruby, which is where we loop back to your question, Sora¡­ There, I said it, Oberon, happy? If not for Lady Mia¡¯s promise of safe passage, I would have refused to venture outside Avalon,¡± she seethed, flaring eyes darting to her tired husband. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to force you, and no, I am not pleased,¡± he whispered. ¡°Sora, you must understand how vulnerable we have made ourselves at your mother¡¯s demand while the SCC remains clouded in secrecy. She expects much of us to attract you to our school¡­ to have the support of your family, in contrast to the Foundation.¡± Aiden was the one to interject, pulling their gaze as the blond boy breathed a long sigh and smiled. ¡°Well, then I can put my trust in you, High King Oberon, High Queen Titania. You¡¯ve given me even more of a reason to go to your school and realm. I¡¯d like to help. It sounds like a horrible situation for your people.¡± Sora giggled as Titania¡¯s red colors returned to their bluish vibrance, and the woman showed a dazzling countenance; she felt the same way. ¡°Well, what a charming young firebird you are,¡± the fairy studied him with intrigue. ¡°Your powers and empathy are most certainly welcomed in Avalon. I apologize for my behavior, Lady Sora. It pains me to think that my time is so thin that I will rarely have the pleasure of visiting the Academy.¡± ¡°Umm. Can I say one thing?¡± Sora tentatively asked, tail bristling a little at their sudden attention. ¡°It¡¯s about Negative Energy. Uh, Aiden?¡± ¡°Ahhh.¡± The firebird tucked under his bottom lip and nodded. ¡°Sora did channel Hell Force, and it did have an effect on her with how she did it. I had to purify it, but not even Founders are immune to its effects, and it could have changed her spiritual affinities if prolonged.¡± Diane snorted, shaking her head. ¡°Entirely different situations, Sora! If I am understanding the lacking explanation, then you converted your Core Essence to Hell Force, presumably to counter the Succubus that I read about in the reports. You basically wanted to become a Devil at that point.¡± ¡°Well, geez, just slap a stupid sticker on my head,¡± Sora snapped back with a huff. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what I was doing; I just knew it would work because I wanted it to, and that¡¯s how my power operates.¡± ¡°Which,¡± Titania softly butted in with a brilliant half-smile, ¡°is why Avalon Academy¡¯s instruction would do you well. Thank you for sharing, Sora. Now, Obby, won¡¯t you finish up the tale as to why there are troubles at night?¡± Sora sucked in her cheek and directed a light glare at the exasperated witch, acting as if she¡¯d wasted everyone¡¯s time. She¡¯s such a bitch. I was just trying to help. The dark-haired elf maintained his poise as his radiant wife¡¯s grace returned. ¡°In short, The Darkness leaks into our side of the realm during the nights, which is why all citizens must be within their houses, and patrols are made by our military and the school staff, who police their own grounds. Some nights are¡­ worse than others, and it is the Millennial Star Ruby that keeps it in check.¡± A thought instantly popped into Sora¡¯s mind, helping to mitigate the bitter taste in her mouth as she scooted forward, glancing at Fen and Jian before returning her focus to the High King. ¡°So¡­ I have some friends that will be joining me¡ªmaybe¡ªbut a friend named Jin could probably fill a teaching position? She may also skip out on this universe, too¡­ so¡­ yeah. Just a thought!¡± Titania¡¯s eye creased in an interested manner. ¡°Teacher aides are one thing, but instructor positions are quite challenging to fill due to the knowledge and power required. I would need to meet your friend to be sure I can recommend her.¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Sora chirped, feeling better knowing about this ¡®Darkness¡¯ that was overtaking Avalon; it sounded like a cool quest that she could go on with friends¡ªmaybe she was getting a little more frisky than she should, but it sounded fun on paper. ¡°She should be here sleeping¡ª¡± ¡°One of these two ladies?¡± Sora almost bit her tongue as an illusion of the medical bay appeared, and she zoomed in right on the sleeping Korean girl and blonde Valkyrie. ¡°I suspect it is the oriental human since the name follows the cultural pattern. Hehe. You cannot be too sure these days with human names, though.¡± ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s her,¡± Sora confirmed. She was impressed at the fairy¡¯s invisible magic, and supposedly, she was severely weakened due to maintaining the defense of her realm. ¡°Umm. You can¡­ sense her from here? What do you think?¡± A secretive gleam lit in the woman¡¯s blue eyes, flowers, hair, and dress tinting gold. ¡°I would say she fits the role perfectly¡ªactually, quite overqualified if I¡¯m being frank. I will make the necessary recommendations, including a position for Fen and Jian.¡± ¡°You aren¡¯t¡­ yanking my tails?¡± Fen whispered in disbelief, nose turning red as emotion crawled up her throat. ¡°You¡­ are offering me sanctuary from the¡­ from the SCC?¡± Sora felt bad at the raven-haired woman¡¯s rush of emotion at no longer being caged, and Titania¡¯s face softened. ¡°Indeed, young vulpes. As can be expected, a certain decorum is expected of an instructor at Avalon Academy. We have many types of monsters and students. Our curriculum is very tough in some regards, including the culling of Shadow Pockets. You will be given an orientation.¡± Jian agreed without a word, respect on his stern face as he nodded at the High Queen, and Titania turned her illustrious vision back to her. ¡°Are there any more questions you have for us?¡± Oberon answered before she could pose her subsequent inquiry, smoothly rising to his feet, leaving the food untouched. ¡°We have worked out a proposal with the SCC in regard to your living arrangements, Sora, and your mother has wanted both of us to be¡­ cordial with one another. You will have the option to stay within Avalon or return home whenever desired.¡± Mom¡­ you could have solved all of this with the snap of your fingers. I guess you¡¯ve got a plan. I¡¯m supposed to learn how to use my powers in this school and overcome this darkness! Actually¡­ pretty cool, Mom. What will mortal Mom know, though¡­ Hmm. ¡°Wow,¡± she said with a strained laugh, catching Aiden¡¯s smirk that said this seemed like trouble, ¡°I really feel like a princess now. I¡¯d love to join your school. When does it start? Oh, Sela! I also wanted to¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s tongue lodged in her throat at the sharp chime of a bell, and without even realizing when the chair had been slid back, kid Nilly was sitting cross-legged beside Aiden. Everyone froze at the Nekomata¡¯s spontaneous entrance, the dead Cat Mother bobbing left and right excitedly. ¡°School?! Nilly wants to go to school; Nilly¡¯s never been!¡± Diane¡¯s voice turned to ice. ¡°Situation Scan: Omega-Alpha!¡± The feminine AI responded instantly. ¡°Access Denied.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Silence took the entire room as the eight-year-old cat girl bobbed left and right on her chair, tails swaying behind her. In the next second, Diane snapped, ¡°White, Delta-Max Five. Protocol-442!¡± The AI¡¯s voice responded instantly. ¡°I am unable to comply. ECC Override: Gray-Omega: Abaddon Threat present. An unknown entity registered as uncontainable. Current status, non-hostile.¡± ¡°Abaddon¡­¡± Ferdinand mumbled in shock, face ashen. ¡°White, what is the Foundation¡¯s first interaction with this creature?¡± ¡°Irrelevant,¡± the computer returned. Nilly giggled, big, feline eyes centered on Sora. ¡°Nilly¡¯s friends with White. White and Nilly talk lots about the Sardine War. White and Nilly play games, and Nilly wins. Everybody knows Nilly! Nilly¡¯s a big kitty. Shhh! Shhh! No one knows!¡± she winked, looking left and right at Titania and Oberon, who calmly observed the Nekomata. ¡°¡­Foxy fluffy friend! Nilly¡¯s back!¡± Diane¡¯s fingers skidded across the hologram keyboard as Aiden sighed and slid over a plate of food for Nilly to excitedly devour, using her bare hands. Titania leaned forward, resting her chin on her bridged fingers. ¡°Now, who is this delightful girl, Sora? Are you acquainted?¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s Nilly,¡± she casually responded, making the cat¡¯s tails lock up. ¡°Nilly is Nilly!¡± the cat said through a mouth full of food. ¡°Hehe. Sora remembers Nilly; Nilly¡¯s happy! Fox Friend!¡± Sora didn¡¯t even bristle her tail as the Nekomata spontaneously teleported to the spot to nuzzle her fur, face now totally clean. ¡°Nilly¡­ hehe. How was your trip with Ylva? Is she safe in my mom¡¯s territory?¡± ¡°Mhm! Mhm!¡± Nilly danced back, tails swinging with her movements. ¡°Nilly¡¯s trip was fun¡ªYlva made fun of Nilly¡¯s clothes, though,¡± she huffed with puffed-out cheeks. ¡°Nilly needs new ones, and school has clothes! Did Fox Friend know Nilly ate an army of sardines?! Nilly¡¯s good at school because Nilly eats schools!¡± ¡°Mmm. Not the same, Nilly,¡± Sora chuckled. ¡°Does the school have a dress code?¡± Titania¡¯s eyes sparkled with interest as she leaned forward to study the hyperactive cat. ¡°It does. What a smart kitty.¡± ¡°Huh?! Nilly is a smart kitty!¡± The cat teleported onto the table to sit in front of the fairy queen. ¡°Nilly found Nilly a new friend! Nilly likes friends who are nice to Nilly! Nilly likes fancy uniforms, too! Nilly looks good in uniforms; uniforms just don¡¯t fit Nilly because Nilly¡¯s too scary! Hiss! Hiss! Nilly¡¯s clothes are the best uniform! Sora should get Nilly uniforms!¡± ¡°Hehe. Schools have tests, too!¡± Sora reminded, making the girl pause. ¡°B-But Nilly¡¯s the best at tests! Nilly¡¯s the bestest; everyone knows Nilly¡¯s the best!¡± she shot back, hopping to her feet, now on her chair to lean across the table to stare her down; this was more in her ballpark as the SCC members panicked. ¡°Sora can¡¯t eat Nilly¡¯s test because Nilly eats them all first! Hah!¡± ¡°Oooh! Impressive. Impressive,¡± she clapped, making the girl¡¯s lips peel back to display her monstrous teeth. ¡°Why are you here now, Nilly?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Nilly¡¯s head cocked to the side with her ears. ¡°Why is Nilly here? Hmm. Nilly forgets. Oh! Nilly likes Fen-Fen¡¯s kids. Nilly wants to play with wolfies and foxies! Can Nilly go to school? Please! Please, Sora!¡± she pleaded, now lying on her back on the table to look up at her with big cat eyes. ¡°Nilly will be a good kitty!¡± Sora crossed her legs and knew it was a great idea to have someone as powerful as Nilly by her side; the only concern was getting worn out, and her mom was scared of this enigmatic cat, but it wasn¡¯t like any of them could do anything about her. ¡°Only if Nilly is Sora¡¯s secret pet kitty that gives Sora and her friends cuddles at night because Sora and her friends are nice to Nilly, and Nilly needs snuggle buddies!¡± Nilly¡¯s tails fell to the table, her face going red as she teared up. ¡°Nilly does need snuggle buddies! Nilly¡¯s lonely. Githa¡¯s mad at Nilly, so Nilly doesn¡¯t have anyone to eat sardines with. Nilly didn¡¯t mean to bite Githa¡¯s tail when Nilly was sleeping.¡± ¡°Eh-hehe. I¡¯m sure you didn¡¯t. Is Wendy okay?¡± ¡°Mhm! Wendy is eating sweets to help her bitter tongue. Nilly hugged Wendy, and Wendy said Nilly could be Wendy¡¯s friend! Nilly has so many friends now! Hehe. Nilly¡¯s popular¡ªthe most popular¡ªeveryone knows it!¡± ¡°Good kitty!¡± Sora chimed, rubbing the girl¡¯s ears and making her purr. ¡°Nilly needs to play a kitty and keep Sora company. Okay?¡± ¡°Hehehe. Silly Fox; Nilly is a kitty!¡± Nilly snickered, tail swaying and knocking off dishes. ¡°Sora¡¯s such a bad fox! Where would Sora be without Nilly? Oh! Oh! Nilly can be Sora¡¯s test tutor! Nilly¡¯s the best test eater!¡± ¡°I bet Nilly is!¡± Sora giggled, spotting Aiden practically having a hernia as he gasped for air; only the SCC people seemed upset by the cat¡¯s presence. ¡°Umm. Okay, High Queen Titania, High King Oberon, should we go get everything ready to go?¡± Titania twirled her finger, creating an intricate cat comb that began stroking the happy human kitty¡¯s ears. ¡°She¡¯s precious! Hmm. You can remove the titles if I can do the same for you.¡± She winked. ¡°Think of it as my attempt to bridge the gap from mere acquaintance to more friendly relations. Also, you¡¯re in luck; this semester begins at the start of fall within your world.¡± ¡°Done!¡± Sora laughed. ¡°Thank you, Titania, Oberon, and that¡¯s convenient for me to get things settled. Oh¡­¡± Her tone gained a hint of annoyance while shooting a gare over at Diane, still engaged in going over documents and making notes. ¡°Anything else you guys want from me?¡± Ferdinand rose to his feet and responded, showing a forced grin; they really were shady compared to the fae rulers. ¡°Nothing that can¡¯t be discussed along the way. Kari and Eric should be¡­ close to being relocated to the transportation gateway. I understand you want to return to Earth and familiar ground. Right this way¡­¡± Sora released a laugh through her nose upon spotting Nilly in cat form, looking up at her like an empress, waiting to be showered with attention. She picked up the cat and passively stroked her as the comb hovered nearby, waiting for its turn. ¡°What about me and Jian?¡± Fen mumbled, fingers flexing against her belly, where she¡¯d already destroyed part of her dress from stress and showed light blood stains. ¡°Do you¡­ want us to come with you?¡± ¡°Obviously! Well, until you score your job. Heh. I still need you to give me some vulpes lessons on culture! Cool?¡± It was as if Fen¡¯s spiteful and jaded aura completely vanished as a smile lifted her lips. ¡°I¡­ would not be opposed to that.¡± ¡°Wonderful!¡± Diane¡¯s distracted voice followed their exit. ¡°I will be checking up on you in the coming days, Sora. The SCC will be making sure the fae are keeping their end of the deal while the fae will be keeping tabs on us. If you have a need or want, then let it be known, and we will try to accommodate it¡­¡± Pausing at the door, she turned around to make her command known. ¡°Good. I want Jane brought to me; I don¡¯t care if Wendy¡¯s mom made a deal. Period. No discussion. Make. It. Happen.¡± Ferdinand grimaced, but Diane showed a smirk. ¡°I expected as much; teenagers are too predictable. To be young, emotional, and foolish again. You owe me five mana crystals, Ferdinand. I look forward to the experiment, Sora. I hope you don¡¯t break her. Hehe.¡± ¡°Humph.¡± ¡°Hissss!¡± Nilly glared at the witch as they left with the well-dressed man guiding them, and Sora almost stumbled and fell when the cat¡¯s tails made a flicking motion, sending a bowl full of fruit cocktails into the woman¡¯s face. ¡°Pfft!¡± ¡°How naughty, Nilly,¡± Titania snickered. ¡°¡­Lovely,¡± the witch grumbled, wiping a clump of it out of her dripping hair. ¡°Mrrrow!¡± Aiden shrugged on his way out with Oberon, the only one not wearing a smirk¡ªeven Ferdinand was trying to suppress a smile¡ªbut Sora was sure the Elf was hiding it. ¡°Hey, you act like a witch, you get treated like one.¡± Shutting the door behind them, Sora waited a second before motioning to the door at the end of the hall, where Ferdinand led them. ¡°Wait outside, I¡¯ll get Mary and Wendy.¡± She bumped her tail into Aiden as he passed. ¡°And thanks for having my back.¡± He lifted his arms defensively with Titania¡¯s lingering, curious neon-blue eyes on them. ¡°I know I suck for bringing up Eric, I know it¡¯s going to be rough for Kari, and I know you¡¯ll probably be the only one to get her to go through with it, so¡­ I owe you a date?¡± She held a testing half-smile while giving him a lifted eyebrow. ¡°Two dates¡ªflowers?¡± He walked backward, rolling his fingers in parallel. ¡°Chocolates and a nighttime flight on a magic carpet? Haha! Tell me where to stop.¡± ¡°Mmm. I¡¯ll let you surprise me,¡± she said with an impish grin that even got a smile out of Oberon, his wife now eyeing him mischievously. ¡°Yikes! Throwing me in the fire from the go, huh?¡± Sora laughed, trying to ignore Nilly¡¯s tails playing with her bangs. ¡°You are a firebird, so is it too much to ask for a little fire dancing?¡± ¡°Touch¨¦! Haha. I¡¯ll make the reservation. You do have an outfit to join me, right?¡± Her mind blanked, images of bikini-clad fire dancers prancing around. ¡°Huh? Wait, huh?! Aiden?!¡± He shut the door with a toothy grin, leaving a pout on her face. Good one, bud. One point to you, but the war isn¡¯t over! Feeling better as much of the weight she¡¯d felt slid off, Sora opened Wendy¡¯s door with a desire, dispelling the magic in the room. Wendy and Mary were sitting across from each other, eating food and chatting; her best friend looked to be in a better place. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not interrupting, I hope!¡± Wendy huffed upon spotting Nilly in her arms. ¡°Traitor! You said you were going to fight off the super boss sardine queen.¡± ¡°Mrrow!¡± Nilly hid her face in Sora¡¯s bust. ¡°Hehe. I bet she did before applying to be our pet cat and official homework eater.¡± ¡°Aww. I can¡¯t stay mad at you then!¡± Wendy giggled, breathing out a long sigh and looking at Mary observing them with a smile. ¡°Thank you for letting me talk¡­ I hate that I can¡¯t pay you cause, you know¡­ broke teen girl that¡­ probably doesn¡¯t have a part-time job anymore. Yikes¡­¡± Sora¡¯s head pulled back as if slapped. ¡°Excuse you! Mary is a hired family psychiatrist, which means you fall into that category; she¡¯ll just bill my dad.¡± ¡°Haha. I love the enthusiasm, girls,¡± Mary said, rising to her feet and fixing her blue dress. ¡°I am happy enough to have visited the moon and seen such a spectacular sight,¡± she said, looking to the side where a massive spaceship was passing by. ¡°It warms my heart to know that we¡¯re actually at this stage in technology¡­ You¡¯ve opened up a whole new world to me. Now, is it time to return to Miami?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± She sighed as they moved to join her, letting Wendy steal Nilly from her while mirroring her stuck-out tongue. ¡°So, apparently, they bought my hotel and¡­ I think they basically gave it to me with a bunch of creepy SCC bodyguards or something. Oh, okay, just take my cuddle kitty!¡± ¡°Meeow!¡± ¡°Jacked! My cuddle kitty now! Hehe. I¡¯m going to dress Nilly up in the cutest kitty fashion and get her a hot guy cat.¡± ¡°Meow?!¡± ¡°Kidding! Kidding! Maybe¡­¡± Nilly now looked at her with big eyes as they entered the hallway. ¡°And does that mean I get my own room in your house? Cool.¡± She stopped dead in her tracks, focus darting to her. ¡°Wait, wait, wait¡­ Is Kari getting her own room?!¡± Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed, looking off to the side, where Ferdinand stood awkwardly, waiting his turn. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ know yet. Maybe I could give her a room in a suite below us? We¡¯ll see! Haaa. I¡¯ve got a lot to talk to her about. For now, I need to make sure Eyia doesn¡¯t try to kill Jin, but¡­ I think she¡¯s just super hurt right now since Jin lied to her¡­¡± ¡°Poor Eyia; she¡¯s so innocent and naive,¡± Wendy mumbled, looking up at Mary with her and making the brown-haired woman force a laugh. ¡°I¡­ suppose I could talk to them¡­ if they wanted. Let¡¯s do things one step at a¡­ And who are these beautiful¡­ fairies?¡± Mary choked, almost stumbling in her heels upon spotting the graceful rulers. Wendy leaned over to whisper in her ear, big eyes centered on Oberon. ¡°He¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Titania swept forward to greet them, literal sparkles following her movements. ¡°It is a pleasure to meet you ladies. I am High Queen Titania of Avalon, and this is my husband, High King Oberon. No need for formalities, though!¡± Sora¡¯s mouth twitched. Way to stake your claim; I don¡¯t see a ring on his finger, though! Oh, shut up, mind! Why is Aiden looking at me like that¡­ What¡¯s he plotting? Hmm. I think this is going to be fun! B2 — 8. Through The Storm Letting the High Queen introduce herself and her husband, Sora scooted off to the side with Aiden, entertained by her best friend¡¯s reaction to the Fairy and Elf. They were entering an entirely new world¡ªtheir world¡ªand there was so much to explore. It was surprisingly comforting to see Nilly practically falling asleep in Wendy¡¯s arms. Despite her unpredictability, the Undead Cat Mother truly just seemed to want friends to hang out with. Sure, maybe she¡¯d need to order a ton of food, but she could exploit this SCC for that since they didn¡¯t want a universe-eating cat unhappy. The cute sight of Fen made her chest shake with silent laughter; the woman still had a dazed expression as if living in a bizarre dream, holding Jian¡¯s hand like a little girl looking for her dad¡¯s comforting touch to tell her everything would be alright. She was seeing a side of the three-tailed Huli Jing that contrasted how evil they could be, at least from what everyone told her. Watching her pulled-back ears and tightly bundled tails pressed against Jian¡¯s legs while trying to remain as invisible as possible reminded Sora how different Kari had turned out to be. There was still so much to sort out with her former bully, and she knew she¡¯d have Aiden¡¯s support in that. Yes, she dreaded the moment she needed to awaken the wolf, and yet, another part of her was excited to get to know Kari. From everything she¡¯d heard thus far about Alva, Kari¡¯s mother saw Amy as a sort of mother figure to escape from her hypermasculine family, which was actually pretty cool to hear. This world of Founders and entities beyond anything close to what even the word ¡®god¡¯ could describe was, in fact, riddled with its own broken family dynamics. All of them¡ªfrom her mother to Nilly, Jin, Eyia, and Kari¡ªwere just trying to pick up the pieces of their chaotic lives and make the best out of what little control they had. Mind retreating into the insanity of events that had shattered her perspective of the world, Sora glanced toward the glass wall to look over the expansive view of the moon base and its futuristic spaceships, going about business as usual. On the one hand, she had this hyper-advanced technological world of humanity and aliens, and on the other, she had a realm of mysticism and magic in Avalon. A prayer whispered through her heart at the endless possibilities that were opening up before her. Mom¡­ Thank you for fighting past your fears and giving up all your power to complete our family. I know you¡¯re so scared¡­ I know you are, and it means¡­ so much to me that you¡¯d dive into our uncertain future to be a part of my life. You told me it won¡¯t be easy¡­ but so long as we¡¯re a family¡­ Smile blooming, her tail weaving while turning to study Wendy, a silent giggle passing through her frame; the brunette was peppering Titania with questions about magic. ¡­Our expanding family can overcome anything. Maybe Aiden had the right idea all along; we need to find some form of peace to move forward. Upon catching her gaze, the blond boy lifted an eyebrow, a half-smile lifting his lips. ¡°What¡¯s with that look, Fuzzy Tail?¡± ¡°Fuzzy-wha¡ªoh, c¡¯mon,¡± she huffed, glancing at her back to see her fur somewhat puffed out. ¡°Is it proper for a guy to talk about a girl¡¯s tail, hmm?¡± she challenged, getting him to scratch his cheek and glance away with a strained grin. ¡°This is one of those ¡®Does this dress make me look fat?¡¯ questions that human women ask, isn¡¯t it? There is no right answer; any response I give lands me on the hot seat.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help a laugh breaking her critical stare. ¡°Well, that¡¯s supposed to be left unsaid! Hmm. I¡¯m just starting to think things are looking up. I just hope we can keep up the trend. Right, Dr. Ferdinand?¡± she asked, throwing the Ethics Bureau representative on the coals. The well-dressed man showed a compassionate expression, getting everyone else¡¯s attention as Wendy and Mary¡¯s discussion with Avalon¡¯s rulers concluded. ¡°It is my job to make sure that there is a smooth transition into this world and to act as your intermediary with the Foundation, Ms. Moore. If you have any desires, then please, let me know, and I will try to accommodate them. I have hand-selected a personal assistant for you who is currently in charge of overseeing your building¡¯s renovations. Shall we continue?¡± ¡°After you,¡± Sora chimed, a new question bubbling up to the surface as he took the lead. Her gaze flicked to the two rulers while moving to walk beside Ferdinand, getting a mischievous stare from the Fairy Queen. ¡°Umm¡­ Obviously, Titania and Oberon are ridiculously powerful and influential, so¡­ why does Diane feel so comfortable nipping at their heels?¡± Titania lifted a closed fist to her mouth with soft laughter, speaking for Ferdinand. ¡°Diane is an entitled little thing who feels special because Lady Badb plucked her out of her mundane human life as a spinstress in the human¡¯s 18th century to be a travel companion for a short time, instructing her on fae Magic. She learned etiquette from Lady Badb¡¯s example, and feels that we did not appreciate her as we should have.¡± Ferdinand cleared his throat, sliding his finger down a panel to open a large, alien-looking elevator for them to file into. ¡°Dr. Diane has a problem with authority, in general, but I am confident she has humanity¡¯s best interests in mind¡­ despite her dubious practices and history. In any case, this will take us to the Gate Room, and everyone you have selected earlier should be ready for transport.¡± Getting inside, a shiver ran from the tip of Sora¡¯s head to the tip of her toes and tail as he made a complex design, triggering the device; it felt like a static field filtered through them, and her whole spatial perception was blasted as the doors opened seconds later, revealing a vast area filled with people. Gravity lifts carried all sorts of cargo to dozens upon dozens of similar teleportation elevators, or whatever they were called. Operators functioned behind desks, overseeing the groups that entered the room through giant silver rings. Gold runes of some kind lit up around the gateways in rapid succession before punching a hole through space to various locations, sending people through, or bringing them to the station. Mary¡¯s lips parted in disbelief as they slowly walked forward, the static lifting her hair being extracted to leave it smooth and straightened. Her vision wandered to the glass panels that revealed that they were now on the moon¡¯s surface, the titanic tower of the Moon Wizard overshadowing them in the distance with spaceships arriving on all eight sides of the octagon room to unload or accept cargo. ¡°How¡­ can you keep all of this hidden? How far have we gone?¡± Sora remained quiet while taking in the hustle and bustle of goods being directed around the space, spotting the medical beds several meters in front of the sole unused gate, with advanced-looking soldiers blocking off the area. Perhaps the most shocking part was the smooth-skinned, gray aliens that looked like your typical Martians, only thinner and taller than humans. Ferdinand led them into a lane that had been roped off, guards stopping traffic to allow them through and removing the barriers as they passed. ¡°My expertise is more focused on the Monster Community of Terrestrial Life Branch of the SCC rather than the Extraterrestrial or other branches. Since our facility in Avalon was¡­ sealed off three centuries ago, with Your Majesties only accepting asylum seekers under specific circumstances, it has been¡­ difficult for our branch to handle the loss in magical resources.¡± Oberon¡¯s deep voice didn¡¯t hold all that much interest in the subject as his pupilless eyes scanned the zone. ¡°Left to your current devices, humanity is still three centuries from reaching the state it was at during your Atlantis era, and that is after all the magical knowledge Avalon and The M¨®rr¨ªgan imparted to you.¡± He forced a laugh while glancing back at the amused Fairy High Queen and stoic Elf High King before focusing on Sora. ¡°I¡¯m sure. In reality, before the Saturn Stag and Eric, our branch was under threat of being absorbed by another branch. Now, we¡¯re practically getting unlimited resources; something like this,¡± he gestured at the closed-off stargate, ¡°is a totally new experience for me. You¡¯ve already made a real difference in the lives of all the monsters on Earth, Sora.¡± Aiden frowned, stopping by Kari¡¯s bed to brush back her bangs, a brotherly concern radiating from him. ¡°So¡­ the state of the monsters on Earth, hiding and fearful of what tomorrow might bring, is due to the conflict between the SCC and Avalon? Naturally, the SCC will prioritize humanity over any other species¡­¡± ¡°Things¡­ didn¡¯t look that bad to me,¡± Wendy whispered, shifting a sleeping Nilly to her back in the girl¡¯s arms to hug against her chest. ¡°Well, hehe, other than insane werewolves kidnapping and infecting people. They had an awesome restaurant, and Sora showed me all sorts of half-species in Miami that were living alongside humans, like Daisy.¡± ¡°Because¡­ of me and Eric,¡± Aiden said with a sad look on his face, shifting to direct their gaze to the unconscious man, dressed in the standard elastic white shirt and pants of the Foundation. ¡°When we first arrived in Miami, things were¡­ not great behind the scenes, and I¡¯m sure the SCC had a hand in monsters hiding inside their tiny holes.¡± Sora sucked in her bottom lip, crossing her arms and thinking back to her experiences in the last few weeks; the comment Eric made to the dolphin-woman server when she¡¯d first met the man popped into her head. ¡°Really? Tammy was really happy¡­ Was she hiding before Kari came to Miami?¡± Running his fingers through his messy hair, Aiden sucked in his cheeks, a sudden surge of emotion striking his aura and hitting Sora in the chest. He nodded and rubbed his throat. ¡°Eric and I found Tammy on the day her husband and one of their daughters were killed by the local Merpeople.¡± ¡°That¡¯s horrible,¡± Wendy mumbled, lightening her pressure on the squirming Nilly, searching for a better position. Aiden nodded, blue eyes looking into the past. ¡°Some humans found the small cave they were using as a home, forcing them to try to seek shelter with the Merpeople to not cause a stir. As for the restaurant, I came up with the idea, and Eric found Sela, who provided items for monsters to integrate with humans and use her powers to create what we needed.¡± Ferdinand sighed, hands in his pockets and studying the expansive space program with Earth¡¯s alien allies. ¡°Eric is¡­ a challenging subject to approach with our branch. Probably the saddest thing I¡¯ve seen in this position is the self-loathing that persists in many monster communities due to not being born human, which then breeds hatred of humans in a vicious cycle¡­ ¡°When the US Presidents came into the SCC program, they took a more positive view of monsters and tried to integrate the ones they could; their partnership with the SCC is partly how it has grown so powerful as a nation throughout the past century¡­ but it¡¯s far from perfect.¡± Titania hummed, walking closer to Jin to study the sleeping dragon. ¡°Isn¡¯t it telling how the fae lived alongside many creatures, including humanity, for ages immemorial¡ªin fact, we defended them¡ªyet in a mere few centuries of humanity without fae mediating, they have practically driven all magical entities to extinction or to flee to Avelon.¡± Ferdinand¡¯s hands pressed against his thighs, nodding in the ensuing silence. ¡°¡­It used to be better back in the day¡­ at least from what I¡¯ve read, and without Avalon¡ªnot that I¡¯m blaming Your Majesties¡ªit¡¯s just¡­ hard to imagine that with my short life when you two have seen humanity from nearly the beginning of our species. Oh, excuse me¡­¡± Titania and Oberon didn¡¯t add anything more, and the magical woman¡¯s vision shifted from Aiden to her. It really did put things into perspective. A division between Avalon and the SCC caused the magical realm to close its doors, forcing them to deal with a horrific infection that afflicted the vulnerable fae while humanity swapped from living alongside to isolating Earth¡¯s monsters. Things did have to change. Sora tried to keep her distance from the beds in order to not wake those still in a coma from her mother¡¯s spell; she didn¡¯t want to rouse them until back in Miami and away from the chaos of the moon base. Her somber eyes slid to Kari, pressure squeezing her heart as she tried to put herself in the traumatized wolf¡¯s shoes. Eric had caused her unfathomable pain, yet her brother had also uplifted monsters across the world and brought pride back to who they were, allowing them to live freely under his rule. The internal picture of Tammy, trapped on all sides, hopeless, having just watched her husband and daughter killed, made her chest hurt; then, Eric appeared, bringing an iron fist, yet freedom in it. Things weren¡¯t so black and white. ¡°Are you ready to leave?¡± Ferdinand asked, signing a tablet at the desk nearby, where the man operating it began inputting coordinates. ¡°It will connect to your front room.¡± Sora took a deep breath and returned Wendy¡¯s somber smile. ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s go home.¡± The golden lights on the giant gate illuminated, and a short plume of dark energy rushed out, retreating just before reaching the yellow-marked danger-zone tape. Emotion struck her as the soldiers that trailed them moved to push the beds through. Sora rubbed Wendy¡¯s back since a lazy, sleeping cat was hogging her arms, and walked with her past the safety zone, entering the portal. Other than a weird shift in spatial ripples, Sora didn¡¯t feel anything like the other teleportation method while stepping into her quite empty suite. The orange glow of sunset shone across the sky, and dozens of people were walking through her home, busily talking with one another with tablets and alien equipment following them. We¡¯re home¡­ She breathed out her stress, moving off to the side with Wendy; it was a little uncomfortable with the sudden invasion of her privacy. How much of it is left, though? Where¡¯s all our stuff¡­ Where are the stairs to the second floor?! It didn¡¯t take long for everyone to follow, soldiers hustling into action to wheel the beds and packed-up goods through, including her father¡¯s medical team. Wendy¡¯s eyebrows came together as she watched one of the construction workers step where the stairs had been; a hologram-like sheet of blue light formed and carried him to the second floor. ¡°Sora¡­ I think we¡¯re in the wrong suite.¡± Titania snickered as her husband walked right through the glass to float onto the balcony, leaving the crowded space of people and goods. ¡°No, this is the right place, dears. Sora, please see us when you have found your feet. I¡¯m sure this is quite a shock. Take your time! We¡¯ll just be enjoying the ocean view.¡± Aiden was right beside Kari, seemingly staying behind to be the last one to join them, ensuring everyone made it through, and Ferdinand barely landed when his attention was pulled to a bright-eyed businesswoman holding a tablet. ¡°Senior Director Ferdinand! Everything is on schedule to be completed within the next few hours¡ªoh, and this must be Ms. Moore. It¡¯s my pleasure!¡± ¡°Thanks?¡± Sora mumbled, taking her offered hand. The Senior Director made a cheery gesture to introduce her, his mood brightening and trying to move beyond the previous topic while a frenzy of workers bustled about the area, noises happening in every direction she turned her acute ears to. ¡°Sora, I¡¯d like to introduce Ms. Jeddings; her company handles much of the Foundation¡¯s construction and real estate needs. Her business utilizes magic, approved, minor anomalies, and various advanced technology to build anything we need.¡± Jeddings withdrew her hand, speaking rather rapidly as she gestured around them. ¡°As you can see, Ms. Moore, the Foundation has bought out the hotel for your personal safety and privacy while adapting its designs to facilitate your particular needs. As I understand it, the fae are in ownership of the floor directly beneath yours and will make their own modifications.¡± ¡°The whole building?¡± Wendy asked in disbelief, not having heard the previous discussion on the matter, and scooting to the side as a man jogged past them in a hurry. ¡°Indeed, Ms. Moore.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Jeddings snapped her fingers at a man who hovered a meter away from her; he provided the woman with a few envelopes. ¡°We have already taken care of the paperwork for your family¡¯s adoption of Wendy and created a new identity for the person known as Eyia, bridging her into your family tree. It is all done by a legalized US adoption agency¡ªhere, these are your new State IDs.¡± Wendy looked as if she¡¯d been slapped, numbly taking the orange envelopes the man handed her, and even Sora was taken aback. ¡°Wait, b-but I thought¡­ my mom was going to be brought back. Sora?¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The woman jumped in without a second thought, though. ¡°Ah, yes, Dr. Diane mentioned that she will be making a short return, and instructed me to get everything prepared. She should be on the flight back from Denmark tomorrow. This was a part of the deal made by your mother, Ms. Moore.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ okay,¡± Wendy mumbled, totally in shock and not processing it, the same as Sora at the burst of information that was being launched at them. ¡°So¡­ we¡¯re sisters?¡± ¡°Naturally,¡± Jeddings giggled. ¡°As for driving purposes, you will need to go through the DMV, but you have the documentation. A full medical staff will be present in the hotel to handle the needs of your father.¡± She directed their focus to the resting dragon¡¯s bed, moving right past the previous subject. ¡°Jin does not seem to require any of our assistance, but it is there if requested, and, hehe, no, I am not aware of who you or anyone else here is, or why I am doing this for you. I am merely here to grant you your every desire.¡± Aiden whistled, looking somewhat overwhelmed, himself. ¡°Pulled out all the stops. Respect the redhead, huh?¡± ¡°Eh-hehe. I suppose so, Sir. As I said, I don¡¯t know or care what or who Ms. Moore is; this is my job,¡± Jeddings promptly replied. ¡°As for the suites, I¡¯ll repeat that we are in the final stages of bridging the units. I will leave a tablet behind with catalogs where you can browse and purchase whatever you desire for your living wants or needs. Is there anything else you require?¡± A little overwhelmed, Sora slowly shook her head. ¡°Wow, uh¡­ And all of this is going to be done today?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she nodded. ¡°Within the next three hours¡ªunless you have any further modifications for me. Shall we explore to see if it is to your liking, Ms. Moore?¡± ¡°Sure¡­ Oh, uh, let me do a few things first. Is the¡­ upstairs done enough that we can bring everyone there?¡± ¡°Absolutely!¡± she chimed. ¡°We¡¯ve connected the next unit over to give you another Master Bedroom while converting the adjacent office spaces to guest rooms. I will be here directing things until you are ready for the tour.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Umm. Guys,¡± she said to the soldiers wheeling the beds, pausing for a second when the portal collapsed, ¡°let¡¯s go upstairs.¡± ¡°Kari?¡± Aiden asked. ¡°Mhm. I¡¯ll leave you to talk to her in one of the rooms.¡± She nudged her head to Mary, silently directing the woman to her husband, Howie, and Daisy, still unconscious; clearly, the psychiatrist didn¡¯t want to overwhelm her but wanted her hubby awake. ¡°I¡¯ll wake them up, and you can take them downstairs to the best suite below mine¡­¡± She got a nod from Jeddings and continued. ¡°Try to figure out what happened with Ron; I¡¯ll be down later. Thanks so much, Mary.¡± ¡°Of course, Sora. It¡¯s been my pleasure,¡± she whispered with a soft smile. ¡°Things are looking up, and let me know if I¡¯m needed. I will need to check up on many other teenagers that require my attention, so I¡¯ll be up late checking in on clients and their children.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± Sora chirped, feeling positive vibes returning as this dream began to solidify into reality. She shifted Nilly in her arms to brush her hands against the three sleeping figures, waking them, and just like Aiden, they snapped awake in an instant. ¡°Welcome back to the land of the living!¡± ¡°Sora?!¡± Daisy squeaked before bending over in fits of coughs that had Howie almost falling off his bed to reach her. ¡°Ack! Ack!¡± ¡°Daisy¡ªwha¡­ Sora, what¡¯s going on?! Who are all these¡­¡± Mary interrupted by gently placing a hand on his shoulder and squeezing her confused husband¡¯s arm. ¡°Allow me to explain for Sora. Everything is fine, but there will be significant changes.¡± ¡°Yup!¡± Sora broke in. ¡°Everything is on the up, guys! Mary will fill you in.¡± Seeing them off, she turned to Wendy, who still seemed to be in shock. ¡°Right¡­ I need to wake Eyia and Jin anyway, so¡­ Wendy, uh, do you want to¡­¡± ¡°Shop for things you¡¯d like?¡± she giggled, blinking rapidly and shaking her head. ¡°Sure! It¡¯s just, eh-hehe, I¡¯ve got a little snuggle bug attached to me. I¡¯m loving our new cat!¡± ¡°Me too!¡± ¡°Mrrrow¡­¡± Nilly fidgeted a little, no doubt uncomfortable with all the noises happening around them, and Wendy tried to find a better position for her. ¡°I don¡¯t mind spending money on cool things. Umm. Should we drop Nilly off in one of the rooms to sleep? She seems really tired. Is she okay?¡± Sora shrugged, taking the soft cat off her sister¡¯s hands; the Nekomata instantly stopped twitching when Sora brought her tail up to play with Nilly¡¯s swaying tails, causing her to settle against her chest. ¡°Mrrow¡­¡± Cute¡­ ¡°She did travel a long way with Ylva, so maybe. Yeah, let¡¯s move upstairs.¡± Following the men to the weird new elevator, she motioned to Fen and Jian when they hesitated. ¡°You two can chill out in the guest rooms if you want or take a shower¡ªmaybe?¡± Jeddings gave her a thumbs up, now talking on her phone. ¡°Yeah, just try to relax, Fen. I¡¯m on your side!¡± Fen¡¯s ears pulled back, fingers playing with each other at her front and meekly getting on the lift with them. Sora figured she just didn¡¯t quite know how to say thank you or respond to positive interactions without manipulating people with magic; she¡¯d talk to Titania about them when she got a chance. She looked down at the laser-like outlines that formed a platform and rails to fit their group comfortably before solidifying and carrying them up to the second level. Making it upstairs, she stepped out and was somewhat impressed by the technology, since it certainly wasn¡¯t magic. Thumping heart settling down, she leaned down to kiss her sleeping dad¡¯s forehead before sending the nurses off to set him up in the Master Bedroom. The desperation and panic she felt with Jenny on top of her returned like a tidal wave, yet it was soothed by the memory of her dad coming to her defense. No magic. No powers. Only his watchful eye and trust. When her magic failed her, her life was falling apart, and her plan with Kari crumbled like a sand castle in the wind, her father was there to handle the problem, blasting Jenny off her with his rifle, and that was truly something she felt was magical: her dad¡¯s unconditional love. You¡¯re the best Dad ever¡­ I need to get you a mug for that! Scratching her arm as it tingled, she spotted Fen and Jian being guided to their rooms; they¡¯d be okay. However, her frown soon fell on Wendy beside her, staring blankly at the tablet in her hands. Sora bumped hips with her to snap her out of her internal spiral, knowing the brunette¡¯s mind was more on the envelope behind the tablet than the screen. ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± she urged, using her tail to push her sister toward the previous guest room, now Wendy¡¯s. ¡°This is your new room. I¡¯ll be right back, Aiden¡ªjust put her on my bed¡­ if it¡¯s still there¡ªand you guys bring these two into one of the other rooms down the hall. I¡¯ll be there shortly.¡± ¡°Roger that, Boss Fox!¡± Aiden picked Kari up to enter the already open door and placed her on the bed. ¡°Catch your tail soon.¡± ¡°You wish!¡± She rolled her eyes with a huff at Wendy¡¯s snicker, doing a little better as she shooed the brunette into the fairly plain room, ready to be beatified with boy bands, games, and anime posters. ¡°And what are you laughing at, Chocolate Toe!¡± Wendy almost fell, choking a little as Sora used her foot to shut the door. ¡°You remember that?! You¡¯re the one who dared me to do it because you didn¡¯t think I could get my toes up to my mouth. Gross¡­ some of the things you got me to do¡­ like kiss a toad!¡± ¡°We were twelve,¡± Sora defended with a half-smile while carefully setting the cat down on a pillow to arch her back, paw at it a few times, and curl into a tight ball to hide her face. Dropping onto the foot of the bed and throwing her hands back to support herself, she sighed and bumped shoulders with her sister. ¡°Official sisters, huh? And don¡¯t worry about anything; your mom¡¯s coming¡­ You¡¯ll get your answers.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± A few seconds passed in an awkward silence. Wendy¡¯s aura was up and down; happy they were becoming closer and scared of what was to come tomorrow. She swallowed a lump in her throat and forced a laugh, a shiver running down her frame to the bed. ¡°I half want all of this to be a cool¡­ and cruel dream,¡± she whispered, a heavy weight carried on her words. Sora overlaid her hand with hers, letting her sister release the pressure compressing her chest and mind, keeping her eyes on the carpet to allow Wendy her own time to process. ¡°¡­After talking to Mary, I know it¡¯s not my fault¡­ It¡¯s hard¡­ It¡¯s hard not to think it is¡­ that I could have done something, I don¡¯t know¡­ something more¡­ said something more.¡± Wendy shook her head, lip pulling under and body shaking with silent tears as Sora pulled her in to buffer her against the pain and let her know she was loved. It took a few minutes before she laughed through a whimper. ¡°I¡¯ve been lying to myself¡­ saying everything¡¯s cool when it¡¯s not¡­ It¡¯s just¡­ not. I have to hear it from her, though. Why do I feel more loved in someone else¡¯s family? Why won¡¯t she ever fight for me? Why do I only feel at home when I¡¯m with you and your dad? Why¡­ would she throw me away like I¡¯m garbage? I¡¯m like an empty bottle of whiskey¡­¡± Sora held her tighter, fighting the fire from crawling up her own throat into her nose. Wendy didn¡¯t need her to say anything; she needed someone to hold her and be there to listen. Nothing else came, though, and after a few minutes of controlled breathing, she squeezed her hand and pulled away, showing a puffy-eyed smile. ¡°Thanks, Sora. I¡¯m, umm¡­ I¡¯m better. Thank you for being my big-little sister and letting me be a big baby. I think decorating a new room will help a little. I don¡¯t want to hog all of your emotional energy.¡± ¡°No! No, I¡¯m here for you, Wendy.¡± Wendy rubbed her arm and forced a smile. ¡°We all die a little inside sometimes, right? We¡¯ll be alright¡­ I¡¯ll be alright because I know you¡¯d never leave me outside in the rain¡­ I just wish¡­ Yeah, let¡¯s just do what we can! Eyia needs you, too.¡± Rubbing her red eyes, Sora used her magic to clear away the irritation of crying and hugged Wendy before getting up and pointing the brunette to the sleeping cat on the pillow. ¡°I¡¯ll only leave you because I know you¡¯ve got a cuddly cat to snuggle next to. I¡¯m with you all the way. Get some rest, Wendy¡­ I¡¯ll be back when I can. Love you.¡± ¡°Love you,¡± she returned, scooting back to lay next to Nilly; she held up the envelope and squinted in the dying sunlight that passed through the window. ¡°I¡¯m scared¡­ but I¡¯ll be okay.¡± Her watery, muddy-brown eyes shifted to her with a real smile. ¡°After all, I¡¯m not alone; I have a sister.¡± Warmth budding in Sora¡¯s chest, she nodded and went to turn on the light, making the brunette blink a few times to adjust her eyes. ¡°Exactly! We¡¯ve got a magical doom school to go to with mysteries to solve! Catch you soon, Sis!¡± ¡°Catch you soon, Sis!¡± Leaving in a brighter mood upon feeling Wendy¡¯s aura of delusions and fear dissipating, Sora entered her room next, currently occupied by Aiden and Kari. Aiden didn¡¯t need to say a word, showing her a thumbs up to tell her he was glad to feel Wendy building the courage to face her demons. Tail swaying, she skipped in with life budding inside her voice. ¡°I¡¯m just going to do a good ol¡¯ tap on the nose, turn around, and go right out!¡± Displaying a finger to Aiden¡¯s silent laughter, she lightly brought it down on the wolf¡¯s nose, making it crinkle. ¡°And I¡¯m off!¡± ¡°Good luck.¡± Kari¡¯s amber eyes flashed as they flew open, shoulder-length black hair whipping left and right while trying to reorient herself. ¡°Where¡ªSora¡¯s room? I can smell her musk everywhere¡ªAiden?¡± Musk?! Sora internally balked while flipping on her heels by the door to give the bewildered wolf a toothy grin. I don¡¯t know if that¡¯s a compliment or diss from her¡­ probably a diss. ¡°Morning, Wolf Breath!¡± she sang, tail whipping out of the door as she slammed it shut. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, and bye!¡± ¡°Sora?! What the hell¡ªwho was that Fenris Wolf woman?! Sora, don¡¯t you run away from me!¡± ¡°Kari! Kari! Chill,¡± Aiden pleaded, practically having to tackle her to the bed, which she obviously had to allow because Sora had slapped those cheeks before, and it was a solid brick wall! ¡°I¡¯ll explain!¡± ¡°Is that¡­ I smell Eric in the hallway! What in the¡ª¡± ¡°Let me explain!¡± ¡°Bite me! What¡­ are you doing?! Eww¡ªstop!¡± ¡°Mmm? You said to bite you. Maybe you should take a shower, though¡­ You taste like sweat, dust, and Hellstone.¡± ¡°You did not just¡­ Ugh! Get off, Aiden! Damn¡­ Okay, I¡¯m listening. Shit.¡± Sora almost fell to her knees as she quaked with laughter, imagining the scene in her head. Aiden certainly knew how to deal with Kari, the tried and true method of calling the bluff and biting the wolf! She should probably take a few notes from his playbook. Just before going down the newly expanded hallway to her suite, she glanced back at the bed that remained in the hallway with a guard. Would Kari allow her to wake Eric? That remained to be seen. Proceeding to the nearest bedroom, she discovered it was the Master Bedroom of the other suite, with Jin and Eyia¡¯s beds inside. Dismissing the soldiers and closing the door, she listened for a second, hearing Ferdinand talking to Ms. Jeddings about the staff that had stayed. It was something she was interested in, but that could wait for later. She puffed out a long breath and put her hand on Eyia¡¯s hand; instantly, the blonde¡¯s shimmering blue eyes opened, not an ounce of panic in her demeanor as she sat up, glancing around their surroundings. ¡°Sister¡­ it appears that the conflict with Ylva has concluded, and your transformation has ended.¡± Her calm, innocent smile wholly centered on her. ¡°Am I correct in thinking you had a lovely chat with your mother?¡± ¡°Eyia!¡± Sora lurched forward to hug the tall Valkyrie, receiving a firm embrace in return. ¡°I¡¯m so happy; you have no idea! And, and, my mom would love for you to stay. In fact, in this world, we¡¯ve made it official and made you a part of the family! You¡¯re now part Primordial Asgadrian and vulpes Founder! Eyia?¡± When she pulled away, the blonde¡¯s nose was bright red, her tanned cheeks coloring as sniffles shook her frame. ¡°You¡­ wish to bind us as Blood Sisters? I cannot speak for my family, but I will pledge my Bond of Blood. I shall not be a burden upon your community; I swear it, Sister!¡± Getting the internal picture that this was Eyia¡¯s way of being welcomed into a family, she flashed her teeth and held out her pinky. ¡°From Sisters-in-arms to Blood Sisters! Wendy¡¯s joining us, too, so you have two sisters on the Founder side now. Yay! We¡¯re going to have to throw a party for my mom when she gets here. I can¡¯t wait for you to meet her.¡± Eyia began to hiccup, letting her tears fall freely as joy Sora couldn¡¯t fathom overtook the girl, and suddenly, it hit her; Eyia had been exiled from her family¡ªshe¡¯d told her that when in her lonely ice maze¡ªand put into a deadly trial on an island. She¡¯d been isolated from everyone she loved, like her father and big brother, whom she idolized, and for who knew how long? Jin was the only person she¡¯d come to call a friend since she was a child. Bottom lip quivering again, Sora¡¯s tail thrashed while crawling onto Eyia¡¯s bed to hold her and cry with the blonde; despite all her power and training, Eyia had demons of her own, demons she couldn¡¯t contend with¡ªher isolated, lonely life, and the struggle with being exiled from her family¡ªshe¡¯d been breaking down for as long as she could remember. Now she truly understood why Jin had been so enraged when she¡¯d stood Eyia up; it wasn¡¯t just that Eyia would blame herself. Eyia blamed herself for everything and carried the weight of her exile, struggling with so many more deep-rooted insecurities than Sora could have ever known. But now, she had a family that welcomed her in with open arms. ¡°You have a family with us, Eyia! Forever and always!¡± A long puff of air brought Sora¡¯s puffy eyes to Jin, sitting cross-legged on her bed, rubbing her neck and studying them, a total wreck, locked inside each other¡¯s arms. ¡°Haaa. Well, shit. Could you have controlled your tail at least a bit longer before snapping your mother¡¯s charm? Now it¡¯s awkward,¡± the Korean grumbled, yellow eyes looking away. ¡°Blood Sisters, huh? Hehe. I guess you don¡¯t need me anymore.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up, Jin!¡± Eyia growled through her tears, surprising both of them as the Valkyrie sniffed and coughed, shooting a glare at the dragon. ¡°You promised me an¡ªan explanation on your honor! I shall hear you express your heart of hearts. Speak to me without a forked tongue.¡± Jin chuckled with a short sigh. ¡°Ouch. I guess I deserve that¡­ Forked tongue? Mmgm. Yo, Sora, mind if I take Eyia to chat? I¡¯ll probably not stay long anyway. I see the signs that your mom is¡ª¡± Her head tilted to the side, golden irises flashing red for a second before her focus returned to her. ¡°You¡­ want me to stay¡­ and teach some piss-poor Physical Combat course in the collapsing realm adjacent to this one? Are you stupid?¡± Sora drew away, wiping at both of her eyes with a snort. ¡°Yes, Jin, heh, I¡¯m stupid!¡± ¡°Incorrect, Sister!¡± Eyia promptly defended. ¡°You are merely incompetent due to age and inexperience.¡± ¡°Hehehe. Thanks, Sis,¡± Sora giggled, seeing the Valkyrie¡¯s pride bloom at feeling like she was being supportive. ¡°Obviously, you can, like, I don¡¯t know, see through time or something! You¡¯re awesome, Jin¡ªno joke¡ªand I¡¯d love to learn from that big head of yours.¡± ¡°First of all,¡± Jin drew in her lips, holding up a finger, ¡°I have a perfect physique, including my head, shape, size, and thickness that matches my stubborn streak, thank you very much¡­ ¡°Second¡­ I¡¯m not trying to find friends, Sora. I¡¯m trying to piss off my mother. Period. End of story. You are not involved in that beef since your mother isn¡¯t. If you ask me to stay and hang out, it could prove dangerous for you and your entire territory. I¡¯m basically a runaway child, Kid. Your mom could be brought before the Three Pillars and put under trial¡­ which my mother is a part of.¡± The gears in Sora¡¯s mind spun for a second before they finally fell into place. ¡°Your¡­ mom is the Dragon Mother¡ªyou¡¯re Second Generation, like my mom?!¡± Jin shrugged. ¡°Like I said, you¡¯d be stupid to get in the middle of a beef between me and my mom¡­ I¡¯m the youngest damn 2nd Generation Dragon by like¡­ many ages in¨Cbetween. My fifteenth cousin could trounce me due to my age. So, it¡¯s best I skip town and go to the next territory over to cause trouble since¡­¡± Jin groaned and ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°¡­Since I¡¯m actually starting to like you¡­ despite my better judgment.¡± Sora set her brow and grinned. ¡°Then it¡¯s official! You¡¯re a part of the crew! When do you start the Avalon job? Before or after you apologize to Eyia and let her beat you at a game?¡± Eyia¡¯s smile vanished. ¡°She does not let me win, Sister! I always beat her rump red.¡± ¡°Pfft! Keep dreaming, Feather Butt,¡± Jin snickered. ¡°You can¡¯t release your full power, or it will cause ripples and pull in unfriendly faces. I¡¯ve got you beat every time.¡± ¡°T-That is cheating, Jin,¡± Eyia balked, pointing an accusatory finger at the dragon. ¡°We agree to equal our strengths in each challenge to determine skill, and I do not have a feather butt; it is quite plump with muscle!¡± Sora held her stomach as it hurt. ¡°Yeah! I can¡¯t get rid of this dynamic. Please, at least think about it, Jin.¡± ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Breathing out as if life was nothing but a drag, Jin grunted and looked away. ¡°I¡¯ll think about it. Anyway, let¡¯s have a serious talk, Frosty. Thanks for being suicidal, Sora; it¡¯ll be fun while it lasts.¡± ¡°Jokes! Hehe. You¡¯re so funny, Jin! Talk to you two later.¡± Jin gave her a two-fingered salute and vanished in a surge of hyper-condensed red energy, making Eyia huff. ¡°You made this a challenge without warning me, Jin! You are so¡ªmmrrrrr¡ªI cannot say the word in this language! Not so fast, Jin!¡± she cried, cheeks turning even more red as she followed in a swirl of mist. Stretching out, Sora rolled around her neck, feeling surprisingly optimistic about the whole exchange. She hopped up, tail swaying, and made her way to the front room, deciding to let Wendy have her space. Kari and Aiden had already gone down the elevators to walk the Miami night and talk. It was as good of a time as any to see what the fae rulers wanted. We¡¯re making it through the storm! Fourteen days until magic school starts, too! I''m getting so excited! B2 — 9. Overcoming Prejudice Mind wandering as she made her way down the hall to the weird elevator the organization had installed, a smile touched Sora¡¯s cheeks while passing Fen¡¯s room. ¡°No, don¡¯t go, Jian¡­ Just¡­ stay with me for a while¡­¡± ¡°Of course,¡± the man soothed. ¡°I watch over you through the night.¡± She imagined the tall man sitting on the edge of her bed, holding the terrified Huli Jing¡¯s hand as she tried to come to terms with how drastically her life had changed. Probably the scariest part was where her next soul meal would come from, and Sora had no clue how to address that. Perhaps the fae rulers had the answers for her. Her focus drifted between the paintings, rugs, and various sculptures that lined the trophy room as she made it to the junction between her expanded suite; there was a lot of empty space that needed to be filled, and maybe her mom would add her own touch when she came. Pausing to look back at Fen¡¯s door before it went out of sight, she sighed, hearing the three-tailed vulpes start to cry before a sound barrier was created, blocking out the noise. I guess it will take some time to get used to things¡­ It¡¯s not like Fen trusts me or my promises anyway. I¡¯m just a stupid ¡®princess¡¯ fox pup that doesn¡¯t know a damn thing, after all¡­ It¡¯s getting better, though. Proceeding to her new brunette sister¡¯s room, she peeked inside, warmth singing her heart as she spotted Wendy asleep, her tablet lying face down on the sheet. Nilly was curled up between her legs, purring and keeping her company. She had a pretty emotional day; best to let her sleep¡­ Everything is getting better. Sora hugged the wall when passing Eric in his medical bed, waiting to be roused. Kari and Aiden had already split, going into the Miami night to chat. Howie, Daisy, Mary, and her husband were downstairs checking up on Ron, giving her really no one else to helicopter around. It was time to give the fae rulers her attention. Stopping at the edge of the dangerous-looking open fall to the 1st level, she watched in fascination as the light elevator formed almost instantly when she neared. It would be fun to test the limits of its programming when Wendy woke up and they could see who took priority at the bottom or top. Hands held behind her back at the base of her swaying tail, Sora felt at peace as she descended to the front room. Ferdinand and Ms. Jeddings had moved to the other adjacent suite that had been added to their floor space, leaving only workers, seemingly using alien technology to generate wires through the walls and floor without ripping them up. Adding it to the list of things to ask her ¡®personal attendant¡¯ when she had time, Sora went to the sliding glass door and opened it to reach the royal pair on the balcony. She closed it behind her and reached up to manage her hair when the salty, nighttime ocean breeze struck her in the face. Oberon and Titania shifted their position from looking at the scenery as she joined them, the Fairy High Queen appearing far more serene after cooling off. It was probably frustrating dealing with humans, who were so shortsighted compared to the ancient fae. ¡°Hello,¡± she chimed. ¡°I hope I didn¡¯t keep you waiting too long. Sorry. I know you probably have like¡­ trillions of subjects to watch over, and I¡¯m holding you up.¡± She walked to the railing to stare down at the well-lit beach and pool far below; once again, there were Foundation workers making all sorts of fancy changes to isolate the hotel and beef up security. It kind of felt like she was in control and not so much in control. Titania showed her a gentle face that spoke on a deeper, understanding level. ¡°Do not think you are a burden on us, Sora. We have many leaders across many lands within our realm who do not need our micromanaging fingers dipping into their lives. Although, there are a few things we could be seeing to. Hmm¡­¡± She turned a thoughtful eye to her husband, seemingly preoccupied with something. ¡°In fact, Obby, why don¡¯t you return and start setting up everything we¡¯ve discussed? You enjoy the task-by-task work while I savor a more¡­ chaotic approach, after all.¡± Sora had no clue where Oberon¡¯s pupilless eyes were, but his head was turned toward his wife. His response put a shiver down her tail, though, realizing the promise she¡¯d made a certain gray-skinned woman a week prior. ¡°Perhaps you should give me Sela, Tia. You tend to lose track of time, and the Royal Court is waiting to pass judgment on our return.¡± Today¡¯s Saturday, September 5th¡­ the day before Sela is prophesied to die! Titania¡¯s neon blue eyes drifted to the side, a melancholy tone moving her voice. ¡°Would it be too much to postpone it a tad longer? We all know the verdict before the trial has even begun, and she was such a lovely little princess¡­ Sora has also requested to be present, and hasn¡¯t she gone through enough tonight? Surely, we can wait a few more days¡­¡± Oberon¡¯s big hand lifted to cup her cheek, drawing her gaze up to his soft, somber smile. ¡°I understand you had a connection with Sela when she was a child, and she¡¯d try to emulate you in the court gatherings, but she is no longer the little Fairy princess you once knew¡­ She killed her own father when he tried to do what is in your heart at this moment, and I will not lose you in the same way.¡± Titania¡¯s shoulders sank slightly, and she held up her fingers to summon the intricate cage, unwilling to say anything more while handing off the Unseelie Queen to her husband; she¡¯d already made her own position clear. Sora hadn¡¯t, though. ¡°Ahem¡­¡± Golden light swallowed the prison, the High King slipping it into his own pocket dimension as the pair turned their heads her way. ¡°Umm¡­ If you can wait, that¡¯d be great¡ªI was hoping to get my mom¡¯s thoughts on it before I said anything¡ªbut I¡¯ve got this idea, so¡­ if you can¡¯t, I guess I¡¯ll have to wing it.¡± ¡°And what do you have on your mind?¡± Oberon queried, but his wife swiftly took control of the conversation and guided him toward the sliding glass door. ¡°I can postpone it for at most another twelve to fifteen hours, but it will have to be tomorrow. She¡ªTia¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t ¡®Tia¡¯ me!¡± the High Queen huffed, shooting her a wink while abruptly snapping her fingers to create a crazy complicated spell in an instant that hit the glass like a whip; it rippled like water, reminding Sora of the magic Sela used but on a whole different level. ¡°Postone it as long as you can! You tell the Royal Court that Lady Sora and I will be attending after Lady Sora gets her beauty sleep. So, they can wait!¡± Sora laughed as she practically shoved her husband through the portal, which collapsed half a second later. The High Queen spun around on her heels with a beaming grin that radiated sparkles around her illuminating figure. ¡°There! Beauty sleep has bought us some time, so let¡¯s use it wisely.¡± ¡°Here, here!¡± Sora cheered, enjoying the change in pace. ¡°So¡­ where are we going?¡± ¡°Why not down a floor to where we¡¯re crafting our little gift for you,¡± she asked, sliding her finger down the glass and making it bend like waves. ¡°And once we get settled, you can tell me all about this devilish plot you¡¯re hatching to shock Avalon!¡± Feeling a bit exhilarated in the surge of emotion that now radiated from the Fairy, Sora chuckled and followed the woman inside; her body experienced a weightless sensation as she walked right through the rippling glass. ¡°I was thinking¡­¡± ¡°Mmmm.¡± Titania¡¯s dress spun at her knees as she danced in a circle, placing a finger against her mischievous lips, and nudging her head toward the workers. ¡°Let¡¯s save this discussion for when there are less prying ears. Anything dealing with this subject can cause a chain reaction, which may have unfortunate outcomes.¡± ¡°Got it!¡± Sora made a zipping gesture over her smiling lips; the Fairy High Queen could be imperial and regal in one moment, a flighty flirt in the next, and a cunning cat a second later. A melodious hum vibrated the air as the woman skipped toward the elevator, the flowers and greenery around the suite budding and shimmering with life in her passing. It didn¡¯t take long for them to be inside the box and on the way to the forty-seventh floor, and when the metal doors gave way, Sora¡¯s mouth fell open in disbelief. ¡°Well?! What do you think?¡± Titania asked, spinning out with excitement. Sora stepped onto the amethyst tile walkway, looking up at a vast, starry sky, filled with cosmic wonders and several moons of various colors spaced across the shimmering heavens. Around her was a flat field of lush grass and many fuchsia-leaved trees, sparsely planted and looking ancient by their thick trunks and reaching branches. Paths split off, rising into what looked to be passageways through rocky spiring mountains that dotted throughout the distance, covered in thick moss and foliage. A reflecting river slowly wove through the landscape, providing a mystical view of the sky. The chirping of birds she¡¯d never heard before tickled her ears, yet they weren¡¯t alive. Illusions of animals spotted the scenery, giving life to the experience. Balls of light zipped all over the place, Fairies growing specific parts and decorating the area further. ¡°What¡­ is this place?¡± Hands held at her front, Titania tilted her head for her to accompany her to a sitting area, complete with a hearth for a bonfire and cushioned leafy chairs. ¡°What is this¡­ It is your own little personal sanctuary¡ªa pocket realm¡ªwhere you can practice your magic at home without worry of endangering the lives of humans or fear of being noticed.¡± ¡°This is¡­ incredible!¡± Sora mumbled, staring up into the vast turquoise sphere looming in the heavens that took her breath away; it tinted the lightly misty sky in its radiance. ¡°This is¡­ mine?¡± Titania smoothly sat in one of the chairs, crossing her legs and gesturing for her to do the same. ¡°As you can see, over there, we are in the process of creating a gateway to reach your, mm-hmm-hmm, school bus,¡± she explained with an entertained giggle. Sora watched the fae a short distance away weaving magic into the soil, growing thick, intertwining roots that budded with dazzling flowers, meeting to create a large circle. ¡°School bus? So¡­ I¡¯ll be staying here and catching a ride each morning with Wendy and everyone?¡± ¡°Not exactly¡­¡± the High Queen whispered, examining various parts of the pocket realm as they continued to study the zone. ¡°Your mother was the one who created this place, and we were simply in charge of decorating and connecting the bridge between planes. ¡°You see, Avalon Academy isn¡¯t like your typical institution. It was founded to teach and guide every kind of creature that passed through Avalon, helping them adapt to our culture. It provides a much-needed place to test their resolve to follow our rules and live amongst the fae. ¡°For this, the Academy instructs its students for a month in classes, gives homework, and sends them home for two weeks¡ªbe that Earth or some other failing place that required their refugee status to Avalon¡ªand after that, two weeks among the fae public¡­ upon which, the process will repeat, with a few exceptions, until the year is concluded.¡± Sora dropped into the very comfortable armchair, her tail phasing through the magically-enchanted back to give her complete mobility in its sway. It was a fantastic way of doing things, and she liked the ability to return home and spend time with her family. ¡°I¡¯m getting excited! So, uhhh, Sela¡­¡± Titania¡¯s vision returned to her. ¡°Indeed, Sela¡­ What plot are you sewing inside that mind of yours?¡± She took a deep breath and dove right into her thoughts. ¡°From what everyone¡¯s said, and what I understand, the Unseelie is more like a curse or disease¡ªlike the Werewolf curse¡ªand all of this mess started four hundred years ago. Right?¡± A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Three hundred, more or less,¡± the Fairy corrected, ¡°but in essence, you¡¯re on point.¡± The woman lifted both hands to create spheres of polar opposite forces¡ªone black and the other a sparkling green¡ªmaking Sora shiver at the dense fields they produced. ¡°This ball to your left is Unseelie magic, which, as Diane pointed out, fae can use without being Unseelie. You see, we call it Unseelie magic, but in reality, it is merely magic on the Negative Spectrum of the field. ¡°The orb to your right is on the Positive Spectrum. Fae, as generally Neutral Beings, can tilt to the left or right of this Spectrum, and generate Neutral Force. Naturally, what we can produce is not as potent as, say¡­ a Devil, who is born in dense Negative Fields. And¡­ when we combine these two Forces, they act as Matter and Anti-Matter¡­¡± Bringing them together, Sora tensed as an explosion of energy erupted in all directions, only to be brought into balancing rings of Neutral Force; they spun around Titania¡¯s wrists, separating and creating bracelets of condensed opposite forces. ¡°Just because you have Positive Force, does not mean it is necessarily ¡®orderly¡¯ and Negative Force isn¡¯t necessarily ¡®chaotic.¡¯ There is a reflection in the universe between Positive and Negative, but Neutral tends to be the majority while the other two occupy the extremes. Understand?¡± she asked with a bright smile, focus returning to her as the accessories dissipated. ¡°I think so¡­¡± Sora gulped and thought back to her use of Hell Force, which was obviously on the Negative Spectrum. ¡°Using it is a lot different than¡­ becoming it, though, as I understand it. I basically¡­ became a Devil in order to battle a Devil, which is something I can do because I¡¯m a Founder with top-tier Neutral Force, I guess¡­ but fae can¡¯t do that, right?¡± ¡°No¡­ we cannot,¡± Titania hummed, shifting to rest her cheek against her palm. ¡°Fascinating. The Darkness infects not only fae but others, as well¡­ twisting them into their darkest versions of themselves. The issue is that it is not just some curse, Sora¡­ The Darkness is a pernicious infection that, once contracted, completely eradicates everything Positive within them while amplifying the Negative.¡± Sora drew in her bottom lip, having already tasted the consequences of doing something she didn¡¯t understand and getting her tail bit by it. Sela wasn¡¯t anything close to a friend, yet a few factors pushed her to want to help the fallen fae. For one, she had been on her side when everything was said and done. Plus, she didn¡¯t fully buy the idea that this Darkness had purged every speck of good. Sela had been away from her realm and its influence for seemingly some amount of time, and sure, she was an evil piece of work, but that wasn¡¯t all the woman was from what she¡¯d seen. It wasn¡¯t like she was alone this time, either. Sitting forward, Sora set her brow. ¡°I¡¯d like to try to reverse Sela¡¯s Force. If she¡¯s bad now, then I should be able to flip that on its head with a desire because I¡¯m awesome! Why couldn¡¯t I just flip the scales?¡± Titania sat back, vision narrowing and mouth becoming a line, retreating into her own mind to consider her proposal. ¡°Reverse Sela¡¯s Force¡­ Impossible.¡± All the steam in Sora¡¯s belly deflated like a balloon. ¡°But why? I¡¯m a Founder. My magic does whatever I tell it to do¡­ well, if I have enough power, and I won¡¯t know until I try.¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh, no, I¡¯m sure your mother could do something like that,¡± the Fairy High Queen mumbled, vision rising to the wondrous sight overhead as a cool, nighttime breeze swept through the landscape. ¡°As you said, you require power to do that, and¡­ Haaa.¡± She gave her a pained smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to say, Sora, but you¡¯re not skilled enough to pull something like that off against the totality of Sela¡¯s energy. It is a simple game of math. If you were to spend one energy compared to Sela¡¯s three, it would still not be enough, and¡­ ¡°I¡¯d wager that the figure is more likely your fifty to Sela¡¯s one. Sela wasn¡¯t one to reveal her true power since it came with more responsibility, so she played weaker than she actually was, and I suspect her Unseelie side does the same.¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible, though?¡± Sora pressed, trying to fight the depressing reality. ¡°Can¡¯t we postpone it because¡­ because I could do it in the future! My mom could probably tutor me on a way¡­ or something.¡± A few seconds of silence fell over them, a tightness looping around her chest again from the mounting stress, yet the fae ruler¡¯s soft chortles lifted her gaze. Titania had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes as she stared at the gateway, now showing a watery portal to Avalon; her Fairies had completed their work. ¡°You really are something special, Sora.¡± Sora strained a laugh, ears folding down a little. ¡°Thanks? I don¡¯t feel very special right now¡­ I wanted to help you and Sela since I did kind of make a promise to her¡­ I¡¯d like to keep it since she kept her promise, and went above and beyond. Haha. I also enjoyed how she tortured Devin, which helped get me through worrying about Wendy when Jenny kidnapped her.¡± ¡°A promise, hmm?¡± Titania unfolded her legs and smoothly rose to her feet. ¡°After this charming conversation, I believe there is a way for you to save Sela¡­ but she will not be welcomed back as a sovereign queen due to the prejudices that are sure to follow.¡± The High Queen¡¯s face glowed as she flashed her teeth in a brilliant smile. ¡°I think I have a solution, though. It will take several hours for me to build the support I require. For insurance purposes, would it be possible to invoke the aid of Aiden?¡± Depression melting in an instant, Sora got to her feet, curiosity now pulling at her. ¡°Probably! What is your plan?¡± ¡°And ruin the surprise?¡± the woman mused, giving her a secretive smile. ¡°As for your guide¡­ Ember.¡± A streak of crimson light flew out from under the bonfire hearth, a sleepy, quiet voice answering as a tiny Fairy girl shot to attention in front of Titania. ¡°I-I wasn¡¯t sleeping, High Queen! I was¡­ inspecting the wood¡ªnot eating it¡ªinspecting!¡± An impish gleam twinkled in the ruler¡¯s neon-blue eyes. ¡°So, if I go down there and check for nibble marks¡­¡± ¡°It wouldn¡¯t be me, High Queen! Uh, I think I¡­ did see some, though. I can start an investigation immediately.¡± ¡°Hehehe. No need, Ember. You¡¯ll be busy guiding Lady Sora here to the Royal Court Tree; they will be expecting you. Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I must go polish up some wings and tickle some ears to find a place for our recovering queen.¡± Titania gave her a graceful nod and faded away into sparkling dust. ¡°She¡¯s so cool¡­¡± Sora mumbled, joy now budding within her heart. She turned to the groggy Fairy, now looking like a zombie, barely keeping herself afloat in the air with her stuttering wings. ¡°Okay, Ember, you can sleep in my bag if you¡¯re tired. I¡¯ll grab a piece of this wood real fast that you can snack on and wake you up when we¡¯re ready to go.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Her eyes started to sparkle with tears. ¡°You¡¯re so kind! This is my work-based training¡­ that I didn¡¯t want, but my mom made me since it was for the High Queen. Haaa. I¡¯m sooo tired. I was up late dancing with¡ªwith no one! Anyway, thank you¡­ Where¡¯s your purse?¡± Sora giggled and revealed her floating, invisible item, having been spelled to follow her this entire time. ¡°Right here! And I promise, I won¡¯t kidnap you¡­ probably!¡± ¡°Eh. No one would care if you did,¡± the red-themed Fire Fairy mumbled unenthusiastically. ¡°Not like Tinder or Bramble want me breaking up their party again¡­ Humph. What does he even see in that wood head? She¡¯s not even warm. I can set him on fire in ways she never could¡­ Stupid Wood Fairies, always thinking we¡¯re too volatile. I¡¯m like¡­ super chill.¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± Sora slowly returned, placing a twig inside her purse and allowing the Fairy to enter; just to be safe, she did a fire-resistant spell on the material with a desire. ¡°Sleep well!¡± Zipping it up, she took one last look at her personal sanctuary, fae still in the process of beautifying it up. Wendy is going to freak out when I show her! Maybe we can go jogging or something here in the mornings. It beats treadmills. She flipped on her heels and returned to the very out-of-place-looking elevator doors in the middle of nowhere; it didn¡¯t even have anything above it. Yet, when she pressed the button, the doors slid open to welcome her back to Earth. Having the attendant take her to the ground level instead of up to her suite, she sniffed the air once in the lobby, finding Aiden¡¯s scent, along with the mysterious purple-eyed woman¡¯s unique vibe. It put a shiver through her, but she was on a mission, so she shoved it into the back of her mind. Sora pushed forward, keeping herself wrapped in a cloak of illusions so as not to get stopped; happily, she saw a few front lobby staff that she liked still working there. She¡¯d need to talk to each of them individually in the coming week to see how they took her sudden change and the fact she was basically one of the only tenants left in the whole hotel. How would that even work? Again, trying not to think about unimportant things, she ran out into the night; luckily, Kari left a very recognizable trail, not that she particularly stunk. On her way north, to the park they¡¯d met previously, Sora debated the smell. It was like a blend of a few things, and as she neared the beach-side park, she slowed her pace. Jade! It¡¯s so similar to the plants they have in the lobby; that¡¯s what she smells like, Sora internally shouted, proud to have nailed down the scent. Why am I even running? I get to sleep in tomorrow before the trial, anyway. Chill! We¡¯ve got time¡­ and Mom comes the day after. It¡¯s like¡­ one thing after another to look forward to! What will Positive Force Sela be like? ¡°Hmm.¡± Rubbing her arms as goosebumps came on, she cursed herself when the familiar jitters rolled through her stomach upon spotting Kari and Aiden on the bench. She¡¯s not my bully anymore! Stop it, stomach! We¡¯re cool! Everything is cool¡­ Kari released a frustrated sigh as her dull, amber irises drifted to lock onto her. I¡¯m just asking her to be cool with me waking up her greatest fear¡­ Yeah, this will turn out awesome. ¡°Hey, Kari, Aiden! Can¡­ I interrupt for a second?¡± Aiden grinned and got up, stretching his arms high overhead and popping up his t-shirt to show off his defined abs. ¡°Sure! You wanted to chat with Kari, right? She might bite your tail!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t think she swung that way!¡± Sora gasped, snickering with the boy while trying to add a bit of humor to break the ice. ¡°I best watch her trying to claim me as her territory. Wolf girls, am I right?¡± ¡°You have no idea!¡± Aiden chuckling as Kari just watched them without the slightest mouth twitch; she wasn¡¯t happy. ¡°Tiri bit me practically every other night when she was five. I think you¡¯re safe, though. Kari¡¯s just trying to figure some stuff out.¡± ¡°C¡¯mon! No need to talk to her like she¡¯s not here,¡± Sora light-heartedly shot back, holding her elbow behind her back and trying not to let Kari¡¯s unresponsiveness make her nervous. ¡°Actually, I came here to ask your help with something, but I can stay and chat with Kari for a bit after.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The blond boy put his hands on his hips, showing a half-smile while glancing at her bag, which was supposed to be invisible. ¡°I feel you¡¯ve got a Fairy hidden away in your purse, so¡­ does this have something to do with the High Queen?¡± ¡°Sela, actually,¡± she said, attempting to keep herself from fidgeting with Kari¡¯s drilling gaze on her. ¡°I think¡­ there¡¯s a way for us to cure her, and Titania asked if you could be there to back us up in case we need help. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s planning, but keeping everyone guessing seems to be her personality. Up to stopping an execution tomorrow with me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m game.¡± Aiden jabbed his thumb further north to his back. ¡°I¡¯m going to be checking up on a few communities and making sure everyone¡¯s okay. I¡¯d invite you for dinner since you didn¡¯t touch a thing on the moon base, but I suspect you¡¯ll want to get some sleep before storming the fae stronghold to rescue an evil fae.¡± Giggling at his grin and framing, Sora rubbed her elbow and shook her head, using a magical desire to keep her dress and hair managed. ¡°I would, but¡­¡± She paused, stomach suddenly swarming with butterflies. Did he¡­ just ask me on a date? ¡°Uh¡­ sure,¡± she corrected, now wondering if he had something private he wanted to discuss with her, and hopefully not Fenris Wolf-related. ¡°Cool. You have my number?¡± He asked, backing up slowly. ¡°I got mine back from the Foundation.¡± ¡°Uh-huh! From our last date,¡± she said, trying to mask her nervousness with what she hoped was an impish smirk. ¡°I hope this one ends better.¡± ¡°The expectations! Catch you later, Fluffy Tail.¡± He flipped around and started walking away, making Sora¡¯s heart flutter at the sudden dinner plans. He likes my tail! Does he like my tail? Was that a joke? Shouldn¡¯t I have pushed back a little? Does he think I¡¯m easy¡­ or that I was hitting on him? What even are these thoughts?! ¡°Shoot me,¡± Kari grumbled, arms spread across the back of the bench. ¡°Watch it; your tail might fly off wagging that hard,¡± she snorted with a dull smirk. Cheeks coloring slightly, Sora¡¯s tail froze with modifying thoughts now crashing against her brain. Did he¡­ call me Fluffy Tail because my tail was wagging so hard? When did I even start wagging it? No! No! Don¡¯t think about it! Son of a¡­ ¡°I hate you,¡± Sora growled, ears falling flat against her head as she slunk around the black-haired wolf to plop down beside her. Kari lifted an eyebrow, now looking pleased with herself. ¡°I guess my job for the day is complete. Can we skip the part where you pretend like you care about me and how we¡¯re such good friends? Because I¡¯d rather get dropped into a volcano.¡± ¡°Cute,¡± Sora grunted, smoothing back her hair and looking away. ¡°Haaa. Honestly, I do want to have a deeper chat. A tail-to-tail, if you would. Humor me?¡± Kari showed off her sarcastic side with a snort. ¡°Can¡¯t. No tail, see¡ªno butt arm for me¡ªso why don¡¯t you hang with your new three-arm butt friend. What was her name, Fen? What?¡± Sora¡¯s dull, side-long stare held the wolf¡¯s toothless glare. ¡°That¡­ has got to be the worst description of a tail in history. Do you want to talk or sulk off to cry somewhere again?¡± ¡°Ouch¡­ At least your tongue has gotten better,¡± Kari sighed, scratching the back of her head. ¡°Better than my spineless ass, I guess. Damn¡­ Fine. Let me have it, Foxxy, The Ruler of Wolves. What is Your Royal Tailness demand of her pet puppies?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help laughing, as hard as she tried to stop it from coming out. ¡°You are¡­ so not like I thought! I actually can¡¯t believe how much I loved that! Foxxy, The Ruler of Wolves and Your Royal Tailness?! Okay! Okay! I¡¯m done! I¡¯m done! Whoooh. Okay¡­ Let¡¯s start over.¡± Cheeks hurting a little, she shifted on the bench and held out her hand. ¡°Hello, Kari, I¡¯m Sora, the Fox Princess of this universe. And you are?¡± ¡°Are we really role-playing¡­¡± Kari mumbled, looking at her hand as if the worst thing in existence. ¡°Haaa. Lame¡­ Hello, Sora, I¡¯m Kari¡­ the loser wolf, who can¡¯t even bite a fox¡­ I hate myself for this.¡± Clasping hands, Sora beamed at the defeated wolf. ¡°Let¡¯s change that!¡± ¡°Kill me.¡± B2 — 10. What’s The Worst That Can Happen? Sora had to give it to Kari as their hands separated, her fingers feeling numb: the wolf had an iron grip for not being invested in this conversation. The gentle ocean breeze rushed by them on the bench, Miami Beach¡¯s nightlife filling the area with drunken laughter and groups intent on finding new hot spots. ¡°Why don¡¯t we walk a little and talk?¡± Sora offered, pushing herself up to stretch out her arms and tail. ¡°It¡¯s a nice night to talk and get to know each other! Plus, this is kind of my first time in, like, weeks that I¡¯ve felt this free.¡± ¡°Really? Free, huh,¡± Kari mumbled, dull eyes and rubbing her arms in an oddly nervous gesture for her former bully; she was the ultra extrovert, surrounded by her ¡®pack,¡¯ yet now she looked totally out of place while examining the packs of tourists and locals, club hopping as midnight struck. ¡°Why won¡¯t you just let me disappear? I thought you were done with me.¡± Lips bunching to the side, Sora lifted an eyebrow at the tall, muscular girl, unwilling to meet her gaze. ¡°You¡­ are so ridiculous.¡± ¡°Excuse you? Okay, you want me to fake-be your friend? Sure,¡± Kari scoffed, now playing with her cuticles. ¡°None of this matters. Just release my brother and kick me out.¡± Sora snorted, drawing the girl¡¯s amber eyes as her chest shook with soft laughter. ¡°Have you¡­ been listening to me at all?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah? You want to trot me around like a pet puppy to show off to all your friends. I guess I deserve it¡­ Can you just let me disappear?¡± ¡°Wow.¡± Sora rubbed between her eyes, a half-smirk twitching into place. ¡°There you go again with the disappear shit. I want you to be my puppy on a leash, do I? Hmm.¡± The wolf¡¯s attitude only further spurred an aggressive and annoyed impulse within Sora¡¯s chest that pushed her agitation to the next level; she understood Kari and what she needed, which she hated. Her hatred was swiftly losing its bite. The worst part was that she knew precisely what Kari¡¯s disinterested, defensive cadence was hiding since she had used that tactic at points against her bullies. It could have been due to her awakened vulpes nature, or maybe it was something her mother did to help her, but somehow, she just¡­ knew how to push Kari toward recovery. You want to play this the hard way? she internally snarled. Okay, Kari, fine! I¡¯m not the same girl I was fourteen days ago¡ªhold up, damn, was it really not that long ago I changed into a vulpes? Wow, I¡¯m so much better! ¡°You¡¯re my friend. Great,¡± Kari softly grumbled. ¡°What more do you want from me? I told you, I¡¯m not into this role-playing shit. We¡¯re not friends, so just¡ª¡± she cut off as Sora giggled, feeling the sudden urge to confront the last three years and what she¡¯d learned in the two weeks prior. ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon, Kari! What¡¯s the worst that can happen?! We¡¯re going to walk. So walk, puppy! Princess¡¯ orders!¡± ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Kari cried as Sora snatched her hand and pulled her up; she hardly resisted, melting into the submissive wolf she¡¯d turned out to be. ¡°Why are you so obsessed with me? I just want to be left alone¡­ Mmgm. Not that that stopped me when you said that¡­¡± ¡°Exactly! And no, you do not!¡± Sora bit back, drawing her to the sidewalk and creating a magical aura to influence people to walk around them since they were invisible. ¡°Seriously, Kari, if you think nothing matters, then what¡¯s the worst that can happen? I want to know who you are, and I know this is hard for you, but tough shit!¡± The wolf¡¯s mouth locked, tongue pressing against the top of her mouth as Sora let go, walking backward while prompting her to follow. ¡°Who¡¯s a good girl? C¡¯mon! I¡¯ll buy you a treat!¡± she sang, making Kari¡¯s exposed stomach flex and show off her impressive abs. ¡°Feeling annoyed? Then stop acting like my doggy and walk with me instead of trying to run away!¡± ¡°That makes¡­ no sense¡ªboth those are doggy options.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t notice,¡± Sora snickered. ¡°Ugh. Foxes.¡± Kari puffed out a hot stream of air, hands tucked under her armpits as Sora coaxed her on, tail swaying with how the roles had been reversed. ¡°Fine, whatever¡­ but only if you promise to leave me alone after¡­ whatever you want to say or do. I need to go. You don¡¯t know what¡¯s the worst that could happen¡­ You have no idea what Eric might do¡­ what he¡¯s capable of.¡± Sora¡¯s enthusiasm and swaying tail diminished as Kari¡¯s voice cracked. Putting on an encouraging smile, she found her elbow behind her back and nudged her head to the side. ¡°Hey, Kari, I¡¯m the one jumping to you across this very unstable bridge between us. I know you¡¯re scared. I¡¯m scared! And I know you¡¯re going through¡­ so much right now. So, I will make a deal with you.¡± For the first time, Kari¡¯s uncertain amber eyes lifted to stare down at her; it was so weirdly empowering to see the far stronger and taller girl looming in front of her so timid¡ªcathartic, even. ¡°I¡¯m listening. Sora, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Abruptly, fire crept up Sora¡¯s chest, shocking her as her eyes stung, and a particular event surged back to punch her in the gut; Kari had offered her a lifeline two weeks ago when she had told her to leave, when Sora had no power over her life, and it had sparked everything that came after. Now, it was her chance to repay the kind act, and oddly enough, it had been a kind act on Kari¡¯s part. ¡°Nothing¡­ just remembering something. Umm¡­¡± Tucking her bottom lip under and filled with curiosity after what the wolf¡¯s brother had said when they met, Sora examined her from head to toe; she seemed to have raided her closet, including undergarments with how her much smaller sports bra fit the athlete. She wore a pair of her blue jean shorts that were pretty short on the black-haired wolf, and her tank top was fairly stretched on the girl¡¯s larger frame. Sora could picture a collar on her with how submissive the wolf had become. It would make a funny joke for later if they ever did become friends, which was unlikely with how things were going. In any case, she was about to shove it into the sport-loving girl¡¯s court. ¡°First, for all of tonight, I want you to show me your tail and ears¡ªI want to see you¡ªnot this human side you show the world.¡± Kari gulped, fingernails digging into her sides, and Sora restrained a wince as they broke through the fabric to draw blood that quickly struck her nose. ¡°T-That¡¯s stupid! I¡¯m me¡ªa tail doesn¡¯t define who I am. What are you even asking¡ªI don¡¯t get it.¡± Placing a hand on her hip, Sora didn¡¯t back down now that she smelled blood¡ªliterally¡ªthis was important to the wolf, which meant that if Sora wanted to get where she wanted, then she had to get this concession from the broken girl. ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll keep pestering you and force you to stay nearby because I hold all the power this time, my little puppy girl! If it¡¯s not a big deal, then just do it.¡± She flashed her teeth. ¡°Again! What¡¯s the worst that can happen? I make fun of it because it¡¯s not as long as mine, or yank it? Not that that would do anything since you¡¯re a freaking tank,¡± she grumbled, a little spiteful at how physically invulnerable the wolf was. Goosebumps ran down Kari¡¯s arms as she turned to the side, making Sora realize she was taking a defensive stance rather than a combative one; she was going to crumble. It was so weird to see this side of her archnemesis. ¡°I¡­ forgot how,¡± she lied. Her cheeks were coloring, and her heartbeat rose as she showed more defiance than before. ¡°Why do you even want me to do that¡ªit¡¯s weird¡ªit won¡¯t work with my shorts¡ª¡± ¡°First of all, those are my shorts!¡± Sora shot back, pointing out the hidden slit in the back she knew was there. ¡°Don¡¯t think I didn¡¯t hear you snag them from my drawer when you were leaving my room to get out of those clothes the SCC put you in. So don¡¯t you lie to me,¡± she accused, getting a nervous twitch from the wolf. ¡°You fill them out way more than I do¡ªthey¡¯re practically short-shorts on you. So don¡¯t start with me! ¡°Secondly, if you do what I say, then I will let you off your leash to do whatever you want. If you want to go off somewhere and die, then you do you, boo-boo! I¡¯m willing to jump across this bridge and get to know you, but go ahead and shove me off if you want to after I¡¯ve said my piece.¡± It took a moment for Kari to respond, her throat thick. ¡°That¡¯s¡­ all you want from me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Sora shot back with a huff. ¡°I¡¯m just taking what I know I can get, geez, and I need to get this shit off my chest. I have to clear my conscious, and I want to see you. Accept the deal?¡± She stepped forward and held out her hand, her green irises drilling into the wolf¡¯s amber; Kari was more defensive than she¡¯d ever dreamed. ¡°Our lives have been nothing but chaos and torture for the past three years, but I don¡¯t want that to define my life. I don¡¯t want you to define my life, but I do want to know if you¡¯re worth making a part of it. So quit being difficult!¡± Kari stared at her offered hand for a moment before looking away and scratching the back of her head. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ It¡¯s hard. My hair gets really¡­ wild and thick when I release more of my Fenris Wolf side. Ack-you¡¯re¡­ so aggressive now¡ªit¡¯s weird. I don¡¯t like it!¡± ¡°And you¡¯re so submissive! It¡¯s weird, and I¡¯m¡­ honestly kind of a fan because old you was scary, but yeah!¡± ¡°Right¡­ What¡¯s the worst that can happen? Agh. None of this makes sense to me, but sure, whatever¡­ What¡¯s the worst that can happen, right? Shit.¡± Shifting uncomfortably, Kari took a defiant stance, amber eyes illuminated as her hair grew into a mane of silky locks, and larger ears than Sora would have thought sprouted out of her head. They twitched, and Kari took a step forward to stare down at her, making Sora¡¯s ears pull back a little now that the tall, muscular girl was standing over her. ¡°I¡¯ll only do¡­ this much. Happy?¡± Sora forced a smile, glancing down. ¡°I, uh, don¡¯t see a tail!¡± ¡°And you won¡¯t see one! Look, take my ears or just put a collar on me already¡ªagh, my hair gets everywhere¡ªit¡¯s so annoying!¡± Giggling a little, Sora was happy to have gotten this far with the traumatized girl, and she shook her firm hand. ¡°Fine! Fine! I¡¯ll accept it for now¡­ You¡¯re actually so much prettier like this, which is crazy¡­ I¡¯m supposed to be the fox, but you¡¯re the ¡®busty¡¯ one. It¡¯s not fair.¡± ¡°Wha¡­ What are you talking about, fox? I hate how random you are! Can you just stick to a topic for once? Damn. And quit complimenting me, weirdo. You¡¯re plenty pretty.¡± Sora rolled her eyes before freezing at the returned compliment that felt like a slap across her face. ¡°I¡¯m what?! You seriously think I¡¯m pretty? Jenny was always calling me ugly and flat-ass and shit¡ªall your girls did!¡± ¡°Of course, they did, stupid,¡± Kari grumbled, walking past her to take the lead and trying to brush her bangs over her human ears that had disappeared, further frustrating the wolf. ¡°Dammit, I¡­ Oh, thanks¡­¡± Sending a swift desire of magic to manage Kari¡¯s absurdly thick hair to keep out of her vision, Sora was not done with the topic. ¡°You can accept help after all! And why would they say those things? Haha. Don¡¯t tell me, they were jealous?¡± Kari snorted and crossed her arms, passively scanning their environment and acting far too casual and nonchalant, which was probably a defensive attitude thing. ¡°Duh. Jenny had a flat ass, which was why she always said yours was to make you self-conscious like she was of hers. Lori was harping on you being half-Asian because the guy she liked was into Asians and put you on a top five list in the school for prettiest girls; she just had connections with the party committee to take you off the running for prom and shit.¡± ¡°No freaking way!¡± Sora growled. ¡°No way she did that!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t believe me if you want. Shit,¡± Kari grumbled. ¡°I¡¯m just telling you what happened. All the guys knew every girl hated you and that you were a target of my pack; they talked about you, but no guy wanted to be on the girl blacklist. You had it all. Looks, brand clothes, unlimited money¡­ nothing much I cared for.¡± If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Right¡­¡± Sora mumbled, looking backward and jogging to keep up with the wolf¡¯s much longer stride. ¡°You were more into the sports scene, which I wasn¡¯t a part of, so¡­ I wasn¡¯t really in your way. Damn. You¡¯re not pulling my tail? So¡­ I don¡¯t have a flat ass?¡± Kari slowed a little, bored gaze shifting to glance at her backside before flicking away. ¡°It¡¯s gotten fatter since you changed, but it¡¯s proportional, I¡¯d say; you¡¯re just smaller than me, so I look bigger. Why are you even upset about that? You can transform your body any way you want, so what¡¯s the big deal?¡± Thoroughly confused at the direction this conversation was going, Sora realized she was trying to deflect to other topics. ¡°I¡­ want to push you away and kick you over that rail into the water channel, but I¡¯m not!¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you, then?!¡± Kari huffed, shoving four of her fingers into her denim pockets, which totally didn¡¯t fit all the way. ¡°You only did what you did to help me in order to save Wendy, so don¡¯t pretend you actually care about me. Yeah, I was a bitch to you. Tell your mom to kill me. Done. Solved.¡± ¡°Not solved or done!¡± Tail flicking to the side, she glared up at the tight-lipped wolf with a death wish. ¡°I should leave your ass to go off yourself¡ªI really should¡ªbut I know you¡¯re hurting inside and want help. I¡¯m probably the closest person that gets that, yet you keep punching me in the face!¡± Jumping forward to block Kari¡¯s path, she glared up at the sports girl, her puffy black ears pulling back and showing Sora exactly what she wanted to see and couldn¡¯t sense due to the wolf¡¯s steel-clad defenses. ¡°Oh, boo-hoo, cry me a river!¡± Sora scoffed, rolling her eyes and running her fingers through her hair. ¡°Be honest with me and stop acting like you¡¯re okay because I know you¡¯re not! Tell me how you really feel!¡± Anger flashed across Kari¡¯s face as her teeth clamped down, fingers ripping a small section out of her shorts as her hand pressed against her chest, face turning red in a short outburst. ¡°What do you want from me, Sora¡ªthat I¡¯m scared¡ªbecause I am! My brother would have forced me to kill Lori, and you put me in that situation! I lost because you couldn¡¯t keep your shit together!¡± ¡°Oh, tell me how you really feel!¡± Sora shouted back, fire igniting down her tail as it flailed behind her. ¡°Well, I beg your pardon; It¡¯s not like I was the only one that could keep your shit together long enough to actually make your brother proud of you!¡± ¡°What?¡± The heat in Kari¡¯s voice vanished, pulling back and hugging herself. ¡°What did you¡­¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up, belly tightening at the venom she¡¯d thrown. ¡°No, that¡­ that wasn¡¯t what I meant to say¡ªI¡¯m sorry, Kari¡ªI just said it without thinking¡­¡± Half turning away, Kari looked into the slow-moving channel of water below them. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ not like you¡¯re wrong, though. I¡¯m too weak. My mom would be so disappointed in who I am¡­ just like Eric is. So yes, Sora¡­ nothing matters. What options do I have? Be friendly with you or get turned into a baby incubator for my uncles to eat my children?¡± Jaw slackening, Sora¡¯s left eye narrowed as a brain error came on. ¡°Okay, I¡­ kind of deserved that¡ªI¡¯m an asshole¡ªbut what the hell is up with that comparison? Is being my friend really that bad¡ªnooo¡­ are you thinking that being friends with me means¡­ you¡¯ll be my slave puppy?¡± Kari nibbled on her bottom lip as she moved to the rail guard, and it took a minute for her to get her emotions under control. ¡°Haaa. Sora, I made your life hell. So, why wouldn¡¯t you make mine hell? At least I know what awaits me from my uncles and brother. How am I supposed to know what shit you¡¯ll force me to do? You¡¯re a vulpes with a vendetta¡ªso it¡¯s probably not much better than what they¡¯ll do to¡ªhaaa. And what trick is this?¡± Sora¡¯s arms closed around Kari¡¯s tight stomach, hugging her from behind. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Kari. I don¡¯t feel any hatred toward you anymore, which I hate, and I will show you exactly what I want from you if you¡¯ll trust me and lower your defenses¡­ Are you willing to gamble with me? Heh. What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡± Thick black locks almost touching the ground, a shiver ran down Kari¡¯s spine that transferred through Sora¡¯s chest. ¡°You could¡­ make me relive my mother¡¯s death,¡± Kari choked, making Sora¡¯s arms hold tighter as the wolf breathed to steady herself. ¡°You could hurt me, and I don¡¯t want to be hurt¡­ I¡¯m scared of you, Sora.¡± ¡°Please, just¡­ give me one chance,¡± Sora pleaded. ¡°I promise you on Wendy¡¯s life¡ªmy dad¡ªthat I only want to learn who you really are past the fear and hurt¡­ because I¡¯d want someone to do that for me¡ªsomeone did do that for me.¡± Kari¡¯s voice broke, her shield falling and her powerful muscles trembling against Sora¡¯s body. ¡°Just get it over with¡­ Do your damage and let me leave¡­ please, let me go¡­¡± Sora¡¯s heart fractured at her choked tone, a wave of terror filling her as she linked herself to the wolf in a similar way that she¡¯d done to Lori; yet, instead of attacking her weaknesses, Sora tried to connect with her fears and experiences, showing Kari how much alike they were. ¡°I don¡¯t pity you, Kari¡­ I empathize¡­ I understand,¡± she wept, burying her face against the crying wolf¡¯s tense back. ¡°I know your pain is so much deeper than mine¡­ that you want to find someone to trust. It¡¯s not a trick¡ªI want to know you, Kari. Not a Fenris Wolf or my bully, but the girl that¡¯s curled up, crying inside for help¡­ because that was me! You can understand me! So understand me!¡± Kari¡¯s legs gave out, taking them to the ground as she curled in. ¡°I can¡¯t feel¡ªI can¡¯t care for anyone or, or Eric will use them¡ªthey¡¯ll use me¡­ they¡¯ll hate me for not being human¡ªfor being a wolf¡­ I¡¯m not worth being friends with, Sora. All I do is hurt people I care about, or they betray me: my mom, Tiri, Aiden, Lori, Jenny¡­ What¡¯s the point if everyone leaves me?!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave!¡± Sora promised. ¡°I hated you so much¡ªso much¡ªbut I can¡¯t abandon you because it feels like I¡¯d be abandoning myself!¡± Kari shoved her away, making her wince as she was almost sent into the street, but she refused to let the connection break, and Kari didn¡¯t block her. ¡°Just hate me already! Leave!¡± ¡°You know I can¡¯t!¡± Sora shouted, invisibility failing her as her magic became chaotic, and their shouts made the crowds on the sidewalk freeze. ¡°So the only thing I can do is give you a chance to make me hate you again! I want to hate you, Kari! I want to hate you sooo badly it hurts! Make me hate you! Why can¡¯t I hate you!?¡± Sora forced herself up, heated eyes and burning tail boiling the asphalt as the heat intensified. It felt like they were both falling through the opening of a gaping abyss together, reaching out to find someone who would take their hand. Bright amber eyes glistening, Kari glared at her and yelled, ¡°You don¡¯t make sense¡ªnone of this makes sense¡ªwhy can¡¯t I hate you?! You keep trying, and trying, and trying! Why won¡¯t you let me hate myself¡ªwhy are you trying to forgive me?! I hate you! I can¡¯t escape! Just¡­ let me be alone and die!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t! I just can¡¯t! And you know I can¡¯t,¡± Sora shot back, crawling over to hug Kari again, the wolf¡¯s attempts to fend her off crumbling due to her total lack of confidence and self-worth. ¡°Just be my friend already because we both know we need each other! I¡¯ll chew out your brother¡ªI¡¯ll protect you from him¡ªand you know I can! So¡­ stop struggling, and please, please, please, please, let me get to know you¡­ so maybe I can hate you again¡­ Please, let me hate you again,¡± she wept, weak blows against her back coming to a stop as she drew her into a hug. ¡°Please, let me get to know who you are¡­ What¡¯s the worst that could happen?¡± Hiccuping, Kari couldn¡¯t speak as she choked a laugh through her tears, but her resistance failed, and the broken wolf pulled her into an embrace. ¡°Please¡­ protect me¡­ Eric, he¡­ he¡¯ll drag me away, and¡­ and I don¡¯t want to go with him. I can¡¯t go with him. I can¡¯t¡­ Save me.¡± A total wreck, Sora held her tighter, arms quaking against the wolf¡¯s back as Kari¡¯s tail unconsciously slid out, unable to restrain it in her current state; it curled around to wrap around hers, pleading not to be let go or betrayed. ¡°I promise, Kari¡­ You¡¯ll never see him again until you¡¯re ready to see him. I just¡­ want you to have the same opportunity I did¡­ You gave me a chance to taste freedom, Kari, and I want to do that for you. I just¡­ want to do that for you.¡± Silence overcame them as they spun on an axis, cycling around one another, emotions on a roller coaster only they shared. Sora jumped across their burned bridge, and as she fell, Kari took her hand to pull her up; the storm in Kari¡¯s heart was still there, but the thunder and lightning had quelled. At the very least, she¡¯d stopped her free fall. It was only the first step in building something new, and there was so much more to overcome, but Sora had rarely felt so sure about someone. Kari isn¡¯t a bad person¡­ no matter how much I wish it. I can finally close that book in my life. We¡¯re moving forward! After a time, Sora reconstituted her illusions, letting the unsure onlookers freak out and search for them, but one set of voices touched her heart, helping to settle her emotions. ¡°¡­Dutch, did you hear that¡ªsomeone said there was a red-haired girl that vanished into thin air! You don¡¯t think¡­¡± Joe flagged down the group as Jeremy questioned Dutch, the throng still pointing at the spot where her foxfire had melted the asphalt. ¡°Hey, hey! Was her hair red or coppery? How old was she¡ªaround sixteen or fifteen?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± One of the ladies that had observed them nodded enthusiastically, watching a few men searching around for them, yet there was an invisible barrier keeping them out. ¡°Yeah! She had ears and a tail, like some kind of fox, and she was yelling at this black-haired fox¡ªeh, wolf-girl?¡± The younger woman beside her piped in. ¡°Uh-huh, yeah! I don¡¯t know, I think she was a fox-girl, too, but she was yelling at the redhead to be friends and that they can¡¯t hate each other¡ªwell, the wolf-girl and fox-girl were yelling that at each other.¡± ¡°No, no!¡± her friend jumped in. ¡°The redhead was yelling at the black-furred wolf to be friends with her.¡± Joe shot a look at Jeremy and Dutch, shivers running down their frames. ¡°It has to be Sora,¡± Jeremy whispered, drawing away to look at the spot everyone was focused on. ¡°A fallen angel that¡­ lost her way?¡± ¡°I mean, your guess is as good as mine,¡± Dutch chortled, positive vibes now releasing from the homeless trio. ¡°Trouble in paradise, yet Sora¡¯s still mending hearts¡­ Thank you, Sora.¡± Joe cleared his throat, holding back tears. ¡°Yeah, Sora, whoever or whatever you are¡­ We¡¯re getting our lives together. We¡¯ve been trying to do right by the city since, uh, you seem to be its guardian angel. Thank you.¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, guys!¡± Jeremy laughed, ushering his buddies away. ¡°We don¡¯t need to be bothering Sora with our nonsense; I¡¯m sure she¡¯s on some important mission from heaven. No coincidences, right? So, let¡¯s find someone¡¯s life that we can touch. Spread the positivity!¡± ¡°That¡¯s the goal!¡± Joe chimed, nudging his brothers and throwing his arms around their shoulders. ¡°If guardian angels don¡¯t have a bedtime to help people, neither should we!¡± It was hard, but eventually, Kari got herself under control enough to lightly tap her arm with her closed fist. ¡°I¡¯m good, Sora. I¡­ don¡¯t know what I¡¯m supposed to do. I don¡¯t have any friends. Aiden has his own shit to deal with¡­ he¡¯s always helping random people¡ªI just don¡¯t want to take him away from what he loves to do¡­ What am I supposed to do? I can¡¯t go back to the school¡­ I won¡¯t make their lives hell again¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± Squeezing her one last time, Sora pulled back and used magic to wipe away her tears, showing off a toothy grin as Kari saw all the bewildered humans feeling around their invisible barrier. ¡°Go to school with me at a fae school. What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Kari¡¯s chest shook with laughter, and she forced herself up with a heavy sigh. ¡°Is that going to become your catchphrase or something?¡± ¡°Our catchphrase! Something only we share as budding friends¡ªour inside joke,¡± Sora chimed, holding out her hand. ¡°Wendy will be soo jealous and confused! Care to be my tsundere pet friend that wags her tail proudly because I love your tail and ears, by the way. It makes me not feel so alone!¡± Hand pulling away as Kari moved to accept it, Sora giggled and twisted around to display her tail, weaving it back and forth. ¡°Tail shake?¡± ¡°Bold!¡± Kari scoffed, using both palms to rub at her hot, puffy cheeks and flashing her own teeth with a lifted eyebrow. ¡°Leaving your tail wide open for attack is asking to have it grabbed.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a good thing we are on such a deep, trusting level now!¡± Sora¡¯s grin became strained as the wolf¡¯s hungry amber eyes followed its movements, most likely fighting temptation. ¡°Right, Kari?¡± ¡°Haha. Right¡­ Tail shake, huh? You¡¯re such a kid. Tiri used to do this all the time.¡± Twisting her hips, she flourished her tail, which was actually a tad longer and thicker than hers. ¡°What next, tail battles? Such a fox kit.¡± ¡°Well, excuse me for not having tail siblings, Ms. Pup!¡± Sora shot back, warmth swelling within her breast as their fluffy appendages met, tingles shooting down its length to the tip of her ears. ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me if you¡¯ll be joining me at school, and I have plenty of rooms now, so you should move in with Wendy, Eyia, and everyone! Oh. I¡¯m building my own cult!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s something you brag about aloud, Cult Leader.¡± Kari chuckled and yanked her to the left. ¡°Care for a dip?¡± ¡°H-Hey!¡± Sora cried, almost losing control of her magic as she stumbled to the railing, almost falling over, and all the fur on her tail went straight up when Kari¡¯s fingers clapped around her waist. ¡°Kari, don¡¯t!¡± Her ear twitched as Kari¡¯s hot breath pressed against her ear. ¡°Are you ready to jump? Are you willing to jump? Because¡­ I¡¯m jumping with you, kit friend? What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± She barely got the words out before Kari tossed her over the side and jumped after her. ¡°W-Wait a second¡ªaaaahhhh!¡± Plunging into the cold channel, Sora¡¯s scream was stifled by the cold water as she sank halfway to the bottom, and Kari entered beside her, flipping around in the water and showing a genuine smile. A thumbs up from the girl made Sora¡¯s glare hard as she snorted and choked, taking in water and making the wolf¡¯s tail wag with her underwater laughter. A desire for air quickly pushed back the liquid, creating a bubble that Kari casually slipped into, flipping to land cross-legged. ¡°Nice. We¡¯ve escaped the crowd.¡± Sora strained a smile and wrung out her hair, her dress sticking to her figure like glue. ¡°Mmm! Don¡¯t act like that was your plan the whole time. You threw me into dirty water!¡± ¡°If it makes you feel better, I jumped after you; you looked like you had fun,¡± Kari defended with a chuckle, holding out her arms. ¡°You wanted me¡ªthis is me! Hate me yet?¡± ¡°It does actually make me feel better you¡¯re in here with me,¡± Sora huffed, reaching over to stick her hand through the bubble to throw some of it at the amused wolf. ¡°And, unfortunately, no! We¡¯ll see how that plays out in the future.¡± A half-smile lifted Kari¡¯s still-puffy face as she looked off into the swirl of water they floated through, carried along the undercurrent. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that can happen?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t keep a straight face. ¡°I¡¯m going to get you a collar, I swear!¡± ¡°Sure, you can buy me one,¡± the wolf shrugged, making Sora lift an eyebrow. ¡°Doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯ll wear it.¡± ¡°And there it is! Hehehe. I¡¯m like you already, which is scary!¡± She extended her tail for a second time. ¡°To maybe future friends?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not get carried away,¡± Kari said with a dubious side tilt to her head. ¡°I¡¯m still waiting for your retaliation.¡± ¡°Oh, it will come,¡± Sora cackled, smiling eyes fixated on Kari¡¯s. ¡°Oh, it will come, and you won¡¯t see it coming.¡± ¡°What¡¯s the worst,¡± she paused at Sora¡¯s digging stare, ¡°you can do?¡± ¡°You suck!¡± ¡°Hahaha! I haven¡¯t laughed this hard for so long!¡± she wheezed, doubling over. ¡°You¡¯re making my sides hurt! Haaa. Thank you, Sora¡­ for making me trust you.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can really do that,¡± Sora mumbled, scratching her cheek. ¡°I just offered to be friends¡­ persistently. Okay, very persistently!¡± she admitted at the wolf¡¯s stare. ¡°Let¡¯s have some fun before we head home and fall asleep. I can do the Eric stuff later¡ªhe¡¯s not important¡ªI want to have fun some more before opening that can of worms. You with me?¡± Kari linked her hands behind her head and leaned back, closing her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just a dead pillow along for the ride. You¡¯re the mastermind. Where next, Ms. Kit?¡± ¡°To adventure, Ms. Pup!¡± Sora roared, carrying them through the water as her purse skated along the surface. ¡°To adventure!¡± B2 — 11. The Fox Den Sora¡¯s head tilted to the side as she brought their magical bubble up to the surface, yet didn¡¯t bring them to the street; Kari fidgetted a bit, refusing to meet her gaze, tail bristly and ears pulled back. It didn¡¯t take long for the wolf to mumble, ¡°What¡¯s up? Aren¡¯t we going to break into some club or trick some people?¡± ¡°Is that what you think I want to do?¡± Sora asked, eyes narrowing while examining Kari¡¯s uncomfortable tail and ear movements; it was a lot harder for her to hide her discomfort with the appendages since she wasn¡¯t used to them¡ªSora couldn¡¯t help but think it was cute, before worrying whether she¡¯d had the same trouble. ¡°Do you¡­ not want to go out in public? If not, we don¡¯t have to.¡± Rolling her eyes with exasperation, Kari huffed and hugged herself, keeping herself pressed against the side of the bubble. ¡°Look, I said I trusted you, and you¡¯re in control, so¡­ we do what you want.¡± Sora wanted to be confused and ask, ¡®What the hell happened to that laughing wolf a few minutes ago,¡¯ but she knew all too well what was running through Kari¡¯s body and mind. She wants to break out and do something sporadic and out of the norm¡­ but she¡¯s scared, and her anxiety is shooting through the roof. I guess we¡¯ll need to take things slow, which is probably better for us both as new friends getting to know each other. Showing a smile, she fed her desires, expanding the bubble into a square-like boat for them to drift along the current; her magic kept them in the middle of the waterway, and fluffy air bubbles popped up to provide a comfy bean-bag-like experience for them. ¡°Sora¡ªwhat are you doing now? Where are we going?¡± Sora shrugged, stretching out her tail and arms in the larger space. ¡°I told you; it¡¯s an adventure, and we don¡¯t need to go out into the stupid town for that. Besides¡­ I feel like you want to talk more than sight-see things we¡¯ve both seen plenty of times since, you know, we live here,¡± she laughed. ¡°C¡¯mon! Topics! Shoot.¡± Kari gulped and nervously studied the cushy sofa that had spontaneously bubbled up beneath her, carefully finding a comfortable position. ¡°Umm¡­ I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll make it a game. First thing off the top of your head. Go!¡± Sora pressed with a grin. ¡°Uh¡­ how¡­ did you change so fast,¡± the wolf mumbled, now leaning back to stare up at the light-polluted heavens. ¡°It¡¯s just after I told you to scram, you¡­ just changed overnight. I don¡¯t get it. How?¡± Left ear folding down, Sora followed Kari¡¯s gaze to the dark skies, and a desire enchanted the bubble to filter out the light pollution, giving them a dazzling view of the shimmering heavens. ¡°Could you expand on that? What change are you talking about because¡­ well, a lot changed for me.¡± A shiver ran through Kari¡¯s frame as she hugged her toned arms, muscles becoming more pronounced with the tension that gripped her. ¡°Well, you went from this, I don¡¯t know¡­ awkward and timid girl who was always ducking around corners to this¡­ this flaming vixen who was a social terror at school. That¡¯s¡­ insane to me. All the girls were talking about you being a problem for the first time, and I just¡­ didn¡¯t get it. You? How?¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Sora doubled over, imagining herself as this weak little fox-girl in Kari¡¯s mind, scampering around lockers to hide. ¡°Wow. You really thought of me like a total loser, huh?¡± Sinking further into her bubbly sofa, Kari¡¯s thick black locks bunched around her face as she searched the twinkling stars for answers; having something to focus on beside her seemed to be helping her calm down by her softening tail fluff. ¡°Not really a loser¡­ Honestly, I didn¡¯t really think that much about you unless Jenny or Lori roped you into the conversation. You were kind of just¡­ there from time to time, and it was annoying how much people talked about you. And then¡­¡± ¡°The message from Devin. Haha. Can we just take a second to say screw that guy?¡± Kari held up a fist in solidarity. ¡°Screw that wolf.¡± ¡°Brrrah!¡± Sora puffed out her frustration, crossing her legs as her tail flicked right and left. ¡°Like, for real! All he talked about was hooking up with chicks and acting like he was the top dog when he couldn¡¯t get fleas to sleep with him without name-dropping his master. Am I right?¡± ¡°Hahaha! That is pretty accurate,¡± Kari giggled, which made Sora smile, hearing the girl¡¯s somber tone leave for a second. ¡°The only thing on his mind was sex, drugs, and feeling like the boss¡­ No, but the real thing that pissed me off was that, well¡­ when he gave me that video you sent to the police¡­ He said Eric was coming back soon.¡± Sora hugged herself, a chill running down her spine at the broader context. ¡°So¡­ you really didn¡¯t care all that much about me? I always thought you were picking on me specifically because of¡­ I don¡¯t know, fill in the box with everything your girls told me: ¡°I smelled, I¡¯m half-Asian, my hair, my butt, my wealth¡­ Shit, what didn¡¯t they bully me on? It might be a shorter list. You¡­ never really did participate like that, though,¡± she admitted, looking up at the melancholy wolf. Kari worked around her jaw for a moment before looking at her purse. ¡°¡­You won¡¯t happen to have a floss pick or a toothpick, would you?¡± ¡°Heh. Really? You really love these things, don¡¯t you?¡± she laughed, gesturing to her purse to bring it floating over and digging around it to find her small bag of floss picks. ¡°What, going to make a chew toy joke?¡± Kari grunted, shaking her head while accepting the pick. She popped it into her mouth and flipped her hair behind the bubbly bean bag before settling in again. ¡°Jenny made it plenty of times before¡­ Dammit. I hate her¡­ and she was my half-sister. Shit¡¯s messed up.¡± Leaning into her own bubbles, Sora brought up her tail to fiddle with the tip, the atmosphere taking a negative turn rather than a joking one, but that was what Kari needed: someone to vent to. ¡°Technically,¡± Sora hummed, remembering a discussion on this subject in Health Class at one point, ¡°I think you¡¯d be ¡®cross-siblings,¡¯ but I¡¯m not 100% on that. It¡¯s not like you share any blood, right? So, she¡¯s just some bitch you used to know. Jenny¡¯s a bitch!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Kari huffed, lips pulling in and anger now showing on her face as her voice strengthened. ¡°Jenny¡¯s a bitch. I¡¯m¡­ a bitch.¡± Using her elbows to sit straighter, Sora grinned. ¡°Yeah, you were a total bitch for throwing me into the water, asshole! Jeez. You¡¯re the worst!¡± ¡°Pfft. Why are you laughing then, idiot fox? I just¡­ didn¡¯t want to have so many people around me. It¡¯s not easy, you know¡­ I don¡¯t like having people¡­ looking at me¡ªnot like that.¡± Dropping back to stare up at the sparkly sky, Sora smiled. ¡°Like when a crowd of girls sit around in a circle and roast you every week¡­ No, I get it. It¡¯s not easy to be vulnerable in public¡­ I had to walk home naked, so¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t want to hear it?¡± Kari sadly chuckled. ¡°No, that¡¯s fair.¡± Rolling onto her belly and straightening her dress, Sora reached through the bubble to weave her fingers along the riverway. ¡°When did I say that? Talk away, wolf-girl! All I¡¯m saying is that I get it¡­ I get it. C¡¯mon, tell me what¡¯s really on your mind. No one here but you and me¡ªwell, and the fishes,¡± she snickered, glancing below them. ¡°I know you¡¯re scared, and you know I¡¯ve felt it¡­ You¡¯ve felt my emotions, too. I¡¯m not here to hurt you. We¡¯re just a couple of hurt and broken girls, ya know? We gotta stick together. So¡­ my big fox ears are here to listen.¡± Kari shifted to her side with a strained laugh, hair bunching around her left ear as she curled up on the bubble sofa. ¡°Haaa. You¡­ won¡¯t quit on this ¡®friendship¡¯ angle, will you?¡± ¡°Not until I can hate you again,¡± Sora chimed, flashing her teeth. ¡°So hurry up and do something evil!¡± ¡°Throwing you into the river wasn¡¯t evil enough?¡± ¡°Mmm,¡± Sora smirked and held up two fingers. ¡°You¡¯re on thin ice, puppy-girl, but I¡¯m a forgiving baby kit, so spill.¡± ¡°Mmmgm.¡± Kari¡¯s eyes glazed over as she looked inside, making Sora sit straighter from the changing atmosphere. ¡°Have you ever¡­ wondered why you¡¯re alive? What¡¯s the point of getting up today? What¡­ would happen if I just¡­ walked out into the ocean and disappeared? Would anyone even care?¡± Goosebumps prickled Sora¡¯s arms, and she curled in. ¡°A lot of days, actually¡­ I almost did other things, too¡ªstuff I saw on social media to feel better¡ªbut Ron and Howie always talked me out of it¡­ I can¡¯t imagine what it would be like to have no one nearby to talk to. You couldn¡¯t look weak in front of your girls, right?¡± Kari sucked in her bottom lip, shook her head, and tucked her tail between her legs as her arms pulled it against her chest. ¡°¡­Jenny always made fun of cry babies, and everyone always commented on how strong I was¡­ If I broke down, then¡­ then would that have hurt them because I wasn¡¯t so strong? I don¡¯t know. I just¡­ didn¡¯t know what to do.¡± ¡°Sports?¡± Sora softly inquired, hearing the sound of the ocean nearby, and she used a chunk of her magic stores to lift them over the divide filter between the riverway and ocean. ¡°You always seemed to like running, basketball, volleyball¡ªbasically any sport.¡± Sniffing, nose a little red, Kari looked down at Miami¡¯s nightlife, unaware of the invisible square bubble hovering over their heads. ¡°I liked the team aspect¡­ relying on others and winning, but I don¡¯t think I was really happy¡­ In the last three years, the only time I felt happy was¡­¡± she trailed off, making Sora¡¯s ears lift with her eyes to study the shivering wolf as they entered the open ocean. ¡°Are you cold, Kari? When did you feel happy?¡± Kari let out a stuttering breath before chuckling softly and rubbing her arms. ¡°It¡¯s stupid¡­ so stupid. Pathetic.¡± Looking up, Kari¡¯s amber eyes showed shame. ¡°Ever since my mom¡ªsince she left¡­ I¡¯ve never felt safe¡­ but when you said you¡¯d protect me from Eric¡­ I just¡­ I can¡¯t.¡± She looked away, tears gathering in the corner of her eyes and making Sora¡¯s chest burn, but she knew Kari didn¡¯t want a hug this time; the broken wolf was trying to work through her own feelings, and that wasn¡¯t something Sora could help her with this time now that the dam was broken. Kari needed to process all of it on her own, and in her own time, as she¡¯d done with her negative emotions. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Sora choked. She cleared her throat and rubbed her itchy nose and eyes. ¡°You want to know how I changed? Do you want to hear about my last two weeks from my perspective¡ªyou don¡¯t have to talk¡ªjust listen, if you want, that is?¡± Kari shrugged, watery eyes fixated on the coral reef they were entering. Sora¡¯s heart felt like it was on fire, which made her want to slap herself. She was having an emotional one-on-one with her worst nemesis as the wolf utterly broke down and spilled her soul. Here was her bully, dressed in her too-small clothes, having raided her closet without her permission, thrown her into a river after nearly shoving her into traffic, and yet still, Sora¡¯s heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest. No matter how much Kari pushed her away, asking to let her suffer and die in peace, Sora couldn¡¯t leave her alone¡ªshe couldn¡¯t abandon her silent cries for help. Breathing in sharply, Sora puffed out her cheeks and slowly let out the hot stream of air clawing at her lungs as she brought them under the waves to explore the nighttime coral reef. A short silence ensued while Sora collected herself, studying Kari while the wolf-girl tried to cope with the struggle of letting herself be vulnerable. Just looking at the too-small shorts and top the tall girl wore made her want to go to a nearby shop and get her something that actually fit her; it looked so uncomfortable. Kari¡¯s actually really shy when she isn¡¯t in her element, Sora internally reasoned. She¡¯s nervous, even trying to understand where I¡¯m coming from, which is huge! It is¡­ but she also doesn¡¯t know what to live for without her family and any dreams. I guess this is her attempt at following all those motivational videos she¡¯s been into lately¡­ just trying to find a way to survive. ¡°Okay,¡± she whispered, trying to put on a positive smile. ¡°We can start with the day you kicked me out of school¡­ because that was possibly one of the greatest days in my life.¡± Kari looked up, blinking her shiny amber eyes and sniffing back her waterworks, big ears fluttering a little. ¡°Jokes¡­ great.¡± ¡°Nope! I¡¯m serious,¡± Sora whispered, feeling lighter than she had in ages. ¡°No lie. If you told me all I had to do was walk home in a towel, and you¡¯d let me leave Miami Senior High, then I would have cut off my hair and destroyed my clothes myself without a second thought¡­ It was after that that I met the people who would help me change myself for the better. And do you know who I think changed me the most?¡± Ears rising a little, Kari¡¯s searching gaze locked onto hers. ¡°Who?¡± Thinking back with a reflective smile, Sora rubbed her chest, feeling the pressure mounting as she said it. ¡°You did¡­ when we met on that bench two times¡­ and I defended you. It was only then that I realized how much I¡¯d changed, and despite all the pain, your influence put me through¡­ You made me into the girl I am today. Just don¡¯t expect a thank you!¡± she said with a pained laugh. Kari didn¡¯t look amused, though, hands pressing against her toned abs as if she had an upset stomach. ¡°Should I¡­ feel guilty? I don¡¯t like what I¡¯ve been a part of. I don¡¯t want to make other people feel trapped and isolated¡­ Why don¡¯t you just kick me out of this bubble and drown me? Why is my life worth anything? What do I do other than make everyone miserable?¡± ¡°Including yourself, idiot wolf,¡± Sora huffed, crossing her arms and feeling her magical reserves passing the halfway point with how much she¡¯d been using while untrained in mitigating the cost. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t need to go over all my trauma and everything painful you did to me because¡­ it doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore. I¡¯ve given you a reason to live, but you refuse to accept that I¡¯m being genuine.¡± Scratching at the base of her right ear, Sora sat straighter, ready to get to the heart of the discussion. ¡°So, let¡¯s try something different. I already told you what I want. Tell me what you want so we can quit going around in circles. I want to be friends. I want you to come to fae school with me. I want to give you a chance not to be just a bully in my life. What do you want?¡± Feet pressing together, Kari looked up at the murky surface above them, her low voice and skyward, distant eyes making Sora shiver. ¡°What do I want? Hmm. I¡¯m exhausted, jumping at every shadow, thinking Eric will show up, grab me by the hair, and drag me off to¡­ somewhere I don¡¯t want to be. My body aches every time I close my eyes at night¡­ seeing my mom¡¯s corpse and vacant eyes¡­ My brother inviting me to¡­¡± She shook her head, cheeks flaming and untold pain in her amber irises. ¡°What do I want? I don¡¯t want to think until the sun comes up. I don¡¯t want to be numb anymore. I want to know what it¡¯s like¡­ to walk away from my life¡ªto have a different life. I want to be me¡­ not what my brother wants me to be.¡± Sora sat up and scooted forward a little, tugging at her dress and stretching out her hand to the wolf with a welcoming smile. Finally, she could say what she¡¯d struggled to for some time without resisting and from the bottom of her heart. ¡°Then accept my friendship offer and join Eyia, Wendy, and me at school. My mom is coming home in two days, and you can ask her whatever you want. Mary will be available for all of us to cry to and get help¡ªincluding me¡ªso you¡¯re not alone. And know that I¡¯ve got your tail; well, poor choice of words¡ªor is it?¡± she chuckled, ¡°but you get my meaning! You won¡¯t have to be a lone wolf anymore, Kari. Will you join the fox pack?¡± Kari¡¯s bottom lip began to quiver, tail fur and her thick black locks bristling against her back as she stared at her open palm. After a few seconds, her hesitant fingers met hers. ¡°If¡­ you¡¯ll have me, then¡­ I don¡¯t have anywhere else to go,¡± she sniffled. ¡°Well, you do have a home now,¡± Sora whispered, crawling forward on her knees to pull her into a hug. ¡°Welcome to the fox den.¡± Holding Kari for a time, letting her new wolf friend get out all her tears and torment, Sora slowly brought them up to the surface and to the beach. The gentle breeze filtered through, salty scent clearing her sinuses as Kari gradually pulled away, rubbing her nose with her forearm. ¡°What am I supposed to do now? Won¡¯t you get shit from Wendy and Eyia if I¡¯m just¡­ walking around your home? Aiden could probably find me a place¡­¡± Sora firmly shook her head. ¡°Wendy can be pissed! Eyia¡¯s learning a lot of stuff, too, and she¡¯s open to friends if you¡¯re good to her. Just, uh, be your normal¡­ sporty self, and I¡¯m sure Eyia will be best friends with you. She loves games and competition. You better? Remember, better is a spectrum! You can be ¡®not okay¡¯ but still be better.¡± ¡°Hehehe. You¡¯re funny sometimes, Sora,¡± Kari chortled, sitting on the bubble sofa and rubbing her cheeks with both palms. ¡°Haaa. Do you really think there¡¯s anything¡­ good about me? No one likes wolves.¡± Standing up and stretching out, Sora desired for the bubble¡¯s top to open up. ¡°You are so out of touch if you think¡ªeh?!¡± The shell completely popped as her spells failed her, illusions unraveling for some reason as her desire hit some kind of roadblock that triggered her magical circuit breaker. Kari grabbed her arm, landing on the sand and keeping her stable as the surf rushed past their feet. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. ¡°Watch it!¡± ¡°Ugh. Stupid magic,¡± Sora grumbled, wincing as a large chunk vanished into the aether for some weird reason. ¡°Yeah, I think school will do me good¡­ Thanks, Kari,¡± she chimed, finding her balance again as the water passed. ¡°No problem¡­ You okay?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ My magic can sometimes just¡­ short-circuit if I try something that I can¡¯t handle yet. Why is folding back a bubble and making stairs too much for me but making it float and livable underwater is totally fine?! Well, that was a little costly, I guess. Still! Can I get an explanation, Universe? No? Well, screw you, too!¡± she shouted, getting a few squinting looks from others on the dark private section of the beach. Kari chuckled, shaking her head as they made their way off the sandy shore, Sora¡¯s magic now cleaning off their feet and repelling the grains. ¡°You¡¯re so random. Do you often curse the universe? Where are we going now, Fox Leader?¡± ¡°Only when it screws with me, which is, like¡­ every day!¡± Sora huffed, but a smile brightened her cheeks at the wolf¡¯s nicknames, and she glanced right at the tall wolf¡¯s scrunched chest and the stress that was on her shorts¡¯ button. ¡°We find an open store for you to get some actual clothes to wear! Seriously, you¡¯re not embarrassed or scared it¡¯s going to just¡­ rip? ¡°Don¡¯t get me wrong,¡± she quickly defended, ¡°you¡¯ve got a killer body to show off, and I know you wear a ton of tight sportswear, but not stuff that doesn¡¯t fit you at all! I¡¯d be fretting over people thinking I was homeless or something, wearing hand-me-downs or something¡­ Yikes,¡± she winced, speaking quickly, ¡°I sound like a total spoiled rich girl, don¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Mmm. A little,¡± Kari smiled, sounding much better as she plucked at the stretched tank top strap, pulling up on her compressed boobs. ¡°I mean, back home, we were always nude, so clothes are a new thing to me in human society.¡± ¡°Come again?!¡± Sora¡¯s tail and ears bristled while looking up at the unabashed, beautiful, raven-haired wolf. ¡°Your mom, brother¡ªAiden?! No way, Aiden went nude!¡± she gasped, the horrific images of the family dynamic and golden-haired Firebird¡¯s naked body now flashing across her stunned brain. ¡°Explain!¡± Kari absently checked her bare feet, wholly cleaned off of sand through Sora¡¯s magic and stretching out now that they¡¯d made it to the side alley of some random hotel. The fear of her sports bra and pants being torn apart by the wolf¡¯s ridiculous hidden strength gripped Sora¡¯s nervous gut as the fabric made noises that set her tail on edge. ¡°Mmmm! What¡¯s there to explain? I was a wolf. Sure, we practiced changing forms into humans, but I still had fur, and Aiden was a shiny little bird that Tiri would chase around. What, you thought we just walked around as humans all the time?¡± she asked with an incredulous smirk that put a pout on Sora¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Uh-duh! Of course, I did,¡± she defended, wrapping them in illusions again as they set out on the Miami Beach streets. ¡°You don¡¯t look very afraid of your clothes jumping ship right now, so why would I think otherwise? If it wasn¡¯t for your tail, someone could look right down your butt crack, girl. No concerns for creeps?¡± ¡°Hahaha. You¡¯re so insecure for a fox,¡± Kari laughed, face lightening up as she held her hands at the base of her tail and glanced around at the tourists and club hoppers moving through the night. ¡°Look, if any dude starts acting the fool, then just make them strip naked and run down the street, screaming like an idiot. I just throw them into a garbage can or fold them like paper¡­ although, eesh, yeah, there are some dudes that like that. Those situations can get¡­ awkward.¡± Unable to believe her ears, Sora¡¯s lips parted, yet she didn¡¯t know how to respond. ¡°Eh¡­ huh? I¡¯ve¡­ only had my powers for two weeks, Kari. Give me a break! Geez. You¡¯re totally clueless about how it feels to be helpless and afraid some dude might snatch you away in an alleyway and have their way with you.¡± Kari¡¯s eyebrows lowered as she glanced off into a nearby alleyway, spotting a few homeless people huddling in their makeshift tents. ¡°I mean, I have been the person who snatches people into alleyways to have my way with them.¡± ¡°Stop! Stop! Stop!¡± Sora cried, almost tripping. ¡°Hold the phone! You did what?!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kari mumbled, rubbing her neck, amber eyes glancing off to the side as if it was no big deal. ¡°Why would I want to thrash Devin in public or one of his goons that show up at school? If some monster or predator were getting near my territory, then I¡¯d break a few bones or cause a few fractures¡­ What would you expect of me?¡± ¡°Oooh! Okay, okay¡­ framing!¡± Sora growled, shooting a dubious glare up at the wolf before spotting a 24-hour open boutique and redirecting them to it. ¡°Wait, does that include, like¡­ pedophiles that would come onto school grounds, trying to groom kids?¡± ¡°Yyyeah?¡± Kari slowly replied as if it was obvious. ¡°You can smell when humans are in heat, you know, or putting off those hormones. Heather was stalked by one of the janitors in junior high, and I broke his leg when he tried to grab us when we were going to her house after school.¡± ¡°Damn¡­ Based,¡± Sora whispered, thinking back to the creepy man in his 50s who worked for the school, and she did recall him wearing a cast for a while. ¡°How the hell did I not know about a lot of this stuff? I guess there weren¡¯t any sexual assaults like that in school¡­ Wow. Okay,¡± she mumbled, now seeing some positive sides for Kari being in their school. ¡°Cool. We really need to get you clothes, though, and¡­ yeah, I found out about the whole ¡®smell sex¡¯ thing, which is¡­ a problem, to say the least.¡± Once again, Kari¡¯s eyebrows lowered as Sora took them to the lingerie area to get her some items that would actually fit her larger proportions, unraveling part of her illusions; the wolf was practically a head taller than her, which meant they were not meant to share clothes¡ªEyia and the wolf certainly could, though. ¡°Why? Sex is a natural part of nature. I still find it weird that humans are so¡­ up-tight about such a natural process, but, meh, I adapted since the other girls were the same way as you. Uh, I¡¯d rather have sports bras, Sora, not these¡­ other ones that really serve no practical purpose,¡± she mumbled at the purple bra Sora held up with a smile. ¡°Boo! C¡¯mon, Kari, branch out a little. I can get you sports bras, but this is about you exploring new things! Try to dress up once in a while¡ªand not sports crap. You can¡¯t go around dressed like a baseball player when Eyia, Wendy, and I are all dolled up and going out as friends to have fun. Work with me a little!¡± The late-night female attendant behind the counter came around with a beaming smile. ¡°Welcome, ladies. Is there anything I can help you with? My! Haha. I can see someone is in need of some new clothes. Can I recommend a few items?¡± Sora beamed at the woman, more than ready to have a tag-team partner in this fight to get the wolf something other than sports outfits; it wasn¡¯t even a sports boutique, which severely limited their options if that were the only option the tall teen would go after. ¡°Sora, I don¡¯t really see anything I¡¯d¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, shut your yapper, Sparky!¡± Sora chimed. ¡°Yes, we¡¯d love to try out all sorts of new things. Our parents gave me their card and told me to get my stepsister as many cute outfits as we can¡ªshe just got in tonight, and, well, my clothes obviously won¡¯t do the trick. She¡¯s a bit shy, so, yeah.¡± ¡°Sora!¡± Kari¡¯s ears flew up, hidden behind illusions. ¡°If you want me to keep my tail out, then I can¡¯t fit just anything, and I¡¯ve¡­ never worn a dress before,¡± she mumbled, eyeing her with a doubtful eye. ¡°Why can¡¯t I just get some tank tops, sports bras, and shorts shorts? Simple, easy, done.¡± ¡°Because,¡± Sora slowly sang, ¡°I¡¯m shopping with you! This is a new you. How can you say you don¡¯t like it if you¡¯ve never tried it? Let¡¯s see that feminine side, Kari! Please.¡± The woman¡¯s left eye narrowed as she mouthed the word ¡®tail¡¯ but slid right past it since a quick glance at Kari¡¯s backside didn¡¯t show any, the bulge and embarrassing bits hidden behind illusions. ¡°Right, uh, I think you¡¯d look absolutely amazing in emerald greens, royal blues, and deep purples! Where would you like to start?¡± ¡°Right here!¡± Sora chirped. ¡°She needs underwear first, and if there are any issues, Kari, we¡¯ll stop by the seamstress I used before; the place can use more business anyways, and I pay well! Don¡¯t deny these hardworking small business owners our business!¡± Kari sighed and submitted with a lowered tail. ¡°You¡¯re an evil fox¡­ Stepsister.¡± ¡°You bet your tail, Step Sis!¡± Sora cackled maniacally. ¡°Blouses, pants, dresses, skirts, tanks¡ªwe¡¯re getting you a wardrobe.¡± ¡°Yay¡­ Don¡¯t I feel special,¡± Kari grumbled, grimacing at the item Sora handed her. ¡°This isn¡¯t even in my size.¡± Sora grabbed the next size up and presented it. ¡°Well, don¡¯t feel special; I did the same thing with Eyia. Hmm. I want to see what a pretty Kari looks like, so don¡¯t deny me this treat because I only have one image of you, and I bet you do, too, and that¡¯s what we¡¯re here to change! Let¡¯s get shopping!¡± The attendant was bubbling with excitement with the colossal order Sora was hyping up, and she had the Foundation¡¯s unlimited black card, so this was going to be fun! She felt the night slide by as Kari went in and out of the changing room. If Sora didn¡¯t know any better, the wolf was starting to enjoy the reactions she got from them, and other women cycled into the store every so often, participating in the fashion show. With her magic returning, now that she wasn¡¯t doing anything extremely taxing, she was able to spell the items Kari wore so the back would phase through her tail. She could use magic on the clothes, not Kari herself, and that helped make the experience so much better. From skirts with stockings to tights and shorts, Sora kept the show going, clapping and complimenting her when the wolf came out every time. It was as if the girl had never been on a girl¡¯s day out shopping trip¡ªwhich she probably hadn¡¯t since it was something she¡¯d had to be forced into, but now she was eating up the attention. Exiting the dressing room in a cute green nightdress that fell to her knees, Sora held up a thumb. ¡°You need something to sleep in around the house. Nice! I think¡­ we¡¯ve gotten enough to get you by for the week. We¡¯ll go out more as a group for school shopping later. How are you feeling about it?¡± Kari glanced at the giant pile of bags already paid for and waiting to be taken home. ¡°¡­Heather or Lori would die for something like this¡­ It felt better than I thought, to be honest,¡± she said, showing a thankful smile that made Sora beam. ¡°I think there¡¯s one last thing you need to get me at this point, though.¡± Sora blinked as Kari slipped back inside to put on a tank top and shorts that actually fit her. ¡°And that is?¡± ¡°A choker.¡± ¡°Hahaha! You¡¯re actually pretty fun, Kari. I¡¯m serious, so stop being so hard on yourself. Yes, you¡¯re a tall, hot wolf-girl, and never doubt it! You¡¯re a 10, so own it; a 10 needs 10 clothes!¡± ¡°Uh¡­ I think you got me more than ten items, Sora. You gave it your best shot, though. What¡¯s your next trick, Fox, making me jump through a flaming hoop?¡± Snorting, Sora got to her feet as Kari exited, handing the amused store owner the nightgown to ring up; she looked a whole lot better in an outfit that fit her proportions, and the shorts were low-riders, which worked with her tail. ¡°Perfect! We¡¯ll snag a few accessories on the way out, stop by the refitting store for her to take your measurements, and then we¡¯ll go home.¡± Kari shifted her weight to her left hip, fingers finding her elbow and looking cutely uncomfortable. ¡°Where¡­ you¡¯ll wake up my brother?¡± A little concerned about her magic reserves as they hit roughly 30% with the extra phasing spells she¡¯d been constantly casting, on top of everything else she was doing, Sora pushed her lips to the side. A quick desire drew away any listeners with a radial charm to redirect their attention. ¡°Only if you want me to. Like I said, all of that is in your hands. If you want to just chill in your room and listen, then I¡¯ll tell him to scram and not see you again unless you say so. What do you want me to do?¡± Lips becoming a line, her muscles flexed as she restrained a tremor. ¡°Umm¡­ Yeah, just¡­ to stay clear from me is fine. I just¡­ can¡¯t really, um, yeah¡­ I can¡¯t really face him. I¡¯m such a coward¡­¡± Sora¡¯s loose copper locks swung around her face as she swiftly shook her head. ¡°No, Kari, you¡¯re not. He¡¯s just¡­ horrible. I¡¯m scared of your brother! It¡¯s only because of Ylva and my mom that I can tell him to screw off, or else I¡¯d be right there beside you, so don¡¯t think you¡¯re alone. Okay?¡± A weak chuckle shook Kari¡¯s chest as she sniffed and blinked back her emotions, trying not to let a few tears out. ¡°Thank you, Sora¡­ It¡¯s nice knowing that at least¡­ someone doesn¡¯t hate me or think I¡¯m a little cry pup¡­ even if I don¡¯t believe it yet.¡± ¡°Awww. Come here!¡± Sora cried, hopping forward to hug the taller girl. ¡°I told you: I¡¯m here for you, so you go ahead and cry as much as you want because I¡¯m a crier, too! We¡¯re criers here in the Fox Den, so no judgment, only hugs!¡± ¡°Emotional foxes¡­¡± Kari gulped, her chest puffing up before releasing a hot stream of air, gently hugging her back so as not to crush her, no doubt. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for everything I did to you.¡± ¡°Past! It¡¯s in the past, so don¡¯t bring it up again,¡± Sora chided. ¡°Well, unless you want me to headbutt you for slipping back into the woe-is-Sora because I¡¯m doing good! And we¡¯ll get you there, too. This is us, okay? And we¡¯re going to be okay! You¡¯re going to be okay.¡± ¡°If¡­ you say so.¡± Comforting the shy and submissive wolf in her moment of vulnerability, Kari gradually got through the emotional heavyweight that decided to go a few more rounds. Eventually, the light filtered past the darkness enveloping Kari, and she drew away, giving her a strained, unconvincing smile. Kari¡­ Sora internally cried, taking the girl by the hand like a little sister to guide her to the register to finish their purchase; the wolf¡¯s cheeks burned with embarrassment, but she couldn¡¯t seem to let go of her fingers. She has so little self-confidence that it physically hurts! Wendy is going to be so pissed that she can¡¯t hate you. How can anyone hate her? Damn you, emotions. Damn you, Eric! Who does this to their little sister? A good big brother would be here, not me! We¡¯ll get through this. Drawing strength from within, Sora felt like a big sister who needed to defend her little sister from vicious bullies; her tail was lit and ready to roast anyone who made the vulnerable wolf-girl cry. The sun started peeking over Miami Beach after they finished their refitting session, and Sora brought Kari back to her new home, their remaining bags of clothes floating next to her purse. She greeted a new door attendant from the Foundation in the elevator, getting confirmation that Ron would be replacing him in the coming hours. Happy to finally get a chance to speak to the married man when she woke up, Sora saw an assistant rouse Doctor Ferdinand Fischer, sleeping on her couch as she entered the front room. ¡°Mmm-huh?! Oh, Sora, I see you¡¯re¡ª¡± ¡°Can¡¯t talk,¡± she dismissed, pointing upstairs. ¡°Eric will be down in a bit to shove off, so you¡¯ll get your living weapon soon enough. I want him gone! Okay?¡± The man lifted his hands in a way that said he didn¡¯t want any smoke, backing off as she stormed upstairs; Kari looked like she was about to have a panic attack the closer they got, and her hand started to quake in Sora¡¯s when the hologram elevator took them to the second level. ¡°Sora¡­ I don¡¯t know if I can¡ªwhat if¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here, okay?¡± She stopped at the top and took her other hand to confidently look into her agitated eyes, darting everywhere but the medical bed by the wall. ¡°We¡¯re just going to walk past him, and I¡¯m going to take you to your new room. Just breathe. In¡­ out. Do it with me. In¡­ out.¡± ¡°In¡­ out¡­¡± she shakily stammered. ¡°In¡­ out. H-He¡¯s going to be gone? He won¡¯t come back?¡± ¡°Do you trust me?¡± ¡°I-I don¡¯t know¡­ Yes? Maybe?¡± ¡°Good enough! We¡¯ll wait right here, though, until you¡¯re ready. In¡­ out¡­¡± Repeating the exercise a few times, she slowly took Kari around her brother¡¯s bed, her tail pressed between her legs and ears pulled back. It took several minutes to get to that point, but it was like lightning moving past the bed and into the free room down the hall, next to Eyia¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back,¡± Sora promised, waiting until she got the okay from the terrified wolf-girl. ¡°I promise. I¡¯m just going to get you a tablet¡ªright back, I promise!¡± ¡°Right back,¡± Kari repeated, voice cracking and sweat slicking her quaking body. Fighting the pain from recalling her own panic attacks at school, Sora slipped out and snatched the tablet from Wendy¡¯s room, being careful not to wake up the sleeping brunette. She dropped the item off to the wolf, showing her how to order new things to decorate her room. ¡°¡­Alright, do you have it? Do you want me to tell your brother to go now?¡± Kari set the device on an empty dresser as fingers dug into her sides, drawing blood and ripping her brand-new tank top. ¡°Just¡­ get it over with. Please¡­ just¡­ make him go away¡ªforever.¡± Drawing power from the protective nature budding within her breast, Sora marched out to confront the nightmare that had haunted Kari for years. She heard the wolf lock the door and press her back against the wood, sliding down it and breaking down into shameful tears. Damn you, Eric! What kind of brother does this to his little sister? Stopping in front of the hateable wolf, Sora slapped his face, stomach tightening and tail radiating flames. ¡°Wake up, bastard.¡± She resisted jumping back when Eric¡¯s eyes snapped open, focus drifting to her as a smirk lifted his lips. The giant of a man used his elbow to push himself up, swinging his legs over the side and hissing in a breath through his teeth to puff it out in a relishing laugh. ¡°Well, well, well¡­ What have I missed? Aiden was here¡ªKari, bawling her eyes out¡­ nothing new¡ªand¡­ Ooh. Some new blood¡ªa Huli Jing and Baihu? Ugh. The Valkyrie.¡± Sora almost jumped out of her skin as a rush of chilled wind swept through the hallway, a radiant rainbow light dancing across the walls, and Eyia¡¯s resplendent presence raised the tension. ¡°Watch your words, Half-Breed; you stay in my sister¡¯s castle.¡± Eric gulped, a blinding crystal blade held against the man¡¯s throat, releasing a burst of mist that swiftly overtook the hallway. ¡°Skofnung¡­ Well, that¡¯s interesting, considering its legend¡­¡± Jin appeared out of nowhere from within the thickening mist, two fingers pulling the blade away from Eric¡¯s throat. ¡°We talked about this, Eyia. You can¡¯t use your weapons or powers, or else it could draw unwanted eyes as a Primordial.¡± ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Eric chuckled, showing a toothy and challenging grin at the infuriated Valkyrie. ¡°Play nice, blondie. What do you think Daddy Odin would say, causing trouble in someone else¡¯s house?¡± ¡°I do not need my weapons to slay you, beast!¡± Eyia snarled, sword changing into the spear Sora enchanted in a flash of light, her dazzling diamond necklace shimmering against her liquid crystal-like breastplate. ¡°You are the one that needs to play the nice.¡± ¡°Oh, I will!¡± Eric snickered, a mocking smile returning to Sora, yet Jin¡¯s clawed fingers slid around the cocky man¡¯s throat, the small Korean floating up to whisper in his ear. ¡°Be thankful Nilly likes your grandpa, mutt. It¡¯s the only reason you¡¯re still alive right now.¡± Pulling away and leaving Eric rubbing his throat, Jin sighed as if all of this was beneath her and gave a dull salute to Sora. ¡°See you at school, Sora¡­ Don¡¯t cause trouble in my class while I figure out what the hell I want to do with my life after the shit storm I¡¯m wrapped up in. Later, Spitfire.¡± Eyia backed off as the Dragon Founder vanished in a pulse of red light, keeping a close eye on the wolf. With Jin¡¯s confirmation that she¡¯d be at least a temporary teacher at Avalon Academy, her reservations about The Darkness that haunted it were lessened; the Korean girl was a powerhouse to be reckoned with. Then again, she probably wouldn¡¯t intervene in most cases with her personality. ¡°Ugh.¡± Rubbing her forehead and trying to get back into the groove, Sora shot a seething glare at the half-Fenris Wolf. ¡°Here¡¯s the deal. You¡¯re going to super-expand your empire here on Earth and keep everything working smoothly with The Foundation. You¡¯re an employee to keep the peace. So, go downstairs, meet with your boss, and never come back to Miami or contact Kari unless she contacts you first.¡± Crossing her arms, Sora stared him down, fire in her green eyes. ¡°My mom is coming home in two¡ªno, tomorrow now, so I think you should listen. If you can¡¯t abide by those rules, then I¡¯ll have her toss you out of our territory or straight to Ylva for reeducation, and I¡¯m happy to say¡­ you won¡¯t last long. I¡¯m sure. Kari is now a part of the Fox Den. You¡¯re no longer needed.¡± Eric took in her statement with a considering nod, sucking in his cheeks as his gaze wandered to Eyia. ¡°Hmm. I do love your spunk, Sora¡­ Kari could learn a thing or two from you. Huh. Mia is coming to be the fox-mom she¡¯s always wanted to be, eh? Well, that¡¯s all great news! I¡¯d like to speak to her myself if you¡¯ll send the message. I won¡¯t step foot near Kari so long as she¡¯s welcomed in your den. Haha! I guess I should go. Love the fire, by the way,¡± he winked, nudging her shoulder and jabbing a thumb at her tail. Sora felt like she¡¯d been slapped in the face as the man casually waved at Eyia with a charming smile before walking to the edge and jumping down as if waiting for the light elevator wasn¡¯t worth his time. ¡°I¡¯m sure Aiden is welcomed into the den, as well. I look forward to talking to my little bro before I take off. I hope my sister learns something because you¡¯re a real Founder, Sora. Bah. Maybe it has something to do with Kari¡¯s dad, whoever he is. I¡¯ve wondered if that slight impurity caused that weakness in her¡ªyo, what¡¯s up, boss? Who do I get to eat?¡± Unsure what to make from any of that, much less the ¡®weakness¡¯ in Kari being shoved onto Kari¡¯s mysterious dad, Sora stood at the railing, watching the arrogant wolf walk off with Ferdinand. It wasn¡¯t two minutes later that the pair were heading for ground level¡ªEric was gone. Kari was free to live her life and figure out who she wanted to be. B2 — 12. From Bully To Friend Utterly stunned at the interaction she¡¯d just had, Sora stood beside the railing with Eyia, staring into the empty front room. Eric was gone. Kari was free to do whatever she wanted. Her blonde sister gave her time to think without interruption, seemingly pondering her own discussion with Jin. Honestly, she was expecting more of a fight, and it felt like there was some kind of subtle game he was playing with how easily he¡¯d given up control of his sister. In a way, it pissed her off; it was like Kari wasn¡¯t even worth fighting for. Lips becoming a line, Sora huffed. ¡°What an asshole.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Eyia growled. Her liquid-like armor and foxfire spear vanished in a pulse of light, revealing a blue dress that matched her eyes. ¡°He is the hole of the butt, which stinks like the unwashed donkey.¡± Sora gave the Valkyrie a small smile and hug before pulling away. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, Eyia. I¡¯m going to head to bed soon, so why don¡¯t you get some sleep, too? Maybe you can take Kari out tomorrow to play some basketball? I¡¯ve got a lot to do, and she doesn¡¯t really have any friends, so¡­ mind beating her in basketball to piss her off?¡± Eyia¡¯s sapphire eyes sparkled. ¡°A competition with the wolf to do the kicking of tails, as Jin says? I am very good at such contests. The victor obtains a cone of iced cream?¡± ¡°Absolutely! And the loser gets, uh¡­ a smaller portion. Don¡¯t take no for an answer, okay? The wolf can¡¯t be scared to lose, right? Hehe. Don¡¯t let her be alone. She¡¯s in the Fox Den now, so she can¡¯t deny Fox Rules!¡± ¡°Oooh.¡± The blonde took a step back, finding her elbow behind her back with a curious smile. ¡°I am also within the Den of Foxes; I wish to understand the Fox Rules so as not to trespass the rules of the den. Are they written on stone like my father did on the island?¡± Sora giggled and shook her head. ¡°Nope. Essentially, Fox Rules are to make everyone in the den feel at home and supported. Plus, always be a little bit mischievous and crafty to tease your den-mates. We¡¯re all about having fun together here in Foxland! Before I go, is there anything you want to talk about? Are¡­ you and Jin okay¡ªstill friends?¡± Eyia looked off to the side with a thoughtful hum. ¡°Jin is, mmm¡­ complex and rebellious. She does not do what is told of her to do and is quite the snaggle tooth. Jin can be mean, and Jin can be very nice. It is challenging to determine Jin¡¯s attitude when she is so hot-brained and face-punchy. Jin can hurt with words, but Jin is also very caring with words¡­ Jin is a woman in fog, obscured and dubious in her intentions¡­ but friendly.¡± Slowly shaking her head, Sora forced a laugh. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m not following at all, but it seems like¡­ you¡¯re not enemies, right?¡± Eyia blinked before looking up at the ceiling, trying to be careful with how she spoke to get her feelings across. ¡°Enemies? Mmm. Jin is everybody¡¯s enemy, so I would not say what you said. As I grasp Jin, she is red rump mad at everyone. ¡°She hates everybody but hates some less than others. I am on the least level of hate, so I have victory. Jin said I am victorious in the competition of hatred!¡± she chimed, showing a pretty smile. ¡°I am the acceptably annoying semi-friend who is stupid¡ªJin¡¯s red rump mad words, of course. She does not mean stupid as in stupid-stupid; only a little stupid of blondes, as she puts it. I had no idea blondes were the stupidest of hair colors! It makes sense since Sora is wise as a copper-colored vulpes.¡± Sora¡¯s left ear pulled back a little as she parsed through the blonde¡¯s words. ¡°Wow. That, hah, yeah¡­ really does encapsulate Jin¡¯s attitude well,¡± she mumbled, thinking back to all her interactions with the Dragon Founder. ¡°Well, I guess we won¡¯t be getting special treatment in her class. Uh, do you know what teaching position she was hired for?¡± Eyia¡¯s countenance brightened, her golden hair practically glowing. ¡°Battle, Strategic Tactics, and Physical Education teaching roles. She says she will kick tails into gear to survive The Darkness. No student in her class will die or get changed by The Darkness because no failure will be in her class because they will all drop out.¡± ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± Ears folding down, Sora groaned, realizing what kind of teacher Jin was when she literally hated everyone; she was going to enjoy terrorizing the student body. ¡°I¡­ have a feeling she¡¯s talking about my tail there. Freaking dragons¡­ I wonder how the others at the academy will take having an actual Dragon Founder as their battle instructor.¡± A shiver ran down her spine to the tip of her tail as she waved Eyia off. ¡°Well, you should get some sleep, Eyia. Take Wendy with you tomorrow, too. I doubt she¡¯d want to hang with me in court or anything, and she needs someone to have fun with and take her mind off of things. I¡¯ll be pretty busy until later in the evening.¡± The giant blonde hopped forward to pull her into another strong embrace, picking her up off the ground. ¡°Thank you for binding me into your family as siblings, Sora; I will make the Fox Clan proud!¡± ¡°Aww. You¡¯re too pure and good, Eyia,¡± Sora gasped, stumbling back into the rail guard as the strong girl let her go. ¡°Thank you for being such an amazing sister. Night, and if Kari says anything bad, she¡¯s just joking, and you get to joke back. Okay?¡± ¡°Understood, Sister! Have a restful night, filled with visions of past victories.¡± Letting her go to the master bedroom in the adjacent suite, Sora folded her arms and sighed. Her eyes were on the carpet as she thought, Eric¡¯s parting comment making her cheeks suck in, and a particular date she¡¯d made jabbed her brain. Aiden was awaiting her call, which put a brighter shade on her mood, but she really needed to get some sleep, as well. There really were so many things that required her attention. Jane was flying in from Denmark, and her own world travels gave her a clear picture of how long those kinds of flights were. Even if she took an early morning flight, which it probably wasn¡¯t, then Wendy¡¯s mom wouldn¡¯t be back until late at night. Before that, she had Sela¡¯s trial and execution, which could take who knew how long. At least Eric was dealt with. Her mom was coming home tomorrow, too, which had her belly a bit nervous, unsure what to expect. School started in two weeks, giving them time to get everything put together and settled here in Miami. So far, despite the short, bitter moments, things were taking a turn for the better. Pushing away from the rail, her tail weaved at her back as she heard Eyia enter her room and jump into bed. It made her smile, hearing the giggling blonde rolling around the soft California king bed, likely softer and more cozy than anything she¡¯d slept on in her insane-sounding battle island that she grew up on. Her gaze drifted to Wendy¡¯s room as she passed it, hearing her soft mumbles¡ªshe was a sleep mumbler¡ªand Nilly¡¯s bell softly rang occasionally as the cat stretched out between the brunette¡¯s legs. Her family was growing, and she loved it. Yes, there would be hardship tomorrow, but that wasn¡¯t right now, and she¡¯d be there for her ¡®big sister.¡¯ It felt good helping other broken girls who needed someone in their lives. Kari and Wendy could hold the ¡®I¡¯m older¡¯ card over her head all they wanted, but she was the real ¡®big sister¡¯ going to bat for them; someone had to do it, and she was more than willing to step into that arena. Making her way through the halls, her gaze drifted from her floating purse to the artwork her father had decorated their house with. This giant hotel space had felt so cold, lonely, and too big for too long, yet now she felt a warmth while passing through it: she wasn¡¯t alone anymore. She stopped outside Kari¡¯s door, leaning against it and sliding down to her butt. On the other side, the wolf was still curled up against it, holding her knees against her chest. Her cries and sniffles had only just quieted down as she approached. Tucking in, Sora drew her tail around to stroke her fur, taking a page out of Mary¡¯s book and letting her talk first. Her gaze drifted to her phone as it vibrated, floating out of her purse on a desire to see Aiden calling; he¡¯d probably just gotten off the phone with Eric. Using her Desire Magic, she responded without touching the device, ignoring the call and silently swapping to text the firebird. 1:52 a.m. Sora - Kari is doing okay. Well, she will be okay. She stayed in the room I gave her while I confronted Eric and told him to leave her alone. I¡¯ll call you in a bit. Give Kari some time and let her be. I know I wouldn¡¯t want anyone connected to Eric pulling my thoughts back to him after how that asshole left. I¡¯m handling it; trust the process! 1:53 a.m. Aiden - Thank you, Sora. Can¡¯t wait for your call. I¡¯m proud of her. A lump formed in Sora¡¯s throat at his last statement, and she felt it resonate within herself. What Kari did wasn¡¯t easy, and she did need to hear that. It took several seconds for the wolf¡¯s soft voice to prick her ears, pulling her gaze away from her phone. ¡°¡­Here to check on the crybaby wolf?¡± Spreading out her legs and plucking her dress out, Sora leaned against the wooden door and looked up at a picture of an angel above a battlefield on the wall. A gentle smile moved her lips as she fiddled with her thumbs. ¡°I just came here to say I¡¯m proud of you¡ªand goodnight, of course; we¡¯ve got a busy day tomorrow.¡± ¡°Proud of me¡­ For what?¡± she mumbled, and Sora felt a shiver pass through the door. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything but cower behind flimsy wood.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Head leaning to the side, she whispered, ¡°Do you want me to tell the truth or lie to you? I could tell you what you want to hear.¡± Kari didn¡¯t respond, so Sora took that as her answer. ¡°The truth then. Give me a second to find the right words because¡­ I want to tell you exactly how I feel.¡± She sighed and tapped the back of her head against the door with a short laugh. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯re this submissive, crybaby wolf. I think you¡¯re proud of a lot of things about yourself¡­ but your brother has broken you down so much that you can¡¯t see it anymore. I¡¯ve seen pieces of it over the last three years, and I know that¡¯s not all a lie¡­¡± She swallowed the saliva that filled her mouth and shifted to her side against the wood. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you because you got back up. I¡¯m proud of you because I know it isn¡¯t easy to ask for help, especially when you feel like all you¡¯ll do is hurt someone for doing it. I¡¯m proud of you for trusting someone¡ªfor trusting me¡ªand I¡¯m proud of you for telling me what you really want. I¡¯ve got your tail, so¡­ take as long as you like to gain your confidence back. You¡¯re safe.¡± Sora waited, knowing Kari was likely struggling with what she¡¯d said, and after a full minute, the wolf cleared her throat. Attempting to restrain the emotion in her voice, she mumbled, ¡°¡­Thank you, Sora. I hate that¡­ I had to rely on you¡­ but I¡¯m grateful¡­ so grateful. I¡¯m ashamed. I¡¯m scared. I¡­ I¡¯m so scared. I don¡¯t know what else to say. I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t see¡­ the kind of girl you were¡­ I¡¯m sorry for hurting you. I don¡¯t know why I deserve this¡­ Why you¡¯re standing up for me, but¡­ thank you. Sora?¡± Heat burning her throat, it took a few seconds for her to get control of her own heart. ¡°¡­Mhm! I¡¯m fine¡­ just trying not to spontaneously combust, haha. Umm, I know this isn¡¯t going to be easy¡­ for both of us. I don¡¯t want you thinking that you¡¯re my pet wolf or like you owe me or anything¡­ I just want to be there for you when you need it, and if you need space, then¡­ I get that, too.¡± Kari strained a teary laugh, falling to her side and hugging her tail behind the door. ¡°You say that, and then tell Eyia not to take no for an answer. Pick a side.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up,¡± Sora sniffed, joining Kari on the floor, despite the wooden barrier separating them. ¡°We both know you don¡¯t want to be alone. I¡¯m just saying ¡®in the future,¡¯ because you don¡¯t want to be alone with your thoughts¡­ I know I wouldn¡¯t. And can we both agree that if your brother ever does show up, Eyia is the one you want with you?¡± Swallowing, Kari choked a little. ¡°Yeah¡­ Aiden told me what happened after I passed out, and if Eyia pisses Eric off so much, then maybe she isn¡¯t so bad. I guess I could get behind doing¡­ something tomorrow. Dammit. Why am I so pathetic?¡± Sora wanted to hug her but knew she had to take things slow. ¡°You¡¯re not pathetic from where I¡¯m sitting. Like I said, Kari, I¡¯m proud of the you that I¡¯m seeing, and I hope you see what I see as time goes on¡­ because I think you could be pretty amazing from what I¡¯ve seen so far. So, give yourself a break. Today was rough. Tomorrow will be better.¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. ¡°It is tomorrow,¡± Kari huffed, making Sora giggle. ¡°Not according to my clock because I¡¯m going to crash. Catch you in the morning?¡± ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Sora got up, rubbing a little at her damp cheeks as Kari did the same, and the door half opened, showing the wolf¡¯s messy face, wearing an unsure, half-smile with her ears pulled back. ¡°Hmm?¡± The raven-haired girl looked off to the side and released her stress with a long stream of air before her amber irises met her green. ¡°Thank you for inviting me into your home and life, Sora. I¡¯d like to¡­ to try and get to know you better as friends. I¡¯m¡­ sorry to be a burden.¡± Feeling the warm fuzzies at her former bully¡¯s honest attempts at correcting things, facing her faults, and their spotted past, Sora opened her arms. ¡°You don¡¯t have to hug. I¡¯m just a hugger, and I just want to officially say¡­ welcome to the Fox Den.¡± Kari looked a tad uncomfortable as she hesitantly opened the door. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ not really a hugger, but¡­ just this once. Thank you for having me.¡± Sora felt like a massive negative block in her life melted away as she jumped up on her tippy-toes, the taller girl bending down to put their past behind them. All her memories of the monstrous alpha bully tinted in a new light, and when they broke away, she saw a new girl in front of her, deceptively shy and unsure of herself. ¡°Don¡¯t go easy on Eyia; she¡¯s one to get a big head, so show her that she isn¡¯t the only athletic one, okay? Plus, I think you¡¯ve got the edge in game knowledge. Crush her! I think Eyia needs someone who can push her and make her want to do better.¡± Rubbing the back of her neck, Kari sighed as if an anvil was being lifted off her chest. ¡°And Wendy? You told the blonde to bring her, too, right? What am I supposed to do about her?¡± ¡°Be patient!¡± Sora said with a strained grin. ¡°Wendy may be bratty tomorrow due to¡­ things happening later, but know that it¡¯s only half you. Wendy has¡­ her own things she¡¯s dealing with. Just do your best!¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Kari shivered again, looking back at the plain room that she¡¯d been given. ¡°I¡­ guess I¡¯ll see you tomorrow. You haven¡¯t called Aiden yet, by the way.¡± Sora chuckled and displayed her floating phone. ¡°I texted him that I¡¯d call him after I was done with something important. And goodnight, Kari. I know this is all awkward for you, and I don¡¯t want to make it more awkward. Let¡¯s go to bed, and when we get up, everything changes. You¡¯re a new wolf from this day on. You have that choice. So be who you want to be.¡± Kari slowly nodded, playing with her cuticles a bit, showing her nervousness about stepping into this new world. For the first time in forever, she now had a choice in how she¡¯d live her life, and Sora was sure that it was more than a little overwhelming. ¡°A new wolf¡­ Not a lone wolf. Umm, yeah¡­ goodnight, Sora.¡± Giving her a real smile, the girl shut the door, and Sora felt happy butterflies as she heard Kari kneel down to sort through the bag of clothes they¡¯d bought together to find her nightgown. This really was a new chapter in her life. Finding her fingers behind her back, she made her way toward her dad¡¯s room, opening it up and smiling at the female nurse that sat beside his bed, present in case medical attention was required. Her dad¡¯s copper hair was a total mess compared to what she typically saw of her well-groomed father; a passive desire cleaned and reshaped it. I¡¯m finding new friends, Dad. Kari, of all people! I¡­ wish you could be here to see how much I¡¯m growing¡­ I think you¡¯d be proud of me. Our home is growing, and I¡¯m happy¡­ I¡¯m happy. Thank you for always trying to be the best you can, even when Mom left a huge hole in your heart. Hopefully, that will heal when you wake up and find Mom by your bed¡­ You deserve to be happy, too, Dad. I love you. She kissed him on his forehead before heading back to her room and collapsing onto her cushy bed, arms spread. Her phone hovered over her head, but she took some time to allow the sounds of the suite to tickle her ears. Everyone was now in bed, leaving her in a slight daze as she let everything settle in after waking up on that moon base. After several minutes, she looked up at her phone, opening her messages and seeing the dog emoji she had sent to Noelia¡ªit was unread. Feeling disheartened but secretly hopeful at her mother¡¯s words, Sora sent a spiel about what had happened recently to her, highlighting the fact that Kari was now not her worst enemy, strange as that may seem. She didn¡¯t know what her ex-caregiver would think of the insane ramble¡ªor even if she would read it¡ªbut she had to try. Breathing out slowly, she tried to destress and made her last call of the night; Aiden answered on the third ring. ¡°Sora,¡± he chuckled, ¡°should I assume our date has been canceled? I¡¯d ask how Kari¡¯s doing, but I trust you to handle things. I will ask how you¡¯re doing, though¡­ So, how are you doing?¡± Tingles shot up her arms, and Sora¡¯s throat constricted, bottom lip tucking under before laughing. ¡°No one¡¯s asked me that yet¡­ Wow. Umm, how am I doing? Surprisingly well, all things considered. I¡¯m looking forward to my mom coming home! I¡¯m happy things have worked out with¡­ all the shit I went through this week.¡± She shifted to her side, hair bunching against her head and ear as she stared out across the vast ocean view from her bed. ¡°Yeah¡­ I¡¯m doing well. How about you?¡± Sora got the mental picture of the blond boy falling back on his own bed from his grunt and stretching yawn. ¡°That¡¯s good¡­ How am I doing? Huh. I haven¡¯t really given it much thought,¡± he mumbled. ¡°I¡¯d say I had a terrible week, but there was this copper-haired girl who helped me through it and made it special.¡± A half-smile lifted her mouth as she got to her feet, clothes phasing off her body for a black nightgown to take their place from inside the closet. ¡°Oooh. Do tell. Was she pretty?¡± A teasing hum rumbled in his smooth voice as he settled into his bed, and Sora hopped onto her own mattress, the blankets peeling back on her whim to wrap around her frame. ¡°Well, let¡¯s see¡­ She had this little ear twitch that is pretty cute, I guess you could say. Whenever she gets flustered, it shows, and it¡¯s the most adorable thing with that side smile. Her other ear folds back in this way that makes you want to make her comfortable.¡± ¡°Oh-oh! Does she now?¡± Sora whispered, hugging herself under the blanket and enjoying herself. ¡°I feel like you¡¯re dodging the question there, buddy. She can act cute and adorable, but what else, hmm?¡± ¡°Hold on! Hold on! I wasn¡¯t even finished, Ms. Crafty.¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Uh-huh. I¡¯m listening,¡± she pressed, shifting to her side. ¡°And our little date has been moved, not canceled. How does a late breakfast sound tomorrow so that we can discuss Sela¡¯s trial?¡± Aiden snorted, and she could see him rolling his eyes, making her snicker. ¡°Way to derail my train of thought.¡± ¡°Well, I am Ms. Crafty, after all,¡± Sora smugly responded. ¡°Let¡¯s not dwell on the obvious that you¡¯ll make time for a late breakfast. Now, let¡¯s get back to the juicy topic about this copper-haired beauty?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t think I made that ¡®beauty¡¯ remark.¡± ¡°Oooh. So, she¡¯s not beautiful? Got it. Got it.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s mean,¡± he mused. ¡°Let¡¯s just say she has a certain¡­ elegance in the way she moves her tail when she walks.¡± Belly tingling and tail weaving under her blankets, Sora played with her toes. ¡°Elegance in her tail, huh? So she walks pretty and has a nice butt, is what you¡¯re really saying. And why would you be looking at her swaying tail and butt, Mr. Bird? Kind of sus.¡± ¡°Is it, though?¡± Aiden slyly returned. ¡°I mean, birds are known to be watchers, you know, and if a mesmerizing, flaming tail comes into sight¡ªeven if a tad shorter than someone else I know¡ªthen he¡¯d have to take note, right? It would be a crime not to.¡± ¡°Wha¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s left eye narrowed, lips pursing to the side. ¡°Shorter than someone else you know¡­ Fen¡¯s like¡­ over two hundred years older than me. That is totally not a fair judgment. Objection, Your Honor!¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Aiden¡¯s voice had Sora imagining him looking left and right, searching for support. ¡°Who said I was talking about Fen? I know a few people with tails, ya know.¡± ¡°Touch¨¦, my good sir,¡± she hummed, rubbing her chin. ¡°Well navigated. We shall pick up this conversation again upon the morrow!¡± ¡°I shall sharpen my tongue, my good lady,¡± Aiden returned, playing into the theme. ¡°You best review the case findings because you will discover the evidence quite compelling. This cinnamon roll fox on trial has quite the spice to her.¡± Taking note from a popular celebrity trial she¡¯d seen, Sora balked, ¡°Lack of foundation! Relevance?¡± ¡°Oh, there is plenty of foundation on that account, Judge. And relevance? You will find out on the morrow. May your dreams be filled with sugary delights¡­ Of course, you can tip that in your favor, my good lady. One point to Mr. Bird. Sweet dreams.¡± Sora gave her phone a lighthearted glare as he hung up before she could respond. ¡°Meanie. I wasn¡¯t done. Humph.¡± Yawning, she turned over and directed her phone onto its wireless charger, feeling her energy near 27% after everything she¡¯d done today, and that was after all the regeneration as well. Maybe I will drown myself in sweets tonight! I¡¯m not addicted. I¡¯m not! Sweets are just¡­ sweet! And sweet things make the world go round¡­ Gently drifting into oblivion, Sora felt weightless as she passed into a sugary wonderland, but the chocolate rivers and powder sugar-topped mountains soon gave way to a white void. Floating in a swirl of endless nothingness, senselessness overtook Sora, yet there was something all around her, wrapping her in black thorns, and a dark star bathed her in shadows. A deep, feminine voice rippled through her entire soul, drawing her into a black hole of questions. ¡°Our connection grows¡­ Who are you, little one, and why do you reach into the Null Void? It is dangerous to draw attention to this side of you¡­ Awaken, Voidling.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes snapped open, meeting large, feline irises. ¡°N-Nilly?! Wha¡ªaaah!¡± Scrambling back, she fell off the bed, hitting her head against her bedside table. ¡°Ouuu¡­ Nilly, what was that about?¡± Rubbing her smarting ear and scalp, she brushed back her bangs to glare at the teenage cat, older than she¡¯d ever seen the undead 1st Generation Founder of the Cats. The 18-year-old cat woman threw back the covers that she¡¯d snuck into and gave her a somewhat terrifying, puzzling stare. Both ears had golden earrings in them, with one having two more linked to each other, making four in total. ¡°Nilly thought Nilly smelled something that shouldn¡¯t be here. Mia keeps secrets¡­ dangerous secrets. Nilly keeps secrets, too¡­ many secrets. Sora should be careful, or else Sora might draw too much attention to herself. It is good that Sora¡¯s secret is nothing because nothing is nothing, and nothing cannot be discovered. Nilly knows, though. Nilly knows everything. Shhhh.¡± ¡°Mrrrow¡­¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up as she heard the cat¡¯s cry to her right, vision darting to the two-tailed, black cat that sat on her dresser, licking herself and looking at her as if she were crazy. ¡°Nilly?¡± Eyes darting to where the 18-year-old version of Nilly had been, only she was gone now, and her bed was now made as if the cat had never been there. ¡°What¡­ is going on?¡± ¡°Mrrow?¡± Sora groaned as she hoisted herself back onto her bed, rubbing her ear as Nilly hopped off the dresser and started rubbing against her leg. Reaching down to pick up the cat and pet her, she puffed out the panicked stress, feeling the purs of the two-tailed cat calming her racing heart. ¡°You¡­ are a little troublemaker!¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Nilly! Hehe. Stop¡­ that tickles,¡± she smiled as the cat snatched her arm with both paws and started licking her hand. ¡°Yes, yes, you¡¯re adorable and cute¡­ and also totally random and scary sometimes.¡± The chime of a bell brought her eyes to her armchair, and now she smelled the cat practically everywhere in her room at different points in time. ¡°Nilly¡¯s a good kiddy! Nilly¡¯s not bad,¡± the 8-year-old huffed, now only showing a single earring. ¡°Nilly cuddled next to Wendy all night and kept her legs warm and snuggly. Nilly¡¯s a really good kiddy. Don¡¯t be mean to Nilly. Nilly and Sora are friends! Friends aren¡¯t mean and call friends scary.¡± Glancing back down where the cat had been, now gone from her lap, Sora breathed out a laugh, feeling totally awake after the shocking event. ¡°No, you¡¯re a good kiddy, Nilly¡­ and you¡¯re back to a cat.¡± ¡°Mrrow!¡± ¡°Well, ugh¡­ what time is it¡­ 11 a.m.? Well, that¡¯s not terrible, and I feel totally recharged,¡± she grunted, throwing her arms out and turning her ears toward the rest of the house. ¡°Who is awake? Let¡¯s see¡­ Wendy, Fen, Jian, and¡­ Oh, Daisy and Howie are here. Nice.¡± ¡°Mmmm! Who is Daisy and Howie?¡± Sora¡¯s eyebrows pulled together as a little Fairy sleepily hoisted herself out of her purse, struggling a little to sustain her weight; the Fairy that Titania had given her to be her guide that she totally hadn¡¯t forgotten about. ¡°Ember? You¡¯ve¡­ been in my purse the whole night?¡± ¡°In a flower inside your purse, but yes, it was quite cozy and soft, Lady Sora!¡± Flickering fire lit across the girl¡¯s hair and sparked at her wings as she took flight, hovering in the air and studying her new environment. ¡°Wow. Really cool room. Were you talking to¡­ the cat? Do cats speak in this world, too? I swear I learned in school they don¡¯t¡­ which is weird. Hello, Nilly?¡± she asked, flying over to greet the cat. ¡°I¡¯m Ember¡ªwoah! Hey! Hey!¡± Nilly¡¯s pupils went big as she neared, paw coming up and lightly swiping toward the little woman, her tails flicking. ¡°Mrrow! Mrrow!¡± ¡°Yikes! Lady Sora?!¡± ¡°Wait, wait! Nilly, she¡¯s not food and not a bug¡ªshe¡¯s my guide¡ªbe nice to her. Friend! Friend!¡± Using her magic to pull the Fairy out of the sky and into her protective hands as Nilly got up on her hind legs to pounce, Sora cupped the little woman in her palms. Nilly gave the hyperventilating Fairy a doubtful stare before seemingly giving a huff and jumping off the couch to walk toward the door. ¡°Meow¡­¡± Sora blinked, and she was gone. ¡°Haaa. You okay, Ember? Best keep close to me for now.¡± ¡°Y-Yeah¡­ Cats in this world are terrifying! Did you hear what she said to me? She said, I¡¯ll catch you later, Firefly. Why did she call me by my mom¡¯s name? Like¡­ what?! I¡¯m Ember. I¡¯m not Firefly. I want to go home.¡± ¡°There, there,¡± Sora soothed. ¡°Let¡¯s go downstairs, and then we can go get breakfast. Sound good? My treat!¡± ¡°Okay¡­ but only if I can hide behind your hair. I¡¯m still scared¡­ Can you turn it on fire, too? You did that, right? Or was that me dreaming¡­ Sometimes I dream of stuff like that.¡± ¡°Sure. How about¡­ this?¡± Bringing the frightened Fire Fairy to her shoulder, Sora desired for her hair to lace with warm, soothing foxfire, making the little woman squeal with excitement. ¡°It¡¯s so pure and beautiful; you¡¯re amazing, Lady Sora! Mmm. Nice and snuggly!¡± she chirped, wrapping herself in her flickering locks. ¡°Thank you!¡± ¡°Mhm. I¡¯m glad you like it. Okay, I¡¯m going to get ready now, so don¡¯t mind me. Ember?¡± ¡°Mmm? Huh¡­ I¡¯m just¡­ a little sleepy. It¡¯s just¡­ so nice.¡± Giggling at the lazy Fairy, who was skipping out on work to nibble on wood and hide from her co-workers, Sora allowed the little woman to rest. Okay¡­ Now, what to wear? Yeah, this is a boss fight! Throwing open her walk-in closet, she faced down her opponent. Let¡¯s go! B2 — 13. You Put A Spell On Me Putting the tomfoolery of Nilly¡¯s morning scare and her weird thorn lady dream behind her, Sora maintained her foxfire hair for Ember¡¯s sake; the little Fairy girl was somehow using her flames as a blanket. She had to wonder how long the girl normally slept since she¡¯d been sleeping for over half a day now. Several outfit choices floated off their racks to phase onto an illusion of herself, allowing her a 3rd person angle to study how she looked in each. After a few seconds of consideration, she went with a black dress and white overcoat for something more formal¡ªshe was going to court, after all. Heading into the hallway and down the light elevator, Sora walked into the kitchen to greet everyone who was up, which only excluded Eyia and Kari, ironically. Wendy had just finished whipping up some French toast and bacon while Daisy and Howie appeared to be making a homemade brown sugar and butter syrup. Fen was sitting at the bar with Jian, tails wagging and waiting for her breakfast; the woman had let slip that she was awake. ¡°Morning! You¡¯re looking nice, Wendy. I see someone went out shopping while I was passed out,¡± Sora giggled, breathing in deeply and giving her a thumbs up. ¡°Smells great. And, Daisy, I want to see your ring! Don¡¯t pout; I see you and Jian, too, Fen,¡± she giggled, using her finger to direct her floating white leather purse onto the counter. Wendy snickered, studious eyes sliding down her outfit as Sora presented herself. ¡°Nice hairstyle and cute outfit. Dressed to impress, huh? Going out?¡± Daisy flashed her teeth and waved as Wendy finished, her blonde hair tied into a ponytail with a black bow. ¡°Morning, Sora. Oh, and I don¡¯t really have a ring yet since Yez¡¯ela¡ªthe bitch¡ªthrew it away when stripping my future husband. I¡¯m glad she¡¯s burning in Hell right now.¡± ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m glad you blacked out most of those memories for me, Sweetie,¡± Howie said with a forced chuckle, moving in for a cute kiss that made Sora¡¯s heart swell. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever forget that kiss you gave me, though¡ªwow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll have to top it, then,¡± she returned, bumping her hip against him to shoo him away in order to slide past him to get more ingredients for the mix. ¡°Wendy said she¡¯d like to go ring shopping with us today. Life has just been a dream since you woke me up, Sora! Howie got a crazy raise from the new owners of the building. Oh, I should have asked if you have plans together today?¡± Fen rolled her eyes, but the fox and Baihu¡ªwhatever that was¡ªwere swiftly pulled out of her mind as her best friend gave her a questioning smile while looking her over. Sora¡¯s eyebrows drew together, knowing they had something very important planned for later today, but Wendy didn¡¯t seem to have let them in on the meeting with her mother. ¡°Uh¡­ not until much later tonight. If possible, have her back by, like¡­ 7 or 8 p.m.? Yeah, I¡¯ve got Sela¡¯s trial to get to in a bit; Aiden is meeting me at the monster restaurant to discuss it.¡± Placing a hand on her hip, she shifted to the side to look in the direction of the second floor, hearing Kari groaning as she stretched out across her bed. ¡°I kind of thought you¡¯d be free to hang with Kari and Eyia today¡­ No?¡± Wendy¡¯s sudden scowl said it all as she took her tongs and pulled the bacon out of the pan and onto paper towels to soak off the grease. ¡°I get you¡¯re in this ¡®forgiveness¡¯ phase or whatever. It¡¯s cool. Whatever. But¡­ yeah, I¡¯m not about to have anything to do with Kari. Eyia¡¯s cute and fun, but if Kari will be there, then I¡¯d much rather go ring and dress shopping while getting to know Daisy.¡± Head hanging, Sora sighed. ¡°That¡¯s fair. It took a lot for me to get to where I am with Kari, but she will be living here down the hall. I can¡¯t force you to like her, but she really isn¡¯t as bad as you think if you just get to know her¡ªthe real her.¡± ¡°Sure, maybe¡­ Anyway, are you sure you don¡¯t want to go with stockings and a short skirt instead of the dress?¡± Wendy asked with a sly smirk. ¡°It¡¯s fae court, right? You saw the kind of outfit Titania was wearing; I don¡¯t think it will be business style, if you know what I mean. And¡­ you¡¯re seeing Aiden.¡± ¡°True¡­¡± Sora mumbled, frowning as she stared down at her outfit. ¡°Wait, this isn¡¯t really a date,¡± she half scoffed. ¡°I just said we¡¯d go over the trial stuff; Titania was the one that said it would be good if he were there.¡± ¡°Sure. Sure,¡± Wendy chuckled, handing Daisy the pan of finished French toast as she walked over, turned her around, and lightly guided her back upstairs. ¡°Let¡¯s get you dressed more ¡®Fairy-like.¡¯ Is¡­ that a Fairy in your hair?¡± ¡°Fine! Fine! Just tell me my fashion sucks¡ªand yes, her name is Ember, and she¡¯s a sleepyhead. Nilly gave us both a fright today.¡± Wendy hummed, a small smirk on her lips while taking them to the light elevator. ¡°Fen told us you were talking to Nilly when Nilly was sleeping on my bed¡ªwell, that you had a waking dream or something and fell off the bed. Nilly then went into your room to see what you were doing. Embarrassing!¡± Sora¡¯s ears fell back, shooting a sidelong look back at the kitchen. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m crazy, Fen? You have no idea. Nilly can literally be everywhere.¡± The fox woman didn¡¯t respond to her, happily eating the food Daisy put in front of her. However, Sora couldn¡¯t dwell on the topic because when they reached the second floor, Kari was walking down the hall, dressed in her green nightgown, her absurdly thick black hair a complete mess, and her tail hanging low as she yawned. ¡°Oh, great,¡± Wendy grumbled, glaring at the dull-eyed wolf, still quite sleepy by the look on her face. ¡°I didn¡¯t go shopping for enough food to cook for the bully.¡± Sora¡¯s heart felt heavy at the rising tension. Yeah, Wendy, you cooked breakfast for the Huli Jing, who has likely killed hundreds of people throughout her life, but the harmless, abused puppy here is the real threat¡­ Man, we¡¯re going to have to address this at some point because this is rough. ¡°Sorry, Kari,¡± she quickly interjected, ¡°Wendy is going to be hanging out with Daisy and Howie today. We have guests, too, so, hehe, it¡¯s probably not the best idea to go slinking around dressed like that. Can you get changed before grabbing one of my cards in my purse downstairs and taking Eyia out somewhere to eat? I¡¯m sure she¡¯d like to have an eating contest, and¡­ she¡¯s just starting to get up now!¡± Her gaze shifted to the end of the hallway, knowing the Valkyrie was pretty sharp when it came to conflict, and Wendy¡¯s defensive aura was causing waves. As Sora expected, Kari didn¡¯t so much as put up a fight; she¡¯d more or less given up on fighting after losing to her brother, and that worried Sora¡ªconfidence was Fenris Wolves¡¯ base source of power, after all. Kari¡¯s amber eyes drifted to Wendy before her chest puffed up and she released an audible sigh, flipping on her heels to return to her room. ¡°Sure¡­ Sorry to be trouble.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach knotted as she watched the tall girl retreat, her tail hardly moving and slightly bristled; she knew the wolf¡¯s agitation was more aimed at herself than Wendy. ¡°You went shopping with her last night, huh?¡± Wendy mumbled, pulling her the rest of the way into her room to raid her closet. ¡°She¡­ does seem a lot different.¡± ¡°That¡¯s what I¡¯m saying,¡± Sora defended, crossing her arms as Wendy did a quick sweep of her available outfits before swiftly selecting a few to hold up to her. ¡°I thought you said short skirt?¡± she teased, as Wendy handed her a knee-length blue-and-white skirt with a black shoulderless blouse. ¡°We could go with the lower front-cut skirt that flows out longer in the back,¡± Wendy chuckled, bypassing her comment about Kari. ¡°You¡¯ll want more formal heels if you are going with this look, though¡­ I¡¯m shocked your dad let you buy this,¡± she said, examining a skirt that only fell to her mid-thighs. ¡°It¡¯s a really nice designer piece.¡± ¡°He didn¡¯t,¡± Sora said with a strained smile, using her magic to create a body double to apply it to, ¡°I loved it when I saw it but never wore it¡­ Sometimes, I¡¯d splurge shop to make myself feel better. I got this four months ago¡ªand not the best topic with you, I guess.¡± Wendy¡¯s frown deepened at the mention of Kari¡¯s bully days. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m happy for you¡ªI am¡ªjust¡­ understand that it¡¯s just¡­ hard for me. It¡¯s not a good time, is all.¡± Stepping forward to hug the hurting brunette, Sora held her for a few seconds in silence, Wendy gradually working through her emotions involving her mother and pulling away. ¡°¡­I¡¯m fine. Umm. Did you have a time you need to meet Aiden?¡± Sora shrugged, using her magic to phase off her current outfit to instantly replace it with her new ones, including a black belt to go around her stomach on the high skirt. She was actually impressed with how the white and black contrasted each other, the shoulderless blouse tucked under the pure alabaster skirt. ¡°I said I¡¯d text him when I was ready¡­ Should I wear stockings or go full-leg? It¡¯ll probably be hot today¡ªwell, it might not be in Avalon.¡± Wendy grinned, taking a step back and looking her up and down. ¡°You¡¯re always so stupidly pretty¡ªsometimes it makes me depressed, I swear¡ªand definitely without. Black, ankle-strap heels with magic to make them comfortable? Uh, can you spell me some that are like that, too? Because that would be the best!¡± Not going to let that comment slide, Sora smirked and snapped her fingers, creating a duplicate illusion model of Wendy in the exact same outfit. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you¡¯re not gorgeous. I¡¯ll get one for you so we can match!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Wendy shivered, smiling while studying herself. ¡°I am kind of cute, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°You could say¡­ beautiful?¡± Sora pushed, playfully nudging shoulders. ¡°I love that bangs-behind-the-ear look you do, and you can totally take those earrings I added. I haven¡¯t used them in, like¡­ two years? Yeah, when you¡¯re out, go ahead and shop with Howie and Daisy. Have fun!¡± Wendy released the tension in her shoulders that Kari had brought on, moving in to hug her again. ¡°You¡¯re the best sister a girl could ask for! I¡¯m¡­ really thankful for everything you¡¯ve done for me, Sora. Now, get that bushy tail off to meet a tall handsome blond firebird already before I kick it!¡± ¡°You would never!¡± Sora giggled, dancing out of the closet while holding her tail. ¡°I¡¯ll leave one of my credit cards. Yes, you are a part of the family, so you get to use money, too! Just¡­ keep the receipts,¡± she added with a wince. ¡°My dad gets on my butt so hard for that!¡± ¡°Roger that, Lil Sis,¡± Wendy chimed, giving her a salute. ¡°Now you go get some tail feathers!¡± ¡°Wendy!¡± ¡°Hehehe. Doesn¡¯t he have tail feathers? Bring me back one,¡± she winked, making Sora¡¯s face flush. ¡°Joking! Joking! You get to keep all of them under your pillow¡­ inside your pillow?¡± she thoughtfully hummed, giggling as Sora grabbed the item to throw at the brunette. ¡°Stop teasing me! It¡¯s only semi-a-date. Nothing official!¡± Wendy caught the fluffy article and held it as a shield. ¡°It sounds pretty official to me! And I won dodge-pillow¡ªI caught it¡ªyou¡¯re out, and I won.¡± ¡°Damn you, dodge-pillow rules!¡± Sora snarled, fake storming out of the room; they¡¯d made the game up when they were eight. ¡°I¡¯m just rusty because we haven¡¯t played it in forever.¡± ¡°All hail the reigning Pillow Queen!¡± Wendy boasted, lingering behind to study her illusion, no doubt; yeah, she loved how the outfit looked on her. ¡°Come back before seven!¡± ¡°Or eight!¡± Sora shot back. ¡°Wait, wasn¡¯t I the one who gave you those times?¡± ¡°Details. Details. Have fun!¡± Sora beamed as she saw Eyia heading for her bathroom to take a shower, piled up with her change of clothing and probably thinking she best use the same one she used last time. ¡°Morning, Eyia! Wendy¡¯s out, but Kari will take you out for an eating contest before your basketball game.¡± ¡°The morning has risen, Sister! You look beautiful for combat today,¡± the blonde cheered, dress and messy hair bouncing with her cute hops. ¡°I look forward to the competition of balls slamming with the wolf! Kari has said that she has yet to lose, so I have a high bar to jump over, but I am a good jumper!¡± This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Stomach hurting as she laughed at the girl¡¯s suspect phrasing, Sora had to admit that the Valkyrie was such a sweet, innocent doll. ¡°Don¡¯t bust¡ªor burst¡ªher balls too much!¡± Eyia froze, and Sora could see her brain spinning on her response. ¡°Burst her balls? Am I not to be gentle with the balls so as not to burst them? I tried to play the balls game with the Ogres, and I burst all their balls. They were quite sad. I learned that gentle fingers are best used against such weak spheres; they are not as sturdy as stones, Sister!¡± ¡°Hahaha! No, they are not!¡± Sora gasped, doubling over as she went downstairs, Wendy giggling while entering her own room to pick up her phone. ¡°Catch you girls later! I know you can hear me, Kari¡ªshow Eyia what you love to do around Miami! I want to hear about it when I get back; have a fun girls¡¯ day out!¡± Kari¡¯s snort from inside the other suite¡¯s master bathroom made Sora smile as the wolf projected her typical tsundere attitude she¡¯d started to see; her former bully was a marshmallow on the inside, despite her outward fangs. ¡°No need to yell, Fox. You don¡¯t need to hold my hand. Look, I¡¯ll do what I want, okay? So go make out with Aiden already.¡± Sora almost tripped in her heels, her magic safety net being the only thing that caught her. ¡°Wha¡ªoh, it¡¯s on, Kari! I¡¯ll get you back for that comment, so just you wait! You won¡¯t see it coming¡ªbut it will come!¡± ¡°I hear barking¡­ but I was sure there was a fox downstairs. Huh. Whatever.¡± Oh, she¡¯s mean! Such a tsundere personality, Sora quietly laughed, waving off everyone in the kitchen while picking up her purse with a magical tug; two credit cards slid out to settle on the counter. I can¡¯t believe how lively my home is getting. I love it! Wake up soon, Dad¡­ you have girls you need to ground! Pressing the button to call the elevator, she flashed her teeth as a familiar brown-haired man was revealed when the doors slid open. ¡°Ron!¡± Hopping inside, skirt and hair bouncing, she gave the man a hug before shifting to the side of the box. ¡°I¡¯m sooo happy you¡¯re still here. How are you and Steph¡ªnothing bad? My mom said she talked to her before she went to her meeting. Is she back?¡± The tall man pressed the button for the ground level, giving her a welcoming gesture and backing into his normal corner. ¡°Yeah, this new org that bought out the hotel is keeping a lot of the staff you like and, frankly, paying ridiculous salaries. Apparently, some of the staff are seriously contemplating moving over to elevator staff since it pays mid-six figures.¡± ¡°Oh? Well, that makes sense since the new owners are basically catering to my every whim as the secret world shadow government who doesn¡¯t want to upset my mom. Who is planning on taking the elevator jobs? And spill on Stephanie! I¡¯m worried.¡± Ron rubbed his chin and forced a laugh. ¡°Steph is¡­ having some labor problems that are rare for her race. Actually, she left me a letter detailing her time with your mom. She¡ªSora?¡± Two floors before reaching the bottom, Sora stepped forward and pressed the stop button to bring them to a halt, and her magic twisted the key out of the lock. Worry on her voice and face, she wasn¡¯t about to let Ron go until she knew there was nothing she could do to help. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the baby? Is there anything me or my mom can do? Is she okay?¡± ¡°Woah! Woah! No, the baby¡¯s fine. It¡¯s Steph, uh¡­ how do I put this¡­¡± He puffed out a long breath and scratched his cheek. ¡°Because of me, or¡­ who she had a baby with¡­ things aren¡¯t going as planned. She¡¯s losing a lot of her power.¡± Sora¡¯s tail bristled at the news, a warm of emotions welling up within her chest. ¡°That means she¡¯ll be a normal woman¡ªa blue giant woman? Why is that happening? She¡¯s like¡­ super powerful, right? I¡­ don¡¯t know how I¡¯d feel if I suddenly lost all my powers¡­ No, that would really suck.¡± A small, reflective smile on Ron¡¯s face pulled Sora¡¯s focus as he shook his head. ¡°Sure, it is a little scary for her. It¡¯s also a blessing in many ways because it means she won¡¯t have to hide, and your mom already provided her with a metamorphosis charm that won¡¯t conflict with the pregnancy. She¡¯s excited to come to the meet-and-greet your mother has planned in two days from now.¡± Left ear pulling back, Sora glanced at herself in the elevator mirror. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me about any meet-and-greet¡­ Wait, does that mean she¡¯ll be able to come over and spend time with us?! That¡¯s awesome!¡± A sudden thought struck her, making her gulp and pull out the black icy rose the Celestial had given her. ¡°How¡­ much of her power is gone? Will this shatter or wilt¡ªcan it help since she created it when she was stronger?¡± Ron lightly pushed it away. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long ago, Sora. At her most powerful, Stephanie could probably hold her own against your grandmother or any other 1st Generation Founder, but¡­ life can be challenging for Celestials since they are migratory beings. It¡¯s unusual for them to stay in one place like Steph did. ¡°She had to go to this meeting before she lost her ability to travel there undetected. Soon¡­ very soon, she will be almost as powerless as your mom will be. She¡¯s trading the fear of always watching her back to being welcomed into Mia¡¯s territory and living out her life with me, powers or not¡­ they may never come back for all we know, and she¡¯s okay with that.¡± The waves of love, adoration, and devotion pulsing from Ron were like a hot finger sliding down her spine, making her shiver. ¡°Wow¡­ Stephanie really is amazing. You two are the cutest pair. I¡¯m happy for you, and I totally want to get to know Steph more¡ªwell, if she¡¯s okay with that.¡± Ron crossed his arms and nodded. ¡°Yeah, your dad has invited me golfing a ton of times but I¡¯ve always had to decline since Steph has needed me close. The baby should be coming very soon, so¡­ yeah, I¡¯m going to be a dad! Wow-haha, that is scary to say.¡± Sora closed in to deliver a comforting embrace. ¡°You¡¯ll do great, Ron, and you¡¯re not alone! You¡¯re a part of the Fox Den, too, and don¡¯t you forget it. I¡¯m loyal to everyone who is loyal to me, and you¡¯ve been sooo loyal to me. Thank you, Ron. I¡¯m always in your corner.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m in yours, Sora,¡± he returned, sneakily grabbing the key out of the air to insert it into its slot. ¡°I guess you practically own this building now, but we still gotta keep the elevator clear,¡± he said, twisting it. ¡°By the way, Cynthia has already applied.¡± The doors slid open, and Sora entered the lobby, spotting the brown-haired, 32-year-old woman behind the front desk; the sharp-eyed lady was always watching for her. She¡¯d kept detailed records of when she left or came back, with any changes in her attitude or appearance since she was 28 and started the job. She didn¡¯t say much, but her detailed notes long before her psychiatrists¡¯ fake medical diagnoses showed how much she cared about her. ¡°I¡¯d be comfortable with her at the door,¡± she replied, nodding and chuckling as Ron pointed at her flaming hair. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s hidden behind illusions. I look forward to seeing a less stressed Stephanie. Have a good day, Ron.¡± ¡°You too, Sora.¡± She stepped out, giving the hotel staff the best smile she could to let them know she was doing well. Compared to how she was doing a few weeks ago, she was practically an entirely new girl. She entered the salted air of Miami Beach, breathing in the wind, and set off to meet Aiden, absently using her Desire Magic to send him a text that she was on her way. She spun in a circle before exiting the hotel sidewalk and entering the public flow. I¡¯m free! Walking with the tourists and locals, seemingly oblivious to the chaos and hurricane that had struck the city less than a week ago, Sora couldn¡¯t believe how good she felt. I¡¯m a vulpes Founder. I¡¯m becoming friends with my bully. My best friend is now my sister, and I¡¯ve got an adorably innocent Valkyrie sister now, too! I¡¯m not alone! Her heart swelled as she glanced between the various groups of foreign girls, laughing with one another and taking photos to post on social media; it used to make her so jealous and hurt to see other girls having fun. She used to wonder why her pain was so invisible to everyone. All of that was gone, replaced by new dreams and expectations. Mom¡¯s coming home to be a family. Dad¡¯s going to get better and be happy again. We¡¯re all going to Avalon Academy¡ªa flipping fae school! Jin is going to be our battle and physical education instructor, which¡­ is kind of scary, but exciting for something new. And then we have this mysterious Darkness that turns fae into Unseelie. A little danger and mystery can be fun! Well, hopefully. Maybe I¡¯m just running on a high. Yeah, I¡¯m definitely high! The city she¡¯d grown up in shone with a new light on her journey to the monster restaurant, and she was positive her magical energy reserves were stacked to the brim partly due to her mood. She had thoughts of her weird thorn dreams, Nilly, and the strange happenings on the moon base, but all of that was either in the future or past. Right now, she had a meeting with a certain blond firebird. She couldn¡¯t stop her tail from wagging as she found Aiden waiting for her just outside of the alleyway, dressed in a formal suit for their court attendance. Anticipation twisted her stomach as she grinned and greeted the tall boy. ¡°Hey! I hope you didn¡¯t wait long. My house is kind of crazy recently.¡± Aiden took his left hand out of his pocket, putting off the soothing vibes that eased her thumping heart; she wasn¡¯t sure what to expect with her first time to Avalon, and it would be with one of the few boys that she knew. ¡°Not long; I scheduled my business in the area, anyway. That being said,¡± he offered his arm with a teasing smirk, ¡°I stand corrected.¡± Tingles ran down her arms as she took his arm; feeling like the vulpes princess she was, Sora¡¯s ears shifted to give him a sidelong, dubious look. ¡°Corrected of what, my good sir?¡± His rainbow eyes gave her a short, appraising sweep. ¡°To be honest, I thought you couldn¡¯t get more beautiful, but look at you, dashing expectations¡ªthose heels and skirt are killers.¡± Sora rolled her eyes, yet there was a smile on her lips. ¡°Oh, shut up. How many girls have you given that line? And I see you¡¯re a leg guy, huh? I don¡¯t know how Wendy can tell with guys, but she¡¯s, like, 80% right on what guys like, I swear.¡± Aiden tilted his head as he led them into the dirty alley, vanishing from public view. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I¡¯m only a leg kind of guy,¡± he considered. ¡°You do have some ankles and feet there, too, ya know.¡± ¡°Ooh. Go on!¡± Sora pressed, imagining herself holding a knife to his neck; she was a killer today! ¡°What is so great about my ankles and feet?¡± ¡°Hold up. Hold up,¡± Aiden defended. ¡°I need to address your previous question. And for your information, I have said that to another lady.¡± ¡°Hmmm? What kind of lady? The monster kind?¡± Sora¡¯s stare demanded answers, yet the bird wasn¡¯t budging with that smug smile that said he had her. ¡°Nope. Entirely human, and only once¡­ to a cute 8-year-old in Yemen, who loved to hang onto my shirt and hide behind me. No one over 8, though, so take that how you will,¡± he said with a laugh, obtaining total victory. ¡°Aww. That is adorable,¡± Sora cooed, imagining it and thinking back to her world travels. ¡°I¡¯ve been to a lot of places¡­ but nowhere like that. You went to a lot of wartorn places, huh? I guess monsters would congregate near those areas.¡± A bittersweet crease came to the boy¡¯s eyes as he opened the door for her to enter first. ¡°I like bringing smiles to children. It¡¯s¡­ something else to see real starvation. It makes you grateful for what you have. Let¡¯s get to the main topic, though.¡± ¡°Me?¡± Sora asked, showing him a toothy grin that made his chest shake with laughter. ¡°I mean, we could discuss the difference in tail length between Kari and you, if you want¡ªnot that shorter tails are bad¡ªbut we could get philosophical on it,¡± he mused, waving at the server, who guided them to the VIP room without a word. ¡°For one, you don¡¯t get it caught in sliding glass doors! That¡¯s a plus, right?¡± ¡°Dangerous line, Bird Boy,¡± Sora giggled, enjoying herself as she gave him a light glare. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that is a segway for you to ask how Kari¡¯s doing, and she is doing great! I gave Eyia to her for the day. If there is anyone who can pull Kari out of her slump, it¡¯s that adorable blonde! I¡­ am a genius.¡± ¡°Bravo!¡± Aiden clapped, sliding forward to pull out her chair and scoot her in. ¡°I hope you¡¯re hungry because I told the cooks that today is a special celebratory dinner!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Hands pressing into her lap after adjusting her sitting position and skirt, she looked at the firebird¡¯s warm, welcoming face as he took off his jacket and placed it over the chair¡¯s back. ¡°What are we celebrating? I thought this was more or less a business meeting on Sela¡¯s trial.¡± Taking his seat, Aiden leaned against the table to stare into her eyes, making her heart thump a little, for some reason; it wasn¡¯t like this was an actual date. They were just playing around. There was a look in his colorful irises that she¡¯d never seen a guy give her, though. ¡°The day when my family is recovering. Eric is happy to have an entire organization to tell him where challenges lie and where he can assert his dominion.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Sora felt as if cold water had been dumped over her head, making her ears fall back a little with a bitter taste that entered her mouth. ¡°Yeah, wooh¡­ Eric is happy.¡± Aiden¡¯s smile grew, and the attendant left their menus on the table, making his exit to let them determine what they wanted. ¡°Not just Eric. Kari has found a certain fox who she can be herself with, and who knows, maybe become friends.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Kari¡¯s a cute puppy that tries to act like a wolf,¡± Sora mumbled, picking up her menu to scan the items. ¡°I¡¯m starting to like having her around, which is causing some friction with Wendy, but I¡¯ll handle it.¡± ¡°And¡­ there it is!¡± Aiden chuckled. Sora¡¯s ears rose again, looking over her menu to see him now sitting back, arm slung over the back of his chair as the boy stared at her. ¡°There¡­ what is?¡± ¡°The girl who put a spell on me¡­ You are something else, Sora.¡± ¡°Huh? I didn¡¯t put a spell on you¡­¡± she trailed off, throat going dry at the curious, searching stare Aiden was giving her, looking truly puzzled and intrigued. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± she slowly asked, lowering the menu to the table as a hand gripped her lungs. The corner of Aiden¡¯s lips pulled up into a half-smile as he shook his head. ¡°You are not like any other girl I¡¯ve met, and I¡¯ve met a lot of girls across the world. Your best friend is having trouble with you trying to mend bridges with your worst enemy, yet you just say you¡¯ll handle it like that isn¡¯t something special.¡± Throat feeling scratchy, she choked. ¡°Come again?¡± Aiden wasn¡¯t going to let her off the hook, though, and she recalled that this good-natured, kind blond boy had lived a very dangerous life and had constantly run into battlefields. There wasn¡¯t much he was afraid to say or do. Am I reading this right? she internally cried, heart thumping like a rabbit. ¡°I want to figure you out, Sora Moore,¡± Aiden smoothly continued, maintaining eye contact. ¡°You¡¯ve captivated and impressed me more than any other woman I¡¯ve met. From bullied teenage girl to radiant vulpes princess, charging forward to take everything she wants and daring anyone to stand in her way. Whenever you cross my mind, I can¡¯t get that moment when we first met out of my head: the boldness and courage you showed.¡± He looked way too comfortable talking, as he chuckled and gave her a dashing smile. ¡°You put a spell on me because you inspire me, Sora. I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anyone else I¡¯d want as an example for my sister, and I don¡¯t think there is a stronger way to express it other than that. You¡¯re amazing, Sora, and I look forward to getting to know you better.¡± Trying not to stumble over her words or let her face flush, Sora felt like she¡¯d been punched in the chest as she cleared her throat. She was in dangerous territory and needed to navigate these rough waters because she was starting to see herself approaching a slope. ¡°Thank you¡­ Hehe. That¡­ was so sweet of you to say. Umm, should we order and talk about Sela? I don¡¯t know when Ember will wake up and tell us it¡¯s time to go.¡± Aiden held up his fingers and snapped them, creating a multi-colored spark that zipped through the door to call their server. ¡°Let¡¯s do it. What¡¯s the plan?¡± B2 — 14. Someone To Rely On Sora settled in for a verbal and emotional battle of wits with Aiden. She rubbed her menu, trying not to think about the rising pressure in her chest. ¡°What¡¯s the plan, hmm? Well, that¡¯s kind of a bit of a story. Where should I begin?¡± Contrary to her thumping heart¡¯s expectations, Aiden melted her tension like warm butter as he picked up his menu and said, ¡°Yeah, no need to rush right now. We have all of breakfast to get through. I was thinking about the American Southern classic: breakfast for lunch! Biscuits and sausage gravy, maybe with some bacon and hash browns¡­ Orange juice or apple?¡± She smiled as he looked up at her, flipping his menu around to see the giant pitcher of juice he had on his mind. ¡°Orange, definitely orange juice. I might go with some cinnamon rolls¡ªlike, the good kind!¡± ¡°Ooh. Nice. Sweet tooth in the morning, huh? Respect. Respect. Uh, maybe it would be better just to get a handle on how you¡¯ve been overall leading up to this whole Sela incident.¡± The server entered the room with some ice water. Aiden seemed to be done with his order because he set his menu down, smiled, and gave her his full attention as the dolphin man placed their water in front of them. ¡°So, let¡¯s take it slow, order our morning fuel, and you can tell me whatever comes to mind. I cleared my whole day. There¡¯s no rush here, and I¡¯d like to get to know not only this situation but also you a lot better. Start wherever you want.¡± The tightness in her chest streamed out as he gave her all the power to direct this conversation; he¡¯d come out and said exactly what he wanted, and then gave her the court to set the rules however she wanted. He¡¯s such a good, proactive guy¡­ Adjusting her white skirt to buy herself time, Sora crossed her legs and calmed her turbulent stomach. Aiden¡¯s only a year older than me, but he¡¯s run a huge monster organization and traveled the world. Maybe I should learn more about him, too. Holding up her menu, her lips lifted as she pointed at the various items. ¡°Can I get all of this, including whatever good piece of wood that a Fire Fairy might like¡ªmaybe a variety tray? She¡¯s a bit sleepy right now in my hair,¡± she laughed, directing their attention to the bundled-up little woman in her flaming locks. The man chuckled and nodded before surprising her with a respectful bow. ¡°Of course, Lady Moore. And might I say that I am very thankful for what you have done for my community; Aiden informed many of our leaders, and your deeds are spreading fast. I now feel so free and safe since Lord Aiden, and you have taken Miami under your wing. Tammy has spoken nothing but praise.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flicked up, her focus darted to Aiden before returning to the man. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I¡¯ve done much. Aiden is the one handling everything. I¡¯m just doing what I think is right.¡± Aiden chuckled, fingers running through his blond hair. ¡°To be fair, Sora, you are the one that made all of this possible. Take a little credit; you¡¯re making people¡¯s lives better. You¡¯ve certainly made my life better. I went by Tammy¡¯s house earlier, and her girls are setting up a little thankful shrine in their house.¡± ¡°A what?¡± Sora asked, lifting an eyebrow and hoping she wasn¡¯t becoming a religious figure. ¡°I have shrines dedicated to me?¡± He waved his hand as their server smiled and started writing down her order. ¡°Nothing religious. It¡¯s a part of their culture to wake up in the morning and give thanks to everyone they¡¯re thankful for and to wish them well, vocalizing what they¡¯re grateful for in order to bring positivity to their day. Important people that cause great change have special places in that shrine.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet,¡± Sora whispered, feeling warm inside as she thought about the dolphin woman server at the restaurant. She looked up at the dutiful man. ¡°I hope to tell her in person, but if I don¡¯t see her for a while, can you tell her that I¡¯m happy to help? I¡¯d like to visit her home some time and see how things are going.¡± He moved on to Aiden¡¯s orders as the firebird pointed to the items he wanted, keeping his gaze on her, though, showing he had a wide field of vision. ¡°I am sure she will be tickled at the prospect of you paying her a visit, Lady Sora¡­ I will have these out for you within the next ten minutes.¡± Sora fiddled with her fingers in her lap as he left, now feeling the positive vibes herself as she looked up at the handsome blond, waiting for her to continue. ¡°Do they have to call us Lord and Lady? I¡¯d like to make things less¡­ formal. Is that okay?¡± ¡°It¡¯s their culture,¡± he shrugged. ¡°I feel you. It¡¯s just a lot easier for them to see things in a hierarchy of social dynamics. I try to respect other cultures as best I can unless it conflicts with my morals, and I think I can stomach being called Lord if it makes them comfortable.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± she chuckled, relaxing a bit more and breathing in the warm atmosphere of the monster restaurant, its wealth of tantalizing foods making her mouth water. ¡°I will say that this place has the best service I think I¡¯ve ever had, and they get the food out so fast. I¡¯m always impressed. ¡°So, back to the subject at hand,¡± she prompted. ¡°Can we start with a bit of a preface when everything started changing for me¡ªjust a bit before I met you in that meeting?¡± The firebird held up his hand, giving her the floor. His attentive, soft rainbow eyes welcomed her to take him into the tale. ¡°Alright, well, it began when I met Daisy¡ªdo you know Daisy?¡± Taking a sip of his water before setting it down, Aiden¡¯s lips fell a tad. ¡°Daisy, the blonde one-quarter succubus, who Yez¡¯ela bullied into serving her ends? Yeah. I made it a point to meet just about everyone connected to our organization. So, I had the pleasure of being introduced to you due to Daisy, huh? Interesting. Go on.¡± Sora¡¯s smile grew as she began the story, telling him about the path that had brought her into contact with Sela. The Unseelie¡¯s playful games as she picked apart her magical weaves, not all that concerned about her as a threat, leading to the contract she¡¯d made with the gray-skinned woman. When Sela¡¯s whole kingdom began to fall apart and she took shelter by her side, thereby taking a more direct role in supporting her against Jenny and Devin. How her mother purged the contract she¡¯d made with the Unseelie, yet she still felt somewhat uneasy about leaving the woman to just die, which could mean she was a bit too soft. Aiden shook his head, leaning back as their server brought out their food with two other attendants, who began setting them on their table. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say you¡¯re soft, Sora. I mean, you were anything but soft in that stadium, standing up to Eric and supporting Kari when it seemed like a hopeless situation.¡± Sora¡¯s ears tilted to the side with her lips. ¡°Well, to be fair, my best friend¡ªlegal sister now¡ªwas kidnapped and held hostage at the time. I didn¡¯t have the luxury of being soft, and I kind of feel a little bad about how hard I pushed Kari, looking back. I was pretty harsh to her when she was in such a vulnerable place¡­ that I put her in for Wendy¡¯s sake.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Aiden sucked in his cheek to lightly chew on it for a moment as he accepted the biscuits and gravy, using his fork to cut it up. ¡°I think you did the best you could, given the circumstances, and if you are feeling guilty, then just make it up to her now, which¡­ I think you are doing it in spades already.¡± He took his first bite, Sora doing the same with her deliciously warm and gooey cinnamon bun. ¡°As I understand it¡­ you didn¡¯t even like Kari until very recently. Maybe like is still a bit too soon?¡± he asked with a laugh. Sora shook her head, rolling her eyes and glancing off to the side as the servers bowed and left them alone. ¡°No, I¡¯d say I¡¯m starting to like her. I am friends with her, after all, and you have to at least like people a little to get to that stage. Honestly, I think Eyia and her will have more in common, which is¡­ interesting, considering their past. Why are we talking about Kari again? We¡¯re supposed to be talking about Sela,¡± she jokingly accused. Aiden chuckled and shrugged. ¡°It just came up in conversation. Maybe I¡¯m just looking forward to seeing my little sis happy again. I¡¯m guilty of that,¡± he admitted. ¡°So, I think we¡¯re at Sela and the fae Court? You and High Queen Titania are cooking up a plan to stop her execution?¡± A small, cute voice came from behind Sora as Ember stretched out. ¡°The wha¡­ We¡¯re doing what¡ªfae Court eats daisies? Aaah! Lady Sora¡ªblackwood¡ªI smell blackwood and redwood bark! Breakfast!¡± The Fire Fairy flew out of her hair to settle, cross-legged in the middle of the plate of woods to gorge herself. ¡°Thank you, Lady Sora!¡± She bit into a piece, causing sparks to flash as she chewed, but she soon froze. ¡°Wait¡­ is this for me?! Oh, no! I¡¯m sorry!¡± ¡°No, no, you¡¯re fine, Ember,¡± Sora giggled, spinning the plate a little so she could see them both. ¡°We¡¯re just getting to the good part. Essentially, Titania thinks I can purify the Negative Force in Sela to cleanse her corruption and cure her.¡± The chunk of wood fell from Ember¡¯s hands into her lap, causing the Fairy to yelp. ¡°Huh?! Ack! No-ho-ho, my legs are going to bruise¡­ Wait, you can actually cure The Darkness¡¯ corruption, Lady Sora?! My cousin, and grandpa, and great-great-grandpa, and my dad,¡± she counted off her hand, ¡°and, uh¡­ like so many Fairies in my family were taken by it.¡± Aiden furrowed his brow, using a napkin to wipe his mouth. A hesitant look crossed his brow as he slowly articulated his thoughts: ¡°Purifying¡­ Negative Force? No, I can do that¡ªit¡¯s what I did with you¡ªbut you¡¯re different. You¡¯re¡­ extremely adaptable. What you¡¯re saying is that you want to purify the very corrupted Essence of Sela, but¡­ that would kill them since you¡¯re burning everything out of her. She is a being of Negative Force now. You can¡¯t bend steel and fix it without totally reforging it, kind of thing.¡± Sora folded her ears to the side as she thought. ¡°No, Titania said it was impossible, too¡ªwell, not for my mom¡ªbut I just need the power and skill to do it. Sela¡¯s energy is way larger than mine since she was a total bitch and pretended to be weaker than she really was to make me worry about her since¡­ as a Fairy Queen¡ªprincess?¡± She scratched her elbow, thinking back to what Titania had told her about the tragic end of Sela¡¯s kingdom. ¡°Sela was a princess of a kingdom before being corrupted¡­ and then she killed her parents and brought The Darkness to her whole kingdom. She is a lot more skilled than me, so, as Titania said, it¡¯s a numbers game that I can¡¯t win how I am, but¡­ but¡­¡± Aiden leaned against his fist, elbow resting on the table as her mind blanked. ¡°Something wrong? Let me guess, she didn¡¯t actually tell you the process before leaving?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ actually,¡± Sora laughed. ¡°She woke up Ember, and that distracted me before she vanished in Fairy dust, telling me she had to prepare a bunch of stuff. That¡¯s the story.¡± Considering her explanation, the blond played with his fork, spinning it around his palm. ¡°Fae can be that way when excited, expecting you to connect all the dots they did. Hmm. Well, if the High Queen sees a way to do it, then it¡¯s a sure thing,¡± he smiled, dispelling Sora¡¯s rising tension at a possible conflict. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t want to be embarrassed in her court¡­ So, when do we leave?¡± Sora brought his gaze to the Fire Fairy, happily munching away on her wood again. ¡°Ahem. Ember?¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± Ember¡¯s lunch dropped from her fingers again as if she¡¯d been caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. ¡°Ack! Mmmgm-hmm-hmm! My poor legs¡­ Uh, when is the daily fae Royal Court meeting? Let¡¯s see¡­¡± She lifted her hand to wave a flaming, magical clock, mumbling to herself, ¡°Adjust for Grand Tree Time¡­ realm differential¡­ Uh, what time is it here, and what time zone?¡± she asked, big eyes rising to look at her. ¡°I don¡¯t know where we are.¡± ¡°USA Eastern Time Zone,¡± Aiden replied. ¡°We¡¯re in Miami Beach, Florida, and it is¡­ 2:43 p.m.¡± ¡°2:43 p.m. in the Eastern Time¡­ I don¡¯t know this one,¡± she said with a sheepish smile, scratching the back of her flaming head. ¡°Do you know what the current time is for USA¡¯s Central Time?¡± ¡°1:43 p.m.,¡± Sora responded with a laugh. ¡°One hour difference.¡± ¡°Oh, easy!¡± Ember scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ going to start in three hours and seventeen minutes. Hah! Wait¡­ it takes like¡­ three hours to get there from your portal! Ahhh!¡± Ember¡¯s hair flared as she darted into the air. ¡°Ahh! I overslept! I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m such a failure! We¡¯re going to be late! My mom is going to water-slap my butt!¡± Sora giggled and got to her feet, calling her purse. ¡°I¡¯m sure we can make it on time, and Oberon said he¡¯d buy us time. We didn¡¯t eat a lot, but I¡¯m good for a rain check on lunch.¡± ¡°Maybe dinner if we have time,¡± Aiden said, rising to put on his suit jacket and pulling out his phone. I¡¯ll have my driver take us back; it should put us on schedule so we don¡¯t need to rush. ¡°You could also use your magic to put it all in a box for us to go and eat on the way. Thoughts?¡± Eyes lighting up and tail wagging, Sora nodded, sending the desire and causing the food to lift off the plates and bowls, including their refreshments. ¡°Good thinking!¡± Aiden snapped his fingers, sending a spark message to their server. ¡°They should have the containers ready by the time we check out. Shall we?¡± he asked, stepping around the table and offering his arm with a charming smile. Feeling as light as air and more like a vulpes by the minute, Sora took his arm. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be on-brand to arrive fashionably late to a fae trial?¡± ¡°You are a fox, after all,¡± he laughed. ¡°Coming, Ember?¡± ¡°Just gathering the wood! Hehe. Yeah, Mom can¡¯t blame me. It was Lady Sora¡¯s fault I was late. Totally not my fault!¡± Sora snickered as they walked with him toward the front, a host of floating goods trailing behind them; the Fire Fairy¡¯s personality was telling as to what awaited them in Avalon. I¡¯m actually having a lot of fun! she internally cheered. Aiden makes everything seem so much simpler. Maybe it¡¯s because he¡¯s lightening the load? There¡¯s just so much drama at home, and he¡¯s like a breath of fresh air. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Their bill booklet was already waiting for them at the front, and more servers were coming out of the kitchen with Tupperware provided to store their leftovers, including utensils. Sora¡¯s smile grew as a few nervous patrons waved at them, her ears burning a little as her name was passed through conversations. It seemed her presence was becoming known in the Miami community. Before she could get the check, Aiden signed for it, giving her a wink and adding a healthy tip that was larger than she¡¯d planned to give; he really was a great guy, and apparently, he had money, too. She directed their food into the plastic, neatly placing it for travel and sealing the tops. Her tail swayed behind her as they left the restaurant, being careful not to beat the back of Aiden¡¯s leg¡ªwhich would be embarrassing¡ªby lifting it up a bit. The hot Miami sun blazed down on them as they entered the alleyway. A fancy new luxury car, parked by the street, waited for them like a carriage for a princess. She really was starting to feel special after so many years of ducking girls around corners and trying not to be noticed. Now, everything had changed, and she held her head high. ¡°By the way, I love your blouse and skirt. The black belt on the white really sets a tone, and the angled cut of the skirt looks stunning on you.¡± ¡°Thanks; Wendy picked it out with me. I¡¯m going to get her a matching set. I should pierce my ears, though, so I can wear earrings again. Thoughts?¡± Trying not to let her cheeks burn too much and glad to have Ember to offer distractions, Sora¡¯s heart fluttered a bit at the compliment. The pressure in her chest rose as Aiden opened the door for her, allowing her to fold her skirt under and swing her legs inside. The disguised, elderly driver she¡¯d seen last week didn¡¯t say a word, acting super professional. ¡°Hold that thought.¡± He grinned and closed the door, walking around to the street-side to join her. Ember zipped in just before it closed to sit on her bare shoulder, tittering a little at her bruised legs. ¡°Mhm! It¡¯s really elegant, Lady Sora. I want one, too! Earrings are cute on the Fairy Queens and High Fairies that can grow big.¡± ¡°I doubt we¡¯ll be able to get one in your size, Ember.¡± ¡°Aww. It is adorable, though¡­ How do you get it to stay on when it isn¡¯t on your shoulders? Wait, is that a collar attached to it? Is it a slave shirt?!¡± ¡°Haha! What?¡± Sora asked, hand rising to the choker that the top¡¯s strap connected to. ¡°No, it¡¯s a fashion piece that keeps the bust from sliding down too far, see?¡± ¡°Oooh. That¡¯s fancy. We just use magic for stuff, but I didn¡¯t sense you using any of it. It¡¯s super beautiful¡­ I want one so bad now.¡± Aiden chuckled as he slid beside her, having had to wait a second for traffic to clear so he could jump inside. ¡°We may be able to work out something with some of the communities around Miami. There are some amazing Fairy designers that have met with me, interested in coming to Miami now that the Unseelie aren¡¯t roaming everywhere.¡± ¡°No way! I¡¯d love that sooo much!¡± Ember chimed. ¡°It¡¯s so pricey in Avalon. The Star Rubies it would cost to have custom outfits is ridiculous! Most people wear the mass-produced stuff, which is boring! It¡¯s so different here on Earth,¡± she whispered, floating over to press her face against the glass and look at all the tourists and locals going about their business. Aiden cleared his throat to draw her attention, shifting in his seat to study above her head. ¡°You were asking about earrings and piercings, right?¡± ¡°Oh, uh, yeah,¡± she smiled, thighs pressing together as she absently lifted her fingers to brush her hair over her shoulder and poke at her sensitive ears. ¡°In artwork, fox girls with different earrings look super cute, so I guess I should ask if there are any places that do fox ear piercings. Are there?¡± Ember zipped between them, her small face alight with excitement. ¡°My sister does piercings for vulpes and all other kinds of creatures! She lives not too far from the capital. I can introduce you; it¡¯s super fast, and I can probably get it done for free!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sora nodded, holding up a thumb. ¡°I¡¯d like that. Is that, like, a really big profession in Avalon?¡± ¡°Ohhh, no-no-no,¡± Ember quickly shook her head. ¡°Big Sis Trista is the failure in the family¡ªeven bigger than me, when I¡¯m in my 35th year at the academy and still haven¡¯t graduated¡ªMom and she have been in a big fight for four centuries now. Lots of drama. But Big Sis Trista likes me! I¡¯m the baby in the family,¡± she grinned. ¡°Cute,¡± Sora chimed, holding out her hand for Ember to sit on. ¡°I¡¯d love to meet your big sister.¡± ¡°That¡¯s convenient, but I guess Fairies have huge families,¡± Aiden hummed, rubbing his chin and still studying her perked-up ears. ¡°By the way, I¡¯d love to see some earrings on you, Sora. It¡¯s hard to picture right now for me. I¡¯ve never seen the artwork of vulpes; I¡¯m not on the internet much other than travel and communicating with people.¡± ¡°Fair,¡± Sora said, reminding herself that the blond had only been on Earth for three years. ¡°How about¡­ now?!¡± she said, using one hand to present her ears as she crafted an illusion of golden earrings. Ember was quick to clap. ¡°Very cute and sparkly! I love gold. It is super rare in Avalon since most of it was burned and thrown into the Cloud Sea after the Alchemy Wars, like, forever ago. Silver is big, though. We have lots and lots of silver¡­ and wood we can¡¯t eat,¡± she huffed, glaring off to the side. ¡°Did you know eating some of the World Tree is punishable by death? So unfair. Why do Wood Fairies get to enjoy it so much? Fire Fairy Discrimination!¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help laughing with Aiden at the thought of Fire Fairies rising up and burning down all of Avalon in their ravenous hunger. ¡°Was there any Fire Fairy uprisings in the past, Ember?¡± ¡°Wha¡ªthat was forever ago,¡± she balked, fiery wings fluttering with agitation. ¡°Sure, my mom was a part of it, but she was my age! How can you blame a little 50-year-old Fairy for what she did when she hadn¡¯t even reached her full wing growth? I mean, bah. Mom got to taste World Tree bark, though. I¡¯m so jealous.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure. I¡¯m sure,¡± Sora agreed, not knowing how to judge Fairy adolescence. ¡°So, you¡¯re 50-years-old? I¡¯m sixteen!¡± ¡°Seventeen, here,¡± Aiden offered. ¡°Ted?¡± Their elderly driver looked into the mirror with a straight face. ¡°A spry thirty-four, Master Aiden.¡± Sora choked, unable to believe him because of his gray hair and wrinkles; of course, she hadn¡¯t looked past his disguise to see what lay underneath. ¡°You look great, Ted!¡± Ember crossed her arms and flatly shook her head. ¡°I call Toad Lilies, you¡¯re not thirty-five!¡± ¡°Thirty-four,¡± Aiden corrected. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what I said?¡± Ember questioned, putting a finger to her mouth. ¡°Yeah, not thirty-three either. Joking! Joking! Hehehe. You fell for it! He¡¯s totally thirty-one.¡± ¡°Good guess, Madam Ember,¡± Ted congratulated, pulling into the hotel front entrance. ¡°I hope you have a lovely trip.¡± Aiden reached up to pat his shoulder. ¡°Thanks, Ted, and¡­ totally taking the wind out of my sail, boys,¡± he said as the door attendants stepped forward to open the door for Sora to exit. Winking at the dull-eyed firebird, Sora lifted her tail and slid out. ¡°Too slow, Bird Boy. Better luck next time! You¡¯re in my wheelhouse now.¡± Ember settled on her purse as it floated after her, Aiden jogging to keep up. ¡°So, you¡¯ve got a portal to Avalon inside your hotel?¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Cool, huh?¡± ¡°Very cool. This will be my first time in Avalon. You?¡± ¡°Mhm! I¡¯m excited. We¡¯re going to take a flying boat, right, Ember?¡± ¡°Only if you don¡¯t have wings¡­ or weak wings,¡± Ember mumbled, glancing back at hers with a frown as she fluttered them. ¡°I was born with weak wings, but Mom says they¡¯re still growing, and I¡¯m a late flarer.¡± Flarer? I guess that¡¯s a word for them. ¡°Ahh.¡± Aiden crossed his arms and nodded matter-of-factly. ¡°It¡¯s the same for a certain girl with a tail, I know. She just has to give it some time, and maybe it will grow out a bit more.¡± ¡°Rude!¡± Sora¡¯s fur stood on end as she brought it around to hug, the stone-faced Foundation guards opening the doors for them. ¡°My tail isn¡¯t short, Aiden! I can easily touch the tip of my ears with it, and so what if Kari¡¯s is longer and thicker; she¡¯s been a wolf all her life¡ªI bet she was born a wolf pup!¡± ¡°Woah, woah!¡± Aiden laughed, raising his hands to defend himself from her light glare. ¡°I was talking about Vivian¡¯s tail.¡± Ears rising, Sora leveled a quizzical eye at the firebird. ¡°And who¡¯s Vivian?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Ember backed her up, ¡°who¡¯s this Vivian foxy? Is she rubbing her tail all over you?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Say what?¡± Sora¡¯s bewildered stare matched Aiden¡¯s as the narrow-eyed Fire Fairy searched the boy for answers, and she wasn¡¯t backing down. ¡°There are only two reasons why boys bring up tail length when dealing with vulpes. One, they¡¯re trying to make the vulpes jealous and insecure about their tail-girl, or they like the tail-girl and are playing games.¡± She waved her hands around as if casting a spell; she was not. ¡°So, what is it, ¡®Bird Boy?¡¯ What games are we playing?¡± Aiden breathed in sharply and looked off to the side with a smirk. ¡°No, you¡¯re totally right, I misspoke. It wasn¡¯t a tail-girl but this short-winged Fairy I know¡ªnot well, but well enough.¡± Sora laughed as Ember¡¯s face turned bright pink. ¡°Wha-What is that supposed to mean? You¡¯re talking about me!¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say that,¡± Aiden snickered, entering the elevator with her as it opened, Ron greeting them. ¡°There¡¯s just this fiery Fairy¡ª¡± ¡°A Fire Fairy? I¡¯m a Fire Fairy, and I have short wings! What does that mean?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t say it was a Fire Fairy; I said, ¡®A fiery Fairy.¡¯ It could just be a Water Fairy.¡± ¡°No! No one talks about Water Fairies like that; you¡¯re sparkle-faced, hiding behind dazzling white teeth, big grins, and fancy word games. I¡¯m onto you, Birdy! You can¡¯t fool a Fire Fairy. We¡¯re very quick to jump to conclusions¡ªthe right quick conclusions!¡± Sora was very happy Titania had Ember guide her; she was a treat, and her stomach was hurting by the time they got to the personal realm her mother had crafted for her, listening to Aiden tease the very assumptive Fairy. Ron whistled as the doors opened, having stood off to the side to watch the firebird and Fairy¡¯s verbal battle with her. ¡°Wow¡­ Uh, I heard about this, but this is my first time seeing it. Can¡­ I take Steph here?¡± ¡°Absolutely; I insist!¡± Sora chimed, ears standing straighter as she listened to the floor above them. No one seemed to be in her suite, but hopefully, when she came back, things wouldn¡¯t have collapsed into the end of the world. Knock on wood. ¡°Take her on a date when she gets back.¡± ¡°I will! Well, have fun wherever you¡¯re going.¡± ¡°Avalon. And I¡¯ll bring back a souvenir for you!¡± Flipping around, hands held behind her back, she tuned out Aiden and Ember¡¯s banter to study the vast, gorgeous skies with their celestial view of galaxies and moons. The pathway was done, the landscape further terraformed with the fae¡¯s touch, with a few facilities that could be used¡ªeven a giant mansion tree she needed to explore later with the other girls. Aiden held up a hand, colorful eyes scanning the fantasy world they¡¯d walked into. ¡°You¡­ are so spoiled! You can¡¯t be serious. Kari would die¡­ She could roam and run all she wanted¡ªfind a quiet place of her own to sit down and read books¡ªit¡¯s perfect. There are so many things that remind me of Mom¡¯s realm.¡± ¡°Alva?¡± Sora asked, slowing her pace a little as Ember took a back seat, listening to their conversation from atop one of their warm, floating food containers. ¡°Or, umm, my mom talked to me a little bit about it, but are you talking about Alina, your actual mother?¡± Anxiety grabbed ahold of her chest as Aiden¡¯s awestruck expression tempered, his lips drawing in. ¡°Alina¡­ Is that her name?¡± He shook his head, showing a fake smile that didn¡¯t hide anything with his very open aura. ¡°I never knew my birth mother; Alva is the only mother I ever knew, and she loved me like I was Eric, Kari, or Tiri. Yeah, this is like Alva¡¯s realm.¡± ¡°Sorry,¡± Sora whispered, her tail slowing in its beats as she considered his position. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to dig up bad memories.¡± ¡°What memories?¡± he laughed, digging his hands inside his suit pockets as he continued along the path toward the shimmering gateway. ¡°She left me as a gift for Alva; that¡¯s how much of that side of my family cares for their kids¡­ Worse than wolves. Anyway, like I said, you should show Kari this. Heh, although I bet once you do, you won¡¯t see her for a week or more!¡± ¡°I will,¡± Sora promised, drawing into her own mind as an awkward pause came to the conversation. Wendy¡¯s having trouble coming to terms with the fact that her mom abandoned her after she tried so hard to be a good daughter. Eyia was banished by¡­ her step-mom? Her father¡¯s wife. Weird. And she was forced onto this island that did nothing but try to kill her since she was, like¡­ five or something? Kari¡¯s mom made this plot to escape Fenris Territory that totally screwed up Kari, which I don¡¯t know how to feel about¡­ A fire lit in her chest as she internally growled, What is up with everyone¡¯s moms?! At least mine is coming home. Oh, yeah, Ember¡¯s mom apparently thinks she¡¯s a failure. I have no clue about Fen and Jian. What about dads?! Everyone¡¯s dad is absent, too! Well, except my dad¡­ but his dad is! I don¡¯t know who my grandpa is, and Dad is supposedly not ¡®totally¡¯ human, whatever that means, Mom! Eric¡¯s comment about Kari¡¯s dad now jabbed at her brain. He thinks her ¡®weak¡¯ side came from her father¡­ We know who Eric¡¯s dad is¡ªhe murdered him¡ªbut who are Tiri and Kari¡¯s dads? There really are a lot of missing pieces in our family trees. I¡¯ll have to ask Mom about it when she gets here. ¡°Something on your mind?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sora looked up at the blond next to her, a little anxiety still in his aura from her earlier question about his mother. ¡°Oh, just thinking about a lot of random stuff. So, this is Avalon, huh?¡± Stopping in front of the shimmering, misty portal, glowing in all shades of color, Sora gulped. ¡°Ember, do we just¡­ step through?¡± ¡°Mhm! Follow me. It should be coded to give you a pass when you enter. You can only get a pass by entering this side or getting permission from someone with a pass, but there¡¯s a procedure you need to do in order to give them one¡ªtypical security stuff.¡± ¡°Okay! Let¡¯s go.¡± Without waiting for them, Sora walked into the gateway. Blinking as her spelled heels stepped onto the even stone walkway on the other side, she closed an eye as a sharp gust pressed against her body, folding back her ears and bringing a nice, lavender scent. A magical desire managed her copper locks as they whipped to the side, her fluttering skirt and shoulderless top becoming more manageable with the spell. All thoughts left her mind as she stepped to the side of her lone gateway, situated on the edge of a cliffside, where a colossal plain of misty seas frothed and swirled in a twinkling haze. She shivered, but not from anything like a chill; the air hummed with a vibrant, pure magical radiance that longed to be molded like clay. The rushing roar of a surging river came from her right, where turquoise waters jetted out over the side like a geyser, making her belly squirm with delight. Looking up, her mouth parted in disbelief. The heavens opened up to a cosmic marvel of planets and wondrous fields of nebula-like clouds floating across a pristine tapestry of space, and they weren¡¯t alone. Thousands of sparkling figures and massive airships soared through it, be they Faires or other winged creatures, such as griffins. She even saw three giant dragons the size of a castle exit one of the cosmic clouds, where a partially obscured island floated or rested on the mist. She spun in a circle to watch the flying lizards swoop toward the giant stone and wooden academy¡ªAvalon Academy. ¡°We¡¯re¡­ in Avalon¡¯s backyard?¡± Ember swirled around her in a swirl of red light, giggling as she spun in a sharp circle to stop near her eye level. ¡°It feels so much easier to fly at home; I¡¯m weightless! Oh, uh, wow, wow, wow! Your home goes right to Riverside Gate. Lucky! You don¡¯t have to travel far. Oh, let¡¯s go to the boat; the next one is coming¡ªI can see it.¡± Sora didn¡¯t have much more time to absorb the magical world as the Fairy ushered them to a wooden dock to their right. On their jog to reach the boarding area, she noticed several more gateways similar to hers lining the cliffside. Only a few passengers waited, which made sense since this was the academy¡¯s off-season¡ªthe year wouldn¡¯t start for another two weeks. Ember got them onto the large flying boat, handling their boarding fee with some magical pass that was spelled onto her small silver wrist band. It was manned by very tall and handsome elven men, and their destination would take more than two hours to reach¡ªthe fae Royal Court. Sora leaned against the side of the railing, somewhat in a daze from the wealth of magical energy flooding her system; her ears were ringing, and her vision was a little spotty as she tried to adapt. Aiden seemed to be experiencing the same thing because he was a lot quieter than he¡¯d been thus far. She smiled and nudged his side, gesturing at the food they¡¯d brought. He breathed out the stress in his chest and laughed, nudging his head toward the upper deck area, where tables were set up for people to eat. ¡°Care to finish that conversation we had at the restaurant? I want to know more about your life. You are taking care of my sister, after all. I need to know you¡¯re not suspicious,¡± he winked, making her giggle. ¡°Oh, this fox is very suspicious, and she¡¯d love to chat.¡± Sora settled in for the two-hour flight, enjoying Avalon¡¯s magic-filled environment while passing the time with Aiden. Somehow, he managed to get her to talk about herself more than she could get him to discuss his past, which he claimed was boring¡ªshe doubted that¡ªhe just wanted to learn more about her. She was happy to oblige. Overall, Aiden was turning out to be someone she could rely on and talk to. By the time they arrived at the World Tree, she¡¯d told him all about Kari¡¯s life and how amazing it was that they were now budding friends. Life was a crazy adventure of twists and turns, which sometimes left you with a tail growing out of your butt, and fox ears atop your head¡ªwell, at least her life was like that. B2 — 15. Sela’s Trial Sora¡¯s jaw slackened as the veil of twinkling clouds parted, blown back by a warm rush of upward wind. What could only be described as a World Tree revealed itself; the branches were as large as Florida itself, and its roots far below spread into eternity. Awestruck, she rose to her feet, Aiden right beside her as they walked to the railing to take in the raw scale of the continent-sized scene that stretched around them. ¡°Ember¡­ how did we not see that until now? It¡¯s gigantic. Why is no one freaking out¡­ and the sky!¡± Staring heavenward to the cosmic wonders and several suns written in the branches and leaves overhead, she realized that the water-like view of space she¡¯d seen back at the academy had been this tree¡¯s leaves, the celestial bodies, its fruit. In the haze below were mushroom clouds with entire land masses and mountains sprawling across them. A vast ecosystem of colorful, giant fish floated through the vapor, dipping in and out in mesmerizing patterns in a sparkling dance. Creatures of all types flew through the air, and she spotted every kind of typical Earth weather¡ªand some completely alien¡ªspaced throughout the stunning vista. Ember giggled at their dumbfounded expressions and spun around them. ¡°It¡¯s the barrier, sillies! We passed through a Cloud Gate, which brought us to Avalon¡ªwell, everywhere is Avalon because Avalon sustains all of Avalon¡ªit¡¯s not complicated.¡± Aiden leaned forward, resting his arms on the rail with a small, upward tilt to his mouth. They zeroed in on one particular high branch that was filled with air traffic. ¡°To be fair, this is probably pretty normal for the citizens. Earth would be the alien world where there isn¡¯t a planet-sized tree sustaining everything. This is pretty cool. I gotta say, I¡¯m looking forward to trying out school in this place¡­ What about The Darkness, though?¡± Pulling into the stone-lined docks in their speedy airship, the elves said they¡¯d be stopping for 15 minutes. Ember motioned for them to get off, though. ¡°Obviously, The Darkness is below Avalon¡ªthe Underdark¡ªor that is what we call it,¡± she shrugged. ¡°It can¡¯t reach up here unless it is nighttime. It¡¯s why there¡¯s a curfew.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not trying to ask the obvious,¡± Sora laughed, walking after the Fairy as they entered the bustle to prepare to get off the boat, ¡°but why not make it always day then?¡± Ember shrugged. ¡°I mean, how are you supposed to stop that? Wouldn¡¯t you need to rewrite All of Avalon¡¯s physics to do that? I don¡¯t think even the High King and High Queen could do something that big. There is a lot of magic stuff, too¡ªThe Darkness swallows sunlight at specific times, even if you make a mini-sun!¡± Aiden nodded, arms crossed, glancing at the purse and empty food containers hovering after them. ¡°In short, The Darkness isn¡¯t so easily dealt with, which is what I got from High Queen Titania¡¯s explanation. A Neutral Force Realm on the top half and a Negative Force Realm on the lower half, due to¡­ reasons.¡± Sora figured he was being vague since he wasn¡¯t sure how much the population knew about The M¨®rr¨ªgan¡¯s corruption. It was interesting that, though the three Fae Founders were turned into Unseelie, their Realm didn¡¯t totally collapse into the source, which picked at her brain. Did that mean not all of them were corrupted, and maybe one or two were trying to combat their sister? If Founders were so adaptive, then couldn¡¯t they just cure themselves? There was a lot she didn¡¯t know, and that was one reason why she was going to school here. She stopped behind the crowd disembarking, and even with her tail and ears showing, no one gave her a second glance; it was nice not to have to hide who she was. As they pulled in, she even saw a few different furred vulpes working on the docks. ¡°How many vulpes live here, Ember?¡± The Fire Fairy held her hands behind her back while fluttering nearby, following her gaze. ¡°Not a whole lot, to be honest. Although, there is enough to have their own dedicated instructor in the academy. Most of them keep to themselves in their own little district. Oh! I heard they have an Elders Council that moderates them. Vulpes don¡¯t live all that long by Avalon standards, though.¡± Aiden forced a chuckle as a magical walkway formed to create a bridge for them to leave. They slowly shuffled onto it. ¡°A thousand years or two not being a long life is wild! I suppose I shouldn¡¯t talk since Founders are totally immortal and will never die from old age¡­ So, where do we go from here?¡± ¡°The next gate, silly,¡± Ember snickered. ¡°We can¡¯t get to the Fae Royal Court on foot if we ran for months! It¡¯s too far away; this is the right line over here.¡± Not questioning the Fairy further, Sora started to feel a little overwhelmed when spotting the hundreds of colorful gates lining the side of the tree branch. Avalon is so¡­ massive and confusing. Is this how Kari felt when I was pushing her last night? Hmm. Maybe I was being a bit too forceful. The shopping trip was probably too much¡­ Aiden¡¯s colorful eyes drifted to her, a frown touching his face. ¡°What¡¯s up, Sora? You okay? Do you want to stop for a minute?¡± Ember came to a screeching stop in the air. ¡°Huh-huh?! What¡¯s going on¡ªwhy are you hugging yourself, Lady Sora¡ªare you cold?¡± Sora blinked, not even realizing that she¡¯d hugged herself, and pulled her ears back. ¡°Oh, uh¡­ No, no, I¡¯m okay.¡± She smiled at Aiden¡¯s unconvinced stare. ¡°Ironically, I¡¯m just thinking about Kari.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± he laughed. ¡°When you accused me of bringing her up, and here you are bringing up my little sis. I¡¯ll bite. What¡¯s got you brooding about her? Worried about something? Anything I can help with?¡± Fingers moving to her elbow, Sora shook her head and pushed forward to indicate to Ember that they should keep moving. ¡°I¡¯m just putting myself in her shoes. All of this¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s a tad overwhelming¡­ A lot is overwhelming. ¡°Kari¡¯s felt so far gone¡­ forsaken for so long,¡± she whispered, mentally reviewing everything they¡¯d done last night. ¡°Here I come in, super strong and pushy, practically yanking her by the tail to change¡­ And I think I¡¯m being too forceful.¡± Aiden tilted his head to the side, taking note of her lowered tail and shifting, downcast gaze. ¡°What¡¯s brought this on so suddenly? I can tell something is really digging at you right now out of nowhere. Are you concerned you won¡¯t be able to save Sela?¡± Ember kept quiet as she guided them to an entirely empty portal walkway. The elven guards beside it let them by without a word, seeming to have expected them. Sora ignored her environment to better focus on the gut-cramping sensation rolling through her belly. Her copper locks weaved against her shoulders as she shook her head, fingernail picking a little at her elbow. ¡°It¡¯s nothing to do with Sela. It¡¯s just¡­ Kari¡¯s whole world exploded overnight. I can relate, but¡­ it wasn¡¯t so positive for her, and now I¡¯m worried. I¡¯ve felt what she feels. I know how she feels, and¡­ I still pushed her when I knew I could push her. I don¡¯t like that,¡± she bluntly stated, sucking in her bottom lip. ¡°I think it is how I would react as a vulpes, but¡­ I haven¡¯t always been a vulpes. Does that make sense?¡± Aiden sucked in his cheek while they walked through the many layers of security that opened up for them. ¡°¡­Okay, I hear you. You¡¯ve been really pushy¡­ like Kari and everyone else was to you at school?¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Sora mumbled, suddenly feeling a little dirty. ¡°Kari will do anything I say, and here I am, joking about collars and uncomfortable things I know would make me upset if the roles were reversed. It¡¯s not¡­ what a friend should do. Sure, joke and all, but pushing her into shopping and a whole new wardrobe when she¡¯s vulnerable?¡± Heat rose up her throat and into her nose as they neared the portal, reflecting on what happened when they returned home and she confronted Eric. How her brother¡¯s dismissal made her feel like Kari was trash to be thrown away for someone else to deal with. How her brother basically said that so long as she was chained to Sora¡¯s leg, he wouldn¡¯t be a part of her life¡ªit was conditional. ¡°Wow¡­ I¡¯m such an idiot,¡± she mumbled, running her fingers through her hair and blinking not to cry when the trauma of her years of bullying resurfaced. ¡°Hold on, Ember¡ªgive me a second¡­¡± ¡°Take your time,¡± Aiden soothed, a caring look softening his eyes as he held out his hand, rainbow flames flaring to life. She stained a laugh before hesitantly taking his firm hand, and a rush of warm fire crawled up her arm to embrace her whole body, making her not feel alone. ¡°Thanks¡­ Where was this three years ago for Kari, huh? Well, I guess Kari wouldn¡¯t have accepted it until¡­ yeah.¡± Aiden took a deep breath and nodded his head toward the swirling, open portal in front of them. ¡°Ember, is there a place we can rest for a bit inside?¡± ¡°Uh¡­ yeah. Yeah, there is! There is a lobby where people can wait to be checked in.¡± ¡°Great. Let¡¯s go in, and we¡¯ll cool off a bit. Just a little further, Sora,¡± he said, lightly tugging for her to follow. Expecting him to say something from the sensations he sent her, she allowed herself to be guided through the gateway. When the spiraling colors faded, a hollow, sizeable wooden room opened up to her, which looked like a super fancy hotel lobby. Stairs rose up three levels, leading further into whatever structure they¡¯d been transported to. Aiden took her to one of the empty circular booths, Ember zipping to the front desk, where a Nymph seemed to be working as the clerk. She lost track of the Fairy when the firebird sat with her, his voice calm and reflective as he lightly squeezed her fingers. ¡°I can¡¯t hope to imagine how challenging it is for you to fight certain things that come naturally to you, or to feel guilty for things you¡¯ve done. Nothing is broken, though. It can be fixed¡ªwhatever you¡¯re feeling. I¡¯m totally in left field here with my sister. Can you talk through what you¡¯re thinking?¡± Sinking back in the comfy cushion, Sora shook her head. ¡°I can¡¯t even really explain how Kari¡¯s feeling, and I felt it¡­ Her whole world is shattered. She has no confidence in herself. She practically feels like I¡¯ve made her into my doll¡­ and then I go dressing her up last night. Then Eric¡ªthat asshole Eric basically shoves her onto me like she¡¯s garbage.¡± Goosebumps ran up her arms as she chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep her throat front constricting. ¡°I¡¯m controlling what she does and told Eyia not to take no for an answer in getting her out. Sure, it would do her good to get out, but¡­ it¡¯s how I¡¯m going about things. I¡¯ve really been pushy lately, and I don¡¯t know if I like that. I did it to Daisy, Wendy, Eyia, Kari¡­ you. Hah! I could have gotten Fen killed by just charging forward and being pushy. I¡¯ve¡­ really changed.¡± Aiden leaned to the side to give her bristling tail a meaningful stare. ¡°You don¡¯t say¡ªyou changed, huh? I couldn¡¯t tell.¡± She laughed and shot a playful glare at the boy, knowing he was trying to lighten her mood. ¡°Yes. I have changed. Maybe it¡¯s just me realizing it. I did it with Wendy when I picked her up and jumped over the side of a bridge to investigate some feelings I had toward some homeless guys, the rash decision to stand up to the Florida Monster Council, and so, so many other things that have felt¡­ natural since changing.¡± ¡°Mhm. But¡­ not all of that has been good, is what you¡¯re saying,¡± Aiden nodded. ¡°Do you know what is good?¡± Sora rolled her eyes, somehow feeling a little better after Aiden prompted her to take a breath. ¡°I¡¯ve been dealing with so many new things, and don¡¯t get me wrong, a ton of it is really exciting and new¡­ but I¡¯ve been doing things that aren¡¯t right, too¡­ Like what I did to Mary, which she scolded me on.¡± Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not going to ask,¡± Aiden said with a supportive smile, ¡°because it doesn¡¯t concern me. What do you want to do for Kari, Eyia, and everyone else? You¡¯ve said what you don¡¯t like, so what can I do to help you do what you want to do?¡± A fire rolled through her belly at the stalwart expression Aiden gave her, willing to be someone she could rely on if needed. Her mother was right; he really was too good, which was his nature. Now she was doubting if he actually liked her or was just being his usual super-helpful firebird self. Putting that thought behind her to focus on more important things, she slipped his grip and set her heart. ¡°After today, I¡¯m going to ask everyone what they want to do. I want to let them make decisions in their own lives, instead of just running it for them, you know? Haaa. Can you help with that?¡± ¡°Not¡­ really,¡± Aiden returned, throwing his arms behind his chair and looking up to see Ember seemingly finishing their paperwork. ¡°Although, I suppose I could by pulling more weight off your shoulders from the Miami Monster Community to give you more time to hang with the girls. I¡¯m always up to hang, too, if Kari will have me around. Like you said, I don¡¯t want to push her¡­ She¡¯s been through enough.¡± His half-smile and sweet aura made her gulp as he ran his fingers through his ruffled blond hair and glanced at the stairs. ¡°That being said, I can always make time for Kari and you, Sora, so don¡¯t think you¡¯re bothering me if you need to talk or chill. Also, I wouldn¡¯t say being a little pushy toward Kari is a bad thing. ¡°Despite everything you told me about how she¡¯s been the last three years, Kari¡¯s never been a pack-kinda gal, I guess you could say. I can see in your story that she¡¯s trying to branch out and make friends, but she¡¯ll need some pushing to get the ball rolling.¡± He looked back at her as Ember zipped over to them. ¡°I guess what I¡¯m trying to say is, don¡¯t be too hard on yourself, Sora. You and Kari are doing your best, and she¡¯s not blind¡ªwhen she doesn¡¯t want to be,¡± he laughed. ¡°She sees you trying to be friends. Trust me. She sees your efforts, and she¡¯s working on getting through her own walls.¡± Her heart settled, and the pressure in her chest dissipated as they got to their feet. ¡°Is there anything that sets you off or flusters you?¡± Aiden lifted an eyebrow, stretching his arms out, and Ember bounced in the air to tell them what was happening next. ¡°I¡¯m pretty sure you saw me freaking out in that stadium. No, your dad is the impressive one. Damn, he¡¯s tough. The guts and nerve he had to shoot Jenny when she was on top of you, and you were struggling was¡­ Yeah, your dad¡¯s a badass.¡± ¡°He really is,¡± Sora whispered, joy and gratitude gripping her heart. ¡°My dad¡¯s a real badass¡­ He¡¯s worked hard to try and give me a good life. Sorry, Ember! What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°Oh! Oh! You¡¯re going into a High Court Trial?! I totally didn¡¯t even connect those dots¡ªlike, wow! It isn¡¯t every day a Fairy Queen or King is put on trial. I can¡¯t go in because it¡¯s all closed-door stuff, but I¡¯ll be waiting here snacking¡ªthey¡¯re giving me World Tree samples! Ahhh! It¡¯s a dream come true! Thank you, Lady Sora!¡± Sora glanced at Aiden, who looked as confused as her. A pretty Nymph phased out of the wooden wall behind their circular couch and approached them, further explaining. ¡°Lady Sora, Lord Aiden, if you could follow me to the courtroom, Avalon¡¯s nobility has been awaiting your arrival. Your refreshments will be out shortly, Ember.¡± They were quickly ushered off, and they didn¡¯t have to go far since the first large door opened when they neared. Walking inside, her gut cramped at the oppressive atmosphere that fell over them. At the end of the hallway, the area opened into a vast cosmic view of shooting stars, swirling galaxies, and celestial objects¡ªthey were inside some kind of massive, transparent fruit. Below them was a spiraling maelstrom of clouds that sparkled like stars, and hundreds of magically veiled figures hovered around the outer edges. She hadn¡¯t expected all of Avalon¡¯s nobility to be waiting for them to arrive. In the center of the room, a spotlight from a pulsing white sun overhead shone, casting a binding spell so powerful that it made Sora shiver and wonder if even Jin could break out of it. Her eyes fixated on the solitary, gray-skinned Unseelie floating in the middle of the pillar of light. Shackled by golden cuffs, she was suspended in the air before two thrones, her wings locked against her torso. ¡°Welcome, Lady Sora,¡± Oberon greeted. ¡°It seems my wife perfectly timed your arrival.¡± The High King of Avalon shifted in his chair to look at the mischievous woman who materialized next to him. ¡°Please, sit, Lady Sora, Lord Aiden. We will begin with the accusations levied against the former princess of Honeydew.¡± The Nymph bowed and left the way she¡¯d come. Sora glanced at her exit before moving with Aiden to a pair of rather amazing-looking thrones that materialized just outside the solar spotlight, on the opposite side of the High Queen and High King and at Sela¡¯s back. Titania¡¯s cheery smile and wave brought strength to Sora¡¯s belly at the judging eyes that were cast upon them. Her secretive voice whispered into her ears, making them twitch. ¡°Everything is in order, sweetie. We cannot talk about what we are going to do, or else Sela may resist it before it takes effect, and what we are doing is delicate. Follow my lead. You will have your turn, as well, Aiden.¡± Sora glanced at the firebird, who wasn¡¯t nearly as tense as her. She wished she could be as cool and collected as him or her dad, but she was kind of jumpy by nature. Wendy would often jump-scare her around Halloween when they were growing up; her best friend loved to make her scream when they were kids. Oberon stood and walked on air, the glow of the spotlight enveloping him as he lifted a finger; Sela rose to his eye level, her body quivering a little as she jolted, seemingly being woken up. By her silent struggles, she was gagged. ¡°Sela, Former Princess of Honeydew, you stand accused before Avalon¡¯s High Court. The charges brought against you are as follows: ¡°The dabbling in Shadow Research, resulting in your corruption into an Unseelie. ¡°The murder of your parents. First, you attempted to turn your mother into an Unseelie; she resisted to the point of her eventual spiritual death. Second, your father discovered your corruption hours too late to save his wife, and instead of informing this court, he secretly captured you, hiding your deeds in hopes of purifying you.¡± Oberon¡¯s dispassionate voice tinted with malice as he said, ¡°He failed. Instead, he allowed you many opportunities to manipulate him, leading to his own eventual death when you broke down his emotional walls. ¡°Due to your father¡¯s actions, no one was the wiser, which gave you the cover to bring The Darkness upon the entire Kingdom of Honeydew and created a devastating weakness within our defensive matrix. ¡°You killed millions of your own people, turning millions more into your faithful Unseelie subjects. When word reached the other nearby kingdoms, being the crafty woman you are, you knew you did not have the time to solidify this stronghold of The Darkness. ¡°You abandoned your ruined kingdom, leaving your parents¡¯ corpses for me to find, using a gateway in Honeydew to escape to Earth, where you have spread corruption and death¡­ until receiving justice at the feet of this court.¡± Sora winced and sank further into her chair with every accusation. She had to remind herself that Sela wasn¡¯t in control of who she was; The Darkness had turned her into this evil thing, and if there was a crying princess still inside her, calling out for help, Sora knew she would want someone to try to save her if she were in the same position. Oberon waved his hand between them, ungagging the Unseelie. ¡°How do you plead?¡± ¡°Heh-hahaha! How poetic¡­ Let me guess, Sora herself was the reason for the attention that brought my whereabouts to your ears. Ugh. Avalon¡¯s air makes me sick. Am I guilty? Yes, but only if you consider those crimes!¡± She dryly cackled, making Sora¡¯s fur bristle. ¡°Do not think you are any better than me, Oberon, Titania! She told me of your sins¡ªall of your sins! I am¡ª¡± The man sighed, waving his hand and gagging the Unseelie as her suspended body shook with laughter. ¡°The Darkness and its twisted half-truths, attempting to turn us against each other. Everyone holds their secrets, Sela¡­ the trouble comes when it affects those whom you are charged to serve and protect. Can you guess your punishment?¡± he asked, releasing her gag. ¡°Hmm-hmm-hmm! Well, obviously, death¡ªwhat other option is there? I prepared myself for this when that damned fox girl¡¯s mother weaseled her out of her contract with me. I will not beg. I no longer have any subjects to rule over in any case; The Foundation took care of that little loose end for you,¡± she spat. The liquid evaporated in the light, not moving an inch past her lips. Oberon tiredly shook his head, turned, and returned to his throne. ¡°I am sickened by the number of times I have been forced to do this over the last few centuries¡­ Tia, you have your opportunity to show the court your fruit. Even should it be successful, her crimes cannot be erased.¡± Sela¡¯s body straightened, now on guard as Titania¡¯s devious turquoise eyes narrowed, and the High Queen floated into the air, her large butterfly wings spreading out to display their elegance. The High Queen¡¯s light-pink lips lifted while floating into the light, her gaze sweeping the Unseelie¡¯s child-like figure as she circled the prisoner. ¡°No need to be silent, Princess Sela. Do you recall flying after my wings when you were but a little Fairy, unable to change your size? How you envied my wings, always comparing our colors and asking when yours would molt¡­ You were so adorable and innocent.¡± ¡°Eh-hehe. What are you planning, old woman,¡± Sela growled, now not sounding so confident. ¡°Torture me all you want with these sappy memories, but you never once looked at me. Thousands of princesses flock to your wings every year, only to be left feeling lacking and ugly. You are as ugly as I am with this gray skin and unsightly appearance on the inside!¡± Titania¡¯s dazzling teeth gleamed as she giggled, moving to her back, where Sela¡¯s wings went stiff, trying to flutter without effect. She gently motioned for Aiden and her to draw close. ¡°So, you think I¡¯m pretty on the outside! Aww, that¡¯s so sweet from an Unseelie. It pains me to think any poor girl would think less of themselves because of me. How cruel is it that all those wonderful memories we shared together were purged and twisted by The Darkness? I would like to correct that.¡± ¡°Correct what?¡± Sela choked out a laugh that became somewhat hysterical. ¡°You¡ªthere is no possible way this High Court would stand to watch you attempt what my father tried! Even with all the power Oberon and you have, Titania, I am who I am¡ªI am an Unseelie.¡± ¡°No,¡± Titania whispered, magically projecting instructions into Sora¡¯s mind that made her heart skip a beat, ¡°you were not born an Unseelie, Sela. You were a beautiful little Fairy princess with honey-blonde hair and the cutest smile¡­ I loved your golden wings, despite what you believe; every set of unique wings has its beauty when you¡¯ve lived as long as I have. I want to see your beautiful smile again, Sela.¡± Sora took a deep breath and glanced at Aiden, who nodded. The firebird took her hand and fed her with warm, purifying flames. As Titania had silently instructed, she spun her Desire Magic, matching Sela¡¯s Negative Energy and drilling deep into her Core. ¡°You¡¯re delusional!¡± Sela snorted. ¡°You¡¯ll kill me before¡ªSora! Sora, no¡ªstop!¡± Titania placed two fingers against Sela¡¯s forehead, eyes twinkling as she used the tunnel Sora carved to surge Positive Energy. ¡°Too late to struggle, dear,¡± she chortled, brushing back her messy bangs to lean in and kiss her head, ¡°you will learn how to feel again¡­ to know guilt, pain, and heartache.¡± Sora jumped as Sela screamed, her voice cracking as her entire body quivered, yet just like Yez¡¯ela, her pleas fell on deaf ears, the Negative Energy making her smile at her cries. Sela resisted, yet her struggles only tasted sweeter to Sora as she dug deeper to find the vulnerable spark of a soul within. She found it. ¡°Stop! Stop, Sora¡ªyou don¡¯t know what you¡¯re doing! This is torture, Sora¡ªshe¡¯s not trying to help me¡ªthis is all revenge! Stop! My chest¡ªI can¡¯t¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I¡¯m sorry, Mom¡ªDad, why didn¡¯t you kill me? Kill me! Stop! Make it stop! I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± The cold, callus walls that twisted around Sela¡¯s soul collapsed as she fell into the ocean of guilt; with broken wings, she fell, screaming as she experienced every horrific act she¡¯d done. Her mother pleaded for her to stop the corrupting force being forced into her soul, twisting it until her spirit flickered, and died. Her father¡¯s pain-filled screams for her to remember who she was and to come back to him. Millions of hands gripped her rekindled heart, ripping it to shreds. Yet, Sora was just getting to the best part; something buried deeper¡ªbehind iron gates Sela refused to look past¡ªjust as she was getting to the tender meat, Titania¡¯s gentle voice reached her. ¡°Place a seed here, Sora¡­ A restorative seed that will sprout and feed on the good within her to reverse this cursed infection afflicting her. It is a success!¡± ¡°No!¡± she snarled, anger exploding in her chest as she bathed in everything she hated about the Unseelie. ¡°She planned Howie¡¯s kidnapping; I know she did! She tried trapping me in a deal to save her sorry ass¡ªI¡¯m just getting to the best¡­ Huh?¡± All the odium melted away in a flash of rainbow lights, and the sadistic claws she¡¯d grown snapped as Aiden said, ¡°It¡¯s okay, Sora¡­ isn¡¯t this the best revenge?¡± Blinking, she looked up at her hand on Sela¡¯s trembling bare skin, claw marks drawing slivers of black blood down her back as her body quaked. ¡°Kill me¡ªstop this pain! Please, Sora¡­ Kill me¡­ I deserve it. Make me feel numb again!¡± Taking a calming breath, she saw Titania¡¯s sorrowful smile and nod, maintaining the path into Sela¡¯s Core. She suddenly felt weak after Aiden purged the Negative Force from her. Sora cast her gaze around the royal court, feeling their disgust and hate toward Sela; none of them would care that the Unseelie¡ªno, none of them would care that the fae was able to feel again. She¡¯d suffered; now, she could die, but that was not the High Queen¡¯s plan. Using all her power, Sora fed her desire to save Sela, condensing a moral seed of goodness within her Core to sprout and combat The Darkness. ¡°Sela¡­ I promised I¡¯d save you¡­ I¡¯m here to save you. You¡¯re not alone. We¡¯re here to help you.¡± Titania cut Sela¡¯s bonds, and she floated to the ground. Not soon after, Sora¡¯s legs became wobbly, and her vision darkened as the floor rose to meet her. Yet someone caught her before she hit the transparent ground¡ªSela¡¯s arms. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡ªMom, I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m sorry¡­ I can¡¯t¡ªwhy won¡¯t you let me kill myself? Please, please¡­ make it stop¡­ Make it stop.¡± Titania smoothly knelt down, her hands gently sliding around to support their heads as she whispered, ¡°Sleep¡­ I will handle the rest. You both did something special today. You have provided hope for reuniting with our loved ones.¡± With her vision washing out, Sora drifted into a forest of black thorns and emptiness, where a feminine voice welcomed her. ¡°Finally, a proper visit. Welcome, Little One. Stay a while, and rest¡­¡± B2 — 16. A Mysterious Rose Dull eyes passively wandering between the trees, entirely comprised of obsidian thorns, Sora¡¯s gaze lifted to the white canvas that was the sky; it was like a glass ceiling layered its entire expanse, and a raging blood sea spun beyond its protective sheet. Where am I¡­ Sela was being judged, and¡­ Did I pass out? Mind clicking into gear, she felt a feminine voice wrap around her, drawing her into the dense brambles. ¡°Don¡¯t be shy. I¡¯d just love a bit of company¡­ It¡¯s been so long since anyone visited.¡± Her lips parted in disbelief as she spotted a colossal shadowy disk in the sky as if it were the event horizon of a black hole. Around it, a radiant, golden crown of intertwined thorns circled, bloody chains seeping through the barrier covering the heavens to drip upon the black star. It was as if a vast maelstrom funneled all the crimson ocean to a single point, leaking onto the object. Yet, her focus didn¡¯t remain skyward for long. She was promptly spun around to float in front of the woman who had spoken to her¡ªor, at least, she thought she was a woman. Effulgent yellow eyes cut into seven pieces, appraised her, curiosity on her delicate, alabaster face. Shadowy thorns grew around the slim woman, and Sora wasn¡¯t sure if it was her hair or gown since it all flowed into one solid form. Her barbed locks flowed upward in random patterns before fading away. Tarnished gold designs branched out in a pattern throughout the strange covering, displaying a seven-pointed star pendant between her chest. Entirely at the mercy of this gentle force keeping her stable in nothingness, with an endless void of sharp thorns below her, Sora sobered pretty quickly. ¡°Umm. Who¡­ are you?¡± she nervously asked, feeling strange in the world she¡¯d entered before settling on an uncomfortable fact. ¡°What is this place? Oh, no¡­ You¡¯re imprisoned here, aren¡¯t you? I stumbled into a place I shouldn¡¯t have!¡± She started to panic a little upon spotting the bloody chokers, bracelets, and ankle clasps that gave her the distinct impression of a prison. It didn¡¯t take long for her to spot the ethereal chains rising up to the event horizon far above them. Upon further inspection, Sora¡¯s focus went from her dangerous-looking shoulderless dress to her bare shoulders and mostly covered chest, where pulses of yellow light ran as if veins. The woman tilted her head to the left, displaying a patent and kind smile. ¡°I am a prisoner, but not of Existence, or wherever you were, Child of Nihility. I could not harm you even if I wanted to, and why would I want to devour my child?¡± Sora¡¯s brain locked up, and her ears and tail went totally stiff as she swept the woman¡¯s alien appearance. ¡°Your what?! I don¡¯t think so, lady! I am so confused, right¡ªand why are you laughing?¡± ¡°Forgive me!¡± the entity chortled, the chains clinking as she lifted a hand to her breast, the thorn forest and black hole quivering with her shaking frame. ¡°I was only joking. Although you take more after me than my brother, I¡¯d say.¡± ¡°Can you just send me¡ªokay, eh-hehe, you gotta stop with these jokes!¡± Sora gagged, feeling totally whiplashed at her entertained giggles. ¡°I just want to go back. I¡¯ve got things to do, okay.¡± ¡°No, please,¡± she whispered. Her amusement faded, and she took a deep breath before letting it go. ¡°Allow me to explain. It¡¯s just¡­ hard not marveling at my little brother¡¯s creation. You do have his edges; I¡¯ll give you that,¡± she said as if a compliment. ¡°Slow down! This came out of left field, lady. I don¡¯t even know your name! And you¡¯re saying you¡¯re my, what¡­ aunt¡ªmy dad¡¯s big sister?¡± ¡°Is that so hard to believe?¡± She pushed her mouth to the side, looking somewhat perturbed all of a sudden. ¡°Rats¡­ It seems we¡¯re running short on time. Someone is following your path here to drag you back. You did impressive work for a fledgling, by the way, and yes,¡± she chimed, flashing her perfect teeth and trying to look cute, ¡°I am your aunt. What to call me, though¡ªnames are important to creatures of Existence, after all.¡± Her blinding gaze narrowed as if deep in thought as Sora processed what she¡¯d just said. ¡°Umm. How about¡­ Rose? All of this is more or less your subconscious trying to make sense of the Null-Void. I don¡¯t really look like this¡ªI look more like what you see above, which¡­ I guess could be intimidating for creatures of Existence. Hmm. You could say I am a blooming obsidian star¡ªBlack Star, that could be a good name. Thoughts, My Mysterious Niece?¡± Sora¡¯s head slowly shook as she strained a laugh. ¡°Rose¡­ is fine, I guess. Uh, yeah¡­ How am I supposed to believe you? Why did my mom not tell me about you?¡± ¡°Mom?¡± Rose glanced away again, mumbling, ¡°I¡­ guess you would have one of those. Huh. My dear little brother is far too much of a brute to make something so complex, elegant, and refined as something like yourself. I do love your curves and angles¡ªoh, your real body,¡± she corrected with a short snicker. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to get to¡ªoh, drat¡­ Oh. Sakura¡¯s little pet?¡± The fur on Sora¡¯s tail spiked, the sensation crawling up her spine to the hair on the back of her neck. Countless terrifying eyes with multiple pupils and irises inside each filled the space, examining everything¡ªthe Herald of Sakura. A sweet, motherly voice exited the void beside her, and cracks split open to reveal the blonde lady she¡¯d seen in her hotel lobby shortly after she¡¯d changed. ¡°What an¡­ annoying and, frankly, dangerous journey that was for me to make,¡± she whispered, twirling a parasol behind her. ¡°It is time to go, Sora¡­ before three certain pillars realize what you¡¯ve done.¡± ¡°What did I do?!¡± Sora stumbled back, somehow finding her feet on the 2D eye that opened up below her. ¡°All I know is that I¡¯ve seen some black thorns recently, and now I¡¯m here; I don¡¯t know what the heck is going on! Will someone explain? Is she my aunt or not? Where are we? Help me understand!¡± Rose nodded, but the blonde interrupted her while taking out a fan and sliding it open to hide her mouth. Her mild glare was fixated on her aunt, and Sora herself being drawn away from whatever force held her in place. ¡°Your restlessness is drawing your warden¡¯s gaze, Rose,¡± she chided. ¡°We are leaving. This is your problem, not Sora¡¯s or Founders¡¯. Things are only manageable due to Nilly and my manipulations, and I am not going to waste the energy it would require for you to abate your loneliness. It¡¯s¡­ hard enough just looking at you, which should say something, Sora. Your mother will be in a colossal bit of¡ª¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Rose¡¯s face creased with panic. ¡°Take my pendant, Sora! Just do that for me, Pandora¡ªthat¡¯s all I need!¡± Pandora hissed, the eldritch eyes around them bugging out, purple irises flashing a deadly ruby shade before stabilizing, as her true name was revealed. ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ speak my name! Are you trying to get all of us killed?! Dammit, The Great Old Ones noticed me¡­ What a pain.¡± ¡°Please¡­ I will deal with them. They can¡¯t follow Sora¡¯s path; we share a family link by Soul Essence. You know The Truth, Endling!¡± ¡°Not that The Truth matters to Founder territory¡­¡± The blonde closed her fan and pressed it against her brow before pointing at the necklace, which flew off the woman¡¯s chest and floated in front of Sora. ¡°You have five seconds to decide, Sora. Yes, she is your aunt¡ªsort of.¡± Left in a total whirlwind upon learning who the Herald of Sakura was, and the fact she¡¯d just met her first family member on her dad¡¯s side as a prisoner to some creatures called ¡®The Great Old Ones,¡¯ she impulsively snatched the item out of the air. Sure, it might have been stupid, she reasoned, but hey, she wanted to know more about her family! ¡°Okay¡ªeep!¡± She choked as Pandora pulled her parasol closed, a ribbon neatly wrapping around its base, and slammed the point against the ground; the solid platform under her gave way, sucking her into the horrific eye and sending her crashing through the darkness. ¡°Remember this gift, Sora,¡± she chided, her voice echoing through her as her unusual, black-thorn aunt waved her goodbye. ¡°The trouble I get into to keep my end of the bargain. Your mother is the worst client I have ever had. Haha. It¡¯s not like I can fault you for being curious, though.¡± ¡°It was a pleasure to meet you, Sora! Until next we speak. Tease your dad for me!¡± In an inverse of reality, she landed inside a puffy purple armchair. Blinking, she looked up at Titania¡¯s entertained face. ¡°Huh?!¡± Sora¡¯s fingers tightened around something, and she dropped her gaze to the pendant with the seven-pointed flower spreading in a blooming pattern. The Fairy High Queen giggled and floated back. ¡°You were dreaming and shouting out some rather curious things. Who is Black Star and the Black Thorn Lady? No! First, may I introduce you to Avalon Academy¡¯s newest professor of Unseelie Arts!¡± ¡°Sela?¡± Sora gulped, her eyes widening as obsidian barbs crawled out of the corners of the room and spread along the wooden floor. When she blinked, they were gone, leaving only the somewhat annoyed and pink-faced purified Unseelie. Her grip tightened around the item in her palm, attempting to keep up with the rapid changes assaulting her brain. Sela¡¯s silver hair had half-dyed a honey blonde, her gray skin regaining its peach color, and her bug-like wings were wrapped in silk. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ cured?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Titania explained, dancing over to place her hands on the teenage-looking girl¡¯s arms to display the embarrassed woman. ¡°As a young Fairy Princess, her growth was¡­ uh, hampered a bit by The Darkness¡¯ corruption. Why don¡¯t you explain what Sora did to you, Sela? I¡¯m sure she¡¯s worried about you, considering how you acted before she collapsed.¡± Sela¡¯s voice and tone hadn¡¯t changed much, at least. ¡°I¡¯m not a prize for you to show your accomplishments, Titania¡­ High Queen Titania,¡± she mumbled, fingers playing with her dress front. ¡°It is a trial period, in any case; the High Court will choose to execute me at the next evaluation. So, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I am going to sample Avalon¡¯s excellent cuisine before I die.¡± ¡°Oh, come now, Sela,¡± Titania groaned as the woman pulled away and stormed toward the exit. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be embarrassed! Your wings will molt beautifully.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know that,¡± Sela growled, pausing at the door as her wrapped wings quivered a little to glare back at her. ¡°I hope you¡¯re happy, Sora. Congratulations on saving me¡­ by drowning me in eternal guilt and suffering!¡± Sora jumped and winced as she slammed the door, leaving Titania and her alone; she still hadn¡¯t recovered from her encounter with her aunt and Pandora, much less what she¡¯d just done to Sela. ¡°Is she going to be okay?¡± The High Queen smoothly sat in the chair opposite her with a sigh, allowing her time to observe the world she¡¯d woken up to. Between them was a wellspring of magical power, sending sparkling green light throughout the space that infused the air, invigorating her. ¡°Sela did have a rather¡­ traumatic purification¡ªmore than I thought it would be,¡± she sighed, ¡°but it did provide a visual display for the other kings and queens to at least allow my experiment to continue. It was touch and go there for a bit with a few key players, but Oberon took my side, which¡­ I had not anticipated, silencing opposition. Hmm.¡± Crossing her legs, the woman¡¯s complexion softened. ¡°She will require a lot of counseling, which is available at Avalon Academy. Since her kingdom is... no more, and she needs a place in Avalon to move on, I have done my best to negotiate on her behalf. Mandatory attendance is a condition for her taking over a teaching position. Still, having a Fairy Queen candidate as an instructor is a huge win for the academy! Sela is quite skilled, especially in the art of Unseelie now.¡± Sora absently nodded, holding up the amulet to study its flower petal design. The more she stared at it, the more she was drawn into its angles and curves; black thorns gradually grew out from her peripheral vision, but somehow, she knew her aunt would require some time to make contact again. Finally, she had something concrete about her father¡¯s side of the family; it was a big reveal! Wendy was going to freak. Apparently, her father had a big sister, and she was imprisoned somewhere even Pandora was cautious of. She had something to ask her mom tomorrow¡ªher mom was coming home tomorrow. ¡°Sora?¡± ¡°Uh-huh!¡± She jolted, guiltily looking up from the pendant. ¡°I¡¯m sorry! I¡¯m not trying to ignore you. This just came out of nowhere, and I¡¯m just thrown off.¡± Titania¡¯s head cocked to the side, her braid clumping in her lap as she stared at the pendant Sora held up. ¡°Your¡­ palm? I am not following, Sora.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. Brow furrowing, her gut cramped as she tilted her hand to the side to stare at the item, panic flooding her chest again with traumatic memories of the last three years resurfacing. ¡°You¡­ you can¡¯t see this? No! Hehehe. No, I¡¯m not imagining that I¡¯m holding a pendant, right? You can¡¯t see this necklace¡ªthe white stone, black petals, outlined by gold¡­ the shimmering hollow center? I¡¯m not crazy! It¡¯s here!¡± ¡°I¡­ believe you?¡± Titania mumbled, rising to her feet to step closer and examine the item Sora brandished. ¡°There are many ways magical items can be hidden from view. Let¡¯s see, can you place it in my palm?¡± Sora held it out before a terrible sense of dread gripped her heart, and she yanked it away. ¡°No! I can¡¯t¡ªit¡¯s dangerous. Uh¡­ I don¡¯t know why, but no one other than me can touch it,¡± she growled, scratching her neck with agitation. ¡°Can you really not see it?¡± A thoughtful twitch moved the High Queen¡¯s mouth as she snapped her fingers and held up her palm. Above it, a cage popped into being, a snarling little red imp snarling from inside. Ugly and rabid, the demonic creature spat flames at her that were dispelled by the bars¡¯ magical affix. ¡°Interesting. I am always up for learning new things! It is one of the things that makes life worth living. Why don¡¯t we try an experiment with a little imp devil that was recently caught skulking about in Avalon instead of sending him back to Hell? Would you care to see if your concerns are warranted before taking it back with you to your family?¡± Sora instantly nodded after that framing. She didn¡¯t want to risk bringing back anything dangerous that could harm her friends or family. ¡°Just¡­ put it in the cage?¡± ¡°Can you use your magic on it?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. I guess I can. It¡¯s floating.¡± The cage bars flared a bright blue from the High Queen¡¯s magic, spreading apart to allow the item to slip inside. ¡°I¡¯ll just¡­ He¡¯s not responding to it? If I touch¡ªhuh?!¡± Her magic collapsed as the pendant touched the imp¡¯s forehead, and he vanished. It felt like his entire essence had been pulled into the amulet and utterly consumed. However, Titania¡¯s response was far more concerning. ¡°Hmm.¡± The High Queen frowned at the empty cage, left eye creasing as she spun it around. ¡°Now, what was I doing with this? Ah. I was explaining that Sela no longer needs to be imprisoned since you have placed a seed within her that acts as a processing plant of sorts. It takes in her corruption and uses her desire to redeem herself as fuel, so we must cultivate an environment where that is possible and where she feels productive and useful. Questions, Sora?¡± She snapped her fingers, and the cage vanished, causing the amulet to fall onto the rug between them and making Sora panic a little. A desire snatched it up and sent it flying into her purse, resting on a table nearby. ¡°What about the imp?! What happened to him?!¡± ¡°What imp?¡± Titania frowned, studying her more closely. ¡°Something is upsetting you, but looking back in time, I cannot see why. Perplexing. Is there something with Sela that you sense that I cannot? Is there a problem with the operation?¡± ¡°No! No, Sela¡¯s fine,¡± Sora mumbled, waving her arm in protest. She walked to her purse and looked inside, where her black ice flower and the pendant rested. ¡°Okay, this might sound insane, but¡ªin theory¡ªif you were to perform an experiment with an item, and when it touched the person¡­ it ate them, and then you forgot about the whole thing, then¡­ what would that mean?¡± Fingers cupping her chin, Titania glanced into the corner of the room, arm resting under her bust. ¡°This¡­ is not a thought experiment, I assume. Hmm. If that were the case, then whatever the item was, then it consumed not only the person but also their very essence and presence in time and space. Essentially, it would be as if they never existed in the first place¡­ It would be the most powerful artifact I had ever created. Are you¡­ saying you created this?¡± she asked, sharp eyes darting to her. ¡°Not¡­ exactly,¡± Sora mumbled, throat feeling raw. ¡°Can¡­ you still not see this? It literally erased that imp you summoned¡ªconjured? Whatever. Yeah, he just vanished!¡± For the first time, she saw the High Queen¡¯s pretty face in genuine bewilderment as Sora produced it. She stared at Rose¡¯s amulet for several seconds as if hypnotized before saying, ¡°Mhm¡­ Well, actually, I don¡¯t see how using an imp to test Sela¡¯s sincerity is proper.¡± Sora¡¯s jaw slackened. ¡°What? I didn¡¯t say anything about an imp or Sela.¡± ¡°Right, hmm. Well, I¡¯ll grab Aiden and let him know that you¡¯ve recovered. Haha. You should really be careful about your use of magic in the future,¡± Titania teased, sliding right by their conversation as if the item didn¡¯t exist at all. ¡°Aiden tells me this is not the first time he¡¯s had to save you.¡± Now, Sora was certain about its effect or, in general, the affect her aunt¡¯s power had on others; she didn¡¯t exist to people, and neither did her necklace. She would have been blustering at that comment had her mind not been totally engrossed by her aunt¡¯s ¡®gift¡¯ to her. ¡°Uh-huh¡­ So, I guess I¡¯m going back home?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Titania chimed, sounding as happy as could be. ¡°I have to meet up with Sela and go over more rules and have some fun with her, but I will personally send Aiden and you back home. Ember will be stationed in your private realm as your school guide. Feel free to use her as you wish! She can be an excellent replacement for matches or lighters,¡± she giggled, leaving her in the sobering atmosphere. Dropping into her chair, she rubbed the polished surface of the alabaster stone, following the shimmering pulses that moved through its traces. What did you give me, Aunt Rose? ¡°A piece of herself.¡± Sora jumped as Pandora appeared in Titania¡¯s seat, her devious purple eyes smiling behind her flared paper fan. ¡°Be very careful, Sora. I have warned your mother. Personally, I would not trust your father¡¯s side of the family. Do not be fooled by her charm. She would destroy everything, given the chance¡­¡± With a playful smirk, she snapped her fan closed. ¡°Or maybe I¡¯m wrong. My only place in your life is to fulfill my end of the bargain with your mother. Do not expect much from her on the topic, though, since she is as blinded by their charms as you will be.¡± ¡°If that¡ªoh, you have to be kidding me!¡± Sora shouted, throwing up her arms as she blinked, and the reality cutout of Pandora disappeared. ¡°How hard would it be to be like, hey, Sora, yeah, this is what I know about your mysterious thorn aunt, who is in prison somewhere?! Oh, yeah, I know why she¡¯s there, but I¡¯m not going to tell you because I suck! Bah. You higher being people are all the same! Fine. I¡¯ll ask Steph when she gets back because she won¡¯t blue ball me! Freaking losers!¡± Aiden knocked and poked his head through the door. ¡°Bad timing? I hope I¡¯m not the loser. Sela do her typical sass and act cute, storming off?¡± Sora rolled her eyes. ¡°I wish my problems ended with Sela! No, my whole family is a freaking headache and a half. My mom is totally going to stonewall me¡ªI¡¯d bet on it at this point¡ªand everyone else is stupid silent on everything! My dad¡¯s not human. Imagine that!¡± ¡°Wait, really? Well, that¡¯s cool¡­ or maybe it¡¯s not?¡± Aiden recovered with a strained laugh, walking over to sit in the same, quite used chair now. ¡°Want to talk about it?¡± ¡°No!¡± Sora savagely threw the amulet into her purse and sealed it shut. ¡°I have enough bull crap on my plate, and I don¡¯t want to be in a foul mood when I get back for Wendy. Ugh. Jane should be at the hotel,¡± she groaned, leaning forward and rubbing her face. ¡°I don¡¯t want to deal with her right now¡ªnot that I have much of a choice. I¡¯m just¡ªmmgm! I¡¯m going to yank my mom¡¯s tail and ground her¡ªI swear¡ªif she doesn¡¯t tell me! Arrgh!¡± Mouth pulled into a line, Aiden just nodded at her rant until she was finished. ¡°So¡­ yeah, how was everything¡ªis Titania coming back? Oh, shit! How long was I out,¡± she cried, collapsing against the side of her chair as her emotions finally caught up to her. ¡°My life is a total disaster¡ªmisfortune incarnate¡ªon my grave!¡± Aiden chuckled at her melodrama. ¡°First, deep breaths, Foxy! Deeeep breaths. Second, it¡¯s only been an hour or so. This pool of magic is concentrated stuff, and you soak it up like a sponge. Third, Titania will be back to send us home on the express teleport route in, like¡­ two or three minutes. You good?¡± ¡°Not really,¡± Sora grumbled, tail flicking with agitation. ¡°I just¡­ what other girl has to go through this crap with her family? I mean, I want to know them. ¡°My aunt, apparently, is dangerous to me, so, yeah, that¡¯s a nonstarter for my mom. It¡¯s not even that she knows she¡¯ll be a threat. She just doesn¡¯t think she¡¯ll take it well since she can¡¯t have kids the same way my mom did. I don¡¯t know¡ªI think she¡¯s just being overprotective¡ªbut then she¡¯s also a 12th-dimensional super-goddess who can see ¡®omniverses without end,¡¯ ¡± she mocked, steam blowing through her nose. ¡°Then, we have my dad¡ªalso, not human; surprise, Sora!¡± she snarled, scratching the side of her head. ¡°Oh, and yeah, he doesn¡¯t even know that either. Of course, he doesn¡¯t know! And now I¡¯ve met my aunt¡ªmy dad¡¯s big sister¡ªand she¡¯s a prisoner off in nowhere land¡­ uh, The Nihility¡­ or was it the Null-Void? I don¡¯t know; doesn¡¯t matter. And the Herald of Sakura is freaking messing with my head and telling me not to trust her!¡± Lowering her head and clamping her palms over her ears, she growled, ¡°It¡¯s just¡­ frustrating! Everything is great with Kari, Eyia, Jin is coming around, and Wendy, mmm, yeah, I still need to handle her Mom stuff, but Howie, Daisy, Ron, Steph¡ªeverything is going sooo good! And then this drops on my tail. Ya know?¡± ¡°Sounds rough,¡± Aiden hummed, sweeping his hair back as he leaned against his chair. ¡°I could offer my own two cents if you want, but only if you want it; I don¡¯t want to overstep my boundaries.¡± Arms crossed, Sora flung herself back and lifted her eyebrows. ¡°Enlighten me with your well-traveled wisdom. I want to help Wendy, and now this has me all freakin¡¯ mmh-d inside, ya know. Ahh! Nilly and P¡ªuh, the Herald of Sakura are apparently keeping my dad¡¯s side hidden or something. What am I supposed to do?¡± He smiled in that aggravating, chill way that she so wanted to emulate, and somehow, it did make her feel a little less stressed after she had expressed her anger. ¡°Focus on what is right in front of you. When your mom is here, then you can rip her tails to pieces, hug her, and ground her from dramas¡ªyou like dramas, right?¡± ¡°I do,¡± she laughed, ¡°but I think grounding her from dramas is more like a punishment for me since I want to watch them with her. Ugh. I just wished people would be more open with me instead of treating me like¡­ like¡­¡± ¡°Half an adult?¡± Aiden asked. ¡°Yeah! I¡¯m fighting demons, evil plots, and curing Unseelie of incurable spirit virus crap, but you wanna know about your mysterious dad¡¯s side of the family? No shot, girl! Want to meet your fluffy, white-furred Aunt Inari? Nope! Mmgm. Maybe I am being a little brat about it, but I can¡¯t help it! I want what I want¡­ but I guess I can be patient.¡± She shot a half-smile Aiden¡¯s way. ¡°Thanks for letting me PMS. I¡¯m feeling better.¡± ¡°Woah! Not talk I¡¯m used to hearing¡ªguy here,¡± he playfully defended, throwing up his hands. ¡°Glad to be of help. Anyway¡­ Titania is running a bit late. Hmm. Not concerning, right?¡± ¡°Oh? So, one girl-joke, and you¡¯re already running for the door!¡± Sora teased, making him laugh. ¡°How about a big group dinner to celebrate my mom¡¯s arrival tomorrow? Are you free to join us?¡± Aiden hummed as Titania slipped into the room, looking like she was on cloud nine; it was a big deal that they¡¯d managed to cure Sela. ¡°I can move things around. What time?¡± ¡°Yikes, uh¡­ I don¡¯t know when she¡¯ll be here, to be honest. It could be at any time.¡± ¡°Tell you what,¡± Aiden said, pushing himself up, ¡°if I can make it, I will. Shoot me a text?¡± ¡°Yeah! Hug?¡± she tested, giving him a dubious yes-or-no stare. He tilted his head to the side. ¡°I mean, would I be a guy if I said no? Who wouldn¡¯t want a shy, pretty fox girl hugging him?¡± ¡°Shy? Obviously, you don¡¯t know the new, very pushy me!¡± Sora cheered, jumping forward to throw her arms around the boy; endorphins flooded her body as his strong arms closed around her, matching her strength perfectly with her transformation. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to be in the same classes as you!¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± Titania strained a smile as they separated. ¡°About that¡­ Aiden is far more advanced than you in his understanding of magic and the world, so¡­ he will be bumped up a grade.¡± ¡°What?! Booo!¡± Sora pouted. ¡°I guess that makes sense.¡± Aiden shrugged. ¡°Sorry, I was a bit of a teacher¡¯s pet¡­ literally! Alva loved to tell stories, and I loved to listen.¡± ¡°I guess that can be fun, too. I¡¯ll see you around.¡± ¡°Sooner than you think!¡± Titania giggled, snapping her fingers. ¡°We likely won¡¯t be meeting for some time after this; enjoy your free days before classes.¡± Shimmering dust swirled around them, and when she opened her eyes, she was staring up at the cosmic wonders of her mother¡¯s private realm that she¡¯d created for her. Aiden cleared his throat while nudging his head toward the elevator down the path. ¡°Care if I walk you home? Wait, where is your purse¡ªahh, fae tricks.¡± Sora snickered as it twinkled in front of them, and she snatched it out of the air. ¡°Sure! I¡¯ve got a few things to do before Wendy gets home anyway; she¡¯ll probably still be out with Howie and Daisy.¡± ¡°Oh? Prep work like changing clothes and doing your hair?¡± ¡°Sexist much?¡± she joked with a wink. ¡°No, but maybe. Hehe. More like spelling our safe so only I can get into it.¡± ¡°Okay. Well, this was quite the day. Highlights?¡± Sora opened her mouth before shutting it and creasing an eye. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ get back to you on that one since it¡¯s not over yet. You¡¯re competing with my best friend, after all.¡± ¡°Oof. Tough challenge! I¡¯ll gracefully concede. Wendy has my vote.¡± ¡°Wha¡ªyou can¡¯t do that¡ªI¡¯m the one that votes.¡± ¡°Too bad. I just did. Wendy rules. It¡¯s just a fact at this point,¡± he laughed. ¡°Tell her she¡¯s a girl boss and to whip her mom into shape. From what little I heard, she¡¯s a hard worker, and her mom took advantage of it. Not cool.¡± ¡°Totally right! Wendy is awesome. She¡¯s also a total weeb!¡± ¡°A what?¡± Aiden looked down at her. ¡°A weed? She¡¯s a pothead? Okay, I mean, I¡¯ve smoked a bit in Africa with some of the tribes there, but¡­¡± ¡°No! No, no, no¡­ A weeb, weeeeeb, with a b! Like, she loves anime, manga, and dating sims¡ªgosh. I¡­ actually don¡¯t know if she did pot. I heard rumors about the janitor gang and smoking out back. Huh. I¡¯ll have to ask her! I bet she did if her crush passed her a joint. Blackmail!¡± she sang. ¡°No way! It¡¯s confirmed! Your best friend is a pothead.¡± ¡°Correction. My sister is a pothead!¡± Laughing and joking with Aiden on the way back, she gained a hop in her step again with the positive vibes he brought. One of the Foundation¡¯s men was in the elevator on shift, and she went to the ground floor with the firebird to wave him off. Once inside her expanded suite, she frowned upon seeing it totally empty, excluding her unconscious dad and his nurse. Fen and Jian were out exploring, no doubt; Wendy, Howie, and Daisy were out wedding ring shopping, and Kari and Eyia were trying to beat each other in basketball. Taking the extra time to magically picklock the med safe, she stared at her amulet for a second, seeing the thorns reappear, yet they weren¡¯t scary now; in fact, there was a sense of familiarity in them that made her curious. ¡°Well, Aunt Rose, I¡¯ll talk to my mom about you, but for now¡­ this is just too dangerous to have out. And¡­ super-spelled so only I can open it! Invisible, and done. Now, let¡¯s wait for Wendy¡­ and pick out some jewelry,¡± she absently added after shutting the safe. It¡¯s time to confront Jane and officially make Wendy my sister¡­ because her mom is a total bitch. Yeah, this can¡¯t end well, but we can¡¯t run from it. I¡¯m sorry if this hurts, Wendy¡­ this is what you wanted. B2 — 17. Half-Empty Bottles Wendy closed her eyes and leaned forward to cool her hot head against the cold metal of the elevator in the silent halls below Sora¡¯s newly expanded suite. Cheeks puffing up, she let go of the tension trapped in her lungs. She groaned while hugging her turbulent belly, trying to build the courage to call the box. She¡¯d left Daisy and Howie¡¯s new suite a few minutes ago and knew Sora was probably home, waiting for her. The items she¡¯d bought on their shopping trip lay by her feet, and there were some frozen goods she needed to put away, but she couldn¡¯t press the button to open the doors. Mom¡­ Please, just¡­ tell me it was all these horrible people who made you leave. Why am I doubting her so much? Why am I afraid that my mom¡ªmy freaking mom¡ªgave me up? Of course, she didn¡¯t¡­ We¡¯re a team. Sure, we have our rough patches, but my mom¡¯s still my mom. ¡°Mmrrgrrgrr!¡± She lightly bobbed back and forth, lightly hitting her head against the smooth steel. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid! I¡¯m¡­ afraid of the Foundation; I¡¯m not afraid of my mom. We can fix it. We can fix everything! Just¡­ call the elevator and get it over with. Just¡­ call the elevator¡­¡± Her fingers hovered over the button. Why am I shaking? she internally snarled. Don¡¯t be a pussy! Just press it! Do it. Dammit! ¡°Dammit¡­¡± Wendy cried, flipping to her back and sliding down to her butt, not bothering with how her dress looked as it bunched in her lap. ¡°Dammit¡­ Am I not enough?¡± ¡°Mmgm-no-no-no¡­ Just pull your shit together¡ªSora could hear you, idiot.¡± Failure burned in her chest, and an anvil weighed down on her heart. Drawing in her lips, she tried to control her breathing, feeling as if she had suddenly been dropped in the Arctic. ¡°Why am I such a coward? Why do my arms and feet feel like lead?¡± Sitting alone in the oppressive hallway, Wendy hugged her legs against her chest. What did I do wrong? Why can¡¯t I believe my mom? Am I that bad of a daughter? Why can¡¯t we just watch a movie and laugh like we used to? Did I throw all of it away by being friends with Sora again? Was it my fault? She buried her face into her knees, throat thick and heart thumping against her ribs as tears stained her cheeks. Everything I do only causes pain for everyone¡­ I couldn¡¯t be there for Sora, I blew up at my mom, and I can¡¯t even be nice to Kari when Sora¡¯s trying to mend bridges¡­ I¡¯m the problem! It¡¯s me! It all comes back to me¡­ Is there anything good about me¡­ is there even one good thing about me? Hiccuping, Wendy choked as the doors behind her opened, making her quake and turn around, blurry vision finding the last person she wanted to see. Kari and Eyia¡¯s faces came into view as the Foundation attendant callously stood off to the side; the wolf had her ears and tail out, further agitating her for some reason. Eyia scooted around her with concern to kneel in front of her, the blonde¡¯s big blue eyes scanning her for any injuries. ¡°Sister, what pain do you feel? Is there an enemy that has caused more trouble?¡± Kari dismissed the Foundation stooge and walked to lean against the wall, letting the elevator close as the stupidly tall girl watched her like it was some kind of entertaining show. ¡°N-No,¡± Wendy lied, trying to fight past her emotions and hiccups. ¡°I¡¯m fine¡ªit¡¯s just been¡­ a little hectic,¡± she laughed, swallowing the lump in her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll be fine. How was your day? Ah-haha. I bet you beat Kari a ton in basketball, right?¡± Eyia knelt in front of her and shook her head. ¡°No, the wolf is very cunning and strong in the game of hoops. She is the annoying type to let an opponent have a victory for the enjoyment of it.¡± Kari¡¯s amber irises darted to the side, basketball held against her hip. ¡°It was once. Get over it, birdbrain. It¡¯s obvious she doesn¡¯t want to talk about basketball and wants to be alone. We should just go.¡± ¡°That makes no sense,¡± Eyia huffed, shooting the wolf a dubious stare as if tricking her again. ¡°My new sister asked me about the activities we did today, and I answered truthfully. If she did not wish to know, then why would she ask? Yes. It is my victory!¡± Wendy forced a smile as Kari rolled her eyes. Eyia was cute and innocent, but whatever she actually felt, Wendy was not about to agree with Kari, of all people. Rubbing her eyes and able to shove down her emotions with the other girls present, Wendy rubbed her tears away and got up. ¡°Ahem. Thanks for worrying about me, Eyia. I¡¯d like to hear more about your day later. Do you mind giving me some time alone? I just need to think a bit before going upstairs.¡± Eyia¡¯s brow furrowed, questioning gaze drifting to Kari, who gave the blonde an annoying look that said, ¡®I told you so.¡¯ The blonde jumped forward to give her a firm hug before pulling away with a supportive smile. ¡°Of course, Sister! I have had moments when I wished to discuss things with myself. A troubled heart is a hard wound to mend; I know how the feeling is of loneliness and the weight of the mantle of fire, which compresses the atmosphere. It will all be alright, Sister!¡± Fingers knotted together at the front of her dress, the anvil laying against her chest gained a few hundred pounds at the girl¡¯s words. ¡°What?¡± Internally, she was screaming. Leave me alone! I¡¯m sorry! Just leave me alone! Sister? I barely know you, and you¡¯re trying to act like you know what I¡¯m feeling? Just let me figure shit out on my¡ª Eyia pulled back with a bright sparkle in her blue eyes. ¡°The wolf and I will go upstairs to inform our sister of your return, and¡ª¡± ¡°No!¡± Wendy blurted out, further confusing the Valkyrie. ¡°No, umm, please¡ªI¡¯m sorry¡ªjust don¡¯t tell Sora I¡¯m back yet. I¡¯ll be up in a bit. Just¡­ pretend you didn¡¯t see me. Please, Eyia.¡± ¡°Why would we pretend¡ªKari?¡± Kari guided Eyia toward the closed elevator, pressing the button. ¡°Take a hint. None of us know how we feel¡­ You don¡¯t know how she feels, or how I feel, so stop telling me things will work out. Damn. We aren¡¯t all Eyia. Okay? Just let it go¡­¡± Eyia¡¯s eyebrows drew together at the confrontational words that Wendy kind of wanted to say herself. And, for the first time, she was grateful to Kari. Left in somewhat of a stupor, she watched the pair rise up to Sora¡¯s suite, hearing their departing conversation. ¡°You wanted to watch that war movie about Norse something-or-other that dude recommended, right? I¡¯ll put it on for you before I take a shower. Sora¡¯s busy playing with Nilly anyway. Just stay out of other people¡¯s business.¡± ¡°The war of Asgard against the evil dark elves?! Yes! Show me this battle of cinema that portrays my brother. Also, a family supports one another. Is that not something wolf packs do? You are the strangest Fenris Wolf I have ever met.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the only Fenris Wolf you¡¯ve met¡­ well, kind of.¡± ¡°Yes, your brother does not count, as he has very little of your mother¡¯s blood in him.¡± ¡°Can you listen for once and read between the lines instead of trying to guess like we¡¯re playing a game and always getting it wrong?¡± ¡°Life is a test! You must win the test of life!¡± Wendy felt oddly better as the doors closed, the box carrying the arguing wolf and Valkyrie to the higher floors. Their departure eased the tension a tad, and she shifted to lean against the wall, staring down at her shopping bags. It felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders, and the chill only grew more harsh. Abandoning them, she walked to the full wall window and a small sitting area beside the elevator, hugging herself and trying to smile while staring down at the darkening horizon. The harmonious ocean sent its waves crashing against the shore as boats traveled across the waters. Imagining herself on the big cruise ship she saw in the distance, she shed only a single tear as she let the reality of where she was sink in. Her ship felt like it was falling below the waves. Lifting her hand to rub her dry throat, every crack in her heart felt like it was bleeding. Mom¡­ We were so steady. When did it start to feel like every day we were on the firing line of some war? I¡¯ve been breaking since I can remember¡­ but why couldn¡¯t I see it? You were breaking. No, maybe I did see it¡­ and that¡¯s why I tried so hard to make your life easier. The heat flared up her nose and hit her between the eyes, making her blink rapidly and sniff back her emotion. We¡¯ve been down this same road forever¡­ I tried. I tried so hard. The alcohol, the debt collectors, the lost jobs¡­ filling out your resumes to get a new one¡ªthe trash and yelling. I spent hours looking for your birthday present¡­ Why would I do that? She bit her lower lip and turned to stare at the bags she¡¯d left by the elevator, rubbing her nose and feeling dirty. Why wouldn¡¯t I do that for my mom? Because¡­ she abandoned me? I¡¯ve been lying to myself¡­ to everyone for so long. Everyone believed me when I said everything was cool¡­ when I knew it wasn¡¯t. The truth is, my mom abandoned me a long time ago, and¡­ I still want her to love me. Sinking into a chair, she leaned over to cup her face as the emotion bubbled up. ¡°I¡¯m so stupid! Why am I so stupid?!¡± ¡°Wendy?¡± Releasing the hot air in her lungs, Wendy forced herself up and strained a smile as Sora exited the elevator; Eyia probably couldn¡¯t keep her mouth shut. ¡°Sora, ahem¡ªsorry. Today was just¡­ a little hard.¡± ¡°Hey, what are you apologizing for?¡± she mumbled, moving around her bags to join her. ¡°We don¡¯t have to do it today¡ªNilly¡­¡± ¡°Mrrrow!¡± Wendy choked a laugh as a bell chimed, and the two-tailed cat spontaneously appeared by her, rubbing against her prickly legs. ¡°Awww, Nilly. You¡¯re such a good kitty.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± the cat chimed, purring as she reached down to pull the red-tailed girl onto her lap to pet; her touch and nuzzles helped soothe the chills. Sora sat across from her, a small smile on her lips as she watched her give the cat some love. She didn¡¯t talk, and Wendy remembered how good her best friend was at comforting her throughout their childhood whenever she was scared or upset. It was so unfair to Sora. Unable to look at her in the eyes, Wendy¡¯s gaze wandered the scenery through the window. She didn¡¯t know what to feel; jaded, faithless, disappointed, disillusioned, used¡ªall of it at once? After several seconds, she whispered, ¡°Am I stupid, Sora? I¡­ feel like my mom abandoned me¡­ but I still want her to love me. Am I unlovable?¡± ¡°What¡ªno!¡± Sora lurched forward to take her hand and kneel in front of her, tears forming in her own eyes. ¡°No, Wendy! I love you, my dad loves you¡ªhah, you¡¯re literally my adopted sister now! Please, don¡¯t shut me out.¡± Shaking her head and streaming out a heavy breath, she coughed and curled in. ¡°Then why doesn¡¯t my mom love me? I have to know!¡± she cried, swimming eyes meeting Sora¡¯s worried and shining green irises. Lips quivering, Wendy twitched as Nilly¡¯s wet nose rubbed against her wrist. ¡°I have to know why she abandoned me. I gave my everything! So¡­ why wasn¡¯t it enough? Why wasn¡¯t I enough for my mom?¡± Sora¡¯s arms wrapped around her, seemingly unable to speak as she held her for a time. A few minutes passed before Wendy felt the drive to find the truth. She had to know the truth. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. She gently pushed forward, letting Sora know she was going to get up while lifting Nilly up protectively against her chest; just holding the cat helped stabilize her turbulent emotions. ¡°I have to know¡­¡± ¡°Okay¡­ Okay.¡± Sora puffed out a hot stream of air, and a sudden surge of uplifting feelings filtered through her, cleaning away her tears. She smiled as her best friend rubbed her arm. ¡°I¡¯m here for you¡ªalways¡­ so even if you feel like you¡¯re alone. I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Setting her heart to hear the truth for herself, Wendy took her first step toward the elevator; it felt like she had a horse attached to her leg. ¡°Eyia was worried about me¡­ I guess she told you?¡± ¡°Uh, Kari, actually,¡± Sora said with a sad smile. ¡°She said she could be the bad guy since you already despise her, but you probably needed, ahem¡ªa kick in the ass. I think she¡¯s just trying to sound mean on purpose, though.¡± Wendy didn¡¯t respond, looking down at the gifts she¡¯d bought for her mom. She hadn¡¯t expected Kari to care at all enough to rat on her emotional breakdown. Maybe she didn¡¯t know the wolf all that much. Sora swiftly gestured at them, lifting the bags off the ground with her magic. ¡°Want me to bring them?¡± After a second, Wendy shook her head and hugged Nilly closer to feel her purrs. ¡°Just¡­ leave them. I don¡¯t know¡­ we can return them later or something. Let¡¯s go.¡± An uncomfortable silence fell between them as the silent Foundation guard took them to the ground level. Wendy¡¯s brow furrowed into a scowl upon seeing one woman she¡¯d hoped never to see again; she was in her top 10 least favorite people, at least. ¡°Sora, Wendy,¡± the French woman greeted, her accent thick as she put away her tablet, unfolded her legs, and rose to her feet. ¡°It took you long enough; I¡¯ve been waiting for twenty minutes.¡± ¡°Diane,¡± Sora growled, glaring at the witchy Foundation woman. ¡°What brings you crawling off the Moon Base to my hotel?¡± Diane¡¯s smirk held that aggravating look that said she was dealing with stupid teenagers. ¡°Well, Princess, you demanded your friend¡¯s mother be flown halfway across the world as soon as possible for a confrontation. Fortuitously, I happened to finish all my preparations and work in time to catch the flight.¡± Taking off her expensive-looking sunglasses, she grinned and gestured to the elevator. ¡°Part of my duty is to inspect Avalon Academy, and you so happen to have a direct access point that will save me quite some time. Surely, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for me to utilize your privilege since I brought your target so hastily to your doorstep? She is out back, basking in male attention.¡± Wendy¡¯s gaze followed her gesture to the hallway leading to the back of the hotel, and pressure mounted against her chest again. My mom¡¯s out back¡­ flirting? My mom?! Sora smiled wickedly and shook her head. ¡°Sorry, Diane, but there are strict protocols in place. You¡¯ll have to take the long way. Thank you for your help, though! Maybe you can catch up on your research on the trip.¡± ¡°Typical teenage gatekeeping,¡± Diane sighed, not looking all that annoyed by her response as she hung her glasses on the front of her blouse. ¡°I see Fen and Jian have yet to return. I¡¯ll have to find them myself.¡± She promptly left, shocking Wendy a little that the witch had waited 20 minutes only to leave after a little pushback. The 18th-century woman paused just before fully breaking away. ¡°Ah, and A-953 has somehow escaped her confinement prison. We expect foul play, but I would keep my tail about me, Sora. She has ties to the vulpes in Avalon, having sat on their council for a time.¡± ¡°Wait, who?!¡± Sora asked, nose twisting with displeasure as the witch chortled and moved away. ¡°You can¡¯t just drop some random numbers and info as a warning! You¡¯re supposed to be protecting me, right? Do your job!¡± ¡°You are mistaken, Sora,¡± Diane chuckled, taking out her tablet as she continued to the front, where an expensive, unmarked white SUV waited. ¡°It is not my job to protect you. My job is to do what the EC Council tells me to do. You have our database and contacts. Figure it out yourself.¡± ¡°Petty bitch,¡± Sora grumbled, tail lighting with orange flames as they made their way toward the back. ¡°I swear, she acts like an asshole on purpose. She acts so superior, but I know she¡¯s after something from me, and using me to get into Avalon is all a part of some big plot. Anyway, let¡¯s forget her. You okay, Wendy? Well, obviously not, but yeah. I¡¯m here for you.¡± ¡°Meow?¡± Wendy blinked, and she realized she wasn¡¯t thinking anything. Was that normal? Her mind was utterly blank, and her path through the hotel to the pool in the back went by like a flash; Sora talked, but she didn¡¯t really seem to hear her for some reason. In fact, most things just bled together until she finally had a look at her mother¡ªonly, it wasn¡¯t the mother she¡¯d known. All emotion vanished as Sora stopped beside her, fixated on the same girl as her. A giggling and classily-dressed young woman, probably no older than twenty, sat in one of the beach chairs, surrounded by three handsome men; Wendy recognized her through a photo her mom had always taped on the mirror. ¡°Mom?¡± ¡°No way,¡± Sora mumbled, ¡°she looks, like¡­ fifteen years younger. I guess they weren¡¯t kidding¡ªWendy?¡± Wendy strode forward, only half-realizing Nilly had vanished right out of her arms with the chime of a bell. ¡°Mom, we need to talk.¡± ¡°Mom?¡± one of the large men chuckled, looking her up and down. ¡°What is she talking about, Jane? Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually a lot older than you appear!¡± ¡°Makeup?¡± another asked, laughing as her mom played into it. ¡°Oh, absolutely, boys! How else could a girl look this good? No, I have no idea who this girl is. Scurry along, little tramp¡ªthe poor section is in the front¡­ where the guards are. How did someone like you get into this hotel? How much did that dress even cost¡ªdid you thrift it? Sad.¡± The hair on the back of Wendy¡¯s neck stood up as the men laughed at her. Yell, scream, get drunk, and pass out? Sure, her mom had a foul mouth at times, but never like this. At least, not to her. ¡°Sora, make them go away!¡± she snarled, glaring at her young mom and crossing her arms so as not to shake. ¡°Bring my mom back!¡± ¡°Hey, there, little girl,¡± one of the guys said, getting to his feet and coming between her and her smirking mother. ¡°Let¡¯s cool down a bit, and¡­¡± ¡°Leave.¡± One word from Sora, and the men¡¯s eyes glazed over before promptly heading for the hotel lobby. ¡°Stand up.¡± ¡°What¡­ What are you doing to me?! Help! Someone¡ª¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Sora dully sighed, gesturing for her to go to the nearby table. Her mother¡¯s frantic eyes darted between the many security guards stationed around the whole hotel perimeter, giving off the vibe of trained professional killers. Not one gave them a second glance since all of them basically worked for Sora. The whole building was bought out and almost everyone moved out to further tighten security around her best friend. Wendy sat across from her mother, heat rising in her lungs in waves she¡¯d never experienced as she glared at her nervous mom, looking between them. ¡°Is she back?¡± ¡°Not yet,¡± Sora mumbled, rubbing her temples and leaning against the table while staring at the 20-year-old brunette. ¡°I haven¡¯t done this before, so I¡¯m trying to be careful. I¡¯m trying to think how I should do it. If it¡¯s too hard, then we¡¯ll waste my energy for the night and get nowhere, and if I¡¯m not specific in my desire, then it could have¡­ issues. Umm. Just give me a minute to analyze what I¡¯m dealing with.¡± A tense stillness passed between them. Wendy drilled into her mom¡¯s nervous brown eyes, unsure what was happening to her right now but knowing she didn¡¯t have control over her body. Questions swirled through Wendy¡¯s heart that had punched through the internal dam she¡¯d built throughout her life, and finally, Sora reversed the Foundation¡¯s memory block. Getting to her feet, Sora¡¯s tail lit with a brilliant blue flame as she went to Jane¡¯s back, the fluffy fur weaving in the flaring energy. The second it touched her mom¡¯s quivering back, the fire ignited across her figure, leaving her fashionable bikini untouched. When it died, her mother¡¯s wild eyes stilled and narrowed, her nose twitching with rage. Sora groaned as she sank into her seat, waving her hand. ¡°It¡¯s done¡ªit was a lot stronger than I thought it would be. I think it¡¯s venom from a¡­ monster? Anyway, you can speak now.¡± ¡°Mom?¡± ¡°What¡­ the ever-living hell do you girls think you¡¯re doing?¡± her mother snapped, her young, livid face and hard cadence making Wendy¡¯s gut cramp. ¡°So much for the memory shit they gave me. Of course, the damn monster bitch goddess herself wouldn¡¯t let me have a good life. What do you want, Sora?¡± ¡°Not to be digging around your envious and lustful mind,¡± Sora growled back, returning the glare. ¡°Gah! I forgot how much I hate your voice. Answer Wendy¡¯s questions and try not to lie for once. When that¡¯s done I¡¯ll leave you to the Foundation again.¡± ¡°Oh, is that all?¡± Her mom laughed and crossed her arms under her bust, which was larger than what Wendy remembered in her photographs. She¡¯d probably had some enhancements made, but it all looked entirely natural, and it probably was with the Foundation¡¯s technology involved. ¡°What do you want, Wendy? You got what you wanted. Sora and the rich, fancy fantasy world are all yours. Go have your Magical Girl fantasy!¡± Wendy opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She stared at the woman across from her, trying to connect ideas that seemed so foreign. It was her mother¡¯s harsh tone. It was her mother¡¯s impatient leer. It was her mother¡¯s coarse words. And yet, it wasn¡¯t linking to the mother in her mind. ¡°Hello? Earth to Wendy! Gah. You always were slow on the uptake. Ugh¡­ It¡¯s why I had to send you to those damn expensive tutors when you were five. Some shit about you not interacting enough with kids your age. My throat¡¯s parched. Mind getting me a drink if you¡¯re going to be holding me hostage, Sora? Hah! What¡¯s with that look, monster?¡± Shaking her head, terror gripped Wendy¡¯s throat as she realized the memories were all a lie¡ªa projection of what she wanted. ¡°¡­Why? Mom, why?¡± she cried, her lips trembling as the liquid ran down her cheeks. ¡°My time, my love, my effort, my dedication¡­ I gave you everything I had. I had your back. I held you up¡ªI told you you were good enough¡ªso¡­ so why was I not enough? Am I that unlovable? Do I¡­ really mean nothing to you?¡± ¡°Oh, Lord! That¡¯s right, make me out to be the bad guy,¡± Jane scoffed, rolling her eyes and leaning against her fist. ¡°Go ahead. Let it out, Wendy. How bad of a mother was I to you? I kept a roof over your head. I fed you¡ªI don¡¯t see you starving¡ªand yeah, we didn¡¯t have the glamorous life like Ms. Monster Fox over here, but I did everything. This is how you repay everything your mother did for you. Huh. Why are you so angry? Sora¡¯s influence, no doubt.¡± ¡°Everything? Sora¡¯s influence?¡± Wendy mumbled, forcing a laugh. ¡°Why am I angry? You gave me the bare minimum¡­ I had to work for anything I wanted,¡± she shouted, sniffing back her tears. ¡°If I sound angry, bitter, sad¡ªdesperate¡­ it¡¯s because it¡¯s the truth. All I wanted was a little affection¡­ to be loved by my mom!¡± Choking, Wendy stood up, legs shaking. ¡°You made me feel like my father never loved me¡ªthat he left because of me! You made me feel like my mother never loved me! Do I remind you of a part of you that you don¡¯t like because I just wanted you to love me¡ªI just wanted you to love me¡­ but sometimes I think you¡¯re only satisfied when you see me begging like a dog! It hurts! It hurts, Mom! Why?! Why couldn¡¯t you love me¡­ Why?¡± Her voice faded away as she lost strength in her legs, falling to the chair, blurry eyes looking for answers in her mom¡¯s pinched face, staring off to the side. A single tear fell down her mom¡¯s eye as she cleared her throat and sighed. ¡°Wow¡­ So, what, did you rehearse that in front of the mirror all night? If that¡¯s how you feel, then maybe it was better for you to hitch yourself to the Monster Fox¡¯s family. Maybe her mom won¡¯t suck ass, huh?¡± As if an ocean of icy water dumped over her head, the heat in Wendy¡¯s chest was doused by a numbing void. ¡°What? How could¡­ you say that to your daughter¡ªto me? I gave you my whole life¡­ and you¡¯ve spent yours taking the best of me. Am I worth that little to you? I can¡¯t¡ªI just¡­ I can¡¯t¡­¡± The chair fell back as she stumbled out of it and ran into the lobby; she couldn¡¯t hear or see anything other than her mom¡¯s callous, cutting words and her bitter face. I don¡¯t have a mom! * ¡ª * ¡ª * ¡°Wendy!¡± Sora lurched to her feet as her sister bolted. ¡°Wendy¡­ What is wrong with you?!¡± She felt sick as she stared down at the sour-faced woman. ¡°You¡­ didn¡¯t mean all of that, so why did you do that to your own daughter?¡± Jane sniffed and got up, shoving down her emotions and walking over to a bottle that was beside her chair. ¡°Let her run off and simmer for a bit. The damn girl never listens when she¡¯s emotional¡­ Shit. It¡¯s already gone,¡± she grumbled, staring into the opening and laughing. ¡°Good thing I have another.¡± Cracking another bottle, she walked back and dropped into the chair before setting the cup down with a fond smile as the liquid poured into the crystal; despite her outward attitude, shame burned in her chest, yet there was no remorse. ¡°You know, Sora. Your magic has made me think about a lot of things,¡± she mumbled, picking up the glass to swirl the liquid around. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I have any answers for you. Haaa. What kind of mother am I? I wake up right about the mid-afternoon¡­ the sun is in the sky, but not for long. Funny, right? I walk to the mirror, say a prayer to the child in me¡ªI swear I used to be what I truly believed¡ªand raise a glass to that woman I used to know before fixing myself up for work¡­ Life gets harder when you only love yourself.¡± She downed the cup with a spiteful smirk, going for a second, then a third, as Sora slowly sat back in her seat; if it hadn¡¯t been for Jane¡¯s unusual aura, she¡¯d be right behind Wendy, but something wasn¡¯t right with the woman¡ªshe didn¡¯t feel entirely like the absolute demon she¡¯d felt in her first magical interaction with the drunk. ¡°You¡­ did that on purpose to break Wendy¡¯s connection to you? You do love Wendy.¡± ¡°Do I, though?¡± Jane questioned, a snicker following as she held the glass up to the light, casting a glow across her young face. ¡°One more drink, and I¡¯m going home¡­ Hah. Truth is, I don¡¯t really have a place to go. I guess I¡¯m just a woman of no recourse. People get sick, and they¡¯ll just watch you bleed, and eventually¡­ your knees get too tired to pray. So you drown in whatever works¡­ Life inside a bottle¡­ all alone. That¡¯s me.¡± Getting up, she grabbed her bottle and moved toward the bar, the weight of the world on her shoulders. ¡°It haunts me like I hope you¡¯ll never know, Sora. I¡¯m just a woman with broken dreams and a failing heart. Wendy¡¯s always been better with you¡ªbetter than me¡ªtreat her better than I did¡­ because I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be seeing her in heaven when I reach the end of my bottle. Haha! Low bar. Am I right? Time just seems to go on and on¡­ on and on¡­ and on and on¡­ Bartender, pour me another. One more drink and I¡¯ll be going home. Cheers.¡± Conflicted, Sora stood up and walked after Wendy¡¯s trail, following her frantic scent. She doubted the woman would be here when they returned. Tail low and confused by the woman¡¯s depressed yet hopeful spirit, Sora went to comfort her sister. B2 — 18. An Overwhelmed Heart With her tail hanging low, Sora steadily moved through her hotel lobby, leaving Jane to wallow in her alcohol. She didn¡¯t particularly feel chatty with any of the staff or Foundation people, so she spun an invisibility field around herself. Wendy¡¯s lingering emotions hanging in the air were a mix of anger, bitterness, and depression. It drew her ears back upon spotting the worried looks the staff members gave one another, whispers passing between the older staff that had seen Wendy grow up with her. It was hard to separate herself from what she¡¯d felt from Jane and Wendy; she couldn¡¯t quite understand Jane¡¯s emotional state or reasons. Jane felt shame but not regret for her actions, which somehow made Sora¡¯s heart hurt worse. Why had Jane acted that way? Something had changed in her between the time she¡¯d first linked with the woman and now. Trying to put the uncomfortable sensations in a box as she made it out of the building, she bit her lower lip as the salty ocean breeze hit her in the face. Wendy hadn¡¯t stopped or slowed down, and she gripped her elbow as her magic conjured up an after-image of her best friend. Wendy tripped and fell outside, scuffing her knees. Her heart breaking, Sora knelt down beside the past event as Wendy hit the pavement, chest shaking and face stricken with tears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with her?! What¡¯s wrong with me¡­¡± Looking at her weeping friend, Sora shook her head. Nothing is wrong with you, Wendy. It¡¯s her. She¡¯s the problem. What can I do to make it hurt less? Sora internally mumbled, fire creeping up her throat as Wendy forced her heels off and threw them off to the side. Is there anything I can do? I could block her memories¡­ No, that¡¯s a really bad idea¡­ Really bad. She straightened, ignoring the laughter and drunken gossip from the tourists and locals on her journey, following Wendy through the night. Glancing off to the side, she saw Wendy¡¯s discarded heels and used her magic to bring them near. She mumbled the same thing, breaking one of the straps when removing it. ¡°I hate her! I hate her!¡± Hearing Wendy¡¯s past mumbles, Sora¡¯s fingernails pressed into her palm. It wasn¡¯t like Wendy. Wendy was always the first to defend her mom, but now she felt betrayed by the one person she¡¯d always looked up to. While Sora couldn¡¯t fathom the reason Wendy cared for Jane, maybe she didn¡¯t need one; she just loved her mom. Now, the picture she had of her family was shattered. Once she exited the hotel front entrance, the brunette dashed to the right, going to the one familiar place that had brought both of them comfort. Sora slowly pursued, influencing the crowd to move around her since she was invisible. She¡¯d run down this sidewalk many times before, angry, frustrated, and sad. She knew where Wendy was going; it was always the same place they went when they were having a bad day as children¡ªthe park. The bustle of Miami brushed past her, their whirlwind of chaotic emotions bouncing off of her as she tuned it all out, solely centered on her new sister¡¯s spiritual turmoil. Wendy had put her everything into this little plant she¡¯d grown in her heart that was her relationship with her mother; she¡¯d tended to it, cared for it daily, and nourished it as best she could¡ªfor years¡ªand now, there was a hole in that place that Jane had ripped out herself. The warm ocean breeze pulling at her hair contrasted with the arctic chill she could feel from her best friend as she made it to the green park. On Sunday evening, children played with their parents, siblings, or sitters. Laughter was in the air, and the positive vibes of the weekend flourished. Yet, one lone figure sat on a children¡¯s swing, wrapped in pain. Sora breathed out the stress in her chest as she closed in, redirecting the worried mothers who noticed Wendy crying with a desire. Placing a bubble around them as she stepped onto the woodchips, Sora sat on the swing¡¯s low pair, meant for children, and unraveled her illusions to her best friend. She didn¡¯t say anything, knowing there was nothing Wendy wanted to hear. So, Sora just sat with her, letting her presence be felt; Ron or Howie had been the ones to be that shadow on the wall for her, letting her know that she wasn¡¯t alone when things were bad at school. Glancing over at her best friend, she wondered if Ron or Howie felt this helpless, unable to really do anything to fix the damage that she saw her friend going through. Minutes passed, then an hour as night fell over them, and the children gradually gathered to go home. The glow of the street lights gradually replaced the sun, but Wendy refused to speak. The depression soaked into her from Wendy¡¯s radiating negativity, telling her where the brunette was at in her emotional struggle. She lightly pushed out with her legs, keeping her heels grounded while gently swinging, staring across the small, grassy field to the beach and ocean beyond it. Everything was in vivid clarity with her enhanced vision, allowing her to see the boats and night swimmers or couples strolling the sandy shore. It¡¯s crazy how oblivious we all are to what¡¯s happening to the people around us, Sora numbly thought as the hour went by, her mind wandering while thinking about all the other girls who were bullied at school. I was so focused on my own problems with Kari, I didn¡¯t even really think about the hardships everyone else was going through¡­ Kari had her own troubles. Everyone does, I guess. Depression settled in, pulling her tail lower as she thought about her interaction with Jackie¡¯s little sister¡ªAmanda, if she remembered her name right¡ªand how she thought her big sis was so cool when she was bullied by Kari¡¯s gang, too. She just was the gopher and the butt of a lot of their jokes. How can everything be going so well¡­ and then just crash? I knew this would be rough, but I didn¡¯t think it would be this rough. Maybe I can¡ª Her thoughts died as Wendy finally spoke, drawing Sora¡¯s gaze. ¡°So¡­ that¡¯s it, huh?¡± Her words were a ghost¡¯s whisper as if she were already dead. Sora moved her hands to her lap, playing with her thumbs. ¡°¡­I don¡¯t think your mom will be there when we get back.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Sora¡¯s throat constricted at her simple and numb response. ¡°I can have them keep her there if you want.¡± A shiver ran down Wendy¡¯s frame, and she shook her head. ¡°Okay,¡± Sora mumbled, brushing back her bangs and looking at the wood chips as Wendy just stared off into the dark ocean. ¡°So¡­ what are you thinking about?¡± ¡°Sinking ships. Stupid, huh?¡± ¡°Mmm-uh.¡± Sora chuckled. ¡°What made you think about sinking ships?¡± Wendy shrugged, playing with her toes. Sora noticed her big toe had blood on it; she¡¯d probably stubbed it on her flight from the hotel. ¡°I saw a post online that said they take a long time to sink¡­ Crazy.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Crazy.¡± Sora pushed her swing closer, tail illuminating with blue flames as she swung it over to envelop Wendy in the energy, healing her scuffed knee, stressed leg muscles, and toe. ¡°Is there anything else I can do?¡± Wendy shrugged again, not opening her mouth and making Sora¡¯s gut sink as she let the swing return to its original position. Several more seconds passed before Wendy spoke again. ¡°Hey.¡± Sora¡¯s ears rose. ¡°Mhm?¡± A melancholy laugh shook her friend¡¯s chest as she rubbed her arm. ¡°If we were sinking on a boat¡­ do you think my mom would find me or¡­ or just save herself? You connected to her, right? You think she¡¯d save herself?¡± ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know,¡± Sora truthfully mumbled. ¡°My senses don¡¯t work like that¡ªwell, I wasn¡¯t looking for that kind of stuff. Umm. Maybe she would try to find you? I can¡¯t really say. Sorry¡­¡± ¡°Hmm. Crazy. You can¡¯t really say my mom would want to save me¡­ Wow. Okay.¡± Sora¡¯s gut knotted as Wendy got up, wondering if she¡¯d said the wrong thing. ¡°Want to tell me you¡¯re good, even though you¡¯re not¡­ or that you¡¯re not good¡ªhah¡­ have me summon an illusion of your mom to punch or slap?¡± Hugging herself, Wendy¡¯s downcast vision was even more terrifying than an infuriated, murderous version of her best friend. ¡°No. I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s just¡­ go back to your place.¡± My place¡­ Oh, Wendy. Putting on a fake smile, Sora nodded, holding out her hand. ¡°Sure! Do you want to watch a movie? My¡­¡± she paused, realizing that her mom coming home tomorrow could probably be a sore topic. ¡°Uh, yeah, we can watch some Sailor Scout anime or something. Maybe we can rope in Eyia and Daisy to join us!¡± ¡°Umm. No, I¡¯m okay,¡± she whispered, taking her hand and squeezing it. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ sure it will be better tomorrow, right?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± On the way back home, Sora felt like a frog in her throat. Wendy¡¯s aura was a storm of uncertainty, doubt, and pain. Her emotional sense let her know that her touch was helping. It was something in the darkness that surrounded her best friend. When they reached the suite, Kari was on the terrace, sitting in a sunbathing chair and reading a book. Eyia was in the infinity pool beside it, meditating in silence underneath the water; she didn¡¯t want to guess how long the Valkyrie could hold her breath. Fen lay on the front room sofa, her three tails swaying as she used the tablet the Foundation had left her to shop for things. Her guardian silently sat in an armchair, watching, of all things, the local news channel. It was nice knowing she didn¡¯t have to come home alone to an empty home anymore. As they entered, the Huli Jing dropped her tablet to her chest. ¡°Well, it looks like someone has a nasty case of the blues,¡± she noted in her Chinese accent. ¡°There are plenty of men outside I could charm to lighten your mood, pups. Do you like them thick, tall, or pretty¡ªsome girls even like them ugly! Is that you, sweetie?¡± ¡°Oh, shove your tails down your throat,¡± Sora barked at the smirking vulpes, staring at them from her upside-down position, her dark hair bunched on the carpet. ¡°I know Diane talked to you. We¡¯ll talk later.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll put it on my schedule,¡± the vulpes absently responded, waving with her tails as she picked up the tablet. ¡°I need to shop around a bit to purchase the goods for my new residence in Avalon.¡± Sora slowed. ¡°New residence. You¡¯re¡­ leaving? Wait, no, Wendy¡­¡± Wendy pulled her hand away with a sad smile as she shook her head. ¡°No, I kind of want to be alone right now¡ªwell, kind of alone,¡± she giggled as the chime of a bell brought the blinking, two-tailed black cat sitting on a nearby table to their attention. ¡°Hello, Nilly!¡± ¡°Meeeow!¡± ¡°Good kitty.¡± Wendy picked up the cat and gave her a very unconvincing grin. ¡°I just¡­ need to think about some things on my own for a bit. Talk to you tomorrow. I¡¯ll be fine¡­ ish. Hehe. Night, Sora.¡± ¡°Night, Sis¡­¡± Sora stepped forward to sandwich the cuddly cat, seeming to love the double hug. ¡°I¡¯m always by your side. Okay?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± Sora held back tears as she saw Wendy doing the same, trying to act tough for some weird reason. She should be vulnerable and open up! She was here for her, but Wendy was going through a weird, confusing breakdown that also somehow involved her. ¡°Wait!¡± she blurted out as Wendy went to the light elevator. The brunette shifted to the edge of the glowing rail guard and stared down at her, waiting for her to finish. ¡°I¡¯ll call Mary to come talk to us tomorrow. Cool?¡± ¡°¡­Sure. I guess it wouldn¡¯t hurt, but¡­ isn¡¯t your mom coming home tomorrow?¡± ¡°Yeah, she is¡­¡± Sora wanted to say that she was literally legally adopted into their family now, yet she knew it was not the thing to say, even if she wanted to. ¡°We¡¯ll work it out tomorrow!¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ¡° ¡¯Kay.¡± ¡°Love you.¡± ¡°Love you. Night, Sora.¡± ¡°Night!¡± Worry creeping in, Sora rubbed her elbow as her sister went to her room, snuggling Nilly. Wendy knew she was concerned, but was also struggling with some internal guilt and depression. She kind of knew what Wendy was going through, but there was a gap that had opened up between them from this drama with her mother. Is¡­ she thinking that it¡¯s her fault for being friends with me? Probably not. Why does Wendy have to have such a messed up mom¡­ A sick mom, who refused to get help¡­ Who would rather drown in a bottle and forget rather than fight for her daughter? Damn you, Jane! Mary will know what to do¡­ She always knows what to say. Wrestling with her own internal depression, she dropped onto the couch opposite Fen. The fox looked like she wanted to make a few nasty jokes, but, thankfully, was biting her tongue. Jian totally ignored them, minding his own business; she didn¡¯t know much about the mysterious Baihu since he mostly kept his silence. ¡°What, Princess?¡± Fen grumbled, dull-yellow eyes drifting from her tablet to her. ¡°I am not the coddling, motherly type. Sorry to disappoint, but my nearly three centuries of life have been dedicated to being the person who causes other people to cry, not comfort them. Oh, and I heard you got yourself a little boyfriend. Exciting! That¡¯s a topic I can chew on.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sora¡¯s mind blanked. ¡°Boyfriend?¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± the fox grinned, showing a seductive smirk as she settled on the couch while glancing at her guardian. ¡°A tall blond boy who is nothing but attentive. I have wondered what an intimate evening might entail with a firebird. How warm and cuddly are his fluffy feathers? Come now, spill the tea!¡± ¡°Aiden? No!¡± Sora balked with a stressed laugh as her cheeks flamed. ¡°Pfft! Me and Aiden¡ªpfft! Haha. No!¡± She cursed inside as she caught a lifted eyebrow from Kari, tilting her head back, ears twitching. ¡°We didn¡¯t even hold hands or anything¡ªcuddle? You¡¯re crazy!¡± ¡°Oh-ho-ho.¡± Fen snickered and returned to her tablet with a twinkle in her eye. ¡°Quite defensive there, sweet tail. I¡¯d learn to hide those emotions better if you were to be going to school in Avalon. Having the attention you already invoke while having a monopoly on a certain handsome new transfer student is bound to get you into trouble with certain fae clicks. At least from what information I¡¯ve been able to gather.¡± Sora scowled at the woman as she got to her feet. ¡°The more I talk to you, the more I realize how different I am from the typical vulpes.¡± ¡°Oh, you are more vulpes than you want to admit,¡± Fen mused as she stormed upstairs to get ready for bed. ¡°Off to chat with your songbird? Try not to be too loud. Young foxes tend to be screamers¡ªconsider that our first lesson in vulpes culture.¡± ¡°I¡¯m starting to think I don¡¯t want to take your class.¡± Sora paused at the top as a quite obvious illusion of Aiden materialized with the vulpes¡¯ part words. ¡°I¡¯m sure your mother will be a much better instructor than I could ever be at seducing a mark. What do you like about him the most? His rainbow eyes? His warm touch¡­ The burn against your ears as his strong, deep voice whispering your name while¡­¡± ¡°And¡­ muted!¡± Sora growled, walking through the illusion and using her magic to filter out the woman¡¯s entertained laughter. ¡°I¡¯m starting to regret freeing you! I have enough on my plate without you teasing me.¡± Rolling her eyes as she entered the hallway, she heard the one-sided conversation Jian had with the fox. ¡°You had to rile her up?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter if it is easy or not. She did free us from the Foundation. Both of you could try not to be so insecure¡­ Inari isn¡¯t listening to us. Mia wouldn¡¯t still allow us to be here if she was. You¡¯re so negative lately. Liven up a little. I miss seeing you have fun.¡± Sora felt her emotions take a turn at the white tiger monster¡¯s words. Fen¡¯s white tail came to the forefront of Sora¡¯s mind as she glanced toward the kitchen, where the dangerous amulet of her aunt was stored in the safe. There were some serious things to consider regarding her Aunt Inari and Aunt Rose. Right now, it wasn¡¯t worth the brain power. Fen was a problem for the future, but now she was worried about what these vulpes classes might involve since¡­ vulpes had a certain culture and stigma. She paused in front of Wendy¡¯s door, her ears pulling back as she heard her sister sniffle a little and talk softly to Nilly. ¡°Did you have a mom?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°No? Hmm. How does it feel not to have a mom? How would it feel¡­¡± ¡°Prrrrr.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know. I just¡­ don¡¯t know what happened. How it happened¡­ I swear, she loved me¡­ once. I know she did. Why did it change? Do you think if I ask her to come back¡­ and I give her a lot of alcohol, then she¡¯ll stay?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Oh. You don¡¯t think so? Hmm. Maybe not¡­¡± Sora¡¯s heart went out to her sister, not sure if Nilly was really talking to her or if she was just talking to herself. ¡°Well, it¡¯s time for bed¡­ Night, Nilly. We¡¯ll check to see if she¡¯s downstairs tomorrow morning. Maybe she stayed and waited¡­ Maybe she¡¯ll say sorry if I say sorry. I don¡¯t know¡­ I just want to check once. Maybe¡­ I should check right now?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°No, yeah, that¡¯s stupid¡­ I¡¯m stupid. Stupid¡­ The stupid, human girl who gets kidnapped all the time and is a total loser. The worst character in a book.¡± Her hands pressed against the base of her tail, Sora¡¯s gut cramped. She wanted to rush in and tell Wendy she was stupid for thinking that, but¡­ it was her true feelings, and Sora knew she would feel the same way in Wendy¡¯s shoes. Werewolves had broken into her home and bit her, terrified her mom, and then she was helpless to stop herself from being used as a hostage to get at her best friend. Eyia, Kari, and Sora, herself, all had powers. Wendy was just the human friend in the background, destined to be left behind¡ªor that was what her sister was most likely feeling. Now, her mother abandoned her, and she was utterly lost. She didn¡¯t have a home to return to, and she felt isolated from her new, magical fox family. Sora couldn¡¯t just deny the situation and try to project her love. Realistically, not having powers and being the kidnapped friend trope would be something Wendy latched onto. Sora continued to her room next door, feeling guilty for eavesdropping on her best friend. Today had been rough¡­ maybe she should call Aiden. Would he be up at this time? He did do a lot of work in the community, and it would be nice to talk a bit with someone who had a happy voice¡ªsomeone who wasn¡¯t falling apart because she felt that way right now. She redirected her path to her father¡¯s room, giving the new nurse on staff a quick smile before bending down and kissing her dad¡¯s forehead. The woman bowed her head and left the room, closing the door behind her to wait in the hallway. Taking a second to study her father¡¯s peaceful expression, she felt renewed strength, reliving the experience she¡¯d had with her mother only days before. Unlike Jane, her mother loved her; her mother loved Wendy. Everything would get better. It had to get better. ¡°Mom comes home tomorrow. I, uh, hope she has some answers¡­ like, hehe, when you¡¯ll wake up, for starters. I¡¯m¡­ worried about Wendy.¡± She gulped, taking the seat beside her dad¡¯s bed and rubbing his arm as goosebumps cascaded up her own; it felt so comforting and warm. ¡°I want us to be a family again¡­ a happy family¡­ a growing family.¡± Brushing away a tear, her cheeks burned as she smiled and cleared her throat. ¡°Ahem. Yeah, so, Kari and Eyia seem to be getting along. Well, they¡¯re at least in the same room together. I think¡­¡± Ears flying up, she cast a sound barrier around the room just to be sure she wouldn¡¯t be listened in on. ¡°Umm¡­ Dad, I think Kari¡¯s scared I might try to¡­ I don¡¯t know, push some things on her or something. I¡¯ve been a little¡­ pushy lately. I can see it. Wow. Uh. It¡¯s hard to say that aloud,¡± she laughed, brushing back her hair. ¡°I¡¯m worried about how I¡¯m changing¡­ If I¡¯m somehow causing more problems¡ªI don¡¯t want to cause problems¡ªI want to make all of our lives easier. I want to help them, Dad. I¡¯m scared¡­¡± Nose burning, she blinked back her watery eyes. ¡°I¡¯m scared. I don¡¯t know how to help Wendy. Mmm. Mary might help, but how can she help Wendy not feel powerless? I know that feeling¡ªit¡¯s not¡­ it doesn¡¯t feel good.¡± She laughed and rubbed her nose, wiping at her wet cheeks. ¡°Eyia is so innocent and pure! She¡¯s wonderful, but she¡¯s so hard on herself. I don¡¯t know how to be a good friend to them without¡­ without pushing boundaries. How am I supposed to help them? Mary said I¡¯ve had problems with boundaries lately, and I know I am¡­ I just, it¡¯s hard seeing people hurting and not being able to help¡ªpeople I care about. Gah!¡± Looking around and puffing out her hot cheeks, she shook her head and brushed her hair back while fanning her face. ¡°I need Mom and you¡­ Oh!¡± She brought over her purse to extract the black rose Stephanie had given her, instantly feeling the soothing relief it brought to her turbulent heart. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m okay¡­ Mmm. Today was hard, Dad. I met your sister¡ªsupposedly¡ªand no one can flipping remember her when I talk about her, so that sucks. The Herald of Sakura is kind of cool¡­ but also, I hate her because she¡¯s too mysterious and won¡¯t give me crap.¡± Sora smiled as she sat back and studied the harmonious pulse feeding into her from the ice flower. ¡°Steph is really, really cool, heh, literally. I want to get to know her better, but that probably won¡¯t happen¡­ Another ¡®that sucks¡¯ point on the board. I get it, though. Her family is number one¡­ Yeah, she¡¯s awesome.¡± Her heartbeat slowed, and her smile softened as her thoughts returned to a certain bird. ¡°I went out with Aiden today¡ªnot like a date¡­ well, kind of, but not really¡­ Anyway, yeah, we went to rescue Sela. It was kind of intense at the end, but I had a really good time¡­ A really good time. ¡°We ate together on a float ship run by elves. We saw dragons and all sorts of magical creatures. Oh, we met the Fae High Court! Honestly, not a huge fan, but I may be biased because they hate Sela, and¡­ Okay, I don¡¯t know if I like Sela yet, but we¡¯ll put that on hold,¡± she rambled to her dad. ¡°Wow. I have so much to get off my chest. Hmm. Aiden¡­ ¡°Yeah, Aiden¡¯s great. He just makes everything so¡­ simple. And I need simplicity in my life! Boy, do I need simple¡­ Not that he¡¯s simple! No, he¡¯s super interesting.¡± She lifted the flower up to smell it, the stress in her chest dissipating with its unique, crisp, and smooth scent that was impossible for her to identify. ¡°Yeah, Aiden is helping me a lot¡ªmore than he might know. I feel free from all the stress when I¡¯m around him, and he¡¯s funny when he teases me¡ªin a good way,¡± she quickly defended. ¡°Not like a certain vulpes.¡± A low hum rumbled in her throat as she felt a lot of the weight that had been drilling her into the ground lift off her shoulders. ¡°Maybe I like him¡­ Maybe he likes me. I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t want to ruin anything and be too pushy¡ªyou know, like I¡¯ve been doing lately. I think I need to give Kari and Eyia some space to find themselves. I don¡¯t know about Wendy, though. I¡¯ll have to ask Mary because I feel like she needs someone there for her.¡± She smiled as a little abused puppy cowering in a corner flashed across her mind. ¡°I think I need to wait for Kari to start asking me to do stuff. She¡¯s kind of a big extrovert¡ªwell, maybe¡­ Aiden makes her sound like a bookworm, but that¡¯s comparing her to her siblings, not your typical human. She¡¯s struggling, but she knows I¡¯m down to be friends, and that should be enough for now.¡± Her thoughts shifted to her conversation with the little Korean girl. ¡°Jin¡­ Jin, Jin, Jin,¡± she repeated with a sigh. ¡°Our terrifying dragon Founder is going to basically be my gym teacher. Fen is going to be a teacher¡¯s aide to the Academy vulpes instructor¡ªI¡¯m scared. And Sela was purified! Oh, did I skip that part to talk about Aiden?¡± she asked with a rosy smile. ¡°Yeah! I did it with Aiden and High Queen Titania¡ªlike, the real Fae High Queen Titania. She¡¯s pretty awesome, too. Although¡­ she probably does have a scary, manipulative, dark side to her. It just fits too well,¡± she laughed. ¡°Anyway, that¡¯s about it, I think. I try not to think about the Foundation¡ªthey just do crap for me¡ªand I let Mom and Aiden handle that. So that¡¯s the update! A lot, I know! Love you, Dad.¡± Leaning in to kiss his forehead, she sat there for several minutes, soaking everything in; she felt like she¡¯d shed a thousand pounds. Returning to her room and thanking the nurse, she undressed, tossed her clothes in the hamper to throw down the laundry chute later, and donned a nightgown before hopping into bed. Shooting a quick text to Mary, asking if she¡¯d be free to stop by tomorrow and giving her a quick synopsis about what transpired between Wendy and her mom, Sora¡¯s fingers ended by hovering over the call button with Aiden¡¯s grinning face on the contact display¡ªshe¡¯d taken it with a stunning backdrop on their airship voyage. To call or not to call, that is the question¡­ And I choose violence! Tapping the call button, she pressed the speaker icon. Her heart picked up its drum beats with every shrill ring that beat against her ears, making them twitch. Toes curling, she played with her tail fluff beneath her sheets while holding her breath, and on the tenth ring, Aiden¡¯s voice hit her brain. ¡°You¡¯ve reached Aiden. I¡¯m probably wrapped up in a wormhole or being choked by a fox right now, so leave me a message, and I¡¯ll get back to you! Well, unless I¡¯m dead¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s smile grew as her voice came through the messaging machine. You stinker, she snickered. You said you deleted it! Liar. I love it¡ªno¡­ you continued it?! ¡°What kind of message is that, Aiden?! Choked by a fox?! No way you¡¯re keeping that message¡ªdo it again!¡± ¡°Fine, fine¡ªahem¡­ beep. You¡¯ve reached the blond crusader, Firebird of the Millennium Skywing¡ªis that what we¡¯re calling this airship?¡± ¡°It is, Captain Blond Crusader!¡± ¡°Right! Firebird of the Millenum Skywing, who zips through time with his gorgeous companion¡ªno, dashing companion, Ms. Cuddly Tail¡ªsaving the lost puppies we¡¯ve been tasked to collect, scattered across time and space from a life of no cuddles!¡± ¡°Hahaha! Lost puppies? Are we talking about Kari again? And I¡¯m dashing now, am I?¡± ¡°Oh, very, Ms. Cuddly Tail¡ªdashingly fluffy-tailed,¡± Aiden said in a totally serious tone that made her laugh. ¡°If you receive this message, know that we may not have made it back from the void of no cuddles, but our spirits will search on for eternity¡ªand then the Fire Nation attacked!¡± ¡°What?! You actually watched¡ªbeep.¡± Sora¡¯s chest shook with silent laughter as it was cut off. ¡°Love the message¡ªliar! You totally were still recording us. Anyway, Blond Crusader, I just wanted to say thank you for the wonderful date¡ªeh, day¡­ shoot. Uh, scratch that last part! Haha. Umm. Yeah, I had fun. I hope to see you at the party tomorrow. Night.¡± For some reason, she felt so much better. Reaching over to place the phone on her wireless charger, she snuggled into bed before a devious thought made her smile and throw back her covers. Pillow tucked under her arm, she creeped out of her room, hearing Eyia only just now leaving the spa, having been underwater the whole time. Sora¡¯s aim was on the room next to her, though. Using magic to remain silent, she gently pushed Wendy¡¯s door open and crept inside. Nilly¡¯s big eyes were already on her the second she entered, but she saw Wendy¡¯s chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm; she was asleep. ¡°Meow?¡± ¡°Shhh.¡± Putting a finger to her lips, Sora gently wove her desires into Wendy¡¯s sleeping spirit, influencing her dreamscape to draw her sister into a wonderful dream of her own creation. She slipped under the covers, snuggling close as Nilly moved to lay between them, spreading out with a cat-like yawn. Nice and cozy next to her new sister, Sora closed her eyes and drifted into her own dream. She didn¡¯t want to intrude on Wendy but wanted to be close enough to feel her nearby in case Wendy woke up in the middle of the night and needed someone to hold her. Sweet dreams, Wendy. Welcome to the family. Our mom is coming home tomorrow, and she abandoned all her power to be with us¡­ She loves us. B2 — 19. A New Sun Rises Sora¡¯s ears twitched as the sound of guitars, drums, and singing lifted her out of her sweet dream, allowing her to relive the moment she¡¯d met her adorable mother and several memories she¡¯d shared with Wendy growing up. Her eyes cracked open with a groan, and the music mixed with the pattering of the Miami early-morning shower, the short storm beating against the window. The musky smell of the weeping heavens filled her lungs as she breathed in deeply, the humid atmosphere making her tail fluff a little. Smacking her lips, Sora tasted a bit of drool. She swallowed and glanced toward Wendy¡¯s room¡¯s closed blinds. Through the cracks in the former guest room curtains, she saw an overcast sky. The sun had crested the horizon, but the gray clouds made it seem darker than it was. Maybe it wasn¡¯t going to be a short storm. Turning her head the opposite way, her left ear folded against her pillow, she saw Wendy sitting against the headboard. Eyes closed, forehead held against crossed arms, and bent knees holding her up, Wendy soundlessly mouthed the music she was listening to. Her best friend didn¡¯t seem to know that she¡¯d woken up, and Nilly was curled against her broken sister¡¯s feet, keeping them warm. A depressed sigh passed through Sora¡¯s nose as she settled back, knowing Wendy often projected her emotions through songs. Even when they were kids, her best friend had always let the emotion and lyrics of the music express what she felt when things grew hard. So, Sora listened as her sister repeated the playing song, mouthing parts of it with her. Sora had listened to this song herself at times when it came out earlier this year, so she knew it by heart, and it really did connect with what she felt from Wendy¡¯s aura. Where did all the good things go? I wanna know. Is all I¡¯ll be a broken thing? Is it just me? I wanna know. Why do I feel like this? Like I¡¯m alone in the world, and I don¡¯t fit in my skin. And I¡¯m afraid of the days, so I don¡¯t wanna talk. When did everything become so real? When did Mom trade in that cape for pills? How come I don¡¯t feel the things I used to feel? How did I lose that trust in myself? Tell me. Will I ever be significant to someone if I don¡¯t feel like I¡¯m worthy when looking at everything I¡¯ve done? Am I just defective? Would I get better if I could let it go? Where did all the good things go? Am I flawed from the fabric, or just got stained from the things that¡¯ve happened? I don¡¯t wanna take drugs just to feel like I used to. Now I¡¯m full of this rage; like, am I the only one lost? Am I the only one left that can help me? I¡¯m falling apart. If there¡¯s a remedy left, can you tell me? Someone tell me. I wanna know¡­ Hearing the words on Wendy¡¯s heart and the gentle trembles that shook through the bed to her, Sora sniffed back her tears. Her tail flicked a little under the sheet, drawing her sister¡¯s gaze as Wendy paused the song. Her somber, puffy red eyes met hers as she looked past her messy brown locks. ¡°Oh¡­ when did you get up?¡± she weakly asked, trying to fake a smile as her lower lip trembled. ¡°I, umm¡­ thanks for staying with me. It was nice waking up warm, with a tail wrapped around my leg¡ªI, umm, I felt cold when I went to bed.¡± ¡°Wendy¡­¡± Pushing herself up, she pulled her sister against her chest as she curled in, not fighting but not reciprocating either. Nilly stretched out, purring as she slunk over to nuzzle Wendy¡¯s limp hand. The troubling part was that the aura of her best friend¡¯s emotional turmoil was only getting worse. ¡°I¡­ went downstairs earlier with Nilly,¡± she chuckled softly. ¡°You were asleep, drooling about something. Hah. The adorable kitty won¡¯t seem to leave me alone. Yeah¡­ Nilly¡¯s a good kitty.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Sora reached down to scratch the cat¡¯s neck as she curled around to snuggle against Wendy¡¯s belly, her best friend lying on her side against Sora¡¯s chest. However, her next words made Sora¡¯s nose burn. ¡°I looked¡­ She, umm¡­¡± Closing her mouth, Wendy cleared her throat before continuing. ¡°Ahem. Yeah, she wasn¡¯t there. They said she left shortly after you went looking for me, so¡­ yeah. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s¡­ she¡¯s coming back.¡± She gulped, pausing before straining a laugh. ¡°I¡¯m brittle, damaged goods, aren¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t we all?¡± Sora whispered, pulling her closer and brushing her hair out of the way to see her watery, muddy-brown eyes. One of her wireless headphones fell out, and Sora picked it up, sticking the receiver part into her ear tuft. ¡°Actually¡­ can I suggest your next song?¡± Wendy responded by weakly holding up her phone, pain assaulting her sister as she fell further into a spiral, guilt and self-loathing burning her soul. It could have been her subconscious, the current circumstances, or her magic bringing back what she longed for, but inside her dreams, Sora recalled a few times Wendy had been depressed when they were twelve¡ªwhen her mom was called to court over child abuse allegations. She knew how to at least reach her sister; after all, they were best friends. Whether she was ready to reciprocate was another topic. Sliding through her music app, Sora selected a song she¡¯d listened to occasionally over the last year. She sang along with it, finding Wendy¡¯s hand and squeezing. ¡°I¡¯ve got more skeletons than cemeteries hold that made just living life feel like a funeral¡­ The kind of traumatization no one will ever know that made me fantasize about just letting go. Until I saved my soul with what I can control. ¡°When it rains, you can drown, or you can be baptized. When you hit rock bottom, you can cry or climb. Crutch or a crown, only you decide. Victim or survivor? ¡°Be born by the battle or just wave a white flag. Deciding not to die, that might be all you have. You can make that choice, or you can be your past. Victim or survivor?¡± A tortured smile moved Wendy¡¯s eyes, and she squeezed her hand; it was working! Sora cheered inside as Wendy picked up the next lines. ¡°I got a story, too, a cautionary tale. I thought I lost it all, but I¡¯ll spare you the details. So call me a victim like it¡¯s self-inflicted. Put me in prison; I don¡¯t know any different¡­ Boy, I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not, I¡¯m not the victim. I¡¯m the survivor.¡± ¡°Meow! Meow! Meow!¡± Sora¡¯s voice strengthened as they sang the chorus together, Nilly joining in as Wendy pulled away to stare at her for strength. When it ended, Sora paused the music before it repeated and showed her best reassuring face. ¡°I¡¯m still here with you, Wendy. We¡¯re both survivors¡ªyou and me always, right?¡± Reaching up to scratch her ear and blinking back tears, Wendy puffed out the stress in her chest and took a second to collect herself. Nilly broke the silence between them, her split tail swaying and making them laugh through the pain. ¡°Meow?¡± ¡°Yes, Nilly,¡± Wendy mumbled, pulling her in to rub her belly. ¡°You¡¯re here with us too. Just a couple of broken girls, huh? I can¡¯t stop thinking about it, though, Sora. My brain and heart¡­ are killing me. I¡¯m just¡­ not good enough. I¡¯m never good enough¡­ never.¡± ¡°Meow!¡± Sora¡¯s tail beat against the mattress as she shifted to her knees and butt, sitting across from her sister and opening Pandora¡¯s box. ¡°I know you¡¯re worried about being a weakness to me¡­¡± ¡°Sora¡­¡± ¡°No! I know it¡¯s real, and I can¡¯t just tell you that it¡¯ll be okay. I know,¡± she repeated, her throat catching as Wendy¡¯s bottom lip trembled. She hugged Nilly closer, likely finding strength in just holding a soft, warm body. Swallowing the lump in her throat, Sora choked back her emotions to speak as Wendy¡¯s eyes began to water again, her nose and cheeks turning red. ¡°I know it¡¯s terrifying, Wendy. You were kidnapped! Really kidnapped¡ªthey broke into your home¡ªthey terrified your mother! And I feel guilty about that¡ªeven though I know you don¡¯t want me to feel that way, and you don¡¯t want to feel the way you feel¡ªI just¡­ I need to let you know that you¡¯re my best friend¡­ my sister! I love you. I love you so much, Wendy! I¡¯m here to hold you steady, and¡­ and I need someone else to hold me steady.¡± Struggling with a smile through her tears, she reached out to squeeze Wendy¡¯s hands again, the brunette¡¯s brown eyes swimming with pain and searching her face for answers. ¡°That¡¯s you, Wendy. My dad¡¯s in a coma. You hold me steady, and I¡¯m terrified of losing you. You¡¯re so strong¡ªso, so strong! I couldn¡¯t do what you did. I don¡¯t know who I¡¯m becoming. I¡¯m pushy. I¡¯m aggressive in a way that scares me. I¡¯m scared of what might happen when my mom isn¡¯t crazy-powerful anymore. I¡¯m scared my dad might not wake up¡­ I¡¯m scared of losing my sister. I¡¯m scared, Wendy. And I don¡¯t know how to make it all right. I¡¯m scared.¡± Wendy¡¯s pooling eyes drifted to her lap, and her fingers tightened around hers as she processed her plea. ¡°¡­I know I¡¯m not¡­ well. Geez, it¡¯s hard to say!¡± she mumbled, freeing one hand to rub at her wet cheeks as Nilly drew away to rub against her side, and the dam broke. It was as if vise grips closed around Sora¡¯s chest as Wendy¡¯s emotions poured out, her whole body quaking and self-disgust etched on her face. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I can fit in your life. I¡¯m afraid of you, Sora!¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯m afraid of what I¡¯m doing to you! I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll hold you back. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯m just a burden on your family¡­¡± Wendy growled, coughing a few times as she scratched at her forearm, odium twisting her nose as she drew blood, worrying Sora the further she went. ¡°¡­That I¡¯ll only cause you pain because of how I feel¡ªbecause of my stupid brain and feelings¡ªI know you can feel it with your magic, and that hurts me even more! I don¡¯t know why¡ªit just does¡ªand I don¡¯t know how to feel¡­ better. I don¡¯t know! ¡°My mom abandoned me, Sora¡ªmy mom! I feel worthless! I have no one but you¡­ and what if something bad happens to you because I¡¯m a weak, stupid human? I hurt you¡ªI hurt you so badly! I betrayed you! I¡¯m evil!¡± ¡°Wendy, what are you talking about?¡± Sora¡¯s gaze was pulled to her sister¡¯s shaking hand, droplets of blood falling down her forearm, angry and tormented emotions twisting her up inside. ¡°Wendy¡­ stop!¡± ¡°I was bit here, Sora¡ªJenny bit me, and I turned into a werewolf¡­ I know I attacked your dad. I put him in a coma! He may never wake up, and it was me! Me¡­¡± Ice water dumped over Sora¡¯s head, pulling her ears back as anxiety collapsed over her on all sides; she couldn¡¯t breathe. ¡°H-How?¡± ¡°I know, Sora,¡± she gulped, unable to look at her in the face, fingernails digging into her arm as if she wanted to cut it off. ¡°It came back in my dreams. I know what I did. So, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s¡ªmy magic was supposed to give you good dreams¡­ How did it¡­¡± ¡°Meow?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter! Your dad is in a coma because of me. I¡¯m evil¡­ You love me. You do¡­ so you kept it from me. Why did you keep it from me?¡± ¡°No!¡± Sora instantly shook her head. ¡°No, it was Jenny! I get you saw it¡ªyou felt it¡ªbelieve me, I know you probably felt all of it, but it wasn¡¯t you! You aren¡¯t a werewolf anymore. You¡¯re not evil!¡± ¡°But I still felt it,¡± Wendy brokenly mumbled, looking down at her blood-stained hands as if seeing the blood of a man who had done nothing but care and love her from her earliest memories. ¡°How can I live with that? I feel dirty¡ªlike Jenny¡¯s still in me! Your dad is in there because of me¡­ because I was too weak¡­ because I was a worthless human in a monster world. I don¡¯t want to always cause you grief, but I¡¯m too weak, Sora. I¡¯m too weak¡­¡± Sora dove forward, tackling Wendy to the bed and holding her tight. ¡°Then we¡¯ll make you stronger! I¡¯m not letting you go! My mom must have an answer; she¡¯s coming back today! Just¡­ hang on a little longer. I won¡¯t let you go! You¡¯re more than my best friend¡ªyou¡¯re my sister¡ªmy real sister! No one knows me better! Just¡­ hold on a little longer.¡± Trembling arms slowly closed around her back, Wendy¡¯s chest quaked against hers, yet Sora could feel her holding her pain just as tightly. Her thick words made Sora¡¯s ears burn. ¡°Help. I need help, Sora¡­ I need help. Help¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m here. I¡¯ll always be here for you. It¡¯s not you. We¡¯ll heal¡­ I know it hurts like you want to die. I know it feels like the weight of the world is falling on top of you, but I¡¯m here to stop it. You¡¯re not alone. You¡¯re never alone. You¡¯re going to make it out, Wendy¡­ You¡¯ll make it out of this. I¡¯m with you. I¡¯m always with you.¡± Her heart bleeding but feeling lighter with the spilled emotions no longer weighing on her chest, Sora held her sister until her shakes calmed. Body feeling as if it were on fire, she refused to let go until Wendy spoke, her fingernails loosening against her back as she became limp, her thick voice a whisper against Sora¡¯s drawn-back ears. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°It¡¯s¡­ hard to breathe.¡± ¡°Sorry!¡± Sora released her and pushed herself up, still pinning her to the bed, unwilling to let her go until she confirmed she was at least on the path to recovery; she had asked for help, though, and that was huge. ¡°Wendy¡­ I¡¯m here for you.¡± When Wendy responded by looking away in shame, Sora¡¯s tail curled against her sister¡¯s leg, sensing a major shift in her aura. Guilt flooded Sora¡¯s squirming belly as her shoulders sagged; one important outburst from her sister gripped her by the base of the tail and twisted. ¡°Wendy¡­ are you really afraid of me? Is it because I¡¯ve used my magic on you without asking¡­ I can see why you might be¡ªI know I¡¯ve been really¡­ liberal with my magic.¡± She saw a pained smile on the brunette¡¯s puffy, tear-stained face as her copper hair veiled them. Wendy¡¯s shining eyes shifted from her chin to her eyes, a sorrowful vibe pulsing through her sister¡¯s aura as she stared up at her. ¡°It is scary, Sora. You did it to my mom when we first met¡­ and she asked me if you¡¯d done that to me, and¡­ and I want to believe you¡ªI do¡­ but I don¡¯t know. I¡­ don¡¯t know, and you admitted to using your magic on me. What am I supposed to believe?¡± Anxiety ruptured in Wendy¡¯s aura, stabbing Sora in the chest. ¡°Not that I hate you¡ªno, not at all! I just¡­ I don¡¯t know what to think. My mom doesn¡¯t want me. You¡¯re in a totally different world, and¡­ and I¡¯m just¡­ here. Why am I here?¡± Fighting down the lump in her throat that was in a wrestling match with her, Sora sniffed back her tears, trying not to hyperventilate as she took deep breaths. ¡°Because¡­ Wendy, I love you¡ªyou¡¯re my closest friend¡­ I need you. I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to make you feel scared. I¡¯m scared! I want you to be my sister because I think you are my sister¡­ I need you.¡± Bottom lip trembling, Wendy squeaked. ¡°Do you¡­ mean it, Sora? You¡¯d love me¡­ Someone as worthless¡­ as stupid and weak as me, who¡­ who ruins everything for everyone?¡± Her tail beat against the bed as she tried to control herself. ¡°C-Can I use magic to help¡­ to help calm us down? I¡¯m just so¡ªI feel like I¡¯m going to have a heart attack.¡± Relief surged through Sora as Wendy soundlessly nodded, breaking into tears. Leaning closer to wrap Wendy in a warm embrace, she called upon her magic to help them get through the panic. Blue flames igniting from her tail surrounded both of them, and Sora connected her emotions to Wendy¡¯s. She sank into an ocean of guilt, anger, sorrow, and self-loathing, yet her love for her sister protected her from the crashing waves that battered her heart. She let them come, radiating every memory she shared with her best friend since kindergarten, letting her love be known. Only one goal fueled her flames: the drive to push until Wendy found her inner strength and the will to fight to breathe again. ¡°You know me better than I know myself sometimes, Wendy¡­ And sometimes, I know you better than you do, and you¡¯re so much stronger than you give yourself credit for. If you can¡¯t believe in yourself, then believe in the me who believes in you¡­ because you¡¯re my rock, Big Sis. You¡¯re my dutiful, strong big sister who can make it through anything.¡± Pulling away as Wendy sniffled, big eyes staring up at her as Sora flashed her teeth in a bright smile, creating an illusion of her adorable mom and dad sitting beside her, sending their love to their new daughter. ¡°Maybe you did lose a family, Wendy¡­ but it wasn¡¯t your only one. You¡¯re my sister now and forever. You¡¯re the brunette kit of the Fox Den, and you¡¯re loved. Everything will be okay. Okay, Sis?¡± Wendy tucked her bottom lip under as the darkness clouding her heart broke, and she pushed herself up to meet her halfway into a hug. ¡°Thank you, Sora,¡± she paused, sucking in what seemed like her first breath in days. ¡°Thank you for making me not feel worthless¡­ For making me feel loved¡­ For making me feel wanted.¡± ¡°Always and forever,¡± Sora whispered. ¡°Meow!¡± They giggled as Nilly jumped onto Wendy¡¯s shoulder, hanging arms keeping her up as she licked the brunette¡¯s ear. ¡°And you can be a part of the family too, Nilly,¡± Sora giggled. ¡°Nilly doesn¡¯t like to be alone either, does Nilly?¡± ¡°Meow. Meow¡­¡± Reaching up to rub the cat¡¯s head, Sora spent the next several minutes talking with Wendy as they scooted to the headboard and talked. They shared the cuddly cat between them, discussing whatever negative thought reared its ugly head, finding strength in one another, and reconnecting on a deeper level than when they¡¯d been pre-teens¡ªnow, they were sisters. She still sensed the festering darkness within Wendy¡¯s heart, but that deep-seated heartache wouldn¡¯t be fixed overnight. Sora was sure they could work through it, though. They¡¯d gotten through the hardest part, and now time would mend what was broken because Wendy had a new picture she could fit into¡ªa frame with a mom, a dad, and an annoying, troublemaker fox sister. The atmosphere turned more positive the more they talked, and Sora eventually got her best friend to agree to get ready for an amazing day. Knowing her job wasn¡¯t done, and there was more weight on her chest that she needed to relieve, Sora tentatively pushed a little further to get Wendy on board. Getting confirmation that her sister would join her on a shopping trip to get a new outfit to meet their new mom¡ªWendy would understandably need time to say that word again¡ªshe went to her room to find an appropriate temporary outfit. Selecting a white blouse, blue shorts, and sandals-wedges, Sora added some jewelry and hung some glasses on her front. Doing a swift magical shower and cleaning herself up in the mirror, she went to do the same for Wendy. Her sister had chosen a flowery skirt and shirt with sandal flats. She pulled up her phone as her purse flew into the room with a desire, frowning upon seeing the time: 10:17 a.m. It wasn¡¯t quite as late as she¡¯d thought, and the storm had broken, despite it still being cloudy. ¡°Are we¡­ eating out?¡± Wendy asked, emotionally struggling with herself as she stared at herself, finding imperfections, no doubt. ¡°I don¡¯t know if these flower colors work for me¡­¡± ¡°They¡¯re super cute! But¡­ if you¡¯re feeling self-conscious,¡± Sora noted, a shin-length pink skirt, gray blouse, and denim jacket flew out, ¡°you can go with this¡­ and tennis shoes! It feels like it will be a little cold anyway.¡± Wendy lifted her eyebrows as she held up the blouse. ¡°Not like that matters when you have magic. Do we really need to go shopping with how many clothes you have all over your suite? When did you start putting them in the guest room? I guess you always did love shopping.¡± ¡°When Daisy stayed over and we went shopping,¡± Sora giggled, giving her a wink. ¡°I do happen to love shopping! We¡¯ll have to try Avalon shopping soon enough. I wonder how their currency works. Huh. Anyway, while you get ready, I¡¯m going to take care of something else. And¡­ all cleaned up!¡± she chimed, flicking her tail toward her sister, letting the blue flames envelop her to leave Wendy smelling and looking divine! ¡°I¡­ really need to learn how to use magic,¡± Wendy ruefully chuckled, watching the blue flames fizzle out. ¡°It even tastes like I just brushed my teeth. You¡¯re spoiling me too much¡­¡± ¡°Duh! Sisters,¡± Sora sang, dancing forward to hug her again. ¡°We need to look our best when Mom shows up. Who knows what crazy she¡¯ll bring! Be back in a bit.¡± Slipping outside, she was satisfied with the war still raging within Wendy¡¯s aura against her inner demons; her best friend was fighting back, and winning ground. Now, she had to address something she should have done two days earlier. Below, she heard Eyia arguing with Fen as the vulpes prepared to leave for Avalon, checking her several suitcases. They weren¡¯t her target, though. With her purse floating beside her, Sora held her elbow behind her back as she moved down a hallway and knocked on the door of a certain wolf. Hearing the wolf lying in bed, headphones in and blasting music, likely to drown out what Wendy and she were going through, Sora knocked on the door. ¡°What do you want, Sora? Here to drag me onto your sister¡¯s shopping trip?¡± Kari mumbled. ¡°Can¡­ I come in?¡± Releasing a tired sigh, Kari paused her music. ¡°Go ahead. You own the place.¡± Sora figured that was a comment more about their whole territory than the suite itself. Pressing down on the handle, she pushed it open and stepped inside. Kari leaned against her headboard, wearing some of the polka-dot pajamas they¡¯d gotten on their previous trip and dully playing with her phone. There was a bag of floss picks by her bed, and, somehow, half of them were already gone¡ªthere was a whole box in the corner. ¡°What do you want?¡± Kari asked as she hovered in the doorway, scanning the relatively empty room. ¡°Your mom¡¯s coming home, right? Congrats¡­ What?¡± Breathing out the pressure in her chest, Sora walked inside and shut the door behind her, snatching the wolf¡¯s guarded amber eyes. ¡°I wanted to have a short talk about¡­ some stuff that I¡¯ve done recently. Mind if I sit and talk for a minute?¡± Kari burped and scooted further up on her bed, returning to her phone on whatever she was looking up; it sounded like extreme sports videos. ¡°You already shut the door. Make yourself at home¡­ It is your home, so why ask me?¡± Sucking in her left cheek, Sora glanced off to the side; she could see past Kari¡¯s mask as if it were glass. ¡°¡­I know you¡¯re afraid of me, Kari. Even if you keep your guard up so I can¡¯t sense anything, I¡¯ve been inside your heart¡­ I know what you fear.¡± The pick in her mouth snapped, and she reached for another from a dumped-out pile on her desk-side table. ¡°Sure. Whatever you say, Princess.¡± Sora felt a little slap at the nickname she¡¯d no doubt gotten from Fen, but let it slide. Kari was just trying to fight back in any little way she could. The wolf really was a cornered puppy, waiting for the leash to go around her throat and to be yanked off to perform for her master. ¡°Right¡­ Umm. Kari, I feel like I¡¯ve been far too¡­ aggressive recently, and¡­ Mmm. I¡¯m trying to pull back. I¡¯ve known you for three years¡ªwell, parts of you in that time¡­ and I know you¡¯re the direct type for the most part¡­ when you can be. I know it¡¯s hard with me. Whatever wolf instinct you have about authority and¡­ the messed up things you¡¯ve gone through. I don¡¯t want to lecture you.¡± ¡°Okay. Then don¡¯t,¡± Kari barked, tossing her phone to the side and running her fingers through her messy, absurdly thick black hair while glaring at her. ¡°Is that it? As you can see, I¡¯m busy hiding in the dog house you gave me. Are you done poking fun at me?¡± The passive aggressiveness¡­ She doesn¡¯t want to be like this, but she¡¯s confused as to exactly what I want from her. I have to be direct if I want her to move past this insecurity. Kari doesn¡¯t know if she is safe around me, and she¡¯s afraid to drop her guard, even if she feels my desire to be friends¡­ She doubts everything in her life. I can¡¯t blame her. I¡¯d be the same way if my aura senses didn¡¯t open me up to a whole new world. Putting on the best smile she could, Sora held her hands at her front. ¡°I¡¯ll be honest and straight to the point. I¡¯m not going to demand you to join me or the party I¡¯m planning with my mom. I¡¯m not going to demand that you come shopping with Wendy and me. Why do you think that is?¡± Kari snorted, her tail beating against the mattress between her legs, leaving an impression as she hollowly looked into the corner. ¡°Because you don¡¯t need a sarcastic mutt ruining the occasion? Hell, if I know. What, you don¡¯t want to push me and let me come begging for some food or something if I get lonely because I¡¯m a pack animal?¡± Sora was about to say yes before the latter half, making her giggle. ¡°Half right at the end there.¡± Letting her heart open and spilling her true feelings, she shook her head. ¡°No, I am not demanding because I am inviting you. You don¡¯t need to come because you feel some compulsion.¡± Kari¡¯s ears pulled back, a cynical look on her face. ¡°What?¡± ¡°As I said, I want to be friends with you, Kari. And if you want to be alone and emotional right now, then that¡¯s alright. I¡¯m not just a vulpes. I¡¯m not just a Founder. I¡¯m not just another master that will hurt you to get what I want. You¡¯re free, Kari. Truly. You¡¯re free.¡± She felt her heart melt at the nervous twitch in Kari¡¯s fingers as they knotted in her lap¡ªa puppy shying away, awaiting the crack of a whip. Sora continued, not expecting Kari to say anything. ¡°I know you¡¯d rather be numb than emotional. That¡¯s fine for now. You can tell me you¡¯re fine until you believe it yourself. You could talk to Mary today, walk around, or do nothing at all. You¡¯re not a prisoner here, Kari. I¡¯m not going to push further. This ball of friendship is in your court, and this¡­ is not my money, so don¡¯t worry about spending it,¡± she laughed. Her purse unzipped with a desire, and the Foundation¡¯s card they¡¯d given her floated onto the table beside her floss-picks. ¡°Aiden is going to show up if he can. He¡¯s pretty busy,¡± she laughed. ¡°Like I said, I¡¯m not here to control your life, Kari. I want to get to know you as friends. So, let me get this out of the way.¡± Taking a deep breath, she tried to be as direct as possible since that was the kind of thing Kari responded to; the wolf¡¯s tail pressed against her leg in response, eyeing her suspiciously as if ready to play a trick on her. ¡°First, you are not my pet, slave, or even need to stay here if you don¡¯t want to; I¡¯m sure Aiden could come up with a place if you want your space. That being said, I¡¯d¡­ like you to hang around and test the waters, but you are totally free. If Eric wants to start a beef, I¡¯ll fight him over it! You make your own decisions.¡± Brushing back her bangs and clearing her throat, she saw Kari¡¯s amber eyes still looking for things to pick apart in her statement, so she continued. ¡°Again, if you want to get up, walk out that door, and never see me again, then that is your decision. I¡¯ll be here whenever you want to pass me the friendship ball or say, ¡®screw that fox; she can eat her tail!¡¯ ¡± She gestured around the room. ¡°All of this is yours. I won¡¯t invade your space. I¡¯ll put a sound barrier around it, if you want, or do anything I can to make you feel comfortable¡­ because I want you to feel comfortable, free, and in control of your own life¡ªeveryone deserves to feel in control of your own life. So¡­ what do you say? Eh-hehe. Bite me? It sounds like something you¡¯d say,¡± she added with a strained, joking smile. A squinted-eyed, upward twitch moved the wolf¡¯s lips, which Sora took as a major win. Kari¡¯s feet twisted together as she glanced off to the side, and she held her breath while the wolf digested her words. ¡°Let me get this straight¡­ You¡¯re saying that you want to give me free food, water, shelter, and protection¡­ for what, friendship?¡± Ears folding back, vision wandering the very empty room, Sora got the vibe Kari wasn¡¯t viewing that in a positive light. ¡°Not¡­ exactly. You¡¯re making it sound like an exchange. I¡¯m open to being friends. I¡¯d like to be friends. You don¡¯t have to be friends with me. I want to give you what you never had¡­ a choice.¡± A little hesitant and feeling as if she was about to step into muddy waters she couldn¡¯t take back, Sora figured her true motivations were better said aloud now than later. ¡°When your mother¡¯s realm collapsed, you didn¡¯t have a choice. Your home was gone¡­ You were homeless. You tried to make a home here. Jenny and Eric didn¡¯t give you a choice in how to live that life. Lori manipulated you to be her sword and shield when you didn¡¯t know anything about our culture. Once again, you didn¡¯t have a choice.¡± ¡°I get it, Sora!¡± Kari snarled, shifting uncomfortably as she hugged herself. ¡°I¡¯m the sad, pathetic wolf girl you want to nurse back to health¡­ like a stray puppy.¡± ¡°No,¡± Sora flatly denied, making the wolf¡¯s mouth become a line. ¡°I did hate you, Kari¡­ more than you can ever know. But¡­ I know you aren¡¯t the person I thought you were. You never had a choice to be the person I can judge. So¡­ I want to give you that opportunity.¡± A small smile lifted her mouth as she told the uncertain wolf her true feelings: ¡°You gave me a chance at freedom when you started making your own choices¡ªnot what Lori or Jenny wanted you to do¡ªwhat you wanted to do. I¡¯m doing the same. Stay and hang as an annoying wolf girl who tells everyone to bite her, open up the possibility for us to get to know each other a bit better, or just¡­ leave. It¡¯s all your choice. Go to Aiden or disappear, if you want. I¡¯ll back you no matter your decision.¡± Taking out and playing with her floss pick, Kari swallowed while studying her for any hint of deception. ¡°¡­No tricks? You¡¯re giving me a place in your home¡­ rent-free and no strings attached?¡± Sora snorted and glanced around the area. ¡°I don¡¯t know if you¡¯ve noticed, Bite-Me-Girl, but I¡¯m a bit rich. I have the luxury to do kind of what I want¡­ Well, when I don¡¯t have supernatural creatures threatening everyone around me, but yeah, I think you know me well enough by now, Kari. I¡¯m the spoiled little rich princess. Cool?¡± ¡°¡­Cool,¡± Kari mumbled, seemingly still processing everything. ¡°Cool!¡± Clapping her hands, she winked while scanning the wolf¡¯s nightwear. ¡°Straight facts. I love the black-and-yellow polka-dot pajamas¡ªkilling it! This room could definitely use a makeover, though. Just saying! Well, catch ya later, Bite-Me-Girl.¡± Turning without another word, Sora felt as if she was walking on air upon exiting the room. Yes, she¡¯d made mistakes, but none of them were permanent. Now, it was time to be a teenager with her sisters because Eyia would most definitely join them. She smirked as she heard Kari¡¯s huff a moment later, falling back onto her bed. ¡°Bite-Me-Girl? What kind of nickname is that¡­¡± For so long, it¡¯s been touch and go¡­ but Wendy and Kari are recovering, Eyia¡¯s growing and learning, and Mom is coming home. Today is going to set new ground. Today, my family will become whole. It¡¯s a new day for the Fox Den, and the sun is shining on us! B2 — 20. A Caretaker Returns Heart soaring as she left Kari¡¯s room, Sora took her time in the hallway, scanning the artistic flavor that the Foundation had added to her vastly expanded suite. The shiny marble floors were kept polished by the hotel staff once a month, and it seemed like the shadow organization had done a thorough job when making the renovations. The pattering of the rain outside drew her gaze to the large wall window, giving a partial view of the buildings beside the hotel and the vast ocean scenery. It wasn¡¯t a bad storm, and would probably pass in a few more hours, but it did make her wonder if she should bring an umbrella. Putting the thought behind her, Sora¡¯s smile grew as she paused from time to time when making it to her original suite, lingering on things she didn¡¯t think people would typically expect to find in such a lavish living space. Anime portraits, case-enclosed dolls, and other seemingly worthless things were framed with the utmost care that likely couldn¡¯t fetch more than a few dozen dollars¡ªthings she stopped playing with. A short giggle shook her body as she stopped in front of the original sailor outfits worn by the live-action actresses in Japan. Magical Girls were a part of her childhood, and now she was a magical fox girl. Coincidence? She thought not! She ran her fingers over the glass of an excited 10-year-old Wendy and her, posing with the voice actresses and actors of their favorite anime. Her dad had been so supportive. It had been really unfair to Wendy. Although, after her last talk with Jane, she wondered how much pressure the alcoholic must have been under, not that that excused her in the end. It did make her think, though. To her dad, these were trophies¡ªpriceless. The photos and tickets of every major trip Wendy, her dad, and she had gone on were on full display. Some showed slight damage, but her dad did his best to keep them safe during the event. She recalled times when he¡¯d just linger outside her room and look at them, which now warmed her heart. Back then, she¡¯d been more interested in him doing something new rather than reliving old memories. Naturally, there were expensive paintings and artifacts he¡¯d managed to get at auction; her dad loved Irish heritage stuff. Now, after meeting her Aunt Rose, she wondered if they really did have an Irish background or if there was something more to it. Her family was so much more mysterious and dangerous than she thought. Trying to put the past behind her, Sora¡¯s ears pulled back as she looked up at a big fancy painting her dad had commissioned in France when they were nine. Noelia, her Cuban caretaker growing up, had come with them. The energetic immigrant woman had played such a pivotal role in her life growing up. She hadn¡¯t responded to the emoji I sent last week¡­ I wonder if she read my message? I¡¯m too nervous to even look, she mournfully thought. Maybe she changed her number. Ron wasn¡¯t sure it would connect in the first place when he gave it to me. Noelia was like a mother to me, though¡­ Yeah, that hurt when she chose to stand up for me, to the point of saying she wouldn¡¯t give me meds she knew I didn¡¯t need, so accept it or terminate her employment. Dad just did what the medical professionals told him to do¡ªwhat Jenny told them to do¡ªand he trusted them. Damn you, Jenny. I miss Noelia. What did Mom think about her? Could her gamble really be what I hope? She hummed while observing the various pictures of them all on trips around the world. Her dad often had business things to do, which meant Noelia was with them a lot during these weekend adventures, so it wasn¡¯t uncommon for her to join them. The Cuban woman didn¡¯t have any kids, so she doted on Wendy and her. Maybe if she came back, that¡¯d be easier on her new sister, rather than a mom she didn¡¯t even know. Noelia put everything on the line three years ago¡ªjust when she¡¯d turned thirteen¡ªyet it felt so much longer now. She still remembered the tears on the woman¡¯s face when her father, angry, confused, and frustrated at the time, told her that if she refused to do what she was being paid to do, then she would no longer be needed. Sora¡¯s brow furrowed as she scooted further left, her swinging tail slowing to a stop as she found several more images of the woman. However, she noticed something off that was so subtle she hadn¡¯t detected it until truly studying the paintings and photos. ¡°Sora?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Ears rising, she shifted to find her brown-haired sister exiting her room in her changed outfit. ¡°Ooh! Cute. I like the white button-up with the pink pocket, and blue shorts look good¡ªflowers on the side?¡± When she shifted to show it, Sora beamed and nodded, liking the brown belt and sandals she¡¯d added. ¡°Yup! Daisy chose those out, I think.¡± ¡°Oh. Uh, do you think she¡¯d be okay with me wearing it? It fits pretty well, and I thought we were going to be getting new clothes anyway, so¡­ yeah. What are you doing, by the way¡ªlooking at our old adventures?¡± Sora waved her hand while returning her study to the pictures of Noelia. ¡°Anything Daisy really wanted, I think she took down to Howie and her new suite. Umm. Does anything here look¡­ off to you?¡± she asked, pointing up at the painting as her head tilted to the side with her ears, trying to spot what was so off-putting. Wendy lifted an eyebrow, fingers playing with the sunglasses hanging on her shirt front, the first three buttons undone. ¡°Mmm. Not really. I¡­ kind of miss Noelia, though,¡± she laughed. ¡°I still don¡¯t know if your mom was talking about her or someone else. She really did teach us a lot, though¡ªand man, I didn¡¯t want to make her mad. Plus, she made the best meals¡­ and her air dancing!¡± ¡°The air dancing! I totally forgot about that. Yeah, she used to just dance with herself at times when we were busy playing together. She could make anything, too!¡± Sora chortled, spreading out her magic in a desire to pinpoint what was bugging her. The fur on her tail stood up as a sharp resonance echoed through her in response. ¡°What¡­ no way.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Wendy scooted closer, spotting her bristling tail and alert ears. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­ an illusion,¡± she mumbled, eyes going wide as she interacted with the vastly complicated weave of magic that she hadn¡¯t caught until touching it; it was so obvious now. ¡°How did the Foundation miss this? How did I miss¡­ Eyia! Eyia! Can you come here real quick?¡± Fen¡¯s huff followed. ¡°Brrr! Can you not just turn into fog every other minute?! Sora, how much longer are you going to make me wait before I can leave? Are you stalling? Enjoying me that much?¡± The mist swept through the hallway, leaving a crisp chill that cut past even Sora¡¯s natural elemental resistances. Eyia¡¯s starry eyes were shining as she materialized, wearing a yellow v-cut t-shirt and blue capri pants. ¡°Yes, Sister? Fen tells me you wish to do the plastic shopping in preparation for your mother¡¯s return¡­ Oh, I was looking at these this morning. You seem to be well-traveled on this world. I do not know many of these people within your family.¡± ¡°Not inaccurate,¡± Wendy said with a strained laugh. ¡°We had a busy childhood, and¡­ none of these are her family.¡± ¡°I see. Members of the community?¡± Eyia inquired, shifting between the photos of her dad on golfing outings with Tom or other influential political or business figures. ¡°They all exude confidence in their posture.¡± Sora ignored the three-tailed huli-jing¡¯s complaints and pointed up at the painting. ¡°Yeah, umm, Eyia, can you see this illusion? It¡¯s super complex¡ªI can¡¯t see past it like I normally can with other illusions.¡± Eyia¡¯s bundled hair shifted to the right with her head while examining the piece, her complexion taking on a more serious vibe. ¡°An illusion, Sister? At first glance, I do not, but that does not mean it is not there. Give me a moment to hone my senses. If it is a well-hidden piece of magic, then there are other methods to detect it¡­¡± Sora stepped back with Wendy as the Primordial Valkyrie¡¯s hands released a twinkling glow, and she swept it in an arc before the art piece. Next, she sank her fingers into the air as if dipping them through water, the surface slowly freezing, cracking, and shattering into fathomless stars that gradually faded away¡ªevery action radiated a completely foreign surge that made Sora¡¯s bones shake. ¡°Mmm. I cannot sense a dimensional variance,¡± the blonde mumbled, ¡°which means it is one of a kind, not branching into divergent fields. There is no physical tampering done from its original brush strokes, which means if there is an illusion, the truth will be revealed once dispelled. Calculating shifts in territorial markers, at least those I am trained in, they should be congruent with a vulpes seal¡­ yet it is not.¡± Wendy looked at her for an explanation, yet the blonde could be speaking Korean, and she¡¯d understand her better. ¡°Which¡­ means?¡± Sora pressed, moving forward with a frown as she tapped various pictures to get a better field sample. ¡°The illusion¡ªit¡¯s¡­ only in the ones Noelia is in. Is that important?¡± ¡°Oh, no¡­¡± Wendy groaned and rubbed between her eyes. ¡°Did you stumble on another headache for us? Don¡¯t tell me Noelia wasn¡¯t human, too!¡± Sora¡¯s focus was on the warrior, though, expecting her to voice her conclusion because her gibberish was too cryptic. ¡°What does it mean if it doesn¡¯t have a vulpes seal? Whose seal is it?¡± ¡°No, no!¡± Wendy interrupted. ¡°What are seals first?¡± Sora pointed at her best friend. ¡°Good point. What are territorial seals, Eyia? Ugh. Eyia is going to be in a super advanced grade from us, isn¡¯t she, Wendy?¡± ¡°Probably. We suck. I can¡¯t even sense magic here. So, uh, can you explain it like I¡¯m a kid, Eyia?¡± she asked with a strained smile. ¡°Wait, kids probably know more than us in Asgard. Explain it like I¡¯m stupid and don¡¯t even know what magic is, please!¡± Eyia cupped her chin while glancing between the many paintings and pictures of Noelia. ¡°A challenging task, Sisters. Hmm. No, I think I have it in terms as white as snow. Come!¡± Glancing at Wendy, her best friend shrugged, and they followed the skipping blonde to the elevator, through the front room, and into the kitchen. Fen called out to her as they passed through the main floor, while Jian passively sat on a couch, searching the web on a tablet. ¡°Sora! I¡¯d like to get to Avalon before noon.¡± ¡°You¡¯re already set on leaving! So just leave already¡ªjoking, joking¡­ half-joking,¡± she grumbled, a little pissed the woman was so abruptly leaving just before her mother got here; there was probably a reason for it. ¡°Just be patient. Geez. What¡¯s up, Eyia?¡± Eyia took them to the fridge, and her heart melted upon seeing a bunch of colorful magnets of fantasy creatures and warriors on it that the blonde had obviously purchased the moment she saw them in her online shopping venture. She gave Wendy a look that her sister returned, no doubt saying the same thing in her own mind. Adorable! The warrior used her fingers to move the big battle scene she¡¯d done, spreading out the different monsters to their own zones as she excitedly explained. ¡°Founders are very territorial! Very territorial¡­ So, they divide up the territories of your Greater Existence to the tribes. Jin¡¯s mother has one of the largest territories,¡± she stated, sliding the dragon up and spreading out the others much further away. ¡°Her generations of children are constantly battling and causing trouble toward one another to gain her eye and further their own regions within her lands¡ªJin is not a fan, so she left.¡± Wendy scratched her neck, clearly already confused. ¡°Greater Existence? What¡¯s that, and how is it different from a Lesser Existence?¡± Eyia smiled and held up her hand in a small circle, slowly expanding until she spread her arms all the way out. ¡°Lesser Existences are like this¡­ normal ones are like this, higher ones, this big, and Greater Existences are the most giganticist!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t think that¡¯s a word,¡± Sora giggled, trying to interpret. ¡°Think of Existences as onions, Wendy, and they have thirteen layers. A territory is like a small piece of the onion.¡± ¡°Ahhh. Okay, got it,¡± Wendy nodded. ¡°Universe stuff, I guess. And there are a lot of onions outside our onion?¡± ¡°Sort of,¡± Sora nodded, creating an illusion of the vegetable to demonstrate while peeling it back. ¡°Apparently, there are a lot of different-sized onions, and my grandma has a decent section of the onion. I still don¡¯t understand what a territory seal is¡ªlike¡­ is it approved by my mom or aunt?¡± she questioned, looking to Eyia for answers and trying to get a better grasp on her inheritance. Eyia looked at her example and laughed, pointing at the 13th layer. ¡°This is the only one that really matters, Sisters. All onion layers below it are connected to the whole, and anything underneath this 13th layer is within that territory¡­ This 7th layer is the size of what you would consider a universe¡ªeach layer is nigh infinitely larger than the last¡ªJin makes fun of you, Sora. I tell her not to be mean.¡± A pout came on as Sora spun the giant fake onion around in a circle, and she grunted. ¡°Not like I have my mom¡¯s memories genetically passed on to me. Give me a break. Okay, you caught Wendy and me up on territories. What about these seals?¡± The Valkyrie stopped the illusion¡¯s spin and placed the magnets on it, Sora using her magic to keep them in place as the excited warrior continued. ¡°Every Founder has a unique effect upon their territory that marks it as their territory. If it does not have the vulpes seal on it, the magic item or phenomenon isn¡¯t from this territory. Jin is very knowledgeable on such seals, as was my father, and they explained many to me, so I know how to act according to the treaty.¡± ¡°Simple enough,¡± Wendy nodded, pointing at the ceiling. ¡°And those don¡¯t come from Founders?¡± Sora was confused as Eyia shook her head, noticing Fen had shut her mouth and was likely listening now, too. ¡°No, Sisters. It is Founder in origin¡ªtanuki Founder, to be specific. At least, that is what I know from Jin¡¯s spiritual instruction to me¡ªshe shared their seal markers so I would not get in trouble. She is a very good¡­ and a very bad friend¡ªJin is confusing,¡± she laughed with a sigh. All Sora heard was tanuki, though, and her mother¡¯s history lesson dumped arctic water over her head. ¡°Tanuki¡­ Huh? No. No, that¡¯s not¡­ possible.¡± ¡°Sister?¡± Wendy rubbed her temple. ¡°Sora¡­ Ugh. Why am I always the one left in the dark about everything? I don¡¯t know anything! Where are you going now?¡± Sora jogged out of the kitchen on her way upstairs. She saw Fen with a deep scowl and reflective expression. Jian had set his tablet down, eyes closed and seemingly meditating. Wendy and Eyia were quick to join her before the lift rose to the second level, and Sora released her illusion, allowing the magnets to fall to the floor in the kitchen. Worry boiled within Sora¡¯s tight chest as she jogged to the painting, explaining the conflict. ¡°The tanuki Founders killed my grandma and two of my aunts. My Aunt Inari basically declared war on them and, from what I know, is actively taking out every last one of the tanuki¡ªlegally, apparently. I don¡¯t know. It just¡­ doesn¡¯t seem right. A tanuki Founder¡­ here?¡± Eyia now looked bewildered. ¡°Why would there not be with your grandmother¡¯s open fields for certain individuals? You have Fenris Wolves within your territory, Sister. If something as dangerous as Fenris Wolves are allowed in, then why not tanuki, and after your grandmother is dead? This is your mother¡¯s territory, not your aunt¡¯s.¡± Looking up at the painting, a weight pressing in on her, Sora looked between the many memorable moments in her life. The mysterious amulet in her safe came to mind with her Aunt Rose; she didn¡¯t seem like a Founder, and Pandora didn¡¯t make it sound like she was. ¡°I see your point but¡­ no. I don¡¯t¡­ I don¡¯t get it. Why is there tanuki illusion magic in my home? Is¡­ is my dad a tanuki?¡± Plots spun wildly out of control in her mind. ¡°Is that what my mom was scared to tell me? There¡¯s no way¡­ Is that why Mom is scared to bring Aunt Inari into my life¡­ because she¡¯ll see I have some tanuki in me? Was that why older Nilly acted that way? What is happening?¡± she mumbled, feeling as if the walls were breathing and closing in on her. Wendy crossed her arms and shifted her hip to the left. ¡°Uh, I¡¯m just saying¡ªand I¡¯m lost here, by the way¡ªbut I think you¡¯re totally off the mark. Didn¡¯t you say they¡¯re only in the photos and painting of Noelia? So, why are you going to your dad?¡± Sora¡¯s jaw snapped shut, and the confusing narrative of stacked cards between Pandora, her two aunts, her mom, Nilly, and her dad collapsed. ¡°Okay. I¡¯m just stupid. Yeah, that doesn¡¯t make sense.¡± Her best friend held up her hands. ¡°I¡¯m just saying! I didn¡¯t follow that logic, but you know more than me. Can you remove it?¡± Turning to see what Eyia¡¯s opinion was, the Valkyrie shook her head, taking a totally different angle that made Sora feel even more dumb. ¡°If you can sense such magic, then surely your mother would know it is here. If she did not tell you about it, then she wanted you to find it on your own due to her great foreknowledge. She would not have seen it as a significant enough threat to handle herself.¡± Wendy pushed her cheeks to the side, head tilting in a way that said, ¡®That makes sense.¡¯ Sora picked at her cuticles while studying the painting; there were so many mysteries and secrets revolving around her, and they only kept increasing. She got some answers, only for more to bubble up. She¡¯d rushed into a lot of things lately and didn¡¯t want to make another mistake, so she drew back to sit against the wall, tail tucking around her legs as Wendy and Eyia joined her. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Let me¡­ think about it for a second. What could happen if I do remove it? Should I call Noelia first? Should I wait for my mom to come and let her explain? Could it be a trap? Mmm. Probably not, or at least not one I can¡¯t handle, or Mom would have taken care of it, like Eyia said.¡± Playing with her sandals, Wendy tapped her phone on her thigh, weaving left and right a little while probably singing a song in her head, waiting for whatever came next. Eyia was taken in by the puzzle, still looking for the magic that somehow evaded her. ¡°What do I know?¡± Sora externally mumbled, taking her sisters through her thoughts; Kari, Fen, and Jian would be listening, but that was fine. ¡°Mom¡¯s coming home. Noelia might have been a tanuki Founder the whole time¡­ and she¡¯s been taking care of me¡ªus? I think I want to at least try to remove it. Thoughts?¡± Wendy shrugged. ¡°It would be a trip if she was not just a monster but a Founder. Would that mean you had an enemy working for you? Maybe she gained sanctuary from your mom or something?¡± ¡°Or¡­¡± Sora trailed off as she stood up, not wanting to say aloud that her mother might not have been able to do anything during that part in her life or else risk triggering her change early and killing her. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± Holding up her hand, she fed the desire, her tail stiff as her magic resonated with the intense threads of mystic energy, and she retreated a step when they unraveled without a fight as if waiting for her desire. Her ears folded down as every photo of her former caretaker shimmered and revealed not the middle-aged Cuban woman, but a young, half-Japanese and Latino girl, her chocolate and gray hair revealing a layered raccoon pattern. Every cute pose and playful vibe took on a whole different tone with her extremely large, puffy tail behind her and animated tanuki ears when beside her father. ¡°No way,¡± Wendy whispered, shifting between the adorable photos of tanuki Noelia having fun with them. It wasn¡¯t only her appearance, but her outfit that often changed, being far more elegant or casual, depending on the occasion. ¡°Noelia was a totally different person? She looks so much¡­ more fun than I remember. ¡°Like, sure, she was fun, but not like this! She lied to us. Wait, that time she danced with your dad on the ship?! Eesh. Uh, and when she¡¯d dance by herself in the front room¡­ she was really dancing¡­ Was she with anyone else? Yikes.¡± Eyia hummed, not looking as put off as Sora would have expected from the defensive Valkyrie, which was probably her influence with Kari. Her bright blue eyes glowed, and she whispered, ¡°I cannot peer long without the chance of being discovered beyond this 7th-dimensional field, but she does not seem to be putting you in any danger. I would say she is being quite attentive, at least from what I can see through the past threads of time, though I cannot see beyond her magic to be sure no one else is there.¡± The more Sora swapped between the pictures, the more she saw her past in a whole new light. Noelia¡¯s hair changed from time to time, as did many other articles she collected over their travels, and the woman seemed to join in their fun rather than do anything suspect in the background. ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ have to ask my mom. But¡­ she stood up for me? Noelia didn¡¯t use her magic to change my dad¡¯s mind or do anything I would have done.¡± Wendy¡¯s brow furrowed further, looking even more confused. ¡°Wait¡­ she did stand up for you, and your dad gave her an ultimatum¡­ and she walked.¡± Sora swallowed the saliva gathering in her mouth, reflecting on her memories. ¡°She said she refused to do what was wrong for me, and she wouldn¡¯t give me any medication¡ªthat she didn¡¯t trust the psychiatrists, and asked my dad to look more into it¡­ Jenny got to the others, too, though. ¡°If Noelia is a powerful Founder, capable of this, then¡­ why would she choose to back down and let Eric and Kari take over? She chose not to manipulate anything other than her appearance. She didn¡¯t use her magic to change things in my favor¡­ she acted like a normal human. Why?¡± A lump formed in her throat as she called her purse over and extracted her phone, pulling up Noelia¡¯s number that Ron had provided a little over a week ago when she¡¯d first started changing. There was always a new layer to peel back in her life. ¡°Umm. Let¡¯s get ready to go shopping. I¡¯ll give her a call¡ªI don¡¯t know,¡± she added at Wendy¡¯s concerned frown. ¡°I mean, I¡¯ve meant to call her for weeks now¡ªI sent her an emoji text last week and a ramble two days ago¡ªbut everything just kept stacking up, and now¡­ I have a reason to call.¡± They turned to stare at the tanuki woman¡¯s pictures before Sora took them back downstairs. She flipped the phone around in her hand, still hesitating to press the button. Fen engaged her before she had the chance, tails weaving beside the Chinese woman on the couch, a curious smirk on her lips. ¡°Well, well, well. It seems the Founder trouble continues to stack against you, Princess. I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about the tanuki faction, being from your aunt¡¯s side of the room, so to speak,¡± she mused, her white tail separating to wave at them. ¡°Care for some insight into your auntie¡¯s opinions?¡± Jian rubbed his temples. ¡°Fen¡­¡± ¡°Yes, yes, I know,¡± she snapped, falling to her side and propping up her head with a hand; her gown shifted to a rather revealing position, her tails becoming restless. ¡°It¡¯s just an offer from a different perspective.¡± Sora folded her arms on the back of her couch and gave a short laugh. ¡°Let me guess, the short version is don¡¯t trust her, and to kill her? I know the gist of my family background with tanuki, Tails. So, what else can you add?¡± Fen¡¯s smile didn¡¯t falter, her mischievous eyes narrowing. ¡°Lady Inari is not a believer in her mother¡¯s ideals, unlike your firestarter of a mother. It is obvious by what she has allowed within your territory already, and if her sister knew, then it would be quite the fight they¡¯d have¡ªsisterly fights that destroy multiverses, I¡¯m sure. ¡°After all, she is compromising your whole territory with Fenris Wolves, dragons, Primordials, and now¡­ we have the dreaded t-word. I think your mother could be in a lot of trouble if you poke around too closely. Just my opinion, knowing nothing about these Founder Accords,¡± she shrugged. ¡°At the end of the day, it matters little to me. I¡¯m off to be your assistant vulpes instructor! I look forward to seeing you in class.¡± With that, she rose to her feet, Jian following, and Sora was a little taken aback when the woman smoothly clasped her hands at her front with the tiger man. Her tone took on a totally different vibe¡ªrespectful, even. ¡°Thank you for everything you have done for us, Lady Sora. I owe you much, despite my discomfort at the line I must walk between you, your mother, your aunt, and my¡­ biases, I suppose you could say on a good day¡­ racism on a bad. I am grateful nonetheless for your hospitality and patience.¡± They gave her a very formal bow and rose, the vulpes dropping the tone and twisting her finger to spell the suitcases into the air. ¡°Let me rewind. I am restless and feel as if I have never been able to live my own life. I have been trapped by my need for spiritual energy and circumstances as a Huli Jing¡ªwith my cursed family, whose story I won¡¯t bore you with. What do I want? I want to feel free. And you gave that to me here. So, know whatever I say or do¡­ it is not personal. It is in my nature that I fight.¡± ¡°Wow,¡± Sora whispered, continuing to roll her phone around in her palm while watching the pair get ready to leave. ¡°Apology accepted if that was what you just did. I hope you enjoy your time in Avalon, and I intend to keep my promise to somehow fix your need for spiritual energy¡ªI did it with Daisy!¡± Fen gave the three of them a backward, doubtful smirk before brushing back her hair and leaving with Jian, her bags following behind them. ¡°Without using your miraculous magic on me or your mother erases me? Dream big, girl.¡± The woman¡¯s three tails swayed with each click her heels made in her seductive walk. ¡°You are too good to be a pure vulpes, Sora. Keep that in mind when dealing with your mother. Even if she is a Founder, your mom is a volatile thing that even the likes of Lady Inari are cautious of. I have no doubt she would suck out every life in this Existence if it were for her daughter. Food for thought!¡± Sora sighed as the vulpes left her suite with two more empty rooms¡ªthree since Jin decided to move to Avalon, too. She was bleeding tenants, although Daisy had moved in downstairs, so that was a little different. ¡°Let¡¯s take the elevator in the next suite over. Man, I need to actually decorate this place, but that¡¯s also a motherly thing! And my mom is coming home,¡± she chimed, not sure if she should include Eyia in that since she wasn¡¯t aware of her family relationships. She moved through the halls with her sisters, feeling their gaze on her as she pressed the call button on Noelia¡¯s contact info. It rang five times, and Sora paused in the hallway to the next suite over, breath locked in her lungs as it connected. Noelia¡¯s smooth, young, and energetic voice was very unlike what she remembered of the old Cuban woman; there was the unmistakable hint of a mix between a Japanese and Spanish accent. ¡°Sora, I felt you unravel my spell. Congratulations! I¡¯m sorry for not responding to your texts¡­ I saw the notifications, and I didn¡¯t know how to respond, I didn¡¯t mean to leave you unread,¡± she hesitantly chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m glad I made the right decision, even if it may have hurt. So, what can I do you for?¡± ¡°Can you¡­ video call?¡± Sora tentatively asked, hearing her own voice a little hoarse. ¡°I just¡­ I have so many questions, and¡­¡± ¡°You want to be sure?¡± Noelia finished with a sigh that quickly flipped in energy. ¡°Hmm. Absolutely, my little shooting star! Look away.¡± Sora yelped and dropped her phone onto the hallway rug as the tanuki materialized in front of them. She flashed her teeth and did a cute, Japanese-style sideward peace sign as if she¡¯d never left. ¡°Here I am! You asked for face time.¡± ¡°N-Noelia?!¡± Wendy stammered, catching herself as she almost tripped. ¡°Aww. You¡¯ve both grown up so much,¡± the young woman cooed, her long, bushy raccoon tail swaying as she did a quick scan of them, temporarily focusing on Eyia¡¯s cheery wave. ¡°I knew I sensed a Primordial in this universe. How unique. And, Wendy, oh, you look so much like your mother when she was younger¡ªvery pretty¡­ I¡¯m sorry how that seemed to turn out.¡± She swallowed and bounced back into the adjacent suite¡¯s front room, showing an awkward, emotional smile. ¡°Anything I can do? I can be quite vengeful for my little kits! I really grew to love you girls¡­ Am I talking too much? I need to listen, too. Ah! I¡¯m such a cry baby¡­¡± Sora¡¯s smile grew as memories of the energetic and emotional Cuban woman flooded back; this had to be her mom¡¯s gamble¡ªher tanuki caretaker, who should be an enemy. ¡°Huh. You did used to call us your little kits. Did¡­ my mom send you to look after me? Why didn¡¯t she explicitly mention you? Why are you a gamble? I want to know everything!¡± Noelia hopped back further as they drew into the room, clearly not wanting to make them uncomfortable by being too close. Her vertical black-and-white striped dress bounced with her thick, lower-back-length hair as she swiftly shook her head. ¡°Your mother¡ªsend me? Never! At least¡­ as you said, not explicitly. Haha¡­ You were my adorable little kits, nonetheless. Hmm. Honestly, I was exiled into your mother¡¯s territory after I was born¡­ by my father, and I expected to get the whammy from your mom!¡± she exclaimed, swinging her hands as if a baseball bat, clearly trying not to break down into tears. ¡°Poor, poor, little me!¡± she nervously giggled. ¡°I¡¯m a little Mudblood, as some of the humans like to say in this universe! Your mom did visit me shortly several days ago, though. Interesting lady, your mom. Terrifying! I¡¯m talking too much again. Agh. I¡¯m trying too hard!¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes grew big. ¡°You¡¯re¡­ not a 100% Founder, like Kari and Sora¡ªno, Eric?¡± It wasn¡¯t a surprise to Sora, knowing what she did about male Founders, but her best friend seemed to be going down a totally different mental rabbit hole involving Eric. ¡°Hmm?¡± The woman scratched her left ear, folding it down and shrugging as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal, which Sora knew it was and wasn¡¯t, just for complicated reasons. ¡°I mean, I don¡¯t know how much of a tanuki I am, to be completely open. It just makes sense from my perspective that I¡¯m not much in the way of one. Ah! I¡¯m so anxious. ¡°Sorry! Sorry. Uh, I was just told I was not in the den when I was born and booted off not to draw attention to our litter¡ªyou know, born into active war stuff. Poor little helpless me landed her bruised butt here and gravitated toward the nearest thing that felt, uh¡­ normalish to me, I guess you could say.¡± Sora already felt her heart melting, seeing parts of her old caretaker in the bouncing woman, unable to hold still. Then again, in folklore, tanuki were master tricksters, much like kitsune. ¡°So¡­ how old are you then, if you just, uh¡­ gravitated toward me?¡± she asked, retreating a second to grab her phone as the woman began pacing around the other room, looking around. ¡°You left when Eric and the Fenris Wolves took over the area? Why¡­ why didn¡¯t you try to stay? I missed you¡­ even if I¡¯m not sure if you¡¯re really a spy now or something¡ªit¡¯s a gamble!¡± she laughed. ¡°So, what were you doing all that time?¡± Noelia paused, a somber expression dampening her naturally cheery face as she gripped her elbow and turned to face her. ¡°Okay, I wasn¡¯t drawn here by you, per se. I¡¯m not totally being honest with you, Sora¡­ I¡¯m just so nervous! Okay, let me backtrack and try this again¡ªbeing totally transparent¡ªI¡¯m trying.¡± ¡°Which part?¡± Wendy cautiously asked. The hyperactive young woman took a deep breath, brushing back her thick, layered hair to give the brunette a fond look. ¡°You always did worry a lot for Sora¡¯s sake¡­ the more responsible one.¡± ¡°Hey!¡± Sora huffed, but she couldn¡¯t deny it as she caught Wendy¡¯s expression. ¡°Okay, but it¡¯s not like I¡¯m not responsible. You¡¯re just¡­ more.¡± ¡°Right, right,¡± Noelia snickered, her eyes looking distant for a second. ¡°Hmm? Oh, yeah, so¡­ I lied about not knowing why I was kicked out by my father. It¡¯s just¡ªit¡­ sounds like, mmm, I¡¯m trying to garner sympathy points. Want to hear the real story? I can be in Miami with a snap of my fingers! I just really hope my dad isn¡¯t using me for some nefarious purpose, but¡­ he probably is. I¡¯m a gamble, you said?¡± Sora nodded, making the tanuki puff out her cheeks and hiss. ¡°Right. That¡¯s scary to think about. I don¡¯t like being a burden on people. Umm. Hmm. Yeah.¡± She pulled around her tail, hugging it and still fighting tears. ¡°I¡¯m, uh, hehe¡­ a 3rd-generation Founder, like you, Sora! I don¡¯t get to speak to Founders often, so¡­ I¡¯m really nervous¡ªI¡¯ve said that already. Uh. I¡¯m just¡­ a few thousand years older. Still super young by 3rd gen standards! Your mom hasn¡¯t been the most¡­ attentive to her territory in that time, I suppose you could say, so I¡¯ve been here a bit¡­ and then you showed up. ¡°Your mom¡¯s only message to me was a few days ago¡ªit¡¯s scary not knowing when you might be erased all your life¡ªand the message¡­ was only that we¡¯d talk today, so¡­ fingers crossed I don¡¯t die! Hehe. ¡°I¡¯m nervous¡ªsuper nervous¡ªlike I¡¯m getting ready for a life-or-death interview. Is the dress too much? Mmm. Maybe it is. What do you tell another woman when you danced with their husband¡­ a few times, and took over her family like a mom? Oof. Yeah, not good,¡± she winced. ¡°Just hearing myself speak makes me want to send a pillar of fire on my head.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help laughter bubbling up as the tanuki rambled. She shook her head and waved her to join them. ¡°Slow down! You always talked fast, but never this fast. We¡¯re going shopping. Talk to us! I want to know everything. I trust my mom, whatever Fen says, and if she took a gamble on you, then I will, too. I¡¯m open to anything¡­ I¡¯m here to listen.¡± Noelia¡¯s cheeks flushed a little, seemingly fighting down some complex emotions. ¡°Golly, you really are the Sora I babied¡ªtotally not a vulpes¡­ totally not. It hurt to leave¡­ Tell you what! I¡¯ll be down at the front when you get there. I¡¯ve tried to keep my distance from the huma bird¡¯s influence since I saw it leading you down a painful, but promising future¡­ I guess¡­ I started to feel guilty. Too much crying. Take it easy¡ªbreathe. Haaa. See you soon!¡± She vanished in a rush of illusionary autumn leaves, and Sora felt her heart flying. Out of everything she¡¯d expected, this was not it. Noelia didn¡¯t give off the vibes of a sinister, evil mastermind. If anything, she could trust her since her mother had made her move already; for some reason, her mom had chosen to show mercy on her caretaker¡­ maybe because her mom couldn¡¯t be there for her daughter herself. Sora jogged toward the elevator and pressed the button, bobbing left and right with excitement as Wendy and Eyia joined her. Wendy didn¡¯t appear so sure, though, which probably connected to her distrust of everything from her mother¡¯s betrayal. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know if this is a great idea, Sora.¡± Eyia blinked, her blue eyes a darker shade than the tanuki¡¯s. ¡°I am inclined to believe she is a friend of your family due to Mia¡¯s interaction. As I understand it, she was your nurse mother, Sister. It is our place to welcome an honored woman into your home.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not that simple,¡± Wendy countered, rubbing her shoulder as they entered the box when it opened. She ignored the woman inside after Sora directed her to go to the ground level. ¡°She¡¯s been lying to us this whole time. She even said she was lying to us about not knowing why she was kicked out of her own family. It just¡­ it¡¯s weird. She didn¡¯t even tell us why! She¡¯s dodging questions.¡± ¡°Or she¡¯s just super nervous because my mom¡¯s coming home!¡± Sora argued. ¡°And why¡¯s that? Because she did some pretty shady things!¡± Eyia studied herself in the elevator mirror, likely copying something she¡¯d seen online. ¡°You must put yourself within the shoes of the person¡ªan analogy¡ªnot really in her shoes. She has been sojourning through hostile territory for many millennia, lost for purpose, unsure if the next moment would be her last, and she found sanctuary within your home. It is a beautiful tale of heartache and discovered belonging, one that she was forced to abandon for her beliefs. Now, redemption is here.¡± ¡°Way to go, Eyia!¡± Sora cheered, holding up a hand for her blonde sister to slap. ¡°You¡¯re doing so good.¡± Wendy wasn¡¯t convinced, but the blonde puffed up her chest at the praise. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯m just¡­ It¡¯s weird, okay? It¡¯s just¡­ weird. She isn¡¯t the adorable old Cuban woman I grew up with. I don¡¯t know who this lady is¡­ but she does have a really cute and bushy long tail. I¡¯ll give her that.¡± ¡°And a cute personality!¡± Sora added. ¡°She¡¯s so awkward, adorably forward. I love it, and you totally know she acts like a young Noelia. She just played her part so well as an older Cuban woman, trying to take care of us.¡± ¡°Yeah, part¡ªan act!¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°I¡¯ll wait to see what your mom has to say.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair. I want to learn more about her right now, though,¡± Sora laughed. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just impatient!¡± ¡°Always have been,¡± Wendy grumbled. ¡°And Noelia is right: you worry a lot, Wendy. Relax a little!¡± ¡°Mmgm.¡± Exiting the elevator, she led the way out front, where her former caretaker waited out front, matching purse around her shoulder, emphasizing her shoulderless dress. ¡°Hey, Noelia! So, first things first¡­ why do you think my mom hasn¡¯t burned you to a crisp?¡± ¡°Wow! Starting with the loaded questions,¡± she laughed, yet a melancholy note entered her hyper voice. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me explicitly, but¡­ probably because I¡¯m barren, too, or, well¡­ she used to be before you. Which, uh¡­ is the same reason I was kicked out of my home. I¡¯m useless. Unable to help repopulate our dying and hunted race, and I think you may know that my grandpa was a male 1st-gen Founder, so¡­¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora sighed, rubbing the back of her neck and giving Wendy a sidelong look. ¡°So, none of the tanuki are 100% Founder. Close, but not pure. Sorry, I don¡¯t mean to bring up sad memories.¡± Noelia¡¯s lips curved into a half-smile. ¡°Sad memories? What memories? I¡¯ve grown up in your mom¡¯s territory, wandering and keeping my tail down¡ªwhich is kind of hard, if you haven¡¯t noticed!¡± she giggled, brandishing her long and extremely bushy bundle of fur, making Sora and Eyia laugh. ¡°After so long, I was just happy to find a universe within your mom¡¯s territory that had people who I could connect with a bit¡­ like The M¨®rr¨ªgan.¡± Sora¡¯s mirth faded at the topic, Wendy and Eyia now staring at the bouncing tanuki. ¡°You¡­ knew The M¨®rr¨ªgan¡ªall three of them?¡± ¡°Of course!¡± Noelia pushed her cheeks to the side, fidgeting with her elbow as they entered traffic; Sora didn¡¯t even have to use her magic with the tanuki¡¯s amazing spell that wrapped around them. ¡°It is why I only practice very limited magic. They are not the¡­ fondest of me being here, but they tolerated me so long as I kept away from Avalon. Can, uh, I be honest?¡± ¡°I hope you are,¡± Sora returned, seeing Eyia eating up the information and trying to learn more about Founder culture. ¡°What about The Darkness? Didn¡¯t The M¨®rr¨ªgan disappear like¡­ over three hundred years ago or something?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about that,¡± Noelia whispered, ears pulling back and looking up at the sky. ¡°I feel your mom coming¡ªwell, more specifically, her ride. Hehe. I, umm¡­ I think your mom wants to use me since¡­ you know, she¡¯s giving up all of her power. I suppose it makes sense. I do need to pay my taxes, so to speak, and that comes in the form of labor for Founders. She¡¯ll be here in less than forty minutes, so you may want to shop fast.¡± Caught off-guard by the blunt words, Sora found her first action rather odd; taking out her phone, she sent a message to Aiden. His response was almost instant.
11:28 a.m. Sora - My mom¡¯s going to be here in about forty minutes. Can you make it?
11:28 a.m. Fluffy Feathers - Just in time! My suit just got out of the dry cleaners. Catch you soon, Ms. Fuzzy Tails.
The weight on Sora¡¯s chest lifted, looking to her left, where her nervous caretaker stood, and her two sisters to her right. Everything was perfect. Today was perfect. Well, the only thing that would make it better would be her dad waking up. For now, they had shopping to do! The countdown was on. B2 — 21. Homecoming Heading out on the town in the slightly cloudy Miami afternoon, Sora¡¯s tail swung while observing the chatty blonde Valkyrie and tanuki. Eyia wanted to know all about their adventures growing up together and what she was like as a little kit, as the raccoon woman called her. She occasionally jumped in to offer her own input into the conversation since Wendy was doing her best to ignore Noelia. Sora could tell it hurt Noelia a little to have such a cold shoulder from one of the kids she helped to raise, but she also got the sense that she understood Wendy¡¯s position. It was hard to keep her excitement in check and her eyes away from her phone as they entered the biggest boutiques in the area. In exactly twenty-seven minutes, her mother would make her appearance. Questions squirreled through her mind as her heartbeat escalated with every passing minute. What is Mom going to look like? Is she going to look more Japanese or Irish? Will she come with her own clothing or will we need to shop? Why am I thinking about my mom like a dress-up doll?! she internally laughed. We may need to shop a bit before meeting Aiden at the monster restaurant¡­I need to find out its actual name! Wait¡­I didn¡¯t call and tell Ron, Howie, Mary, or Daisy! There are so many people I need to invite! Should I call Tom? He is kind of family, and I could just spell him to think everyone is normal¡­ Yeah, I need to get to calling people! Wendy drew Eyia away to find a fashionable dress for the fancy party, leaving Noelia and her together; Sora hardly noticed what was happening until the pair were already moving away. ¡°Huh? Wendy¡­¡± ¡°Shopping,¡± she absently called back. ¡°I think blue would look adorable on you, Eyia. The blonde and sapphire eyes¡­your long hair smoothed back¡­and with heels, you¡¯d draw so much attention!¡± ¡°Are you sure, Sister?¡± Eyia frowned, glancing at the small, expensive shoe section. ¡°Jin says that it is disrespectful for women to wear the big foot platforms when a girl is as tall as me. It insults the small men of the society and causes trouble with the, eh, internet trolls. I do not wish to start a war over heels.¡± ¡°Jin said what?¡± Wendy snickered, brightening up at the topic. ¡°Okay, Jin is pretty funny. It¡¯s a joke¡­kind of. You¡¯re fine!¡± ¡°If you say so¡­they are not the best footwear for combat, but a statement of the butt and legs, yes?¡± One of the employees bustled over with a giggle at the conversation, jumping in to try and sell them the store; Sora was a recognizable face due to all the bullies she¡¯d bought stuff for in the past, and so when she showed up, employees got moving. ¡°Yes, heels are a fashion statement, and you¡¯d look stunning with your figure, miss. Would you like to try a few styles? I can see if we have the proper size¡­¡± Sora pushed her lips to the side as another woman came to help her, swiftly disengaging from another pair of women who didn¡¯t seem like they were going to buy anything. ¡°Can I help¡ª¡± ¡°Not right now,¡± she swiftly replied, ¡°but¡­you can help Noelia here!¡± ¡°No, Sora, I¡¯m fine,¡± the woman replied with a waving hand. ¡°I have plenty of outfits. I¡¯m just happy to be in your orbit again. It doesn¡¯t feel so¡­lonely.¡± ¡°Aww,¡± Sora cooed, loving her drawn-back ears and awkward smile. ¡°Okay, then why don¡¯t you pick something out for me? I need to go out and make some calls. Find me something really cute for my mom?¡± ¡°I¡¯d¡­love to. Thank you for allowing me back in your life after I lied to you.¡± Noelia breathed out the stress in her chest, and Sora figured the woman¡¯s fidgets and uncertainty were well-grounded, considering her potential executioner was less than half an hour out. Sora had faith, though. From what she could tell, the tanuki had done nothing wrong so far. Sure, dancing with her dad was a little weird to think about, but with how isolated she sounded, Sora couldn¡¯t blame her for getting a little attached to her dad. ¡°Awesome! I¡¯ll be back in a second¡­I have a lot to talk to you about.¡± Stopping at the doorway, she let a group of young women by while looking between Noelia, Wendy, and Eyia. Everything she¡¯d lost over the years was coming back and redoubling in folds. She feared there was some big hammer waiting to come down and bonk her atop the head, but until that came, she¡¯d enjoy every second of this wholesome vibe. Fingers tightening around her phone, she left the store and moved across the street through a break in traffic to sit on a bench. The grassy area between the store and the beach gave her a full view of the active ocean partiers. Crossing her legs, she glanced to her left, where a Miami Beach art fair was going on¡ªMiami was always so active. Opening her contacts, she bobbed left and right to the beach music while the watersports area continued with its activities, oblivious to her presence. Mary was the first one she called. It rang a few times before the psychiatrist answered. ¡°It¡¯s been a few days, Sora!¡± the mature woman greeted. ¡°I hope everything has been okay. I understand that your mother is returning today. How is Wendy?¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, I guess I already told you,¡± she chuckled, her smile falling a little as she glanced back at the boutique. ¡°Wendy is¡­doing okay. Could you maybe talk to her today at some point? She can¡¯t call our mom, well, mom, which I totally get¡­but there is another exciting update that has me worried.¡± ¡°Go on?¡± Mary hummed, and Sora heard her sit straighter in her creaky chair. The sounds in the background made Sora¡¯s ears twitch. ¡°Is this new from what you texted me about yesterday?¡± ¡°Yeah, it is. Umm. You¡¯re at work right now¡­I¡¯m not taking your time away from other teens that need you, am I?¡± Mary shifted in her chair, likely looking out of her big glass windows. ¡°Not at the moment. I¡¯m waiting for my next client. It¡¯s been a little slow lately¡­which I suspect has something to do with the combined effects of the Foundation and your mother¡¯s handiwork.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sora mumbled, shifting in her seat to look at her weaving tail. ¡°Are your former patients okay?¡± ¡°Yes, actually. Your school had a lot of troubled young girls who saw me. You were not my only client,¡± she said with a short chortle. ¡°And when I inquired about a few of them, I discovered that many of my client records had been destroyed, and when I looked into it, I found them living happy, productive lives.¡± Tongue pressing against her cheek, Sora breathed out through her nose in a long stream. ¡°Mmm. So¡­did you see what happened to Lori? Kari had a lot of girls in her gang, and I think at least half of them were infected by Jenny. With everyone forgetting about us¡­I guess things would go back to normal. That¡¯s crazy¡­how much effect we had on people at school, that is.¡± A short hum rumbled in Mary¡¯s throat as she tapped her tablet¡¯s glass, the sounds making Sora scan the active beach. ¡°Lori is doing fantastic from what I was able to glean from Ms. Patterson; she¡¯s a star in the drama class. She looks a lot better¡­but my interactions with her were limited to that hellish stadium and a few short discussions at school regarding you in my initial investigation.¡± Sora¡¯s mood soured a little at the mention of the school psychologist¡¯s name, but she moved past it. ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± ¡°It is¡­and what is this exciting and worrisome news you were teasing at?¡± ¡°Oh! Uh, Noelia is back.¡± Mary was silent for a few seconds, her fingers skidding across her tablet, and Sora realized she was probably updating her file as they spoke. ¡°¡­Noelia, your long-term caretaker that quit over your medication. I cannot see a typical caretaker doing such a thing, so am I right to assume that she had some kind of supernatural insight into why you didn¡¯t require it?¡± ¡°Bingo!¡± Sora chimed. ¡°She¡¯s actually a 3rd Gen Founder like me¡ªa tanuki¡ªwhich¡­happens to be my family¡¯s worst enemy, but¡­Noelia was kicked out of her family for being barren like my mom. Crazy, huh?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Do you like her? You sound like you have had a positive experience.¡± ¡°I have!¡± Getting up, Sora began to pace, her tail swaying with her hips as she felt the thrill of the beach party music coursing through her¡ªMagic Man: Texas¡ªshe was having such a good morning. ¡°She was always fun when we were kids. Hah! She had more energy than we did. I can totally see why she was so attentive to us now, too¡­she was lonely and wanted a family.¡± ¡°¡­I see. Hmm.¡± Mary turned back to her desk as the female secretary spoke through the speaker. ¡°Dr. Jernigans, that new patient named Kari is here to see you. You wanted me to send her in when she arrived?¡± Mary¡¯s voice took on a frown. ¡°Thank you, Patty. In the future, could you please buzz me and wait for me to respond?¡± ¡°Oh, sorry, Dr. Jernigans! I¡¯m still getting used to the protocols in your office.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. I just may be on my personal phone.¡± ¡°Understood! Should, I, umm, send her in now?¡± ¡°Yes, send her in. It will likely be a long session, so hold all calls unless there are emergencies.¡± ¡°Yes, Dr. Jernigans.¡± Sora¡¯s tail motions paused with her invisible movements, looking to the north side of Miami Beach, where Mary¡¯s practice was. Kari left her room and went to see Mary, huh. How did she know where she was? I guess Mary gave her her number at some point. ¡°I¡¯m guessing you heard that, Sora. What time is your mother returning?¡± ¡°Uh¡­like, twenty-two minutes? We¡¯re having a party¡­I suppose you¡¯ll be busy, though¡ªwhich is totally fine! Kari is more important than some party.¡± ¡°Oh, wow, that¡¯s much sooner than I expected, and that is so sweet of you to say about Kari, Sora. You have grown up so much in the last three weeks; I know this is a big deal to you. Yes, I doubt I will be able to make the party, but I¡¯ll be sure to stop by later tonight with my husband to get properly acquainted with your new guardian¡­¡± She paused and turned toward the door as a gentle knock sounded at it. ¡°In any case, I¡¯ll see you later tonight. Have a lovely day, Sora.¡± ¡°Mhm! Thanks, Mary.¡± The connection cut as she said, ¡°Yes, come in, Kari.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile rosily, knowing Mary was taking care of Kari. Wendy had some bumps to get over, but she could feel the ride with Kari smoothing over now. Her going to Mary on her own was huge. ¡°Okay¡­Howie and Daisy¡­ And call!¡± Unable to sit still with the rush of the natural energy of the environment and the general vibe of the busy Miami party bustle, Sora walked in a circle around the grassy section of the beach as she connected. Howie¡¯s spry voice filled her with joy compared to how the dead, soul-drained man sounded two weeks ago. She felt butterflies in her belly just thinking about the wholesome and sweet morning she¡¯d had with them yesterday when they made homemade brown sugar syrup for their breakfast. Yeah, they had to have their wedding in the upstairs party area in the suite. On second thought, yeah, maybe having a magical light elevator would raise eyebrows. She¡¯d have to bring it up to Howie because his family might not be so accepting. Hey, she had magical illusions, though. ¡°Sora! How are you?¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. Daisy followed from beside him, sounding like they were in the kitchen. ¡°Afternoon, Sora! What time does your mom get in today? We¡¯re trying to make a few dishes. I¡¯m not the best cook, but I¡¯m trying!¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re fine, Sweetie,¡± Howie reassured, leaning in to peck her on the cheek by the sound of the smooch. ¡°What are a few burned cookies in the aim for perfection?¡± ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± Sora giggled. ¡°And she¡¯ll be here in like¡­nineteen minutes.¡± ¡°Woah! So soon?¡± ¡°Wait, how long?¡± Daisy inquired. ¡°Put it on speaker; my hands are all floury.¡± ¡°Why don¡¯t you use your tail¡ªouch!¡± he laughed, spiking Sora¡¯s curiosity. ¡°Okay, okay, it¡¯s on speaker.¡± ¡°Wait, when did you get a succubus tail, Daisy?¡± ¡°Last night,¡± the blonde replied, not sounding too worried. ¡°I was a little freaked out at first, but Howie says it¡¯s cute. I think it has to do with this seed you put in me, maybe? I¡¯m getting so much energy that I think it¡¯s, uh, unlocking more of my powers. Yeah, other succubus would kill me for something like this.¡± ¡°Cool. Cool¡ªeh?!¡± ¡°Howie!¡± The man snickered, sounding like he threw some flour in her face. ¡°You should see how many holes she has in the back of her jeans, trying to find a comfortable place for her tail¡ªdoes it stretch the back too much?¡± he mockingly said. ¡°Oh, shut up! You were the one that kept fussing over it.¡± ¡°Only because you won¡¯t let me touch it yet¡­¡± ¡°A-And I wonder why that is,¡± she shot back, and Sora could see her burning cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve had it for one day! Let me figure it out. Geez.¡± Yeah, Sora thought, it¡¯s totally super sensitive in certain places, and he wants to tease her about it, and she¡¯s scared. ¡°I¡¯ll take a look at it when we meet up; we can meet in the restaurant bathroom. My mom might have an answer, too.¡± Relief touched Daisy¡¯s voice. ¡°Thank you, Sora.¡± ¡°Boo! Not the good sugar dough¡ªI perfected that one!¡± ¡°Then your face better catch it!¡± ¡°Oof! Mmm. Sugary.¡± Daisy breathed out a half-frustrated, half-amused sigh. ¡°I¡¯m fine with a tail, and all, but I¡¯d rather not get red skin, weird hair, or suddenly get pulled down to Hell¡ªHowie!¡± ¡°We¡¯ll already need to take a shower, so what¡¯s the harm? Hehe,¡± he cackled, making Sora¡¯s stomach cramp with how adorable they were. ¡°No more flour balls, Howie! Are we just going to leave the kitchen even more of a mess?!¡± ¡°Why not? Let¡¯s make the Foundation cleaning crew earn their paycheck!¡± ¡°Ahhh! It went all down my bra¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! We¡¯ll get ready and head over. Wait, where are we going again?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Daisy darkly chuckled, ¡°we¡¯ll probably be a bit late, and she¡¯s having it at Eight Tables.¡± ¡°No, not the whole sack, Daisy!¡± ¡°You asked for it!¡± Sora could imagine the scene as the lovey-dovey pair made a total mess of their fancy downstairs suite kitchen. She hung up with their baking ingredient battle cries raging in the background, shouting out their attacks like some anime characters did. They¡¯re so cute and dorky. So, the little goblin-owned restaurant is called Eight Tables. That¡¯s cool¡­it has more than eight tables, though. I¡¯ll have to ask about the name when we get there. Hmm. Finally, Ron, then I change into whatever Noelia got me, and¡­I guess Mom shows up! I just want to punch something! Is that normal? Totally normal! Humming to the next song that had the beach bumping, busy with several volleyball games happening that were within eyesight, Sora called the last number. Ron¡¯s enthusiastic, deep voice came over the speaker on the eighth ring. ¡°How is it going, Ron? Is Steph back yet?¡± ¡°No, but I woke up to a few frozen petals on my pillow, which means she¡¯ll be back soon. I¡¯m down at the corner store getting a few boxes of ice cream. She¡¯s a sucker for sweet cold things on her tongue and hot on her feet, so I¡¯ve got some heat pads, too.¡± ¡°You¡¯re so good to her,¡± Sora whispered. ¡°So¡­you won¡¯t be able to make it to my mom¡¯s party? I get it if she wants you two to lay low.¡± ¡°Hmm? No, I think I¡¯ll be able to make it. What time is it?¡± ¡°Uh¡­fifteenish minutes? Around there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s quick! Okay, uh, I¡¯m guessing you won¡¯t be at the place in fifteen minutes, though.¡± ¡°Oh, yeah, probably not,¡± she laughed. ¡°I can send you the instructions. It¡¯s spelled, so someone will probably need to guide you in. Howie and Daisy are going to be late, so you can text them and see if they¡¯ll take you. Daisy can get you in.¡± ¡°Howie and Daisy, hmm? That reminds me¡­check this book Howie sent me, eh¡­no, is it called a manabaga?¡± Ron¡¯s deep chuckles were followed by a buzz that shook Sora¡¯s phone, and she swiped up to see what photo he¡¯d sent her. Sora grinned as it came through. ¡°Manga. Where did you get the b¡­pfft! The Ugly Duck and the Shy Succubus. What a title.¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯ll give them a shout. You were into anime, I remember, but Wendy was into those Japanese comics.¡± ¡°Better not let her catch you calling them comics! Anyway, I look forward to seeing you at the restaurant. Bye!¡± ¡°See you soon.¡± Hanging up, Sora took a deep breath, held it, and let it go. Her heart burned as she heard a new song from one of the side stores on her way back, the lyrics bringing her back to the line Howie had told Daisy on their last date as boyfriend and girlfriend. Dominic Balli, It Feels So Right¡­ Galaxies were made to shine, and your lips were made for kissing mine. He totally got it from here. Howie and Ron are such awesome men. Steph and Daisy are lucky¡­well, Ron did score a literal super-goddess giant, so maybe it evens out. And a shy succubus wife? Okay, yeah, they complement each other. What about Dad and Mom? Her heart felt like it was melting when she remembered her dad¡¯s loving aura when they talked about their romance. When everything else went wrong and the world crumbled around her, she could count on her family¡¯s strong connections. The more bonds she built, the easier things became. Crossing the street and entering the boutique, she saw the minutes nearing the single digits. Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile upon seeing the sunflower-themed designer dress Eyia wore and the black, shin-length halter-top dress Wendy had donned. ¡°Cute!¡± Sora chimed, spotting them both in matching sandal wedges rather than classical heels. ¡°Grab some jewelry, too.¡± ¡°Is this how you do the battle posture?¡± Eyia asked, performing an adorable synchronous pose next to Wendy, who tried to restrain a giggle. ¡°We face down the demons of fashion!¡± Chuckles and clapping came from a few of the nearby women, seemingly enjoying whatever Wendy had been teaching the blonde Valkyrie. ¡°Evil-doers beware,¡± Wendy said, fighting through her laughter, ¡°the Sailor Sisters take no prisoners!¡± She giggled and joined the clapping mothers and young women. ¡°Not really sailor outfits, but sure, it works. Oh, and Noelia, that is elegant,¡± she praised as the half-Japanese and half-Latina tanuki approached, displaying her items. ¡°A Lisa Tan floral waterfall, midi dress? I like the black layers on the bottom of the skirt and sleeves with the cross-open section in the back¡­but it does look like it is supposed to come with a hat.¡± Noelia twisted her finger in the air with a beaming smile, where a hat materialized along with black open heels, earrings, and a few other jewelry pieces from behind illusions. ¡°I¡¯ve taken the liberty of spelling them to accommodate your size and extra inconveniencies. They didn¡¯t have one in your size, but that is no trouble for me to fix.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Sora jumped forward to hug her former caretaker, catching Wendy¡¯s scowl from the side; the other women didn¡¯t even act as if they¡¯d spoken due to her magic. ¡°I should get dressed before my mom gets here.¡± ¡°I will purchase the items to save us some time,¡± the woman said, hesitantly moving toward Wendy and Eyia. ¡°Would that be okay, Wendy?¡± ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Sora sighed while taking over ownership of levitating the items with her magic and went to the dressing room. She jumped as Noelia¡¯s voice spoke directly to her mind as she was in the process of changing. ¡°Sora, I don¡¯t want to stand between Wendy and you. She is hurting¡ªbadly¡ªand confused. I¡¯m not the person she remembers and trusts. I don¡¯t want to make her feel uncomfortable. I could exclude myself. I¡¯m sure your mother will ask for me when she wants to talk.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s needed,¡± Sora whispered, her ears twitching and tail flicking to the left as she watched her tail simply pass through the dress like a ghost. Once in the proper place, the fabric seamlessly gripped the base of her tail as if hugging it. ¡°I think you¡¯re the one who is nervous to meet my mom, and you¡¯re also worried about Wendy. It will only be a few more minutes. Can¡¯t you wait until she shows up?¡± ¡°I¡­am scared,¡± she mumbled with a strained laugh. ¡°I may be thousands of years old, but¡­but I¡¯ve never been able to settle down¡­to make any connections¡­because I didn¡¯t want them to be taken away from me. I didn¡¯t want to be hurt, until¡­¡± ¡°Until you found someone you didn¡¯t think she¡¯d take away,¡± Sora said, a painful pressure compressing her chest. ¡°If you¡¯re honest, and I think you are¡­then you don¡¯t need to worry about my mom. I¡¯d be a hypocrite if I told Eyia to judge Kari by who she is rather than what she is¡­and I do see you as the Noelia that helped raise me. And I forgive you for taking a stand for me, even if it led to you being ripped out of my life.¡± ¡°You¡­are so very unlike other vulpes¡­unlike your mother and aunt. At least, from what terrible stories I have heard. I¡¯ve never met them, personally¡­ Well, heh, until a few days ago. Now, I¡¯m worried Wendy might think that I¡¯m making an illusion of your mother to manipulate you¡­ It would be something my father would do, I bet.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not worried about that¡­because I trust my mom, and I think she¡¯s gambling on you, so I will trust you too.¡± When she exited the dressing room and was greeted by her sisters and caretaker, her thumping heart settled down. She felt so lucky, strong, and proud to have such precious friends. Her life had turned from hell to heaven. Walking out, she gave Noelia a smile before taking Wendy and Eyia by the hand, her magic gathering up her discarded clothes in the dressing room. With the outfits paid for, she walked outside. Wendy looked queasy, her grip like a vise and face ashen as she glanced around, waiting for the goddess fox she¡¯d seen in her dreams to appear. ¡°Where is she?¡± Sora took them across the street to the grassy beach zone, looking to the tanuki for the answer. Noelia¡¯s arms were looped around her bushy tail, bristling while trying to control her breathing; her fingers were linked tighter than Wendy¡¯s as she looked into the cloudy skies. ¡°¡­Here,¡± she choked, and Sora¡¯s jaw slackened as Noelia¡¯s complex magic wove above them, peeling back the clouds and heavens. ¡°Woah¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s worry was swept away with overwhelmed awe as space warped to give them a zoomed-in yet expanded view of the blackness of the solar system. Foundation and alien spaceships that she¡¯d seen on the Moon Base dotted the zone Noelia revealed, yet they soon looked like dust as the scene continued to broaden. What looked to be a semi-gracious ellipsoid object overshadowed Jupiter, passing through it like a ghost as millions of rings spun around its rapid rotation. It appeared to be moving so fast that it made everything else around it look frozen in time, and its turquoise, sapphire, and orange layers shimmered as if individual cloudy atmospheres. Side illusions came into shape beside the vast expanse above them, showing various Foundation bases across the solar system scrambling to get to their big ships, with giant, hidden cannons on Mars and in the asteroid belt moving to aim at the object. In the next second, it vanished. ¡°Is it¡­as big as the sun?¡± Sora mumbled in shock. ¡°It came out of nowhere, and then it¡ªuh¡­Noelia?¡± A chill ran down Sora¡¯s tail, her ears pulling back when the whole sky reflected the orange, swirling mass she¡¯d seen at the top of the alien supership. Not a single person seemed to see the smoky substance that filtered through dimensional fields, turning the whole planet milky blue. And then the ruby rain started to fall. Every person was locked in place, but it wasn¡¯t them, or the planet itself; Sora guessed the whole solar system had been trapped in some kind of temporal field. Sora couldn¡¯t breathe as energy beings flashed around them, the low rumbles of machines and alien voices beyond her understanding vibrating the air. She felt the impossibly powerful shifts flip everything she knew about physics, and then it was gone. A sharp gust of wind blew past them, making her blink, and the world returned to normal, yet one new addition immediately snatched her gaze¡ªa very familiar, awkward, smiling mother. Nine fluffy red tails fanned out behind her mom, wearing a rather casual red and white-themed long-sleeve dress that fell to her ankles. Her ruby eyes looked between them, not seemingly knowing how to cut through the awkward pause that fell on them as tourists and locals hurried around them to get to a big event on the beach. Not one person glanced her way, and Sora felt a rather weak illusion of sorts keeping her inhuman features hidden¡ªbiologically based, not technology or magic. ¡°¡­Ahem. Eh-hehe. So, umm, hello! Sorry for the dramatic entrance. I warned the Foundation, but it seems they didn¡¯t quite take my warning about how much more advanced the civilization, ahem, I commissioned this body from was, so¡­they¡¯ll probably be showing up soon. Sora, Wend¡ª¡± Lurching forward, tears in her eyes, Sora tackled her mom to the grass, hugging her around her waist. ¡°Mom! Mom, you¡¯re really here?!¡± ¡°Haha. Yes, Little Ember. I¡¯m here to stay¡­but I¡¯m afraid we don¡¯t have much time.¡± Nose burning and unable to stop it from running a little, she looked up from her mother¡¯s belly, still holding her on the grass. ¡°Why? What¡¯s happening?¡± Her ears pulled back as her mom rubbed her head, and the others shuffled closer. ¡°Because¡­Stephanie is in a bit of trouble.¡± ¡°Huh?! What do we need to do?¡± Sora swiftly asked, her mind sobering fast as her tail lit with foxfire. ¡°Who is it? I¡¯ll burn them!¡± ¡°Haha. You misunderstand, my adorable little vicious kit¡­Stephanie should have returned to Ron¡¯s side by now, but she postponed it as long as she could until I was able to arrive¡­ Her baby is coming earlier than expected, and she¡¯ll need our help to deliver him.¡± All thought died as she wrapped her brain around the unexpected change in everything she¡¯d planned for today. ¡°Stephanie is¡­in labor?! What do we do, Mom?!¡± she asked, starting to panic. ¡°How do we give birth to a giant baby¡ªa Celestial baby¡ªa¡­half-human Celestial baby?! What do we do?!¡± ¡°Shhh. Shhh,¡± her mother soothed, pushing herself up to hold her. ¡°I¡¯ve already talked it over in length with her. She is scared¡ªthere are potential complications¡ªso we need to be strong for her¡­because she is losing her powers, and rapidly. Noelia, I¡¯ll need your help.¡± The tanuki swallowed a hard lump in her throat. ¡°A-Anything you might need, Lady Mia.¡± ¡°Hehe. No need to stand on ceremony, granddaughter of Tsukuyomi. You took care of my little girl and did your best to give her what I could not¡­for that, I am grateful, and I know your precious heart is pure. You are welcomed in my territory, so long as you do not betray my family; if you have no home, you have one within my den.¡± Sora hiccuped, a rush of emotions crawling up her chest as she saw the trembling tanuki grip her mouth and collapse to her butt, unable to keep herself stable. Stephanie was having her baby, Noelia was free to be a part of their family, and her mother was home¡ªher mother was home. B2 — 22. We’re A Family Sora felt the heat rising in her chest with the cool ocean breeze wrapping around them. The chaos of what she¡¯d just experienced swept past as her mother drew back with a soft, comforting smile. Rubbing her wet cheek with care, she looked between Wendy and Eyia. The brunette was trying to hold back her quivering bottom lip and tears while Eyia freely let them fall, joy lighting her deep-blue eyes at the reunion. Noelia sat on the sidewalk, looking lost, unsure, and distant while no doubt running through the vengeful red-furred vulpes¡¯ welcome. Her mother¡¯s gentle voice moved to each of them in turn. ¡°Eyia, I extend the same invitation to you, and I do not seek to take your mother¡¯s place, but as the matriarch of this family, I will gladly extend an open arm of blood solidarity with you and yours. Will you accept the responsibility of mine and that which is mine for a seat at my table? All faults are forgiven. Also,¡± she winked, ¡°you needn¡¯t do the shedding of blood within this offer, as is typically custom for you.¡± The blonde¡¯s nose turned red, looking as if someone finally understood her, when the fox stretched out her arm with an open palm. Sora felt warm fuzzies in her belly as Eyia clasped her mom¡¯s forearm, her mother mirroring it. ¡°I accept the offer of blood for blood and accept your offer of hospitality in a union made in peace. Those that would offer hostility to you and yours are offered in kind to me so long as I sit at your table.¡± Her mom¡¯s left eye creased with a playful twist to her lips at the blonde¡¯s held breath and apprehensive expression. ¡°I do accept your pledge as a Sisters-in-Arms with my daughter. So long as you retain your honor to my daughter, you are a daughter of mine.¡± ¡°You honor me greatly, Mia the Fox!¡± Eyia chimed, the much taller girl pulling her mother in for a hearty embrace. ¡°I am happy to have met my sister and to have a place in your home. I have spoken to the reflection of my father, and he tells me to study and learn your ways. I hope to be of service to your house!¡± ¡°You already have been,¡± Sora chuckled, feeling the pressure band around her chest as her mother finally turned to her reluctant best friend. ¡°Wendy?¡± Wendy forced a smile, her gaze continuing to dart to the various people walking around them on the sidewalk, unable to keep her eyes totally on or off the stunning nine-tailed fox. ¡°So, umm, you¡¯re¡­staying now, right? Stephanie is, uh¡ªshouldn¡¯t we go to her¡­ Where is she?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora piped up, her worry setting in. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why is, umm¡­¡± she trailed off, not knowing how she should phrase it since she hadn¡¯t talked about the ice giantess to anyone out of respect for Ron. A soft puff of air passed through her mom¡¯s nose as she observed the closed-off human girl hugging herself. She didn¡¯t seem to know what to do with herself, shifting uncomfortably as the beach music played in the background while trying to deal with the attention she was getting. ¡°Stephanie has timed things appropriately for me since she has total control over time, being such a high-dimensional entity.¡± Wendy blinked, Eyia and even Noelia looking up at her with a questioning gaze; the fox¡¯s earlier statement seemed to just register with them, not that Eyia knew much of anything about the Celestial. ¡°Stephanie¡­isn¡¯t human?¡± Wendy mumbled. ¡°Wait, wait. You said¡­you said she was losing her powers? Ron¡¯s amazing, super-awesome wife he never brought around but always talked about?¡± ¡°Mom! Not cool.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Wendy looked a lot less surprised than she thought she should. ¡°I just thought he was making her up when I was a little girl. So¡­is this like Eyia, and we¡¯re not supposed to ask what she is? Hah. It¡¯s just like¡­everyone is suddenly a monster¡­¡± Sora directed a scowl at her mom, knowing Wendy was still going through some kind of imposter syndrome about not belonging in a monster friend group as a human, despite how awesome she¡¯d been, helping Sora get through things no one else could have helped her with. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Sora,¡± her mother reassured, motioning Noelia to her feet. ¡°Stephanie has chosen to allow those present to be aware of that fact since it will cut past much of the confusion when she is¡­well, obviously going through a lot. You all can think of her as a Snow Woman. She is using her rapidly draining powers to make what changes she can to safeguard Ron and her new baby.¡± She turned back to the spiraling brunette, her compassionate words popping the tension that had built. ¡°Wendy, you are my daughter¡¯s best friend. I adore you and everything you have done to help shape Sora into the budding young woman she is becoming.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t keep her scowl as her mother continued, making her nose burn. ¡°I appreciate your heartache. I acknowledge it. You should feel lost, angry, betrayed, scared, and confused. When you are ready, I¡¯d like to have a one-on-one walk with you along the beach so that you can express what is building within your heart. On your time¡­ Haha. Unless you need a little kick in the tail from your bestie! Fair?¡± Wendy¡¯s stress didn¡¯t seem totally abated, but she nodded with a thankful smile. ¡°I¡¯d like that¡­ I have a lot of questions¡­like, a lot¡­but maybe not a lot. I am confused, and yeah¡­we¡¯ll, hehe, play it by ear,¡± she said, looking up at their fox ears, making Sora feel a little envy enter her sister¡¯s aura. ¡°And that is okay,¡± her mother reassured. ¡°I think you have more to hope for than you can possibly know¡­but I know it is hard to feel that way as it stands. Now, Noelia¡­¡± ¡°Umm. Y-Yes, Lady Mia?¡± the tanuki stammered, sounding breathless as she tried not to hold her currently very bushy raccoon tail. ¡°You wish for me to teleport us to the hotel, where the SCC Foundation is gathering?¡± The woman swept back her salt-and-pepper hair, looking to the east. ¡°There are a few agents scanning the area with their drones and advanced satellites, attempting to pinpoint Sora, which is focused on Miami, but I have maintained a barrier to, umm¡­to provide you privacy,¡± she gulped, still sounding a bit scared. Sora quickly pulled out her phone to text Aiden and the others that their plans had changed, yet her mom¡¯s calm words drew her gaze. ¡°You are one smart raccoon, Noelia¡­who is quite trapped by fear,¡± her mother sighed. ¡°It may take some time for you to trust I am not stringing you along, but I am thankful for your actions thus far¡­if a little annoyed at a few. We can discuss those small slights I felt another time,¡± she giggled, baffling Sora a bit on how that was supposed to make the tanuki more trusting. ¡°In the meantime, I do need you to teleport us to the hotel lobby and do precisely as I say. It will be difficult for you¡­taxing even, and a little frightening, given your raw, untrained fingers in the finer details of magical weaves.¡± Sora frowned at that comment; to her, Noelia was a freaking absolute goddess in magical manipulation. Her mother seemed to operate on a different level, though. ¡°What about us? I need to tell everyone our plans have changed.¡± Her mother shifted to pull her into another hug that helped relax her stiff tail. ¡°You will all do your own part. I don¡¯t even need to say anything. It¡¯s just who you each are. Alright, Noelia¡­¡± Sora didn¡¯t even feel any magic woven¡ªno gut jerks or eye tricks¡ªwithout any signal, they were just suddenly inside the bustling hotel lobby. She blinked, hearing a rush of voices as black holes punched through space all around them. Hardened military men rushed out, and Doctor Ferdinand Fischer stood off to the side, discussing things with a decorated officer. The moment they appeared, all movement came to a halt as if frozen in time, and once again, Sora knew it was Noelia. Yet, her magic was entirely invisible to her¡ªby the serious expression she wore, the tanuki was actually putting her full concentration into doing whatever the red-furred fox wanted. Her mother was the first to move, walking them around the petrified people, and Sora even spotted people half through the warp gates. It was almost a little scary how totally still and silent everything abruptly got. ¡°Free Ferdinand, Noelia, and send the teams around us back to the lunar base. Bring Ron here; he should be only a few streets away.¡± The tanuki woman¡¯s fingers tightened around the purse strap around her shoulder and shook her head. ¡°I, umm¡­ I can¡¯t find Ron with my magic; he¡¯s shielded from my sight. I¡¯m sorry, Lady Mia¡­ Eh-haha. What kind of Snow Woman is Stephanie again? I, eh¡­don¡¯t think she is a Snow Woman.¡± ¡°Close enough,¡± her mother chortles before puffing out a small breath and shifting her gaze to Eyia, who was already dispersing into mist, rushing outside to find Ron. ¡°Eyia should be able to locate him since she has similar energy patterns; I just wanted to confirm that Stephanie¡¯s powers hadn¡¯t diminished too far.¡± ¡°I, umm, Lady Mia?!¡± Noelia choked, teleporting away everyone in the building and looking up as black ice began creeping out of the ceiling; it was Stephanie¡¯s arctic, all-encompassing power. ¡°It¡¯s¡­hard to see past the dimensional twisting she¡¯s doing. I think she¡¯s in¡­ The moon is going to discharge its weapon soon.¡± ¡°I know. I know¡­ And Stephanie is in the special realm that I created for Sora,¡± her mom replied. ¡°No need to fret or feel intimidated, Noelia. Relax, it should¡­yes. It will collapse about now. She is simply preparing a place of recovery while she has the strength; it just bled through the dimensions due to her haste.¡± ¡°Moon weapon?!¡± Sora coughed, her throat locked up as the ice crystals along the ceiling shattered. Stephanie¡¯s expanding, overwhelming power faded, leaving twinkling black snow falling over them in a light powder. ¡°Everyone is out!¡± ¡°Noelia is generating a shell to shield them. They will be fine, and it only affects the memories of the last hour.¡± Honestly, Sora felt her anxiety building again with everything happening, and she whipped out her phone to message Aiden; if anyone could provide some supporting magic, it was the rainbow firebird. She did it with one hand since Wendy took her other, giving it a squeeze for reassurance. Her mother stopped right in front of the Ethics Committee representative as time started turning for him again. ¡°¡­We need¡ªeh¡­ L-Lady Mia, that celestial phenomenon¡ªwho is this? Where did you send¡ª¡± ¡°Yes, I know,¡± she laughed, cutting him off. ¡°It reshaped everything you thought you knew about physics, but listen closely, Ferdinand. The Black Gamma-RAY Anti-Memetic Protocol is about to be issued; the whole world will be scrubbed of any information regarding that incident from the Black Death on the moon. We do not have much time. Follow me. Sora¡¯s mind flashed back to the giant containment shell with the ominous vibes that she¡¯d seen on the moon. She suspected that was what her mom was talking about, but she had no clue what an anti-memetic was. An anti-funny joke? Ferdinand¡¯s eyes widened slightly while looking at the nine tails weaving behind her and catching up to speed. ¡°W-What do you need me to do?¡± Her mother¡¯s vision shifted to the front as Ron came running through the rotating doors with Eyia beside him. ¡°Mia, Steph¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m working on it¡­ When we get to the realm I created, Noelia is going to make a trans-dimensional, spatial crossroad between Doctor Kusumoto Ine¡¯s special medical facility. It will need to be shielded, as well.¡± Ferdinand¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°The second leading expert in monster childbirth in the SCC? Why not Doctor John Hendrickson? No, never mind. You need me to convince her to perform¡­an operation?¡± Noelia¡¯s face turned ashen at the demand. ¡°I-I¡¯ve never done this much intricate magic across such cast distances, Lady Mia! And an anchored trans-dimensional crossroad¡­for several hours, while, hehe, shielding select individuals across Miami? If I could bring them here¡­¡± ¡°No,¡± her mother flatly shut down, making the woman¡¯s ears fold back further. ¡°You need to stretch yourself if you¡¯re going to do what I require. The anti-memetic will blanket the planet for twenty-four hours, creating a blank space in time. You won¡¯t need to shield those connected to my daughter for more than thirty minutes, but the split in focus will stress you.¡± The tanuki groaned as they moved toward one of the elevators, and Sora used her magic to open the doors, allowing them to file inside. ¡°The shielding isn¡¯t hard¡­it¡¯s constantly being aware of each position and moving it with them while doing something as complicated as bridging dimensions not my own and whose rules differ greatly¡­¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Sora smiled as she pressed the button to take them to the floor below her suite. ¡°I have faith in you.¡± ¡°Aww. Thanks¡­¡± She felt the woman bite her tongue before saying ¡®little kit¡¯ with her mom present. There really was a lot of stuff to clear up when this was solved. Finished sending the mass text out, explaining the gist of what was happening and to meet in her private realm between Earth and Avalon, Sora sent her phone into her purse with a desire, currently floating near the ceiling. Hand now free, she offered it to Ron with an encouraging smile; it was cold and clammy, the husband¡¯s aura a mess of emotions that didn¡¯t fully translate to his appearance. Still, he looked like he wanted to vomit as her mother continued to give instructions to Noelia and Ferdinand. ¡°You okay?¡± Ron didn¡¯t try to hide his stressed smile. ¡°I just learned my wife is going through a difficult surgery that could have¡­could have complications,¡± he laughed, sucking in his bottom lip and shaking his head. ¡°Mmh¡­no, I¡¯m not doing well. Ms. Moore¡­¡± Her mother paused to give him a sad smile and predicted what he was going to ask. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I perform it myself when I had all my power? Many reasons that are too complicated to explain at this moment, and also to comply with your wife¡¯s desires. Done within the folds of this universe, she is shielded by many forces that will keep her energy from leaking out to¡­undesirable parties. It is a miracle she managed to return without setting off any alarms with the other Founders, which proves how skilled and cautious your wife is¡­ There she is.¡± Wendy¡¯s troubled expression softened as she scooted around Eyia to take his other hand as the doors slid open. A dark mist slid past them, making Sora blink. When they left the box, her focus centered on a giant black ice bed beside the path. She blinked, and an elegantly dressed blonde woman was standing beside the bed, a parasol resting against her shoulder. Pandora spoke a few words that didn¡¯t reach her, a half-smile lifting her mischievous lips and touching her illuminated lilac eyes as they shifted to her. Stephanie¡¯s pretty, sweat-slicked face wore a brooding frown, her downcast eyes on her plump belly illuminating with a faint blue light that bled through the black sheet. Another blink and the Herald of Sakura was gone, replaced by a chiming bell, and Nilly was now at the edge of the bed, her head cocked to the side in her cat form. ¡°Steph!¡± Ron lurched forward, slipping out of their grip to rush to his wife¡¯s side. ¡°Are you okay¡ªwhat can I do¡­ Tell me what I can do. Is this¡­Nilly? Is everything alright?¡± ¡°Meow!¡± No one else seemed to have seen the ominous, reality-cutting woman, and Sora dismissed it. However, what she had a hard time dismissing were the creeping black thorns crawling up the bedframe, but a swat from the playful cat sent them retreating back into the frozen grass. Aunt Rose, what are you doing?! I need to figure out what is happening with her. Also, are Nilly and Pandora on Stephanie¡¯s side? Whatever. Why are all the women in my life total drama starters?! She pursed her lips when Mary¡¯s name popped into her head. Okay, maybe not ¡®every¡¯ woman in my life. I¡¯m here for Ron, not to think about stuff that doesn¡¯t matter! Sora¡¯s heart went out to the man as she moved to join Nilly and him. He tried to control his panic and show his wife a calmer side once he approached the bed. It wasn¡¯t like his wife was stronger than any goddess in this multiverse and could probably read him like a book. ¡°Hey, Stephanie! I get you probably don¡¯t want all of us around. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯m perfectly fine, Sweetie¡­ I have help¡­even if it does come at a price, it is worth it.¡± Wendy and Ferdinand stayed in the box, apparently too stunned to approach the over-three-metertall blue goddess. Strangely, Eyia was also locked in place upon seeing the giantess, an unusual expression on the blonde¡¯s face as if connecting concerning dots in her head, and Sora stopped halfway to the panting woman. ¡°Eyia¡­ What¡¯s wrong?¡± Her mom put a hand on her back, prompting her forward. ¡°Yes, Eyia, it is what you fear¡­ And it is okay. Come. I¡¯ll show you.¡± ¡°A Celestial¡­ An Aurgelmir? A True Giantess.¡± Eyia breathed, a lump forming in her throat, and hesitantly proceeding with them after another physical prompt. ¡°I¡­ I do not think I should be here. I have never sensed this¡­mmgm. My father¡­¡± ¡°As I said, it is okay, Eyia,¡± her mother soothed, the Valkyrie now looking more nervous than Sora had ever seen the warrior. ¡°Stephanie told me about the Primordial and Celestial¡¯s history. You have nothing to do with your father¡¯s sins¡­ Sins you know nothing about. You do not even know why you fear Celestials, but she needs your help, Eyia.¡± ¡°M-Mine?¡± Eyia fidgeted with her dress front while slowly approaching. ¡°I do not understand why, but my body trembles¡­ What is happening, Lady Mia?¡± Sora¡¯s stomach cramped at the strange response from her Primordial friend. She reminded herself that all of their families had a complicated history, and this was yet another weird puzzle to fit into the complex mix of interactions between their various onions. This conflict between Eyia¡¯s father and the Celestials probably predated the Onion War. Stephanie breathed out a frosted breath that left black snow falling around them, her size increasing slightly. Her jaw locked, and a look of pained concentration appeared on her red cheeks, a sharp contrast to her sapphire skin. Her expanding size constricted, and she streamed out the air in her lungs. Sora looked up in surprise as a thin, solid black cloud shot out from between her lips into the sky and expanded, blanketing the cosmic sky in a fog of obsidian snow crystals that gently fell to blanket the landscape. The temperature plummeted to dangerous levels, yet Noelia seemed to protect them from it, if with a little trouble by her concentrated expression. At least her nervousness had dispersed. Her focus returned to Stephanie when the giantess responded to Eyia instead of her mother. ¡°It is fine for you to approach, daughter of Odin and Freyja. Your powers are a divergence from the Celestial¡¯s¡­mmgm. The details are not required now, but you could¡­¡± She paused, taking a few breaths and smiling at her husband. ¡°You could see us as distant cousins since the Primordial Asgardians used my father¡¯s Divine Soul to ascend, charging their small Existence with his power¡­ It was never going to last due to that instability. You are a pure soul unmarred by their sins¡­ I would never blame a child for their father¡¯s actions.¡± Eyia gripped her elbow, clearly uncomfortable at the implications. ¡°I¡­am here as a guest. I shall do what I can if you will accept my aid. My father and mother were united through a pact of peace¡­and I have learned there are many nuances to be seen. What do you wish from me, Daughter of Aurgelmir?¡± Sora¡¯s tension eased, feeling the pride welling up within her chest at how much Eyia had grown. In part, she knew it was her discipline and training that gave her the mental fortitude to think through fear, but her moral framework was solid enough to be flexible to adapt. A new thought budded within her. What if Odin didn¡¯t want Eyia to be entrenched in the prejudices of their culture and tried to raise her away from all of it in order to bring up a new generation? Maybe it¡¯s just my own little headcanon, but I¡¯d like to think that¡­ We can get along if we can just see each other¡¯s differences and see what we have in common. Her mother directed Eyia to the woman¡¯s covered belly. ¡°You just need to send a consistent amount of your energy into her body to act as a stabilizer.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up, and she saw Ron¡¯s anxiety gradually settling down. One very important and treasured item of hers burst to the surface of her mind. ¡°Hey, I, uh¡­I have this, Steph!¡± She snatched everyone¡¯s attention while bringing her purse down and extracting the black rose the giantess had given her. ¡°Will this help?¡± Stephanie smiled, lifting her large hand to direct her to the blue giantess¡¯ husband. ¡°That¡¯s sweet, Sora, but I would completely consume it if I were to touch it. However, I can feel its gentle pulses through Ron. Will you hold it for me, Dear?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± He streamed out a long sigh of relief upon accepting the item. ¡°Thank you, Sora. Steph really does have a way of making beautiful things¡­ You should see our small suite and all her little arts and crafts.¡± ¡°Ron¡­¡± ¡°Aww. There¡¯s no need to be embarrassed,¡± he chuckled, tightening his grip on her hand. ¡°I look forward to seeing you finish that Sora sculpture you were making before you left.¡± ¡°A sculpture of me?!¡± Sora asked with instant interest. ¡°That¡¯s so cool! I want to see it.¡± Stephanie gave her husband a light glare, but their focus was soon pulled to the side when a ripple in space melded dimensional space, linking to a shocked operating room of doctors preparing for surgery. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Wendy standing off to the side, looking out of place and unsure what to do with herself, so she joined her, holding out a hand for her sister to take with a thankful sigh, no doubt feeling useless. A female Japanese surgeon approached the divide without hesitation, glancing between them and fixating on Stephanie. ¡°What is¡­ Doctor Fischer. Is there an SCC emergency¡ªa Snow Woman? No¡­much larger of a species and more¡­ethereal from what my enhanced eyes see. I see some similarities, though¡­ What is the situation?¡± The two doctors connected, and she saw her mother whisper in Stephanie¡¯s ear before straightening and joining them. She nudged her head toward the elevator, and a flash of rainbow lights brought Aiden into the box. He jogged out, scanning the situation. ¡°Sora, I got your¡­text. Umm. What do I need to do, Ms. Moore?¡± ¡°Hehe. You can all call me Mia, if you like, and if you could offer your supporting flames to everyone here, increasing their probability of success, easing her pain, and comforting them, then it would be a big support.¡± Aiden shrugged off his suit jacket and tossed it to the side before rolling up his sleeves and shooting her a confident grin. ¡°I can do that! I can also maintain it while not being present¡ªwell, if I¡¯m not startled and lose concentration, but I doubt they¡¯d want me hanging around in the background. Give me just a second. I¡¯ll put my all into it! How long are we expecting it to last?¡± ¡°One to several hours,¡± her mother responded, making Aiden force a laugh and puffing out a laugh. ¡°Phew! Well, I¡¯ll moderate my output then.¡± ¡°Thanks, Aiden, and I think I can give you some energy, too,¡± Sora chimed, feeling a wealth of positive emotions flowing through everyone now. ¡°My magic is pretty adaptable, after all! We¡¯ll be upstairs in the living room¡­ Hang in there, Steph,¡± she called out. ¡°I¡¯m going to be close if you need me.¡± ¡°Hehehe. How the tables turn, Sora¡­ I comforted you in your moments of crisis, and despite my foresight, I did not expect the opposite¡­ When I deliver my son¡­I fear that I may not even recognize myself. It is as if he is sapping everything I am¡­ It is terrifying. You truly are fearsome, Sora¡­ I cannot fathom the enemies you have managed to somehow bring together, young as all of you are.¡± Sora fought down the tears from falling out. ¡°Just¡­stay strong! We are a family¡­and you¡¯re always welcome in it. You¡¯re not alone.¡± Aiden¡¯s hands lit with rainbow flames as he neared, getting a strained smile from Eyia, still struggling with many questions, no doubt. She figured maybe Stephanie and her would talk through the operation as the doctors figured out what exactly to do. ¡°High-five?¡± he asked, getting a chuckle from the Valkyrie as she slapped his hand. ¡°Oof! That¡¯s some muscle!¡± ¡°Haha. Kari showed me the five of highs, each finger a lord and lady that joins in the union of fair game. She is quite skilled in the war of thumbs, as well.¡± ¡°Oh? You spent time with Kari recently, huh? Cool! I¡¯d like to hear about that.¡± Sora held up her arms in an x-sign. ¡°Girls don¡¯t talk, Fluffy Feathers; you¡¯ll have to pry it out of Kari, and good luck there, bud!¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Eyia roared, straightening her stance with the enthusiasm returning. ¡°The Lips of Sealed Sisterhood, as Jin professes! A bond of no discussion between friends and sisters¡­but I still have not understood what does not fall under such seals. Hmm. Is there nothing to speak of outside of the sister circle? Curious¡­¡± They laughed at her internal confusion, trying to puzzle out something so simple. Eyia really was precious. ¡°And, Noelia!¡± ¡°Y-Yes?¡± she asked, relaxing a little as Aiden shook her hand, spreading the rainbow flames to her. ¡°Ooh. Such a wonderful power. Hmm. I feel much better!¡± ¡°Good!¡± she cheered. ¡°When you¡¯re done, we¡¯re going to watch some good J-dramas! We need to catch my mom up on all of them.¡± Noelia seemed to calm down for the first time with Aiden¡¯s supporting fire. ¡°I look forward to it, Little Mistress. Is that acceptable, Mistress?¡± ¡°Not Big Mistress?¡± her mother snickered. ¡°Of course, it is acceptable. If you wish to enter our service, then I am happy to accept you. Just realize my daughter sees you more as a part of this family rather than a servant. So keep that in mind.¡± ¡°I look forward to being a part of it,¡± the tanuki chirped, and Sora was happy to see her bushy tail weaving gleefully at her back. My family is growing! We¡¯re growing¡­ We¡¯re healing. She took one last look at the group. Aiden had moved on to the doctors, making a bit of small talk with them as they questioned what his senses told him about Stephanie¡¯s body, trying to get further insight. A few of them were pulling in several alien machines from the operating room, using extension cords to some huge external power source in whatever building they were using. Stephanie directed them to her, though, telling them exactly what to do with her body and what special items to use. Noelia had to teleport them in for the doctors. Ron seemed to be taking things well now, and Eyia was listening intently, trying to follow the conversation. The one oddity was Nilly, sitting on the edge of the bed. No one appeared even to see the cat but her, which wasn¡¯t out of the ordinary. For some reason, Sora saw a lot of things others didn¡¯t, and sometimes, Nilly was one of those weird creatures¡ªshe still smelled the cat everywhere. Sora¡¯s focus returned to her mom as she guided them into the elevator. ¡°Everything is in place to give Stephanie the best chance for a successful delivery. Let¡¯s go upstairs, grab some ice cream, and chat a little¡­ I want to see my husband for a second anyway. I look forward to having my first bowl of sweets in this new body.¡± Hope blooming within her, Sora¡¯s smile grew. ¡°Is Dad going to wake up soon?¡± Her mom leaned in to nuzzle her cheek, looping an arm around her waist as they walked, Wendy holding her other hand and trying to remain positive; she was listening intently to this question, though, holding her breath since she still thought his coma was her fault. ¡°Yes, Sora¡­ Yes, your father will be able to tackle me and throw me into a wrestling hold soon enough. I¡¯m sure he has a¡­lot to yell at me for.¡± Sora looped her own arm around her mom¡¯s side to bump into her with a giggle. ¡°Let¡¯s not pretend there won¡¯t be kisses, too. Lots and lots of kisses.¡± ¡°Oh, I don¡¯t know if I¡¯m worthy of that, but we¡¯ll see how mean and teasing your father can be because he is the type of man to hold a grudge¡­ And he¡¯s also the kind of man to forgive.¡± Sora felt lighter upon seeing her mom¡¯s nerves finally start to show as she gulped, and it clicked in her head. ¡°You didn¡¯t give yourself any information on how he¡¯d respond, did you? Oooh. You¡¯re scared!¡± ¡°Of course, I am!¡± her mother mumbled with a stressed laugh as Sora felt a shiver run down her frame, including their linking tails. ¡°I¡¯ve ghosted him for sixteen years. I deserve to have my tails yanked and ears bitten¡ªeh¡­ vulpes talk¡ªmy mom used to do it to me!¡± she swiftly added, her cheeks going bright red. Sora gave Wendy a lifted eyebrow, and even her brunette sister couldn¡¯t help a smile at the deviant angle. ¡°Mmhmm. You are a fox, Mom. But¡­Dad was the one who caged you, huh? Better run, run before he tackles you and throws you in a tail-lock!¡± ¡°Bad daughter! Where is your mind¡­¡± ¡°Hehehe. Happy places, Mom! Happy, family places¡­ We¡¯re a family.¡± B2 — 23. Flawed But Perfect Entering their hallway suite, Mia breathed out a tense laugh as her daughter spun her in a circle, doing her best to keep a smile on her face. ¡°You¡¯re in high spirits! It will still be two to three hours before your dad wakes up.¡± ¡°Perfect! So, what do you remember?¡± Sora eagerly pressed, guiding them into the front room to sit down next to her on the couch. ¡°Do you have any questions for her, Wendy?¡± Her heart ached as Wendy shook her head, the human girl¡¯s eyes downcast. She sat across from them in an armchair, radiating a palpable sense of discomfort. Caught up in her own excitement, Sora failed to notice the tension in the room. Mia wished her daughter could read the signs, but she was too absorbed in all the positive vibes to see how uncomfortable Wendy was. It wasn¡¯t like she was blind without her powers; Mia had a sense of what was going on. Her daughter was attempting to tread carefully as well, not wanting to be too intrusive on her new sister. This, however, was causing its own set of problems. Trying to navigate the uncharted waters of their family dynamic herself, Sora was wrapped up in a whirlwind of emotions that needed to be sorted through. Wendy wasn¡¯t the only one who needed time to process their feelings. Squeezing Sora¡¯s tail with her own, Mia shifted closer to allow her daughter to lean against her. She felt utterly worthless; luckily, her new body allowed for some deception, at least at her daughter¡¯s current level. ¡°I actually know very little with this limited brain and spirit,¡± she chuckled, paying close attention to Wendy¡¯s actions and looking for the right moment she knew would come, not from magic, but an instinctual knowledge from interacting with souls for millions upon millions of years. That instinct couldn¡¯t help her with everything, though. ¡°In fact, you¡¯ll have to teach me how to do the laundry.¡± Sora gave her an incredulous look. ¡°Uh, we have staff that do that for us, Mom. Seriously? You didn¡¯t even give yourself that information? What about Dad and Aunt Rose?¡± Brain coming to a screeching halt, she leaned away to stare at her daughter. ¡°Who is your Aunt Rose? Where did you get that name?¡± Sora groaned, falling to the armrest, her copper hair collecting around her and making Mia¡¯s ears fall back. ¡°No! Mom, you seriously didn¡¯t give yourself anything about Dad¡¯s side of the family? You tell me he¡¯s not human, and then I meet¡ª¡± Mia blinked, her fuzzy brain refocusing. Sora was now standing in front of her, a concerned look on her face. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I figured this would happen,¡± her daughter angrily growled. ¡°What happened¡­ What was that? I don¡¯t remember what we were talking about. Your dad¡¯s side of the family?¡± ¡°Yeah, but you just blanked out¡ªeveryone does! Ugh. Only the Herald of Sakura and Nilly seem to know about her.¡± Scratching her temple, Mia¡¯s mind ran through everything she had retained in her limited brain. Her gut tightened at the implication that skidded through her thoughts. Something had changed relating to Sora and her father¡¯s side of the family. It was simple enough, yet she¡¯d been influenced by something just now. Again, she discovered something else she hadn¡¯t given herself information on. It felt like an important subject, but it also felt like a dangerous one. It was subtle, but she could see the signs. This invasion couldn¡¯t be her immediate concern, though; Wendy should be. The Herald would handle any unforeseen hiccups. Her crimson eyes lifted to Wendy¡¯s uncertain face, now holding a pillow against her chest. It was time, and it couldn¡¯t have arrived soon enough. Rainbow flames ignited to their right, revealing Aiden as he puffed out a long breath, pacing himself in his energy consumption. Before anyone could speak, she stood and drew her daughter into another embrace. ¡°Excellent timing, Aiden.¡± Wendy¡¯s fingernails dug into the throw pillow she now hugged, attempting to hide her quakes. ¡°Wendy and I were just about to go for a walk to clear our heads. Would you keep my daughter company?¡± ¡°Wait, now?¡± the Son of Huma asked, sweeping back his slightly messy blond hair and looking toward Sora. ¡°What if something happens to Stephanie while you¡¯re out?¡± he asked, draping his suit jacket over the back of a couch. ¡°Yeah, Mom! I thought we were going to wait for¡­¡± Wendy abruptly stood. ¡°L-Lady Mia, can we¡­walk for a bit?¡± Sora trailed off, spotting the brunette¡¯s shaky eyes and overwhelmed smile that didn¡¯t hide anything. ¡°Umm. Sure, Wendy. Mom?¡± Squeezing her tail, Mia waved her concerns away with a short chortle. ¡°We¡¯ve done everything we can for Stephanie. Everything will turn out perfect today. I can promise that, at the very least.¡± It wasn¡¯t a lie¡ªshe had that knowledge¡ªnot that she felt that way. ¡°If you say so,¡± her daughter mumbled, nibbling on her bottom lip. A nervous tic hit the copper fox¡¯s left ear, stilling Mia¡¯s thumping heart; this was why she was here. She had to remain strong. At least, she did in front of her daughter. ¡°Wendy, are you sure? I don¡¯t want you to feel¡­¡± ¡°Nope! Nope! Hahaha. I just think, I, um, I need to get out and stretch my arms¡ªlegs¡­stretch my legs. I¡¯m not nervous at all!¡± ¡°Okay. Okay. Hey, I¡¯m just¡­ No, I get it¡­have a good walk! Oh, and take an umbrella. I feel a short sprinkle coming in from the sea. I¡¯ll just, uh¡­be here with Aiden!¡± she grinned, waving back at the boy¡¯s awkward gesture. ¡°I¡¯m so lost right now! Do you think I¡¯m like an aunt now since Stephanie is having her baby boy?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll have to ask her that, dear. I think we all are a tad lost, and that is okay,¡± Mia whispered, reaching out to squeeze her hand and slip her tails away from her daughter¡¯s. ¡°When Ferdinand makes his way here, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll have a few things to discuss with him. Wendy?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± The firebird and her adorable troublemaker watched them move toward the elevators, take two of the umbrellas, enter the box, and disappear through the closing metal doors. Mia closed her eyes the moment she was out of sight, letting the strangling vice around her chest loosen¡­only it wouldn¡¯t. Fire flared to life in her lungs as if it was filled with deadwood, ready for the pyre, and guilt flicked her in the forehead. She chuckled, tails pulling together to wrap around one another, and her arms slowly drew in around her quaking body. ¡°Ms. Moore¡­ Ms. Moore, are you crying?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh. Sorry¡­sorry, Wendy.¡± Her thick-throated chuckles shook her frame as she unwound her arms to use her palm and the back of her hand to wipe away the big tears escaping her eyes. ¡°This is really not what I wanted to do. I¡¯m in no state to be around¡ªhmm?¡± Wendy¡¯s hot arms wrapped around her, melting her heart, and the doors opened, showing Howie and Daisy. ¡°Woah, Wendy, and¡­Ms. Moore? Sora in disguise?¡± Howie mumbled. ¡°Is there something wrong?!¡± Daisy swiftly followed up, holding her purse tight against her belly. ¡°Did something happen?!¡± Unable to stop the tears or the heat burning her throat and face, Mia shook her head. Using one hand to guide Wendy out of the elevator with her, now sniffling herself and blocking out the world against her front, Mia breathed through a shaky response. ¡°It is Mia. Don¡¯t fret. It is just unfamiliar, visceral emotions¡­ Can we keep this our little secret?¡± ¡°Yeah, of course,¡± Howie instantly answered. ¡°Is it not a good time for us to stop by?¡± ¡°It may be a little bit of an awkward time. Would you mind doing something for us?¡± Daisy eagerly nodded, the quarter succubus¡¯s earnest eyes showing how good Sora was at gathering in a supportive circle. ¡°Just name it.¡± ¡°Stephanie will need a lot of ice cream sweets when this is over, and we¡¯ll need food for the gathering. Can you¡ªahem. Can you go to Eight Tables and ask them to send a catering service to our apartment at 7 p.m.? Let them know that they should expect to feed some very hungry patrons.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll get it done, Ma¡¯am,¡± Howie said with a cute salute. ¡°We basically work for your family, so leave it to us.¡± Wendy gulped down her heavy emotions as the pair hurried off to play their part. ¡°What¡­do you want from me?¡± Mia returned her shaky embrace, resting her head against the brunette¡¯s as she whispered. ¡°I think we¡¯re keeping each other stable right now. I can talk if you want to listen. I just¡­have some things I need to say, and I can¡¯t really¡­¡± ¡°Tell, Sora? No, I get that¡­ I just¡­can¡¯t. I can¡¯t hurt her or make her feel like she has to¡­to fix me.¡± Holding out an open hand, despite her previous statement, Mia didn¡¯t have to say a word. Wendy stared at her inviting hand for a few seconds, working herself up before taking it, and Mia guided them toward the back of the hotel. She just needed someone else that she could hold right now¡­someone who didn¡¯t fill her with profound guilt. On the way out, she almost tripped; luckily, Wendy stabilized her. ¡°Oops. Sorry, I¡¯m¡­not used to walking with such weak ankles¡­ It¡¯s been challenging holding myself together in front of Sora.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just¡­breathe with me for a bit. It¡¯s okay¡­¡± Fighting back her emotions at the surge of vulnerability that struck her, Mia felt sweat slicking her armpit, her hands clammy as the brunette she should be comforting reassured her. ¡°That¡¯s it¡­ One breath in¡­and one breath out¡­ Hehe. Sora had to do this with me not that long ago. Mmm. I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d be in such a mess¡­being a hyper-goddess or whatever.¡± A weak laugh followed, the brunette¡¯s eyes shining in the dull light of the back party area. ¡°Is it real¡­or are you just trying to¡­to connect with me?¡± Sad chortles quaked through her frame as Wendy guided her toward a few reclinable chairs just before reaching the sandy beach. ¡°I¡¯m utterly pathetic right now, Wendy¡­ I can hardly think about you as it is¡­ I¡¯m so weak¡ªmy legs¡­¡± ¡°Here¡­ Take a seat. What¡¯s happening?¡± she asked with sudden worry. ¡°Is your body not working¡ªis it failing?¡± ¡°No. No¡­ I just need a minute to catch¡­my breath and¡­and calm down. It¡¯s unfamiliar¡­everything is unfamiliar and frightening. I¡¯m so sorry, Wendy,¡± she wept, the three hearts within her chest pulsing as if they were about to combust into pure fire. ¡°I¡¯m the one who should be comforting you¡­and look at me¡­ Some Founder mother I am¡­ Did my mom feel like this at any point? I¡­wish I could have asked her.¡± Getting her onto a chair, Wendy sank into her own, not watching her embarrassingly disheveled fur and curled legs. Instead, the brunette pushed their chairs together and pressed her back against hers, letting a silence that was as thin as paper pass between them. Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. Minutes went by, and the pain in her chest hardly eased in that time. She let the strong, humid sea breeze slide across her cold body; had she ever felt cold like this? Not that she could remember. Her ears pulled back when a chilly bullet hit her wrist¡ªno, a raindrop. Wendy cleared her throat and forced herself up, dragging over one of the big, open-stand umbrellas to position over them. It could have been all in Mia¡¯s brawling mind and heart, but she was failing. Had she thought this was going to be easy? Because not being able to use her magic felt like claws around her throat, robbing her of air and biting into her neck. The pattering of the overhead rain made her tuck her tails through her legs and hug it to her chest. Through her blurry eyes, all she saw was a light mist, a spotless shore, and the rough waters of the ocean. It was like she was a little girl again, feeling out the vast dimensional waves; she didn¡¯t like it. ¡°I can¡¯t hear¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Wendy¡¯s hot arm pressed against her back as she shifted in her seat. ¡°What did you say?¡± Shivering again, she pulled in tighter, watching the splashing raindrops dash in all directions on the chairs beside her. Wendy¡¯s comforting, warm hand slid around her sick stomach as she pulled her into a soothing embrace that felt like redemption¡ªunearned redemption. Once again, no words were exchanged until Mia sniffled a laugh. ¡°I am selfish¡­I¡¯m wrong. I¡¯m so¡­wrong.¡± ¡°Do you¡­want to talk about it?¡± Wendy whispered. ¡°Hehe. Sorry, your fur just tickles a little. If you don¡¯t want to talk, then that¡¯s okay, too. I just needed some time¡­away from everything. So¡­thank you.¡± Needles cascading down her back, Mia shook her head and swallowed the thick saliva in her throat. ¡°How do you do it?¡± Pushing herself up, Wendy looked down at her flaming, puffy cheeks. ¡°How do I do what?¡± Looking up, past her messy red locks, she shook her head again, unable to find the words for a minute. ¡°¡­Everything¡­this chill¡­this confined, isolated mind¡­this pressure pounding against your chest¡­ The fear of the unknown¡­ The pain?¡± She caught Wendy¡¯s tucked under her bottom lip and red nose before the girl sniffed back her tears. ¡°Can you¡­wait here for just a second? I just need a second; I know where they are.¡± Not wanting her to go or her warmth to leave, Mia forced herself to nod, unable to say the words. Her legs knotted as the brunette got up and dashed through the light rainfall, out of sight. I am selfish. I¡¯m wrong¡­ I didn¡¯t think this would be so¡­hard. What do I do? I can¡¯t hear anything. I feel too much. I think too little. I can¡¯t¡­ breathe when I want to¡­ It hurts. Everything hurts¡­ Trapped in her brain, she jolted when something heavy draped over her. Stinging eyes fluttering open, all she saw was unfamiliar darkness, causing a whimper to escape from her thick throat. Yet, rays of light filtered into focus as someone crawled under with her and pulled her into a warm hug. Wendy¡¯s soft, comforting body tempered her turbulent heart. ¡°It¡¯s me. Sometimes¡­you have to just blot out the world. Hah. Thick blankets work pretty well¡ªin my experience. Umm. Feeling better?¡± ¡°Mhm¡­ Thank you.¡± ¡°Mhm. Just tell me when¡­yeah.¡± Mia gradually slid her hands off her tails to hold her adopted daughter¡¯s arm against her knotted belly. Guilt turned it¡­but also relief and gratitude. Eventually, she heard the shower pass. Once again, she had no grasp of time in this unfamiliar world. Poking her head out of the blanket the brunette had found, she saw a dazzling bright landscape of sun-enhanced droplets of water. The Miami sun spread its rays across the land and sea, making her wince and blink; she couldn¡¯t look away. ¡°Feeling better?¡± Wendy mumbled, the girl¡¯s hair somehow not as messy as hers. ¡°I¡¯m feeling better.¡± Muscles rendered utterly useless, sore, and alien, Mia swapped to her back. She clutched the blanket tightly against her chest and tried to keep her tails underneath its weighty, protective veil. She stared up at the big umbrella, having lost her own that Sora had told her to take at some point¡ªshe truly didn¡¯t know what she was doing. How was that possible? ¡°Better is¡­a subjective word.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Wendy said, sitting up and tucking a knee under her chin while examining the choppy, sunbathed ocean. ¡°What are you thinking right now?¡± ¡°¡­The ocean stinks¡­kind of. It smells nice, in a way. I¡¯m weak¡­so weak. I can¡¯t think. Everything is too small and too big. I can¡¯t¡­stop myself from crying! Agh¡­or choking. It¡¯s just¡­¡± ¡°Overwhelming?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°I get that¡­ Why does it hurt?¡± The question struck Mia in the lungs, and several seconds went by before she worked out an answer. ¡°I¡­fear that I made the wrong decision. I¡¯m afraid I did this out of selfish reasons¡­and put my daughters in danger¡­that I failed at the one thing I¡¯ve wanted for so¡­so long.¡± ¡°Hmm. So, you think I¡¯m your daughter, too?¡± she asked. Her voice somehow didn¡¯t tell Mia anything when it should have; being mortal was so¡­frustrating. This was what she¡¯d wanted, though. Oh, how limited was her understanding when she made that decision. Would her mother laugh at her or slap her tails? ¡°I do, truthfully. It¡¯s not like I expect anything in return¡­ You¡¯ve given me more than I thought, which makes me stupid¡­ignorant. How can I guide Sora when I¡¯ve¡­never been so lost and helpless? I¡¯m¡­flawed.¡± ¡°Good.¡± ¡°Good?¡± Mia glanced at the smiling brunette, rubbing at her cheeks. ¡°I know all things are flawed, but¡­I don¡¯t want to be flawed for my daughters.¡± Wendy giggled and relaxed. ¡°I¡¯m flawed¡­ I don¡¯t feel worthy to be Sora¡¯s friend. I¡¯m not strong enough¡­good enough. I¡¯m selfish, too. Haha. I want to be Sora¡¯s friend¡­her sister¡ªlike Eyia always calls her. I¡¯m weak, too¡­ I¡¯m scared. So it¡¯s nice knowing¡­I¡¯m not the only one,¡± she choked, cheeks flushing again. ¡°My mom thought she was perfect¡­so¡­so,¡± Wendy looked into her red eyes, bottom lip trembling, ¡°so if I ever had another mom¡­I¡¯d want her to be flawed¡­like me. I¡¯d want her to be flawed, so I¡¯m not alone.¡± Once again, the dam behind Mia¡¯s eyes fractured, and the exhausting fire assaulted her. Wendy¡¯s words cut deep into her heart, but she restrained herself from initiating anything the brunette didn¡¯t as the girl continued. ¡°I don¡¯t know if I can ever call anyone Mom again¡­but you¡¯re amazing. You¡¯re not weak; you¡¯re strong. And even if you don¡¯t have all the answers, I know Sora loves you¡­so much. Thank you for noticing me¡­for caring about me¡­for letting me be a part of your family, even if it hurts. Thank you. But it hurts. I¡¯m flawed¡­I¡¯m flawed, too.¡± The instant Wendy initiated, Mia lurched over to pull the human girl¡ªher human daughter¡ªover her to cry into each other¡¯s arms. Stroking her hair and pressing hot foreheads together to laugh through their tears at how pathetic they both were, Mia felt a new light bud within her breast. Hope dangled on a string between them, like slow-spinning redemption, winding in and winding out like the lapping waves. The shine of it was reflected in her muddy-eyed daughter¡¯s wet and red cheeks. It rendered her so isolated¡­motivated¡­and now she was certain. She¡¯d made the right choice. The corners of her lips turned up; she was too deep now to ever swim against the current, so she let herself be pulled into its arms. ¡°I promise, Wendy. I¡¯ll be the best mom I can be for you girls¡­even if it is hard for all of us. I¡¯ll do everything within my power¡ªas weak and limited and flawed as I am¡­I¡¯ll do everything in my power to give you what you deserve¡­ A mom¡¯s everything.¡± Wendy¡¯s chest quaked against hers as she hugged her tight, robbing the air from her lungs as her daughter cried. ¡°¡­Mom¡­help. Help me, Mom¡­¡± Holding her head against her breast, Mia let her tears fall freely. The guilt in her heart dissipated; she didn¡¯t have room for it if she was going to give her a family. She knew what Wendy feared, and there was a way to make her a genuine part of their family. ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± she whispered as her daughter broke down, repeating the words she¡¯d told her earlier. ¡°I¡¯m here¡­and I¡¯m not going anywhere. I won¡¯t let you slip away. You¡¯re mine¡­and I am yours, my beautiful brown-eyed daughter. I love you.¡± ¡°I love you, Mom¡­ I¡¯m scared! I¡¯m so scared¡­¡± ¡°I know¡­ I¡¯m here to make everything better,¡± she soothed, kissing her forehead. ¡°I have a plan. Everything is going to be okay.¡± This was her redemption for all the years she¡¯d watched from a distance. The family her mother had always dreamed she would have was here, and she couldn¡¯t have imagined the feelings it brought¡­ It was worth killing for. What will Inari do when she discovers what I¡¯ve been doing in my room? I have to prepare for that day. * ¡ª * ¡ª * Sora puffed out her cheeks, twiddling her thumbs in the awkward silence that fell between Aiden and her once Wendy and her mom left. I hope you know what you¡¯re doing, Mom¡­ ¡°Ahem.¡± Her ears flew up, green eyes darting to the firebird as he chuckled, rubbed his neck, and sat back. ¡°Since we¡¯re alone. Can I¡­run something by you real fast?¡± Saliva thickening at the implication, Sora tried not to bring her tail up to hug while trying to act cool. ¡°Huh? Yeah, of course. Haha. What¡¯s up?¡± Aiden sucked in his left cheek and glanced at the floor with a light glare, leaning against his armrest. ¡°I¡¯ve been giving this Foundation business a lot of thought¡­and some things don¡¯t line up. Mind casting a silencing barrier around us? Hah. My feathers are a bit in use right now,¡± he said, wiggling his sparking, multi-colored fingers. Yup, Sora dully sighed to herself. Of course, it¡¯s about something that¡¯s not me. ¡°Sure! And¡­done.¡± she chirped, not letting her anxious heart get dragged into the bud while waiting for whatever bombshell the blond was about to drop. ¡°So, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Well, the Foundation has almost totally botched its Monster Branch, right?¡± He crossed his legs and bobbed his leg, showing fancy-looking socks and an anklet she hadn¡¯t noticed before; it had a paw print on it. ¡°If so, why have it so defunded when they know that the fae are a serious threat, and they don¡¯t know why they sealed their borders?¡± Sora blinked, lips falling into a frown as she leaned her head back to look at the partly cloudy sky, her hair draped over the back of the couch. ¡°That¡­is a good question. My mom pushed for us to go to Avalon Academy. She was pretty hardcore when it came to demanding things from the Foundation¡­and Diane is¡­icky, to say the least.¡± Her eyes flew open when the witch¡¯s parting warning resurfaced. ¡°She said something about a random number monster¡ªeh, a Kumiho that escaped and is probably going to Avalon. That could have been planned,¡± she debated. ¡°Diane warns us, but they¡¯re being sneaky in the background and maybe cut a deal with her. Do you think they¡¯d make a move against my mom?¡± Aiden laughed, wiping away a tear from his eye before abruptly cutting off and becoming serious. ¡°Absolutely¡ªwell¡­hold on.¡± ¡°Uh-huh?¡± ¡°What if your mom wanted them to plot against your family?¡± Sora¡¯s ears pulled back. ¡°Come again? You think my mom is trying to toughen me up?¡± ¡°Not necessarily just you,¡± Aiden hummed, getting up and walking to the glass window to stare down at the bustling Miami streets. ¡°If there¡¯s something I¡¯ve learned from what Alva did to our family, it is that older Founders see things on a totally different scale than we do. I can see your mother plotting against herself in order to further protect your family¡­just in ways none of us can fathom or see.¡± A lump formed in Sora¡¯s throat as she saw her puppeteering mother plucking their strings behind countless dimensions. It was swiftly swept away, and she got up to join him by the window. She couldn¡¯t help but notice how muscular the boy was in his fitted, button-up shirt, the sleeves folded back to his elbows. ¡°My mom wouldn¡¯t do anything to traumatize or hurt us, but I can see her trying to push us¡­and she was scared about things she wasn¡¯t sure she could fully counteract. This was a leap of faith for her, so¡­I guess she¡¯s putting her trust in us to overcome whatever is coming. The dreaded magic school!¡± He chuckled at her joke, but his sober tone didn¡¯t falter. ¡°I can¡¯t really say much about the horrors of school life, but we can¡¯t overlook the threats we know are lurking in the background.¡± ¡°I know. I know,¡± Sora sighed, letting herself feel a bit of the weight behind his words; she knew she was a tiny fox in a big onion. ¡°The Darkness, the Foundation, the Avalon High Court¡­potentially Sela¡¯s relapse or Fen¡¯s plots. Hey, maybe we¡¯ll get bullied! Haha. Been there, done that.¡± She turned and shot him a confident grin, holding up a fist for him to bump. ¡°Whatever comes, I think we can handle it if we¡¯re a team. What do you think I¡¯ve been doing all this time? If I¡¯ve got a solid family, then no way they can shake us.¡± ¡°Oh! Adding me into the mix with that family vibe?¡± Aiden asked with a dubious smirk while meeting her knuckles. ¡°Is that really where you want me?¡± Her brain was knocked all the way back to her stutter. ¡°W-What?!¡± ¡°Playing! Playing! Too much?¡± Sora recovered, doing her best to reflect his energy. ¡°Too much? Maybe not enough? You decide.¡± Tension mounted in Sora¡¯s lungs as she held her breath, and just as Aiden opened his mouth, the elevator doors opened. ¡°Sora, Aiden! How have things been? Everything seems to be going well upstairs¡­¡± ¡°Ferdinand.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes dulled, sour expression moving to the oblivious, intrusive man. Maybe Aiden was onto something about this evil organization. The sparkling firebird didn¡¯t even skip a beat. ¡°Dr. Ferdinand, I¡¯m glad to hear it. Do you have a more detailed report?¡± Confusion filled the man¡¯s face as he approached them. ¡°What was that? I didn¡¯t hear you. Am I, eh¡­ interrupting something?¡± Yes! Sora internally shouted, dismissing her silence barrier with annoyance. Get lost! ¡°Not at all,¡± Aiden replied. ¡°I actually had some things I wanted to ask you about. Let¡¯s talk.¡± Sora dragged her feet back to the couch to plop her sour butt into the comfy cushions as they got into the boring topic of the Foundation. Well, some parts were interesting but not as interesting as the path they¡¯d been going before. Chill a bit, Sora, she internally coached herself. Chill¡­ We still have all of magic school to figure things out. I can¡¯t eat all my sweets at once. I need to savor the wholesome family vibes. Yeah, that¡¯s the right attitude! Dad is waking up soon. And¡­hopefully, Mom and Wendy will be cool, and Wendy isn¡¯t going to run away, thinking I¡¯m better off without her¡­ Please, don¡¯t do that! Mom, work your magic! B2 — 24. United Sora¡¯s tail swayed throughout her restless pacing on the terrace as she let the hot ocean breeze sweep in and blow back her hair and dress. September was one of the hottest months of the year for Miami, and after the short shower, the temperature had risen to thirty degrees Celsius. She left Aiden to further question Ferdinand about the Foundation¡¯s questionable actions now that everything was calming down. Her ears were trained on their conversation, and she kept up with the information the firebird was able to piece together, but her heart was flitting between her mom and sister or anxiously waiting for Stephanie¡¯s delivery and her dad¡¯s awakening. Today was Labor Day in the US, a day of celebration and relaxation. Yet, the island city was filled with more than just festivals and party-goers¡ªit was abuzz with parades. It was a day of unexpected events, and so many amazing things were happening right now. Her mother had come home, Stephanie was giving birth, Noelia had returned, and her father was waking up, all on the same celebratory holiday. It was a day that would be etched in her memory forever. It was barely half over, too. Folding her arms over the railing, she saw the army of boats spaced out across the ocean and packs of people along the beach. People didn¡¯t even seem to notice the aurora borealis that blanketed the sky every once in a while as the SCC wiped the world population¡¯s memory about the trans-dimensional aliens that had brought her mother. How often have they done this? Noelia is protecting all of us¡­ I can¡¯t even sense her magic, but these waves are passing through us as if we¡¯re not even here. And she¡¯s supposed to be super, super raw and untrained like me¡­ I guess a few thousand years will do that to you. Is this okay, though? Sora watched as the ripples across space faded again. She heard Aiden ask some insightful questions to the Ethics Committee representative, but even he didn¡¯t know much about the technology. Apparently, he would also have been affected had Noelia not been actively saving his memory. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t overthink it since Mom seemed okay with it. She knew Noelia would be around to prevent any effects on us. It¡¯s just¡­weird. I mean, I have a whole realm to myself, only a floor down that has a gateway to Avalon in it; things are wild¡­ But most of what I want to do is just normal stuff with everyone. A smile lifted her lips as she looked around. Here in Miami, summer and parties truly never ended; yacht parties were already in full swing. If this were an average year for them, then her dad would have already been invited to several. This month, all the restaurants showcased their dishes, and the incredible chefs made 3-course lunch or dinner packages. When they were eleven and twelve, she and Wendy used to make a big deal of trying a new place every day, narrowing down the best place in the month. On the other hand, September was also the month of home design and remodeling shows, which her father was a fan of. He¡¯d often take them around to look at all the cool new things they could make a part of the suite and lives. The arts launch was another big event and interest that had drawn not only her father but also her former caretaker; for one, they had organized workshops and activities for kids. Noelia had taken them the three years before they¡¯d turned twelve, and the woman had always loved the creative performances. She also loved to go to the local amusement parks with them. Doing partial splits, she sank down to rest her chin on her arms. There were so many dreams and conversations now floating around her twitching ears. Noelia liked the Brazilian Film Festival. Should they go? Would Eyia and Kari like to do the Miami Trial Festival since they would probably enjoy the sports-oriented activities? What about exploring Jungle Island? Wendy loved it when they were kids. Sora gave a start, realizing she¡¯d lost a few lines from Aiden and Ferdinand¡¯s discussion to her daydreams of the future. She¡¯d have time to plan things out later. If Stephanie was losing her powers, as scary as that was for the giantess, it meant that she and Ron would be around more. Howie and Daisy were going strong, too. She had to protect her growing family. Pushing herself up, she glanced around at the grilling, spa, and entertainment areas on the expansive terrace. They had more than enough space now after the Foundation bought their building¡ªbought being used very loosely. Nonetheless, there was a lot that needed to be done to make it her home again after their invasion. Going through the open doors, she interrupted their conversation about the alien branch of the SCC. ¡°I want all of your Foundation goons to be confined to the ground floor. Only hotel staff that worked with me growing up will be allowed above there. Cool?¡± she asked, expecting it to be done while dropping into an armchair. Ferdinand rubbed his cleanly shaven chin, studying her. ¡°I can pass that along to the security team and management crew. You can give all your demands to Ms. Jeddings; she is in charge of¡­anything related to the public. I¡¯d just be sending her your memo. I hope everything has been satisfactory since returning to Earth.¡± Sora crossed her legs and repositioned her tail to rest at her side, giving Aiden a thumbs-up to let him know she was good. ¡°I¡¯ll do that later, then. So, essentially, the Monster Program was defunded because you guys weren¡¯t getting enough out of it anymore. The alien friendships are thriving, and the monsters are all money sinks rather than beneficial. Do I get the jist of it? It¡¯s all about the money.¡± Aiden hummed, swapping angles to look at her. ¡°It¡¯s about improvements to humanity overall. Much of the more groundbreaking research passed onto the public is done through proxies the Foundation uses to disseminate new technology. Essentially, there is a new world order they¡¯re trying to slowly build toward, which is why the internet and other similar advances have skyrocketed lately.¡± Sora rolled her finger in the air. ¡°The Foundation is the underworld government. Yada-yada. They want to bring their one-world shadow government into the public. Yada-yada. And push toward a more space-age era without totally reshaping humanity overnight. Monsters are kind of an eyesore for that vision due to their nature, so they¡¯ve pushed them toward Avalon, erasing them over time. Right?¡± Ferdinand forced a laugh. ¡°You make it sound sinister, but the Foundation isn¡¯t cruel¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s cold and rational,¡± Sora finished, having heard it a few times in Aiden¡¯s discussion with the man. ¡°I¡¯ve heard the pitch. It¡¯s too troublesome to incorporate monsters. Obviously, that¡¯s bullshit. Miami is proof that there are plenty of monsters that can mingle with humans.¡± ¡°My point exactly,¡± Aiden chuckled, holding up a fist for her to air bump. ¡°Humanity has far more bad eggs than the monster community, and I know that may be a numbers game. My point stands, though. It smells like blatant discrimination. I¡¯m guessing the alien species you¡¯re flirting with have a grudge against the fae and, by extension, the whole monster community.¡± Sora snapped her fingers, connecting the dots from what she¡¯d heard from High Queen Titania. ¡°The fae devastated the nearby alien empires when they sided with humans to try and claim Earth tens of thousands of years ago, and they¡¯re still pissed! C¡¯mon¡­¡± The man shrugged his shoulders with an unsure grimace. ¡°Maybe. I may be a higher-ranking person within the SCC, but the Foundation compartmentalizes everything. That would be something more in Dr. Diane¡¯s wheelhouse than mine. I¡¯m concerned about the ethical treatment of the monster community now, not what may or may not have happened in the past. ¡°My knowledge only goes back eight thousand years, and in that time¡­monsters have been less than accommodating to humanity. Humans were dominated without the fae¡¯s protection and were wiped out of whole sections of the planet every century or so. It¡¯s only been in the last few thousand years that we¡¯ve actually become the dominating species.¡± ¡°With¡­the help of aliens who hold a grudge,¡± Sora added. ¡°I can¡¯t deny that the Alyrans and Tolmak have a sour outlook on magic, in general, and anything dealing with mystical creatures,¡± he admitted with a sigh, ruffling his hair. ¡°A race of beings as strong as your mother contacted and brought to the Foundation¡¯s attention would certainly¡­cause waves,¡± he winced. ¡°I can also imagine that it would be insulting to them that Mia didn¡¯t contact them.¡± Sora¡¯s head sank against the cushion, shooting a dull stare at the man. ¡°They hate me already, don¡¯t they? I shouldn¡¯t be surprised; I¡¯m the embodiment of magic. Right? Avalon opens its doors the moment I take the stage, threatening their expanding empire or whatever they¡¯re doing.¡± Ferdinand glanced toward the windows as another wave of light rippled the atmosphere. ¡°I won¡¯t say I haven¡¯t been getting a lot of heat from certain departments within the Alien Branch. The world has become a very¡­hostile place toward magic with the advancements of technology and mysticism, partly by design, I suppose you could say.¡± Aiden got up to study the phenomenon by the glass wall, playing with a soda can that she¡¯d given him from the fridge earlier. ¡°I feel underqualified to be talking for everyone in the monster community¡­ This affects a lot of scared and hiding creatures around the world¡­each with their own culture and customs. I¡¯ve seen their fear¡­ Can I suggest something radical?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up, her head tilting to the right as his focus went to her instead of the ethics man. ¡°What kind of radical are we talking about, and what does it have to do with me?¡± The blond shifted to glance between them as he spoke. ¡°The aliens¡ªthe Alyrans and Tolmak¡ªdon¡¯t want monsters here on Earth; mainly, they just don¡¯t want anything to do with the fae or Avalon. ¡°Avalon and the fae are dealing with their own crisis with The Darkness, as well as their missing or corrupted Founder fae goddesses. They¡¯ve brought in a lot of refugees, starting a whole academy over it to integrate the population better¡­ However, that isn¡¯t necessarily what these refugees want. ¡°Many monster communities I¡¯ve visited in the last three years around the world are more scared of humans than humans are scared of them. After all, humanity has all the power now with the Foundation moving in its shadow. To the monster community, humanity is the monster. That said, there are some groups who do wish to live amongst them. So¡­¡± He gave her a thoughtful look and crossed his arms. ¡°Your mom gave you an entire realm¡­a massive mini-universe, you could call it. It¡¯s likely totally fresh, and I would bet my life it has gateways to many, many other worlds within its interconnected planets. Why not open the way for them to spread out and build a new life? Away from the primary hub that is your planet, of course. It¡¯s just a thought.¡± Sora brought her feet up under her butt, lifting her tail a moment while leaning into the side of her chair. ¡°That¡­could be dangerous for Avalon since they have a gateway in my realm. I guess I could see if Noelia could help me reshape it a bit, which could be fun, but¡­oh.¡± She sat a little straighter when his previous explanation connected in her brain. ¡°You want to bring together all the major players and hash out a deal¡ªa truce¡­and you think my reputation can make that happen. Am I right?¡± she asked, ears tilting back a little. ¡°That¡¯s the gist of it,¡± Aiden nodded, glancing at Ferdinand. ¡°Would that work?¡± Ferdinand drew in his lips, his left eye creasing while pondering what looked to be heavy thoughts. ¡°Please¡­don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but¡­no. You¡¯re both not grasping a much bigger field. The Foundation is not the only big organization. Yes, it may be the critical dominant one here on this planet. The thing is¡­there are alternate worlds that run in parallel to this one that are dominated by powerful magic users¡­ The Occult World Order.¡± ¡°Pfft!¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but double over, unable to control her fits of laughter. Aiden and Ferdinand didn¡¯t seem like they were following by the looks on her faces. I was too much for Sora, though. ¡°The dreaded OWO! Haha. Not the UWU! Who named it that?¡± Still wearing a confused smile, the Foundation man shrugged. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, it¡¯s a translation from another language.¡± Aiden leaned against the glass. ¡°Huh. Are they as strong as Avalon?¡± This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°Not even close,¡± Ferdinand didn¡¯t even hesitate. ¡°In fact, it tells the Foundation a lot about the threat they face if they are only in a stalemate with this corruption infecting their realm. By the way, Dr. Diane used to be a part of the OWO after leaving Morgen la F¨¦e before swapping to our side.¡± Sora restrained her giggles, glancing toward the firebird. ¡°That¡¯s not concerning. What if something changed after Avalon opened, and I showed up?¡± Ferdinand rolled down his sleeves to button them up. ¡°It isn¡¯t my place to look into her. She answers directly to the EC Council. I will say that the Alyrans and Tolmak have developed anti-magic technology for the use of combating the Occult World Order in conjunction with the Foundation scientists. And it¡¯s ironic since the giant tower we surround on the moon is a mysterious magical monolith of the Moon Wizard.¡± Once again, Sora¡¯s sailor scout and magical girl childhood sparked images in her mind while recalling the colossal black tower and forest on the moon¡¯s surface. However, before she could jump into it, the man had stood up and was already putting on his dress coat. ¡°I have a lot of calls to make. I will pose your suggestion to my superiors, Aiden. I wouldn¡¯t count on anything, though. It isn¡¯t a topic anyone really wants to approach at this time¡­maybe in the future. A lot is changing¡­ So, is there anything else, Sora?¡± Sora shook her head. ¡°I can talk to Ms. Jeddings, I guess. Umm. Diane has access to Avalon Academy through me, doesn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°She does,¡± Ferdinand confirmed. ¡°She is confined to certain areas, but it was negotiated that she would be able to perform regular inspections of the facility on behalf of the Foundation as its expert in the field.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± He paused just before turning to leave. ¡°What do you want me to do with Wendy¡¯s mother? Jane is a question mark that has been slapped on my desk.¡± The topic instantly soured her mood further when remembering the previous day¡¯s confrontation with the broken alcoholic. ¡°If she wants to forget about Wendy, then do that again. Otherwise, I don¡¯t care what happens to her¡­ No, Wendy would want her to be taken care of,¡± she growled. ¡°Just¡­make sure we never see her again¡ªsend her to China or something.¡± Ferdinand nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll see it done. We¡¯ll move her across the world and make sure she lives a decent life.¡± ¡°Just not too decent,¡± Sora grunted, watching him go with a light scowl. It wasn¡¯t aimed at him so much as the news he¡¯d delivered. Jane was just the rotten cherry on top. There was a tug-of-war and cold war between the Foundation and Avalon. She guessed that Avalon would have stomped had not The Darkness been involved, which was one reason that the fae were so defensive. Things were happening behind the curtain, and different factions were starting to rear their heads. Aiden took the nearby chair suddenly looking tired as he rubbed his slightly red forehead. ¡°You¡¯re really wrapped up in a spider¡¯s web. Sorry that I couldn¡¯t be more help.¡± ¡°No, you did great,¡± she encouraged, looking him over as his invisible aura rose and fell in microbursts. ¡°Are you okay? What¡¯s going on upstairs?¡± He rubbed his mouth and used his knuckle to press against his nose. ¡°Mmm. I think the delivery is happening¡­ There¡¯s just a major draw on my energy in ways I¡¯m not accustomed to. It¡¯s¡­weird. It feels like¡­I¡¯m fighting myself, in a way. Don¡¯t worry. I can manage,¡± he said, settling back with a charming smile. ¡°Can you do something that should come easy to you?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sora questioned, lifting an eyebrow. ¡°And what comes easy to me?¡± ¡°Distracting me!¡± Aiden chimed, flashing his teeth and folding his hands in his lap. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about growing out my hair a bit. Some of those ponytail pictures and man-buns look killer on human guys. Do you think I could work facial hair? I tend to burn it off in the morning, but I¡¯m up for experimenting.¡± Excitement building at the topic, Sora flipped postures and held up her fingers to frame him in them. ¡°Hmm! Yeah, I can see it. Hah. You do have a pretty mature face for seventeen, which is cool. So¡­why don¡¯t I do some illusion work, and we can run through some styles?¡± ¡°I¡¯m game,¡± he said, turning his bright rainbow eyes to the duplicate she made stand on the table. ¡°Turn me around¡­that¡¯s it, hmm. How about dying my hair black?¡± ¡°It¡¯s different¡­definitely different,¡± Sora considered, heart feeling light again as she made the adjustment. ¡°Red hair¡­pink, haha. So many options¡­¡± Having fun playing makeovers and dress-ups with the firebird, Sora was in the right mood when her mom and sister returned. She jumped to her feet and jogged over to the pair, throwing her arms around them as Aiden got up to observe from a distance. ¡°You two look a lot better! There¡¯s, like, no stress between your auras now. Are you okay?¡± Wendy strained a laugh and held up their mom¡¯s intertwined fingers with hers. ¡°We just had a good first mother-daughter talk¡­ How are you, Little Sis? Playing dress-up with boys, I see.¡± Heat rose from Sora¡¯s chest to her nose, and she fought tears while pulling them both in tighter. ¡°Little Sis¡­ Aww! I¡¯m doing amazing, Big Sis. I¡¯m just trying not to go crazy here. Mom, did you check on Stephanie?¡± ¡°We did, and it shouldn¡¯t be more than another thirty minutes or so, which will be around the time the food arrives,¡± she smoothly replied, her nine tails weaving slightly to show her positive mood. ¡°Howie and Daisy went to set it up for us, which means Noelia would have added them to the protection. It should be getting easier for her. In the meantime, we came back because I suspect something important will happen soon.¡± Sora saw the light red marks under her mom¡¯s eyes; she and Wendy had definitely cried together. On the inside, Wendy looked so much better and stable. Was it her imagination, or did her mom feel a little less cheery from how she felt when leaving? It was probably nothing since it was hard to detect. Her mom¡¯s last comment dashed those thoughts. ¡°Important? You don¡¯t mean¡­¡± Wendy tucked in her bottom lip, her face a little red. Tender relief flooded her radial emotions, which hit Sora in the face like a blast of fluffy bunnies. She cleared her throat, fighting the dam behind her eyes from breaking. ¡°He¡¯s waking up¡­ Ahem. D-Dad¡¯s waking up.¡± Chills ran through Sora¡¯s spine to the tip of her tail, making her shiver. Saliva thickening in her throat, she felt the pressure against her chest rise; it was hard to breathe. ¡°¡­Right now?¡± Their fox mom¡¯s tails linked around hers while the others moved to draw them into a mother¡¯s hug. ¡°It¡¯s okay to cry, girls. It¡¯s going to be okay¡­ We¡¯re a family¡­a complete family.¡± Arms quaking, Sora melted into the warmth that surrounded her on all sides. Memories surged through her heart, recalling all the times she¡¯d caught her father looking at the sole picture of her mom in his wallet throughout the years. The pain and love she¡¯d connected with when he¡¯d opened up about her mom¡¯s past with him and their courtship. He was her dad. Her loving, faithful, and strong dad. He was waking up to the dream he¡¯d always wanted¡ªthe embrace of his wife. ¡°W-What about Eyia and Noelia¡­ They¡¯re a part¡­ahem, a part of the family, too,¡± she squeaked. She gulped, remembering how tender her dad had been to Kari when she¡¯d collapsed in the elevator. Her dad really did have the biggest heart. ¡°And¡­and Kari is in the den. That¡¯s, umm¡­what I¡¯m calling it¡­ I just¡­I don¡¯t know. Dad will want to know she¡¯s doing okay,¡± Her mom¡¯s caring hands stroked their hair as they shook in her all-encompassing embrace, veiling them in fluffy fur. ¡°Everything will work out¡­trust me.¡± Her mother guided them both to the second floor by hand, using a tail to motion for Aiden to join them. Filing into the room, she sent Aiden and the nurse to gather more chairs from downstairs to gather around her father¡¯s bed. It was hard to breathe as she waited, anxiety rising as her mother guided the conversation, mainly poking Aiden with searching questions. Fifteen minutes later, the elevator opened downstairs, and a lone figure casually walked across the granite, took the light elevator, and stopped in the hallway. Kari wore shorts and a tank top, and her swaying tail came to a stop when she spotted some of them through the open doorway. Her unenthusiastic amber eyes fixed on her mom before she walked into the doorway to give an acknowledging glance toward Aiden. ¡°Hey, Kari,¡± he greeted with a two-fingered salute. ¡°What are you up to? Sora¡¯s dad is going to wake up soon, so we¡¯re waiting for that.¡± ¡°Yo¡­ Cool.¡± Fingers half hidden in her pockets, she nodded toward her smiling mom. Sora held her breath. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a nap. Oh, and, uh¡­thanks for letting me stay, Lady Mia, Sora.¡± Brow furrowing at the casual response and nonchalant attitude, Sora¡¯s ears tilted to the side. ¡°Huh? What¡ª¡± Her mother squeezed her hand. ¡°Have a lovely rest, dear, and I hope to have a chance to talk to you one-on-one. There are some¡­important things I believe you would like to hear from me. Let me know when you have time.¡± ¡°Sure¡­¡± Turning around, her thick wolf¡¯s tail regained its casual rhythm for a few swishes before pausing. Half shifting back, she said, ¡°And congratulations, Sora. Let Eyia know that I¡¯m up for a game of basketball later tonight.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah¡­ We¡¯ll have food in a bit¡­if you want.¡± She held up her hand in recognition on her path down the hall; Sora¡¯s ears twitched at the booms that audibly came from Kari¡¯s super strong heartbeat, confusing her. ¡°Thanks. If I get hungry, I¡¯ll come down. Night.¡± Sinking into her chair, Sora didn¡¯t want to talk about her behind her back but also didn¡¯t want to say what was on her mind aloud. Was she overwhelmed and emotionally exhausted after spending all day with Mary? Why was her heart beating so hard? Was she scared, seeing her mom? Kari did have a lot more fears than she could have imagined. Maybe she should bring her up a plate of food later. That would be nice, right? She¡¯d like that¡­hopefully. She couldn¡¯t reflect on it for long since the elevator dropped down again, called by the floor below, and when it came back up, Eyia and Noelia¡¯s voices were heard. Uncharacteristically, Eyia jogged through the hall and jumped up to the second level instead of traveling in her misty state. ¡°Sister!¡± she chimed, sounding and looking a little tired but as energetic as ever. ¡°The baby is of normal size! It is unlike anything that I saw from the giants I knew on the Island. Very unusual and odd, but he has the suppressed strength of legends! He will be a great warrior in the future. Your father awakens from his slumber, yes? Like my father when going into the Odinsleep?¡± ¡°Similar, yes,¡± her mother chortled, rising to welcome the girl into a welcoming embrace. ¡°What message did Stephanie send you with, sweetie?¡± ¡°She asked to see you when she awakens. Currently, she wishes for the silence of her black home with its creepy ice. My powers soothed her to sleep, and she can now hold the ice flower my sister so graciously returned to her care. Ron is listening to the advice of the fussy witch doctors and will stay with his beloved.¡± ¡°Excellent report¡­ And you do not look too well, Noelia,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Sora¡¯s tail bristled as she saw her bushy-tailed caretaker, hair a mess, and looked drained. ¡°Eh-heh-hehe¡­ugh. Sorry, sorry, uh, I¡¯m just a little tuckered out, Mistress. Umm. Is it really okay, eh, for me to¡­you know¡­be here when he wakes up? I¡¯m not sure if he¡¯d¡­want to see me after our last, umm, fight¡­¡± She felt so bad for the awkward tanuki with her uncomfortable fidgets and super puffy tail, no doubt way puffier than usual due to her agitation. It really was hard for her to come to terms with where she should land within their family dynamic. Her mom was far more forceful with the woman than anyone else she¡¯d interacted with thus far, taking her by the hand and guiding her over to a spot next to her. ¡°Nonsense. Can you hear yourself? I know you have developed an attachment to my husband.¡± Sora¡¯s lungs jumped into her throat, Wendy seeming to have the same reaction, and Aiden averted his eyes, not wanting even to have the chance to enter the conversation. Noelia¡¯s stress-filled face turned another shade of white. ¡°I-I, uh¡­¡± ¡°Do you think I am so easily threatened, Noelia?¡± ¡°No, absolutely not, Mistress, I, umm¡ªI don¡¯t know¡­¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know,¡± her mother promptly agreed, keeping her hand and looking right into the woman¡¯s swirling light blue eyes. ¡°I do, though. Look at me¡­¡± Noelia¡¯s tail stood straight into the air, watery gaze snapping to the red fox¡¯s firm stare. ¡°Mhm!¡± ¡°Eyes don¡¯t lie, Noelia, so look into mine. I understand.¡± The uncomfortable seconds gradually dissipated as the raccoon woman¡¯s tail slowly lowered with the progressing vibes. ¡°You¡¯ve wandered aimlessly for so long¡­and you found purpose with my little girls. You made them feel loved. You fought for my daughter. I¡¯m not mad. I understand. It¡¯s okay, Noelia.¡± Swallowing the lump in her throat, the tanuki¡¯s fingers curled around her mother¡¯s. ¡°You¡¯re¡­not messing with my heart, Lady Mia?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not, Noelia. However, can I ask something unfair of you?¡± Noelia¡¯s vision fell for a moment, eyes creasing a little with the tears that slid down her tired face before they rose to meet hers again. ¡°¡­I have nothing else in my life¡­ No one. So I will gladly be your slave.¡± Sora¡¯s heart ached as her mom lifted a hand to cup the woman¡¯s chin. Looking into her eyes with a soft smile, her tails weaved in to embrace the enemy of their family. ¡°Noelia, will you forsake your family¡­and join with mine? Will you be an aunt to my daughters?¡± ¡°Yes. Without a second thought¡­ I was lost in darkness until¡­I found them.¡± ¡°Good¡­¡± Her mother didn¡¯t release the petrified woman¡¯s chin, soft as it was. ¡°And if I am not capable of taking care of my husband, will you be there to support him¡­to guide him¡­to take my place when I am not there?¡± ¡°W-What?¡± Noelia¡¯s face turned bright red. Sora was 99% sure it was a trap; it had to be! However, as the stillness continued, Noelia got her quakes under control. ¡°It¡­that is your desire¡­mmm.¡± ¡°I asked you,¡± her mother pressed. ¡°I have given my permission, but we both know he will never reciprocate. Therefore, it is unfair of you¡­ I ask nonetheless.¡± Sora felt the weight of a universe fall off the tanuki¡¯s shoulders, and the half-Latina and Japanese woman shivered, a teary smile lifting her wet cheeks. ¡°It would be my honor¡­sister-wife¡ªco-mom? Ehehe. Too soon?¡± she asked with a semi-unsure smile. ¡°I¡¯m still nervous. Sorry, sorry!¡± ¡°I think you¡¯ll fit in fine with our family,¡± her mother laughed, pulling her into a tighter hug. ¡°You¡¯ve shown restraint and dedication¡­I wish I had sooner, and for a girl so young. Your family doesn¡¯t know what they¡¯ve thrown away.¡± Tears fell down Sora¡¯s cheeks as she joined the hug. ¡°My fox mom and tanuki mom! Aww. Thank you, Mom! Are you sure, though? I didn¡¯t expect this! Wendy?!¡± She was shocked as her brunette sister joined the circle of crying and laughing girls. ¡°I am sure, Sora. Noelia has earned her place in this family¡­ She¡¯s more than proven where her heart is, and it¡¯s protecting her little adopted kits. It would be an insult to you girls if I didn¡¯t accept her efforts¡­ Her only flaw is that she is flawlessly pure.¡± ¡°Awww! You¡¯re making me bawl! Can I still call you mistress¡ªit just¡­doesn¡¯t feel right to say anything more¡­¡± ¡°What did I say¡­flawless,¡± her mother whispered, kissing her cheek. ¡°You can call me whatever you want, sweetie. To me, I could see you as a baby sister¡ªthe fifth vulpes.¡± ¡°¡­Mmmgm. Well, haha. What¡¯d I miss¡­ Mia?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up as she pounced toward the bed without a second thought¡ªit was her dad¡¯s voice¡ªher dad was awake! ¡°Daddy!¡± B2 — 25. Poison From The Same Vine Completely unlike his dreams or imagination, Jarlath¡¯s clouded mind only knew peace upon opening his eyes to his beautiful, smiling wife and daughter. Every confused thought and the fear of the Hell amphitheater he¡¯d been in melted as Sora called out to him and jumped forward to wrap her arms around his chest. ¡°My a chuisle¡­¡± he whispered, fingers sliding over his daughter¡¯s hot fox ear and folding it down as he gently moved through her copper locks. ¡°If this is a dream¡­I¡¯d love nothing more than to stay¡­ God knows¡­I want this heaven¡­but if it isn¡¯t real, I need to go¡­ I have a daughter that needs me.¡± Sora¡¯s grip strengthened, her eyes and nose matching the color of her hair, taking Jarlath back to when he¡¯d held her on that stormy beach not that long ago, the world collapsing around his precious angel. ¡°It¡¯s not, Dad! It¡¯s real; Mom¡¯s here. It¡¯s real, Dad¡­ We¡¯re a family.¡± Throat constricting, a weight pressed against his lungs, igniting a fire in them that traveled to his throat and nose. His arms suddenly lead, he drew her in as his elegant wife rose to her feet. She clearly fought back emotion that battled its way into her voice as she moved forward to place a warm hand atop his. ¡°I¡¯m here, Jarlath¡­ I¡¯m here to stay.¡± Unable to close his eyes out of fear it would disappear, he let the inferno inside his chest ease out while accepting her fingers; a spike penetrated his heart when he felt the Burma Ruby jewel on her ring finger. And, for the first time since the red fox left him a single father, a crack in the dam behind his eyes formed, and tears slid down his cheeks. ¡°Is that so,¡± he asked with a pained laugh, not knowing if he should feel angry or happy. ¡°I, ahem¡­ I see you still can¡¯t hide your nerves with those tails, Mia¡­ The fluffier they are, the more nervous or excited you are inside. Wow¡­ Is that really my first words to you after all those prayers I sent¡­ You¡¯re even more gorgeous than I remember.¡± ¡°Dad! Are you okay? I don¡¯t sense anything wrong¡­¡± ¡°No. No,¡± he repeated, rubbing her back and letting her cling to his chest. Jarlath didn¡¯t miss the guilt, pain, and apprehensive hope in his wife¡¯s pulled-back ears; she was terrified, and he could feel her bleeding heart. ¡°I feel fine.¡± ¡°Good,¡± Sora wept, crying into the medical gown he wore. ¡°I was so scared¡­ Everything¡¯s fine now! We¡¯re all fine! Wendy, Kari, Eyia¡ªNoelia is back! I have so much to tell you!¡± ¡°Shh-shh,¡± he urged, trying to comfort her as Sora¡¯s emotions ran wild. ¡°Let¡¯s just enjoy this moment for a moment¡­ Let me savor the two most important women in my life a bit longer.¡± He took a deep breath, releasing the tension and letting things sink in while glancing around at everyone in his bedroom. His gaze lingered on the beautiful, poofy-tailed animal woman trying to sink into her chair, connecting the new face with his daughter¡¯s words; Noelia was a monster, as well, it seemed. With that information, the gripping burden of the hell he¡¯d just experienced sent a rush of memories through his soul. The image of Jenny ripping open his daughter¡¯s stomach. The sight of Wendy jumping at him and the guilt that jabbed at his lungs when he¡¯d been unable to take the shot against the girl he¡¯d practically raised, even if he had had the chance; he¡¯d made that choice, which could have left Sora without her father and left Wendy with that scar to her heart. Bleeding out while Sela tried unsuccessfully to heal him, with all those thoughts that had flashed through his brain. It didn¡¯t take long for them to sink into the past, and he held Sora closer. ¡°¡­Tender mercies,¡± he whispered, squeezing Mia¡¯s hand and finding the strength to push himself up to the headboard. ¡°Tell me what happened¡­and then, I¡¯d like to go walk with your mom¡­ We need to talk.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes flew open with fright as she pulled away, hands knotting against her chest while glancing between them. ¡°No, Dad¡ªMom had her reasons; if she stayed, I would have died!¡± A short laugh shook his chest as he comfortingly rubbed her knee. ¡°I¡¯m sure she does, a chuisle. I¡¯m sure she does¡­ I just need to¡­¡± He breathed out a calming stream of air and gave her a reassuring smile. ¡°We just have a few things to talk about.¡± Mia rubbed their daughter¡¯s back, mirroring her husband¡¯s tone. ¡°There¡¯s no need to worry, My Little Ember. I have been gone for sixteen years¡­ Of course, your father would like to speak to me in private. Do you want to bring him up to speed on everything that happened?¡± She put on a calm face, but he could see two of her tails twist back, giving away her fright and guilt; Mia was hardly holding it together. Sora¡¯s drawn-back ears and apprehensive green eyes darted between them, not sold on the thought that her mom was about to get tail-twisted. ¡°Okay¡­ Umm. Where should I start? Oh! Wendy is adopted into the family¡ªlegally and everything¡ªand, uh, it¡¯s only been like five or six days since¡­yeah.¡± Adjusting his posture, his emerald eyes drifted to Wendy, who looked like she wanted to sink into her chair and die; the girl was the type to never ask for something, didn¡¯t want to burden anyone, and would always be happy with the smallest thoughtful gift she received. In many ways, Wendy was the exact opposite to his daughter growing up; the brunette was reserved and conservative, while Sora was always pulling her along to the next adventure. ¡°That¡¯s exciting. Naturally, I have questions, but I don¡¯t see how much will change¡­ Wendy was always my second daughter. Come on,¡± he motioned toward the sniffling, red-nosed brunette. ¡°I¡¯m happy to see you¡¯re safe. You¡¯re cured?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Wendy cleared her throat while moving around Mia to hug him. ¡°I¡¯m, umm¡­I¡¯m sorry I h-hurt you¡­¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t you, Wendy. You always had a kinder heart than Sora.¡± ¡°Hey! Why am I catching strays?¡± Wendy chuckled through her tears as he brought her into a firm embrace. ¡°You have a room?¡± ¡°Yeah. I, uh, it¡¯s a bit of a story¡­¡± Pulling back and nudging his head toward Sora, he settled in. ¡°Good. Let¡¯s hear it. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t see you, Aiden and Eyia.¡± The responsible blond gave him a two-fingered greeting. ¡°Glad to see you¡¯re on your feet, Mr. Moore. It¡¯s been a wild few days.¡± ¡°My sister has beaten many foes in your Odin Sleep, Jarlath of the Fire Bullets! Her recent battle was amidst the Avalon High Court, where she returned victorious!¡± ¡°Avalon, huh? Wow. I can¡¯t wait to hear that story. And¡­Noelia?¡± ¡°Hmm?!¡± The young woman¡¯s nervous fidgets made him smile as she refused to make eye contact with her stunning blue eyes; he could see the characteristics and mannerisms of the old Cuban caretaker he¡¯d hired. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to, uh, to deceive you, Jarlath¡ªeh, I probably should start back at Mr. Moore. Umm. I¡¯m¡­kind of a, ahem, tanuki¡­an enemy to your wife¡ªwell¡­¡± ¡°Noelia¡­¡± Mia sighed, using her tails to pull the quaking brown-and-gray-haired tanuki forward. She kept her hands knotted at her striped salt and pepper dress front, unable to look at him. ¡°I will explain things to him when we have our talk. For now, Jarlath, it is enough to say that I trust Noelia¡¯s intentions to be pure, and that she is a 3rd Generation Founder, albeit vastly younger than I. Hehe. You could say I am quite the cougar instead of a fox, no?¡± ¡°M-Mistress! You can¡¯t call yourself that!¡± Noelia cutely protested. ¡°You look far better than my older siblings¡ªnot a day over a million!¡± ¡°Aww. How sweet. Isn¡¯t she sweet, Jarlath? She has been looking for a family for millennia after being exiled and forsaken by her father.¡± He noticed the tanuki doing her best not to hug or hide behind her bushy tail. They really were turning into the tail family at this rate, and he could see his daughter¡¯s influence was strong if Mia was allowing this. Things had changed. ¡°It would be a lie to say it isn¡¯t a bit of a whiplash, discovering this beautiful lady has been living in my house for so long.¡± ¡°T-Thank you, Master Jarlath!¡± Noelia¡¯s face turned bright pink, and Jarlath could practically see steam blowing out of her big ears, although not as big as Sora or Mia¡¯s. ¡°Well, no, that wasn¡¯t a compliment¡ªwhat was this pretty lady doing creeping in on my life, haha¡­¡± ¡°Stop it!¡± Mia scolded, making the tanuki¡¯s ears fold down when his wife¡¯s tail bonked her on the head. ¡°Take the compliment, dear, and you know that Jarlath isn¡¯t the type to enjoy being called master.¡± ¡°Of course! Sorry, Mistress. I¡¯m just¡ªoops, I almost slipped in maintaining the magic¡­ I¡¯ll return to my corner.¡± Eyia¡¯s hum drew their gaze as the blonde studied them. ¡°Is it customary to do ¡®the jump,¡¯ as Jin calls it, on the newly initiated members of the den? Are we all supposed to ¡®jump¡¯ onto the new member to verbally assault them in a battle of wits?¡± Sora doubled over laughing. ¡°Where do you get these ideas, Eyia? You¡¯re great.¡± ¡°If you were only faking your looks, Noelia, then I know you can get flustered when it comes to the little things.¡± The tanuki¡¯s eyes narrowed while darting to the corner. ¡°Little things?¡± ¡°That being said, you¡¯re extremely firm when it comes to my daughters, and I¡¯d sooner trust you with them than anyone else I know¡­ I¡¯m sure I¡¯ll hear your story soon enough, and I look forward to getting to know the real you.¡± The woman¡¯s bottom lip began to quiver before she tucked it under and strained a smile, fighting back tears and unable to say anything. ¡°Welcome back, Noelia¡­and I¡¯m sorry I didn¡¯t trust you,¡± he said, having to fight off the guilt from returning. ¡°You were right¡­ How could I say anything more? You were right.¡± Resting his head against the wooden headboard, he centered on his copper-haired daughter. ¡°Alright, sweetie. Give me the good and the bad¡­ Where are we at?¡± He sat in silence, feeling the heat in his chest rise when Mia moved to join him under the sheets, leaning against him and playing with his hand. She remained quiet while Sora broke into her animated tale, pointing to the others around the room when they came into the story. As she went on, discussing her own personal issues, such as her pushy nature, and how crazy things had gotten with a shadowy cabal who ran the world, Jarlath couldn¡¯t help the feelings from welling up within his breast. Sora¡¯s tail beat against the bed, and she pulled Wendy and Eyia into it from time to time. His daughter¡¯s creased left eye glared at him when she finished the tale. ¡°Umm, yeah, so that¡¯s what happened, Dad¡­ Why do you have that look on your face? Your emotions are all over the place¡­or maybe that¡¯s mine, and I can¡¯t tell because I¡¯m screaming inside,¡± she laughed. The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. Resting his head against Mia¡¯s, he slowly shook it with a short chuckle. ¡°This look? It¡¯s the look of a proud father¡­ You¡¯re growing into such a strong and caring young woman. I¡¯m proud, Sora¡­ So proud.¡± Her playful pout was shattered at the word, holding back sniffles while crawling forward to hug them. ¡°I¡¯m trying, Dad¡­ I¡¯m trying.¡± ¡°I see that¡­ I¡¯m glad you were able to work things out with Kari. Hah! I¡¯m wiping away tears just hearing about¡­how hard her life was. I¡¯m happy to see Eyia joining the¡­den, you called it? Haha. I love it. And, naturally, Wendy has been a part of the family since the day you brought the brown haired little girl home, like a stray cat, getting bullied by the other kids at preschool.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up, glancing at her brunette sister, who gave her the same stunned look. ¡°Wendy was bullied in preschool?¡± ¡°I was?¡± ¡°Oh, very much so,¡± Jarlath mumbled. ¡°You had found your mother¡¯s razor after she¡¯d drunk herself silly one night, or so I assumed from your mother¡¯s much more¡­favorable story on her side. You came back to school on the second day fully shaved.¡± Wendy¡¯s brow furrowed as she hugged herself and looked at the soft carpet. ¡°The wig I¡¯ve had since before I can remember¡­ My mom told me that she got it for me.¡± Sora rolled her eyes. ¡°Of course she did!¡± ¡°In any case,¡± he continued, ¡°Sora pleaded with me to help, and I couldn¡¯t deny those piercing green eyes or your adorable brown tears, so I got permission from your mom, and I took you out to get a child¡¯s wig.¡± Noelia¡¯s gentle voice came from the corner. ¡°It was the cutest thing. You should have seen the two of you playing dress-up. I think that started Sora¡¯s shopping craze. She saw how happy it made you, Wendy, and wanted to make you smile.¡± Wendy¡¯s face softened while looking at her new sister. ¡°Sora¡­really is a shopping freak.¡± ¡°Oh, wow! Thanks, Big Sis,¡± Sora laughed, sticking out her tongue. ¡°Sue me for wanting to have a fun time with my bestie.¡± Figuring it was about time to get into a more serious conversation, he squeezed Mia¡¯s hand and nudged her knee with his. ¡°Alright, I think the catering service will be here soon, girls. Sora, you want to pick me out a suit while I go and talk with your mother?¡± His daughter gave him a cute salute, her tail going stiff. ¡°Yes, Sir! Oh, can I go see Ron and their new baby, too?!¡± ¡°I second that!¡± Wendy said, throwing up her arm. ¡°I¡¯m curious. A goddess¡¯ baby who now isn¡¯t a goddess. Is she normal-sized or still blue? Will their son gain blue skin? Super curious.¡± Eyia threw her lot in next. ¡°Yes, a Celestial that has lost their power is a critical event that must be studied, Patriarch Jarlath and Matriarch Mia! A half-human and half-Celestial brings about questions of importance. I should consult with the ghost of my father!¡± Jarlath laughed at the Valkyrie¡¯s strange customs and way of speaking. ¡°So long as Ron allows it.¡± Mia folded back the sheet and got up to brush out her tails, which actually looked far messier than their daughter¡¯s and far more untidy than he was used to seeing. ¡°Yes, girls, let us leave Stephanie to rest for some time. I will bring her up some food when it arrives. I am sure she is famished, and may wish to talk.¡± He could see the disappointment in the teenagers¡¯ faces, but Sora quickly accepted and jumped up to guide Wendy into his closet to find something for him to wear. Rising to join his wife, he glanced down at Noelia as she swiftly got up with them; it was obvious that Mia severely intimidated the tanuki, which only further confused Jarlath after what he¡¯d heard. In fact, he half-thought it was in his dreams. Mia gestured to the raccoon woman toward the door. ¡°Would you mind preparing everything for the party and organizing things while I¡¯m gone?¡± ¡°Of course, Mistress! I, uh-hehe, ahem, I¡¯ll make sure it is all done!¡± ¡°And, Aiden, thank you for being here for my family¡­ You are always welcome.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah! I¡¯ll help Noelia with whatever she needs. I wanted to pick her brain on a few things anyway.¡± Mia¡¯s eyes narrowed with a devious glint. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure Noelia will have many embarrassing stories to tell about Sora. Sora was a thumb sucker, by the way.¡± ¡°Mom!¡± Sora cried from inside the closet. ¡°What are you even saying?!¡± ¡°Noelia has pictures!¡± ¡°Eh-hehe. I did scrapbook a lot¡­and was selfish and took most of them with me because of¡ªnever mind,¡± she quickly mumbled, averting her gaze again. ¡°I¡¯ll get them!¡± ¡°What¡ªno!¡± Sora protested, popping her head out with horror on her face. ¡°No, we need to prepare for the party! You don¡¯t want to see those old things, right, Aiden?! Right?!¡± Chuckling as Aiden was roped into the lose-lose conversation, Jarlath took Mia by the hand and went to the elevator. He looked down at his gorgeous wife, doing her best not to look anxious. His all-powerful wife had given it all up to live beside them, despite the risks involved. Sora was too young to understand that this must be temporary¡­and he could feel it in her grip. Mia was doing her best to hide all her sins from the daylight, praying for mercy to find a way forward that didn¡¯t involve heartache. The more he thought about the first words he¡¯d heard when waking, the more he came to the sobering conclusion. Pressing the button to go downstairs, his smile grew when the doors peeled back to reveal Chris; the man returned the smile, shaking his hand as they entered. His gaze snapped to Mia for a moment before returning to him. ¡°I see you¡¯re awake, Mr. Moore. Congratulations. And good evening, Ms. Moore.¡± ¡°Thanks, Chris. Demoted to doorman by the Foundation, huh?¡± ¡°If you can call it that, Sir,¡± he laughed. ¡°Ground floor?¡± Mia nodded, positioning herself so her tails wouldn¡¯t bother them. ¡°That would be wonderful, Chris.¡± ¡°Right¡­ No, the Foundation has increased my income by an ungodly amount, and the benefits are¡­beyond this world. Basically, Sora demanded only people she knows man the elevators since my guess is that she doesn¡¯t trust them, so we¡¯re all being put into the position. I work half the time I did and get paid my previous full year¡¯s salary¡­monthly. It¡¯s insane.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m happy you¡¯re taken care of¡­ Thanks for looking after us, Chris.¡± ¡°Of course, Mr. Moore. Have a good evening.¡± Getting out of the elevator when it hit ground level, he drew Mia toward the back to walk along the beach. ¡°¡­Noelia is protecting everyone from that pulse that keeps lighting up the sky?¡± he asked, spotting the aurora borealis illuminating the heavens again as they passed the many hardened soldiers guarding the lobby. A shiver ran down his spine at the sight of them; things really had changed. Yet, not one looked their way, maintaining almost inhuman stillness. It was eerie. Mia¡¯s tails wrapped around his side, pulling him closer as if worried he¡¯d shy away. ¡°Yes. It is hard on her, despite her age, mentally I¡¯d say she¡¯s around twenty-seven years old. And yes, she can hear us, and likely is watching¡­but not anymore,¡± she giggled, tightening her grip. ¡°In some areas, I¡¯d say she¡¯s more like an eighteen-year-old. She¡¯s lived¡­a lonely life.¡± He lightly bit the inside of his cheek, feeling a sudden surge of anxiety. Falling silent, they passed through the hallway and out the back; the guards opened the doors for them. Twilight shone across the heavens when the aurora faded, and the sea breeze pressed against his hospital gown, but it wasn¡¯t until their bare toes met sand that he spoke again. ¡°¡­You believe this is temporary¡­don¡¯t you.¡± Mia didn¡¯t respond for a bit, her downcast gaze on the white sand of the private beachfront as she pulled them further toward the ocean to study the waves. ¡°That isn¡¯t what you really wanted to ask me, is it?¡± Her somber red eyes lifted up to him as she rose on her tippy-toes to kiss his cheek. ¡°¡­You want to know why I told Noelia to basically become your second wife if I go. You can wait for me¡­ I know you can. You know I am a very, very jealous¡­terrible woman.¡± Her throat constricted as she stared off into the failing sun. ¡°I keep telling myself I won¡¯t go there¡­but I know I won¡¯t care in the end. We are not the pure and good people our daughters see us as¡­and I love and hate that at the same time.¡± She rested her head against his shoulder, a tremble running down her frame. ¡°You and I drink the poison from the same vine, Honey. I didn¡¯t even tell myself what you were since¡­you hold your secrets, and I hold mine. It isn¡¯t my place to tell Sora what you don¡¯t want to know yourself¡­ This lust is a burden that we both share¡­two sinners can¡¯t atone from a lone prayer.¡± He forced a laugh, not fully understanding, and not needing to as it resonated within his soul. ¡°You always could be poetic¡­ You know Noelia is not you¡­could never take your place.¡± A depressed sigh passed through Mia¡¯s lips as she shifted to place her weight against his chest, taking him to the sand to lay atop him. Her ruby locks veiled the rest of the world while staring into his eyes; he saw the pained burden in her eyes before their lips met in a long, sad kiss that stole the air from his lungs. His lips were left tingling as she pulled back, a tear falling down his cheek. ¡°Please don¡¯t leave me in the end, Mia¡­ Don¡¯t leave Sora and Wendy after giving them this hope¡­ ¡± She collapsed against his chest, her ear pressed against it, listening to his heartbeat, like she used to do. Her warm skin pressed against his, yet he resisted her hot touch and the dreams he¡¯d had of their moment together when reunited with the heart-tearing feelings ripping through his heart, asking for mercy. ¡°There¡¯s darkness in the distance, Jarlath¡­ Deep down¡­way down in the depths of my soul¡­I try. I¡¯m trying so hard to be a light to our girls, Jarlath, but all I see is darkness and guilt. Our souls tied¡­intertwined by our pride and guilt. How can I tell Sora that her desire to see the good in people will eventually tear us apart?¡± He wrapped an arm around her back and held her head as she began to quake and cry. ¡°Your sister¡­ Sora doesn¡¯t understand the burden you and Inari have shared for millions of years. Fen isn¡¯t the only potential threat that could bring her gaze, and if that happens¡­¡± ¡°I have to leave¡­to fight her¡­ I may have to kill my sister, Jarlath. I¡¯m scared¡­ I¡¯m so scared. Sora is in such a delicate stage, and she¡¯s doing so well¡­but the threats that are out there¡­ If I leave, I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll be coming back.¡± Jarlath tucked under his bottom lip, unable to hold back the quiet liquid from falling from his eyes. It fell to wet the white sands they laid on with the rhythm of the crashing waves in the background. All he could do was hold his torn wife, fighting emotions and uncertainty she hadn¡¯t faced in millions of years of being in complete control to suddenly feeling beyond vulnerable¡­but a failure on top of that. ¡°...Is Inari truly that terrifying, Mia? You can¡¯t see yourself beating your oldest sister?¡± ¡°Jarlath¡­Inari killed Noelia¡¯s grandfather¡­the 1st Generation Founder of the tanuki, and drove the tanuki into a state of near extinction. She holds Gong-Gong¡¯s orb.¡± ¡°No, Jarlath. Without a doubt, if I fight my sister¡­I will not return.¡± ¡°Hmm¡­ So, you¡¯re trying to strengthen Noelia to take your place¡­to hide us from Inari should she discover Sora. I¡¯m guessing that is all she¡¯s done for as long as she¡¯s lived¡­hide? She managed to evade your sight within your territory for so long due to her powerful magic?¡± ¡°When, Jarlath¡­not if. And when she learns about Sora¡­ She could pick Sora apart from the Essence, and use that to create her own daughter.¡± Clawed fingers squeezed his heart just picturing the gruesome reality that could come to pass and why Mia was so terrified of what Inari might do to realize her dream. ¡°I see¡­¡± She forced a laugh. ¡°It¡¯s not all bad. Sora needs time to heal. She needs time to grow with Wendy, and there are so many things I still need to accomplish. This won¡¯t happen soon¡­but I can¡¯t see a path where it doesn¡¯t happen. On a brighter note, there is a way that Wendy can truly become our child¡­reshaping her soul to become a Unique Entity, like us.¡± ¡°Us,¡± he whispered, now feeling the dagger burying into his own soul. ¡°I¡¯m the one who made you promise not to reveal what I am to Sora¡­to keep it from me. How much blood do I have on my hands, Mia? Why am I so afraid of learning who I am¡­of Sora learning who I am?¡± Sniffing back her tears, his wife shook her head against his chest. ¡°I truly don¡¯t know¡­ I wish I did. I feel as if you had a good reason¡­but I don¡¯t know if I trust myself anymore, Jarlath. How I thought it was okay to leave Fen near Sora is¡­unforgivable to me. I feel so¡­stupid¡­limited¡­helpless.¡± Her red, swimming eyes lifted up to meet his, begging for forgiveness. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you have such a useless, pathetic wife, Jarlath. I failed our family when I was supposed to keep watch¡ªI allowed so much heartache into our lives. How could I have been so blind?¡± ¡°Mia¡­you¡¯re not stupid, helpless, useless, or pathetic,¡± he whispered, pulling her up to kiss her and hold her close. ¡°And I can see you being ¡®limited¡¯ is precisely what our daughter needs right now. How could I leave you to shoulder this guilt alone? No¡­I¡¯m not guiltless, my perfect fox woman¡­ We¡¯ll make it through this.¡± ¡°How can you be sure? I¡¯m so terrified that I¡¯m opening up Noelia into our lives¡­when it kills me inside thinking about what I¡¯m doing, but¡­I have to leave Sora with someone I know I can trust. Noelia is such a wonderful soul that makes me rethink everything I thought about tanuki¡­and that scares me, too! Is that the plan? Is she just a pawn in her father¡¯s quest to kill my sister? I¡¯m¡­scared you¡¯ll leave me because of how horrible of a mother I am. How can I think¡ª¡± ¡°Mia¡­ It¡¯s going to be okay,¡± he repeated, drawing her in to stop her ramblings by meeting her lips. He showed a pained smile at how cute she looked, hiccuping and tearry-faced while staring at him for support. ¡°You and I drink the poison from the same vine, right? I could never leave these perfect lips untouched. Whatever happens, you know my heart will always be yours. I¡¯m yours, and you are mine¡­forever. We¡¯re a family¡­and that is how I know we will make it through.¡± He brushed back her messy bangs and met her forehead with his, linking fingers with hers, staring into her scared, searching eyes. ¡°Trust that I love you. I love our daughters¡­and I will even make room in my heart for Noelia if that is what you want. That is how much I love and trust you.¡± Chest convulsing against his, she pushed forward, fingers sliding through his hair and kissing him, only this was much rougher than before. Meeting force for force, he stabilized her lower back as her tails fanned around them, producing a heat that quickened his blood¡ªhis wife was back¡­his little fox was back. B2 — 26. Solitude’s End Standing in the closet doorway, Noelia¡¯s large, fluffy tail swished nervously as she struggled to maintain her magic. Her fingers tapped her arm while watching Sora tear through her father¡¯s wardrobe to find the best outfit for the special occasion. Wendy and Eyia were pulled into her cheery search. It was all so hard to keep up with, and each new person added to the protective weave made it harder for her to keep her focus. The anti-memetic pulse would be relentless for another twenty-one hours, and more and more individuals were being drawn into their fold. She bit her lip, feeling the weight of her internalized guilt and sins. Why did Mia have to be so terrifying¡­yet so welcoming? What do you want from me? she internally cried. How can you drop all of that on me out of nowhere and then disappear? Mmm. She winced as Mia glanced up with a mischievous smirk from over fifty floors down, calling her out on spying on their gathering. The hand squeezing her heart made her turn her gaze away from them, peering past space and time as best she was able to collect each new person Howie and Daisy brought into the catering service Mia had just ordered. It was fairly obvious who would be chosen, but she was burning through her magic. At least, she felt like she was, but Noelia had never actually tapped herself out throughout the thousands of years she¡¯d lived¡ªshe¡¯d never had to. Now, Mia was applying the pressure. From inside the closet, Sora¡¯s copper hair fell to the side as she leaned out behind the center rack, her green eyes peeking out at her. ¡°Noelia, are you okay?¡± she called, holding a nice suit for her father. ¡°What do you think about this one?¡± Noelia forced a smile, her ears twitching as Wendy appeared beside her; the brunette stood silent and tense, her muddy-brown eyes narrowed with uncertainty. Eyia was somewhere further in, mumbling about so many strips of fabric that were so similar¡ªties. ¡°Uh-hehe. Just adapting, dear. Your mother really is something¡­but I¡¯m thankful she¡¯s so welcoming. It¡¯s just hard to split my attention so much. It would be far easier just to place a full-on barrier over Miami!¡± Sora grinned, bounding over to hug her. ¡°Then why not do it?¡± ¡°Aww.¡± Stroking the fox girl¡¯s head, she enjoyed watching her ears fold back and tail still a little at the affectionate scratches. ¡°It isn¡¯t that simple, Little Kit. Your mom is very specific in her wording and demands¡­ If she told me to do it this way, then it was for a purpose.¡± Her green eyes lifted with a too-cute look that softened the weight pressing down on her shoulders. ¡°You¡¯re part of the family already; Mom even said it. Don¡¯t sweat the little things, and have fun again¡­ You deserve it. I like seeing you happy and hyperactive, dancing in the front room.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes creased with curiosity. ¡°Were you really dancing by yourself?¡± A lump formed in Noelia¡¯s throat at the inquiry; there was no way she was about to say she¡¯d created invisible illusions of her father to dance with. ¡°No one that was real,¡± she said with a stressed laugh. ¡°I do like this suit you picked out, and just give me a bit of time. I¡¯ll be back to my old self.¡± Sora pulled back with a mischievous tilt to her lips. ¡°Oh? Maybe you should teach my mom how to dance better because she probably sucks at it.¡± ¡°I highly doubt that,¡± Noelia chuckled, trying to reign in her nerves. ¡°But if she¡¯d like lessons, then I would hardly refuse. Do you girls mind preparing all the dinner stuff? I¡¯m just a bit¡­mmm, preoccupied,¡± she finished with a laugh. ¡°I can help when I iron out the new additions to the spell.¡± Sora promptly shook her head, puffed up her chest, and placed her selected outfit for her father on the bed; a fancy-looking blue suit with a brown-themed belt and shoes. ¡°We¡¯re not little girls anymore, Noelia! You just relax and settle in. Seriously, leave everything to us tonight! I want you smiling, not losing tail hair over the small stuff.¡± Opening her arms again with the warm fuzzies that attacked her heart, Noelia welcomed the wholesome fox teen into them. It felt¡­good. She felt good. She felt like she was healing from the pain that had lashed her after Jarlath had fired her; it wasn¡¯t like she didn¡¯t know it would happen¡ªshe did¡ªbut knowing it and experiencing how it felt were two different universes apart. Eyia, Wendy, and Sora bustled around, skipping out to prepare the suit for the coming guests and bringing the tables onto the upstairs party area. Noelia took Sora¡¯s invitation, and let her mind and heart settle. She explored the three-story suite, with its marble floors and opulent paintings. It felt both familiar and alien as she moved between all the memories she¡¯d shared with the only family she¡¯d ever known. Getting Sora¡¯s permission to enter her room, she went inside, past experiences plucking at her heartstrings while seeing everything she¡¯d been a part of still here. Picking up one of Sora¡¯s photos of them in Rome, she ran her fingers across its glassy surface, spinning her magic to weave the moment in time into it. The image came to life as if a video, showing the 7-year-old Sora being an absolute terror, chasing around Wendy with some old-fashioned mask she¡¯d picked up at a prop shop; it was a short horror phase she¡¯d been into that the brunette certainly was not accepting. It was cathartic to see herself running after Sora to protect her annoyed friend. Sora¡¯s words stung her eyes. I¡¯m a part of the family. It¡¯s everything I¡¯ve ever wanted¡­to have somewhere I belong. I can¡¯t guess what Mia¡¯s goals are, but her fears are clear¡­ Mia doesn¡¯t think this peace will last, and that is frightening. She¡¯s forcing me to refine my magic for that day¡­ What is she so afraid of in her own territory? Setting the photo back down, she left the enchantment for Sora to find; it would be cute to see how long it took her to notice. The beat of music tilted her sharp ears to the left, and she left Sora¡¯s room. Fingers finding her elbow, she glanced down the hall; her magic peeled back the walls, allowing her to observe the struggling fenris wolf, isolating herself in her room. Kari had a tablet in hand, and Noelia looked through the past, connecting it with what the raven-haired wolf was doing. She was on a social media account she¡¯d just made; it was completely bare since she¡¯d only made it to find Lori¡¯s profile and look through her public pictures at school. She learns about cyber stalking from strangers and decides to try it herself¡­ I suppose Mary told her she needs to accept her past to move forward. What am I supposed to do? Should I be doing this or is it overstepping boundaries when I feel like I need to know everything around Sora and Wendy to protect them¡­ Maybe I should ask Mia. Turning away from the wolf, she followed Aiden¡¯s laughter, echoing through the halls from upstairs as he helped Sora set up tables; his charm was evident, even from this distance. It was obvious Sora was developing a crush on the firebird. Aiden just saw them as friends right now, but Noelia could see that could change under the right circumstances. There were so many pitfalls ahead. Should she involve herself? Things were becoming too complicated. Rubbing her forehead with a low growl, she resisted using her magic to spy on Mia and Jarlath, knowing she¡¯d been caught by the fox mother once before. She was so curious, though. Yet, she didn¡¯t dare push her luck with Mia after everything she¡¯d just given her¡­and it really was everything¡­ Too much! Sora¡¯s footsteps echoed to her right as she skipped down to the main level with her small group, heading for the elevator to visit Ron. Noelia hid around the corner, smiling as she heard Sora and Aiden¡¯s banter. ¡°¡­What do you mean I¡¯m not strong enough to carry them on my own? I bet I could beat you in an arm-wrestling contest, feather boy!¡± ¡°A bet, huh? Well, okay. I¡¯m game. What do I get if I win, hmm? You do any one thing I say?¡± ¡°Woah, woah, woah! And where is that going?!¡± ¡°Sister!¡± Eyia eagerly interjected. ¡°A favor is a prized thing when bound to one¡¯s word. If you best the bird in single-arm combat, you may make him drink the milk challenge he refused!¡± ¡°Okay, hold up there, Blondie!¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Sora chirped. ¡°No take-backsies! If I win, you do the milk challenge!¡± ¡°You know what¡­ Okay! Yeah, and if I win¡­the super-enchanted pepper challenge!¡± ¡°No!¡± ¡°No take-backsies!¡± ¡°I am not going to eat enchanted peppers because I¡¯m going to win and watch you puke rainbows; I bet you do!¡± ¡°Where do people get this idea?!¡± ¡°Eyes. It¡¯s your pretty and colorful eyes,¡± Wendy added. ¡°Eh¡ªnot that¡­ Sora! Oh, shut-up! I didn¡¯t mean it like¡­¡± ¡°Hahaha! What was that, Wendy? That was perfect!¡± Letting the teens leave to see Ron and his new baby boy, Noelia felt much better now that she¡¯d had time to catch her breath. Soon, Sora would be going to school. A dangerous school that made Noelia nervous, especially with what likely festered below its surface, but she trusted Mia to know what was best for her daughter. Then again¡­did she expect her to call her out if she felt the fox mother went too far in her eyes? Once again, drama clawed at her chest. She walked down to the front room and collapsed against the couch, considering the new life she¡¯d now been thrust into. Tanuki were supposed to be rivals to vulpes in terms of manipulation and mischief, yet she felt like a total loser of a tanuki when in front of the flaming fox mother. Noelia¡¯s heart fluttered as 7 p.m. neared, and Mia returned with Jarlath. The serving staff from the ¡®Eight Tables¡¯ arrived a bit early with Daisy and Howie downstairs, but her focus was entirely on the nine-tailed fox as she came through the doors. Jumping to her feet, she hid her white hands behind her back and inside her lifted, bushy tail. ¡°Welcome home! I hope¡ªack.¡± She choked on her words, cheeks turning bright red as the scent of powerful pheromones swept in with the pair. They¡¯d totally done it on the beach, and, once again, she was conflicted about whether she should have peeked in or not. This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. Panic and guilt flooded her breast as Jarlath walked forward in his sandy hospital gown, an understanding and calm note on his voice that somehow stilled her thumping heart. His touch against her bare shoulder dashed all thought, even his wife¡¯s impish gaze and the knowledge of their recent intimacy. She looked up into his bright-green eyes, her sharp senses experiencing his cool breath against her hot cheeks and shoulders. ¡°Noelia, I¡¯m sorry for what I did to you. I hope to make it up to you. Why don¡¯t we go out to eat and talk sometime in the next few days?¡± His Irish accent and deep tone twitched her flaming ears. ¡°Dinner? Umm¡­yeah, if that¡¯s okay with my mistress¡ªeh, with Mia, I mean!¡± Damn you, tongue! Don¡¯t fumble your magic now, rat face! No! Don¡¯t get all puffy tail¡ªstop! Just¡­cool. Be cool. It¡¯s just dinner¡­just dinner. She wanted to crawl under a rock as he smiled and turned toward his wife. ¡°It was Mia¡¯s idea. Please, know that we both welcome you into our lives, Noelia. I understand it might take some time for things to settle into place¡­but you are a major part of Sora, Wendy¡­and my life. You were with us for more than a decade.¡± Mia swooped in to her rescue, pulling her husband toward the light elevator as the serving staff began to arrive. ¡°You need to go take a shower¡­as do I when I return, so make sure there is enough hot water for me,¡± she winked. ¡°Sora should have picked you out some clothes. In the meantime, I¡¯m going to go on my first date with my sister-wife.¡± ¡°Huh¡­¡± Mia¡¯s sly smirk snapped Noelia from her reverie, making her blush; the fox woman¡¯s teasing was relentless, and Noelia¡¯s lips parted in disbelief, feeling as if she¡¯d just entered a dream or nightmare. It took everything she had to maintain her spell in the whirlwind that ensued, the evil fox woman pulling her toward the elevator. In what had to be the blink of an eye, they were down the tower, through the corridor, and exiting the back of the hotel. They were met by the hot summer breeze tugging at their hair, and it wasn¡¯t until her bare feet met the crunch of the white sand that her brain caught up. ¡°Finally landing from your trip into space?¡± Mia snickered, bumping tails with hers and making her jump. ¡°You are so adorable! You¡¯re the complete opposite as me when it comes to romance. Just so you know¡­Jarlath has accepted you. He loves me enough to make room in his heart for the both of us¡­if that¡¯s what I want.¡± Noelia¡¯s breath hitched, tears threatening to spill. She couldn¡¯t help but feel horribly inadequate next to her¡ªthe wise and ancient fox legend who spanned millions of years of achievements. She was only a few thousand years old, a tanuki among vulpes. How could she ever measure up? Swallowing the thick saliva that had clung to her tongue, she cleared her scratchy throat and glanced at the radiant, powerful fox woman. She was helplessly caught in this woman¡¯s web, and Noelia could feel her power, despite being no stronger than a human. ¡°What do you want from me?¡± Noelia asked, her voice trembling. ¡°I don¡¯t want to step on your tails. I¡¯m¡­so confused¡­hopeful, but frustrated with myself on so many levels. I¡¯m so¡­lacking¡­ I¡¯m not enough.¡± Laughter bubbled out from Mia¡¯s lungs as she took her arm and pulled her into a hug. ¡°Aren¡¯t we all, sweetie¡­aren¡¯t we all? Come¡­¡± Thoroughly bewildered, yet oddly comforted by her words, she allowed herself to be guided to a bench further up the shore. Mia seemed to draw into her own mind to reflect on Noelia¡¯s admission. They sat in the silence, the ocean¡¯s rhythm soothing Noelia¡¯s frayed nerves. A thought struck her as she sensed Mia¡¯s slight dehydration¡ªlikely from her earlier activity¡ªand she summoned drinks from a local store; she¡¯d pay later. Mia showed a thankful smile and accepted it. They sat for a time, listening to the sounds of the beach as Mia studied the horizon. ¡°¡­Hmm. Your sincerity makes it easy to accept you,¡± Mia whispered. ¡°Yes, you¡¯re immature and still growing by Founder standards¡­but that is okay. In fact¡­I think I prefer it this way.¡± Noelia¡¯s ears drooped before rising at her conclusion. ¡°Really?¡± Mia¡¯s devilish smirk and teasing red eyes darted to her as she nudged her tail again; this time, she nearly managed to prevent it from bushing out at the contact. ¡°It means I can groom you into the perfect woman, and you¡¯re so beautiful it hurts, Noelia. I¡¯m old¡­and you¡¯re young¡­innocent¡­pure.¡± Hugging herself, Noelia shot a light glare across the bench at the grinning fox. ¡°You know that sounds really bad¡­ Groom me into the perfect woman? And¡­I¡¯m not any of those things. I¡¯m awkward, inexperienced, and¡­and I made illusions to dance with your husband! What kind of woman does that?¡± she snarled, looking away and downing the beer she¡¯d summoned. ¡°I¡¯m the creepy woman on the side.¡± Bumping shoulders with her, Noelia¡¯s belly cramped as Mia took her hand and brought it onto her lap to trace her veins. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say any of those things¡­well, the first two are valid and a total plus, honey, not a deduction from your value. I¡¯d say you are a lonely woman who has found something that brings her life¡­and you feel isolated and guilty from the one thing you want. Some people sin¡­and some people don¡¯t. You¡¯re one of those good girls, Noelia¡­and I¡¯m the bad girl.¡± Her kind ruby eyes lifted to meet her blue. ¡°There is value in that you cannot fathom in your tender age and experiences. I¡¯m the villain in this story¡­and there are a few girls who need what you can provide.¡± Scooting closer, Mia leaned her head against her shoulder; the fox¡¯s ears creased against her neck, tickling her as the woman breathed out a sad sigh. ¡°Wendy may have called me her mother, but it was a moment of weakness. I cannot reach her¡­ She needs to feel loved and like she has a place here. She doesn¡¯t know me¡­but she knows you, Noelia. All of her life skills, determination, and her strong work ethic¡­ She learned them from you.¡± Mia¡¯s smooth fingers rubbed the back of her hand with longing in her voice. ¡°You are someone I could never be. You¡¯re vulnerable. You¡¯re frightened. You would risk my wrath to live what was denied you for thousands of years¡­a family, and you tried to resist it, but couldn¡¯t, which was why you went to Sora the moment she called you¡­ Your little kits. ¡°Wendy will need your help more than ever in the coming days¡­ I am going to give her the option to truly become Sora¡¯s sister. Is it unused and untested? Yes. Am I selfish in opening her up to these risks for the sake of my daughter¡­for wanting another? Haha¡­ Without a doubt, I am a terrible woman. But Wendy can once again find her identity¡­in our family.¡± The fox pulled away to look at her, a tear sliding down both their cheeks. ¡°You will have to help Sora, and thereby doing so¡­will share in that experience. In very Essence, you will share in making Wendy your own daughter. There will be vulpes blood in her¡­a hybrid, of sorts, like Sora and Kari¡­but she will be mostly yours and Jarlath¡¯s.¡± Feeling chills at what the fox had just offered, Noelia couldn¡¯t help but ask the obvious question. ¡°Mia¡­ I¡¯ve seen you tell Sora that your sister is a threat due to this very issue. Shouldn¡¯t this be something you give your sister¡­and not offering this¡­won¡¯t this make her hate you even more? I¡¯m starting to connect the dots, but¡­I don¡¯t understand.¡± Mia sucked in her bottom lip and shifted her gaze to the ocean. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s¡­complicated with Inari. The only reason this will work is due to the spiritual variance between us; you are like a new branch that the lingering force within Sora can latch onto. It is limited in use, and something new needs to be added to the formula, you could say¡­ Such as a tanuki¡¯s soul,¡± she said with a reassuring smile. ¡°I can¡¯t give you a perfect explanation because I don¡¯t have it, Noelia. You¡¯d have to take that up with the doctor that made this possible, and I didn¡¯t give myself his information either.¡± Noelia¡¯s ears pulled back, a low growl in her throat just thinking about what this meant for the future, the possibilities and consequences. ¡°That¡¯s convenient. So, with my limited knowledge on Soul Essence, I¡¯m acting as a magnet and filter that replaces the damaged sections in the already used vulpes imprint that¡­this mysterious force then wraps around Wendy¡­and makes her my daughter? I¡¯m just¡­¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bury urges that you really want,¡± Mia interjected, showing a firm smile rather than reproach. ¡°Yes, I will be slightly related but more in an aunt or¡­grandmother sort of way. This is why I fear for our daughter, Noelia. I know my sister¡­few know her like I do. Maybe I¡¯m just being paranoid, but I¡¯ve grown up with my sister. She will want to understand Sora¡­the process in how Jarlath and I created her, and therein lies the true danger. ¡°Do not think that this is a light statement, and do not feel guilty but honored to share what I hold most dear. You are worthy. So as weird as this sounds¡­would you be the surrogate to create our newest member of the family?¡± ¡°What do I need to do?¡± she asked, the weight of the responsibility pressing on her. ¡°Good¡­¡± Mia pulled her closer to kiss her forehead and loop tails with her, touching foreheads, she stared into her eyes with a binding conviction. ¡°I accept you as my sister, Noelia, and I will share everything I am with you¡­including my husband and daughter. Will you share everything you are with me?¡± Fire igniting in her nose, Noelia couldn¡¯t help her chest from quaking with the emotion welling up within her. ¡°Everything I am has already been given to your daughters¡­so I¡¯d gladly extend that to you and Jarlath. I accept my place behind you¡­hah, there always has to be a leader, after all. So I will follow¡­but if I do see something that doesn¡¯t sit right with me, I will speak my heart.¡± Mia¡¯s eyes glistened, and she sucked in a shuddering breath, her caring fingers wiping away her tears. ¡°I¡¯d expect nothing less from a mother. You¡¯re mine, and I am yours. Welcome to the union between Jarlath and me, Noelia¡­ Welcome to your new family. It is a pleasure to have you.¡± Spending time with her fellow mom on the bench, Noelia watched the waves wax and wane as she listened to Mia. What she planned for Wendy would be challenging, and not even she knew all of the risks, yet Noelia knew Wendy wouldn¡¯t shy away from the potential challenges. Noelia listened, her heart swelling with purpose. Mia¡¯s words were a balm to her insecurities, drawing her into a world¡­a family that actually cared for her. All the issues she¡¯d had after her dad had abandoned her¡­threw her to the foxes to be devoured, washed away. In her heart, she felt a cleansing water break that left her eyes. She didn¡¯t need to know why she¡¯d been defective to her father because she had a new family to love her; she was trash to her father, and to his enemies, royalty. Returning to the party with Mia, Noelia felt a renewed sense of belonging amidst the attention she received throughout the evening. Later, after changing into her silky nightgown, she reverted to her old habits, checking on the girls as they lay in bed. Not feeling secure enough to accept Mia¡¯s invitation to join her and Jarlath, and still sensing the man¡¯s discomfort, she was more than willing to take a small bed in the corner until he accepted her. It was enough to know that there was room in his heart for her. In fact, she loved him for it. His loyalty and dedication were some of the many traits she found attractive about him. Making her rounds from room to room, she ended up at Wendy¡¯s last, being the final one before reaching Jarlath¡¯s room. When she knocked on Wendy¡¯s door, the girl invited her in. Gingerly peeking inside, she saw Wendy sitting up, unable to look at her and hugging herself. Looking into her past throughout the day, Noelia¡¯s heart went out to her soon-to-be daughter. Familiar emotions of self-doubt and mistrust marred her soul. ¡°Wendy¡­what¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked, sitting on the mattress and studying the brunette with worry as she hugged her pillow to her chest. ¡°You can ask me anything.¡± Sucking in her cheeks, Wendy blinked back tears and glanced toward a poster of one of her favorite Sailor Scout anime as a child. ¡°Are you¡­really the Noelia who taught me to cook¡­and clean, and took us on adventures as kids?¡± Noelia smiled, her tail curling around to hug it to her chest to mirror the uncertain girl. ¡°I am. I¡¯m sorry I couldn¡¯t be truthful about who I was¡­ I think of you as my own little kit¡­really, I do, and I¡¯m here for whatever you need. You can ask¡­or you can give me permission to look into your soul to see it for myself without saying anything.¡± Wendy hesitated, her cheeks turning pink. ¡°Umm¡­yeah, could you do that?¡± Noelia¡¯s heart melted as she peered into the girl¡¯s quivering, terrified soul. Memories of her childhood returned, and one particular event made Noelia¡¯s nose burn. She could hear the girl¡¯s pleading spirit reaching out to her for comfort. ¡°When I was scared, you used to sleep with me. Can you¡­do that again?¡± She crawled over to slide under the sheets, keeping her back to the brunette and allowing her tail to act as a puffy barrier between them. She tucked under her bottom lip as Wendy pulled the sheets up, staring at the super-fluffy wall. ¡°You can touch, snuggle, or cuddle my tail as much as you like. Hehe. I don¡¯t expect to be your mom, but¡­I¡¯ll be whatever you need. You¡¯re always on my mind, Wendy.¡± Wendy¡¯s smile was pure relief, and her sniffles were hands clutching her heart as the muddy-brown-eyed teen snuggled closer. ¡°I¡¯m happy you¡¯re back, Noelia¡­ You really were like my mom¡­a caring mom.¡± Wendy¡¯s chaotic spirit calmed, and Noelia held back tears as the sixteen-year-old girl pulled her tail against her like a body pillow, resting against her fur. She truly wasn¡¯t alone anymore. She had a family. She was a mother. B2 — 27. Family Tails Drifting through an endless white void, Sora¡¯s dull mind and eyes scanned the black thorns that curled and twisted around her. She groaned with a slight sigh, not feeling threatened or scared, despite the enshrouding barbed cage. ¡°Aunt Rose?¡± The last thing she remembered was the obsidian sun hanging ominously below a blood-red sea, beyond the expanse of sparkling glass. That eerie vision was still imprinted on her mind as she blinked awake, finding herself in her suite room in Miami Beach. Her groggy grunt followed as her heavy eyes drifted to the golden light of the late afternoon sun bleeding through her open windows; they were set on automatic timers, so the blinds had been open for a while. Why hadn¡¯t she woken up sooner? The cool rush of the air-conditioning countered the sweltering heat and thick humidity of the outside Miami weather that made the air feel dense. The distant sounds of waves crashing against the shore mixed with the hum of the city as Sora¡¯s ears twitched, sensitive to the noise. Adjusted to her surroundings, she stretched out, her puffy tail swishing gently against the smooth bamboo sheets of her bed, cool and silky in the shaded area. It was a contrast to the warmth of her floral-patterned silk pajamas. Letting the light burn pass, she rolled over and reached for her phone on the wireless charger. The screen lit up, displaying the time: 3 p.m. She blinked in surprise, flipping to her fitness app and checking the sleep data. 3 p.m. on¡­Wednesday, not Tuesday; I slept through all of yesterday? Well, that¡¯s suspicious. Dropping her phone by her head, she yawned yet felt totally rested. Her ears shifted left and right with her head, and she listened carefully to the other rooms. Everyone else seemed to be getting up at the same time, and she could guess what had happened. A small smile tugged at her lips as she heard her mom and dad wake up; the tanuki had her own single bed in their room but had slept with Wendy. She could practically see her mother throwing her pillow across the room at the woman¡¯s empty bed. ¡°You put a sleep spell over everyone, didn¡¯t you? Bad tanuki! I know you can hear me.¡± ¡°Mmmgm. I still have a headache, Mia¡­¡± Noelia mumbled from Wendy¡¯s room, making the brunette giggle. ¡°Sorry, Wendy, uh¡­it was hard keeping the magic up with everyone moving. Give me another hour to try and meditate a little¡­please.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine¡­and thanks for staying with me. Umm. Yeah, I¡¯ll go down and start breakfast! One second. There should be some leftovers from last night that I can add, too.¡± Her father chortled while stretching out and scooting out of his bed to enter his closet to get ready for the morning. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that conversation to you, Mia.¡± ¡°Aww. Not going to stay with me for a bit?¡± her mom pouted, lying across the bed, and Sora could totally see her nine tails shading her from the sun while watching her dad. ¡°What do you have planned that has you jumping up out of bed so fast? Shouldn¡¯t you rest a bit longer?¡± You go, Mom! Sora internally cheered. Eyia was getting up to do morning exercises of some kind. On the other hand, Kari rolled off the bed in a tangled mess, sneezed, and growled about some magic tickling her nose¡ªprobably Noelia¡¯s sleeping spell. Wendy and her dad were the first ones on their feet, getting ready for a fun day. ¡°What am I going to do?¡± her dad repeated, exiting with a suit, no doubt. He kissed her mom before going to the mirror, the vulpes rising to try and help. ¡°I¡¯ll probably be busy today discussing our current situation with the Foundation representatives. I¡¯d like to get all the changes they¡¯ve made in our lives down on paper so I can better process it.¡± ¡°Darling, they say all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, but trust me, all play and no fun makes me a very bored girl.¡± Sora¡¯s cheeks burned, and she turned her ears away as her mother¡¯s voice lowered; Sora was absolutely sure she pulled him in by the tie. ¡°How about we fix that a little?¡± ¡°Mia¡­¡± Maybe I should put a permanent silence spell around their room! She breathed a sigh of relief when Noelia absently added the sound barrier; only, it was far more complex than anything she¡¯d done because it only appeared to block certain activities. A few seconds later, her mother¡¯s pouty voice and her dad¡¯s low chuckles filtered back into hearing. ¡°I want to spend all day with you, Mia, but take the day off with the girls. If Noelia is feeling unwell, then let her sleep in.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t spoil her, Jarlath! Noelia has plenty of tasks to accomplish, and the day is already half over, which means you¡¯ll probably go to bed the moment you get back to keep on your sharp schedule. She needs to be disciplined a little for her mischief.¡± Throwing off her blanket, Sora snickered at how terrifying of a fox her mom truly was. She heard Noelia whimper and fold her pillow around her head in the room over. Sora slipped out of bed and padded over to her walk-in closet, humming to herself while continuing to listen to her mom fuss over her dad. She felt guilty and intrigued at the same time while sorting through her closet, hearing her mom confiscate the clothes he¡¯d swiftly plucked out and return them to the closet. Her voice became more seductive as he curiously followed her into the closet. Sora¡¯s ears perked up, her fluffy tail swishing silently behind her as she eavesdropped¡ªshe had to take notes. ¡°What¡­ Mia, what¡¯s wrong with that suit?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing at all,¡± she sighed, returning the items to the racks. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­could you educate your useless wife on how to do this properly?¡± Her dad¡¯s rich, warm, and very Irish laugh filled the room, making Sora¡¯s heart melt; it had been so long since she¡¯d heard that tone. ¡°Useless? Hardly, love. What would you like to know?¡± Her mom¡¯s tone was light and playful, and Sora could just imagine her mom spinning in a circle, snatching one of the suits off the rack to cutely display it. ¡°What¡¯s your favorite suit color? You chose gray a second ago, but what about blue or white?¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Her dad mused theatrically. ¡°Let me think. I¡¯ve always been partial to navy blue when we used to go out. Classic and sophisticated, don¡¯t you think¡ªmaybe with pleated patterns?¡± Her mom¡¯s laugh followed, bright and cheerful. ¡°Navy blue and pleated it is. Now, what tie color would best go with that, my firecracker?¡± ¡°I get the feeling that comment is supposed to lead somewhere,¡± her dad said with suspicion. ¡°I¡¯d say anything but stripes with stripes, unless we want to look like a walking optical illusion.¡± ¡°Definitely no stripes with stripes,¡± her mother snickered, the sound of metal sliding against metal. ¡°So, what color would stand out with¡­brown leather shoes and compliment a pocket square?¡± Sora gulped as she heard her dad lean in close to her mom, practically able to hear her mom¡¯s thumping heartbeat while reaching past her. ¡°How about a ruby color? Seems appropriate since it will go with my hair and your gorgeous fur. Plus, it stands out just enough without being too loud, given the contrast I¡¯ll have on my arm.¡± Dad! She stifled a giggle as she heard her mother¡¯s blush in her voice while swatting her father playfully. ¡°You¡¯re incorrigible. When did you get so good at embarrassing me?¡± ¡°Ah, it¡¯s easy once I figured you out¡­and you¡¯re way too cute when you¡¯re embarrassed,¡± her dad teased. Sora couldn¡¯t help activating her magic, making an x-ray window in space to peer into the closet, and couldn¡¯t breathe upon seeing the movie-like display: her dad gently touching the tip of her mom¡¯s nose, locking gazes with her red-faced mom. ¡°Your eyes do the most marvelous things when they¡¯re flustered.¡± Only able to handle the liquid candy dripping on her heart for a moment, Sora swiped it away as her mother¡¯s soft and thick voice responded. ¡°Every second alone with myself, I need an hour with you to recover. So¡­spare some time for me tonight, would you?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dream of denying you, love. Tonight, I¡¯ll take you out, and you¡¯ll have all of me.¡± Sora covered her face upon hearing them share a long kiss, her tail stiff as a board; she couldn¡¯t turn her ears away, though! It was better than any J-drama. ¡°Good. Bright lights with a side of passion it is, because I plan to hold you to that.¡± Sora¡¯s heart swelled with warmth while hearing her parents¡¯ playful banter. Her parents¡¯ love was so genuine and infectious, and she cherished these moments of seeing their affection firsthand. ¡°Promises, promises,¡± her dad whispered, his breath tickling Mia¡¯s ear. ¡°Now, let¡¯s get me dressed, so I can be¡­¡± So you can what?! So you can do what to Mom, Dad?! Sora internally screamed, hearing Noelia shift restlessly in Wendy¡¯s bed as her father¡¯s words were filtered out. Why would you leave me at that spot, Noelia?! Ahhhh! Scratching the side of her head with frustration, Sora screamed inside, and now her mom was moving the subject to him picking out her outfit with more tantalizing banter. Having had her morning sugar already¡ªher brain already cooked¡ªSora stood in her expansive walk-in closet, her eyes scanning the rows of clothes. Today, she should have her mom to herself, probably. Noelia was likely to spend more time with Wendy, as well, which was great. As for Eyia and Kari¡­who knew? In any case, Sora wanted something cute and stylish for a perfect day of family fun. After a moment of consideration, she settled on a light turquoise sundress with delicate white lace trim. It was simple yet elegant, flowing gracefully to just above her knees, and it complimented her vibrant personality and highlighted her emerald eyes beautifully. She paired the dress with white designer sandals adorned with tiny rhinestones that caught the light with every step. To complete the look, she chose a delicate gold bracelet with a small charm in the shape of a fox¡ªbought with Kari¡ªand a matching necklace with a tiny emerald pendant. Sora ran her fingers through her long, copper hair, smoothing it down before deciding to leave it loose, letting it cascade in soft waves over her shoulders. Using magic to freshen up to get a head start on everyone, she gave her fox ears a quick, playful twitch and admired her reflection in the mirror. The soft fabric of her dress felt cool and smooth against her skin, and the sandals were comfortable yet stylish. Satisfied with her outfit, Sora twirled around once, her puffy tail swaying happily behind her. She was ready to face the day, her heart light and full of anticipation for the time she would spend with her mom. Taking a final glance in the mirror, she flashed her teeth and stepped out of her room, eager to join her parents downstairs and make the most of the beautiful day ahead. Taking the hallway to the light elevator, her footsteps were light and barely audible on the hallway carpets atop the marble. She smirked when hearing her older sister in the guest bathroom. The door cracked, she peeked inside and spotted Wendy grumbling in front of the mirror, doing a quick check of her appearance; her brown hair was slightly tousled, and she was still in her silk nightgown, but pajamas were folded on the countertop. Creeping downstairs, she started getting a few items out of the fridge and pulling down pans from the kitchen rack by the time Wendy joined her. ¡°Morning, Beautiful!¡± Sora cheerfully called out, spotting her big sister crossing her arms. ¡°Really¡­¡± ¡°Hehe. Looks like I beat you to the punch this morning. What, silk nightgown to PJs; where¡¯s the pride?!¡± ¡°Magic¡­ And while here I am, trying to fix my hair and change into something appropriate while battling pimples, you shower, do treatment, and dress up for the fashion strip in two seconds flat. Life isn¡¯t fair. Some of us have to work for our beauty.¡± ¡°Oh, please!¡± Sora scoffed, eyes twinkling as she created an illusion of a wand and waved it at her big sister. Her skin cleared up, hair glowed, and hygiene was zapped into order. ¡°Magic does give me some unfair advantages, but it¡¯s not like it¡¯s solely reserved for me!¡± Wendy¡¯s arms unfolded as she approached with a rueful shake of her head. ¡°You¡¯ve been on cloud nine lately. It¡¯s kind of infectious, so come here and infect me!¡± ¡°Spreading the positive vibes!¡± Sora sang. ¡°Now, how about helping me with breakfast since I¡¯m practically cooking for fifty with Eyia and Kari in the house¡ªoh, and I bet my mom is eating for ten with those tails! Am I right, or am I right?¡± ¡°Ouch!¡± Wendy snickered, moving to bump shoulders with a playful pout. ¡°Lucky you only have two to feed, then.¡± ¡°Wendy!¡± she accused with a return laugh. ¡°You totally know how that sounds.¡± ¡°Am I wrong?¡± Wendy mused, her pout transforming into a smile that Sora reflected. ¡°Thanks, Sis. I guess magic has its advantages. But next time, let me know so I can at least pretend to have worked hard on my look.¡± ¡°Deal. Now, I better get started on breakfast before everyone rolls out of bed, the lazy butts. You think we should make something for Stephanie and Ron?¡± she asked, a little distracted. Her parents moved from their closest to the adjacent master bathroom; thankfully, the area was also sound proof. Noelia was still rolling around in her bed, sounding restless. Eyia was practically soundless in her room, and Kari was throwing clothes out of her closet onto her bed, making a mess. Wendy¡¯s smile brightened. ¡°Yeah! We can bring it up to her and see how she¡¯s doing. So, what are we making? Something lavish and big to satisfy everyone?¡± Sora promptly pulled out ingredients, pointing at each one for Wendy to guess what was on the menu: ¡°Uh¡­ Fluffy blueberry pancakes with Daisy and Howie¡¯s homemade syrup. A variety of freshly baked pastries, naturally. Hmm. Crispy bacon¡ªalways a must¡ªscrambled eggs with chives¡­ Oh! Smoked salmon with, uh, cream cheese and bagles? Wow. We¡¯re pulling out everything,¡± she snickered as Sora kept loading up the spacious counters. ¡°We¡¯re not done! Keep going,¡± Sora urged, lifting up some kiwis. Wendy¡¯s left eye narrowed, clearly enjoying their time together as sisters now; they were closing old wounds. ¡°Let¡¯s see¡­ A fruit salad with strawberries, the leftover blueberries, and kiwis¡­freshly squeezed orange juice. I forgot you had that juicer. Uh¡­and a pot of rich, aromatic coffee from someplace I can¡¯t pronounce!¡± ¡°Ding! Ding! Ding!¡± Sora cheered. ¡°Let¡¯s get to work.¡± As she mixed the pancake batter, she thought back to the spirited exchange with Wendy and smiled. Moments like these made all the chaos worth it. The smell of sizzling bacon filled the kitchen, and Sora hummed a cheerful tune as she cooked, her magic helping them juggle multiple tasks effortlessly while joking around. Today was going to be a fun day, starting with a perfect breakfast for her family. Mostly finished making the breakfast by the time her parents exited their bathroom adventure, she spelled the dishes to halt their activity. She waved Wendy to jog with her into the front room, her magic calling her phone off the counter. Sora¡¯s eyes widened, and she let out a delighted squeal at the sight of her parents at the top of the railing. Her dad had chosen a stunning ensemble for his wife¡ªit took her breath away. She showed off an elegant, rich navy blue evening gown that perfectly matched her husband¡¯s suit. With intricate silver embroidery along the neckline and hem, the fabric glowed gracefully to the floor, swishing elegantly with her every step. The bodice of the dress was fitted, accentuating her mom¡¯s figure and regal posture with her fanned-out tails. The neckline was a tasteful V-shape, adorned with delicate lace and tiny, shimmering crystals that caught the light beautifully. The sleeves were made of sheer, silver lace that added a touch of ethereal grace, ending just above her elbows. Sora clasped her hands together while following the silver ribbon cincher around her mom¡¯s waist, tied in a neat bow at the back. Her flaming hair was styled into soft waves that cascaded over her shoulders, framing her face beautifully and contrasting stunningly with the deep navy of her dress. Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! ¡°Oh my gosh! You both look amazing! Dad, you did an incredible job picking out Mom¡¯s outfit, and I totally see that you combed out and treated her tails. You ordered that from the Foundation website before you went to sleep didn¡¯t you¡ªI know you did! You two are the most perfect couple ever!¡± Her nose burned with budding emotion as Wendy jumped in, and Sora snapped picture after picture, using her magic to get better angles. ¡°I love the sapphire earrings, too, and the matching necklace is so beautiful on you. Are those bracelets silver, too?¡± Her dad chuckled, straightening his suit to match his wife¡¯s elegant gown. ¡°Thank you, girls. Although, personally, I think your mom looks far more stunning with an accessory like me around her arm.¡± ¡°Oh, will you stop flattering me already?¡± her mother asked, yet her red eyes twinkled with affection while soaking up the attention. Rising up on her tip-toes, she kissed his cheek. ¡°Thank you, you¡¯re all such sweethearts. Your dad and I make a good team when it comes to picking out outfits, I¡¯d say.¡± Sora beamed at them, her heart swelling with pride and love. ¡°You guys look like you stepped right out of a fairy tale. Seriously, it¡¯s almost unfair how perfect you both are.¡± Wendy giggled. ¡°Well, to be fair, the long, fluffy tails help sell the fantasy.¡± Red eyes going wide, her mom swiftly moved out of sight. ¡°Oh dear, we forgot our third accessory.¡± ¡°Our what?¡± her dad asked, Sora and Wendy¡¯s heads tilting to the side in confusion; it didn¡¯t last long, though. ¡°Rise and shine!¡± ¡°Huh?! Ahh! Don¡¯t drag me by my tail, Mia! I¡¯m up! I¡¯m up! Mia! I¡¯m in my nightgown! Uh¡­ Morning, Jarlath! Sorry¡­sorry.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach hurt with laughter as her mom came back into view, guiding a pink-faced Noelia out to stand on the opposite side of her husband. ¡°Nothing to be sorry about, sweetie, and you look stunning as typical of Founders¡­unlike me now, who wakes up a total mess. Isn¡¯t she adorable¡­just like you girls! I love that sundress, Sora, and don¡¯t you look divine and comfortable, Wendy?¡± Sora was in a frenzy of photo taking, now wondering if they should start doing a bit of scrapbooking or some magical equivalent to immortalize the memories. She¡¯d never seen this cute, flustered Noelia as her mother presented her, and Sora thought she was pushy; her mom was a demon! At least she knew where she got it from now. Her mom eventually allowed Noelia to escape her claws to run into the bathroom to freshen up¡­well, more like cool off. Presenting their breakfast spread with a wide grin while soaking up the praise, she listened to her dad¡¯s plans as he scolded his wife a bit for being too hard on Noelia. Despite his light glare, his wife¡¯s tails wouldn¡¯t stop wagging while smiling at him¡ªher mom was trouble, for sure! Sora was sure Noelia would get her revenge somehow, and she¡¯d be on her team¡­or she¡¯d swap teams from time to time to make it fun. Kari and Eyia joined them not long after, the blonde a blaze of compliments for all of them and fully dressed in a black sundress. On the other hand, the wolf was messy-haired, unkempt, and wearing sportswear. After scarfing down a few plates in less than two minutes, she left to prowl the city. It looked rushed and a bit brisk, yet Sora had the feeling she was becoming more comfortable living with them by the day; it was only a matter of time before she opened up. Shockingly, Eyia headed out soon after, claiming that she had some personal training to do that had to be done in private. There were questions she had that required her father¡¯s guidance. Just before leaving, she asked the impish nine-tailed fox if she¡¯d speak to her after. Her mother agreed without a second thought, asking her to say hello to Odin¡¯s Memory, being cryptic about their history which had all of them glaring at the smug vulpes. Without asking, her father loaded up a plate to take to Ron and his wife once he finished, asking the tanuki about their condition. Despite Noelia telling them that Stephanie wasn¡¯t awake yet and was still recovering, he planned on being up a plate for her anyway; there was no telling when she might awaken. To all of their surprise, Noelia rose to go with him. Her father handed the smiling raccoon woman the plate, hair now in a high-bun while dressed in a black tank top and thigh-length shorts. ¡°Are you sure? I thought you would spend some time with Wendy today.¡± Noelia¡¯s blue eyes darted to the brunette, who looked away, sucking at the corner of her bottom lip. ¡°I¡¯d love to, but I think Ron would appreciate a break. I¡¯ve been watching his son when he grows too tired while everyone has been asleep.¡± Her mom pushed her mouth to the side, her face softening. ¡°Aww. Now I feel bad for dragging you out of bed. How about we join you? It would be good to learn how to take care of a child since¡­I missed my daughter¡¯s childhood,¡± she said with a sad glance her way. ¡°What do you say, girls?¡± Sora quickly raised her hand. ¡°I¡¯d like that! Umm. What about feeding him? How¡­does that work with Stephanie asleep?¡± she tentatively asked. Noelia chuckled as her father exited the conversation, saying he was going on ahead. ¡°Have a nice day, Mr. Moore¡ªeh, Jarlath,¡± she mumbled, cheeks darkening and looking down at the floor. ¡°Thank you for having me in your life again¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, Noelia,¡± he said with a laugh. ¡°I know this will take some getting used to, so don¡¯t force yourself¡­ And let me know if Mia bullies you too much.¡± ¡°Too much being the keywords,¡± her mom chimed, her tails teasingly nudging the blushing tanuki. ¡°I look forward to our date tonight, darling.¡± Sora tried to defend the flaming-faced raccoon woman from the poking tails as Noelia cleared her thick throat to answer her question. ¡°As for feeding him, just because Stephanie isn¡¯t awake doesn¡¯t mean she can¡¯t provide for him when he gets fussy.¡± ¡°Feed who?¡± the smirking nine-tailed vulpes asked, enjoying Noelia¡¯s fidgets. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Joking! Joking! Oh, I¡¯m loving this phase of our relationship, Noelia, but enough fun for one day. Let¡¯s relieve Ron to a well-deserved rest. Jarlath will handle all of the Foundation business; he needs some space to process things in any case. You¡¯re just too cute!¡± Sora felt a little dubious at her mom¡¯s charming smile while pulling Noelia into a hug. She was swiftly learning that her mother really was a vulpes, and was showing her an example of what she needed to be careful of. Her fox blood could be trouble if not kept in check, and her mom had millions of years to learn discipline. Fen¡¯s attitude and mannerisms told her another story behind their kind. ¡°Alright, Mom. I think you¡¯ve corrupted Noelia enough for today. No more causing trouble!¡± ¡°Oh, sweeties, I¡¯m only paying back Noelia for the trouble she¡¯s going to cause me!¡± ¡°Me¡ªcause you trouble?!¡± Noelia choked, crossing her arms as Sora used her magic to take Stephanie¡¯s plate up. ¡°I can¡¯t see anything¡­ Eh?!¡± Her eyes flew open before narrowing and shooting an accusatory glare at the smirking fox. ¡°You¡¯re trying to get me to look for what trouble I could cause you in the future.¡± Her mom stuck her tongue out and winked while leading the way toward the elevator, arm gripped behind her back. ¡°You¡¯re too innocent and scared, Noelia. You won¡¯t even look if I don¡¯t tease you a little. I need to awaken a little foxfire in you if you¡¯re going to be a part of this family. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll hold your hand until you¡¯re strong enough to fight for our girls.¡± Flashing her pearly teeth, her mom looked right at her. ¡°Are you mad at me, My Little Ember?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help a narrowed-eyed stare while seeing the confusion swimming in Wendy and Noelia¡¯s eyes at her mom¡¯s cunning words. ¡°You¡¯re not wrong¡­but you¡¯re totally eating up and manipulating all of this to give you the most fun.¡± Flipping around, her nine tails swayed on her way toward the elevator. ¡°Learn quickly, girls. Take some lessons from your dad; he knows how to handle this fiery fur,¡± she giggled, glancing back at them. ¡°Coming? We¡¯ve got a baby to baby. Hehe. Practice, Sora.¡± ¡°H-Huh?! Okay, I¡¯m going to twist those tails! Come here!¡± She ran after her snickering mom, who tried to hide in the corner and defend her bunched up tails while waiting for the elevator. Noelia had a more understanding smile on her slightly stressed face when joining them with Wendy. ¡°Life is a game, My Little Ember! I¡¯ll teach you how to enjoy it to the fullest and protect those you love with every move.¡± Sora followed her eyes while launching forward to hug her mom and get at her tails, her powerful mom now crying for mercy. She loved her playful and cunning side, even if it did cause a bit of chaos. As they filed into the elevator, Sora greeted one of the old hotel staff that had swapped positions. He tried not to butt into their day, being polite as Noelia fiddled with her tank top, clearly uneasy. Sora scooted over to press shoulders with the woman. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay, Noelia,¡± she assured. ¡°We¡¯re a family now, and that means we look out for each other¡­even from pushy fox moms.¡± ¡°Oh, no need for that look,¡± her mother chortled. ¡°I¡¯m being good.¡± Noelia gave a small, appreciative nod, her anxiety quelling a tad. ¡°Thanks, Sora¡­and I understand I have a lot of stepping up to do, Mia. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± Wendy took the tanuki¡¯s opposite side and linked fingers with her. ¡°For the record, I think you¡¯re doing a great job.¡± Enjoying the positive vibes in their short elevator ride, with her mom¡¯s teasing comments somehow easing the tension, they reached the realm Mia had formed for her, feeling a calm energy pass over them when the doors opened. The elevator attendant informed them that her dad had just left before they arrived, meaning his visit with Ron was brief. Stepping onto the amethyst tile walkway, Sora felt safe within the sanctuary of her own little pocket realm. The cosmic wonders and mystical landscape, with its magic-infused air, filled her with butterflies. A small silence fell over them on their short journey, taking the pathway that led past the sitting area, its hearth-like bonfire still lit. Ember zipped over, seemingly keeping it stocked. She got an update and was happy to hear everything was going smoothly; funnily, she didn¡¯t even know Mia was present until it was pointed out, causing the tiny Fire Fairy to faint on the spot. Sora left her to rest in the fire with a giggle, figuring she¡¯d come find them to do a proper introduction later. First, being caught sleeping on the job, then Nilly¡¯s scare, and now her mom, Ember couldn¡¯t catch a break. Proceeding to the cozy and surprisingly large 4-room cottage Noelia had conjured for them nearby, Sora felt a familiar supernatural chill from one of the rooms before even getting to the porch¡ªStephanie¡¯s magic. Even two of the windows were formed out of the black ice. Knocking softly, they waited until Ron¡¯s weary yet grateful face appeared. He looked exhausted, with dark circles under his eyes and a tired smile, but he managed to brighten up at the sight of them, especially at the sight of Noelia. ¡°Hey, girls. Thanks for coming. You¡¯ve been a huge support, Noelia; your advice helped me get him to settle down.¡± Noelia¡¯s nerves seemed to settle at the topic, and they quietly stepped inside as Ron moved to direct them in. ¡°Sometimes just letting them lay on your chest to feel your warmth and hear your heartbeat will put them right under. Sora was fussy as a newborn. You should have seen Jarlath when I showed up to the interview with the other caretakers.¡± Her mom¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°None of them had your mystical talents and didn¡¯t stand a chance.¡± Sora directed the floating dish for Stephanie to Ron, quickly locking onto the small crib beside an armchair, magically swaying slightly. ¡°Thanks for having us. Can we see him?¡± ¡°Of course, just try to be quiet,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯m grateful for all the soundproofing, Noelia.¡± ¡°It was my pleasure. Wood can be quite intrusive to walk on.¡± As they entered the room, Sora was struck by the serene atmosphere. Stephanie¡¯s door was open, showing her black-ice bed, and now she looked noticeably shorter yet was probably slightly taller than Kari and Eyia. Her blue skin had become fairer, but she still had a blue tint to it and vibrant, long, turquoise locks. Nilly laid curled against her leg, which answered the question as to where the cat had been. ¡°How¡¯s Steph?¡± Wendy whispered, peering into the adjacent room as they moved to gather around the crib. ¡°She looks peaceful¡­and wow, she¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Ron nodded, his tired smile growing a bit wider. ¡°She¡¯s been resting well¡­ I¡¯m worried she hasn¡¯t woken up, but the labor took a lot out of her¡­in a lot of ways.¡± Sora noticed her mom hovering near the crib, her confidence visibly wavering, and she realized her mother had probably not been around many babies before and wasn¡¯t quite sure what to do. Peeking inside with Wendy, Sora¡¯s heart melted. Bj?rn lay nestled in the crib, looking perfectly healthy. His skin was a delicate shade of blue reminiscent of a clear winter sky at dusk, giving him an ethereal and otherworldly presence. Despite his Celestial heritage, he looked just like any other infant Sora had seen, with chubby cheeks, tiny fingers, and toes that curled instinctively. ¡°You okay, Mom?¡± The tiny newborn boy¡¯s small chest rose and fell rhythmically with each breath as her mom hesitated, tails wrapped around each other. Noelia locked onto the fox like a raccoon to a trash can without a lid. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mia? Never seen a baby before?¡± Mia blushed, her usual self-assured demeanor faltering to Sora¡¯s delight. ¡°Not really. I mean, I¡¯ve seen them, of course, but¡­I¡¯ve never held one in all my life¡­ I was always afraid since the slightest twitch could destroy the fragile things.¡± Noelia chuckled softly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s about time you learn, don¡¯t you think? It¡¯s not that hard. Just be gentle and support his head.¡± Before the fox could respond, a slight panic hit Sora¡¯s chest when Bj?rn began to stir, his eyes fluttering open. A striking icy blue, sparkling with an almost unnatural clarity and depth, a rush of potent energy enclosed them before black snowflakes began falling around them. The soft tufts of silver hair adorning his head shimmered faintly under the cabin¡¯s dimmed light. He stared at them, his confused face bunching up with fright as if they were monsters¡ªto be fair, they were the giants right now¡ªand intricate patterns of black ice formed and faded on his skin, like delicate frost on a windowpane. It soon dissolved, leaving no trace on his smooth, blue skin, and big, ruby tears appeared in his big eyes. Noelia quickly stepped in, her expert hands reaching into the crib to scoop up the baby with practiced ease. ¡°Here, Mia, watch closely,¡± Noelia instructed, cradling Bj?rn in her arms as Ron tensed up with worry. ¡°You want to hold him like this; make sure his head is supported. Newborns can¡¯t hold their heads up yet.¡± Sora saw her mom watching intently, nervously biting her lip. Noelia gently rocked Bj?rn, cooing softly to calm him down. Within moments, his cries softened, the black snow and chill easing as he nestled into her chest, soothed by her warmth and steady heartbeat. ¡°See?¡± Noelia said, smiling at Mia. ¡°It¡¯s all about making them feel secure and loved. Want to give it a try?¡± Hesitating for only a moment, her mom nodded. Noelia carefully transferred Bj?rn into Mia¡¯s arms, guiding her on how to hold him properly. Mia¡¯s hands trembled slightly, but she followed Noelia¡¯s instructions, supporting Bj?rn¡¯s head and holding him close to her chest. As she rocked him gently, Bj?rn¡¯s whimpers at leaving Noelia subsided, and he settled back into sleep. Her mom¡¯s face lit up with a mixture of relief and wonder. ¡°I did it¡­he¡¯s not crying anymore.¡± Noelia grinned, giving Mia an encouraging pat on the back. ¡°Told you it¡¯s not so hard. You¡¯ve got the touch, Mia. Have a little faith as a mother.¡± Ron watched the scene with gratitude, his tired eyes filled with appreciation. ¡°Thank you, Noelia. You¡¯ve been such a big help. And Mia, you¡¯re a natural.¡± Mia¡¯s confidence began to return, and she smiled down at the sleeping baby in her arms, with Wendy shuffling closer to get a better look while hugging herself in the chill. ¡°Thanks, Ron. And thank you, Noelia. I guess, ironically, I just needed a little push.¡± She looked up at the tanuki. ¡°You¡¯ll make a fine addition to the family.¡± The room felt warm and serene, filled with a sense of camaraderie in a common goal and the gentle presence of new life. Soon, Noelia helped the fox transfer the baby to his crib, and they gathered around it; their laughter and soft whispers blended with the peaceful atmosphere, creating a haven of comfort and support in Ron¡¯s cozy cabin. The day went by quickly, and her mom flipped a switch to be the sweetest woman in the world, making it hard to stay mad at her. Sora knew her mom was doing all of this for a reason. She was learning just how deep Noelia¡¯s inferiority complex and past trauma regarding her father had affected her self-image. After playing with the baby, mostly taking lessons from Noelia¡¯s tender care, they returned him to his rested father when 9 p.m. came around. Mia had enjoyed every minute of it since they got all the stories about what Sora had been like as a baby. She couldn¡¯t believe that she¡¯d been a little daredevil at two and would climb up anything she could to jump off of¡­or that she was a biter. Luckily, Noelia had swiftly trained that out of her. It was around 9:15 that they entered their suite again, and her mother decided to drop a bombshell on them, gesturing for the three of them to sit down. Sora, not trusting her mom not to twist this into another tease-fest of the tanuki woman, waited for the chance to tackle and tickle her mother again¡ªshe was beginning to think she enjoyed it! Honestly, she probably did, and Sora enjoyed it, too. The atmosphere took on a more heavy note, though. Sitting regally in one of the armchairs, she directed Noelia to sit in the chair beside her, and the two of them to take the sofa. ¡°Sora¡­I will get straight to the point,¡± her mother said with a gentle, uncertain smile. ¡°We¡¯ve talked about this before¡­but there is a way for Wendy to truly join our family.¡± ¡°You¡¯re¡­for real?¡± Wendy questioned, tensing up and glancing between them. ¡°Like, I can gain a tail and ears and everything¡­magic?¡± Noelia¡¯s ears pulled back, and Sora started to feel nervous as the tanuki fidgeted with her poofy tail. ¡°Yes, Wendy, but it is more complicated than we can express. In truth¡­you¡¯d be more connected to the tanuki and¡­whatever Jarlath is than vulpes, but there would be a small link to Mia.¡± She knotted her feet and looked away with shame. ¡°I know that¡¯s probably not what you¡¯d want to hear, but¡­¡± ¡°What? No, I¡¯d love that!¡± Wendy choked, fighting back a sudden rush of tears. ¡°You¡¯d¡­really become my mom? And I¡¯d¡­not be a burden to Sora¡­ I wouldn¡¯t be helpless if¡­if I was kidnapped again or¡­or feel so¡­powerless?¡± Sora tucked under her bottom lip and scooted closer to hug Wendy as liquid leaked out of her eyes, remaining silent as she waited for the risks to drop; there were always risks. Noelia now seemed unable to speak, goosebumps running down her arms and tail far puffier than usual, which was quite the look. Reaching over, Mia took the tanuki¡¯s hand to provide strength to the overwhelmed woman. ¡°Yes, Wendy. However, there are risks¡­not to you or Sora¡­but to Noelia herself. There is a chance, as small as it is¡­that she may disappear¡­forever.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Sora mumbled, glancing toward the trembling raccoon. The answer came like a punch to the nose when her dream that morning resurfaced¡ªher father¡¯s side of the family. ¡°You don¡¯t mean¡­ It¡¯s Dad¡¯s side¡­it¡¯s dangerous, isn¡¯t it.¡± Her mother frowned. ¡°Yes¡­ Although, you shouldn¡¯t know anything about¡­¡± Sora¡¯s gut cramped when her mother trailed off, looking a little lost for a moment before continuing on like nothing had happened. Her fists tightened against her thighs when everyone acted as if she didn¡¯t speak at all. Noelia may disappear¡­forever. So, Dad¡¯s family is that strong. No one but Pandora has even been able to talk with me about Aunt Rose. I guess I need to put my trust in Mom, though. She looked up at her mom as she sighed and finished the explanation. ¡°It is a simple thing for both of you, but it will take about a week¡¯s worth of preparation for Sora and Noelia, Wendy. Sora just needs to learn to lower her natural defenses to allow for a clean transfer. There needs to be an uninterrupted link between Sora, Noelia, and your souls, Wendy.¡± She held up a hand as the brunette¡¯s worry lines deepened. ¡°Noelia knows the risks and has accepted it, Wendy. You both want this.¡± ¡°Yeah, but¡­¡± Noelia fought past her emotions to show a true smile. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of dying, Wendy¡­ I¡¯m afraid of leaving you alone. I can¡¯t get you out of my head¡­all the things I want to do with you.¡± She sat straighter and held a hand against her chest with conviction. ¡°My life has been nothing but bland¡­nothingness, as it was. I¡¯ve only started to live when I met you girls. Are there risks? Yes. But what I hope to gain is worth a thousand¡ªno, I can¡¯t express a number¡­ What I hope to gain is priceless¡­ You. Will you be my daughter, Wendy?¡± Sora¡¯s lungs convulsed as Wendy answered by crying and jumping forward to enter Noelia¡¯s arms. Nodding and clinging onto her, the tanuki¡¯s tail wrapped Wendy in hot fur. She felt her sister¡¯s heart mend in one life-giving surge of emotional connection. In one week, they¡¯d become a real family. Wendy was her true sister, and time wouldn¡¯t be able to rip them apart, because Wendy was going to become a Founder. Not long after, her stunned father entered the emotional storm, having to comfort all of them before taking her teary-eyed mom out for their first date. Did the mischievous fox really deserve it, though? Maybe a little. They really were a family. B2 — 28. Acceptance Jarlath stood in the opulent lobby of the hotel, taking a moment to let his Irish temper fall to a simmer. The high glass front entrance spanned three tiers, allowing natural light to flood in and illuminate the sparkling crystal chandelier that hung majestically above. The floor¡¯s polished granite gleamed, reflecting the elegance of the space and the subtle patterns worn into the stone. So, he internally growled, staring around the extravagant hotel lobby and shoving his hands into his his pockets, all of this is essentially mine¡­ Dammit. His heated green eyes darted to the Foundation personnel, packing up material and exiting through the back of the hotel to store it elsewhere. Ferdinand gave him a strained smile and wave on his exit; Jarlath had just finished grilling the Ethics Bureau representative for the last two and a half hours. Sora¡¯s too soft¡­ If this is mine, then I don¡¯t want the bastards inside it. It isn¡¯t like we need their protection anyway¡­ The trouble is, should I impose on Noelia to spell it? A frustrated snarl rumbled in his throat as his temper flared again, simmering annoyance burning him up inside; he usually blamed it on his hot Irish blood, but he may not even be Irish for all he knew. Not wanting to be anywhere near the Foundation men after listening to everything they¡¯d done to his life¡­the things they had no business being a part of, he stormed toward the revolving doors. Things weren¡¯t right. He didn¡¯t feel right, and he needed to find a solution to move past the badger tearing him up inside. Passing through the revolving doors, he entered the security area. He gave a true wave to Paul and Jack, operating the secondary security door. The long-standing guards didn¡¯t seem to know how to respond to him as Paul waved and Jack saluted like a soldier. ¡°Mr. Moore!¡± ¡°Mr. Moore, it¡¯s good to see you up. I heard you were recovering from an injury.¡± ¡°Aye, but I¡¯m back now,¡± he stated, readjusting his shoulder bag to shake their hands. ¡°It¡¯s good seein¡¯ old faces. I¡¯ll be countin¡¯ on ya.¡± ¡°Yes, sir!¡± ¡°Relax, Jack,¡± Paul chuckled. ¡°Do you need us to call a vehicle for you or get the car elevator ready?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll be takin¡¯ a walk¡­ I need to clear my head.¡± They nodded, not pushing the topic, and he left the lobby; the humidity clung to him like a second skin as he exited. He looked up at the sky, a tapestry of orange and pink as the sun began its descent. He released a heated sigh, the warm air filling his lungs as he tried to cool his rising temper. Everything I built for us was just made¡­practically worthless. I have plenty of money, and the Foundation comes in and buys out the entire hotel, adds alien technology, and reshapes my suite without so much as consulting Sora, much less me. I want to rely on your judgment, Mia¡­but you¡¯re making it so hard for me. He glanced at his watch: 6:42 p.m. Fortunately, he had some time to compose himself before taking his wife out. Taking out his phone, he sent a text to a nearby restaurant Sora had frequented recently; he¡¯d seen it on his bills and wanted to retrace the places his daughter had been recently. He¡¯d already been to the monster one, so the Italian restaurant seemed like a good change of pace for them. Reserving a private space on their 3rd floor, he paused over his recent contacts. Dialing Tom, the phone barely rang before Tom¡¯s familiar voice answered. ¡°Jarlath! I heard you were under the weather. Eh, everything¡­good?¡± Jarlath didn¡¯t waste any time. ¡°Hey, bud, I heard the Foundation clued you in about this whole monster craic. Has a week been enough time to wrap your head around it?¡± Tom sighed, a weary sound that carried over the line, followed by a brief pause before he spoke. ¡°Yeah, they filled me in, but¡­ damn, it¡¯s a lot to take in. Monsters, really? And Mia¡­ She¡¯s some kind of fox goddess? I mean, it kind of makes sense now, but still¡­¡± His voice grew softer, and there was a noticeable hesitation in his cadence. ¡°I understand if you weren¡¯t comfortable sharing that part of your life. Honestly¡­if you ever wanted to do the whole mind wipe thing they mentioned, I¡¯d be cool with it. I get it, man.¡± Jarlath felt a twinge of relief at Tom¡¯s understanding. ¡°Thanks, Tom. It means a lot to hear ya say that. But right now, I think I need my best friend¡­ You wouldn¡¯t happen to be free right now?¡± Tom¡¯s voice was steady and reassuring. ¡°You got it, man. I¡¯m here for you, no matter what. Is Sora okay?¡± ¡°Aye, bud, she¡¯s doing great. See ya soon.¡± ¡°We thinking about that private club down from your hotel?¡± Jarlath looked over the laughing tourists and locals of Miami, a frown touching his lips. ¡°I¡¯d rather have a natter somewhere a bit quieter¡­ How about poppin¡¯ by the hotel lobby bar? The place will be dead as a doornail; I¡¯ve made sure of it.¡± ¡°Your Irish side is coming out strong¡­ You must be mad. A whole bar to ourselves, huh? Count me in! See you soon, Jar.¡± Hanging up, he took another deep breath, allowing the warm evening air to calm his nerves. Despite the challenges, he knew he had the support of Sora and Mia, but a few itches in the back of his brain were digging up some unpleasant thoughts. Jarlath re-entered the hotel, making a few passing gestures to Paul and Jack, who nodded respectfully. Silence greeted him as he stepped into the grand lobby, now devoid of any Foundation personnel. The quiet space felt oddly somber, a stark contrast to the earlier activity, and he felt a somber heaviness in his chest. Taking it in for a time, his nose twisted with a resentful fire. The Foundation thinks they can buy their way into our lives. They project their influence on us and make everything look like a fairytale. Nothing comes free; they¡¯re trying to use my daughter to open Avalon to them again. Mia may be fine with it¡­but intruding on my life, changing my friends for life¡­uprooting the lives of the hotel staff to suit their goals with the only option being to follow the status quo or have your brain wiped? It¡¯s not the benevolent organization they attempt to portray. They treat people like machines to be moved and programmed to their design. Restless and unable to stand still, Jarlath wandered through the hotel¡¯s luxurious amenities. Walking through the on-premises restaurant, he scanned the elegant tables, waiting to be put into use. Fine china and crystal glasses were in ornate cupboards, ready to be set. Proceeding to the second level, he studied the fitness center, with gleaming equipment that promised to sculpt the perfect physique. He continued to the cigar and wine lounge that overlooked the sandy beach, exuding an old-world charm, with rich leather chairs and dark wooden shelves lined with an impressive collection of cigars and fine wines. He glanced at the east and west pools, their crystal-clear waters rippling gently under the ambient lighting. Further up would be the hotel theater, awaiting any request a tenant had. All of this was meant for a collection of powerful men and women. It had not only been a business decision to connect to other influential figures but also to provide an environment that could give Sora everything she¡¯d ever need. Now, he was left here feeling stupid. Mia didn¡¯t have her powers, and so much of her plan rested on the shoulders of Noelia; without a doubt, his wife was manipulating the tanuki to her ends, and Noelia may even be willing to accept it¡ªto finally have a family. Mia knew that would tug at his heart. His jaw ground slightly. Damn your fox nature¡­ Finally ending up at the lobby bar, he left his hands in his pockets. The bar was a masterpiece of modern design and opulence for the wealthy and powerful. High-backed leather stools lined the marble counter, and the shelves behind it showcased a vast array of top-shelf liquors stocked to any tenant¡¯s desires, their bottles glistening under the soft, ambient lighting. He spun in a slow circle, taking in the large windows that offered a deck-side view of the pools out back, now glowing under the evening light. Plush, deep-seated armchairs and low tables were strategically placed for intimate conversation, though tonight, it looked eerie while so empty and silent. Pressing a button to open up the glass walls, Jarlath¡¯s skin prickled as a sharp gust of air struck him, and a sudden rush of stomach acid hit his gut. Was it his guilt and uncertainty gripping him this tightly? He took a seat at the bar, his thoughts turning inward to Mia and her sister, with everything his wife had said on the topic. Memories flooded back¡ªMia¡¯s hot skin against his on the sandy beach, the fear in her voice, her pleading eyes, and her ears pulled back in distress. Her searching red eyes looked to him for support, and he felt the weight of her unspoken anxiety. How can your spell be so powerful¡­without magic? he growled, a million questions clouded his mind as he leaned forward and rubbed his forehead. Is this a meltdown? I don¡¯t break down; I find solutions¡­ I don¡¯t understand who I¡¯m supposed to be right now. Sora and Wendy need me. Mia needs me¡­and now Noelia¡¯s broken heart is being tangled in Mia¡¯s web. ¡°Mr. Moore?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Releasing a stressful puff of air, he showed a half-smile upon seeing a familiar face. ¡°Chris¡­ You¡¯re taking over the management of the hotel again, I hope? Just getting off shift?¡± The man who used to manage the hotel staff walked forward, studious eyes locking onto him. ¡°Indeed, Mr. Moore. Dr. Ferdinand told me you¡¯d like me to take back the responsibilities of managing the building. I finished my last one in the elevator just now and plan to look over the staff schedule tonight. With only a few families to care for, it really shouldn¡¯t be a problem, and elevator personnel could easily be replaced with an access code.¡± Enjoying the momentary, logical discussion on schedules, Jarlath straightened. ¡°It¡¯s good to have you back. I¡¯d like to set up a meeting with all the remaining staff to hear their concerns and thoughts. Mind setting that up sometime in the future? The schedule shouldn¡¯t be an issue.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll see it done,¡± the man said, walking around the bar. ¡°¡­You look like you could use a drink. I took a few mixer classes. How about Irish whiskey, mix in spirit with oloroso sherry, lemon juice, bitters, an orange-ginger marmalade, and¡­a housemade ginger syrup?¡± Jarlath slid his hands through his hair and laughed. ¡°I can¡¯t drink too much before taking Mia out tonight, but why not? I¡¯ll take a whiskey. I¡¯m waiting for Tom to get here¡­ Ah, and I¡¯m so scattered I didn¡¯t let Paul or Jack know.¡± Chris took out his walkie-talkie, strapped to his official hotel suit. ¡°I¡¯ll let them know. I can remain nearby for anything you might need while you¡¯re in your meeting.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to be doin¡¯ that, Chris,¡± he protested. ¡°I don¡¯t want to be takin¡¯ your night away.¡± ¡°What night would you be talking about, Mr. Moore?¡± the man whispered with a sad crease to his brow. He selected a bottle of Irish whiskey off the shelf and gathered the ingredients. ¡°To be honest, Mr. Moore, after all the money I¡¯ve been getting from the Foundation¡­people are changing around me. I¡¯d like to spend some time by myself tonight, believe it or not. Would you mind? I¡¯d rather not go home right now.¡± Jarlath¡¯s smile softened as he stared at the cocktail the man was making. ¡°Of course not, Chris. Grab a drink and relax.¡± Now paying more attention, he saw the trouble behind Chris¡¯ eyes, reflecting the haunted look of a man who had come into money, only for the vultures to start circling. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Moore. I¡¯ll leave a walkie-talkie for you. Let me know if you need anything; I¡¯ll be in the wine and cigar area, watching the NFL recent game since I missed it. I¡¯ll make sure to replace anything I use.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you will,¡± Jarlath said, taking the bottle of whiskey on the counter before it was used in the cocktail, he took a swig and handed it back to Chris to finish making the mixer. The smooth, familiar flavor slid down his throat, helping to calm his nerves. ¡°Thanks for the drink.¡± Getting up, he went to one of the high-back chairs, sitting down and waiting for Tom to make his way inside. Chris dropped his drink off when it was done, leaving it on the table beside him. After cleaning up, he removed himself to the 2nd floor to try to forget his own troubles. ¡°Life is complicated,¡± he whispered to the empty lobby while watching the ocean¡¯s ebb and flow. ¡°What should I do?¡± As he sat in the still, lavish bar area, the walls seemed to close in around him. His mind kept ticking to the same thoughts. What if you¡¯re wrong, my fluffy spitfire? Did you take my worries into consideration? Did you dismiss them, thinking I don¡¯t understand? But¡­what if you¡¯re the one who doesn¡¯t understand? A soft melody played in his mind, a somber reminder of the emotional wreckage he felt navigating this turbulent time. He leaned against the arm of his chair, closing his eyes as he let the sensations course through him. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Darling, are we adrift, searching for a glimmer of hope in the chaos that is our lives? I love you to a depth that transcends words, but the current path we¡¯re on¡­that you¡¯re forcing on us leaves me in a sea of uncertainty. Can¡¯t you see that? Are you acting rationally or out of pure fear? How can I even ask you that without you feeling cut¡­especially when you¡¯re so vulnerable right now? His gaze lifted as he heard the tapping of shoes echoing through the hall, and Tom came strolling toward him. ¡°Jar! I see you¡¯ve gotten started before me¡­ What¡¯s up, man?¡± ¡°Tom.¡± He rose, shook his hand, and went to him with the bar, finishing off the rest of his drink. ¡°Grab a bottle and join me¡­ I feel like the sky is falling on top of my head! You may want to have your mind wiped after this.¡± ¡°Cheers to that,¡± Tom chuckled. ¡°Seriously, if you need someone to shoot the shit with, then I¡¯m here for you. Where should we start?¡± Taking the whiskey bottle off the counter, he went back to the chair, Tom sitting beside him to stare at the rising and falling surf. He didn¡¯t want to get right into the weeds quite yet, so he started with a lighter topic once they settled in. ¡°So¡­you know we¡¯ve adopted Wendy?¡± Tom poured himself a glass and set the bottle down. ¡°Hmm. Yeah, and the plural in there brings me a smile,¡± Tom said, holding up his brandy. ¡°Mia¡¯s back, huh? That¡¯s something to raise a glass for. Man, that takes me back to our post-college years¡­ You know, she told me that if I let Katie go I¡¯d regret it. And damn, I do. Everything makes sense now that I know she¡¯s some sort of fox goddess. No wonder you waited sixteen years for that woman.¡± ¡°Aye¡­¡± Jarlath took his bottle and lifted it to his lips at the comment; there was a difference between the wife he knew and this frightened fox mother that had returned to them. ¡°Mmm¡­ She wants to open up the marriage to another woman.¡± Tom spat out his liquor, hand clasping his throat and choking. ¡°She what?! I didn¡¯t know she was like that! Damn, but¡­shit, uh, are we talking about a previous marriage with some other goddess? I guess she is a fox goddess,¡± he mumbled, his mind spinning way out of control and making him smile a little. ¡°Woah. So¡­is she hot?¡± Rubbing the neck of the bottle, Jarlath leaned against his cheek while staring at the green glass. ¡°¡­It¡¯s Noelia.¡± His lawyer¡¯s eyes went blank, no doubt running through all the memories he had of Sora¡¯s caretaker since childhood. ¡°Like, the¡­the Cuban immigrant Noelia? You¡¯re joking. Huh¡­ Is it for¡­Sora¡¯s sake? I mean, she was a great mother figure to Sora, I suppose.¡± Jarlath felt his stomach acid acting up again but didn¡¯t want to be drunk when taking his wife out tonight. ¡°It¡¯s more complicated than that¡­ Noelia is like Mia, only much younger, and a tanuki¡ªjust think of her like a raccoon woman,¡± he mumbled at Tom¡¯s questioning stare. ¡°She was hiding behind illusions the whole time we knew her. In a way, she infiltrated our lives¡­and the raccoons and foxes are basically mortal enemies. She was abandoned by her father, though, and left to be killed by Mia since Noelia can¡¯t have children.¡± Tom¡¯s brain was shifting into gear while picking apart his explanation, sitting back and working through it with his lawyer mind state. Instead of freaking out, he simply downed his glass and leaned against the side of his chair, lightly chewing on the inside of his cheek. ¡°Okay, so let me get this straight. Noelia¡¯s been hiding her true self all these years, she¡¯s actually a tanuki¡ªa kind of raccoon woman¡ªand she and Mia have this complicated history because they¡¯re supposed to be mortal enemies. And now, Mia wants to bring her into your marriage¡­because Noelia can¡¯t have children and was basically left for dead by her father? She feels¡­bad for her?¡± Tom summarized, his voice steady despite the craziness of the situation. Jarlath forced a laugh, feeling the weight of how much was left unsaid. ¡°Not exactly, bud. The situation isn¡¯t about her feeling bad for Noelia, but other issues I¡¯d rather not get into. Essentially, she doesn¡¯t expect she¡¯ll be able to stay with our family, and she is trying to groom Noelia to be the perfect replacement wife and mother.¡± Tom let out a low whistle, pouring himself another drink. ¡°Man, that¡¯s a lot to unpack. So, Mia¡¯s trying to secure a second mother figure for Sora and Wendy, thinking she¡¯s going to be taken away? You¡¯re obviously torn about this¡ªshit, I can¡¯t imagine it. ¡°You wait for this woman for sixteen years, and the first thing she does when coming back is throw another woman into your bed¡­ What the hell? I don¡¯t know how to feel about that myself. Does she have a good reason to think that? I mean, she must¡­ How old even are they, by the way?¡± he asked with a bit of curiosity. Jarlath puffed out his cheeks, his skin suddenly burning after Tom kept clarifying what he understood aloud. ¡°Mia¡­millions of years old, but Sora is her first child in all that time. She¡¯s new to being a mother¡­scared. She claims Noelia is mentally a 28-year-old, but romantically¡­an 18-year-old.¡± He paused for a moment, scratching his neck and feeling the sweat underneath his armpits. ¡°The real problem is¡­I don¡¯t know if she¡¯s acting rationally, despite all that wisdom. I suppose you could say she has a blind spot in a specific area that makes her act out and shut down¡­and I don¡¯t know how to approach the subject without hurting her.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± Tom leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, his gaze on the seagulls flying over the beach. ¡°That¡¯s a tough spot. You¡¯ve got all this history, all these layers of complicated emotions and fears. Mia¡¯s been through a lot, it sounds like, and she¡¯s acting out of a place of deep insecurity and fear¡­ If that¡¯s what you¡¯re really saying.¡± Jarlath nodded, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as he listened to his friend¡¯s calm, analytical voice. ¡°Exactly. Well, that¡¯s my fear, bud. She¡¯s scared of being forced to leave us again¡­ She has valid reasons. I just don¡¯t know if they¡¯re well-founded, and she¡¯s opening up this can of worms that is completely unnecessary. ¡°She thinks that if Noelia is with us, she¡¯ll be able to protect our family if something happens to her. But it feels wrong, Tom. I can¡¯t shake the feeling that she¡¯s trying to control everything out of fear, and that¡¯s not the foundation we should be building our new lives on.¡± Tom took a slow sip of his drink before crossing his legs. ¡°So, what¡¯s your plan? How do you address this without pushing Mia further into her nightmares? Wouldn¡¯t she already know?¡± Jarlath sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. ¡°Probably not anymore¡­and that¡¯s part of the problem. I don¡¯t know. I love her with all my heart, and I don¡¯t want to hurt her, but I can¡¯t just go along with this without voicing my concerns¡­to both of them. I need to find a way to look past the image she has in her mind. I¡¯m open to Noelia¡¯s involvement in our family to reassure her; I really am¡­ Just not with all this manipulation.¡± Setting his glass down, Tom got up and moved to the open doors as the gentle ocean wind pressed against his frame. He was silent for a minute before turning to look at him. ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of different marriage troubles in my years as a lawyer in Miami, bud, and your situation tops the list. Then again, maybe it¡¯s not all that complicated, despite your fantasy elements involved. Maybe it¡¯s about finding a way to build up Mia¡¯s confidence. If she can see that she doesn¡¯t need to manipulate the situation to protect herself and her family¡ªto see everyone else as not understanding the weight she¡¯s feeling¡ªshe might be able to let go of some of that fear to hear your worries without shutting down.¡± Jarlath looked out at the horizon, the waves crashing rhythmically against the shore. His best friend¡¯s words reached his troubled heart. ¡°The trouble is¡­I don¡¯t know how to do that.¡± Lips pulling into a line, he decided to throw out a Hail Mary. ¡°Herald, are you listening? What do you have to say about our family situation from your point of view, if you¡¯re supposed to protect us from outside forces?¡± Jarlath¡¯s words hung in the air, the silence that followed feeling heavy and charged. Tom turned, brow furrowing in confusion as he looked between Jarlath and the empty room. ¡°Herald? Are you expecting someone, Jar?¡± Tom asked, glancing around the empty room. Before Jarlath could respond, a soft, almost musical laugh echoed through the bar. Jarlath¡¯s gaze snapped to the source of the sound¡ªa single woman who now sat comfortably in an armchair that had been empty just moments before. She was a vision of elegance and enigma, dressed in a black slit dress with a matching mob cap tied with a large bow. Her bleach-blonde hair was tied into several locks with thin, ebony ribbons. ¡°Jarlath,¡± she greeted in a voice that was both soothing and unsettling, lowering a newspaper covered in bizarre symbols to reveal a face that seemed to shift between youth and maturity with every blink. Her deep purple eyes, with shifting lines like an ever-changing maze, locked onto his. An elegantly designed parasol rested beside her, and a closed paper fan lay on the arm of her chair. Her hands, covered in inky silk gloves that seemed to absorb all light around them, flared at the edges with strange designs. Her fair, long legs crossed gracefully, emphasizing her black stilettos. Her presence exuded a high-class aura that made Jarlath instinctively straighten. ¡°Herald,¡± Jarlath acknowledged, feeling Tom¡¯s bewildered gaze burning into him, yet he couldn¡¯t keep focused with the gorgeous woman sitting between them. Tom¡¯s confusion gave way to a mixture of curiosity and unease. ¡°Uh, Jar, who is this beautiful woman¡­who just emerged from nowhere? Has she been here the whole time?¡± ¡°This,¡± Jarlath tiredly replied, still staring at the entertained blonde, ¡°is the Herald of Sakura. She¡¯s¡­basically Mia¡¯s insurance policy.¡± The Herald smiled, a serene and almost knowing vibe closing around his throat. ¡°I understand you have questions, Jarlath. Your wife will be cross if she learns we¡¯ve talked. That being said, concerns about your family, about Mia and Noelia, certainly are of importance. However, I¡¯d be more concerned about your daughters than your wives. Mia expects to be forced out of your lives¡­ I¡¯m doubtful, though not certain.¡± Jarlath rubbed between his eyes, emotions a swirling tempest. ¡°Wives¡­ So, to your all-seeing vision, the wives part is basically set in stone. And why should I be worried about my daughters?¡± Tom promptly sat, listening intently, almost looking hypnotized by the incredibly powerful entity. The Herald¡¯s eyes softened, and she inclined her head slightly. ¡°Firstly, Mia¡¯s decisions are deeply rooted in her past, in her experiences, rather than what she foresees in the future. I¡¯ve warned her as much, yet the woman has the will of a mountain. She believes she must control everything to prevent the loss she dreads. It¡¯s not uncommon for those who have suffered to cling tightly to whatever they can control¡­ Even more so for those with millions of years of self-inflicted trauma.¡± Jarlath exhaled slowly, feeling the weight of the world fall upon his shoulders. ¡°So, she is acting emotionally¡­and she won¡¯t budge. And what about my daughters? Why should I be worried about them?¡± The Herald¡¯s eyes softened further, a hint of compassion breaking through her serene facade. ¡°Mia does not know this, Jarlath, but we have a contract predating hers¡­ It is your family who is a real danger to your daughters, and they will find a way to reach out to them that even I cannot prevent. In fact¡­an incident has already happened.¡± Tom¡¯s gaze snapped to him. ¡°Your family? I thought you grew up in the foster system.¡± Jarlath¡¯s vision narrowed. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it later, bud¡­ Mia won¡¯t share anything about my past. If we have a predating contract, then what are the details¡­or did I not want those disclosed.¡± A chill ran down his spine. She spoke with a certainty and gravity that left no room for doubt, yet her cryptic warnings only seemed to deepen the mystery surrounding his family and their hidden connections. Nilly herself was an unknown element that dug at his mind. Jarlath shook his head, trying to process everything. ¡°I get it¡¯s complicated. Mia¡¯s past, our family¡¯s past, it¡¯s all intertwined in ways that make me want to scream. And now you¡¯ve mentioned my daughters¡ªI need to know.¡± Tom leaned forward, his expression grim. ¡°Do you think Mia¡¯s decisions are putting them in danger? Is it even possible to change things with all her power?¡± The Herald remained composed, her gaze fixed on him. ¡°You must tread carefully, Jarlath Moore. The threads of destiny are delicate, fate has already set into place within the short term. Meddling could have unforeseen consequences I would rather avoid. Yet, your role in this is pivotal.¡± ¡°And that is?¡± Jarlath asked, looking for any kind of higher guidance in the maelstrom he¡¯d been thrust into, and the guilt from his earlier conversation with Mia returned about drinking poison off the same vine. ¡°How do I reconcile with these dark feelings I have in my chest¡­ How do I trust Mia after¡ª¡± He paused as a tear fell down his cheek, and he reached up to brush it away, Mia¡¯s terrified cries resonating with the guilt that quaked through his whole soul, her words stabbing him in the chest: ¡°How can you be sure? I¡¯m so terrified that I¡¯m opening up Noelia into our lives¡­when it kills me inside thinking about what I¡¯m doing, but¡­I have to leave Sora with someone I know I can trust. Noelia is such a wonderful soul that makes me rethink everything I thought about tanuki¡­and that scares me, too! Is that the plan? Is she just a pawn in her father¡¯s quest to kill my sister? I¡¯m¡­scared you¡¯ll leave me because of how horrible of a mother I am. How can I think¡ª¡± Jarlath whispered the words he¡¯d told her. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay¡­ Can you tell me, Herald?¡± Jarlath sat in stunned silence, his mind reeling from the distrust and negativity that had tainted his heart; how could he feel this way when Mia needed him the most right now? Tom glanced at him, concern etched on his face, but before he could speak, the Herald continued with an air of finality. ¡°My answer is the same as the one I gave your wife, Jarlath. It isn¡¯t that I cannot tell you more,¡± she said softly. ¡°But were I to tell you of the dangers I am concerned about, you would not remember. As for your family, even my eyes cannot see them. That being said, your sister, Rose, is a pivotal figure from your past¡ªrebellious and intertwined with the threads of Fate.¡± Heart pounding against this ribcage, his eyes widened. ¡°I¡­have a sister named Rose?¡± Tom¡¯s face blanked as if hearing jiberish as the woman continued. ¡°Slowly, you are awakening to who you really are due to the damage done to your vessel. You should ask Sora about Rose.¡± Her tone turned more sober. ¡°But I¡¯d suggest waiting a week before broaching the topic. It would not be wise to distract her in the immediate future.¡± Rose¡¯s name pricked him like a thorn¡ªnot her true name, yet a name from his past that stirred distant memories¡ªone he couldn¡¯t quite grasp. The Herald¡¯s cryptic warnings and instructions added layers of complexity to his already turbulent life. ¡°I have to wait a week¡­but I can do that if it¡¯s for Sora¡¯s sake. Mia¡­what about Mia?¡± he asked. ¡°How do I reconcile with her when she¡¯s so wrapped in fear?¡± The Herald¡¯s gentle, deep-purple eyes met his with unwavering intensity. ¡°Be her protector¡­and validate her. Despite Mia¡¯s shortcomings and her fears¡­her mistakes, in bringing Noelia into your lives, she has crossed a boundary that even Inari could not. Be proud of her. Accept Noelia. Show her love and kindness, and she will bloom into the woman Mia dreams she could be. Noelia will help Mia confront her own demons in ways you cannot.¡± Jarlath felt a surge of conflicting emotions¡ªlove for Mia, frustration at his own failings, and a newfound set of budding emotions towards Noelia. If she could support his wife in ways he couldn¡¯t, then how could he deny her? Mia hadn¡¯t made totally rash decisions but decisions based on past trauma. And how could he blame her for that? In fact, adding Noelia to their family may have been Mia¡¯s way to find a way through that trauma. The Herald¡¯s words resonated with a clarity that cut through the fog of uncertainty that had enveloped him. Jarlath nodded slowly, absorbing the advice. ¡°And how do I approach Mia about all this? How do I get her to see that she doesn¡¯t need to control everything, that we can face these challenges together?¡± ¡°Do what you know to be right, Jarlath. Protect Mia from herself,¡± the Herald repeated. ¡°Be her knight. Embrace Noelia, not just for Mia¡¯s sake, but for your family¡¯s sake. She can become everything Mia is to you if you give her the chance. This is your path now, a path of guardianship and love¡­of acceptance. And now my contract with you is fulfilled.¡± With those enigmatic words hanging in the air, the Herald rose gracefully from her chair, her presence shimmering with an otherworldly light as she spread her paper fan to hide her lower face. She inclined her head to Jarlath and Tom before turning and walking towards the door, her steps soundless against the polished wood floor before fading away. A mixture of disbelief and curiosity was written on Tom¡¯s face while watching her departure, the orange sun descending in the sky casting a glow across the bar. ¡°Jarlath¡­what just happened?¡± Jarlath took a deep breath, a thankful smile lifting his mouth as the darkness in his heart parted. ¡°I wish I knew, Tom. At least I have something to focus on now¡­something to guide me through this chaos. I have some wives to spoil.¡± Walking over to his bewildered best friend, Jarlath pulled him into a strong hug, making the man choke. ¡°Thanks for being here with me when I needed ya, bud. Hit me up when the next game comes around, and I¡¯ll make some time. Sound good?¡± ¡°Hey, I kind of lost track of it all by the time that goddess or whatever showed up¡­ Damn, man! How many of them do you have on speed-dial? Hook a buddy up!¡± He laughed and clapped him on the back before pulling away. ¡°How about I try to figure out what happened to Katie, huh? If anythin¡¯ to close old mysteries.¡± Tom¡¯s grin widened. ¡°Now that¡¯s a thing my boy would say! Glad to have you back, Jar.¡± B2 — 29. Father & Daughter Outing The gentle glow of pre-dawn cast a soft light across Miami Beach, hinting at the day''s beginning while the world still lingered in the quiet of the early hour. The blinds automatically peeled back as the sun was about to rise over the horizon, bathing the landscape in vibrant hues of orange and pink. Sora, nestled in the comfort of her bed, stirred as the first rays crept through her window. The city had yet to awaken fully, basking in the serene hush that only these early moments could offer. With a stretch and a yawn, Sora smiled to herself as she glanced at the clock. She felt a sense of accomplishment¡ªMary had advised her to get on a good schedule, and it seemed she was finally syncing her routine with the natural rhythms of the day. Six a.m., huh? she internally cheered. I¡¯m getting back on a good schedule for school! Four more days¡­ Right! Diary entry time¡­ Sora focused her mind, and with a gentle magical nudge, her diary floated out from a spelled drawer in her closet, landing softly in her hands. She opened it to the first page, reflecting on the whirlwind of events that were jotted down over the past week. Though some moments had been rocky, it was undeniable that things were looking up. Her family was knitting closer together, weaving a stronger fabric from their shared experiences. As she pondered what to write, a floating gel pen zipped through the air, responding to her unspoken command. The pen paused above the hovering diary, waiting. ¡°How do I feel about all of this?¡± Sora considered, pulling her hair to the side and settling back against her pillow to stare up at the pages as they turned. ¡°Who knew parents could be such troublemakers?¡± she mumbled, happy and sad each room was spelled for privacy now. Her thoughts swirled as the pen hovered patiently. The soft hum of its magic was a comforting background noise in the still morning; she was getting far more used to the weaves by observing Noelia¡¯s spells. Mom and Dad are really trying to patch things up, and I guess that''s good, right? But then there¡¯s Noelia¡­ She¡¯s great, I mean, who wouldn¡¯t like Noelia? But it¡¯s complicated. It''s like Mom and Dad are on this new adventure, discovering each other all over again. Dad¡¯s even taking Noelia on some private dates now, which is¡­weird but maybe necessary? Tail swaying atop her bed, she floated a bit into the air as her desires swirled around her bed, pulling the sheets tight and making it tidy. Dropping back into the comfy mattress, she reflected on the developing dynamic between Noelia, her mom, and her dad. At first, it didn¡¯t really sink in what her mom was proposing¡ªlike, Noelia, a part of the family? Absolutely! But she hadn¡¯t expected it like that. Her gaze returned to her swaying pen, translating her thoughts: I see Mom trying to hide her discomfort with a smile, claiming it¡¯s for the best. It''s strange seeing her so vulnerable after that first meeting we had; she knew everything¡­could do anything. Now, she¡¯s frustrated using the remote and needs help printing out cooking recipes. It¡¯s cute and totally welcome¡­ Just not what I expected. And Noelia¡­ I really like her. She¡¯s been nothing but an absolute rock to me growing up, almost like a mom. But that¡¯s just it¡ªI don¡¯t want Dad to feel like he¡¯s being pushed into something because it might make things ¡®easier¡¯ for everyone. Wow¡­ Wendy was the one against all of this and now things have taken a total change. Noelia even seems uncomfortable, but it¡¯s obvious she does have feelings for Dad, too. What to do? Bunching her lips to the side, she flipped to her belly and pulled her pillow to the edge of the bed to rest her chin on it, her diary swapping positions so she could read. Her tail beat left and right, making a mess of the bed she just made. I want Dad to choose what makes him happy, genuinely happy. Why is Mom being so pushy with this when I can tell she doesn¡¯t like it? Is it for Noelia¡¯s sake? No way. The only thing I can see this coming from is¡­for me and Wendy. Wendy does need Dad. She needs stability, and Mom¡¯s trying to give her someone who she knows like a mom rather than trying to fit that mold herself¡­ Someone Wendy can already accept. ¡°Hmmmgm. Life is complicated.¡± Mom¡¯s pushing for a polygamist type of relationship between them. Right now, I think Dad¡¯s fine with treating her more like a part of the family, but not anything further¡­ I¡¯ve been rehearsing what to say to him, how to express all these tangled feelings without making it worse. Maybe today¡¯s the day I finally do it. I have to clear the air before tonight¡¯s ritual anyway. Oh, tonight¡­ Yeah, that¡¯s another topic. Her thoughts drifted to the upcoming ceremony meant to officially integrate Wendy into their family. Mom has been planning and preparing us for this for a week, and I can¡¯t help but feel a mix of excitement and dread. There¡¯s something off about the whole thing. Not in a disastrous way, but like a picture slightly askew on the wall, I guess. It¡¯s unsettling my stomach, and maybe that¡¯s because I can¡¯t tell exactly what is making me frown at the subject. Am I just overthinking it? Maybe I¡¯m just nervous about Wendy officially becoming part of the family. It''s a big change, and big changes always feel a bit scary, right? Is it because something always goes wrong, and I don¡¯t want that to happen to Wendy? But what if it¡¯s something more? We¡¯re not sure about Dad¡¯s side of the family, and I get the feeling we¡¯re really skirting that topic¡­ Not that anyone can seem to talk to me about it¡­ Stupid forgetfulness magic or whatever. I¡¯ve been seeing Aunt Rose¡¯s thorns every so often, but they¡¯re more like hugs at this point¡­ She does seem lonely. Shaking her head as if to clear it, Sora watched the pen pause, waiting for her next thought. I need to talk to Dad about all this. Today. Before tonight''s ritual. It was now or never; it had been on her mind for a week. She needed clarity¡­and perhaps, so did he. Her stomach twisted at the very thought of bringing her concerns to him, but it also felt necessary. After all, wasn¡¯t that what family was about? Being able to share your deepest worries? Okay, deep breaths, she coached herself, the diary¡¯s pages fluttering slightly under the spell of her burgeoning magical abilities. The sun¡¯s first light had started to fill the room with a gentle warmth that eased some of her anxiety. Tonight¡¯s going to be big. I just hope it brings us closer together, not tear us apart. The pen danced across the page, capturing her stream of consciousness without missing a beat. Sora let out a small laugh, breaking the intensity of her thoughts. Who knew having magical parents would lead to such drama? I guess every family has its quirks. Morning stretches while we move on to the next topic! Bouncing up and unfolding a mat from under her bed, she started doing some meditation stretches while trying to calm her inner turmoil with more positive thoughts. The windows were wide open, and the Miami beach stretched out below her, the early sunlight painting everything in gold. The waves whispered secrets to the shore, and the palm trees swayed gently in the breeze. Maybe I just need to breathe and take things one step at a time, she mused, watching the city awaken. Maybe today will be simple and sweet. Her magic neatly scribed away, the pen dancing over the page, capturing her rising hopes. Her room, bathed in the gentle light of dawn, felt particularly cozy as her thoughts drifted to her friends and budding sisters. The interactions with Kari lately have been intriguing, to say the least! I swear the distance between us is melting away, although Kari is still an enigma in so many ways¡­ She can be really shy, cute, and sweet, then super bossy, distant, and agitated¡ªget out of my face! Mary says she¡¯s just trying to figure herself out. A.k.a.: she¡¯s learning how to be friends, so give her a break. Speaking about Mary, Kari visits her a lot¡­like, a lot-lot! I¡¯ve gone twice this week, but she¡¯s there, like, every single day. I guess she does have a ton to unpack, though. She¡¯s opening up! Maybe she¡¯ll share more about what¡¯s on her mind soon because I get the vibes she¡¯s working up to it. Maybe she¡¯ll actually say she doesn¡¯t see me as her master! That¡¯d be cool. Let¡¯s skip over to Eyia, she internally chimed. I think Kari and Eyia are becoming closer friends than I thought they¡¯d become. I think it¡¯s primarily because Kari can challenge Eyia, and she¡¯s been lacking that since Jin left. I¡¯m more of a fun stress release, taking her to do new things, but Kari connects with her in more of a sport and battle-type way than I can. Finished shaking off the morning stiffness, her tail flicked with joy as she went into her closet and slipped into a soft dress that flowed around her like a calm stream. She went through a few looks in the body-length mirror with a smile. And then there¡¯s Wendy, getting closer and closer to Noelia. I¡¯m a little jealous, to be honest. I want to spend time with them, too, but the all-important ritual requires them to be truly bonded as mother and daughter¡­ It must be difficult for them, both hurting in ways, but I want them to heal, so I can¡¯t butt in too much. The only time I get to spend with my Mom, I can tell she¡¯s biting her tails with Noelia and Dad off on their own. Why are they making time for Noelia and Dad to be together? Hmm. Mom, Dad, and Noelia have been spending a lot of time together, too, so Dad¡¯s kind of overwhelmed¡­ I¡¯m back to thinking about Dad. I guess that¡¯s where my heart is right now. Finally ready, Sora swiped her dress left and right, seeing how it framed her. The fabric was light, perfect for the day¡¯s warmth, and her tail swayed with a rhythm, enhancing the cuteness. Positive, Sora! Think positive! Aiden¡¯s invited me to check out Tammy¡¯s settlement tomorrow. A date, you ask? Who can tell with that boy?! I swear, he¡¯s nailed my vulpes charm. It¡¯s like he matches my energy! I can¡¯t tell if he¡¯s just being the flirty friend or if he¡¯s implying something deeper, which is¡­ Ahhh! It¡¯s ahhh! But¡­also kind of confusingly cute and funny when he does it. He¡¯s got a good voice, too, but I guess he is kind of a songbird. What comes will come! Her reflection in the mirror smiled back at her, and with a nod of approval at her choice, she turned her focus back to the diary. The pen paused, then continued, swirling elegantly as it noted her final resolve. Today, I¡¯ll support my friends and family. Whatever comes from this ritual thing, we¡¯ll face it together. I should drop by to see Stephanie since she woke up yesterday and was resting. Howie and Daisy have been acting suspicious lately, too. Let¡¯s go! As Sora exited her room, the soft murmur of the suite in the early morning wrapped around her like a comforting shawl. Her ears picked up the unmistakable sounds of her father moving in the master bathroom¡ªhis steps measured and unhurried as he shifted between the closet and bathroom. Curiosity nudging her forward, Sora tiptoed toward the master bedroom door, pressing her big ear against the smooth wood, a practiced maneuver to bypass the persistent silence spell Noelia had cast for their privacy. Inside, the steady, deep breathing of her mom and Noelia resonated softly; by their positions, Noelia was inside her single mattress in the corner. A simple read of their spiritual waves escaping their bodies suggested they had likely talked late into the night and were now lost in dreams. Sora''s heart warmed at the thought. Was she worrying needlessly or had it been more serious? The bonds in her family were complex, threaded with both tension and tenderness. Leaning against the cool wall, she waited, her mind fluttering with the anticipation of speaking with her dad one-on-one for the first time since he¡¯d awoken¡ªthings had been chaotic. The door finally opened, and Jarlath stepped out, his presence immediately filling the door frame. His smile was a bright beacon in the dim corridor, his Irish accent enclosing her like a familiar hug as he greeted her with an endearing term. ¡°There¡¯s my abhaill¨ªn,¡± he whispered with a father¡¯s gentle face; Sora squealed inside at the Irish word for ¡®little apple.¡¯ ¡°Look at ye, all dolled up and perfect as a picture.¡± ¡°Aww, thanks, Dad!¡± she chirped while eyeing his attire. He was dressed casually in a golfing outfit, the kind he wore when he wanted nothing more than a day of simple pleasures. ¡°Are you and Tom hitting the greens today? I hope I¡¯m not intruding, but could I, umm, maybe, you know¡­¡± This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it ¡°Join in?¡± he asked with a laugh. ¡°Uh-huh.¡± Sora¡¯s tail lowered a little while looking to the side. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been up to your ears this week with, eh¡­everything. I just haven¡¯t had any time to talk to you, and I feel like, I don¡¯t know¡­maybe this is the best time since everyone¡¯s passed out.¡± Her dad¡¯s eyes sparkled with a mixture of surprise and delight. ¡°Actually, Love, it¡¯s just me today. Tom¡¯s caught up in court. I¡¯d love nothing more than to have you join me for a father-daughter outing. What do you say? And we don¡¯t have to play golf; I know it isn¡¯t your strong suit.¡± Sora¡¯s heart leaped at the invitation, and her tail swished in uncontrollable joy behind her. ¡°Oh, I think I¡¯m more than a match for you with a little magic,¡± she giggled with a playful grin. ¡°Are you sure you can handle my amazing golf skills? I wouldn¡¯t want to steal the spotlight!¡± Her father¡¯s suppressed laugh followed, the sound shaking his chest. He stepped forward, closing the distance between them, and wrapped her in a warm embrace. ¡°I think I¡¯ll take the risk. Let¡¯s grab some breakfast before we head out, yeah? We¡¯ve got a big day ahead, and I¡¯m all¡­ears,¡± he added, holding up his palm to his head and wiggling it to make her give him a playful scowl and twitch of her big fox ears. ¡°I¡¯m always free for ye, darlin¡¯.¡± ¡°Are we taking one of the cars?¡± she asked, pulling apart as her father led the way downstairs to collect their clubs. ¡°Where were you thinking¡ªsome junk food?¡± ¡°If that¡¯s what you¡¯re feelin¡¯. Why don¡¯t I get our gear, and you get the car ready?¡± ¡°Ooh! I get to pick, huh? And nice touch having them bring back the normal stairs,¡± she chuckled, skipping down the classy, marble steps. ¡°The future light elevator was cool, but way too much. You¡¯ve been really working the Foundation!¡± ¡°It¡¯s the least they can do,¡± her dad shot back with a familiar grunt. ¡°A man doesn¡¯t go into another man¡¯s house and tell him how it should look¡­ That¡¯s the wife¡¯s job,¡± he said with a wink that made her giggle. ¡°When there¡¯s two, ye just gotta step aside and let the pair enter the arena to duke it out.¡± Sora held her elbow behind her back, twisting on her heels to watch him for a moment as they split apart; she could tell he was making the joke to try and affirm himself, and it was a gentle push that told her he knew what she wanted to discuss¡ªher dad wasn¡¯t stupid, after all. ¡°I love you, Dad. See you soon.¡± Going through the glass door to the car showroom garage, she easily went to the most comfortable driving experience in his collection¡ªthe Bentley Flying Spur. She grabbed the keys out of the box and held the button to pop open the trunk. Lying the seats down before using the digital interface to line the car up to go down the vehicle escalator, she felt proud of herself for figuring it out herself; it did have instructions clearly labeled, but she did it! Her father entered the garage and put their pre-packed golfing kits into the back; the sports clothes inside should still fit her, and a little magic would help provide a place for her tail. She heard Kari leaving her room when entering the elevator, but they were already on the move! As Sora maneuvered the Bentley Flying Spur towards the vehicle elevator, her dad leaned against the sleek frame of the car, a twinkle in his eye. ¡°You know, Sora, you should drive more often. You¡¯ve waited long enough to take the wheel, and if you like the Bentley, it¡¯s yours. I was planning to go car shopping with you, but¡­well, the whole vulpes madness got in the way.¡± Sora paused, her hand on the door handle. ¡°Wait, really? Like, really, really?!¡± The excitement in her voice was palpable, and her tail wagged so vigorously it seemed it might just detach. ¡°I can take it out and have fun with Eyia, Kari, and Wendy?¡± ¡°Really, really,¡± her dad chuckled, giving her a nod. ¡°It¡¯s high time you had your own wheels, Love.¡± Grinning, Sora slipped into the driver¡¯s seat, adjusting the mirrors and seat with a bit of trouble as her father finished the process of getting the car into the proper place using the interface. The plush interior and leather made her tail bristle with anticipation as her father entered the passenger side and buckled up. They entered the elevator, and as it began its descent, Jarlath settled into the passenger seat, which looked weird since her dad always drove, his expression one of contentment. ¡°So, uh, where are we grabbing breakfast?¡± Sora asked, trying to loosen up as they reached the bottom. Frank squinted at them in the underground garage, eyebrows rising upon seeing her in the driver¡¯s seat, and gave her a thumbs up. ¡°I was thinking something quick and easy. How about a drive-through? Whatever you fancy,¡± her dad casually suggested, being far too laid back for the simmering emotions hiding underneath that tickled her senses, belying the depth of the conversation they were about to have. Exiting the hotel, the early morning sun cast long shadows on the road as they pulled out of the hotel and onto the Miami Beach roads. Sora¡¯s smile brightened with how easy it was to handle the $300,000 vehicle. ¡°Fast food it is, then. There¡¯s something about greasy breakfast sandwiches that feels just right for a day like this, right?¡± ¡°You said it,¡± he said, leaning against the side of the door, his soft green eyes on her and not the road. ¡°When did you start growing up so fast? I remember when you were hardly up to my waist, fuming over Japanese arcade games. Now you¡¯re acting as your old man¡¯s chauffeur¡­about to go off to magical girl school. Time flies.¡± Sora smiled at the comment, her tail curled around her side and beating against her thigh. ¡°What am I supposed to say to that? When did you start talking like an old man, Mr. I Can Do Anything?¡± As they drove, the city began to stir around them, the streets slowly filling with the morning rush. The Bentley glided smoothly, its powerful engine barely whispering as Sora took a confident turn toward a nearby fast food place. ¡°Hmm. Maybe it¡¯s your mom coming back into our lives,¡± he whispered. ¡°Did I ever tell you about my first car?¡± Sora¡¯s eyebrows drew together as she glanced over at him, which made her nervous, driving such an expensive car, and returned her eyes to the road. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s come up. As I remember the stories, you were working three jobs in college to make it through since you didn¡¯t believe in student loans. Ahem¡­¡± She puffed up her chest and took on a gruff tone to mimic a parent¡¯s speech. ¡°What did you say¡ªwalking to school is hard? Back in my day, every Tuesday, a pack of wolves were waiting for us at the doors. One of them was named Tom¡ªTom was the fastest. One time, Tom caught one of our friends¡­ We had to let him go. ¡°When I went to school, I walked twenty miles, uphill¡ªboth ways, in a blizzard, twenty-six hours a day on one foot! My other foot was working a job¡­when I was nine years old! When I was nine years old, I was twenty-five!¡± Her father¡¯s chest shook with laughter as she stopped behind a line of cars; he picked up where she left off. ¡°Oh? We also got chased by lions. Back in my day, you didn¡¯t have the internet. So, if you wanted to learn physics, you had to find Newton¡­and ask him yourself! You think History is hard, Love¡ªI¡¯ve seen your report cards. Hard? I had to fight the British people at Pearl Harbor! What are you talkin¡¯ about ¡®hard?¡¯ ¡± Sora snorted, giving him a quizzical look, and replied, ¡°Dad, you went to middle and grade school in Ireland?¡± ¡°Exactly!¡± Joking and having fun with her dad, it wasn¡¯t until they reached the golf course that she realized she¡¯d totally blown past his car story. Her magic lifted the items out of the trunk, and her dad shut it. ¡°Wait, what was your first car?¡± ¡°Ah,¡± her dad whispered, walking toward a bench that overlooked the green as the sprinklers went off across the area; their fast food orders hovered after them. ¡°It was an old clunker, more rust than metal. But freedom¡ªit felt like freedom is what I wanted ta say.¡± Sora laughed. ¡°I can''t imagine you in anything less than something swanky these days.¡± ¡°Aye, well, we all start somewhere. You¡¯re just starting a bit¡­higher up the ladder,¡± he replied with a grin. ¡°I worked hard to make sure my only daughter had everythin¡¯ I didn¡¯t.¡± They settled in while Sora passively sipped her extra-large coffee and poked at a pile of pancakes. Her dad went for more of a modest bagel sandwich type of breakfast. As they sat and ate for several seconds, Sora¡¯s thoughts turned back to the family. ¡°Dad, about tonight¡­and everything with Noelia and Mom.¡± She shivered, shifting to look at her dad, one hand thrown over the back of the bench while scanning the green. ¡°Are you really okay with how things are going?¡± His face sobered as he finished chewing what was in his mouth and took a deep breath. ¡°It¡¯s complicated, Love,¡± he whispered, his gaze drifting to the horizon. The early morning sun cast long shadows over the lush green, creating a peaceful yet poignant backdrop. Sora¡¯s tail flicked nervously. ¡°I know it is. I just¡­I guess I want to understand how you really feel about everything. About Noelia, especially. It¡¯s all so new, and, I¡¯ll admit, I didn¡¯t actually take Mom seriously when she first said it, but now it¡¯s getting¡­a little weird. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s thinking.¡± A silence passed between them as he sighed, a weary sound that seemed to carry the weight of the world. ¡°Noelia,¡± he began slowly, ¡°has been a part of our lives for a long time, Sora. She¡¯s taken care of you, been there for you when I couldn¡¯t be¡­trusted you when I didn¡¯t, and I¡¯ll always be grateful for that.¡± Sora nodded, her eyes never leaving his face. ¡°I get that. She¡¯s been like a second mom to me in so many ways. But now, it¡¯s different. Mom¡¯s making her¡­more than that. I get that she''s got super-future vision or whatever. I don¡¯t know; it feels forced, like even she¡¯s uncomfortable with it. How do you feel about it?¡± Her father¡¯s green eyes softened as he crumpled the wrapper and set it to the side. He reached out to gently hold her hand, scooting closer. ¡°What are my honest feelings about it? Hmm. Noelia is a wonderful woman, and she has a good heart. She¡¯s always had your best interests at heart, and I see that more clearly now than ever before. Your mother sees her potential and believes in her, and so do I¡­I really do. But it¡¯s not easy to share something you never expected to share, Sora. It¡¯s not easy for any of us.¡± Sora felt a lump form in her throat. ¡°So, I¡¯m getting that you¡¯re¡­okay with her being, umm¡ªahem¡­more involved? Like, really involved?¡± Jarlath took a deep breath, his grip on her hand tightening slightly. ¡°Mmm. I¡¯ve talked with your mom and Noelia at length about much of this. Am I 100% on board with what your mom believes to the fiber of her being is necessary moving forward? No¡­ I¡¯d be lying if I said I was,¡± he mumbled. ¡°That being said, I¡¯ve come to understand your mom has her own insecurities and needs¡­and it¡¯s a husband¡¯s job to accept that while trying to find a way forward. It¡¯s not perfect, by any means, and there are things between your mother and me that are private¡­things we need to work through on our own.¡± Sora¡¯s fur bristled as he went on, listening intently and leaning in against him. Her ear folded against his chest, hearing the thump of his heart and letting his aura pulse through her. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to see you forced into something you don¡¯t want¡­ I¡¯m worried about you. Mom¡¯s¡­well, Mom. She¡¯s millions of years old¡­ I get she comes from a totally different culture and way of life. I just¡­also see her struggling, when she was the one to propose it in the first place. I don¡¯t get it.¡± ¡°I know, Sweetie. I know¡­¡± He held her for a time, watching the sun continue to rise. It was early morning on a Thursday, which was not peak hours for golfers, so the area was mostly deserted, giving them privacy. After a few minutes, her dad found his way through the emotional turmoil twisting his gut. ¡°¡­I¡¯ve come to accept this for one simple reason, Sora¡­or I should say, I can accept this for one reason. Your mom is¡­damaged in more ways than either of us can fathom. Some people think immortality is a blessing, and it can be¡­to a certain extent, but with that time also comes an eternity of baggage¡­of trauma, and it isn¡¯t as if people with trauma like willingly confronting that.¡± Sora swallowed, thinking about how that now applied to her moving toward infinity. ¡°So¡­millions of years of trauma have led to this situation?¡± ¡°I¡¯d say so, Love,¡± he sighed, stroking her hair. ¡°I¡¯ve come to accept that Noelia is a crucial part of our family because I¡¯m now confident she can do something I cannot¡­ She can help your mom in ways I cannot. With that on the scale, the decision is easy¡­the path, not so much.¡± A softness he¡¯d heard when talking to her mother entered her dad¡¯s voice. ¡°Noelia is a very, very simple woman, Sora¡­an innocent and young woman at heart, despite her age. She¡¯s not replacing your mother, and she¡¯s not taking anything away from you. In fact, she¡¯s adding to our family¡­adding to Wendy¡¯s life, and giving her the love she¡¯s always needed. ¡°Your mom and I¡­we¡¯re trying to navigate this new path together. But I believe in what we¡¯re doing. I believe in our family. And that now includes Noelia.¡± Sora¡¯s heart ached at his words, but she also felt a sense of relief. ¡°I just want everyone to be happy. I know that Mom must be doing this because of me¡ªit has to be because of me or else she¡¯d never let anyone touch you. That does hurt a little, but I¡¯m old enough to get it, I think. I see how you two love each other. I may not understand it yet¡­but I get it.¡± Her father¡¯s hot breath entered her ear as he leaned in with an emotional chuckle. ¡°Aww. You¡¯re wise beyond your years, my little fox. I know it must be as hard on you as it is for us. You¡¯re torn between Wendy finding a mom she can believe in and this new dynamic after regaining your actual mom¡­knowing how far she¡¯ll go for you.¡± ¡°Mmm. Yeah, I just¡­I don¡¯t want you or Mom to feel forced into anything¡ªfor anyone to feel that way. It¡¯s like Kari feeling trapped¡­ I don¡¯t like that. And I don¡¯t want Noelia to feel like she¡¯s just¡­filling a gap, either. Gah! I want to cry now.¡± ¡°Then cry, Sweetheart. I¡¯ll cry with you,¡± Jarlath smiled, a small but genuine smile that reached his eyes. ¡°We¡¯re all figuring this out together, Love. Noelia isn¡¯t filling a gap; she¡¯s bringing something new to our lives¡ªto my life. She¡¯s been a source of strength and stability for you, and she can be that for all of us. Your mother and I, we¡¯re committed to making this work, to finding a way forward that honors everyone involved, including you girls.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes shimmered with unshed tears. ¡°I love you, Dad. I just¡­I worry. About you, about Mom, about Wendy, and Noelia too. It¡¯s a lot. Ever since I got these powers and learned about everything¡­ It¡¯s a lot.¡± He kissed her ear, his low voice gentle and reassuring. ¡°I love you too, Sora. And it¡¯s okay to worry. We¡¯ll face these challenges together, as a family. We¡¯ll find our way, one step at a time. How about after we spend some time together, you take your mom and Noelia out to clear the air with them, as well? How does that sound?¡± ¡°It sounds¡­right,¡± she sighed, releasing the tension in her chest. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know if I¡¯ll be able to call Noelia Mom anytime soon, but she¡¯s Wendy¡¯s mom¡ªmy sister¡¯s mom. So, in a way, I can get behind that. It¡¯s just a bit confusing for me, is all.¡± As they sat there, the morning sun climbed higher in the sky, and Sora felt a renewed sense of hope. Her family was complex, threaded with tension and tenderness, but they were united in their love and commitment to each other. The den was growing, and as she knew from experience, there were such things as growing pain. In the end, her parents were devoted toward each other, and that was undeniable. With a soft sigh, Sora pulled back and wiped at her eyes. ¡°Okay, Dad. Let¡¯s focus on us for a bit. We¡¯ll figure out the rest as we go.¡± Her dad nodded, his smile warm and encouraging, even a little puffy. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit, abhaill¨ªn. Let¡¯s make today a good one. Now, let¡¯s see if you can really beat your old man at golf¡­even when cheating.¡± Sora laughed, the sound light and free. ¡°You¡¯re on. Let¡¯s see what you¡¯ve got, old man!¡± B2 — 30. Horizon View Sora¡¯s laughter still echoed in her ears, a pleasant reminder of the day¡¯s start, filled with lighthearted banter and the occasional exaggerated swing that sent the ball spiraling in impossible directions. Overhead, she could imagine the sun, high and bright, watching over the green stretches of the golf course, a silent observer of the playful rivalry that had unfolded throughout their morning. It seemed like forever since she had the chance to enjoy her father like this. Setting her ground and positioning her hips as he¡¯d shown her, Sora prepared herself to lose their third game. She honed her focus, trying not to get distracted by her father¡¯s smug smirk. What is up with him having such a good villain face sometimes!? Ugh. Even with a little magical nudge, Dad still beat me by a mile. I¡¯m trash! A warm chuckle shook her father¡¯s chest, his eyes crinkling in amusement as he watched her latest attempt to guide the ball with a discreet swirl of magic. ¡°Trying to bend the rules, are we?¡± Jarlath teased, the Irish lilt in his voice dancing with mirth. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the family tradition? Besides, I¡¯m still getting used to swinging with my tail,¡± Sora retorted, her tail swishing in feigned indignation as she lined up for the shot. ¡°Always excuses from a fox, eh? Reminds me of some other tailed ginger.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± she huffed with a smirk. ¡°Mom¡¯s not even ginger; she¡¯s full-on red. And you¡¯re just trying to distract me!¡± ¡°Fair. Fair. Go on. Show me what a young lassie with the addition of a magical tail can deliver.¡± ¡°My butt, a tail helps me! Okay, breathe¡­ Wind patterns, angle, and¡­strike!¡± The ball soared into the air as if taking on her name¡­and landed just outside the sand dunes. The game had continued amidst their laughter, each joke a light tap against the delicate framework of their morning¡¯s deeper conversations. Now, as the Miami sun crowned the day at its zenith, Sora found her ears and tail low, delivering a light glare at her whistling father while putting their clubs in the back. ¡°I totally let you win.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you did, Sweetheart,¡± he snickered. ¡°If by letting me win, you didn¡¯t magic your ball to fly straight into the hole or change the wind on me, wait¡­ You did do that one.¡± ¡°Once! How did you even know?¡± she genuinely asked, getting into the driver¡¯s side of her Bentley to drive back to the hotel. ¡°I thought I was being pretty slick.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the wind,¡± her dad replied as if that was the answer. ¡°When it abruptly changes in another direction while the breeze several meters away keeps on true, then I¡¯d say there¡¯s some magical meddling afoot.¡± Sora¡¯s shoulders and ears slumped at the reveal. ¡°Oh¡­ Well, that makes more sense. I should have made an illusion or something to trick you. Notes for next time. Still, I did better than I ever have before¡­granted, with magic, but better!¡± ¡°No. No, I¡¯m impressed,¡± her dad nodded, dropping into his seat with a grunt. ¡°Maybe you¡¯ll take your new bird friend on a date here and show him the ropes.¡± ¡°M-My what¡ªahh?! Dad!¡± Sora choked and cried out as his comment made her tail stick in the path of her closing door to strike her poor fifth limb. ¡°Ou-ou-ou¡­¡± She cradled her tail with a real teary-eyed glare that had her father holding up his hand in defense. ¡°It can¡¯t all be my fault for you being unable to control the furry thing. Seems I hit a cord, too. So you do like him, huh?¡± Sora growled and repositioned her smarting tail before shutting the door. ¡°Look, he¡¯s cute and nice and really dependable. He¡¯s always there when I need him. I just¡­don¡¯t know if he likes me that way. Honestly, it¡¯s frustrating, Dad. I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s flirting or not. Why are hot boys always like that in school¡ªdon¡¯t think I didn¡¯t notice all the hot guys totally knowing they¡¯re hot and playing all the girls,¡± she mumbled, starting the car. Her dad hummed, rubbing his chin and leaning against the door to look at her. ¡°Darling, you¡¯re more than attractive enough to pull any guy, and that¡¯s not just a dad talking. You¡¯re a literal fox goddess, Sweetheart.¡± Sora threw her arm up before putting the car out of park to pull out into the lot. ¡°And he¡¯s a flipping bird god, or whatever; your point is moot, Dad.¡± Brushing her bangs to the side, she huffed. ¡°I don¡¯t know if he¡¯s naturally flirty or if he¡¯s friend-zoning or anything else. Plus, he is, like, Kari¡¯s kind of big brother and I¡¯m not sure how that relationship is going so far. It¡¯s just frustrating, Dad.¡± ¡°Have you asked him?¡± ¡°What¡ªare you crazy?!¡± Sora shot a look at him before stopping to look both ways. ¡°What age did you grow up again? Geez. I can¡¯t look desperate! It¡¯s practically social suicide. You¡¯re a guy; you wouldn¡¯t get it. I don¡¯t even know if I like him like that¡­ Sure, physically and emotionally he seems to check off those boyfriend boxes, but¡ªwhy am I talking about this with my dad?! ¡°Isn¡¯t this something I should ask Mom? I¡¯m confused¡­¡± she snarled, scratching her ear, cheeks darkened at the look her dad gave her. ¡°You¡¯re supposed to be the shotgun Dad who takes the guy out to the cabin in the woods to tie him up or something. The whole protective dad thing. Although, to be fair, Mom has been making some questionable relationship steps since coming back.¡± ¡°And I thought you were more into the J-dramas,¡± her dad chuckled. ¡°No, I want to see you explore, Sora. You¡¯re a teenage girl about to go to some mystical school in Avalon¡ªliteral Avalon. Don¡¯t sweat it right now. Focus on what you most want and don¡¯t shy away from it. Be bold, and who cares about what society says? You¡¯ve got fire, Darling, literal fire.¡± Sora sighed as they stopped at a light, her face and mood softening as she reached over to squeeze his arm. ¡°Thanks for taking the time to talk to me, Dad¡­ It means a lot. It¡¯s nice to know you trust me, too. What do you plan to do when we get back?¡± she asked, guiding the Bentley to the hotel, the soft hum of the engine a soothing backdrop to her turbulent thoughts. Her dad scratched his neck and smiled. ¡°I took my younger daughter out for a special time, so why not do the same to my older daughter? Well, if she¡¯ll be up to it.¡± Emotions settling, Sora nodded. ¡°That sounds wonderful.¡± The drive was smooth, her hands steady on the wheel, each turn and stop executed with careful precision¡ªa far cry from her flailing attempts at golf. I really do have an amazing dad. And at least I can drive better than I can golf! I have a car now! I wonder if I could get this into Avalon? I could be the only girl in the school with a cool car! Interesting. Interesting. Pulling into the hotel¡¯s underground garage, the cool shade enveloped the vehicle, a stark contrast to the glaring heat outside. Sora followed the instructions of the attendant into the car elevator, and her heart sang upon doing it for the first time, spotting the proud look on her dad¡¯s face. Once in their suite, she used the system to bring her car to the proper place with a satisfied sigh. She glanced at her father, who had managed to keep a grin throughout their ride back. They shared a secretive smile, an unspoken agreement that their morning¡¯s discussion was a victory in its own right. As they left the expansive suite garage, now seemingly linked to all the other floor¡¯s three parking areas, they made their way into the kitchen. Noelia and her mother were pouring over some fancy Italian dish they¡¯d printed out online¡ªmore specifically, Noelia had printed out, since her mom was a technology dunce. No, scratch that, she wasn¡¯t a dunce, she was a full on jinx! Smelling Kari and Eyia¡¯s scent leading to the elevator without a return trip, she expected them to have gone off somewhere. Wendy was in the back room, catching up on the last few weeks of an anime that came out this season. Sora¡¯s ears perked up when the medley aromas of their dishes wafted into her stimulated brain from the stovetop where they attempted to orchestrate lunch. The scene was endearing and slightly chaotic, a visual melody of their attempts at culinary cooperation; her mother was a living disaster. ¡°Did you two have fun going out without waking me?¡± Mia asked with a curious smile while trying to hide what appeared to be burned onions with her tails. She knows we¡¯re up to something. Sora couldn¡¯t help the grin that spread across her face, sharing a conspiratorial glance with her father. ¡°Oh, loads! You should have seen Dad¡¯s face when I almost got a¡­oh, can¡¯t talk about that! It¡¯s a secret,¡± she winked. Her mom gave her a cute pout. ¡°How mean! Well, I would say Noelia, Wendy, and I have had our own fun morning activities. I put in an order for a new laptop for both of us,¡± she said with pride, as if she hadn¡¯t been the one to ruin her laptop with her clawed pokes. Sora laughed, the sound mingling with the sizzle from the pans. ¡°I hope you didn¡¯t break Noelia¡¯s phone. Oh, Dad gave me my first car¡ªthe Bentley!¡± ¡°Mistress, the onions¡­ That¡¯s wonderful, Sora!¡± ¡°Oh! Would you look at that,¡± her mom said with red cheeks. ¡°I got too carried away talking! You¡¯ll have to drive me around and do some school shopping, Sora. Doesn¡¯t that sound like fun?¡± Sora gave her mom a stare as she tried to pass up her bad cooking skills and scattered brain by blaming it on their timing. ¡°Sure, Mom. Maybe tomorrow or something. But hey, is it cool if I steal you both so we can talk¡ªalone? There¡¯s¡­some, umm, stuff I need to know.¡± Her mom nodded without hesitation, Noelia having to make up for the vulpes¡¯ inactive and big tails getting in the way of cooking. ¡°Of course, honey. I assume I¡¯m first. How about the beach? I always find it calming to look out at the waves. Kinda makes you think about endless possibilities, doesn¡¯t it?¡± she asked with a cute smile as Noelia handled the tornado the fox had left for her. Her father pointed toward the entertainment room further down the hallway. ¡°I¡¯ll go talk to Wendy. Thanks for being patient with her, Noelia.¡± The tanuki¡¯s pulled-back ears lifted with an adorable blush and smile at the compliment, her tail puffing up with a slight quiver. ¡°Oh, of course, Mr. Moore. I¡¯ll get her whipped into shape. She made me promise to make her a decent mother, after all, and cooking is on the menu¡­ As many burned dishes as it takes.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that bad,¡± the fox mumbled, glancing off to the side. ¡°I just have¡­a lot on my mind that makes it hard to concentrate.¡± ¡°Which is why you¡¯re always tripping and falling on your face recently,¡± her dad said with a short laugh while moving closer to bend down and kiss her. ¡°Share the load a little more. I know it¡¯s hard¡­ Wendy.¡± ¡°Huh?! Yes, Mr. Moore?¡± the brunette called out from the room down the hall, the sound of Japanese voices ceasing. ¡°Did you and Sora need help bringing up groceries? If so, tell Sora to not be lazy and spell them up.¡± ¡°What?! Are you kidding me, Wendy!? Who¡¯s being lazy?!¡± ¡°Haha. Joking! Hey, give me a second and I¡¯ll¡­¡± ¡°No, go ahead,¡± she called back as the adults smiled at her. ¡°I¡¯m taking my mom out for a talk, so be back in a while. Talk to you later!¡± ¡°Later!¡± Sora nodded, feeling the weight of her earlier conversation with her dad anchoring her resolve as she tugged her mom off to the elevator. This is important. We need to clarify all of this¡­ At least, I do. Turning to Noelia, who appeared slightly apprehensive, her blue eyes darting between Mia and Jarlath. Sora offered a gentle smile. ¡°Noelia, I¡¯ll be back in a bit. I think it¡¯d be good to talk privately. Just to clear the air, you know?¡± Noelia¡¯s nod was hesitant but sincere, her nerves seeming to settle down. ¡°I want everything to go smoothly tonight. Just let me know, and I¡¯ll do it. Personally, I look forward to discussing things with you privately, Sora. Thank you for giving me the opportunity.¡± ¡°Talk to you soon!¡± With that settled, Sora led the way out of the suite and down to the beach, the soft sand warm under her feet. The sound of the waves provided a rhythmic backdrop to their steps, each crest a whisper of the coming conversation. They found a quiet spot away from other beachgoers, the gentle breeze tugging at their hair and clothes. The early afternoon sun draped its golden warmth over Miami Beach as they walked along the shoreline, their bare feet sinking slightly into the soft, wet sand with each step. The rhythmic lapping of the waves provided a soothing backdrop, their gentle rush and retreat mirroring the ebb and flow of Sora¡¯s thoughts. Seagulls cried overhead, circling lazily against a backdrop of clear blue, their sharp calls slicing through the air with a carefree abandon, unlike her heart. Her mom¡¯s vibrant, red tails swished behind her, keeping a light, teasing tone, perhaps sensing the tension in her mood. ¡°You know, I always thought golf was too slow for me. Too much walking, not enough chasing¡ªyour dad had the clothes on, Sweetie.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± ¡°How you didn¡¯t use your fox-talents to snatch the victory is beyond me; I would have done it. If you had won, you would have been bragging,¡± she winked, showing how observant her mother really was, despite her scattered brain. In fact, it may be those thoughts that were the cause of it. Sora chuckled, the sound mingling with the breeze as they slowed their pace. Mom always knows how to lighten the mood, doesn¡¯t she? No, I can tell she¡¯s really nervous right now. She¡¯s just trying to lighten the atmosphere a bit before I really start. Despite the levity, her heart felt heavy, burdened with the actions her mother had been taking. ¡°Actually, Mom,¡± Sora began, her gaze fixed on the horizon where the sea met the sky in a line of infinite possibilities, ¡°talking about speed and chasing¡­there¡¯s something I¡¯ve been trying to catch up with myself. Something about¡­us, and umm, well, about Dad, you, and Noelia.¡± Mia¡¯s playful tail motions and expression became somewhat melancholy. ¡°Oh? What¡¯s on your mind, Sweetheart? You know you can tell me anything, even if you think it will hurt me.¡± Sora tried to organize her feelings into thoughts for a moment. The sand crunched under their feet as they walked, the sun warm on their shoulders, creating long shadows that danced lightly on the beach. She took a deep breath, the salty air filling her lungs as she prepared to dive into the deep end. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking a lot about Noelia¡­and about Dad. And you,¡± she admitted, her voice barely above the sound of the waves. ¡°Ahem. I talked to Dad this morning, and he helped me see things a bit clearer. He really does like Noelia, herself¡­ What she¡¯s brought to my life growing up¡­her care, her warmth. But it¡¯s a lot, isn¡¯t it? Asking Dad to have a second wife and all¡­ I don¡¯t get why you¡¯re pushing for something I know you don¡¯t want.¡± Mia paused, her swaying tails slowing as she turned to face her. The sun highlighted the lines of concern that had begun to form on her usually buoyant face. She took a deep breath, her tails twitching in a rare show of nervousness. Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Sora, Darling,¡± she started, her voice softer, carrying the weight of knowledge Sora couldn¡¯t dream of. ¡°I know this must seem¡­more than a little complicated, and perhaps even a bit unfair to your father. And Noelia.¡± Her gaze drifted out to the ocean, watching a wave crest before it broke gently on the shore. ¡°It¡¯s not about wanting or not wanting. It¡¯s about needing¡ªwhat we all need right now, as a family.¡± Mia¡¯s steps resumed as she wet her dry lips, slower now, her feet dragging slightly in the sand as if the weight of her decisions made it hard to lift them. ¡°This isn¡¯t about me or even your dad. It¡¯s about stability, love, and support¡ªabout a future I cannot change that comes from past mistakes. Noelia has been that rock for us in ways that I¡­well, in ways that I couldn¡¯t be,¡± she gulped, guilt flashing across her face as she looked away. The beach seemed to respond to their somber mood, the waves crashing more insistently as if trying to wash away the oppressive silence that settled between them. Her mother stopped and faced her again, her eyes earnest and a little sad. ¡°You¡¯re old enough for at least this truth, Sora. The truth is, Noelia could use all the support she can get. She¡¯s given so much and asked for so little in return. This¡­relationship isn¡¯t about crossing any boundaries¡ªit¡¯s not about any lascivious actions. I don¡¯t expect there to be any sexual conduct between your father and Noelia¡­not that I can promise that or condemn it if it does happen. ¡°You might be worried about how things will develop in the future. With Wendy, Noelia, me, and your father. Know that this is also me acknowledging and respecting the incredible bond Noelia has developed with our family¡­with you girls and my husband.¡± Sora listened, the rhythmic sound of the waves mixing with her mother¡¯s pained words, each one sinking in slowly, like a sun dipping below the horizon. She could feel the sincerity and struggle in her mother¡¯s voice, the strain of trying to balance the needs of everyone she loved. Her mom chuckled lightly, a sound that seemed out of place with her serious tone. ¡°Maybe I do push too hard sometimes¡­ Without a doubt, I do joke or imply too much¡­ Maybe about things I shouldn¡¯t. It¡¯s my way of coping, I guess. Of trying to bridge the gaps between us without making it all seem so¡­stark.¡± The laughter of a nearby family playing by the water reached them when they reached the more public strip, a stark contrast to their own weighty conversation. Her mom glanced at them, then back at her. ¡°There could be a million things going through your mind due to the culture you¡¯ve grown up in. This isn¡¯t about wanting more than your father can give, introducing some exciting fling, or changing what we have¡­. It¡¯s about answering to the mistakes I¡¯ve made¡ªme¡­not your father. ¡°It¡¯s about not tearing Noelia away from the only family she¡¯s been able to build after her traumatic childhood. It¡¯s about an uncertain future I can¡¯t¡­don¡¯t have the power to change. Noelia is¡­she¡¯s been more of a mother to you than I ever was, in many ways. And that¡¯s a hard thing for a mother to admit,¡± she laughed, her voice cracking and tears gathering in her eyes. ¡°Consider me comfortably in pain¡­haha, happily insane.¡± Her mother puffed out her cheeks, seemingly releasing something held deep within her chest. ¡°I already know I¡¯m letting go of something sacred, Sora¡­ As if I¡¯m driving us off the road, I¡­take a good thing and I break it. You have no idea how that makes me feel¡­in my soul. I wish I could take it all back¡­but I can¡¯t, and,¡± she let out a half-sigh and laughed, ¡°maybe I have a habit for destruction. Sometimes¡­I wonder. But I cannot deny what I know¡­and I have to act on it.¡± Sora felt the sincerity of her mother¡¯s confession and struggle, the difficult admission that was clearly hard to express. She reached out, taking her mom¡¯s hand, feeling the warmth and slight tremble that transferred with her spiritual waves. ¡°So, what you¡¯re saying is¡­it¡¯s more than just living together. It¡¯s about giving Noelia the place she deserves in our family¡­even if it hurts you? Without making it¡­weird?¡± Mia squeezed her hand, nodding. ¡°Exactly, My Little Ember. I want her to feel as loved and as important as she truly is¡­ To allow her vulnerable heart to peek out of the darkness and bask in a little light. And for your father, it¡¯s¡­something between us.¡± Biting her bottom lip, her mom ran her fingers through her hair while brushing away her tears. ¡°Eternity is a long time, Sweetie¡­it really is. There is a lot that can happen when you have forever¡­a lot of baggage someone can carry, and Noelia is only a few thousand years old. The point is¡­ I¡¯m trying, Sora. I¡¯m trying.¡± Sora looked out at the ocean, watching a seagull dive into the surf, emerging with a fish. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to think about. And I want to get it, Mom. I really do. And I think¡­I think I can see why you¡¯re doing all this¡­because of the guilt. I just wanted to know that no one was being compelled into anything¡­ I know most of this is between the three of you. I¡¯m just¡­trying to understand. I¡¯m glad a lot of it also rests in Dad¡¯s hands to choose how much he¡¯s willing to accept.¡± Her mom¡¯s relief was palpable, her shoulders relaxing as she pulled her into a gentle hug. ¡°Thank you, Sora. For listening, for understanding. I know it¡¯s a lot¡ªmore than a lot to ask. We¡­no, I don¡¯t expect you to be okay with everything all at once. But knowing we can talk about it, that we can communicate¡­ It means everything to me.¡± As they resumed walking, the sound of the waves seemed less oppressive, more a part of the vast, complex world they navigated together. Sora felt things starting to fall into place, like the sunrise after a long, dark night. ¡°Okay. Can we go back up and I can talk to Noelia about how she feels?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± her mom whispered, turning them around to walk up the beach. ¡°I know I¡¯m not the perfect goddess of a mother you likely envisioned¡­ How I came across when we first met¡­when I knew everything and wasn¡¯t so frustratingly limited, as I am now. I¡¯ve made¡­so many mistakes across millions of years, Sora. I¡¯m a flawed woman¡­who doesn¡¯t even feel qualified yet to truly be called a mother¡­but I¡¯m trying.¡± Squeezing her hand again, Sora knew there was nothing she could say to make her mom feel better or more worthy. That would come by Sora loving her and showing her how much she thought of her as her mother over time. Resting her head against hers, Sora linked tails with her mom. ¡°I love you, Mom.¡± As they walked back along the beach, the waves lapping at their feet in a gentle, rhythmic cadence, Sora felt a sense of peace settle over her. The conversation with her mother had been heavy but necessary, and she was grateful for the honesty they had shared. The sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a warm glow over Miami Beach, and the soft breeze carried the salty tang of the ocean air, bringing a cleansing sensation through her soul. Returning to the hotel, they entered the elevator, and Sora¡¯s heart felt a little lighter. Her mother¡¯s earlier tension had given way to a soft, genuine smile, and as they rode up to their suite, Sora leaned against the cool mirror wall, her mind already shifting to her next conversation. Upon entering their suite, the delicious smell of lunch greeted them. Noelia was diligently working in the kitchen, a faint look of concentration on her face as she managed several dishes at once with her magic. Her mother gave Sora a quick squeeze before heading to take over, her red tails swaying behind her. ¡°Mom, I¡¯m going to borrow Noelia for a bit,¡± she announced, her voice carrying a playful tone. ¡°Think you can handle the kitchen without us?¡± Her mom gave her a mock pout, her tails swishing with exaggerated disappointment. ¡°You¡¯re abandoning me to the culinary battlefield? How cruel, my daughter!¡± ¡°Oh shush, you!¡± Noelia turned and giggled, her confident expression fumbling a bit. ¡°Oh, umm, of course, Sora. Wendy and your father have already left for an ice cream store to pick us up some treats. Just a second,¡± she said, finishing a delicate fold of what looked like Japanese dumplings. She wiped her hands on a towel and gave the red-tailed fox a dubious look. ¡°I honestly don¡¯t know if I should leave you in the kitchen alone, Mistress. I can¡¯t leave you for even a second without a safety measure¡­ You really might burn down the hotel,¡± Noelia teased with a bit more ease. Sora couldn¡¯t help laughing and spelled a fire extinguisher to hover around her mom, which earned a mock offended look and a slump of her shoulders. She laughed, making her way to Noelia, who was diligently stirring a pot on the stove. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t worry, Mom. I¡¯ve spelled a fire extinguisher to follow you around, just in case.¡± Her mother made a dramatic noise, glancing at the floating fire extinguisher with a defeated expression. ¡°Treated like a kid in my own kitchen¡­¡± Noelia, unable to hold back a giggle, turned to Sora with a bright smile. ¡°I guess your mom¡¯s reputation precedes her. Better safe than sorry, right?¡± Sora grinned, pulling Noelia away from the stove. ¡°Exactly! Now, come on. We need to talk.¡± They moved to a quieter elevator of the suite, away from her grumbling mom, who had probably never had to cook in her life due to magic. She used her magic to make it descend, studying the puffy-tailed woman. The tanuki¡¯s natural grace and energetic presence remained the same, even when in her true form, and she felt a wave of gratitude for the stability Noelia brought to her life growing up. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s get straight to it,¡± Sora began, taking a deep breath. ¡°I talked to my dad this morning and had a long chat with my mom just now. I want to understand how you¡¯re feeling about all of this¡ªabout becoming a more official part of our family. I know it¡¯s a lot, and I don¡¯t want anyone to feel pressured or uncomfortable.¡± Noelia¡¯s blue eyes softened, and she reached out to hold her hands, the tanuki¡¯s touch gentle and reassuring. ¡°Sora, I appreciate you talking to me about this. It means the world to me that you care so much. Honestly, it¡¯s¡­overwhelming, but in a good way. I¡¯ve always wanted to be a part of your family, and now that it¡¯s happening, I feel a mix of excitement and¡­and fear, I suppose. Your mom and dad have been so welcoming, but I don¡¯t want to overstep or cause any tension. It¡¯s just¡­hard to know where that line is recently.¡± Sora nodded, feeling the sincerity in Noelia¡¯s words; she really did look so much more alive than when first teleporting into her suite to reveal herself. The tanuki had probably been waiting for the moment she could enter her life again. ¡°My mom mentioned how important you are to¡­well, to the future, I guess. My dad was far more direct, I think,¡± she mumbled, ear twitching. ¡°He thinks you¡¯re good for my mom due to something in her past. My mom also said it¡¯s not about replacing anyone or changing what we have, but about acknowledging the bond you¡¯ve built with us, and I agree with that.¡± She felt her nose turning red upon seeing tears forming in the brown-and-gray-haired raccoon¡¯s big blue eyes. ¡°I just want to make sure you¡¯re okay with all of this¡­that you¡¯re not being pushed into something you don¡¯t want because I know how pushy my mom can be.¡± Noelia cleared her throat as they got to the ground level and brushed away the liquid. ¡°Can I think about that for a minute? This is a very¡­mixed bag of emotions for me.¡± ¡°Mhm! Take as much time as you want,¡± she added, spotting a mix of emotions fall over the woman¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯m not here to judge you, Noelia¡ªlike, at all! I know this is all my mom¡¯s plot. Completely my mom! You mean a lot to me, too, Noelia¡­ A lot, and I want you to be comfortable.¡± Noelia gripped her elbow, rubbing it for a moment as they exited the elevator and made their way to their private beach. Her gaze was low, a searching look in her eyes. It wasn¡¯t until they left the hotel party area and stood in front of the crashing waves that the tanuki spoke again. ¡°Sora¡­your mother and I have talked about this¡­a lot over the past week. It is strange¡ªterrifying. Without Mia¡¯s prompts and nudging, I doubt I would be as happy as I am now¡­and I am happy. I¡¯m seeing a part of your mom that seems impossible. It puts a lot in perspective with my own father¡­since they¡¯re around the same age. She asked for my support, and I¡¯m more than willing to provide that. I care deeply for your father as well, and I want to be a part of this family in every way I can¡­ Whatever position it is in, as servant, wife, or mother.¡± Sora let Noelia¡¯s feelings sink in; in short, she¡¯d take whatever scraps her mother was willing to throw at her. That was how isolated, unloved, and broken the tanuki woman was¡­and presumably, how much her father¡¯s kindness had left an impact on her. Noelia truly was a refugee, but not from Cuba but another Founder territory. ¡°I¡¯m really glad to hear that, Noelia. I just¡­ I don¡¯t want anyone to feel forced into anything. I want everyone to be happy and comfortable with the way things are moving. I want to help you feel welcomed, too.¡± Noelia reached out, placing a gentle hand on hers. ¡°Your concern means a lot to me, Sora. You¡¯re not the first one to talk to me about this. Wendy has been discussing it at length with me. And I want you to know that I¡¯m here for you both, too. You¡¯re both incredible young women I¡¯ve had the pleasure of raising¡ªeven if I¡¯ve been absent for the past three years¡ªand I¡¯m so proud of who you¡¯re both becoming.¡± Sora smiled, feeling the weight of her worries lift a little more. ¡°Thank you, Noelia. For everything. I feel a lot better now. Tonight¡¯s ritual¡­I hope it brings us all closer together.¡± Noelia¡¯s eyes shone with warmth and understanding under the glow of the overhead sun. ¡°It will, Sora. I¡¯m¡­going to be a mother¡ªa real mother to a daughter that wants and needs me.¡± Happy for both her caretaker, second mother, and sister¡¯s soon-to-be real mother, Sora drew her into a hug. They shared a quiet moment of connection, the bond between them strengthening with each passing second. Sora knew there would still be challenges to navigate between her parents and this unorthodox family they were building, but what family was perfect? The tranquil sound of the waves brushing against the shoreline accompanied Sora and Noelia as they made their way down the sun-kissed beach. The sand beneath their feet seemed to soak up the late afternoon sun, radiating warmth with each step they took. Sora¡¯s thoughts whirled like the seagulls overhead, each flap of their wings echoing the tumult of emotions stirring within her as she wanted more. Okay, calm down. This is important. Just be honest, be kind, and listen. Noelia just wants to belong¡­to support a welcoming family¡­to heal. Sora glanced at Noelia, noticing how the sunlight played on her hair, casting it in a halo of the layered colors. They found a quiet spot away from the livelier beachgoers, where the only sounds were the rhythmic surge of the ocean and the distant laughter of children. Noelia¡¯s expression had faltered a little, showing the self-doubt, anxiety, and insecurities she grappled with inside. Her gaze fixed on the vast expanse of water before them, and Sora wanted to know a little more about what the tanuki truly felt. The lines of her dress fluttered gently in the sea breeze, occasionally clinging to her form as if trying to comfort her, but it didn¡¯t seem to get through the woman¡¯s shell. Sora inhaled deeply, the salty air filling her lungs and steadying her nerves. She¡¯s nervous, maybe even scared. This isn¡¯t just about me or Dad¡­ Noelia¡¯s part of this family, too. She needs to know she¡¯s not alone in this. ¡°Thank you for coming out here with me,¡± Sora expressed, her voice soft against the sound of the waves. ¡°I, umm, know there¡¯s more that I want to ask. Is that really everything that¡¯s on your heart? Don¡¯t we need to be as close as we can so¡­you don¡¯t disappear?¡± Noelia turned to her, a small, thankful smile playing on her lips, yet her eyes held a weight waiting to be shed. ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± she admitted, her gaze drifting back to the horizon. ¡°I suppose you could say we need to be closer since setting your heart at ease would help to lower spiritual defenses. All of this is so complicated. ¡°I feel¡­ honored, Sora. To be considered part of your family. To have you care enough about me to pull me aside like this. But it¡¯s also daunting. I never imagined being in such a position¡­being between your mother and father as they struggle to understand each other¡¯s needs.¡± Her fingers idly picked at the hem of her dress, a nervous habit that didn¡¯t escape Sora¡¯s notice. ¡°I can¡¯t help but feel like I¡¯m intruding sometimes,¡± Noelia continued, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Like I¡¯m overstepping some invisible line. I don¡¯t want to cause any rifts within your family.¡± Sora reached out, placing a gentle hand on Noelia¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re not intruding, Noelia. You¡¯re a part of us now, and that¡¯s something we all want¡ªmaybe not in every way. But, hmm¡­ I guess, do you¡­ Do you love my dad?¡± The question seemed to catch Noelia off guard. She paused, her eyes wide as they met Sora¡¯s. A moment passed, a single heartbeat that felt like an eternity, before Noelia¡¯s face softened, and she drew in her lips with a short, nervous chuckle. ¡°What a bold young woman you are, Sora¡­but I suppose that shouldn¡¯t be new to me. Hmm. Do I love your father? I do,¡± she confessed, a blush coloring her cheeks. ¡°And I know I¡¯m horrible for having those feelings¡­that his heart is not mine. Still, call it whatever you want, I cannot deny the way my heart aches when I see his smile¡­his loyalty to you.¡± She laughed, a sound tinged with nostalgia. ¡°I remember the exact moment I realized it. It was during a trip to Tahiti on a cruise ship we were on¡­ When he saw me lonely, off to the side while you and Wendy were dancing together¡­and he asked if I wanted to join¡­ There was something about the way he held my body tight¡­how he moved me that left an impact I can¡¯t deny.¡± Sora remembered the cruise, remembered Noelia lost in a cloud when they arrived in Tahiti, but now the fun trip took on a new light. Yet, the tanuki¡¯s story wasn¡¯t finished as she spoke of a moment that was more magical than the powers she held. ¡°There was this evening, the sunset was breathtaking¡­painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Your father and I were alone on the deck, just¡­talking with you girls running ahead of us. He spoke of his hopes for you, for his daughter¡¯s futures, and I saw a side of him that was so genuine, so caring¡­so dedicated. I think that was the moment my heart decided for me.¡± With a wave of her hand, Noelia conjured a small, delicate illusion¡ªa miniature replica of the cruise ship, complete with tiny waves lapping against its sides. ¡°It was magical, not just the setting, but the sincerity in his words. He has a way of making everyone feel so valued, so loved, yet has a fire in him that rises to defend those he cares for¡­and he showed that when I slipped in my illusions and had a few men come onto me.¡± Sora watched the illusion with wide eyes, moved by the simplicity and beauty of the memories Noelia cherished. ¡°That sounds amazing¡­ I had no idea.¡± Noelia nodded, her smile wistful. ¡°I do. But I also respect the bond he has with your mother, and I would never want to jeopardize that. This¡­mmm, situation, it¡¯s not just about love, as your mom told me. It¡¯s about family, about being there for each other in any capacity we can.¡± She looked back out to the sea, her expression conflicted. ¡°I feel guilty, sometimes¡­especially when sleeping in the same room as them¡­ Guilty for the happiness I find in being loved by your father when he takes me out on these innocent, cute dates. And I feel dirty, like I¡¯m tarnishing something sacred. But then I remember the laughter, the shared moments, and I think maybe¡­maybe it¡¯s okay to be happy.¡± Sora squeezed Noelia¡¯s hand, a gesture of support and understanding. ¡°It¡¯s more than okay, Noelia. You¡¯re not dirty or wrong for feeling loved. We all see how much you bring to our lives¡­and my dad is trying. I know he cares for you. You deserve to be happy, too, and you deserve to be loved¡ªjust as much as any of us.¡± Noelia¡¯s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she turned to face her, the tanuki¡¯s expression one of profound gratitude as she pulled her into a hug. ¡°Thank you, Sora. Thank you for being so understanding, for listening¡­even to my horrible confessions. I¡¯ve been so afraid of overstepping, of being seen as an outsider trying to steal away a piece of your father¡¯s heart.¡± ¡°But you¡¯re not stealing anything,¡± Sora reassured her, her voice firm and warm. ¡°You¡¯re adding to our family¡¯s happiness; you¡¯re enriching our lives. My mom wanted this¡­and I see the three of you trying really hard to make this work, so¡­ I¡¯m happy to support you, as you¡¯ve always supported me¡­to the point of making my father hate you when you refused to give me those meds. I know that probably killed you. And whatever happens, we¡¯ll face it together¡ªas a family.¡± As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows on the sand, Sora felt a weight lift from her shoulders. The conversation, though heavy with emotional revelations, had brought them closer, weaving stronger bonds between their hearts. They stood together, watching the sky change colors, feeling the cool breeze against their skin. And, in that moment, Sora knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would navigate them together, with love and understanding guiding their way. Tonight Wendy and Noelia would officially become a part of the true fox den¡ªWendy would become her true sister. B2 — 31. Eternal Olive Branch, Grafted Wendy took a deep breath, smoothing her dress as she stepped out of the grand hotel lobby. She glanced at Jarlath, her fingers twitching slightly, the corners of her mouth lifting in a tentative smile. The evening sun cast a golden glow over Miami Beach, its rays warming her toes in her open sandals as they made their way toward a nearby ice cream store. The air was filled with the sound of distant laughter, the rustle of palm trees, and the gentle hum of evening traffic. Jarlath¡¯s gaze shifted to her with an unmistakable fatherly smile. Wendy¡¯s cheeks warmed, and she quickly looked away, feeling a comforting yet awkward flutter in her stomach. ¡°How are you feeling after spending the week with Noelia?¡± Her eyes traced the path of a child chasing after a balloon vendor. A smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Honestly, it¡¯s been really nice,¡± she admitted. ¡°Noelia¡¯s been amazing, and I feel like I¡¯m starting to find my place in all of this. But it¡¯s still a bit overwhelming, you know? Nilly helps. She pops in every once in a while, but she¡¯s been spending a lot of time with Stephanie, too.¡± Jarlath nodded, hands in his pockets, his green eyes scanning the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s a big change, for all of us. But I¡¯m glad to hear you¡¯re feeling positive about it. Noelia has always had a special way of making people feel welcome¡­ It¡¯s one of the reasons I hired her to take care of Sora. She had a way of knowing exactly what you girls needed. I guess I know why now.¡± ¡°I guess so,¡± she mumbled, rubbing her elbow and watching a few Asian tourists pass them, speaking Japanese. ¡°It¡¯s nice knowing Mia and Noelia aren¡¯t perfect¡­ That they¡¯re trying to work on things and that we can help each other.¡± ¡°Aye. I agree there,¡± he said, yet there was a note in his downcast eyes that she couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°There are things I wish both of them could be more honest about, but that¡¯s between us. You girls deserve a stable home to come back to¡­a safe place to rest and recuperate. That¡¯s what I hope to build with Mia and your mother.¡± If Wendy had a tail, she knew it would be bristling at that comment, and an elated twist worked into her gut as she repeated his statement. ¡°My mother¡­ Noelia is everything I wanted. Why¡­is it hard for me to tell her that?¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Jarlath sunk into a thoughtful frown as they walked, and Wendy took in the vibrant colors of the city, the neon signs of shops and restaurants lighting up as the sun dipped lower. As the neon signs flickered to life, Wendy¡¯s steps lightened, feeling a warmth spread through her chest, though a shadow of guilt lingered at the edges of her thoughts. After a few seconds, they stopped at a stop light, and he looked down at her with a gentle face she¡¯d seen all her life. ¡°It¡¯s scary to admit something that may open you up to heartache¡­ Trust me, I know that all too much. Mia is¡­hard to handle sometimes,¡± he winced and rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°That sounds pretty bad when talking about your wife.¡± Wendy giggled, thinking about the mess of a nine-tailed fox. ¡°Pretty accurate, I¡¯d say! Noelia swears she¡¯s so wise and intelligent, though¡­ She says that Mia is in an impossible position, and without her¡­she¡¯d be dead. Mia is teaching her so many things in their short lessons, and that makes me happy¡ªseeing my, ahem¡­seeing my mom happy.¡± Jarlath¡¯s big, strong arm closed around her shoulder to pull her into a short, gentle hug as they walked. ¡°You¡¯ve always been such a good influence on Sora, Wendy. I¡¯m kind of scared of how she would have turned out without you around.¡± ¡°It¡¯s strange,¡± she mumbled, enjoying the reassurance as they broke apart. ¡°I was so used to being on my own after distancing myself from Sora, but now¡­now I feel like I have a family again. And it¡¯s not just Sora. You¡¯ve always been there for me, like a real father.¡± His eyes softened further, and a mixture of pride and affection in his gaze lit something in Wendy¡¯s chest that she¡¯d been missing all her life: feeling as if she¡¯d made her father proud. ¡°You¡¯ve always been more like Sora¡¯s sister than just her friend. And I¡¯m honored to be here for you, Wendy¡ªthat you feel that way about me. You deserve to feel loved and needed as much as Sora.¡± Wendy¡¯s cheeks warmed, and she felt a surge of gratitude, her eyes shining as she whispered,¡°Thank you. That means a lot to me. I know my real father wasn¡¯t¡­ Well, from what I¡¯ve heard, he wasn¡¯t exactly a great person. Also, news flash, my biological mom wasn¡¯t the best judge of character either. But,¡± she gulped, fidgeting with her hands, ¡°but you¡¯ve been everything I could have hoped for in a father figure.¡± Jarlath placed a gentle hand on her shoulder again, his touch reassuring and lingering longer now. ¡°All of that is in the past. What matters now is that you¡¯re here with us, and we¡¯re all moving forward together. I wasn¡¯t sure what I could do for you girls when I came home and discovered the shit storm you were caught up in, but¡­we worked through it.¡± Wendy nodded, a hopeful smile spreading across her lips. ¡°Is it scary? Absolutely. But it¡¯s also exciting. And Noelia¡­she¡¯s been so good to me. I really want to give this a try. Are you okay with that?¡± Jarlath breathed a long stream of air through his nose, his arm more firmly wrapping around her shoulders as if a blanket, keeping her from danger. ¡°You¡¯re already part of our family, Wendy. This is just making it official. It¡¯s not that big of a change for me, but at the same time, it¡¯s a huge change because I want to make sure you feel comfortable and happy inside our family.¡± Wendy laughed, her cheeks flushing further. ¡°I don¡¯t even know how to respond to that¡­ It just makes me really happy. Thank you for opening your home to Noelia and me¡­ You even opened it up to Kari, which¡­yeah. I don¡¯t know how to feel about her, but I¡¯m not all that scared of her anymore, I guess, which is¡­ Yeah, it¡¯s just crazy. I still can¡¯t believe Sora forgave her. I don¡¯t know¡­¡± A comfortable silence settled between them as they reached the ice cream store. She figured he had to keep a neutral position with the wolf. The sweet aroma of freshly made cones and the cool air wafting out from the shop greeted them. Wendy¡¯s eyes lit up as she scanned the array of colorful flavors behind the glass display. ¡°I leave that up to Sora, and you should make up your own mind on it, too. Your and Sora¡¯s experiences are different, and how you approach them should be unique to your experience. Now, should we get something for Stephanie and bring it to her on the way back?¡± Jarlath gently suggested. Wendy sighed, looking inward. He¡¯s right, I haven¡¯t really had a chance to talk to Kari one-on-one¡­and she was the one that told Sora I was freaking out downstairs. Why did she do that? I don¡¯t get it¡­ Maybe I really don¡¯t know her. Brushing the topic aside, she nodded eagerly. ¡°I¡¯d love that. She¡¯s been really weak lately, and it¡¯s hard to think she was a Celestial, whatever that is. All I know is she¡¯s this frail, blue-skinned pretty lady who seems to run off ice cream.¡± Jarlath frowned, rubbing her shoulder before pulling away as they moved up in line. ¡°Ron¡¯s being strong, but I can tell he¡¯s overwhelmed. Maybe we should see about getting some of the staff to help out more.¡± Wendy found her elbow behind her back, sucking on her bottom lip while they waited. ¡°Hmm. Noelia has already talked to me about it. She wants to help out more, but¡­¡± she trailed off, uncertainty in her voice. He chuckled softly, finishing her thought. ¡°She¡¯s been walking on eggshells, hasn¡¯t she? I hope that will diminish over time. It¡¯s a process for all of us, but we¡¯ll get there.¡± ¡°I hope so,¡± Wendy whispered. ¡°And in the meantime, we can at least bring Stephanie some ice cream, or else she may turn the whole hotel into a freezer. What do you think she¡¯d like?¡± Her soon-to-be dad grinned. ¡°Not a clue, so let¡¯s get her a little bit of everything. That way, she can choose what she likes. The extra freezer is clear enough for a few boxes, as well.¡± As they selected a variety of flavors and placed their order, Wendy felt a wave of contentment wash over her. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly happy and excited about the future. Jarlath smiled and pulled out his phone. ¡°Alright, on second thought, let¡¯s make sure we get the right flavor so we don¡¯t have to come back. One moment.¡± He dialed Ron¡¯s number, waiting as the phone rang. Wendy gave him a thumbs up. ¡°Good call! We wouldn¡¯t want the ice queen to shatter because she¡¯s allergic to cherries.¡± ¡°Aye, Ron, it¡¯s Jarlath. We¡¯re at the ice cream shop, and we¡¯re getting some treats for Stephanie. Do you happen to know her favorite flavor?¡± Ron¡¯s voice came through, a bit tired but cheerful. ¡°Hey, Mr. Moore. Hmm? Oh, you didn¡¯t have to do that! Haha. Thanks! Umm. Yeah, she loves something a bit different. If they have a flavor with something cold and fresh, like mint and cucumber sorbet¡ªa mix of something like that¡ªshe¡¯d be thrilled.¡± Jarlath gave her a lifted eyebrow that she returned with a chuckle. ¡°Mint¡­cucumber. Sure. Got it. Thanks, Ron. We¡¯ll be back soon.¡± He hung up and turned to Wendy. ¡°Mint and cucumber sorbet?¡± ¡°Yeah, is that even a thing?¡± she asked, glancing at the shop attendant. ¡°Let¡¯s hope they have it.¡± The shop attendant raised an eyebrow, but to both their shock, he nodded, searching the back and returning with a large three-gallon tub of mint and cucumber sorbet. Wendy¡¯s eyes widened at the size of the tub. ¡°Wow. No way you have that on stock and ready.¡± The man behind the counter smirked. ¡°It¡¯s for Ron¡¯s wife, right? Oh, trust me, this is the most normal flavor she¡¯s had custom-ordered. She¡¯s kind of famous around the local ice cream shops. We only know her by Mrs. Cold Fingers.¡± Wendy snickered at the revelation. ¡°Famous or infamous? Anyway, that¡¯s perfect. Thanks!¡± She said, doing her best to wrap her hands around the cold tub. ¡°Oof! It¡¯s like¡­thirty pounds! No, I can do it!¡± she defended as Jarlath moved to help her. ¡°I used to do a lot of carrying when I worked for the school.¡± ¡°Impressive,¡± he said, wearing a small smile that only made her want to prove she could do it even more. ¡°Just know that we¡¯ve got a walk back to the hotel. Let me know if it gets too hard.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± He swiftly paid for the order and easily handled two more heavy tubs for their upstairs freezer. Wendy knew she wasn¡¯t a wimp, though! Sora would have cheated and used her magic, and¡­to be honest, magic would have been cool right now, but she couldn¡¯t look weak after saying she could do it¡ªshe had her pride. As they made their way back to the hotel, the sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the city. Much of her worries were swept away in the laborious journey back; she refused to take any breaks, though. Relief came once they came to the hotel when one of the front guards jumped to take the load out of her hands. If he wanted to help, then what could she do? Entering the elevator, the guard placed the drum on the floor before leaving. Meanwhile, Wendy was clenching her hands, trying to regain feeling after the trip with the cold, heavy container; she breathed steadily to prepare herself for the next haul. Jarlath pressed the button for Sora¡¯s private realm, the elevator humming softly as it ascended. They stepped into the lush, serene space of Sora¡¯s private realm, the air filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves. It was a world apart from the bustling city below, a tranquil haven that was the new quiet place she had liked to go recently. They continued through the realm, making their way to the cozy cottage where Stephanie and Ron were staying. Ron met them at the door, a tired but grateful smile on his face. ¡°Thanks for this,¡± he said, taking the baby from his wife and giving Wendy a nod. ¡°Did you really carry that thing all the way here? I get tired making that journey.¡± Jarlath laughed, placing his two tubs in what looked to be an ice box meant for it. ¡°She sure did! Girl¡¯s got some muscle on her. Aye, mind if we talk for a bit and leave them some time to talk?¡± ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll give you two some time alone then,¡± he said, moving to grab a stroller in the corner. ¡°The little guy has been a little restless so a walk might do him good.¡± Wendy felt a little awkward as they talked and swiftly made their exit. Proceeding further into the room, she carefully approached. ¡°Umm. Hi, Stephanie! We brought you a, eh-hehe, a little something. Wow¡­you¡¯re looking better.¡± Stephanie, propped up against the headboard, looked up with a weary but appreciative smile. ¡°Thank you, Wendy. You have no idea how much this means to me.¡± She reached for the tub as she approached, her movements slow and deliberate. ¡°You even brought a spoon. Thoughtful. Can you¡­¡± ¡°Oh, mhm!¡± Setting the wrapped tub of sorbet on the bed next to her, Wendy opened the top with a little effort. ¡°It¡¯s¡­stuck on there¡ªgot it!¡± Wendy studied Stephanie as she took a bite of the sorbet. Despite her current state, there was still an ethereal beauty about her. Her vibrant turquoise hair was pulled into a ponytail, and though she was now just a bit taller than Kari and Eyia, she still exuded a goddess-like aura. Her blue skin was faint, more of an undertone now, hinting at her former grandeur that Sora showed her. ¡°How have you been feeling?¡± Wendy tentatively asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and trying to relax her tight, tingling muscles. Stephanie took another bite, savoring the weird flavor. ¡°It¡¯s been¡­difficult,¡± she admitted, her voice calm and collected, like the gentle crackling of ice. ¡°Losing all my power, being no stronger than an ill human woman¡­it¡¯s a humbling experience. I¡¯m surely growing stronger¡­slowly, but it¡¯s isolating, being so far from my family and my former self.¡± Her sparkling eyes showed a sad smile while looking across at her. ¡°Did you want my honesty? It seems you are coming close to accepting something important. Do you want to talk, or should I?¡± Wendy nodded, not knowing if she wanted to talk or not with the shockingly cool and stable giantess. Stephanie appeared to interpret it in the latter, her tone more thoughtful than frightened as she sampled another bite with a cute shiver. ¡°Mmm. Feeling the cold is so¡­refreshing. Oh? Did you come to steal some, Little Thief?¡± Wendy jumped as a familiar child¡¯s voice broke the still atmosphere and arms looped around her waist, pulling her tight. ¡°N-Nilly?!¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s not a thief; Nilly¡¯s a superhero, Frosty Flakes! Nilly fights off the Sardine Army but no one thanks Nilly because Nilly¡¯s too fast. Nilly¡¯s strong, you know!¡± This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Stephanie held up her spoon. ¡°Three scoops, Sardine Slayer¡­ I am thankful for all you have done, Nilly. In my desperation, you¡¯ve been here for me even more than Mia. I suspect you have ulterior motives, you tricky cat.¡± The nekomata released her and danced around the bed to cheerily accept the spoon and take a relishing bite of the treat. ¡°Nilly does have dubious, tricky-tricky motives! Nilly¡¯s the strongest, you know! Everyone makes fun of Nilly. Everyone¡¯s mean to Nilly. Not Brown Puffy-Tail and Frosty, though!¡± she chimed, pointing the spoon in Wendy¡¯s direction. Wendy relaxed and shook her head; it wasn¡¯t like this was a new occurrence this past week. ¡°You always call me Brown Puffy-Tail. Is it because of my hair¡ªdoes it look that bad?¡± she asked, pulling it around to comb through. ¡°It¡¯s not that poofy.¡± ¡°No. No. No,¡± Nilly swiftly shook her head, shoulder-length locks bobbing back and forth as her smile widened, feline fangs glistening in the faint light. ¡°Brown Puffy-Tail gets pricked by Black Roses and nom-nom-nom! Brown Puffy-Tail is as hungry as Nilly. Nilly and Brown Puffy-Tail are magical kitties, munching on justice! We¡¯ll go devour the sardines!¡± she cheered, throwing her fist in the air while snagging a fourth bite. Stephanie gave her a light glare that made Nilly giggle and wave. ¡°Nilly had fun! Time to go bug Evil Eye. She hates when Nilly pops up and steals her fan to act all eeeevil. See?¡± Wendy couldn¡¯t help but laugh as the teenage girl held up a delicate paper fan, unfurled it, and tried to put on a mysterious lady-like cadence. ¡°Evil Eye sees all things. The darkness crawls beyond the shrouded veil of Sakura¡¯s blossoms. Let Evil Eye be the portable heater that you¡¯ll get cold without. Evil Eye wanna be yours. If you like your coffee hot, let Evil Eye be your coffee pot¡ªoh, wrong one! Hehe. That¡¯s Franky. Lonely Franky. Bye-bye!¡± Wendy had no clue how to react to that, so she just swept it under the rug, and, not a second later, Nilly was gone, leaving the spoon in the tub. ¡°Nilly is a riot.¡± ¡°More than you might know,¡± Stephanie whispered, her lips curved into a curious pout while staring at a fifth scoop taken out of her ice cream. ¡°How should I say this? Hmm¡­ No other experience could have prepared me for how much my love for Ron has grown since losing¡­everything. Yet, in giving up power beyond imagination, I gained all I needed. ¡°His tender care, his unwavering support¡­ It¡¯s something I never knew I could feel so deeply as a Celestial. I¡¯ve lost much of my vast knowledge and understanding of how Existence functions, and that¡¯s fading away with my limitations. Still, despite what comes in the future, I feel no regrets.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sweet¡­ Can you at least decipher whatever Nilly was on about?¡± Wendy asked with a short laugh, shaking her head as the giantess offered her a bite of her weird sorbet. ¡°I¡¯m really interested in why she¡¯s been calling me Brown Puffy-Tail.¡± Stephanie¡¯s glowing eyes met Wendy¡¯s as she popped the spoon in her mouth, her chest rising and falling with satisfaction. ¡°Mmm. I think you will learn soon enough. What do you think your flaws are, Wendy?¡± Stiffening at the unusual and out-of-the-blue question, Wendy held her twisted belly and looked away, her throat becoming a tad hoarse. ¡°I think I try too hard¡­ How I look, what I do, what I¡¯m saying. Umm. Yeah, I think it¡¯s maybe because everyone always talked about how I looked after not hanging out with Sora anymore¡­ Mmgm.¡± She took a deep breath and laughed. ¡°Maybe I spend too much time explaining myself¡­ I worry a lot,¡± she admitted, arms tightening around her abdomen. ¡°I need to take it easy but it always felt like¡­like the sun was out, but it¡¯s only getting colder¡ªI¡¯m getting colder. At home, school¡­everywhere. But¡­when I¡¯m with Sora, everything just becomes so much easier¡­and more difficult at the same time! It¡¯s crazy¡­ A good crazy.¡± Stephanie patiently waited, taking a few more bites. When Wendy trailed off, she looked down at the green color of the ice cream, and Wendy shivered, remembering how cold it was in her room. The woman¡¯s soft words pulled her in again, though, taking her mind off the chill. ¡°A Celestial¡¯s purpose is to seed budding, new Existences. I¡¯ve fulfilled that purpose many times before but not like this¡­never like this. Celestials are very¡­durable existences. We are not meant to stay inside an Existence for long¡­to linger. Yet, in doing so, I¡¯ve discovered something extraordinary: love. It¡¯s simple, yet profound. I wouldn¡¯t change it for anything. Sometimes, something new can be scary¡­challenging, but acceptance can be a liberating thing, Wendy. Remember that.¡± Wendy pondered Stephanie¡¯s words, feeling a deep respect for the strength and grace with which she seemed to be facing such an incredibly life-altering situation. In the same way, she could see her new mom and Mia going through similar circumstances. All of them were beyond life to her, yet they still struggled with their own personal challenges. ¡°That¡¯s¡­beautiful, Stephanie. I can¡¯t imagine what you¡¯ve been through, but I¡¯m glad you¡¯ve found something so meaningful and are willing to share it with me. Thank you. I don¡¯t know exactly why, but it does make my heart feel less¡­heavy, I guess.¡± Despite the chill, warmth touched Stephanie¡¯s eyes, her gaze momentarily shifting to a dresser filled with various flowers from everyone. ¡°Thank you for listening and the daily invite to spend time together¡­the flowers, Wendy. It makes me feel welcomed and less isolated. Your support means more than you know.¡± With a nod, Wendy rose from the bed. ¡°I¡¯ll let you enjoy your ice cream. If you like Nordic shows or something, then let me know. We¡¯ll find something that interests you. Oh¡­¡± She pulled out her phone to check the time once hearing Ron and Jarlath returning outside. ¡°The ritual will be starting soon.¡± Stephanie seemed to finish her snack, putting the lid on the tub and setting the spoon on a tray beside her. ¡°I¡¯m looking forward to hearing about the results. Thank you again, Wendy, and know that this will be a process, as all new things are.¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± A newfound clarity settled over Wendy, more profound than any feeling she¡¯d ever experienced at home with Jane. Despite everything Jane had been in the end, Wendy knew there was a time when her biological mother loved her. Now she¡¯d be reborn through a new mother¡­a mother who only ever wanted a child¡ªher. A father who had taken care of her since as far back as she could remember and made her feel safe. An adoring sister who understood her¡­ A family. Meeting her dad outside, Wendy waved off Ron and the little giant baby. They left the cottage and made their way back through Sora¡¯s private realm. Jarlath appeared to catch her mood because he didn¡¯t say a thing, letting his presence be felt rather than heard. Tonight was a significant step for her, for all of them, and she was ready to step into this new world¡­to not be an outsider. They exited the elevator into the front room, where the cheerful sounds of laughter greeted them. Sora, Noelia, and Mia were gathered around a holographic magical projection, watching Kari slide across the frozen surface of the hotel¡¯s outdoor pool with intense concentration on her face. Eyia stood nearby, observing with a calculating smile. ¡°Did you get the ice cream?¡± Sora asked, her green eyes twinkling, ¡°Because we kept dinner hot. You have to watch this!¡± Wendy forced a chuckle, realizing she and their dad had left the ice cream down in the cottage. ¡°Uh, about that¡­¡± He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°We might have forgotten it, girls. Steph got a bit carried away with Wendy, and I got a tad distracted talking to Ron.¡± Noelia waved a hand dismissively. ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± With a flick of her wrist, the ice cream appeared on the counter. ¡°It won¡¯t melt, so don¡¯t worry.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom,¡± Wendy sighed, feeling a bit guilty. ¡°Magic really is too convenient.¡± Wendy felt butterflies flutter in her stomach as Noelia¡¯s big tail puffed up, and her mom jumped up with a tickled grin. ¡°No, it was nothing, dear. Let¡¯s enjoy our first family dinner together¡­ If you¡¯re okay with that.¡± ¡°Obviously!¡± she chuckled, feeling a hot pressure in her chest as she got a text from Mary, wishing her luck and confirming if they¡¯d see each other tomorrow. ¡°So, what¡¯s going on with that?¡± Wendy returned Mary¡¯s text with a green light and thumbs-up emoji as Sora glanced at the hologram with a snicker and said, ¡°Oh, Eyia¡¯s just looking for someone to challenge her and she learned how to strike at Kari¡¯s pride. I bet Kari will get frustrated with the sliding contest soon and go back to sports to edge out a win. ¡°They seem to be becoming friends, but¡­honestly, I¡¯m a little worried about them. I¡¯ll talk to them sometime in the next few days but tonight is all about you!¡± she chimed, hopping over the couch to sweep her off her feet into a hug around her waist and twist her around. ¡°We¡¯re becoming real sisters! I¡¯m so scared and excited!¡± ¡°Haha! Me too! But can you put me down Ms. Hercules? I¡¯m getting dizzy.¡± ¡°No!¡± Laughing and joking like they used to, they moved to the dining area, where a delicious spread awaited them¡ªmostly prepared by her mom. As they settled in, the conversation flowed naturally. Mia, always full of energy, recounted her latest ¡®successes¡¯ at cooking. ¡°I really tried this time!¡± she said, pouting adorably at Sora¡¯s teasing comment about a fire extinguisher being empty when she returned and a mess in the kitchen. ¡°You have no idea how hard cooking is when you¡¯ve used magic literally your entire life that, might I remind you, is over three million years, and that¡¯s in Founder Time!¡± Sora giggled, her eyes sparkling with a little devil. ¡°It¡¯s really cute seeing you like this, Mom. All-powerful and still struggling with a simple recipe. Can you even manage a muffin tomorrow morning without setting off the fire alarm and waking everyone up?¡± ¡°Hey, I¡¯m doing my best!¡± the fox protested, but her smile betrayed her enjoyment of the teasing. ¡°And if you aren¡¯t awake by the time I start cooking then you deserve to be jolted awake.¡± Wendy leaned back, a smile playing on her lips as she soaked in the playful banter. This was family¡ªsupportive, loving, full of lighthearted moments she had always dreamed of. It was what she wanted with Jane. She joined in, sharing her own daily stories and laughing along with the rest of them. After dinner, they gathered in the living room with bowls of ice cream, watching a J-drama together. The atmosphere was cozy and filled with a sense of belonging that Wendy had missed for so long. It was more than an initial ritual but a slice of the heaven she¡¯d always dreamed of when watching families from afar. As the night wore on, they cleaned up and prepared to go upstairs. Wendy noticed Eyia and Kari were still downstairs, engaged in a game of PIG with a basketball now. Noelia confirmed with a wink and smile, ¡°They¡¯re having fun, and it¡¯s good for Kari to have some downtime.¡± Wendy wasn¡¯t quite sure what to make of even her mom being on the ¡®Kari¡¯s fine¡¯ train like everyone else, but that was just how Noelia was, knowing what everyone needed. Once they were in her room, Mia positioned Noelia in the middle, Sora on the left, and Wendy on the right, explaining. Jarlath leaned against the door in the hallway, watching from afar, likely feeling as useless as Wendy currently felt. ¡°Just close your eyes and relax, our little kits. I¡¯ll guide Noelia through the process, and in the morning, everything will change.¡± Wendy¡¯s nervous thoughts were swept away when her mom leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. ¡°I love you, Wendy,¡± she whispered, her tail wrapping around her like a fluffy body pillow. ¡°Cuddle as much as you like!¡± ¡°I love you too, Mom,¡± Wendy replied, feeling needed and loved. ¡°Thank you, Sora.¡± Sora smiled softly. ¡°We¡¯re in this together, Wendy¡­ Sisters forever.¡± Mia began counting down, her voice a soothing lullaby that eased Wendy¡¯s mind. As the countdown reached zero, Wendy¡¯s consciousness faded, enveloped by the comfort and security of her newfound family. She drifted into a peaceful sleep, knowing that when she woke up, her life would be forever changed, and she was ready to embrace it. Yet, instead of the sunshine and warmth she¡¯d expected, when she opened her eyes, an endless expanse of black thorns, vines, and an ocean of blood stretched out above her. Wendy¡¯s heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears as she tried to make sense of the terrifying sight. ¡°Where¡­ am I?¡± she managed to mumble. Her breath quickened, the fear clawing at her insides. This isn¡¯t right. This can¡¯t be real. A gentle, feminine voice responded, its softness wrapping around her like a comforting blanket, yet carrying an undertone of profound sorrow. The voice seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere, projected into her very soul. ¡°A branch grafted onto the olive tree¡­ Welcome to Nihility, my new little niece¡­ Welcome to my prison.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes widened as she spun around on seeming emptiness that she could freely maneuver in, trying to locate the source of the voice. Her gaze settled on a figure emerging from the shadowy vines, a woman with effulgent yellow eyes cut into seven pieces, appraising her with a curious and melancholic smile. The woman¡¯s form was surrounded by shadowy thorns that seemed to shift and flow like a living gown. Wendy¡¯s breath hitched, and she took a hesitant step back, feeling the sharp pricks of the vines brushing against her skin. ¡°W-Who are you?¡± she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°What is this place?¡± The woman tilted her head, her unearthly elegant face softening with what seemed like pity. ¡°I am Rose, your new aunt, it seems, though our family ties are¡­complicated. You¡¯ve stumbled into my isolated room within Nihility, yet not totally of Nihility. I¡¯m not trying to confuse you, I promise,¡± she chuckled. ¡°Essentially, a place between Existence and Non-Existence. A prison, if you will, but also a sanctuary of sorts.¡± Wendy¡¯s mind whirled, trying to process the surreal environment and the revelation. ¡°My aunt¡ªSora¡¯s aunt? I didn¡¯t even know she had any other aunt besides, well, Inari¡­ Umm. Why am I here? Did I do something wrong? Did something go wrong?¡± Rose¡¯s smile grew a touch more genuine, though the sadness in her eyes remained. ¡°No, dear niece, you did nothing wrong. You are merely far more connected to me currently than Sora is, and that resonance pulled you toward me through the path Sora previously forged. Nothing more. Nothing less.¡± ¡°So¡­ Sora knows about you?¡± Wendy mumbled, swallowing and looking up at the intimidating and beyond-scale black star or black hole above Rose. ¡°You¡¯re¡­my dad¡¯s sister?¡± ¡°Wow. You caught on faster than Sora,¡± she chimed, looking truly thrilled. ¡°Your arrival here means you are beginning to awaken to your true nature, and hopefully you can help Sora realize her rejected half. I can be here to guide you, if you want. I¡¯m not, hehe, doing anything else at the moment, as you can see. Well, if we¡¯re quiet and don¡¯t make much noise. I can help you understand what you are becoming.¡± Wendy¡¯s fear began to give way to curiosity, though uncertainty still gripped her. ¡°What am I becoming? And why are you here? Why are you imprisoned? Why didn¡¯t Sora or Mia tell me about this?¡± Rose¡¯s gaze flickered upward to the colossal shadowy disk in the sky, the event horizon of a black hole surrounded by a golden crown of thorns. Bloody chains dripped from the heavens, binding her to this place. ¡°I am here because of choices I made long ago, choices that led to my confinement. But this is not about me or even Sora, at this time. This is about you, Wendy. Beings of Existence cannot perceive me, so if Sora talks about me, no one remembers¡­ Except you now! I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll be happy about that¡­ Maybe,¡± she said with a slight wince. ¡°I can be a bit overwhelming.¡± The thorns around them seemed to pulse with a life of their own, resonating with Rose¡¯s words. Wendy shivered, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on her. ¡°I don¡¯t understand. What do I need to do? I¡¯m totally lost.¡± Rose sighed, her tone gentle despite the ominous surroundings. ¡°Nothing involving me, Sora, or anyone else, Wendy. All you need to do is accept who you are, embrace your new heritage, and learn to harness the budding power of Nihility within you. ¡°It will be a difficult journey¡­frightening with the powers you hold, but you are not alone. Sora is not alone now. I will be with you, as well¡­if the two of you are open to it, allowing me to guide you from the shadows, even if we cannot meet often. That¡¯s for the future, though.¡± Wendy blinked, her vision blurring as she adjusted to shifting space, and a mirror materialized to show her exactly what she was becoming. She felt different, an almost electric energy coursing through her veins. Looking down at herself, she noticed her skin flickering with a colorless, shimmering energy¡ªNihility. The energy shifted, morphing her appearance back and forth between her original form and something new, something perfect. Her eyes, once a muddy brown, now glowed a vivid emerald green, slitted and radiating with an inner light. They captured and reflected the surroundings with an almost ethereal quality. Tentatively, she reached up and touched her face, feeling the smooth, flawless skin. Her brunette hair was now dark and light patterned, similar to Noelia¡¯s, cascading down in waves down her back, framing her face and accentuating her newfound beauty. A weight on her head drew her attention, and she reached up to find a pair of tanuki ears, plush and sensitive to her touch. They twitched slightly as she ran her fingers over them, a new sense of hearing adding layers to the sounds around her. Her human ears were gone, and her new ones matched her hair, blending seamlessly and adding an exotic charm to her appearance. I¡¯m a tanuki, not a vulpes¡­ I guess that makes sense since I was reborn through Noelia. They kept saying I would be more Noelia and Jarlath¡¯s daughter than Mia and Jarlath. Turning to catch a glimpse of herself, Wendy¡¯s breath caught in her lungs at the sight of a long, bushy raccoon tail swaying behind her. It was full and fluffy, reminiscent of a squirrel¡¯s tail rather than a tanuki, and it moved with a life of its own, expressing her emotions in a way Sora now showed off. She tried to control its movement, and it responded instantly, curling and uncurling with her thoughts. Her skin continued to flicker with the colorless energy, but now it was stabilizing, settling into a form that was both familiar and foreign. The energy seemed to read her deepest desires, molding her into the image of beauty she¡¯d always dreamed of. Her figure was slender yet curvaceous for her age, her features perfectly symmetrical, exuding a natural allure. It was as if she could control every aspect of her appearance. Wendy took a deep breath, marveling at the transformation. She had been reborn, not just physically but in a way that resonated deep within her soul. Nihility had given her more than just a new look¡ªit had given her a sense of completeness, of becoming the person she had always wanted to be¡­of being connected to something greater than herself. As she gazed at her reflection, a sense of wonder and gratitude filled her heart. She was no longer the girl who felt out of place, who struggled with insecurities and a broken family. She was now a being of beauty and power, her new form a testament to her journey and the family that had helped her become who she always wanted to be. Not long after, she felt herself being pulled back through an endless expanse, returning to where her new family wanted. Rose¡¯s words echoed through her as if a warm hug. ¡°It seems you¡¯re coming to terms with the new you¡­ Welcome to the family.¡± B2 — 32. Blooming Mysteries Jarlath was lost in the dream again. It always began the same: an endless plane of possibilities, a dazzling radiance that took his breath away, and delicate flowers that bloomed and expanded before his eyes into eternity. The colors were so vivid and alien, they almost seemed to sing with a choir that stretched beyond all understanding. He reached out to touch one, his fingers trembling with reverence and longing. As soon as he made contact, the godly flower withered, dried, crumbled, and dispersed as if it had never existed. Shame gripped his heart, a heavy, aching sorrow that pressed down on him, leaving him breathless. ¡°Why does this always happen?¡± he whispered, looking off into the fathomless plane of beautiful buds. ¡°Why can¡¯t I hold onto anything without it dying?¡± A scream pierced the recurring dream, jolting him awake¡ªhis daughter¡¯s scream. ¡°Wendy?!¡± His heart raced as he bolted out of bed, instinct driving him. Beside him, Mia tumbled out of bed in a tangled heap of fur, her wide eyes reflecting his alarm. Without a second thought, Jarlath threw open the door and sprinted down the hall, his bare feet slapping against the cold marble floor. Panting as he made it to Wendy¡¯s room, he threw open the door to find utter chaos. Sora was kneeling on the bed, holding a magical girl-looking brooch that shimmered with brown diamond dust, the symbol like a black sun with a tanuki paw print in the center. Noelia and Eyia were beside her, their faces etched with worry and confusion. Immediately, Jarlath noticed the tanuki¡¯s extreme fatigue, dark rings under her eyes, and her fur disheveled while staring at the jewelry piece in Sora¡¯s hand. Behind him, Kari appeared, likely drawn out of her room by Sora and Wendy¡¯s screams. ¡°What happened? Where¡¯s Wendy?¡± Jarlath demanded, scanning the space. A shriek answered him from the brooch. ¡°I¡¯m here! Why the crap am I an accessory to be pinned on someone¡¯s shirt?! What happened to my body?!¡± Kari snickered from behind him. ¡°Well, that¡¯s one way to stay close to Sora. Creative. I¡¯m impressed.¡± Sora looked up at the wolf, seemingly as stunned as the rest of them at the tall, disheveled teen¡¯s response. ¡°I have no clue what¡¯s going on, Wendy. And this is serious, Kari! Wendy is flipping jewelry¡ªthis is Wendy!¡± she shouted, holding up the shimmering brooch. Kari shrugged, her casual demeanor a stark contrast to the tension in the room as she stretched out, tail flicking to the side, and turned to leave. ¡°Meh. You¡¯ll figure it out, I¡¯m sure. Damn. I thought my brother or someone had shown up¡­ The human girl just transformed. Big deal.¡± ¡°No, Wolf Butt,¡± Eyia replied, keeping her distance. ¡°This is the biggest deal. Can you not sense the fathomless void within Wendy? It is as if a hole of blackness, consuming all light.¡± ¡°Huh?! I¡¯m doing what, Eyia?¡± Noelia looked up at him, tears in her eyes and a look that asked if this was her fault, a dagger thrown at Jarlath¡¯s chest. ¡°Was I not close enough with her¡­ Did I fail to bridge the gap between us?¡± Jarlath¡¯s mind raced, trying to make sense of the situation, his gaze darting between the varied responses of everyone present. The Herald said the true danger to us is my own family, then I start having a recurring dream about flowers that crumble at my touch, and now Wendy turned into a brooch? I¡¯m supposed to ask Sora about Rose after this¡­ His gaze shifted to Sora, the brooch, and then to Noelia. Only moments having passed since entering, he took a calming breath and moved forward to sit beside Sora, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s going to be okay, girls,¡± he reassured, hearing Mia just getting into the room. ¡°We¡¯ll get to the bottom of this. Just breathe, everyone. Are you hurt, Wendy? And are you okay, Noelia? You don¡¯t look so hot,¡± he asked, getting a stressed smile from the tanuki. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt¡­¡± Wendy mumbled. ¡°I¡¯m just really confused and obviously freaking out a little¡ªI can¡¯t see now, Mom!¡± ¡°And I¡¯ll be fine, Jarlath,¡± Noelia returned, holding her hand over the brooch for a moment. ¡°Oh, sorry. Hmm. Is this¡­supposed to happen?¡± Eyia¡¯s calm voice cut through the tension as she held up a hand to stop Jarlath from getting nearer the brooch. ¡°It is not safe to touch, Clan Father. It is challenging for me to perceive the brooch, as if it flickers from being there and nowhere.¡± ¡°Like Nilly!¡± Everyone jumped as the cat appeared on the corner chair, swaying back and forth with her split tails. ¡°Nilly likes new things. Exciting things! Gloria will be mad. Super mad! Nilly laughs at Rainbow Wings a lot. She¡¯s always mad at Nilly.¡± Sora gulped with everyone else at the name-drop of someone that really shouldn¡¯t be spoken, but it seemed Nilly was an exception because nothing happened. Sucking in air before releasing it in a slow stream, she looked down at her transformed sister in her palms. ¡°We need to understand what happened. Wendy, can you hear us clearly?¡± ¡°Uh. I¡¯m talking and answering questions! Sorry, sorry¡­ I¡¯m okay.¡± Wendy¡¯s voice came from the brooch, tinged with frustration. ¡°I have no idea how this happened. One moment, I was asleep, then I¡¯m talking to Rose, and the next¡­ I¡¯m this.¡± Mia struck the side of the door in her rush, likely having trapped herself in her own tails in the chaos of the awakening. She stumbled into the room, her red hair a tangled mess, her usual grace missing. ¡°Wendy transformed into jewelry? What is happening?¡± Noelia shook her head, visibly at a loss. ¡°You¡¯re the one that is supposed to have the answers, Mia. What happened to my daughter?¡± Kari, ever the aloof one, waved lazily at them as she exited to take a shower, leaving the tension in the room hanging thick. Mia¡¯s ears twitched as she caught her breath, clearly frustrated. ¡°I-I don¡¯t know,¡± Mia mumbled, more to herself than anyone else. Her red eyes blazed with frustration and anger. ¡°This¡­wasn¡¯t supposed to happen like this. Why didn¡¯t I give myself the information to deal with this? Umm¡­ Okay. Everyone, we need to go to Stephanie. She should know more about this than we do. It¡¯s¡­all I can think of right now,¡± she growled, scratching her ear. Sora jumped up, helping Noelia to her feet, while Jarlath moved to support her other side. Nilly was now nowhere to be seen, her bell leaving a ring in the air. Noelia soothed Wendy in their exit, who was still held in Sora¡¯s hands as they went for the door. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out, Wendy. Don¡¯t try to be strong. Really, are you in pain?¡± Wendy¡¯s voice, tinged with anxiety, came from the brooch as if she stood right next to them. ¡°I just feel stuck, like I¡¯ve been filled in by concrete. It¡¯s¡­not pleasant, but I can deal with it. I just want to know what to do.¡± Sora¡¯s tail twitched as she moved towards the stairs, allowing him to take over supporting Noelia. ¡°We¡¯re going to figure it out, Wendy. Mom, do you really not know anything?!¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m so sorry, girls, but¡­this isn¡¯t how I told myself it would happen. What was I thinking? No. We just need to get to Stephanie. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll know!¡± ¡°Okay. Eyia, grab some clothes or something, just in¡ª¡± ¡°Sora¡­who¡¯s Rose?¡± Wendy asked. Sora froze mid-step, her foot slipping and sending her tumbling down the stairs. ¡°Sora!¡± Jarlath¡¯s heart leaped to his throat as he watched his daughter land in a heap at the bottom, a growl of frustration escaping her lips. ¡°Sora, are you okay?!¡± he called out, already moving to help her up as Noelia latched onto the arm rail. Mia almost took the same route down, but Noelia managed to save her. ¡°I¡¯m fine, I¡¯m fine, Dad,¡± she grumbled, picking herself up and dusting off her shorts. ¡°Wendy?¡± ¡°Other than dizzy, I¡¯m good. Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to surprise you. I¡¯m just trying to piece together everything I do know since¡­well, I don¡¯t have legs to move.¡± She looked down at the brooch with a forced laugh. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I¡¯ve spelled myself to be more durable than typical, so I hardly felt it. Umm. How do you know that name? Did you¡­meet her?¡± ¡°Yeah, I did,¡± Wendy replied, her voice wavering slightly. ¡°But apparently, no one will remember. I¡¯m just trying to figure out what the heck is going on.¡± Mia made it past him to fuss over their daughter; she acted as if Sora and Wendy weren¡¯t even talking. ¡°Ugh. Let¡¯s just slow our tails! Thank you, Noelia. Mmm. No one is hurt. We just need to find some answers.¡± Sora sighed, glancing back at him and her mom. ¡°I get that. It¡¯s nice having someone to talk to about our mysterious aunt. But let¡¯s first see what Stephanie has to say. Sound good?¡± ¡°I guess¡­ You know, I always wanted a fancy brooch. Do you think that plays a role?¡± ¡°More like your magical girl obsession. Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what you were watching yesterday.¡± ¡°It¡¯s a really good anime! You¡¯ll see when you watch it with me.¡± ¡°Magical boys swooping princesses off their feet, huh?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t judge!¡± ¡°Judging!¡± Sora laughed, trying to ease the tension all of them felt; she probably experienced it herself with her powers. Jarlath¡¯s leaden heart lightened slightly at the short jokes his girls made to one another on their way toward the hallway. This was pressing, but they didn¡¯t have to panic. It didn¡¯t take long for the pressure around his chest to intensify while listening to his daughters¡¯ confused voices, though. This had to do with his side of the family, and it was one area they couldn¡¯t rely on Mia for. Mia, looking more composed now, moved to check on Sora, drawing his gaze. ¡°Thank goodness for magic! Let¡¯s keep moving. Stephanie should have some answers. This wasn¡¯t supposed to happen. At most, maybe you were a bit more Sciurus Founder, but¡­a brooch? Is that¡­related to¡ª¡± Noelia¡¯s stunned voice broke the silence from beside him, her tail as bushy as ever. ¡°Wait, Mia¡­ I¡¯m part Sciurus Founder? Are you suggesting my mother was a Squirrel Founder?¡± Her blue eyes swam and Jarlath moved to support her again. ¡°Why didn¡¯t anyone tell me?¡± Mia strained a smile as they reached the elevator and pressed the button, her ears flicking with residual frustration. ¡°Didn¡¯t you notice how bushy your tail is compared to the average tanuki or your other family members in your den? In any case, this brooch business shouldn¡¯t be dangerous or I wouldn¡¯t have done it. It¡¯s just a¡­surprise! I¡¯m sure. I wanted to surprise myself. I¡¯m sure Wendy will be able to return to her human form. I¡¯m sure of it¡­¡± Eyia broke the conversation by jogging downstairs to join them, carrying an impressive armful of various clothes¡ªfrom shoes to dresses to undergarments. ¡°I got one of everything I could carry, Sister!¡± Eyia announced, her usual calm demeanor intact despite the chaos. ¡°Should I return to bring more?¡± Sora held up Wendy, a chuckle shaking his daughter¡¯s frame. ¡°Nice work, Eyia. Always prepared for anything, huh? Isn¡¯t she great, Wendy?¡± ¡°She is¡­¡± Eyia gave a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s important to be ready for any situation, Sisters. Although, clothing is rarely the thing I focus on when preparing for battle. Most times, I was without on the island.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about that!¡± Wendy cried. ¡°I¡¯m just imagining all the pretty clothes I have now that I may never get to wear again. Joking! Joking¡­ A little joking.¡± They managed to squeeze into the elevator, the small space now filled with a mix of tension and humor as they descended. Sora continued to reassure Wendy, her voice a comforting murmur. They fell silent, Jarlath¡¯s thoughts on the Herald¡¯s conversation with him and Tom a week prior. Sora and Wendy have met my sister. I have a sister named Rose¡­I can feel it in my bones when her name is said. Yet, I don¡¯t know anything about her. The Herald doesn¡¯t think we can trust my family. Maybe it¡¯s about time I start taking some responsibility for my side of things¡­ I know you¡¯re likely shielding me, Mia. But you can¡¯t help our daughters in this area. Jarlath¡¯s mind whirled as he tried to process everything, still supporting Noelia, who gave him a trembling-lipped smile. She¡¯d just learned something massive about her family and right after, for all intents and purposes, giving birth to her first daughter. He exchanged a look with Mia in the elevator as it lowered to the floor below, both of them sharing a mix of concern. Jarlath could see her ripping herself apart on the inside. This was a side of his wife he¡¯d never seen before¡­an insecure side that questioned if she could trust herself. She knew she had all the answers, but she¡¯d abandoned them for the chance to be with her daughter, stepping into a strange and frightening world of mortality. Still, they were in this together, no matter how crazy things became. He reached out to take her hand, smiling and his whisper pulling every ear in the wide elevator. ¡°I, Jarlath Moore, take you, Mia the Fox, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for rich, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, beyond death and eternity, according to holy law. You are mine, and I am yours. In the presence of God, I make this vow.¡± Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. A tear fell down his wife¡¯s cheek as she returned his squeeze, the pressure compressing the atmosphere around the dissipating. ¡°And I, Mia the Useless Fox, take you, Jarlath Moore, to be my husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for rich, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, beyond death and eternity, according to holy law. You are mine, and I am yours. In the presence of God, I make this vow. Noelia?¡± she asked, shooting the woman an expectant smile that had calmed significantly. Sora and Eyia scooted closer to the wall, big eyes aimed on them, and he figured Wendy was the same since she¡¯d quieted down. Noelia¡¯s ears lowered, and with his arm around her thin waist, he could feel her body sag slightly; he could feel her perceived unworthiness with her body against his, yet she looked from Mia to stare up at him. ¡°Ever since the start, I¡¯ve been more than willing to be off in the background¡­ You¡¯ve given me more than I can express. But for Wendy¡¯s sake, I want to provide a stable environment for her¡­ For you, Wendy. So, I will be selfish¡­in my own time. Right now, my daughter is my priority. Wendy, we¡¯ll figure this out.¡± ¡°¡­Mhm,¡± the brunette sniffled from inside Sora¡¯s palm. Her response pricked Jarlath¡¯s heart in a way he hadn¡¯t expected, respect budding within his breast. Throughout it all, including when she¡¯d stood up to him regarding Sora¡¯s meds, Noelia had shoved down her own feelings for the girls she loved more than her own life and happiness. Noelia was a rare woman. The doors opened, and Noelia pulled away, trying to look strong as she joined Mia and their daughters, leaving him to take the rear with Eyia. ¡°How are you feeling now, Wendy?¡± Sora softly asked while leading the way to Ron and Stephanie¡¯s cottage. ¡°I¡¯m calming down,¡± she replied, her voice still tinged with anxiety but steadier after all the attempts to lighten the atmosphere. ¡°It¡¯s just a little uncomfortable, but it also feels oddly right¡­ And I can feel the magic in the air here¡­ I can taste it. Oh, umm. I talked with Steph yesterday; let¡¯s not cause a panic for her. She¡¯s still recovering.¡± Jarlath smiled while watching the curtain of tails sway in front of him. ¡°You¡¯re always worrying about others, Wendy¡­just like your mother. We¡¯ll take it slow.¡± ¡°I just¡­feel better,¡± Wendy mumbled. ¡°I can¡¯t describe it, but now that the shock is over, I kind of feel¡­free? No. It¡¯s hard to explain¡­¡± When they reached the cottage, the familiar scent of flowers and fresh air greeted them. Jarlath took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. Sora was the one to knock, and Ron answered the door, looking a bit surprised to see them all there. ¡°Ron,¡± Mia began, her voice urgent but calm, ¡°can we speak to Stephanie? Something went wrong, and¡­I¡¯m not sure what that was or how to fix it.¡± Ron¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Steph is with the baby right now, but she¡¯s awake. Come in.¡± They entered the cozy cottage, the atmosphere much more serene than the turmoil within them. Stephanie sat against the headboard, cradling their son; she was looking much better, with her turquoise hair pulled back into a loose ponytail. She watched them enter with a calm, knowing gaze and spoke before they could explain. ¡°Mia, Jarlath,¡± Stephanie greeted, her voice soothing. ¡°This won¡¯t take long, Ron. Come sit. I know about Wendy; I could sense the ripples through the night.¡± Mia approached first, her tails twitching with anxiety and twisted tightly. ¡°Stephanie, was all of this a part of my plan? What am I supposed to do? Why didn¡¯t I give myself the knowledge to deal with this other than go to you? I don¡¯t understand my own actions, and that scares me.¡± Stephanie shifted their son into a more comfortable position and sighed, her eyes showing a small frown. ¡°Sora, bring Wendy here for a moment.¡± ¡°Lady Celestial,¡± Eyia piped up, ¡°Wendy has become dangerous to handle. My sister seems immune, but she consumed a pillow, and only they recall such memories.¡± ¡°I¡¯m well aware of what you are concerned about,¡± Stephanie whispered, Sora hesitantly handing over the brooch. Everyone tensed, but Stephanie¡¯s elegant fingers accepted the item, careful with her week-old son on her chest. ¡°Mia, while not a certainty, this was always a possibility that you accepted.¡± She carefully opened the brooch, its lid shimmering and fading into nothingness to display the inside, split into two distinct jewel halves. The Celestial held it out for them to see as Wendy giggled as if tickled. ¡°On the left side¡­you see this swirling pattern of a pure white diamond? It is encased Nihility. A substance I cannot describe to you other than a force or substance that is outside and beyond that which exists. Celestials know it well since we travel through Nihility to reach budding¡­ Mmm. I cannot recall. My loss in power has reduced me to a level that cannot comprehend such concepts.¡± ¡°And the other side?¡± Wendy asked, sounding a bit excited. ¡°This is my dad¡¯s power, right? What can I do with it? Is the brown diamond my mom¡¯s side? Wait, am I two types of Founders if my mom is a mixed Founder?¡± ¡°Too many questions, sweetie,¡± Noelia chortled. ¡°Let¡¯s allow Stephanie to educate us without interruption. You¡¯re still feeling okay?¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry, Mom¡­ I¡¯m just getting a little excited. Oh, just one thing! Can I¡­¡± ¡°Have a body?¡± Stephanie answered with a gentle smile on her typically frosty, cool-beauty face. ¡°Yes, and I can guide you through that shortly. However, allow me to finish my explanation¡­ ¡°On the opposite side of Nihility, the swirling deep, rich brown casing embodies the essence of your new mother, Noelia. Her powers of bad omens, good luck, possession, shapeshifting, and mischief with the balance of her mother¡¯s squirrel side of orderliness, energy, messengers of the Founders, hard work, playfulness, adaptability, and resourcefulness.¡± She directed them to a delicate outline of rubies that encircled both center jewels, forming a thin yet striking border. ¡°This ruby outline represents your minor vulpes connection through Mia. It will be quite challenging to tap into that side of yourself, but not impossible.¡± Stephanie¡¯s gaze lifted to center on him. ¡°Now, to wrap this up, Wendy is drawn slightly more toward Nihility¡ªto your family, Jarlath, than Mia or Noelia¡¯s. Why? Is that important at this time? What you are looking at is an impossibility manifesting in our realm. Wendy can create a body for herself, but personally,¡± she smiled, ¡°I would suggest waiting until she is in a private place since she will be naked.¡± Jarlath felt a mix of relief and confusion. ¡°So, this is normal? Well, as normal as things can be for us?¡± Stephanie gave him a reassuring smile that translated to everyone else in the room. ¡°Yes, Jarlath. Wendy¡¯s transformation is unique but not dangerous, at least, so long as she doesn¡¯t panic and suck in any more pillows.¡± Chuckles followed her off-handed joke, though her tone soon became more serious, drawing them in. ¡°That being said, you have a natural barrier as a being of both Existence and Nihility, Wendy, which is the case here, but that does not mean there is no danger. You just need time and a safe space to adjust. You cannot use your powers on anyone until you learn exactly what they are, and you are responsible enough to take that warning seriously.¡± Wendy¡¯s voice came from the brooch, calmer now. ¡°Thanks, Stephanie. I feel better knowing this isn¡¯t a disaster, like Eyia feared. Eh¡­I am a danger, but only if I want to be, basically. I won¡¯t use my powers until I get some training¡­which will hopefully come soon, and you¡¯ll explain¡­hopefully. Sorry for freaking out, everyone.¡± Jarlath exhaled slowly, feeling some of the tension leave his shoulders yet he knew the hard discussion was to come. He looked at Sora, who gave him a small, hopeful smile. ¡°Alright, we¡¯ll get through this. Ron and I will go outside to leave Wendy and you girls some space to figure things out with Wendy¡¯s body. After that¡­I¡¯d like some time with Sora and Wendy, alone.¡± Sora¡¯s ears tilted with her head, glancing between him and her mother. ¡°Uh, sure, Dad. Is that cool, Wendy?¡± ¡°If I can get my body, I¡¯m down for anything! Maybe I can blink Kari out of existence¡­¡± ¡°Wendy!¡± ¡°I¡¯m playing! I said I wouldn¡¯t use them. Seriously, though, what is with her? Oh, you¡¯ll figure it out, brooch girl. I¡¯m going to go take a shower and play some basketball while the world burns! Kari, probably.¡± Eyia giggled. ¡°Yes, that does sound like the wolf.¡± Stephanie waved him and Ron off. Jarlath met Stephanie¡¯s steady gaze and nodded, figuring she may not know the details but had the foresight and general knowledge to know why he needed to talk to his daughters. ¡°Thank you, Stephanie.¡± Jarlath walked out of the cottage, the soft click of the door closing behind him seeming to punctuate the whirlwind of emotions he felt. Ron¡¯s steady presence was welcomed as he fell into step beside him, casting a curious glance his way. ¡°You¡¯ve got that heavy look on your face,¡± he remarked, his tone gentle yet probing. ¡°What¡¯s going on, Jarlath? You seem like you¡¯re struggling with something. Steph said everything was fine and that Mia planned this.¡± Thoughts a tangled mess, Jarlath sighed. He glanced back at the cottage, where Mia, Noelia, and the girls were left to figure out Wendy¡¯s situation. The lingering image of his wife¡¯s self-doubt and frustration gnawed at him. ¡°I¡¯m struggling with coming to terms with decisions I can¡¯t remember making,¡± he admitted. ¡°It¡¯s like there are parts of my life, my past, that are shrouded in darkness¡­that I wouldn¡¯t like, and every step my daughters take feels like a step into that unknown danger I¡¯ve tried to hide.¡± Ron nodded, sucking in his cheeks for a moment. ¡°That must be rough. Not knowing if the choices you made were the right ones, or even what they were¡­ I¡¯m guessing this, in part, has to do with the look Mia had on her face. Who knows, maybe I¡¯m in the same boat. Stephanie isn¡¯t exactly an open book all the time. It¡¯s not like I haven¡¯t had the thought before that there¡¯s more she isn¡¯t telling me.¡± Jarlath found a measure of comfort in Ron¡¯s words, the shared sense of uncertainty forging a connection. He walked in silence for a moment, the soft rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the mystical realm opening up around them. ¡°She¡¯s struggling, you know,¡± Jarlath eventually said as they circled back toward the cabin, his thoughts returning to his wife. ¡°Mia¡­she¡¯s trying so hard to balance everything, yet it¡¯s all falling right through her fingers. To be the mother she thinks she should be, to make up for lost time, to protect us all. And now, with Noelia¡­ As strange as all this is, I think this might actually be good for Mia, despite how hard it is on her.¡± Ron looked at him. ¡°Good for her? How do you figure? I¡¯d be questioning everything if even half of what I¡¯ve heard was true.¡± He paused, considering the man¡¯s words. ¡°Mia¡¯s always carried this weight of responsibility, this need to be perfect¡­ It¡¯s probably a projection from trying to live up to her big sister. But she¡¯s realizing she¡¯s not perfect, and that¡¯s¡­terrifying to her. But it¡¯s also okay. ¡°She¡¯s opening up, showing vulnerability she never would have before, admitting she doesn¡¯t have all the answers. It¡¯s¡­bringing us closer together, making her more human, if that makes sense. And Noelia, she¡¯s been a part of our lives for so long. All she wanted to feel was not alone. I want that for her because she fears to be loved¡­of making someone else feel as lonely as she¡¯s felt. She deserves a place in our family, a real place. Mia¡¯s trying to make that happen, even if it¡¯s messy and complicated.¡± ¡°Hmm. Yeah, I get that. Stephanie¡¯s been the same way, trying to navigate this new reality without her Celestial powers. It¡¯s humbling, I think, for both of them. And for us, too. No matter what Steph may or may not be hiding¡­ I know I love her with all my heart, and that¡¯s all that matters in the end. She¡¯d do anything for me¡­including opening us up to danger because I asked her to help Sora. That¡¯s something special¡­and makes me feel lacking!¡± Jarlath smiled faintly, appreciating the camaraderie and understanding in Ron¡¯s words. They continued walking, the conversation flowing naturally, each word a small step toward untangling the complexities of their lives through each other¡¯s spoken concerns. He could imagine it, though: back inside the cottage, Noelia sitting on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on the brooch that held her daughter, Sora and Eyia sorting through the clothes, their voices a quiet murmur in the background. His wife would likely be standing off to the side, gripping her elbow, struggling with herself. She was so strong, yet so vulnerable. Mia¡¯s self-doubt was a stark contrast to the confident, all-knowing figure she often projected. Seeing her like this, wrestling with her own limitations and fears, made Jarlath realize how much she was trying to shoulder on her own, despite her claim of being in it together. At first, he could imagine Noelia confronting his wife soon enough about what else she might be hiding, but given Noelia¡¯s personality, as he thought further, it probably wasn¡¯t high on her to-do list. She was only focused on her daughter. As Jarlath walked with Ron, he felt a sense of peace settling over him in preparation for the discussion with Sora and Wendy. He knew there were challenges ahead for all of them, but he also knew they would face them together, as a family. And in that, there was strength. Ron broke the silence again, his voice filled with quiet determination. ¡°We¡¯ll get through this, Jarlath. One step at a time. Just like you always have, building your empire for Sora to thrive.¡± Jarlath nodded, a renewed sense of purpose filling him. ¡°Yeah, we will. Together.¡± His wife exited the cottage, her ears twitching with each step, her tails twisted low, a visible testament to the turmoil inside her. She didn¡¯t meet his eyes, the weight of her internal struggle pressing her shoulders down. His heart ached to see her like this, so vulnerable and burdened. He wanted nothing more than to take that pain away, to ease the burden she carried, but he couldn¡¯t force her to share it, only offer. Ron patted him on the shoulder, a silent gesture of solidarity before moving toward the large bonfire a short distance away. The flicker of a Fire Fairy, curious and glowing, darted out to see what the commotion was about, its light casting playful shadows on Ron¡¯s face. Taking a deep breath, Jarlath followed Mia a short distance away. Her footsteps were quiet on the soft grass, the breeze gently ruffling her tangled red hair. The sunset of the cosmic bodies overhead cast a golden glow over everything, but it seemed unable to reach the storm within her. ¡°Mia,¡± he called softly, coming to stand beside her. He reached out, gently taking her hand in his. ¡°Mhm¡­ Wendy managed to take a physical form. She¡¯s beautiful, yet also kept her previous charms. Noelia¡¯s fussing over her now.¡± He let her update hang for several seconds before slipping his hand out of hers and pulling her against his chest as she began to weep. ¡°You¡¯re not alone in this, Mia. I know I can¡¯t make it easier on you, and that kills me. How long will you let yourself burn alone¡­ I want you to know that I see everything you¡¯re doing for us, for our family¡­ The sacrifices you¡¯re making. You¡¯ve done everything you could¡­ Share the flames with me.¡± ¡°Jarlath, I¡­I feel like I¡¯m failing. Like every step I take is the wrong one. I wanted to be perfect for you, for the girls. But I¡¯m not. I¡¯m flawed. I¡¯m¡­¡± She choked on her words, her voice trembling. Jarlath held her close as she trembled in his arms, her quiet sobs breaking the stillness of the otherworldly evening. Mia¡¯s fingers tightened around the fabric of his shirt, her sobs quieting as she leaned into him. The weight of her struggles pressed against his chest, and he wished he could absorb it all, take it away from her. But all he could do was hold her, offer her his strength, and remind her that she wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°I¡¯m trying,¡± she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. ¡°Dammit. I¡¯m trying so hard, but it feels like everything is slipping through my fingers. I keep making mistakes¡­doubting myself. Why did I leave out such critical information and be forced to rely on Stephanie? Why¡­¡± Jarlath gently tilted her chin up, his eyes meeting hers. ¡°Mia, you don¡¯t have to be perfect.¡± ¡°I do! If I¡¯m not¡­I could lose everything.¡± ¡°We¡¯re all flawed, and that¡¯s okay. We¡¯re in this together. We¡¯ve both drunk from the same poisoned vine, as you said. I hold just as much guilt, just as many regrets. But we can share the burden. You don¡¯t have to carry it alone.¡± A tear slid down his wife¡¯s cheek, and she leaned up to kiss him, a soft, desperate kiss that spoke of her fears and her love. He kissed her back, pouring all his reassurance into that single gesture, hoping to convey how much she meant to him, how much they meant to each other. As they broke apart, the door to the cottage opened, and Sora stepped out, followed by Wendy. His heart swelled at the sight of his daughters, each transformed in their own way. Sora¡¯s fox ears twitched, her vibrant copper hair catching the light, while Wendy showed off her new form, grinning ear to ear. Her tanuki ears twitched nervously, and a super puffy squirrel tail swayed gently behind her. Her hair, now a beautiful pattern of brown and black, framed her face perfectly. She looked much like her human self, but far more beautiful¡ªespecially with notable traits from Noelia and an elegance that matched her mother when she was dancing. There was a resemblance between her and Sora now, a familial bond that was unmistakable. However, the thing that eventually caught Jarlath¡¯s eye was the brooch attached to her silky blue dress front. ¡°Dad, Mom,¡± Sora said, her voice filled with pride. ¡°What do you think? Are you okay, Mom? Wendy¡¯s fine now.¡± Mia¡¯s face softened, a genuine smile breaking through her earlier sorrow. ¡°I¡¯m just happy,¡± she lied. ¡°You both look gorgeous,¡± she said, her voice steadying and filled with love. ¡°Absolutely beautiful.¡± Wendy blushed, her new ears twitching in response. ¡°Thanks. It feels¡­different. Way different than I thought it would feel, but in a good way. Like I¡¯m finally who I¡¯m supposed to be. My mom¡¯s inside thanking Steph and helping with the baby¡ªhe had an accident.¡± Jarlath walked forward, taking Wendy¡¯s hand and pulling her into a hug that she quickly returned. ¡°You are perfect, Wendy. Both of you are. We¡¯ll figure everything out together. As a family. Are you ready for that talk? I think it¡¯s an important one.¡± Wendy¡¯s bushy tail wrapped around him and looped around her back, and almost on instinct she pulled away, her red cheeks; clearly it hadn¡¯t been on purpose. ¡°I know we will, Dad. I know we, eh¡ªsorry! Yeah, I¡¯m ready. I¡¯m going to talk with my dad¡­ My dad. Thank you for being my dad,¡± she sniffed, eyes now watering as she jumped in for another hug. ¡°Thank you for being my dad.¡± B2 — 33. A Lonesome Rose The crisp, cool air of her private realm whispered around them, carrying the scent of pine and damp earth. Sora¡¯s fox ears twitched, picking up the faint sounds of the alien world that surrounded them. Despite being totally new, the path beneath their feet was well-trodden, a familiar route leading to Ember¡¯s beautiful bonfire that she¡¯d walked throughout the week. Her father led the way, his steps steady and purposeful. Wendy walked beside Sora, her tanuki ears twitching nervously as her bushy tail swayed gently behind her. It made Sora smile, thinking about how she¡¯d felt upon getting her ears and tail; her sister was probably still coming to terms with everything, including her true body being a brooch. Sora¡¯s gaze drifted to the magical girl brooch attached to Wendy¡¯s silky blue dress front as she waited for her father to start whatever conversation he wanted to discuss. It can¡¯t be a coincidence that Aunt Rose gave me a pendant with Wendy¡¯s real body being a brooch. What are you, Dad? Am I going to get my own unique body at some point like that when Dad¡¯s powers awaken in me more? I think I¡¯m starting to know more about my family and then something crazy pops up. Her focus went to her sister¡¯s poofy squirrel tail. And now we learn that Noelia is from two different Founder families. Is that why she can¡¯t have kids? Maybe it was an experiment her father did that didn¡¯t turn out well¡­ I¡¯ve never even heard anything about the Squirrel Founders. More mysteries. Always more questions than answers. I hope Dad has something to help us. As they walked the wind blew her hair to the side and Sora¡¯s vibrant copper hair caught the light, her ears perking up at the sound of Ember¡¯s cheerful voice. The Fire Fairy hovered near Ron as he talked with the tiny woman, her form illuminated by flickering flames. Sora waved at her, offering a reassuring smile, long overhearing their conversation before reaching them. ¡°I¡¯m doing okay, Ember. Thanks for asking!¡± she called out. Ember waved back, her fiery wings fluttering with excitement as she zipped closer. ¡°Lady Sora! Is that Wendy?!¡± ¡°Mhm! Why don¡¯t you go and talk with Eyia and the others? We¡¯re getting closer to school! Soon, you¡¯ll be able to show me around.¡± ¡°I know!¡± she chimed, wings beating faster and flames growing. ¡°I¡¯m so nervous. Maybe this year, I¡¯ll finally pass the test and graduate! Umm. Actually, the Avalon Academy Open House is in two days, but school starts in four¡­ Do you want me to join you?¡± ¡°Yes, obviously!¡± Sora grinned, waving her off as they passed, holding her hands behind her back at the base of her swaying tail. ¡°Talk to Eyia about it. She¡¯ll be joining us. That will give us time to see what we need to bring and do some shopping! See you later.¡± ¡°See you later!¡± the Fire Fairy called out, returning the gesture before flying toward the cottage. Ron gave them an encouraging nod as he passed them to help his wife. Wendy¡¯s ears drew back as silence took them. The private realm¡¯s atmosphere closed in around them, a haven of tranquility and magic, pulsing with life. It didn¡¯t take long before they were past the bonfire, walking by the spread-out towering trees, with their unique snowflake leaves rustling in the wind. Sora¡¯s sharp eyes caught glimpses of hidden fairies flitting through the underbrush and just beyond sight, their presence a reminder of the Avalon enchantments that permeated this place¡ªher personal place. She and Wendy glanced at their dad as he finally spoke, his Irish accent a tad pronounced with his weighted words, choosing his words carefully. ¡°So¡­ I¡¯m in the dark on much of this, as hard as it is for me to admit. You¡¯ve both met Rose, correct¡­ My¡­older sister?¡± Hope filled Sora¡¯s chest at finally having people to talk to about her mysterious visions and weird dreams. ¡°Yeah! Ever since I fell unconscious after meeting Mom and turning sixteen, I¡¯ve been seeing her black vines and thorns all over the place. No one else could see it, though! It was like she didn¡¯t exist, like the Herald of Sakura.¡± Wendy frowned, her brows furrowed while rubbing her elbow. ¡°I¡¯m totally new to a lot of this stuff. I don¡¯t really know much about the Herald, other than what you¡¯ve told me, but my meeting with Rose was so quick that it¡¯s kind of a blur.¡± Jarlath nodded, his expression turning serious as he looked at the path to the gate to Avalon. ¡°I had a meetin¡¯ with the Herald of Sakura¡­one your mother knows nothing about, Sora. Apparently, I have some deal with her predating your mom, and she told me to wait until after the ritual to talk to ya about this. Now, I can see why,¡± he mumbled, glancing at Wendy¡¯s swaying tail. As they reached the path going to Avalon, Sora stopped them, her gaze locking onto Wendy. ¡°Wait, wait! The Herald told me that your side of the family is dangerous. After some thought, I don¡¯t know if she meant Aunt Rose or other members of our family,¡± she admitted, looking back on her conversation with the purple-eyed woman inside Nihility. She twisted around to stare at the distant elevator that would take them back to the suite. ¡°But¡­I may have a way to talk to her,¡± she said, her face pinching a little while studying black thorns emerging out of the aether around her sister. ¡°Is that you creating those thorns, Wendy, or is that Aunt Rose?¡± Wendy hummed, not looking particularly worried by the crawling vines, millimeters from touching her skin. ¡°It¡¯s not mine, and I see them too. It feels like¡­like Auntie Rose is calling for me to talk, like a phone call or something.¡± Sora followed Wendy¡¯s gaze to their father as he rubbed his chin. ¡°To be honest, girls, I don¡¯t know what to believe. The Herald only told me Rose is a pivotal figure from my past, my big sister, and that she is rebellious and intertwined with the threads of Fate¡­ I¡¯m not sure if she¡¯s speaking about Fate as a person or an abstract concept as opposed to Destiny. It¡¯s only due to the damage done to this¡­vessel,¡± he sighed, gesturing at himself, ¡°that I am slowly awakening.¡± Sora¡¯s mouth creased to the side. ¡°That¡¯s tough, Dad¡­ All I can tell you is that she, well, feels like a lonely, imprisoned woman. She¡¯s all shadowy and thorny, has super-bright, yellow eyes that are cut into seven pieces, marble-like skin, and she¡¯s really beautiful¡­in an alien kind of way. She¡¯s also trapped by something called the Great Old Ones, whatever that means.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes widened, her tail twitching. ¡°That sounds terrifying. How can we help her¡­ Shouldn¡¯t we if she¡¯s family?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Sora mumbled, staring at the thin spikes surrounding her sister. ¡°I kind of want to, but I know she¡¯s also really dangerous¡­ I¡¯m also kind of dangerous, too, and Mom is, so that¡¯s not an excuse not to. I just feel like maybe we should be careful. Right, Dad? I¡¯m not sure about the Herald either, to be honest.¡± He nodded, seemingly deep in thought, as he took in their discussion. Wendy perked up while trying to grab the swirling vines around her with a small smile. ¡°She said we were in something called Nihility or the Null-Void. Personally, from these vines and my talk with her, she seemed really sad, gentle even, and curious about our growing family. She was kind of funny, looking back, trying to make me laugh and making light of things¡­but she was pretty cryptic, too.¡± ¡°What about the black star and the thorns everywhere¡ªoh, the chains connected to the big black sphere¡­that she called a rose?¡± Sora mumbled, brushing out her hair as it flew into her face from a shift in the wind. ¡°She said everything we saw wasn¡¯t really what it looked like but how we interpreted it since Nihility is like that for¡­beings like us? I don¡¯t know.¡± Her dad scratched his arm and stared at the portal to Avalon, its swirling mystical gate pulsing with magic. ¡°It¡¯s evident that my sister is going to keep reaching out to you two, so it¡¯s not something we can ignore. Your mothers are as blind as everyone else since Rose is outside of Existence in Nihility, and, for some reason, that causes some kind of¡­soul dissonance¡ªI¡¯m not sure how to explain it. In any case, we need to confront the source if we¡¯re going to get clear answers.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes widened, a mix of fear and excitement swirling around her strange aura. ¡°Oh, do you mean me?¡± She moved to touch the vines, only for them to shy away again, always keeping just outside of reach. ¡°I¡­feel like there¡¯s this impassable barrier between us, despite her being so close to me. What do I need to do?¡± Sora stepped closer, placing a comforting hand on her sister¡¯s shoulder as the vine squirmed away from her. ¡°I¡­have an idea, but it kind of freaked me out with the whole swallowing stuff and making everyone forget about it. There is just so much I don¡¯t know. When I first met her¡­she gave me a pendant, and I hid it in the safe so no one would get hurt. It¡¯s dangerous,¡± she whispered, looking away. Her father¡¯s arms enveloped her, providing the solace and comfort she needed. ¡°It¡¯s a lot to take in, Sora,¡± he murmured into her folded ear. ¡°I get it. Your mother, Rose, and the higher beings¡ªit¡¯s all shrouded in mystery. But we¡¯ll face it together, one step at a time. I¡¯m here with you. Both of you.¡± Sora hugged him tighter, feeling the warmth and strength he offered, always knowing what to say and do. She saw her new sister smiling to herself in the background. I¡¯m glad Wendy is open to this new family, she definitely deserves it!. ¡°Thanks, Dad. I just wish things were simpler, you know? Boys, school, and cat-fights with friends¡­normal stuff.¡± He pulled back slightly to look at her, his understanding gaze drifting to Wendy and opening up an arm to pull her in, as well. ¡°I know. I know, girls. But life¡¯s rarely simple. Sometimes things are scary¡­like waking up as a piece of jewelry.¡± ¡°Too soon!¡± Wendy cried with an emotional laugh. ¡°Too soon¡­ I¡¯d do it again, though. I feel so much¡­better. It¡¯s like I belong somewhere again, and I¡¯ve wanted to feel like I belong for years¡­even before Kari, when I¡¯d go home to¡­yeah.¡± Sora¡¯s heart burned as her dad squeezed tighter, kissing their folded-down ears. ¡°Everything is alright,¡± he whispered, pulling back as the violet sky painted across their skin. ¡°Let¡¯s take a deep breath and relax for a second¡­because there¡¯s no other place I¡¯d rather be right now than with the two of you. Do you want to handle this so you can clear the air and be ready to start your magical school year?¡± Relishing the ability to feel and hear her dad¡¯s words when, a little more than a week ago, he¡¯d been in a coma, was strength enough. She glanced at her red-nosed sister, showing her body acted just as normally as any other human¡ªor as close as they¡¯d get now¡ªand nodded. ¡°I¡¯m ready. Are you?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± ¡°Right. Let¡¯s see if we can use the pendant to meet her and get some answers.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girls,¡± their dad chuckled, ruffling their hair and getting a riled growl out of them. ¡°I¡¯m right beside you.¡± Agreeing with a few pointed remarks at messing up their hair, Sora spelled it back into place and led the way back to the elevator, the air filled with a renewed sense of positivity. The elevator ride to the suite was silent, each of them lost in their thoughts. When they entered the kitchen, the familiar hum of the refrigerator and the faint scent of herbs welcomed Sora, making her wonder if Wendy had the same enhanced senses as her. Kari wasn¡¯t upstairs anymore, which meant she was either blowing off steam at the rec center or talking to Mary again. She¡¯d been doing a lot of therapy meetings lately by the scent she left at the office; the wolf was practically marking her territory at this point. Sora approached the safe where her medications had been kept. She felt the weight of her magic pulsing within her as she unraveled the charms with a desire, sensing the intricate locks and wards she had placed around the safe. With a gentle flick of her fingers, the locks clicked open, revealing the pendant nestled inside. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Hopefully, Kari will be good enough to talk tomorrow, before the Open House¡­ Should I have her join Aiden and me on the monster community visit? ¡°What¡¯s with that look?¡± Wendy asked as Sora retrieved the pendant. ¡°It looks like you¡¯ve swallowed some sour candy.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t like sour stuff,¡± Sora mumbled, ears furrowed as she thought about Kari interrupting her fun outing with Aiden; it wasn¡¯t technically a date, but Aiden did kind of call it a date in a non-date kind of way. ¡°Just¡­considering some stuff tomorrow. I should talk with Kari and Eyia before the Open House.¡± Wendy¡¯s mouth drew in as if she¡¯d tasted something sour now while glancing off to the side. ¡°Oh¡­you¡¯re thinking about her. Ms. You¡¯ll figure it out, I¡¯m going to go chill while you freak out about turning into jewelry. Yeah, I¡¯d rather not even think about the wolf bully. Weird diversion, Sis.¡± Sora strained a smile. I guess Wendy¡¯s still not that warm toward Kari yet but she was kind of¡­yeah, toward Wendy this morning. Her ears flew up as a new thought punched her in the nose, an answer that seemed so obvious now. Kari hated who she was¡­ She wanted to be human, and Wendy felt isolated as a human. They¡¯re like¡­polar opposites. Kari¡¯s still getting more comfortable with her own skin while Wendy felt like the friend equivalent of the damsel in distress trope that was a vulnerability to me¡­ Things are always complicated. Her father put a hand on their shoulders, drawing their attention. ¡°Kari¡¯s had a complicated life. I talked with her earlier this week, and there¡¯s a lot she¡¯s dealing with¡­a lot. She¡¯ll come around. Just give her some time because she¡¯s doing much better than she was.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Wendy mumbled, oddly dispassionate for her usual kind heart but Kari was the object of a lot of internalized guilt she¡¯d built up; distancing herself as Sora¡¯s best friend due to the bullying had been hard on her. ¡°Can we get back to our imprisoned netherworld goddess auntie or whatever she is?¡± Sora puffed out a long breath and held out the pendant for everyone to see. ¡°Well, I feel its pull, but it¡¯s weak, and I can resist it. I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s like a wormhole to her place in the Null-Void. Wendy?¡± The brunette¡¯s expression brightened while leaning in to sniff it, which was¡­kind of odd, Sora had to admit. ¡°I can smell like¡­umm, how do I describe it? Something like¡­woodsy, creamy vanilla¡­and freshly baked bread!¡± ¡°Okay, Miss Bloodhound?¡± Sora muttered, pulling it up to take her own sample. ¡°Uh, yeah, I smell nothing but my hand, Stephanie, and everyone else I¡¯ve touched. I guess you¡¯ve got the Nihility nose on you. Dad?¡± He looked at it like a viper, his green eyes narrowed. ¡°I¡­can feel it like¡­a cold, wet ocean breeze. Are we ready to touch it together? I can feel its pull, as well, Sora.¡± ¡°Weirdos,¡± Sora grumbled, ears drooping and feeling a little left out, being the least one connected to it when she¡¯d been the first! ¡°I¡¯m already touching it, so¡­on three?¡± Counting down, they each placed a hand on the pendant, and in an instant, the world around them dissolved into a swirl of shadows and light as they were transported through a place beyond infinity. When the chaos settled, they found themselves in an endless, nigh-empty expanse¡ªNihility. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, and above them, the sky was a stark contrast of black and red. A bloody ocean churned behind a glass-like barrier, casting a crimson glow over the sea of black thorns. Sora felt a chill run down her spine as she took in the familiar sight, her senses more alert than ever in the place. ¡°It¡¯s so much more¡­vibrant,¡± Wendy whispered, her eyes wide with awe and fear as she spun on what appeared to be an invisible platform they were on, only the sea and thorns allowing them to orient themselves. ¡°So many weird colors and shapes!¡± Sora took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. ¡°I guess I¡¯ve got vulpes Desire Magic, and you¡¯ve got Nihility powers.¡± They walked through the thicket of black thorns that parted for them, allowing clear passage. The atmosphere was heavy with a sense of foreboding, as if something was observing the area while their sight slid right over them. It was oddly familiar, as if the place was welcoming them in its own twisted way, singing to Wendy. As they moved forward, a figure appeared in the distance¡ªRose. She was still trapped, bound by ethereal chains that glowed with a sinister light. Her effulgent yellow eyes, cut into seven pieces, watched them approach with a mixture of sadness and relief. ¡°Welcome back, little ones,¡± she greeted, her voice carrying an ethereal echo. ¡°I see you¡¯ve brought my little brother¡­ It¡¯s been a long time since you clung to my stem. I take pride in what you¡¯ve become, chasing after me.¡± Sora stepped up, feeling a mix of emotions. ¡°Aunt Rose, uh, I don¡¯t know how long we have until the watchers or whatever they¡¯re called see us. We just, umm, we need answers. About Nihility, about our family, about everything.¡± Wendy strained a smile, hiding behind their dad and poking out to wave. ¡°Hey, Auntie¡­ You¡¯re kind of a lot scarier than before¡­ Bigger. I can see why you¡¯re called Rose now.¡± Rose¡¯s slim figure shook with silent laughter. ¡°I see someone in the family has decided to embrace Nihility more than Existence¡­ It speaks to your deeper roots and essence, Wendy. But first, let¡¯s talk about what you truly want to know, my Sparks of Existence.¡± Wendy inched out a little more. ¡°Uh, what exactly is Nihility? And why does it feel so¡­not empty, I guess?¡± ¡°Probably because this is an artificially created zone of Null-Void, not Nihility itself¡­ Think of Null-Void as a weaponized version of Nihility that can even be used against beings of Nihility. Any normal creature would think of this as emptiness but it is far from it since its purpose is to be a prison.¡± Rose¡¯s golden eyes fell to examine her shifting, thorn-like black dress that mixed with her prickly hair and the ethereal chains. ¡°Nihility is¡­freedom. True freedom. It is a force devoid of all things,¡± she whispered longingly. ¡°It is not opposed to Existence, but rather, it exists outside and all around it. It is the void before all and that which is where all comes from¡­ The nothingness that balances and encapsulates all conceptual reality. I believe many fictional accounts in your world have tried to describe it, but none truly capture even the essence of a space like this Null-Void.¡± Rose paused, a hint of a melancholy smile playing on her lips. ¡°As for why, I cannot tell you more, as I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll ask¡­ My little brother would have a fit if he awoke and learned I¡¯d told you more than he¡¯d like¡ªor should I say than you like, little brother.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you can tell me why I¡¯m so protective of my secrets that even my wife refuses to tell me anything?¡± her father asked, his gaze not leaving his big sister. ¡°I have a feeling in my chest that tells me¡­I pity and am a little angry at you¡­but that I love you. Why did the Herald tell me to not trust you when I have this draw inside of me that says¡­I have to?¡± Rose¡¯s smile softened, and a black tear ran down her cheek. ¡°Well, that was certainly¡­unexpected. The old you would never admit that. I¡¯ll tell you what you would wish me to, then. Our family is very dangerous. I am something of an outlier that you followed. We have evolved from our family to incorporate such concepts as¡­emotions¡­attachments. I¡¯m proud of you for chasing after me this far, despite our falling out.¡± Sora¡¯s ears were high, and a lump formed in her throat, feeling the weight of the conversation as she looked between her father and aunt. There was a heaviness in Rose¡¯s words and cadence that spoke of mistakes made and damage done that spanned eternities. ¡°The Herald is not wrong, Little Brother,¡± Rose replied, her tone turning more pointed. ¡°You should not trust me¡­if I am freed, and you definitely shouldn¡¯t trust our family. We are beings of Nihility. Creatures of immense power, and with that power comes a natural counter to Existence.¡± Sora felt a knot form in her stomach. ¡°But what about us? What if we meet our other family members and they say stuff like you to get us to think you¡¯re wrong? Everyone is so¡­frustrating!¡± she growled, looking up at the void-like event horizon and the maelstrom of blood in the endless expanse of Null-Void. ¡°Wendy and I¡­ What are we? If Nihility and Existence can¡¯t co-exist, then how do we¡­exist?¡± Rose¡¯s face softened as she looked at her. ¡°You and Wendy are impossibilities. A combination of potent Nihility and the fabric of Existence. What does that mean? I doubt anyone in or outside of Existence can say. Why do you think Sakura is invested and sent her Herald? You are both something entirely new. That makes you incredibly special, incredibly dangerous¡­and targets.¡± Wendy swallowed hard, her eyes darting to Sora and then back to Rose. ¡°So what do we do? How do we handle this power in Existence without hurting people or causing trouble because, as I understand, we¡¯re in vulpes territory, but if other Founders or factions find out¡­ That¡¯s bad, right?¡± A charming smile brightened Rose¡¯s face. ¡°That is why I called Sora in the first place. I can guide you both whenever you manifest your Nihility side. I can direct you on how to mold it into Null-Void. However, for now, Wendy, you must not open up your powers whatsoever. At least, not when inside Existence. Even the Herald and Nilly will have trouble hiding the ripples from reaching the Three Pillars of your Existence.¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s better than Poky-Poke thinks Nilly is!¡± Sora took a deep breath and let it out while glancing to their left, where the frightening-fanged Chinese child sat, the chime of a bell ringing into eternity. ¡°Nilly¡­¡± she called out, a mix of amusement and exasperation in her voice while staring at the mischievous Nekomata. ¡°Why do you always show up when things are getting serious?¡± The child-like cat snickered and hopped forward to study them, disappearing and reappearing around them from various angles. ¡°Nilly¡¯s always here when Nilly needs to be! Nilly¡¯s Nilly, and Nilly likes to have fun with Nilly¡¯s friends.¡± Rose¡¯s somber expression returned with a pained smile. ¡°Hello, Nilly. It¡¯s good to see you again. You have been a busy kitty.¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s always a busy kitty; Nilly¡¯s the best, you know! Everyone knows and loves Nilly¡­except for when people don¡¯t like Nilly. Nilly is a lonely kitten,¡± she sniffed, suddenly red-nosed and looking up at Wendy. ¡°Nilly needs a hug.¡± ¡°Aww!¡± Wendy knelt down to wrap the sniffling child into an embrace, wrapping her tail around her to snuggle. ¡°You are the best, Nilly. You¡¯re always cheering me up.¡± ¡°Watch out,¡± Sora warned, grabbing her tail defensively. ¡°Nilly¡¯s sneaky and will attack your tail to cuddle out of nowhere.¡± ¡°Nilly likes fluffy tails! Wendy has better fluffy tail than Sora now!¡± Sora¡¯s ears jumped up. ¡°Oh, does that mean I¡¯m safe?¡± A snicker came from the cat as she disappeared from Wendy¡¯s arms to look up at her slyly. ¡°Sora¡¯s never safe from Nilly¡¯s hugs!¡± Wendy moved to join Sora and their dad, arms crossed and waiting for Nilly to get bored and go since that was all you could do when the cat showed up. Her dad chuckled and reached down to rub Nilly¡¯s head, messing up her hair and moving her whole body with how small the 8-year-old was. ¡°I think a hug is an easy price to pay for your love, Nilly.¡± ¡°Oooh. Nilly likes swishy-swish, choppy-chop daddy!¡± the cat purred, her tails going stiff under his pets. ¡°Wait, where is Nilly?¡± In a blink she was gone, now hopping up and down in front of Rose. ¡°Hi, Auntie Rose! Nilly didn¡¯t see prickly-prick there! You¡¯re looking as thorny as ever, Nilly sees. Nilly¡¯s a good kitty, always here to help the kittens. Nilly knows everyone important because Nilly¡¯s Nilly, and Nilly¡¯s the biggest-est, strongest-est cat mom!¡± Her big eyes somehow grew larger as she leaned in closer. ¡°Oh, did you know Nilly was swimming in the Red Sea and found a scared little kitty that Nilly adopted? Nilly¡¯s a new mommy! Nilly¡¯s a good mommy!¡± ¡°Why, thank you, Nilly.¡± Rose whispered, yet her vision was narrowed with a point. ¡°Yes, Nilly is quite the resourceful kitty. You¡¯re always very good at finding trouble and poking your nose where you shouldn¡¯t be. Always the little interrupter.¡± Nilly¡¯s tail flicked with playful defiance before flipping on her heels to point at Wendy. ¡°Nilly¡¯s not naughty, Pokey-Star! Nilly¡¯s just a curious kitty. Squirrely-Raccoon is a good kitty, too! Always cheering up Wendy¡¯s little sis and protecting Sora.¡± Wendy¡¯s face lit up at the compliment, her fluffy tail swinging happily and in dangerous territory with the cat nearby. ¡°Thanks, Nilly. You always know how to make me laugh. Want to hug my tail?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± In the next second, Nilly was in heaven cuddling the fluffy tail. Sora gave her big sister a thumbs up; somehow, Wendy had become an expert Nilly handler. Sora¡¯s ears tilted to the side while looking up at her trapped aunt, pondering her warnings. ¡°Aunt Rose¡­you don¡¯t have to be alone. We can come back, right?¡± Nilly¡¯s ear perked up, and her voice became somber while peeking out from Wendy¡¯s fur. ¡°Pokey-Poke is a sad little flower that was stolen by the Blood Throne¡­the Reaper of Fields has her. But Nilly found her little adopted kitten, and Nilly doesn¡¯t want her to feel lonely, so Nilly visits and swims in the Red Sea. Nilly¡¯s a good mom!¡± Rose chuckled softly, the sound like a distant melody played from a broken heart. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Nilly be a very naughty kitty, poking around places Nilly shouldn¡¯t be able to go.¡± Nilly¡¯s tail shot up in mock indignation. ¡°No one can stop Nilly! Nilly¡¯s the fastest-est, you know! No one catches Nilly! Bye-bye!¡± The light moment brought a smile to Sora¡¯s lips as the cat slipped away into the aether, only leaving behind her tinkling bell. Rose turned her gaze to them and spoke with a tad more hope in her depressed, smiling cadence. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me¡­ I am where I am, and that is of my own folly. I am content just being able to be with you again every so often, even if only for a short time. It¡¯s been¡­so lonely. And to see you again, my baby brother, and what has become of you¡­ It fills whatever constitutes my heart with pride. Our parents could never¡­ I could never.¡± Her downcast golden eyes lifted to them. ¡°It¡¯s time for you to go. Fate and Destiny have finished playing their next hand, and are preparing to look at the board. Until next time¡­¡± ¡°Wait!¡± her dad demanded, stepping forward and now looking more frantic. ¡°I haven¡¯t even learned anything about you¡­ I know you¡¯re my older sister. How am I supposed to reconcile with these feelings? We haven¡¯t even been able to talk.¡± Rose¡¯s expression became gentle as the thorns began to close around them. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Jarlath. We¡¯ll have plenty of time. Touch my pendant, and if the guards are not looking, I will pull you through. Farewell, and remember my warning, Wendy. Fight the instinct of Nihility, or it could consume you. You will naturally know how to utilize your mother¡¯s side¡­ Search, and the answers will come.¡± Sora blinked as darkness took them, only for the familiar scene of the kitchen to meet her vision. They were back. Wendy slid her finger down her blue dress to her brooch. ¡°I guess I have my answer¡­ Freed Auntie Rose is a menace, and Trapped Auntie Rose is a fallen angel. Thank you, Sora,¡± she whispered, stepping forward to hug her. ¡°I finally feel like I can be me¡­ That I¡¯m worthy of being in your life.¡± B2 — 34. Embracing Change Sora noticed her father¡¯s face, her fingers squeezing the seven-pointed star pendant in her palm upon seeing the mix of complex emotions. Wendy¡¯s gaze was still on her brooch, probably processing her own internalized feelings. This isn''t fair for you, Dad, she thought, her heart aching. First, your little girl goes through so many problems, then Mom brings another woman into your life¡­ The Foundation¡¯s intrusion, and now this¡ªdiscovering you have a mysterious big sister who says not to trust her or our family. She moved forward, a little surprised Wendy was right beside her, moving to give their dad an Oreo hug. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Dad,¡± Sora whispered. He breathed out a long sigh and smiled, squeezing them back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± he said, his voice warm yet subdued, likely shoving down his own feelings by his fluctuating aura. ¡°Hmm. Do you have your journal to get to today, or does Aiden¡¯s date trump that?¡± her dad asked with a playful tone. Sora¡¯s cheeks heated up as Wendy giggled on the opposite side. ¡°Dad! It¡¯s not a date, just¡­you know, hanging out¡­probably.¡± ¡°Sure, sure,¡± he chuckled. ¡°I can stay with Wendy, so don¡¯t stress, love. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have a lot of fun catching up. Maybe I¡¯ll take Wendy, Noelia, and your mother out into the city to have some fun. We could all use it, right?¡± Wendy quickly piped up, ¡°I¡¯d love that, but Sora doesn¡¯t have to worry about me. I¡¯m good now. Actually, I want to learn more about this new family dynamic of ours.¡± She growled softly, her ears pulling back and looking away. ¡°You¡¯re probably worried about Kari and Eyia. I¡¯m just saying, I¡¯m perfectly fine now. I¡¯ll figure things out with my mom and dad,¡± she whispered, looking up at Jarlath with a tentative face, possibly wondering if she should call him that now. ¡°That¡¯s a good idea,¡± Sora promptly encouraged, pulling back and putting the pendant back in the safe. ¡°We should keep this our little secret for now¡­ Not that anyone will remember it. I do need to talk to Mary before meeting Aiden. There¡¯s a¡­yeah,¡± she strained a laugh. ¡°There¡¯s a lot to chat about. If I come across Kari, then I do. It¡¯s up to her if she wants to talk. But I¡¯m waiting for Eyia and Kari to come to me in their own time.¡± Her dad nodded, nudging his head toward the elevator. ¡°Sounds mature and like my little copper tail. Why don¡¯t Wendy and I go down and break the news to everyone else? Ugh. Your mom is so high maintenance, so I¡¯d be happy to have Noelia and Wendy¡¯s support because she¡¯s blaming herself for all of this.¡± Wendy smiled. ¡°That¡¯s something I can help with. Sora, you should get ready. We¡¯ll take our time getting ready later, so don¡¯t worry. Seriously! I¡¯m good. It¡¯s just trying to discover how to use my, eh, squirrel and tanuki powers. Exciting!¡± ¡°Super exciting!¡± Sora scooted around her dad, tail swaying in lock-step with her big sister as they slapped both hands together in the air for encouragement. ¡°My mom¡¯s got a lot of twisted tails, so hopefully your mom can smack her with that bushy tail and tell her to stop being stupid!¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the approach we¡¯ll take, but I¡¯ll take your advice under council!¡± Sora snickered while watching them go, her mind spinning with everything that had happened as they disappeared into the hallway elevator. My dad is probably the most grounded, resilient man in existence¡­ So many troublesome girls in his life yet he handles it like a champ. I really need to protect him. Sora took a moment to collect herself when the pair went below to her private realm. She knew her father was right; Mary was expecting her, and there were things she needed to sort out before meeting Aiden. The revelation of her father''s big sister had thrown her for a loop, and more than one time, but she couldn¡¯t afford to let it distract her from the tasks at hand. ¡°Right!¡± she said to herself, pumping an arm. ¡°Time to get ready for the day. To battle, as Eyia would say!¡± She made her way to her room, pulling out her journal and used magic to quickly jot down everything that happened. Mary was right, writing did help her process her feelings, and today was no exception. She detailed her worries about her father, the strange dynamics with Wendy, Noelia, and her parents. Near the end she added her unresolved feelings about Kari, Eyia, and Aiden, as different as all of them were. Sora finished her entry with a deep breath in less than five minutes after lying down on her bed, she threw up her feet and hoisted herself up. ¡°New clothes and accessories!¡± Her tail swayed with her body as she tapped the air, her desire magic turning on her music app to play the alternative indie genre station. Sora¡¯s smile brightened upon hearing Bryce Savage come on. She sang along with the song, ¡°And she likes nice cars, late nights, tattoos, long flights, new shoes, old nikes, new clothes, new sights¡­good times, she lives, she loves. And she likes it when the bass is so loud, when the place sold out¡­¡± Spelling herself clean , she flipped through her racks while humming to the beat. Sora plucked out a high-waisted, knee-length denim skirt with a fashionable slit with a fitted, sky blue sleeveless top. She slipped on designer sandals, a delicate gold bracelet, matching necklace, and a small ankle charm with a fox on it. Sora spun in front of the mirror, looking herself over while motioning at her makeup station in her room, bobbing left and right. The items flew into the closet and hovered around her as she cycled between them with a smile, tapping each product while desiring the illusion to apply it to her face. ¡°Blue lipstick, light pink gloss, or what about some natural chapstick? Hmm. No need to foundation when I have a smooth and even complexion already. Nothing to conceal, which is a godsend after my early tweens¡ªyikes that was an awkward time,¡± she snickered. ¡°Maybe a little eyeshadow to highlight my eyes? A light golden works for a hint of shimmer! A subtle Nilly-cat eyeliner for definition but not too dramatic. My lashes are already pretty large, which is a plus. Eyebrows? Perfect. Cheek blush? Ugh. I blush enough as it is¡­¡± she mumbled with a wry smirk. ¡°Any need for highlighter? Mmm. Naa. Back to lips¡­a nude shade, with a hint of gloss to keep them looking fresh and hydrated? Sounds reasonable. And a little magic to keep it on instead of setting spray, tie my hair into a simple braid to be out of the way, and¡­done!¡± Turning left and right, she flashed her perfectly cleaned teeth and took a few cute poses before taking a high picture. Wondering what would come of it, Sora¡¯s fingers hovered over her device before writing out the text to Aiden. Ready for our ¡®adventure¡¯ later today. LMK. I¡¯ll be free after noon, probably! She pushed her lips to the side, thumb hanging over the keys. That should be good, right? It should be. Send! Releasing a long stream of air that did nothing to relieve the tension in her chest, Sora nodded at herself in the mirror. Alright, time to see Mary. She grabbed her bag and headed out as the song changed again and she sang along to keep her spirits up, or more like distract herself. ¡°And she¡¯s got those eyes that cut like a dagger. And got that attitude, like she don¡¯t care, nothing matters. But something ¡®bout her infectious smile and laughter. No, I don¡¯t want her. No, it¡¯s a need, gotta have her¡­ Be that girl, Sora!¡± Her mind buzzed with a mix of excitement and anxiety about the day ahead as she desired for the music to cut. The elevator ride to the ground floor had her stomach dancing on a tightrope. Life is insane, but that¡¯s okay. I kind of like that. Plus, I get to boast to Mary about my restraint! I¡¯ve been so good lately. Sure¡­some hiccups, like forcing Kari to go shopping, but that turned out okayish. And we¡¯re off! Stepping into the lobby as the doors opened, Sora held her hands behind her back, paused, and hurried back into the elevator. ¡°Why am I walking when I have a car?!¡± Now bouncing on her toes with excitement, she entered the suite again, hearing her dad, mom, Wendy, and Noelia nearing the elevator as the box went past her private realm. Not pausing, she went right for the garage, snatched the Bentley keys from the box, and, luckily, it was already positioned to go. Getting inside, she positioned her tail properly, locked in the seat belt, and activated the car elevator while using her other hand to press the button to start the vehicle. The luxury car came to life, making her belly squirm and internally thanking her dad again for this gift. She caught her family in the rearview mirror as the car descended, waving back. I¡¯m off for adventure! Leaving the hotel underground, she grinned ear to ear while entering traffic, feeling like the coolest girl in the world, which was ironic to her, considering she was a vulpes Founder and this excited her. She couldn¡¯t help it! She¡¯d watched her dad drive fancy cars all her life, and now she had her own. Mary¡¯s office felt longer than usual or maybe it was because she was having fun. She took a few laps around Miami Beach, to be fair¡ªshe needed to waste time since her appointment was at 9 a.m. Plus, breakfast was calling her. After eating, she drove to Mary¡¯s client parking and used the rearview camera to back into the stall. Feeling oddly satisfied, Sora couldn¡¯t help but replay the morning¡¯s events in her mind. The revelation of a big sister her father never knew, the cryptic warning not to trust their family¡ªit was a lot to take in. Mary probably wouldn¡¯t even remember¡­unless she got creative. When she finally reached Mary¡¯s office, she was greeted with a warm smile from the receptionist. ¡°Good morning, Sora. Mary¡¯s expecting you.¡± ¡°Thanks,¡± Sora replied, forcing a smile as she walked through the familiar door and stared at the floor. Kari¡¯s scent is literally everywhere¡­ What, did she roll across the ground? She had an internal chuckle at creating an illusion of the fenris wolf doing summersaults ahead of her, her thick black tail whipping in the air. She was here late last night¡­ Mary¡¯s getting worked to the bone! Knocking on the door, Mary¡¯s voice called out to her from inside. ¡°Come in, Sora.¡± The light brown-eyed woman looked up from her desk, her expression softening and honey brown hair wrapped into a professional bun. ¡°My, aren¡¯t you looking dressed up? I haven¡¯t seen you wear makeup since transforming. You look beautiful.¡± ¡°Oooh, beautiful and not cute, huh?¡± Sora grinned, feeling butterflies swelling in her belly while closing the door and skipping over to sit on the client couch. She sat carefully, smoothing out her skirt. ¡°I¡¯m growing up.¡± ¡°Very much so,¡± Mary said, taking her tablet from the desk and moving to sit opposite her. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are quite a few crazy things to get off your chest. So, why don¡¯t you dive right into it?¡± Sora puffed out a breath that said the psychiatrist wasn¡¯t ready for her. ¡°It¡¯s been a day, let me tell you! We found out my dad has a big sister, and she warned us not to trust our family.¡± Mary¡¯s eyebrows shot up before settling back into their previous place. ¡°That¡¯s a lot to unpack already¡­ Mmm. So, what did you want to talk about? How are you feeling about the situation between your parents and Noelia? Has anything come from that? It was a lot to unpack.¡± Sora internally sighed. Thought so, not even just talking in vague terms works. I guess it¡¯s something me, Dad, and Wendy will need to work through ourselves. I bet Kari¡¯s been talking her tongue off about everything happening in the house, too, but Mary isn¡¯t going to bring anything up or conflate our sessions¡­ She is a professional. Sora nodded, feeling a bit of the tension in her shoulders ease as she pivoted. ¡°I know, and don¡¯t think I¡¯m complaining! It¡¯s just¡­there¡¯s so much happening all at once. Some things I could tell you but you wouldn¡¯t remember them due to, well, universal forces.¡± Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°Scary thought, but I can only know what I know, so there is no point in fretting over it,¡± Mary smoothly replied, catching Sora a tad off-guard at the stance. ¡°Wow. Well, that¡¯s true¡­I guess. Good point.¡± She crossed her legs and leaned against the side of the couch while staring out of the one-way glass windows. ¡°But, umm, as for Noelia and Mom, it¡¯s still weird, honestly. Mom¡¯s trying to make it work, but it¡¯s¡­strange. I don¡¯t get her. I get Noelia. My mom is totally a culture shock, though.¡± Mary nodded, jotting down a few notes. ¡°It¡¯s natural to feel that way, given your unique circumstances. Your dad¡¯s also been through a lot, and so have you. It¡¯s important to give yourself time to process everything. A lot has changed in your life over the past month.¡± Sora shifted, trying to articulate her feelings. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just worried about Dad the most. He¡¯s handling it well, but I can tell he¡¯s struggling. Oh, I forgot to say that Wendy is now officially a part of the family!¡± ¡°Is that right? And how does she feel about that?¡± Mary asked, making notes as they went but remaining engaged. ¡°Did everything turn out as your mother planned?¡± ¡°No,¡± Sora hissed, scratching her ear and hissing. ¡°No, not at all but we worked it out. It¡¯s hard to explain, but Wendy¡¯s basically a squirrel and tanuki Founder mix, with whatever my dad is. Wendy¡¯s cool with everything. My dad, though? Yikes. He¡¯s still going through so much. I mean, how could he not be in panic mode? First, Mom leaves, then she¡¯s back with Noelia, and now this daughter thing with Wendy. It¡¯s a lot.¡± ¡°It is a lot,¡± Mary agreed, her tone comforting. ¡°And it¡¯s okay to worry about him. You¡¯re all trying to navigate these changes together, and it¡¯s bound to be challenging.¡± ¡°I just feel like he¡¯s always been so strong, you know?¡± Sora mumbled, her voice wavering slightly. ¡°And now, I want to be strong for him¡­to protect him.¡± Mary smiled warmly while adjusting her speckled blue dress, the same one she¡¯d worn a few weeks ago. ¡°You are strong, Sora. And being there for your dad, supporting him, is part of that strength. But remember, it¡¯s also okay to lean on others when you need to. You¡¯re juggling a lot of issues. You don¡¯t have to shoulder everything alone.¡± Sora nodded, feeling a bit lighter but slightly leery as she gave the brown-haired woman a dubious grin. ¡°Thanks, Mary. I need to hear that, but is that a transition into¡­¡± Mary glanced at her with a small smile. ¡°Now, about Aiden¡­ Has that special day come?¡± Sora¡¯s cheeks heated while calling her purse over to fiddle with its straps. ¡°Yeah, well, uh, it has to be some day that it happens, right? We¡¯re supposed to, umm, to hang out today. You know, I¡¯m looking forward to it, but¡­¡± ¡°But?¡± Mary gently prompted as she trailed off. Sora sighed. ¡°I guess I¡¯m just nervous. Things have been so crazy lately, and I don¡¯t want to mess this up. He¡¯s been really great, and I like spending time with him¡ªhe¡¯s fun!¡± Mary set her tablet down on her lap with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s natural to feel nervous, Sora. You¡¯re a girl, not just some all-powerful goddess in training.¡± ¡°Well, when you put it like that,¡± Sora chuckled, hissing a little and looking off to the side while recalling Aiden¡¯s firm presence in the hell amphitheater. ¡°But¡­he¡¯s like a firebird prince, you know. He¡¯s a Founder, too. Plus, he has so much more experience than me out in the world, helping people.¡± Mary¡¯s buttery expression didn¡¯t change. ¡°It sounds like you two have a good connection then.¡± ¡°Mary! No, I¡¯m saying, uh, I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m saying,¡± she growled, ears folding back. ¡°He¡¯s saving monster lives here in Miami. Aiden¡¯s going to guide me around the monster communities and show me what they¡¯re like. Tammy wants to show me around her tribe. I¡¯m here focused on my family while he worries about the whole Miami community¡­¡± ¡°Sora,¡± the brunette whispered, causing her to look up into her gentle eyes. ¡°Just be yourself, and enjoy your time together. It¡¯s hard to find the time to deepen friendships, and maybe this can become something more¡­but for now, just let the stress go. You deserve to have some fun and happiness, too. He wants to show you a good time. Let him. Feel it out from there.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora said, a small smile tugging at her lips while staring down at her purse. ¡°I guess I am plucking at my tail for no reason. I¡¯ll try to relax and enjoy it. There¡¯s no need to rush things, right?¡± Mary nodded, resting her hand on her forearm as her expression softened. ¡°All you can do is put yourself out there and enjoy yourself. For now, take this as a chance to get to know him better. Besides, who said you can¡¯t just admire him as a friend?¡± ¡°W-What¡ªwhat did you say?¡± Sora gasped, her face turning scarlet. ¡°What do you mean admire him as a friend?¡± A half-smile lifted the psychiatrist¡¯s brown eyes. ¡°Sora, you¡¯re a growing teenage girl. For a lack of a better word, Aiden is quite the pretty bird, is he not? There¡¯s no need to deny it. He¡¯s strong, competent, caring, and fun to be around.¡± ¡°I guess when you put it that way¡­ Yes?¡± she whispered, feeling as if she said something wrong. ¡°How can I be so provocative sometimes and totally fall on my face, too? I want to hide in a pillow right now¡­¡± ¡°Remember, you¡¯re not totally a vulpes,¡± Mary chuckled. ¡°And I bet your dad is very happy about that. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard some things from your mother that make your ears turn red¡ªah, I see I¡¯m right.¡± ¡°Let me die,¡± Sora cried. ¡°No, but they¡¯re really cute together¡­ Mom and Dad really do love each other. It¡¯s really sweet to see.¡± ¡°Good. And if you ever need to talk or need support, you know I¡¯m here for you.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mary,¡± she sighed, feeling genuinely grateful. ¡°I appreciate it. So¡­about Kari and Eyia.¡± ¡°Mhm?¡± Mary picked up her tablet again and shifted her posture. ¡°I take it we are moving on because Wendy is doing wonderfully after all the heartache she experienced due to Jane?¡± ¡°Oh, absolutely! Noelia and her are hitting it off great, and Dad is so loving and supportive¡­ No, they¡¯re out having a family day together. I bet they¡¯ll end up at the bonfire in my private realm, cooking smores with Ember later¡ªI just got the picture of a bark smore,¡± she laughed, imagining the Fire Fairy munching down with a grin. ¡°That does sound lovely,¡± Mary chuckled. ¡°So, what has happened between Kari and you?¡± Figuring she wanted more information on the fenris wolf first to further help the raven-haired girl, Sora sighed and sank into her chair. ¡°Truthfully, nothing. I¡¯ve hardly talked to her this week. Eyia and her are getting along better. I hear them going out and playing sports together or having challenges, but it¡¯s always¡­a bit tense, I want to say?¡± ¡°I see.¡± Mary looked a tad sad at that. ¡°It takes time for prejudices to ease, especially unconscious ones brought up in childhood. Eyia is taking wonderful steps. Kari is also trying her best¡­ It is best to be patient with both of them. Is there anything else?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m¡­kind of just giving Kari space and waiting for her to approach me. Is that wrong?¡± she asked, her pulled back ears rising a little while looking at the brunette for any confirmation. ¡°I messed up last week by forcing her to go shopping, but¡­yeah. I thought about it later and smacked myself on the forehead.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± The brown-eyed woman shifted to the opposite side of her chair while staring at her tablet, deep in thoughts by her aura, debating something serious. ¡°¡­Sora, what would you say about finding Kari before meeting Aiden and inviting her to the school open house tomorrow?¡± Sora let the built up stress steam out of her like a deflated balloon. ¡°You can¡¯t do that to me, Mary¡ªI thought you were going to ask me to ask her to join Aiden and me!¡± ¡°Oh, my apologies, Sora,¡± Mary chortled. ¡°Yes, I can see why that phrasing might have built up some pressure. No, I¡¯m asking for you to give her some time to stew on it. Don¡¯t expect a yes. Just invite her. Let her come to the decision herself.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah.¡± She shrugged, looking at the clock. ¡°I¡¯ve got no problem with that. I¡¯ve still got a while before I need to meet Aiden for lunch, so I¡¯ve got time. Wendy might be a little pissed, but that¡¯s okay. I¡¯ll try to talk with her later tonight.¡± A short pause came between them, Mary giving her a proud smile that surprised Sora. ¡°¡­You¡¯ve really grown up. Maybe it has been due to necessity, yet you¡¯ve grown nonetheless. After spending a lot of time with Kari over the last two weeks, I cannot express how important it is that Kari has someone like you in her life¡­that she can depend on you as a genuine friend that will allow her time to adapt. That¡¯s all I will say.¡± Sora¡¯s heart swelled at the praise but more so for what it implied. ¡°Thank you, Mary. Now, I better go find Kari, which¡­shouldn¡¯t be hard,¡± she laughed. ¡°The sports fanatic leaves a pretty noticeable trail. Text me when you get another opening? I really like our chats.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll text you.¡± ¡°Thanks! Catch you soon.¡± Waving and leaving the office with high spirits and feeling more grounded, she noticed that they didn¡¯t talk much about Eyia. Yet, she didn¡¯t smell the Valkyrie¡¯s scent that much in the space. The bright Miami sun greeted her, lifting her spirits further. Making a mental note to see what was happening to her blonde warrior sister, Sora got into her car to try and follow a wolf. She checked her phone, she saw a message from Aiden:
9:04 a.m. Aiden - Looking forward to our adventure! Tammy and her girls are excited. See you soon. ??
Sora¡¯s heart fluttered, and she couldn¡¯t help but smile. Alright, Sora, you¡¯ve got this. Time to enjoy the day¡­right after finding a brooding wolf girl. Driving through the busy streets of Miami, Sora allowed herself to soak in the vibrant energy of the city, singing to songs and following the pleasant smell Kari left behind. Sora hummed to herself, her hands tapping the steering wheel in rhythm with the music as she drove through Miami. Kar¡¯s scent led her to a nearby park she hadn¡¯t been to before; in fact, it was a bit far out to walk, which made her think the wolf wanted to be alone, but Mary gave her a mission. As she parked her car, she took a deep breath, readying herself for the conversation ahead. She got a few whistles and cheers upon getting out, people giving her thumbs up or commenting on her car or looks. Sora filtered them out, quite literally with her magic, making herself invisible. The park was bustling with activity. Children played on the swings, couples strolled hand in hand, and joggers weaved through the paths. Sora spotted Kari sitting on a bench under a large oak tree, her posture tense and eyes distant. Okay, Sora, just be yourself but not pushy Sora-self, she thought, walking over with a smile. ¡°Kari.¡± Kari¡¯s ears twitched, and she looked up, her amber eyes meeting Sora¡¯s. ¡°Hey,¡± she replied, her voice flat but not unkind. ¡°What do you want?¡± Charming. Blunt, as always. ¡°Mind if I sit?¡± Sora asked, gesturing to the space beside her. Kari shrugged, giving off a passive vibe but looking far less empty and suicidal compared to how she¡¯d been during their first talk. Sora took that as an invitation, crossing her legs and tapping the air. They sat in silence for a few moments, the sounds of the park filling the gap. Should I wait for Kari to talk like Mary always does with me? No. Not my style. ¡°I, uh, wanted to talk to you about something,¡± Sora began, choosing her words carefully. ¡°There¡¯s this open house thing at Avalon tomorrow, and I was thinking¡­it might be good for us to go together. What do you think?¡± Kari glanced at her, a flicker of surprise crossing her face before she looked away and Sora had to wonder if she was purposefully keeping her tail dead as a possum. ¡°Why would you want me to go with you? Doesn¡¯t Wendy need you to hold her hand?¡± Sora sighed, leaning back against the bench. ¡°Pure and simple answer? Because I care about you, Kari¡ªat least a little bit¡­a wee-little bit,¡± she repeated, squinting and holding up her fingers to show her close two fingers. Kari snorted, pressing back and making the bench creak with the stress. ¡°I won¡¯t humor that,¡± Sora chimed, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°We know each other too well now, and you¡¯ve felt my raw feelings. So¡­I know things have been tense lately, and I don¡¯t want to force anything, but I want you to know that I¡¯m here for you. Okay? This could be a good opportunity for us to spend some time together, outside of all the craziness. You know?¡± Kari¡¯s expression softened slightly, and she let out a long breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Sora. Wendy and Eyia hate me. It is what it is.¡± ¡°I know,¡± Sora said gently, leaning over and nudging her. ¡°My name isn¡¯t on that list, by the way. Food for thought. But you don¡¯t have to decide right now. Just think about it, okay? I¡¯d like to try having some fun with you, too.¡± Kari nodded slowly, shying away a little and rubbing her elbow. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll¡­think about it. Probably not, though. Why would I even go to some loser school for fae?¡± A small smile tugged at Sora¡¯s lips. ¡°Because a certain fox and bird friend is going. But that¡¯s that, and that¡¯s all I came to ask. If you do decide to come, I promise we¡¯ll make the best of it.¡± ¡°We?¡± the wolf mumbled, fingernails tightening against her skin. ¡°Aiden¡¯s going?¡± ¡°Naturally. I¡¯m pretty sure Noelia is going to be stealing Wendy¡¯s attention, and Eyia¡­will be Eyia,¡± she laughed, not having anything else to add. ¡°I¡¯m serious, though. You know me better than you¡¯d like to admit.¡± Kari grunted in response, keeping her gaze on anything but her. They sat in what Sora would describe as a comfortable silence for a while longer, watching the world go by. Eventually, Sora stood up, feeling lighter than she had in days after finally talking with the wolf. ¡°I have to go meet Aiden for lunch now,¡± she said, offering Kari a warm smile. ¡°We¡¯re going to check out some of the monster communities. But if you need anything, just call me, okay? You¡¯ve got my number.¡± Her wolf ears lowered slightly, still refusing to make eye contact. ¡°Mhm.¡± Sora left the park, her heart lighter. She drove to some classy-looking caf¨¦ where she was supposed to meet Aiden, her mind buzzing with anticipation and excitement. Aiden was already waiting when she arrived, leaning casually against the caf¨¦¡¯s entrance, showing off a well-fitted, casual red button-down shirt; it accentuated his slim, yet muscular frame. Sora quickly scanned his appearance, noticing his new dark-wash, slim-fit jeans that complimented his physique, clean, stylish sneakers with a laid back vibe, and minimal accessories¡ªa fancy mechanical watch and silver bracelet. He looked up and smiled as she approached, his golden hair catching the sunlight. ¡°Hey, you made it,¡± he greeted, his rainbow eyes twinkling with warmth. ¡°Yeah, sorry if I¡¯m a bit late,¡± Sora replied, returning his smile. ¡°Had a lot to talk about with Mary.¡± ¡°No worries; I completely understand,¡± Aiden said, falling into step beside her as they walked inside. ¡°How did it go?¡± ¡°Good, actually. It helped to talk things through. How about you? How¡¯s your day been?¡± ¡°Busy,¡± he laughed, ¡°but that¡¯s nothing new. I¡¯ve been doing a lot of thinking about this plan to relocate some of the monster communities around Miami to your private realm¡­ What do you think about your own personal monster restaurant downstairs?¡±¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed with a smile. ¡°I¡¯d say my ears are up. Go on¡­¡± B2 — 35. Goddess Mode Activate! Sora¡¯s brow furrowed with a smile, her tail keeping a steady sway as Aiden opened the caf¨¦ door for her, gesturing for her to enter first. ¡°So, is this date mostly about business or having fun before school hits us?¡± ¡°Why not both?¡± He chuckled, rainbow eyes inviting her to walk down the road and find out. ¡°I understand you have reservations about the whole monsters living inside your realm business, so I¡¯d like us to sit down and discuss all of your concerns while we eat. I want you to be comfortable with the idea, and to do that, I need to understand where you¡¯re coming from.¡± She shot him a playful scowl while stepping inside. ¡°So, you opened with the monster restaurant to hook me, huh? Smart play. How did you know that would work?¡± He chuckled, falling into step beside her. ¡°Alva always used to say the best way to get a girl¡¯s attention is to offer food, or was it sweets? Then again, she was a wolf.¡± ¡°And I¡¯m a fox, so why not both?¡± Sora suggested, her green irises twinkling as the inviting aroma of the somewhat busy shop unfolded with the open doors. ¡°Good point. Both it is. Hmm. I guess I should have slaughtered some chickens,¡± Aiden mused, leading her to a cozy corner table and making Sora¡¯s left eye crease. ¡°Chicken is good, but if you¡¯re setting a trap for me, I¡¯d suggest rabbit.¡± ¡°Thank you for the advice! I¡¯ll keep it tucked away,¡± he laughed. ¡°By the way, this caf¨¦ has an amazing chocolate cinnamon bun. Score?¡± Sora already felt her mouth watering. ¡°Score! Hmm?¡± She paused as a male server handed Aiden some menus, showing it was a more upper-end sitdown caf¨¦, and he gave her a judging stare that made her feel like there was something on her shirt. His question, though¡­ ¡°What kind of cinnamon bun drink gal are you anyway?¡± ¡°Oh, easy,¡± Sora grinned, waving her hand to the side. ¡°Milk, obviously. Two percent or whole?¡± she countered, taking a seat across from him at a less crowded side of the space as the server finished up with another table. ¡°Do you even have to ask? Whole, of course. Is there another choice when you¡¯re already having gooey diabetes?¡± he laughed, making Sora snicker. Her heart fluttered at his teasing tone, and she couldn''t help but notice the subtle ways he flirted. The way his colorful eyes lingered a moment longer on her face, his smile soft and genuine. Yet, Mary was right. She didn¡¯t need to push anything. It was better to enjoy it and let whatever happened happen. ¡°True. Pulling out all the stops, huh?¡± she asked, lifting an impressed copper eyebrow at the delicious-looking menu items with the chocolate cinnamon bun front and center. ¡°Okay, you¡¯ve bought yourself ten minutes, bud. This looks divine!¡± He shifted his posture to sit diagonally, leaning his back against the wall and crossing his legs while scanning the menu. ¡°I¡¯m glad you approve. Actually, I talked to your mom about a lot of things earlier this week to get all the details¡­ Your mother really is amazing,¡± he mumbled, looking a tad overwhelmed while remembering it. ¡°Is that right?¡± Sora hummed, directing her invisible purse to hang over the back of her chair while sifting to mirror his casual posture, leaning against the wall and tucking her tail under it to continue its gentle flicks. ¡°I¡¯d say she¡¯s pretty amazing for breaking my laptop, requiring help to change TV channels, and almost burning down the hotel.¡± ¡°What?¡± Aiden laughed, shooting a skeptical sideward glance at her. ¡°No way that¡¯s your mom¡ªyour 2nd Generation Founder, second oldest vulpes alive, mother?¡± Sora exaggerated an eye roll while recalling all the ridiculous things her mother was an absolute dunce at. ¡°No, my mom¡¯s a total klutz¡ªfull stop. She didn¡¯t even know how to use the bathroom. Yeah, seriously!¡± she said at his dubious stare. ¡°My dad has been swamped just trying to keep her alive. She¡¯d seriously die in like three days from dehydration if we didn¡¯t put her on a timer of when to drink water.¡± Aiden ran his fingers through his hair with a silent laugh. ¡°Wow. She can¡¯t cook but she can explain to me the aspects of dimensional segregation and realm divisions within the space-time continuum like it¡¯s as easy as drawing a stick figure. That¡¯s wild.¡± ¡°Tell me about it,¡± Sora sighed but there was a smile on her lips. ¡°No, but that¡¯s also why I love her so much. She could have given herself all that knowledge; I¡¯m sure it wouldn¡¯t have been¡ªoh, hi!¡± The male stopped in front of them with a thoughtful look on his face, no doubt hearing parts of their conversation; at this point, Sora didn¡¯t care what people heard since they¡¯d dismiss them as talking about a game or movie. ¡°Hello. Sorry to interrupt but is there anything I can get you to drink?¡± Aiden held up two fingers. ¡°Water and a tall, cold glass of whole milk for the chocolate cinnamon bun¡ªseriously, Sora, it¡¯s like this big,¡± he chuckled, spreading his hands to cover a full plate. ¡°I can¡¯t wait!¡± she chimed, getting more excited upon seeing one being brought out for another table, warm, liquidy, cream filling, and loaded with puffy, chocolate goodness. ¡°I¡¯ll get the same, and¡­are there refills on the milk?¡± ¡°Mhm! So, two waters, two whole milks, and two chocolate cinnamon buns?¡± Aiden and her held up their thumbs. He took down the notes, accepted their menus, and went back to fulfill their order. Once gone, Aiden leaned back and glanced her way, catching her eye. So,¡± he began, leaning an elbow against the table, ¡°tell me about your concerns. I want to hear everything.¡± Sora took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his attention. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­I worry about the safety of bringing so many different entities into one space. My private realm is supposed to be a safe place for me to use my magic, and I don''t want to compromise others if something goes wrong with Wendy or me using our powers. Heck, Kari or Eyia could have her own place to go wild and let loose without hurting anyone. ¡°Then there¡¯s the issue about it being connected to Avalon, jeopardizing their security. It has a direct access point to my elevator, which can then lead to Daisy, Ron, Howie, Stephanie¡­everyone. There¡¯s also the problem that the SCC Foundation may have spies mixed amongst them, and there could be problems between Avalon and us if they somehow get access.¡± Aiden nodded, his expression not showing an ounce of worry. ¡°I understand. Those are valid concerns, and things I brought up to your mother. So, what if we set up specific areas within your realm¡ªunique biomes and zones locked away from your primary access point. It can have gateways to different areas for you and no one else¡ªboundaries and rules to ensure everyone¡¯s safety?¡± Sora tilted her head, considering his suggestion. ¡°If¡­my mom was the one who said it is possible. I guess that could work. But what about the potential conflicts between different species? How many private zones do I need to make? There are so many dynamics to manage.¡± ¡°We could create a governing council,¡± Aiden promptly suggested. ¡°Representatives from each group address any issues that arise and have a small amount of authority in a specific area. As your mother described it, you have total control over your realm and it will respond to your desires.¡± ¡°Wait, what?!¡± Sora¡¯s hidden ears went straight up, pausing a moment as the server delivered their water. Once he moved on, they lowered and a light growl rumbled in her throat. ¡°She didn¡¯t tell me anything about that.¡± Aiden forced a smile. ¡°She said you might be mad but your mom didn¡¯t want you to do anything risky until she was certain Stephanie and the portal to Avalon situation was done. Also, it may be a tad taxing on you and doesn¡¯t really help with your magical understanding.¡± ¡°Fair, I guess,¡± Sora mumbled. ¡°So¡­you¡¯re thinking of a council?¡± ¡°You providing a limited way for them to change their own environment will give you less work, and it would give everyone a voice and a stake in maintaining harmony. They need to share the place you give them, be it a realm or whole world. Personally, I¡¯d say giving them a world to co-inhabit would be the best since it forces them to adapt and support one another. There are some exceptions, but I think allowing them to struggle a bit also gives them purpose.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes brightened at the idea. ¡°That sounds promising. But it¡¯s a lot of responsibility, even if we¡¯re giving them a lot of autonomy. How can we make sure it works without blowing up?¡± Aiden gave her a charming smile that said the answer was right in front of her. ¡°By working together, Sora. Sure, you may have the resources, land, and power to accomplish it all, but you¡¯re not alone in this. I¡¯ll do most of the heavy lifting¡ªat least socially. We can figure it out step by step.¡± She felt a warm blush creep up her cheeks at his gaze, totally focused on her. ¡°You really think I can help that many people? I¡­haven¡¯t really done anything like this before.¡± ¡°I do,¡± Aiden said with a conviction that somehow strengthened her heart. ¡°Like I said, I want to make this happen because it will save lives¡­lives I¡¯ve grown to care about over these last three years of seeing monsters struggle to survive. Avalon is restrictive, and for good reason, given the SCC Foundation. Isolated to live out a peaceful life, I don¡¯t think the Foundation will find much interest in that.¡± Sora smiled, feeling a sense of relief and excitement at trying something new. ¡°Alright. I¡¯m sold, Bird Boy. Let¡¯s give it a shot!¡± ¡°Wait, today?¡± he asked with a creased brow. ¡°I thought this would be a long-term thing.¡± ¡°Naaa. I¡¯ve got super magic to test out!¡± Sora grinned, feeling warm fuzzies rising up at seeing his own excitement building. She winked and put a finger to her lips. ¡°My mom was probably right to wait because I¡¯ve got a few things I do want to try out now.¡± ¡°There¡¯s the fox I first met,¡± Aiden snickered, glancing across the room as their waiter came out of the back with a plate filled with gooey goodness and cool milky relief. ¡°It looks like our sweets have arrived.¡± Sora licked her lips, her mouth watering at just the sight of the plate-sized chocolate cinnamon bun. ¡°Just in time!¡± Their conversation flowed easily as they enjoyed their cinnamon buns and milk, the caf¨¦¡¯s cozy atmosphere providing the perfect backdrop for their plans. Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel grateful for Aiden¡¯s firm support and understanding. He knew exactly how to keep his distance, how much to flirt, and when she needed to relax from the serious talk. How would that dynamic change once they got into school? What would school look like in the first place? Well, she¡¯d find out soon enough. After finishing their meal, Aiden paid the bill, impressing Sora since he did it without even asking, and knowing she could easily pay for it; he even gave a fifty dollar tip. She suspected it was more for the atmosphere and leaving them to talk than the service itself, which was also service, she supposed. He stood and extended a hand to help her up. ¡°Are you ready to meet Tammy? It¡¯s me who has been pushing for this meeting, by the way. She doesn¡¯t want to bother you.¡± Why does he have to look at me like that? Sora thought, feeling her saliva thickening. Get a grip, Sora. He¡¯s just a guy¡ªa very charming, infuriating guy. Sora¡¯s lips twitched at the comment, accepting his warm hand as he pulled her up. ¡°So you don¡¯t mind bothering me?¡± ¡°Only when you¡¯re lazing about doing nothing,¡± he said with an innocent grin that made Sora snort and roll her eyes. ¡°As Alva used to say, a lazy tail is a fluffy one.¡± ¡°And is that supposed to make me not want to be lazy?¡± Sora questioned, adjusting her light turquoise sundress with its delicate lace trim and brushing back her loose copper hair. ¡°Hmm? Oh, no, that¡¯s just something she used to say,¡± Aiden laughed. ¡°Alva did a lot of lazing around her den, sleeping all day. Tiri made a game out of trying to bug her to get her out of bed. Kari liked it since the little wolf wasn¡¯t tugging on her tail.¡± Sora giggled at the image of a little cartoon wolf pup in her mother¡¯s den, jumping on her, nibbling her mom¡¯s ear, or trying to pull her by the tail. ¡°She sounds like a handful¡­ Not to bring up bad memories, but¡­¡± Aiden hummed, his cheer not diminished in the slightest as he waved at a passing man who did the same. ¡°Dead? I¡¯d like to think not. To be honest, none of us know, and Eric¡¯s initial plan in making his empire was to eventually find her.¡± Her smile fading slightly at the more somber topic, they stepped out of the building, the warmth of the sun shining down on them. ¡°Did you¡­ask my mom?¡± The golden-haired boy guided her toward the beach, pulling out his phone to make a few texts that seemed important. ¡°I did. I asked Stephanie, as well, but¡­they both told me it¡¯s best not to ask about it right now. It¡¯s not a yes or no, but it gives me hope. ¡°There¡¯s nothing I can do about it currently, and I tend to focus more on what is right in front of me,¡± he said, glancing away from his phone to look down at her. ¡°Such as a pretty fox girl, who reminds me of autumn.¡± ¡°My hair, huh?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± He tilted his head to the side while giving her a studious look and made her gulp and tail pause. ¡°A bit more to it than that, but I¡¯ll let you puzzle that out.¡± ¡°Meanie!¡± Sora grunted, bumping shoulders with him and making him laugh. As they strolled along the beach, Sora felt a light breeze ruffle her hair and tail, the sound of the waves and Miami crowds adding a serene background to their conversation. She glanced at the Firebird, who was now looking out at the ocean as they neared, his expression thoughtful. ¡°So, what did you and my mom really talk about?¡± Sora asked, genuinely curious about their conversation. Aiden chuckled, putting his hands in his pockets. ¡°Oh, a lot of things. She¡¯s quite knowledgeable about realms and magic. We discussed the best ways to create stable environments within your realm and how to manage them. She also shared some insights about dimensional barriers and protections in case that came up.¡± Sora raised an eyebrow. ¡°Wow, sounds like she really gave you the full lecture¡­ She hasn¡¯t given me anything like that.¡± ¡°She did,¡± Aiden replied with a grin, ¡°and that¡¯s probably because you¡¯re too busy giving her lectures on J-dramas, which she is very into, by the way,¡± he added at her pouty frown. ¡°Good. Plus, my dad and Noelia have been keeping her fur bristled and preoccupied.¡± ¡°Oh¡­ Yeah,¡± he muttered, one hand leaving his pocket to rub the back of his neck. ¡°I¡¯m sure they have. Anyway¡­¡± ¡°Wait, no,¡± Sora gagged. ¡°That¡¯s not what I was implying!¡± ¡°Hmm? What were you implying?¡± ¡°Crap. Nothing!¡± she grumbled, ears falling back and cheeks turning red. ¡°Nothing at all. My mom is just¡­a lot different than I thought she¡¯d be. In a good way¡­sort of.¡± Aiden¡¯s pace slowed, a reflective smile lifting his lips as they reached the beach-side walkway, taking them north. ¡°I¡¯m sure I¡¯d feel the same way if I met Alva again. Life¡¯s complicated and hard¡­ People get dealt so many bad hands. I just want to help lighten that load a little bit where I can.¡± Sora could feel his heart, how big it was in his aura, reaching out, looking to support those who were crying out for help. It was so different from her; she was totally focused on her immediate family and friends while he saw a bigger picture. He helped put things into perspective and calm her nerves. Aiden entrusted Kari to me¡ªhis sister¡ªand now she¡¯s doing better. He really can¡¯t stop helping people and looking to make a difference¡­ Is there a deeper reason for that? They walked a bit further, the conversation shifting to more light-hearted topics. Aiden shared a funny story about Kari¡¯s attempts at cooking, following a cookbook from Alva¡¯s library. It had been as bad as her mother¡¯s attempt. Well, maybe it hadn¡¯t ended in that bad of a disaster, making Sora laugh. It did bring her back to the amber-eyed wolf, though. ¡°¡­Speaking of Kari, I invited her to the open house tomorrow.¡± His eyes instantly lit up at the topic. ¡°Really? She¡¯s been avoiding me, I think, so I wasn¡¯t sure what was happening. That makes me glad. I¡¯ll try to keep my distance and not press her tomorrow. She¡¯s the kind of wolf you have to leave alone until she¡¯s ready to leave the cave, I guess you could say.¡± ¡°Your phrasing sometimes!¡± Sora snickered. ¡°You make Kari look like this cute little puppy, ears pulled back, sniffing the air and looking around for her mom¡ªoh, and I¡¯m picturing winter snow, by the way.¡± Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°Now you¡¯re putting that image in my head! I love it, but don¡¯t let her hear you,¡± he laughed. ¡°Hmm. Yeah, let her find her own way was what Alva used to tell Eric¡­ I wish he would have followed her desire.¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed, thinking about the school and everything she¡¯d heard. ¡°Now, I¡¯m definitely not an Eric fan, but¡­maybe he was, in his own messed up way, by leaving her in Miami High?¡± Aiden sighed and shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Maybe, but I wouldn¡¯t call it that. He always was the controlling type and his trouble was always with her passive attitude as a Fenris Wolf.¡± ¡°No, I can¡¯t do it,¡± Sora growled, ears falling flat. ¡°No, I tried to see him as trying in his own way, and then I remember he forced Jenny to be her babysitter, which caused the whole shit storm. Once again, Eric sucks¡­¡± ¡°In some ways¡­absolutely,¡± Aiden mumbled. ¡°He takes more after his father than he likes¡­and he hates that about himself. Anyway, so, what¡¯s your favorite part of Miami so far?¡± Aiden asked, his tone casual yet interested. Sora thought for a moment, looking around at the bustling beach and the city skyline in the distance. ¡°I think it¡¯s the diversity. There¡¯s so much to see and do here, and everyone is so different. It¡¯s like a melting pot of cultures and experiences, which I think helped me better grasp the whole monster diversity thing.¡± Aiden nodded, agreeing. ¡°That¡¯s one of the things I love about it too. It¡¯s a place where you can find just about anything and anyone¡­ I hope to make something more livable for the monsters that are looking for that.¡± Their conversation continued, filled with playful banter and subtle flirting. Sora felt her confidence growing with each exchange, enjoying the easy rapport they shared. As they neared a more secluded part of the beach, Aiden pulled out his phone and dialed Tammy¡¯s number. Sora watched as he spoke, noticing the slight change in his tone when addressing Tammy, more formal and respectful. ¡°Hi, Tammy. Are you ready to guide us to your settlement? I¡¯ve got Sora with me and I know your girls have been waiting to meet her.¡± Tammy¡¯s voice came through the speaker, clear and professional. ¡°Yes, Master Aiden. I¡¯m ready whenever you are. And please, I will not feel slighted if Lady Sora cannot make it.¡± ¡°No, I think she can make it, Tammy. She¡¯s not as busy as you seem to think,¡± he said, causing Sora to give him a light glare. ¡°Great. We¡¯ll meet you at the usual spot. Thank you, Tammy,¡± Aiden said before hanging up. He turned to her, his expression serious yet reassuring. ¡°I haven¡¯t told them about the move yet. I want you to be the one to show them it is possible if you¡¯re comfortable with that. Again, I understand if you¡¯re not willing to do it. I don¡¯t want to pressure you into it, despite how much I¡¯m talking about it. I just want to remove any barriers I can but I know there are boundaries I shouldn¡¯t cross.¡± Boundaries, huh? And¡­what kind of other boundaries are you talking about, I wonder? Sora was a little shocked by his trust in her but also felt less pressure, realizing how much effort Aiden put into mediating between everyone. It also made her a little sad, yet she did notice he talked with her differently than other girls. Hopefully she wasn¡¯t reading too much into that. ¡°Wow, Aiden. You really do try to mediate between everyone, don¡¯t you?¡± she whispered, brushing back her hair as glanced up at the bright blue sky. ¡°All the stuff you do is so¡­mature compared to all my troubles.¡± Aiden smiled warmly, now returning a bump to her shoulder that sent her off-balance and crying out a little. ¡°I try my best, but don¡¯t diminish what you¡¯re doing. It¡¯s important to me that everyone feels heard and respected, but there are things I can¡¯t do on a personal level that you can. And I think the world of you for that, so don¡¯t ever think less of yourself, Sora. You have a way of connecting with people that I can¡¯t.¡± Looking down at her feet in their slow walk, a blush touched Sora¡¯s cheeks as she hid it with her shorter stature and position. ¡°Yeah¡­we all have our talents, I suppose.¡± They continued walking along the beach in silence for a time, Sora replaying the words in her head. The afternoon sun cast its golden glow over the beach, where the gentle sound of waves provided a soothing background to the laughter and chatter of beachgoers. They wandered down the shoreline while scanning the beach, and her gaze fell upon a familiar figure near the water. Sora was surprised to see Tammy standing there, wearing a bracelet that disguised her as an average human woman in her late thirties. The dolphin woman stood out against the backdrop of the sea, exuding an air of effortless style and grace. She wore a trendy one-piece swimsuit in contrast to her all-business server attire, the kind that had become all the rage this season¡ªit was probably her best one, given her personality. The swimsuit was a vibrant shade of coral, accentuating Tammy''s sun-kissed skin. It featured a high neck and a low back, with intricate cutouts along the sides that added a touch of modern flair to the classic design, showing off her hidden dorsal fin. ¡°Hello, Mistress Sora, Master Aiden,¡± Tammy greeted them with a respectful bow. Sora returned the greeting with a friendly smile. ¡°Hi, Tammy. It¡¯s good to see you again. I was thinking I could create a bubble and water rope that you can use to drag us to the spot. It¡¯ll make the trip easier for you, I hope.¡± Tammy¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°That¡¯s¡­very creative and thoughtful of you. Thank you, Mistress Sora. It is a bit of a ways off, below the shelf, so it will make things much easier.¡± Sora nodded, focusing her desires. Her magic formed into a large air bubble around Aiden and her, the sand rising up to create sandstone seats for them. She then conjured a water rope, making the sphere lightweight and easy for Tammy to pull. Aiden whistled as she finished and admired her work as she folded her dress under to sit, motioning for him to join her. ¡°You¡­always amaze me, Sora.¡± ¡°And I hope to continue to do so! Now, whenever you¡¯re ready, Tammy! Oh, and I added an invisibility charm so no need to worry about onlookers.¡± Tammy smiled, visibly grateful. ¡°Thank you, Mistress Sora. You truly are a blessing.¡± Sora felt lighter than air from all the praise as they began their journey. Tammy pulled them smoothly over the surface of the water, her movements graceful and effortless. The sea breeze ruffled Sora¡¯s hair, and she took a deep breath, savoring the salty tang in the air. The sun shimmered on the water, casting a sparkling path ahead of them. Aiden settled into the sandstone seat next to her, stretching out his legs and leaning back with a contented sigh. ¡°This is nice. I can¡¯t remember the last time I just relaxed like this.¡± Sora glanced over at him, a playful glint in her eyes as the waves bowed around them. ¡°You mean you don¡¯t spend all your time being serious and brooding? I find that hard to believe.¡± Aiden chuckled, brushing a strand of golden hair away from his face. ¡°I have my moments. But it¡¯s not often I get to spend time with someone as interesting as you, Sora. You make helping people fun.¡± Her heart fluttered at the compliment, and she felt a warmth spread through her chest. ¡°Oh, so I¡¯m interesting now? I thought I was just the girl with the realm solution.¡± ¡°You¡¯re much more than that,¡± Aiden replied, his gaze steady and sincere as he leaned closer to smile at her. ¡°You¡¯ve got this incredible, how do I say it¡­ This energy about you. It¡¯s like you¡¯re always one step away from discovering something amazing or new.¡± Sora¡¯s tail flicked with pleasure at his words, and she couldn¡¯t help but grin. ¡°You¡¯re not too bad yourself, Blondie. I mean, I wouldn¡¯t even call you brooding. I was just playing with you but all you do is think about everyone else¡­ I kind of want to know what Aiden wants.¡± Aiden¡¯s smile became reflective as he sat back and folded his arms. ¡°What I want? Huh¡­ Well, there is another thing that you¡¯ve made me think about. I¡¯ll have to get back to you on that one.¡± They both laughed, the sound mingling with the gentle lapping of the waves against their magical bubble. Tammy kept a steady pace, her eyes focused on the horizon, but Sora noticed the subtle smile on the woman¡¯s lips when she shifted her head to glance back at them. It was as if Tammy found joy in witnessing their lighthearted banter. However, her thoughts were still on the Firebird. He could have just blown it off and said something generic, like I want to help people! Instead¡­he took my question seriously and wanted to give me a sincere answer¡­ He¡¯s nothing like the high school boys I¡¯ve talked to. I kind of feel like the immature one¡­ The journey was peaceful, the water¡¯s rhythm almost hypnotic. Sora let her thoughts drift, enjoying the sense of freedom and possibility that the open sea offered. Aiden¡¯s presence somehow helped her think more outside herself, and she liked it. Aiden broke the comfortable silence, his voice thoughtful. ¡°I¡¯m still thinking about your question, so don¡¯t think I¡¯ve forgotten, but there¡¯s something else that has been on my mind.¡± ¡°Mhm?¡± she pressed, shifted in her hard seat to give him her undivided attention. ¡°You know, I¡¯ve been thinking about what you said earlier, about creating a council to manage the different species in your realm.¡± Sora nodded, intrigued. ¡°Yeah? What about it?¡± ¡°I think it¡¯s a solid idea,¡± he continued, ¡°but I also think it¡¯s important to have someone who can mediate, someone who isn¡¯t directly involved in the politics of it all.¡± ¡°You mean like a neutral party?¡± Sora asked, considering the suggestion. ¡°Exactly. And when you asked me what I want¡­ I don¡¯t want to be their babysitter, parent¡­or god. I want them to grow and have their own autonomy while also being safe. I want there to be someone who can help resolve disputes and keep the peace. It might help if that person is respected by everyone involved.¡± ¡°Like you?¡± she teased, though she could see the merit in his suggestion. Aiden shrugged, a playful smile on his lips. ¡°I¡¯m just a humble Firebird trying to do my part. But seriously, I think it could work. Your mom mentioned you have control over your realm. You could create a space that, I don¡¯t know, encourages cooperation.¡± Sora mulled over his words, appreciating the thoughtfulness behind them. ¡°I like that idea. Maybe they could even have regular meetings to discuss any issues that come up. It¡¯d be like a mini-United Nations but for magical creatures.¡± Aiden nodded, his expression brightening. ¡°Exactly. And I don¡¯t want you to have to be in the middle of all of that like a bogged down queen when you¡¯re just trying to have a humble school life with friends, so¡­ I don¡¯t know. I¡¯m trying to think of something.¡± Her lips curled mischievously, making his left eye narrow. ¡°And what¡¯s with that look?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve got an idea,¡± she snickered. ¡°Just let me cook because I¡¯m better at it than my mom¡­much better!¡± ¡°Uh, maybe in the kitchen,¡± he agreed, rubbing his chin. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll wait to be impressed, not that it¡¯s all that challenging for you to already do that.¡± ¡°Oh, shut up!¡± Sora giggled. ¡°If you keep it up I¡¯ll fly into space!¡± ¡°Wait, really?¡± he asked, flashing his teeth and straightening. ¡°How much more until I get to see that? I¡¯m game.¡± Sora shook her head as they both laughed, and she even saw Tammy giggled. As they neared their destination, the dolphin woman slowed their pace, guiding them toward a hidden cove surrounded by rocky cliffs. The water shimmered with a magical glow that was likely crafted by Sela. ¡°We¡¯re almost there. My daughters should have prepared the house,¡± Tammy announced, her voice carrying a hint of pride. ¡°The others are eager to meet you, as well, Mistress Sora.¡± Sora took a deep breath, her nerves tingling with a mix of excitement and anxiety. She looked at Aiden, who gave her an encouraging nod. With Tammy¡¯s guidance, they approached the hidden entrance, the water parting to reveal a path lined with vibrant coral and luminescent sea plants. Sora marveled at the beauty of it all, feeling a sense of awe at the hidden wonders that lay beneath the ocean¡¯s surface. Yet, at the same time, it was kind of smaller than she¡¯d expected. As they passed through the entrance, Sora caught her first glimpse of the underwater community. The settlement was a bustling hive of activity, with various sea creatures and mythical beings going about their daily lives, some areas devoid of water. It was a busy, yet quite drab tapestry, cramped and what Sora would consider unsanitary. Tammy led them to a central plaza, where a group of representatives awaited their arrival. Each one was unique, a blend of human and aquatic features that highlighted the diversity of the community, but not one gave off the ethereal beauty or image of a mermaid or merman. Sora felt a sudden weight of responsibility as she stepped forward, weaving her magic through the water to be easily heard. Am I really going to do this? Her doubts were swept away as Aiden stepped down beside her offering a supportive smile. ¡°Welcome, Mistress Sora,¡± one of the representatives, a crab-like man elder, greeted. ¡°We have heard much about you and what your influence has done to alleviate our tribulations. We are here to pledge ourselves to your peace.¡± Sora smiled, her heart swelling. ¡°Thank you for welcoming me but I¡¯m not here to act as your boss or goddess, like Eric did. Actually¡­¡± She glanced at Tammy, who looked somewhat confused as she glanced between the gathering population, whispering to one another about her appearance. ¡°Initially, I came here to meet Tammy¡¯s girls and get a feel for your culture, but Aiden and I have been talking and, well¡­ I¡¯d like to show you something.¡± With those words, Sora felt the weight of her role settle comfortably on her shoulders; she wasn¡¯t alone. She couldn¡¯t help but steal a glance at Aiden, who gave her a reassuring smile. Turning back to the gathered community, Sora took a deep breath, her confidence bolstered by the support surrounding her. ¡°Alright,¡± she began, her voice steady and clear while spotting Tammy meet her two daughters, seemingly still teenagers since they hadn¡¯t fully developed their human figure. ¡°I want to show you something that could change everything for you. But before I do, I need you to trust me and trust Aiden. We¡¯re here to help, not to take over.¡± The representatives exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued by her words. The elder, with his crab-like features, nodded solemnly. ¡°We trust you, Mistress Sora. You have already done so much for us¡ªmore than we can express. The merfolk have yet to attack us since you have taken over our area.¡± Sora nodded, but wore a pained smile. ¡°Thank you, but like I said, I¡¯m not here to take over. I¡¯m here to liberate you. Now, if you could all gather around, I¡¯ll open a gateway to a place that I believe will be a new beginning for all of you.¡± Tammy¡¯s lips parted in disbelief as her daughters looked up at her with their big eyes. ¡°What does she mean by that, Mom?¡± ¡°What does lib¡­liberate mean?¡± ¡°Freedom, Sicily¡­ It means freedom,¡± the mother whispered as murmurs swept the throng and goblins lined the waterless zone, looking down with interest. With that, Sora closed her eyes, focusing her magic on creating a portal within the central plaza. She could feel the energy pulsing through her, drawing from the depths of her power to link with her desires. The air within her bubble and around her began to shimmer with a soft glow as the portal began to take shape, its surface reflecting the vibrant blues and greens of an ocean paradise beyond¡ª40% of her total magic reserves drained away. She forced herself to remain steady as the gathered crowd murmured in awe. The portal stabilized, revealing a breathtaking view of a vast, pristine ocean stretching out under a shimmering surface that cast a brilliant light over the open waterway. It was a realm untouched by human hands, a sanctuary waiting for those in need. ¡°Wow,¡± Aiden breathed beside her, his eyes wide with wonder. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what to expect¡­but not that.¡± Sora smiled, a sense of accomplishment washing over . ¡°I¡¯m not done yet.¡± He gave her a questioning look, admiration shining in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re incredible, Sora.¡± Her cheeks flushed with a warm blush at his praise. ¡°Quit distracting me! Ahem. This is a new world¡ªone near my own home sanctuary, and a place where you can live in harmony with nature, where you can thrive without fear of being discovered or attacked. It¡¯s a new start for all of you¡­including anyone else who will follow the rules.¡± Almost everyone present was shaking, faces showing their gratitude despite the water absorbing any tears shed. ¡°This is more than we could have ever hoped for,¡± Tammy whispered nearby as her daughters rushed forward to enter the new paradise, laughing and curious, yet Sora saw a few scars on their bodies that spoke of hardship, likely from when their oldest sister and father were killed. ¡°Thank you, Mistress Sora¡ªSidney, Sicily! Don¡¯t wander off!¡± ¡°Please, just call me Sora,¡± she insisted with a grin as the mother swam after her children and more rushed in, followed by their parents. ¡°This is your home now. Make it your own.¡± As the representatives and their families began to step through the portal, Tammy eventually returned with her daughters under her arms, the girls looking pouty. ¡°Mistress Sora, I don¡¯t know how to thank you for this gift,¡± she said, her voice choked with emotion. ¡°You¡¯ve given us¡­me hope for the future for my daughters.¡± Sora waved at the girls as they were gently patted forward by their mother¡¯s tail to enter the air bubble, a soft smile on her lips. ¡°I¡¯m just glad I could help. Take good care of your mother and new home, alright? I¡¯m thinking about starting a little restaurant that she can work at and people from my new school can come to during lunch.¡± The girls nodded eagerly, their eyes sparkling with excitement. Tammy placed a gentle hand on their shoulders. ¡°I know there is a lot you still wish to discuss with us as a community, and this home is not only ours. Still, we can never repay you for this kindness, Sora. Thank you.¡± With that, Tammy and her daughters joined the others, stepping through the portal to their new sanctuary. Sora watched as the community disappeared into the vibrant realm to explore, a sense of fulfillment settling in her chest. ¡°You did it,¡± Aiden said, coming to stand beside her. ¡°You really did it. Is this¡­one of those planets orbiting in the sky?¡± ¡°Mhm! I plan on doing more editing later, but that is for later!¡± Sora let out a breath she didn¡¯t realize she¡¯d been holding, a wide smile spreading across her face. ¡°You helped me realize what this could be and what my powers can be used for. Actually, this is probably mostly my mother¡¯s doing since she gave me this power to begin with. I have no clue how I did any of it. The realm just¡­responded. I should thank her.¡± He chuckled and looked up at the goblins, now diving into the water using breathing devices to check out the place, as well. ¡°See? You¡¯re a natural at this. And it wasn¡¯t your mother who made that desire happen¡­ It was you. So take the credit. And¡­to be honest, Sora, can I answer your previous question?¡± Sora blinked and looked up at him, eye narrowing with a small smirk. ¡°My question about what you want?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± He breathed out a long stream of air that felt like it carried with it the density of a planet, hands in his pockets and looking up at the thousands upon thousands of water-based monsters continuing to enter the cave from smaller, branching areas upon hearing the news. ¡°My wish was to feel free to figure out what I want¡­and you granted that wish.¡± Sora¡¯s ears drew back as he looked down at her with the most satisfied, pure look of relief she thought she¡¯d ever felt in her chest, his aura pure as snow. ¡°Kari, Eric¡­all the monsters who have been counting on me¡­ I feel like a freed bird, and it¡¯s all thanks to you. Thank you.¡± The moment seemed to stretch, Sora¡¯s heart thumping as he sheepishly chuckled and glanced off to the side, rubbing the back of his neck. ¡°On another note, I was kind of hoping¡ª¡± Their moment was interrupted by a surge of familiar, freezing wind that chilled the water and made many of the sea people retreat¡ªEyia appeared beside them. Sora¡¯s rising, anxious ears drooped as the atmosphere broke, Eyia¡¯s expression curious as she surveyed the portal and the empty plaza. ¡°I sensed a great surge of magic. What have you done, Sister? It certainly looks grand from below on the primary planet.¡± Sora glanced at Aiden, who gave her a forced smile, and she sighed¡ªthe real magic was gone. ¡°I opened a gateway to a planet in my realm for the community here. It¡¯s a safe place where they can live in peace.¡± Eyia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise, a true smile gracing her lips yet there was something off about her aura that snagged Sora¡¯s attention. ¡°That is a noble deed, Sora. I should not be surprised by your generosity and wisdom.¡± ¡°Eh, thanks, Eyia,¡± Sora said. ¡°It¡¯ll be open for a while¡­ Is everything okay?¡± The Valkyrie hesitated, a flicker of unease crossing her usually calm features. ¡°I am well, Sister. Merely contemplating¡­matters that have arisen.¡± Sora studied her friend, sensing the tension beneath her words and refocusing her mind and emotions. Something isn¡¯t right. She didn¡¯t just fly across space, slip through a dimensional wall, and pop up beside me for no reason. She¡¯s struggling. It¡¯s not like Eyia to be so evasive. ¡°You know,¡± Sora said, giving a look at Aiden, ¡°if something¡¯s bothering you, I¡¯m here for you.¡± Aiden nodded, picking up on her visual hint. ¡°Of course. Sora and I just finished things up. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve wanted some time with your sister.¡± Eyia¡¯s gaze softened, a rare vulnerability peeking through her stoic facade. ¡°I have, actually. Thank you, both of you. In my past, I faced dangers with a blade and resolve, yet things are now so different.¡± Sora tilted her head as she tried to test the waters. ¡°And here, we face it with cinnamon buns and milk while battling wits!¡± she giggled. ¡°Both have their merits.¡± A confused smile lifted the Valkyrie¡¯s lips. ¡°Your ways are¡­perplexing, and Kari tries to confuse me like Jin. Hmm. There is much to consider in the coming¡­battles that I am not familiar with. Tomorrow may present¡­challenges I had not anticipated.¡± ¡°Tomorrow,¡± Sora whispered, realizing what was weighing on her chest. ¡°You mean when we see Jin again?¡± Eyia¡¯s expression tightened momentarily before she nodded, swallowing a lump in her throat. ¡°Indeed. It is possible at the open house. It is not merely the reunion but what it may signify for our future¡­as friends.¡± Aiden placed a reassuring hand on Sora¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll handle things here. Right now, you two should spend some time together. I know Sora loves shopping.¡± ¡°What?! Who told you that if you haven¡¯t talked to Kari recently?¡± Sora balked, getting a secretive smile from the flirty boy. ¡°I¡¯ll leave that juicy topic for our next discussion. Have fun.¡± Sora shot him a light glare as he burst into flames and vanished, likely teleporting inside her realm to talk to the elders. ¡°You didn¡¯t even let me say goodbye¡­ Loser,¡± she mumbled with a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll see you tomorrow¡­ Anyway, I think I have a way to get us back home,¡± she said, motioning for the confused blonde to join her through the portal. ¡°Inside here, I¡¯m basically on God Mode.¡± B2 — 36. A Chapter Closes, A New One Begins Sora felt a sense of accomplishment as she watched a few more of the families step through the portal into the new world she had created. The air shimmered as the gateway remained open, allowing for free access that Aiden could direct. The weight of the moment hung over her, and Sora let out a breath she hadn''t realized she''d been holding. Turning her full attention to Eyia, she felt the stress on her magic reserves as she asked her realm to transport Eyia and her to the entrance of the hotel elevator. She blinked, and the world instantly changed; Eyia reached out to steady her, glancing around in surprise. ¡°The realm has moved us¡­ Your powers here are phenomenal, Sister.¡± ¡°God Mode,¡± she repeated, letting her muscles ease now that she was back one-on-one instead of addressing a whole community of people. Looking up at the Valkyrie, Sora straightened, searching her expression for answers since her aura was a wall of impenetrable ice. ¡°So¡­what¡¯s up?¡± Eyia¡¯s deep blue eyes averted, drawing away and gripping her elbow. Her gaze wandered from Stephanie and Ron¡¯s temporary cabin, the portal to Avalon, and the camping site, where a cluster of Fire Fairies were chatting and giggling to one another. ¡°It is¡­not easy for me to say, Sister. I have trouble with the words¡­ahem, with words lately. Kari told me it was nerves¡­but I have never felt this way before, so I cannot say.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Sora watched her agitated fidgets and unsure expression that was so unlike the fearless warrior who would attack someone like Ylva without an ounce of hesitation. ¡°Why don¡¯t we walk for a bit and cool down?¡± she offered with a smile, gesturing to the path. ¡°When you feel up to it, just let it all come blurting out.¡± Relief loosened Eyia¡¯s shoulders as Sora brought them into a casual pace along the road that led to one of the lakes at the basin of the hill, a river flowing out of it to several more. ¡°I would appreciate the opportunity to ponder my response.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± The silence stretched between them as Sora kept her focus away from her friend¡¯s face so as not to pressure her. Eyia was unusually stoic from what she could see of her, which probably meant she was shoving down her feelings, fighting to keep them below, which was probably impossible and a foreign thing for the Valkyrie. Sora¡¯s own thoughts were a whirlpool of exhaustion and distractions with everything that was coming to a head. Tomorrow, they were going to Avalon, and two days later would be their first day. All the insanity from her transformation felt like it had happened over a year ago, and Kari¡¯s bullying seemed ancient at this point, but maybe that was just how quickly emotions could settle. In their casual stroll, Sora smiled and looked up at the giant, flowing blue sphere in the heavens, several other celestial bodies hovering in the distance. Aiden was helping a ton of monsters migrate to a new, safe home, and it felt good. God Mode, sure, Sora mused to herself, but it doesn¡¯t come with an instruction manual. Mom really does want me to struggle and learn, but I guess I¡¯ve always been more of a hands-on learner to begin with. Finally, Eyia broke the silence, her voice a soft murmur, almost lost to the strong, cool breeze. ¡°I have thought much about my past¡­about Jin,¡± she admitted, her words tinged with a mixture of nostalgia and regret. Sora kept her gaze on the path ahead, giving Eyia the space to continue at her own pace. ¡°I¡¯d like to hear about it,¡± she gently encouraged. ¡°I know you¡¯ve been through a lot on that island, and I¡¯m here to listen. Talk freely, if you want. I¡¯m here to help.¡± The blonde shook her head, having difficulty speaking now as she hesitated between words. ¡°There is¡­much to tell. My life has been one of isolation, Sister. From a young age, I was exiled¡­sent away during the collapse of our existence, before the Primordial and Founder War. I idolized my brother, Thor, but¡­the Shade of my father tells me he did not¡­he did not make it to this Existence when Askr Yggdrasil burned.¡± Sora felt the weight of Eyia¡¯s words, the loss and loneliness etched into each syllable of her Nordic accent. ¡°The Onion War,¡± she mumbled with a nod, recalling her mother¡¯s explanation of it when they¡¯d first met. ¡°You were young when it happened, right?¡± ¡°Onion War?¡± she repeated in confusion. ¡°I am unfamiliar with that name for such a vast conflict, but I can see the wisdom in its layers¡­ I was five when put into stasis.¡± She paused, fidgeting with her hands at her front and looking uncomfortable. ¡°I slept through the Onion Wars, and¡­for some reason, my father set the stasis to break once he died¡­as if he knew it would happen. I am unsure about much, Sister¡­very much unsure.¡± Heart aching, Sora reached out to take the girl¡¯s hands to offer her some physical support to let her know she wasn¡¯t alone. ¡°It sounds like you¡¯ve been through hell¡­ Your home burned, you were exiled by your step mother, and somehow you ended up on an island, where you had no friends and only enemies. Is that about right?¡± Eyia nodded, a faint smile playing on her lips at Sora¡¯s apt summary. ¡°Indeed, Sister. You are very well at the summarizing¡­ My English is¡­lacking with Jin¡¯s absence, and that¡­frustrates me,¡± she grumbled, squeezing her hand and glaring at the road. ¡°I had great trials¡­yet my father gave me no purpose once I left the island, and I now see such a hole¡­ He gives me no answers. Only to¡­see the one I now call my sister for support. Yet I do not wish to be a burden¡­and yet I am lost as to my direction. Is my English bad?¡± she asked, worry now in her blue eyes that on the verge of tears. ¡°I am not do good.¡± Sora breathed out a long sigh, her ears falling back while pausing to bring the taller blonde into a comforting embrace. ¡°You¡¯re doing fine, Eyia¡­ You didn¡¯t realize how much you relied on Jin until now, huh?¡± ¡°You¡­are correct, Sister,¡± Eyia mumbled in shock, as if only just now realizing it. ¡°My talents only involve the war and battle¡­ Jin often poked fun of my red rump and burning cheeks when wrong. I am¡­lacking¡­weak in the conversations.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not bad, Eyia,¡± Sora soothed, letting the Valkyrie explore her vulnerabilities but also wanting to get her own view across. ¡°You are amazing in so many other ways. You¡¯re a fighter! All you¡¯ve had is Jin to practice with, and¡­I¡¯m sorry about that!¡± she added with a forced laugh. ¡°Jin may be super qualified as a language expert, but her attitude could use some real work! We all have our weaknesses, Eyia, right? Isn¡¯t that why we work on them?¡± ¡°You do not speak falsely¡­though it shames me to admit that my heart has not stemmed the bleeding. Jin¡­¡± Eyia paused, choosing her words carefully, despite her emotional state. ¡°Jin is a complex individual. She was¡­is my first friend¡­my only friend during those lonely years,¡± she questioned, unsure if she should call Jin a friend still or not. ¡°Her betrayal at only befriending me for the hatred of her mother¡­and the deception of guiding me to hostile territory was¡­is difficult for me to understand.¡± The blonde¡¯s trembling arms closed more around her back the further she allowed her open wounds to show. ¡°Yet¡­Yet, I cannot deny her importance in my life. In the defense that she has gone to in order to protect me. She has been both an adversary and an ally¡­like Loki is to my brother¡ªa presence that shaped my path.¡± Sora listened until there was a chance to respond, processing Eyia¡¯s confession and pain. In many ways, it brought back the scars she did feel after Wendy distanced herself. Sure, over the first year she¡¯d come to realize and accept why, but those first few months were some of the worst in her life, including everything that had happened after her transformation. ¡°It sounds like you have a lot more history on that island than I thought,¡± she whispered. ¡°I understand how you feel¡­how conflicted you are, and I know I can¡¯t say anything to make that pain go away¡­ Jin told you exactly why she befriended you, and that wasn¡¯t a lie¡­ It¡¯s meant to hurt, but that also shows she¡¯s trying to¡­¡± She paused, a small smile coming to her lips while thinking about the right word to use. ¡°It means Jin is trying to purify her honor. Jin probably feels as guilty as you feel betrayed¡­ Eyia, from what I¡¯ve seen, Jin cares about you, a lot¡­ She would have ripped my heart out for you when she thought I had betrayed your trust! So¡­I can only imagine how she must feel toward herself, even if she doesn¡¯t always show how much she cares in the best ways¡­ Case and point being the ripped out heart,¡± she muttered with a forced laugh. ¡°Too much talking?¡± ¡°No,¡± Eyia sniffled, her tone reflective and calm, showing just how disciplined the warrior was. ¡°Jin is¡­harsh and difficult to understand¡ªred rump mad all the time¡­but she is also kind and¡­I thought she was loyal. Perhaps you are right. Jin is seeking to purify her honor, and if my brother can forgive Loki, then I should do the same¡­ Difficult as it is.¡± Sora waited in silence for a time, just holding Eyia while she processed her feelings. She wanted to help her sister-in-arms find clarity and peace, to offer a perspective that might ease her friend¡¯s inner turmoil¡ªsomething more than she had¡ªyet knew she¡¯d already said everything that was on her heart. ¡°Maybe,¡± Eyia slowly began, pulling away and brushing at her wet cheeks. ¡°Maybe it is about finding a balance of friction. People are not just one thing, as you have helped me to understand with the wolves¡­ They are mixes of good and bad within Kari, then surely Jin is also in that camp of fires, and sometimes the bad can¡­can overshadow the good? But that does not mean the good is not there¡­as was your saying with Sela, the Unseelie? It is just¡­hidden?¡± Eyes softening at the Valkyrie¡¯s mature and leveled response, no doubt using many principles her father had taught her that just needed to be applied right. She drew in closer to hug the blonde again. ¡°See? You¡¯re communicating better than most people can dream, Eyia. How did you get so wise and humble?¡± Eyia¡¯s chest vibrated against her ear as she chortled, her voice still thick with emotion. ¡°It was you who told me one cannot walk in the shoes of another, Sister. Perhaps¡­it is time I tried to understand Jin¡¯s shoe size better, rather than judge her size next to mine, which is much, much bigger.¡± Sora giggled at the analogy, sensing the breakthrough. ¡°That sounds like a good plan,¡± she encouraged. ¡°And you know I¡¯m here to help however I can¡­ Hopefully in a way that doesn¡¯t involve my heart leaving my chest! Just now we¡¯re in this together.¡± ¡°Yes, Sister. Together,¡± Eyia agreed, her voice stronger now, a hint of determination beneath the surface to confront the dragon tomorrow, literally. ¡°Thank you for your counsel. My father was correct in the tails have knowledge. I feel¡­lighter, having shared my thoughts with you¡­ Thank you, Sister.¡± ¡°Anytime,¡± Sora replied, feeling the warmth. ¡°That¡¯s what friends are for.¡± They walked in companionable silence for a while, shifting directions from around the crystal-clear lake to return to the elevator. Sora could feel the bond between them strengthened even further, and even opened up more room for friendship between Kari and the Valkyrie, which was huge. Pondering on the experience, she concluded shared honesty and vulnerability was a hard but necessary thing for true friendship. Not only that, but Sora also felt a sense of fulfillment through the exchange, knowing she had been able to support Eyia in her journey of self-discovery while branching out from her warrior upbringing. As they neared the lake, Sora¡¯s energy flagged, a reminder of the power she had expended. Despite the realm¡¯s natural strength infusing her, she felt the spiritual toll of her actions, a fatigue that was more than physical. ¡°Sister?¡± ¡°Mmgm. Can¡¯t get anything by you, can I?¡± she said with a tired smile. ¡°I could use a little break. How about we head back and take it easy for a bit? Maybe catch some sun in Miami and do some friend activities?¡± Eyia¡¯s eyes brightened at the suggestion. ¡°A learned tutor that helps in the practice makes perfect,¡± she quoted, drawing a chuckle from Sora. ¡°I¡¯ll take your word for it,¡± Sora grinned, grateful for the lightness in the air between them after the emotional soul searching moment together. However, her attention was quickly snatched by a fireball that blasted out of the bonfire at the campsite. ¡°Wait, is that¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ember!¡± the Fire Fairy chimed, coming to a stop in front of her and puffing up her chest with pride. ¡°I¡¯ve been eating really good since coming here. I think I¡¯m three times stronger! Hahaha!¡± If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Eyia blinked and shook her head. ¡°Exactly eleven percent increase in total magical output since our first meeting.¡± The small girl¡¯s fire dimmed at the assessment while glancing back at the waving fairies. ¡°Really? I was trying to act cool in front of my friends¡­and Flicker. I hope they didn¡¯t hear you. Anyway, are you ready for the Open House tomorrow? I¡¯ll be up and ready to guide you at eight a.m. blaze!¡± Sora nodded. ¡°Yes, Ember. I look forward to it. We¡¯ll be down ten minutes before eight.¡± ¡°Great! Catch you then,¡± she said, waving them goodbye while joining her friends again. ¡°Hey, hey, look at this fire wheel¡ªit¡¯s so much bigger!¡± ¡°I think I could do better¡­¡± ¡°Nuh-uh! Show me!¡± Sora giggled and led the way out of her private realm but paused as the elevator opened. ¡°Oh, no!¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Eyia glanced in at the empty box. ¡°I do not sense anything.¡± ¡°No!¡± she cried, holding her fist against her forehead with a groan. ¡°I left my car at the restaurant¡­ Well, I guess we have our first destination. Let¡¯s go!¡± Sora blinked at the shimmering view of Miami that greeted them as they stepped out of the elevator. The city sprawled before them, alive with the hum of life and the endless expanse of ocean beyond. Alright, let''s make the most of this! she thought, mustering energy to push through her fatigue. She turned to Eyia, whose eyes darted around, taking in the sights with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. ¡°So,¡± Sora began, stretching her arms above her head as they descended to the ground floor, ¡°how about we hit the beach? Maybe grab my car first and then try some local food? I know you¡¯re always hungry,¡± she grinned. Eyia¡¯s charming, energetic energy returned, remiding Sora of their first few encounters. ¡°I would like that, Sister. I have much to learn about your world and to engage in more of the social interactions of training.¡± Sora chortled, leading the way as they walked down the bustling street. ¡°Trust me, Miami¡¯s got a lot to teach. First stop, my car.¡± They navigated the vibrant streets, passing shops and restaurants filled with people enjoying their day. Sora kept the pace light, allowing Eyia to soak in the new environment without feeling overwhelmed. The Valkyrie¡¯s sparkling blue eyes were wide with wonder as she pointed out new things Jin hadn¡¯t taught her, and Sora noticed how she occasionally paused to watch street performers or examine the colorful displays in store windows. As they reached the restaurant, Sora had to show off her Bently. ¡°Well, you now get to have your first ride with me! I hope we don¡¯t die.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Eyia looked at the car as if it was about to attack them, ready for any twitch. ¡°I did not realize your metal beasts could so easily turn on their masters? Have you not tamed it properly?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too cute!¡± Sora laughed, pulling her into another hug. ¡°We have a lot to explore. Ready to experience Miami Beach?¡± Eyia¡¯s lips curled into a small smile, her earlier tension easing. ¡°I see. That was a joke. Funny. I am ready, Sister.¡± Obviously not funny enough if you¡¯re not laughing! I¡¯ll get you rolling soon enough. You¡¯ll see, my pretty little Valkyrie! she internally cackled as if she was an evil witch. They climbed into the car, and Sora guided them through the traffic toward the beach. The sun was high, casting a golden glow over everything, and the scent of saltwater filled the air. She first stopped them off at a sea bar for some tacos, having the blonde try anything she didn¡¯t find familiar, which came with the surprise that Eyia really didn¡¯t like tart things. After that they strolled along the promenade, the ocean¡¯s waves crashing rhythmically against the shore as they found an open game of volleyball that Eyia roped her into¡ªon the opposite team! Obviously, they got smoked and she took several shots to the face that perfectly redirected to the ground. It was a total victory for the cheering blonde and her crew of twelve year olds as Sora licked her battle wounds with the adults. Going for a second lunch next, they ate in companionable silence, watching the tourists and locals around them bask in the sun or splash in the waves. Sora felt a sense of peace wash over her that felt too good to be true, grateful for the chance to unwind after everything they¡¯d been through. Sure, life¡¯s pretty complicated right now. Things are looking up, though. Mom, Noelia, and Dad are¡­doing something to work things out. Wendy¡¯s exploring her new family dynamics¡­like having a dad and mom who care about her. Eyia¡¯s growing, Kari¡¯s healing, and Aiden¡¯s free now to do what he wants¡­ Her thoughts drifted to her other friends and the connections she¡¯d built, from Fen, to Sela, to Ron, Howie, Daisy, and Stephanie, as well. Everything is looking up¡­but we still have The Darkness, Avalon nobility, and the Foundation lurking in the background. I¡¯ve got a support group now, though. We can help each other. Once they¡¯d finished eating, Sora led Eyia toward the water, where they walked along the shoreline, the sand warm beneath their feet. Eyia seemed more relaxed now, her earlier tension replaced with a tentative curiosity about this new world she was exploring. ¡°Thank you for this, Sister,¡± Eyia said after a while, her voice serene. ¡°I am beginning to see why you cherish this place and the peace¡­as uncomfortable it still is to me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my pleasure, Sis. I¡¯m just glad you¡¯re enjoying it,¡± Sora whispered, her heart swelling. ¡°There¡¯s a lot more to see and do here, and I¡¯m excited to show you all of it. Plus, we have a ton to explore in Avalon¡­including potential dangers you get to fight.¡± Eyia¡¯s brow set, a sure confidence only someone with her background could demonstrate. ¡°I live for the conflict of blades. It is all I know and where I feel comfortable.¡± ¡°Glad to hear!¡± They spent the afternoon exploring, stopping to admire street art and popping into small shops to browse the eclectic mix of goods. Sora enjoyed watching Eyia¡¯s reactions to each new culture shock, the Valkyrie¡¯s beaming face revealing flashes of wonder or amusement. As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, Sora slowed their pace. The day had been long, and despite the fun they¡¯d had, she could feel the fatigue beginning to creep back into her bones. They also needed to get a good night¡¯s sleep for the long day tomorrow. ¡°Ready to head home?¡± Sora asked, glancing at Eyia, who was watching the sunset with a serene expression. Eyia looked down at her bagged goods with a tickled smile. ¡°Yes, Sister. I have learned much today and had much of the fun.¡± ¡°Oh, don¡¯t you worry,¡± she winked. ¡°It¡¯s only the beginning!¡± With that, they made their way back to the car, driving through the dimming streets as the city lights flickered to life. Eyia was good now, which was another friend helped through the turmoil that had befallen them. I think that¡¯s everyone, she thought, shocked as she went through the list in her head and pulled them into the car elevator to return home. Eyia bobbed her head, mirroring the actions others did when listening to music. Everyone¡¯s on the mend. We¡¯re ready to move forward! A new adventure is about to begin, I can feel it. Arriving home, the cool air inside the hotel was a welcomed contrast to the heat of the day, despite her adaptable nature. As they made their way through the lobby, Sora heard Wendy exiting the bathroom, brushing her teeth and moving to the railing to look down at them. ¡°¡®Erbed you ¡®umming,¡± she garbled through her filled mouth, wearing a beaming smile and rocking some cozy-looking pajamas with a hood; the ear parts were cut out to allow hers to poke through. ¡°¡®Ave fun?¡± ¡°Finish brushing!¡± Sora chided with a snicker as they climbed the stairs. ¡°I take it our moms and Dad are back?¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Wendy¡¯s bushy brown tail disappeared into the bathroom while fabbing her thumb at their parents¡¯ room. She spat and dried out her mouth as they made it to the door. ¡°They¡¯re pretty tired. Your mom is a hazard! It¡¯s kind of funny, to be honest, because she¡¯ll say some really profound stuff and then almost get ran over by a car because she reads the signs wrong.¡± Sora pressed her knuckles against her forehead. ¡°Great. Maybe we should invest in a help dog to babysit her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s kind of my mom¡¯s job at this point,¡± Wendy giggled. ¡°Your mom has no skills living as a normal woman. I guess she probably did use magic for everything, but still. It¡¯s funny to watch. Anyway, school tomorrow? How was Miami?¡± Wendy asked, turning to put her hands on her hips. ¡°Yeah, yeah, I see you looking cute,¡± Sora mused. ¡°Who picked out those? Noelia?¡± ¡°Obviously!¡± Eyia looked slightly anxious while looking for a place to jump in. ¡°It, uh, it was enlightening! Sora introduced me to, umm¡­to tacos. Yes, and she is teaching me about the social e-etiquette?¡± Wendy laughed, nodding approvingly. ¡°Bro, tacos are a good start. Now I¡¯m hungry! There¡¯s a whole world of food out there for you to try, and I¡¯m hoping there are a ton of options in Avalon, too. Good date choices maybe?¡± she asked with a sly smirk. ¡°You can¡¯t tell me you weren¡¯t checking out the elf boys? What are we talking about here? Slim, muscular, feminine, masculine? Give me something!¡± Sora¡¯s eyes twinkled while recalling her trip to Avalon with Aiden. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll let you dream tonight and stew on that image.¡± ¡°Booo! You¡¯re the worst.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m the best, and you¡¯ll see when you get there,¡± Sora sang, waving her off as Wendy moved past them toward her room. ¡°Don¡¯t go getting hot cheeks on me and embarrassing us.¡± ¡°Oh, whatever! Who was the closest to getting a boyfriend between us again? Right, the puffy-tailed super squirrel with a cute face.¡± ¡°Someone is playing into their transformation,¡± Sora laughed. As they chatted in the hall, Sora felt a sense of normalcy settling over her and her best friend turned sister. ¡°Hey, Wendy,¡± she began. Wendy glanced between Eyia, looking nervous, and her. ¡°Hmm? What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Eyia was wondering if you¡¯d be her buddy for the Open House tomorrow.¡± ¡°Of course! I¡¯d love to,¡± Wendy replied, her eyes twinkling with mischief. ¡°You can do a lot with an intimidating, pretty tall blonde girl by your side. Though, did you know that parents will be there, too? We¡¯re not going to be alone.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes widened, then she laughed, shaking her head. ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t know, but it makes sense. I guess it¡¯ll be a full house, then,¡± she joked. ¡°Yep, a real family affair,¡± Wendy grinned, nudging Eyia playfully. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll be a team. Right, Eyia?¡± Eyia nodded, gratitude shining in her eyes. ¡°Thank you, Sisters. I would appreciate your guidance in this social battle matter.¡± As the conversation died out, Wendy and Eyia went to their own rooms to retire for the night, leaving Sora alone in the hallway. She debated heading into her own room to snuggle into bed and sleep but her swaying tail pulled her in another direction. She made her way down the hallway and her steps slowed when she reached Kari¡¯s door. She paused, feeling a flutter of nerves at the prospect of speaking with Kari again, not knowing if this was crossing the line or not. Taking a deep breath, Sora knocked softly, half-expecting no response; Noelia¡¯s spell had silenced everyone¡¯s rooms to her. However, to Sora¡¯s surprise, Kari¡¯s voice called out from within. ¡°Hmm? One minute, Sora¡­¡± Moments later, the door opened to reveal Kari in her sleepwear, looking somewhat annoyed. ¡°What do you want, Sora?¡± Kari asked, her voice tinged with annoyance. Sora mustered a smile, her stomach still feeling a wave of anxiety when faced with her former bully, despite how much of that image had shattered. ¡°I just wanted to, uh, to talk¡­ I think you know why I¡¯m here.¡± Kari sighed, the edge in her face fading away as she glanced down the hall before stepping aside to let Sora in. ¡°Fine. Come in.¡± It was more than Sora had expected, and now Kari¡¯s looked anxious with her pulled back ears and averted eyes while hopping on her bed to lean against the backboard. ¡°So¡­have you given it some thought?¡± Sora asked, taking the corner seat and fidgeting with her shirt. ¡°Avalon, that is.¡± The wolf¡¯s gaze drifted to her stiff tail, draped across her muscular legs. ¡°I have¡­¡± ¡°¡­And?¡± Her tail beat against her legs as she released another sigh. ¡°I guess¡­I don¡¯t really have anything else going for me. Do they have a sports team?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up, unable to believe what she¡¯d just heard, but Kari¡¯s amber eyes looked serious. ¡°I, uh, I¡¯ve got no idea! If there isn¡¯t, I¡¯d be happy to see about setting one up¡ªyou know, bring sports to Avalon. It sounds fun, right? Maybe adding powers into it could mix up the game for you.¡± ¡°Sure, yeah, whatever,¡± Kari growled, trying to play it off but Sora could see her alert ears, betraying her internal emotions. ¡°It¡¯s just something that I thought about¡­ What¡¯s with that look on your face? It¡¯s creepy.¡± ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon!¡± Sora huffed, her soft smile turning into a scowl. ¡°Is it impossible for anyone to be happy for you? I am happy you¡¯re considering Avalon,¡± Sora said, her voice sincere. ¡°Really. It¡¯d be great to have you there, even if you don¡¯t want to be seen with a little princess like me.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not saying I¡¯ll join,¡± Kari defensively reiterated, her posture becoming more guarded. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­thinking about it.¡± Sora¡¯s smile softened. ¡°That¡¯s all I wanted to hear, and isn¡¯t that what I said?¡± Kari glanced away, her tail curling around her legs as if shielding herself from any emotional vulnerability. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so positive all the time.¡± ¡°It¡¯s who I am,¡± Sora chortled, standing to leave. ¡°Besides, I think you¡¯ll like it there. A change of pace could be good, right? No reminders. A new start.¡± Kari¡¯s silence spoke volumes, a quiet agreement wrapped in defiance that was pretty adorable with Sora¡¯s internal picture of a stubborn wolf pup, digging in her feet and trying to look tough. ¡°Like I said already, I¡¯ll think about it. Geez. Clingy much? I¡¯m trying to go to bed.¡± ¡°Sure. Sure. Good night, Kari,¡± Sora said, heading toward the door, her heart lighter than before. ¡°I¡¯ll wake you up if you need it.¡± ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Kari snarled, her ears flying up and glaring at her. ¡°I don¡¯t need Foxfire tickling my nose in the morning or any shaving cream or warm water pranks!¡± ¡°Noted,¡± she sang, closing the door and leaving the wolf as paranoid as could be. Stepping into the hallway, Sora felt the day¡¯s events settle over her like a comforting weight; everything was perfect. Thank you, Mary, Mom. I can close a painful chapter in my life. As she changed into her pajamas, Sora¡¯s mind replayed the last few weeks¡¯ interactions, the victories and challenges interwoven in a delicate balance. She couldn¡¯t help but smile, recalling Eyia¡¯s tentative steps toward understanding Jin, Wendy¡¯s collapse and rise from the ashes, her parents¡¯ love for each other, despite the challenges, Aiden¡¯s unending support, and Kari¡¯s guarded contemplation about her place in the world. Slipping under the covers, Sora let her thoughts drift, the rhythm of her heartbeat lulling her into a sense of peace. There were burdens she still had to address and magic to learn, but that was welcomed. All of it was a testament to the growth she¡¯d undergone since her transformation¡­that they¡¯d all undergone. Tomorrow, we start something new. New dangers and new friends¡­ A new beginning in the magical world of Avalon. B2 — 37. Dreamscapes and Night Terrors Sora¡¯s gaze lingered on the scam pop-up blinking erratically on the screen while invading a certain frantic fox¡¯s dreams; it was anxiety inducing. Still, not as bad as the worry eating her up inside about Avalon Academy¡¯s Open House tomorrow. Her mother¡¯s frantic attempts to control the mouse were almost painful to watch. The pointer zigzagged across the screen as if it had a mind of its own as she growled with frustration, opening random windows and making the chaotic situation even worse. How can someone so powerful be so helpless with technology? Sora sighed, resisting the urge to roll her eyes; she had to be patient, but she¡¯d shown her how to do all of this already. No, this is just a nightmare. I can¡¯t be mad. Her mother¡¯s fingers hovered uncertainly over the keyboard. ¡°It¡¯s saying I have ten thousand viruses, Sora!¡± her mother¡¯s voice quivered with a mix of frustration and fear. ¡°What if it destroys your new computer? I already broke the last one¡­¡± Mom, save me, Sora thought, not missing the irony in it as she watched her mother struggle with the mouse; a dream version of herself was beside her mom, telling her to figure it out on her own. ¡°How can you face down ancient beings and not figure out a pop-up?¡± Her dream-self asked, pinching the bridge of her nose and trying to suppress the exasperation bubbling up inside her. ¡°What do you do from here?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± As the mouse darted dangerously close to the ¡®Fix Now¡¯ button, Sora groaned internally. ¡°This¡ªoh, it needs money to work!¡± ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°What?¡± she cried, nine tails bristling and ears pulled back. ¡°It¡¯s the, uh, the anti-virus thing, you said. It fixes the bugs.¡± Sora wanted to dispel the nightmare, but it did show her something her mom had yet to resolve the guilt she still felt. This wasn¡¯t the time to get annoyed, and normally, she wouldn¡¯t be in real life. Still, it was hard not to be frustrated when her mother was one click away from being scammed, which could bring down fire on the whole universe. Imagine that¡­ A universe destroyed due to a virus scam. She was just about to intervene when a cold shiver ran down her spine, a feeling of unease like nothing she¡¯d experienced before creeping into her bones. Something wasn¡¯t right, and it was close. Unease growing, the dream dissolved around her as she exited the dreamscape, the chaotic images fading into a blur. Expecting to see Eyia already there, she opened her eyes to the pitch-blackness of her room, the air still and silent. The Valkyrie¡¯s rainbow glow was nowhere to be seen. Worse, the sense of wrongness hadn¡¯t left. In fact, it had only grown stronger, and then she saw it. Sora¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she squinted her adjusting eyes, and there, by her door, was a large, looming shadow¡ªa darkness. Her heart pounded in her chest, adrenaline surging through her veins as she instinctively prepared to defend herself, tail lighting with fire. But as her vision finally penetrated the black and her flames illuminated the space, the shadow took on a familiar shape¡ªa bushy-tailed part-squirrel girl. ¡°Wendy?¡± Sora exhaled sharply, relief washing over her in a wave after what she¡¯d felt. ¡°Wendy, you scared me! There¡¯s something¡­off around us,¡± she whispered, her voice shaky with residual fear. ¡°Wendy?¡± Wendy didn¡¯t respond while just standing there, staring at her with a blank, eerie expression that sent chills down Sora¡¯s spine. Sora¡¯s instincts screamed at her that something was off. She scooted back against her headboard, the unease twisting tighter in her gut. ¡°Wendy? Are you okay?¡± she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper. Still no answer. Wendy¡¯s gaze seemed distant, unfocused, and Sora¡¯s focus was drawn to the necklace hanging around her sister¡¯s neck¡ªa seven-pointed star¡ªand the one they had she¡¯d locked away herself. ¡°Can you hear me, Wendy?¡± Sora¡¯s voice trembled slightly as she gathered her courage and slowly got out of bed. ¡°Don¡¯t go all horror movie on me¡­ How did you get past my defensive spells? The last thing we need is blinking some random thing out of Existence.¡± For a moment, Wendy remained still as she approached, the silence thick and oppressive. Then, just before Sora¡¯s fingers touched her shoulder, Wendy blinked, as if snapping out of a trance, her eyes regaining their usual clarity. She jumped back, letting out a short, startled shriek that made Sora mirror her. ¡°Sora!¡± ¡°What?!¡± ¡°Huh? W-What are you doing in my room?¡± Wendy gasped, her voice a mix of confusion and fear. ¡°You scared the bajeebus out of me! Wait¡­this is my room, right?¡± Sora¡¯s heart thudded in her chest as she watched her sister¡¯s genuine reactions closely, the tension slowly easing but not disappearing entirely. She let out a soft, nervous laugh, trying to dispel the lingering unease. ¡°No, you¡¯re in my room, Wendy. You must have been sleepwalking¡­and you scared the bajeebus out of me! What happened?¡± Wendy blinked, rubbing her eyes as if to clear the remnants of sleep while following her gaze to the amulet resting against her bust. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t remember. I was in this¡­place. It was all white, like I was floating. But it wasn¡¯t like when we met Aunt Rose¡­ When did I get this? Sora! When did I get this?¡± she cried, holding it up. ¡°How should I know?!¡± Sora returned, scratching the side of her head and messing up her hair. ¡°I was dream-peeping on my mom and you just creeped up into my room, wearing that, and looking like a zombie!¡± ¡°That is creepy,¡± the brunette mumbled, looking down at the item. ¡°Don¡¯t you have like¡­a magical log or something you can look at to see when I wandered into the kitchen?¡± Sora stretched out her arms wide and shook her head. ¡°Who do you think I am? My spells start and end with ¡®keep this out of the hands of anyone but me¡¯ and you think I¡¯m over here adding security timestamps on things? I¡¯d be lucky to¡ªwait, Dad has hidden cameras for security purposes.¡± ¡°Right!¡± Wendy¡¯s head bobbed up and down as she removed the necklace and handed it to her. ¡°You can keep this thing.¡± ¡°Thanks¡­ We need to put it back in the safe. Now.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for Wendy¡¯s response, already moving to walk past her to the kitchen. They crept downstairs, not hearing a squeak except for their far too loud movements; well, they did have animal ears. Wendy bumped her, looking frightened while looking up and down the hall. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°What if¡­you know, we¡¯re trapped in some kind of Null-Void dimension or something? Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s weird that Eyia or my mom haven¡¯t woken up yet and came storming in?¡± A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips. ¡°You¡¯ve seen too many horrors, Wendy.¡± ¡°I¡¯m just asking questions here,¡± she defended with a short huff. ¡°Everything¡¯s¡­too quiet. I could hear the outside earlier and now¡­it¡¯s deathly quiet. Something isn¡¯t right, Sora. I¡¯m telling you!¡± she shivered, tail swinging left and right with her head movements, on the search for danger. Sora clutched the amulet in her palm and turned to give her sister a comforting smile. ¡°First, Eyia is like everyone else and can¡¯t perceive anything dealing with Nihility. Second, your mom placed complex silence spells all over the buildings. Of course she has it timed to stop noise from bothering us at night.¡± Wendy gave her a dubious glare, her vivid green eyes shining with caution. ¡°Just like any other horror movie. I¡¯m telling you, there¡¯s always someone who is the ¡®explanation¡¯ guy. I¡¯m a believer¡­especially after all we¡¯ve been through,¡± she whispered, peeking around the corner to stare at the dark downstairs as Sora casually walked down the stairs. ¡°If it is something spooky or paranormal then I would have sensed it and Eyia would be rushing in like an avalanche. No¡­I¡¯ve got my own theory here,¡± she said with a wink, getting a scowl from her bushy-tailed sister as she followed her into the kitchen. ¡°Then share with the class. I¡¯m the one sleepwalking while floating through oblivion here. What if, like¡­one of our extended family members is possessing me!¡± Sora paused while dispelling the safe, her ear tilting to the side while considering the angle. ¡°Not¡­totally out of the realm of possibility from happening in the future from what I¡¯ve concluded, but probably not likely what happened.¡± Once the necklace was safely locked away, Sora turned to her narrow-eyed sister, arms crossed and waiting for an answer, making her chuckle. ¡°Chill! Yes, it¡¯s scary. But don¡¯t you remember what Aunt Rose said? I¡¯m just connecting the dots.¡± Ears falling back, Wendy raised a hand. ¡°I¡¯m going to slap you!¡± ¡°Okay, okay!¡± she giggled, deciding to ease her sister¡¯s nerves and looking at the clock. ¡°We¡¯ve got up a little early. It¡¯s seven, so everyone should be getting up soon to start getting ready for the Open House. Want to have some hot chocolate for comfort and talk?¡± Wendy¡¯s shoulders slumped and she brought her big tail around to hug. ¡°Sure¡­ You don¡¯t seem all that worried now. I slipped past your magic and somehow grabbed the necklace. That screams being controlled by some other being.¡± Sora nodded slowly, getting a pot to boil water and the hot cocoa out. ¡°We¡¯ll have to keep an eye on it, for sure. And tell Dad about this when he gets up.¡± She hesitated, then added tentatively, ¡°You haven¡¯t been¡­using your Null-Void powers, have you?¡± ¡°No, of course not¡­ All I¡¯ve done is hang out with Mom and Dad yesterday. I don¡¯t really even know how to do anything with Null-Void. I sort of¡­accidentally formed this body by just calming down and remembering how my body felt. But this place I went to¡­ It was just that weird white place. It felt¡­different.¡± Wendy shook her head, her brows furrowing as she tried to recall. ¡°You make it sound like I¡¯m sneaking around trying random things¡­¡± ¡°I know, I know,¡± she chuckled. ¡°That¡¯s more my department as the rebellious sibling, right? Can you get us some cups¡­ Yeah, there we go. Mix in the hot sweetness. Add a little magical bonding to make it the best it can be, and¡­done!¡± Handing it to Wendy with an inviting smile, she took them to the front room to sit down across from each other, pulling up their legs onto the cushions. Sora took one more sip while gathering her theory before bringing attention to her brooch and laying them out. ¡°So, I think you were in Nihility, not the Null-Void. Aunt Rose explained it to us for this reason, I think.¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes blanked before lighting up with understanding as the dots started to connect. ¡°...Why didn¡¯t you just say that one line sooner! Okay, that makes sense. Null-Void is like a sort of blend between this Existence stuff and Nihility, where Aunt Rose is. So, I went to the real thing? I was still here, though? I¡¯m confused¡­¡± Sora shrugged. ¡°Best not to think too deeply on the cosmic stuff right now. We¡¯re going to school to learn about a bunch of the basics. I¡¯m sure eventually that topic will come up after we finish with Avalon Academy to¡­whatever my mom has planned. Besides, I have a feeling we¡¯ll progress pretty fast!¡± she chimed. Her sister¡¯s dull look made her chuckle. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m stalling. Hmm.¡± Sipping at her hot brew, she glanced off to the side with a thoughtful rumble in her throat. ¡°You¡¯re closer to Nihility and Dad¡¯s side than I am. When I was changing, I had a lot of weird stuff happen to me, too. I think you were sort of pulled out of Existence, but tethered to it at the same time, like you found a secret tunnel out and slipped down it. Luckily, our moms¡¯ side that is in you kept you stable.¡± Cup lowering, she looked at her concerned sister with a reassuring smile. ¡°Aunt Rose said to be cautious of Dad¡¯s side, even her, if she¡¯s unsealed, or whatever she is. I think you have a way to enter Nihility, and you might just meet other creatures there, but they can¡¯t really hurt you or do anything to you unless you allow it. At least, that¡¯s the way I¡¯m seeing it. We can get Dad for a second opinion, too. Thoughts?¡± Wendy finished a third of her cup and sighed, watching her tail swoosh left and right in front of her. ¡°Okay, that feels right. And the sleepwalking? I was pulled to you since you¡¯re also the closest thing?¡± Sora tilted her head to the side. ¡°Mmm. I think the necklace and you showing up was more Aunt Rose¡¯s influence, actually. It was probably her trying to get my attention to help draw you back. At least, that¡¯s what I¡¯m going with right now. I¡¯m pretty sure the feeling I got was Nihility itself, leaking into our universe from your tunnel or something¡­ Maybe something on the other side watching you,¡± she teased. ¡°Stop it!¡± she growled, but she showed a smile. ¡°Playing into my horror narrative now, are we? Thinking back¡­it did feel like something was there with me. It could be my horror-loving imagination, though. I guess that¡¯s that, then¡­ Huh. My first visit to Nihility. Well, I¡¯m more excited to learn how to access my other abilities, so let¡¯s get ready for the Open House¡ªthe old fashioned way!¡± ¡°Really?¡± Sora groaned as Wendy got up, set her cup down, and took her by the hand toward the upstairs bathroom. ¡°It takes so long, though, and so much effort. I have magic!¡± ¡°Yeah, but I also want to help and be distracted, so deal,¡± Wendy shot back, sticking out her tongue and making Sora laugh. ¡°Go take a shower so I can do your makeup and you can do mine. We¡¯ll do our hair, comb our tails¡ªeverything!¡± Feeling actually excited by the prospect, Sora embraced the direction, her puffy tail swaying in unison with Wendy¡¯s; they were getting good at it. ¡°Sounds fun. After the Open House, though, we see if we can talk to Aunt Rose with Dad again to get to the bottom of things to be 100% sure.¡± ¡°Good!¡± Going inside her own bathroom, she left Wendy to pick out her outfit since she¡¯d do the same once Wendy went inside. Sora quietly slipped out of her nightwear, her ears twitching upon hearing her sister humming to a song while digging around in her closet. I guess I managed to calm her down. We need to be as cool as it gets today¡­ First impressions are huge at school. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. It didn¡¯t take her long to finish the shower, and Sora took a deep breath, the familiar scent of jasmine and lavender swirling around her. The soft lighting reflected off the pristine marble countertops, casting a warm glow through the steamy room. She glanced at her reflection in the large fogless mirror, her hair brushed out and wrapped in a towel, waiting for Wendy to work her magic. Not bad, she thought. Wendy was right to do it naturally. There¡¯s just something about taking a shower that makes you feel refreshed in the morning. Her old, time-consuming skincare routine was a thing of the past, and not necessarily because of her magic. Thanks to her godly genes, the meticulous steps she used to follow were no longer necessary. Her skin was naturally flawless now¡ªsmooth, radiant, and seemingly perfect with almost no effort at all. One of the perks of being part Vulpes Founder, she ruefully snickered to herself. It¡¯s totally cheating. She brushed her teeth quickly, the minty taste sharp against her tongue, and before long, she was done. Sora took a step back, inspecting herself in the mirror one last time. My first day at Avalon Academy¡­ It¡¯s big! The campus was huge the last time I saw it, and I didn¡¯t even see the full thing. If it¡¯s a big realm school¡­then how many students does it take? Pondering some questions she¡¯d like to ask later, she stepped back to twist left and right. Her skin practically glowed and her sharp, fox-like eyes gleamed with a sense of readiness for the challenges to come. Just as she turned to leave the bathroom, Wendy¡¯s voice called out from the other room, knocking and opening a crack to deliver her items. ¡°Hey, Sora! I have your outfit here. Hope you¡¯ll like it!¡± Sora grinned as accepted the items. The outfit was elegant yet practical¡ªperfect for Avalon¡¯s Open House. A flowing, dark blue dress with subtle silver embroidery along the edges that caught the light just right, giving it a touch of magic without being too flashy. There was also a pair of comfortable, yet stylish half-inch sandals to match, and a delicate silver necklace with a small, star-shaped charm that Wendy had added for a finishing touch. ¡°It¡¯s adorable!¡± ¡°I knew you¡¯d like it. You don¡¯t think they have picture day, do you?¡± ¡°Dress as if they do!¡± Sora roared. ¡°Right?¡± ¡°Go ahead and take a shower. I¡¯ll pick out yours once I¡¯m dressed and then we can do our hair. I¡¯ll bring some of the products into my room.¡± ¡°Sounds good! Don¡¯t make me look like a clown.¡± ¡°Never! And that was 3rd grade Halloween!¡± ¡°The horror¡­ James Fitzgerald wouldn¡¯t stop squeezing my nose.¡± ¡°I remember that! He moved out in fifth grade.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t soon enough¡­¡± She slipped into the dress, feeling the soft fabric flow around her as Wendy departed for her own bathroom next door. Sora adjusted the fit and examined herself again; her tail easily exited through the hidden slit before she buttoned it in. The dress was perfect, hugging her in all the right places without being too tight¡ªof course, all of her clothes were more or less custom or picked out by her, so they would fit that way. The sandals were new and stiff but still comfortable, given the quality, and when she fastened the necklace around her neck, she couldn¡¯t help but admire how the small multi-colored charm caught the light, a subtle reflection of her own inner glow; it almost reminded her of Aiden¡¯s eyes. Satisfied, she stepped out into the hallway, hearing Eyia passing through to her own bathroom in the adjacent hall. Wendy was still in the bathroom, and she needed to find her outfit, so she decided to leave greeting Eyia for after the Valkyrie got out. Sora stood in front of Wendy¡¯s new wardrobe, hands on her hips, studying the array of outfits with a critical eye. Wendy would be out of the bathroom soon, and it was her turn to choose something for her sister. She wanted to pick something that would complement her own outfit¡ªa way to show their unity as sisters while still highlighting Wendy¡¯s unique beauty as a half-tanuki. Her gaze lingered on a deep emerald green dress that caught the light in just the right way, matching Wendy¡¯s striking irises; it would reflect her own, as well. This one, Sora thought with a smile, pulling the hanger off the rail. It was elegant yet playful, with a flowing skirt that would move beautifully with Wendy¡¯s every step and swaying tail. Plus, delicate, silver threads woven into the fabric, forming subtle swirling patterns that would mix nicely with her layered light and dark brown locks. The color was perfect¡ªrich and vibrant, a reflection of Wendy¡¯s inner energy and charm. Sora laid the dress on the bed, then selected a pair of comfortable but stylish silver flats to go with it. She could already picture how the outfit would look against Wendy¡¯s tanuki ears and her long, bushy squirrel tail, which would no doubt swing happily behind her once she saw it. Satisfied with her choices, Sora grabbed a simple silver hairpin adorned with a small, leaf-shaped charm. She knew Wendy liked to keep her hair down, so the pin would be a nice way to keep it out of her face while adding a touch of elegance. Just as Sora finished laying everything out, the bathroom door across from Wendy¡¯s opened, and Wendy poked her head out to check if the coast was clear. Not spotting anyone, she stepped out, her towel still wrapped around her body, her dark and light brown hair cascading in waves down her back. ¡°Whoa, looking beautiful, but you would since I picked out your outfit,¡± Wendy boasted upon entering, her gaze falling on her before the dress Sora had picked out. She closed the door and walked over to the bed, her plush tanuki ears twitching with interest as she ran her fingers over the soft fabric. ¡°And you picked this for me, huh?¡± Sora grinned. ¡°Yep. I think it¡¯ll look perfect on you. I¡¯ll just be in the closet real fast.¡± ¡° ¡®Kay, I¡¯ll let you know when I¡¯m done.¡± She caught Wendy¡¯s super puffy tail swaying behind her as she held the dress up against her body, examining it in the dresser mirror just before entering the closet. The green fabric complimented her now quite smooth and flawless skin, but Sora knew her brooch would really make it stand out. Wendy slipped into the dress, and called for her to exit. Upon spotting her again, her tanuki sister did a twirl, the fabric swirled around her legs and the silvery thread caught the light as her long, bushy tail flicked with every movement. ¡°How do I look?¡± ¡°Like you¡¯re ready to steal the show at Avalon¡¯s Open House,¡± Sora replied, giving her an approving thumbs up. ¡°Seriously, Wendy, you look amazing. Do you think we¡¯re dressing up a bit too much? It is a fey school, so¡­they may have different tastes.¡± Wendy blushed slightly, the pink tint adding a touch of warmth to her cheeks before waving her concern off and reaching up to scratch her tanuki ears, bringing attention to the silver leaf hairpin. ¡°Who cares what they think. I just want to look nice, and you helped me with that! Thanks, Sis. I love it.¡± Sora smiled, feeling a surge of pride in her chest. It was moments like these that made everything else feel worthwhile¡ªthe simple act of making her sister happy. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go show the others,¡± she said, linking her arm with Wendy¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯m sure they¡¯re starting to get up or already done. We¡¯ll never know with your mom¡¯s spells blocking all sounds everywhere.¡± Together, they stepped out of the room, ready to take on the day with matching confidence and a shared bond that nothing could break. Just as they were finishing up and exited the bathroom, Sora heard movement from the other hallway. She glanced at Wendy, and they both fell silent for a moment, listening. ¡°That¡¯s Mom,¡± Wendy whispered, her sensitive ears twitching slightly as she caught the familiar sound of Noelia¡¯s soft footsteps first. ¡°She¡¯s probably getting ready, too.¡± Yeah, Sora thought, seeing the light under her father¡¯s door was on. She probably didn¡¯t want to get trapped between a certain fox and her husband in the morning¡­ Noelia is really good. She¡¯s trying so hard. ¡°And that¡¯s Eyia¡¯s voice,¡± Sora added, her keen ears picking up the Valkyrie¡¯s door opening. ¡°She probably had a long battle with the sud monsters again.¡± The house was coming to life, the quiet of the early morning giving way to the sounds of their family waking up. There was a sense of anticipation in the air, a buzzing energy as they prepared for the day ahead. Sora was about to go wake up Kari but paused as Wendy stopped her to fix a loose strand of her hair. ¡°Oh¡­ I guess not having human ears means we can¡¯t use them as holders, huh?¡± ¡°That¡¯s why you¡¯ve got magic, silly,¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°No luck here, but hairpins suit me. Are¡­we really taking Kari?¡± she asked with a strained laugh while stepping away and spotting the cheery Valkyrie turn the corner with drenched locks. ¡°Just think about it¡­ A school without the wolf.¡± Giving her brunette sister a patient hug, she pulled away and shook her head. ¡°I know it¡¯s hard for you, but Kari really is different. If you give her a chance, I promise, you¡¯ll see.¡± ¡°Not holding my breath after our last interaction,¡± Wendy muttered, glaring off to the side. ¡°Well, I¡¯ll get some breakfast started with my mom and Eyia. Good luck¡­ Well, don¡¯t you look adorable! I love the gray dress that matches your hair strips, Mom. Eyia!¡± Sora cheerily greeted the pair, reassuring Eyia that things would be alright in passing. Wendy and her were supposed to chill together today, which would be good for them. Eyia needed more friends and Wendy needed to branch out. It also gave her a chance to give Kari some attention. Well, if she accepted it. Now, to see if she¡¯d actually come. Anticipation and a bit of a hopeful nudge brought Sora to stand outside Kari¡¯s door, trying to calm the nervous energy bubbling up inside her. She did a once over of her appearance, stalling for a second. Okay, Sora, don¡¯t get your hopes up too high, she reassured herself, breathing deeply while recalling where Kari came from and how empty the wolf had been, pushing everyone away. Just knock. Worst-case scenario, she snaps at you¡­again, but she doesn¡¯t mean it. Kari¡¯s made so many changes, and in such a short time. Just follow Mary¡¯s advice and be supportive! She lifted her hand and rapped her knuckles against the wooden door. There was a pause, followed by a muffled voice that was unmistakably Kari¡¯s as Noelia¡¯s magic opened up the communication between them. ¡°What is it?¡± Sora shifted on her feet, trying to steady her tone and adding a playful note. ¡°You know what it is. It¡¯s me, Sora, duh. We¡¯re getting ready for the Open House. Just wanted to see if you needed anything¡­or if you¡¯re still coming.¡± A loud sigh on the other side made Sora¡¯s ears lower slightly, but there was rustling inside as the wolf got out of bed. The door creaked open a crack, revealing Kari¡¯s guarded amber eyes, half-lidded and sharp despite the early hour. ¡°You¡­good?¡± Sora mumbled. In a single sweep, the wolf took in Sora¡¯s smile and outfit, then glanced down the hall as if making sure no one else was around before opening the door wider. Her butt-length hair was a tousled mess, definitely not school ready, and she was dressed in an oversized t-shirt and shorts. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said, her voice clipped. Sora offered a small smile, trying to ease the tension she could feel radiating from Kari. ¡°You sure? I was just thinking¡­you know, it¡¯s a new place. Might be different from Miami Beach Senior High. A fresh start.¡± Kari leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms and huffing at the comment. ¡°You sound like Mary¡­ Do you really think Avalon¡¯s gonna be any different? It¡¯s still school, right? Just¡­more magical crap that I can¡¯t do. I don¡¯t know.¡± Sora swallowed, sensing the defensiveness in Kari¡¯s tone. She¡¯s guarded. Always guarded. ¡°I know it will be different,¡± Sora softly acknowledged. ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re free to do whatever you want, Kari. You don¡¯t have to be friends with me, or anyone, if you don¡¯t want to. I¡¯m just¡­trying. I¡¯d, I don¡¯t know¡ªI¡¯d like to see you around, every once in a while. You know, wave when we see each other or something.¡± For a moment, Kari didn¡¯t respond, her gaze flickering away as her tail followed suit, and Sora couldn¡¯t guess what was running through her mind. Finally, she sighed and scratched her eyebrow. ¡°Maybe.¡± Her voice was quiet, almost reluctant. Sora smiled, though she felt a pang of uncertainty. ¡°That¡¯s all I ask. I¡¯ll let you finish getting ready.¡± She turned to leave but hesitated when Kari spoke again. ¡°Hey, Sora¡­¡± The wolf¡¯s voice was softer now, less guarded. ¡°Do you really believe all this, mmm¡ªAvalon, this magic world¡­ Do you think it¡¯ll be better than what we had? What if this Darkness business is worse than you think and there are problems¡­or other bullies out there?¡± Sora turned back, meeting Kari¡¯s uncertain amber eyes. ¡°Yeah,¡± she said with quiet conviction. ¡°I really do think this will be good. The Darkness is just another mystery, right? I can¡¯t control everything¡­ It¡¯s scary for me, too. It¡¯s a chance for all of us to find out who we are, not just you, even if we don¡¯t know what that is yet. It¡¯s okay. We have time.¡± Kari¡¯s gaze lingered on Sora for a moment longer before it moved to the floor, her tail¡¯s restless motions lessening, her expression unreadable. ¡°I¡¯ll be down in a bit¡­ You could have woken me up later.¡± Sora gave her a chuckle and nod. ¡°Sure, you don¡¯t really put a ton of effort into looking good, not that you need it. But if I didn¡¯t wake you up this early, then how would you get your full breakfast in? A wolf needs her meat, right? And, Kari, if you do have any problems¡­don¡¯t hesitate to call me¡­ I want to help. The friendship door is still open!¡± Kari¡¯s eyes softened at the comment and she shook her head while shutting the door in her face. Sora felt a small surge of triumph. The small victories! One step at a time. Wendy, Kari, Eyia¡­ Healing takes time. As she walked down the hall with a sway to her step and tail, she heard the soft creak of the bathroom door opening, followed by her mother¡¯s voice. She quickly hid at the divide, ears up and listening for her parents¡¯ voices. ¡°Noelia¡¯s so good with breakfast every morning,¡± her mother mumbled faintly, filled with warmth, admiration, and a ting of jealousy. ¡°But while the girls are at school, I¡¯ll show them how good I can cook when they get back.¡± Sora¡¯s lips quirked into a smile as she heard her father¡¯s amused reply, ¡°Is that before or after you master the computer?¡± There was a groan from her mother, and Sora couldn¡¯t help but imagine her ears flattening against her head in mock dismay. She chuckled quietly to herself as they continued their playful banter. Good luck, Mom. Downstairs, the kitchen was already bustling with activity, and she hadn¡¯t even heard Aiden show up, but now he was behind the stove with Wendy, helping guide Eyia through how to make poached eggs. Noelia was humming to herself as she expertly flipped pancakes next to her daughter, mixing up more batter nearby, their tanuki ears twitching in unison with the rhythm. It was funny to see her mother nearby, listening intently to Aiden¡¯s instructions as if in a college lecture. Not wanting to interrupt the moment, Sora sat down next to her dad at the bar stool, happily listening to everyone. A tinkling bell brought a teenage Nilly to sit beside them, causing a short stir, yet she had a napkin on already with silverware, bright-eyed and ready to eat as if she were the family cat. It wasn¡¯t long after that when Howie and Daisy showed up, calling up to see if they were welcomed to join. They brought homemade brown sugar maple syrup and a few cartons of orange juice and apple juice that Eyia mostly enjoyed. Kari arrived at the perfect time to sit down and eat while everyone else was engaged in their own conversation, as if she¡¯d waited for that exact moment to make her appearance. Naturally, the wolf¡¯s hair was still a mess and hardly brushed. She wore a tank top, gym shorts, and well-worn tennis shoes that Sora now realized had been the same that she¡¯d worn in school. Unlike all the girls in her group, constantly getting new clothes, Kari hardly changed her style, showing how much she truly cared about how she looked. Aiden managed to get to her first before Sora, and she seemed to open up a bit more, talking a little about her time wandering the streets throughout the week. Sora listened in, happy to see everything working out. Kari appeared to be finally coming to terms that her brother wasn¡¯t coming back anytime soon¡ªshe was free. Around 7:30 came another surprise appearance with Stephanie, carrying her baby with her husband hauling the baby bag. Eyia looked a tad skittish around the giantess, who had shrunk dramatically due to her lost power yet still somehow stood taller than the blonde. The turquoise-locked Celestial maintained her grace and elegance while greeting Sora¡¯s mom, a thankful smile on her lips. It seemed like her mom had found a friend in the giantess and someone she would respect for her opinion, which was good in Sora¡¯s eyes. The last twenty minutes was spent with Stephanie fending off concerned questions and Ron chilling with her father and Howie. Nilly vanished with a plate of pancakes, talking about sharing them with Zoe, the monster of Githa, and her little kitten. And Daisy mingled with Sora¡¯s mom, Noelia, and Stephanie, discussing what they¡¯d do when they finally got rid of the kids off to magic school! Or that was what Sora took away from it. Sora just relished in the vibe and atmosphere. After all the heartache, uncertainty, and the fallout from Jenny¡¯s plot, they were healing. Sure, there were scary things still happening in the background regarding her dad¡¯s side, Pandora, Stephanie¡¯s loss of power, the Darkness, Avalon¡¯s political scene, and the Foundation, amongst many other concerns¡ªJin as the gym coach. But, even with all that misfortune, she still saw her life on the positive from where it had been a month ago. Sela and Fen were also on the up, and she couldn¡¯t wait to see how they were adjusting to their new positions in Avalon. When 7:50 hit, they waved Stephanie, Ron, Howie, and Daisy off on their way to the elevator; the two pairs had made plans to go out on a couples date, which was cute. Noelia said she¡¯d watch the baby for Stephanie and Ron later that night when they returned, ever the dedicated nanny the part-tanuki was. Making it into her private realm, she waved at Ember as the Fire Fairy zipped over to them, leaving a small trail of flames in her wake. ¡°Ready? Are we ready? This is my first time being a tour guide! I¡¯m so excited!¡± Sora giggled as she directed them toward the gateway, everything now becoming real. Without hesitation, they entered the swirling vortex that would take them to the magical land. We¡¯re going to Avalon Academy¡­ Finally, we¡¯re moving forward. B2 — 38. Avalon Academy Opens Sora took a deep breath as she stood before the swirling vortex that would lead them to Avalon Academy. Ember, their tiny Fire Fairy guide, buzzed excitedly around them, her fiery wings leaving a trail of embers in the air. Anxiety churned her stomach, the anticipation was almost tangible, like static electricity dancing along her fluffed up tail. Wendy stood beside her, fidgeting with the edge of her dress, her own big bushy tail swaying nervously. The subtle tremor in her sister¡¯s hands wasn¡¯t missed by her as she reached out to give her a reassuring squeeze. Beside them, their father did the same to her mother and Noelia, who looked somehow as anxious as them. Cute. ¡°You ready?¡± Sora asked, flashing her a confident smile, despite the butterflies in her belly. Wendy glanced at her, a small, nervous grin tugging at the corners of her lips. ¡°As ready as I¡¯ll ever be. This is¡­huge, right? That¡¯s what you said. Like, bigger than anything we¡¯ve ever seen before¡ªa magical school.¡± Sora nodded, trying to sound reassuring. ¡°I mean, high school was huge the first time, right? It¡¯s just a school¡­a magic school.¡± ¡°No, scratch that,¡± the brunette chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s a whole new world. Literally. Filled with magical creatures, fae royalty, and all sorts of beings who probably had no idea what to make of us. Uh¡­can we even fit in at this place?¡± ¡°We shall conquer the Open House with ease, sisters. Trust in one another¡¯s strengths,¡± Eyia stated from beside them, lightening their mood by her intense icy gaze fixed on the vortex. ¡°Be on your guard. There are enemies where we tread.¡± Sora suppressed a giggle with Wendy, nudging her frosty sister-in-arms with her tail. ¡°Sure thing, Eyia. Just make sure to have fun, too. You¡¯ve got Wendy?¡± ¡°I will be with her without fail!¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m reassured,¡± the brunette mused. Letting go of her hand after another squeeze, she scooted closer to be with the blonde. ¡°We¡¯ve got our buddy system in case we get lost!¡± Beside her, Noelia and their father stood close together, smiling at their words as the tanuki whispered, ¡°Aren¡¯t you girls growing up fast?¡± ¡°Oh, they have a lot of room to grow,¡± the vulpes beside her sighed, not fooling anyone by her twisted tails. ¡°As do I. When you girls return, everything will have changed! I¡¯ll be at a whole different level.¡± Sora hoped that was true as she shared a quiet exchange of looks with her dad and Noelia, asking to look out for her helpless, restricted goddess of a mother. Aiden hovered nearby, his fiery presence a comforting warmth in the cool morning air as he stared at the portal from beside Kari, keeping herself somewhat aloof from them. ¡°Okay, everyone, follow me!¡± Ember chimed, her tiny voice brimming with excitement as she darted into the vortex. ¡°Here. We. Go!¡± Sora took one last look at her family before stepping forward. The sensation of being pulled through the portal was like being swept up in a whirlwind of magic¡ªcolors, lights, and sounds all blended together in a dizzying swirl. And then, just as suddenly, it was over. She blinked as the world of Avalon Academy materialized around them. The swirling magic dissipated, leaving a brief sensation of tingling energy running through her fur and skin. It was like stepping from a storm into a vivid dreamscape¡ªtoo surreal to be real. Whoa. It¡¯s more¡­active than I thought for a back entrance. All around her, Avalon buzzed with life, the air humming with power and tickling her magical senses. Trees towered above them, not like normal trees but living entities that glowed with faint, pulsing light, each trunk seemingly carved from crystal¡ªthe whole landscape had changed since their last visit, except for one loud thing¡ªthe surging river. The leaves of the giant trees shimmered, casting soft reflections on the grassy ground that almost felt alive under her feet. She could feel some acting force making them sing, and it didn¡¯t take her long to see why. Not far off, ships were bringing what appeared to be more important attendees of the school. Dryads and what she assumed were treants were disembarking from a ship of solid wood, as if it was crafted that way from its inception. Most of them were likely advanced students by the swelling radial magic they produced. Flowers of every color imaginable were blooming along their path, gently swaying in a non-existent breeze. In the distance, over open cloudy seas, floating islands hovered, their edges draped in mist on their approach to Avalon. They were likely miniature kingdoms, from what she¡¯d heard along their journey to the Realm Tree from Aiden and her last journey here. Wendy''s breath caught, her large, emerald eyes wide with wonder while following the wood-like ladies and the monstrous tree men that towered over them, yet appeared nothing but gentle giants in the dryads¡¯ presence. ¡°Sora¡­this is¡­ It¡¯s incredible.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but grin at her sister¡¯s reaction, her own tail swaying with a similar vibe rolling through her. ¡°Yeah. This is something else, and we both haven¡¯t even scratched the surface.¡± A small trail of embers danced ahead of them as Ember zipped through the air, literally glowing. ¡°Come on, slowpokes! You haven¡¯t seen anything yet! We haven¡¯t even gotten to the audience zone.¡± ¡°Audience zone?¡± Aiden asked, rubbing his chin and glancing toward Kari. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°Hmm? Oh,¡± she dully grunted, unimpressed gaze sliding between the surging river, floating islands, and disembarking tree people. ¡°They probably don¡¯t have basketball here.¡± Sora restrained a snort. ¡°Is that all you think about? No, sorry, Ember. We¡¯re coming!¡± Despite the Fire Fairy¡¯s playful tone, Sora couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of eyes on them as they proceeded along the path. Sure, there were people that glanced at them, but most eyes went to her mom, likely due to her nine tails. Overall, they were generally not even a blip on the map for most groups. She glanced around, catching sight of students¡ªso many different kinds of students who were now filing onto the path to Avalon Academy. Some had the delicate features of elves, their pointed ears peeking through hair that shimmered like spun gold or silver. Others were clearly fae, with translucent wings that fluttered behind them as they walked. Pixies darted in and out of the crowds, leaving trails of sparkling dust, while trolls lumbered past, their enormous forms towering over most creatures around them. There were even smaller beings. Sora nearly giggled when she spotted a group of brownies. The tiny creatures had tufts of hair and mischievous grins, walking alongside a gnome chaperone who seemed intent on making sure none of the larger visitors and students stepped on them. Their high-pitched voices carried on the breeze to her sharp ears as they exchanged playful jabs at one another, unaware¡ªor unconcerned¡ªof the chaos around them. Ember circled back, darting between Sora and Wendy. ¡°So? What do you think? This is even the less-traveled side of the school!¡± Wendy blinked, clearly still absorbing it all. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­every kind of magical creature I could imagine, just¡­in one place.¡± Sora nodded, still scanning the environment and looking for whatever was prickling the back of her neck. Eyia seemed alert, yet the Valkyrie appeared distracted by something that had her furrowed brow trained on the ground. Her father brought them into forward momentum, Aiden trying to test the waters with Kari as they went. The wolf didn¡¯t appear too excited, though. Sora couldn¡¯t stop being distracted, spotting more species that pulled her gaze¡ªghostly entities drifting near the treetops and vulpes with multiple tails like herself¡ªnone more than three, excluding their parents, of which some had five. Her lungs practically jumped into her throat when a family of giant dragons swooped down from the sky and transformed mid-air into elegant humanoid forms. One of the younger dragons, a boy who looked no older than eighteen, landed gracefully beside his regal-looking parents, his gaze sweeping across the area with a mix of curiosity and pride. ¡°There are stronger students than I would have thought. Perhaps I should have come last year.¡± His green-haired mother sighed, vision darting their way and her tone somewhat low for a woman. ¡°More than you might think¡­¡± Sora''s ears twitched as the distinct scent of Germanic werewolves hit her nose¡ªa pack of humans moving in a tight group to their right passed by them, their auras dark and wild. The scent immediately brought Jenny to mind, making her stomach tighten for a moment. No, not like her. I¡¯ve got this. She subtly shifted closer to Wendy, a protective instinct rising to the surface, not that she¡¯d understand what the smell meant. As they continued through the academy¡¯s background, Eyia remained at their side, her icy blue gaze sharp and vigilant. She had been silent since they arrived, but Sora could feel the tension radiating from the Valkyrie, possibly already sensing Jin. Noelia walked slightly ahead beside Ember, glancing back every so often, her usual calm demeanor not entirely masking her own anxiety. Their father was beside her, his presence a steadying force for the group to press onward, though Sora could tell he was just as on edge as the rest of them. His baby girl is going off to a school in some mysterious and dangerous realm¡­ Sora thought, her ears pulling back while glancing toward her mother¡¯s stiff tails. He must really trust Mom a lot¡­ Please, be good to him. Dad deserves so much more, Mom. ¡°Are you doing okay?¡± she whispered to Wendy, nudging her sister¡¯s tail with her own. Wendy¡¯s tail curled in, brushing against Sora¡¯s leg. ¡°I think so. It¡¯s just¡­a lot. You know? New place, new faces¡­new me. Everything is new.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora mumbled softly, her gaze sweeping the sky where more floating islands hung like distant stars. ¡°But we¡¯ve got each other. We can figure this out. We¡¯ll be away from home and able to stretch our tails. I¡¯m excited!¡± ¡°Yeah. Me, too¡­and scared, but excited,¡± she chuckled. Their conversation was interrupted as Ember directed them toward a massive building ahead, its walls made of living wood intertwined with veins of glowing crystal. In a stretching effect and a swirl of magic, they passed between two posts and suddenly they were at the entrance, its giant walls loomed before them, two massive doors opened to reveal a grand hall within. The space was filled with students¡ªsome seated, some hovering mid-air, others leaning against the walls in casual conversation. Despite the grandeur, there was an underlying tension in the air, a sense of anticipation that Sora couldn¡¯t quite place. They were directed to a section of seats by one of the academy¡¯s staff, a tall, elfin woman with long, cascading hair that shimmered with an otherworldly white light. Her instructions were polite, but there was an edge to her tone that hinted at the importance of the event. Sora glanced around as they took their seats, feeling a bit more on edge herself. The rest of the seats in their section quickly filled up, and just as she was about to lean over to ask Eyia what she was so fixated on, the entire section jolted upward. ¡°What the¡ª¡± Wendy gasped, clutching Sora¡¯s arm as their seating area began to rise into the air, floating upward to join several other hovering sections that broke away with theirs, taking their place in the sky with the vanishing ceiling. Sora¡¯s breath caught in her throat as she looked down. The ground seemed impossibly far below them now, the massive arena-like structure below only adding to the surreal feeling. They were in the sky, suspended by nothing more than magic, and she could feel the pulse of that magic thrumming beneath her feet. It didn¡¯t take long for her to see another section rise up to take the place theirs had been. Once that was filled, it rose to join them, and the process continued until dozens upon dozens were occupied. The sections continued to rise until they formed a circle, hovering around what looked like a central platform. Sora¡¯s heart raced as she noticed figures appearing on that platform, their forms projected in the center of the hovering sections as if they were standing right between them as giants. The first figure to blink into existence was a rather welcoming and homely-looking elf woman in her mid thirties. Dressed in simple robes and holding a wand at her front, she glanced around at the students and their parents gathering around them. Lean and tall, she swept the throng as the chatter became hushed, Sora¡¯s ears twitching as a magical dampening field fell over the crowd. She could hear her parents nearby easily enough but anything more than a few seats away were dampened to almost nothing, leaving an air of silence. However, one of the staff that appeared last made Sora gulp and glance toward Eyia. Jin¡­ Eyia sat straighter, her hands knotted in her lap, and Wendy noticed, leaning over to bump shoulders with the blonde to let her know she wasn¡¯t alone. The short Korean girl looked bored, unapproachable, and as annoyed as the first time Sora had met the 2nd Generation Dragon Founder. Her eyes, sharp and golden, swept across the assembled students before landing on their section for a brief moment. Her oppressive aura was hardly hidden this time around, causing the sound barrier to be pointless the moment she appeared. Sora could feel the tension between the Dragon and Valkyrie like a steel weight against her chest, and for a brief moment, she wondered if there was going to be a confrontation right there. Eyia looked as if she wanted to charge down and have another heated chat with her. But Jin simply huffed, his gaze moving away as if dismissing them altogether. She crossed her arms, clearly waiting for something else to happen. Sora exhaled, realizing she had been holding her breath. ¡°Well¡­I guess Jin would be introduced for the¡ªwait, Fen and Sela just showed up, too? This just got interesting,¡± she muttered under her breath, glancing at Wendy, who looked equally stunned. Eyia didn¡¯t move, her gaze still locked on Jin as if expecting something, and not soon after, her brow softened. Sora leaned over as she relaxed, her voice low. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. ¡°Hey¡­you good?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the blonde replied, looking relieved. ¡°Jin has made the decision to meet me, as you say, the halfway. She will send word to speak to me later.¡± ¡°Good. We¡¯re here to check out the school, not start a fight.¡± ¡°As you say, Sister. But I will remain, mmm¡­prepared for war is the wrong phrase but I think Jin has chosen to be the rebellious daughter.¡± Sora was a little surprised to see her mom lean forward and whispered, ¡°Here¡¯s to that. Another victory for us.¡± ¡°If you say so, Mom.¡± All eyes were turned toward the center of the arena, and Ember floated over to sit on her shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s the¡ª¡± ¡°Ahem.¡± The Fire Fairy straightened as if whipped, the elf woman¡¯s voice reaching all of them as if sitting beside their chairs. ¡°I am Elder Abigail Rosewood, a senior instructor and Dean of Magical Disciplines here at Avalon Academy. Many of you alumni of this great institution know me well¡­perhaps a little too well,¡± she said with a short laugh that had a few trolls in their expanded seats near Sora chuckle. ¡°This semester, we have fifty thousand new students that will be taking their first steps through our doors, many of which are here today with your guardians. As such, Grand Chancellor Elowen Moonshadow has invited me to open up this Open House with the simple format that our establishment operates under.¡± Sora shifted in her seat, her ears twitching slightly as Abigail¡¯s voice filled the arena. Despite her homely appearance, her tone was calm and authoritative, cutting through the still atmosphere like a hot knife. ¡°At Avalon Academy,¡± Elder continued, gesturing to illusionary examples that spread out above her, showcasing her points and keeping the audience focused, ¡°we follow a flexible and student-driven approach to education. Instead of rigid class schedules, each student is encouraged to explore their interests and pursue their unique learning paths. However, there are core expectations and milestones that must be met before advancing to the next rank.¡± Sora nodded slightly, trying to wrap her head around the idea of self-directed learning. She¡¯d done a lot of extra credit self-study, so this was still in her alley. It sounds¡­freeing, but also kind of terrifying. What if I mess up? How will I know if I¡¯m in the wrong course? ¡°I suggest you develop a good rapport with fellow students and learn quickly. As for the daily routine,¡± the elder went on, ¡°classes are offered throughout the day in both lecture halls and practical workshops. Our campus is possibly beyond the scope for you to comprehend, but know that we patronize more than five-hundred thousand students¡­and our campus has room for many, many more.¡± That¡¯s insane! Sora glanced around the giant stadium of 50,000 new students, spread out across the massive floating sections, and all looking intently at the giant illusion of the elder. It sounds so chaotic. How do they keep everything organized¡­or keep bullying from happening? ¡°You are free to choose which sessions you attend, but it is essential to manage your time wisely.¡± Abigail¡¯s vision narrowed, a firm note in her voice. ¡°Curfew is at six o¡¯clock in the evening, and when I say six o¡¯clock, I mean six o¡¯clock you are inside your dorms. All students must remain indoors after that time.¡± The elder¡¯s gaze swept across the students as she paused, letting the importance of her words sink in. ¡°This is not a mere precaution. Avalon is new to many of you creatures from Earth, and yes, we have a marvelous realm of magic, but it is not without its dangers. The Darkness prowls below your feet, and at night, it can reach its tentacles far¡­even during the day for the deeper dungeons.¡± ¡°Dungeons?¡± Wendy choked, leaning over to hiss, ¡°Why does this place have dungeons?¡± Sora shook her head, glancing at her mom, who was holding her father¡¯s hand, a frown on her lips as she listened. What have you plotted, Mom? Did you¡­mess with anything before coming back into our lives? Is there some bigger plot here? ¡°Any student caught outside during curfew risks encountering this malevolent force.¡± A shiver ran down Sora''s spine as she felt Wendy shift beside her. She glanced at her sister, catching the worried furrow of her brow. At first, when she¡¯d heard it from Titania, it was something far away and not really that present in their lives, but now it was becoming very real¡ªthe spiky tentacle illusion that reached up to snatch a Fairy out of the sky and drag her into the shadows didn¡¯t help her imagination. ¡°Breaking curfew,¡± her attention was snatched back by the elf as she pointed up the next scene, ¡°will result in severe consequences. First-time offenders will face detention and temporary magical binding to the dorms.¡± ¡°Grounded, basically,¡± Wendy mumbled. Abigail¡¯s lips became a line, her enchanting appearance turning as dark as her illusions. ¡°While repeat offenses can lead to more¡­drastic measures, including expulsion and magical banishment.¡± Sora swallowed hard. The weight of the elder¡¯s words settled in her chest like a heavy stone. No messing around here. ¡°It is not just you that you put in danger when exposing yourself to The Darkness,¡± Abigail went on, directing them to the Fairy who had been captured, now corrupted and looking similar to Sela¡¯s Unseele, lurking in the shadows to snatch her friend who had come back to check on her. The instructor¡¯s slitted eyes drifted to Sela, who was looking quite a lot better since the last time she¡¯d seen the healing fae. ¡°Once turned, you cannot be redeemed¡­and you would corrupt or murder your own parents or siblings for the fun of hearing them scream and beg.¡± Sora¡¯s fur bristled at the comment. That¡¯s uncalled for! She internally growled. Sela is changing! That was totally an attack on her. Sela maintained a controlled demeanor, though, keeping her gaze averted and waiting to be brought into the discussion. It made Sora recall how mature and old Sela actually was, at least by human standards. Yes, she had a rough life, but she was a woman who could handle herself. After all, she¡¯d been able to handle Eric and that bastard was a real piece of work. Elder Rosewood¡¯s cautious gaze moved away from Sela, returning to explain how the academy''s curriculum accommodated the diverse field of study necessary for the various magical beings in attendance. Sora found herself listening more to find something to find against Abigail rather than for the information itself. It did help her focus, though. There were elemental zones, combat arenas, and dormitories tailored to each student¡¯s specific needs. It was a far cry from any school Sora had ever attended¡ªfar, far larger, with classes in the thousands¡ªthis place was more like an entire world dedicated to mastering magic. Sora glanced around again, her gaze drifting to the floating islands hovering in the distance. The sheer scale of Avalon Academy was overwhelming, and now she was realizing those are actually a part of the academy. She could feel the power in the air, a constant hum of energy that buzzed against her fur and skin. ¡°And now,¡± Elder Rosewood concluded, ¡°I have been instructed to introduce some of the new additions to our staff and teacher aides who will be guiding you on your journey here at Avalon Academy. ¡°If you are unaware, there are five ranks in Avalon. ¡°Seedlings, or all of you, are entry-level students. Once you completed your foundational courses in magic, fae customs, and combat, demonstrating control over your unique basic fundamentals, then you may advance to Sprouts. Note that this can take months to milenia, depending on your aptitude. Some students learn slower than others.¡± Sora caught Ember¡¯s wings dim as she curled in atop her shoulder. Yeah, she didn¡¯t like this teacher. ¡°Sprouts have taken root in Avalon, developing the intermediate skills and cultural awareness to better contribute to fae society, while gaining the proper talents to handle Shadow Pockets or the Rising Tide, should such events occur. More training will be had during every opening course, so I would pay close attention. ¡°After that, Blossomed students have matured and mastered their magics and grown into fae society, at which point, they graduate. As such, graduates of Avalon Academy will then be given the right and citizenship of Avalon to pursue their own unique aspirations. However, to graduate, a student must accomplish something significant in combating The Darkness.¡± She paused, a smile brightening and softening her face while scanning the crowd of fae and monsters. ¡°And then there are the Luminary, our alumni, who shine bright in their own studies, developing grand advancements in their own chosen field of study. Luminaries are those who seek higher learning, receiving specialized instruction from Grandmasters or Elders, such as myself, and become student teachers. ¡°There are a few such individuals that have been recommended and brought on due to their sharper understanding of their powers.¡± Sora felt a smile come on upon seeing Fen among that group, who stepped forward, the haughty vulpes sporting a fancy Chinese gown and displaying herself proudly. Jian, however, stood behind Jin, the Dragon crossing her arms and now tapping her foot. Sora winced and shivered as the Korean girl¡¯s agitated tone cut past Abigail¡¯s in a swirl of wind that reached every ear; the frenzied heat of Jin¡¯s radial power reminded her how strong the girl actually was. ¡°Could we get this moving, I don¡¯t like sitting around twiddling my thumbs.¡° Abigail¡¯s sweet smile turned toward the dragon with a short chuckle. ¡°Of course, Founder Jin¡­ Each of you, whatever your rank, brings your own unique expertise to the table, our Luminary, and I encourage you all to seek mentorship when needed. Why don¡¯t you introduce yourselves? Elder, why don¡¯t you start us out since you have such important work to do.¡± Sora straightened up a bit, her eyes flicking to the platform where the instructors and student teachers were. Jin stepped forward, her posture relaxed, almost casual, but her golden eyes held a certain intensity that Sora couldn¡¯t ignore, even from this distance. The Dragon unfolded her arms and placed a hand on her hip with a toothy, challenging grin. Her heated aura cascaded across the stadium, making Wendy sink lower in her seat, her voice carrying an undercurrent of boredom as if the whole situation were just a mild inconvenience and beneath her. ¡°Hardly. I¡¯ll be quick. I¡¯m Jin, and if you join my class, I¡¯ll kill you,¡± she said, her tone blunt and to the point as everyone began to sweat under her pressure. ¡°I teach advanced physical education, you could say¡ªdoesn¡¯t matter what it is, magic or not. For those who want to push their limits, I may see you through, but no promises. If you¡¯re looking for a challenge¡­¡± She chuckled, looking right at Eyia, who was staring right back. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a taste of fire you¡¯ve never experienced. But don¡¯t waste my time if you''re not serious about it¡­ Expect ninety-nine percent of my students not to survive. That¡¯s all.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but grin a little at Jin¡¯s attitude as her aura vanished as if never there in the first place. She turned, and vanished in a single step, slipping away in some manner Sora couldn¡¯t hope to guess. There was something refreshing about her straightforwardness, even if it came with a side of arrogance and death. She¡¯s tough, but fair¡­ I think. Sora glanced at Eyia, who actually wore a gentle smile now. I guess that¡¯s their way of saying we¡¯ll work it out through training. Yikes. She held a hand to her chest, hearing her heart thump. I need to have Eyia train me up a little and get me in shape¡­or my heart might not survive a third encounter. Abigail slid right by her exit, gesturing to Jian as the man nodded without a word and followed the Dragon. ¡°Elder Jian has chosen to take a subordinate position under Elder Jin for the advanced physical education¡­which includes defensive studies against The Darkness, which is a required course.¡± Sora didn¡¯t blame the looks others gave one another at that revelation, but a breath of fresh air came after. ¡°There are other instructors you may choose. Now, shall we get back on track, next?¡± She directed them to Fen. Sora''s eyes darted toward Fen as the black-furred fox stepped forward to take her turn on the platform, her single white tail drawing eyes. Despite the composed expression she wore, there was an unmistakable tension in the way her tails flicked back and forth¡ªa sharp contrast to the smooth elegance of her stride. When Fen spoke, her voice was light, playful even, but Sora could detect the strain beneath the surface. ¡°I am Fen,¡± she began, her tone lilting as if she were delivering a well-rehearsed line. ¡°A Huli Jing, though I¡¯ve been many things throughout my long life.¡± She paused, a slow smile spreading across her lips. ¡°Perhaps I shouldn¡¯t get into those topics with young students around. We can always talk about them in private lessons, though!¡± Sora lifted two fingers to her brow and sighed. ¡°Really?¡± Giggling, the vulpes went on. ¡°Now, it seems I am to be supporting your favorite male vulpes into guiding you pups into this strange, magical world. For those of you curious about illusions, shapeshifting, or¡­well, let¡¯s just say more creative approaches to magic,¡± she chortled, ¡°I might be able to help. Though,¡± she added with a hint of irony, ¡°I make no promises. Learning from me may be more dangerous than you expect. Vulpes always require a little bit of energy in return¡­are you brave enough to sacrifice it?¡± Sora threw up her hand as Wendy snorted and gave her a look. ¡°Is she the class mascot or advertising agent? What¡¯s with that hook?¡± Fen¡¯s words hung in the air, and the students shifted uneasily in their seats but Sora could feel the interest in the wealth of auras around her. Whatever she¡¯d done, it worked. As the seductive fox finished and took a step back, there was a murmur in the crowd, but Sora¡¯s attention was already shifting to Sela. The once-Unseelie Queen stepped forward slowly, her gaze cast downward and clearly struggling. Sora¡¯s heart clenched as she saw the weight that Sela carried¡ªmemories of a past filled with torment, pain, and regret. There was a brief moment of hesitation, her gaze darting to Abigail¡¯s judging eyes before Sela finally looked out, meeting the eyes of those gathered. ¡°My name is Sela,¡± she began, her voice low and somber. ¡°I was once¡­something else. Something darker. An Unseelie, a servant of The Darkness.¡± A ripple of unease passed through the audience at her admission, a cold chill and fright that brought many even to their feet in shock. There were some parents who murmured about it being impossible to purify an Unseelie. Sora could feel the discomfort radiating from the other students¡¯ auras, as well while looking to their guardians. Sela continued, undeterred by the reaction. ¡°I did terrible things in my past¡­things I cannot undo. I will not run from that. I don¡¯t expect your forgiveness, nor do I ask for it or your understanding. All I can offer is the truth of who I am now. I am here to teach you about The Darkness¡­ At least, that is the task assigned to me by High Queen Titania. About how to defend against it, how to recognize its touch before it¡¯s too late.¡± She took a deep breath, her shoulders trembling ever so slightly before she regained her composure. ¡°I understand if none of you wish to come to my classes. I wouldn¡¯t blame you. I don¡¯t belong here¡ªamong you¡ªbut I have been asked to serve my sentence by sharing what I know. That is all.¡± Silence fell over the hall as Sela stepped back. Sora¡¯s gaze flicked toward her father, mother, and Noelia, who were huddled together, whispering quietly to one another. The tanuki¡¯s magic kept their conversation out of Sora¡¯s earshot, and she couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of curiosity mixed with unease. What were they discussing? Was it about Sela? Or perhaps something more? We¡¯re not kids anymore! Why hide stuff from us? Sora turned her attention back to Sela, who stood at the edge of the platform, her head bowed slightly as if awaiting judgment. Her heart ached, recalling the moment she¡¯d purified the former Unseelie and the battle still waging within her guilt-riddled soul.. I hope she knows she¡¯s not alone in this. You were a different person, Sela. It wasn¡¯t you who did all of that¡­ You can help people understand that about Unseelie¡­but maybe they don¡¯t want to know that? Maybe that would be too hard¡­ Still, Unseelie can be saved. Taking a deep breath, Sora gave Wendy a reassuring nudge. ¡°She¡¯s got this,¡± she whispered, more to herself than her sister. ¡°We¡¯ve got this. Avalon will be great!¡± Wendy nodded, her expression softening. ¡°Kind of intense opener, but yeah. I think she does. Well, that we do. Umm. Yeah, but what are we doing now?¡± Sora shrugged and chuckled. ¡°Wander and feel things out, I guess. Right, Ember?¡± The Fire Fairy jolted as if in a trance, blinking and looking between them. ¡°Huh? Oh, yeah. Mhm! There will be magical pamphlets that will show the layout of the school. You¡¯ll want to keep it! It took me years to get everything down here. And I was a quick learner,¡± she boasted, puffing up her small chest. Kari rose to her feet, stretched her arms overhead and started to move down the row toward the edge, making all their conversations pause. Aiden straightened in his seat, glancing between her and the wolf as Kari¡¯s thick tail swayed slightly in her exit. ¡°Where are you going?¡± ¡°To explore¡­ I don¡¯t like staying still,¡± she growled. ¡°This is bullshit.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sora blinked and gave Wendy a pained smile. ¡°Take care of Eyia?¡± ¡°Count on me.¡± The blonde¡¯s face blanked. ¡°Wendy is to escort me from danger? I am confused.¡± ¡°Hehe. I¡¯ll keep you straight,¡± the brunette snickered. Aiden gave her a thankful smile as she jogged after Kari, giving her parents a thumbs up in passing. ¡°Noelia, can you link us so we can communicate if we have a question for Ember?¡± Ember floated off her shoulder, both hands cupping her cheeks in shock. ¡°You can do that?!¡± Noelia giggled and nodded. ¡°Say my name, and it will act as a phone call.¡± ¡°Thanks! Wait up, Kari!¡± The wolf seemed to relax a little, or her posture did as Sora caught up with her. She figured the wolf didn¡¯t want to be alone but didn¡¯t exactly want to talk. Snickering inside, she brushed her copper locks over her shoulder and felt everything calming down again. Freaking wolves. So high maintenance. Well, I think school will be fun. Mom was right. Maybe this is what we all needed. Plus, my friendship circle grows! Yahzarah, to new horizons and overcoming evil shadows! She internally cheered. B2 — 39. A Wolfs Acceptance Sora jogged after Kari on the somewhat spacious aisle of the floating stadium they were on, her gaze fixed on the wolf girl¡¯s strong back as she took determined strides forward. The grand vista of Avalon Academy loomed all around them, stretching off into what seemed eternity with its magical architecture shifting subtly as they moved. Her breath quickened, wanting to explore certain amazing areas, like a giant magical tower or an open wooden spire that led into a large black cloud that thundered with sparks of lightning. But she wasn¡¯t about to let Kari outpace her and feel alone. They reached the nearby ledge between sections, and Sora¡¯s eyes widened as Kari didn¡¯t even hesitate¡ªshe just put her hand on that sucker, and jumped. ¡°Kari, wait!¡± Sora called out, her voice dying in her throat as her ears flattened against her head and she skidded to a stop at the edge. She¡¯s going to be alright? Please tell me she didn¡¯t just¡­ We¡¯re so high up! Peering down in shock. The drop was at least three hundred meters. Kari landed effortlessly on the ground below, causing a growl to rumble in Sora¡¯s throat. Of course the stupid fenris wolf would be fine. Why did I even bother to worry? Eric freaking was torn apart by Jin and he was all good after a bit of rest¡­literally growing back arms and stuff. Is she laughing at me or is that just my imagination? Sora could practically see the smirk on Kari¡¯s face, daring her to follow. Looking around, Sora realized that none of the other students or guardians even batted an eye at Kari¡¯s leap. Although it was Avalon Academy¡ªeveryone probably had some way to fly. Making a hasty decision, Sora took a deep breath and focused on the swirling magic inside her. She envisioned herself floating, her body light as air, and then¡ªshe jumped. The sensation was strange, almost dreamlike, as her descent slowed to a gentle drift. She felt her fur stand on end as her magic swirled around her, lifting her dress as she hovered downward. Grinning, she pushed it back down and experimented with increasing the rate of her descent, feeling a thrill as she floated gracefully toward the ground. When her feet finally touched the earth beside Kari¡ªmagic helping with the trajectory¡ªSora couldn¡¯t help but puff out her chest a little. ¡°How¡¯s that?¡± she said, flashing a triumphant smile. ¡°Not bad for a fox, huh?¡± Kari didn¡¯t seem impressed, standing with her hip cocked, arms folded, and a mildly impatient expression on her face. With a grunt, she turned on her heel and started to storm off in a random direction, her tail swaying with her movements. Yeah, she¡¯s bothered by something¡­ Sora¡¯s smile faltered as she jogged to keep up with Kari¡¯s longer strides. ¡°Hey, you can slow down a bit! It¡¯s not like we¡¯re in a rush or anything,¡± Sora called out, trying to lighten the mood. ¡°Where are we even going?¡± Kari¡¯s amber eyes scanned the extravagant fantasy stone architecture of Avalon Academy, her gaze flickering with a mix of interest and irritation. She growled under her breath, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I just don¡¯t want to sit still anymore. That woman rubbed me the wrong way.¡± ¡°Jin?¡± Sora asked, trying to keep pace. ¡°I mean, she was probably staring at Eyia, not you¡ªjust saying!¡± Kari rolled her eyes. ¡°The dragon¡¯s annoying, but at least she doesn¡¯t give a shit about me.¡± ¡°Sela?¡± Sora ventured, unsure where Kari¡¯s irritation was directed and now a tad curious as to what had gotten under her skin. ¡°Fen?¡±. Kari scratched her twitching left ear, giving Sora a look that said, ¡®Stop trying to act cute, because you¡¯re not.¡¯ ¡°No, the damn punishment woman. Rule this, rule that, you can¡¯t go out after dark¡ªbullshit. No one tells me what to do.¡± Sora fell silent for a moment, her thoughts racing as she watched Kari take the most confident left turn she¡¯d ever seen, as if the wolf knew exactly where she was going. Maybe she was following her nose; the billion different scents around Avalon Academy were enough to spark Sora¡¯s interest, at least. ¡°Ah. Okay, yeah, I see where you¡¯re coming from¡­¡± Silence fell between them, yet Kari slowed down a little after glancing back, probably taking pity on her, who was having to jog to keep up. It made Sora smile, though she kept her gaze away from Kari, not wanting to anger the wolf. Is this really my old bully? Being considerate of others, not wanting to be alone, but still wanting to be independent? She¡¯s way more sensitive than I thought she was. Sora glanced back at Kari as they continued walking, trying to puzzle out what was really bugging her because Elder Rosewood wasn¡¯t the crux of her hang-up. She¡¯d long known some signs Kari¡¯s body language made as her bully, but now as her budding friend, she was noticing others: her slightly tilted ears, her uncomfortable visual shifts, and agitated swaying tail. Kari¡¯s not entertaining the idea of coming here for me, I¡¯m sure of that¡­ So why did she come along? Is she really considering enrolling? ¡°Kari,¡± Sora started, hesitating slightly. ¡°You know, you didn¡¯t have to come here if you didn¡¯t want to. I get if the rules are too much. You could¡¯ve just stayed back¡­but you didn¡¯t.¡± The wolf didn¡¯t respond immediately, her eyes still scanning the intricate carvings on the walls and the magical creatures that wandered past them, mostly staff or workers, Sora guessed. Finally, the black-haired girl sighed, the sound low and heavy. ¡°I¡¯m not here because I want to be, Sora. I¡¯m here because¡­because I can¡¯t go back to where I was. Look,¡± she mumbled, ears fluttering slightly and keeping her eyes averted, ¡°there¡¯s nothing left for me where I came from. So¡­ I¡¯m just looking for something else, I guess. Mary said it might be good to try new things, so¡­ I¡¯m trying.¡± The admission surprised Sora, but she didn¡¯t press further. ¡°Oh. That makes sense.¡± Letting the conversation die, she saw Kari¡¯s agitation start to lessen. They walked in silence for a while, the hum of magic and the distant chatter of other students filling the air around them. After a few more twists and turns, they found themselves in a quieter part of the academy, which was probably Kari¡¯s intention, now that they were here; it wouldn¡¯t be hard for her to go where she didn¡¯t hear much noise. It seemed like the start of some magical forest, the brush and trees noticeably less structured. The towering trees and glowing crystals seemed to close in around them, creating a secluded atmosphere. Kari finally stopped, her gaze fixed on something in the distance through the trees that Sora couldn¡¯t quite see. ¡°What are you thinking?¡± Sora probed, her voice soft. ¡°Does this¡­remind you of your home or something?¡± Kari didn¡¯t answer right away. She clenched and unclenched her fists, her knuckles white with tension. ¡°I don¡¯t belong here,¡± she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°I can¡¯t do magic. I don¡¯t care much for rules. I¡¯m¡­not interested in doing much of anything anymore. But I don¡¯t belong anywhere else, either. What am I doing here?¡± she asked, rubbing between her eyes in more frustration than sadness. Sora¡¯s heart ached at the raw honesty Kari always showed when she did open her mouth and it struck a chord with her. Knowing physical touch wasn¡¯t what Kari wanted, Sora grabbed her elbow behind her back, looking up at the mystical canopy high above with its colorful leaves. ¡°Depression sucks¡­ I felt that way at school for a while¡ªnot that I¡¯m trying to compare our circumstances,¡± she quickly added, yet Kari seemed to be listening since she didn¡¯t interrupt, her eyes fixated on the vibrant green grass. ¡°I, umm¡­¡± Her expression softened when a certain early session with Dr. Mason came to mind, her first psychiatrist who tried to help her before Jenny got to the kind woman. Repeating some of her words, Sora whispered, ¡°Nothing goes as planned, Kari¡­and everyone breaks down in their own special way, which doesn¡¯t make us weak.¡± Kari snorted, giving her a side-long look. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the definition of weak¡­breaking down, being brittle? I¡¯m a fenris wolf,¡± she mumbled, possibly reciting what she¡¯d heard over and over again from her brother. ¡°We don¡¯t break¡­we aren¡¯t weak¡­but I am. So what does that make me? Not a fenris wolf.¡± Instead of discomfort at the hard questions, Sora had the experience of years of therapy to pull from to help guide her. ¡°Even diamonds corrode and are destroyed over time, Kari¡­ Everything will change. Nothing ever stays the same. We have to stand up and be true to ourselves, right? Nobody is perfect¡ªnot me, your mom, or you¡­ We¡¯re all to blame for something but we get up again. You¡¯re not alone, Kari. You¡¯ve gotten up. You¡¯re strong. You know you are.¡± The girl looked up, her eyes looking a little wet, as if fighting back tears and her chest shook with mournful laughter. ¡°You say that, but some people are to blame for more than others¡­ I¡¯m stupid for letting Jenny blind me. To think humans would want to be friends with a wolf¡­ You know, I met a few of the girls last week, just to see if they somehow remembered me. They didn¡¯t. I don¡¯t know what I expected,¡± she scoffed, gripping her left arm. ¡°My family is a mess. The fox I used to bully is now trying to comfort me¡­and I¡¯d run¡­ I would, like the coward Eric always called me¡­but I¡¯ve got nowhere to run to. I couldn¡¯t even kill myself,¡± she whispered, lifting her hands to grip her throat. ¡°I heal too fast.¡± Sora¡¯s brows knitted together as she turned to face her, recalling the girl who she¡¯d known just before Jenny¡¯s betrayal, when Kari had been searching, pushing for something more. ¡°You aren¡¯t feeling that way now, right? You don¡¯t want to¡­¡± ¡°No¡­ No, I think I¡¯m over that,¡± Kari admitted, eyes lost and full of darkness while scanning the forest. ¡°¡­What does it mean to stay true to myself when I don¡¯t know who I am? Yet¡­this place does remind me of home¡ªmy mom¡¯s realm.¡± She paused, and a small smile broke through the cloud of darkness. ¡°It took a lot to come here¡­ It helps, Sora.¡± ¡°It is pretty,¡± Sora nodded, breathing a sigh of relief at her admission while glancing around and trying to figure out how else to get through these final walls Kari had up. ¡°What parts remind you¡ªouch! Hey!¡± Turning back to Kari, she was met by two pointed fingers that jabbed her in the forehead, making her stubble back; she hadn¡¯t even sensed it, which meant there was no ill-will behind it. She rubbed the sore spot, glaring at the dull-faced wolf. ¡°What was that for? I thought we were having a moment¡­¡± Kari snorted and had the nerve to look away to stare up at the sparkling canopy. ¡°I¡¯m not talking about the forest helping me, Sora¡­ You, always yanking on my tail to tag along or following after me¡­ You won¡¯t stop trying. That fox that never gives up, always pushing, always hungry to grow. Hmm. There really is something familiar I smell here¡­but I can¡¯t place what it is.¡± She showed a small smile while turning to her¡ªand really looking for what seemed the first time as a person instead of a pesky fox. ¡°Thank you, Sora. I don¡¯t know where to go from here¡­I don¡¯t. But now that I¡¯m here, there is something that is pulling me here.¡± Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Sora¡¯s scowl lightened at the blunt words, feeling a narrow but sturdy bridge now built between them. Kari was saying she didn¡¯t feel alone anymore, and that was huge. Now, she just had to help her build up a house on her little isolated island she could be proud of¡ªa house that represented her new, healing self to live in. She was seeing Kari from before Jenny¡¯s betrayal came back. ¡°We have a ton of free time here, despite the curfew. I¡¯d love to help you find whatever you¡¯re smelling¡­uh, sensing¡ªis it a smell?¡± Kari shook her head, glancing at various brush and trees. ¡°I don¡¯t know, Sora. It¡¯s more of a vibe, to be honest. It¡¯s not even about this place right now. That¡¯s just a distraction. There is something¡­familiar. But that¡¯s not the point.¡± Her confused eyes looked onto hers, swimming with a bit of fear and curiosity. ¡°And I don¡¯t expect to be the good guy. Wendy can hate me¡ªI deserve it. Eyia can not trust me¡­ I wouldn¡¯t trust me. But¡­somehow, you do, and I can¡¯t say why¡­but I think it¡¯s genuine.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t say!¡± Sora giggled. ¡°What do you see when I¡¯m looking at you, huh? The stubborn wolf that won¡¯t back down from being the bad guy? Because you totally are trying to be that, you know!¡± Kari slid right by her comment, staring down at her with a puzzled expression. ¡°I can¡¯t see any value in myself, Sora¡­ I can¡¯t. I¡¯m not useful to anyone, least of all myself. I¡¯m a drain on Aiden. A disappointment to Eric. But¡­you seem to think there is something of worth in me¡­ I want to see what that is. If anything, to prove you wrong.¡± ¡°And there she is!¡± Sora threw her arms in the air, rolling her eyes and storming off a little before doing a 180 and returning. ¡°No, it has to be a competition with you and Eyia¡ªevery time,¡± she laughed, putting her hands on her hips to give the wolf a challenging glare. ¡°If that¡¯s the way it is, then I accept that challenge.¡± Recalling the words Kari spoke to her in what felt like years ago, she asked, ¡°Tell me this¡­ The wolf on the hill is never as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill. The hardest walk you can make is the walk you make alone¡­¡± Kari¡¯s eyes widened at the reference as she completed it. ¡°¡­But that is the walk that makes you the strongest¡­that builds your character the most. Stay strong¡­keep going.¡± ¡°Stay strong, keep going,¡± Sora firmly repeated. ¡°This walk is hard¡ªI get that, I really do¡­but don¡¯t the hardest walks lead to the greatest destinations? And I¡¯m not talking about tough climbs that lead to the best views.¡± Kari¡¯s throat constricted, no doubt reawakening everything she¡¯d heard from the motivational videos that had sparked a change in her¡ªa change that had freed Sora of Jenny¡¯s cycle. ¡°It will be worth it in the end,¡± she said as almost a question. ¡°I think so,¡± Sora nodded. ¡°And I¡¯ll show you that you are a girl with just as much worth as me. If you can¡¯t trust yourself but can trust in me, then that¡¯s enough for now, I think. Does that mean we¡¯re past the acquaintance phase? Depression friends?¡± she asked, extending her hand, her voice softened. Kari¡¯s left eye creased while staring at her open palm, a somewhat forced grin illuminating her face as she struggled to accept. ¡°If you can commit one day a week to doing something sporty with me as ¡®depression friends¡¯ then¡­I suppose I could make that sacrifice.¡± ¡°Ooh! What a counter, but I¡¯m not about to back down because I suck at sports. If you can commit to half of that day being spent shopping or hanging out with me exploring new places to eat or have fun, like I enjoy doing.¡± Hissing, the wolf rubbed the back of her neck as if it was a hard sell. ¡°I really couldn¡¯t care less how I look, Sora, and food mostly tastes bland to me, in general. It has for a while.¡± ¡°Depression can do that,¡± Sora whispered, reflecting on her own experiences with that. ¡°But maybe a little exploration can bring a little something more back into your life¡­ I¡¯m just saying it¡¯s worth a try. I want to get to know Kari, the girl¡ªyou. Not whatever mask you try to put on as a front to protect yourself from the hellspawn that is Eric¡­ I want to care for you as a friend, Kari. Are you open to doing the same for me?¡± An unwilling shiver seemed to run down Kari¡¯s spine to her stiff tail as she reflected on her words for a few seconds, staring at her extended hand, and a light broke through the darkness in her guarded eyes. Looking up at her, a tear slid down her cheek that she brushed away, making Sora¡¯s chest hurt at the emotion rolling through the wolf. Taking a few deep breaths, Kari reached out and took her hand. ¡°I think¡­you¡¯re the first person who has ever asked me to be their friend, Sora¡­ Everyone else just gathered around me to use my strength. You¡¯re the first person who asked to¡­to know me¡­ I don¡¯t know who I am. What if I¡¯m not someone worth being friends with?¡± Sora¡¯s face softened, feeling heat rise up her own nose as she let a few tears fall at the gap that had bridged between them. ¡°Isn¡¯t that something for the friend to determine? I¡¯m still learning more about myself every day, too, Kari.¡± She couldn¡¯t hold back her weepy laughter as she repeated what the wolf had told her on a bench that struck her. ¡°You¡¯re not a lone wolf anymore, Kari¡­ You¡¯ve walked alone enough. The right people have come into your life. I¡¯m here. Your friend. I promise it will be worth it, in the end.¡± A change came over Kari¡¯s demeanor as she sniffed back her tears and strengthened her grip. A firm resolve and fire lit in her eyes that scared Sora a little as the wolf¡¯s focus sharpened. ¡°I lost my appetite for a while¡­but I think I¡¯ve found it again. I¡¯m more than just a wolf, but I am a wolf. Hungry for more¡­always more. To be that wolf climbing the hill. Thank you, Sora¡­ My first real friend. What does that mean again?¡± Laughing, Sora felt a giant weight lift off her shoulders, seeing the light return to Kari¡¯s face. ¡°It means we¡¯re a pack, fluff brain. It means you¡¯ve found your pack¡­¡± Kari swallowed a lump in her throat before moving closer, and Sora smiled while accepting the hug with a gentle chuckle. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t a hugger?¡± ¡°¡­Just this once, I guess it isn¡¯t terrible.¡± Says the girl who initiated it, she internally chuckled. Finally, she¡¯s healing. Now, adventures and dangers ahead in Avalon. The horrifying enemy called homework! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Diane stepped through the transit gates of Avalon Academy, the familiar pulse of ancient magic tingling in her veins like an old melody she¡¯d long forgotten. It had been centuries since she last walked these paths, and yet, the resonance of this place had never truly left her. The towering spires of the grand library loomed ahead, a monument to knowledge that had withstood the test of time the Foundation couldn¡¯t match. She could almost hear the whispers of the tomes within, beckoning her closer to explore their mysteries. Her pace was steady, but her mind raced with the memories of her time here. The nights spent poring over manuscripts, the debates with true magical scholars who were likely still around, the intoxicating allure of secrets that only Avalon could offer. But, perhaps most importantly, the teasing comments and insights she¡¯d received from her true teacher¡ªThe M¨®rr¨ªgan. The Foundation had provided her with the needed tools, but Avalon had the key to unlock the mysteries of the universe she¡¯d sought after but was barred from due to being human. It¡¯s a shame it took me this long to get to this point, she mused, that The Darkness would cast a block in front of me and diverge our races so drastically. Such feeble minds for progress. The racism toward humans due to our past is exhausting. Millions of years, and still it persists, blocking me left and right. She smiled curtly at the scowls the many instructors gave her in passing, many no doubt remembering her when she was young, ambitious, and a pusher of progress into the unknown. Thankfully, Sora gave her a perfect cover with her high position in the magical arts amidst the Foundation. She had every excuse needed to further her research. The entrance to the grand library was as imposing as she remembered, its doors fashioned from enchanted wood, alive and ever-shifting. As she approached, the doors parted silently, welcoming her back into the fold, or so she saw it. Diane stepped inside, the air thick with the scent of parchment, aged leather, and magical preservation spells. A faint smile touched her lips. I¡¯m home. Behind the desk sat an elf, her posture rigid, and young by the slant of her ear, possibly less than several centuries old. Her green eyes were sharp with suspicion. Diane knew that look well; it was the gaze of someone who trusted too little and had seen too much suffering, suffering they believed caused by humans. Diane could respect it when not aimed at her. Hovering behind her were two Prismatic Fairies, their glittering wings shimmering with a faint iridescence, a silent reminder of the security that Avalon¡¯s High Royalty demanded of the Foundation. Either one could turn her to dust with a snap of their fingers Diane approached the desk with the confidence of someone who belonged, though she could sense the elf¡¯s wariness. ¡°Good day,¡± she began, her voice smooth as silk. ¡°I am here on behalf of the Foundation, conducting an inspection of the records related to vulpes studies. I¡¯m also touring the campus to ensure everything is up to standard with our protocols regarding teaching arrangements for our young fox Founder.¡± The elf¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, but she nodded upon getting the signal from the Fairies, requesting to see Diane¡¯s badge. With a practiced motion, Diane produced it from her coat, the symbol of the Foundation glinting in the low light with the High King¡¯s seal on it. The elf examined it closely before grunting, seemingly satisfied, though the distrust lingered in her gaze. The Fairies fluttered behind her, silent but watchful. Diane offered them a polite smile that felt foreign to her before turning her attention back to the elf. ¡°The Foundation¡¯s methods, as you know, are rooted in science and practicality. However, I find that there is much to be gained from revisiting the teachings of Avalon, particularly those that delve into the arcane and mystical arts, which Sora will do.¡± The elf raised an eyebrow but said nothing, her expression carefully neutral. Diane took that as her cue to continue. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I¡¯ll proceed to the records section. There are a few texts I need to review regarding certain standards that were active when I was a student.¡± The elf silently moved to guide her toward one of the gateways lining the sides. Each portal led to a different section, a labyrinthine network that housed knowledge from before humanity had even dreamed of its first cities. It took someone with excellent memory to be a guide in this place. As she stepped through, she felt the familiar shift in the air, the subtle change that indicated she had moved not just in space, but in time¡ªa reminder of Avalon''s unique relationship with reality. A five minute delay, is it? I suppose it¡¯s a security measure to redirect anyone if needed, keeping them in temporal lock until approved. Things have gotten a lot stricter since my decades learning here. I might as well pick up a few books that can relate to this Darkness, as well. It¡¯s good to be informed. The records section was vast, shelves stretching endlessly in every direction. Diane walked purposefully, her fingers brushing the spines of ancient tomes, some of which she had studied in her youth.This particular area was revered and at the front for a reason. She selected a few books, carefully chosen for their relevance to her current research, yet she paused when she reached for one specific volume she most desperately needed. It¡¯s gone? How¡­out of all the texts. It can¡¯t be a coincidence. Why this obscure, thin volume out of every other hundred thousand lectures she¡¯d given? Her brow furrowed slightly as she turned toward her guide. ¡°Excuse me,¡± she said, trying to keep her tone measured. ¡°I was looking for the Eternal Round, an Interview with The M¨®rr¨ªgan. There are teachings in there that I need to reference to ensure they are still a part of the curriculum for Sora¡¯s benefit and needed to brush up on them.¡± The elf regarded her with a cool gaze before opening a thick ledger, its pages turning on their own accord until they settled on the desired entry. ¡°The text is currently checked out by one of the newer staff members,¡± the elf replied, her voice devoid of inflection. ¡°It is scheduled for return in six months. It appears¡­it was checked out once before.¡± Her gaze lifted to meet hers, filled with suspicion. ¡°By you, just over three centuries ago.¡± Diane chuckled, a sound that echoed softly in the empty space; she suspected few came to revisit things taught by the Fae Founder after the incident and didn¡¯t expect her teachings to be still in public circulation. ¡°Ah, yes, back when humans were still permitted here. How times have changed.¡± She waved off the elf¡¯s remark with a light hand. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, could you tell me who has it currently? Perhaps I can arrange a meeting with the staff member.¡± The elf¡¯s vision flickered with a hint of surprise as she consulted the ledger once more. ¡°Professor Kurosaki, of the Vulpes Curriculum Zone.¡± Diane¡¯s eyes widened, a spark of genuine curiosity lighting within them as she remembered the fox at school, having an excellent memory herself. Last she¡¯d seen, he¡¯d had four tails. ¡°He not only graduated, but managed to become an instructor? For Seedlings, no doubt. Well, isn¡¯t that interesting considering his¡­failings.¡± Her voice trailed off as she considered the implications. ¡°And I hear Fen has been taken on as a student instructor. Perfect.¡± With that, she checked out the books she had selected, her mind already spinning with possibilities. There was much to plan now that the doors of Avalon were open again¡ªnot just for the Foundation, but for her personal goals as well. Diane exited the library, the weight of the tomes in her arms a comforting reminder of the knowledge she would soon wield¡ªthe breakthroughs. The path ahead was clear, and she intended to walk it with the same determination that had brought her here centuries ago. Perhaps that escaped nine-tailed Kumiho could be of help; she¡¯s certainly powerful enough for what I require. It¡¯s obvious that she slipped into Avalon since the Foundation hasn¡¯t been able to discover her on Earth yet. Hmm. I will regain everything that was taken from me¡­ B3 — 1. Mind Games Sora¡¯s feet sank softly into the verdant grass after Kari had swiftly broken their hug. Hands held at the base of her swaying tail, Sora¡¯s ears twitched while walking beside the wolf, her senses alive with the quiet hum of magic around them. She couldn¡¯t be sure where they were or what direction was north or south, but all that mattered right now was enjoying her time with Kari. She glanced to her right, spotting the wolf deep in thought, her black ears pulled back and amber eyes scanning the woods for something. Kari was a lot more sensitive than she let on. Her first initiated hug and accepting my friendship offer is a big step. I¡¯ll have to tell Mary when I see her next¡­ What is she looking for here, though? Turning her focus back to the thickening woodlands, she pondered the question in the ensuing silence that enveloped them. Is it something in these woods¡­or in herself? Avalon¡¯s towering trees stretched skyward, unique birds and familiar rodents ran across the branches, racing up firm trunks to the high canopies, dripping with glowing vines that danced in the gentle breeze. The further they walked, the more it felt like the world breathed with them, an ancient melody thrumming in time with her heartbeat that responded with her soul. The sounds of Avalon Academy had all but disappeared behind them now, leaving the rustling leaves and distant calls of creatures as their only companions. The weight of the silence settled on her shoulders from the contrast that was the bustle of Miami and busy academy activity. There was a peace here that was different from the more cultured facilities of the school environment¡ªmore raw, untamed. With each step, the pulse of magic within the soil grew stronger, waking to their presence. Her tail flicked with curiosity while spinning slowly in the inviting forest; it almost felt like a path had been laid out for them. ¡°So,¡± she whispered, not wanting to disturb the woodlands, ¡°is there anywhere in particular that¡¯s calling to you? Because, uh, I¡¯ve got nothing but good vibes. It¡¯s amazing for my natural energy absorption. Kari?¡± Kari¡¯s ears drew back further, but she didn¡¯t answer right away. Her long stride was slow and deliberate, adjusted to her Sora¡¯s shorter stride. ¡°¡­Can you not feel it?¡± Sora¡¯s brows knitted together as the wolf came to a stop and knelt down to place her hand against the ground. ¡°Something below the surface, struggling against something dark.¡± ¡°Right,¡± Sora mumbled, her voice lighter, teasing, ¡°I don¡¯t really sense any of that, to be honest, but I guess the Open House is still going, so might as well explore. There¡¯s just so much magic floating around that it makes it hard to feel anything else.¡± Kari¡¯s gaze flicked to her with a resigned look that asked if she could be serious about anything. ¡°If you wanted to, you could filter through it all with your magic. You think I¡¯m projecting, don¡¯t you?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flew up as the wolf pressed deeper into the woods. ¡°Woah! I¡¯m not saying anything of the kind. Personally, this is all just exploring and having fun for me. I know you haven¡¯t been much for humor, but maybe a small, tiny smile could help brighten the atmosphere. No need to be so broody.¡± Rubbing her left ear, Kari sighed and shot her a small, very forced smile. ¡°Better? Now can you look into the vibes of the place or should I beg like a dog?¡± ¡°Jokes. I like it,¡± Sora giggled, picking up her pace to walk beside the wolf again. ¡°So, I¡¯m the plan then? I mean, not that I¡¯m complaining. In fact, it feels like you¡¯ve got the leash and control this time,¡± she added, directing a sly wink up at her new friend. That earned her a full-on smirk and eye roll from the athlete. ¡°Keep talking like that, and maybe I¡®ll put one on you for the full effect. Is that what you wanted to hear?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a start! I like a lighthearted and joking Kari. Life isn¡¯t so bad. Now!¡± Skipping ahead a little to do a twirl while looking up at the forest, she spread out her arms and fed her desire into the very atmosphere to report back to her, only for a pulse of magic to ripple through the wind. ¡°Let¡¯s ask the forest what it¡ª¡± ¡°Hey! What are you beast girls doing here?¡± Sora almost jumped out of her fur as she glanced up at a green-hued Fairy man zipped out of the thick canopy above them. Kari¡¯s brow set, tail fur bristling and ready for a fight, yet the man crossed his arms in front of Sora¡¯s face. ¡°This area is currently off limits. You need to return to the main academy grounds; the Silverleaf Woodlands is not accessible to anyone who isn¡¯t a Sprout or above, ladies.¡± ¡°Sprout?¡± Sora repeated before Elder Rosewood¡¯s explanation clicked in her mind. ¡°Oh¡­ Rank Two students.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Kari demanded, closing the distance to glare down at the tiny man, her tail flicking to the left. ¡°What are you hiding?¡± The Fairy¡¯s voice came as a melodic warning while floating higher to reach eye level with the wolf, his wings fluttering with agitation. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what the reasons are, you¡¯re a beast woman, and a Rank One student. You just follow the rules.¡± Kari grunted, arms crossing over her chest as she tilted her head to the side, unbothered by the reprimand and staring him down. Sora forced a laugh, her tail flicking in mock surrender while pulling the stubborn wolf back the way they¡¯d come. ¡°Right, right, uh, could you please tell us the reason? It just seems kind of silly to block off some parts of the woods and not others.¡± ¡°Off limits, period,¡± the fairy repeated, narrowing his eyes at Kari¡¯s challenging glare. ¡°But¡­if you must know, The Darkness has been more active here lately, even during the day¡ªstudents are to remain clear of these woods until the Shadow Pits are dealt with. Something better students do for extra credit.¡± Better students, Sora internally snorted, putting on a polite mask. So, he¡¯s the same rank as Aiden and thinks he¡¯s better than us. Kari isn¡¯t going to take that standing down, but we don¡¯t want to make enemies this soon and without understanding the school dynamic. I¡¯d bet five chocolate cakes that Kari¡¯s going to try to blow him off¡­ Wait, huh? Kari grunted again but didn¡¯t say anything. Instead, her amber eyes flicked toward the path they¡¯d taken, then back to the haughty Fairy. ¡°Fine.¡± With an abrupt turn, Kari strode away, pulling Sora after her. There¡¯s no way! ¡°Are you sick?¡± she whispered as Kari let go of her arm and the smug Fairy disappeared behind them. ¡°There¡¯s no way you¡¯d back down to that dude.¡± After a few silent minutes out of the Fairy¡¯s sight, Kari veered off the path, heading into the denser areas. ¡°Oh, we¡¯re really doing this?¡± she whispered, a grin spreading across her lips. ¡°The first day and we¡¯re already delinquents? I like it.¡± Kari shot her a sideways glance and shook her head. ¡°Not worth the trouble. You made bullying you not worth the trouble from time to time, as well, and I don¡¯t know the hierarchy around here. I¡¯m not stupid¡­ Do you have a better idea?¡± ¡°Nope!¡± Sora skipped ahead, excitement swelling in her belly. ¡°But if we¡¯re sneaking past a Rank Two, we might as well do it right. I mean, what¡¯s the point of breaking the rules if no one notices how good you are at it? I got a plan.¡± She winked playfully. Kari huffed. ¡°I¡¯m not trying to measure tails with some worthless nobody. What¡¯s the point of sneaking past someone if you¡¯re caught? They¡¯re using some kind of ward or sensor magic, right? Can you get past it or not.¡± Sora blinked in surprise, having expected her to transform and just run around the fairy. Is she¡­actually asking for my help? That¡¯s huge! ¡°I could, I think,¡± she mumbled, cupping her chin and peering through the underbrush before stopping to aim a grin at the wolf. ¡° But¡­what¡¯s in it for me?¡± Kari paused with an incredulous look. ¡°Unbelievable¡­ You¡¯re really negotiating right now?¡± Sora shrugged, her grin widening. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re the one who wants something and is always the gump. I think it¡¯s only fair that I get a little something in return since I¡¯m not the one who wants to go wandering around a forest all day. C¡¯mon! Have a little fun.¡± Kari hissed out a growl, but a small smile lifted her eyes that said, ¡®I should have expected as much from a fox.¡¯ ¡°Fine. What do you want? My favorite dog toy?¡± Sora¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°You have a favorite dog toy? That¡¯s so adorable!¡± ¡°Ugh. I¡¯m not good at jokes.¡± ¡°No, I think that was amazing, Kari,¡± Sora giggled, her tail swaying with joy at how things were progressing between them. ¡°I could say we watch a scary movie together or do some fun friend things, but I think that joke was more than payment enough. Consider it done.¡± ¡°Seriously?¡± Kari deadpanned. ¡°A bad joke?¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t as bad as you think. Being able to make fun of yourself is good so long as you don¡¯t take it too seriously,¡± she chimed. ¡°I mean, foxes smell, true enough, and who knows how bad I can smell if I don¡¯t bathe every day, right?¡± ¡°Wha¡ªwhat is even happening right now?¡± Kari asked, rubbing her forehead. ¡°Are we sneaking into the woods or not? You¡¯re so random. Is that about the smell comments we¡¯d always¡ªnever mind.¡± She sighed and showed a defeated smile. ¡°Maybe you¡¯re trying to bait me but sure, I can try to loosen up.¡± Sora feigned shock before calling upon her magic. ¡°You? Now I feel like I owe you one. Observe! I present the all distracting squeaker toy! The ultimate bait!¡± she boasted, puffing up her chest. Kari¡¯s head shook a little, her mouth slightly a gap as two illusionary teenage girls appeared between them, their clones. The wolf moved slightly closer to scrutinize her mirror. ¡°Are you making fun of me?¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Somewhat taken aback by the response, Sora drew closer. ¡°What do you mean? No. I¡¯m not playing any pranks or anything right now. Is it not good enough? I thought it was pretty accurate.¡± ¡°No. This¡­looks too good to be me. There¡¯s no way he¡¯d fall for this,¡± she grunted, looking herself up and down. ¡°I thought you¡¯d make us invisible, like you usually do with your tail and ears, not some overly pretty illusions to what¡­seduce the tiny Fairy dude that is fifty times smaller than me.¡± Sora almost choked as a snort shot through her nose. ¡°Wait, no way! You did not just say that!¡± Desiring for the illusion to turn and walk toward her, Sora had it spin in a circle so she could scrutinize the clone and scowling wolf, side by side. ¡°Actually, I think you¡¯re a bit more pretty than the quick work I did here. I got the shade of your skin wrong; it¡¯s more tan, and somehow¡­your hair is thicker. You just don¡¯t smile a lot. Crazy. No, they¡¯re going to cause a lot of noise.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just gassing me up,¡± Kari grumbled. ¡°Whatever. Can we just go?¡± ¡°I want to address that backhanded ¡®I¡¯m not pretty¡¯ comment but baby steps,¡± Sora said with a return scowl. ¡°Let me just say that you¡¯re a freaking wolf goddess. Enough said. Now that that¡¯s resolved, I didn¡¯t like how he called us ¡®beast ladies¡¯ as if we¡¯re less than fae or something. So¡­why not cause a little mischief, hmm?¡± Kari¡¯s crossed arms eased a bit as she stared at her smiling face and Sora felt a bit of pain in her own chest upon seeing the reserved disgust hidden behind her gaze. ¡°Whatever you say. I just want to figure out what¡¯s nagging my instincts about these woods. It¡¯s¡­painful.¡± Sora¡¯s drawn back ears lifted slightly at admission; it certainly was different talking to Kari than anyone else in her life. She had no problem degrading and hating on herself or admitting her faults, which was the complete opposite of her brother. The wolf didn¡¯t do it for sympathy either but how she truly felt. We¡¯ll get you better, Kari¡­ Sora internally promised, sending the illusionary body doubles off into the woods with the magical prompt to edge along the magical wards the Fairy had set up. He¡¯ll know he¡¯s been duped eventually, but how long will it take? Stepping closer to Kari, she held out her hands with a welcoming look. ¡°If you want me to figure out what¡¯s bugging your instincts, I¡¯ll need to channel the magic from you, I think, which means¡­¡± ¡°Putting down my guard,¡± Kari groaned, rubbing the back of her neck and staring at her open palms like vipers. ¡°It¡¯s not that easy right now¡­ Before, with Eric and the challenge, I was a lot more¡­¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Vulnerable?¡± Sora finished. ¡°That¡¯s okay. Just try to allow my magic in, even if it¡¯s uncomfortable. I promise, as your friend, I won¡¯t do anything else,¡± she reassured. ¡°Even if it feels uncomfortable. I¡¯m trying to look for what is bothering you.¡± A heavy sigh streamed through Kari¡¯s lips before she closed her eyes and reached out to meet her hands; Sora always expected her palms to be rough due to how tough the girl was but they were smooth and she could sense her tentative reluctance to open herself up upon contacting her spirit. ¡°Just a bit longer,¡± she soothed, feeding her desires into her magic to help her understand what Kari was feeling. ¡°Maybe try¡­picturing closed doors opening up for me? Hmm¡­ Oh, some of my magic is going in. I, uh¡­ Is that it?¡± Opening her eyes and breaking contact, she felt a rather significant amount of her reserves drained from trying to push through the wolf¡¯s dense spiritual wall, even if softened as much as possible. However, as she tuned into the sensation, her focus shifted to the ground. Hiking up her dress, Sora lowered herself to the forest floor to press her palm against the earthy soil. ¡°It¡¯s deep¡­like roots coming up in reverse¡ªtunnels? Unnatural, and there¡¯s something¡­fierce running through its caverns, slamming against the walls.¡± Kari breathed out a low laugh and shook her head, a shiver running down her frame while shaking out her messy, tousled hair. ¡°Close enough, I guess. I just can¡¯t pinpoint it,¡± she muttered, glancing around the woodland. ¡°I know it¡¯s here, but it¡¯s¡­everywhere.¡± Pressing her closed fist against her nose, Sora¡¯s gaze drifted back in the direction the Fairy had chased them away from. ¡°It¡¯s deeper in¡­ How about I ask my magic to take us to something or someone who will give us an explanation. Think that will work?¡± She caught an unhelpful shrug from the wolf. ¡°You¡¯re the one with the broken magic crap. I don¡¯t know how it works.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, you don¡¯t even know how your powers fully work,¡± Sora said with a half-smirk directed her way. ¡°Or else you¡¯d make it easier on me.¡± ¡°Sorry? Do you want an apology?¡± ¡°No. No. Just playing¡­ And there¡¯s the genuine smile,¡± she chirped at the girl¡¯s questioning gaze. ¡°Okay, let¡¯s go!¡± The air shimmered as she spun her magic, not holding back in case the Fairy was better than she thought, but she¡¯d gotten good enough to match Aiden. Maybe she didn¡¯t know how she did it, but she could do it nonetheless. They slipped into obscurity, and upon approaching the wards, her desire spellcraft worked without a hitch. Sora¡¯s heart raced as they crossed the threshold into the deeper woods, the forest closing in around them and the second grade student nowhere to be seen. However, beyond this point, things did change. ¡°The magic here feels¡­ different,¡± she reported, leading the way now. ¡°It¡¯s wilder. Darker. Something wrong?¡± Sora asked, lowering her voice instinctively. Kari¡¯s pace slowed, snatching Sora¡¯s attention as her amber irises scanned the area. Her ears twitched more frequently, her muscles tensing. ¡°There¡¯s something so familiar about this place¡ªin the darkness,¡± Kari muttered, her eyes narrowing. ¡°But I don¡¯t know why. It¡¯s in the shadows¡­watching.¡± They walked in silence for a while longer, the sounds of the forest growing quieter as they ventured deeper and the thickening canopy pulled them more into the darkness. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Then, faintly, Sora heard it¡ªmusic. A soft, haunting melody floating through the air. Kari stopped dead in her tracks. Her ears were perked, her eyes wide. ¡°That song¡­¡± she whispered, her voice barely audible. Sora frowned, her ears swiveling to catch the tune. It was beautiful yet eerie, like a lullaby sung in a minor key. ¡°You know it? It sounds like a flute? No, something else?¡± Kari pivoted left, taking the lead. ¡°My mother used to hum it to us at night¡­¡± ¡°What?!¡± The admission caught Sora off guard. A quake ran from Sora¡¯s ears to her bristly tail. ¡°Okay, that¡¯s not normal. You¡¯re sure it doesn¡¯t just sound similar? Your mom? Did you guys¡­land here before Russia?¡± The wolf shook her head and the song grew louder as they followed the sound, leading them to a small grove bathed in the bright overhead fruit of the World Tree high in the heavens. Sitting in the middle was a fae boy, his hands expertly playing what Sora took as an ocarina, carved from dark wood. His clothes were simple, almost shabby, but there was an undeniable grace in the way his fingers played with the instrument. Kari tensed beside her, her breath catching. ¡°How does he know that lullaby? I don¡¯t like it, Sora.¡± The boy looked up, his deep green eyes locking onto them with curiosity rather than fright. ¡°You¡¯ve come to listen to the woods, haven¡¯t you?¡± His voice was soft, almost dreamlike; he looked a few inches shorter than Kari from a glance, which was tall for a fae. ¡°The woods sing this lullaby to those who can hear¡­ Do you hear her crying for the Shadow Wolf.¡± Sora¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the mention of a wolf. She glanced at Kari, whose expression had shifted into something she couldn¡¯t quite read. ¡°Kari?¡± Without warning, Kari transformed. Her body shifted, elongating into her fenris wolf form, and before Sora could react, she darted into the woods in a storm of wind, her drag carrying leaves in her wake while vanishing into the shadows. Vision dulling, Sora muttered, ¡°Great. Impulsive as ever.¡± Sora stood still, watching Kari¡¯s form disappear into the shadows of the forest. She knew there was no way she could keep up with the wolf¡¯s physical prowess, so she didn¡¯t even try. Crossing her arms, she turned to the fae boy, who looked somewhat in a state of shock, which was funny considering this was Avalon. It wasn¡¯t long until his curious eyes drifted toward her, now alone with a random fae in the middle of the woods. You¡¯re trying to get me killed, Kari. What the crap! Ditching me with a stranger. And what is with the way he¡¯s looking at me? It¡¯s like he can see¡­more than he should. ¡°Well, that was dramatic,¡± he said, a small smirk playing on his lips as he lazily turned his gaze back to the ocarina in his hands. ¡°Your friend seems to have a habit of running off by the look on your face.¡± The young man tilted his head slightly as he rose to his feet and put the instrument in a pouch attached to his waist. There was something elegant about the way he moved¡ªalmost elf-like, yet there was more definition to his features than those she¡¯d seen on the ship. He almost reminded her of a younger Oberon with his dark hair, sharp features, taut cheeks, and lithe figure, but without the darker skin. For sure, he wasn¡¯t like the other fae she¡¯d seen darting about the realm; his aura was also more refined, more¡­aware. Sora snorted, crossing her arms and putting on a brave front; there was something off-putting yet attention grabbing about him that she couldn¡¯t put a finger on. ¡°Yeah, Kari¡¯s not exactly great with sticking around when things get uncomfortable. So¡­what¡¯s your deal? We show up and you instantly start talking about the forest singing to a shadow wolf?¡± ¡°The Shadow Wolf,¡± he corrected with a light chuckle, gesturing to a rock near the stump he¡¯d been sitting on. ¡°Care to join me for a chat? I don¡¯t bite hard, I swear.¡± ¡°If you can catch my interest,¡± she challenged, manually controlling her tail so it wouldn¡¯t give her away. ¡°So, you¡¯re doing what?¡± ¡°I thought it was obvious.¡± His eyes glinted with mischief as he smoothly retook his seat and gestured at the magical clearing. ¡°I¡¯m communicating with the woods. And you¡¯ll have to excuse me, but are you here to bully the new students, Ms. Third Rank Vulpes?¡± ¡°Me the bully, and third rank? Uh, I¡¯m new, bud,¡± She scoffed, creasing an eye and uncrossing her arms to shoot him a skeptical smirk. ¡°And communicating with the woods? Okay, sure. And, uh, how¡¯s that going for you? All I¡¯m getting is dark vibes below the surface.¡± He glanced at her single tail, a spark of amusement in his gaze as he became more comfortable in his speech. ¡°Better than I thought it would go, in all honesty. A First Rank, you say? I call Pixie.¡± ¡°Pfft. Is that supposed to mean bullshit here?¡± Sora scoffed. ¡°I thought so. An outsider,¡± he chuckled, brushing his black locks back and crossing his legs to scrutinize her. ¡°It¡¯s just hard to believe you¡¯re a single-tailed vulpes with how unique your magic feels. The woods speak of you¡­and they seem curious, welcoming, and not just the light side of her roots.¡± Is he flirting? Sora¡¯s ears twitched, and she shifted her weight, caught a little off guard. She couldn¡¯t help but notice how smooth his voice was, how casually he complimented her as if it was no big deal. Is this how fae talk, or is he just trying to throw me off balance? His aura¡¯s doing enough of a job for that¡­ It¡¯s unlike anything from the other fae we¡¯ve passed, but I can¡¯t tell exactly how. ¡°Well,¡± Sora replied, trying to keep her cool as she slowly moved around the clearing to allow her tail a little freedom to flick, ¡°it¡¯s not every day the forest talks about me behind my back. I hope they¡¯re saying good things. Wait, ¡®talking to the woods¡¯ code for Dryads?¡± Gah! I need to get better at understanding magic rather than running off vibes. The fae boy¡¯s grin fell slightly as he slid his fingers over the wooden trunk he sat on. ¡°No, the Elf instructor that oversaw these woods fell to The Darkness. Now she cries for her lost caretaker, and the Dryads that served her have abandoned her shade in fright of the encroaching shadows.¡± Sora¡¯s gaze lowered to the vibrant grass, her tone lowering to match the tragic turn of the topic. ¡°Oh. That sucks¡­ Sorry.¡± A short pause fell between them, yet it didn¡¯t feel awkward. After several seconds, he looked up at her, his voice smooth and soft, moving past the sorrow. ¡°Nature is cruel and nature is kind. The woods are not typically ones for gossip, but she does appreciate novelty, such as yourself. A positive, mischievous force of change. As for good or bad intentions¡­that depends on you, doesn¡¯t it?¡± What is with this guy? Sora thought, a mixture of feelings welling up within her chest. ¡°So¡­what¡¯s a fae like you doing out here anyway? Well, other than talking to the grass,¡± she asked, deciding to poke back. ¡°Not that I¡¯m saying she¡¯s a bad conversationalist! I¡¯m sure botany can be interesting. You¡¯re new to Avalon too, right?¡± He chuckled, the sound light and almost musical. ¡°Very new¡­ No, I¡¯m a native but new to the Academy and High Fae society, you could say.¡± His eyes flashed with playful sarcasm, making her wonder if there was some kind of twist in words there. The boy lifted the ocarina out of his pouch and began absently spinning it between his fingers. ¡°As such, I¡¯m compelled to get to know the land I¡¯ll be staying on. What better way to spend the Open House than talking to the various guardian entities here in the academy to build rapport. Like I said, I¡¯m communicating with the woods.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, more intrigued by the second and not sure if she should be feeling this way but not one thread of his unusual magic had touched her; it almost seemed to thread through the very space he occupied, wrapping around him like a blanket. ¡°Guardian entities, huh? I¡¯m totally new to this magic stuff. But I¡¯m a bit curious about what you said earlier. What¡¯s the deal with this Shadow Wolf? You seemed to know something about it. Is it underground?¡± she asked, probing for information she could feed the impulsive wolf when she realized she was lost and had no idea what she was doing. The boy¡¯s laughter was soft while shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m not quite the expert you seem to think. I¡¯ve only just started my conversations with the woods. We¡¯re still in the introduction phase. Spirits take their time warming up to people, you know. Patience is a virtue.¡± His lips quirked into a smile that hinted at a deeper mystery he was inviting her to bite onto. ¡°Though, I¡¯ve had plenty of practice. If you¡¯d like, I could give you some private lessons. Not that I¡¯d boast of myself as a teacher.¡± ¡°Forward. I¡¯m not necessarily against it,¡± Sora hummed, holding the backside of her dress to smooth it under while sitting on the rock and crossing her legs. ¡°What, do you just go around chatting up forests and random fox girls for fun?¡± He leaned forward, resting his arms on his crossed legs. ¡°You¡¯re not exactly like any other fox girl I¡¯ve met, to be fair. And these woods are not like the ones I knew back in my humble abode, near the shriveled roots of the World Tree.¡± The boy tilted his head with a self-deprecating snicker. ¡°I could also be blunt and say I don¡¯t have many friends to occupy my time with, and chatting with a pretty girl with a tail has its advantages,¡± he smoothly replied, his tone light but with a trace of something else beneath it¡ªsomething more personal. Sora mirrored his head tilt, studying him for a moment to gauge his sincerity, which showed through in his violet-hued aura. ¡°No friends, huh? Well, that¡¯s rough, and I can relate¡ªat least I could a month or so ago.¡± She paused, then added with a grin, ¡°And If you¡¯re that desperate to admit it, I¡¯m sure we could find something in common. Besides, I¡¯m new here too¡ªthe academy, that is,¡± she narrowed in with a smirk, ¡°and I could use a few more friendly faces in such a big place.¡± The fae boy blinked, clearly caught off guard for the second time, but this time, she was the cause. He glanced off to the side, a slightly uncertain look flickering across his face. ¡°You must be foreign to Avalon with that kind of attitude and sincerity,¡± he gently teased, shaking his head. ¡°You certainly do sound more interesting than the usual girls around here. Like the sun drawing nearer rather than the sea rising to drown you.¡± ¡°Usual girls?¡± Sora repeated, her tail flicking behind her. ¡°Why do I feel like that¡¯s both a compliment and an insult?¡± He stood up, brushing a few leaves off his leathery pants. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s a little of both. Who knows?¡± He gave her a sideways smile as he started to walk away, his tone shifting to something a bit more formal. ¡°In any case, I should be heading back. It¡¯s almost time for the closing ceremony at the stadium. After all, I am the highest-graded fae Merit Student, and they¡¯re expecting a speech. Sorry I missed yours since you¡¯re obviously a Special Admittance Student. I¡¯m sure it was riveting.¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched in surprise. ¡°Wait, what? Merit Student? You¡¯re giving a speech?! I didn¡¯t take a test to get in. Is it not open enrollment?¡± Her mind reeled for a moment. ¡°Hang on¡­ I was supposed to give a speech? No one told me about that!¡± He chuckled, throwing her a knowing glance over his shoulder. ¡°I suspected as much from what the woods told me. Sounds like your guide forgot a few key details.¡± His smile softened as he added, ¡°It¡¯s a bit of a maze here. I could guide you back if you¡¯d like but personally, I¡¯d probably skip it, given Elder Rosewood¡¯s personality.¡± Sora groaned, rubbing her forehead and having internal visions of the stern elf woman, the Dean of Magical Discipline¡¯s, stern visage flashed across her mind. ¡°Ugh, yeah, I¡¯ll take your advice. Freaking Ember, really? I knew she¡¯d forget something important.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Thanks for the offer and warning. I¡¯ll go find Kari. She¡¯s probably out there running in circles, chasing her own tail¡­like usual.¡± His smile pulled in with a soundless chuckle, nodding in understanding. ¡°Fair enough.¡± He paused, his expression softening. ¡°If you do end up needing a friend¡ªor if you¡¯re just curious about what else the woods might say¡ªdon¡¯t be a stranger.¡± Sora grinned, giving him a playful salute from her sitting position. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind, fae boy. You never know when I might need someone to interpret cryptic forest messages or give me a rundown on the key players here at school.¡± He chuckled, waving as he began walking down the path. ¡°Take care, unique fox girl. You¡¯re a breath of fresh air compared to Avalon girls. Maybe I¡¯ll take you up on that friendship offer.¡± Sora watched him go, her mind spinning with the strange interaction. Avalon boys sure know how to keep things interesting. As his figure disappeared into the distance, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder why he had specified ¡°Avalon girls.¡± Why that emphasis? Was he hinting at something? Or am I just reading too much into it? Why are boys so confusing?! Hmm¡­ Wait! She stood up, a pout and glare coming on as she realized a few details that hadn¡¯t even crossed her mind. He didn¡¯t even give me his name! And if he¡¯s a First Rank, like me and Kari, then¡­how did he escape the Second Ranks. In fact, where are they? And he kind of didn¡¯t give me a lot of answers¡­but it felt like he did in the moment. Interesting. Interesting. Sora looked off into the dark woods, considering running after him to ask a few direct questions but decided against it in the end. I¡¯ll see you around, mysterious, lonely fae boy. Why does it feel like every boy flirts but never makes a move! It¡¯s infuriating! Or am I just that dense and they are making a move? Is it because I¡¯m flirting and they¡¯re testing the waters? Am I flirting? Ahhh! Just¡­let it die, Sora, and get out of your head! Sighing, she shook her head and turned her attention back to the forest, hoping she could track down Kari before the wolf caused any more trouble or ran into a Second Rank. Please, don¡¯t beat anyone up. I¡¯m probably in enough trouble as it is skipping my speech. I can¡¯t believe Ember forgot! Setting off into the forest, she followed the magical light orb she conjured to track down her impulsive wolf friend. B3 — 2. The Darkness Festers As Sora followed the trail illuminated by her magic, the forest closed in around her, thick with ancient trees and tangled roots. A desire parted vines and shrubs before her, clearing a path where she walked, but she had to be more careful about less easily pushed aside obstacles. The shrill sounds of forest¡¯s creatures made her ears twitch and tail flick uncomfortably. With each step, the darkness continued to thicken, and the mystical chill of the old, creaky woodland played at the corners of her mind. There was something beneath the mud thrumming to be set free, only, she wasn¡¯t sure it was good or bad. It almost felt like it could land either way with a coin flip. It wasn¡¯t long until her conversation with the fae boy was bubbling up to distract her from the icy breeze that didn¡¯t feel right¡ªthe woods were watching her, judging her. Not a creepy thought¡­ Nope, she thought, hugging herself and glancing around at the space that would be totally black if not for her supernatural sight. It¡¯s not like I¡¯ve done anything to be judged for yet. I¡¯m just¡­walking here. Kari, on the other hand¡­yeah. She glanced around, scanning the shadows for any sign of Kari. My invisibility bubble around her is still active, which is a good sign. But¡­it does little to mask the rustling leaves and breaking twigs since that dampening spell is around me. Typical Kari, silent until she¡¯s not, and a limp noodle until something sparks her interest. Isn¡¯t this a good thing, though? Mouth bunching to the side, she rubbed her arms as the goosebumps ran down them from the ominous atmosphere pressing in on her. How long have I been walking? Ten minutes? Probably about that. How deep did Kari go? She asked herself, staring after the guiding light that zeroed in on the wolf¡¯s location. The forest seemed to stretch on forever, with no clear path to follow other than where her magic shone and parted the foliage. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she wasn¡¯t meant to be here because something deeper within the earth was warning things to run¡ªa beat that hummed in time with her steps. Maybe I should be more friendly with the woods¡­ Her mind wandered back to what the fae boy had said, something about the woods singing for the Shadow Wolf. She had somewhat brushed it off at the time to get a more rounded picture of the boy but she really didn¡¯t get much from him. Thinking back to what she¡¯d learned about Avalon Academy so far, she went down the list¡ªthe place where monsters, creatures, and magic users came to learn fae culture if they wanted to stay¡ªbut she hadn¡¯t heard much about the fae that attended themselves, other than Ember¡¯s random comments. Ember sounds hard stuck and somewhat bullied, she reasoned, rising up a small hill and stopping at a big dead tree trunk that had a hole punched clean through it. Of course she just rammed it. Why would she jump over it if she can just become a battering ram. Proceeding through the deviated, massive trunk, she slid her finger over the interior, a bit surprised at how smooth it was. Does Kari even know how to use her powers that well or does she just go by instinct like me? I bet she goes by instinct¡­ There¡¯s so much we can learn here. She exited through the gap and looked up at the dense canopy before sending out a magical pulse, scanning for any other fae¡ªnot a single hit. Is Avalon Academy not really for the fae? Do only the elites get into here while outsiders get a free ride? That could put some negative stigma on the general monster community. Is there a caste system in¡­ She paused at the back of the fallen tree, smacking her forehead. Duh, of course there¡¯s a caste system here. It¡¯s a confederation of different fae kingdoms. I mean, Sela used to be a princess before being turned into an Unseelie. There are kingdoms and faerie courts. Now all those pretty Dryads and the other extravagant entrances of different people makes sense. I¡¯m in the school for the elites. Unsure what exactly to make of it, she felt alone and isolated enough right now, so she called out for backup. ¡°Noelia?¡± The silence stretched on for a beat before the half-tanuki¡¯s voice sparked around her, as if carried on the wind. ¡°Sora, dear. You and Kari certainly know how to stir things up.¡± Relief and confidence returning, she pressed on, the danger of the place easing with the safety net that was her former caretaker. ¡°Yeah, well¡­Kari¡¯s kinda in the ¡®running off on her own¡¯ mood again,¡± Sora replied with a shrug. ¡°I¡¯m just trying to keep her out of trouble. She¡¯s probably¡ª¡± ¡°In the place she¡¯s not supposed to be,¡± Noelia finished for her, a chuckle lilting through her words. ¡°Of course. And what exactly are you two investigating this time?¡± Sora¡¯s ears flattened slightly as she kicked at a small pebble in passing. ¡°Well, there was this weird vibe, and you know Kari. No. Maybe you don¡¯t. Umm. Her instincts are going off, so I figured¡­might as well poke around, right? Besides, no one told us it was off-limits until after we got here and found something suspicious so¡­blame the guards.¡± ¡°Hmm. Well, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been keeping your little adventure under wraps from the fae students and instructors. You¡¯re welcome.¡± Stopping dead in her tracks, she looked straight up with a light glare. ¡°It feels sucky that you and my mom know everything about Avalon and won¡¯t tell us squat. But it¡¯s nice knowing you¡¯re watching and I¡¯m not alone, too. I bet my mom has you watching our backs, huh?¡± ¡°Maybe she does, maybe she doesn¡¯t,¡± Noelia teased. ¡°Your current mother has no clue what is happening beneath the surface of Avalon. I¡¯ve been told not to investigate either. No, she¡¯s preoccupied worrying about whether or not you¡¯ve found trouble yet, as she would have in your shoes.¡± Sora let out a laugh. ¡°Yeah, sounds like her. Honestly, I¡¯m getting weird vibes here that have me shivering. Something feels¡­scary, underground. But, Kari¡¯s the most durable thing I know¡ªphysically and magically, that is, so¡­I¡¯m kind of worried but sorta not.¡± ¡°Well, just know that I¡¯m keeping at least this initial adventure hidden. I¡¯ve been told not to interfere by your terrified and quaking mother if anything happens. You girls need to learn to handle yourselves, so enjoy. I¡¯ll pull you two out when the time is right,¡± Noelia said, her tone softening. Lips becoming a line, Sora fiddled with her dress while glancing around the woodland again. ¡°Wait, before you go, how are Wendy, Eyia, and Aiden doing?¡± Noelia took a moment to answer, allowing the darkness of the forest to press back in on her. ¡°¡­So far, Wendy is having a blast and took your place for the speech, introducing you. I¡¯m a tad worried about how the others will receive the two of you but¡­teenagers will be teenagers, fae or any other race.¡± Sora¡¯s chest filled with fire, built from all the scars she¡¯d gotten through middle school and high school. ¡°I¡¯ve had plenty of experience with bullies and hazing. I¡¯m sure there will be some but I¡¯m not worried. In fact, I¡¯m kind of scared of Wendy blinking them out of existence! We¡¯ve got a lot more power now.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair,¡± Noelia whispered, ¡°but just be aware that your mother told me you¡¯ll each go through your own troubles here. I know you¡¯ll do your best. Just know you always have a safe place to come home to in order to rest.¡± Her giggles lightened Sora¡¯s mood as she stepped forward to face the malicious force increasing around her the further she pressed on. ¡°On second thought¡­ I like that my mom is letting me face my fears and troubles.¡± ¡°As is she, Sora,¡± the half-squirrel woman noted. ¡°A threat that could destroy the universe could show up, and still, she¡¯d have more nightmares of the kitchen stove.¡± ¡°True!¡± She snickered while recalling her mother¡¯s night terrors. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t be laughing. It¡¯s really hard for her, learning how to live without magic when she¡¯s lived millions of years with it but she can be so cute and vulnerable that¡­it makes me see her, if that makes sense.¡± Noelia¡¯s voice was gentle and reflective. ¡°It does. Despite her power, knowledge, and experience, your mother is just that, a mother terrified of failing her daughter. You should have heard her crying last night. She stresses herself out more than anyone else could, yet she refuses to leave you again, no matter the fears infecting her heart.¡± Shivering, now for another reason, she couldn¡¯t help the heat that constricted her throat. ¡°And I love her for that. She could have hovered above in those higher dimensions, watching and manipulating. Instead, she chose me¡­and I can¡¯t express how that makes me feel. I just¡­can¡¯t. Can you tell her thank you for me?¡± ¡°Of course¡­ She¡¯s holding it together, barely. Have fun, Sora.¡± The presence of her revealed magic faded from Sora¡¯s senses but she knew it was still there, wrapping them in potent Founder magic far above her level. With a sigh of relief and renewed fire, Sora pressed on, picking up her pace. ¡°Okay, time to find Kari before she dives headfirst into whatever Shadow Pit or whatever doom hole she¡¯s most likely eyeing,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°She¡¯s such a bad puppy.¡± A few minutes later, the forest darkened further, now dampening parts of even her enhanced vision. The glow of her magic shifted to a dim pulse as the thickening underbrush parted. Her nose twitched, picking up the faint scent of moss and something faintly¡­metallic. It was then that she saw Kari in wolf form, standing on the edge of a black hole in the ground, staring into the void as if it might swallow her whole. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you jumped in yet?¡± Sora teased, tail flicking while glancing left and right before coming to a stop beside the dark-furred girl. ¡°This seems like exactly your kind of thing. So why the folded back ears? I¡¯m guessing this is a Shadow Pit. Kari?¡± Kari didn¡¯t move, her amber eyes fixed on the dark pit before them. ¡°Right,¡± Sora mumbled, spreading out her senses to analyze the sink hole. ¡°It certainly feels like a scarier, darker version of Sela, which is saying something, but¡­what is¡ªdid it repel my magic?! No¡­it consumed it.¡± Her fur bristled as her extended magical weaves were sucked into the void, vanishing and making her take a step back. ¡°Okay. Yeah, I get why the hesitation.¡± Kari¡¯s ears flicked, her tone uncertain rather than frightened. ¡°Something¡¯s wrong, Sora,¡± she whispered, her voice low and muscles tight. ¡°My instincts¡­they¡¯re telling me to go down there¡­but my legs won¡¯t move, Sora. There¡¯s something down there. Waiting.¡± Sora¡¯s ears perked up as she glanced between Kari and the hole. ¡°Well, that¡¯s a first,¡± she cleared her thick throat. ¡°Usually, you¡¯re the type to leap in headfirst. No, maybe that¡¯s more Eyia,¡± she considered. ¡°So¡­what do you want to do?¡± The wolf¡¯s fur bristled, her body rigid, like a taut violin string that could snap any second. Sora¡¯s ears tilted back at the quick thuds of Kari¡¯s heart¡ªit was racing, just like it had in the Hell Amphitheater. She¡¯s scared¡­ No way Kari¡¯s ever admitting that, Sora thought, gulping and glancing at the darkness even her eyes couldn¡¯t penetrate as Kari shook her head, clearly trying to dispel whatever emotions the song the woods hummed. Sora hesitated for a moment, peering into the dark pit in front of them. It felt wrong¡ªno, off. Even from where she stood, she could feel that semi-familiar pulse that had swallowed her magic, a thrumming rhythm like a heartbeat that made her skin crawl. She bit her bottom lip while studying the wolf. Kari¡¯s defenses are typically uber tough, even when totally open it¡¯s hard for my magic to affect her. Yet, right now¡­she¡¯s more vulnerable than when she¡¯d dropped it for me earlier. It doesn¡¯t matter what¡¯s down there when she¡¯s like this. Kari¡¯s not ready for it. Her tail twitched as the atmosphere thickened with every second they lingered, the darkness seemingly breathing¡ªmoving up and down as they watched. Kari could handle it. I know she could¡­if she was sure of herself. But if she¡¯s like this¡­ Sora forced a chuckle, trying to shove down her own unease. ¡°Spooky, huh? If this was one of those movies, some slimy tentacle monster would totally grab us by the ankles right about now. Right? No response, huh?¡± Left with no other choice as Kari¡¯s petrified gaze refused to leave the hole, Sora playfully poked her side and screamed, ¡°Boo!¡± Kari practically jumped out of her skin, spinning around and taking a few shaky steps back on her hind legs before falling onto her butt. Her unamused amber eyes slid to her, but there was something else there¡ªfear. Not that Kari would ever admit it. Sora burst into laughter, the tension easing in her chest as the environment somehow felt lighter. ¡°You should¡¯ve seen your face! I¡¯m just saying, we don¡¯t have to explore everything right this second. We¡¯ve got all the time in the world, y¡¯know?¡± Kari¡¯s fur flattened slowly as her snarl turned into a reluctant sigh. She glanced back at the pit, her ears flicking. ¡°There¡¯s something familiar here, Sora¡­ Something I can¡¯t explain. I don¡¯t know why, but¡­¡± Her voice trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s weird.¡± Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Sora took a step closer, peering past Kari at the darkness that seemed to swallow everything whole. She couldn¡¯t see past it, but she could feel it¡ªthe void, swallowing whatever it could. And it was hungry. ¡°I get it,¡± Sora said, nudging Kari with her shoulder while trying to jog her out of her mind. ¡°But hey, if it¡¯s important to you, I¡¯ve got your back. Let¡¯s take it slow, though. ¡®Kay?¡± Kari¡¯s muscles loosened, her guarded eyes softening as she glanced at her. ¡°You¡¯ll really help me figure it out?¡± ¡°Uh, earth the Kari!¡± Sora grinned, her tail flicking playfully behind her. ¡°Of course. What do you think I¡¯ve been doing following a wolf into the middle of some restricted forest! Hello?¡± The girl averted her gaze with a powerful grunt that sent a gust surging around them and nearly threw up her dress. ¡°Hey!¡± she balked, pressing it down. ¡°Sorry¡­ I¡¯m just on-edge,¡± she sighed, reverting back to her human form, cross-armed, and lips quivering into an uncomfortable smile. ¡°Payback for spooking me?¡± ¡°That¡¯s fair.¡± Brushing out her copper hair and putting her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m cool with investigating in our free time. Just¡­not right now.¡± She started to back away from the ominous pit. ¡°How about we go check out some other places first? Cool off a bit. We¡¯ll come back here on our free day Saturday. I promise.¡± Kari seemed to wrestle with the idea for a moment, arms tightening against her body before nodding and turning away to face her. ¡°Thanks¡­for finding me, that is. I wasn¡¯t sure what I was supposed to do once I found it¡­ I don¡¯t even know what I¡¯m saying right now.¡± Sora stuck her hands behind her back and grinned at the floundering wolf, willing her magic to guide them out of the super-dense forest. ¡°It¡¯s just me, Kari. I get it. You¡¯re not used to this kind of thing. The big bad wolf isn¡¯t scared of a little hole in the ground. Well the fox is, so you¡¯ll hold my hand out of the woods, right?!¡± ¡°Shut up,¡± Kari muttered, but there was no real heat in her words. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± She followed Sora¡¯s path as her magic forged a way forward for them to weave through the trees, her eyes still darting nervously to the shadows, as if expecting something to jump out at them. Sora let the silence hang between them for a bit before speaking up again, flipping to her back to study the frowning wolf. ¡°Look, whatever¡¯s down there, we¡¯ll figure it out. Together, Ms. Lone Wolf. You don¡¯t have to face it alone.¡± She paused, glancing over at Kari, who was walking behind her with a bit more ease now. ¡°I¡¯ve got your tail, remember? Friends?¡± Kari snorted, shaking her head. ¡°You¡¯re never going to stop, are you, idiot fox?¡± ¡°Absolutely not. And excuse you, but I¡¯m your idiot fox,¡± Sora shot back with a wink. After some fun back and forth insults and slightly deeper conversations, they emerged from the forest unscathed and undetected¡ªshe¡¯d have to thank Noelia again for that and figure out a way to sneak back into the woodlands. Sora stretched with satisfaction upon exiting the oppressive forest, feeling the freedom in her muscles. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s explore some other spots, huh? Maybe there¡¯s something less¡­creepy. Want to look for anywhere we can set up some sports stuff? I can buy it and import it in.¡± Kari nodded silently, her gaze still flicking back toward the forest. Sora didn¡¯t miss the way her muscles constricted, the way her fingers twitched as if she were ready to transform at any moment. ¡°I¡¯d like that¡­¡± Sora bit the inside of her cheek, thinking, Sure you would. You don¡¯t have a clue what I just said. That¡¯s okay, though. You¡¯ve found something that finally makes you feel alive again. It¡¯s a win. It doesn¡¯t matter how ominous it feels. Taking the initiative, she grabbed Kari¡¯s hand and pulled her toward a nearby building that looked like an ancient, crumbling castle. Vines crept up its walls, and the stone looked like it had seen better days. ¡°Wanna check that out? I bet it was spirited away from old Britain or something¡ªa castle that vanished into the mists!¡± Kari shrugged, her expression once again becoming neutral while shaking off her grip. ¡°Sure. Whatever you want to do. I¡¯m just a limp tail being dragged along.¡± ¡°At least you admit it,¡± Sora snickered. ¡°Hey, cheer up! You can at least act happy to be hanging out with your new bestie!¡± ¡°Pfft.¡± That got a weak smirk out of the depressed wolf. ¡°You mean my only friend?¡± ¡°So I¡¯ve got no competition! C¡¯mon. I promise, I can make it fun. Talk with me! Explore! Don¡¯t make me yank out your teeth.¡± ¡°Not that you could.¡± ¡°There¡¯s the spirit! Onward to adventure!¡± They made their way toward the castle-like structure, Sora chatting idly about the various magical creatures they¡¯d seen at Avalon and using the wolf as a semi-soundboard that occasionally responded. She tried to keep the conversation light, throwing in jokes whenever she could, but Kari¡¯s responses were short, almost absent-minded. Her thoughts were still firmly back in that forest, making the gears in Sora¡¯s mind spin. There¡¯s no way I can compete with a lullaby her mother used to sing to her¡­ It doesn¡¯t make sense, though. As they explored the castle¡¯s inner halls, Sora couldn¡¯t quite enjoy or admire the old architecture. The walls may have been adorned with intricate carvings, depicting battles between fae, humans, and monsters, scenes of magic and mystery. Her thoughts kept returning to the reserved wolf. Kari has more magical defenses than just about anything like¡­ever. She¡¯s a fenris wolf. If her instincts are telling her to not jump in, then there¡¯s something big down there. How could anything prey on her past if it can¡¯t break past her defenses¡­unless it¡¯s something from her mother¡¯s realm. Could something have slipped in when her mother exploited an exception in Grandma''s barrier? Trying to shrug off the uncomfortable thought, she glanced over at the taller girl, her hands stuffed in her gym short pockets. ¡°Pretty cool place, huh?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Kari absently replied. ¡°Cool.¡± Sora sighed, folding her arms across her chest. ¡°Okay, clearly you¡¯re not in the mood to explore right now. Do you want to go back? Ember can show us around better later.¡± Kari stopped walking and ran her fingers through her absurdly thick black locks, as wild as they¡¯d been since that morning. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m not that fun, Sora. I don¡¯t know what I want. I can¡¯t help but hear that lullaby running through my bones¡­ My mom¡¯s voice.¡± Sora expression softened. ¡°Hey¡­ It¡¯s okay. I get it. There were times when I was growing up that I¡¯d cry, wanting to have a mom. When I saw other kids with their moms or they¡¯d come to school activities. You know that I know what it¡¯s like to have complicated parents¡ªa mom like mine. You don¡¯t have to figure it all out right now. I¡¯ve had to shelve a lot of things, too. We¡¯ll tackle them when we can.¡± Kari¡¯s somber eyes flicked to Sora¡¯s, and for a moment, Sora saw the vulnerability there¡ªthe fear Kari tried so hard to hide. ¡°You¡¯re so unlike Eric or even Aiden¡­ He¡¯d just try to solve my problems and get me to talk about it¡­. Thanks, Sora. It¡¯s been¡­¡± Kari paused, looking for the right words before saying, ¡°It¡¯s been nice having someone who is¡­just there, pushing to just get me out and walking. As annoying and pushy as you can be.¡± Sora smiled softly. ¡°I could have done without that last part, but anytime, Kari. That¡¯s what friends are for, right? I know I can¡¯t solve your problems. I¡¯ll be here to offer what support I can, though. So, should I choose the next destination or do you want me to keep dragging you around by the neck?¡± ¡°¡­¡± Kari¡¯s scowl made her tail flick with delight; there was something cathartic about annoying her former bully and new friend. ¡°And I could have gone without that clear collar reference but here we are¡­ Sure, drag me around. I¡¯ve only got myself to blame, I guess.¡± Sora giggled and pulled her away from the castle to explore more parts of the area near the forest. ¡°How about we take this opportunity to scout out our best point of attack for this weekend?! Oh. Well that got your ears up.¡± ¡°You are a bad influence,¡± the wolf snorted, her mood brightening. ¡°You¡¯re exactly like I thought you¡¯d be before you awakened your Founder blood.¡± ¡°And look how friendly we¡¯ve become!¡± she chirped. ¡°Look at us, the fox and the wolf, BFFs.¡± ¡°Not Wendy?¡± Kari said with a shake of her head. ¡°Let me take a guess, she¡¯s your sister now so you¡¯ve got a spot open, and the Valkyrie is your sister-in-arms.¡± ¡°Bingo! You¡¯re catching on fast.¡± ¡°Sure¡­ You¡¯re always full of promises.¡± Sora could see the unworthiness in her shifting eyes, her tone, and the broken word of people she¡¯d trusted in the past that she tried to hide. It pricked Sora¡¯s heart and sent heat rising up her throat just recalling what she¡¯d felt when connecting to Kari¡¯s broken soul. You¡¯ll heal, Kari¡­ I know it¡¯s hard to believe you can be happy again. We¡¯ll get there, though. You¡¯re worth fighting for, as much as you want to deny it. Proceeding to the next building, Sora did her best to keep Kari from falling into her own pitfalls throughout the day, learning more about Avalon Academy. By the time Noelia transported them back to the portal, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the courtyard. Wendy, Eyia, and Aiden were already there, chatting among themselves. Kari shied away as Wendy¡¯s sparkling green eyes locked onto them. ¡°Sora!¡± Wendy waved and bounced over. ¡°Where¡¯ve you guys been? This place is crazy! You should have seen the magical demonstrations. I can¡¯t wait to learn how to do magic. What did you see?¡± ¡°Basically sightseeing and checking out the nearby forest,¡± Sora casually replied, a little sad Kari felt skittish around Wendy but understanding her position. ¡°Kari found something interesting.¡± Eyia tilted her head, her icy blue eyes curious while drifting between them. ¡°Did you encounter any danger, Sister? I inspected the dorms and they appear quite well protected. Wendy and I are to do the rooming with you but there are many threats here. We should begin training to strengthen you before attending Jin¡¯s course. She is sure to do the Trials of Hardship in order to break the recruits.¡± Sora forced a chuckle, wanting to forget that Jin was actually a full-blown teacher. ¡°Danger? I guess we did¡­ Uh. And dorms, right. I¡¯m glad you guys scoped that out. We can talk about that later. Just¡­something spooky.¡± Wait, if Eyia and Wendy are with me, then where is Kari supposed to room? Wendy¡¯s left eye narrowed suspiciously, and Sora knew she liked a bit of horror. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about spooky because we have different definitions. Eh, hey, Sora¡­ The announcer lady wasn¡¯t too happy you skipped out on your opening speech earlier. I had to take it.¡± Sora winced. ¡°Yeah, I kind of heard you killed it. Figured that would come back to bite me. I bet she¡¯ll show up at some point and comment about it.¡± Eyia crossed her arms, her expression thoughtful. ¡°Perhaps you should apologize. It was an honest mistake. Ember was in the wrong for having the mind of absence. It cannot be blamed on you, Sister.¡± Sora sighed dramatically. ¡°Yeah, yeah, well it never works out like it should. I embarrassed her, so I¡¯ll probably have to pay for it. I¡¯ll apologize for what good it will do me, though. But, Wendy, you¡¯d probably want to hear about the fae boy I met.¡± ¡°Boy?¡± Wendy¡¯s ears stood on end and tail puffed up. ¡°What fae boy? Did someone ask you out?¡± As they gathered around the portal, Noelia appeared, providing a perfect opportunity to tease and string along her anxious sister as the brunette¡¯s mother interrupted. Noelia¡¯s gaze sweeping over them with a knowing smile that lingered on her. ¡°Well, well. Looks like you¡¯ve all survived another adventure. Good work.¡± Sora¡¯s smile faded when glancing left and right, her tail flicking behind her. ¡°Yeah, uh¡­where¡¯s my mom and dad? Ember¡¯s not here either. And¡­who is that elf that pulled Aiden away?¡± she mumbled, spotting a tall, slender girl pull the reluctant Firebird away to chat with a few of her friends. Wendy¡¯s smile fell as she rolled her eyes. ¡°You have no idea how many girls stopped to chat him up. He¡¯s a literal chick magnet. My mom says it¡¯s because of his positive aura or something that captivates them. I didn¡¯t get any attention like that,¡± she grumbled, glancing at her mother. Their former caretaker strained a smile. ¡°Yes, well, it¡¯s a tad different for you, sweetie. Your aura is a tad¡­chaotic and frightening to them.¡± Eyia tilted her head but nodded in agreement. ¡°Indeed. You have the feel of oblivion if one stares at you for too long.¡± ¡°What?! Oh, great. Sora¡¯s got boys chatting her up, but me? I¡¯m a complete weirdo on day one. No wonder everyone avoided me¡­ Lame. We¡¯ll have to fix that,¡± she said, glancing at her for support. ¡°I can fix that, right?¡± Sora shrugged before nodding. ¡°Uh, maybe¡ªno, totally! But, eh¡­my parents?¡± Noelia¡¯s expression told Sora she had no clue how to help her daughter in that regard, which luckily the brunette didn¡¯t spot. ¡°High Queen Titania pulled them away for a chat. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll create a portal for them to join us when they¡¯re done. But right now? I¡¯m starving. Why don¡¯t we grab some food?¡± Once Aiden rejoined them, leaving a few leering girls to stare after their group, no doubt wondering what his relationship to all these pretty girls were, they agreed to talk over dinner. Kari even absently joined them, more than likely not having a clue what they were actually doing by her absent eyes. One thing was for sure, she was invested. A new set of problems arrives, Sora thought, smiling to herself. We¡¯ll figure it out one step at a time. Passing through the gateway into her private realm, they descended the elevator and chose to eat in at the hotel in-house restaurant, which boasted a far more robust menu after the Foundation took it over. Her parents returned soon after out of a shimmering portal, the fae high queen waving them off. Her father looked satisfied but her mother looked somewhat aggravated, her tails swaying in a rather threatening way that made Sora¡¯s gulp. She didn¡¯t elaborate on what they talked about but it was soon swept away into the surge of conversation. Her father gave her a smile that told her that everything would be alright. Apparently, Ember was in trouble for not doing her job right but they managed to smooth it over. It didn¡¯t take much to conclude what, or more specifically, who had her mother scowling¡ªher personality likely didn¡¯t mix well with Elder Rosewood. Eyeing her grumpy mother during dinner, she could just imagine it. I¡¯m the big bad fox that snaps my fingers and the High King and High Queen do my bidding. I say it¡¯s okay. Then Rosewood is like, yeah¡­no, that¡¯s not going to fly here, old fox lady whatever your name is. Old fox lady?! I¡¯m Mia! And I¡¯m Elder Rosewood, the person in charge of punishment. You¡¯re a random fox mother who is trying to look cool for her daughter. Know your place. Universe explodes, at least the one in her mind. Mom isn¡¯t a rules person¡­ Night came soon after and Aiden accepted one of the hotel rooms across from Howie and Daisy, offered by her father. That move had Sora wondering if he had ulterior motives. She wouldn¡¯t put it past her dad¡­or he wasn¡¯t thinking about it at all! Like, duh, he was going to school and needed to take the portal, so, why not? Sure, Dad. Getting ready for bed, she made plans for school shopping tomorrow with the girls. Somehow, she even managed to semi-tease semi-nudge Kari to join them after her session with Mary. They¡¯d be away from home for at least six weeks¡ªone month of classes with the dorms, two weeks in fae society, whatever that meant, and then two weeks of home-study and reflecting on what they learned with their guardians. Once snuggling under her sheets, she released the pressure that had been building in her chest throughout the day. A feline¡¯s yawn drew her gaze to a split-tailed cat who slunk over to force her legs apart and curled up into a ball. ¡°Nilly¡­ About time you showed up, I guess.¡± ¡°Mrrow.¡± ¡°Do you want to go shopping with us? Teenage, Nilly! Not kid Nilly.¡± The cat cracked open an eye before closing it and wiggling a little between her legs. ¡°Meow.¡± Chuckling, she sighed. ¡°I¡¯ll take that as a yes. Shopping with the girls¡­ Maybe I can get Mom, Noelia, Daisy, and Stephanie to go shopping together on their own fun trip. They really need to get out. It will give Dad some time to chill with Tom, Howie, and Ron, too. I bet he needs to talk to the guys¡ªyou know, guy talk, whatever that means. Who¡¯s wife is hotter?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know either. Guys are weird. Well, night.¡± The only response she got was purring that rumbled between her legs. Today wasn¡¯t bad. No, it was a good day. Let¡¯s hope tomorrow will be better. Settling in, she let herself drift into the dream space, ready to peek in on her mother to see if she could help soothe her high nerves. Her mom could use at least one win today, and a dream about her dad and her dating seemed like a good balm. Don¡¯t say I never did anything for you, Mom. Love you. B3 — 3. A Blunt Auntie A dull thump echoed somewhere in the distance, but Sora didn¡¯t care. She was watching the dream-induced live drama and romance in-action. Popcorn in hand and hidden from their view, her meddling had left them both unsure if this was fantasy or not. The trap was set! Her cute, playful, not-at-all-like her usual anxiety-ridden mother was on a date with her future ¡®hubby,¡¯ and it made her tail wag with each chess move the disguised fox and her dad made against each other in the New York caf¨¦. So, this is how you act when you¡¯re all alone and left free to curl your tails around Dad, huh, Mom? Sora leaned back in her seat, fingers absentmindedly tracing the rim of her coffee cup as she watched her dad, in the middle of giving the waitress¡¯ his signature disarming smiles that got a light pout he totally didn¡¯t notice from the ruby-haired woman on his arm. ¡°You know,¡± her mom began, pulling his attention away from the brunette to give him a mischievous grin to capture her father, ¡°you kind of remind me of cherry pie with that hair,¡± she whispered, boldly reaching up to brush her hand through his feathery locks. He blinked, clearly not expecting that, his deep voice floating across the caf¨¦ like the hum of a bass guitar. ¡°Oh, yeah?¡± He leaned in, his arms resting casually on the table, curiosity and amusement sparking in his forest-green eyes. ¡°Should I be flattered or worried?¡± ¡°Maybe.¡± Really, Mom! Sora snickered to herself, floating above them while leaning left and right to the rhythm of the music in the shop. I know this is the first date after ¡®bumping into each other¡¯ in the states since Japan, but c¡¯mon! Her dad swiveled his chair to the side to give her a thoughtful smirk, no doubt thinking about their previous encounters half a world away. ¡°Is this the moment you lie about never trying one? Because if so, you¡¯ll have to bring your own fork because I won¡¯t provide one.¡± Dad! What are you even saying¡ªwhat¡¯s the fork mean?! Mia tilted her head, her long fiery locks spilling over her shoulder as she tapped her chin in thought. ¡°Definitely flattered, and I¡¯ve had plenty of hot cherry pies,¡± she subtly shifted closer to press her knee against his. ¡°You know, sweet but a little tart, a mix of flavors that¡¯s¡­hard to resist in summer.¡± Her dad chuckled, shaking his head as he took a sip of his coffee, swiveling away to break leg contact and making Sora gasp, yet he never broke eye contact with the alluring, disguised fox. ¡°Sweet but tart, huh? That¡¯s a dangerous combination. But if I¡¯m a hot cherry pie, does that mean you¡¯re the vanilla ice cream melting all over me? ¡®Cause I don¡¯t mind getting messy.¡± His voice dropped just slightly, playful, teasing, as his lips curled into a grin that made her stomach do a little flip. Dad?! Sora¡¯s chest from the lack of oxygen but she couldn¡¯t breath as she leaned in closer as her mother laughed, covering her mouth with her hand as she leaned forward, legs crossing to tap the side of his leg again, eyes sparkling. ¡°That¡¯s bold of you to assume you¡¯re worth the extra topping,¡± she teased, but her tone was light, flirtatious, enjoying how easy it was to banter with him, and Sora was here for the exchange. Her dad raised an eyebrow, leaning even closer across the small table, his face mere inches from hers now and making Sora¡¯s heart stop. ¡°If you thought Japan had extra topics, oh, trust me, I haven¡¯t shown you what¡¯s in the back. I¡¯ve been told I¡¯ve got that perfect balance of flaky crust and gooey filling. Cherry is a favorite, after all.¡± It was her mother¡¯s turn to pull away, rolling her eyes, but her smile widened, and Sora could see her heart doing that annoying fluttery thing it did whenever he got close like this¡ªhe¡¯d gotten the fox to retreat! ¡°Gooey filling, huh? More like full of hot air.¡± She winked, and his laugh was deep, resonant, the kind of laugh that felt like it belonged to someone who knew exactly how to enjoy life. He smirked, eyes flicking down to her lips briefly before meeting her gaze again. ¡°And yet, you keep coming back for more, Miss Vanilla Ice Cream. What does that say about you?¡± Mia playfully poked his chest. ¡°It says I¡¯m the one making you taste better. Without me, you¡¯re just¡­ pie. With me? Perfection.¡± Ooooh! Nice one, Mom! What is this flirting? Jarlath¡¯s grin turned sly as he brushed his fingers against hers on the table, sending a tiny jolt through her. ¡°Guess that makes us the perfect combo then, huh? You, me, cherry pie ¨¤ la mode. But hey¡ª¡± he leaned in closer, his breath warm against her skin, ¡°¡ªhow about you stop teasing me and we grab an actual dessert after this? Let¡¯s see if I can live up to the hype.¡± Sora¡¯s face went bright red, but her mother didn¡¯t back down, making her lean closer. ¡°Bold move, Jarlath,¡± she murmured, her voice low, drawing him closer. ¡°Careful what you wish for. I might just hold you to that.¡± He leaned back in his chair, his young eyes gleaming with challenge. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m counting on it.¡± She sighed as her father was the one to string her along, or maybe her mother allowed him to pull the strings. He brought the chase back to the streets, her mother trapping his arm against her body on the way out. And I thought you were always working back then, Dad. When did you ever have time for something like this? How much does he long to see her like this again? Happy. Whole¡­ Free. I want her not to worry about me¡­but I know that¡¯s impossible. She couldn¡¯t help but marvel at the way her mother flicked her hidden, long vulpine ears, teasing her dad like she hadn¡¯t a worry in the world with her swaying tails. It was weird, seeing her like this¡ªrelaxed, confident, foxy. Her mom was wearing a casual red summer dress that complemented her pale complexion and the rich red tone of her tails that he couldn¡¯t see. There was an ease in the way she moved, a grace that was enchanting. Her dad was grinning like he was seeing this side of her for the first time. Man, why isn¡¯t she always like this? Then again, she¡¯s juggling so much, and this was probably just a glimpse of what she could have been¡ªwhat she was, underneath everything else. She leaned on her elbow, smirking as her mom subtly manipulated the electronics, making things float and serve themselves like it was second nature. She never even touched her phone. The thumping sound came again, louder this time, but she dismissed it, choosing instead to focus on the scene in front of her. Why bother with some noise when I¡¯ve got front-row seats to the best show ever? The romance of her parents. But then, a sharp, stinging pain shot through her right ear, and she yelped, jerking up with a start. Her room came into a blurry view, her hand shooting up to her ear, feeling the burn and rubbing the sore spot as her eyes watered from the sudden sting. Scanning for danger, still groggy from the dream, her gaze fell on one, split-tailed cat¡ªNilly¡ªsitting smugly at the edge of her bed. ¡°Did you seriously bite my ear?¡± Sora winced, her voice croaky from sleep as she gingerly touched the smarting spot again, shooting the mother of all cats an incredulous look. ¡°What?¡± Nilly¡¯s pointed tail flick toward the door, making Sora growl. She cocked her ear, and sure enough, she could hear a low grumble from beyond the door from a certain disgruntled wolf. Muttering something about a lazy fox while heading downstairs. ¡°Lazy fox sleeps forever¡­¡± ¡°Ugh, she¡¯s going to think I¡¯m avoiding her on purpose.¡± Sora groaned, pushing the covers off her legs and almost tripping on her sheets in the process. She glared at Nilly, who was now grooming herself with slow, deliberate strokes. I get it¡ªshe was knocking¡ªbut you didn¡¯t have to bite me! ¡°Thanks, Nilly,¡± she mumbled sarcastically, rubbing her ear one last time as she padded across the room to the door, her legs still wobbly from sleep. Sora yanked it open, her heart still hammering from being jolted awake, and jogged to the railing. Down below, she spotted Kari just as she was about to head into the hallway. ¡°Kari!¡± Sora called out, leaning over the railing. The wolf girl stopped, turning her head slightly to look up at her. ¡°Mmm?¡± Her usual jogging gear was on¡ªshorts, a sports bra, her thick dark hair tied back in a high ponytail that swung with every movement. Sora noticed how calm she seemed, no usual scowl, no hint of the brooding atmosphere that usually hung around her. ¡°Did you knock?¡± Sora asked, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, her voice a little groggy. Kari shrugged, glancing to the still-dark skies of Miami as if it was no big deal. ¡°I was going for a run. Thought maybe you¡¯d want to join, but it¡¯s fine.¡± Oh¡­is that¡¯s what this is about. Sora¡¯s heart rate began to settle as she pieced it together and a small smile broke across her face. Kari wants someone to talk to, but of course, she¡¯s not going to come out and say it. Hopeless. The wolf who wants company but will never admit it outright. ¡°I¡¯ll come¡ªdon¡¯t go blowing me off,¡± Sora said, stretching her arms up and yawning while glancing down at her pajamas. ¡°Just give me a sec. I need¡ªeek!¡± Before Kari could respond, Sora felt a tug at her waist as someone embraced her from behind, pulling her into a tight hug. ¡°Nilly?!¡± ¡°I wanna join the friend club!¡± Spinning around, she saw the cat¡ªnow in her 16-year-old form, her bright eyes twinkling with excitement, a gold earring in each twitching cat ear, one having an extra ring attached to it. The biggest change, she wasn¡¯t talking in 3rd person. ¡°Can I come?¡± Her enthusiasm caught Sora off guard, and she stared for a moment at the cat girl, inches away from her face with her thin arms wrapped around her. ¡°Uh... sure? You can join if you want.¡± Sora shrugged, still not fully awake, her mind whirling as she tried to keep up with the sudden shift in the morning. Nilly cheered, bouncing a little on her feet before letting go and spinning away, and Sora couldn¡¯t help but grin at the new development. The cat now sported a tank top, little, high-waisted shorts, and running shoes. But Sora¡¯s eyes soon shifted to Kari. ¡°Eh, is that okay, Kari?¡± Kari grunted, not looking particularly enthused. ¡°Not like the Cat Mother needs our permission for anything,¡± she muttered under her breath, her arms crossed as she glanced away. Sora forced a laugh. ¡°That¡¯s true.¡± Nilly¡¯s ears flicked back, a rare shyness creeping into her normally erratic cadence. ¡°I don¡¯t have to go¡­¡± she mumbled, looking down at her feet. ¡°I just thought it¡¯d be fun, you know? It¡¯s rare I get to be myself like this¡­¡± Her voice softened, her split red-tipped tails slowly curling around her legs like a protective barrier. ¡°That¡¯s why I like hanging around you and Wendy.¡± Sora backed into the railing to get a better view of the Chinese girl, fingers combing back her somewhat wild copper hair. There were a few things that immediately stood out to her¡ªthe cat¡¯s teeth were normal, not fanged, her nails were clipped and painted to match her eyes, and she was curled in, waiting for judgment. Hanging around Wendy and I¡­stabilizes her? Maybe it¡¯s Dad¡¯s side. Huh. That¡¯s something to file away. She¡¯s trying to fit in. Well, I guess this is a new version of Nilly. I¡¯m not against it! ¡°Of course, I¡¯d be happy to have you around,¡± she said with a smile, giving her a thumbs up that made the feline¡¯s ears rise. ¡°Oh, Kari, can you wait for a sec so I can fix my hair and, you know, throw on something that isn¡¯t pink-striped pajamas?¡± Leaning against a couch, looking indifferent, Kari let out a low grunt. ¡°If you¡¯re not back in five minutes, I¡¯m leaving.¡± Sora rolled her eyes. ¡°Five minutes? You¡¯re giving me too much time,¡± she teased, jogging towards her closet. ¡°Make it two!¡± ¡°Fine. Two.¡± She almost tripped, Nilly giggled from behind her. ¡°Wait, I was joking¡ªhey, you can¡¯t change the time! That¡¯s cheating!¡± Sora shot back with a laugh. She won¡¯t leave me¡­ Probably won¡¯t. As Sora ducked into her room, Nilly trailing her, she heard the light thump of Nilly plop down on her bed, the cat¡¯s playful energy returning a bit. ¡°Would you really want a homeless cat to come shopping and to school with you?¡± Nilly asked with a soft, curious purr. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly the nicest kitty around, you know. People¡­they, umm, get scared of me. I can¡¯t always be sure I¡¯ll be friendly. Sometimes I¡¯m¡­not. You know that, though. You¡¯re different from the others, though. You bring out something better in me. Franky said that¡¯s a good thing.¡± Sora paused, shorts in hand. She turned to lean out to find the cat playing with a pillow, tossing it up and down. ¡°Franky? You mean Frankenstein? Like, the one who helped Mom and Dad when I was born?¡± Nilly¡¯s tail swished lazily between her legs, swapping between using it to toss the pillow up and her hands. ¡°One and the same. He¡¯s surprised in a lot of ways by you, Sora. Anyway, yeah, this is the first time I¡¯ve been able to be a teenager in a long, long while¡ªthis version of me. Being a teenager again is nice¡­ I didn¡¯t think I¡¯d get to relive this part of my life.¡± A soft smile tugged at Sora¡¯s lips as she pulled the shorts on and found a good sports bra that matched. ¡°I¡¯d love to get to know all the versions of you. I¡¯m pretty sure you can be good even when you¡¯re bad.¡± She moved to the mirror to do a rush job on tying her hair into a high ponytail, mimicking Kari¡¯s practical style. It felt right¡ªout of her face, ready for action. Nilly looked doubtful but her eyes softened as she reappeared, motioning her toward the door. ¡°That¡¯s nice of you to say¡­but usually when I start talking in the third person, it means I¡¯m not exactly, mmm¡­stable. Things blur, get messy. It¡¯s hard to keep track when you¡¯ve lived this long. Oh, by the way, Eyia snuck out earlier to train.¡± Sora snorted. ¡°Not surprised. She¡¯s going through a rough time with Jin, trying to figure things out.¡± She paused at the door and jogged back into the closet to grab her sneakers to slip them on. ¡°Oops. Uh¡­ C¡¯mon, we should get downstairs before Kari gets too antsy and decides to leave us¡ªnot that she would!¡± she yelled, knowing Noelia¡¯s spell would silence it for those sleeping. ¡°Keep thinking that, fox.¡± Nilly¡¯s look said it all¡ªthey both knew she was all bark¡ªbut Sora could only laugh internally at that unspoken truth. Kari was such a softy. As they headed out, Sora grinned at Kari and held her arms open. ¡°Almost two minutes!¡± ¡°Someone can¡¯t tell time,¡± the wolf snorted, pushing herself away from the couch. ¡°How long until the cat disappears? And where did her bell go?¡± Nilly blinked and looked down at her ankle. ¡°Huh. It is gone. Weird. I don¡¯t even know! Isn¡¯t that silly?¡± she asked, finding her hands behind her back and doing a once over of her appearance. ¡°I don¡¯t even know where I got these clothes. I¡¯m just¡­here. Aren¡¯t I crazy?¡± she asked with a strained smile, clearly self-conscious about a part of herself she didn¡¯t understand. Sora glanced over the Nekomata, curiosity getting the best of her as they slowly made their way to the elevator. ¡°No need to sweat it. Hey, so, what do you remember in your ¡®stable¡¯ form? Is it kind of like my mom? We haven¡¯t really had a chance to talk much about what happened with Ylva. You know, since Kari¡¯s¡­aunt? Niece? Whatever she is.¡± Nilly shrugged, her tails weaving thoughtfully behind her while looking out at the light barely beginning to peek over the horizon in the giant windows. She adjusted a delicate Chinese hairpin that held her bun in place, her posture relaxed but her tone saying, ¡®I¡¯m not entirely here.¡¯ ¡°Not much, really. I¡¯m still piecing together the more recent stuff. As for Ylva, she¡¯s just doing her thing¡ªbuilding her den, home decorating a realm, stuff like that. If you want to visit, there¡¯s a way to get there through your realm, Sora.¡± Sora blinked at the casual comment, causing Kari and her to halt just before the elevator. ¡°Wait¡ªthere¡¯s a way to Ylva¡¯s place from my realm?¡± Nilly gave her a sideways glance, cupping her chin. ¡°Mhm. You¡¯ve got privileges in vulpes territory, remember?¡± Before Sora could react to that, Kari¡¯s gaze locked onto the cat. ¡°Can we really see Ylva¡ªnow?¡± Kari¡¯s voice was steady, but there was a tension underneath it, a hint of something unsaid that was bubbling to the surface. Well, there goes our morning run! This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. Nilly tilted her head slightly the opposite way. ¡°Uh-huh. Yeah, I could guide you to the right spot, but it¡¯s up to Sora to create the gateway. No promises that Ylva will actually want to talk, though. She¡¯s, eh, old school?¡± She giggled. ¡°I feel funny saying that.¡± Kari¡¯s uncertainty flickered, her amber eyes glancing away for a moment. Sora could see she was about to turn it down and got ahead of it, cutting in with optimism. ¡°I think it¡¯d be great to check up on her! You¡¯d be okay showing us, right?¡± Nilly¡¯s smile widened, showing perfect human teeth and not her terrifying fangs while scratching her ear with one delicate fingernail. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ve got several hours before someone tries to drag me off. But I can¡¯t stay a teenager forever. You know how it is¡ªpretty popular being the supposedly dead First Generation Founder of the Cats, but not always for the nicest reasons. Right now, I¡¯m kinda hiding. I wonder if Githa will find me? Hmm. There¡¯s this crazy umbrella lady who might try to kidnap me for a bit, too. It¡¯s hard to resist pawing her braids and ribbons sometimes¡­ Cat problems,¡± she helplessly mumbled. Sora groaned. ¡°The Herald of Sakura?¡± Nilly nodded. ¡°Yup. She¡¯s actually pretty fun if you like riddles and battling sardines, but¡­yeah, she might make things complicated and poke my butt to do something.¡± Sora waved it off. ¡°We¡¯ll play it by ear! Let¡¯s just go with the flow.¡± Nilly¡¯s smile widened. ¡°I like that. Feels good to do something helpful. Ylva might appreciate some company, too. Kari, you okay with all this? Ylva¡¯s pretty blunt but she¡¯s kind¡­sorta. Depends on who¡¯s talking to her. She¡¯s a tough pup¡­grandpa? Both?¡± Kari crossed her arms, brow furrowed but finally relenting. ¡°Whatever. I¡¯d like to ask Ylva a few things. Privately,¡± she said with a pointed stare. ¡°Sounds like a plan, then!¡± Sora grinned, pressing the button to open the elevator door as they headed out for their short jog to the link spot. She shot Nilly a playful look. ¡°How long can you stay a teenager, anyway? You said someone might get you in several hours but¡­¡± Nilly chewed her lip while leaning against the mirror, inspecting her hair again. ¡°Yeah, about that, several hours, give or take, before people start hunting me down and the instability strikes again. You know how it is.¡± No, I do not but that¡¯s okay! As they jogged out onto the path of her private realm, they entered the early morning light of the celestial visage of her own world. Sora took in the surroundings¡ªshadows cast long from the early sun, the air cool but hinting at the warmth of the day ahead. Nilly¡¯s energy felt calm but still anxious and energetic; she could actually feel it, like an equal, which probably had something to do with her resonating with Wendy and her somehow. Kari moved with her usual determined grace, deep in her thoughts. ¡°So, Nilly¡­¡± Sora said, catching her breath slightly and feeling pretty good with their pace, ¡°what do you remember in this stable form? Like, with Ylva? What¡¯s been going on since you escorted her out of fenris territory?¡± Nilly¡¯s tails swayed lazily as she jogged, her voice casual and not stressed in the least, guiding them to the west, beyond Stephanie and Ron¡¯s cottage, not that they lived there anymore after taking a hotel floor. ¡°She¡¯s still setting up her den,¡± Nilly chimed, beginning to do more acrobatics and impressing Sora, ¡°doing her thing. Oh, over here! It¡¯s a little off the beaten path, but nothing too crazy.¡± Nilly led the way with her infectious enthusiasm, her boundless energy punctuating every bounce in her step as she told stories about battling sardines¡ªreal sardines! At least, in her mind they all looked like sardines. Then, the endless battle of the swords, axes, and shields came out of nowhere, chopping up the sardines. Fire exploded around everywhere with a giant sun, and then the mist and maelstrom pulled in the sardines. Sora couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as they neared the border of her realm while listening to the cat¡¯s insane tale. Yet, their talk came to a halt when the scenery gave way to the towering, vibrant trees that marked the entrance to the strange, colorful forest on the western half of her giant valley realm. Each tree seemed to glow faintly, pulsing with hues of deep green, teal, and amethyst as if nature itself was enchanted¡ªalive with energy, like something out of a fairy tale. The air grew thick with magic, and Sora¡¯s senses buzzed with the surge of power. She glanced at Kari, who remained quietly focused beside her. The wolf girl¡¯s face was etched with the same stoic expression she always wore when brooding, but there was a tension in her amber eyes that hadn¡¯t been there before. Hmm. How can I brighten her mood? Kari¡¯s got something on her mind and I doubt she¡¯ll say it with Nilly here. Still, the fact Nilly showed up now, providing a way forward for us to talk to Ylva¡ªsomeone in Kari¡¯s extended family¡ªit doesn¡¯t feel¡­random. Her thoughts returned to the big, handsome man who had offered her clothes after Kari¡¯s gang stripped her and made her walk home in only a towel. Frank¡­ Could that have been Frankenstein? Is he planning all of this behind the scenes? I¡¯ll have to ask Mom. Nilly¡¯s ears flicked back as they slowed to a halt in front of an enormous tree, its trunk wide enough to encompass an entire house. The bark shimmered like polished obsidian in the dappled sunlight, and the canopy above them stretched far into the sky, its branches twisting and interlocking like the latticework of some grand cathedral. ¡°This,¡± Nilly said, turning to face them with a mischievous grin, ¡°is the branching point.¡± Sora tilted her head, squinting up at the tree as her mind returned to the present. ¡°Branching point. Right¡­ Which is?¡± she asked as Kari put her hand on her hip, her scowl back in place and making Nilly¡¯s ears fall back. ¡°You¡­don¡¯t know? Right. Uh, how do I explain this?¡± Nilly chirped, pointing at the tree¡¯s base and pushing on with a small smile as they followed her gestures. ¡°This is where dimensional energies converge. It can link to a bunch of different places if you know how to use it. But once it¡¯s set? Well, you can¡¯t really change it¡ªso you find another one of these kittens to make a new one.¡± She gave the tree a playful pat, her split tails swishing in excitement. ¡°Get it?¡± Kari¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, her tone cautious. ¡°And what happens if she doesn¡¯t accept the connection? I¡¯m guessing this isn¡¯t one-sided.¡± ¡°Good guess!¡± Nilly shrugged. ¡°Simple. Then it¡¯s like you¡¯ve connected to a locked door. Unless Ylva opens her side, there¡¯s no getting in. But hey, that¡¯s the fun part! Knock-knock! Who¡¯s there? Nilly, looking for treats! Get outta here, you split-tailed cat! Hssss! I¡¯ll curse you a thousand million years! Says the cat lady with a scrambled soul! Nilly¡¯s not scrambled eggs! Who said eggs, fur ball?! Lick off, loser!¡± She gave them both a toothy grin that made Sora¡¯s stomach flip. ¡°Lick off?¡± Sora giggled. ¡°You¡¯re the fun kind of crazy, Nilly.¡± ¡°Aww. Thanks! I don¡¯t try the crazy; I just do the crazy!¡± Kari frowned while holding her hand against the tree, ignoring them, her gaze shifting away from the trunk to the vibrant grass at her feet, her jaw tightening. ¡°I¡¯ve never talked to anyone else in my family,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°What if she¡¯s like Eric? Or worse? Or hiding things from me?¡± Heart softening, Sora stepped closer, placing a hand gently on Kari¡¯s arm. ¡°Hey, trust me, she¡¯s not, okay? I know this is all kind of sudden¡ªit is for me! But Ylva isn¡¯t like the other fenris wolves¡­ She¡¯s dealt with a lot,¡± she said, offering a soft smile. ¡°And besides, with me there, she¡¯ll at least be cordial, right? My territory and all. Ylva didn¡¯t seem so bad last time. She¡¯s just, uh¡­blunt, Nilly?¡± ¡°Mhm! Mhm! Super blunt. Like a dull knife cutting your wrist.¡± ¡°Woah! A bit much there, girl,¡± she said with a strained laugh. Kari didn¡¯t respond immediately, her fingers flexing slightly at her sides. ¡°Blunt doesn¡¯t mean kind.¡± But she didn¡¯t pull away, and that was progress. Even if her tail fur bristled with a nervous energy, Sora could feel the resolve building behind her new friend¡¯s quiet exterior. Sora turned to Nilly, who was watching the exchange with curious, twinkling ears while bobbing back and forth. ¡°So, how do we do this?¡± Nilly tilted her head to the side, her ears going straight. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me! I¡¯m just here for moral support and to not be lonely, more or less. I¡¯m cruising on the sardine wave, as they say¡­ Well, I probably started that, with a ton of other sayings, but the point stands!¡± Rolling her eyes, Sora took a deep breath and stepped up to the massive tree. Okay, it¡¯s my realm, so just do what I did for the monster community¡­ Deep breath, and ask the realm itself to enforce my desires. Placing her hand against the cool, smooth surface of the trunk, she closed her eyes and let her magic flow, reaching out to the realm itself. She could feel the pulse of life and energy beneath her fingertips, a symphony of power and possibility that thrummed through her veins. The connection formed, not by force but by an invitation, her will shaping the magic around her. For a moment, the air around them shimmered, reality shifting like a veil being lifted. The tree responded with a deep, resonating hum, and Sora felt a sharp tug in her chest as the magic surged. The wood began to twist, forming an ornate door in the trunk¡ªvines weaving together, bending to her will. She hesitated, glancing back at Kari and Nilly as it settled into place. ¡°Well, at least something happened. Here goes nothing.¡± She lifted her hand and knocked lightly on the door. Nothing happened. Seconds ticked by in silence. Kari¡¯s brow furrowed, her frustration simmering beneath the surface. Before Sora could say anything, Kari stepped forward, raising her fist. The resounding thud of her knuckles against the wood shook the tree, making Sora¡¯s tail bristle while wincing. Nilly chuckled from the sidelines. ¡°Oh yeah, she probably heard that one. Nice one, Fangs!¡± Kari gave her a lifted eyebrow, but looked surprisingly content with the nickname. They stood there for a few more moments, tension hanging in the air like a storm cloud, then¡­the door creaked open. A large, scarred figure loomed in the doorway, her presence filling the space with an undeniable authority. Ylva¡¯s dull eyes scanned them, pausing briefly on Nilly, who offered a sheepish, toothy grin and a small wave. ¡°Hello, long time no see! Uh. How have the hunts been? No more back pain?¡± Ylva let out a heavy sigh, her voice like gravel. ¡°I should have expected the damn Cat Mother herself¡­ And not only that, parading around as a teenage girl, old woman? Now I¡¯ve seen everything.¡± She crossed her arms, giving Nilly a once-over before turning on her heel and walking back into the dark, cosmic hallway beyond. ¡°Congrats on stabilizing for a bit, brat.¡± ¡°Brat! Old lady?! I¡¯m not that young¡ªold¡­ Rude! Ylva!¡± Sora exchanged looks with the wolf as the cat jogged after the silver-haired wolf before stepping inside, following Ylva¡¯s thick tail as it swayed lazily behind her. The door shut behind them with an ominous boom that seemed to raddle reality itself. The wooden hallway stretched on, dark and seemingly endless, but it soon opened into a sunlit meadow. The contrast was stark, as if they had stepped into another world entirely. The bright, open space was peaceful, and the scent of wildflowers filled the air. Ylva led them to a small, modest cottage nestled at the edge of the meadow. As they approached, she glanced back at them with a monotone snort. ¡°You probably haven¡¯t had breakfast yet, have you? Figures that old fox would have made this for you¡­and in the place she gave me.¡± Nilly¡¯s stomach growled loudly, and she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. ¡°Uh, nope, definitely haven¡¯t, but I¡¯m always hungry,¡± she admitted, her eyes apologetic. Ylva¡¯s lips quirked into a faint smirk. ¡°I expected it from you, deadbeat. Every second of every day is breakfast for you, isn¡¯t it, old cat?¡± ¡°Not fair,¡± Nilly complained, crossing her arms and making Sora giggle at their back and forth. ¡°I have a medical condition. And I¡¯m not the ¡®deadbeat¡¯ to my kids everyone thinks I am. I¡¯m a good cat mom¡­I think,¡± she pouted, puffing her cheeks out. ¡°I¡¯m still a kid right now, too! Well, sort of.¡± Sora nudged her. ¡°Teen,¡± she corrected with a grin. ¡°Teen Nilly is great!¡± ¡°Yeah, hear that, Ylva! I¡¯m great,¡± she huffed, puffing up her chest. ¡°The greatest! I knew Sora was the bestest of friends.¡± I didn¡¯t say that but thanks, Sora internally mused. Ylva let out a low chuckle. ¡°Whatever you are, I was more talking to the kids.¡± ¡°Liar! Unless¡­you¡¯re saying I¡¯m a kid!¡± She bypassed the huffy cat¡¯s hisses and motioned for them to follow her inside, her steps heavy and deliberate. The interior of the cottage was surprisingly modern, the kitchen equipped with sleek, stainless-steel appliances. Sora had to stifle a laugh as she imagined her mom crying tears of jealousy at the sight of Ylva¡ªa tough, ancient wolf¡ªexpertly using a stove to make breakfast. Ylva gestured toward the simple wooden chairs at the table, her tail swaying purposefully with every movement that put a level of grace behind her actions Sora hadn¡¯t seen before. ¡°Take a seat,¡± she ordered in her usual gravelly tone, moving toward a cupboard carved into the wall of her small, homely kitchen. Sora exchanged a quick glance with Nilly, whose lips twitched upward into an encouraging smile, though her bright eyes darted between the looming figure of Ylva and Kari¡¯s stiff posture. Kari stood, her arms crossed tightly, as if locking her emotions behind an impenetrable fortress. Her amber eyes tracked every move the older wolf made¡ªher aunt, as Sora saw it. With a sigh, Sora sat, trying to soften the tension thickening the air. This doesn¡¯t have to be awkward, she thought, tail flicking nervously through the hole in the chair. Nilly took a seat next to her, folding her legs underneath her with hyperactive twitches, while Kari stood frozen, refusing to budge. Sora couldn¡¯t help but stare at the scares visible around Ylva¡¯s sports bra and her long legs. C¡¯mon, Kari, she¡¯s your aunt! She isn¡¯t going to grab your face and shove it into the ground. She hasn¡¯t been mean¡­to us. And she¡¯s just joking with Nilly. Dry humor. Chill. Relax. Ylva pulled out slabs of raw meat and some vegetables, methodically prepping them for the grill as if they weren¡¯t even there. As she placed the meat on a glowing grill, the faint sizzle filled the room. The silver wolf didn¡¯t bother looking at Kari but spoke with the authority of someone who knew she was being watched. ¡°I know why you¡¯re here, pup.¡± Her voice was quiet but solid as a mountain. ¡°But I can¡¯t help you. That¡¯s it.¡± Kari¡¯s fur bristled instantly, her hands tightening into fists under her armpits. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask for your help,¡± she growled, her voice taut like a stretched wire about to snap. She took a step forward, but Ylva didn¡¯t even glance over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m not some¡ª¡± No! Kari, Sora cried inside. She could turn Jin into a pretzel! ¡°Sit,¡± Ylva softly commanded, her back still turned. Kari paused, stumbling as if a weight had struck her shoulders, and Sora straightened, feeling almost all of Kari¡¯s strength drain out of her in the flash of a second. The chill in that one word hung in the air, freezing any retort Kari might have had as she stumbled to the nearby chair and collapsed into it. For a heartbeat, Sora saw Kari¡¯s stubbornness waver, frustration in her eyes as she panted. The wooden chair creaked under her sudden weight, the tension in her body radiating through the room. Well, this isn¡¯t going great, Sora groaned, trying to suppress a nervous laugh as she fiddled with her fingers under the table. Beside her, Nilly¡¯s split tails twitched, her golden earrings jingling faintly as she hummed a soft, nonchalant tune. Ylva continued cooking, her movements fluid despite her large frame. ¡°Ungrateful, disrespectful, pups¡­¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°I hunt the game, prepare a meal, and all I get are rude growls, glares, and whimpers.¡± Her voice was a low grumble, but it carried. Kari¡¯s jaw clenched and her voice was weaker than Sora had ever heard, sweat gathering across her body. ¡°I didn¡¯t ask you to¡ª¡± ¡°Enough,¡± Ylva interrupted, turning to face Kari for the first time, her stern gaze cutting through the room. ¡°You came here for something, not to release your frustration, didn¡¯t you? I¡¯m damn tired¡­ You have no clue how wrecked my body is, yet you clench your teeth at your weakness? Humph. You have a lot to learn, pup.¡± Kari flinched but didn¡¯t respond. Her amber eyes, usually so sharp and unyielding, flickered with something raw and vulnerable. Sora bit her lip, watching the exchange with a growing knot in her chest. Kari doesn¡¯t need this right now¡­ I thought this would be different. Or¡­maybe she does need this. Maybe she needs to hear it from another female fenris wolf¡­someone from her family. ¡°You think I don¡¯t know the pain and uncertainty running through your heart right now? You think you¡¯re the first lost wolf in the world, trying to figure out where you belong and what to believe or put your trust into?¡± Ylva returned to the stove, her tone softening just slightly as she continued. ¡°It¡¯s hard to find your place when you don¡¯t even know what pieces of your past are real or false¡­let alone your present or future. I get that. But you¡¯ve got a pack that cares for you, disjointed and weird as it might be. That¡¯s more than I had.¡± Well, thanks, Sora internally huffed. We are kind of weird and disjoined, though. Fair. The wolf glanced over her shoulder again, her thick silver hair bunching against her shoulder while looking between Kari and Sora. ¡°Don¡¯t rely on that pack too much. Stand on your own when you have to or you¡¯ll never find that foundation you¡¯re searching for. But when you need them¡­don¡¯t push them away. You don¡¯t want to be alone.¡± A shiver ran down Sora¡¯s spine as she watched the lump drop down Kari¡¯s throat, unable to look at any of them while shifting in her seat. Kari drew in her lips to stop them from trembling, fighting back the heat in her red face and the tears from falling. Ylva¡¯s words hit harder than any punch or bite she could have taken. Ylva finished grilling the meat and set it in front of them with casual ease. The aroma of the seasoned, charred meat filled the room, but Kari barely glanced at it. The silver wolf¡¯s eyes locked onto Kari¡¯s, a gaze filled with a lifetime of pain and struggle. ¡°You can¡¯t afford to be picky, pup. And you can¡¯t afford to wallow in this mess you¡¯re making for yourself. You¡¯ve got someone counting on you. If you suspect it, then don¡¯t hesitate. Would your brother have?¡± A tremor ran through Kari¡¯s entire body, her fingers digging into her thigh. ¡°I didn¡¯t think so.¡± Kari¡¯s usually steely demeanor cracked for just a moment, and she glanced down at the plate before her, swallowing hard. ¡°I know,¡± she mumbled, so quietly Sora barely caught it. ¡°Could it be her?¡± ¡°That¡¯s for you to find out. If you¡¯re done whimpering and crying in your little pity party,¡± Ylva grunted, taking the meat with one hand off her plate and tearing into it. ¡°¡­If it turns out to be what you think or something entirely different¡­does it matter?¡± Sora couldn¡¯t move as Kari slowly unwound her arms and picked up the big piece of meat with both hands, swallowed, and bit into it. ¡°¡­No.¡± ¡°Then there¡¯s your answer. I¡¯m not your friend,¡± Ylva stated, her dull eyes rising to penetrate the wolf teen. ¡°I¡¯m your family. So I¡¯ll give it to you straight. If you want something, get off your ass and do something about it. The pack follows action. Simple as that.¡± Kari didn¡¯t respond, and, despite the tears that fell down her cheeks, there was a steel Sora had never seen in the wolf¡¯s eyes. The rest of the meal passed in near silence. The only sound was the occasional scrape of cutlery against the plates and the quiet sizzle of the remaining food cooking as Ylva brought more meat to slam onto Kari¡¯s plate. Sora tried to catch Kari¡¯s eye a few times, but the wolf girl kept her head down, focused on the plate in front of her as if it was a goal to reach, though she didn¡¯t seem all that hungry. Once the meal finished, Ylva leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms as she studied them with an unreadable expression. ¡°The door¡¯s open,¡± she said finally. ¡°Come back whenever you want, but I won¡¯t always be here to greet you. I¡¯ve got my own path to walk. Like you, I¡¯m still figuring it out. Life is filled with milestones. The finish line isn¡¯t even there when you die.¡± ¡°I can vouch for that!¡± Nilly giggled softly, nudging Sora with her elbow. ¡°Even the ¡®famed deadbeat Cat Mom¡¯ has her issues,¡± she joked, earning a faint smile from Sora. Ylva¡¯s lips twitched upward slightly, and she reached behind her back, rubbing a long scar that ran down her spine. ¡°A warning, Sora¡­¡± Sora blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in the conversation. ¡°If you¡¯re going to be friends with that Valkyrie,¡± she said, her gaze hardening to show a deadly edge, ¡°you should know that things are far more complicated with the Primordials than you or she understands. She could become your enemy one day¡­or have to choose between you and her family.¡± Before she could ask what she meant, Ylva stood up and walked them to the door; it was as if her tongue was lodged to the roof of her mouth. Just as they reached the threshold, the old wolf looked straight at Kari and said, ¡°Let yourself have fun again, pup. Stop punishing yourself. It wasn¡¯t your fault.¡± The door shut with a snap behind them, and with that, Sora turned her ears toward the inside of the cottage, but Ylva was nowhere heard inside. Shifting her head to the right, she froze when a giant silver-furred wolf took up the entire horizon before vanishing in a misty cloud. Kari¡¯s muscles were stiff, her fingernails biting into her palm, mouth tight, but she didn¡¯t argue or say anything in return. Voice husky, and leading the way at a brisk pace, the dark-haired wolf whispered, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Sora watched her move away, feeling a pang of worry settle in her chest. Did I make a mistake? I don¡¯t understand everything that happened, but damn, Ylva is intense and doesn¡¯t beat around the bush. I didn¡¯t even feel whatever she did to Kari that sapped all of her strength¡­but she seems to be recovering now after the meal. Nilly tugged at her hand, pulling her focus before pointing after the wolf¡¯s swaying tail and thick ponytail. ¡°Hmm?¡± Wait, she¡¯s leaving us behind! ¡°Kari! Wait, up!¡± Jogging after her, somehow she managed to catch up, telling Sora that the wolf had a lot on her mind. Yet, when she saw her face, the taller girl wore a small smile, despite the tear stains, as if a huge weight had been lifted. I guess¡­this was positive? Whatever! I¡¯ll take it. Turning to Nilly, trying to lighten the mood, she asked, ¡°You ready for some shopping when we get back and clean up? Wendy will probably be up soon, and she¡¯s become quite the fan of yours. Trust me! She adores kitties. Her mom would never let her have one.¡± Nilly grinned, her tails swishing playfully as she flipped around to skip backward in long bounds to keep up with them. ¡°Now she has me to spoil. Yay! This will be my first shopping trip I can remember! I look forward to classes too. Well, when I¡¯m not a vanishing-act crazy person.¡± Sora giggled. But even as Sora laughed and chatted with Nilly, her thoughts lingered on the silent wolf, rising out of the abyss she¡¯d sunk into. There was a fire burning in the wolf girl¡¯s face now, something ignited by Ylva¡¯s words. This morning didn¡¯t turn out anything like I thought it would. That¡¯s Nilly, shaking things up, as usual. Maybe Kari will open up a bit when Saturday rolls around and we go on our illegal Shadow Pit trip¡­ Maybe. B3 — 4. Final Preparations Sora yawned as she trudged toward the elevator, the morning sun barely creeping over the horizon. Nilly¡¯s energetic persona bounced beside her, more subdued in this stable form but far from gone. Her cat-like eyes wide while pointing out various places in her private realm. Once in the elevator and rising up to the suite, Kari took a slower pace compared to before, arms folded and leaning against the elevator wall. Whatever transpired between Ylva and her seemed to have seriously lit a fire in the wolf. Leaving Kari to brood, Sora tugged lightly at her ponytail, focusing on the bright-eyed cat teen across from her. ¡°Do you think Wendy¡¯s up? We weren¡¯t gone for long, right¡ªmaybe an hour or so?¡± Nilly¡¯s grin widened while bringing around her split tail to examine her fur with mild amusement. ¡°Wendy? I bet she is. She usually wakes up and lounges in bed for a bit to think before getting up. Who knows about the timey-wimey stuff. I don¡¯t pay attention to time. I get to where I get when I get to the place I get to.¡± ¡°Sounds on brand,¡± Sora snickered. The doors slid open, and they stepped out into the grand suite¡¯s hallway. Sora could already hear faint sounds coming from the kitchen. As they approached, she caught sight of her mom bustling around the stove, her ears twitching as she hummed to herself, wrapped in a silk nightgown that shimmered under the early morning light. Noelia was right beside her, wearing a blue sun dress while instructing the fox lady. Of course, Mom¡¯s dressed for comfort. And look at her tails go. Watch out, Mom, you¡¯ll knock off the dishes. Her father sat at the table, dressed sharp and groomed, as usual, while scrolling through his phone with a content smile on his face. Wendy was in her pink pajamas with cartoonish stars spotting them, sitting across from him, sipping a cup of tea, her bright eyes immediately locking onto them as she entered¡ªher perked up tanuki ears probably heard them before exiting. ¡°Morning!¡± Wendy chirped, her bushy squirrel tail wagging slightly. ¡°Where¡¯ve you been? Eyia¡¯s gone, too. Wait, who is¡­Nilly?!¡± Sora waved lazily, making her way to the counter and giving her dad a shrug that put a small smile on his face before returning to his device. ¡°Morning. We were¡­out,¡± she muttered, glancing at Kari, who had stopped near the doorway, still tense. ¡°Oh, uh-huh! This is¡­¡± Her mother turned with a raised eyebrow, her red eyes immediately zeroing in on the cat. ¡°Oh, my tails!¡± A smirk tugged at her lips as she abandoned the kitchen to Noelia to bustle over and sweep the cat into a hug. ¡°Is that really you, Nilly? A teenager? I could have sworn you were always an old cat with those secret silver hairs in your ears,¡± she teased, earning a huffy glare from the Nekomata. ¡°I am not old, Mia,¡± she protested, her ears flicking and cheeks puffing out indignantly. ¡°Well¡­not right now,¡± she grumbled, fending off the snickering fox to cross her arms defensively. ¡°I¡¯m always in my prime! Just because I was there when you were born and your mom and I were close doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m an old cat lady!¡± Sora shot a look at Wendy who returned it, both breaking into silent laughter. A round of chuckles escalated from everyone at the table, even Kari smirked slightly from her spot by the wall. Sora grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl her mother probably had done¡ªcutting fruit was easier than using appliances¡ªand leaned against the counter with a grin. ¡°You do look pretty spry for someone with ¡®secret silver hairs,¡¯¡± she added, dodging Nilly¡¯s playful tail swipe. ¡°I¡¯m just saying!¡± ¡°Yes, haha, Nilly is an old lady with amnesia who is playing a little teen!¡± Before the conversation could continue, a chime echoed through the suite, breaking the calm atmosphere. Oh, guests?¡± Noelia pressed a button on the kitchen wall near her before pulling off a steaming cup of coffee off the counter to sip. ¡°Yes, Aiden, come on up. Sora¡¯s here.¡± Sora raised an arm. ¡°Why do you assume he¡¯s here only to talk with me?¡± Wendy wasn¡¯t the only one who gave her a dull look. ¡°What? Okay, who are you here for, Aiden?¡± she shouted at the intercom. The firebird¡¯s laughter made her ears fold back. ¡°Was I wrong in thinking we had plans for shopping today? It¡¯s cool to come up?¡± ¡°Not exactly,¡± Noelia returned while eyeing the problem. ¡°Mia¡¯s not decent, as usual,¡± she sighed, pausing for a moment as all of them stared at the unabashed fox mom before adding, ¡°but I¡¯ll fix that.¡± ¡°Right¡­ Be up in a second.¡± The light cut, every eye still on Sora¡¯s mom as she took one more look at Nilly and returned to the stove with a flick of her nine tails to help Noelia with breakfast. ¡°You look at me like I¡¯m lazy,¡± Mia mumbled, twisting her hips to examine herself as sparkling light encircled her from the tanuki mom¡¯s flicked tail. ¡°Oh, I like the jeans and blouse combo.¡± ¡°It is your clothes,¡± Noelia mused. Sora listened to the back and forth, taking a bite of her apple. Then, she suddenly straightened, remembering something important. ¡°Mom!¡± The fox wasn¡¯t the only one to jump at her tone. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°Do you think we could do one last hangout today? You know, like a family and friend day before school starts?¡± Her mom¡¯s ears perked up, her tails swaying thoughtfully behind her as she looked between her and the others. ¡°A family and friend day? That sounds lovely, My Little Ember,¡± she said softly, though there was a hint of emotion in her voice. ¡°Are you suggesting Stephanie, the baby, Daisy, Noelia and I should spend time together while you¡¯re out as friends?¡± ¡°Mhm! Oh, and Dad can ¡®hang with the boys¡¯ whatever that entails.¡± Her father chuckled from across the room, stretching his arms above his head. ¡°That sounds like a plan, sweetheart. Besides,¡± he added with a grin that was directed at all of them, ¡°I could use a break from all this estrogen. There¡¯s a lot of tail in this house, to be fair.¡± Every head at the table turned to glare at him, making him raise his hands in surrender. ¡°Half-joking. No need to turn me to ash. Aye, I¡¯m not wrong.¡± Wendy snickered, her tail wagging faster now as she leaned toward Sora. ¡°So, what¡¯s the plan then? Shopping¡­and what? I could use a few more outfits for school if we¡¯re going to be gone for a whole month.¡± Before Sora could answer, Aiden strolled into the kitchen, already dressed in casual clothes¡ªa simple button-down shirt and jeans that looked surprisingly well-kept for someone who usually lived out of a suitcase. He gave a small wave to everyone before quirking an eyebrow at her. ¡°Huh. A new cat girl, huh. Hey, Kari. Nice to see you. What¡¯s got you tight?¡± The wolf returned a dismissive grunt, but her swaying tail paused for a moment before looking away. There was something passed between them before the firebird frowned and turned his attention to her, his smile returning. ¡°So, not a guy¡¯s day, huh?¡± he teased, leaning against the counter beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m being left out of this adventure.¡± Sora grinned, nudging him with her elbow. ¡°It¡¯s a ¡®teen shopping day¡¯ for us, buddy, so you¡¯re stuck with the girls. Not like you have any guy friends to chill with anyway.¡± ¡°Ouch! Where¡¯s the fire?¡± he snorted with the other. ¡°Unless you do have any? Hmm? Hmm?¡± she asked, scooting closer to give him a penetrating stare. ¡°Uh¡­not really,¡± he admitted with a chuckle. ¡°A ton of acquaintances but yeah¡­¡± Sora¡¯s mind blanked, unsure where she was going with that. ¡°Uh. My bad. Anyway, we gotta make sure we have everything we need for school tomorrow. Although, you¡¯re always on top of everything,¡± she sighed, probing for info on the boy. ¡°I bet you¡¯ve got to get everything for the dorm, right?¡± Aiden laughed softly, shaking his head. ¡°Believe it or not, I don¡¯t have much. Traveling a lot, I usually keep a suit and a few outfits at each location. Simple stuff, really.¡± Sora blinked. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re telling me you¡¯ve been traveling the world with only a few outfits? Oh no, we¡¯re changing that today!¡± As the conversation bubbled around her, Nilly stole a lot of attention from Wendy and Noelia. However, Sora couldn¡¯t help but notice the way her mother¡¯s gaze lingered on her. Her usually foxy smile was warm, but there was a tightness in her throat, a small constriction that Sora could almost feel. She¡¯s worried, Sora thought, her heart squeezing as she predicted her mom¡¯s thoughts. My kit is running off to school¡­and leaving me behind. Aww. Mom. I love you but you¡¯re so much more insecure than I thought someone with your powers would be¡­but I guess that¡¯s because you gave up all of that for me. Her mother¡¯s tail flicked, breaking Sora from her thoughts. ¡°A shopping day sounds wonderful,¡± she said, her voice soft but cheerful. ¡°Stephanie does need to get out. And, as your father said, he could use a break from all the ¡®estrogen¡¯ anyway,¡± she added, throwing her husband a playful glare and earning a sheepish laugh from him as he started sliding through his contacts on his phone. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m looking forward to the payback on that comment,¡± he said, raising his hands again in feigned surrender. ¡°I¡¯ll call Ron and the boys. They¡¯ll appreciate the break too.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure they will,¡± Noelia mused, taking his empty plate with a playful smirk that she wouldn¡¯t have dared do before the fox next to her had gotten ahold of the tanuki. ¡°Emotions can run hot in us women, as I¡¯m sure Mia reminds you often enough.¡± ¡°Well, ladies, that¡¯s my signal to leave. Good luck, Aiden,¡± he said with a wave in his retreat. Yet, upon reaching the hallway leading to the other suite, he glanced back at her. ¡°Ah, sweetie, before you head out tomorrow, I¡¯d like it if we could spend the evening together, kit. You, Wendy, and your mothers.¡± Sora¡¯s ears shot up with the other three girls, locking onto him. ¡°I¡¯d like that. Doing¡­final checks of our bags?¡± ¡°We can double-check everything,¡± he agreed with a soft smile, ¡°but mainly I¡¯d like to watch a drama with you lovely ladies before tomorrow. How¡¯s that sound?¡± Warmth spread through Sora¡¯s chest, her tail flicking happily behind her. ¡°I¡¯d love that, Dad,¡± she said softly, her voice almost catching in her throat. The idea of spending one last evening with her family before Avalon made her feel fuzzy inside. As the room settled into a comfortable rhythm, conversation flowed around Avalon starting tomorrow as they ate breakfast. Kari eventually joined them after Noelia¡¯s prompt, learning more about their visit to Ylva¡¯s realm. Wendy wasn¡¯t so happy about being left out of the adventure, but she wasn¡¯t so put off once learning it was Kari¡¯s aunt¡ªyeah, there were daggers thrown from her bushy-tailed sister. Wendy¡­ What am I going to do with you? She groaned, eyeing the brunette as she glared at Kari, taking a giant dish of eggs and bacon to the front room couch rather than the table to eat with them, despite eating at Ylva¡¯s. Is she just upset because she doesn¡¯t have me to herself anymore? Maybe I¡¯m feeling a little guilty about not spending enough time with her¡­ Nilly, now perched comfortably on a barstool, was preening under Mia¡¯s curious gaze, still puffing out her chest every time someone complimented her new, stable teenage form. Not halfway through, Eyia walked down the stairs, making Sora almost choke on a sausage. The blonde yawned, looking more drained and sleep-deprived than she¡¯d ever seen a person, equally as bad, she was still in her simple white nightgown that barely covered her mid thigh. ¡°Uh, nope! Nope! Eyia!¡± she cried out while jumping up to jog over and guide the bewildered girl upstairs; while descending, her navy blue underwear was fully visible, but luckily Noelia¡¯s magic blocked the view from Aiden. ¡°Where have you been?!¡± As Sora ascended the stairs with Eyia by her side, her mind churned over what could be wrong. Eyia was usually unshakable¡ªsolid as a mountain. But the Valkyrie¡¯s furrowed brow and downward-cast eyes told a different story. The second they reached the landing, Eyia paused, gripping the railing with more force than necessary, cracking the wood. Her pale fingers turned white, the knuckles standing out as though she was holding herself together by the thinnest thread. ¡°Eyia¡­¡± Sora¡¯s voice was soft, not wanting to push but needing to understand. ¡°What¡¯s going on? You¡¯ve been¡­off.¡± For a moment, Eyia¡¯s shoulders stiffened, her posture tightening like a bowstring. Then she turned, her icy blue eyes¡ªusually sharp and focused¡ªwere clouded with something Sora rarely saw: doubt. ¡°I am¡­¡± she hesitated, searching for the right words, her English worse than usual. ¡°The block of heads¡­ The stupid of dull spears.¡± The declaration hit Sora like a punch. Eyia? Stupid? That was ridiculous. But before she could react, the Valkyrie continued. ¡°Jin¡­ She told me I was not of dense rocks. But¡­inside, there is this poking finger with a nail of sharpness that speaks foul things¡ªspeaks the venom of J?rmungandr¡­ It says she is lying to spare me the humiliation of disgrace.¡± Eyia¡¯s hand trembled on the railing, and it splintered, causing those below to jump and look up at them as the blonde looked down at the wood fragments across the floor. ¡°I¡­have never faced an enemy like this before.¡± Sora blinked, taking a step forward. ¡°What do you mean, an enemy? Is someone in Avalon messing with you? No¡­ You¡¯re stronger than like¡­almost everyone. What¡¯s going on?¡± Eyia¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line as Sora ushered her into her bathroom to cancel out the noise and give themselves privacy. ¡°No. This foul foe is¡­within, as my father says. I do not know how to fight it, and he speaks in riddles I do not understand the meaning¡­ I am the stupid head. My brain thoughts¡­they twist everything Jin says, make it seem like mockery, like she enjoys seeing the flounder of flopping fishes. I have never¡­never dealt with such irrational fears I could not silence.¡± Sora bit her lip, watching her friend struggle to verbalize something so out of her comfort zone. This is worse than I thought¡­ For Eyia to be this shaken, it had to be something deep-rooted, but is this something I can really handle? Should I get Mary? No, but she needs help now. The Valkyrie had always been so structured, her life revolving around a code of discipline and honor, and now, that very foundation was being shaken due to her opening herself up to being friends with Jin. Jin¡¯s hot and cold attitude wasn¡¯t something someone as stalwart as Eyia was accustomed to.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to help with that, Eyia,¡± Sora admitted, stepping closer and resting a hand on her friend¡¯s tense arm before pulling the taller girl into a hug that the blonde returned, her body trembling. ¡°But I know you aren¡¯t stupid. And whatever¡¯s going on with Jin, it¡¯s not like she¡¯s trying to mock you. She¡¯s just¡­blunt¡­and very bitter about her life, I think. Maybe too much so.¡± Eyia nodded stiffly, but the worry still lingered in her sniffles and quakes. ¡°It¡¯s like¡­that voice, the one telling you Jin is lying,¡± Sora continued, trying to pull from all her therapy sessions over the years to feel her way forward, ¡°it¡¯s not based on fact. It¡¯s something deeper¡ªirrational, like you said. Maybe, umm, maybe we need to figure out where that voice is coming from.¡± Eyia pulled back, her deep blue eyes swimming with uncertainty. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Well¡­¡± Sora thought back to her own experiences with anxiety, recalling the techniques Mary had shown her for dealing with intrusive thoughts. ¡°Maybe you could think of it like this. That voice isn¡¯t you. It¡¯s just a thought¡ªa really annoying, mean thought that doesn¡¯t have any power unless you give it power. Shoot, how do I describe this in a battle scenario¡­¡± Eyia frowned, her teary eyes considering her words as if droplets of water in a drought. ¡°I am¡­supposed to ignore the yapping, as Jin told me?¡± Oh, great, she told Jin about it when they last talked¡­ Don¡¯t tell me Jin told her she¡¯s stupid! Ugh. No wonder Eyia¡¯s spiraling. ¡°Not exactly,¡± Sora mumbled, finding Eyia¡¯s hands to squeeze them and reassure the red-cheeked girl. ¡°Acknowledge it, but don¡¯t let it control you. Like, when it says, ¡®Jin is mocking you,¡¯ you could respond with, ¡®That¡¯s just a thought. It doesn¡¯t mean it¡¯s true.¡¯¡± Sora smiled gently. ¡°It¡¯s not easy. Trust me, I¡¯ve had my fair share of stupid thoughts that made me feel awful¡­ You¡¯re ugly, you stink, your hair is a rat nest!¡± Eyia¡¯s body shook with confused laughter, tears still falling down her cheeks. ¡°That is such nonsense, Sister¡­ You are a very lovely and fragrant fox, and I have seen nests of rats in the hair of giants. You have the very pretty locks of fire¡­copper gleaming in the waxing sun.¡± ¡°Thanks, Eyia, I love that imagery,¡± Sora giggled, trying to build on that humor and break in the downward spiral. ¡°See. You¡¯re smart. This isn¡¯t easy in the moment, but over time, you get better at recognizing them for what they are¡­ Those thoughts are the rock heads, not you! So boo them and tell them they¡¯re not welcome.¡± Eyia stared at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly. ¡°I will¡­try this scare and reverse mockery tactic. Loki would be proud.¡± Sora grinned. ¡°That¡¯s the spirit! Good. And remember, you don¡¯t have to face this alone. We¡¯re all here for you, okay? If those thoughts start ganging up on you, your sisters-in-arms are here to guard your back.¡± The Valkyrie¡¯s expression softened, the tension easing from her posture, just a little. ¡°Thank you, Sister. You are¡­a good friend. Jin has been good to me¡­very excellent. It is just¡­challenging to understand her position and the¡­the shoes of sizes she walks. There is much bitterness in her for her family that¡­troubles me.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Walking in Jin¡¯s shoes can¡¯t be easy,¡± Sora whispered, reflecting on how innocent and loyal the Valkyrie was toward her own family and ideals, despite being exiled by her stepmother during the collapse of her Existence, when she was only a child. While holding and comforting Eyia, her thoughts reflected on what Ylva had warned her about. What is happening with the Primordials? I can¡¯t see Eyia turning against me¡­ever. But, if her family demands it¡­ I really worry about your future, Eyia. You¡¯re so pure¡­ You deserve better. Revitalizing the blonde to the point she didn''t seem to be about to collapse, Sora guided her back to her room to get a change of clothes. Her mood improved as they went on, and Sora realized that the real reason Eyia was so exhausted was because she was facing her toughest opponent¡­herself. They descended the stairs together, Eyia¡¯s steps lighter than before, though Sora knew this was just the beginning of her friend¡¯s battle. Tomorrow would be a whole different beast: Jin¡¯s class. When they reached the bottom, Sora was a tad shocked at the sight of Stephanie and Daisy. Both were already dressed to the nines¡ªStephanie in a chic yet comfortable outfit perfect for a mom''s day out, and Daisy carrying the Celestial¡¯s baby with a shocking amount of practiced ease for a Succubus. ¡°Oh, there you are,¡± Daisy greeted with a bright grin, adjusting her grip as she gave her and Eyia a once-over. ¡°I was starting to wonder if you¡¯d decided to sleep the whole day away, as your mom teased.¡± Sora waved off the comment with a grin and pointed glare at her ¡®innocent¡¯ mother. ¡°Nah, we were just getting ready. You two heading out with Mom and Noelia?¡± Stephanie gracefully nodded, moving closer to Daisy with a fond smile while fussing over her baby. ¡°Indeed. Your mom has a whole day planned for us. A spa, some shopping, lunch at a caf¨¦ she¡¯s been raving about the last few days¡­ All ¡®mom-approved¡¯ activities, I¡¯m told.¡± ¡°Although, I¡¯m not a mom yet,¡± Daisy added with a strained smile. ¡°Is that so?¡± Noelia asked, moving closer with a twinkle in her eyes that made the blonde newly wed woman gulp. ¡°Your son is growing cuter by the day, Steph.¡± ¡°Wait, what was that comment about, Noelia?¡± the Succubus mumbled. ¡°What¡¯s with that tone?¡± Sora laughed as the tanuki continued to gaslight the blustering woman. ¡°Sounds perfect. I hope you have fun!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get into too much trouble while we¡¯re gone,¡± her mother added with a teasing smile while bumping hips with her in passing. ¡°Although, knowing who your mother is, that might be asking the impossible.¡± ¡°Oh, please,¡± Sora called after them as they moved toward the elevator, ¡°what you lack in cooking skills, I make up for in knowing how to have a fun time!¡± ¡°You cheeky kit!¡± her mother playfully huffed, flipping around to point a threatening finger her way. ¡°Just you wait until tonight, My Little Fire Starter! You won¡¯t know when, but I¡¯ll get you back for that comment.¡± ¡°Keep dreaming! Wait, I already saw them last night!¡± ¡°What?! You little vixen! Hehe. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t worry about you,¡± she said with a fond smile, her tails wrapping around one another. ¡°Just¡­don¡¯t forget about your old fur¡­¡± As if I could, Sora internally sighed, figuring that was code for saying ¡®old and split-tailed mom, worrying about her vulnerable little kit.¡¯ Noelia simply waved at Wendy, exchanging a curious look that had Sora¡¯s ears falling back with interest. I feel like I¡¯m getting left out of the loop with some people¡­ Once they were gone, she turned back to the others and clapped her hands, ears flying up. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get ready for our shopping trip! Wendy¡¯s probably bouncing off the walls by now.. Am I right?¡± Wendy, totally acting oblivious, glanced up from brushing her bushy tail. ¡°Huh? Oh, you¡¯re still here?¡± ¡°Oh, shut up! Bushier doesn¡¯t mean better!¡± ¡°Wait, I¡¯m getting a call¡­ It¡¯s from¡­who¡¯s jealous!¡± It didn¡¯t take long for the group to gather, laughter following¡ªAiden, Eyia, a somewhat reluctant and amused Kari at their antics, Wendy, who was indeed bouncing with excitement, and Nilly, who seemed thrilled to join in on anything fun. They hit the stores with enthusiasm, Wendy and Nilly darting from rack to rack, pulling out outfits to show off. Kari hung back, her arms crossed but a tiny smile tugging at her lips as she watched Wendy try on increasingly bold outfits¡ªat least for her. Eyia, as always, remained composed, though she seemed to enjoy the experience in her quiet way, listening and learning. Aiden, confident in his style, picked out a few sharp pieces for himself, even as they teased him for being so put-together. ¡°Hey, what can I say?¡± he smirked, adjusting his collar in front of the mirror. ¡°I¡¯ve got to keep up my businessman image if the monsters are going to respect me.¡± Sora laughed, tossing a hat at him. ¡°That sounds so backward! Wait, is that stereotyping? Monsters and fashion?¡± He rubbed his hands together and gave a suave pose to the side, puckering his lips a bit as if waiting for a photo shoot. ¡°Okay, yeah, yeah, don¡¯t let it get to your head, Mr. Drip.¡± ¡°What was that thing I heard that guy say earlier? Drizzle, drizzle.¡± ¡°Next!¡± Sora and Wendy cried out in unison, shoving him back into the changing room and tossing in some more casual outfits. The shopping trip was filled with laughter and banter, Wendy trying on increasingly wild outfits and making Sora phase the back of every outfit to allow her tail through. Wild for the brunette composed of crop tops and mini-skirts, or things Jane would always glare at since she couldn¡¯t wear such items. Kari begrudgingly participated as Sora nudged her to get a few more outfits if she wanted since she¡¯d probably rip a few with her typical activities, with Aiden backing her up. The wolf surprisingly picked out a few simple yet flattering clothes, mostly shorts and tanks, but branching out with colors and designs. Nilly was the star of the impromptu fashion show, twirling in a variety of playful ensembles. It wasn¡¯t until halfway through that Sora realized the cat had literally bitten out a place for her tail to exit in nearly every outfit she tried¡ªmeaning to say, she had the most clothes by the end of the trip. Between shopping and food breaks, the light started to grow dimmer in the sky. As the day wound down, they made their way back to the hotel, the sun setting behind them, casting long shadows across the crowded Miami Beach sidewalks. Sora sighed contentedly, glancing at her friends, Kari actually getting into a bit of a playful argument with Aiden as the firebird poked at her ¡®safe¡¯ fashion choices. Our last day together before school¡­and maybe we won¡¯t see each other as often. It was a good day. And who knows, there¡¯s a lot to do in Avalon, and Aiden is a grade higher¡­ Plus the size of Avalon is huge. New adventures. New friends¡­ New enemies, no doubt. I hope Ember is okay¡­ Her thoughts returned to Diane, The Foundation, the weird vibes she had on the Moon Base with that creepy silo, the Wizard¡¯s Tower, and that wasn¡¯t even half of the looming threats. Sora¡¯s gaze lifted to the starry skies, her enhanced vision penetrating the light pollution to see the cosmic visage hidden beyond, the moon already in the heavens. Diane¡¯s warning about the Kumiho who broke out, The Darkness, Mom¡¯s worry about Fen and Aunt Inari, Sela¡¯s recovery, Wendy¡¯s Null-Void problems, Aunt Rose, Dad, Nilly¡¯s change, Jin, other Founders and Primordials and so many other mysteries¡­ The lithe image of the fae boy she¡¯d met in the forbidden woods bubbled to the surface, and she smiled. Whatever awaits us in Avalon, I know it will be exciting. After a long day of shopping, they entered the suite. The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a twilight glow over the city. Sora stretched, feeling a sense of fulfillment from the day spent with her friends. Yet, the weight of tomorrow¡¯s journey to Avalon loomed over her. Surprisingly energized, Kari stayed in the living room to argue with Aiden. The two had struck an unexpected topic revolving around a wolf and human bonding books¡ªkind of romance, kind of not, or at least, according to her. Apparently, her former bully had a secret hobby in middle school, one Sora hadn¡¯t known about. The wolf girl¡¯s interest in novels was something Aiden had pointed out but romance? Sora made a mental note to probe later. Maybe there was something they had in common. Hey, she¡¯d never tried those types of novels, so how could she judge? Aiden, the smooth talker that he was, was amused by the conversation, teasing Kari about small details that allowed her to defend her positions and state her interests. It was a master class. Of course, he had known her all his life and was practically her brother, so it made sense he¡¯d know how to press her buttons and get her to open up. Eyia, on the other hand, excused herself to meditate, her stoic demeanor hiding the emotional turmoil she¡¯d briefly shared with her earlier. Sora gave her a hug at the stairs, trying not to get distracted by Kari¡¯s snorts while trying to explain ¡®simple concepts¡¯ that Aiden totally got but played dumb to get her to talk. ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay being alone?¡± she asked as Wendy jogged further into meet up with their parents. ¡°You can join us if you want.¡± The blonde shook her head with a determined smile. ¡°I appreciate the offer, Sister. I need to practice what you¡¯ve taught me if I am to perfect the mockery of self doubt,¡± Eyia said before squeezing her and retreating to her room. The thought of leaving her alone worried Sora, but she knew better than to press Eyia when she needed space. She still didn¡¯t entirely understand the warrior¡¯s culture or mind state. She sighed softly and glanced at Wendy, who poked her head out from the hallway with a light glare. ¡°Are you coming or not, slowpoke?¡± ¡°Coming! Wait, where did Nilly go?¡± she asked, moving toward the media room. ¡°I didn¡¯t even notice she disappeared¡ªthe elevator?¡± The brunette shrugged. ¡°Last I saw her. She¡¯ll probably show back up at some point.¡± ¡°Right¡­¡± Brow furrowing and drifting to the floor, she rubbed her elbow as a prickle ran down her spine. Is it just me or¡­does it feel like Nilly¡¯s everywhereness is like¡­she¡¯s running away from something that¡¯s chasing her? I hope she¡¯s okay. What am I even thinking! She¡¯s Nilly, the freaking Dead Cat Mother¡ª1st Generation Founder of the flipping Cats! But¡­I¡¯m still worried. Her ears flew up as a shock reverberated through her whole body, making her go stock still and making Wendy shift into the hall. ¡°You okay, Sis?¡± Forcing a laugh, her ears flattened as she jogged forward to join her. ¡°Yeah¡­ Maybe I¡¯m more like my mom than I thought. I worry¡­a lot.¡± ¡°Join the club! But you ready for some quality family time?¡± Wendy asked, her wide, innocent eyes sparkling with excitement. Despite all the emotional chaos swirling around them, Wendy could always find a way to brighten the atmosphere. ¡°My mom¡¯s going to magic us up some otherworldly treats she found in her travels!¡± ¡°Yeah, let¡¯s do it,¡± Sora replied, her tail flicking slightly as she followed Wendy. As they entered the media room, their mothers were already there. Noelia was chatting with Mia, while their father sat on the couch, scrolling through his phone and making her a tad curious at what he¡¯d been looking at recently. His calm demeanor contrasted with the lively conversation between the two women. Her mom noticed them first. ¡°Well, look who finally decided to join the party! I didn¡¯t know you inherited your father¡¯s turtle side,¡± she joked, a playful smirk on her lips while nudging him. ¡°Oh, please, Mia,¡± Noelia snickered, ¡°if it wasn¡¯t for me, you¡¯d spent four hours in the bathroom.¡± ¡°Ahh! Traitor! We don¡¯t talk about the bathroom,¡± she gasped, smacking the woman with a pillow and making the brunette snicker and defend herself. ¡°I¡¯m still learning proper fur care, okay?!¡± ¡°Sure. Sure. I hear Aiden bothering Kari about books?¡± Noelia added, her eyes twinkling with amusement. ¡°She seems to be doing better.¡± ¡°Yup,¡± Sora grinned, figuring she¡¯d created a barrier where they could speak without ¡®interrupting¡¯ the siblings. ¡°You should hear her defend it as an ¡®emotional¡¯ bond. It¡¯s deeper. She¡¯s totally locked in.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve heard them,¡± her mother giggled, setting down her fluffy weapon. ¡°That girl could debate for hours about this ¡®wolf semi-romances.¡¯ Who knew she had such a soft side?¡± Sora flopped down next to Wendy, her ears twitching with amusement. ¡°Okay, enough teasing Kari. I¡¯ll do most of that later. I¡¯m picking the show tonight,¡± she announced, grabbing the remote. ¡°Oh no,¡± Wendy said, narrowing her eyes with mock suspicion. ¡°What¡¯s it going to be this time? Don¡¯t tell me¡­another Japanese romance drama?¡± Sora smirked, scrolling through the streaming service. ¡°Hey, if we¡¯re going to have a chill night before we head to Avalon, we¡¯re going all in, Ms. Magical Girl. How about ¡®Love in Tokyo¡¯?¡± Noelia raised an eyebrow. ¡°You mean that ridiculously sappy one with the clumsy girl and the genius guy?¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± Sora said, her grin widening. ¡°It¡¯s perfect for a certain someone.¡± Her dad chuckled from across the L-shaped couch, holding hands with her mom; ten tails were locking him in place from getting up. ¡°Well, as long as it¡¯s not one of those intense action-packed things. I could use a break from all the fighting.¡± Wendy groaned. ¡°Fine. But if it gets too cringey, I¡¯m calling it quits. I¡¯m all for drama romance¡ªtrust¡ªbut some of your stuff, Sora¡­¡± ¡°Call my taste trash! Hehe. C¡¯mon. And¡­play!¡± They settled in, the first episode playing on the large screen. As the characters stumbled through their awkward, dramatic romance, the room filled with laughter and playful jabs at the over-the-top moments. Sora couldn¡¯t help but glance around, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. This¡ªthese moments with her family and friends¡ªthis was what she cherished. Between episodes, they took breaks to double-check their bags and prepare for tomorrow. Sora had packed along their daily shopping trip, but she still went through her suitcase again, making sure she had everything she needed for their stay at Avalon. Wendy was meticulously folding her clothes, while her mother offered tips on what might come in handy at the academy. It was the kind of calm before the storm that Sora had come to appreciate. Once they were satisfied that everything was packed and ready, they returned to the media room. A few more episodes later, everyone began to feel the weight of the day catching up to them and it was time to call it a night. Sora yawned, stretching her arms above her head as she glanced at the clock. It was late¡ªlater than she had expected. Tomorrow, she¡¯d be setting up in Avalon¡¯s dorms, starting a new chapter in her life. The thought made her both excited and a little nervous. I¡¯m leaving home. A quake ran through her bones, an unfamiliar pang of anxiety twisting her gut, unlike any she¡¯d felt before while looking between her dad, mom, and Noelia. I¡¯m leaving home¡­ Her mother stood up first, her tails swaying behind her as she stretched side to side, now dressed in fuzzy pajamas. ¡°Alright, kittos. I think that¡¯s enough drama for tonight. Time to call it.¡± Sora gave a sleepy nod, standing up and giving her mother a quick hug and kiss on the cheek. ¡°Thanks, Mom. I¡¯m glad we got to do this¡­ That you¡¯re here when I need you.¡± Her mother¡¯s expression softened, her red eyes glistening with affection. ¡°Me too, My Little Ember.¡± One by one, they all said their goodnights. Wendy stayed behind for a few extra minutes, chatting with her mom before heading to bed. Aiden gave Sora a casual wave, heading off to his suite across from Howie¡¯s place with a yawn, while Kari stayed back, still flipping through the book he¡¯d surprised her with¡ªthough Sora could see she was only pretending to read, her mind clearly elsewhere. As Sora settled into her bed, her room quiet and still, she found herself staring at the ceiling, her thoughts drifting to Avalon. So much has happened in such a short time. It almost feels like I¡¯ve had magic all my life at this point¡­ I need to learn the basics around it, though. I¡¯m stronger than I was. My family is whole. With a deep breath, she pulled the covers up and closed her eyes, her tail curling around her legs as a jingle and weight pressed between her legs. Smiling, she didn¡¯t even have to check who it was¡ªNilly was home. With that, she drifted into her dreams. B3 — 5. Leaving Home A Mess Sora jolted up to the familiar buzz of her alarm, a jarring sound that ripped her from the warm cocoon of sleep. With a groan, she reached out, smacking the nightstand until her fingers found the button to silence the noise as something rolled off the foot of her bed. Suddenly, a loud thud and a yelp jolted her fully awake. Sora whipped her head toward the foot of her bed just in time to see a startled Nilly mid-air, her tails stiff as boards, eyes wide in panic as she landed with an awkward flop off the bed, wrapped in a sheet cocoon. ¡°Nilly?!¡± ¡°Gah!¡± Nilly groaned, wiggling on the ground as she failed to untangle herself. ¡°I¡¯m stuck! Help!¡± Her voice was muffled through the fabric as she flailed, trying to free herself. Sora couldn¡¯t hold back the snort, the sight too ridiculous to ignore. She rubbed her eyes, still half-asleep but thoroughly amused. ¡°How¡­how do you even do that?¡± ¡°This is embarrassing,¡± Nilly grumbled, still wriggling like a trapped fish. ¡°I swear, I was just sleeping, and then¡ªbam! The siren blared, and I got scared! Next thing I know, I¡¯m wrapped like a mummy. Help?¡± Sora sat up, yawning as she threw her legs over the side of the bed. She winced at the slight tingle in her muscles from a strange electricity that had sparked in her chest. ¡°Mmm! Weird¡­ Okay, okay,¡± she mumbled, kneeling to inspect the bundled cat. Her flicking ears and wiggling split tail were the only thing visible. ¡°Hold still¡­ Wow, you really went all in on trying to become a butterfly!¡± ¡°Not nice, Sora¡­ How did this even happen?¡± ¡°I¡¯m playing!¡± Her hands worked quickly, freeing Nilly from the tight mummy wrap, she was pleasantly surprised to see the cat dressed in the sardine-themed pajamas that they¡¯d picked out yesterday. ¡°Did you sleep here all night? Looking cute, too.¡± Nilly shrugged, looking up at her with big, innocent eyes and flushed cheeks. ¡°I guess? And thanks¡­ I kind of go to sleep wherever I go to sleep. Last thing I remember is shopping with you, and then¡­¡± She yawned, her sharp teeth peeking through. ¡°Then this alarm¡­ Ugh. It wasn¡¯t even a song. Just noise. Mmm. It¡¯s still warm. Prrrrr¡­¡± Sora chuckled, her fingers deftly pulling the last of the cover off the girl. Immediately, she body-slammed her mattress and sprawled out across the bed like a lazy housecat, her tails twitching with sleepy contentment. ¡°Even stabilized, you¡¯re still such a cat,¡± she teased, brushing some stray hair out of her eyes. ¡°Still a sleepy cat,¡± Nilly murmured, her voice muffled as she buried her face in a pillow, adorable purrs escaping her throat. ¡°I¡¯ll just sleep here a little longer. You can wake me up later, right?¡± Sora stood, placing her hands on her hips with a smirk. ¡°There are plenty of rooms open for you to take.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m good.¡± ¡°In other words, you¡¯re telling me you want to sleep at someone¡¯s feet again and not sleep alone, huh? Wendy, me¡­anyone?¡± ¡°Mmhmm, thanks for understanding, Fluffy Tail. You¡¯re the best,¡± Nilly purred, her voice trailing off as sleep overtook her again. Narcoleptic Cat Founder? Shaking her head, Sora glanced down at her maybe cat friend, an amused smile tugging at her lips. Fair enough. What a very bad and very good kitty you are¡­ Is this how you acted with my grandma? Well, have a good sleep, sardine warrior. She waved her hand, using her magic to summon several outfits from the closet that she¡¯d had an eye on the previous night, she examined them before going to the closet. Sora stood in front of the mirror, her eyes sweeping over the options in her closet. It wasn¡¯t just about picking any dress¡ªit was the first day of school at Avalon Academy, and she needed something that felt right. A bit elegant, but not too showy. No, who was she kidding? She wanted to stand out! Confident and true to her bold style. Her fingers lingered over a dark blue dress floating to her right, its fabric catching the light in a way that almost made it sparkle like the night sky. Threads of silver embroidery wove intricate patterns across the bodice and hem, resembling a tapestry of stars. The design was simple but elegant, hugging her figure before flaring out into a soft, flowing skirt that brushed the tops of her knees in the front and cascaded down in the back like the tails of a shooting star. Bold¡­and it looked like the dress code was fairly open, and I can hide my shoulders with my hair with a bit of magic if needed¡­ It would certainly make a statement. I¡¯m not shy! I was scared to wear this kind of thing to school¡­ No more! ¡°This is it,¡± she murmured, a small smile tugging at her lips as she phased it onto her frame, her nightwear neatly folding into her laundry basket. The deep, midnight hue shimmered subtly under her touch, as though the fabric itself carried a touch of magic. The silver patterns danced like constellations, twinkling with an ethereal glow. The designer dress fit perfectly¡ªsoft, elegant, and just the right amount of mystique to draw eyes. Turning slightly, she admired the way the dress swayed with her movements. Her copper hair tumbled down her back, matching her fiery tail that flicked in anticipation behind her, the soft waves of her hair complementing the shimmer of the dress. She added a choker, emerald necklace to match her eyes, silver bracelet, and a sapphire hair accessory. Bringing up her two-inch heels to cycle through them, a smile tugged at her mouth as she selected a deep blue pair, using a bit of magic to add a similar design to them as the dress before slipping on an anklet piece to the opposite leg as her bracelet. ¡°Perfect,¡± she whispered to herself, the weight of the moment settling in her chest. Today wasn¡¯t just another day¡ªit was the start of something new, something magical. Today¡¯s the big day¡­ First impressions at Avalon Academy. I need to make a statement. Satisfied with her fit, Sora quietly slipped out of her room, careful not to wake Nilly. As she padded down the hallway, she listened intently, surprised to hear the faint sounds of conversation downstairs. Wendy¡¯s already up? I guess she was usually up before me as kids. Passing by her parents¡¯ door, she noticed the soft glow of light coming from under the bathroom. The only question was if it was just her dad, or if her mom was in there with him, because without a doubt, if she was up, he was up. When she reached the kitchen, she was greeted by the smell of something savory and the sight of Wendy and Noelia, already bustling about. Wendy shot her a bright grin, her squirrel-like tail twitching with excitement as she pointed toward the table. ¡°Morning, sleepyhead! Oh, you little vixen¡­ I¡¯m going to have to change if you wear something like that! I¡¯m in a jacket, tank top, and skinny jeans!¡± ¡° Eyia¡¯s still knocked out, but she left a note.¡± The brunette giggled, pointing at the piece of paper on the table. ¡°It¡¯s¡­well, you¡¯ll see.¡± Sora wandered over to the table, picking up the note. It was written in perfect cursive, each letter flowing gracefully across the page. But the content¡­ She couldn¡¯t help but laugh. Eyia had gotten the word meanings wrong, but the execution was flawless. ¡°Dearest Sisters,¡± Sora began, clearing her throat, ¡°I has decided to sleep for more of the thirty minutes longer than is the time of meals. Much of energy has been the spent in training! Fear not, as I shall awaken with sword of sharpness and heart of sturdy steel. ¡°May today bring glory and much of honor to pancakes! Please be well in the doing of today¡¯s morning happenings. ¡°By the words of wise All-Father: Sleep much, so mind much. ¡°Eyia¡­¡± Sora snickered. ¡°Flawless victory!¡± ¡°Right?¡± Wendy returned, setting down a glass of orange juice in front of her. ¡°I love Eyia. She¡¯s so pure and honest. It makes me want to be better.¡± ¡°Speaking of flawless¡­¡± Sora¡¯s smile faded as she glanced at Noelia. ¡°How¡¯s my mom? Not holding up well, I assume.¡± Noelia¡¯s smile turned sad, her hands busy flipping the blueberry pancakes on the stove. ¡°She¡¯s¡­a little upset. Didn¡¯t get a wink of sleep. I took the night watch, trying to calm her down all night. Your dad took over about an hour ago so I could start getting things ready.¡± Sora groaned, running a hand through her copper hair. ¡°As cute as that is, what am I going to do with her? She¡¯s totally helpless without me around.¡± The tanuki¡¯s voice softened as she returned to her cooking, bumping tails with her daughter to initiate an adorable fencing war. ¡°Your mother has lived for millions of years, Sora. She¡¯s never had to experience life like this¡­ Vulnerable, without her powers. Imagine looking perfect your entire life without a thought. Never worrying about food, going to the bathroom, or other bodily needs¡­or crushing guilt. She¡¯s struggling, yes, but she¡¯s trying to show you her real self¡ªthe new mother she¡¯s become compared to her selfish me-me-me Mia of the past.¡± Sora¡¯s heart clenched, warmth and pain swirling inside her. ¡°She¡¯s a perfect mess,¡± she murmured, ¡°and I love how hard she¡¯s trying.¡± Wendy perked up, trying to brighten the heavy atmosphere. ¡°Sounds like my mom. She¡¯s new at this whole ¡®being a mom¡¯ thing too, but Noelia¡¯s doing great, too! Better than great! I win¡ªack¡­ How did you get my tail in that angle?!¡± Her tanuki mother gave her a wink and half-smirk. ¡°A little thing called experience.¡± The morning buzz of the household filled Sora with a quiet satisfaction. Between the playful jabs, the warmth of pancakes, and the company of her friends and family, it felt like the perfect calm before the storm of their Avalon journey. Sora took a slow sip of her juice, her ears twitching as she listened to Wendy banter with her mom, enjoying the joy in her sister¡¯s voice. When a familiar scent drifted down the stairs, she swiveled in her chair upon a bathroom opening up and a certain nine-tailed fox descended the stairs. Her mother appeared, looking absolutely frazzled with her dad in tow, his arm lovingly draped over her shoulder. The dark circles under her eyes told the tale of a sleepless night, and her puffy fur was more reminiscent of an anxious, stressed-out fox than her usual seductive and playful self. ¡°Morning, Mom!¡± Sora chirped with a grin, setting her cup down as her mother shuffled into the kitchen. ¡°You doing okay? No, who am I kidding? You look great!¡±Stolen story; please report. Her mom gave a tired but fond smile, her tails flicking with a half-hearted wag as she examined her from head to toe. ¡°Mmm, enough about my train wreck, you look stunning, sweetheart,¡± she mumbled, her voice soft, though it lacked its usual sass. ¡°That dress¡­ It¡¯s like you¡¯re trying to outshine the stars. Well, you already do, so it¡¯s like you¡¯re rubbing it in at this point.¡± ¡°Aww! Thanks, Mom.¡± ¡°Only speaking the hard facts¡­ You¡¯re going to knock them dead at Avalon,¡± she choked, fighting tears and trying not to rush forward to smother her in hugs and kisses. Her dad chuckled, smoothing down the wild strands of her mom¡¯s hair before looking at Sora with pride glimmering in his forest-green eyes. ¡°You do look amazing, a chro¨ª,¡± he said warmly, using the Irish term for ¡®my heart.¡¯ ¡°I always knew you¡¯d grow into a real heartbreaker.¡± Sora blushed slightly, brushing her hair back as Wendy gave her a smug look for some weird reason. ¡°Thanks, Dad.¡± She turned to her mother, offering a soft smile. ¡°You should go fix your fur, though. Unless you want to look like you fought a lightning storm.¡± Wendy snorted into her juice, then quickly wiped her mouth. ¡°Now I really need to change. I can¡¯t have Sora being the only one looking like royalty.¡± ¡°Royalty?! What?¡± Sora glanced down at her outfit. ¡°Bit of a reach there; I don¡¯t even have a tiara.¡± ¡°Like you need one!¡± Mia sighed dramatically but managed a teasing grin, though it didn¡¯t quite reach her ruby eyes. ¡°I guess you¡¯ve all outdone this old fox, huh? Well, I better go¡­tame this,¡± she muttered, gesturing vaguely to her fluffy tails before slipping out of her husband¡¯s embrace. He followed her upstairs to make sure she didn¡¯t trip over her own feet, being the klutz she was, giving a thankful smile back at Noelia, who returned it. Not soon after they vanished, Kari strode into the kitchen, dressed in her usual attire¡ªtank top, shorts, and sneakers. She wordlessly grabbed a giant plate of pancakes, offering a curt nod to the room before heading out to the terrace. Wendy narrowed her eyes, glaring daggers at her retreating back. ¡°Kari! That¡¯s like¡­half the pancakes!¡± Kari just gave a dismissive wave over her shoulder, not even bothering to turn around. ¡°Better get to them faster next time,¡± she called back, her voice flat but a smirk tugging at her lips and thoroughly shocking Sora as the wolf¡¯s tail flicked back and forth. She didn¡¯t! Wendy huffed, crossing her arms as she watched the wolf¡¯s tail disappear outside. ¡°Ugh. Why do I even try? Just take what she wants.¡± Sora just chuckled. ¡°C¡¯mon, Wendy, she is a hungry wolf and we¡¯ve got a lot of batter.¡± ¡°That you and she didn¡¯t help make,¡± the brunette shot back. ¡°Blah!¡± ¡°Boop.¡± Noelia¡¯s tail snaked out to jab her daughter in the nose, making her stumble back. ¡°Mom!¡± ¡°Be nice.¡± ¡°Mmmgm. Eyia!¡± Eyia descended the stairs next, dressed more practically in a blouse and jeans, her icy blue eyes focused as ever. Aiden rang the bell shortly after, his casual tone making Sora¡¯s heart rate pick up. It didn¡¯t take long for him to reach the kitchen, attire looking sharp as always. And finally, Nilly appeared last. To Sora¡¯s surprise, the cat girl was actually wearing what appeared to be a school uniform¡ªcomplete with a pleated skirt, dress shirt, and jacket that looked suspiciously similar to the logos at Avalon Academy. Sora blinked, giving Nilly a once-over. ¡°Are you serious right now?¡± Nilly grinned, twirling around. ¡°Like it? It was just there, hanging on the stand! I think the Herald dropped it off for me. I¡¯ve never been to school before!¡± Aiden arched an eyebrow. ¡°You look¡­surprisingly normal, Nilly.¡± ¡°Right?¡± the cat beamed, her split tails flicking back and forth with pride. ¡°Nilly¡¯s the cutest¡ªack! Me, I¡­I¡¯m the cutest¡­ Mmmgm.¡± They all giggled as the cat buried her red face in her arms. ¡°You certainly are the cutest,¡± Sora smirked, waving her hand to summon their suitcases out of the front room and making them float with a desire. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s get this show on the road. We don¡¯t want to be late¡­ Where¡¯s my mom? Still upstairs?¡± she whispered, looking that way with a sad smile. ¡°Let me go get her.¡± Sora moved to stand at the bottom of the stairs, staring up toward the closed bathroom door. Taking a deep breath, she pushed onward to the upper level. She gripped her elbow upon nearing the door, ears falling flat and a melancholy smile lifting her lips as the sound barrier lifted. Thanks, Noelia¡­ What she heard with her heightened senses made her heart ache as she listened in silence, listening to her mother¡¯s sniffles. Oh, Mom. I can¡¯t leave you when you¡¯re like this. She lingered, shifting to the wall and being quiet, the dread in her mother¡¯s voice gripping her stomach. Mom¡­ You won¡¯t let me in, so I don¡¯t know how to help. Dad, please help her. ¡°I know she¡¯s ready, but¡­Jarlath, she¡¯s going to Avalon. That place, it¡¯s¡­ What if¡ª¡± ¡°Mia, love,¡± her dad¡¯s deep, calming voice cut through her mother¡¯s sobs. ¡°She¡¯s stronger than you think. You¡¯ve done everything you could. She¡¯s capable. Sora¡¯s got this.¡± ¡°But what if she¡¯s not ready and¡­and she hates me? What if I¡¯ve¡­failed her in the end? Fen, The Foundation, everything awaiting her within that broken realm. If something happens to her and I¡¯m not there¡­ How can I protect her when I can¡¯t even use a hair dryer, much less handle any unforeseen threats?! What was I thinking¡­¡± Sora¡¯s throat tightened, pressing her lips together as the words struck her heart like a dagger. Her mom had always been strong, independent, and had lived solely for herself for millions of years. It wasn¡¯t just enemies she was trying to predict and counter, but herself. It was also hard to hear this side of her confident mother¡ªthe raw, unfiltered anxiety and fear¡ªwas something so unlike yet exactly the same as the mom she¡¯d first met after transforming. Her dad¡¯s voice softened, and Sora imagined him pulling her mother into his arms, just like he always did when she was at her most vulnerable; she¡¯d seen it over the week from time to time. ¡°Mia, you haven¡¯t failed her. You¡¯ve given her all the tools she needs. Avalon may be dangerous, but she isn¡¯t going there alone. Wendy, Kari, Aiden, Eyia, and, apparently, even Nilly will be with her. And if anything happens, we¡¯ll be right here for our daughter. You¡¯re not in this alone.¡± A small chuckle broke through her mom¡¯s sobs. ¡°You always say the right things¡­ How do you do that without any abilities or powers?¡± ¡°Years of experience as a mortal, I guess,¡± he replied, his tone light but steady. ¡°I¡¯m her dad, just like you¡¯re her mom. We both want what¡¯s best for her¡­ And giving her space to grow into the woman she wants to be is what is best for her.¡± Dad¡­ Her mom sniffed again, her voice trembling but laced with a hint of amusement. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ I don¡¯t know how to stop worrying about her. She¡¯s going off on her own, and it feels like everything is slipping out of my hands.¡± Sora closed her eyes, taking a deep breath as she steadied herself. She couldn¡¯t stand outside and listen anymore. With a gentle knock, she rapped her knuckles against the bathroom door. There was a pause before the door cracked open, and her father¡¯s warm, familiar face peeked through. ¡°Sora.¡± His voice was soft, a smile tugging at his lips. ¡°Give us a minute?¡± Before Sora could respond, her mother, voice still thick with emotion but tinged with a forced lightness, called out. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡­ Let her in, Jarlath.¡± The door opened further, revealing her mom sitting on the bathroom counter, her usually flawless fur¡ªNoelia¡¯s handiwork more than her mom¡¯s¡ªwas disheveled, and her red eyes puffy from tears. Her mother attempted a smile, but it was shaky at best. Sora stepped inside, her heart aching at the sight of her mom. The powerful, confident vulpes who could command a room with a flick of her tails looked fragile¡ªlike spun glass¡ªand Sora could feel it in every twitch of her mother¡¯s ears. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to hear that, sweetheart,¡± she whispered, scooting off to reach out to pull her into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­ No trouble. I¡¯m just¡­¡± she made an awkward, indecisive gesture, like she was grasping at straws and struggling to find the right words. Sora melted into the embrace, wrapping her arms around her mother¡¯s waist as her tails encircled them. ¡°It¡¯s okay, Mom. It¡¯s okay to feel like this. I¡¯m scared too.¡± Her mother¡¯s breath hitched, her sweet hold tightening as if afraid to let go. ¡°You¡¯re my Little Ember, Sora¡­ I just¡­don¡¯t want to see you snuffed out¡­to lose you.¡± ¡°You won¡¯t,¡± Sora whispered, her voice trembling slightly as she squeezed her mom tighter. ¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere, I promise. Avalon is just another step¡­and you¡¯ve prepared me for it, right? I¡¯ve got friends and support from the highest people in Avalon.¡± Her mother¡¯s chest fluttered against hers, chuckling through her tears. ¡°You¡¯re too good at this¡­ Too good at being the strong one when I should be the one comforting my little kit, off to the battleground that is school. I thought I¡¯d be the one giving you a pep talk¡­ How silly of me.¡± Sora pulled back slightly, looking at her mother with a small smile. ¡°I mean, who¡¯s my mom again?¡± Her mom¡¯s eyes glistened, her lips quivering as she leaned over to kiss her on the forehead. ¡°And that¡¯s what I¡¯m worried about! Well, at least you¡¯re not like your aunt Nari or Sei¨­bo¡­ I love you, My Little Ember.¡± Her dad stood by the door with his arms folded, smiled softly at the exchange. ¡°Mia, we have an amazing daughter. She¡¯s going to be fine. And when she¡¯s not, she¡¯s got us.¡± After a few more minutes of comfort and shared warmth, her mom finally pulled away, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. ¡°Alright¡­alright. We should get going before we make ourselves more of a mess and you¡¯re late¡­ My, what a beautiful young woman you are. You¡¯ve got more of your grandmother in you than me, I swear!¡± Sora chuckled, rubbing her arm. ¡°That makes no sense, Mom. And you¡¯re not a mess; you look great!¡± ¡°Liar,¡± she snickered, a hint of her usual sass returning as she tousled her hair. ¡°I¡¯ll get cleaned up, and we¡¯ll head down.¡± ¡°Let me help¡­¡± Her mother¡¯s shiny red eyes creased. ¡°I¡¯m so hopeless without you.¡± Giggling and spinning her mother around to face the mirror, she wrapped her in her magic, soothing her soul. ¡°¡­And I feel the same way about you. Thank you for all you¡¯ve done for me, Mom,¡± she whispered, kissing the back of her head and making her mom¡¯s body quake again, but this time with tears of joy. Once finished and downstairs, the rest of the group had gathered, waiting for them. Wendy had already darted back up the stairs to change. Eyia stood near the door, her practical blouse and jeans giving off an air of readiness, her long blonde hair tied back in a neat ponytail. Kari was leaning against the wall, quiet as always but with a look of determination in her amber eyes for¡­something. The wolf had changed a lot since that talk with Ylva. Once Wendy returned with a bold red dress that had Sora clapping, their father and mothers joined them at the elevator. Mia¡¯s arm tucked around Jarlath¡¯s. As they approached, Mia¡¯s gaze softened, her expression still vulnerable but more composed, Noelia on the opposite side. ¡°I¡¯m proud of you, Sora. So proud¡­but I¡¯m going to miss you. Every second.¡± Sora expression softened, her own heart squeezing at the sight of her mother¡¯s barely contained emotions. ¡°I¡¯ll miss you too, Mom¡­ I¡¯ll be back before you know it. Just¡­try not to burn down the building and lean a little on Dad and Noelia.¡± Her mom¡¯s lips trembled, and she swallowed hard before leaning in to kiss her forehead one last time. ¡°Be safe, My Little Ember.¡± ¡°I will,¡± Sora promised, her voice barely a whisper as she stepped into the elevator with the others. Waving them off, she breathed out a long stream of air when the doors closed, Wendy nudging her side and offering a supportive grin. That¡¯s it¡­ We¡¯re off! It didn¡¯t take long for them to reach the portal to Avalon Academy, and Sora blinked in surprise when she saw Ember waiting for them at the gate. I totally forgot Ember was meeting us! ¡°Ember!¡± she waved, but the Fire Fairy didn¡¯t zip over to chat, instead waiting for them to approach. ¡°Ember?¡± Her cheer diminished as the flickering, tiny lady gave her a formal curtsy. ¡°Lady Sora, it is a pleasure to serve you. I apologize for not being there to guide you, as was my duty. We should first visit the dormitories to deposit your goods.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Sora gave Nilly and Wendy a glance, their heads tilting at the formal exchange, but none of them had spent nearly as much time with Ember as her to realize the strange cadence shift. Something feels¡­off. There¡¯s no weird flux or change in magic, though. Weird. Gone was the bubbly, ditzy Fire Fairy she¡¯d come to know. Ember floated there with a graceful, almost regal composure. Her fiery hair flowed down her back, and her usual playful expression had been replaced by a cool, respectful demeanor. ¡°Ember?¡± Sora asked, ears flipping back as Kari watched with a bored expression and Eyia scrutinized their interaction. ¡°Are you okay? You don¡¯t have to be all formal with me. What kind of punishment did they give you?¡± Ember¡¯s lips curved into a small, restrained smile. ¡°The punishment is something I cannot disclose, Lady. But I¡¯ll continue to do my best to guide you.¡± The distant tone in Ember¡¯s voice made Sora¡¯s heart sink. She reached out, hesitating for a moment before carefully pulling Ember into a hug; her flames were hot against her fingers but didn¡¯t burn. ¡°I don¡¯t know what that punishment lady did¡­but I¡¯m sorry if this changes things between us or you got hurt.¡± Ember stiffened for a moment, before relaxing slightly in her gentle embrace. ¡°I appreciate your concern, but it¡¯s nothing to worry about. My role is to assist you, and I will continue to do so to the best of my abilities.¡± Sora eased up, allowing her wiggle room to float back. With one final glance toward the elevator and Stephanie¡¯s cottage, Sora turned back to Ember. Something¡¯s definitely changed. Okay, Ember, I guess Avalon¡¯s mysteries start here. It¡¯s time I learn how to properly use my powers. No magic I can detect controlling Ember, but something definitely changed¡­ And I¡¯ll find out what it is. I want my ditzy Fire Fairy back! Looking between her sister, Eyia, Kari, Aiden, and Nilly, together, they stepped through the shimmering portal, leaving behind her family and entering Avalon. B3 — 6. A Shy Songstress Sora¡¯s breath caught as the portal rippled around her, the air shimmering with a faint hum as she passed through the veil separating her private realm from Avalon. A fleeting sensation of weightlessness gripped her chest, then dissipated in an instant, leaving a cool, tingling pressure on her skin. Her copper locks fluttered in the magical breeze as she stepped onto the other side, her shoes making a soft crunch against the thick, verdant grass. The sight before her was no less stunning than her last trip through Avalon. The colossal river still surged to her right, roaring in vibrant turquoise waves as it jetted from the cliffside into the endless mists below. Her stomach gave a familiar squirm, equal parts excitement and unease, as she turned to take in the view. Overhead, the cosmic sky opened up like a living canvas, swirling nebula clouds casting radiant hues of violet and silver across the heavens. Above them were the colossal expanse of the World Tree, fruit like yellow suns spotting the vast space, providing light. In the distance, airships, massive and grand, soared like giants over the misty plains. Fae of all sizes¡ªfairies, nymphs, even griffins¡ªdotted the sky, flitting about like stars in motion. This place always feels so¡­alive with energy. ¡°Sora,¡± Ember¡¯s soft voice broke through her thoughts, the Fire Fairy hovering just beside her with a faint glow, her demeanor still unnervingly formal. ¡°We need to proceed. The transportation hub is just ahead through the second gateway.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­right,¡± Sora mumbled, eyes lingering on the twinkling sky for a moment longer before she reluctantly pulled herself away. Her tail flicked behind her, twitching with the residual energy from the portal that lingered on it for some reason¡ªit was the first time she recognized the sensation. She followed Ember toward the next gateway, Wendy and Eyia already moving ahead, deep in conversation about classes. Well, the bushy-tailed brunette was hyped, doing a good job of distracting the Valkyrie as the blonde no doubt struggled with the one ¡®apparently¡¯ mandatory class about magical combat defense. Kari was as dull-eyed as ever, her thick tail lazily weaving behind her with the high ponytail her hair was pulled into. Aiden walked beside her, seemingly engrossed in studying all the various fae and creatures filing through the portals. The next gateway Ember guided them to wasn¡¯t that far, a massive arch of enchanted wood and glowing crystals woven together in intricate spirals. Sora stepped through without hesitation this time, her senses fully alive as they emerged into the hub. Her breath hitched, eyes casting upward at the sheer size of the place. The multi-leveled platform stretched out in every direction, a colossal circular space buzzing with activity¡ªtens of thousands. Portals of all shapes and colors lined the edges, each one leading to a different part of Avalon Academy. At the center stood a towering magical nexus¡ªa swirling pillar of energy that connected all the portals, pulsing with an ethereal glow. The air hummed with the crackling force of magic, and Sora could feel it thrumming beneath her feet, resonating with the core of her being. Wendy¡¯s hand found Eyia¡¯s, playfully tugging the Valkyrie forward. ¡°C¡¯mon, Eyia! Let¡¯s check out the classes I was talking about earlier. Sora, we¡¯ll meet up after you drop off all our stuff at the dorms, okay?¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Sora glanced between the pair, the blonde clearly shocked by the declaration. ¡°What is happening right now?¡± She caught her sister¡¯s half-hidden glare aimed at the bored wolf before sighing. Wendy really doesn¡¯t want anything to do with Kari. I suppose that¡¯s the price for peace. So long as she¡¯s not causing problems¡­ I mean, with Null-Void, she might actually be able to blink her out of existence. Yeah¡­ I need to find some personal time with her to train. ¡°Uh, sure. Yeah, that¡¯s fine,¡± she said with a helpless smile. ¡°Just don¡¯t forget to check out Jin¡¯s class and the vulpes one for me, okay?¡± Wendy stuck out her tongue. ¡°Already ahead of you! I know how to get there. She¡¯s got a speech that has a lot of people talking at noon. Besides, Eyia knows where everything is. We¡¯ll be fine.¡± Before Eyia could chime in with her typical seriousness, Wendy shushed her with a finger to her lips. ¡°Shhh! No spoilers. We¡¯re exploring first, remember?¡± ¡°Ah¡­ Indeed, Sister,¡± the blonde said with an unconvincing laugh while looking off to the side. ¡°It is good to be the explorer and¡­to be surprised by events that are of surprising nature.¡± ¡°Uh-huh¡­¡± ¡°Welp! Gotta go! Have fun being the porter.¡± Sora watched them go with a bittersweet smile. Wendy¡¯s stubbornness had a charm to it, given how it showed she was returning to her former, confident self, but it was clear she still wasn¡¯t ready to fully forgive everything that had happened between Kari and her, whatever that was. Ember¡¯s voice was soft beside her, making her jump; she hadn¡¯t even heard her flutter closer. ¡°They¡¯ll be fine. I can track them if needed.¡± ¡°Oh! Ahem¡­¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed, her cheeks darkening a second while shifting her eyes to Ember¡¯s strangely composed form. ¡°That¡¯s not exactly what I¡¯m worried about¡­¡± Hands folded neatly in front of her, Ember¡¯s gaze lowered for a moment before she straightened. ¡°I see. Hmm. Please, follow me. We¡¯ll get you settled in.¡± Sora blinked at the sudden change in tone, her gut churning with unease. What is up with her? She thought, looking at Aiden, but he didn¡¯t really know the Fire Fairy. In fact, almost none of her group saw how weird this was. Ember¡¯s acting more like¡­like a noble or something. What did Elder Abigail Rosewood do to you? Studying her closer again, she couldn¡¯t see anything off about her aura; it was still the same fiery energy she¡¯d first sensed, but it was like a wall had been put up between them. Something had shifted. And whatever that punishment had been, it left Ember distant, far too controlled for the playful Fire Fairy she had been. What happened to the fairy that was complaining about girls stealing the attention of guys she liked? She followed in silence, her mind turning over the pieces of magic she¡¯d sensed earlier. I need to get better at sensing these things. I should¡¯ve felt whatever they did to Ember, but¡­it¡¯s like there¡¯s something I¡¯m missing. Around them, other creatures moved with purpose. Fae in flowing robes conversed in low tones, their wings flickering with iridescent light. A group of dryads, their skin like bark and hair like leaves, laughed softly as they glided past on a gust of wind. Dragons flew overhead, their scales shimmering in the light of the magical nexus, and Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel the weight of Avalon¡¯s magic pressing down on her the more she spread out her senses. This place¡­it¡¯s so much bigger than I imagined. So much more alive. Her eyes flicked to Kari, who trailed slightly behind, her amber gaze fixed on the distant figures passing by. The wolf seemed lost in her own thoughts, barely acknowledging any of the stunning views they passed on their approach to the giant portal nexus. This is crazy. How is anyone supposed to find each other in this place? I could wander for years and not see everything. Sora¡¯s ears twitched. She blinked up at the glowing sphere detached from the arch, bobbing like a curious spirit; its magical weave felt like a giant hand that plucked people up and transported them through space-time: those who stepped on the glowing circles converted to light, launching into the sky and flying across the sky, thousands of them coming and going. ¡°The East Side Mixed Creatures¡¯ Female Second Dorm,¡± Ember said aloud, Sora feeling a slight tingle in the air as the magic responded to her voice. A soft ball of light formed out of it to hover in front of the Fire Fairy before shifting to the left. Kari, naturally, was less than impressed as Sora, her tail giving an irritable flick as she muttered to her, ¡°Of course it¡¯s on the East side. The Forbidden Forest is on the west.¡± Her amber eyes narrowed at the floating orb as if it had personally offended her. ¡°Hey, it¡¯s not the ball¡¯s fault,¡± Sora chuckled, though her heart wasn¡¯t really in the laugh. She was still trying to process everything¡ªAvalon was enormous, far beyond anything she¡¯d imagined. Aiden, ever the easy-going presence, reached out lazily to snatch his floating bag from the air, his free hand slipping into his pockets. His demeanor hadn¡¯t changed since they arrived, though his casual nonchalance felt a little forced now. ¡°Alright, well¡­ I already checked out my dorm,¡± he said, his eyes flicking between Kari and her. ¡°I can¡¯t join you in the girl¡¯s dorms. It literally won¡¯t teleport me there. Uh¡­ Can it teleport you, Kari?¡± Sora blinked. ¡°I didn¡¯t even think about that.¡± ¡°Yeah, feels like it can,¡± Kari grunted. ¡°It¡¯s only moving people at fast speeds. So long as I let it levitate me and move me, then no issues.¡± No way it¡¯s that simple! Sora¡¯s ears fell back while glaring up at the giant nexus. How does Kari know that but I don¡¯t? ¡°Cool. I¡¯ll find you after I settle in.¡± Sora nodded, trying to keep the light tone of the conversation, but something in his gaze lingered on Kari¡ªagain. She suppressed a sigh. It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t noticed the distance the wolf was keeping, but no one was about to make her open up. Least of all Aiden, who seemed to think gentle persistence was the answer. You¡¯re half-brother, half-pet, my dude. Awkward position to be, but she¡¯s Ms. Independent when she wants to be and this is that time. No one makes Kari do anything¡­ Wait, where¡¯s Nilly?! How the freak did I forget about Nilly?! Casting her gaze around in shock, she heard the bell ring and the cat just appeared beside her, looking confused. Ember seemed to zone out but Sora was far too preoccupied. ¡°You okay?¡± Aiden asked, head tilted with that gentle concern only he could pull off without it feeling patronizing. ¡°Overwhelmed? Nilly, you have a place to sleep?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± She flashed her normal teeth and hopped over to grab her arm. ¡°At Sora and Wendy¡¯s feet! I don¡¯t like to be alone. Oh, it¡¯s the Fire Fairy, Firef¡­ Wait, what¡¯s your name? Mmm. I can¡¯t remember.¡± Without skipping a beat, her split tail stiffened and she glanced at Kari. ¡°Have you checked out that dark forest with the wolf?¡± Kari froze, Sora doing the same as Aiden¡¯s brow furrowed, glancing between them. She looked at the curious cat as Kari muttered, ¡°What¡­do you know about the Shadow Wolf?¡± Nilly¡¯s gold-speckled eyes blinked and her ears flew back. ¡°Uh, did I say something weird again? Sometimes words and things just pop into my head. I was with a man that had a cool clock, and then¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± A laugh escaped Sora, and it wasn¡¯t entirely fake. ¡°That sounds on point for you, Nilly. Umm. So, this place¡­there¡¯s just a lot to explore, y¡¯know?¡± she said, her focus darting to Ember and not sure if this was a subject they should bring up in front of her. I can¡¯t be sure this Ember is the same as the one I know¡­or if she¡¯ll tell on us for sneaking into off-limits areas. Aiden mirrored her smile, that easy grin slipping into place. ¡°Well, whatever it is, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll figure it out. This whole thing is a pretty simple process once you¡¯re shown. Catch you before curfew? Uh, I¡¯d like to go to the East Side Mixed Creatures'' Male Fifth Dorm.¡± She watched him turn toward his own light guide, his long stride carrying him after the glowing sphere. ¡°Yeah¡­see you then.¡± ¡°See you then?¡± Kari mirrored with a snort that got a glare from her and snicker from Nilly, still latched onto her arm. ¡°You¡¯re a fox in heat, I swear. The fluttering eyes you give him are insane. He doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend.¡± ¡°Nobody asked, Ms. Too Good To Date,¡± she snarled, trying not to blush. ¡°Wait, when did I ever say I liked him?¡± she balked, unable to process the change in direction. ¡°Where is this coming from?!¡± ¡°Pfft. More like too busy with more important things,¡± she sighed, stretching out and yawning. ¡°Even the cat can see your tail wagging like you¡¯ve found a new toy when he¡¯s talking to you. Look, you do you, girl. Power to you.¡± She looked to the side. ¡°The more he¡¯s not focused on me, the more I can do my own thing.¡± Her tail flicked behind her, betraying the twinge of irritation bubbling in her chest. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m not even going to entertain that!¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± Nilly¡¯s grip tightened on her arm, giving her an unconvinced creased eye. ¡°I¡¯m not sure how well that would work out. Ah! I don¡¯t know why I said that! Sorry! Sorry!¡± she cried, jumping away with a guilty expression.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Releasing a long puff of air, Sora was done with this topic. ¡°Ember¡­¡± ¡°Yes?¡± Her eyes fluttered and her sagacious smile returned. ¡°Ah. My apologies, Lady Sora. I am here. This way¡­¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but seeth inside at seeing the smirk the wolf wore as Ember chased after the orb of light, directing them to a specific portal zone. Nilly trailed behind, displaying a self-frustrated frown. I¡¯m not that easy to read, am I? I mean, he¡¯s so friendly that it sounds like he¡¯s flirting all the time! Is he or isn¡¯t he! He doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend, so¡­why hasn¡¯t he asked me? Has he already asked me on a date? Were those dates? He¡¯s so frustrating! Unsettling emotions mixing within her gut, she stared at the tall, dark-haired wolf in front of her, arms held behind her neck and as relaxed as could be. I¡¯ll get back at you for that. And I bet you¡¯re going to ditch me the moment you get your bag dropped off. I really am just a porter at this point! At least I know Nilly won¡¯t leave¡­ She paused in her thought, her eyes flicking to the sulking cat, ears low. Wow. I just had that thought. Am I destined to be alone? What did I ever do, Mom?! Is this your punishment somehow for leaving you home?! Aghghh! Now fuming inside, she crossed her arms as they stepped on the platform. Kari¡¯s smug smile had faded, no doubt falling into her typical storm clouds. A thought suddenly struck her, making a grin tug at her lips. ¡°Kari?¡± ¡°Mmgm?¡± Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed with glee as the taller girl looked down at her. ¡°I think I¡¯ve got it. You¡¯re the perfect mix between a jock and an emo. What a combination you are.¡± ¡°Emo¡­ You¡¯re stupid,¡± she grumbled, but Sora cheered inside as she saw the annoyed flick of the wolf¡¯s tail and twitching ears. ¡°I¡¯m not an emo.¡± ¡°So are!¡± Sora sang as the light directed toward a smaller circle, waiting for several others to line up in their own areas. Sora didn¡¯t push harder. She¡¯d learned enough from their time together that Kari would speak when she wanted to, and nothing could force the wolf into it sooner. Still, that didn¡¯t mean it didn¡¯t sting, feeling like the wolf was keeping her at arm¡¯s length, but this was a good first few steps in the right direction. Smack talk session, check! Now, if only I could figure out what Ember¡¯s issue is¡­ Nilly will be Nilly. Just roll with it and try to help her have fun and feel included. Sora hoped to the left to bump hips with Nilly, making the cat jump and smile. ¡°Hmm? Oh. I¡¯m fine! It¡¯s just hard to sort through timelines and events sometimes. Thanks for not spraying me with a water bottle.¡± Am I going to do that in the future?! I mean, it sounds funny. Sure. But I can never tell with her. The sphere pulsed brightly and sank into the stone ground and the magical energy thrummed under her feet. It resonated with a pulse, and then, it felt like a cocoon had wrapped around her. Everything went white. When everything cleared, her ears flattened back against her copper locks as they emerged from the central transportation ring. The dorms were stunningly uniform and precise¡ªeverything about it seemed to radiate perfection. The circular courtyard was bordered by neatly manicured shrubs and glistening paths that sparkled in the soft glow of magical lanterns suspended overhead. The ring itself was like something out of a dream, perfectly symmetrical with smooth marble floors etched in intricate fae designs that pulsed gently with energy. Crystals were embedded into the stone, glowing softly in a variety of colors. A soft breeze drifted through, carrying the faint scent of lavender, further enhancing the serene beauty of the area. Kari, however, looked utterly unimpressed. On the other hand, Nilly was skipping along, spinning in circles, and looking in every direction. ¡°You¡¯re way too easily wowed,¡± she grunted, her amber eyes rolling as her tail flicked lazily behind her. ¡°I¡¯m not an emo¡­¡± Sora¡¯s lips puckered into a pout. ¡°Well, I didn¡¯t grow up in a mystical realm crafted by my mom like some people.¡± Her words came out sharper than she intended, a twinge of guilt twisting in her gut as soon as they left her mouth. She stole a quick glance at Kari, half-expecting the wolf to bristle at the comment, but the girl barely reacted¡ªjust kept walking, her thick tail swaying behind her as if nothing was said. Of course, she doesn¡¯t care, Sora mused, a little deflated by the lack of response. I got more out of the emo comment. Wait, no that should have really dug¡­ Something has changed with Kari after meeting Ylva¡­but what? Stumped and feeling a tad left behind by Wendy and Kari at this point, she tried not to let it get her down as Ember floated beside them. The Fire Fairy¡¯s usual formal demeanor slipped back into place from her spacy moment earlier as she directed them toward the broad entrance ahead. ¡°The dorm rules are simple¡ªtry not to disturb your roommates, keep the noise down after dark, and if you feel so inclined¡­¡± Her voice lowered slightly as they began ascending a wide wooden staircase to the third level, her fiery wings fluttering in the magical breeze, ¡°Any mating processes are only condoned in the designated groves. No males are allowed inside the dormitory wings.¡± Both Sora¡¯s and Kari¡¯s ears shot up at that, Nilly looking totally unperturbed. ¡°Excuse me?¡± Sora blurted, trying to hold back her whiplash. ¡°Mating? What groves? No, not that I¡¯m interested. I just¡ªthat¡¯s¡­insane. Who even thought that rule was necessary? There are places for¡­that?!¡± Kari¡¯s snort came out almost like a laugh, her tail twitching with mild amusement. ¡°Yeah, well, welcome to nature, Ms. Virgin. The age gap here¡¯s probably bigger than you think, too.¡± Sora made a face, the reality settling in as she considered how vast the magical population in Avalon was but the wolf¡¯s comment instantly sent her tail bristling. ¡°Ms. Virgin¡ªexcuse you, but have you looked in a mirror? You can¡¯t tell me that¡¯s not crazy,¡± she muttered under her breath. ¡°I never said I wasn¡¯t. Why so on-edge for a fact?¡± She snickered as if it wasn¡¯t a big deal at all what she¡¯d just said. Sora glanced at Ember, who offered no further explanation, simply guiding them through the dorm¡¯s hallways, her composed expression unchanged. However, now she had to wonder if Kari had felt a little prickly after her earlier comment. Fair comeback. I guess I can feel less guilty now¡­ Thanks? This is weird. Still reeling from the absurdity of the last several minutes, Sora followed silently, her tail flicking in unison with Nilly and Kari¡¯s as they walked. Sora climbed the final set of stairs. The dormitory floor was just as breathtaking as the rest of Avalon, which helped to cool her burning cheeks, but this space felt a little more grounded. The walls of living wood pulsed gently with magic, spiraling into delicate patterns that shifted with the ebb of energy coursing through the building; it was no doubt enchanted with observation weaves to make sure everyone was inside at the right time. Ember stopped in front of a door with their names woven into the very wood, gesturing for her to open it. ¡°Here we are, Ladies. Please, let me know if it suits your needs or if I should speak to the Dorm Mistress. Taking a deep breath, she reached out, twisted the knob, and stepped into the room she¡¯d be sleeping in for the next month. ¡°Well, it¡¯s spacious,¡± she commented, finding her hands behind her back while moving around it, Nilly and Kari spreading out. Three large beds were spaced evenly around the room, each with its own set of drawers and a walk-in closet. The floor was soft underfoot, covered in a luxurious rug that shimmered slightly with enchantment. The air was fresh, infused with a faint scent of lavender and pine, calming her after the hectic journey: there were no windows, which seemed like a safety hazard. Sora dropped her luggage at the foot of one of the beds and spun in place, taking it all in. ¡°Well, it¡¯s not bad, I guess¡± she muttered under her breath, though her gaze quickly moved to Kari, who had her arms crossed, a familiar, bored look on her face. ¡°Well? What about me so I can get out of here?¡± Kari quickly asked, her tone clipped as if every second spent standing in the room was an unbearable waste of time. Sora put a hand on her hip, narrowing her eyes at the wolf. ¡°Oh, c¡¯mon. You could be a little less subtle about how much of a drag it is to hang out with me, you know. Think about how that sounds.¡± Kari snorted, rolling her eyes. ¡°It¡¯s not like that and you know it,¡± she muttered, hefting her own bag over her shoulder and jabbing her thumb at the door. ¡°I¡¯m next door, right?¡± Ember, who had been silently hovering, nodded as passive and unlike her ditzy personality as ever. ¡°Yes, your room is just across the hall.¡± Without waiting for more, Kari strode out the door, and Sora jogged after her, Nilly in-tow. ¡°Hey, wait up! I want to meet your roommate too.¡± As they passed through the hallway, a soft, melodic humming could be heard from the opposite door, a lilting tune that carried through the wooden walls. Sora¡¯s ears perked up, intrigued upon spotting the names on the door. ¡°Nerida¡­ That¡¯s her, huh? Only the two of you?¡± she whispered upon seeing Kari and her roommate¡¯s name. ¡°A siren¡ª¡± was all Ember got out. Kari didn¡¯t respond, but the slight twitch of her ears betrayed her acknowledgement. She pushed open the door to her new room with her usual bluntness, barging inside without a second thought. The girl within nearly jumped out of her skin, her humming cutting off abruptly. She was slender with long, silver hair that shimmered like the ocean under the moonlight, her wide, sea-green eyes blinking in surprise. She fumbled with the sheets on her bed, clearly flustered by Kari¡¯s abrupt entrance. ¡°Sorry! I didn¡¯t¡ªuh, I didn¡¯t expect anyone so soon,¡± Nerida stammered, her hands shaking slightly as she tried to straighten out the mess she¡¯d just made, including the scattered items all across the floor. ¡°I was just decorating¡­ Oh, a¡­werewolf? That will be new¡ªnot that I¡¯m judging!¡± Kari stood in the doorway, as imposing as ever, arms crossed over her chest. ¡°Chill! No need to freak out. Geez. I¡¯m just here to drop off my shit.¡± Sora slipped in behind Kari, offering the girl a reassuring smile before bouncing forward to extend her hand. ¡°Hi! I¡¯m Sora, Kari¡¯s friend. Don¡¯t mind her, she¡¯s just¡­blunt. Viciously blunt, but not mean. Well, most of the time.¡± The siren¡¯s cheeks turned pink as she nodded, still awkwardly shifting on her feet while accepting the handshake, weak and trembling. ¡°I¡¯m, uh¡­ My name¡¯s Nerida. But¡­you probably knew that already from my name on the door,¡± she said in a rush, brushing her hair behind her ear. Her voice was soft, like the gentle ebb and flow of the ocean, yet it trembled slightly under the weight of her nervousness. ¡°I¡¯ve, um, heard about werewolves¡ª¡± ¡°Fenris wolf. Not a werewolf.¡± Kari shrugged, clearly uninterested in small talk as she tossed her bag onto the bed. ¡°Cool. Now that¡¯s done. Well, I¡¯ll be off,¡± she said before turning to leave. Sora lingered a moment longer, not needing powers to sense Nerida¡¯s discomfort. ¡°Kari! You don¡¯t need to be¡ªand you¡¯re gone. Worst first impression ever!¡± She huffed as Kari growled back, ¡°A metal I¡¯m proud of. Just ¡®cause we¡¯re friends doesn¡¯t mean I need others. Tell the cat to snuggle her legs if you feel bad for her.¡± ¡°I bet you are! And bullshit! Freaking tsundere. I swear¡­ Uh, hello again,¡± she repeated with a strained smile upon breaking away. ¡°Like I said, don¡¯t let her scare you. Her bark¡¯s worse than her bite¡­if she likes you.¡± Ember floated to the side, allowing Kari by and closing the door with a wave of her small hand once the wolf left, possibly not to disturb the other occupants milling about the hallway. Nilly rubbed her elbow, glancing off to the side. ¡°I don¡¯t just sleep at anyone¡¯s feet. Why am I catching strays? Not that I¡¯m a stray cat! I, uh¡­wait, I should shut up.¡± Nerida gave a small, shaky laugh, clearly in a death spiral. ¡°O-Oh, only if she likes me¡­ Great. I¡¯ll¡­try to be likable! Haha-haaa.¡± Sora crossed her arms, a strained grin tugging at her lips while trying to lighten the atmosphere. ¡°It seems you really do know how to make an impression. Props. Is the plan to get a room all to yourself?¡± ¡°No! No, I¡­want to make friends.¡± ¡°Wait,¡± Sora swiftly interjected, feeling a little bad and reevaluating the atmosphere and how to talk to the siren. ¡°I¡¯m joking! I¡¯m not trying to put you down.¡± Nerida tried to laugh, standing near her messy bed, her hands nervously clasped in front of her. Her wide, sea-green eyes darted between Nilly and her, the cat looking just as nervous as the silver-haired girl, both their cheeks a faint shade of pink. ¡°Right¡­ Funny. Um, I hope I didn¡¯t cause any problems.¡± Sora blinked. ¡°You, cause the problems? Oh, no! Not at all. And you¡¯re good, Nilly.¡± She took a step forward, giving both embarrassed girls a warm smile. ¡°Kari¡¯s just¡­going through a lot. Believe it or not, she¡¯s a lot nicer now.¡± Nerida fidgeted with her hands, pressing a hand over her thumping chest as she glanced awkwardly at the third bed. ¡°I¡­I understand if she¡¯d want to change rooms,¡± she mumbled, cheeks flushing deeper. ¡°The last girl didn¡¯t want to stay because of the, um, and I quote, ¡®Noises sirens make while sleeping.¡¯ So¡­yeah.¡± Sora raised an eyebrow, trying to stifle a laugh. ¡°Noises? What kind of noises?¡± The siren¡¯s face grew redder. ¡°It¡¯s¡­a siren thing. I haven¡¯t reached that stage yet but¡­she didn¡¯t stay long enough to hear me out.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Sora said with a thoughtful grin, ¡°I¡¯ve got some unique dream magic that could help if there is a problem. If you want it stopped or whatever, so long as it¡¯s not too spicy, that is.¡± Her playful tone softened when she noticed Nerida¡¯s tension. Nilly was still trying to process the idea of sleeping at random people¡¯s feet, apparently, but before the girl could respond, a delicate bubble floated through the window, popping in front of Ember, hovering by the doorway as if not even listening to them. Ember¡¯s eyes flicked to the bubble, a frown creasing her features. ¡°On that note, I apologize, Lady Sora, but I must attend to something. May I be excused?¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched, an uneasy feeling creeping into her chest. ¡°Uh¡­sure, is everything alright? You really don¡¯t seem okay.¡± Ember curtsied, a small, unreadable smile on her lips. ¡°Who is to say this was not how I was all along?¡± Her words held an eerie calmness that sent a shiver down Sora¡¯s spine. ¡°Fair enough, I guess¡­¡± Sora muttered, one ear tilting in doubt. ¡°I was just worried.¡± ¡°There is no need to worry about me, Lady Sora. I am perfectly fine.¡± The Fire Fairy¡¯s voice softened slightly, though her distant demeanor remained intact. ¡°Have a good first day.¡± With that, she vanished in a swirl of flames, leaving Sora with a lingering sense of unease. There¡¯s no way Ember could have done that kind of crazy teleport magic before, right? The ditzy failure girl of the academy, as she described herself? Yeah, Avalon is getting weird. Sora stood there for a moment, staring at the spot where Ember had disappeared, Nilly and Nerida remaining silent. No, that¡¯s totally not Ember. Her gut twisted with the thought. What if¡­ What if she¡¯s been corrupted by The Darkness? But I didn¡¯t sense anything wrong, like with Sela¡­ What am I missing? The sound of someone clearing their throat snapped her back to the present. Nerida shifted awkwardly from foot to foot, her hands wringing nervously in front of her, now breathing with difficulty. ¡°Do you, um, have anywhere you need to go?¡± she asked, her voice small. ¡°I was¡­well, my mother said I should try to make friends and, um, well¡­my roommates didn¡¯t quite work out. So¡­¡± Sora¡¯s heart softened. Kari would eat her alive with her bluntness if she wasn¡¯t careful. She couldn¡¯t help but feel the need to protect this girl from the harsher side of Avalon. ¡°You¡¯re from Earth, right? I bet you are.¡± Nerida nodded. ¡°Yes, France. Is that a problem? I can do any accent and speak many languages if English isn¡¯t your thing. I can mirror your accent¡­¡± Sora¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Miami, United States! It¡¯s perfect. That¡¯s amazing!¡± Nerida blushed, a shy smile tugging at her lips. ¡°It¡¯s not that impressive¡­ You¡¯re a fox spirit, right?¡± ¡°A vulpes,¡± Sora gently corrected, chuckling and waving her hand dismissively. ¡°A Founder vulpes, but you can call me whatever. Nilly?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Her tail rose with her smile. ¡°Right! I¡¯m Nilly, the teen Cat Mom of all kitties. Uh, maybe I shouldn¡¯t introduce myself like that. Yeah¡­weirdo. Sorry.¡± Sora giggle and pulled her into a hug. ¡°Isn¡¯t she cute?!¡± ¡°Very.¡± The siren¡¯s smile grew a bit more confident. ¡°I grew up in a cave¡­literally. So, I don¡¯t have many social interactions other than talking to sailors who¡­obviously, think they¡¯re going crazy when the mist speaks to them.¡± Sora¡¯s heart ached for her. Kari¡¯s blunt nature would crush her self-esteem. With a kind smile, she motioned for Nerida and Nilly to follow her. ¡°Why don¡¯t you come with us? Our first stop is a vulpes class. Wanna join?¡± ¡°Oh, you should!¡± Nilly chimed. ¡°You can meet Wendy and Eyia. Fen should be there, too, but she¡¯s¡­ Yeah, she¡¯s Fen.¡± Sora wasn¡¯t sure how to take that comment from that Cat Mother, but Nerida¡¯s eyes brightened at the comment, her shoulders relaxing. ¡°That sounds¡­really nice. I¡¯d love to. Thank you for inviting me.¡± B3 — 7. A Damaged Heart Wendy stepped through the portal, Eyia by her side. The sharp pulse of magic faded as her feet hit the stone-paved ground of Avalon Academy¡¯s lecture district. She blinked, still a little surprised she didn¡¯t need to adjust her vision to the brightness of the sprawling campus that stretched before them. Ever since gaining this Null-Void power¡­it was hard to explain, even to herself. Hugging her arms, she stared out across the vibrant landscape, filled with towering lecture halls, gardens blooming with bioluminescent flowers, and sky bridges that glowed with ethereal light. To her right, Eyia scanned their surroundings with her usual focused expression. She never relaxes¡­ Why can¡¯t Sora understand me?! Will she even care that I¡¯m not with her when she¡¯s with that wolf? Why does it even matter to me?! It¡¯s like¡­she¡¯s pulling away from me. Wendy swallowed the lump in her throat, bringing around her bushy squirrel tail to run a hand through her fur. I thought when we became sisters¡­when we shared this Null-Void thing, then we¡¯d get closer. But she always has to bring Kari around! Trying to distract herself, she huffed and looked across the grand academy, far more impressive than anywhere else she¡¯d visited, but it wasn¡¯t the grandeur that had her heart pounding in her chest. It was Sora. It¡¯s never just¡­us anymore. And when it is us, she somehow brings the wolf up and worries about how she¡¯s adapting. It¡¯s¡­frustrating! Is she mad? She couldn¡¯t help but glance back at the portal as it shimmered behind them, her stomach twisting with guilt. She hadn¡¯t exactly meant to ditch Sora, but when she saw the look in her sister¡¯s eyes¡ªwhen she noticed how the fox was trying to pull Kari into the group¡ªshe¡¯d decided to pull Eyia along with her on another path. It just¡­happened. Why has she been getting so close to Kari? Sure, forgive her, whatever, but¡­actually making her a part of our lives? How am I supposed to deal with that? I¡¯m not like you¡­ Her fingers rubbed the back of her neck, trying to ease the tension as she walked forward with Eyia, the Valkyrie giving her a few bewildered looks.. What¡¯s wrong with me? She growled inside. Sora wants some time with Kari? Sure. It makes sense. I know Kari has her own struggles, and Sora¡¯s all about helping¡­but where do I fit in that picture? Fingers moving to rub her elbow, her nose twisted while shifting to the ground. Ever since Kari¡­changed, if you want to call it that, the whole dynamic with Sora has sort of¡­changed with it. It bugs me, and I don¡¯t know why! Kari¡¯s opening up. She¡¯s struggling. But¡­so am I. Her hand found the brooch attached between her bust, fire igniting in her chest. I¡¯m freaking jewelry, Sora! I¡¯m¡­struggling too. Eyia¡¯s voice cut through her thoughts. ¡°Wendy.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± she gave a start, glancing up at the tall blonde warrior. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Mmm.¡± A frown creased the girl¡¯s mouth. ¡°Why have you separated us from Sora? If there is an assailant, then she will be vulnerable without the party unified.¡± Wendy stiffened, her ears flicking at the sudden question. She hadn¡¯t expected Eyia to notice, much less ask outright. Wendy forced a grin, scratching the side of her head. ¡°Oh, you know. I just thought Sora and Kari needed some time together. Figured you and I could explore a bit. Plus, it¡¯s not like it¡¯s dangerous during the day.¡± Eyia¡¯s icy blue eyes narrowed slightly as she tilted her head. ¡°Our sister seemed¡­uncertain. I do not think she wished for us to leave her side.¡± Grin faltering, Wendy crossed her arms, breathing out deeply as her tail beat in agitation. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine. She¡¯s got Kari with her.¡± Eyia didn¡¯t respond immediately. Instead, her gaze followed a group of students walking past¡ªa trio of fae with gossamer wings, their skin shimmering under the light as they chattered among themselves. Wendy took the opportunity to avoid Eyia¡¯s penetrating gaze, her eyes darting around the bustling campus. Holographic magical displays taunted them to enter different lecture halls as they passed, showcasing who was teaching that day¡ªnames of fae lords, renown scholars of various lands, and creatures of legend projected like celebrities across the walls. One image showed an imposing dragon, its dark scales gleaming as flames danced behind it; still, it wasn¡¯t Jin. Another featured a dryad, her body blending seamlessly into a sprawling tree as students gathered beneath her canopy. The academy was alive with energy, filled with creatures Wendy had never seen before: tall beings made of mist, tiny folk who weren¡¯t quite fae, and even straight flowers running along the path in uniform lines. But despite the awe and wonder of it all, Wendy¡¯s mind was still with her frustrating sister. ¡°Wendy,¡± Eyia¡¯s voice came again, quieter now, yet no less direct. ¡°Do you not feel Kari is¡­a threat to our sister?¡± Wendy¡¯s lips pulled in. A threat? No. No¡­she¡¯s not anymore. That¡¯s part of the problem¡­ I don¡¯t like it. How can she be so forgiving? How can she trust her? Why is she trying to drag all of us by the tail to be her friend? The thoughts stirred something inside her. Something she wasn¡¯t ready to face. Her hands clenched underneath her armpits, and her tail flicked again, betraying her unease. ¡°I get you don¡¯t trust fenris wolves, Eyia, but¡­I don¡¯t think she¡¯s a threat,¡± she finally said, her voice quieter than before. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­different now. Between all of us. I don¡¯t know how to explain it,¡± she snarled, scratching at her left ear as it twitched. Eyia stopped walking, her eyes still fixed on her, unwavering. ¡°Yet, you are worried,¡± she said matter-of-factly, as if stating an obvious fact. ¡°Is it that Sora¡¯s new connection with Kari makes you believe she will leave you behind?¡± Wendy felt her cheeks flush, heat creeping up her neck. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words caught in her throat. She knew Eyia wasn¡¯t trying to make her feel bad or upset her, but the truth hit hard. Her tail flicked again, more sharply this time, and she looked away, her eyes landing on a group of fae practicing their nature magic near one of the garden fountains. It¡¯s¡­more than that, she thought, unable to voice it aloud. Wendy rubbed her arm absentmindedly, watching as one of the fae summoned an intricate illusion¡ªa shifting scene of rolling meadows that faded into mystical skies of the Realm Tree¡¯s branches, dotted like stars. ¡°Maybe a little,¡± she muttered, a shiver running up her spine. ¡°I just¡­ I¡¯m used to being the one Sora leaned on, you know? It felt like things were going back to normal. I¡¯ve known her my entire life. And now¡­now it feels like she doesn¡¯t need me as much anymore, and maybe that¡¯s because I¡­left her first.¡± A lump formed in her throat and she released a hot stream of air at the admission, trying not to cry. ¡°I was too weak to stand up for Sora. I buckled and tried to hide while she had to deal with it every day¡­ So I¡­¡± Unable to say it aloud, she cried it out in her mind. So how can she forgive Kari for everything she did to us when I can¡¯t? I¡¯m terrible¡­but I can¡¯t. I just¡­can¡¯t trust her. I couldn¡¯t trust my mom¡­ Sora was the only one I could trust, and now it just feels like¡­I¡¯m not enough. Eyia¡¯s gaze softened, though her expression remained stoic. ¡°Sora values you greatly,¡± she said after a pause. ¡°But she must also grow in her relationships with others. I do recognize it is important to build bonds and alliances with enemies in times of uncertainty, which we are most certainly in.¡± Wendy sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Eyia, but that¡¯s really not my issue¡­ I know that. I do. It¡¯s not about that, though. Nothing anyone can say can make it any easier¡­because I¡¯m the problem.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± The blonde¡¯s deep blue eyes fell to the stone walkway as she gripped her elbow. ¡°I see. My inexperience is not of help once again and has caused you heartache.¡± Biting her bottom lip, Wendy wanted to smack herself. All I do is mess up! Sora and Eyia are trying so hard but my stupid emotions¡­ The moment I see that stupid wolf my brain checks out and my emotions punch me in the nose. ¡°No, it¡¯s not you, Eyia,¡± she mumbled, moving closer to bump shoulders with her and giving her a strained smile. ¡°You¡¯re wonderful. Thank you for trying to help me and understand.¡± Wendy glanced up at the sky, watching as a flock of winged griffons soared overhead, their wings catching the sunlight in a dazzling display. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling of being¡­adrift, unsure of where she fit in this new friend/sister dynamic. Her tail twitched restlessly as her thoughts churned, but eventually some words left her lips. ¡°She¡¯ll be fine,¡± she chuckled, more to herself this time than to Eyia. ¡°Sora always is.¡± But even as she said it, the knot in her chest refused to loosen. Wendy¡¯s thoughts were still swirling when a cheerful voice cut through the air, breaking her focus. ¡°Hey, there! Oh my gosh, wait up!¡± Both Wendy and Eyia turned, surprised, as a girl jogged toward them. Dressed in a cute, casual outfit¡ªa short plaid skirt, knee-high socks, and a fitted jacket that accentuated her lithe frame. Her dark gray hair shimmered in the sunlight, catching hints of silver, and a fox tail swaying behind her with each step, gleaming like polished metal. The girl¡¯s face was bright, a wide, bubbly grin plastered on her lips as she waved energetically upon drawing nearer. Wendy blinked, her guard immediately thrown up at the stranger¡¯s overly friendly demeanor. Still, the girl¡¯s genuine excitement was disarming, and when she reached them, her breath was only slightly labored as she bent over with a giggle, looking between Wendy and Eyia. ¡°Wow, I¡¯ve never seen you guys around here before! Are you new?¡± She clasped her hands together and leaned in toward Wendy, eyes sparkling. ¡°And oh my stars, is that your tail?!¡± Wendy instinctively twitched her bushy tail to the side, but the girl¡¯s gaze followed it like a hawk. ¡°Uh, obviously¡­¡± Wendy said slowly, brushing a hand defensively through her fur, which suddenly felt much more noticeable as they caught a few fae¡¯s eyes. ¡°I mean, yes. It¡¯s my tail.¡± The girl gasped, her dark gray ears perking up. ¡°It¡¯s gorgeous! Like, seriously. Are you a vulpes like me? I haven¡¯t seen a tail that fluffy in ages! It almost looks like a squirrel tail, I swear! But, sniff, sniff, mhm! You smell a little like a vulpes.¡± Wendy¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly at the sudden compliment, her fingers awkwardly rubbing at the tuft of her tail. ¡°Uh, no, I¡¯m not fully a vulpes,¡± she said, trying to play it cool despite the girl¡¯s infectious enthusiasm. ¡°I¡¯m¡­sort of a mix between a vulpes, tanuki, and¡­I guess a squirrel? It¡¯s complicated.¡± The girl¡¯s eyes widened in over exaggerated surprise, and she let out an exaggerated gasp, her hands flying to her cheeks. ¡°A mix?!¡± She practically squealed, bouncing up and down. ¡°That¡¯s so cool! I¡¯ve never seen a tanuki, much less a fox with such a fluffy tail. You must get compliments all the time! And that color¡ªgorgeous! I can totally see the tanuki in you.¡± Wendy couldn¡¯t help the small smile tugging at her lips, the attention admittedly flattering. ¡°Yeah, I guess I do,¡± she mumbled, scratching her nose. ¡°Thanks.¡± Eyia, who had been watching the exchange with silent intensity, narrowed her eyes slightly but said nothing, simply observing. The girl shifted her attention briefly to the Valkyrie, giving her a quick glance before her focus snapped back to Wendy with laser-like precision. ¡°Anyway! Umm. I¡¯m Yeon-ah, by the way.¡± She gave a bubbly laugh, her tail flicking playfully behind her as she extended her hand. ¡°What¡¯s your name? Have you been to any of the vulpes lectures yet? You¡¯ve gotta check them out! They¡¯re amazing! Well, I don¡¯t know about this new one, but Mistress Katie Milla is the best! I swear. You seem like someone who¡¯d totally love her lectures.¡± Wendy hesitated for a moment before taking the girl¡¯s hand, feeling the warm, bubbly energy radiating off of her in waves. ¡°Wendy,¡± she said, her voice softening a little. ¡°And no, I haven¡¯t been to any vulpes lectures yet. This is, eh, kind of my first¡ªsecond day,¡± she corrected. ¡°I didn¡¯t know they had other ones for vulpes other than the one Fen is assisting.¡±Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Oh, they do!¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s tail swished excitedly behind her, her eyes lighting up. ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know about that new one. Gives me the chills, personally. But Prof. Katie has lectures about magic, transformation, history¡ªfae boys,¡± she winked, ¡°everything! You¡¯d fit right in, I bet.¡± Wendy chuckled, a little unsure but enjoying the girl¡¯s enthusiasm; she was certainly a good recruiter. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not fully a vulpes, and¡­I¡¯m not quite sure how my magic works yet, but maybe I¡¯ll check it out. Are you¡­¡± ¡°Me? I am! But no, no,¡± Yeon-ah giggled, shaking her head as her dark hair shimmered in the light. ¡°I¡¯m not like all the other Kumiho,¡± she protested, looking slightly panicked now. A bucket of cold water suddenly dumped over Wendy¡¯s head at the type of vulpes, knowing their history of the Korean fox spirit. If that wasn¡¯t enough, Diane had warned Sora about a nine-tailed one that escaped the SCC Foundation containment zone. Yeon-ah¡¯s hands tightened nervously at her front, ears pulling back as if on trial. ¡°I don¡¯t eat human flesh! You know only the older ones do, right? Look, look!¡± she brandished her single tail, Wendy¡¯s hear suddenly cramping at the plea in the girl¡¯s amber eyes, asking not to burn her at the stake. ¡°My goal is to find a way to, umm, prevent that¡­¡± she mumbled, fidgeting a little with her skirt. Trying to control her fear, Wendy regained her smile. ¡°That¡¯s really noble. I think my sister would like to help with that¡­ I¡¯m guessing you like to learn about magic?¡± she asked, not sure what else to say after the previous topic. ¡°I love learning about all the different types of fox magic!¡± she chimed, regaining her cute cheer and twirling around to show off her single tail with a playful wink. ¡°Just the one for me, so I¡¯m still a young cutie! I didn¡¯t know my mom but I found plenty of help here from the Vulpes Elders.¡± Wendy found herself relaxing a little more at the girl¡¯s instant pleas, really trying not to be weird or shunned. Yeon-ah¡¯s energy was contagious, and it was nice to have someone be so friendly¡ªespecially after feeling so unsure about her place with Sora and Kari. She glanced at Eyia, wondering if the Valkyrie had any thoughts, but Eyia¡¯s expression remained carefully neutral, though her eyes were still fixed on Yeon-ah. Of course, she thinks she¡¯s a threat. Everything¡¯s a threat to a warrior who has lived her whole life on an island only filled with things that wanted to kill her. ¡°So,¡± Yeon-ah continued, her hair bouncing as she leaned up and down on her heels slightly, ¡°what brings you two to Avalon Academy? Are you new here? I bet you are. You¡¯ve got that ¡®newbie¡¯ look about you! Not that that¡¯s bad! Wait, you already said it was your first or second day, silly me!¡± she grinned, bonking herself on the head. ¡°I speak sometimes before I think.¡± Wendy chuckled, feeling some of the tension melt away. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s our first time. Just checking things out today, really.¡± ¡°That¡¯s so exciting!¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s eyes sparkled. ¡°This is my second semester. There¡¯s so much to see! You¡¯re going to love it. Oh, and the teachers? Top-notch. I¡¯ve got some tips on which ones to avoid, though¡ªlike, don¡¯t even bother with the Fae Linguistics professor unless you want to fall asleep, literally. She¡¯s a good sleeping pill for those restless nights.¡± Wendy laughed, feeling a strange warmth settle in her chest. This girl was a whirlwind, but she couldn¡¯t deny that it was kind of nice to have someone be so open and friendly with her, especially when things with Sora had been feeling so¡­complicated. Just as Wendy was about to respond, Eyia¡¯s voice cut through the air like a cold blade. ¡°Your illusions are poor.¡± Wendy blinked, her attention snapping to Eyia, who had taken a step forward, her glowing blue eyes narrowing at Yeon-ah. The Valkyrie¡¯s hand hovered near her waist, fingers twitching as if ready to summon her spear at a moment¡¯s notice. Yeon-ah¡¯s bubbly demeanor didn¡¯t falter, but her eyes flickered for just a second¡ªsomething dark and calculating passed over her features before her smile returned, a little sharper this time. ¡°Illusions?¡± she echoed sweetly, tilting her head in mock confusion. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about.¡± Eyia¡¯s voice remained cold, unyielding. ¡°Drop the facade, fox. You are no simple student. Your games are not amusing and hide deeper intentions. State them.¡± Wendy¡¯s heart raced, her eyes darting between the two of them at the sudden change in atmosphere. The air around them seemed to still, thick with tension as a cold breeze whipped around them from the Valkyrie¡¯s aura. Yeon-ah¡¯s tail flicked lazily behind her, a sigh leaving her lips as her grin widened. ¡°Well,¡± she said, her tone light but carrying a hint of something dangerous beneath the surface as it became slightly more mature, ¡°I guess the game¡¯s up, huh? You must be something foreign to our universe¡­like your dragon friend.¡± With a wave of her hand, Yeon-ah¡¯s single tail shimmered, splitting into nine sleek, silver-tipped bundles of fur that fanned out behind her, each one glowing faintly in the magical light of the academy grounds. She maintained her youthful appearance, though. Wendy¡¯s breath caught in her throat. ¡°You¡¯re¡­that Kumiho. Ugh. I should have known it was too good to be true. Why be so interested in me?¡± she grumbled, rubbing between her eyes. Yeon-ah¡¯s smile turned wickedly playful as she leaned in, her eyes gleaming as Eyia held up a hand, yet the Kumhio paused just short. ¡°Caught me,¡± she purred. ¡°Earlier than I would have liked. But don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not here to cause any trouble¡­not yet, anyway.¡± A stillness passed between them, Wendy watching her nine tails shimmer like polished silver under the soft light of Avalon Academy¡¯s bustling district. Each one of the long appendages were radiant and graceful as they moved behind the Kumiho¡¯s skirt. The whispers around them grew louder, heads turning as students and faculty alike noticed her presence. Fae students with luminescent wings and creatures of mist stared, some with awe, others with wary glances. Wendy could feel the shift in the air, the weight of attention drawn to Yeon-ah¡¯s dazzling figure. The disguised woman basked in it, every movement deliberate as she swayed slightly on her heels, the playful grin never leaving her lips. ¡°You know,¡± she said, breaking the stalemate, her tone carrying a hint of maturity now, though still wrapped in her bubbly enthusiasm, ¡°everything I said earlier? It was all true.¡± Eyia¡¯s blue eyes narrowed, ready for action at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°True, except for the part about eating humans, I presume,¡± she said coldly, her hand hovering near her side as if she expected an attack. Yeon-ah chuckled, shifting her weight as she twirled a strand of her shimmering hair between her fingers. ¡°Oh, my icy blonde,¡± she purred, stepping closer with a confident sway, ¡°words and how they¡¯re spoken are important. ¡°I said, I don¡¯t eat human flesh. Not anymore. None of the Kumiho you¡¯ll meet in Avalon are quite like me.¡± She hummed, her voice turning almost conspiratorial. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know there are humans here in Avalon? All perfectly capable of being feasted upon by the fae, if you know where to look.¡± Wendy¡¯s gut tightened at the thought, her hand instinctively moving to her brooch, gripping it tightly. ¡°Humans, in Avalon¡­as food?¡± she asked, her voice a little shaky despite herself. ¡°Are you serious? That¡¯s allowed?¡± Can I trust anything she says? I shouldn¡¯t¡­but fae are known for some bad things in folklore¡­ Yeon-ah¡¯s amber eyes gleamed as she leaned in slightly, her lips pulling into a playful yet knowing smile. ¡°Oh, sweet Wendy, this place may look immaculate, but like anywhere in the mists, it has its shadows. Just as the Foundation has its skeletons, don¡¯t think Avalon doesn¡¯t have a few tucked away in The Darkness. You¡¯d be surprised what¡¯s hiding just beneath the surface.¡± The Kumiho¡¯s tails shimmered again, shifting back into a single one as she turned on her heel, waving her hand dismissively and returning to her cute, bubbly facade. ¡°But hey, I¡¯m not here to spill all the secrets.¡± She glanced over her shoulder, a sly smile tugging at her lips. ¡°If you want to learn more, you can always find me in Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s class. She¡¯s a wonderful teacher for those interested in¡­transformation magic.¡± Wendy opened her mouth to respond, but Yeon-ah continued before she could get a word in. ¡°Oh, and one last thing,¡± she added, her voice dropping to a more serious tone. ¡°Sora¡¯s too forgiving, too open to protect herself. You should watch out for her.¡± Her amber eyes flickered as they locked with Wendy¡¯s. ¡°Don¡¯t you agree?¡± The mention of Sora made Wendy¡¯s stomach churn. She wasn¡¯t wrong¡­ Sora had a habit of seeing the good in people, even those who had wronged her¡­ Like Kari. But trusting a Kumiho? Someone with a reputation for trickery and manipulation? ¡°Diane¡¯s here,¡± Yeon-ah added, almost casually, watching as Wendy¡¯s face turned red at the witch¡¯s name. ¡°Didn¡¯t you know? It seems Avalon is the place to be.¡± She winked again, her voice light and playful once more as she turned away. ¡°Tootles!¡± Her mind flashed back to Diane as the vulpes retreated, a sway in her hips that put even Fen to shame. If the horrible woman from the Foundation was here, the witch who had mocked and belittled her, then something was definitely up. Diane¡¯s shadow hung over Sora like a dark cloud, and the thought that she might be lurking in Avalon made Wendy¡¯s skin crawl. With a final wave, Yeon-ah¡¯s silver tail shimmered as she skipped off into the distance, leaving Wendy and Eyia standing in silence. Her mind raced, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to process everything Yeon-ah had just said. Diane? Here? And Sora¡­ Was Yeon-ah right? Was Sora too open, too willing to forgive? Her fingers curled into a fist as her chest tightened with a sudden surge of protectiveness. Sora has such a big heart, but¡­it leaves her vulnerable¡­ Vulnerable to be hurt like my mom hurt me. Vulnerable to people like Kari. ¡°I don¡¯t trust her,¡± Eyia flatly stated, her gaze still locked on where Yeon-ah had disappeared to inside a lecture hall. ¡°Her aura reeks of deceit.¡± Wendy swallowed, trying to steady her racing thoughts. ¡°I¡­I don¡¯t know,¡± she muttered, her voice unsteady. ¡°She wasn¡¯t entirely wrong about Sora, though¡­ You know she¡¯s too trusting.¡± Eyia¡¯s mouth became a line, no doubt thinking about all the threats Sora let into her life, people like Sela, Kari, Fen, and a host of other potential vulnerabilities. ¡°We must stay vigilant.¡± Nodding absently, Wendy found herself sinking deeper into her thoughts as they walked in silence toward Professor Kurosaki¡¯s lecture hall, where Fen would be. Every step felt heavier than the last, her mind churning with Yeon-ah¡¯s words. The Darkness in Avalon¡­ Its secrets¡­ Diane¡¯s presence¡­ Sora¡¯s kindness¡­ It was all a tangled mess in her head, and she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that she was losing her place in her sister¡¯s life when they should be getting closer than ever. I feel¡­dirty! I don¡¯t like it¡­ I want to protect Sora, like she protects me. I don¡¯t want to be the side character. I don¡¯t want to be the best friend to just sits by and does nothing¡­ I want to mean something¡­to be wanted. When they finally reached the hall, they sat on the steps, waiting for Sora and Kari to arrive. It took nearly thirty minutes for her to show up, Wendy¡¯s mind brooding on Yeon-ah¡¯s words. Yet, her heart skipped a beat as her sister finally approached. Nilly skipped cutely beside her, sixteen-years-old and bright eyed; that was the one saving grace she felt recently. If anything, the Cat Mother was on her side¡­ When she needed someone to hold, Nilly was always there recently, waiting to rub against her and give her cuddles. But it was the girl beside her sister that snatched her full attention¡­Sora wasn¡¯t with Kari, nor Ember. Instead, a shy, white-haired girl walked beside her, chuckling at Sora¡¯s jokes and glancing around nervously as they approached the lecture hall. Wendy¡¯s fingers clenched into fists, her chest tightening. Another girl. Another stranger. C¡¯mon, Sora! Why are you being so reckless? She could be just like Yeon-ah, playing some part to worm her way into our hearts. Wendy¡¯s tail flicked sharply behind her, her protective instincts flaring as her gut twisted with uncertainty. I need to protect you¡­from your own heart if you won¡¯t guard yourself. She bit her lip, her gaze locking onto the white-haired girl. I have to get to the bottom of who all these people are trying to befriend us. Everyone wants something. The fae boy she talked about, Titania, Oberon, Kari¡­ We¡¯re Founders, which means they can gain a lot from us. I have to protect my family! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Mia paced, her tails swaying nervously behind her as her sharp ruby eyes locked on the elevator door, heart beating as her nightgown whipped back and forth. Should I go check in? It¡¯s only been a day but she wouldn¡¯t mind me popping in and saying hello, right? Maybe I should make her something. Has she made new friends? How can he be so calm?! Noelia sat on the front room couch, Jarlath having gone out to check on something involving the Foundation. It was infuriating to see how easy it was for him to accept their daughter being an entire realm away. Sipping at her tea, Noelia lightly cleared her throat. ¡°It doesn¡¯t take magic to see you¡¯ve hit peak manic, Mia. You¡¯re worried about our daughters, aren¡¯t you?¡± She snorted in response, pausing her pacing to glance at her level-headed maid, her usual expression hiding the teasing grin the woman was so well at obfuscating. ¡°Of course I am, Noelia. Sora, mainly. That girl¡­she carries more weight on her shoulders than I ever wanted for her. Why can¡¯t I be more involved? What was I thinking?¡± She tried to laugh it off, but the sound came out weak. ¡°What a fool I am.¡± Noelia smoothly set her cup down and got to her feet, stepping closer to join her, her fluffy tail brushing against her own as a sign of comfort. ¡°You know Jarlath raised her well, and you¡¯ve prepared her as much as you could have in the time you spent together. Sora is strong, Mia, stronger than you give her credit for sometimes.¡± She gave a small, encouraging smile. ¡°She has a knack for attracting trouble, yes, but isn¡¯t that par for the course with vulpes? And you¡¯re not alone in this¡­ I¡¯ll always be here to help now.¡± Mia blinked, a genuine smile breaking through as she turned to face the tanuki, struggling in her own right with her origins and Wendy¡¯s absence. She had to be. Chuckling and nudging her playfully, she shifted her posture to look at the battlefield before her: raw ingredients, laid out and ready to bake some extravagant cake Noelia had planned for today¡¯s lesson. ¡°What did I do to deserve having a new friend like you, Noelia? You¡¯re too sweet for your own good¡­just like my Sora.¡± ¡°Always with the compliments when you don¡¯t want to do something,¡± the tanuki mused, moving around the counter, waiting for her to join her. ¡°Someone has to balance out all your chaos when Jarlath isn¡¯t around.¡± ¡°Oh, is that it?¡± she hummed, unable to stop her nine tails from twisting around each other while stepping forward and staring at the daunting items that never did what she told them to, as they should: at least, that¡¯s how she¡¯d baked in the past. ¡° You¡¯re just here to make sure I don¡¯t ruin everything, huh?¡± She flicked her tails at the tanuki¡¯s back only to have them defeated by Noelia¡¯s. ¡°Well, someone has to keep you in line so you don¡¯t spiral out of control and do something stupid.¡± Eyes softening as she began the tedious task of manual baking, Mia breathed out a resigned sigh. ¡°I appreciate your support, Noelia, no matter if it is my territory or whatever the case. You are a gem to this family¡­¡± The young woman many millions of years her junior gave her a somber smile as a short pause came between them. ¡°¡­I know you¡¯re worried about how Inari will take the decisions you¡¯ve made. There¡¯s nothing I can say to comfort you in that. All I can do is try to distract you with sweets crafted by your own hands¡­ Are you ready for war?¡± ¡°Only if you make a batch I can actually enjoy instead of throwing away,¡± she said with a strained laugh. ¡°My hands get clumsy when I¡¯m nervous and I¡¯ve never been one for exact measurements¡­ Life without magic is a disaster!¡± Noelia laughed softly, shaking her head but the discussion had helped ease her troubled heart. Still, her mind was fixated on that one hole¡­that one terrifying outcome. As weak as Fen is¡­she is the greatest threat in our lives¡­but if I do anything obvious about her, it will plant a seed that will grow, making Sora hate me. I cannot see a future where Fen does not bring ruin down on our family. So¡­I have to put my hope in her. B3 — 8. A Hectic First Day Sora¡¯s tail swayed as she approached Professor Kurosaki¡¯s lecture hall, Nilly and Nerida beside her. Her hands knotted behind her back upon seeing Eyia and Wendy on the steps leading into the ornate, traditional Japanese archways loomed before them, adorned with intricate designs that glowed softly in the ambient light. He¡¯s a Nogitsune? Her thoughts buzzed, ears perked while listening to the packs of students traversing the area. Most of them were vulpes, showing off their black, gray, or various lighter shades of red that seemed to be a mix between the Japanese vulpes and other cultures. Their outfits were just as consistent, showing vivid representations of Asian artistic design. Everyone always looks at me¡­ I¡¯m the special student that skipped the opening talk, after all. Plus, I¡¯m in a western-style dress while they¡¯re all eastern. I should have paid more attention to the vulpes fashion yesterday. Great first impression, Sora! Her new siren friend walked hesitantly beside her, Nerida shyly fidgeting with her shimmering silver hair. Sora could see the goosebumps running along the poor girl¡¯s arms, her aquamarine eyes darting left and right at the attention, no doubt feeling the same judging gaze regarding their outfits. Just like her, the delicate sea-green dress that adorned Nerida¡¯s slim frame flowed gracefully around her¡ªapparently, chosen by her mother. It was a simple but elegant outfit, hinting at her siren heritage. If the girl hadn¡¯t told her she¡¯d literally grown up in a cave, Sora wouldn¡¯t have believed her. Sora took a steadying breath as they neared the steps of Professor Kurosaki¡¯s lecture hall. The wooden archway loomed above them, carved with intricate designs that seemed to shimmer in the soft glow of enchanted lanterns. Just ahead, Wendy was waiting, arms crossed, eyes darting between her and her new siren friend. A tightness crept into Sora¡¯s chest, her steps slowing as she caught sight of the tension in her sister¡¯s stance, and one Eyia somewhat mirrored. Great¡­ I knew something was up, but c¡¯mon! Kari isn¡¯t even with me. Is that the problem? I ditched her. Well, no, she ditched me! No. Chill. Chill! Cool down and just try to jump in like nothing happened. Beside her, Nerida fidgeted, her fingers nervously smoothing the sea-green fabric of her dress. ¡°Do you think they¡¯re all staring at me?¡± she whispered, her sweet voice barely audible. She avoided eye contact, her silver hair catching the light as she glanced around, looking every bit as fragile as she felt. Sora forced a smile, hoping it would calm her. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you look amazing. Seriously, that dress suits you¡ªit¡¯s perfect!¡± Her own tail flicked with an easy enthusiasm, trying to convey the confidence Nerida lacked. The last thing she needs is to feel singled out or left out. A faint blush crept onto Nerida¡¯s cheeks as she stared at her dress with a regretful sigh. ¡°I¡­I just knew I shouldn¡¯t have worn this. It was my mother¡¯s, and now everyone¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Oh, pfft,¡± Sora interrupted, giving her a friendly nudge with her tail. ¡°Are you kidding? It¡¯s perfect! Look around, everyone¡¯s in these fancy kimonos. We¡¯re basically on trend. See, Wendy and Eyia are dressed just like us.¡± Nilly skipped along beside them, her expression cheerful, though her eyes were thoughtful as they flicked between Nerida¡¯s nervous vibes and Wendy¡¯s scowl ahead that soon transformed into an unconvincing smile, at least to Sora it was. ¡°Yeah, you look great!¡± she chirped, lightly bumping Nerida¡¯s arm with her own. ¡°I mean, I like wearing whatever¡¯s comfy, personally, so shorts and a blouse are good for me. Sora and everyone likes to dress up, though. No one here has that sea-sparkle thing you¡¯ve got going on, which looks electrical! Is that right word? Wrong megaannum? Huh. Besides, I mean, I used to go nude, you know¡ª¡± The cat¡¯s face turned bright pink, her tail slowly rising, fur going on end. ¡°Forget I said anything,¡± she mumbled, hiding her face in her hands. ¡°What is wrong with me?!¡± Sora smiled as Nilly managed to get a giggle from Nerida, lighting her mood. ¡±You¡¯re great, Nilly. Never change¡­ Wait, you change like twelve times a day, so unrealistic expectations, but I love every one of you.¡± Nilly¡¯s drawn back ears fluttered as she showed her face again, a thankful look on her strained grin. ¡°That¡¯s why I think I like you, whatever version I am. You¡¯re always trying to pull the best out of me.¡± Nerida managed a shy smile, her confidence growing. ¡°I can agree with that. Thanks, Nilly¡­Sora.¡± Her grip on her dress loosened a bit, and she straightened as they moved forward. Sora¡¯s gaze drifted back to Wendy, who was now tapping her foot, her lips drawn in a tight line that didn¡¯t suit her usually warm smile. A knot formed in her stomach as they reached the steps and finally met. ¡°Who¡¯s the pretty silver-haired girl?¡± Wendy asked, stepping forward with a bright tone that felt just a little too much for the brunette¡¯s typical cadence. Her brown eyes shifted to her, Wendy¡¯s smile masking the frustration in her gaze that Sora couldn¡¯t miss. ¡°What happened to Kari?¡± ¡°Oh, um, about that¡­¡± Sora felt her words tumble over each other. ¡°This is Nerida. She¡¯s¡­Kari¡¯s new roommate! She has a heavenly voice but that¡¯s¡­yeah, too much. Have you¡­checked it out yet?¡± She stopped herself from blurting out everything about Nerida¡¯s shyness. She doesn¡¯t need me broadcasting her every feeling. Wait, are we like, literally her first friends ever? ¡°Roommate?¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly as she sized up Nerida. ¡°And she just asked to come along, huh?¡± Her voice held a slightly protective edge, and she shot Sora a look that clearly read, ¡®Really? Another random girl?¡¯ Nerida took a half step back, her fingers curling again into her dress. ¡°I¡­I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t want to cause problems! I just¡ª¡± ¡°Wendy,¡± Sora interjected, her tail flicking in a faint, reassuring wave. ¡°It¡¯s just for the first class. I thought she¡¯d feel more comfortable if she didn¡¯t have to go alone. And what¡¯s wrong with wanting to get to know Kari¡¯s roommate? She¡¯s not Kari.¡± Her gaze softened, silently asking Wendy to understand. ¡°What¡¯s going on¡ªEyia?¡± The blonde¡¯s mouth creased, arms crossed and examined the blue-eyed girl¡¯s defensive posture with a critical gaze. ¡°She does not feel strong enough to be a threat, Sister. Though, her voice is laced with subtle compulsions.¡± ¡°Compulsions?¡± Wendy repeated, vision widening as Sora was thrown for a loop, trying to grasp what the Valkyrie was saying. ¡°Like, mind control?¡± Nerida went completely stiff, arms beginning to shake and hands knotting at her belly. ¡°No, no! Don¡¯t misunderstand, I-uh, I¡­¡± Nilly hopped forward with raised hands and big eyes darting between them. ¡°Woah! Woah! Eyia, Wendy, it¡¯s not like that. There¡¯s a reason Sora didn¡¯t call anything like that out. She¡¯s naturally filtering out harmless stuff. You¡¯re super sensitive to things like that, Eyia. It¡¯s harmless. Right, Nerida?¡± The siren put her hand to her throat, now a tad hoarse and unable to look at anyone in the face. ¡°It¡¯s¡­a defensive thing, I think. I try to control it, b-but sometimes it just comes out. I¡¯m not even good at using my voice¡­ Not like my mom. All it does is correct my pitch¡­but are there compulsion notes in it?¡± Wendy¡¯s posture eased a bit upon seeing Nilly¡¯s slight frown and hands on her hip, though the tension in her eyes remained. ¡°Right. I assume that¡¯s right since it¡¯s from you, Nilly.¡± Eyia tilted her head and sighed. ¡°I do not wish to cause misunderstandings. I must be truthful, though. It is there, albeit weak and cannot affect you, Sister. It would give humans a more positive feeling when hearing her, triggering a reaction within their souls.¡± ¡°I¡­didn¡¯t even know,¡± Nerida mumbled, fear and anxiety swelling in her aura that tugged at Sora¡¯s chest. ¡°So, when all those people on boats used to talk to me. Was it really because¡­my voice compelled them to do so? None of them talked to me of their own free will?¡± ¡°Hey¡­¡± Sora moved closer to squeeze the panicked girl¡¯s arm, offering a reassuring smile. ¡°We¡¯re here to learn how to control our powers, right? You know, I kind of did that myself when I first started using my powers¡­ I hypnotized this community center employee into getting me, like a dozen pairs of shoes and bowling balls¡ªfor Nilly!¡± ¡°Huh?! Me?¡± Nilly pointed at herself, lips falling open. ¡°I don¡¯t remember that. Wait¡­was it¡ªI was swinging on a swing, and¡­rain?¡± ¡°Bingo!¡± Sora chimed, brightening the mood with a giggle and drawing in Nerida. ¡°I was scared and confused but you made me feel like I wasn¡¯t crazy! Oh, by the way,¡± she added with a wink in Nerida¡¯s direction, ¡°I wasn¡¯t always a vulpes. I transformed into one.¡± ¡°Really?¡± the teen¡¯s panic gradually subsided, replaced by curiosity. ¡°How does that happen? And¡­you¡¯re sure I¡¯m not affecting her, eh¡­Eyia?¡± she nervously asked. Eyia¡¯s frown started to subside with a confused crease to her eyes as she glanced at the bushy-tailed brunette. ¡°You are not endangering my sister. I simply informed you that I knew of your magic and its effects, though weak as they are. I was a stranger to Sora, as well, at one point not too long ago. She is someone who is very caring and true.¡± ¡°Aww. Thanks, Eyia,¡± Sora grinned, heart swelling. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten a lot of help from all of you. Are¡­we good, Wendy?¡± Wendy¡¯s ears twitched before she breathed out a long stream of air and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m just¡­yeah. Well, nice to meet you, Nerida.¡± She shot the siren an evaluating look, then diverted it to give her a sideways glance, as if to say something Sora didn¡¯t quite get. ¡°Maybe I have been a little on-edge. So, where did the wolf go?¡± Wolf¡­ At least she said her name at the start of the conversation but now we¡¯re going in reverse. Patience. Patience. Wendy¡¯s just looking out for me and guarding herself¡­ I get that. ¡°Yep! Like I said, she¡¯s Kari¡¯s roomie. Imagine that,¡± Sora said with a forced chuckle, hoping to deflect the rising tension. ¡°You know Kari and her¡­uh, people skills. We¡¯re basically her welcome crew.¡± ¡°Cool! The more, the merrier, right?¡± Nilly added, swinging a playful arm around Nerida¡¯s shoulder, steering the conversation into lighter territory. ¡°If you need any tips on navigating these halls, I¡¯m your girl! I¡¯ve got like, all the secrets.¡± Sora gave the cat the same dubious stare Wendy and Eyia shot her. ¡°Uh, where¡¯s the administration building, Nilly?¡± she challenged with an amused smirk. Nilly¡¯s tail stiffened. ¡°Wait, I didn¡¯t think you¡¯d actually take me up on that! Uh, somewhere¡­that¡¯s near the stuff of administering? Yeah, yeah¡­that sounds about right. Maybe I should ask someone to be sure?¡± she asked with red cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t pick on me! I¡¯m trying to get everyone to play nice!¡± Nerida¡¯s shoulders relaxed a little more, and she gave Nilly a grateful look. ¡°Thank you, Nilly,¡± she murmured, her voice still soft, but with a hint of relief. ¡°I do feel welcomed. Honestly, it¡¯s a lot better of a welcome I thought I¡¯d get after¡­well, what my previous roommate said. Maybe¡­my uncontrolled voice is why they left.¡± Sora nudged her off-balance, but this time being a little more firm with her tone. ¡°You¡¯re fine, Nerida. And you don¡¯t have anything to worry about with Kari. Not even my magic can really affect her, and mine¡¯s¡­a little something more special than the average vulpes,¡± she said with a wink. Wendy¡¯s ears darted back, now glancing around nervously. ¡°Yo, could you cool it on shooting strays? Someone might think you¡¯re flexing on them and foxes have good hearing.¡± ¡°Bah. We¡¯re Founders. Facts are facts. I¡¯m not about to be delusional and I can boast a little about our moms, right?¡± Her brunette sister couldn¡¯t say anything to that. Checkmate! Breathing out a long sigh, she perked up and nudged her head toward the hallway, trying not to catch the judging looks of many of the single to two-tailed vulpes that were gathered around the Japanese-themed entrance. ¡°You win. C¡¯mon, Nerida, tell me a bit more about yourself! I have plenty to tell you about your new roommate!¡±Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Oh, no,¡± Sora grumbled, falling into line beside them as they began making their way into the building. ¡°Don¡¯t poison her mind, Wendy. Kari isn¡¯t who she used to be. Let her develop her own opinion of the grumpy wolf. We all have some sort of trust issues.¡± Wendy gave her a look that said, ¡®watch it¡¯ but her mood brightened slightly. ¡°I get Kari changed¡­ Have a little faith in me. Geez. Poisoning her mind¡­¡± Sora tried to let Wendy redeem herself for her initial contentious start, which she seemed to be doing a great job of. Wendy was great at talking and making people feel comfortable¡­when she wanted to. Glancing around, she let the conversation blend into the background for a moment to examine the lecture hall. It had its own magic, vulpes magic by the feel, and potent; vibrant paintings adorned the walls, depicting scenes of Professor Kurosaki¡¯s storied past in Japanese history, it seemed. He was an orange-furred, nine-tailed Nogitsune, and the images showed him wielding his magic with an air of calm mastery. She felt a spark of excitement in her chest now that things were calming down with whatever had sparked Wendy¡¯s disconnected. This is going to be amazing. And Fen¡¯s here, too¡­ A strained, nostalgic warmth spread through her, tempered by the reminder of how quickly things could change. Just a few weeks ago, Fen was sort of her enemy, or more antagonistic, at the very least, but now she was free from Diane and teaching! Sure, she may have done some evil things in her past, things she didn¡¯t really want to know about. That wasn¡¯t the point, though. Everyone deserves a chance, right? Mom terrifies gods and devils alike, burning universes in her past, apparently. I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t¡­but I want to put my faith in them that they can do good and, importantly, find happiness. ¡°So, everyone ready for Kurosaki¡¯s class?¡± she cut in, trying to sound upbeat as Wendy and Nerida paused in their conversation. Nilly¡¯s eyes sparkled with an energetic mischief, though her smile was soft. ¡°I am! I mean, come on¡ªit¡¯s Fen! Wait¡­I know Fen, right? I think I do¡­ Crazy lady who is connected to your aunt and talks with her¡­or is that in the future? Hmm. Plus, Kurosaki¡¯s got that, I dunno, wise-fox-vibe thing going on¡ªno, I¡¯m thinking of someone else.¡± Facade falling apart, Nilly folded her ears down, eyes spinning. ¡°I don¡¯t know what I¡¯m saying anymore! I¡¯m confusing myself. Sorry, sorry.¡± A little perturbed by the ¡®communicating with your aunt¡¯ part but also a bit intrigued, she let it slide. Plus, knowing Nilly had no control over her insatiable existence and knowing how scary it was to feel like your world was unstable and falling apart, Sora found the teen cat¡¯s hand and squeezed it for comfort. ¡°Hey, there¡¯s nothing to be sorry about!¡± Sora chuckled, finally feeling her own tension ease, yet Eyia was now looking distracted. ¡°Fen¡¯s probably going to do something crazy now and let the power go to her head; she can¡¯t help it¡­ Eh, Eyia?¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± The Valkyrie blinked, but continued to stare off into space, looking suspicious. ¡°No, I do not feel any potent trans-dimensional communications being broadcast by Fen. Jin, however, is¡­ I must go investigate something of importance.¡± Without another word, the girl dispersed into fog, making Nerida jump. The action elicited quite a few male and female vulpes¡¯ intrigue, and impressed murmurs at her magic sweeping the Japanese-themed hall. Great, the moment I come to school, everyone starts acting weird! Sora put her hands on her hips, shivering a little from the magically chilled environment. Kari¡¯s a brooding emo. Wendy¡¯s pissed at me for¡­something. Nilly¡¯s¡­eh, I guess she¡¯s doing better. Eyia¡¯s battling Jin¡¯s betrayal, or that¡¯s how she views it. I¡¯m trying to make new friends, and that¡¯s not going too well. I feel like I¡¯m being pulled in all directions at once! Wendy hissed, rubbing her neck while looking after the mist that swiftly dispersed. ¡°Yikes. Uh, maybe¡­you should go after her, Sora. I¡¯m getting the feeling that she probably needs you more than I do¡­ And I can take notes with Nilly and Nerida!¡± ¡°I probably should,¡± Sora muttered, unable to help the edge of disappointment that rolled through her. ¡°I kind of wanted to check out the class. I guess it goes all day so I can be back in a bit and you can catch me up. Be back later¡­¡± Holding up her fist, Wendy¡¯s smile grew and she returned it. ¡°You two?¡± she asked, doing the same for the excited cat and timid siren. Nilly was quick to return it, her bright smile returning. On the other hand, Nerida released a breath and relaxed, her shoulders dropping as if the weight of the world was falling off them. ¡°Thank you for making me feel welcomed, Sora¡­ Really.¡± Knuckles touching, Sora¡¯s tail flicked with joy at helping her acclimate to a new environment; in truth, it helped her feel a bit more comfortable. ¡°Sure thing! We¡¯ll talk more when I get back. TTYL!¡± She blinked and looked at Wendy as Sora jogged off. ¡°TT-what? Is that¡­uh, internet slang?¡± Sora shook with laughter at the question, and Wendy seemed to be softening up. ¡°Yeah, it means talk to you later.¡± Sora jogged through the vulpes lecture district, her dress bouncing with her moderate pace. Her desire magic sparked a small, steady flame along her tail that flicked off, forming a sphere that spun out ahead of her. Being able to track people with magic is so convenient! Follow the best ground route to get to Eyia, and it does it! Ugh¡­ Well, with a price. She felt at least ten percent of her energy collapse, which wasn¡¯t a small amount in one spell; it probably had something to do with how strong Eyia was at hiding her trail. The flame danced ahead, guiding her right of the lecture hall, then she heard someone call her name. Coming to a stop, she spotted the fae boy she¡¯d met in the forest before, now dressed in a fitted, earth-toned button-up shirt and dark jeans¡ªEarth clothes. Something that instantly caught her attention was shimmering turquoise tattoos on his exposed arms. ¡°Hey, Sora! Long time, no see,¡± he greeted, a playful smile touching his lips as he jogged forward to meet her. ¡°Were you planning to vanish on me again?¡± Sora chuckled, brushing her fingers through her hair. ¡°Guy! Uh, last I remember, you were the one who ran off first. And vanish? Depends if you¡¯re following me around campus or something. I¡¯d say I¡¯m a bit busy chasing after a friend, though.¡± She felt her heart skip, a little more flustered than she¡¯d expected to see the random fae on such a bustling day and such a huge place. The boy¡¯s smile broadened, and he raised an eyebrow upon catching up to her. Even more vulpes had paused in the busy area, locking onto them, no, the boy. ¡°Would you be creeped out if I said I dropped by the vulpes district, hoping I¡¯d bump into you?¡± Sora returned the lifted eyebrow, trying to keep her composure. ¡°Well, that depends,¡± she replied, her tone light but curious. ¡°What¡¯s your reason for tracking me down?¡± For a moment, his smile dimmed just a tad. ¡°Your friend¡­is sitting outside the Shadowfell Forest. She¡¯s not planning on going inside, right?¡± ¡°She what¡­¡± Dammit, Kari, she internally growled. We agreed on Saturday! ¡°How do you¡­even know that?¡± she asked, masking her frustration and caution. His eyes softened, the hint of forest-green depths reflecting maturity more than anything else. ¡°The forest told me. Your friend is only at the edge right now, but if she enters¡­ She¡¯s supposed to alert the guardians if any students head inside. But she didn¡¯t feel right about it, which¡­is interesting for a forest soul.¡± He rubbed the back of his neck, visibly conflicted. ¡°She seems¡­troubled about the song of the Shadow Wolf and how your friend reacted to it. I don¡¯t want to get her in trouble, either¡ªJelira or your friend.¡± Sora let out a breath, ears flicking with worry as she resumed following the little flame toward Eyia¡¯s path. ¡°Follow me¡­¡± Retreating inward as he complied, Sora tried to settle her frustration. Kari¡¯s so¡­impatient! I guess she¡¯s never really been one to be told what to do¡­ No, that¡¯s the point. She¡¯s taking proactive action, which is good! Just¡­not without me. She doesn¡¯t think things through. Well, then again, do I? she internally mused. Still, I can¡¯t let her wander into danger alone, especially when she¡¯s scared¡­and she is. ¡°I get it,¡± she finally said, shooting him a soft glance. ¡°Kari¡¯s¡­ Well, let¡¯s say she¡¯s been through a lot. But I¡¯d rather be there for her if she¡¯s going through something and we are both interested in that Shadow Wolf.¡± The silence stretched between them, and her pulse quickened as she slowed her steps again. She saw the brooding look on the boy¡¯s face when glancing up at him, his arms crossed and thinking about how best to address the situation. He¡¯s friends with the forest, which is¡­cool! I mean, I¡¯d want to meet her and talk with her. The fact she¡¯s worried about Kari is a big plus in my book. Will Kari go without me? Mmm¡­ Probably not, she reasoned to herself, weighing the options while looking at the ball of fire guiding her to Eyia. Kari needs space and is there to think and get away. That¡¯s what I¡¯d guess, anyway. Her talk with Ylva changed everything for her¡­and her obsession with the Shadow Wolf is¡­ What if it¡¯s actually Alva?! Maybe a piece of her is left when they were squished into our territory? The heavy thought made her heart settle and an uncomfortable thought flashed through her brain. Mom knows everything¡­literally, everything. She didn¡¯t give herself all the information, though. She would have known when we first met¡­but she¡¯s also playing a big game and gambling by letting me grow and be my own woman¡­ Dammit! It is complicated, isn¡¯t it, Mom. She looked up at him again, lost in his own thoughts. The spirit of the forest, or whatever she is, could help us. He can help get us in contact with her. One thing is for sure¡­ Fae boy has a silver tongue! I hope not all fae boys are like this¡­ Is he just like this toward me? Why are my thoughts always devolving like this¡­ Be cool! With a quick smile, she ignited her tail anew, and willed a new sphere to be made. Only, this time, it was for Kari, who was far easier to find than the Valkyrie. ¡°Thanks for finding me and letting me know. I¡¯ll handle the muscle headed wolf, so tell Jelira.¡± The boy¡¯s eyes widened slightly, a hint of admiration glinting in his gaze. ¡°Fascinating. I¡¯ve¡­never seen anyone handle magic quite like that,¡± he murmured, stepping forward to scrutinize her work-in-progress. ¡°It weaves so uniformly molds into complex instructions almost instantly¡­if extremely inefficient. How much magic do you have if you just casually fashion something like this?¡± Sora shot him a small grin, feeling a little thrill at his surprise. ¡°Flattery will get you everywhere,¡± she joked. Crafting a second, smaller flame in her palm, she focused, her mind shaping a specific message as she imbued the message into it: Find Kari and tell her: Keep that tail fluffy and don¡¯t you dare tangle it in the bushes! I¡¯m on your side¡­loser. I¡¯m forming a new plan. Talk to you tonight, stupid wolf. Don¡¯t make me slap you again! I don¡¯t want to break my hand¡­ Be a little considerate about a fox friend¡¯s health. P.s. I have eyes everywhere! Dun-dun-DUN! The fiery sprite took her own form, shocking even her as her flaming mirror gave her a cute grin, salute, and whisked off on its mission to her friend. Turning back to the fae boy, she cocked her hip and studied him thoughtfully. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m a bit of a humble legend,¡± she boasted with a cute grin. ¡°So, you seem to know the forest¡ªeh, Jelira, pretty well,¡± she said, her curiosity piqued. ¡°I need to help my other friend. So, would you be open to talking more when I get back?¡± Tail flicking to the other side, she tried to put on her best charm ¡°I know asking a boy to wait on you for¡­who knows how long is a bit of an ask. But¡­yeah, I¡¯m asking! You know, maybe wait for me in the lecture hall and share some insights into this ¡®guardian¡¯ business and forest magic¡­maybe get to know each other beyond, hey, that fae boy I know?¡± Smooth. Wait, did I ask him¡­on a date? Did I?! He gave her an appraising look before a graceful hum rumbled in his throat, making her suppress a gulp. Sora held her breath as he studied her, then a crooked grin split his lips and a slight blush touched his cheeks she hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°You seem to know how to make offers hard to refuse, Sora. Skipping my advanced temporal theory lectures to wait in dreaded anticipation to chat with a ¡®pretty troublemaker¡¯ vixen about magical guardians and breaking rules? Definitely a better deal than I¡¯m used to when negotiating with girls. And more troublemaker friends? Not a good thing in Avalon Academy¡­ Is that what you¡¯re asking me?¡± Oh, I¡¯m so in! Sora¡¯s lips curled into a mischievous grin as she cocked her head, the heat from her racing pulse already reddening her cheeks. ¡°Oh,¡± she shot back, ¡°and what does that say about you, Mr. Honor Student, if you¡¯re out here flirting with the new fox on campus? What will the other fae girls say?¡± Immediately, a voice inside screamed, Did you really just say that?! Where¡¯s a wall I can bash my head or lake to drown in? Where did that even come from? Right from my gut! She held her cool expression, fighting the urge to cover her face with her tail and run away. I want to commit seppuku. Aiden, you made me do this! Where¡¯s the sword? Yet, the tiniest flicker of smugness showed in the fae¡¯s eyes as he leaned in, his sharp grin flashing just enough teeth to show he knew exactly how flustered she was, and maybe enjoying it. ¡°Attitudes like that,¡± he said with a casual shrug, ¡°are exactly why fae like vulpes. Clever, forward, yet that playful edge that keeps the blade sharp on the tongue.¡± He took a deliberate step back, looking every bit the fae trickster with his easy stance and captivating gaze. ¡°You know¡­blowing off my advanced temporal theory lectures to chat about troublemaking with a certain vixen seems like a much more fascinating subject all of a sudden.¡± Before she could throw another retort his way, the boy finished cooking her in his pot of boiling water, ¡°By the way, I¡¯m Aelion. Nice to make your formal acquaintance, beautiful vulpes special student¡­or is Sora better? Mmm. Yes, I think soaring the heavens fits you well.¡± Sora released a breath she¡¯d forgotten she¡¯d held, her tail quivering a little. Oh wow, you just met a guy who could sweep you up on some magical fae wind without breaking a sweat, and he¡¯s calling you beautiful? Mom¡­ Don¡¯t look! Nothing is happening right now. Nothing at all! Sora forced her tail to stay level as she offered a slow, playful nod, tilting her head with a little smirk. ¡°Sora¡¯s just perfect,¡± she replied, voice light with a glimmer in her eye. ¡°And, Aelion¡­you¡¯re definitely dangerous for the wrong girl. But lucky for you,¡± she added with a wink she normally wouldn¡¯t make, ¡°I happen to be the right one.¡± As he turned and waved, the intrigued glint in his gaze lingered with her as she strode away; she was sure. Sora had to resist the urge to hug her own tail and squeal at what she¡¯d just done, feeling her heartbeat drum louder as she finally made it out of sight and spun around, half-sure she¡¯d made an absolute fool of herself but somehow that didn¡¯t dampen her spirit. Okay, pull yourself together, Sora! You¡¯ve got a Valkyrie to track down, a siren to befriend, and a wolf to stop from causing a campus scandal¡­or snatching the Dean of Magical Discipline¡¯s eye. We do not need Elder Abigail Rosewood snatching our tails and putting us in whatever reeducation program Ember was put into¡­ Yeah, I need to look more into that. Feeling more in control than she¡¯d had in a while, she rolled her eyes upon seeing black thorns crawling out of a building. Let me guess, Auntie Rose¡­ You¡¯re lonely. Everyone wants me. Just let me talk to Eyia, and then I can see what you want. Actually, that sounds like a good experiment Wendy and I can run tonight with her Null-Void powers. We¡¯ve got a plan! B3 — 9. Eyia Will Be Okay Sora let out a soft sigh, feeling the light, warm pulse of the magical fireball drifting ahead of her, illuminating her path through Avalon¡¯s maze-like campus to Eyia. Despite Wendy¡¯s confusing hot and cold attitude, Kari¡¯s unpredictable motivations, Eyia¡¯s troubled emotions, or the fear of being in a giant, new place ,she felt happy right now. She kept her stride brisk, her mind drifting back to Aelion¡¯s lingering smile and the faint blush he¡¯d worn¡ªdangerous wasn¡¯t even the word. She was half-tempted to glance over her shoulder, wondering if he¡¯d stayed watching or if he¡¯d disappeared into some mystical mist. She picked up her pace, tail flicking behind her as she kept her eyes on the flickering orb, her senses gradually turning back to her goal. Okay! Head in the game. Check on Eyia, make sure she¡¯s okay, and straighten things out. I have to be the ground that helps everyone pick up the pieces¡­ They¡¯re counting on me! Her heart soared as the fireball veered to the right, leading her toward a transport gate. Resisting the faint shiver of unease that brushed over her at the unknown, she neared the gate, and with a deep breath, stated her purpose. A small sphere emerged from a small crystal beside it, lifting her smile as it hovered in front of her. Following the example of the small fairies and elves that materialized and entered it, she waited until it drew her forward and dropped into the circle, several tiny brownies joining her with a tall elf boy. The strange, tingling sensation of Avalon¡¯s magic washed over her, twisting the world for a moment. When she blinked again, she found herself in an open field on the other side, a crowd of onlookers murmuring and watching something just dozens of meters away. Her gaze shifted, quickly locking onto the figure in the center¡ªEyia. The Valkyrie moved with a fierce, calculated intensity, her gaze locked onto a towering figure Sora knew pretty well. Massive frame moving with liquid smoothness, Jian dodged jab after jab. Then, he braced himself against Eyia¡¯s immediate cadence shift that somehow locked him down, her relentless strikes freezing the grass in their passing. Sora¡¯s pulse quickened, her gut tightening, his calm but serious expression betraying a hint of strain as he met Eyia¡¯s attacks. ¡°Oh, Eyia¡­¡± Sora muttered under her breath, feeling a flicker of worry as she watched her friend move with a ferocity she hadn¡¯t seen since the Hell amphitheater. Murmurs swept the crowd, and it was only continuing to grow as more fae and mostly other monsters materialized around her. They jogged or floated forward to watch, enthralled by the blurred actions of both fighters. ¡°Should I stop it? Eek!¡± She jumped as a familiar dull voice spoke up beside her. ¡°Took you long enough to drag your fluffy butt out here.¡± Sora nearly jumped out of her fur, her head snapping to the right to find a small, lean figure standing nonchalantly at her side. Jin had her hands buried deep in her pockets, a new hat angled low over her eyes, reading ¡°Obey¡± in bold letters. ¡°Jin! How did you¡ª¡± She cut herself off, taking a quick breath as she steadied her tone. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to see you just¡­appear. You scared me! Uh¡­what¡¯s going on?¡± Chewing gum, her thick, black ponytail hanging out from the back of the cap, and her casual Earth attire seemed all the more jarring amid the crowd of enchanted onlookers. The dragon didn¡¯t even glance her way, continuing to observe the duel unfolding before them. ¡°What does it look like? Eyia¡¯s blowing off steam, causing trouble,¡± Jin remarked, blowing a bubble before popping it with an effortless, cool flick of her tongue. Her slitted, yellow eyes narrowed slightly while flicking to her. ¡°Could say the same about you.¡± Gut cramping at the sudden gust of wind that seemed to pick up around them as the disguised lizard¡¯s focus shifted to her, overwhelming power abruptly washing over her from nowhere, Sora gulped. ¡°W-What do you mean?! We just got here. I haven¡¯t even been to a lecture yet.¡± ¡°Humph.¡± Jin¡¯s face said ¡®don¡¯t give me that bullshit¡¯ as she returned her focus to the battling pair; direct, blunt, and with a tone that made Sora straighten her spine, she muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t insult me. You¡¯ve been busy stirring things up with that wolf girl, so don¡¯t be cute with me. You can¡¯t fool a True Dragon¡¯s eyes. I see exactly what¡¯s coming¡­more or less.¡± Sora tensed, a faint flush rising to her cheeks. How did she know?! Noelia was shielding us from people seeing. Is she just guessing? Jin is an instructor here¡­ Shoot. Are we already burned?! ¡°I, umm, I¡¯m just¡­keeping an eye out for her. I know what I¡¯m doing,¡± she replied, a bit too quickly, folding her arms defensively as she glanced back at Eyia and Jian. Eyia¡¯s form blurred with speed as she dodged a heavy strike, her spear flashing, but Jian shifted smoothly, his defense solid. Sora felt her chest tighten at the sight. ¡°Is¡­Eyia really okay? Will Jian be okay? Fen would probably be freaking out right now. This looks¡ªtoo intense for blowing off steam,¡± she noted, her tone softer, her worry leaking through despite herself. ¡°Ever the savior complex,¡± Jin smirked, raising a single eyebrow. ¡°You think the girl didn¡¯t know exactly what she was getting into? If Eyia wanted, she could cut him in half without blinking an eye. Remember, she¡¯s more on my level than I¡¯d like to admit but if she shows that true power, it¡¯ll draw all the wrong eyes¡­and she knows it.¡± Her vision shifted to her again. ¡°Eyia expresses herself through combat; it¡¯s the only way she knows how to. You do realize that you¡¯re the reason Eyia doesn¡¯t try to fight it out with me like she¡¯d want to.¡± Cold water dumped over her head at the realization. She¡¯s a Primordial, in vulpes Founder space¡­ If her powers ripple too far out, it¡¯ll draw the attention of others¡­potentially my aunt. How did I not see that? Eyia¡¯s stuck between trying to protect me and dealing with her own confusing emotions¡­ Dammit. What can I do? ¡°Relax, Sora,¡± Jin snorted, a tight smile lifting her mouth. ¡°Jian¡¯s got the patience of a stone, having had to deal with Fen for so long. This shows the fae an example of a ¡®reasonable¡¯ level they should be able to fight on. Eyia¡¯s more of a teenager emotionally than she¡¯d like to admit. It¡¯s good being around you, as suspicious I was of you when we first met. Playing around like this is good for her.¡± ¡°Playing?¡± Sora echoed, her brow furrowing as she took in Eyia¡¯s fierce expression, her focus unbreakable, finding the smallest cracks in Jian¡¯s defenses and exploiting them to force him on the defensive. The Valkyrie seemed anything but playful, her every movement precise, her gaze steely. ¡°She looks like she¡¯d cut him in half if he blinked the wrong way¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s Eyia,¡± Jin replied with a lazy grin, glancing her way. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know how to half-try in anything, but she¡¯s not a fool. She¡¯s not the impulsive one out here, unlike some people,¡± she added with a pointed look that made Sora¡¯s arms tighten against each other. ¡°Eyia¡¯s way beyond the point where she¡¯d go wild without a plan. She¡¯s too disciplined. Fighting Ylva proves that¡­ Someone she 100% saw as her enemy.¡± Sora¡¯s shivered, her tail bristling. ¡°And¡­she still held back to protect me? You¡¯re saying she¡¯s going to be okay, though¡­ This is what she needs?¡± ¡°Pretty obvious. Isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°I guess,¡± Sora whispered, finding her elbow as she fought to hold her ground beside the terrifying vibes of a constrained tsunami beside her. ¡°I¡¯m not being impulsive, by the way,¡± she muttered, feeling a defensive heat rise in her face. ¡°I¡¯m¡­worried about Eyia, Kari¡­everyone. I¡¯m working on a plan, too. I don¡¯t go diving into things without thinking them through. I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I? Watching out for my friends?¡± Jin¡¯s small frame shook with a light, almost mocking sound that made Sora bristle. ¡°Sure, you¡¯ve got plans, fluff butt. Just like that bundle of dangerous information you neatly tucked inside that fireball you sent to stalk Eyia, huh?¡± She smirked, her tone infuriatingly dull as she reached out to smother her tiny flame. ¡°You have no clue what you¡¯re doing, kid. And trust me, you can fool a lot of people, but I¡¯m not one of them. I¡¯ve got billions of years of experience that go beyond even your own mother through the True Dragon blood bond between mother and daughter. Sure, it¡¯s sporadic and fragmented, but I have real memories of the Primordial Founder War. The First Generation. The laws they set forward¡­ Your aunts.¡± She shrugged, making Sora¡¯s fingernails dig into her skin as she continued. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m not stupid. Your mother and even Noelia are more powerful than me. Your mother could snap me out of existence in an instant. I know things, Sora¡­¡± Her gaze darted to her, showing a hint of something similar to Ylva. ¡°I¡¯m looking for something deeper. Your mother is hiding something here, and I have my suspicions regarding her real plan. The one blind spot¡­is you. But sure, play it off however you like.¡± Sora clenched her jaw, trying to bite back a retort. Jin¡¯s blunt, smug, and all-knowing tone gnawed at her, her casual confidence as grating as it was frustrating. The most frustrating part was that she was probably right, not that she¡¯d say anything to the 2nd Generation Dragon Founder¡¯s face. No, she would! ¡°You always have to act like you don¡¯t care and are two steps ahead,¡± Sora grumbled, shocked at her own tone while following Eyia and Jian¡¯s battle. ¡°I know I can¡¯t say shit about your family situation or how you ended up in my territory¡­but I do care about Eyia. I know you hurt her, even if I don¡¯t fully understand how. You were pissed at me for hurting her and I owned up to it, didn¡¯t I?¡± Jin¡¯s lips lifted into a half-smile, an unreadable look crossing her shining eyes, though there was a bitter look on her face. ¡°You¡¯re such a teenager. Life¡¯s complicated and sicky, sunshine. You can¡¯t even hope to see things from my shoes and isn¡¯t that what you¡¯re trying to teach Eyia? Take the lesson and focus on keeping yourself afloat, fox. You¡¯ve got enough going on. Let me worry about Eyia because there¡¯s only one thing you can do for her.¡± Unable to immediately respond to the harsh slap across the face, she forced herself to focus on the fight again. She tried to track Eyia¡¯s movements without much luck, attempting to put her trust in her friend¡¯s skill, even if her heart was hammered with worry.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. What do I even say to that? I know I¡¯m a teenager! I know I don¡¯t see the big picture. Mom¡¯s tried to tell me that over and over again in her round about way, trying not to hurt my feelings. Is this her way of telling me I don¡¯t have to worry about Eyia and she¡¯s got it? For being able to speak every language, her communication skills suck. A short shuckle shook Jin¡¯s frame as a wall of ice materialized behind Jian, cutting off his escape route and forcing him to contend with Eyia for a brief skirmish. ¡°I know more than you give me credit for, Sora. This is Eyia. No hiding, no pretending. Just action. You can¡¯t hope to understand how she grew up¡­but I get her. Just watch, maybe you¡¯ll pick up a thing or two.¡± Sora bit her lip, feeling that familiar mix of frustration and curiosity rise within her, and she hated how steady Jin was when seeing Eyia¡¯s anger released against Jian and not her. She hated to admit it, but Jin¡¯s words had a way of sinking in, leaving her feeling both annoyed and inspired, like there was something she was missing but couldn¡¯t quite grasp. ¡°What¡¯s with Eyia and your relationship?¡± she murmured, mostly to herself, her grip loosening as she took a steadying breath. ¡°To her, it feels almost like you¡¯re a big sister she¡¯s always trying to compete with¡­and now she feels betrayed. I don¡¯t get how you feel about her. It almost sounds like you¡¯re her mother or something.¡± Jin snorted, her cap blocking her face as she doubled over, ponytail hanging to the side as she quaked with laughter. When she righted herself, there was a new, almost curious look in her yellow eyes that showed a reflective smile. ¡°I¡¯m not one to mince words, Sora; it¡¯s a waste of time. Truth is¡­ I don¡¯t know either.¡± She tilted her head to the side while studying Eyia¡¯s frustration on full display. ¡°I think I see something in her that I used to have¡­a long time ago. I have more bitterness and resentment than you could fathom, despite how I sound or act¡­ Generally, I hate everyone alike, including Founders, but Eyia¡­feels like a younger, alternative version of me. And I guess I like seeing that.¡± Speechless, Sora opened her mouth, yet nothing came out. It was so raw and blunt that she didn¡¯t know how to respond. Jin just laughed, popped another bubble, and nudged her off-balance. No other student even looked their way with Eyia and Jian¡¯s battle keeping their attention. ¡°So¡­what did I say, Sora?¡± Swallowing the lump in her throat at the directed question, Sora glanced down at the slightly shorter Korean woman, eyes only barely visible under the brim of her hat. ¡°You¡¯ll handle Eyia? But¡­you said there¡¯s one thing I can do for her.¡± Jin rolled her eyes and shook her head. ¡°Use your brain a little. You give her a safe place to go back to¡­like the cave she had on the Island to patch up her wounds. She has stability with you, as ridiculous that sounds for a vulpes¡­ Congratulations.¡± ¡°On?¡± Sora mumbled as the dragon strode forward. She paused for only a moment, turning to give her a small smirk. ¡°Being the second person I don¡¯t exactly hate. Try not to mess that up.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± she choked, straining a smile. The dark-haired woman went to meet Eyia, holding up a hand in parting. ¡°And before trying to break any laws, make sure to come by my lecture. You¡¯re a walking disaster with the magic you weave. This isn¡¯t Miami. People can pick apart your magic to figure out things they shouldn¡¯t know. First, focus on that.¡± Left alone inside the transport circle, Sora took one more look at the Valkyrie, releasing steam, and tried to smile. I guess I was worrying about things I shouldn¡¯t. Jin really does care about you¡­in her own jaded and blunt way. Good luck, Eyia. See you when you need me. Returning to the vulpes district, she made her way back to the lecture hall, where Aelion was waiting for her, reflecting on what Jin had said. In a way, that had been her first real lecture in Avalon, and she was sure it was for a reason. People can pick apart my weave and learn things from my magic¡­ How much can they learn and how vulnerable does that make me¡­or others? What Jin said about that tracking ball I made¡­ Would that provide harmful information about Eyia? I don¡¯t know. Sora¡¯s thoughts churned as she entered the Japanese-themed lecture hall, the soft glow of lanterns illuminating elegant wooden beams and delicate silk tapestries. The calming ambiance of the room helped ease her scattered thoughts, yet her mind kept drifting back to Jin¡¯s blunt warning. She barely even knew how tracking spells worked, let alone the full extent of the magic surrounding her. As her gaze adjusted to the dim light, she spotted Aelion near the front, casually leaning against a pillar, his green-tinted tattoos glimmering faintly against the dark fabric of his shirt; his chest underneath seemed to have the same patterns, making her throat a little dry with curiosity. His tall, slender frame was almost lost in the shadows, but his eyes¡ªsharp and watching¡ªcaught hers almost immediately as she rounded the corner. His mouth curved into a small smile as he straightened, brushing a few strands of silvery hair behind one pointed ear. ¡°Aelion,¡± she greeted, quickening her pace. ¡°Hey! Thanks for waiting.¡± ¡°Always a pleasure,¡± he replied, his voice smooth and light as he pushed away from the pillar. His irises held that same glint of mischief from earlier, though his expression softened as he took in her slightly frazzled appearance. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve had a busy morning already.¡± ¡°Something like that,¡± Sora admitted, brushing back her hair as she tried to shake off the lingering tension from her conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s just say the new PE coach is tough. I got sidetracked, umm, yeah¡­you know how it is.¡± ¡°No clue, but not like that really matters. If it bothers you then that¡¯s enough of a reason to check it out. I assume it had something to do with the fight happening in that new instructor¡¯s class. Jin, right? It seemed to have gathered quite the audience from what I was hearing.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± she replied, the image of Eyia¡¯s fierce, determined gaze flashing in her mind. ¡°My friend is, uh¡­working through some things. Jin¡¯s a bit of a touchy subject for me. There¡¯s a recent history with her. She¡¯s¡ªwell, she¡¯s hard to read, but I think she¡¯s got Eyia¡¯s back. In her own way.¡± Aelion¡¯s expression shifted, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. ¡°Usually preferential treatment is highly discouraged here. I suppose she¡¯s got invaluable qualifications if she¡¯s coming in with attachments like that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s complicated,¡± Sora mumbled, more to herself. Shaking herself free of the thoughts, she gave Aelion a small, tentative smile. ¡°Actually, I was wondering¡ªabout something you mentioned earlier. About¡­guardians and spirits.¡± She glanced around, making sure they weren¡¯t overheard, though no one seemed to be paying attention to them. ¡°Would you really¡­introduce Kari and me to Jelira? I mean, if it¡¯s not against some big fae rule or anything. I¡¯m just interested.¡± Aelion¡¯s eyebrows lifted, and he leaned back slightly, crossing his arms as he gave her a careful once-over. ¡°I¡¯m not falling for that, fox girl. We both know you¡¯re trying to skip rules and I¡¯m not against it.¡± Sora¡¯s chest opened up with relief as he continued. ¡°Jelira doesn¡¯t often meet strangers, especially those unfamiliar with the Old Ways,¡± he murmured, his gaze thoughtful. ¡°But,¡± he added after another teasing pause, ¡°you have a genuine curiosity behind those hidden motives, I sense. She might make an exception with how unique you are and Kari¡¯s connection to the Shadow Wolf.¡± Sora¡¯s eyes sparkled with hope. ¡°Really? That¡¯d be amazing! Kari would love it, and I¡¯d¡­¡± She hesitated, unsure of exactly how to express the mix of emotions. ¡°I¡¯d like to understand more¡ªabout the spirits here and how they interact with magic. I mean, I know vulpes magic works differently¡ªespecially my magic¡ªbut¡­it would help to see how others connect to things, you know?¡± Aelion¡¯s expression softened, a faint smile tugging at his lips. ¡°You certainly aren¡¯t like the usual students here, Sora. Most come to learn, but you seem to be seeking something more.¡± His gaze turned distant for a moment, almost wistful, before he looked back at her. ¡°I¡¯ll speak to Jelira. As I said, she¡¯ll likely find you and Kari¡­intriguing.¡± She let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she was holding, a warm sense of gratitude spreading through her. ¡°Thank you, Aelion. I promise we won¡¯t cause any trouble¡­or, well, I¡¯ll try not to make any trouble. Kari¡­is a bit of a loose cannon,¡± she admitted with a playful wink, which he returned with a slight chuckle. ¡°Well, it¡¯s a good thing fae like trouble! The only question is, what kind of trouble you¡¯ll get me into. I¡¯m getting excited. Now, should we check out the lecture before introductions end?¡± ¡°Mhm!¡± They started moving further into the lecture hall, where students were beginning to gather for the class, their muted conversations mingling with the soft ambient sounds of enchanted water fountains at the front of the room. Sora¡¯s thoughts turned inward again as she considered her previous conversation with Jin while scanning for Wendy, Nilly, and Nerida. ¡°Can I ask you something else?¡± she whispered, ears falling back slightly as they moved slowly around the edges of the giant hall they¡¯d entered with hundreds of vulpes milling around, apparently waiting for the professor to show. At the bottom was a somewhat agitated black-furred Huli Jing¡ªFen. ¡°What do you think someone could learn from studying my, eh¡­my kind of magic?¡± Aelion¡¯s smile faded, his gaze growing pensive as he glanced away, fingers finding his chin. ¡°Well that¡¯s a specific question. Your magic is¡­unique,¡± he said slowly, as though carefully choosing his words. ¡°I won¡¯t claim to understand all of it since I didn¡¯t really investigate it. Vulpes magic is different from fae, but yours is unlike anything I¡¯ve experienced. It seems to react not only to intention but to instinct, will, and feeling.¡± He paused, his brow furrowing slightly. ¡°It¡¯s beyond anything I¡¯ve seen, even from High King Oberon. Is there any specific type of magic you¡¯re concerned about?¡± Sora absorbed his words, nodding thoughtfully, her gaze lowering as she played with a strand of her hair. ¡°What about a tracking spell?¡± she asked after a moment, recalling the intricate spell Jin had criticized and snuffed out. ¡°Something to find someone¡ªlike a friend?¡± Aelion¡¯s gaze grew more intense, and he leaned in, his voice lowering as though sharing a secret. ¡°Tracking spells can be powerful tools, but they¡¯re also¡­invasive. Their accuracy depends on how much information you weave into them. Spiritual energy, unique traits, personality markers, even subtle imprints on the magical, spatial, or temporal fields. The more you work into it, the stronger the connection becomes. ¡°That¡¯s why understanding the fundamentals of a spell is crucial. Every detail, every energy signature, can reveal¡­compromising information if it¡¯s not carefully contained.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach twisted slightly as she took in his words, Jin¡¯s warnings echoing in her mind about coming to her and learning the foundations before going on their night-time raid. I¡­could out Eyia as a Primordial by just trying to find her? ¡°So¡­if I don¡¯t understand those fundamentals, I could put people in danger just by trying to reach them?¡± Aelion nodded, his expression softening as he watched her grapple with the implications. ¡°Magic isn¡¯t only about strength, Sora, as yours clearly is powerful; it¡¯s about awareness. Sensitivity. A spell like tracking may seem simple, but it¡¯s a craft built on understanding a particular individual or item, including what it means to you. The more you learn about the subtle layers, the more control you¡¯ll have¡ªand the less risk you¡¯ll bring to others if your weave is captured by a bully or hostile force.¡± A silence stretched between them as Sora absorbed his words, her mind swirling with a thousand thoughts. Now she understood how Sela had so thoroughly understood her and how to get close to her. There was so much she didn¡¯t know, so much she hadn¡¯t considered. Her hands tightened around each other at her front, a determination building in her chest. Just then, a hush fell over the room as Professor Kurosaki entered, the imposing nine-tailed Nogitsune gliding to the front of the hall with effortless grace, his presence commanding immediate respect. His fiery gaze swept over the room, and Sora felt a renewed spark of excitement¡ªand resolve¡ªas she glanced at Fen, who was standing to greet him, her attention already locked onto the professor. At the bottom, she found Wendy and the others, as well. She wouldn¡¯t be able to get to them without making a bit of a scene. We¡¯re in magic school now¡­ I need to figure this out. Mom thinks I¡¯ll learn valuable lessons here. And¡­ I am curious. She couldn¡¯t help her focus moving to the weaving four tails at Fen¡¯s back; she¡¯d gained another one. Despite what Mom says¡­ I want to know the rest of our family. Is there a time we can mend bridges? B3 — 10. Professor Kurosaki The atmosphere in the lecture hall shifted as Professor Kurosaki descended, his geta clicking against the polished wood floor. Sora couldn¡¯t pull her eyes away, her ears perked up, the noise of his shoes somehow mesmerizing in its rhythm, echoing softly as though the world itself bowed to his entrance¡ªit was magic, she knew it was, but it didn¡¯t make it any less impressive. The glowing lanterns around the hall flickered and silk tapestries weaved while he proceeded with deliberate grace, one hand clasped behind his back and the other holding a thin, weathered book. Only once did his fiery gaze leave the manuscript to sweep over the gathering of vulpes and other magical creatures before returning to his study. Sora¡¯s ears twitched, caught in the stillness that seemed to stretch forever as the professor glided down one step at a time. The air in the room compressed, or was it her lungs? Whatever it was, it made her feel as though even the walls were holding their breath. Her tail bristled involuntarily at the sheer weight of his presence, her heart racing faster with every deliberate click of his shoes. She stole a glance at the others around her; some vulpes exchanged nervous looks, their gray or black tails lowering submissively, while others stared straight ahead, visibly tensing under his silent scrutiny. Everyone could feel his judging eyes, despite not being in them. At the front, Fen stood rigid, her four tails curling protectively around her legs. Sora couldn¡¯t remember ever seeing the Huli Jing so tense, her usual snark and defiance replaced by what looked like genuine nervousness. Upon reaching the desk at the bottom of the hall, he closed the book with a decisive clap, the sound reverberating like a gavel striking judgment. The silence fractured like a taut string, snapping everyone out of the spell and causing a collective sigh of relief to flow through the air. With a subtle, self-assured smile, he lifted his gaze to Fen, his sharp, amber eyes locking onto her like a predator appraising its prey. ¡°How,¡± Kurosaki began, his voice smooth and low but carrying effortlessly through the hall, ¡°would you judge those gathered here today, Fen?¡± The murmurs began immediately. Sora caught fragments of whispered conversations around her. ¡°Judge us? What does he mean?¡± one vulpes muttered, her gray tails swishing nervously. ¡°Are we already being evaluated?¡± another asked, his voice barely audible as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Only Nilly and Wendy seemed somewhat resistant to the show, arms crossed below. Her brunette sister glanced up, ears twitching with annoyance upon spotting her at the top, and those judging emerald eyes were on a whole new level. She could practically feel the heat as they flicked to Aelion beside her. I¡¯m not trying to ditch you! Sora internally growled, trying to distract herself by studying Fen now that she had the full hall¡¯s attention. Fen looks¡­better? She gained her fourth tail, which is big. Fen¡¯s jaw tightened, and she inclined her head slightly, her hands resting over her tails in what seemed to be a grounding gesture. When she spoke, her tone carried the same careful precision Sora had come to associate with her, yet the bitter note wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Judgment is subjective, Professor. Each here has the potential for growth, as your spell upon your entrance proved, though it lies dormant in many. It depends¡­on the soil in which they are planted, as you taught me last night.¡± Last night?! Sora¡¯s legs knotted together as she saw similar lifted eyebrows from the female vulpes around the hall. I expected this to be a different kind of classroom but let¡¯s not go crazy, Fen! Maybe I¡¯m reading too much into it¡­ Too many J-dramas. Kurosaki¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver at the student¡¯s looks or nudges to one another, but a faint, approving smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°A diplomatic answer and turning my own words on me,¡± he mused, glancing down at the book he¡¯d placed on the desk. ¡°It seems following my guidance to gain your fourth tail has shifted your outlook. Perhaps you have found suitable soil for your own roots, after all. You certainly are worthy to be my aid.¡± Sora didn¡¯t miss the slight shiver that ran down her tails at the praise. ¡°I will merely do as you instruct, Professor.¡± Focus darting between them, Sora¡¯s couldn¡¯t believe her ears. No sarcasm. No deflection. No snide response or smirk. It¡¯s not fear. She certainly respects him, but is there¡­a crush there?! Sora¡¯s tail flicked thoughtfully as the whispers around her grew quieter. Her gaze returned to Fen¡¯s bright tail, a white contrast to her others. Fen¡¯s met the two apex vulpes of¡­everything, Mom and Aunt Inari, and all she felt was terror and bitter envy¡­ But all of that seems to be gone. What did he do to her? Her eyes were drawn to her fourth tail. Well, give her power, I guess. The lecture hall remained still as Kurosaki turned his back to Fen, stepping away from the desk with a deliberate, unhurried grace. His voice snapped her out of her reverie, effortlessly drawing every gaze back to him as his geta once again clicked softly against the polished floor. He began a slow circuit around the circular room. One hand clasped behind his back and the other trailing thoughtfully against the edges of the tables the listeners sat at, the gesture carried a casual elegance that belied the weight of his presence demanded. The question was if it was a spell doing it or his cadence alone. ¡°I see,¡± he began, his voice low but resonant, carrying effortlessly through the hall, ¡°that there are many more creatures gathered here than is typical of my vulpes lectures. Curious.¡± Sora¡¯s ears perked as he paused mid-stride, his fiery gaze sweeping across the room. Her tail stiffened as his words seemed to weigh down the air, their meaning subtly prickling the edges of her mind with Aelion beside her. ¡°Within the vulpes district, there are no shortages of excellent instructors, my colleagues,¡± Kurosaki continued, the faintest hint of amusement flickering in his tone. ¡°So, why are you here, in my hall? Perhaps it is the traditional scenery,¡± he mused, gesturing briefly to the glowing lanterns and woven tapestries. ¡°Perhaps my magic infused into these walls caught your attention, or maybe it was merely a friend¡¯s recommendation.¡± He resumed his slow pacing, his gaze lingering momentarily on Wendy, Nerida, and Nilly before moving to a cluster of vulpes whose gray tails twitched under his scrutiny. ¡°But what is it you expect from me? What is it I expect from you?¡± His words, soft yet laced with an edge, carried an unspoken challenge. A murmur rippled through the room, but it was quickly stifled as Kurosaki raised his hand slightly, commanding silence with the barest motion. His expression remained enigmatic, his amber eyes flicking between individuals, as though peering into their very souls. ¡°And you,¡± he said suddenly, his voice directed at the top row, causing Sora to stiffen as his gaze locked onto her. ¡°Sora, I presume. A special admittance student who saw fit to skip the opening ceremony finds herself in my hall, and dressed rather boldly, might I add. What a radiant dress that captures the dark, star-strung heavens.¡± Heat flushed Sora¡¯s face as all eyes locked onto her. She opened her mouth to respond, but Kurosaki¡¯s attention had already shifted away from her, his fiery gaze sliding to Aelion. ¡°And beside her,¡± Kurosaki continued, a small, knowing smile tugging at the corners of his lips, ¡°Aelion, the top Merit Student, sits beside her¡­ A mysterious fae disconnected from all lineage and discovered in a cleansed Shadow Pit who was adopted by High King Oberon. Quite the story, or so I¡¯ve heard.¡± A shiver ran up Sora¡¯s tail as the image of the tall and handsome husband to High Queen Titania flashed inside her mind. He¡¯s adopted by the High King of Avalon?! Wait, but he couldn¡¯t get into the school except by merit? And he was found in a Shadow Pit that corrupts fae into Unseelie? Huh?! Aelion¡¯s jaw tightened, and Sora caught the faintest flicker of displeasure in his otherwise composed expression. The silver-haired fae¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, his green-tinted tattoos pulsing faintly. Sora¡¯s ears twitched as her curiosity spiked, and she risked a sideways glance at him. Kurosaki continued as if unaware of the charged tension his words had sparked. ¡°Both of you are testaments to what diligent effort and raw talent can achieve. Aelion, rising from the bottom of fae society, given no special treatment, to stand here, a symbol of perseverance.¡± His voice carried an almost reverent quality, though there was an undercurrent of something Sora couldn¡¯t quite place. ¡°And Sora Moore¡­a mysterious young vulpes with unique magic unheard of in time immemorial, recommended by High Queen Titania herself. Yet, she knows almost nothing about her own spellwork. Not only that, but she brings more enigmatic figures to my hall,¡± he noted, his gaze flicking to Wendy. ¡°Truly, reality is fascinating.¡± Sora¡¯s breath caught, and her tail puffed slightly. All eyes were now on her, the full weight of their stares squeezing the air from her lungs, and the way they seemed to single her out, made her pulse quicken. At least she wasn¡¯t alone in the feeling by Aelion¡¯s tight fist. ¡°What should you all take from this?¡± Kurosaki asked, resuming his slow circuit of the room. ¡°Envy and laziness will get you nowhere. Each and every one of you come from high or low, yet you are the self-governing agent unto yourselves. ¡°Just as you found your way to me, it is you who decides what rules you follow and what ones you break. What lesions you internalize and those you allow to drift into the wind.¡± He paused, shifting to look up at her with sparkling eyes and a long swish of his nine red tails that sent a warm gust circling the hall. ¡°I quite enjoyed the chaos you brought to the Opening Ceremony, Sora.¡± ¡°You do?¡± she whispered, unable to help herself. It wasn¡¯t like she¡¯d tried to cause a commotion. ¡°I do,¡± he chuckled, turning to smile at Aelion, who showed a slight frown. ¡°It embodies the vulpes spirit in such a rules driven society like the fae. I admire many things about Avalon. Yet, despite their chaotic roots, fae are rather hampered, in my humble opinion, by the fear The Darkness has instilled in them. ¡°There are many mysteries within Avalon, hidden within its ancient lore, its forgotten histories, and its potent magic. They lie just beneath the surface, waiting to be uncovered by those with the curiosity and determination to seek them out.¡± The hall was utterly silent now. Kurosaki¡¯s voice lowered slightly, taking on a conspiratorial edge. ¡°Of course, I am not authorized to teach such things.¡± A faint, teasing smile played on his lips and made Sora once again realize how true vulpes really were. ¡°However, there is a new instructor you may find¡­enlightening.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help her fingers pressing into her lap, knowing exactly where he was going. Sure enough, he said, ¡°Professor Sela, once a princess of the fallen kingdom of Honeydew, and formerly an Unseelie Queen, now offers her own insights. I had the opportunity to attend her mock class with the other staff and found it¡­enthralling.¡± The pause that followed was deliberate, heavy, as Kurosaki allowed the implications to settle over them. She had not expected this to be her first lecture. He¡¯s really selling Sela¡¯s class¡­ I really should check that out next, if anything to see how she¡¯s doing. ¡°Mastery,¡± Kurosaki said into the silence, his voice deep and steady, ¡°requires the understanding of both positive and negative elements. Magic is not inherently good nor evil; it is a tool, like any blade or hammer, shaped by the wielder¡¯s intent¡­ Something all the more real for our Lady Sora Moore. To wield it with wisdom, you must first understand its foundations.¡± He stopped in the center of the room, his gaze sweeping across the gathered students one final time. ¡°Many of you grew up on instinct, only capable of commanding the messiest of spellwork. Some of you have a better grasp than most but have¡­other reasons to be in my introductory lecture,¡± he chuckled while looking up at Aelion. ¡°Yet, for the majority of you, it is the fundamentals that is why you are here.¡± The lecture hall stilled further, a reverent quiet settling over the crowd as Kurosaki raised his hand, a faint shimmer rippling through the air. Sora could see Aelion¡¯s light glare from the corner of her eyes. This professor certainly knows how to get people¡¯s attention, Sora internally mumbled, turning her focus back on the nine-tailed Nogitsune. ¡°Magic,¡± he began, his voice smooth and commanding, ¡°like science, is bound by rules and laws. It is not chaos, as some may believe. It is simply another framework of reality. And, like science, it requires understanding and mastery of these principles to be wielded effectively.¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched, her curiosity piqued, as Kurosaki paused to let the statement settle. The air seemed to hum around him as he continued. This was why she was here, to learn. ¡°Now, you might ask, why bother with the kit things for children? After all, you could simply pick up a feather and move it across the room.¡± He lifted a hand, and in a subtle flick of his wrist, a feather materialized out of thin air, weightless and pristine, drifting gently in the air before him. Sora¡¯s throat constricted; she felt a subtle disturbance in the magical field around the room. She instinctively reached out with her senses, trying to understand the weave he was using, but it was too intricate, too seamless for her to unravel. And yet, a faint impression lingered in her mind, like a whisper¡ªsomething about pulling it from elsewhere, a smaller space, perhaps a pocket dimension? Kurosaki¡¯s fiery gaze shifted briefly to her, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips as though he sensed her struggle. ¡°To levitate a feather across a room with magic,¡± he said, his voice smooth as silk, ¡°is, on the surface, more difficult than simply using your hand. But¡­is it really?¡± The feather began to move, gliding effortlessly through the air as he gestured. It danced and twisted, mimicking the natural currents of a breeze despite the still air of the hall. The ease with which it moved was mesmerizing, yet Sora could feel the immense depth of control beneath the surface. ¡°From birth,¡± Kurosaki mused, his tone instructional but laced with a faint edge of challenge, ¡°you have honed your motor skills and trained your senses to interact with the world. Every movement, every action¡ªpracticed and perfected over years, decades even. But if you were to strip all of that away, return to a state of untrained infancy, would it still be so simple?¡± The feather hovered in place, spinning lazily as his eyes swept the hall. The foxes around Sora exchanged uneasy glances, some shifting in their seats. Her own tail flicked restlessly as she tried to imagine what it would mean to start from scratch while looking down at Wendy, who now seemed enthralled. The black thorns coiling up from around her chair made Sora¡¯s fingernails dig into the table. Aunt Rose¡­ Wendy may look and even feel like a vulpes or tanuki, but she¡¯s made of Null-Void, whatever that is. She¡¯s having to learn how to do everything again and hold herself back¡­ Maybe I¡¯m being too sensitive. Wendy¡¯s struggling through a lot right now. Her gaze shifted to Aelion as Kurosaki continued his lecture, her chest becoming heavy. I want to explore this huge, magical realm and I¡¯m getting caught up in so many things. But¡­Wendy really does need me. I shouldn¡¯t get distracted by boys right now. Keep focused! I need to practice this stuff with Wendy. Is Aunt Rose calling out to us because she knows Wendy is struggling? ¡°Magic,¡± Kurosaki said, letting the feather vanish with another flick of his wrist, ¡°is not unlike these motor skills. To grasp it, to truly wield it, you must first understand what it is. You must experiment. You must stumble and fall. You must go through the growing pains. Magic is not a tool in the conventional sense¡ªit is a field, a force, a presence woven into the fabric of existence itself that must be experienced as reality itself was for your motor skills.¡± He paused, letting the words sink in, before continuing. ¡°Like gravity, it is ever-present where it exists, shaping and interacting with all things. Yet, unlike gravity, it is not bound solely by the physical. Magic flows in, through, and around all things. It infuses life, matter, and thought. But,¡± he said, his gaze sharpening, ¡°not everywhere. On Earth, for example, its presence is diminished, weaker. This realm, by contrast, is rich with it, saturated to a degree that allows for phenomena you would call miracles, even done by the most inept witch or wizard on Earth.¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched again at the mention of her home planet, her thoughts briefly flashing to her own struggles with magic back home during her transformation. I did have to experience all of it¡­mess up, she winced while remembering the interaction with Lori and the activity center employee. I guess I¡¯m on the fast track since mine literally functions off of desires while these vulpes have to learn how to mold it without autopilot¡­ Her vision settled on Fen as Kurosaki brought her into the lesson. I can see why she hated and envied me¡­ Why Daisy was so stunned by what I could do. I do have cheats baked into me because I¡¯m a Founder. I can¡¯t take that for granted. I guess that means I am a magical field in myself¡­ Founders have their own personal field that reshapes¡­no, creates reality, like Diane said, which is crazy to think about. ¡°Fen?¡± The dark-haired woman sallied forward with a confident smile, her yellow eyes darting up to her as if a whip, daring her to zone out. ¡°But we are not here to debate where magic thrives and where it falters,¡± she continued, pacing now in a slow circle, her heels clicking rhythmically against the polished floor in tandem with the professor¡¯s geta. ¡°We are here to build a foundation. To wield magic, you must first understand the framework of existence¡­ Some more than others.¡± Subtle, Sora internally grumbled, seeing Aelion¡¯s frown turn into a curious smile now as he tracked the energy that passed between their stares. Yeah, she was wrong; Fen wasn¡¯t over their talent differences. Don¡¯t forget it¡¯s my magic that kept you from being vaporized by my mom, puffy tails. You get to play teacher¡¯s pet because of me, so maybe lay off a bit more with the envy. Fen¡¯s voice grew slightly firmer, commanding attention and pulling Sora out of her mental snarls. ¡°There are four fundamental aspects of all things that we must begin with: the Physical, the Spiritual, the Magical, and the Intelligent planes. Together, they form the foundation of reality as we know it.¡± Kurosaki stopped, turning to face the room directly, his gaze sweeping over them. ¡°Are there more planes? Absolutely. But these four are the pillars, or so we understand them to be. Just as science is always evolving, so is the magical field of research. Without understanding these basics, you will not understand the forces you seek to master.¡± The air in the hall seemed to grow heavier, charged with the weight of his words. Sora¡¯s tail bristled slightly, her mind already racing with questions. The Physical and Intelligent planes she could fairly accurately grasp. She assumed her dream dives involved the Intelligent plane. However, the Spiritual plane was a bit more vague, and she felt like it had something to do with how she sensed people¡¯s auras. The magic was a bit more of a mystery, as well. Sure, she could sense it as if it were the wind blowing against her skin, gain abstract insights by studying the magic others used, yet they were like splattering paint on a canvas to be interpreted. Kurosaki¡¯s sharp gaze flicked over the room one final time, his voice lowering as he posed the question that would mark the beginning of their lesson. ¡°Now, shall we begin with the Physical? Or perhaps you would prefer to start with what you cannot see?¡± His smile was faint, almost teasing, but his eyes burned with the promise of deeper knowledge. ¡°Shall we dive into the deep-end first?¡± After laying down the foundations of magic, Kurosaki transitioned seamlessly into summarizing the four fundamental aspects¡ªPhysical, Spiritual, Magical, and Intelligent. He outlined how they intersected and overlapped, painting an intricate web of interconnected forces. His explanations flowed like a melody, each point building on the last, but he kept the discussion light, hinting at deeper complexities without diving too far into advanced topics. ¡°For now,¡± Kurosaki concluded, his geta clicking softly as he moved back toward the desk, ¡°consider these aspects not as separate entities but as threads in a single tapestry. Pull one, and the others shift in response. Mastery begins with understanding this balance. And now,¡± he added, his amber eyes gleaming with a teasing challenge, ¡°we leave the basics behind and approach the threads themselves.¡± The room stirred as the professor shifted into a discussion of more advanced concepts. He introduced the idea of ¡°weave harmonics,¡± the way magical currents could resonate to amplify or dampen other fields. Demonstrating with a shimmering globe of condensed light, he explained how different harmonics could influence magical outcomes, shifting the globe between vibrant hues with a flick of his wrist. The demonstration left most of the lower-tailed vulpes¡ªincluding Sora¡ªwide-eyed and overwhelmed, their nervous whispers rippling through the hall. It became clear that many would need more time to process the foundations before tackling such abstract ideas. Gradually, higher-tailed vulpes and more advanced students began to filter into the room, their presence a quiet signal that the lecture was transitioning to the next level. Sora stood, sensing it was time to leave, though she couldn¡¯t help but glance back at Kurosaki, his gaze flicking to her as if catching her hesitation. She turned to Aelion, who was rising beside her. ¡°Hey, Aelion¡­ Will you come by in the morning on Friday?¡± she asked, her voice soft but hopeful. Aelion gave her a faint, warm smile, his green-tinted tattoos seeming to glimmer faintly in the hall¡¯s light. ¡°I¡¯d be happy to. Though you should know, I have my own lectures you might want to attend. You¡¯re missing out on a lot by skipping the fae-specific sessions. Culture is another thing you¡¯re supposed to learn here, by the way, and I can help with that.¡± Sora chuckled awkwardly, her heart fluttering at the invitation. Now that has to be a date signal! C¡¯mon¡­ Why do you have to ask me that now when I¡¯m trying to be a good sister?! ¡°I¡¯m, umm, just trying to figure out where I fit in all of this. Rain check. Thanks, though¡ªseriously, later! I¡¯ll definitely take you up on private lessons.¡± With a grin and a nod, Aelion turned and began to make his way out of the hall. Sora¡¯s gaze lingered on him for a moment before she noticed Kurosaki still watching them, his focus flicking between her and Aelion as the fae left. A strange pulse emanated from the professor that made her shiver, almost imperceptible, but she could feel it¡ªwaves of curiosity radiating from his spiritual field. So, this is what a professor with nine tails and a sharp mind feels like¡­ It¡¯s like he¡¯s analyzing every one of us on more levels than I can count. It¡¯s¡­kind of a little creepy but that¡¯s probably just because I¡¯m not used to it. There¡¯s something about him, though¡­ As she descended the stairs to meet Wendy, Nilly, and Nerida, Wendy was the first to speak, her dull emerald eyes sliding past her to Aelion¡¯s retreating form. ¡°He¡¯s cute,¡± she flatly noted, her tone making it impossible to tell if she was serious or teasing. ¡°Didn¡¯t think you were into the tattooed boys.¡± Sora¡¯s cheeks burned as she instinctively smacked Wendy¡¯s tail with her own, glaring at her. ¡°Wendy!¡± she hissed, glancing back nervously to see if Aelion had heard. Fortunately, he was too far away, but a few vulpes nearby had caught the comment and giggled, their attention briefly following the fae prince¡ªyeah, he was a prince! ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything untrue,¡± Wendy added with an accusatory smirk. ¡°Whatever,¡± Sora mumbled, trying to change the subject. ¡°I want to check out Sela¡¯s class next, but first¡­¡± She hesitated, her tone softening. ¡°I need to take care of something private with Wendy.¡± Nilly¡¯s sharp ears perked up, and her already large eyes grew wider. She nodded knowingly, a mischievous grin spreading across her face that reminded her of unstable Nilly for a moment. ¡°Got it! We¡¯ll scout ahead for the best seats. Right, Nerida?¡± she said, grabbing the timid siren by the arm. ¡°I¡¯m sure it will be packed after that endorsement.¡± The siren girl hesitated, her voice barely above a whisper. ¡°Uh¡­ Sure. I-I can try¡­¡± Before Sora could respond, Nilly had whisked her away, leaving her to wonder just how much the feline really knew. Given Nilly¡¯s origins as the literal Cat Mother, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she was already aware of Aunt Rose since, well, she¡¯d already infiltrated the prison with them. Wendy sighed softly, drawing Sora¡¯s attention back to her. The unspoken tension between them hung in the air for a moment before Wendy stepped forward and pulled her into a hug. ¡°I¡¯m just worried,¡± she murmured, her tone carrying a rare warmth. Sora smiled, returning the embrace and feeling the weight that had compressed her heart melt. ¡°I know. Thanks for always trying to look out for me, Sis. I just¡­I guess I¡¯m trying to do too much. I¡¯m not trying to ignore you¡­¡± Wendy pulled back slightly, her mouth pushing to the side. ¡°Let¡¯s skip that part for now. Not why I¡¯m mad, but it¡¯s okay. Have you¡­¡±The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Sora¡¯s eyes flicked to the faint black thorns curling around Wendy, the pressure in her chest rising again with the brunette¡¯s confirmation that she is still mad, tugging at her when she wouldn¡¯t tell her way. Then again, maybe it was something they needed to chat about in a more private space. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve seen them,¡± she admitted, knowing no one would remember this particular topic. ¡°Should we see what Aunt Rose wants since she keeps reaching out?¡± Wendy gave a dismissive shrug that caught her off-guard. ¡°I feel her emotions through them. She just wants to send her support. Uh, yeah, I can feel her intentions,¡± she added with a grin. ¡°She¡¯s checking in, I think. Just saying she feels me and poking out to say she¡¯s thinking about us. How¡¯s Eyia?¡± ¡°Just¡­a wellness check, huh?¡± Sora mumbled, clearing her throat as her chest warmed, and a faint laugh escaped her lips. ¡°Eyia and Jin are¡­going through their own thing. But, umm, nothing too ominous then from our prickly auntie? Isn¡¯t our life crazy, though? A prisoner aunt who could go full evil if we¡¯re not careful?¡± Wendy smirked. ¡°Another day in the abnormal life of a fox and squirrel.¡± Their laughter felt like a brief reprieve from everything happening around them. Together, they turned toward the hall¡¯s exit, and headed for the former Unseelie Queen¡¯s class. The lesson and the unusual behavior of Fen and Ember tugged at her mind, though. Everyone that came here before us is acting¡­kind of off. Maybe I¡¯m just being too paranoid. I mean, Jin¡¯s Jin¡­ She didn¡¯t change, but¡­yeah. Ember changed a ton, and even Fen seems a bit different. How Wendy¡¯s mad at me now¡­ Kari. Yikes, don¡¯t get overwhelmed! One thing at a time. One thing at a time, she mentally repeated, finding her sister¡¯s hand to squeeze it for comfort. Our adventure has only just begun and Professor Kurosaki is right¡­ There are so many mysteries to uncover here. Neridaddd¡¯s ears flicked at the chatter around her as she and Wendy passed into the bustling vulpes lecture district. The flickering lanterns overhead cast soft, warm light against the intricate carvings on the walls. Despite the lively atmosphere and Wendy¡¯s previous hug, a muted tension hung between them. Sora bit her lip, glancing at her sister¡¯s furrowed brow and stiff posture, the occasional swish of her puffy tail¡ªit was obvious. Okay, Wendy¡¯s the queen of bottling things up and trying to deal with it herself¡­ Wait! She stopped dead in her tracks, causing Wendy to slow and turn. ¡°What¡¯s with that look on your face?¡± her sister huffed, mirrored emerald eyes locking onto her. ¡°Why are you glaring at me now?¡± How did I miss it? Kari and Wendy might as well have been cut from the same cloth! Sora internally ranted, crossing her arm and puffing up her chest. Wendy has trust issues, just like Kari. Wendy feels like she has no control, just like Kari. And Wendy is just as stupidly stubborn as that bone-headed wolf! Okay, maybe not as stubborn¡­ Kari¡¯s a different breed, literally. But the point stands! She also realized she couldn¡¯t read her sister¡¯s emotions¡ªher spiritual aura¡ªlike everyone else after she¡¯d basically turned into the brooch on her dress¡¯ front. ¡°Alright, spill it,¡± Sora demanded, not unkind but blunt, just how she learned to deal with Kari. ¡°What''s been eating you, Wendy? I¡¯m not moving from this spot until we sort this out. You¡¯ve been giving me the silent treatment all day¡ªyou know the look. Did I miss your birthday or something? Because I know I haven¡¯t!¡± Wendy stopped jaw slackened, vision widening slightly before narrowing. Her ears twitched, and she adjusted the brown strands of her hair. ¡°You¡¯re so dramatic, Sora,¡± she muttered, but her squirrel tail somehow puffed up even more. ¡°I said we don¡¯t need to talk about it.¡± ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Sora quipped, crossing her arms. ¡°You keep deflecting and confusing me, which only makes me feel like I¡¯m doing something wrong.¡± Wendy streamed out a breath, gripping her elbow as her gaze shifted to the holographic display shimmering ahead. Sora followed her pouty eyes to Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s image¡ªa nine-tailed gray vulpes with an air of serene wisdom and mischief, her voice magically amplified for distant students as she spoke about some more intimate subject that made her cheeks darken. Wendy gulped, causing Sora to refocus on her sister and try to blot out the conversation about the groves Ember had mentioned. ¡°Why are you harping on me?¡± Wendy mumbled, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of passing students, many of which gave them intrigued glances. ¡°I¡¯m¡­dealing with a lot. You know I am. I¡¯m not perfect.¡± Sora¡¯s ears perked. ¡°When did I say you were? It¡¯s like you¡¯re expecting me to read your mind!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± Wendy asked with a somewhat strained smile. ¡°That would make things easier.¡± ¡°Wendy¡­ I get it," she whispered, stepping closer to pull her into a hug to break the tension, sighing with relief as her sister¡¯s muscles loosened slightly. ¡°I know things haven¡¯t been easy¡ªheck, I do get it¡ªwhen have they ever been since Kari came into the picture? I¡¯ve lived it with you! But you¡¯ve been more than ¡®dealing with a lot.¡¯ It¡¯s¡­like¡ªlike¡­ Mmmgm¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s head sagged against the side of hers, resting her chin against her shoulder, a dry chuckle shaking her frame. Yet, it sounded more tired than amused. ¡°You¡¯re kind of hilarious when you struggle to express yourself¡­¡± ¡°Growl and glare at me all you want,¡± Sora huffed with mock seriousness, her tail flicking behind her, ¡°but it¡¯s hard to pin down, okay? You, Kari, Eyia¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Wendy admitted, her expression softening as she pulled back. Her fingers traced the edge of her sleeve as she looked her in the face, her tail curling protectively around one leg. ¡°It¡¯s not Kari.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­not?¡± ¡°No,¡± Wendy reaffirmed, pushing her lips to the side and averting eye contact. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­you.¡± Sora blinked, her nose wrinkling and feeling the slap across the face that shattered her internal peace. ¡°Me?! What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re just¡­you.¡± Wendy glanced her way before it shifted away again, her ears drooping slightly. ¡°Open, trusting¡­running headfirst into things to battle everyone¡¯s bully. It¡¯s¡­maybe I¡¯m a little jealous¡­ Scared.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± Sora echoed incredulously. She tried to laugh it off, but Wendy¡¯s folded ears and averted gaze made her pause. ¡°Wendy, what do you mean¡­ I¡¯m worried now.¡± ¡°Maybe not jealous isn¡¯t the right word,¡± Wendy quickly clarified, her voice growing more hurried, returning eye contact. ¡°Not jealous-jealous. It¡¯s just¡ªyou¡¯re so quick to trust everyone. This new Aelion guy¡ªyeah, I heard his name and how you spoke to him, Miss Breathless.¡± ¡°No need to burn my face off,¡± she grumbled, this time her eyes darting away and heat rising in her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve got problems.¡± Wendy¡¯s smile returned, genuine this time and gentle. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessarily a problem or else I¡¯d be a hypocrite. I mean, yeah, it¡¯s a part of the problem, but yeah. It¡¯s Nerida, Ember, and how you said she¡¯s acting weird as hell¡­ Even Nilly.¡± Sora¡¯s tail stiffened at the mention of the Fire Fairy. Ember¡¯s sudden formality and mature cadence was something to investigate. ¡°And then,¡± Wendy continued, her tone sharpening, ¡°there¡¯s that nine-tailed Kumiho¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s whole frame became rigid. ¡°Wait, what nine-tailed Kumiho?! When? Where?¡± Wendy bunched her mouth to the side, clearly regretting her words, which made Sora want to strangle her sister. ¡°Look, she approached me when I was with Eyia. A cute, single-tailed gray vulpes that was all bubbly¡­ Eyia called her out, and she transformed into a tall, elegant, woman, who had this¡­predatory air about her. You know Kumiho in stories¡ªyeah. Diane warned us about her, right? Well, we both know how we feel about Diane, and Yeon-ah made a lot of sense.¡± The dots connected in Sora¡¯s mind as her fists clenched, remembering the damnable Foundation witch¡¯s warning. Yet, something didn¡¯t quite add up. ¡°Well¡­if she was dangerous, Eyia would¡¯ve attacked her on sight¡­ So, weird? Wait, what are you even trying to tell me! I¡¯m confused.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, that¡¯s not totally new,¡± Wendy muttered, shifting uncomfortably with a short laugh. ¡°You do have this way of narrowing in on specific things and throwing everything out of the window¡­ Umm. Yeah, Eyia didn¡¯t trust her either¡ªFYI¡ªbut she said something I can¡¯t shake. It¡¯s¡­exactly how I¡¯ve felt.¡± Sora placed a hand on her hip and gave her brown-haired sister a dull stare. ¡°No, the ancient, manipulative fox lady knew exactly how to manipulate you. Wait¡­ That is kind of suspect,¡± she admitted, unable to grasp Wendy¡¯s fluctuating aura at all. ¡°Sure¡­¡± Wendy sighed and moved forward to take her hands, looking her in the eyes. ¡°Whatever her reasons, I agree with her warning¡­ You¡¯re too relaxed, Sora. Too open. And honestly? Cross my heart. She¡¯s right. You scare me because I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re too friendly. You¡¯re stretching yourself too thin. Seriously.¡± Sora opened her mouth to argue, but Wendy cut her off, her tail lashing. ¡°Just listen! You¡¯re flirting with fae boys¡ªunderstandable, sure¡ªbut c¡¯mon, Sis! You dragged in a random siren¡ªdon¡¯t get me wrong, Nerida¡¯s sweet¡ªbut look what you¡¯re saying about Ember? And I love Nilly. I do! She¡¯s adorable and lovey¡­but there is a¡­side to her.¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s fine,¡± Sora protested, squeezing her hands back, though a pang of doubt coiled in her chest while remembering the double Nilly event; waking up to a feral teen Nilly that looked like she wanted to devour her wasn¡¯t the best memory, or how she acted to Ember. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Vision blurring, her brow furrowed. What did Nilly say to Ember before chasing her around the room in her cat form¡­ No, it was Ember that translated it. Something about¡­ I can¡¯t remember. I need to investigate it in my dreams. ¡°Is Nilly fine?¡± Wendy pressed. Her voice softened as she glanced around the bustling district. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying everyone in Avalon is out to get us, but this place¡­it¡¯s mystical, fun, and there¡¯s so much to explore, but it¡¯s also¡­dangerous. And with Yeon-ah¡¯s warning¡ª¡± Sora had to physically keep her claws from coming out. ¡°Warning¡­ What warning? Did she threaten you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Her sister released her hand and stepped back, arms folding and glancing back at Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s hologram. ¡°Sora, You¡¯ve kept me safe and given me a place to always come back to to feel loved.¡± A sudden chill ran down Sora¡¯s spine as Wendy tilted her head and flashed her teeth with a short laugh. Heat rose in her chest as her broken and recovering sister continued. ¡°You¡¯ve been the one stable thing in my whole life. I could never be mad at you¡­ If you¡¯re the sky, I¡¯m like a satellite in your orbit¡­ I want to keep you safe, like you¡¯ve kept me from spinning off into space.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flicked back, and her tail stilled mid-sway as Wendy¡¯s words landed like a hammer against her chest. For a moment, she could only stare at her sister, Wendy¡¯s uncharacteristic vulnerability, her smile, cutting through her frustration. ¡°Wendy¡­¡± Sora¡¯s voice softened, her hand dropping from her hip to brush against her side. ¡°I¡ª¡± She stopped herself, swallowing the tightness rising in her throat. ¡°You¡¯ve been through so much already, and I know I haven¡¯t made it easier¡ªbringing in so many people. But¡­I¡¯m trying, okay? I want to be here for you, like always.¡± That sudden laugh of Wendy¡¯s still echoed in her ears, unsettling in a way she couldn¡¯t place. The chill in her spine lingering. Sora forced a shaky breath, her tail resuming its flick as she moved forward to embrace her again, letting the heat in her throat rise up to her face and spread through her body, her voice lowering to a whisper. ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, I really do. Avalon¡¯s¡­a lot. And yeah, maybe I¡¯m a little too quick to trust people.¡± She gave a weak laugh while pulling back and brushing her fingers through her bangs. ¡°Okay, maybe more than a little.¡± Wendy¡¯s rosy cheeks and smile grew as she held up two fingers. ¡°Just a little.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m not dragging anyone into our orbit unless I feel like they deserve to be there. Trust me,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Nerida¡¯s Kari¡¯s roommate. I have to get a feel for her¡­ For Kari¡¯s sake. Nilly¡¯s¡­Nilly, and Nilly isn¡¯t going anywhere. We both know that,¡± she chortled. ¡°Even Aelion¡ªthere¡¯s something good in him that¡­ I can¡¯t explain it,¡± she growled. ¡°I just¡­ I can¡¯t turn my back on some people, Wendy. Not after what we¡¯ve both been through.¡± Wendy¡¯s gaze lightened slightly, but her tail twitched¡ªa telltale sign that she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. ¡°And Yeon-ah¡¯s warning?¡± Sora pressed, her voice taking on an edge. ¡°You¡¯re not telling me everything, are you?¡± Wendy¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her ears folding back for a fleeting second. ¡°Yeon-ah¡­¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Yeon-ah¡¯s silver tails flicked lightly as she stepped into the secluded courtyard nestled deep within Avalon¡¯s labyrinthine pathways. Soft bioluminescent moss coated the edges of the stone bench she approached, its faint glow illuminating the faint mist curling at her feet. Her hand lightly passed over the bright lilies she passed before sitting with practiced grace on a stone bench. Raising her delicate fingers to brush over the polished, enchanted crystal necklace nestled between her bust, a faint shimmer rippled across its surface. A shadowy, nine-tailed vulpes materialized from it to hover in front of her, swirling, liquid shadows flowing off it. For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the faint rustle of the enchanted flora overhead. Then, a soft, feminine voice emerged, melodic yet unyielding. ¡°Yeon-ah,¡± the imposing magical hologram greeted, the tone simultaneously soothing and chilling. ¡°What have you observed?¡± Yeon-ah straightened, her ears tilting slightly forward in deference. ¡°Sora is spinning in circles,¡± she began, her voice steady but low. ¡°She¡¯s confused, overwhelmed, and her emotional center is fraying. It¡¯s the perfect time to guide her¡­subtly, of course.¡± A faint chuckle emanated from the depths of the shimmering void. ¡°Excellent. Ensure that she remains uncertain. Wendy may offer a more¡­accessible path. She is tethered to Sora in ways the others are not. Work on her.¡± Yeon-ah hesitated for a fraction of a moment, her gaze flicking to the distant horizon where Avalon¡¯s towering spires pierced dark clouds between the World Tree and floating islands. ¡°She¡¯s¡ªresilient,¡± Yeon-ah murmured. ¡°More so than you anticipated.¡± The voice responded with a note of approval. ¡°Good. That is why she must be nurtured¡­properly. The Elders agreed to our terms. Our little star must shine in the right direction. Be patient, Yeon-ah. Her trust is a precious thread¡ªeasily woven into our tapestry, but just as easily frayed.¡± A flicker of uncertainty danced across Yeon-ah¡¯s otherwise composed expression. Working for someone was not something she was accustomed to but the Elders had been quite¡­gracious with their forgiveness and compensation. ¡°She is fiercely protective¡­ Her emotions, though, and the¡­feeling I get from her soul is¡­more than a little volatile. I want to shrink away from that void that seems to devour all magic around her like a black hole.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± the voice interjected with light amusement. ¡°She can be turned to our side if you wait for her to come to you. You¡¯ve offered the bait and she cannot resist. Her loyalty to Sora is both her strength and her weakness. The bond between them will either serve our purposes or crumble beneath its weight. Either outcome will suffice.¡± Yeon-ah shivered at that but nodded slowly, the flicker of doubt vanishing as her usual poise returned. ¡°Understood. Everything is proceeding as planned then. And¡­the others?¡± ¡° Stay clear of Kari or Jin,¡± the shadowy vulpes flatly stated. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re careful¡­ Eyia could be brought into alignment, which would be a massive boon to us.¡± The connection wavered, the swirling void shrinking until only her reflection remained. Yet, the voice lingered for one final, lingering statement, its edges tinged with affection that felt almost maternal. ¡°Remember, Yeon-ah¡­ There is no room for error. Your gift and its effects on all Kumiho who have rallied to you depend on this. Sora is our key, and the door must open¡­ As terrifying as that will be.¡± As the shadows dissipated, Yeon-ah let out a slow breath, her shoulders lowering slightly as the oppressive presence faded. She traced her fingertips across the crystal¡¯s surface, her gaze thoughtful. A quiet murmur escaped her lips. ¡°She¡¯s our key, hmm¡­¡± Her expression flickered, a moment of hesitation betraying her as she lifted her hand to press against her breast; the power pulsing within her responded, sharp and as vibrant as a supernova, curbing all cravings for human flesh. The courtyard fell silent again, save for the faint rustling of the trees overhead. A cure for all Kumiho¡­ A hopeless lie I could fall for¡­or truth? We will see. Rising, Yeon-ah adjusted the folds of her school-girl uniform, smoothing out nonexistent creases. With a soft hum, she stepped back into the Academy¡¯s winding paths through a fold in space, her tails swaying elegantly behind her as she reinstalled her single-tailed transformation. This will be fun! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Sora¡¯s tail stiffened as Wendy¡¯s ears flattened ever so slightly, her emerald gaze darting around them. The bustling vulpes district seemed to shrink, its lively hum dimmed beneath Wendy¡¯s next words. ¡°Yeon-ah mentioned¡­Diane,¡± Wendy muttered, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°She said Diane is here, and it sounded like¡­a warning. I know it sounds stupid, but I¡¯d trust Yeon-ah more than that witch¡­ The Foundation, with what they did to my mother and with Avalon.¡± Sora¡¯s claws threatened to emerge, her fingers twitching at her sides as her chest tightened. Diane¡­ That single name pulled her back to the Foundation¡¯s sterile halls, where false smiles masked venomous intentions and every favor came with a price. Only her mother¡¯s indomitable influence had gotten her out of that. Other memories returned. Fen and the vulpes twins turned into unwilling slaves, notwithstanding any of their crimes¡­ What she¡¯d so cruelly done to Wendy, even if it had helped her break free from her mother. She forced a slow breath through her nose. ¡°What did Yeon-ah say exactly?¡± Sora asked, her voice quieter now, though her pulse hammered in her ears. ¡°Did she say Diane was threatening us, or¡­¡± Wendy shook her head, lips pressing into a thin line. ¡°Not directly. She just said she¡¯s here, which, you know, doesn¡¯t make sense. Don¡¯t the Foundation and Avalon hate each other? She framed it like she¡¯s ¡®keeping an eye on things¡¯ or something like that. Why would she be allowed here?¡± Her tail swished sharply. ¡°But c¡¯mon, it¡¯s Diane. We both know she never just ¡®observes¡¯ anyone.¡± Sora folded her arms, her gaze drifting to the glowing lanterns above, their light flickering like restless stars. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. Diane always has an angle and doesn¡¯t do anything without an agenda. I think she wants everyone to know that¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Her jaw tightened and she showed a reassuring smile as she held up a fist, saying, ¡°Okay. Heard you loud and clear, Sis. I¡¯ll be careful. I won¡¯t bring anyone else into the group¡ªno new people, I promise. Not until we figure out what¡¯s going on. Our goal is to train here, right? I¡¯ve already learned a lot in just one lecture! Let¡¯s use that to investigate.¡± Wendy let out a long breath while meeting her knuckles, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. ¡°Thank you, Sora,¡± she murmured, her tail swaying again. ¡°I just¡­ I needed to hear that I¡¯m not being paranoid! Yeah, we all know I hate Diane. It¡¯s a lot right now, you know? And if Diane¡¯s around¡­ No, let¡¯s just cut that out for now!¡± she laughed, rubbing her shoulders as a shiver ran through her. The brunette tilted her head, her tail suddenly curling slightly around her leg. A hint of amusement glimmered in her eyes as she opened her arms invitingly. ¡°You know, fist bumps are cool and all,¡± Wendy murmured, her lips twitching into a lopsided smile, ¡°but you know what¡¯s better?¡± Sora blinked, her tail flicking as her ears perked. The playfulness in Wendy¡¯s tone caught her off guard, but the vulnerability behind her words struck a deeper chord. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her sister, whispering, ¡°A hug?¡± ¡°A hug? Always!¡± she giggled, feeling the relief in her breathing. ¡°You know, at this rate, we might set a new record for sisterly hugs in a single day. But¡­I could use another one. You¡¯re stuck with me, Sis. Always.¡± Wendy chuckles softened, resting her head against her shoulder. ¡°Good. I¡¯m holding you to that.¡± Sora hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the distant branches of the World Tree visible beyond the district. The idea of stepping into Sela¡¯s shadowy lecture hall tugged at her now that the tension was gone¡ªa mix of curiosity and a need to check in on the former Unseelie Queen. ¡°Let¡¯s see how Sela¡¯s doing. Kurosaki said her lectures are¡­enlightening. Right? And she¡¯s already kind of in my orbit, right?¡± Wendy raised an eyebrow while pulling away to give her a playful glare, her skepticism clear. ¡°Right. Enlightening. I¡¯ll have to take your word for it since I don¡¯t know much about her. Well, let¡¯s see if she can teach us without scaring us off first because¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve even met her once.¡± ¡°Wait, really?¡± Sora smirked. ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat. Ready?¡± Positive vibes flowing, Wendy took her outstretched hand as they moved toward the teleportation gate. The witch was still plucking at the corners of her mind, though. Why is Diane really here? Whatever it is, I¡¯d bet my tail I¡¯m a part of whatever plan she¡¯s cooking¡­ I don¡¯t want to think I¡¯m the center of the universe, but sometimes¡­ She sighed internally, drawing inward while squeezing Wendy¡¯s hand as she returned it. Yeah, sometimes, I can¡¯t help but think I¡¯m in some story as the main character. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Ahem! Hello, audience! Just your hopeful, new, sixteen-year-old little sister here, trying to get through life. Maybe try to put in a good word for me with whoever¡¯s pulling the strings, she snickered inside, not that it felt all that joyful¡ªmore stressful. Mom?! Joking. Joking. Maybe¡­ Because Wendy needs a break! Seriously. Tail slash you face! Leave my Big Sis alone! She¡¯s been through enough¡­ Way more than enough. Give her a win. Unless¡­ Unless that win is me. Huh¡­ Noelia, too. Dad¡­ Auntie Rose. Well, okay. But I¡¯m watching you! Or me. Or whatever! Just, be nice to Wendy. Period. Bye! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Sela hovered gracefully down the shadowed corridor leading to her lecture hall, the darkness just leaving the skies outside. Her iridescent wings emitted a faint, ethereal shimmer. The dim light from the glowing bioluminescent fungi around the area casting elongated shadows across the intricately carved stone walls. Her gaze drifted between the remnants of Unseelie design she¡¯d cultivated the previous day in the twisting, chaotic patterns. Disgusting¡­ Yet, I can¡¯t bring myself to so much as look at honey without bursting into tears. Dammit. Restraining a shiver, she pressed the worn tome in her arms against her chest, its ancient cover adorned with runic symbols of The Darkness¡ªnot that she needed it after living it. The bone-shivering symbols around the hall now caused her heart to quiver with wary reverence rather than reverent pride. What has become of me¡­ How can the High Queen tolerate me when the Academy shuns me to this¡­place. She paused, flowing black waters running down the walls shimmering to show the writhing shadows beyond the smooth stone. Perhaps this is the best place, between The Darkness and Light to show them, but who will dare remain in this place for a lecture? Sighing, she rubbed the ridiculous book¡¯s tattered binding while continuing her somber flight before any student would arrive. It wasn¡¯t like there was anywhere else she needed to be¡­nor was wanted. Despite Sora¡¯s purifying influence¡ªno, because of it¡ªthe memories of her corrupted reign and the devastation she had wrought to her own family still lingered in every beat of her bleeding heart. The sound of her wings against the cool air was soft, almost swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to cling to her like a second skin. It feels like¡­I¡¯m wearing someone else¡¯s body. When will this torture end¡­ Is redemption ever possible for the Unseelie? I suppose¡­ I am that experiment. And, of course, my first visitor would not be a student¡­but an enemy. As she rounded a bend, a figure emerged from the shadows, as though conjured by the dark itself. Diane stood there, her posture casual, yet her eyes gleamed with calculated sharpness, the corners of her lips curled in an ever-present smirk. Queen Magsatra had warned her about this dubious human witch and her background during her orientation. Draped in her tailored attire, the mortal witch exuded an unsettling confidence for the level of power she held, her very presence a stark contrast to the suffocating corridor. ¡°Well, well,¡± Diane liltingly opened. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the Unseelie Queen of Miami herself. Or should I say, the former queen, turned humble instructor. No more gray skin or white hair. A fae of honey, if I¡¯m not mistaken with that hair and peachy skin. Quite the fall from grace, Your Majesty. Or¡­does that title require subjects?¡± Sela¡¯s wings fluttered subtly, betraying a flicker of irritation before she steadied herself. What an introduction. I should expect nothing less from someone who sees themselves as a pupil of the Three of One. Her grip on the tome tightened imperceptibly, and her violet eyes locked onto the moral. ¡°Your tongue is sharper than your bite. How¡­unfortunate,¡± she smirked. ¡°Your teacher would be disappointed, Diane,¡± she smoothly returned, tone carrying a touch of regal detachment. ¡°What business does the Foundation¡¯s pet witch have in Avalon¡­or this space between light and dark? You seem to be outside your jurisdiction.¡± Diane¡¯s smirk widened as she took a measured step closer, her gaze dropping briefly to the book in Sela¡¯s arms. ¡°Oh, I see you haven¡¯t lost all of The Darkness within you; that is quite the retort. Respectable. And nothing of consequence to you,¡± she mused, her tone light but edged with menace. ¡°Just ensuring the safety of our dear Sora. You know how attached I am to her well-being, as the representative of the Foundation,¡± she lied. ¡°What humor you have. I can feel you seething¡­ It seems my presence here will disrupt your investigation. How very unfortunate,¡± she returned, the shadows pressing in as her countenance darkened with her controlled smile. ¡°Your concern for Sora is as hollow as your loyalty to the Foundation. You cannot lie to an Unseelie, witch. If Sora¡¯s safety truly mattered to you, you wouldn¡¯t be skulking in the shadows like a serpent in search of her prize.¡± The dark-haired woman¡¯s chuckles tinged with her French accent, the sound soft yet cutting but the foaming umbra closing in caused her to retreat a step. ¡°My, my, such hostility. And here I thought we might find common ground, given your¡­unique history with power.¡± Her gaze flicked once more to the book. ¡°So¡­you were the one who checked out The M¨®rr¨ªgan¡¯s Ninth Age diary¡­ How fascinating. Treading on such perilous ground, aren¡¯t we, dear Sela? I¡¯d think such volumes would be restricted to you.¡± The former queen¡¯s expression darkened for the briefest of moments before her regal composure returned. ¡°Knowledge is a tool, not a weapon,¡± she countered. ¡°Unlike you, I do not wield it to manipulate and destroy¡­anymore, that is.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Diane¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement, her smirk unwavering before bowing her head. ¡°Forgive me if I find that hard to believe, but I pay my respects, Queen of No Kingdom. After all, wasn¡¯t it your ¡®knowledge¡¯ that led to the downfall of your kingdom? So many lives lost¡­ Such a tragic waste of resources.¡± A flicker of pain crossed Sela¡¯s face, her fingers tightening on the book until her knuckles turned white. But she did not rise to the bait that would see consequences, given her precarious position. Instead, she drew herself up. Her voice steady, though touched with a faint edge of sorrow, she kept her emotions in check, despite the white locks that ran down her honeyed hair. ¡°You know nothing of The Darkness you seek. I do not deny my past and it is no one¡¯s fault but my own. But I walk a different path now¡ªa path that Sora¡¯s light has made possible. So¡­¡± Shadows curled in, black miasma flowing out of the obsidian walls and corrupted liquid as the space twisted with her now light-absorbing aura, causing a lump to form in the woman¡¯s throat at the compressing atmosphere, threatening to pull her into the void below. ¡°¡­Allow me to make this perfectly clear. I will not tolerate your presence in my district. If you want to visit. Input a request. As of now, consider yourself properly warned¡­because I cannot guarantee your safety.¡± The woman tried to regain her confidence as the tendrils crawled up her legs to draw her into the abyss, her smirk softening into something almost pitying. ¡°I figured as much¡­ And, yes. Sora¡¯s ¡®light.¡¯ A beacon for the lost, isn¡¯t she? But tell me, Sela¡­¡± she whispered as the sealing Unseelie magic sank past her pitiful defenses. ¡°Enjoy your lecture, Unseelie. May you find redemption while teaching children about what festers below their feet. How long do you think that light will last in a place like this? Avalon has a way of snuffing out even the brightest honey¡­ Your mother was evidence of that, I hear.¡± Swallowed and teleported out of the zone, back to the nearest terminal outside of her ¡®given¡¯ territory, Sela remained standing in the corridor. Slowly dropping to the ground, her wings folding tightly against her back before unfurling slightly, their iridescent glow reigniting to push back the encroaching shadows now that she was alone. She closed her eyes briefly, drawing a slow, steadying breath as the echoes of Diane¡¯s words pierced her aching heart. The Darkness within her stirred faintly, a shadowy whisper in the back of her mind, but she pushed it down, the warmth of Sora¡¯s purifying power anchoring her resolve to never allow such corruption to taint her again. She straightened her posture, her expression hardening. Whatever Diane¡¯s agenda, Sela would not allow herself to be drawn back into the shadows or for her to make gains in her space, no matter how little influence she had. With measured steps, she continued toward her lecture hall, the tome in her arms a reminder of the power she had once wielded¡ªand the responsibility she now bore. As much as I hate you, Sora¡­ As often as I cry now¡­ I can¡¯t deny the warmth you¡¯ve let free. Sela¡¯s hand trembled as she pressed it to her heart, the glow flickering beneath her skin. It wasn¡¯t the fire of domination that once consumed her or the sharp pride that had ruled her every decision¡ªit was softer, quieter. Memories surfaced unbidden: her mother¡¯s lullabies, weaving love into every word; her father¡¯s steady hands, strong and unwavering as they guided her steps; the gentle hum of her people¡¯s laughter under twilight skies. The ache hasn¡¯t faded with time, and it never will¡­ But woven into it is a fragile promise I fear so much as dared to believe in. Sora¡¯s light doesn¡¯t absolve my sins like some savior, Diane, but it leaves something just as profound¡ªa chance to hold onto the echoes of what I burned. For the first time in centuries, her lips curved into a faint smile¡ªa true smile¡ªa whisper slipping past them, soft as a breath, ¡°Honey blood¡­ I will never let you go again.¡± She clutched the tome tighter, her wings catching the faint glow of the bioluminescent fungi, shimmering in quiet defiance as she stepped forward into the shadows ahead. Memories of her energetic and bubbly mother joining her antics and getting into trouble with her to face her exasperated but devout husband. Even if this house fell apart¡­ Your hearts beat on inside me. Bound by light, tested by darkness. B3 — 11. Bound by Light, Tested by Darkness Sora¡¯s ears flicked at the chatter around her as she and Wendy passed into the bustling vulpes lecture district. The flickering lanterns overhead cast soft, warm light against the intricate carvings on the walls. Despite the lively atmosphere and Wendy¡¯s previous hug, a muted tension hung between them. Sora bit her lip, glancing at her sister¡¯s furrowed brow and stiff posture, the occasional swish of her puffy tail¡ªit was obvious. Okay, Wendy¡¯s the queen of bottling things up and trying to deal with it herself¡­ Wait! She stopped dead in her tracks, causing Wendy to slow and turn. ¡°What¡¯s with that look on your face?¡± her sister huffed, mirrored emerald eyes locking onto her. ¡°Why are you glaring at me now?¡± How did I miss it? Kari and Wendy might as well have been cut from the same cloth! Sora internally ranted, crossing her arm and puffing up her chest. Wendy has trust issues, just like Kari. Wendy feels like she has no control, just like Kari. And Wendy is just as stupidly stubborn as that bone-headed wolf! Okay, maybe not as stubborn¡­ Kari¡¯s a different breed, literally. But the point stands! She also realized she couldn¡¯t read her sister¡¯s emotions¡ªher spiritual aura¡ªlike everyone else after she¡¯d basically turned into the brooch on her dress¡¯ front. ¡°Alright, spill it,¡± Sora demanded, not unkind but blunt, just how she learned to deal with Kari. ¡°What''s been eating you, Wendy? I¡¯m not moving from this spot until we sort this out. You¡¯ve been giving me the silent treatment all day¡ªyou know the look. Did I miss your birthday or something? Because I know I haven¡¯t!¡± Wendy stopped jaw slackened, vision widening slightly before narrowing. Her ears twitched, and she adjusted the brown strands of her hair. ¡°You¡¯re so dramatic, Sora,¡± she muttered, but her squirrel tail somehow puffed up even more. ¡°I said we don¡¯t need to talk about it.¡± ¡°Yeah, no,¡± Sora quipped, crossing her arms. ¡°You keep deflecting and confusing me, which only makes me feel like I¡¯m doing something wrong.¡± Wendy streamed out a breath, gripping her elbow as her gaze shifted to the holographic display shimmering ahead. Sora followed her pouty eyes to Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s image¡ªa nine-tailed gray vulpes with an air of serene wisdom and mischief, her voice magically amplified for distant students as she spoke about some more intimate subject that made her cheeks darken. Wendy gulped, causing Sora to refocus on her sister and try to blot out the conversation about the groves Ember had mentioned. ¡°Why are you harping on me?¡± Wendy mumbled, her voice barely audible over the murmurs of passing students, many of which gave them intrigued glances. ¡°I¡¯m¡­dealing with a lot. You know I am. I¡¯m not perfect.¡± Sora¡¯s ears perked. ¡°When did I say you were? It¡¯s like you¡¯re expecting me to read your mind!¡± ¡°Can¡¯t you?¡± Wendy asked with a somewhat strained smile. ¡°That would make things easier.¡± ¡°Wendy¡­ I get it," she whispered, stepping closer to pull her into a hug to break the tension, sighing with relief as her sister¡¯s muscles loosened slightly. ¡°I know things haven¡¯t been easy¡ªheck, I do get it¡ªwhen have they ever been since Kari came into the picture? I¡¯ve lived it with you! But you¡¯ve been more than ¡®dealing with a lot.¡¯ It¡¯s¡­like¡ªlike¡­ Mmmgm¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s head sagged against the side of hers, resting her chin against her shoulder, a dry chuckle shaking her frame. Yet, it sounded more tired than amused. ¡°You¡¯re kind of hilarious when you struggle to express yourself¡­¡± ¡°Growl and glare at me all you want,¡± Sora huffed with mock seriousness, her tail flicking behind her, ¡°but it¡¯s hard to pin down, okay? You, Kari, Eyia¡ª¡± ¡°Yeah, I know,¡± Wendy admitted, her expression softening as she pulled back. Her fingers traced the edge of her sleeve as she looked her in the face, her tail curling protectively around one leg. ¡°It¡¯s not Kari.¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­not?¡± ¡°No,¡± Wendy reaffirmed, pushing her lips to the side and averting eye contact. ¡°It¡¯s just¡­you.¡± Sora blinked, her nose wrinkling and feeling the slap across the face that shattered her internal peace. ¡°Me?! What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°Like I said, you¡¯re just¡­you.¡± Wendy glanced her way before it shifted away again, her ears drooping slightly. ¡°Open, trusting¡­running headfirst into things to battle everyone¡¯s bully. It¡¯s¡­maybe I¡¯m a little jealous¡­ Scared.¡± ¡°Jealous?¡± Sora echoed incredulously. She tried to laugh it off, but Wendy¡¯s folded ears and averted gaze made her pause. ¡°Wendy, what do you mean¡­ I¡¯m worried now.¡± ¡°Maybe not jealous isn¡¯t the right word,¡± Wendy quickly clarified, her voice growing more hurried, returning eye contact. ¡°Not jealous-jealous. It¡¯s just¡ªyou¡¯re so quick to trust everyone. This new Aelion guy¡ªyeah, I heard his name and how you spoke to him, Miss Breathless.¡± ¡°No need to burn my face off,¡± she grumbled, this time her eyes darting away and heat rising in her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯ve got problems.¡± Wendy¡¯s smile returned, genuine this time and gentle. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessarily a problem or else I¡¯d be a hypocrite. I mean, yeah, it¡¯s a part of the problem, but yeah. It¡¯s Nerida, Ember, and how you said she¡¯s acting weird as hell¡­ Even Nilly.¡± Sora¡¯s tail stiffened at the mention of the Fire Fairy. Ember¡¯s sudden formality and mature cadence was something to investigate. ¡°And then,¡± Wendy continued, her tone sharpening, ¡°there¡¯s that nine-tailed Kumiho¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s whole frame became rigid. ¡°Wait, what nine-tailed Kumiho?! When? Where?¡± Wendy bunched her mouth to the side, clearly regretting her words, which made Sora want to strangle her sister. ¡°Look, she approached me when I was with Eyia. A cute, single-tailed gray vulpes that was all bubbly¡­ Eyia called her out, and she transformed into a tall, elegant, woman, who had this¡­predatory air about her. You know Kumiho in stories¡ªyeah. Diane warned us about her, right? Well, we both know how we feel about Diane, and Yeon-ah made a lot of sense.¡± The dots connected in Sora¡¯s mind as her fists clenched, remembering the damnable Foundation witch¡¯s warning. Yet, something didn¡¯t quite add up. ¡°Well¡­if she was dangerous, Eyia would¡¯ve attacked her on sight¡­ So, weird? Wait, what are you even trying to tell me! I¡¯m confused.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, that¡¯s not totally new,¡± Wendy muttered, shifting uncomfortably with a short laugh. ¡°You do have this way of narrowing in on specific things and throwing everything out of the window¡­ Umm. Yeah, Eyia didn¡¯t trust her either¡ªFYI¡ªbut she said something I can¡¯t shake. It¡¯s¡­exactly how I¡¯ve felt.¡± Sora placed a hand on her hip and gave her brown-haired sister a dull stare. ¡°No, the ancient, manipulative fox lady knew exactly how to manipulate you. Wait¡­ That is kind of suspect,¡± she admitted, unable to grasp Wendy¡¯s fluctuating aura at all. ¡°Sure¡­¡± Wendy sighed and moved forward to take her hands, looking her in the eyes. ¡°Whatever her reasons, I agree with her warning¡­ You¡¯re too relaxed, Sora. Too open. And honestly? Cross my heart. She¡¯s right. You scare me because I¡¯m afraid you¡¯re too friendly. You¡¯re stretching yourself too thin. Seriously.¡± Sora opened her mouth to argue, but Wendy cut her off, her tail lashing. ¡°Just listen! You¡¯re flirting with fae boys¡ªunderstandable, sure¡ªbut c¡¯mon, Sis! You dragged in a random siren¡ªdon¡¯t get me wrong, Nerida¡¯s sweet¡ªbut look what you¡¯re saying about Ember? And I love Nilly. I do! She¡¯s adorable and lovey¡­but there is a¡­side to her.¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s fine,¡± Sora protested, squeezing her hands back, though a pang of doubt coiled in her chest while remembering the double Nilly event; waking up to a feral teen Nilly that looked like she wanted to devour her wasn¡¯t the best memory, or how she acted to Ember. ¡°Wait¡­¡± Vision blurring, her brow furrowed. What did Nilly say to Ember before chasing her around the room in her cat form¡­ No, it was Ember that translated it. Something about¡­ I can¡¯t remember. I need to investigate it in my dreams. ¡°Is Nilly fine?¡± Wendy pressed. Her voice softened as she glanced around the bustling district. ¡°Look, I¡¯m not saying everyone in Avalon is out to get us, but this place¡­it¡¯s mystical, fun, and there¡¯s so much to explore, but it¡¯s also¡­dangerous. And with Yeon-ah¡¯s warning¡ª¡± Sora had to physically keep her claws from coming out. ¡°Warning¡­ What warning? Did she threaten you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like that¡­¡± Her sister released her hand and stepped back, arms folding and glancing back at Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s hologram. ¡°Sora, You¡¯ve kept me safe and given me a place to always come back to to feel loved.¡± A sudden chill ran down Sora¡¯s spine as Wendy tilted her head and flashed her teeth with a short laugh. Heat rose in her chest as her broken and recovering sister continued. ¡°You¡¯ve been the one stable thing in my whole life. I could never be mad at you¡­ If you¡¯re the sky, I¡¯m like a satellite in your orbit¡­ I want to keep you safe, like you¡¯ve kept me from spinning off into space.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flicked back, and her tail stilled mid-sway as Wendy¡¯s words landed like a hammer against her chest. For a moment, she could only stare at her sister, Wendy¡¯s uncharacteristic vulnerability, her smile, cutting through her frustration. ¡°Wendy¡­¡± Sora¡¯s voice softened, her hand dropping from her hip to brush against her side. ¡°I¡ª¡± She stopped herself, swallowing the tightness rising in her throat. ¡°You¡¯ve been through so much already, and I know I haven¡¯t made it easier¡ªbringing in so many people. But¡­I¡¯m trying, okay? I want to be here for you, like always.¡± That sudden laugh of Wendy¡¯s still echoed in her ears, unsettling in a way she couldn¡¯t place. The chill in her spine lingering. Sora forced a shaky breath, her tail resuming its flick as she moved forward to embrace her again, letting the heat in her throat rise up to her face and spread through her body, her voice lowering to a whisper. ¡°I get what you¡¯re saying, I really do. Avalon¡¯s¡­a lot. And yeah, maybe I¡¯m a little too quick to trust people.¡± She gave a weak laugh while pulling back and brushing her fingers through her bangs. ¡°Okay, maybe more than a little.¡± Wendy¡¯s rosy cheeks and smile grew as she held up two fingers. ¡°Just a little.¡± ¡°Yeah, but I¡¯m not dragging anyone into our orbit unless I feel like they deserve to be there. Trust me,¡± she pleaded. ¡°Nerida¡¯s Kari¡¯s roommate. I have to get a feel for her¡­ For Kari¡¯s sake. Nilly¡¯s¡­Nilly, and Nilly isn¡¯t going anywhere. We both know that,¡± she chortled. ¡°Even Aelion¡ªthere¡¯s something good in him that¡­ I can¡¯t explain it,¡± she growled. ¡°I just¡­ I can¡¯t turn my back on some people, Wendy. Not after what we¡¯ve both been through.¡± Wendy¡¯s gaze lightened slightly, but her tail twitched¡ªa telltale sign that she wasn¡¯t entirely convinced. ¡°And Yeon-ah¡¯s warning?¡± Sora pressed, her voice taking on an edge. ¡°You¡¯re not telling me everything, are you?¡± Wendy¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her ears folding back for a fleeting second. ¡°Yeon-ah¡­¡± * ¡ª * ¡ª * Yeon-ah¡¯s silver tails flicked lightly as she stepped into the secluded courtyard nestled deep within Avalon¡¯s labyrinthine pathways. Soft bioluminescent moss coated the edges of the stone bench she approached, its faint glow illuminating the faint mist curling at her feet. Her hand lightly passed over the bright lilies she passed before sitting with practiced grace on a stone bench. Raising her delicate fingers to brush over the polished, enchanted crystal necklace nestled between her bust, a faint shimmer rippled across its surface. A shadowy, nine-tailed vulpes materialized from it to hover in front of her, swirling, liquid shadows flowing off it. For a moment, silence reigned, broken only by the faint rustle of the enchanted flora overhead. Then, a soft, feminine voice emerged, melodic yet unyielding. ¡°Yeon-ah,¡± the imposing magical hologram greeted, the tone simultaneously soothing and chilling. ¡°What have you observed?¡± Yeon-ah straightened, her ears tilting slightly forward in deference. ¡°Sora is spinning in circles,¡± she began, her voice steady but low. ¡°She¡¯s confused, overwhelmed, and her emotional center is fraying. It¡¯s the perfect time to guide her¡­subtly, of course.¡± A faint chuckle emanated from the depths of the shimmering void. ¡°Excellent. Ensure that she remains uncertain. Wendy may offer a more¡­accessible path. She is tethered to Sora in ways the others are not. Work on her.¡± Yeon-ah hesitated for a fraction of a moment, her gaze flicking to the distant horizon where Avalon¡¯s towering spires pierced dark clouds between the World Tree and floating islands. ¡°She¡¯s¡ªresilient,¡± Yeon-ah murmured. ¡°More so than you anticipated.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. The voice responded with a note of approval. ¡°Good. That is why she must be nurtured¡­properly. The Elders agreed to our terms. Our little star must shine in the right direction. Be patient, Yeon-ah. Her trust is a precious thread¡ªeasily woven into our tapestry, but just as easily frayed.¡± A flicker of uncertainty danced across Yeon-ah¡¯s otherwise composed expression. Working for someone was not something she was accustomed to but the Elders had been quite¡­gracious with their forgiveness and compensation. ¡°She is fiercely protective¡­ Her emotions, though, and the¡­feeling I get from her soul is¡­more than a little volatile. I want to shrink away from that void that seems to devour all magic around her like a black hole.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t fret,¡± the voice interjected with light amusement. ¡°She can be turned to our side if you wait for her to come to you. You¡¯ve offered the bait and she cannot resist. Her loyalty to Sora is both her strength and her weakness. The bond between them will either serve our purposes or crumble beneath its weight. Either outcome will suffice.¡± Yeon-ah shivered at that but nodded slowly, the flicker of doubt vanishing as her usual poise returned. ¡°Understood. Everything is proceeding as planned then. And¡­the others?¡± ¡° Stay clear of Kari or Jin,¡± the shadowy vulpes flatly stated. ¡°Obviously.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re careful¡­ Eyia could be brought into alignment, which would be a massive boon to us.¡± The connection wavered, the swirling void shrinking until only her reflection remained. Yet, the voice lingered for one final, lingering statement, its edges tinged with affection that felt almost maternal. ¡°Remember, Yeon-ah¡­ There is no room for error. Your gift and its effects on all Kumiho who have rallied to you depend on this. Sora is our key, and the door must open¡­ As terrifying as that will be.¡± As the shadows dissipated, Yeon-ah let out a slow breath, her shoulders lowering slightly as the oppressive presence faded. She traced her fingertips across the crystal¡¯s surface, her gaze thoughtful. A quiet murmur escaped her lips. ¡°She¡¯s our key, hmm¡­¡± Her expression flickered, a moment of hesitation betraying her as she lifted her hand to press against her breast; the power pulsing within her responded, sharp and as vibrant as a supernova, curbing all cravings for human flesh. The courtyard fell silent again, save for the faint rustling of the trees overhead. A cure for all Kumiho¡­ A hopeless lie I could fall for¡­or truth? We will see. Rising, Yeon-ah adjusted the folds of her school-girl uniform, smoothing out nonexistent creases. With a soft hum, she stepped back into the Academy¡¯s winding paths through a fold in space, her tails swaying elegantly behind her as she reinstalled her single-tailed transformation. This will be fun! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Sora¡¯s tail stiffened as Wendy¡¯s ears flattened ever so slightly, her emerald gaze darting around them. The bustling vulpes district seemed to shrink, its lively hum dimmed beneath Wendy¡¯s next words. ¡°Yeon-ah mentioned¡­Diane,¡± Wendy muttered, fidgeting with her fingers. ¡°She said Diane is here, and it sounded like¡­a warning. I know it sounds stupid, but I¡¯d trust Yeon-ah more than that witch¡­ The Foundation, with what they did to my mother and with Avalon.¡± Sora¡¯s claws threatened to emerge, her fingers twitching at her sides as her chest tightened. Diane¡­ That single name pulled her back to the Foundation¡¯s sterile halls, where false smiles masked venomous intentions and every favor came with a price. Only her mother¡¯s indomitable influence had gotten her out of that. Other memories returned. Fen and the vulpes twins turned into unwilling slaves, notwithstanding any of their crimes¡­ What she¡¯d so cruelly done to Wendy, even if it had helped her break free from her mother. She forced a slow breath through her nose. ¡°What did Yeon-ah say exactly?¡± Sora asked, her voice quieter now, though her pulse hammered in her ears. ¡°Did she say Diane was threatening us, or¡­¡± Wendy shook her head, lips pressing into a thin line. ¡°Not directly. She just said she¡¯s here, which, you know, doesn¡¯t make sense. Don¡¯t the Foundation and Avalon hate each other? She framed it like she¡¯s ¡®keeping an eye on things¡¯ or something like that. Why would she be allowed here?¡± Her tail swished sharply. ¡°But c¡¯mon, it¡¯s Diane. We both know she never just ¡®observes¡¯ anyone.¡± Sora folded her arms, her gaze drifting to the glowing lanterns above, their light flickering like restless stars. ¡°No, you¡¯re right. Diane always has an angle and doesn¡¯t do anything without an agenda. I think she wants everyone to know that¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°Right?¡± Her jaw tightened and she showed a reassuring smile as she held up a fist, saying, ¡°Okay. Heard you loud and clear, Sis. I¡¯ll be careful. I won¡¯t bring anyone else into the group¡ªno new people, I promise. Not until we figure out what¡¯s going on. Our goal is to train here, right? I¡¯ve already learned a lot in just one lecture! Let¡¯s use that to investigate.¡± Wendy let out a long breath while meeting her knuckles, some of the tension easing from her shoulders. ¡°Thank you, Sora,¡± she murmured, her tail swaying again. ¡°I just¡­ I needed to hear that I¡¯m not being paranoid! Yeah, we all know I hate Diane. It¡¯s a lot right now, you know? And if Diane¡¯s around¡­ No, let¡¯s just cut that out for now!¡± she laughed, rubbing her shoulders as a shiver ran through her. The brunette tilted her head, her tail suddenly curling slightly around her leg. A hint of amusement glimmered in her eyes as she opened her arms invitingly. ¡°You know, fist bumps are cool and all,¡± Wendy murmured, her lips twitching into a lopsided smile, ¡°but you know what¡¯s better?¡± Sora blinked, her tail flicking as her ears perked. The playfulness in Wendy¡¯s tone caught her off guard, but the vulnerability behind her words struck a deeper chord. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, wrapping her arms around her sister, whispering, ¡°A hug?¡± ¡°A hug? Always!¡± she giggled, feeling the relief in her breathing. ¡°You know, at this rate, we might set a new record for sisterly hugs in a single day. But¡­I could use another one. You¡¯re stuck with me, Sis. Always.¡± Wendy chuckles softened, resting her head against her shoulder. ¡°Good. I¡¯m holding you to that.¡± Sora hesitated, her gaze flicking toward the distant branches of the World Tree visible beyond the district. The idea of stepping into Sela¡¯s shadowy lecture hall tugged at her now that the tension was gone¡ªa mix of curiosity and a need to check in on the former Unseelie Queen. ¡°Let¡¯s see how Sela¡¯s doing. Kurosaki said her lectures are¡­enlightening. Right? And she¡¯s already kind of in my orbit, right?¡± Wendy raised an eyebrow while pulling away to give her a playful glare, her skepticism clear. ¡°Right. Enlightening. I¡¯ll have to take your word for it since I don¡¯t know much about her. Well, let¡¯s see if she can teach us without scaring us off first because¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve even met her once.¡± ¡°Wait, really?¡± Sora smirked. ¡°You¡¯re in for a treat. Ready?¡± Positive vibes flowing, Wendy took her outstretched hand as they moved toward the teleportation gate. The witch was still plucking at the corners of her mind, though. Why is Diane really here? Whatever it is, I¡¯d bet my tail I¡¯m a part of whatever plan she¡¯s cooking¡­ I don¡¯t want to think I¡¯m the center of the universe, but sometimes¡­ She sighed internally, drawing inward while squeezing Wendy¡¯s hand as she returned it. Yeah, sometimes, I can¡¯t help but think I¡¯m in some story as the main character. If that¡¯s the case¡­ Ahem! Hello, audience! Just your hopeful, new, sixteen-year-old little sister here, trying to get through life. Maybe try to put in a good word for me with whoever¡¯s pulling the strings, she snickered inside, not that it felt all that joyful¡ªmore stressful. Mom?! Joking. Joking. Maybe¡­ Because Wendy needs a break! Seriously. Tail slash you face! Leave my Big Sis alone! She¡¯s been through enough¡­ Way more than enough. Give her a win. Unless¡­ Unless that win is me. Huh¡­ Noelia, too. Dad¡­ Auntie Rose. Well, okay. But I¡¯m watching you! Or me. Or whatever! Just, be nice to Wendy. Period. Bye! * ¡ª * ¡ª * Sela hovered gracefully down the shadowed corridor leading to her lecture hall, the darkness just leaving the skies outside. Her iridescent wings emitted a faint, ethereal shimmer. The dim light from the glowing bioluminescent fungi around the area casting elongated shadows across the intricately carved stone walls. Her gaze drifted between the remnants of Unseelie design she¡¯d cultivated the previous day in the twisting, chaotic patterns. Disgusting¡­ Yet, I can¡¯t bring myself to so much as look at honey without bursting into tears. Dammit. Restraining a shiver, she pressed the worn tome in her arms against her chest, its ancient cover adorned with runic symbols of The Darkness¡ªnot that she needed it after living it. The bone-shivering symbols around the hall now caused her heart to quiver with wary reverence rather than reverent pride. What has become of me¡­ How can the High Queen tolerate me when the Academy shuns me to this¡­place. She paused, flowing black waters running down the walls shimmering to show the writhing shadows beyond the smooth stone. Perhaps this is the best place, between The Darkness and Light to show them, but who will dare remain in this place for a lecture? Sighing, she rubbed the ridiculous book¡¯s tattered binding while continuing her somber flight before any student would arrive. It wasn¡¯t like there was anywhere else she needed to be¡­nor was wanted. Despite Sora¡¯s purifying influence¡ªno, because of it¡ªthe memories of her corrupted reign and the devastation she had wrought to her own family still lingered in every beat of her bleeding heart. The sound of her wings against the cool air was soft, almost swallowed by the oppressive atmosphere that seemed to cling to her like a second skin. It feels like¡­I¡¯m wearing someone else¡¯s body. When will this torture end¡­ Is redemption ever possible for the Unseelie? I suppose¡­ I am that experiment. And, of course, my first visitor would not be a student¡­but an enemy. As she rounded a bend, a figure emerged from the shadows, as though conjured by the dark itself. Diane stood there, her posture casual, yet her eyes gleamed with calculated sharpness, the corners of her lips curled in an ever-present smirk. Queen Magsatra had warned her about this dubious human witch and her background during her orientation. Draped in her tailored attire, the mortal witch exuded an unsettling confidence for the level of power she held, her very presence a stark contrast to the suffocating corridor. ¡°Well, well,¡± Diane liltingly opened. ¡°If it isn¡¯t the Unseelie Queen of Miami herself. Or should I say, the former queen, turned humble instructor. No more gray skin or white hair. A fae of honey, if I¡¯m not mistaken with that hair and peachy skin. Quite the fall from grace, Your Majesty. Or¡­does that title require subjects?¡± Sela¡¯s wings fluttered subtly, betraying a flicker of irritation before she steadied herself. What an introduction. I should expect nothing less from someone who sees themselves as a pupil of the Three of One. Her grip on the tome tightened imperceptibly, and her violet eyes locked onto the moral. ¡°Your tongue is sharper than your bite. How¡­unfortunate,¡± she smirked. ¡°Your teacher would be disappointed, Diane,¡± she smoothly returned, tone carrying a touch of regal detachment. ¡°What business does the Foundation¡¯s pet witch have in Avalon¡­or this space between light and dark? You seem to be outside your jurisdiction.¡± Diane¡¯s smirk widened as she took a measured step closer, her gaze dropping briefly to the book in Sela¡¯s arms. ¡°Oh, I see you haven¡¯t lost all of The Darkness within you; that is quite the retort. Respectable. And nothing of consequence to you,¡± she mused, her tone light but edged with menace. ¡°Just ensuring the safety of our dear Sora. You know how attached I am to her well-being, as the representative of the Foundation,¡± she lied. ¡°What humor you have. I can feel you seething¡­ It seems my presence here will disrupt your investigation. How very unfortunate,¡± she returned, the shadows pressing in as her countenance darkened with her controlled smile. ¡°Your concern for Sora is as hollow as your loyalty to the Foundation. You cannot lie to an Unseelie, witch. If Sora¡¯s safety truly mattered to you, you wouldn¡¯t be skulking in the shadows like a serpent in search of her prize.¡± The dark-haired woman¡¯s chuckles tinged with her French accent, the sound soft yet cutting but the foaming umbra closing in caused her to retreat a step. ¡°My, my, such hostility. And here I thought we might find common ground, given your¡­unique history with power.¡± Her gaze flicked once more to the book. ¡°So¡­you were the one who checked out The M¨®rr¨ªgan¡¯s Ninth Age diary¡­ How fascinating. Treading on such perilous ground, aren¡¯t we, dear Sela? I¡¯d think such volumes would be restricted to you.¡± The former queen¡¯s expression darkened for the briefest of moments before her regal composure returned. ¡°Knowledge is a tool, not a weapon,¡± she countered. ¡°Unlike you, I do not wield it to manipulate and destroy¡­anymore, that is.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Diane¡¯s eyes gleamed with amusement, her smirk unwavering before bowing her head. ¡°Forgive me if I find that hard to believe, but I pay my respects, Queen of No Kingdom. After all, wasn¡¯t it your ¡®knowledge¡¯ that led to the downfall of your kingdom? So many lives lost¡­ Such a tragic waste of resources.¡± A flicker of pain crossed Sela¡¯s face, her fingers tightening on the book until her knuckles turned white. But she did not rise to the bait that would see consequences, given her precarious position. Instead, she drew herself up. Her voice steady, though touched with a faint edge of sorrow, she kept her emotions in check, despite the white locks that ran down her honeyed hair. ¡°You know nothing of The Darkness you seek. I do not deny my past and it is no one¡¯s fault but my own. But I walk a different path now¡ªa path that Sora¡¯s light has made possible. So¡­¡± Shadows curled in, black miasma flowing out of the obsidian walls and corrupted liquid as the space twisted with her now light-absorbing aura, causing a lump to form in the woman¡¯s throat at the compressing atmosphere, threatening to pull her into the void below. ¡°¡­Allow me to make this perfectly clear. I will not tolerate your presence in my district. If you want to visit. Input a request. As of now, consider yourself properly warned¡­because I cannot guarantee your safety.¡± The woman tried to regain her confidence as the tendrils crawled up her legs to draw her into the abyss, her smirk softening into something almost pitying. ¡°I figured as much¡­ And, yes. Sora¡¯s ¡®light.¡¯ A beacon for the lost, isn¡¯t she? But tell me, Sela¡­¡± she whispered as the sealing Unseelie magic sank past her pitiful defenses. ¡°Enjoy your lecture, Unseelie. May you find redemption while teaching children about what festers below their feet. How long do you think that light will last in a place like this? Avalon has a way of snuffing out even the brightest honey¡­ Your mother was evidence of that, I hear.¡± Swallowed and teleported out of the zone, back to the nearest terminal outside of her ¡®given¡¯ territory, Sela remained standing in the corridor. Slowly dropping to the ground, her wings folding tightly against her back before unfurling slightly, their iridescent glow reigniting to push back the encroaching shadows now that she was alone. She closed her eyes briefly, drawing a slow, steadying breath as the echoes of Diane¡¯s words pierced her aching heart. The Darkness within her stirred faintly, a shadowy whisper in the back of her mind, but she pushed it down, the warmth of Sora¡¯s purifying power anchoring her resolve to never allow such corruption to taint her again. She straightened her posture, her expression hardening. Whatever Diane¡¯s agenda, Sela would not allow herself to be drawn back into the shadows or for her to make gains in her space, no matter how little influence she had. With measured steps, she continued toward her lecture hall, the tome in her arms a reminder of the power she had once wielded¡ªand the responsibility she now bore. As much as I hate you, Sora¡­ As often as I cry now¡­ I can¡¯t deny the warmth you¡¯ve let free. Sela¡¯s hand trembled as she pressed it to her heart, the glow flickering beneath her skin. It wasn¡¯t the fire of domination that once consumed her or the sharp pride that had ruled her every decision¡ªit was softer, quieter. Memories surfaced unbidden: her mother¡¯s lullabies, weaving love into every word; her father¡¯s steady hands, strong and unwavering as they guided her steps; the gentle hum of her people¡¯s laughter under twilight skies. The ache hasn¡¯t faded with time, and it never will¡­ But woven into it is a fragile promise I fear so much as dared to believe in. Sora¡¯s light doesn¡¯t absolve my sins like some savior, Diane, but it leaves something just as profound¡ªa chance to hold onto the echoes of what I burned. For the first time in centuries, her lips curved into a faint smile¡ªa true smile¡ªa whisper slipping past them, soft as a breath, ¡°Honey blood¡­ I will never let you go again.¡± She clutched the tome tighter, her wings catching the faint glow of the bioluminescent fungi, shimmering in quiet defiance as she stepped forward into the shadows ahead. Memories of her energetic and bubbly mother joining her antics and getting into trouble with her to face her exasperated but devout husband. Even if this house fell apart¡­ Your hearts beat on inside me. Bound by light, tested by darkness. B3 — 12. Shadow Pits The gateway¡¯s shimmering light dissolved around Sora and Wendy, leaving them on a cracked cobblestone path. The air shifted immediately¡ªcooler, damp, and heavy with an earthy sweetness. Sora¡¯s ears twitched, catching faint rustles from unseen movement in the distance, but no footsteps followed. The towering branches of the World Tree loomed overhead, their gnarled silhouettes curling like claws against the hazy twilight. ¡°Wow, spooky much?¡± Wendy muttered, her tail puffing slightly as she scanned the overgrown ruins ahead. ¡°Feels like Halloween threw up here.¡± Sora¡¯s nose crinkled at the faint, sweetly decayed scent of the bioluminescent fungi clinging to the crumbling walls, but a smile creased her eyes. ¡°Nice one. It really does feel¡­off.¡± Her tail flicked in a restless rhythm, brushing lightly against Wendy¡¯s leg. ¡°Where are¡ªoh, there they are. Hey!¡± Nerida stood straighter as she called out, the siren standing at the edge of the path, her usually shy demeanor magnified by her wide, darting eyes. She leaned in, sticking close to the teen cat who seemed to be drawing courage from protecting the fish girl. ¡°Wait, are those the things you were talking about?!¡± ¡°I told you,¡± Nilly declared, puffing out her chest and planting her hands on her hips. ¡°This place is crawling with shadow monsters but they¡¯re hiding! That¡¯s Sora and Wendy, silly,¡± she snickered, swishing her tail dramatically. ¡°They won¡¯t jump out so long as it¡¯s night and I¡¯m here!¡± Sora¡¯s mouth twitched at the subtle quiver in the cat¡¯s tone. Yeah, you¡¯re totally scared, too, Nilly! I guess even the Cat Mother can be scared when she¡¯s just a teenager¡­ Wait, does that mean Grandma and all the other 1st Generation were just like us, too? Hmm. How would Nilly tell the origin of the 1st Gen? ¡°The shadow monsters are real?¡± Nerida groaned as she jogged over to join them with the cat by her side. ¡°Sora, Nilly says there are horror creatures here. I¡¯ve never seen a horror movie, but¡­is this what they¡¯d feel like?¡± Wendy¡¯s ears flicked as she glanced at her, her mouth twitching in a lopsided grin. ¡°Oooh! Darkness stuff, right? That is Sela¡¯s specialty and the place is ¡®creepy vibes¡¯ personified.¡± Sora tried to suppress a laugh as Nerida stuck close to them, the French siren clearly being the sheltered type. ¡°I don¡¯t think Sela¡¯s aiming for cozy,¡± she said, brushing her hands against the trembling girl¡¯s arm as the faint hum of dark magic rippled through the air. Her gaze shifted toward the distant ruins ahead, the jagged spires clawing at the dim light like skeletal remains. ¡°That being said, she¡¯s really leaning into the theme. It¡¯s dark but constrained.¡± The faintest scent of something familiar lingered in the air, tugging at Sora¡¯s attention. Her nose twitched, and she turned her head sharply, catching only a hint of earthy dampness mingling with the fragrance. Aelion¡­and Diane came through here? Not together, but not far apart¡­ Okay, now I¡¯m getting shivers! ¡°Sora?¡± Nerida whispered, face going white. ¡°I-I hear some weird melody from those ruins. Is this really where a teacher gives lectures?¡± Her ears flattened slightly, her chest tightening as Wendy gave her a look that said, ¡®What¡¯s up with you?¡¯ before tilting her head and straightening her ears. ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything¡­ In fact, I don¡¯t really feel anything threatening. Well, other than the vibes,¡± she snickered. ¡°You sense monsters, Nilly?¡± The cat¡¯s head tilted to the side, arms now crossed and hiding behind them while peering out from behind Wendy¡¯s tail. ¡°Eh, kind of. Just shady people walking underneath us in inky soup¡ªlike, a world upside down, but it¡¯s also up there,¡± she pointed above the World Tree with a shrug. ¡°They¡¯re everywhere but mostly below and above. They¡¯re not dangerous. Are they?¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Sora mumbled, skipping forward a step to show a bold face and trying not to let paranoia get to her. ¡°Let¡¯s not get too crazy with the vibes, guys! Sela probably made it this way to scare everyone off so she wouldn¡¯t have to teach anyone. And, I just¡­thought I smelled something weird earlier. Let¡¯s keep moving. We gotta be Sela¡¯s first students!¡± She didn¡¯t miss Wendy¡¯s skeptical glance, but her sister didn¡¯t press further. Instead, Wendy¡¯s tail swished cautiously as she took Nerida¡¯s hand like a big sister and guided her forward, while Nilly sauntered behind, humming an off-key tune that only added to the surreal atmosphere¡ªprobably the notes she was hearing. Sora led the way, trying to lighten the mood for the others, but there was something haunting about the area she couldn¡¯t quite put her finger on. Her gaze drifted around as Wendy teased the other two, taking full advantage of them being somewhat sheltered or innocent. The ruins loomed larger with each step, their shadowy arches jagged and fractured like broken teeth. Sora¡¯s gaze traced the shifting inscriptions on the walls¡ªlines that rippled and twisted as though alive. She rubbed her arms while following an invisible scent trail further beyond the semi-collapsed lecture hall, the faint pulse of magic in the air making her fur prickle. Aelion kept going into¡­whatever district this is. Did he go into the black forest? She glanced around, noting how a lot of the gnarled trees around them almost seemed to be parted unnaturally to allow sunlight through. Did Sela do this¡­ It feels like dark magic was used here recently¡­ Sela¡¯s magic. And Diane went inside. ¡°This¡­¡± Nerida hesitated, her wide eyes darting between the crumbling walls. Her grip tightened on Wendy¡¯s sleeve as the brunette puffed up with courage. ¡°I really don¡¯t think lecture halls are supposed to look¡­like this. Mom would always tell me that a tidy cave with decorations invites good luck.¡± Wendy gave her an awkward pat on the shoulder, her ears flicking at the faint whisper of movement from somewhere within. ¡°Yeah, well, she probably just wanted you to clean up. My mom used to do the same¡­but with the threat of bedbugs. And considering everything Sora told me about Sela, I¡¯d be worried if it wasn¡¯t like this.¡± Nilly¡¯s tails flicked as she skipped a few steps ahead, glancing over her shoulder with a mischievous grin. ¡°Ooo! Spoookie! Sela did good! I was worried this place wouldn¡¯t be creepy enough with how the last professor was talking. A+ ambiance. Really setting the mood for academic enlightenment in The Darkness! Do you think we¡¯ll get candles and a black cat? Eh¡ªI am a black cat!¡± she gasped. Sora couldn¡¯t help a laugh this time, her focus drawn to the hall¡¯s unsettling details. The air felt thicker here, clinging to her fur and brushing against her skin like invisible threads. ¡°Can you guys¡­really not hear that?¡± ¡°Nilly¡¯s song?¡± Wendy asked, ears straightening and now looking slightly annoyed. ¡°Nope. Just the wind and Nerida¡¯s quaking ankles.¡± ¡°Hey¡­ I¡¯m used to fog and darkness in the ocean, but this is¡­different. There¡¯s nowhere to hide.¡± Sora didn¡¯t hear the responses. The faint whispers of shame, guilt, and pain echoed from the cracks in the walls, not voices exactly¡ªjust vibrations that nudged at the edges of her senses. Am I sensing Sela¡¯s magic¡­or The Darkness? Aelion said he had more advanced classes to go to, and the timing isn¡¯t perfect on the scents, but¡­he could have passed by or spoken to Diane. Diane¡¯s scent hasn¡¯t left either. Is she listening to Sela¡¯s lecture? Her eyes narrowed as she studied the faint glow of inscriptions, her tail swaying restlessly. The potent dark magic hummed through the hall, weaving a dissonant melody that seemed to echo from everywhere at once. She couldn¡¯t tell if it was the environment, her nerves, or something more sinister, but the weight of the place pressed against her chest. ¡°Maybe there is something deeper at play here¡­ But we¡¯re here to learn all about it.¡± ¡°Definitely not your average lecture hall, for sure,¡± Wendy muttered, her voice low as she fell into step beside Sora. Her tail flicked sharply as her gaze swept the shadows and the other two trailed behind them. ¡°Do we¡­knock or something? I don¡¯t hear anyone nearby.¡± ¡°No need! Nilly knows the way!¡± the cat chirped, making Sora stiffen. Wendy choked as the thirteen-year-old teen Cat Mom abruptly skipped around them, her grin widening as she pushed the heavy door open with surprising ease. ¡°C¡¯mon, torchbearers of courage! Nilly¡¯s a brave little kitten, ready for adventure! Let¡¯s go make the Honey Lover proud and face the shadow sardines with holy water of pure heart!¡± ¡°Nilly¡ªcan she reverse age?¡± Nerida gasped, spinning in a circle as if expecting dark fairies to fly out of the mushrooms to turn her into a little girl. ¡°No¡ªdid the magic make her younger?! I only took my eyes off her for a second!¡± Sora sighed, ears falling flat as the door groaned loudly, the sound reverberating through the darkened space beyond. ¡°No¡­ This is just a Nilly thing. Give it a few seconds, minutes, or maybe a few hours and she¡¯ll be back to normal¡­ Nilly?¡± ¡°And, she¡¯s gone,¡± Wendy snickered. ¡°I thought she was starting to act a little off. We need to come up with names for each Nilly. Is this one Pirate Nilly because she¡¯s always talking about battle sardine armies? Maybe she went to connect with Sora¡¯s new boyfriend.¡± ¡°Ack! Wendy!¡± Sora gagged, her ears tilting forward while shooting a glare at her smirking sister; she knew Aelion¡¯s scent but not Sela or Diane¡¯s since she was a human at that time. ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°B-Boyfriend¡ªyou¡¯re in a relationship already?¡± Nerida asked in awe, now looking starstruck and totally past the weird vibes. ¡°Vulpes move fast. Holy sea cow. My mom said I better not come back without one, so how do you do that? Hypnosis is off limits. You didn¡¯t¡­¡± Sora¡¯s tail stiffened, all other thoughts vanishing as she turned to the smirking brunette, face turning bright red. ¡°Wendy! What are you even talking about? I don¡¯t have a boyfriend!¡± Her voice rose slightly, drawing a startled glance from Nerida, whose wide eyes sparkled with curiosity. ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Wendy replied, giving her a look that screamed mischief. ¡°Sure, Sis. You only lit up like a firefly when Aelion walked by or talked with you, and now you¡¯re sniffing the air like you¡¯re tracking him down. I smell that other female scent around, too. Totally not suspicious at all,¡± she sang. ¡°Both our moms would be agreeing with me if they were here.¡± ¡°Ugh, you¡¯re impossible,¡± Sora grumbled, her ears tilting back as heat rose in her cheeks. She shot a glare at Wendy before sighing and shifting her focus to Nerida, who looked ready to take notes. ¡°And no! There¡¯s no hypnosis involved¡ªseriously, where is this even coming from? We were talking about how spooky the vibe was and now it¡¯s all about romance?¡± Nerida tilted her head, her aquamarine hair falling over one shoulder as she clasped her hands together in front of her; her cheeks went a crimson as hers. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s just¡ªwell, I¡¯ve heard vulpes are, um, persuasive? A-And when I learned we were going to the vulpes district. Umm. Yeah, with that kind of magic, you could probably¡ª¡± ¡°Stop right there!¡± Sora interrupted, holding up a hand, her tail fluffing significantly. ¡°I¡¯m not hypnotizing anyone! I already did that once in a bowling alley and¡ªWendy!¡± Wendy placed a hand over her mouth. ¡°No! A bowling alley? Bad things on your mind, Sis.¡± ¡°Maybe in your mind! That¡¯s not how this works and you know it! That was the recreational center employee when I was with Nilly¡ªno! Don¡¯t you even¡­¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t have to!¡± Wendy snickered, her tail beating left and right. ¡°You¡¯re too easy!¡± ¡°Whatever. And, for the record, there¡¯s nothing going on with Aelion, okay? He¡¯s just¡­friendly.¡± Wendy raised an eyebrow toward Nerida, her grin widening and putting all sorts of thoughts through the innocent siren¡¯s head. ¡°Friendly, huh? Is that what they call it these days? What did they call it in France, Nerida?¡± ¡°Wendy, I swear¡ª¡± Sora¡¯s tail lashed as she stepped toward her sister, her voice dropping to a sharp whisper. ¡°If you don¡¯t knock it off, I¡¯ll¡ª¡± ¡°Guys,¡± Nerida cut in, her voice trembling slightly as she glanced toward the open door, her fingers clutching her coral bracelet. ¡°Um, I-I didn¡¯t want to start a fight. It¡¯s, umm, what do we do about Nilly?¡± The words snapped Sora out of her growing frustration as she glowered at her smug sister. Wendy doesn¡¯t act like this unless she¡¯s trying to blow off steam¡­ She¡¯s bothered about something and trying to get me to read her mind. But going the boyfriend angle, really?! Geez. Way to put thoughts in Nerida¡¯s head. Her gaze darted to the gaping doorway where shadows seemed to ripple, waiting, but it was only an illusion. She swallowed the lingering embarrassment and focused. ¡°I half think you want to date Aelion with how obsessed you¡¯ve been with me being with him.¡± As she stepped forward, Wendy followed. ¡°And what if I said yes? Tattoos, a pretty face, and that body,¡± she said with a nudging elbow that had Sora directing a sharp look in return. A quiet laugh bubbled through her chest, but her tone softened. ¡°Okay, okay. I¡¯ll lay off¡­for now. But you owe me a full explanation later because he may not be your boyfriend yet but I know that blush.¡± Sora shot her a sidelong glare but said nothing, her focus shifting to the oppressive atmosphere beyond the door. The unsettling hum of dark magic thickened as they entered, pushing aside the banter with an uneasy silence. Her tail flicked nervously as she muttered under her breath, ¡°Seriously¡­ We¡¯ve got some nights of truth and dare ahead of us. Just you wait.¡± Nerida mouthed the words as if some holy rite. ¡°Truth or dare¡­ I¡¯ve heard girls talk about that on the beach houses. I¡¯d watch them at night through windows and, eh¡ªI¡¯m not a creep or peeper!¡± she groaned, shrinking as they both turned to look at her. ¡°I just¡­ I should keep my mouth shut.¡± ¡°You¡¯re fine,¡± Sora said, feeling a tad bad for the lonely and isolated French siren teenager. ¡°We can play it later tonight with Kari and Eyia¡­ Well, maybe,¡± she mumbled upon seeing Wendy¡¯s sudden scowl that if the wolf joined then she wouldn¡¯t. Sora led the group cautiously into the lecture hall, her tail brushing Wendy¡¯s leg as they descended the cracked stone stairs. The oppressive air within the ruined chamber pressed against her clammy skin, the shadows seemingly curling tighter around the space as they moved further inside. Her fingers twitched at the faint scrape of claws¡ªno, not claws¡ªNilly¡¯s small cat paws as the teen Cat Mother, now in feline form, lounged atop a decayed wooden table at the base of the hall. The once-grand space felt cavernous, empty of students save for a lone figure sitting in the center. Sela hovered slightly above the shattered remains of a lecture podium, a thick tome levitating in front of her. The glow of her translucent wings barely lit the gloom, their edges quivering with faint, residual light. Her honey-blonde hair hung loose, framing her stoic expression, and her bright eyes reflected the cold ambiance of the room, despite their brightness. Sora¡¯s heart twisted. She looks so¡­alone. I thought Titania was going to smooth things over with the staff. But, I guess prejudices run deep in a race that basically lives forever¡­ She glanced back at Wendy, who raised a skeptical brow, clearly unimpressed with Sela¡¯s choice of d¨¦cor, or lack thereof. Nerida clung to Wendy¡¯s arm again, the siren¡¯s aquamarine hair spilling over her shoulder as her wide eyes darted nervously to her, looking for guidance and no doubt wondering if she was a demon in disguise. Nilly was totally obvious to them in her lounging position; Sora was sure that wouldn¡¯t last long.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Clearing her throat, Sora stepped forward, her voice gentle but clear. ¡°Sela¡­ Hey. How¡¯ve you been?¡± The Unseelie-turned-professor lifted her gaze from the book, her bright pupils blackening and hollowing out as they narrowed. ¡°Of course, it would be your little group of misfits that grace my hall. How have I been since you tortured me?¡± Her voice carried a dry, biting humor and Nerida¡¯s jaw slackened at the accusation. ¡°Sela!¡± Sora huffed, placing her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to humor that; I didn¡¯t torture you and you look fabulous! I like the wings¡ªpretty.¡± The half-Unseelie, at this point, sighed, her vision returning to normal. ¡°Pretty are they? Not even half of the shine of my mother¡­ In any case, I¡¯m better than these walls¡ªthey don¡¯t have to endure teaching students who flee like frightened birds at the sight of me. Your new siren groupy seems to be on the verge of running in fright.¡± ¡°Not doing herself any favors in this environment,¡± Wendy muttered from behind Sora. ¡°If she wanted to play a witch teacher, she could have at least bought candy for the class.¡± Sela¡¯s lips quirked, a faint, bitter smile tugging at the corners. ¡°Bluntness runs in the family, I see.¡± Sora¡¯s tail straightened as she approached cautiously, her steps measured. ¡°That¡¯s not fair. You¡¯ve been through more than most¡­ I don¡¯t understand. I couldn¡¯t. But¡­I get it. People just¡­need time to understand you. It¡¯s not your fault they¡¯re too scared to stick around¡­ Well, never mind, it kind of is with how you decorated the place,¡± she added with a short chuckle, ¡°but the rumors spread by some of the other faculty don¡¯t help. I heard a few on the way here. Professor Kurosaki is a fan, though.¡± ¡°A fan?¡± Sela repeated, her voice heavy, almost contemplative. ¡°That¡¯s something to be concerned about, not propped up, child. Perhaps they are right to flee. The sight of me is a reminder of what they fear most¡ªwhat they could become. Would you not agree after the manipulation I did to harm your doorman friend?¡± she asked with a small smirk as the book closed. ¡°His succubus fianc¨¦e would have stronger words for me. And what do you think of me?¡± Her gaze drifted to Nerida, who instinctively shrank back, prompting Wendy to tighten her grip protectively around the siren¡¯s arm. ¡°This place, well¡­isn¡¯t just creepy,¡± Nerida whispered, her voice trembling. ¡°It feels like¡­something¡¯s watching us.¡± Sela sighed, her wings twitching slightly. ¡°Good instincts¡­ There is. The walls are steeped in lingering magic, echoes of a perpetual Shadow Pit from a past battle that shook the academy to its core. It is not dangerous now, merely¡­invasive. A suitable stage for an Unseelie lecture, no? It is critical to understand what you are dealing with.¡± Sora studied her face, noting the faint tremor in her voice¡ªsubtle, but unmistakable. ¡°Is that why you¡¯re here, then? You weren¡¯t forced here, right? The other teachers are treating you okay?¡± Sela¡¯s gaze sharpened, a faint spark of amusement lighting her otherwise somber features. ¡°You¡¯re bold, Sora. No fear, only curiosity and an urge for justice¡­which can even extend to your enemies. Quit it. You are making my stomach turn.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°That¡¯s mean.¡± Wendy snorted. ¡°Sorry, but I¡¯m on her side, Sis.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you are,¡± Sora mumbled, eyeing her frowning sister and reflecting on their earlier conversation about being too trusting. ¡°I¡¯m not going to change who I am, though. You can hate me all you want. You know, Daisy was terrified of me and wanted me to just leave her in her sorrow at first, too. But tell me, Sela, are you better before or after you met me?¡± Nerida was stiff as a board, looking as if she¡¯d give up her ghost at the tone she was taking with a professor. Wendy appeared more critical of her. She understood both perspectives but she still wasn¡¯t going to back down. Nilly was now on a table near the top of the hall, smiling eyes on her as she yawned. Sela folded her hands in her lap as her question lingered in the still air, and after a few sections, she whispered, ¡°That is a question I ask myself every ten minutes¡­ What goes without question is that you¡¯ve already poked your nose into more danger than any sensible creature would dare¡­ A Founder¡¯s right through raw power, I suppose. And now you wish to learn about the Pits? Hah. What a joke. What is your next project?¡± ¡°Yep,¡± Wendy threw up her hand to aim a glare her way. ¡°You¡¯ve hit the nail on the head, lady. Who is the project, Sora? Let me guess, he¡¯s hot, has tattoos, and happened to be from a Shadow Pit.¡± ¡°Wrong!¡± Nilly¡¯s cheerful voice broke through the tension, now an eight-year-old in a chair, shifting to the left and right with a big grin. Yet, only Wendy and her appeared to notice the feline. ¡°Nilly never turns down a creepy bedtime story but Sora is helping Fenny! Nilly wants to help Sora because Sora is nice. Wendy can be a jelly-jelly bean!¡± ¡°Wha¡ªyou did not!¡± Wendy snarled to Nerida and Sela¡¯s bewilderment as she chased after the invisible cat, who Sora knew would never be caught. ¡°Why don¡¯t you just go back to a cat and beg for more milk?!¡± ¡°Milk is good! Nilly loves milk! Wendy¡¯s a broke squirrely and can¡¯t buy Nilly milk,¡± she snickered. ¡°Poor broke Frisbee! Wait, that¡¯s Sora!¡± she giggled, falling off the edge of the table to vanish and appear on the ceiling. ¡°Wendy¡¯s a fatty sparkly twirly spinner.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯re going to get your ears pinched!¡± Wendy shouted, causing the other two to look to her for answers. Of course, she wasn¡¯t going to give any. ¡°Wait¡­ Can no one else see her? Ugh. Never mind¡­¡± Go ahead and ramble like a crazy girl, Sis! And¡­there¡¯s the blush! Sela¡¯s mouth twitched, almost forming a smile, as she regarded their group. For a moment, her hand rose to her chest, fingers brushing lightly against her collarbone. ¡°I owe everything I am now to you, Sora. So, perhaps I am being a little too harsh. Allow me a moment to refocus my attitude.¡± Closing her eyes, she breathed in and then released it in a way that made Sora¡¯s exasperation melt. Bright eyes opening again, the darkness around her dissipated, a whole new vibe illuminating the space. ¡°This¡­light-giving seed within me¡ªit is not an easy reality to bear. But I¡­thank you.¡± Her voice dropped, tinged with unspoken weight. ¡°If it is the Shadow Pits you wish to know, then so be it. Although, I know you well enough at this point to know this is not for your benefit. Be cautious, Sora.¡± Sora¡¯s hands tightened into a fist, but she knew Sela, of all people, wouldn¡¯t be threatening her. It was genuine. ¡°I will be. So please, teach me about these Shadow Pits¡­and what creatures might be in them, like a Shadow Wolf. Does that ring any bells?¡± she tentatively asked, catching Wendy¡¯s frown deepen. Sela¡¯s wings flared, shedding faint light as she gestured for them to sit amidst the shadows. The ruined walls seemed to pulse in response, the faint inscriptions rippling with dark energy. ¡°A wolf specifically? I¡¯m afraid not. However, if we are going to engage in this facade of teacher student, then you should take the proper tone, Sora¡­ Agreed?¡± Nodding, she turned her head toward the siren, the teen holding her breath and totally lost. Sora felt a little bad at the chaos she¡¯d brought to Kari¡¯s new roommate, but it was a good introduction into the kind of lifestyle they lived. Plus, it helped her trust that the songstress wouldn¡¯t stab them in the back, as terrible as it sounded¡ªshe was desperate for friends. ¡°Right, Queen Sela. We¡¯re in your care! Right, guys?¡± She heard grunts from the others, and after taking their seats, they all had to do a double-take as Nilly showed up in the seat beside Nerida. ¡°I had to go to the bathroom,¡± she said with a strained smile. ¡°What did I miss?¡± ¡°Nothing, little kitten,¡± Sela chortled. ¡°You have quite the potent force underneath that cute exterior.¡± ¡°Oh! Thank you,¡± the cat mumbled, shrinking a little in her seat. ¡°I try to eat a balanced diet. Umm. So, is this really the whole class?¡± she asked, turning to look at the door. ¡°Seems¡­empty.¡± ¡°All the better to adjust the lesson to your needs,¡± Sela smoothly returned, raising her hand as the shadows intensified, her aura flipping to a darker shade. ¡°Pay close attention. I won¡¯t repeat myself¡­ The Shadow Pits are ancient scars upon Avalon, remnants of The Darkness¡¯s corruption. But its origin dates far before our great goddess fell under its corruption.¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed as she used her magic to tug out a notebook and pen, spelling it with a desire to take perfect notes as she listened. She stayed silent but her mind was buzzing. I thought The Darkness was caused by the Foundation, or that¡¯s what Titania believed¡­ Sela¡¯s sly tilt to her eyes reminded her of the queen¡¯s former presence, alluring and mysterious; she seemed to be enjoying the teaching environment. ¡°Shadow Pits are ancient magic that served as both prisons and crucibles, places where magic is twisted into unrecognizable forms. Those who enter into these pits risk not only their lives but their very essence and are reserved as trials for our greatest heroes or to imprison our greatest enemies. At least¡­that was their purpose.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flattened as she listened, her fur prickling at the raw intensity in Sela¡¯s tone. ¡°How did they come to exist?¡± she asked, quickly throwing up her hand as an afterthought. ¡°Was that prison on Earth¡¯s moon a Shadow Pit? It felt like one.¡± ¡°The moon?¡± Sela giggled, holding up a hand to show a magical illusion of it. ¡°I cannot say since I have never been there. It is true that a dark force had seeped out of the celestial sphere over Earth for long before I became an Unseelie. However, there was a point when the potency of drawing upon it became nearly impossible, which timeline corresponds rather nicely just after the human¡¯s first landing. Coincidence? Perhaps. Or¡­¡± ¡°The Foundation,¡± Sora mumbled, reflecting back on the giant seal placed over the crater. ¡°I¡­smelled Diane come in here, Professor. Can I ask why?¡± she tentatively quired. Sela waved her hand, dismissing the illusion with a long sigh. ¡°I was waiting when you¡¯d comment on the devious human who meddles in things she should not¡­ I was informed about her relationship with you,¡± she said with a small chuckle at Wendy¡¯s scowl and curse on her name. ¡°Why was she here? Well, to cause trouble of course. She uses the guise of the treaty between The Foundation and Avalon that your mother demanded in order to gain access. She used to be a student here, I am told. Personally, I never met her, but Avalon is a large place. I¡¯d rather not speculate on her movements and focus more on the reason I am here.¡± ¡°Yeah, sorry,¡± Sora said with a forced smile and catching Nerida¡¯s face that said she had so many questions. She wasn¡¯t brave enough to ask them just yet, though. ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to derail your lecture. Umm. So, as far as I know, Unseelie magic twists normal magic and corrupts the soul, right?¡± Sela¡¯s head tilted to the side with an exaggerated sigh as if she were teaching a bag of bricks. ¡°How can you affect souls on such fundamental levels and know absolutely nothing about the divine chords you pluck? It is a tad infuriating. I will admit. Not exactly, Sora¡­¡± Having built up more than enough thick skin in regards to this, Sora let it bounce off with bright eyes and a wagging tail, ready to listen. The woman held her hand up with mournful eyes as a bright golden sphere appeared in it, chasing away all shadows and making Sora squint. The glowing sphere in Sela¡¯s hand dimmed as she let it drift upward, casting flickering golden light over the darkened ruins. Shadows twisted and stretched in its wake, retreating just enough to allow them to see each other more clearly. Sela¡¯s wings shimmered faintly as she turned, her honey-blonde hair catching the soft glow, contrasting the heavy sorrow that lingered in her gaze. Her voice broke the silence, low and resonant. ¡°Twist normal magic? Hah. It is so much deeper¡­ You see this light?¡± She gestured toward the golden orb. ¡°This is what the Unseelie fear most¡ªnot the brightness, but the warmth it carries. The promise it holds.¡± Her hand trembled slightly as she brought it down to press to her chest. ¡°It terrifies them¡­ Terrified me.¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched, her tail curling instinctively as a tear slid down Sela¡¯s cheek, vulnerable and raw. The vulnerability drew her in, striking a chord deep within her as the queen showed a smile that tore all thought from Sora¡¯s mind. She exchanged a glance with Wendy, who seemed more focused on the faint patterns of magic rippling along the walls, obvious to the spiritual waves emanating from the woman. ¡°This light,¡± Sela continued, her tone hardening, ¡°was not always a part of me. There was a time when I thrived in the shadows¡­ When I reveled in their power. You knew that part of me first. I was proud, untouchable¡ªa queen of chaos¡­or so I thought. But The Darkness does not offer power without cost. It takes, bit by bit, until nothing of you remains but a shell.¡± Her voice faltered, the words catching in her throat. For a moment, she closed her eyes, drawing a shaky breath. When she spoke again, her tone was softer, tinged with a quiet ache. ¡°I lost everything, Sora¡­ You cannot fathom. My kingdom, my people¡­my family. Me. I did that. All because I believed I could control something that was never meant to be tamed.¡± Sora¡¯s chest tightened as she listened. She wanted to say something, anything, to break the tension, but the weight of Sela¡¯s words held her silent. The former princess¡¯ gaze drifted to the golden sphere as she let it go from her bosom, her lips curving into a faint, bittersweet smile. ¡°I used to sing to the shadows. It likes the attention¡­ It likes the devotion. My heart¡¯s weave. You see it is so much more than simply magic but the thing that can twist the very fabric of reality¡­ Your aspirations. Your dreams¡­ Your soul. But now¡­after everything in me is burned, all I hear is the echo of a song I cannot finish.¡± Her words hung in the air, and Sora felt the raw pain beneath them. It was something so deep that it pulsed out of Sela in waves of relief at finally being able to speak it while at the same time it ripped her heart to pieces. Sela¡¯s wings folded tightly against her back as she turned to them again, her gaze lingering on each of them in turn. ¡°This is not something I share lightly. Shadow Pits are not merely corrupted places to be purified¡ªthey are the blood of the soul¡­ Wounds that bleed into the very fabric of space. When you met me, Sora, I was at my weakest. Why?¡± Tail bristling, Sora had to take a moment before her voice would respond. ¡°¡­Because you already burned and devoured everything you loved¡­ Almost everything that made you¡­you.¡± ¡°I did,¡± Sela whispered, bringing the light up to look at the small seed of love she¡¯d given life before them. Something she held dear, and from it, Sora could see a mother¡¯s smile¡ªSela¡¯s memory of her precious mother. ¡°Shadow Pits are scars left by The Darkness when it carved through Avalon, infecting everything it touched¡­ ¡°Not by force, and that is the most horrifying part that will tear you apart in the end, leaving you an empty shell that is terrified of what you once held most dear. They are prisons for magic, for souls, for hope itself¡­ And they remain because we are too afraid to face what they represent because if you are to purify it, you must mend what is broken¡­ The twisted hope of a fallen soul. And to do that, you must give it a new spark that is brighter than what it lost.¡± Nerida¡¯s voice broke the silence, hesitant but earnest. ¡°W-What if you can¡¯t?¡± Sela¡¯s gaze closed her eyes, her slightly red eyes fixating on the young siren. ¡°It will take whatever it can to fill the void and leave¡­loss,¡± she said simply. ¡°The loss of control, of self, of everything you hold dear. The Pits are mirrors, showing you the parts of someone they want to forget¡­abandoned hope. If yours cannot overcome it, then it will overcome you.¡± A shiver ran through them and Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel a chill run through her belly. If Kari falls into one¡­ If it¡¯s about hope, then¡­ There¡¯s no way Kari could survive that. Hope is her kryptonite¡­ No wonder Jin wanted to see me before we try to figure out what connection she has to that Shadow Wolf. Sora straightened as Sela¡¯s eyes shifted to her, her expression unreadable. ¡°You asked about Shadow Wolves, didn¡¯t you? Creatures born of these pits are typically echoes of the soul that was consumed, fragments of what they once were before sinking into The Darkness. The larger the pit, the stronger the light required to fill it.¡± Wendy crossed her arms, her tail swishing sharply and not looking nearly as sympathetic as she should, given the conversation; Sora felt like she was about to burst into tears. ¡°So you¡¯re saying they¡¯re not just wolves¡ªthey¡¯re¡­what? Ghosts? Zombies? What happened to the person who fell in? Obviously, there can be some people that emerge from them without being corrupted.¡± ¡°Neither,¡± Sela replied, her tone more clipped now. ¡°They are the essence of despair of a soul given form. Not Unseelie, which are Shadow Pits incarnate¡ªfar more potent. No, these are relentless seeds of fallen hopes, seeking connection with their source and reaching for all light.¡± Sora¡¯s mind raced, piecing together fragments of what she¡¯d learned from her short adventure with Kari, and Aelion¡¯s explanation. ¡°Then we aren¡¯t destroying them¡­but healing them. That¡¯s what the next grade of student is supposed to do? People like¡­Aiden?¡± Sela¡¯s expression darkened, her wings twitching slightly. ¡°It is not as simple as fighting the lost hope within the shadows. To save them, you must first face your own darkness to reach the pit¡¯s core. If you wish to free the space of such negative force, you must first face what it represents within you.¡± Her words sent a chill down Sora¡¯s spine, but before she could respond, Sela¡¯s voice softened again. ¡°But enough of this,¡± she said, gesturing to the golden sphere, now dim and flickering. ¡°I owe you more than lessons in fear. You gave me something I thought I¡¯d lost forever¡ªa chance to feel again. As painful as that is.¡± Her gaze met Sora¡¯s, and for a moment, the weight of her sorrow lifted, replaced by something fragile and hopeful. ¡°This light¡­it¡¯s not mine. It is my mothers that she left in me as a final act¡­ And I only carry it now because of you. And though it tears at me every day, I would not trade it for anything.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flattened, her chest tightening as Sela¡¯s words sank in. ¡°I didn¡¯t even do that much¡ª¡± ¡°You did,¡± Sela interrupted, her voice firm but kind. ¡°And for that, I thank you.¡± The moment hung between them, heavy with unspoken emotion, before Sela turned back to the group, her wings spreading slightly. ¡°Now, let us continue. There is much to learn, and even more to unlearn. The Shadow Pits are but one piece of the puzzle within The Darkness. It is more of a symptom. If you wish to understand The Darkness, you must first understand yourselves.¡± A seed of caution rose up in Sora as Sela continued, taking them through exercises to face miniature Shadow Pits. Nothing compared to the real thing, but they hurt all the same with past scars rising up in the form of the betrayal she felt from Wendy stealing her bubble gun in grade school to Nerida arguing with a puffer fish about a shell. When Sela sent them on their way, a surprising group of new, semi-reluctant students entered the room, Sora lingered at the top to see the former Unseelie queen glow, welcoming the new souls here to learn how to avoid the abyss she fell into. You¡¯re doing better than you think, Sela¡­ I think you don¡¯t give yourself enough credit to the light you can spark in others. I can see why Titania pushed so hard for your acceptance. Now, I need to figure out how to use my powers to do the same. I have so much potential. I just need to focus it right¡­ Avalon is in pain. Is that why Mom sent me here? I asked to help Kari, and she sent me here. What do you see, Mom? Leaving the hall, Sora was surprised to see the sun already fading. She waved off Wendy and the others, her brunette sister was more than a little upset due to Sela¡¯s magic not working on her. Before she could talk to her about it, Wendy went off with Nilly and Nerdia to find food. Sora decided to visit Jin before retiring for the night, though. I need answers for Kari¡­ I promised her to figure this out with her. Whatever it is, it¡¯s important¡­ Very important to her. Wendy just needs to blow off steam. She looks like a magical girl, but we still need to figure things out with Dad¡¯s side. She paused at the transport gate, passively using it to get to Jin¡¯s training grounds. I mean, it makes sense. She¡¯s made out of Null-Void. My magic won¡¯t work on her, so¡­what does that mean for the Shadow Pits? Interesting. We¡¯ll have to discuss that. We¡¯re making progress! B3 — 13. Learning To Let Go Sora stepped out of the transport gate, feeling the familiar, sticky pulse of Avalon¡¯s magic pull at her senses. She blinked, her nose crinkling as the scent of burned earth and charred grass hit her. The field ahead of her was a mess¡ªflattened patches of scorched turf, splintered wood from what looked like shattered targets, and the scattered remnants of what used to be pristine training equipment. The kind of destruction that suggested someone had really gone to town on it. Then, her eyes landed on Jin, sprawled out on a lawn chair, her sunglasses tilted back at an almost absurd angle, blocking the sun as if she were sunbathing on a beach instead of sitting in the middle of an active combat zone. Sora rolled her eyes, tail flicking in irritation. Only Jin could make the chaos of battle look so beneath her. If it wasn¡¯t enough, she had wireless headphones in her ears, bobbing her head to some kind of music. Great investment on staff, Avalon, she internally sighed. Nearby, Jian was darting between three students¡ªthe only ones left from over a hundred she¡¯d seen before¡ªwho looked like they might pass out at any second. A protective barrier encircled them from the White Tiger, but it only seemed to be stopping them from dying because the bruises on the two male and single female fae were quite the sight. Jian delivered swift, calculated strikes, sending them stumbling backward with every blow, his face as impassive as ever. The students¡ªsweating, bleeding, and struggling to hold up¡ªdidn¡¯t stand a chance. Jian¡¯s control over the fight was so precise that it looked like he was teaching them how to die slowly and painfully. Sora sighed. Okay, Jin. Seriously? She walked through the wreckage, walking over to where the dragon was lounging, her legs crossed and her arms behind her head as she yawned. She had no shame about looking like she belonged in a poolside resort, not a combat field, teaching students how to survive combat. ¡°You look comfortable in this lecture, Professor. Okay, what happened to everyone that was here before?¡± Sora asked, crossing her arms and looking around at the devastation. ¡°Where did Eyia go?¡± Jin flicked a lazy glance her way, shifting just enough to let her sunglasses slide down her nose. ¡°Eyia got frustrated with me making fun of her and stormed off to consult her dad or something. Whatever. The others?¡± She snorted, a grin creeping onto her lips. ¡°They ran screaming when Jian started the combat sessions. Pretty standard reaction, I¡¯d say. The guy¡¯s not bad for a low dimensional normie.¡± Sora raised an eyebrow, wondering if she should feel bad for them or just laugh while taking a seat next to her, probably meant for Jian by the size. ¡°Right.¡± She sank into the empty lawn chair beside Jin, glancing over at the fight again, where Jian was still weaving between the students with predatory precision, his movements a blur. ¡°They seem to be trying hard, at least. Do they have promise?¡± ¡°Pfft. None at all.¡± Jin¡¯s grin spread wider as she dropped her sunglasses and leaned back in her chair, letting out a relaxed sigh. ¡°It¡¯s a wonder any of them managed to close a Shadow Pit but I guess their resilience is adequate for the wimpy stuff. Anyway, so, how¡¯d the class go with the former Unseelie queen?¡± she asked, her tone almost mocking. Sora straightened, shifting slightly in her seat as she stretched her legs out. ¡°It went pretty well, actually,¡± she mumbled with a small smile, feeling a surge of confidence. ¡°Sela¡­well, she taught me a lot about controlling things in ways I didn¡¯t know I could. More about the Shadow Pits and spiritual stuff. I mean, I¡¯m not exactly a magic expert, but yeah, I¡¯d say it was a success if I¡¯m learning.¡± Jin¡¯s golden eyes flicked toward her, her mouth twitching into something between a smile and a smirk. ¡°Interesting thing you did, fixing her. As simple as it was. I wouldn¡¯t have wasted a glance on such weaklings. Why do you think Jian is teaching them? If I ran them through a drill, they¡¯d die.¡± Sora¡¯s ears twitched, and her tail flicked once at the sharpness in Jin¡¯s voice. She knew what Jin was capable of¡ªthe kind of power that could decimate someone like Eric, when enhanced by Aiden¡¯s causality powers. Someone capable of going toe-to-toe with a serious Eyia. She didn¡¯t need to be reminded that in Jin¡¯s True Dragon eyes, everyone here, including herself, were nothing but ants under her boot. Well, sort of. Her mom and Nilly got her respect. But that didn¡¯t stop Sora from biting back. ¡°Was it really that easy?¡± she asked, crossing her arms. ¡°Because it didn¡¯t feel that way when I did it. In fact, High Queen Titania had to step in to help me. So, maybe these ¡®lower dimensional¡¯ beings aren¡¯t so bad.¡± Jin tilted her head, a look of amusement flashing across her face as she pushed her sunglasses back up her nose. ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to have to explain how you reached that answer, Professor,¡± Sora grumbled, stifling a yawn herself as Jian brought the exercise to a stop to evaluate the three advanced fae, quaking and falling to their backs. ¡°I can see why Eyia wanted to slap you and stormed off.¡± ¡°Eyia would never do that,¡± Jin chuckled, throwing up her arms. Her voice was light, almost teasing, but there was no mistaking the sharpness underneath. ¡°She didn¡¯t want to fight Jian. It¡¯s the only way she knows how to blow off steam, and she¡¯s angry at herself for that. She wants to connect and feel a part of something bigger than her lonesome, pathetic life. Get with the program, Tails.¡± ¡°Ouch.¡± Sora¡¯s brow furrowed, trying not to let the dragon¡¯s bluntness ruffle her fur. ¡°I know you were holding back against Eric¡ªhard¡ªand you¡¯re a real badass, but would it kill you to be a little less¡­¡± ¡°Me?¡± Jin grinned, shades reflecting the solar fruit hanging from the tree as she glanced her way. ¡°No. I¡¯m a dragon, sweetheart. I don¡¯t do tact. I have no reason to. Here¡¯s a private lesson that should flick you between the eyes. Imagine this: ¡°A sixteen-year-old girl¡ªwho didn¡¯t even know she was a fox a month ago and who knows nothing about what she¡¯s doing¡ªmanaged to pull off what the most powerful people in an entire mythical realm thought was impossible. Which means¡­¡± Sora¡¯s ears went up and then pulled back, not willing to say it. Jin was gracious enough to do it for her. ¡°Meaning, pretty easy stuff, fox girl.¡± She looked up at the giant Realm Tree overhead, overshadowing everything. ¡°It¡¯s actually laughable how shocked everyone is by you. Like, sure, you¡¯ve got a few points that lift my eyebrow but nothing that huge. But then again, that¡¯s the life of lesser creatures at this lower dimensional, insignificant scale, isn¡¯t it?¡± Sora froze, the weight of Jin¡¯s words sinking in while also delivering a punch to her gut. She doesn¡¯t have to lay it out so¡­discriminatory. It¡¯s like nothing on this level or these people matter at all. Which¡­I suppose, to her, they kind of don¡¯t. All of this is a joke to her. Her life, all the horrible things that made her feel numb inside, the joys with her father and best friend, among so many other precious memories rose to the surface in defiance. It doesn¡¯t mean I have to take that perspective, though¡­or else Wendy would mean nothing. ¡°A difference in opinion,¡± Sora returned, her voice low as she tried to relax more and accept Jin for who she was, edges and all; she had her own issues with her family that skewed her outlook on everything. ¡°I don¡¯t expect to change your mind. I¡¯m obviously worth you sticking around for¡ªor, Eyia is¡­¡± ¡°Nice save,¡± Jin laughed. ¡°You¡¯re a bonus interest that can curb my boredom. Plus¡­ Well, we don¡¯t have to go there.¡± The redirect caught Sora a tad off-guard. Something Jin doesn¡¯t want to talk about?! If that¡¯s the case then it¡¯s dealing with her mother. I guess she wouldn¡¯t like her hanging out with vulpes¡­ I¡¯ll crack your unfriendly shell eventually, Jin! Just you wait. ¡°Right¡­ It¡¯s getting close to curfew anyway.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit me.¡± Jin pushed up her glasses and shifted her head to give her a more serious expression than before; the other students were now taking notice of them as Jian wrapped things up. ¡°You¡¯re scared to death of me. The only reason you¡¯re here is to help the sad wolf girl you¡¯ve pulled under your umbrella. Ask me straight.¡± Sora leveled a light glare her way. ¡°Don¡¯t bullshit me. You were the one who told me to come and talk before doing what I¡¯m doing with Kari. Give off the ¡®I don¡¯t care¡¯ vibes all you want, but I think you¡¯re too scared to admit you are a bit interested in these ¡®lesser creatures,¡¯ Jin.¡± The dragon lifted an eyebrow, her smirk returning. ¡°That was certainly straight and the backbone of a Founder. Wrong. But said with your chest. Bravo for that.¡± She reseated her glasses and laid back with a relaxing sigh. ¡°But just so we¡¯re clear, I¡¯m not here to babysit. I¡¯ll help you out, here and there, but I¡¯m not holding your hand through it.¡± Sora¡¯s tail twitched again, reevaluating her position, but she didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°I get it. Maybe that was a bit too far. You¡¯re only helping me because Eyia would want you to¡­ I¡¯m not asking for hand-holding. I know I¡¯m not the most prepared. What did you want to warn me about? Sela already gave us the breakdown on Shadow Pits.¡± Jin¡¯s smirk deepened, and she stretched, crossing her arms behind her head. ¡°You¡¯re here to learn, so it¡¯s about time you acted like it. Look, I¡¯ll tell you what no one will. You suck and you spread your energy too thin. It¡¯s crazy what you do for a friend. Consolidate. Don¡¯t apologize. And show the backbone you did when marching out to confront me.¡± Tail stilling, Sora sucked in her bottom lip for a moment before mumbling, ¡°Is¡­that it?¡± The dragon shrugged, settling in as the fruit above began to rapidly dim and a horn rumbled through Avalon, signaling for the end of classes and curfew. ¡°Depends on how deeply you let it sink in. You¡¯re a Founder. Be real,¡± she growled, dropping her glasses a tad to stare at her with penetrating, illuminated golden eyes. ¡°Nothing at this level should matter to you. Think about it.¡± What is she suggesting? Sora met her gaze, the hair on the back of her neck rising. Is¡­she telling me not to help Kari¡­or the Shadow Wolf isn¡¯t worth our time investigating? Jin broke the tense atmosphere with a chuckle and pushed her glasses back up. ¡°I¡¯m going to get some sleep. Have fun hiding inside.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help the small, rebellious grin that slowly tugged at the corner of her mouth. ¡°I see¡­ I can handle that.¡± Jin¡¯s face showed a hint of amused doubt, and she started her music again with a tap of a finger against the item in her ear. ¡°We¡¯ll see. Focus on what¡¯s in front of you, and you might be surprised what you can do. Not everyone needs saving, Sora. It¡¯s about intervening when you can but knowing when they need the support.¡± Sora nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She¡¯d come to Avalon for answers, for training, for everything. Maybe I have been a bit too focused on saving everyone¡­because I felt like they didn¡¯t have anyone else to rely on. Maybe I¡¯ve been too much of a crutch, though. And, I¡¯m a Founder. Rising to her feet, Sora felt butterflies swimming in her stomach, freedom flowing into her spirit by just seeing the lazy dragon prepare to sleep right through The Darkness. Nothing matters¡­ Meaning, I should have the power to do anything I want. Existence itself bends to my will¡­ It¡¯s not about the rules others make for me. It¡¯s about doing what I think is right¡­ Carve my own path. ¡°Got it,¡± Sora returned, finding her elbow behind her back, heart feeling steady. ¡°And I¡¯ll be back for lessons, Jin! Just, maybe not this week,¡± she finished with a strained laugh while watching the three fae help one another limp to the teleportation gate, looking thrashed, but unbroken. ¡°Hey! Yeah, you three¡ªlet me heal you real fast. I need practice anyway.¡± Jin snorted and settled in. ¡°The most non-vulpes Founder in history¡­ So ridiculous.¡± But you love it more than you¡¯d like to admit, Sora internally snickered, jogging off to help the quaking fae, who were trying not to cry at the small offer of kindness. I am a Founder, Jin. And I¡¯ll do what I want¡­ Just like you. The air was heavy with the smell of earth and magic as Sora walked away from the training field, her thoughts whirling. Jian was fixing the field and the three Blossom students she¡¯d helped earlier stayed behind to help, thanking her. Apparently, they weren¡¯t the best 3rd Ranks¡­which was why they were here and trying so hard. They were a rank above Aiden, and yet, they had barely lasted a few minutes each round against the white tiger. Sora¡¯s stomach churned slightly as she reevaluated Jian¡¯s strength. Somehow, Diane managed to get Fen and him under her thumb¡­ The Foundation really is a shady bunch. I doubt they¡¯re done with us, but Dad¡¯s looking into it and Mom¡¯s got a plan. Well¡­maybe her plan is for me to deal with it.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Her tail flicked behind her in frustration as she absently wondered how the hell Fen and Jian even separated when they seemed so¡­master-servant. I know squat about so many things¡­ Maybe Jin¡¯s right. I should focus on what¡¯s ahead of me. It would be nice to know a bit more about them, though, if Fen is teaching at the main lecture hall I go to. No! Focus, Sora. You¡¯ve got other things to figure out. She let the thoughts fade as she continued her walk once through the transport gate, passing by groups of fae and magical creatures heading toward their dorms. The lights of Avalon¡¯s bright heaves flickered above, the gentle hum of magic like a background track to the academy¡¯s pulse. But when she reached her dorm, she felt a noticeable shift in the pulse beneath her feet. Pausing, she glanced down, a shiver running up her tail to her ears. Something¡­old is creeping up. It¡¯s stopping¡­but somewhat¡­familiar? Founder magic? Oh, Kari¡­ Her mind was snapped back to attention as the smell reached her nose, and she glanced at the corner of the courtyard. There, lying across a bench, was Kari. Her legs were crossed lazily, one arm slung over her eyes, and the other tapping rhythmically against her thigh. At first, Sora just stood there, watching her tail sway left and right¡ªshe looked annoyed. Please, don¡¯t bark at me¡­ Kari didn¡¯t even flinch when Sora approached, not until she sat down beside her, the sound of their tails swishing in unison. ¡°So. Busy day?¡± Sora started, her voice light. The wolf rolled over slightly to look at her, giving a half-shrug and nonchalant tilt of her head. Sora tilted her head, a small smile tugging at her lips. ¡°And the typical Kari answer,¡± she sighed, leaning back and watching quite a few various monsters exit the teleportation gate to reach their dorms. They didn¡¯t even get a glance. ¡°I assume you got my message?¡± ¡°Do we really need to make smalltalk,¡± Kari muttered, tapping her fingers against the bench, her gaze drifting to the fading lights above. ¡°It¡¯s all high school here. Just like I expected¡­just without the sports as a bonus and a lot more backbiting.¡± Sora sighed, her tail flicking once, then again, as she settled back against the bench; Kari was taking up the majority of it, including her tail that flicked dangerously close to her arm. ¡°I hope that¡¯s not meant for me. I¡¯m not trying to ditch you. I¡¯m not talking behind your back. I¡¯ve been trying to¡­¡± ¡°Not what I was talking about,¡± Kari grunted, dully amber eyes drifting her way. ¡°I did the high school thing, Sora. I¡¯m not here to do it again is all I¡¯m saying. Geez, you¡¯re acting like I think you¡¯re the preppy rich girl talking about how trash everyone is. Get over yourself.¡± Unable to help a light chuckle, she saw a twitch come to the corner of Kari¡¯s mouth. Nice to see she¡¯s getting well enough to joke a bit. Repeating my words to her. Not bad. ¡°You wanna talk about the Shadow Pit, right?¡± Kari stiffened, then shifted to sit up. ¡°So you weren¡¯t flirting with every boy you saw like Wendy made it sound like when she came back.¡± Sora¡¯s ears parted, lying as flat as her expression. ¡°I¡¯ll twist her tail when I get upstairs. No. One guy that is going to help us with the forest spirit and she¡¯s making up fanfiction. I swear, she¡¯s out of control.¡± ¡°Not how she made it sound when talking with Eyia,¡± the wolf mumbled with a stifled yawn. ¡°I think she¡¯s a little intimidated by me with all her gnashing teeth.¡± A lightning bolt of realization stuck Sora as she cast her gaze toward one of the open windows. Their window. You¡¯re going to get me in trouble, Kari! She¡¯s just worried about me¡­ About us. Wendy¡¯s figuring her own stuff out. ¡°She has a right to be concerned,¡± Sora redirected, straining a laugh. ¡°I have been a bit¡­too open lately. Maybe I can take a lesson from you. So¡­want to hear what Sela told us about the Shadow Pits?¡± Kari¡¯s lips curled downward, but she didn¡¯t argue, which was an improvement as the wolf pushed herself up. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°Okay, so, Sela said they¡¯re like imprints of things that got sucked into The Darkness¡­ Not just the dead, or trapped souls, but objects, ideas, fragments of time. And that¡¯s where this Shadow Wolf comes in¡­ I don¡¯t think it¡¯s¡­alive. That one, anyway.¡± ¡°...¡± Black tail flicking against her leg, Sora jumped as Kari¡¯s fingers cracked the bench wood, biting her lip and drawing blood. ¡°Are you¡­saying we shouldn¡¯t check it out?¡± ¡°What? No.¡± Shifting her posture, she met Kari¡¯s sudden intensity with a confused frown. ¡°But something¡¯s telling me this is a lot more personal than you were letting on. Umm. I¡¯m just saying the Shadow Pit isn¡¯t a living thing. It¡¯s¡­an impression of The Darkness. But it¡¯s not what we thought. It¡¯s a memory¡­. The heavy type, that leaves scars.¡± Kari looked at her with that sharp gaze of hers, something calculating behind her bright, amber eyes. The blood ran down her chin and dripped onto her thigh. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, the wolf¡­is actually in The Darkness? And this is just an imprint? She didn¡¯t feel like that, Sora.¡± ¡°I¡­don¡¯t know what to tell you,¡± Sora mumbled, tone lowering as she cast a sound barrier around them and made a show of it so Kari would know. Turning to face her, she frowned as the wolf¡¯s arms drew in defensively but decided to take a page out of Jin¡¯s book. ¡°Kari¡­¡± ¡°What?¡± She kicked her legs out with a heavy exhale, then stood, brushing off the dirt from her pants before turning to leave. ¡°Okay, fine. I get it. Saturday, then? We¡¯ll see what this forest spirit has to say.¡± ¡°Wait, don¡¯t go,¡± she pleaded, standing to block her way, despite having to look up at the much taller girl; the smell of her blood made her crinkle her nose. ¡°Can I say something at least?¡± Kari¡¯s lip was already healed, yet she looked away with a huff, clearly waiting for her to speak so she could stonewall her and keep going. Sora caught a few of the female students that just teleported in stop to watch, probably wondering if there was going to be a fight. She also knew she¡¯d made huge headway with Kari in the friend department, and Kari was the type to appreciate bluntness¡­ She just had a hard time responding with it due to her brother¡¯s conditioning. ¡°Kari,¡± she whispered, softening her tone and seeing the flick of her ears and twitch of her tail. ¡°I get this means a lot to you¡­ A lot. You aren¡¯t willing to share. That¡¯s okay.¡± Black tail lowering, confusion swirled in Kari¡¯s amber eyes as they darted to her, uncertainty evident since she¡¯d been more than pushy in the past. Mary had helped with that, though. ¡°What do you mean, that¡¯s okay? You obviously want me to talk and do the whole spill my guts thing.¡± Flashing her teeth, Sora showed as bright of a smile as she could. ¡°I¡¯m your friend, Kari, not Mary. I want to help you where you need it. If that means not digging into whatever passed between Ylva and you and this whole Shadow Wolf business. Then I¡¯m fine with that. If you want me to come support you, whatever it is. I trust you. Saturday, you and me. Well,¡± she scratched her left ear with a forced grin, ¡°and the hot fae guy I met that is going to connect us with the forest lady.¡± Kari¡¯s face softened with a ¡®really¡¯ look before she puffed out her anxiety with a much needed chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re ridiculous¡­ Okay. I¡¯m going to be off doing my own investigation then. Cool?¡± When Sora creased a suspicious eye, she scratched her neck and growled, ¡°Not in the forest. I¡¯ve got something else I want to look into.¡± Smile returning, Sora held up a pinky, one Kari looked at as if she was a child. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Mmm!¡± Sora put on a playful pout and held it up further, hearing the fae girls mumbling to one another, wondering if they were making some magical seal pact or a declaration of challenge in ¡®their culture¡¯ whatever that meant. It only took another few patient seconds of the staring contest before the wolf relented. ¡°You¡¯re acting like my mom¡­¡± Kari grumbled, linking pinkies. She shook it up and down. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t start with me! This is probably the first pinky promise you¡¯ve ever made. Ahh, I knew it!¡± she snickered at her shifting eyes. ¡°It¡¯s a promise. I¡¯ve got your tail. Eh¡­ In a good way!¡± ¡°You¡¯re a real piece of work, Sora.¡± Laughing as she walked past her to enter the dorm and likely go upstairs to sleep, Sora watched her go. It¡¯s okay, Kari¡­ Open up in your own time. Sora made her way after the wolf, feeling the day¡¯s tension settle into her bones. She moved through the hall quietly, taking in the soft glow from the magic lamps and the occasional murmur of voices in the distance. She pushed the door open, stepping into the shared room she now called home, at least for the next six weeks. The scent of fresh laundry and faint herbs greeted her, a strange comfort after the chaos of the day. Wendy was sitting on her bed, her brows furrowed, scribbling something in her notebook with a bunch of her clothes folded around her for some reason. There was a restlessness in the air around her¡ªSora could tell. She had been on edge ever since they arrived. The usual lighthearted energy Wendy carried seemed strained lately, replaced by frustration that was becoming harder to hide. Something is eating you up inside, Wendy¡­ I guess I¡¯ll just have to wait until you open up, too. Maybe I¡¯m the cause¡­or that nine-tailed Kumiho. Hand still on the door knob as Wendy suspiciously gave a start, trying to hide whatever she was writing. Sora purposefully glanced away, looking at the door across the hall, where Selene and Kari¡¯s room. Please, be nice to her Kari. She seems like a nice girl. Returning to the room, she shut the door, spotting Eyia on her bed, eyes closed. Floating, which was totally normal, the Valkyrie was in some meditative state. Her legs crossed, her aura swirling with very unusual patterns. Hopefully, she¡¯d find some answers from her father, however that worked. She had gotten used to Eyia¡¯s strange ways but there was still so much she wanted to learn about the Asgardian Primordial. She seemed¡­lost. Wendy poked fun at Eyia in a light-hearted manner when she finally opened her eyes, throwing a few pillows her way. Eyia¡¯s retaliation was legendary, turning them into shrieking, giggling maniacs as it turned into a full out war. There was a somewhat flimsy serenity to her after her meditation session. Still, opening up would come in Eyia¡¯s time. Just as the pillow fight was winding down, Sora spotted her move. Tail turned, guard dropped, and taking inspiration from Eyia¡¯s constant advice, Sora made her move for the comments her brunette sister made so brazenly! Without a word, she bounced on her puffy tail, launching herself onto Wendy¡¯s bed with a playful grin. The tanuki barely had time to react before Sora applied the new wrestling lock she¡¯d perfected¡ªin theory¡ªan impromptu move that had her laughing and gasping. Her sister tried to squirm away, but Sora held firm, grinning triumphantly atop her. ¡°What the hell, Sora! I¡¯m pinned! I¡¯m pinned! Uncle!¡± ¡°Haha! I think you owe me an apology! I¡¯m a floozy fox who¡¯s winking at every guy I pass, hmm?¡± Sora laughed. ¡°I never said floozy! Kari¡¯s a liar! I only said you were talking to a bunch of guys!¡± ¡°Ho-ho!¡± Sora roared, squeezing the base of her tail and making her sister quiver and go stiff as a board, totally paralyzed. ¡°So you did slander my good tail, madam!¡± ¡°Fine, fine,¡± Wendy cried, but the playful light in her eyes was undeniable. ¡°I give. But I totally didn¡¯t call you floozy!¡± Crawling off her, Sora snickered. ¡°And neither did she.¡± Eyia¡¯s head tilted to the side, long blonde locks draping onto the bed. ¡°I am not in the understanding. Sora called herself the floozy? Does she enjoy the dances of exotic poles, as Jin once told me?¡± Sora¡¯s mouth slackened as Wendy began gasping for air and doubling over. ¡°Jin said what about me and exotic pole dancing?!¡± Wendy, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes, sat up, tail continuing to beat her bed with mirth. ¡°It¡¯s a ritual she does for the room, Eyia! It¡¯s very necessary. She should demonstrate and conjure up a pole.¡± ¡°Wendy!¡± Eyia¡¯s eyes went wide with understanding. ¡°I see. It is a room welcoming ritual. Should I join? For the sanctification of this shared room?¡± The absurdity of it all broke through Sora¡¯s gasp of laughter, and she grinned widely, meeting Eyia¡¯s gaze. ¡°Okay, if all of us want to show off how terrible at dancing we are, but I¡¯m not doing this alone, Wendy! Get your tail up!¡± Wendy rolled her eyes, though she couldn¡¯t suppress the smile on her lips. ¡°Yeah, sure, just don¡¯t make it weird, okay? And what are you talking about making a fool? We both know Eyia¡¯s a freaking monster at dancing the last time we went to the club with her.¡± ¡°The only time,¡± Eyia corrected with a bright smile, her blue eyes sparkling. ¡°I can show you the jiggly shuffle the women were doing. I have memorized their strange ways of movement.¡± With that, the laughter gradually died down with the absurdity of their antics, but it felt good, like they were finally finding a rhythm in their new space. A sense of family, even if it wasn¡¯t perfect yet. They all crawled into bed at the close of the night, and drifted off to bed. The week passed in a blur of learning and growing, each day feeling like a step toward something bigger. Sora spent hours working with her magic, learning to feel and understand spiritual forces in a deeper way. She didn¡¯t meet Aelion even once during the rest of the week, but she smelled him in Sela¡¯s lecture hall every other day, seemingly attending her more advanced lectures. Ember was still a mystery. It was starting to really concern her. As for Jian and Fen, the woman appeared infatuated with her boss, which Sora didn¡¯t know how to feel. On one hand, he was fascinating to listen to and learn about the functions of magic. On the other, she felt like¡­something was wrong. Not magically. It just felt a little¡­off? Maybe the power dynamic between them but at the same time, they were hundreds of years old. Relationship stuff was weirder in this world and she didn¡¯t know how to feel about it yet. Sela had taught her how to read auras more efficiently, how to sense the magic in everything, and how to filter out distractions when trying to communicate with someone¡¯s spirits. Sora had become more attuned to the subtle pulse of energy that flowed through Avalon, able to discern faint traces of magic in the air around her and the people she interacted with. But the deeper mysteries of the Shadow Pits and their connection to The Darkness still gnawed at her, especially with Kari¡¯s enigmatic silence on the matter. She was full on MIA for most days until curfew just sounded. On Friday night, after a long week of practice, Sora found herself lying in bed, staring up at the ceiling. She glanced over at Wendy, whose frustration was now more visible than ever. Her sister¡¯s magical progress seemed to stall, her agitation spilling out when she tried to practice with her. It wasn¡¯t just the lack of results; it was the constant feeling of the Null-Void calling to her. Sora turned over and looked at her brown-haired sister, sleeping on her side. Maybe Sunday I can dedicate some time to do some Null-Void training with her. Obviously, she wants to try it out just to feel like she¡¯s doing something¡­ Auntie Rose seems to be encouraging her. At least¡­that¡¯s what Wendy says her coiling vines mean. Her lips pulled into a line. I¡¯m starting to think you¡¯re not being honest with me, Sis¡­ What¡¯s going on with you? Flipping to her back, she left out a soft sigh. In any case, tomorrow is about Kari. We finally get to see what¡¯s happening with this Shadow Wolf business. If only Kari was as easy to read as Wendy but she¡¯s so¡­tucked into her turtle shell. Maybe that will change tomorrow. Turning back toward the edge of the bed, she smiled slightly as she thought of Nilly. The cat had been totally absent during the fun they¡¯d had some days and a nervous wreck others. It was hard to tell what they¡¯d get out of the Mother of Cats. Currently, she was curled up between Wendy¡¯s legs, purring like there was no tomorrow and likely dreaming about a sardine armada. Maybe this is Nilly¡¯s attempt to call out for help¡­ In time. I¡¯m just glad we¡¯re on the up. Then, as the last thought of the night floated through her mind, she closed her eyes, thinking briefly of her mother. It was odd. She¡¯d never felt so strongly connected to her in this place, but she couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that her mother¡¯s influence was somewhere in all of this¡ªespecially in that Shadow Wolf. Whatever you¡¯ve got planned for me, Mom. I know you¡¯re probably right¡­while simultaneously causing Noelia to pull her tail fur out and burning down the hotel trying to cook breakfast. You really are a total screw-up in the family, huh? I wonder how my other aunts were¡­ With that final thought, Sora let herself drift into sleep, knowing that the answers she was looking for would come. In time. B3 — 14. She Survived The soft light of pre-dawn barely illuminated the room when a sharp knock rattled the door. Sora¡¯s ears twitched, her tail curling around her waist as she stirred. In the beside across from her, Wendy groaned, pulling a pillow over her head. Eyia¡¯s eyes snapped open as if the sound were a battle cry. ¡°Is it Kari?¡± Wendy mumbled, half-asleep, her voice muffled as Nilly stretched out between her legs with a yawn before settling back in. ¡°I swear, it isn¡¯t even morning¡­ The Darkness curfew¡­ Tell her to go away.¡± Eyia was already out of bed, stretching out and bouncing on her toes as if preparing for combat. ¡°I shall deal with the intruder. It is indeed not an appropriate time to be out of the safety dome by thirty-two minutes.¡± ¡°No, wait! I¡¯ve got it.¡± Sora scrambled out of bed, her voice hushed to avoid waking the whole dorm. Her black nightgown trailed behind her as she quickly padded to the door ahead of the confused Valkyrie. Opening it a crack, she found Kari¡¯s sharp amber eyes glowing faintly in the dim hallway. ¡°It¡¯s still dark,¡± Sora hissed, stepping out and pulling the door shut behind her. ¡°What are you doing here so early?¡± ¡°You said Saturday morning,¡± Kari replied flatly, her tone low but unapologetic. ¡°This counts. You take forever looking for clothes and yapping at people, so this is the perfect time.¡± Sora sighed, mouth becoming a line and rubbing her temples. ¡°You know¡­that¡¯s actually a fair point. Fine. Just¡­wait downstairs at the dorm entrance for me to finish ¡®yapping¡¯ and ¡®accessorizing,¡¯ okay? I¡¯ll be there soon.¡± Kari¡¯s neutral gaze flicked past her, but the flick of her dark tail betrayed her. ¡°Just put on something practical and join me¡­ No dresses or skirts.¡± Sora¡¯s tail swished irritably against the closed door. ¡°I¡¯m not stupid. Just because I like to dress up when we go to class doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t know when to dress down. Go, Kari. I¡¯ll be there soon. Promise.¡± After a moment¡¯s hesitation, Kari rolled her eyes, turned, and disappeared down the hallway with a beat of her tail. Sora¡¯s ears folded back as Kari¡¯s exasperated, extremely soft murmurs trailed behind her. ¡°Why am I such a pussy¡­ Can¡¯t even check out a pit by myself. Dammit¡­ Maybe Eric was right to rip my tail off. Can¡¯t go anywhere without holding a fox¡¯s hand.¡± Kari¡­ Maybe I should say something. ¡°Eh¡ªahem.¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Sora¡¯s gut twisted as Kari paused. ¡°Uh, no, nothing! Umm. Just¡­waking up.¡± Kari grunted and kept going. Shoulders slumping and tail hanging low, Sora scratched her head with a low groan. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t acknowledge that and pretend I didn¡¯t hear it¡­ Mary is supposed to come here sometime next week, right? Hopefully she¡¯ll be able to vent to her. And trying to pep her up will only make her more pissed¡­ Yeah, Kari isn¡¯t the type to want sympathy. The best thing I can do is be there for her until she can regain her confidence¡­ She¡¯s trying so hard. Sora reentered to find Eyia kneeling on the floor with her spear in hand, her other pressed against the wood; she¡¯d done this check every morning. Wendy peeked out from under her pillow, yawning. Nilly, still in her small feline form, stretched lazily again, claws coming out to tell Wendy not to move her legs. Cute. ¡°The Darkness is retreating at a slower pace this day than yesterday,¡± Eyia remarked, rising and moving to a notepad by her bed to jot it down in her own obscure rune-like language. ¡°I feel movement within. One fae girl snuck out last night three doors down. I can feel the lingering path she took from the crawling shadows.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s not creepy at all,¡± Sora muttered, swiping her tail over the bed to nudge Nilly. The cat barely moved, her whiskers twitching in protest. ¡°Mrrroww¡­¡± ¡°I hear you, Nilly,¡± Wendy yawned, glancing at the Valkyrie. ¡°She made it back, right?¡± Eyia shook her head. ¡°Intercepted by a Dryad instructor and taken away.¡± ¡°Yikes. Sucks to be her. And are you really meeting her this early?¡± The tanuki¡¯s focus remained on Nilly, rubbing her head as the Cat Mother purred and pressed against it. Concern shadowed her features. ¡°By the way, Nilly hasn¡¯t been herself lately. She¡¯s been so lethargic. She didn¡¯t take her stable form at all yesterday.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve noticed.¡± Sora¡¯s voice softened and she moved to give the old feline some attention. ¡°I was going to bring it up. Maybe Eyia, Nerida, and you can figure it out today if she stabilizes?¡± Wendy nodded, brushing her fingers through the cat¡¯s fur. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ll try. And, hey¡­ Umm. You wouldn¡¯t mind¡­visiting Auntie Rose with me tomorrow, would you?¡± ¡°Absolutely,¡± Sora immediately replied. ¡°I was actually going to bring that up to you. I know you¡¯re struggling with the whole spiritual and magical parts of the lectures. And¡­there her thorns are again. They¡¯ve been more¡­invasive lately. Any clues?¡± Wendy muttered under her breath, her gaze darting toward Eyia as her blue eyes blinked, utterly blank on the conversation that went right through her ears. ¡°She has been more invasive lately. There¡¯s a tad of worry in them.¡± Her eyes lingered on the warrior¡¯s face, where faint, jagged scars glinted like obsidian threads under her skin. ¡°You okay, Eyia?¡± The Valkyrie remained stoic, adjusting her spear as if the conversation hadn¡¯t happened. ¡°Of course. I am preparing myself for the inevitable combat. I plan to run defensive drills with you both later. Be prepared.¡± ¡°Defensive drills?¡± Wendy snorted, her tone teasing. ¡°I¡¯m basically immortal. Destroy my body and I just reform.¡± ¡°We don¡¯t know that yet,¡± Sora countered with a light glare and frown. ¡°Just because you can release your body and become a brooch doesn¡¯t mean your brooch can¡¯t be broken. Null-Void is scary¡­ What if you break and start pulling everything in to repair yourself?¡± ¡°I know. I know,¡± her sister grumbled. ¡°Jin¡¯s battle royale that she has planned for next week, right? Sure thing, Captain Serious.¡± Sora¡¯s ears flat-lined. ¡°Wait. I didn¡¯t hear anything about a battle royale.¡± Wendy lifted an eyebrow. ¡°We were talking about it during Sela¡¯s lecture yesterday? I guess you were too locked in. Anyway, yeah, she¡¯s got this whole tournament thing planned between her ¡®promising¡¯ students. I think she just wants to rub your nose in the dirt, though.¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t put it past her,¡± she groaned. A battle royale¡­ With Jin in the contest? Yeah, no one stands a chance. Obviously, she wants it to be Eyia and her at the end. But¡­what if we could get Jin out on a technicality? Wendy and me? Some Null-Void shenanigans? Maybe¡­ Something to consider tomorrow. Eyia¡¯s solemn expression barely shifted. ¡°I am not one to jest, Sisters. Jin is also going to participate.¡± Wendy¡¯s giggle turned into a choke. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me the queen dragon herself was joining the fight. Is that even fair? Shouldn¡¯t the teachers get involved¡ªno, scratch that,¡± she sighed, combing her hair over her shoulder while shaking her head. ¡°They¡¯re probably all too scared.¡± Sora snorted and moved to her closet to find something suitable to wear; she didn¡¯t make it before being roped back into the conversation. ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re not wrong. Jian himself is terrifying. Jin¡¯s on a whole different level. We both know why she¡¯s entering the contest.¡± Wendy and her turned to Eyia, who blinked, totally oblivious to their thoughts. ¡°Because¡­she wishes to do combat with her students to show them where they lack? It is a valid method of testing your understudies¡­¡± Her brow furrowed, tone faltering. ¡°That¡­is the correct term, yes? Understudies? Students?¡± Sora met Wendy¡¯s gaze with a giggle. Maybe I do like to yap, Kari! Yeah, Jin wants to join the battle royale to give Eyia an excuse to punch her in the face¡­and to punch Eyia in the face. Plus, it checks a billion boxes for the dragon¡­including probably pulling my tail. Coiling the appendage around to hug protectively, her attention was pulled to Wendy as her brunette sister gave her a leering glare from her bed. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m going back to bed. And just so you know, if you and Kari disappear and aren¡¯t back by three, Eyia and I are going on a manhunt. This place is sketchy. In good ways and bad¡­ Mr. Handsome Tattoo Man.¡± Eyia¡¯s eyes blazed back to light. ¡°Indeed, Sister! I have yet to meet this man of tattoos who steals your attraction. What will you be doing with the wolf and handsome man of muscles Sister Wendy speaks of?¡± Sora shot venom at Wendy¡¯s sly off-handed glance away. ¡°You can¡¯t help yourself!¡± ¡°Quit dodging the question, Sister,¡± Wendy snickered, her tail wiggling under the heavy blanket she was under. ¡°What are you going to do with the handsome man of muscles and tattoos that steals your attraction?¡± Pointing two fingers at her eyes and making an ¡®I¡¯m watching you¡¯ gesture, Sora retreated into the closet to dodge the question. ¡°First you twist Nerida into wild fantasies that have her turning bright as a cherry and now you¡¯re filling Eyia¡¯s head with junk food. What fanfiction are you writing up here? Oh, and we¡¯ll check in on Aiden when I get back. I¡¯m worried about him.¡± Wendy frowned, hearing her sister settling back in as Eyia released her spear and began writing notes in her book, no doubt jotting down questions to ask later. The brunette had been a terrible influence on the educational front with the Valkyrie, teaching her all about pop-culture and ¡®ships¡¯ that were totally alien to the warrior¡ªto her, stories couldn¡¯t be changed because you wanted them to, because that muddied history. ¡°Meh. I¡¯m not that close to him, but sure. Firebird is on the radar. Wait¡­tension? Eyia! you can track him down, right?¡± ¡°I will be an investigator of the missing persons,¡± Eyia declared, her tone firm once again. ¡°Like your movies of Holmes. I shall uncover the clues with the brain juice.¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but smile as she pointed at Wendy from within the closet. ¡°You keep your dirty mind away from my innocent Eyia, Sis! Wait, have you been having her write down your crazy fantasies?!¡± Wendy¡¯s smirk deepend while settling in, her tail wagging under the covers. ¡°She¡¯s actually an incredible author. You won¡¯t believe the details she can write. The hunk, the fox, and the invisibility pool¡­interested?¡± Mind spinning wildly with that kind of title, Sora¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°¡­Maybe¡­ I¡¯m kind of scared after hearing part of that siren story you crafted for Nerida. What kind of books were you reading since middle school?¡±If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. ¡°Many books¡­ Many, many books,¡± Wendy snickered darkly. ¡°Well, more of the free online stuff on the school network after janitor duties since, you know, I didn¡¯t have WiFi at home¡­ Some spicy stuff!¡± Eyia¡¯s confident tone fractured again. ¡°Spicy¡­ How can words be spicy? Is it the vibrations on the tongue that triggers a receptive response of cells or spiritual injection of venomous aura?¡± Cracking up with Wendy, Sora used her magic to freshen up, shifting her attire to something practical for potential combat: dark leggings reinforced with light protective stitching, a fitted short-sleeved shirt, layered with a sleeveless leather jerkin, and durable boots. She gave her roommates a happy wave upon finishing; the sight of Eyia still jotting down notes in her bed made her smile. Kari waited at the dorm entrance in her usual gym wear, arms crossed as she leaned against the wall. The wolf raised a brow as she approached. ¡°Wow. Not as long as you usually yap for. What, twenty-five minutes? Wendy shut you down?¡± ¡°Something like that¡­¡± ¡°Where¡¯s this contact of yours?¡± ¡°By the forest,¡± Sora promptly replied, her tail flicking in irritation. ¡°I hope.¡± ¡°You hope?¡± Kari repeated, her eyes creased with doubt. ¡°And you¡¯re sure we¡¯re doing this during the day? Doesn¡¯t seem like the best time to be breaking rules.¡± Sora glared at her and hissed. ¡°Shhhh! Let me at least throw up a sound barrier. A girl got caught by a Dryad teacher last night sneaking out. And we¡¯re already sneaking into a restricted forest. Doing it at night would be stupid. Let¡¯s go.¡± Kari smirked, falling into step beside her as the first rays of light from the World Tree fruits above chased away the shadows. ¡°If you say so, Princess. And if someone already got caught, then it¡¯ll provide a smoke screen for us.¡± As they used the portals to head toward the Western Forest, Sora¡¯s thoughts swirled with a mix of hope and anxiety. Please, please, Aelion! Don¡¯t stand me up or flake on me. Why didn¡¯t he show up¡­or maybe he was waiting for me to find him? I don¡¯t even know what he expects! Aiden and Aelion¡­ I don¡¯t know anything about either of them really. Dammit, Sora! Way to go, being attracted to the mysterious boys. Idiot. He said it was a date but is it a real ¡®date¡¯ or was he just teasing me? Plus¡­ Kari is kind of here, she internally groaned, glancing at the grumpy wolf. Is the girl supposed to find the boy in Fae culture? Ugh. Maybe I should have taken that Opposites Attract lecture from that Mistress Katie Milla instructor. She shook her head, focusing on the path ahead. There was no turning back now. * ¡ª * ¡ª * The forest¡¯s edge loomed ahead, the towering trees twisting together like ancient sentinels, telling them they weren¡¯t welcome. Kari¡¯s fingernails scraped lightly against her gym shorts as she flexed her hand, a steady rhythm she didn¡¯t realize she was keeping until Sora¡¯s fidgeting drew her attention. The fox¡¯s tail swayed erratically behind her, brushing against her thigh as she tugged at the hem of her shirt, adjusting it for what had to be the tenth time since they¡¯d left the dorm. What¡¯s her deal? Ever since we left, she¡¯s smelled of sweat and anxiety¡­ There¡¯s some other hormone, too. Something she releases around Aiden¡­ Is he going to show up? He damn well better not! If you told him, Sora¡­ Kari¡¯s sharp eyes flicked over the fox¡¯s outfit. It was practical, sure¡ªleggings that looked reinforced and a jerkin that allowed for easy movement¡ªbut it was also¡­tighter than it needed to be. Is she using illusions to make herself shimmer? It wasn¡¯t something Sora usually did. What¡¯s up with that over-emphasized fluff to her tail and the brighter glow in her eyes? Kari¡¯s ears twitched at the realization. She¡¯s dressing up for someone but doesn¡¯t want to look like she¡¯s overdoing it! Sora adjusted her leather jacket again. The vulpes was typically confident, owning her space like she belonged wherever she stood. To be fair, she literally sort of owned everything, this being her mother¡¯s territory. Now? She looked like a bundle of fluffy nerves wrapped in shimmering foxfire. It wasn¡¯t hard to figure out why. The moment they reached the forest¡¯s edge, he was there. Aelion leaned casually against a tree, his silver hair catching the faint early-morning light filtering through the canopy. His posture was relaxed, his tattooed arms crossed loosely over his broad chest, but there was a hidden sharpness in his gaze as it swept over them. His lips curved into a small smile, warm and unreadable. You can¡¯t be serious, Sora! ¡°Right on time.¡± His voice carried an easy confidence none of the high school boys had back in Miami. Aiden had it, though. ¡°And don¡¯t you both look stunning.¡± Kari stopped just short of the tree line, letting Sora take a few steps ahead. Her ears flattened as she caught the way Sora¡¯s tail flicked¡ªa little too energetically; she wasn¡¯t subtle¡ªand the way her fingers brushed against the jacket¡¯s collar before dropping to her side. ¡°Thanks for meeting us,¡± Sora quickly returned, her voice steady but carrying a slight edge of awkwardness as if not knowing how to continue. ¡°I wasn¡¯t sure if we were supposed to meet here or¡ªuh¡ªif Jelira would find us and bring us to you,¡± she laughed. Aelion¡¯s smile deepened. ¡°Jelira always knows who enters her domain. She knew exactly where you two came from and guided me here. Made sense you¡¯d go back to familiar ground and we didn¡¯t quite get a chance to meet again this last week. Unfortunate. Maybe next week I¡¯ll have more luck.¡± He pushed off the tree and stepped closer, his movements smooth and deliberate. Kari caught the way Sora¡¯s ears twitched at his proximity, the hormones in her tail, and the faint flush that crept into her cheeks. She¡¯s smitten. Kari stayed silent, crossing her arms and observing the exchange. She wasn¡¯t sure if she felt annoyed or just¡­awkward. It wasn¡¯t like she hadn¡¯t noticed Sora¡¯s nervous energy earlier, but now, seeing her stumble over her words in front of Aelion made her stomach twist. You were supposed to be helping me, not going on a date. I waited all week for this, and¡­ No. Focus. It¡¯s cool. Clearly, he has a lead. It just¡­overlaps in a few other areas. This isn¡¯t why you¡¯re here. Still, her sharp eyes didn¡¯t miss the way Aelion¡¯s gaze lingered on Sora, or the way his tone softened when he spoke to her. It was subtle, but Kari had spent enough time reading people to pick up on the undertones. He¡¯s playing into her hints¡­or actually means them. Maybe I should pay more attention to how fae couple¡¯s interact to get a better grasp on his hormonal release¡­ Dammit, Sora, why are you making my brain totally shift gears?! I don¡¯t want to be the third wheel¡­ It happened enough back in Miami with the other girls. ¡°This forest is alive in ways most don¡¯t understand,¡± Aelion continued, as if he were engaging in a lecture while glancing her way for a brief moment before returning his attention to Sora. ¡°Jelira would like to speak with you before taking you back to the pit. There¡¯s something she wishes to share. Something she didn¡¯t want to talk to me about.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Sora blinked, her tail fluffing slightly. ¡°I¡¯m special, huh? Well, I shouldn¡¯t be surprised,¡± she giggled, fidgeting with her fingers behind her back. ¡°It¡¯s kind of a typical thing for me. So, is this about the Shadow Pit or Founder stuff?¡± Aelion¡¯s smile turned enigmatic as he shrugged. ¡°She¡¯ll explain. Come on. No need to ruin the experience by dropping too many details.¡± He gestured for them to follow, his steps unhurried as he led them deeper into the forest. Does she like this mysterious, tense atmosphere type? Not exactly my kind of flirting¡­but I guess Sora is a fox. She should just bite him and mark her territory. It¡¯s what I¡¯d do to a guy. It¡¯s not why we¡¯re here, though! Don¡¯t get mad. Breathe¡­ Just breathe. Kari trailed behind, her ears swiveling to catch every sound. The forest pulsed with a low, thrumming energy, and the air felt thick with magic. It wasn¡¯t the suffocating presence of the Shadow Pit she¡¯d stood before¡ªthe familiar oscillation that pulsed within her when in front of it¡ªbut something older and heavier, like the weight of untold stories this place had seen, pressing against her skin¡­ The sensation of being watched. They reached a clearing where the trees arched together, forming a natural cathedral. In the center stood Jelira, her form shimmering with an otherworldly light. Her hair cascaded like liquid silver, and her eyes glowed with a calm, ancient wisdom. She inclined her head as they approached. Not impressive. Maybe my expectations were too high. Kari internally sighed, feeling like she had to walk through a mile of red tape to actually get to where she wanted to be. I guess if this guy can get the forest lady to mask our presence, then it¡¯s worth it¡­ Just get on with it, though. Stop flicking your tail! ¡°Sora,¡± Jelira said, her voice carrying the melody of rustling leaves and flowing water. ¡°There is a task I must entrust to you¡­ One I now believe only the two of you can accomplish. Primarily you,¡± she stated, looking right past Sora to her. ¡°Kari?¡± Sora shifted to the side to follow her gaze. ¡°What¡­kind of task? It¡¯s not dangerous, right?¡± Kari¡¯s vision dulled, tail hanging low. Way to make me sound even more pathetic, Flame Ass. Do you really think I¡¯m that weak? Jelira extended a hand, and Kari¡¯s agitated thoughts faded away as vines rose out of the earth, coiling around one another. They coalesced into a sphere, shimmering light gathering at its center to create an image of the Shadow Pit, only it was far darker, writhing out in waves. ¡°This Shadow Pit is unlike any other I have dealt with.¡± Kari¡¯s body went utterly still, tail freezing behind her as a wolf clawed her way out. Larger than her¡­ Larger than Eric. ¡°I have never witnessed a creature swallowed by The Darkness escape totally untainted. The wolf¡¯s power, her essence remains tied to the pit, and within it lies a Corrupted Seed that feeds on that strength.¡± Impossible. Impossible¡­ It¡¯s impossible. Kari¡¯s fingernails penetrated her arms, knowing exactly who it was. Her sleek gray coat shimmered like the moon. ¡°Where did she go?¡± The words slipped out before she could stop them. Jelira¡¯s gaze shifted to her, serene yet unreadable. ¡°The wolf entered my forest from a rift that I cannot explain. I do not know where she has gone, but the essence she left behind ties her to the northeastern lake. She jumped in that direction after escaping, yet could have flown all the way up to the Realm Tree.¡± Pulse quickening, Kari felt sweat gathering under her armpits. She escaped¡­ She¡¯s alive. Ylva¡­ You knew. Is that why you gave me that cryptic message? Her thoughts spun wildly, images of her mother flashing through her mind. Did you know it would turn out like this? Did a part of her survive¡­or is this really her? No, of course she¡¯d survive! Pain erupting in her chest, Sora and Aelion stepped back as her thumping heart became a drum that disturbed the forest. But how? Aiden said¡­ Eric was right. He wasn¡¯t just expanding his territory¡­ He was looking for her! Jelira seemed unbothered by the confusion and anger slowly bubbling up within her as all the pieces started to slide into place. The woman¡¯s attention returned to Sora, her tone as gentle as a brook. ¡°This Corrupted Seed cannot be purified or destroyed. Most of these seeds are dealt with by the staff, but this one has resisted all attempts to interact with it¡­and it has vast power within it. Its presence has drawn the attention of the dean herself.¡± Mia knew¡­ Kari internally snarled, clawed nails ripping into her palm to draw blood. Mia had to know. Is that why Ylva didn¡¯t tell me outright? Aelion spoke up, his tone grave. ¡°I thought as much, considering the vibes I got from it. That¡¯s probably why this area is restricted. The pit¡¯s resistance has made it a place of study and concern. The dean herself likely intends to examine it herself when her time allows.¡± Kari¡¯s claws flexed involuntarily, her blood dripping onto the blades of grass catching Sora¡¯s uneasy gaze. A pit that resists everything. A seed that can¡¯t be destroyed. That sounds like a Fenris Wolf thing¡­ It¡¯s using her power. ¡°Kari?¡± Sora tentatively asked, carefully moving forward to place a hand on her arm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why¡­are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Your mom knew.¡± Kari snarled. She bit her lip, splitting it for a moment as she tried to regain her emotions under control, dark fur cascading down her frame before returning to skin. ¡°She knew!¡± ¡°Knew¡­what?¡± Aelion swiftly moved forward, placing an arm between them and attempting to guide Sora back but the vulpes directed it away. ¡°Kari, what are you talking about? Is that shadowy wolf¡­your mom? Did she manage to escape? She¡¯s here?¡± Closing her eyes and engaging a breathing technique Mary had taught her, Kari slowly got her thumping heart under control. When she opened them, her amber irises glowed. ¡°No¡­ Tiri was thrown here. My little sister survived¡­¡± Sora¡¯s vision went wide. ¡°You¡¯re sure? I thought¡­your uncle ate her. If that¡¯s true¡­ You¡¯re right! Why wouldn¡¯t Mom tell me, or¡­ That¡¯s not right. She shouldn¡¯t have kept that a secret,¡± she mumbled, bewilderment crossing her features. ¡°Why¡­¡± Her tail flicked erratically, brushing against Kari¡¯s as her ears flattened. ¡°It doesn¡¯t make sense¡­¡± Aelion took a step back, almost respectfully, his brow furrowed as his gaze flicked briefly to Sora. His tone softened. ¡°Careful. The facts could be true, the interpretation twisted¡­¡± Kari ignored him and turned to Jelira. ¡°Take me to the pit. If it¡¯s a part of her memories or a rift made in space-time, then I have to know what happened to her¡­ What she was feeling¡ªthinking. I have to know where she went and what she was doing here.¡± Jelira directed them to her left, where mushrooms began to grow, illuminating a path. ¡°At the end, you will find the place you seek. I¡¯m afraid I know nothing of the specifics, but what I do know is that you should be able to follow her trail with the corrupted seed¡­while carrying it out of my soil and freeing me of it.¡± Ice surged through Kari¡¯s veins, body tingling and numb. She didn¡¯t say another word, walking along the slow-grown shrooms. She would have ran if they were faster. Sora was swift to join her, glancing back at Aelion, who remained behind, Jelira stopping him to talk further. Kari didn¡¯t care though, she had a direction. One she had to follow. Eric, damn you! Did you feed that BS to Aiden¡­or did he tell me Uncle Hati ate her? It makes sense. They need us for breeding machines. If she was as pure as me, or even purer, then they¡¯d want her first. Tiri¡­where the hell are you?! B3 — 15. An Alphas Resurgence The air felt heavier as they stepped away from Jelira¡¯s grove, the quiet press of the ancient trees closing in behind them. Aelion remained behind, possibly sensing this was a personal matter and respecting their space. Kari¡¯s ears flicked at the shift in atmosphere¡ªsubtle, but noticeable. The moment they left the Spirit¡¯s presence, the warmth of her domain faded, replaced by a weightier stillness. The land beyond was older in a different way, not the ancient, knowing kind that pulsed with quiet wisdom, but something fractured. The trees weren¡¯t just tall, they were twisted, branches reaching too far, casting shadows that never quite settled in the right direction. The ground beneath her feet was solid, but it carried a sensation¡ªlike walking on something that had been disturbed, not by footsteps, but by time itself. I wasn¡¯t sure before but now¡­ This isn¡¯t Avalon territory. It¡¯s a piece of Mom¡¯s realm that was carried with Tiri here. No wonder it feels so familiar, but¡­wrong. Kari inhaled through her nose, the crisp, damp scent of moss and leaves curling against something colder, something that didn¡¯t belong. A Fenris Wolf¡¯s scent, twisted by whatever magic had attempted to pull Tiri into the depths of this world. The Darkness wasn¡¯t here, but the further they walked, the more she felt the creeping remnants of it. Not like before but lingering with Fenris energy. The kind of thing that left a scar, unseen but was never fully gone. Sora didn¡¯t seem to notice. Is she¡­smiling? The fox trotted beside her, tail flicking absently, green eyes bright with some mix of nerves and anticipation. The poofy-tailed girl kept glancing at her, like she was waiting for her to say something. Kari had nothing to say. Her mind was too full, clawing through everything at once. Tiri. Three years. Alone. In a world like this. It was too much. No wonder Eric was searching the entire damn planet! He knew she¡¯d made it out with us. Her hands curled into fists. And he didn¡¯t tell me. No one tells me anything, as if I¡¯m a helpless pup! A sharp gust of wind swept through the trees, making them creak, their groaning echoing in the near silence. Kari¡¯s body tensed instinctively, though nothing moved beyond the sway of thick canopies above. Still, she sensed the danger. Not real, tangible danger¡­but what her sister must have felt when crashing into this realm. Her shoulders stayed rigid even as the wind passed, leaving only the sound of Sora¡¯s shoes lightly crunching the underbrush. She moved with more care, more caution. ¡°Okay, I know you¡¯re thinking about something,¡± the fox finally blurted, slowing her steps. ¡°I can hear your tail snapping at the air like it¡¯s personally offended you! Don¡¯t bottle it up. Tell me straight.¡± Kari barely spared her a glance. ¡°Not in the mood.¡± ¡°When are you ever in a good mood? C¡¯mon!¡± Kari exhaled sharply through her nose, not quite a sigh, but close. Sora wasn¡¯t going to drop it. She never did. ¡°You¡¯re excited.¡± Kari didn¡¯t phrase it as a question. ¡°Aren¡¯t you?¡± Sora slowed for half a second, then shrugged. ¡°Yeah? I mean¡ªof course I¡¯m excited! And I know this isn¡¯t about that. You mentioned my mom, but, Kari, this means she¡¯s alive. Your sister¡ª¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what this means,¡± Kari snapped, her own voice sharper than she meant for it to be. ¡°It means she was alive. Three years ago. And we have no idea what happened to her after that. None. Three years¡­of me playing pack leader at school while she was¡­ While she was here.¡± Sora didn¡¯t immediately respond. The silence stretched just long enough that Kari glanced at her, expecting irritation or defensiveness. Instead, Sora¡¯s ears had tilted slightly, her expression softer than it had any right to be. Damn it! Don¡¯t¡­ Don¡¯t, Sora! ¡°Kari,¡± she said, her tone gentler now. ¡°She was alive three years ago, yes. But she escaped. And we have a direction. That¡¯s still something. She made it out of The Darkness to the north.¡± Kari¡¯s jaw clenched, her gaze snapping forward again. Something. Yeah. Something like knowing my baby sister got thrown into a foreign world with no warning. No protection. Eight years old, Sora! she wanted to scream. Alone. Yeah, that¡¯s something! If she did escape to a northern lake, what then? Does your precious High Queen have her locked away somewhere? Did they feed her to The Darkness? What about that shit with your fairy friend who changed overnight? How did she survive? How long had she been alone before finding help¡ªif she had found help at all? Who found her? What has she become in order to keep living? Why¡­didn¡¯t your mom save her with everyone else she brought back to life because of Jenny?! The wind shifted again, carrying a scent that made the fur along Kari¡¯s arms prickle¡ªsomething distant, something familiar, but too faint to grasp. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have been alone,¡± she finally muttered, almost to herself and unable to express the lava boiling beneath her skin. ¡°She shouldn¡¯t have had to survive.¡± Sora glanced at her again, her arms crossing and voice quieter. ¡°I know.¡± Kari¡¯s muscles tensed. ¡°Do you?¡± Sora hummed, her tone lighter, but not dismissive. ¡°No. You¡¯re right, Kari. I don¡¯t. Not like you do¡­ I didn¡¯t have a sister. Well, until Wendy. But I can still be angry for her. And for you, as your friend. Can¡¯t I?¡± The words struck something deep, somewhere Kari didn¡¯t want them to reach. She bit the inside of her cheek. Sora kept walking, kept talking, like she couldn¡¯t stop herself. ¡°I do want to know why Mom didn¡¯t tell me. I know it¡¯s eating you up inside. I see it. Maybe she didn¡¯t know, but that almost feels stupid to think¡­ She had to know. I want to ask her. I will ask her. But we just learned this, Kari. We don¡¯t even know the full story yet. You want to blame her? Fine. Maybe she deserves it. But we should find out first.¡± Kari¡¯s hands twitched, barely stopping herself from baring her teeth. How can you be like this? How can you be so¡ªso understanding? You really are okay with me blaming your mom¡­but also want me to wait and see? Dammit! I don¡¯t¡­know who to blame¡­but I know I wasn¡¯t there for her. Kari fought back tears. Weakness. Hated it. She hated how easy it was for Sora to say things like that. How she rarely pushed back, never bit back, just accepted that she was mad and let it settle¡­ Like her emotions weren¡¯t a burden. Like she was about to break. Like she wasn¡¯t just some angry mutt snapping at nothing. Kari felt her teeth grinding, fissures forming from the pressure, only to heal milliseconds later as she tried to swallow the frustration, but it wouldn¡¯t sit right. ¡°I don¡¯t need you to tell me I have the right to be mad,¡± she finally snarled. ¡°I know that,¡± Sora replied, exasperation now touching her tone and ears twitching a little. ¡°I get that you¡¯re mad. You should be! But I¡¯m saying¡ª¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want you to say anything!¡± Kari loudly snapped, stopping abruptly. ¡°I don¡¯t want you to try to fix it! To fix me this time! I just¡­agh!¡± Sora stopped too, blinking. For the first time, her tail stilled. ¡°Fix you? I¡¯m¡­I¡¯m not trying to fix it. I¡¯m just¡­trying to be here.¡± Kari breathed heavily, trying to wrangle her own emotions back into place. Her chest burned. She hadn¡¯t even realized she¡¯d stopped moving. Sora watched her carefully. Then, after a long moment, she exhaled. ¡°Okay,¡± she simply ended. Kari blinked. ¡°Okay?¡± Sora shrugged. ¡°Yeah. Okay. I won¡¯t say anything else about it.¡± She started walking again, past Kari, toward the direction the mushrooms were taking them. ¡°But I¡¯m still going with you. You can¡¯t tell me what to do. Okay, fleabag?¡± Kari let out a slow, steady breath, her own anger settling, not gone, but not eating her alive anymore. She flexed her fingers, exhaled again, then followed. Better¡­I guess. They walked in silence after that, the trees bending inward, the ground dipping slightly as the terrain shifted. The Shadow Pit was close. Kari could feel it. She didn¡¯t know if she was ready, but it didn¡¯t matter. Because she needed to know. Trees thinned as the shadows deepened, their skeletal branches twisting into unnatural angles, like something had grasped them in a death grip long ago and they¡¯d never recovered. The ground, once solid and moss-covered, gave way to coarse earth, patches of blackened soil cracking apart like old wounds. Even the air felt different here, thick and static, clinging to her fur with an uncomfortable charge. Kari¡¯s tail flicked, her ears pulling back. It¡¯s gotten worse in just a week¡­ Is it because it sensed I was nearby before? Is it reaching out for me? The scent hit her next. It wasn¡¯t like the subtle, ever-present magic of Avalon, nor was it the overpowering rot of The Darkness. It was something else. Something that smelled wrong, like an open field of corpses right after a storm, the scent of lightning-scorched earth and something struggling to breathe. She ground her teeth. No wonder the damn fae locked this place down. It¡¯s Fenris Force¡­ Our unique power that¡¯s somehow been corrupted. How is that even possible? Even Sora¡¯s Desire Magic is all but useless against me¡­and Tiri was twice the wolf I was, even at her young age. Sora slowed beside her, ears twitching, a frown tugging at her lips as she glanced around. ¡°Okay, I do feel it now,¡± she muttered, voice quieter than before. ¡°It¡¯s¡­like a Fae version of you? That can¡¯t be good. It got worse since we stumbled upon it.¡± ¡°No shit,¡± Kari muttered, her gaze locked ahead. The pit hadn¡¯t even come into view yet, but its grasp was like teeth hanging just out of reach, waiting to snatch them. ¡°So¡­you think the dean wanted to lock this place off because close interaction stimulates it?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not here to speculate or study it,¡± Kari growled, taking the lead. ¡°I thought you were shutting up?¡± ¡°Humph¡­ A little humor is good for your brain rot.¡± At least she¡¯s getting more of her bite back and cutting out the sympathy BS¡­ They walked the rest of the way in silence, the weight of the land pressing down on them. The dirt sloped downward, the path narrowing between jagged rock formations that shouldn¡¯t be here¡ªnot in Avalon. Kari¡¯s pulse ticked up. This land was foreign¡­yet familiar. It didn¡¯t belong to Mia¡¯s realm. It didn¡¯t belong to anyone. It had been carried here. She swallowed hard. Tiri brought it. The Shadow Pit twisted it. And then, suddenly, the ground just¡ªended. The pit yawned before them, a massive, gaping rupture in the earth, its edges cracked like shattered glass. It wasn¡¯t a hole as it had been before. It wasn¡¯t a void. It was a wound, something torn open and festering. Kari¡¯s lungs squeezed, her claws hooking out to penetrate her soles. The pit wasn¡¯t black¡ªnot like shadows. Not even like The Darkness. It was like her stomach¡ªa Fenris Wolf¡¯s stomach¡ªa hungry void. A deep hum rumbled from somewhere below, distant but alive, like something massive breathing beneath the surface. The swirling mass within the depths didn¡¯t stay still, shifting in unnatural ways, warping the space around it like a mirage in heat. Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Her stomach twisted. Am I¡­scared? Sora sucked in a breath beside her. ¡°Holy¡­ This thing feels different from the others. It¡¯s¡ª¡± ¡°Not just a Shadow Pit,¡± Kari finished, voice tight. Sora¡¯s hands clenched into fists. She wasn¡¯t smiling anymore. Neither of them spoke for a long moment, just staring. Say it¡­ I know you want to¡­ This isn¡¯t what you looked into. It¡¯s not the same thing¡­ It¡¯s a Founder Shadow Pit. You don¡¯t know if your magic will even work on it¡­ We should go back. Say it¡­ I want to tell you no¡­because I can¡¯t move my feet. Move! Her feet wouldn¡¯t. Sora exhaled hard, seemingly snapping herself out of it first and causing something sharp to rip at Kari¡¯s heart that she wasn¡¯t the one to speak first. Guilt? Shame? ¡°Alright,¡± she muttered, shaking her hands out like she was steadying herself. ¡°I promised you we¡¯d get to the bottom of this. That¡¯s what we¡¯re going to do! Let¡¯s be smart, though. I¡¯ve talked to Sela about this, and she gave me some thoughts. Let¡¯s get this set up before we both start overthinking things.¡± She crouched down and pressed her palm against the ground, potent magic gathering without a word, shaped by her desires. Light flared between the fox¡¯s fingers, thin, glowing threads slithering into the dirt before sprouting, twisting together until a thick vine rope coiled beside her, pulled from the nearby brush, its length pulsing faintly with magic. Move! Kari internally screamed, only being able to quell her quakes as she tried not to stare into the abyss; it felt like there were eyes there, globes larger than universes, observing her like honey to lap up. Can you really not feel him¡­ That energy? Or¡­are you just that much braver than me? she wanted to shout. Sora grabbed one end and walked to the nearest tree. All Kari could do was force herself to breath and watch as she wound it around the thick trunk securing it with a complex series of knots. Yet, after a short battle within herself, and the fox¡¯s distracting actions, she managed to squeak out a few words. ¡°You¡¯re¡­making a rope?¡± ¡°Not mad and giving me the silent treatment anymore? Also, it¡¯s a tether,¡± Sora corrected, glancing up briefly with a short chuckle. ¡°My idea, Sela¡¯s guidance. Knots are markers. If you grip the red knot, it tells me to pull you up. The green one means ¡®give me more time.¡¯ The middle knot will shift from green to red¡ªa time based one in case you can¡¯t grip it¡ªso you know how much time you have left before I force you up.¡± The redhead puffed out her chest. ¡°Smart, huh? C¡¯mon, tell me it¡¯s smart! The vines are partially corrupted, the light I¡¯ve infused helps combat them from fraying, and it should be reinforced strong enough to pull you out of anything! Well, I hope it can, at least. I used 50% of my magic to do it so give me some credit for safety measures!¡± Kari frowned, feeling a bit of the pressure ease and wanting to punch herself for being so pathetic. She hesitantly reached down and picked up the end of the rope that slithered toward her from Sora¡¯s continual work, still extending the length. Running her fingernails along the woven vines, she held back a smile. I hate that you care about me so much¡­ How the hell did you ever become my only friend? Wendy¡¯s right. You should have had your mom skin me alive and make a rug out of my fur¡­ It¡¯s what I probably would have done if I had your tail¡­ How can you make me feel useless, vulnerable, and weak¡­while lifting me up and giving me courage? You make it impossible to compliment you¡­because then it feels like I lost. ¡°Why¡­can¡¯t you just do a clock?¡± Sora¡¯s nose scrunched. ¡°Well, excuse me, Princess! Because we didn¡¯t bring a clock! Geez. ¡®Thanks, Sora, you¡¯re just the best! Always saving my tail and thinking ahead. Nice plan. No! It only took me all week to work out the right magical combination of desires to cut down the price by seventy-three percent.¡¯ ¡°Noooo. It¡¯s all, ¡®why do you suck, Sora? Knots? Why not a flippin¡¯ clock like a real genius, dumbass?¡¯ For your information, transfiguring one is stupid expensive for my magic. But no rest for the vulpes. Nope. Why don¡¯t you just knot your own tail?¡± She brandished the vines with a light scowl. ¡°Weaving already made things together, FYI, is way easier than creating a complex machine out of thin air! Unbelievable.¡± Kari grunted, rolling the rope in her palm with a small smirk. There¡¯s the tirade I was looking for¡­ Hmm. Solid work, Sora¡­ Thanks. Sorry I can¡¯t say it¡­ I can¡¯t even jump in, Tiri¡­ No wonder Eric thought I was useless¡­ Why he didn¡¯t tell me. I am weak. Her heart thumped harder, too hard, her breathing uneven. Why am I hesitating? Tiri¡¯s experience¡­ What she went through is right here. Jump! But¡­what if it isn¡¯t Tiri? What if this is the moment Mom¡¯s realm collapsed? What if it¡¯s¡­him? Her claws dug into her palms, breaths coming faster now. Sora was staring at her, the fox¡¯s usual bright energy dimmed, quiet. She was practically bleeding the words: Let me help¡­ This hurts to watch. Or¡­maybe that was just her paranoia. Kari stared at the pit, rope in her hands. ¡°Kari?¡± ¡°¡­Push me in.¡± Sora blinked. ¡°What?¡± Why is my voice shaking? I should be strong for Tiri¡­ I need to be a big sister! Kari swallowed, voice hoarse. ¡°Just push¡ª¡± Sora didn¡¯t even hesitate. One hard shove later¡ªKari barely processed the sensation of hands hitting her back or the rope slithering through her limp grip to tie around her waist. She was falling, wind tearing past her ears. Sora¡¯s voice echoed after her. ¡°I have faith in you, buddy¡­because you¡¯re strong!¡± And then¡ª Darkness swallowed her whole. There was no impact. No ground. No sky. Only a rush of leaves, the scent of damp bark, the sensation of running. Kari didn¡¯t see herself, but she saw the gray fur on her front legs¡ªthis was through Tiri¡¯s eyes. The world stretched impossibly wide, trees taller than Avalon¡¯s Realm Tree, their trunks extending endlessly in every direction, forming a maze of colossal pillars. Tiri was running, small paws barely keeping balance as she chased something. A giant deer. Far too big for her. Too strong. She had no business hunting it. But she was chasing anyway¡­because that was her little sister. If I just get its leg¡ªone bite¡ªand Kari will play with me! She promised! It¡¯s fast¡­but I¡¯m faster! I just¡­huh?! A streak of black-furred and gray stripes blurred into focus, devouring it whole. Tiri skidded to a stop, paws digging into the bark before tripping and stumbling across the mossy bark. And then she looked up. Massive blue eyes stared down at her. Kari¡ªTiri¡ªfroze. Her ears flattened against her skull. She hadn¡¯t sensed him before, but now that she did¡ª It was overwhelming¡­like Mother. Hati. Tiri was totally blindsided, though. The wolf was huge, incomprehensibly vast¡ªthe dimensional trees themselves were dwarfed by his scale¡ªyet, at the same time, he appeared only to be the size of a giant building to her. It didn¡¯t make sense. But Mom didn¡¯t either. He leaned down, breath sweeping over her fur like a hurricane, mist curling at his nostrils. Then, a voice. Deep. Ancient. Unshakable. ¡°My, my¡­what a deceitful wolf your mother is¡­to have hidden her perfect little pup from her big brother.¡± Tiri¡¯s heart stopped. The world stilled. Her paws twitched beneath her, the instinct to run screaming through her small frame, but her body wouldn¡¯t obey. She couldn¡¯t move. Hati¡¯s massive blue eyes pierced through her, a force beyond comprehension, his gaze pressing into her very soul. She had never felt fear like this before¡ªnot this kind. Not the kind that made her stomach drop into an endless pit, not the kind that paralyzed her completely¡­that robbed all hope of resistance. She had been scared before. When Kari left. When she played too rough with her siblings and got scolded. When she wrestled a bear too large for her¡­but won. The look on Kari¡¯s face. This? This was doom. The air around her trembled, folding under the sheer presence of the wolf before her. He hadn¡¯t moved, hadn¡¯t lunged, hadn¡¯t done anything yet, and yet she felt trapped, caught in his gravity like a star being pulled into oblivion. Yet, something deep within her snarled. A primal voice. ¡°Reject that reality, kid. He¡¯s weak.¡± Tiri¡¯s body jolted to the left, and Kari¡¯s heart skipped a beat at the words¡ªtheir grandfather¡¯s words¡ªpassing through her little sister¡¯s veins. A soul shard of Grandpa Fenrir himself within her. His nostrils flared as Tiri tried to dart into the nearby brush, a slow exhale curling mist around her fur. It was as if he were testing her scent, confirming something he already knew. ¡°He speaks within you¡­ I knew Alva had the ability, the cheeky girl.¡± And then¡­his mouth opened. Tiri gasped, scrambling to find a way to find a weak point¡ªshe was going to fight¡ªclaws digging into the moss-covered bark. Her paws slipped. Her body shook. Darkness. A pit of endless darkness swallowed the very sky, lined with fangs larger than comprehension, each one gleaming like carved universes against the abyss. The sound of his breath, his hunger, was deafening. No. I can still win! Kari¡¯s mine was screaming something different. No, no, no, no, no! Tiri, NO! She ran into the void. Her little sister barely made it two steps before the air rushed away, vacuumed into the chasm of his maw, her small frame ripped backward, weightless, helpless, the forest vanishing in a blink. The world was gone. There was only the black. It closed around her, crushing, an abyss deeper than any in Existence, deeper than anything she had ever known. For the first time in her life, Tiri felt death¡ªKari felt true death¡ªyet she had no fear. And that feeling resonated within her. Tiri roared. Light. Blinding light. A force so powerful it shook the fabric of space-time, colliding with her from the side, a shockwave that shattered the black, splitting the void apart with a force too strong, too fast, too sudden¡ªshe flew. Her body catapulted sideways, her fur standing on end, her small form sent tumbling through the impossible gap in Hati¡¯s monstrous teeth. And as she fell, spinning through open space, her eyes caught a streak of gray. A shape slamming into Hati¡¯s side as if she were falling in reverse through time, a force strong enough to make even the great wolf stagger. Amber eyes caught her. Tiri¡¯s world slowed. Their mother. She looked right at her. A pained smile. Her mouth opened, voice wrapping around Tiri like a whisper on the wind¡ªaround Kari. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Tiri¡­ But, Kari, my pain is unbearable to what I must do to you.¡± Her tail whipped out, striking Tiri midair, launching her. ¡°Please, find and protect your little sister. Our family needs you to be strong now.¡± Then, the sky ripped apart. Tiri¡¯s body twisted as she was flung through a rupture in dimensional layers, her mother¡¯s shape vanishing behind the collapsing void, Hati¡¯s form expanding, consuming, devouring¡ª Kari wanted to scream. She couldn¡¯t. She had no mouth. She wasn¡¯t here. She was just a ghost in the memory of her sister¡¯s last moments before being sent to Vulpes Territory¡­yet her mother had sent her a message in this. Now, fear, anger, and confusion rippled through her¡ªTiri¡¯s emotions, sharp and visceral. The vision cracked. Darkness. The kind that moved, crawled, the kind that sank its claws into her chest. It saw her. It knew her. It wanted her. Kari felt her own breath catch now, no longer Tiri¡¯s. The past and present blended together, her own panic twisting with her sister¡¯s, the terror latching onto her mind, her body, her soul. The pit wanted her. The moment she knew, it lunged. I¡¯m not for consumption, you baste¡ª A jerk. The world lurched. A pull. Hard. Forceful. Sora. Light snapped through the dark, the rope around Kari¡¯s waist yanking her up, magic cutting through the cloying black, wrenching her out of the pit like a hooked fish. The darkness screeched, an ear-splitting, rage-filled howl that wasn¡¯t Tiri, wasn¡¯t her mother¡ªwasn¡¯t Hati. It was a blend of everything¡­and something else. Kari¡¯s body shot up, ripped from the abyss, the world returning, blinding, too bright¡ª And then she was on the ground, gasping, shaking, gripping the vines like they were the only thing keeping her from slipping back down. Tiri¡¯s raw emotions still burned in her chest. Her hands were shaking. Her breath came fast, too fast. Sora was there, crouched beside her, hands gripping her arms, eyes wide, frantic, alive. ¡°Hey! Hey, you¡¯re back!¡± Sora breathed, relief pouring off her, as if she had held her own breath the entire time. ¡°It¡¯s okay! I¡¯ve got you.¡± Kari¡¯s vision swam, the pit still there, still breathing behind her, still watching. But her mother¡¯s voice still echoed in her soul. ¡°Please, find and protect your little sister. Our family needs you to be strong now. Be strong¡­ Be strong.¡± Tiri was out there. Her mother had saved her. Hati knew everything and had conspired with Jenny to retrieve them¡­ To retrieve Tiri and her. Kari felt something inside her shift, something primal, something raging. Tiri needs me¡­ My little sister needs me. I have to find the truth. And if I can¡¯t be stronger than her¡­then I¡¯ll never be able to look Mom in the eyes again¡­ I know what I have to do. ¡°Kari, what¡¯s wrong? What did you see?¡± Pulling away from Sora, she showed a strained smile while wiping away the sweat that clung to her brow. Kari looked northward, where the Forest Spirit said Tiri had been taken, but she knew her sister wouldn¡¯t be there. If she wanted to really find her sister, then she had some growing to do because Tiri had three years on her. ¡°Sora¡­¡± ¡°Mhm?¡± Forcing herself up, Kari¡¯s fingernails sunk into her palms, drawing blood as she stared at the pit, fire igniting in her belly. ¡°I¡¯m going to be taking Jin¡¯s class¡­ I want to come back here during the last weekend before the semester is over.¡± ¡°Okay?¡± Sora slowly rose to her feet, focusing on Kari¡¯s agitated tail. ¡°That tells me nothing. I mean, sure. I guess. But¡­are you saying you want to get stronger¡­or are we looking for Tiri or what?¡± Kari turned and led the way out of the forest, snorting at her self-insertion. ¡°Wha¡ªKari?! Use your words! I can¡¯t read your aura or mind, like I can do to other people! What is it we¡¯re training for?¡± She paused at the edge of the clearing and glanced back at the festering hole she would conquer. ¡°I¡¯m going to eat that hole¡­then, we¡¯re taking a vacation back to your home.¡± Brushing out her long copper hair, Sora sighed and scratched her neck. ¡°You know that after the month here, we have two weeks in Fae society before we go home, right?¡± Kari showed her a small smirk, life sparking back in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m sure you can figure something out.¡± ¡°Is this to confront my mom?¡± Sora questioned, falling in line with her as she continued the path. ¡°I can probably send a letter for her to come here or something like that?¡± Her teeth gleamed, anger and pent-up rage boiling out of her cut and bleeding heart. ¡°Good. On second thought, that¡¯s even better. Get in contact with Diane¡­ I want the Foundation to bring Eric to me. I¡¯m going to kick his ass.¡± Sora¡¯s confusion flickered for half a second before twisting into a devilish grin, her tail beating rather strongly now. ¡°Say less! I like that look, Ms. Alpha Bully. Can I sell tickets?¡± Kari chuckled and rolled her eyes. ¡°Do whatever you want. Just don¡¯t slow me down.¡± The fox winked and held up her fist for her to bump. ¡°Do you know me?¡± Staring at it for a second, Kari met Sora¡¯s knuckles and shook her head. ¡°Whatever.¡± B3 — 16. Im Dead Darkness crept between fractured memories, each shard a razor-edged window into a world unraveling. Floating through the void, her eyes felt heavy, a dull throb aching in her chest. Where¡­ The Null-Void? No¡­ It feels too uniform. That means¡­ Am I in a dream? Whose? Sora¡¯s consciousness drifted, feeling a chill and spiritual pulse that bubbled up with recognition. She passed through a honey-yellow kingdom, overtaken by shadows, stone walls weeping darkness. Broken columns reached toward a sky stained the color of old bruises, the air thick with the metallic tang of despair. This is Honeydew¡­ Sela¡¯s kingdom. Fragments of a life flickered¡ªwarmth remembered, then violently extinguished. A black blade pressed against a chest so filled with light and love, it refused to be extinguished. A woman chained, her light dimming but never fully surrendering. Sela¡¯s mother¡­ The lovely, honey-hued fae hung, suspended between stalwart longsuffering, loving defiance, and hope, her eyes blazing with a heart so large that it refused to be broken. ¡°Fight it,¡± the woman whispered, silver blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. ¡°You are more than this darkness, Little Bee. More than what they¡¯ve made you. This is not your fault¡­ You are mine.¡± Sila¡ªSora¡ªtrembled. I don¡¯t love you! I don¡¯t need you! I don¡¯t ever want to see you again¡­ A plea, loathing, skull-clawing guilt, burning her soul. Lies¡­ All lies. Mother¡­ I wasn¡¯t. I¡¯m sorry¡­ I¡¯m not as strong as you¡­ Her mother¡¯s light never left her eyes, even as they were swallowed by darkness, leading to where the sleepless go. Mother¡­ She was swept into another torrent, rage now bubbling beneath her skin, a volcanic pressure threatening to consume everything. Her fingers curled, nails digging into palms until inky blood¡ªnot silver, as her mother¡¯s¡ªwelled between the cracks. No. Father! Don¡¯t free me! Don¡¯t be weak¡­ Don¡¯t fall apart. Don¡¯t fall for my lies¡­ Words left her lips. Acid, meant to corrode her father¡¯s failing heart. How she¡¯d left his wife, her mother, for him to find¡ªthe horror of what she¡¯d done that tore at her heart in these nights. Father¡­ I cannot be forgiven¡­ Her father approached, a shadow of desperation clinging to his frame. Obsession carved lines into his face, each wrinkle a testament to his failed attempts to purge the corruption consuming her. His kingdom falling into the darkness, abandoning every law, forsaking every promise to their high rulers¡­for the chance to save the one thing he had left¡ªher. Don¡¯t show me that hope, Sela cried, her father¡¯s delusions taking hold as he unraveled her bindings. I¡¯m a monster¡­ The next moment, chains twisted around his frame, fragile constructs of a dying hope shattering his last bit of sanity. ¡°You can be saved,¡± he pleaded, his voice a broken whisper. ¡°Sela¡­ I know you can be saved.¡± I don¡¯t want to be¡­ Sila¡¯s laughter cut through the darkness like shattered glass. A sound that wasn¡¯t a laugh at all¡ªmore a predator¡¯s victory cry. I don¡¯t deserve to be¡­ This isn''t real. But it is. I shouldn¡¯t be alive. The world tilted. Reality warped like wet canvas, colors bleeding into one another. Sila''s memories consumed everything¡ªher rage, her pain, her absolute rejection of everything that tried to control her. The kingdom around her crumbled, honey stone turning to ash, hope disintegrating into nothing. I can¡¯t¡ªI can¡¯t hold on¡ª A scream. Was it Sila''s? Was it her own? ¡°Sora?!¡± Sora¡¯s eyes snapped open. Her breath came in ragged gasps, sweat beading along her forehead. The lingering sensation of Sila¡¯s emotions clung to her like a damp shroud¡ªpain so profound it threatened to consume her, rage so absolute it could shatter worlds¡ªthe hungering Darkness beneath it. ¡°Sela!¡± A jolt of movement. ¡°Sora?¡± Wendy¡¯s voice cut through the lingering darkness of the dream, jumping in her sheets, eyes wide and scanning. ¡°What¡ª¡± Teenage Nilly¡ªnot a kitten¡ªpreviously curled at the foot of Wendy¡¯s bed, erupted straight up to the ceiling. One moment a sleeping cat-girl, the next a human-shaped torpedo and shadow, clinging to the dull, glowing wood like a startled gecko. Her tail puffed out to three times its normal size, golden eyes wide with panic. ¡°Hssss!¡± ¡°Sister?¡± Eyia was already halfway to her, bright-blue eyes scanning the room. ¡°I sense no danger but¡­a lingering shadow breaking away from your spirit¡­¡± Her ears twitched¡ªwait, her ears? Right, I¡¯m not Sela¡­ Breathe. Just breathe¡­ A tremor ran through her body, the purified fae¡¯s rage and soul-crushing emotions still echoing in her bones. The room felt too small, too tight, reality wobbling at the edges. The others¡¯ voices were drowned out as she held a hand against her breast, breathing heavily, letting herself catch up. That didn¡¯t feel like something from her past¡­ She was attacked. Blinking, Sora experienced the coil of faint magic¡ªFounder magic¡ªdissipating into the aether. Did I feel The Darkness try to connect to Sela, and my seed resonated with me? My magic dropped 50%... Shit. ¡°Ugh¡­¡± Groaning as the other three girls hovered, waiting for a response, Sora cracked open her eyes again, rubbing her left ear. It was ringing. ¡°Umm. No, it¡¯s fine. It¡¯s over.¡± Eyia gave her a creased eye. ¡°Perhaps now, but you reached out to something. Your strength has been cut¡ª¡± Sora waved it off. ¡°I know what it was. It¡¯s cool¡­ I fill it back up pretty fast here in Avalon. I¡¯m fine.¡± At least, I think I know what it was, she privately thought, reflecting on the experience. What did you try to do, Sela? ¡°Well, okay,¡± Wendy yawned, looking up and grinning at the puffy-tailed Cat Mother. ¡°I see someone¡¯s entered emergency mode!¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Nilly squeaked, her voice a mix of terror and embarrassment. ¡°There was something¡ªI¡¯m not a scaredy cat. I¡¯m not! There was just something¡­weird.¡± Wendy burst into soft laughter, the sound breaking the tension and giving Sora an out. Thanks for reading my feelings, Wendy. ¡°Did you just¡ªare you seriously stuck to the ceiling? Retract your claws.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t!¡± Nilly cried, face turning pink. ¡°I didn¡¯t clip them a-and they won¡¯t¡­¡± Eyia rubbed her shoulder and looked up at the teary-eyed cat. ¡°Hmm. Perhaps a terror of the night about today¡¯s contest of bravery has attracted negative emotions and The Darkness?¡± she asked, words tumbling out in her broken English¡ªit was early. ¡°Jin says fear is a test. Fear of death¡ªmost important battle! This is but the first trial.¡± Of course she''d bring up Jin, Sora thought, a weak chuckle escaping her lips. The dream''s intensity began to fade, replaced by the familiar comfort of her friends¡¯ absurdity. ¡°It wasn¡¯t about combat,¡± Sora mumbled, rubbing her eyes. ¡°Just a weird dream. I can talk to Mary about it today.¡± Wendy grunted and stood on her bed to help Nilly down, the cat¡¯s nightgown hanging off her like a sheet. Eyia¡¯s expression shifted to pure bravado, puffing up her chest as the brunette tried to soothe the frightened teenage cat girl into retracting her claws. ¡°I conquer all terrors of the night! No dream escapes an Asgardian¡¯s warrior spirit!¡± Nilly, still plastered to the ceiling, let out a mortified whimper. ¡°I can¡¯t fall if you¡¯re below me, Wendy. I can¡¯t land on my¡ª¡± Wendy¡¯s laughter intensified. ¡°There, there.¡± she teased, showing surprising strength as Nilly fell into her arms to be eased back onto the mattress. ¡°See? I got ya, Ruler of Scaredy Kittens!¡± ¡°Absolutely not!¡± Nilly protested, slowly¡ªand somewhat ungracefully¡ªsliding down the mattress to the floor to escape everyone¡¯s hounding eyes. ¡°I was¡­strategically positioned for maximum defensive capability!¡± ¡°Sure, Kitten. Total tactical maneuver, sticking yourself to the ceiling and getting stuck. Brilliant!¡± ¡°Mmgm¡­ Not funny. You scared me.¡± The tension of the nightmare dissolved into giggles and playful jabs as Nilly crawled under the bed, ears pulled back. But beneath the laughter, a part of Sora couldn¡¯t shake the visceral memory of Sila¡¯s pain¡ªa darkness waiting just beyond the edges of their morning light. Sela¡¯s looked so good this week¡­but beneath her mask, that¡¯s in her veins¡­ All she tastes is guilt, and she can¡¯t get rid of it. Sela¡­ The demons you fight with every breath are¡­ Everything is dark, and it¡¯s more than you can take. I want to do something. But¡­should I? I don¡¯t know. The morning light soon crept through the dormitory windows, casting soft shadows across their rumpled sheets. She looked at the glint, wondering if that light did anything to help Sela, signaling the end of the night. Wendy¡¯s voice broke through Sora¡¯s lingering dream-fog as Eyia peeked under the bed to encourage the embarrassed cat teen. ¡°So, what¡¯s the deal with Mary? I kind of need to have a meeting with her, too, but¡­maybe after you. You mentioned something about Kari saying she was coming by?¡± Sora stretched, her muscles feeling inexplicably loose. Everything felt sharp after that tender nightmare. ¡°Mhmm,¡± she mumbled, only half-listening. ¡°Kari arranged it, I think. It was just bad timing. I totally forgot with all the experimenting we were doing yesterday.¡± Nilly, now fully recovered from her ceiling-clinging episode, dramatically popped her head out from under the bed. ¡°Maybe¡­we should get some breakfast! I¡¯m starving. You, Puffy Tail?¡± she asked, glancing at Wendy. ¡°Puffy tail? Hah! I think yours was more bushy than mine for a minute there.¡± ¡°No-ho-ho! Stop. Please?¡± ¡°Sorry! Sorry¡­ Well, now that we¡¯re up¡ª¡± She cut off as Sora threw off her sheets and went to the door, nightgown just above the floor. ¡°Where are you going, Night Screamer?¡± ¡°Nice one, Queen of Nicknames!¡± Sora giggled, twisting around to offer a showy bow with her gown. ¡°Just off to see when Mary will actually be here.¡± Eyia was already moving to the closet. ¡°We should prepare for morning exercises before the initial competition! It begins at 10 a.m. sharp¡­ Jin likes to sleep in.¡± ¡°A dragon? No!¡± Wendy snickered. ¡°Has she stolen the leprechaun¡¯s gold a second time?¡± Leaving the room as laughter followed her, Sora hovered outside the opposite door. She had to press against the wall as a few vulpes bustled by, tails beating like brooms as they discussed who might come in the top ten in the contest. One bit of news shocked her a bit. Some of the professors and aides are joining in on it? Great¡­ I bet it was Jin¡¯s idea. The knock on Kari''s door echoed down the hallway as the group descended the stairs. Unsurprisingly, Nerida was the one who opened the door. The girl looked like she''d been awake for hours, nervous energy radiating from her in waves. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! What did surprise her was that Kari was still in bed! The wolf was sprawled across her bed. Unmade sheets. One arm flung carelessly over her eyes, dressed in her signature sports bra and running shorts. ¡°Sora!¡± Nerida greeted with a nervous smile. ¡°Today¡¯s the day, huh?¡± Looking past her, Sora forced a grin upon seeing the piles of clothing thrown across the room, most of which were elegant dresses or swimsuits. She didn¡¯t have much in the terms of casual clothing since, well, most of her outfits were stolen and she¡¯d targeted specific articles from yachts. ¡°Do¡­you need to borrow some clothes?¡± Her aquamarine eyes glistened with relief. ¡°Yes, please!¡± ¡°Go ahead,¡± Sora chuckled, stepping to the side and letting her fly by. ¡°You might fit Wendy¡¯s better.¡± ¡°Thank you!¡± Now alone with Kari, Sora swung the door in, spotting the wolf¡¯s motionless tail lying lazily across her bed. Her lips fell into a slight frown as the silence stretched between them. ¡°Wow¡­¡± she finally stated. ¡°The alpha sports girl, who gets up before the crack of dawn¡­is sleeping in. You aren¡¯t depressed, are you?¡± That got a single flick of the wolf¡¯s tail. ¡°You want to be my coach now? What do you want? It¡¯s not ¡®till 10, so let me sleep. The siren¡¯s been a headache as is.¡± Progress! Sora grimly thought. At least she didn¡¯t eat Nerida¡­ It¡¯s so hard to gauge her after finding out Tiri is alive. Maybe we can talk during the big battles. ¡°Pass on that,¡± she snickered. ¡°You told me Mary¡¯s coming last night, but not the time.¡± ¡°And whose fault is that?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not blaming you, stupid. I¡¯m asking now.¡± ¡°Humph.¡± Sora gave an internal fist pump as Kari smirked and lifted her arm a bit to stare at her. ¡°She said it would be early. That¡¯s all I got, so best get ready.¡± ¡°Pfft. Unlike some people, I can get ready with a simple desire,¡± she boasted, turning to head back into her room before almost tripping at Kari¡¯s response. ¡°Yeah, sure¡­unless some people just go naked all the time. I can attest. Saves a lot of time.¡± ¡°Kari!¡± She glared at the dark-haired girl as her chest shook with mirth before turning her tail to her and falling back asleep. ¡°Freaking animal! Hey, we also got fur but¡­I guess that moots my point.¡± She stuck her tongue out with a smile and returned to their dorm room. Preparations became a whirlwind of activity soon after. Eyia moved with military precision, while Wendy bounced between excitement and nervousness, poking at Nilly and Nerida as the pair tried to work together to fend off the squirrel girl¡¯ effortless remarks. After several minutes, Wendy was bobbing her head to the siren¡¯s humming song. The brunette¡¯s tail was swishing back and forth as she said, ¡°We should explore a bit in the free time, Sora. You can pick us up in your car later. Arrive in style!¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but laugh as the sunshine glowed throughout the room. ¡°Jin would find that hilarious. I can¡ª¡± A sharp knock interrupted their preparations. The dorm supervisor¡¯s voice carried through the door. ¡°Lady Sora, Dr. Mary Jernigan, the human, is here to see you.¡± Here we go, she thought, smoothing her t-shirt and taking a deep breath. ¡°Catch you girls later. I¡¯ll find you with this,¡± she winked, blowing a kiss and wink in their direction to create an illusionary heart that acted as a homing beacon. ¡°Thought it up last night!¡± ¡°Cute! It flaps,¡± Nilly cooed, eyes big and following it around, no doubt controlling herself to not pounce on it. ¡°Your magic always smells so¡­tasty.¡± ¡°Food! We¡¯ll get food,¡± Wendy promised with a snicker. ¡°Later, Sora!¡± ¡°Later!¡± Waving goodbye to everyone, she went into the hallway and gave Kari¡¯s door a loud bang on the way out. She giggled to herself, imagining Kari¡¯s tail bristling with agitation. She made her way out, until finding Mary Jernigan outside, wearing the blue dress and accessories that would be burned into her memory forever¡ªthe day Kari told her to leave school. The brown-haired psychiatrist gave her a warm, inviting smile. ¡°Hey, Mary! Don¡¯t you look lovely, as always.¡± ¡°Thank you, and I figured this outfit might be appropriate to reflect on and explore how things have changed for you. Shall we?¡± ¡°Where to?¡± Sora asked, glancing toward the gate as they made their approach across the dorm¡¯s bridge. ¡°You don¡¯t have an office here, do you?¡± ¡°Unfortunately not. At least, not as of yet. Kari and I walked along the forest yesterday. Is there any place you would like to go?¡± Her nightmare earlier that day popped back into mind. ¡°Umm¡­ Yeah. I think I¡¯ve got a place. Oh, and, umm, were you going to see Wendy after me?¡± Mary¡¯s eyebrows pulled together. ¡°Didn¡¯t Kari tell you I wanted to see both of you?¡± ¡°¡­No, she did not. Freakin¡¯ wolf. Well, that should be fine. Wendy figured you¡¯d want to talk after me.¡± Mary only responded with a small smile and followed her into the gate as she named their destination¡ªSela¡¯s district. Exiting out the other side, decay hung in the air like a thick fog. Buildings leaned at impossible angles, their stone facades crumbling. Cobblestone streets fractured beneath their feet, moss and twisted roots breaking through ancient masonry. It was as if time had forgotten this place, leaving only whispers of what once was. And with it, not a single soul was seen. Perfect. It didn¡¯t take long for Mary¡¯s voice to break the silence. ¡°This¡­place is certainly a vibe.¡± ¡°You have no idea,¡± Sora mumbled, gripping her elbow behind her back. ¡°The Darkness is pretty strong here, apparently.¡± ¡°Ominous¡­ Interesting choice of location. I can see something deep is on your mind. But¡­considering how much has assaulted you this past month, I¡¯m not surprised. Sora¡¯s fingers brushed against a crumbling wall in passing, feeling the pulse of some kind of magic¡ªprobably Sela¡¯s. She was good at masking her magic as neutral, though. Memories of her dream flickered at the edges of her consciousness¡ªpain, rage, a kingdom consuming itself from within. ¡°Mhm¡­ So, uh, you wanted to talk?¡± Sora asked, her voice lighter than the weight of her thoughts. ¡°I started! See? Where do you want to start now?¡± A knowing smile played across Mary¡¯s lips. ¡°Turning it back on me, this time, hmm?¡± The psychiatrist''s gaze was sharp, cutting through Sora¡¯s defensive humor like a knife. ¡°Let''s start with something simple. How are you feeling?¡± Simple? Nothing about my life is simple anymore. The street curved, revealing a courtyard where shadows seemed to dance between fallen columns. A fountain stood at its center, water trickling from cracked stone mouths¡ªfrozen mid-scream. ¡°Should I say fine?¡± Sora responded, too quickly. ¡°Just fine.¡± Mary stopped walking. Her gaze was gentle, but firm. ¡°No. Really. No jokes or lightening the mood. How are you feeling?¡± The look was like an anchor, bringing her back to her troubled life months earlier, crying out for anyone to listen to her¡ªto believe her. Suddenly, the dream came rushing back¡ªSila¡¯s rage, her mother¡¯s tender strength, her father¡¯s fall into madness¡­a kingdom crumbling into darkness. Sora¡¯s breath caught in her throat. Feeling emotions welling up in her from middle school. The fae¡¯s past so much worse, but bringing back memories that still hurt, despite reconciling with Kari. ¡°I had a dream,¡± she found herself saying. The words tumbled out before she could stop them. Words she couldn¡¯t tell anyone. Not even Wendy. But Mary was different somehow. ¡°About Sela¡­ Not a dream. A nightmare¡­ Her past. Her present.¡± Mary folded her hands at her front as they began their slow walk again. There wasn¡¯t surprise on her face. It was more like curiosity. ¡°Not the topic I had expected. So, Sela has your mind right now, which is why we are here¡­ Not that I know much more than what you¡¯ve told me about the former Unseelie. Tell me about this dream and how it made you feel.¡± And so Sora did. She spoke of the fractured kingdom, of a daughter consumed by darkness, of a mother stalwart love that refused to go out¡­the fall of her father. Each word felt like removing a splinter¡ªpainful, but necessary. She talked about the connection it made her feel. How even if they believed in her. Did it mean anything when Sela didn¡¯t believe in herself? ¡°She¡¯s breaking beneath the surface,¡± Sora whispered, watching the fountain as they walked around it, water trickling through fractured stone. ¡°Just like I was¡­ She¡¯s forced to a place like this, that reminds her every minute what she was. What she could become again¡­¡± ¡°That¡¯s cruel,¡± Mary mumbled, sadness drawing on her words. ¡°So, last night, she was attacked or did something that¡­might have drawn The Darkness to her. Hmm¡­ But who is she really breaking from? The Darkness¡­or herself?¡± A shadow of a laugh escaped Sora''s lips. ¡°Is there a difference? The Darkness was, like¡­her for a while.¡± The psychiatrist didn¡¯t immediately respond. Sora¡¯s tail bristled a little as she glanced over at her, watching the woman pondering. Her gaze drifted between the decaying and rotting area, empathy radiating from her spirit in ways Sora hadn¡¯t really seen in people¡ªit was deep, reflective, and searching. They continued walking, the environment¡¯s fall like a living thing around them. Broken windows watched them like hollow eyes. Vines crawled across surfaces, consuming what remained. It took a full minute before the brunette spoke again. ¡°You¡¯ve both been through significant changes,¡± Mary said, her voice cutting through the ambient silence. ¡°Supernatural transformations. Life threatening situations. Grappling with not just your own world, but many worlds falling apart around you¡­¡± Sora¡¯s tail twitched, the copper fur bristling slightly. ¡°Yeah, well, I¡¯m handling it.¡± ¡°Is that really the answer?¡± Mary¡¯s question wasn''t accusatory¡ªjust curious. Her left ear folded down. ¡°What¡­do you mean? I mean, am I supposed to say I¡¯m not handling it?¡± ¡°Maybe¡­ Let¡¯s talk about control,¡± Mary continued, her steps measured and deliberate. ¡°Sela seems to feel like she is in control when enshrouded by The Darkness. Right now, she doesn¡¯t feel in control¡­ She is broken and feels like there is something wrong inside of her.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t¡­she find some peace?¡± A shiver ran down Sora¡¯s arms that transferred to the rest of her body. ¡°I tried to help her¡­ To give her back control.¡± Mary found her hands behind her back, pausing to look up at the gnarled trees beside the fractured road. ¡°You removed the darkness that protected her. A darkness had been her identity for so long. Without it¡­¡± She let the thought hang in the air, heavy with implication. Sora¡¯s ears flattened against her copper hair, something in Mary¡¯s words striking a chord that resonated painfully. ¡°So I just¡­made things worse?¡± The words tasted bitter on her tongue. ¡°She¡¯ll get better, though. Right? I gave her a seed that purified her. She¡¯ll¡­want to live eventually. Right? I thought I was helping her.¡± Magic tingled beneath her fingertips as they passed a crumbling archway, forgotten memories whispering from the stones. Each step felt like walking through the remnants of Sela¡¯s broken psyche. ¡°Not worse,¡± Mary corrected, her voice gentle but firm. ¡°Different. When someone builds their entire identity around something¡ªeven something destructive¡ªremoving it creates a void. You gave Sela a chance at something new, but that doesn¡¯t mean the transition is easy. There are growing pains.¡± The psychiatrist¡¯s steps slowed as they approached the fractured fountain. Water trickled through broken stone mouths¡ªthe liquid somehow darker than it should be, carrying echoes of forgotten sorrow. ¡°The Darkness gave her structure to contend with what she¡¯d done,¡± Mary continued. ¡°It gave her purpose. Direction¡­ A scapegoat. Without it, she¡¯s facing the hardest question anyone can ask¡ªwho am I now? Not only is she without an identity, but she must carry with her the shadows of the last two people she was¡­ A beloved princess and daughter¡­and the monster who destroyed her entire kingdom.¡± A chilling wind whispered through the district, carrying the lingering scent of Sela. She¡¯d passed through this area last night. Sora wrapped her arms around herself, tail curling protectively around her leg. ¡°I felt like everything I did was¡­ Like everything was falling apart when Jenny told me she kidnapped Wendy. Like everything I did only brought misfortune to everyone I loved.¡± Sora was a little surprised as Mary stepped closer to draw her into a hug, totally against her policy. ¡°I¡¯ve seen this kind of thing in quite a few people on death-row,¡± Mary explained. ¡°Maybe not nearly as extreme as her case, but I understand you have a magical ability to connect to people in ways that can be¡­consuming. Empathy can be a great tool¡­and a great burden. ¡°When, and if freedom comes, sometimes they feel more lost than before¡­ At least, for those who, despite all that they tell themselves, they haven¡¯t lost their empathy. Pain breaks them free. Confronting it. Not hiding from it. Only then can she gain closure¡­ You aren¡¯t her savior Sora. Only she can save herself¡­ But that doesn¡¯t mean you can¡¯t be a light for her to use as a compass. Give her a routine. A way to understand herself.¡± Sora¡¯s fingers traced the woman¡¯s back, feeling beneath her touch. ¡°Is that what The Darkness is? It steals identity?¡± ¡°From what you¡¯ve explained to me, it certainly looks that way. It consumes what you were. It promises control, power¡­certainty, in exchange for your willpower. It whispers that you don¡¯t have to face your pain if you surrender yourself to it.¡± Mary pulled away, her eyes¡ªnormally so warm¡ªtook on a haunted quality that made Sora wonder what personal demons the psychiatrist had faced in her own life. She felt her guilt, anger¡­a loss of control, through their flash of contact¡ªsitting in front of her husband¡¯s bed, trapped in a succubus¡¯ nightmare. ¡°Though this force is actually something tangible, it is far from novel. The most insidious part,¡± Mary continued, ¡°is that it makes you believe the darkness is you. That without it, you¡¯re what you were¡­broken, wrong, alone, the thing that you fear the most.¡± ¡°What if she can¡¯t find herself? What if she smothers the seed and becomes an Unseelie again?¡± Mary¡¯s hand found Sora¡¯s, gentle but grounding. ¡°Then that is her choice. Tragic as that is. It¡¯s not your burden to carry, Sora. You¡¯ve done the one thing that she feared and longed for the most, and now that battle must be won on her own.¡± The psychiatrist¡¯s eyes studied Sora¡¯s face with quiet intensity. ¡°Now, what is your burden is to face what you cannot control. To me, it sounds like you¡¯re connecting so strongly with this because you feel like things are slipping away again.¡± Sora¡¯s tail bristled. ¡°What do you mean? I mean, I¡¯m letting go of¡­things. Some things. There¡¯s just¡­a lot going on. Kari probably told you, right?!¡± ¡°Mmm. Let¡¯s save that for later,¡± she whispered, taking them back on the path around the block to return to the gate. ¡°Your abilities are growing, Sora. Expanding beyond traditional vulpes powers, as your parents told me in their session.¡± That made Sora¡¯s eyes go big. Mom and Dad are talking to Mary? That¡¯s big¡­ ¡°You¡¯re healing souls, manipulating memories of succubi, and making leaps many vulpes can only dream of. In a matter of weeks, you¡¯ve gone from an ordinary, quite bullied, human girl to something¡­extraordinary. ¡°Your best friend became your sister and has her own problems you feel responsible for. Kari is tugging at your heart with lingering guilt that your mother no doubt brought on¡­ I¡¯ll have to talk to her about that, and to top it off, you¡¯re at the center of some big cosmic game between Avalon and the Foundation.¡± Mary''s gaze never wavered. ¡°You have a lot boiling beneath that cute surface.¡± ¡°True¡­ The cute part, that is,¡± she added with a forced giggle. ¡°That is true¡­ No, perhaps what frightens you isn¡¯t just Sela¡¯s struggle, but seeing a reflection of your own fears. What if your power grows beyond your control? What if, like Sela, you find yourself becoming something you don¡¯t recognize¡­or if your friends or sister do?¡± The words landed like stones in still water, sending ripples through Sora¡¯s carefully maintained composure. Her ears flattened completely, tail going completely still. ¡°That hits deep,¡± she mumbled. ¡°Yeah, maybe¡­ There¡¯s so much more than that, though. There¡¯s Ember, Kari¡¯s little sister, Sela, Eyia and Jin, Wendy¡ªoh, my goodness, Wendy! Yeah, that one has me a bit freaked out. That sleepwalking episode¡ªyikes! Not that you could remember that one,¡± she sighed, running a hand through her hair in her rant. ¡°Then there¡¯s whatever Dad, Mom, and Noelia are doing. Mom is tearing herself apart, she may be hiding a ton from me, Noelia is trying to figure out how she fits between my parents. Wendy¡¯s still dealing with the fallout of her loser mom and new mom. There¡¯s Nilly¡¯s insanity, the Kumiho lady, Diane, Avalon, SCC Foundation, The Herald, Auntie Rose, Aiden, this hot new fae boy¡ªagh!¡± Mary only smiled at her as she screamed out her frustration. ¡°It¡¯s a lot?¡± ¡°So much!¡± she shouted. ¡°Gah! So, so much¡­ I best not forget Fen, and maybe summoning my flippin¡¯ crazy Aunt Intari. Or, at least, that¡¯s what Mom says, but who knows with my freakin¡¯ mysterious mom¡­ Not me! I love her but, grrarh! Why didn¡¯t she tell us about Tiri? Mgmmg! I want to cry. Mary¡­¡± The woman opened her arms, allowing her to bury her head in her chest. ¡°You¡¯ve been through so much hardship, Sora¡­but you¡¯ve prospered through pain.¡± That one phrase caused the tears to start flowing. They didn¡¯t stop for a while, and Mary held her through it all. ¡°You¡¯ll be okay, Sora¡­because I know, through all those scars no one can see, you have the most resilient and beautiful soul. Even big girls cry¡­ Then, once done, they get up and confront their nightmares and dreams¡­ You¡¯re strong.¡± B3 — 17. Mistress Katie Milla Wendy¡¯s ears twitched from the whispers of the foxes dotting the street, a group moving to take their place and intercept Aiden. It seemed they were hanging out in the vulpes district to hook up with people more than practice, but it was the weekend. Most of them moved in distinctive groups of tails¡ªone tails with only a single appendage, and two with the twos. She kept her gaze on the polished stone pathways, her ears drawing in their conversations like a black hole in a sea of chaos. ¡°Did you catch that? Such a delicate dance she plays¡ªasking about another while hiding her own heart. Curious, isn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Tanuki are supposed to be less transparent. Even when she tried to mask her intent, it seeped through like mist through silk. Poor thing thinks she¡¯s guarding a treasure that isn¡¯t even hers.¡± Her cheeks burned, mind screaming at their assumptions, or maybe the two-tailed¡ªover a century old¡ªwomen were just trying to tease her. She could see it all with her 360 degree vision, seeing the flick of tails, side-long snickers, and thoughtful glances. ¡°Aiden¡¯s patience is admirable, though a touch¡­more cautious than I had taken him for. He treads carefully around the subject of Sora. And yet, I wonder¡ªdoes he truly see what stands before him with Wendy, or is he merely captivated by the novelty of the scenario? Surely, he notices.¡± ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s not him Wendy should worry about, but the reflection staring back at her. Insecurity has a taste, and it lingers, doesn¡¯t it, Eun-chae?¡± ¡°Mmm, and you felt it too? The sour edge of jealousy mixed with something¡­darker. That shadow in her magic¡­or whatever force she used that isn¡¯t magic, nor entirely spiritual. Chilling!¡± The first fox adjusted her kimono and glanced back at her while preparing to engage Aiden, who looked somewhat troubled in their absence. ¡°Indeed. The question remains¡ªhow long before she realizes she¡¯s in over her head? I¡¯ve seen the way she looks at her ¡®sister¡¯ as they call each other. How will that drama end? Shall continue with the lower lectures to watch?¡± ¡°Oh, we shall. And if our dear Firebird needs a little¡­clarity, well, it would be a shame to let such confusion fester, wouldn¡¯t it?¡± Bitches¡­ Well, I guess they¡¯re vulpes, and not the Sora kind, she internally grumbled. I¡¯m not playing your games. I am worried about Sora¡­and she is my sister. We share soul essence, whatever that means¡­ Maybe I should learn more about that. Trying to put the chatty and flirty women behind her, she made a conscious effort to focus her vision into a normal human range to put them out of sight and out of mind. Her gaze darted to Nilly¡¯s hand around hers, the humming cat not paying any mind to their talk. Are they totally wrong, though¡­ Sora makes friends so easily. I wasn¡¯t like this, but¡­after Mom sold me off, I just¡­ What am I supposed to do? Her tail bristled as the scent of the realm came into focus as she breathed in. That¡¯s not an excuse. I betrayed Sora¡­but she welcomed me back with open arms. How did you heal so fast? I¡¯m scared all the time, and this¡­flavor. Her tongue pressed against the roof of her mouth, an involuntary action at this point. She could taste everything here. The distinct crispness of magic filtering through the atmosphere, the faint tang of lingering transformation spells, the sweet, syrupy undertone of vulpes glamour hanging thick over the district like perfume from the many foxes who enhanced their appearance like women wore makeup. The worst part? It all felt normal now. How can I tell Sora whenever we¡¯re out, I can taste people¡­like real food? That¡¯s monster stuff¡­ Real monster stuff. A whiff of something buttery drifted past¡ªa vulpes man with a group of fae women, watching him cook up pastries near the corner to their excitement. It wasn¡¯t the pastries that excited her appetite. Wendy¡¯s stomach clenched, an unsettling ache rolling through her gut. Stop it. Focus. You¡¯re not going to turn into some food-obsessed freak just because you don''t want to think about Aiden¡¯s weird, stupid, infuriating answer. No, maybe focus on that! Not¡­eating people. ¡°Hey, hey, Broochie, you hungry?¡± Nilly¡¯s voice snapped her back to reality, the feline¡¯s gold eyes twinkling as she skipped beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re actually thinking about what Birdbrain said. No, maybe something more¡­primal?¡± Wendy scowled as she let go of her hand and tugged at the sleeve of her hoodie and glaring ahead, where Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s lecture hall loomed in the distance. You hit both nails on the head¡­ ¡°I¡¯m not sure how stable you are right now,¡± she sighed, scratching the back of her neck as Nilly moved her hands to the back of her head with an unbothered glance her way. ¡°You seem to have a far better nose than you did this past week and I¡¯m just¡­noticing things.¡± ¡°Ohhh,¡± Nilly purred, nudging her side with a teasing elbow. ¡°Noticing, huh? Running circles in your head? I can taste it too, you know. How everything has been seasoned with just the right amount of zest. You got that sniffy-sniff thing going strong today, hmm? Tomorrow I might be totally different kitty. So best ask me now. ¡± Wendy groaned, rubbing the bridge of her nose. On one hand, Nilly is in a rather¡­feral mood today, which is kind of new. Plus, there¡¯s Aunt Rose¡¯s agitated thorns¡­ She caught the black vines sprouting out of various areas again before they vanished. A lump formed in her throat as her focus drifted to the brooch attached to her front. That¡¯s for tomorrow¡­probably. Sora knows what she is. Well, she doesn¡¯t care all that much about Dad¡¯s side because she¡¯s so focused on Mia¡¯s magic¡­but I don¡¯t even have my mom¡¯s powers¡­ I don¡¯t. ¡°Nilly¡­¡± Bringing a hand up to press against her true body, she whispered, ¡°I don¡¯t know how I¡¯m supposed to say what I¡¯m feeling. It¡¯s like my senses are set to overdrive, and it¡¯s driving me nuts. That¡¯s not everything that¡¯s agitating me, too.¡± Magic¡ªpower¡ªflavor. Every single thing in Avalon had a distinct texture to it, from the rich, decadent taste of magic in the air to the earthy, spiced aroma of old tomes stacked inside the lecture halls and its residence. The vulpes she passed tasted of layered illusions¡ªsweet with deception, savory with secrets, and bitter with jealousy, insecurity, or a strive to find purpose. ¡°What have I become? It should be revolting, but¡­it¡¯s not. That¡¯s scary. Maybe I just need to eat something normal,¡± Wendy muttered under her breath, half to herself. The Cat Mother pushed her lips to the side, jumping forward a bit to look back at her with a rather kind smile for her nonchalant attitude. ¡°I understand you very well, Wendy.¡± Stopping in her tracks as the dark-haired teen blocked her path, Nilly drew around her split tail, a flash of green flames igniting across them that split off to spin around them in five floating spheres of ghostly light. In her gut, Wendy felt an unusual pulse unlike anything the vulpes, Sora, or Eyia had released emanating from the fire¡ªshe understood it for the first time. ¡°¡­A silencing¡­and illusion spell?¡± ¡°Close,¡± Nilly stated with a small, secretive smile, putting a finger to her lips and winking at her. ¡°Here. A treat from outside.¡± The cat extended her hand and made a loud snap. CRACK! Wendy¡¯s eyes widened as a massive store of something¡­spicy and rich in nutrients emerged from the igniting jade flames that materialized above her hand. ¡°It¡¯s¡­really a fish. But I can¡¯t¡­see it? It¡¯s massive¡­like larger than this whole island! And¡­so small? Condensed?¡± she questioned, reaching out to take it in both hands, staring at the hypnotic dance as it tried to escape. ¡°It¡¯s alive. Huh?!¡± ¡°Kinda.¡± Her tail bristled as two single-tailed vulpes walked straight through them as if they were ghosts. Nilly put a hand on her hip, shoulder-length hair shifting as her head tilted to the side. ¡°I left earlier this week to collect some good food for you. It was a bit of a long trip. Hunting is something a good mom should know to feed her little kittens. I¡¯ve got lots of little kitties all over the place, so I¡¯m pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.¡± Tucking her bottom lip under, she stared into the green flames of the ¡®sardine¡¯ in her hands. Heat formed in her chest, rising to her throat and up her nose. Tears soon followed. Guilt. Confusion. Anger. Desperation. Her adorable and stalwart mother popped into her head, bushy tail puffy with pride and a desire to serve. ¡°This¡­will fix my hunger. I know it will. Why am I thinking about my mom? Why can¡¯t I be more like her¡­ She tried so hard to help me but¡­but¡­¡± Her stomach rumbled, louder and more hungry than she could remember; it felt like it should have split the academy in half. She stared into the flames, red liquid running out of her brooch and tears falling down her cheeks. ¡°What¡¯s wrong with me? I can¡¯t be happy for my best friend¡­my sister. I¡¯m terrified someone is going to take her from me. I hate that I feel so¡­angry all the time. Why am I angry? Why?¡± she growled, using one hand to rub away the red liquid falling down her brooch and her sleeve to clean her cheeks. ¡°Kari is trying really hard. Sora is¡­and I don¡¯t know where I fit.¡± Nilly moved closer, cupping her hand and guiding the flames toward her brooch, whispering, ¡°You¡¯re Wendy. You¡¯re you¡­and you don¡¯t need to be anyone else. We¡¯ll get through this, right?¡± she beamed, showing a bright smile. ¡°I think you¡¯ll have a breakthrough tomorrow.¡± The entity trapped inside the green flames began to spin, drawing into her real mouth as it neared her throbbing body. All the pain began to ease, a meaty flavor blooming throughout her entire being as the last wisps were drawn in. Looking into Nilly¡¯s compassionate, deep eyes, Wendy returned a hopeful smile. ¡°You mean it?¡± ¡°Mhm. I know it feels like you¡¯re drowning, unsure who you are or if anyone really understands you. I do. Will you love yourself for who you were¡­or who you are? Have a little patience,¡± Nilly brought her hands back down, squeezing them and showing a confidence Wendy wanted¡ªdrew strength from. ¡°Have faith in Sora. She hasn¡¯t forgotten you. If you get hungry again, just ask me. I¡¯ll have a snack in stock.¡± Wendy shot forward, pulling her cat friend into a hug, a part of her that probably only she knew, and that meant something right now. ¡°Thank you for staying with me, Nilly¡­ I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re an ancient super cat of doom. Thank you for being my friend when I know you¡¯re suffering.¡± Nilly held her close, a distant, somber note rumbling in her throat. ¡°I never leave anyone¡­ Everyone else always leaves me. A sad cat mom is a mom without her kittens¡­ Thank you for always taking my side¡­ Even when I don¡¯t know who I am. For being my friend when everyone else loses faith when I fly too far¡­and sees who I¡¯ve become. It means more than you know.¡± Several seconds passed, and then Nilly vanished from her arms. Blinking, the fire was gone, and now a new cat girl stood in front of her. Ears pulled back, chewing on her bottom lip and glancing back at Aiden as he was pulled away from the district by a cluster of girls, their Nilly was back. ¡°So¡­that just happened. Aiden really is a smooth¡ªeh?! Wendy? Are you crying? What¡¯s wrong?¡± If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Chuckling at the big, concerned gaze of the teen cat, Wendy sniffed back her tears and hopped forward to bring her into another hug. ¡°Just happy we¡¯re friends! I promise to always be here for you.¡± ¡°O-Okay?¡± Nilly awkwardly returned it, patting her back, tail stiff as a board. ¡°Did I miss something and blink out again? Sorry.¡± Drawing back, Wendy shook her head, strength returning to her damaged heart. ¡°Nothing to be sorry about. Shall we go and see who this Mistress Katie Milla is?¡± Ears perking up, Nilly nodded. ¡°Mhm! Oh, but, umm¡­what about Aiden? Does he like Sora? Is he scared of her because she¡¯s a vulpes? I¡¯m so confused.¡± Wendy shoved her hands into her hoodie pockets and sighed, the weight against her chest sliding away as she glanced back to where the Firebird had been. ¡°I shouldn''t have asked. It was stupid. But¡­maybe something will come from it. Sora knows how I feel. It¡¯s her decision. I¡¯ve got my own thing to investigate.¡± ¡°I guess you¡¯re not wrong,¡± Nilly hummed, leaning over to look past her toward the emptying street. ¡°But also, asking was totally necessary! I¡¯m telling you, someone had to poke the Birdbrain and see if he¡¯d squawk. I didn¡¯t have the heart! I¡¯m a big scaredy cat.¡± Wendy snorted despite herself and gave her a critical look. ¡°The heroine who saved the whole Founder race, sacrificing herself nine times?¡± Split tail beginning to wag with confidence budding in her hesitant gaze, Nilly smiled. ¡°I guess I did¡­at some point. But all cats start at kittens. I¡¯m¡­not on that level.¡± ¡°And I think Aiden did more of a half-squawk, half-wormed his way out of answering me¡­ He certainly is smooth.¡± ¡°And yet,¡± Nilly flipped around, finding her hands behind her back and building strength as her eyebrows wiggled, ¡°you still care because Sora can be a dunce. Admit it, Wendy. You¡¯re totally invested in Sora¡¯s love life. I¡¯m onboard to vet the boys with you!¡± ¡°I would have said absolutely not a minute ago,¡± Wendy mused. ¡°But now¡­maybe I should get a little involved in my sister¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Mmmhmm¡ªwait, really?!¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Wendy chimed, tail beating behind her and catching a more soothing pulse from Aunt Rose, seeing her thorns growing out of a potted half-dead plant. ¡°Right now, I feel like I could fly. Sora¡¯s doing her thing¡­and we¡¯re doing ours.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± They fell into a rhythm, Nilly¡¯s rebuilding playful banter dancing around Wendy¡¯s thoughts like a cat toying with yarn. She appreciated it. The constant tug of hunger was gone¡ªnot less¡ªgone. Everything smelled nice, but now it was as if she were in an endless field of flowers instead of a buffet. Thanks, Nilly. I¡¯ve got your tail, she giggled internally, but not in a bad way. Up ahead, Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s lecture hall came into view, its tall, fox-carved doors standing slightly ajar. The hologram of the poised, elegant fox woman radiated beside it. The faint scent of magic experiments gone slightly wrong lingered in the air¡ªa burnt sugar tang mixed with a hint of wildflower and something distinctly metallic. Probably transformation magic. Where are you trying to lead me, Yeon-ah? Probably a trap but that seems too¡­obvious. Diane and a nine-tailed Kumiho who somehow has bypassed her human flesh requirement. Maybe Professor Kurosaki can tell me more about her. ¡°You sure about this?¡± Nilly asked, faltering slightly on their approach. ¡°Yeon-ah¡¯s probably waiting inside with one of her sly smiles and ¡®I know something you don¡¯t¡¯ looks.¡± Wendy nudged her forward. ¡°Well? You gonna stare at the door all day, or are we gonna get this over with? C¡¯mon, Cat Mom. If it goes bad, we can always turn tail and run. I thought Nilly was the fastest ever?¡± ¡°I mean¡­I am pretty fast, to be fair,¡± she mumbled with a strained smile. Swallowing hard, Wendy squared her shoulders and stepped inside. ¡°Yeah,¡± she muttered, mostly to herself. ¡°Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± Wendy stepped into Mistress Katie Milla¡¯s lecture hall, immediately adjusting to the dimly lit space. The air smelled faintly of wildflowers and something more elusive, something that reminded her of Yeon-ah. Of course, the fox would have frequented these halls. The faint aroma pricked at her senses, stirring a quiet unease in her gut. Nilly, usually a bundle of chaotic energy, lingered close behind, her golden eyes darting around the room with feline wariness. Proceeding through the quiet main entryway, they followed the professor¡¯s soft lulling voice. Professor Katie Milla stood at the front of the room, her nine gray tails fanning out in a graceful arc behind her. Her presence exuded a serene wisdom, layered with an undercurrent of mischief, and Wendy couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of Yeon-ah¡¯s effortless charm. Her voice, even when gently addressing the two attentive single-tailed foxes¡ªnot fox girls; foxes¡ªat the front, carried a weight that made Wendy¡¯s ears twitch. ¡°Transformation magic,¡± Katie continued, her eyes soft with encouragement, ¡°isn¡¯t just about changing what you are on the outside, girls. I understand it is hard to be patient with yourselves when the other girls bully you about being unable to take a human form at your age, but sometimes, the greatest transformations happen within that pressure.¡± The two foxes shifted uncomfortably, their ears drooping. One of them murmured, ¡°But Mistress Milla, we¡¯ve been trying for months, and we still can¡¯t hold our human form for more than a few minutes¡­ Even the fae boys are talking about us.¡± Katie¡¯s smile was warm but firm. ¡°Patience, little ones. Every fox grows at their own pace. I didn¡¯t take human form for seven decades when I was a kit, and here I am teaching the art. I¡¯d say I could best half of the fae professors in transformation magic, despite their ages of magical mastery. What matters is persistence, not perfection. You are not failures. You¡¯re simply in the process of blooming into your own unique self image. And it will be beautiful.¡± Wendy felt an unexpected tug at her chest at the sincerity in Katie¡¯s voice. It threw her off; she¡¯d expected something different¡ªcolder, perhaps. But this¡­felt real. Nilly peeked out from behind Wendy, her tail wrapping around her leg. ¡°She actually means it,¡± the Cat Mother whispered. ¡°She¡¯s not faking as far as I can tell.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Wendy mumbled, shuffling awkwardly as the foxes bowed and exited the hall, their shoulders a little less burdened while talking to one another. ¡°Maybe my nose needs a bit of work. Want to look at old Nogitsune images in the library and find a better fit for our personal image?¡± ¡°Nose?¡± she giggled in return. ¡°You can¡¯t even keep your ears, Toshiko, so I think we should study human ears first.¡± ¡°They¡¯re so hard!¡± ¡°I know. They have so many bumps and ridges. Why can¡¯t they just be straight and simple with fur? I can¡¯t imagine myself without fur. I just feel¡­naked!¡± ¡°Right?!¡± Katie¡¯s gaze turned to Wendy as they passed the girls, her expression polite yet expectant. ¡°You must be Wendy. Yeon-ah mentioned you might stop by.¡± I bet she did, Wendy internally huffed. She needed to be polite, though. This was a professor, after all. She smiled. ¡°Yeah¡­ She, uh, told me your transformation class was worth checking out. Not sure why, though.¡± She scratched the back of her neck, her bushy tail flicking behind her. ¡°I can¡¯t even really sense different types of magic that well or use magic at all. I¡¯m¡­not exactly a tanuki or vulpes.¡± Katie chuckled, her amber eyes twinkling. ¡°Magic is not always something you sense, Wendy. Sometimes, it¡¯s something you feel and¡­expect to respond.¡± She studied her for a moment before continuing. ¡°Transformation magic isn¡¯t simply about changing one¡¯s physical form. As you must have heard me lecturing those young kits. True transformation requires internal change before the external can manifest, but I believe you already understand that.¡± Wendy blinked, caught off guard by the profoundness of the statement. ¡°Huh¡­ That¡¯s, uh, deep. How do you know I know that, by the way? Been spying on me?¡± The professor¡¯s lips curled into a knowing smile. ¡°I can tell by your posture, tone, and the way your tail moves that you are on your guard with me. You do not truly trust me. You¡¯ve also been through emotional distress by the color of your cheeks and the stiffness in your fur. That¡¯s why I¡¯m here as a professor, dear. To help those willing to grow.¡± Nilly, still pressed to Wendy¡¯s side, peered up at Katie suspiciously. ¡°You smell like Yeon-ah, a little. You sisters or something?¡± A faint laugh escaped Katie¡¯s lips, her tails flicking in amusement. ¡°Sharp nose. Yes, Yeon-ah is my younger sister. She¡¯s¡­a handful, as you¡¯ve likely noticed. Not many would have caught onto that or its, mmm, meaning.¡± Wendy gave her a deadpan stare. Yeah, no duh. Your little sis is posing as a single-tailed teen girl, not the nine-tailed fully matured woman she really is. Nice ask, though, Nilly! ¡°Figures,¡± she muttered. ¡°I¡¯m not exactly sure what to expect by coming here.¡± Katie glanced at the ornate clock on the far wall, crafted in an old Korean style she recognized from the dramas she¡¯d occasionally branched into. Sora may love J-drama, but K-drama was a different breed. ¡°I would love to entertain you on my day off. I came in to support those two girls who begged me to give them a private lesson.¡± The professor¡¯s smile thinned slightly. ¡°Unfortunately, I have a pre-arranged appointment with Professor Kurosaki. I¡¯d be happy to answer any of your questions on the way out and maybe set up a time we can chat another time.¡± Thrown for a bit of a loop, Wendy glanced at Nilly who looked totally lost as to what to do. ¡°Oh¡­ That¡¯s a bit unexpected. Umm. No offense but I thought your sister is kind of a¡­villain? And you¡¯d just invite us to some trap and, I don¡¯t know¡­I¡¯ve watched too many dramas,¡± she mumbled. Katie suppressed a giggle, tails coming together while holding a closed fist to her lips. ¡°I would agree with you on the villain characterization. Yeon-ah is a tad¡­hmm, what word should I use?¡± she mused, taking the lead as she gracefully led them toward the exit. ¡°Perhaps eccentric would be suitable, or dreamer. She chose to leave Avalon. Mmm, yes, Nilly?¡± Taking the cue, Wendy and Nilly silently followed, the cat raising her hand. ¡°How do you know my name? And why do you have a name like Katie if you¡¯re Korean? I¡¯m a bit confused.¡± The woman cupped her chin, her long tails weaving behind them. ¡°Naturally, Yeon-ah told me all about your little group. As for my name, I¡¯ve gone by many over the millenia, but this is the one I had when coming to Avalon after¡­falling out with the Foundation.¡± ¡°Makes sense,¡± Wendy muttered, catching a nervous twitch in Nilly¡¯s ears as she stared at the woman¡¯s lips. Then, abruptly, the cat mumbled, ¡°Why do I smell human flesh on your breath?¡± Wendy¡¯s tail spiked, a jolt running down her spine, but Katie didn¡¯t skip a beat, looking ahead with a more somber smile. ¡°That is quite the loaded question coming from a Nekomata. Hmm. Am I to assume neither of you require some¡­condition to survive? It is uncommon but not rare that monsters come into Avalon with a more¡­pro-human attitude. Humans eat animals. Kumiho eat humans. That being said, our sustenance here is provided by the Royal Court of Avalon. I know not where it comes from. Humans do come here to study, and I have taught them. It is that simple.¡± ¡°That¡¯s¡­blunt,¡± Wendy mumbled, considering her position. ¡°Wow¡­¡± But¡­I thought Kumiho didn¡¯t eat flesh? Her sister said they don¡¯t have to anymore¡­ Somewhat blindsided by the topic, it wasn¡¯t long before they were outside. The moment they stepped onto the steps, Wendy¡¯s eyes locked onto the figure waiting beyond the hall¡¯s entrance. Professor Kurosaki stood with the imposing elegance of someone who knew their worth. Clad in a sharp, dark kimono with golden embroidery, he looked every bit the dignified scholar. Beside him, Fen loomed with her usual agitated energy, arms crossed and eyes locked onto Katie with thinly veiled irritation. ¡°This is the woman you are supposed to spend the day with?¡± Fen¡¯s voice dripped with annoyance, her tail twitching aggressively. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be kidding me. The Kumiho with the traitor sister?¡± Katie¡¯s lips twitched, a playful glint in her eyes as she surveyed the annoyed Huli Jing. ¡°Charming as always, Fen. I do hope you¡¯ll manage to keep up this time.¡± Fen¡¯s scowl deepened, her ears flattening as a low growl rumbled in her throat. Wendy stiffened at the tension crackling between them, but Katie merely smiled and inclined her head to Kurosaki. ¡°Shall we, Professor?¡± The two professors exchanged a glance heavy with unspoken words¡ªsomewhere between amusement and challenge, tinged with something Wendy couldn¡¯t quite place. It bordered on flirtation, but Wendy wasn¡¯t sure she wanted to think about that too much. As they departed, Wendy let out a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she¡¯d been holding. ¡°Well¡­she was a lot nicer¡­and more feral than I thought she¡¯d be.¡± Fen, arms still crossed, scoffed. ¡°Hmph. Don¡¯t be fooled. She¡¯s looking down on us the entire time. Professor Katie Milla isn¡¯t the type to show her true face so easily. I¡¯ve heard she¡¯s been asking around about Sora a lot¡­maybe too much. You should watch your back. Friendly advice from your Assistant Instructor.¡± Wendy frowned, her fingers brushing against the brooch at her chest. ¡°Huh¡­ I guess you found someone you hate more than Sora. Impressive.¡± Fen shot a look down the street where the professors had disappeared. ¡°There¡¯s something going on between them and Sora has a hell of a lot more influence than I do¡­ Figure it out!¡± With that, she turned and stalked off in the same direction the professors had gone, leaving Wendy and Nilly standing in the bustling street. Wendy watched her leave, then glanced at Nilly. ¡°You think she¡¯s gonna stalk them?¡± Nilly forced a grin. ¡°Without a doubt. She¡¯s down bad. And here I thought Jian and her were an item.¡± ¡°Yeah¡­ Who knows at this point. Want to go back to the dorm and make a string chart of all the conspiracy theories?¡± The cat perked up. ¡°Sure! That sounds fun. Maybe stop off and get something to eat on the way back?¡± ¡°You read my mind.¡± Her frown deepened as she looked around at the now dead street, putting her hands on her hips. ¡°I didn¡¯t think Yeon-ah was a criminal in both world¡¯s, though¡­ Interesting.¡± ¡°And Kumiho shouldn¡¯t require human meat anymore!¡± Nilly jumped in. ¡°You caught that too, huh? Yeah, something fishy is going on. Hmm. Let¡¯s go get some breakfast and theorize!¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Nilly cheered, throwing her fist in the air and dancing forward, bell tinkling around her ankle. ¡°I¡¯ll be Watsona!¡± ¡°I¡¯m the one with a W at the start of their name,¡± she giggled, ¡°but I guess that makes me Sherlockella. Onward, Watsona. Let¡¯s get to the bottom of this rabbit hole.¡± B3 — 18. Shadows in the Backdrop Mist shrouded the narrow garden pathway, curling like a whisper around Katie¡¯s ankles as she moved with quiet grace. The stone lanterns dotting the path flickered, their blue flames quivering in rhythm with the gentle hum of Avalon¡¯s latent power. Each step resonated subtly through the enchanted ground beneath her feet, echoes swallowed by the still, expectant air. Professor Kurosaki emerged from the mist beside her, following her through a twist in space that Fen wouldn¡¯t find so easy to navigate. The star-struck girl had been pulled in by his honeyed games like moths drawn to fox fire. His sharp kimono flowing like liquid night, golden embroidery glinting faintly under the ethereal light of the grove they¡¯d entered. The high, weeping trees hid them in their mists on the eastern side of the Academy grounds. A perfect place for a date. Kurosaki eyes, dark and reflective, like a still lake at midnight, met hers without hesitation. He had the look of a man accustomed to secrets¡ªone who thrived in their dangerous current. Katie¡¯s lips curved into a polite smile as she inclined her head. ¡°You¡¯re playing with fire with that Huli Jing. How long until you drive her mad with jealousy? Male vulpes are extremely rare. You wield your scarcity with precision.¡± He chuckled softly, a sound devoid of warmth to a mature woman¡¯s ears. ¡°You give me too much power, Professor Katie. Is it wrong to admire the beautiful? In the eyes of those who matter, Fen is an adult and my assistant instructor¡­ Her feelings are her own to express.¡± ¡°Indeed they are,¡± she hummed, folding her hands at her front while appraising the vulpes she¡¯d had surprisingly few interactions with over the course of her life inside Avalon. ¡°I appreciate confidence in a man who deals in subtlety.¡± ¡°And I appreciate a woman who knows the value of keeping appearances. Especially in a place like Avalon. These days, everyone seems to be playing their own deadly game.¡± Katie¡¯s smile remained, though her gaze sharpened slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t that why you called me out here for this little tryst, Professor? To feel out how much of a threat my little sister poses¡­or who might tip the scales first?¡± Their footsteps echoed softly as they walked deeper into the garden, the foliage around them pulsing faintly, reacting to their combined presence. The scents of wildflowers and petrichor lingered in the air, but beneath it, Katie detected the faint trace of forbidden magic clinging to Kurosaki, and recently. Combining our magic with old fae artifacts, are we? She didn¡¯t look his way, she already knew he¡¯d keep his gaze on the shifting mists. What a devious fox you are, testing where I stand. Little Yeon-ah must have really gotten under your skin. He was steeped in it¡ªThe Darkness threaded itself into the seams of his being like a parasitic force that both empowered and corroded. Moments later, it vanished as if never there. She didn¡¯t flinch. She wasn¡¯t afraid of him, though caution wrapped tightly around her core. ¡°You¡¯ve been busy,¡± she observed, her tails swaying behind her in fluid arcs that mirrored his own, coming inches apart in their rhythms. ¡°Rumor has it you¡¯ve taken an interest in the talk of the realm.¡± Kurosaki¡¯s mouth twitched at the edges, but he didn¡¯t bite. ¡°Rumors often contain pieces of the truth, though I¡¯ve found that truth is rarely as clean as people believe. Sora is quite extraordinary, but also quite young. And you, Professor Katie¡­ Are you here to continue your sister¡¯s game or play your own? The Council has been¡­whispering.¡± There it was¡ªa subtle challenge hidden behind the veneer of conversation. Katie kept her expression light, almost teasing. ¡°Yeon-ah is a dreamer, always has been. I play my own hand. I¡¯m not here to defend her, nor am I here to condemn my adorable dreamer. Families are complicated like that, wouldn¡¯t you agree? I heard you had sisters at one time.¡± Kurosaki¡¯s eyes gleamed, reflecting a hint of the blue fire floating in the mist. ¡°¡­Now where would you have heard that, Fox Sister Seol-hwa?¡± She resisted a reflective sigh at the mention of one of her past names, when she¡¯d tried to live as a human, only for her own human brothers to expose and chase her out. He must have connections with Diane and The Foundation to have that very old story. ¡°Where indeed? I questioned it myself since¡­well, you sort of popped out of nowhere a decade ago. If you were on Earth before Avalon closed its doors, I would have heard of you. Yet¡­you show up out of nowhere. It made me ask how this person I spoke to obtained such information. In any case, families are complicated. Are they not?¡± she asked with a sly smirk while examining the twisting trees. Kurosaki¡¯s smile hid a dagger. ¡°Quite complicated. On that note. Complications¡­ There is something Avalon excels at. Half the fae here seem to have sprung up out of the trees since I¡¯ve arrived¡­or have you heard about the mysterious fae who materialize out of Shadow Pits as of late¡­as if drawn in through a gate to some other realm.¡± Her tails drew closer together as they paused at a clearing, her gaze drifting to the enchanted vines weaving across a nearby trellis. The flowers glowed faintly, their petals shifting in color¡ªeach hue marking a different aspect of transformation. She traced a fingertip along one of the blooms, letting the magic hum against her skin. Now how did you manage to guess that, my dear handsome fox? She mused inside, weighing her options and the scales of where she sat. Everyone is dancing to the strings of faces in the dark. But who are the heroes¡­and who are the villains in this tale? ¡°A dangerous topic, Professor. Not one the High Queen and High King would enjoy being discussed aloud. Fae and monsters who have no memory. No origin. No family¡­ Magically inserted into society through a powerful spell that weaves their existence into our lives¡­ Such as a certain fae genius who has been attending your classes¡­or the shy siren who sang her way into a certain dorm room.¡± ¡°Indeed¡­¡± He laughed, mist gathering in his outstretched hand to form into a chrysanthemum. He brought it up to smell and then extended it to her. ¡°Where might the two of us gain the power to see past a charm of fae far beyond our limited magic and experience? Family is complicated. The true danger lies in the ties we can¡¯t sever.¡± ¡°Where indeed,¡± she mused, accepting it as blue flames flowed over her fingers to ignite the veiled threat; a flower in her culture symbolized tenacity, faithfulness, and longevity¡­while also placed on gravestones. Katie watched the petals curl and darken. ¡°Transformation is a curious thing, Professor,¡± she murmured. ¡°Everyone assumes it¡¯s only skin deep, but the most profound changes are internal¡­ The transformation of oneself¡­ Don¡¯t you think?¡± Kurosaki didn¡¯t respond immediately. He stepped closer, his presence like a cold wind at her back as he towered over her, staring down at her with the flame between them. ¡°Are we speaking about what we both suspect? Or are we still talking about Sora and the threads coiling around her tail?¡± ¡°Who can say, Professor? Is this a quiz?¡± A sharp tension crackled between them, subtle yet palpable. Katie¡¯s amber eyes narrowing slightly, tails spreading to mirror his own. ¡°Who has been feeding you, Professor? I can smell the potent flesh of immortals on your breath.¡± ¡°Who indeed, my handsome admirer?¡± She brought up the slow-burning flower to smell. ¡°What a lovely scent destruction can make¡­ Sora is interesting. But perhaps not in the way you or my sister believes. People like you see her as a key. Others see her as a ticket to impossible. And some,¡± she allowed herself a small chuckle, ¡°see her as an opportunity for redemption.¡± ¡°Which are you?¡± Kurosaki quietly asked, his voice soft but with a razor¡¯s edge. Katie tilted her head, her gaze distant for a moment as she considered his words. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m all three. Or none. After all, you wouldn¡¯t trust me if I gave you a simple answer, would you? Maybe you can ask that shadow lingering underneath your tails the next time you slip through the veil to return to the moon.¡± The professor¡¯s mouth curved into a thin smile. ¡°Now who is discussing topics our overlords wouldn¡¯t want discussed¡­ And no. I wouldn¡¯t trust tails as well groomed or fine as yours. Trust is a currency that¡¯s in short supply in Avalon these days. Especially with the likes of Diane and Fae Founders circling like vultures.¡± Handing him back the blackened flower, she showed a smile. ¡°Damned if we do, damned if we don¡¯t, damned if we let it go. Damned if we won¡¯t, damned if I leave, damned if I stay¡­damned either way. When the light goes down, truth comes out. I¡¯d be careful of Diane, Kourosaki¡­ How far will you go to know what lies in the darkness of your own past?¡± Kurosaki took a slow step forward, his tone growing colder yet his smile growing as she was forced to look up to meet his gaze. She didn¡¯t retreat, maintaining a charming, almost innocent expression. ¡°You aren¡¯t working with your sister, are you? Sisters who love one another, yet use each other for their own end. How¡­normal. But I have no intention of letting Diane or you sisters play your games uncontested. Avalon has its own shadows¡­and its own needs. I hear you set up a dinner date with the former Unseelie Queen¡­ Damned either way.¡± Katie¡¯s tails flicked once, slow and deliberate. ¡°Avalon¡¯s shadows run deep. Deeper than even The Darkness might suspect. And if you think The Darkness won¡¯t consume you in the process, then perhaps you¡¯re underestimating the storm you¡¯re inviting¡­ Damned either way.¡± The mist seemed to thicken around them as Kurosaki leaned slightly forward, his voice a whisper between them as the flower flaked away. ¡°And perhaps you underestimate how long I¡¯ve been living in that storm. I don¡¯t fear it, Professor Katie Milla. I am it.¡± Katie held his gaze for a long moment, the air charged with unspoken threats and alliances yet to be forged. Slowly, her smile grew, a gesture of acknowledgement and challenge rather than submission. ¡°Then we¡¯ll see how well you can steer the tempest. But remember, Professor¡ªstorms are fickle and often hide unknown danger. Chain reactions can be¡­unpredictable when dealing on a scale beyond our own understanding.¡± Kurosaki¡¯s smile widened slightly as Fen finally managed to make it through the rift, no doubt cursing her tails. ¡°That¡¯s what makes the game so fun, isn¡¯t it? Tell me you don¡¯t feel as high as the clouds right now.¡± ¡°Oh, dangerously high.¡± Katie turned, her nine tails sweeping gracefully behind her to likely brush against his face as she began to walk away, leaving him in the mist. Her thoughts were a tangled web of uncertainties and half-truths, but one thing was clear¡ªthis game, with all its players and stakes, was just beginning to unravel. Fen jogged through the fog to meet the handsome manipulator as she vanished into the veil. I don¡¯t think these higher powers are what you should be worried about, Kurosaki¡­ Sometimes, the games a man plays with a woman¡¯s heart is the poison that leads to their own destruction. There is always a sympathetic knight in her shadow¡­waiting for a reason to strike. * ¡ª * ¡ª * The tower loomed above Diane, its spire vanishing into one of Avalon Academy¡¯s cloud districts for beings such as pegasus. A frown touched her lips while taking in the ancient architecture, its spiraling design a fusion of enchantment and function. How clever are you, Oberon and Titania¡­ It just looks like a means for students without wings to get into the district¡­but it is for far more than that. Holding up a paper with symbols written across it, she fed the wealth of natural magic around the area into it; the spell analyzed the structure, identifying various properties and traces of old magic origins. Pulling it off, she examined it with a deep frown¡ªthis was actual Foundation work she was required to do. Interesting¡­ Behind these stones is a massive monolithic rod that sinks so far into the ground that I can¡¯t get an accurate reading¡­ A ward. One of many, no doubt, hidden behind various other large buildings. A defense against The Darkness¡­ Only, it¡¯s failing? And I was right. Her teeth gleamed as she ignored the loud taunts from a few fae boys who were trying to get her mixed up into a pixie word game trap. It wasn¡¯t worth her time to educate them. Not after what she¡¯d discovered. So, my old mistress¡­ You created these just before disappearing. How did you make it feel so ancient? I even remember them being here when I attended¡­but they definitely weren¡¯t here. Reality warping¡­or time variance? No, perhaps the more fascinating part is¡­who is eroding them? This is Founder fae magic¡­ High King Oberon and High Queen Titania couldn¡¯t affect these¡­ And most certainly these are the major bulwarks against The Darkness, which makes me wonder¡­what Queen Titania actually did and why so much of their magic is being tied up in other things¡­because it isn¡¯t tied to The Darkness. Diane¡¯s eyes narrowed, her mind racing through the possibilities. What secrets are you keeping after your fae goddesses were carried into the abyss? Is there something else happening behind the scenes? Something within The Foundation? Pulling out her tablet, she opened up one of her many tabs to jot a few notes. The fact I was sent to identify these and to see if they were indeed still in-tact or damaged shows someone in The Foundation knows their true purpose¡­ The spell that rewrote reality didn¡¯t work on them or their eyes were opened. She paused and looked up at the colossal tower, a short chuckle shaking her frame. There¡¯s a bigger game others are playing behind the scenes. Kurosaki seems to be a piece in that puzzle. I love puzzles¡­ It¡¯s like they¡¯re challenging my intelligence. Mia has her own plan, but there are other Founders playing their own game¡­which means I can play all sides to tip the scales in my favor. I just need to find¡­ Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Footsteps echoed faintly behind her. Diane¡¯s pulse quickened, but she didn¡¯t turn. She recognized the obviously projected aura¡ªa playful, almost melodic presence she had encountered several months prior. And there she is¡­ ¡°Yeon-ah¡­ It took you long enough to find me.¡± ¡°I thought I smelled trouble,¡± Yeon-ah chimed, her voice light and playful as she emerged from a warp in space, totally invisible to the fae boys. A feat a single-tailed girl like her should not be able to do. Of course, to those on Earth, she was practically a goddess. ¡°Here I was hoping to get some peace and quiet in my favorite hidden corner, and who do I find? The ever-diligent Diane, poking at old secrets.¡± Diane glanced over her shoulder, taking in the fox spirit¡¯s appearance. Yeon-ah was in the guise of a bubbly, silver-haired schoolgirl with an innocent gleam in her eyes. It was an effective mask. If she hadn¡¯t announced herself, she may have been fooled. Yeon-ah¡¯s true nature simmered just beneath the surface, hidden in plain sight. ¡°You blend in almost as well as your sister,¡± Diane remarked, returning to her tablet to make a few more notes. ¡°I¡¯d say you¡¯ve perfected the art of charming everyone around you.¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s amber eyes sparkled mischievously. ¡°You flatter me, but I¡¯m nowhere near as polished as Katie. She¡¯s always been the ¡®responsible¡¯ one¡­which is shocking to see her taking the actions she has.¡± The nine-tailed fox tilted her head, her expression becoming coy. ¡°But enough about me. I¡¯m more interested in why you¡¯re here and not with Sora or digging into more books about your old mistress. This isn¡¯t exactly Foundation territory.¡± Diane sighed softly, stepping away from the tower¡¯s base. ¡°Can we quit the games you foxes love to play? I know you have a long life and time to kill but some of us operate on a limited time-frame. Are you here to torture and eat me for the Foundation imprisoning you for so long or are you here to offer me an in to whatever higher game you¡¯re a part of?¡± Yeon-ah chuckled and shrugged. ¡°Oh, this is why I hate you Foundation types. All work, no fun. Why would I want to eat a representative of the Foundation who has been invited in by this realm¡¯s current rulers? I¡¯m merely dipping my toes in the waters.¡± Diane shifted a dull gaze to her for a moment, regarding her silently and weighing her options. An unpredictable fox woman who has been alive for more than a thousand years just happens to show up out of the blue? The only reason she was able to get into Avalon is due to connections¡­likely her older sister. It¡¯s time to fish. ¡°The stabilizing rods are failing,¡± Diane bluntly noted, watching for any reaction. ¡°You didn¡¯t show up just to tease me. You¡¯re here to recruit me.¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s playful expression didn¡¯t falter, but a subtle tension crept into her posture. ¡°Oh my, you¡¯re sharper than most Foundation types. It¡¯s impressive you¡¯ve learned so much about beings like Founders in under a year but I suppose your fae Founder instructor had a hand in the, ahem, foundations. As for my purpose? You could say I¡¯m here to offer¡­my services for a little access.¡± Diane nodded slowly as the fae boys left, acting like they didn¡¯t exist; she couldn¡¯t even sense the magic used. Being outside of the Foundation¡¯s powerful suppression network leaves me vulnerable, to a degree. What side is Yeon-ah playing on? Sora¡¯s or her own? ¡°No need to mince words. I have the ability to get certain high-tier items from the Foundation, and you have a way to sneak them into Avalon. But I¡¯m a very high-price business partner¡­ Founder magic doesn¡¯t just crumble without reason. Is it connected to what¡¯s been happening around the academy¡ªdisappearances, altered memories, students who don¡¯t seem to have origins in the Grand Library of Records?¡± Yeon-ah tapped her chin thoughtfully, shifting her weight to her other hip. ¡°Hmm¡­ You really have been busy. It could. Avalon¡¯s history is¡­more complicated than just what happened in the past five hundred years. The Fae Rulers left more than just protective wards behind. Sometimes those echoes wake up when certain conditions are met to show past memories stored in the realm.¡± She glanced at Diane, her smile sharpening. ¡°Conditions like Sora¡¯s presence.¡± ¡°The redirect¡­ Good. You¡¯re not wasting my time¡­by much.¡± Diane¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t give up information like that either. Also, there must be more to it. If you¡¯re suggesting Sora is responsible for this at her current power¡ª¡± ¡°Oh no, not directly,¡± Yeon-ah interrupted, waving a hand dismissively and twisting her tail around to brush it. ¡°But she¡¯s a catalyst for what is happening. Founders, especially ones like her, have a way of drawing attention from¡­unsavory forces. She¡¯s surrounded by more than just curious friends, wouldn¡¯t you agree?¡± Diane¡¯s mind flashed to several faces, connecting dots and subtle hints, even Diane¡¯s own ambitions. ¡°Obviously, she¡¯s a pawn in multiple games,¡± Diane muttered. ¡°Games her mother could easily thwart. Unless¡­there are other Founders involved. This being her territory puts the home field advantage in her court, though. Also, that is a dirty trick of words¡­ Sora is a catalyst for just about everything. It¡¯s not news. You¡¯re going after Sora?¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s laughter echoed softly, like the chiming of distant bells. ¡°Oh, Diane, you wound me. I¡¯m not here to destroy Sora. It¡¯s not like her mother would ever allow that. In fact, I¡¯d argue that I¡¯m one of the few people actually trying to protect her. Who do you think put Wendy on a warpath to be her sister¡¯s keeper?¡± She spread her fingers to examine her sharp nails. ¡°And wouldn¡¯t you say our dear Fen¡ªthe huli jing you put in her path¡ªfor example, has a rather¡­personal interest in her. Have you noticed how close she is getting to Sora?¡± Diane crossed her arms, tapping her tablet against her side, her eyes narrowing. ¡°Fen¡¯s loyalty is¡­complicated. You¡¯ve been in contact with her, haven¡¯t you? I take it you¡¯re encouraging her attachment? Does that mean you¡¯re working with Kurosaki?¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s smile turned enigmatic. ¡°I might be.¡± ¡°No¡­¡± Shaking her head, Diane reevaluated everything she knew. ¡°You¡¯re working your own angle. Your sister, Avalon¡¯s new rulers, Kurosaki¡­ There is power in this realm that can bring us to levels we could never dream of¡­ Her mother was extremely hostile toward Fen at the start from security videos. Are you¡­moving against Mia?¡± The fox¡¯s head tilted to the side, the sharp predator behind her school-girl mask bleeding through as Diane¡¯s vision widened. Piece by piece the puzzle was fitting together. ¡°Inari,¡± Diane breathed, the realization hitting her like a cold wind. ¡°Mia¡¯s older sister. You¡¯re trying to get the current matriarch of all foxes to notice her niece¡­ I suspected after hearing a few rumors, but¡­ Who is talking to you? Who put you on this path?¡± Yeon-ah¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Who do you think could supersede Mia¡¯s desires and fears?¡± I¡­don¡¯t know. The Fae Founders? Could Oberon and Titania be speaking with others¡­who corrupted their own siblings? Nilly? I don¡¯t know enough about the First Cat Founder since everything I have is from Sora and Wendy¡¯s recorded conversations¡­ Noelia? Diane didn¡¯t respond immediately, her mind racing. She didn¡¯t trust Yeon-ah, but there was truth in her words. The cracks in Avalon¡¯s foundation, the rising influence of The Darkness, and the growing web of alliances and enemies... it was all spiraling out of control. Sora was the linchpin. No, she¡¯s trying to guide me to my own assumption like a fox would. Not a lie. Not the truth. I don¡¯t need to know at this point. I need to get on the board. I figured someone would pull me in¡­but I didn¡¯t think it would be Yeon-ah. Interesting. She needs access to the Foundation, which means she doesn¡¯t have any other connections. Her sister is complying with her. Yet, vulpes are notorious for working with family while stabbing their tails at the same time¡­ ¡°Fine,¡± Diane finally said, her voice cold. ¡°I¡¯ll accept your¡­offer of cooperation. For now. I would love a meeting with your puppet master but know that I will not accept any plot to harm Sora.¡± Yeon-ah raised her hands innocently. ¡°Oh, Diane, I wouldn¡¯t dream of it. Sora is my greatest concern, after all! Inari will be so pleased¡­ She may even grant your wish without all your plotting. But I¡¯m just here to keep the game interesting. Just¡­be careful of Katie. My big sister is twisting her tails around for no good reason¡­and I don¡¯t know why.¡± The fox spirit turned, her single tail swaying playfully as she began to walk away. ¡°By the way¡­you might want to know that Kari¡¯s little sister is here¡­somewhere. Which means¡­¡± ¡°Eric will be here soon, causing trouble,¡± Diane mused, looking back at the tower with its cracking internal rod at its center. ¡°If we can get our hands on the little sister¡­ Now there is an fascinating piece of leverage.¡± As Yeon-ah vanished into the mist, Diane clenched her fists, her thoughts dark and heavy. The game was becoming more dangerous by the hour. And in a tiny universe that was like a grain of dust to a universe when dealing with real Founders, trust was something she couldn¡¯t afford. I planned on getting a portion of Sora¡¯s essence at a later date. But given her need to help every stray puppy around her with a sad story¡­ If I get her dog¡¯s little sister, she¡¯ll give me anything I want. That¡¯s the hardest item checked off the list. Watching the mist dissipate into nothing, she chuckled. Who have I tied myself to? Whoever they are, they seem to know my goals. That¡¯s not new. But¡­it means they can¡¯t act and need ground units. If they¡¯re as powerful as I anticipate, then granting my wish will be easy. Diane turned and walked away from the tower, having done her ¡®Foundation Duty¡¯ for the day. Now to do what I want¡­ It¡¯s time to go on a little wolf hunt. * ¡ª * ¡ª * The vast expanse of the lunar landscape stretched out beyond the reinforced glass of the Foundation¡¯s Lunar Base, a cold, silver desolation broken only by faint glimmers of sealed craters scattered across its surface and other Foundation structures. A massive starship flew overhead, carrying one of their alien allies that had become too spooked with Mia¡¯s presence to maintain relations at this time. It was a large loss for united research, yet not close to his primary concern. The largest of these craters stretched below them, encased in an iridescent web of unusual magic from a world they still didn¡¯t understand¡ªthe Moon Wizard¡¯s magic. Something far below it stirred in restless slumber. Something more relevant than any of them first thought. It was the right call to put Sora near this area to gauge her reaction¡­ There was something beneath that seal that chilled her. What are you hiding inside that tower of yours, Arsarius Lunaris? Raven stood before the window, his silhouette a shadowed enigma against the pale, reflected light. His black coat, adorned with various feathers and potent artifacts he¡¯d gathered over several thousand years, swayed slightly in the artificial breeze generated by the base¡¯s zero-point conduits. His gaze remained fixed on the crater. The base¡¯s AI chimed, generating an image of Diane as her recorded transmission played for him. No one was currently inside this section. Ever since Sora had occupied it, he¡¯d maintained a rather skeletal crew to buy time for his investigation. Diane¡¯s voice filled the sterile chamber, precise and professional, though faintly tinged with frustration. She was a rather funny woman, filled with hubris. ¡°This is Diane, reporting from Avalon Academy directly to the EC Council. As you expected, the stabilizing rods within the spires are deteriorating. The damage is unlike any conventional magical erosion; Founder magic should be impervious to most forms of decay, yet something is actively undermining their integrity. The Darkness may already be spreading throughout Avalon. I¡¯ll continue to investigate.¡± The transmission ended with a faint static hiss. Raven¡¯s lips curved in a subtle frown as he processed the information. His sharp, golden eyes flicked toward the recording device before glancing back at the sealed crater. So many webs layering on top of one another. This is a pillar event that will reshape our entire universe, so I suppose it makes sense that pawns will move on their own. ¡°Always more cracks beneath the surface,¡± he murmured to himself. A soft shimmer of light danced through the chamber, heralding the arrival of another presence. High King Oberon materialized, his form tall and regal, clad in intricate armor of silver and starlight. His long hair cascaded like spun darkness over his shoulders, and his gaze was as ancient and unyielding as the cosmos. ¡°I trust this isn¡¯t about another mortal grievance with the Academy¡¯s internal politics, Raven,¡± Oberon said, his voice deep and resonant. His eyes briefly scanned the crater before settling on him. ¡°You have the report for me?¡± Raven chuckled softly, though the sound was devoid of mirth. ¡°Far from internal politics and the typical run-around from the other members of the council, Your Majesty. This concerns The Darkness beneath Avalon. I assume your wife is aware of your absence? No?¡± Oberon¡¯s expression darkened slightly, though it carried a touch of humor. ¡°Titania is weaving her own schemes, as she often does. I leave her to her mysteries as she leaves me to mine. What of your investigation?¡± Raven turned away from the window, stepping forward and producing a single sheet of paper. Despite its modest appearance, the sheet shimmered with ancient High Fae script, each rune shifting into a new pattern. It carried a weave of information so dense it could overwhelm a mortal mind in seconds. He handed it to the High King without ceremony. ¡°This contains the details of what is the likely cause of the disruption in your wards against The Darkness,¡± Raven explained. ¡°Diane is withholding information, but I just needed to be sure of what type of cracks they were to give you my analysis. You will find cross-references to the last known incident involving the origin point of the tremor. It also notes Diane¡¯s observations and some of her suspicions. I¡¯m sure you can get more out of it than I.¡± Oberon took the paper, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the flood of knowledge encoded within the runes in an instant. Raven continued with a casual note. ¡°I¡¯ve also put in every bit of information relating to The Darkness and the incidents you inquired about without tipping off the other members of the EC Council¡­ As you suspected. The Ethics Committee members are all dead. They¡¯ve been dead for many months. ¡± His face grew tense as he read, the faint glow from his armor dimming in response to the weight of the revelations. Slowly, he turned his gaze back to the sealed crater outside. ¡°So, the seals are failing,¡± Oberon muttered, his tone grim. ¡°Perhaps Titania wasn¡¯t wrong to keep her silence all these centuries. If these cracks widen, it may draw forces far beyond what Avalon or the Foundation can contain.¡± Raven watched him carefully, noting the High King¡¯s subtle shift in posture. ¡°I figured you¡¯d have the best mind to project where this will end. Are you suggesting you¡¯ve seen this before?¡± Oberon¡¯s jaw tightened. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say I am the best mind for this¡­that would be my wife. I have seen enough to know where it came from. But some things are best left buried in the folds of time, yet time refuses to remain still. There are echoes of an old power here¡ªsomething that neither I nor Titania fully understood ourselves when we last faced it. But this time, I have a lead.¡± Raven folded his arms, his expression neutral but his mind racing. ¡°Perhaps it¡¯s time you met with the Moon Wizard again,¡± he offered, gesturing toward a distant tower rising from the lunar surface¡ªa spire of obsidian magic encased in layers of protective wards none of their technology could so much as touch. ¡°He has his own stake in this, after all.¡± Oberon¡¯s gaze followed Raven¡¯s gesture. His expression hardened, and for a moment, a flicker of something beyond ¡®old acquaintances¡¯ passed through it. ¡°Ahh.¡± Raven tilted his head to look between the crater and the tower. ¡°I figured he may have some way to stop The Darkness¡­but by your reaction, it seems it runs deeper than that.¡± ¡°You could say that. With all the research you¡¯ve done. It¡¯s opened my eyes to a few small details that paint a rather grim picture. The Moon Wizard and I have a long chat ahead of us, it seems. I won¡¯t accept his non-interference policy after this.¡± With a faint shimmer of light, Oberon straightened and stepped back, his form beginning to dissolve into a cascade of ethereal sparks. ¡°I will meet him,¡± he said, his voice carrying the weight of a decision that echoed across centuries. ¡°I will remember what you¡¯ve done for me, Raven. There is a rot in Avalon and your Foundation. It needs to be carved out.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Raven replied smoothly, his golden gaze never wavering. ¡°We all have our parts to play, Your Majesty.¡± Oberon vanished, leaving behind only a fading glimmer of moonlight. The chamber fell silent once more, save for the faint hum of Avalon¡¯s energy radiating through the glass. Raven turned back to the crater. But¡­what will you do if it is your own wife who stands in your way? The scarred surface of the moon hid many secrets. Within that crater, an entity of immeasurable power lay sealed¡ªa remnant of a war long forgotten by most of the cosmos. One he¡¯d recently discovered wasn¡¯t as ancient as the wizard had made them believe. Raven¡¯s fingers drummed lightly against his arm. Perhaps it is finally time to contact the Black Queen, he thought. She has always been adept at dealing with us, and now¡­we can be on the same side. Won¡¯t that be a treat? Maybe I¡¯ll be able to steal a dance. With a final glance at the shimmering tower in the distance, Raven turned and walked deeper into the base. The shadows lengthened around him, and the faint resonance of old magic hummed as he rubbed a particular jewel on his wrist watch. A date was set to meet with his old fling. The pieces were moving on the board, and in a few months, all would converge, with Sora in the center. Another chime signaled his AI assistant. ¡°Chancellor, Jarlath Moore has arrived.¡± Smile lighting his face, he began his journey toward the banquet room. ¡°Excellent. Be sure to guide him through the scenic route so he can enjoy all the best views and prepare the fifty-year scotch. It¡¯s bound to be a long meeting.¡± B3 — 19. Sisterly Secrets Sora lay sprawled on her bed, her tail weaving absently between her legs, the faint echo of the day¡¯s emotional roller coaster and revelations playing through her thoughts. Lifting her tail up, she watched red flames flicker along the tip as she absently practiced channeling her magic. She stared at the ceiling, eyes tracing the patterns of faintly glowing veins embedded in the stone¡ªancient protections that she still didn¡¯t quite get. Nothing could quite distract her enough, though. Kari deserves better, Mom¡­ So much better. She closed her eyes. Her stomach churned as images of the Shadow Pit flashed behind her lids. The darkness had reached out for Kari like it knew her. No, like it wanted her. And her sister was still out there somewhere¡­alive. Sora squeezed her eyes tighter. Too many questions, always more questions. The sound of the door creaking open drew her ears upright. She lazily turned her head and opened her eyes as Eyia stepped inside. Her golden hair was slightly tousled and gleamed like frost under the faint light of the magic along the ceiling. Her radiant armor didn¡¯t make a sound as she gestured behind her, ushering Nerida inside. ¡°Come,¡± Eyia commanded with a welcoming calm. ¡°You are not allowed to collapse before fully entering the room, young fish warrior!¡± ¡°I told you, I¡¯m more human than fish¡­ I think. I don¡¯t even know that much about my body.¡± Nerida stumbled in, her aquamarine hair clinging to her damp skin. She groaned, barely making it three steps, chest heaving, before collapsing to the floor, limbs sprawled like a beached whale. ¡°But I know I¡¯m not designed to run! My feet are killing me¡­ I can¡¯t¡­ I just¡ªEyia, what is wrong with me?! Am I just a fish out of water?¡± She sounds a lot less shy¡­but Eyia has a way of pulling people out of their shell with that innocence of hers. ¡°Nothing is wrong with a fish with legs.¡± Eyia, unperturbed by the complaint, dropped onto her bed and crossed her arms, nodding approvingly. ¡°Good strides have been made in increasing your physical fortitude. If my sister can heal your muscles, you will be able to go even harder tomorrow!¡± Sora had to wince at that. ¡°Harder?!¡± Nerida¡¯s head snapped up, sneakers off and massaging her feet, eyes wide with horror. ¡°How¡­ How could I possibly go harder? My legs don¡¯t exist anymore! Can we try swimming instead of running tomorrow?¡± Sora snickered, tail twitching toward her as her red flames turned sapphire with a desire. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t double your workload. Eyia isn¡¯t the type to cut out one exercise for another but she¡¯ll add onto it!¡± With a flick of her tail, a wave of blue fire arced toward Nerida, swirling gently around the exhausted siren. Nerida yelped, choking as she flailed for a moment before the fire surrounded her, soothing warmth replacing the ache in her muscles. The flames dissipated, leaving Nerida blinking in disbelief. She pushed herself to her knees, patting her limbs as if checking that they were real. ¡°What¡­ Is there anything you can¡¯t do?¡± Sora puffed out a soft chuckle but didn¡¯t answer. Yeah, there¡¯s a lot of things I can¡¯t do¡­ Like dig myself out of all these mysteries that keep burying me alive. Kari wants to bring back Eric¡­to fight him? I laughed it off when we were together. I mean, it¡¯s huge! But¡­is that really a good idea? It¡¯s Eric we¡¯re talking about here! The dude eats people for fun and twists his sister like a pretzel to prove a point¡­ Nerida stared at her for a moment, seeming to notice the distant look in her eyes. The siren¡¯s expression softened as she asked quietly, ¡°Hey¡­ Is something bothering you?¡± Eyia moved to sit on her bed, folding her hands in her lap, her gaze now focused intently on Sora as well. The Valkyrie tilted her head, no doubt silently wondering if she should ask or if it was something she didn¡¯t want to talk about. She was learning social skills so fast. Sora sighed, her mouth drawing into a thin line as she shook her head, eyes still locked on the ceiling. ¡°It¡¯s just, Kari deserves better¡­ So much better.¡± The weight of those words hung between them, thick and heavy. Nerida and Eyia exchanged glances. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nerida asked, her voice cautious. ¡°I know I don¡¯t know a lot about my, erm¡­roommate, but I noticed she wasn¡¯t back, and it¡¯s almost curfew. Do I¡­want to know?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not something I can share,¡± Sora quietly stated. ¡°Not without Kari¡¯s permission. I¡¯ve just got a lot of questions. Always questions.¡± Eyia¡¯s brow furrowed slightly. ¡°Where is Kari now? As the singing warrior proclaimed, the wolf is not in their lodgings. And not to change the subject of matter, but Wendy and Nilly will be here soon. Wendy was very¡­sick? No. Mmm. Unwell this morning? And I do not feel Kari nearby.¡± It¡¯s not where Kari is¡­but what¡¯s going on inside her that worries me. I can¡¯t wait ¡®till Mary gets here. It should be tomorrow, right? I think she comes tomorrow. One week in to see how we¡¯re doing. But Wendy is a whole different problem, and Nilly¡¯s been off¡­ Sora¡¯s lips pressed together briefly before glancing toward Eyia and Nerida. At least the valkyrie was doing better and helping out Nerida, which took some weight off her chest. ¡°Where¡¯s Kari? She¡¯s stupid and defying curfew, but¡­doing it with Jin.¡± Eyia¡¯s eyes widened and Nerida sat straighter, pulling inward to listen rather than join. ¡°She is with Jin? I suppose she is a well respected instructor within Avalon at the moment¡­ But is it acceptable to break the rules like that? Jin is not that amiable toward other Founders¡­I have found, so I am surprised she would accept her company. Jin has an extremely low threshold for annoyance.¡± Sora snorted, body shaking with silent laughter while shooting the blonde a creased eye. ¡°Jin, low threshold? I mean, kind of, but she¡¯s also super bored, I bet. Maybe even a little depressed, though she¡¯d never admit it.¡± ¡°Depressed?¡± Eyia repeated, testing the word on her tongue. ¡°Jin has spoken to me about this word. I find it a difficult word to transpose upon the dragon. Jin does whatever Jin feels like doing. Few can stop her since she can swallow the planet should she choose to.¡± ¡°She can do what?!¡± Nerida coughed, looking even more alarmed as Sora tilted her head in acknowledgement. ¡°Tell me she¡¯s joking! The dragon lady who wants to fight us in this big battle royale can eat a planet?!¡± ¡°Oh, quite easily.¡± Eyia nodded, matter of factly. ¡°If I fought my hardest, then I believe I could vanquish Jin, using all my power, yet she is not so convinced. She refuses to test it.¡± ¡°Pfft. I bet she does,¡± Sora mumbled with a melancholy smile, her focus returning to the ceiling veins that pulsed with faint light. ¡°Jin doesn¡¯t take anything seriously that doesn¡¯t interest her¡­but Kari seemed to do that. She wants to get stronger. She¡­even asked me if I¡¯d see if you¡¯d help train her, Eyia.¡± ¡°Me?¡± The valkyrie sucked in her bottom lip, chewing on it for a moment. ¡°The wolf asked me to train her? I offered it before, though I told her that it may be difficult for me to navigate my emotions toward fenris wolves. And she told me it matters not if she is strong or not. Last I spoke, she had no intent of building her power. Why has she changed her mind?¡± Sora smiled faintly, her gaze lowering from the ceiling to meet Eyia¡¯s. ¡°That¡¯s like her¡­ Things change, though. Maybe she realized that being strong¡­sometimes matters more than you want it to. Seriously, you should see her, Eyia. She¡¯s like a totally different person after today¡­ I¡¯m happy for her. And¡­I¡¯m worried¡ª¡± Before Eyia could respond, the door opened again, and Wendy entered, her steps lighter than usual but her face clouded with thought. Her hoodie was slightly rumpled, and her tail flicked sharply behind her, betraying her agitation. She stopped just inside, glancing between Sora, Eyia, and Nerida. Nilly was in cat form, resting on her shoulder, only it was adorable kitten Nilly. ¡°Am I¡­interrupting something? Oh. Have you met my newest attachment?¡± she asked, jabbing a finger at the big-eyed kitty. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Nilly!¡± Sora flicked her tail back and jumped up to accept the heart-melting furball. ¡°What happened to you? You¡¯re a little, super cute kitten!¡± The rumble that vibrated through the tiny Cat Mom, tickled her cheek as she held the black cat up to her face. Touching noses with Nilly, the kitten sneezed and shook her head. Sora giggled as she sniffed her and licked the tip of her nose. ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Okay. You deserve some milk! All cuteness aside. Is she okay, Wendy?¡± ¡°Already ahead of you,¡± Wendy snickered, taking off a shoulder bag and a bottle of creamy white liquid. ¡°Nope. She¡¯s good¡­ More than good,¡± she whispered as Nerida and Eyia moved to mirror them, looking entranced by the adorable little girl. ¡°We had a great day. So, did I interrupt something?¡± ¡°Nope. Just girl talk.¡± Sora responded, not wanting to ruin the mood by mentioning Kari to her sensitive sister. ¡°What about you? You look like you¡¯ve had an interesting day. How did Nilly end up like this?¡± ¡°You could say that.¡± Wendy snorted, unscrewing the bottle and watching Sora create an invisible bowl to pour it into with her magic. ¡°Let¡¯s just say I¡¯ve got some conspiracy theories running around my brain. But for now, how¡¯s my least favorite wolf girl doing? Still brooding or¡­¡± ¡°She¡¯s training with Jin,¡± Sora replied, her tail flicking lazily while begrudgingly giving up Nilly to Eyia to hold up and examine. ¡°She¡¯s got stuck in her head that she needs to get strong enough to¡ªwell, just stronger. She¡¯s been through a lot today.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure we all have,¡± Wendy muttered, moving to sit beside Nerida on the floor and pulling around her giant, puffy tail to hug. She glanced at the siren, who was still stretching her legs experimentally. ¡°Guess Eyia¡¯s boot camp didn¡¯t kill you yet, huh? I smell Sora¡¯s magic on you. Healing?¡± Sora¡¯s eyes widened. Did she make progress? How did she know it was healing magic? ¡°Barely,¡± Nerida groaned, but her lips curved into a shy smile. ¡°I¡¯m starting to think she¡¯s part demon or devil and not a warrior angel.¡± ¡°I am nothing of the sort!¡± Eyia balked as if she¡¯d been offended. ¡°Demons are brutes who hold no elegance nor strategy. Devils are lazy and deviants. Tomorrow, we shall push even further beyond your limits!¡± ¡°Wait, no I didn¡¯t mean¡ª¡± Nerida paled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry!¡± Sora chuckled softly, feeling some of the tension in her chest ease as Eyia gave her a questioning look. ¡°It¡¯s not a punishment, Nerida. It¡¯s her promise to make you strong enough to handle yourself so that the devils and demons can¡¯t hurt you.¡± ¡°Indeed!¡± The warmth of her friends surrounded her, grounding her in the present as Wendy jumped in to offer her own teasing remarks. With curfew in effect, the next few hours were filled with joking and tentative stories passed between them. Sora could tell her brown-haired sister was keeping a lot of today''s activities private, but she seemed to be a lot more upbeat than that morning. Nerida was building her stamina, which Sora took as not only for her ¡®physical stamina¡¯ but also her lung capacity. Eyia knew what she was doing. Bedtime finally came and Nerida returned to her room. However, Kari didn¡¯t return that night. Slipping into bed, Sora snuggled under her blankets, spotting kitty Nilly curling up on Wendy¡¯s chest, over the sheets. She smiled and closed her eyes, settling in. Her thoughts returned to the questions bubbling up about not only her mother, but Noelia, as well. It¡¯s not only Mom who should know about Tiri¡­ Is that why Noelia kept us hidden when we went to check out the forest? Is all of this a part of some big plan? I can see it¡­ Kari¡¯s determined face, burning with new purpose filtered up. If she didn¡¯t find out this way¡­then would it have affected her this much? I don¡¯t think so¡­ I can see why Mom might hold back on it¡­but at the same time, it¡¯s her little sister, Mom. It feels¡­wrong to hold that back. But what if holding it back brought her back because of the shock¡­ Of feeling her again. Really feeling her sister. ¡°Sora?¡± Eyes fluttering open, she glanced over at Wendy, surprised how much time had passed since she¡¯d settled in. Wendy was staring up at the ceiling, stroking Nilly. It seemed, Eyia had fallen to sleep like a bag of rocks. Stolen story; please report. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard¡­that all Kumiho have been cured of their need to consume human flesh.¡± ¡°Uh-huh? That¡¯s cool. Avalon is kind of insane. The fae have lived for, like¡­forever, so I guess they¡¯d have a lot of answers to a lot of monster problems.¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t think that¡¯s it,¡± she mumbled in return, voice softer and laced with a hint of caution. ¡°I asked around with Nilly today, and¡­it only happened a few weeks ago. When¡­¡± Sora¡¯s tail straightened slightly under the covers. ¡°¡­When my mom intervened and brought everyone back to life¡­ That¡¯s really nice of her. I mean, it was probably my mom. Right?¡± ¡°Yeah¡­¡± Wendy cleared her throat. ¡°I thought so, too, because¡­who else could perform magic on that scale. To affect every vulpes across, like¡­everywhere in our world, Avalon¡­realms beyond it. Did she tell you about that?¡± ¡°Umm¡­ No. No, but I mean, my Aunt Inari did a sort of similar thing with all the Nogitsune. So, it makes sense she¡¯d want to help out other foxes. Maybe she did it for a reason.¡± Her eyes widened and she sat up as Diane¡¯s warning hit her between the eyes. ¡°Wait, the Kumiho that escaped the Foundation! You don¡¯t think that has something to do with it?¡± ¡°¡­Yeah, her¡­ Umm. Hmm. I don¡¯t know. I just¡­thought it was interesting. And what if it wasn¡¯t your mother who did it?¡± ¡°Huh? What do you mean?¡± Sora scooted back to lean against the headboard to stare at her sister in the dark, but Wendy¡¯s focus was on the pulsing, faint veins of light on the ceiling. ¡°Maybe nothing. I¡¯ve just been doing a lot of thinking today. Maybe my brain¡¯s just cooked¡­not that I have a brain.¡± A small smile pulled at Sora¡¯s mouth at her dry joke. ¡°I can ask her about it when we get home but I guess so can you. Is there a reason you¡¯re investigating this, ahem, conspiracy?¡± she asked with a light laugh. ¡°I¡¯d love to help.¡± Wendy absently waved her hand and settled back in. ¡°Naaa. You¡¯ve got a ton of stuff on your mind. I just wanted to see if your mom told you about doing something like that. Uh¡­ So, we¡¯re going to see Aunt Rose? She¡¯s been a little restless lately.¡± Sora followed her pointed finger to the ceiling between them, where the black thorns pulsed like a beating heart, only discoverable by them. She didn¡¯t know if she should smile or frown. ¡°Not just that¡­ Tomorrow, it¡¯s me and you, Sis. ¡®Kay? Actually¡­¡± ¡°Hmm?¡± Staring at the thorns, Sora felt a cold chill run down her spine, her mind returning to her conversation with Kari. Do we really need to wait five more weeks to talk to Mom about Tiri? Mom made my own realm. It¡¯s a super easy trip. We could go and be back in thirty minutes. But¡­is that the right thing to do? Did Kari think about that and let it slide? I can¡¯t believe I didn¡¯t think about that. Her stomach twisted at the thought. Kari had seemed calmer than before but¡­this is her sister. If it had been Wendy¡­she¡¯d be all over that. Kari wouldn¡¯t just sit around waiting if she thought there was something she could do. Would she? What is she even doing with Jin? I don¡¯t think we¡¯d get kicked out, but rules are here for a reason. Then again, Jin is Jin¡­but is Kari using that as an excuse? What if she¡¯s using Jin¡¯s authority and boredom to bypass the curfew and look for Tiri on her own? No, I should bring it up to her and not go in circles with it in my own head. It¡¯ll only drive me crazy. Copper locks bunching on her pillow as she shook her head, Sora forced a smile and puffed out a long breath. ¡°Just thinking about complicated things. No. Tomorrow, it¡¯s you and me. Wendy.¡± ¡°Mhm times two?¡± Sora chuckled at her light smirk. ¡°Sorry¡­ We¡¯ll figure out your power. I know it hasn¡¯t been easy for you this last week¡­ Nothing has been easy for you. But I¡¯m always on your side.¡± There was a short pause, Wendy¡¯s eyes drifting to Nilly as she gently stroked her head and folded down her ear. ¡°¡­Yeah. I know you would. Thank you for never abandoning me¡­¡± She pulled Nilly closer to kiss her nose, making the kitten yawn and scrunch up her face in protest. Wendy pulled her under her sheet to settle on her chest and protectively pull the covers over her until just her head was poking out, the cat yawning and lying down. ¡°We all need someone who will never abandon us¡­ Thanks, Sis. Night.¡± ¡°Night! Love you.¡± ¡°Love you.¡± Swapping to her side, Sora folded her ear against her pillow and streamed out a long breath. It wasn¡¯t long before her mind wandered into the dreamscape. The warm haze of sleep cocooned Sora as she clutched the edge of her pillow, ears twitching at the soft hum of magic pulsing through the dorm. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she registered the weight settling on her face, muffled purrs vibrating through her skull. Nilly¡¯s velvety fur tickled her nose as the kitten nestled into her, rumbling with satisfaction. ¡°Mmm¡­ Huh¡ªmmpf?¡± Sora groaned, her arms flailing weakly. ¡°Wha¡ªNilly?!¡± Her voice came out muffled as she tried¡ªand failed¡ªto sit up. The little kitten meowed softly, pressing her paws into Sora¡¯s face before hopping down onto the bed. Wendy¡¯s teasing laughter drifted from nearby as she opened her eyes to see the merest hint of dawn in the window. ¡°Morning, sleepy tail. Thought I¡¯d start your day with a cat attack. Nilly volunteered.¡± ¡°Meow.¡± ¡°Volunteer, huh?¡± Sora muttered, rubbing her eyes and flicking her tail out from under the sheets. ¡°Great. Betrayed by the mother of all cats¡­who is still a kitten. I¡¯ll remember that.¡± Nilly gave an innocent tilt of her head, hopping onto Eyia¡¯s bed to rub against her face, while Wendy grinned¡ªsomehow, the stealthy cat actually managed it! Wendy stood near Sora¡¯s wardrobe, hair adorably messy, her usual tanuki-squirrel tail puffed and swaying lazily behind her. Despite the untamed look, she seemed oddly upbeat, her eyes sparkling. ¡°C¡¯mon,¡± Wendy said, tossing a shirt toward her. ¡°We¡¯ve got a date with Aunt Rose and Null-Void training today. Time to get moving. I picked out a few training outfits for us¡ªfigure we¡¯d try not to look like total disasters in front of her, right?¡± Sora chuckled sleepily, stretching before swinging her legs off the bed. ¡°Sure. Can¡¯t let her think we¡¯ve gone full slob mode when she¡¯s chained to a freaking black hole¡­ Wait, no, she is the black hole-like thing.¡± ¡°Right? She¡¯s weird.¡± ¡°Super weird.¡± ¡°Dad¡¯s side is weird.¡± ¡°And mysteriously cool at the same time.¡± ¡°True!¡± She watched Wendy move around the room, gathering clothes and muttering softly about colors. The sight made her smile as Eyia held Nilly up, glaring at the adorable black kitten, her split, red-tipped tail swaying. It was a nice change¡ªWendy had been so off-kilter lately. ¡°There will be one day that I shall foresee your attacks, Cat Mother!¡± Eyia hummed, her ice-blue eyes fixated on the kitten as if she was the ultimate foe. ¡°Meow!¡± She quickly zeroed in on them. The blonde sat up, her locks shimmering like frost in the illuminating room as the veins along the ceiling brightened. ¡°You are preparing for today¡¯s journey to¡­train?¡± Eyia asked, rising with a stretch as Nilly hopped off to attack a spaghetti strap dress thrown atop Wendy¡¯s bed. ¡°Yup. Something like that,¡± Sora confirmed, throwing off her nightgown and pulling on a tank top and shorts her brunette sister tossed her. ¡°Not bad choices. Wendy and I need a bit of one-on-one time. It¡¯s¡­kind of a personal thing. Did Kari return last night?¡± Eyia frowned thoughtfully. ¡°Ah. You will be skipping my training again today? Regrettable. As for the wolf¡­ No. I only sense my pupil in the room across the hall. Is there the possibility Jin once told me in that¡­I, eh, stink?¡± Sora winced, hearing the vulnerability in the blonde¡¯s voice. ¡°What? No! Jin¡¯s stupid. You smell just fine, and we¡¯re not trying to avoid you, Eyia.¡± Wendy gave her a hidden stare that said, ¡®speak for yourself¡¯ that made her return a light glare. Oh, c¡¯mon! Eyia just wants to make sure we¡¯re strong enough to take care of ourselves. Her sister lifted her eyebrows and pointed at her chest, where the brooch gleamed. Okay, I get you¡¯re worried you might blink her out of existence, but we need to dedicate some time for her, too! ¡°Yeah, sorry, Eyia,¡± she returned. ¡°We¡¯ll get back to it after today. We¡¯re not dodging you on purpose. Promise! Besides, tomorrow¡¯s Jin¡¯s big tournament thing, right?¡± Eyia¡¯s cheer rebounded. ¡°Indeed! Tomorrow is the great event¡ªboth a tournament and battle royale for the victory of bragging rights. The victor can give the punishment games of the losers. A fitting incentive, no?¡± Sora blinked. Both Wendy and her tail went totally stiff, fur bristling. ¡°Punishment games? I didn¡¯t hear anything about punishment games! And a tournament or battle royale? Which is it?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Eyia¡¯s voice grew animated, hands gesturing as she over-explained in that charmingly blunt, awkward way of hers. ¡°It is both simultaneously, for Jin enjoys variety and many forms of combat. There are rounds and individual matches, but also group clashes on the final day for a wealth of points! Truly a test of versatility and stamina!¡± ¡°Ahhh¡­ Okay,¡± Sora replied with a grin, shaking her head while exchanging looks with Wendy. ¡°Yeah, that sounds exactly like Jin. Well, don¡¯t worry about us. Wendy and I have our own training to work on. A secret weapon kind of thing.¡± Please, Wendy, save us! Jin can¡¯t prepare for something she doesn¡¯t know, right? Null-Void will give us the edge because I¡¯m useless! Wendy? Wendy?! Her sister had a thoughtful gleam in her green eyes while examining herself in the mirror on the closet door. It was that, ¡®I may be an enemy or friend. Depends on the deal¡¯ look on her face. Eyia¡¯s eyes sparkled, her posture straightening. ¡°A secret weapon? Marvelous! I eagerly anticipate seeing this in practice during the tournament! It will be a grand spectacle! I shall be vigilant and cautious of your unexpected comeback.¡± Wendy snorted softly, and Sora couldn¡¯t help but laugh along with her. Eyia gave a respectful bow before looking for a change of clothes for herself. ¡°Very well. I must prepare for my morning meditation and private tutelage of my siren-fish student. Good luck with your training, Sisters,¡± Eyia encouraged with a proud smile before stepping out the door. With the room now quiet, Sora focused on her morning routine. A quick snap of her fingers ignited a shimmer of cleansing magic that rolled over her skin, leaving her feeling refreshed without a single trip to the bathroom. Wendy perched on her bed, already dressed in leggings and a loose-fitting green hoodie. She fiddled with her sleeves, watching Sora dress but remaining uncharacteristically quiet. Finally, as Sora slipped on her sneakers, Wendy hesitated, then spoke softly. ¡°Hey, um¡­ I didn¡¯t mention this yesterday with everyone around, but¡­ I met with Aiden.¡± Sora paused mid-motion, straightening slowly. The image of the blonde firebird came to mind¡ªhis broad smile, rainbow eyes twinkling. She blinked and forced herself to keep her tone casual. The brunette had a nonchalant posture that didn¡¯t fool her. Something was up. ¡°Oh?¡± she asked while tying a knot. ¡°How¡¯s he doing? Obviously, I haven¡¯t really had the chance to catch up with him this week¡­but you knew that. Is he okay?¡± Wendy tugged at the hem of her hoodie, her gaze dropping for a moment before meeting hers. ¡°He¡¯s good. Really good. There¡¯s a whole pack of vulpes girls that were swooning over him but he¡¯s been settling in here better than I thought he would.¡± ¡°Swooning fox girls, huh?¡± she mumbled, tasting a somewhat bitter flavor in her mouth for some reason. ¡°Can¡¯t say I¡¯m surprised. He is super cute, has a good smile with eyes that are, well, like a rainbow. So, yeah.¡± ¡°Mmm. I¡¯m sensing¡­¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± ¡°Nothing is right,¡± she said with a forced laugh, twiddling with her hoodie straps. ¡°He¡¯s learning a lot from the instructors, he says¡ªstuff about his powers that even Alva didn¡¯t teach him. Seems like he¡¯s¡­growing.¡± Sora nodded slowly, sensing there was more Wendy wasn¡¯t saying and wanting to bite into it. At the same time, she wanted to totally drop it, which didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°That¡¯s good. He seems kind of a natural at all that flashy stuff. I mean, he is a Founder, like us. Did you¡­talk about anything specific? About what he¡¯s been doing the first week? Any new friends?¡± She gave her sister a casual glance and wanted to curse her out at her expression. Oh, c¡¯mon! I¡¯m not asking if he has a girlfriend. Has he met anyone? Mentioned anyone? Talked about anyone he admires¡­ Asked about me? C¡¯mon! Wendy hesitated again, biting her lip. Her tail swished nervously behind her. ¡°Yeah, kind of¡­ I asked him to look into some things for me. Nothing big, I think,¡± she added quickly, waving her hand dismissively. ¡°Just¡­people around here. Fae and stuff. I¡¯m kind of nervous about some people. I figured he¡¯s got a good nose for trouble.¡± ¡°Nose¡­ His nose sucks.¡± Sora raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued and considering how protective Wendy had been recently. ¡°Fae stuff, I assume? You¡¯re talking about Aelion. Aren¡¯t you?¡± Wendy stiffened slightly but nodded, looking away and accepting Nilly onto her lap. ¡°Yeah, well, I guess I wasn¡¯t going to get that past you with how I¡¯ve been acting. He is kind of sus. Anyway, I just wanted to be cautious and he seemed pretty invested in it once I told him about the guy.¡± Did he now? Heartbeat increasing, Sora smiled and straightened to study her sister as she continued. There was no way she could voice her thoughts. How ¡®invested¡¯ are we talking? ¡°You¡¯ve got enough on your plate without more people messing around. I didn¡¯t want to worry you with it.¡± Sora¡¯s heart warmed at the protective tone in Wendy¡¯s voice but she couldn¡¯t help but feel a tad exasperated. Sure. I¡¯ve been pulling my tail fur out but I wouldn¡¯t mind Aiden thinking and worrying about me a bit. He¡¯s a reliable guy. She smiled, got up, and stepped closer to playfully nudge her shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re always looking out for me, huh? Thanks, Wendy. But, hey, you don¡¯t have to keep everything bottled up, too. We¡¯re in this together, Sis. We have today together. We can talk and chill while training.¡± Wendy smiled back, though it was tinged with a hint of guilt. ¡°Yeah¡­ I know. Thanks, Sora. Sometimes I just¡­mess up, and I don¡¯t know how to approach it.¡± ¡°I totally get that! No, I¡¯m not mad you asked Aiden to look into Aelion. It¡¯s totally you. Thanks for looking out for me.¡± They shared a quiet hug before Wendy clapped her hands together and hopped to her feet, her mood shifting back to light-hearted. ¡°Alright, enough of the heavy stuff. Let¡¯s get to work. Aunt Rose is waiting, and I¡¯ve got a feeling she¡¯s gonna have a lot to talk about.¡± ¡°Oh, joy,¡± Sora muttered, grabbing her jacket to pull over her tank top and spotting the thorns crawling out from under their beds like a horror movie. ¡°Guess we better be ready for anything. Auntie is¡­a prisoner after all. No telling what is going to happen with her.¡± With a final glance at the mirror to check their outfits, Sora shook herself out and stood across from Wendy, holding out her hand. ¡°Ready to see what¡¯s agitating Dad¡¯s side of the family?¡± Wendy took it and tapped her brooch with her free hand, cheeks puffing out before releasing the air. ¡°Yeah, well¡­about that. You see, she sort of is giving me the impression she doesn¡¯t want us to go¡­but I want to go.¡± Lips becoming a line, Sora gave her a curious stink-eye. ¡°Oh? Well, I trust you since you¡¯ve got the Null-Void sniffer. Me, not so much. So¡­you going to open the way? Magic for me is like second nature, so I assume¡­¡± ¡°Yup. I got you! Hold on¡­ Countdown from three. Nilly?!¡± Taking her other hand, Sora chuckled as the cat jumped up to land on top of their clasped hands. ¡°I guess she wants to come¡­ Nilly is one of the few who can.¡± ¡°True. Happy to have you joining us in First Class, Ms. Cat Mom,¡± Wendy giggled. The kitten¡¯s tail flicked, her gold eyes sparkling mischievously. Was it just her imagination, or did those eyes seem far older for a moment? Sora shook the thought off. ¡°Meow!¡± Sora closed her eyes, counted with kitty Nilly, and felt a sudden, disorienting tug, like her entire being was stretched through a pinprick of light. For an instant, there was no up, no down¡ªjust a void swallowing them whole. B3 — 20. Power Swap A familiar tug pulled Sora through the invisible threshold between Existence and Nihility. Only this time, their path through the dimensional layers was as smooth as an onion¡ªnot totally smooth, but smooth enough. Her breath hitched as a disorienting lurch made her stomach twist in on itself. There was an unnatural pressure, thick and suffocating that hadn¡¯t been there before, like unseen hands were gripping the edges of their passage and pulling in different directions. Her tails bristled, the warmth of Wendy¡¯s fingers tightening around her own as the void yawned open around them. Nilly was thrown off their joined hands, flipping around to land on nothing, ears pulled back and looking up. In the next instance, her senses stretched in too many directions at once¡ªher vision inverted, the colors warping between vibrant crimson and endless black. The Blood Sea churned wildly above them, its violent currents casting shadows along its surface. Yet, something drastic had changed. ¡°Wendy?¡± she whispered, a lump forming in her throat. ¡°Was¡­it like that before?¡± Her sister¡¯s puffy tail bristled against hers as her gaze lifted. ¡°No¡­ That can¡¯t be good.¡± The endless glass holding back the turbulent blood sea¡­was fractured. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± She could hear a distant, distorted hum vibrating through the sea of black thorns around them, soundless vibrations cutting through Null-Void like threads snapping one by one. Sora cleared her throat and cast her gaze around, the realization slamming into her chest before her feet even found the unsteady, shifting surface of their platform. ¡°Maybe we should come back later?¡± ¡°You think?¡± She stumbled, catching herself before thorns rose up and split around them, barely diverting as if not even realizing they were there. The black thorns were moving¡ªnot just growing, but writhing. They twisted and coiled in unpredictable patterns, like something was stirring beneath them. Wendy let out a sharp breath beside her as Nilly darted to her leg, pressing against it and looking around in panic. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°Yeah, I don¡¯t know,¡± Sora mumbled, ears flicking toward her. ¡°Wendy?¡± Her sister wasn¡¯t looking at her. She was staring at the sky again, or whatever constituted the sky here since directions weren¡¯t really a thing. Well, at least to anyone who wasn¡¯t like them. Sora followed her gaze, and her pulse staggered. ¡°Is¡­the Blood Sea collapsing inward. That can¡¯t be good.¡± ¡°I mean, not like we have a good base, right?¡± ¡°Fair point,¡± Sora returned with a forced laugh. ¡°Something tells me we should come back later.¡± ¡°Hah! As if we have a choice?¡± Wendy glanced back and the sea of twisting and distorting vines that writhed around them. ¡°Uh, I don¡¯t know about you but I¡¯m not feeling a way back. You think¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s a trap? Mmm. Should we say the Herald¡¯s name to force her to come?¡± Sora offered, pressing closer to Wendy as Nilly swapped to her sister¡¯s foot, peeking out between them. ¡°Even the freaking mother of cats is freaking out.¡± Where once it had been an ocean suspended beyond a glass ceiling, a vast, unknowable expanse contained within Nihility, now it raged with instability, its tides pulling in opposing directions. The currents twisted into spirals, the veins of crimson stretching unnaturally, as if reality itself was being wrung out like a soaked cloth. Thin tendrils of mist coiled around pockets of what Sora could only describe as¡­gore on the other side of the glass. The cracks expanded, spilling rivulets of thick, glistening red into the black abyss below, staining the dark. The mist and gore were still contained on the inside. But, it was still leaking its bloody waters. And through that swirling, chaotic mass, she felt something. Something searching for a way inside. Nilly leaped up, her tiny body colliding with Wendy¡¯s chest as she burrowed into her hoodie, trembling. Sora¡¯s stomach tightened as a tremor rippled through her to the core. Aunt Rose¡­ What is going on? Nilly was always erratic, playful, strangely omniscient in her way, but fear? Genuine, uncontrollable fear? That was new. Nilly was supposed to be the hero kitty of the Founders. A 1st Generation. Wendy¡¯s arms instinctively curled around the kitten as she moved inside her hoodie front. Her head poked out and Wendy stroked between her small ears, trying to calm her. ¡°What makes you scared, Nilly? Maybe we should call out someone¡¯s name¡­ What was that Fae Founder¡¯s name? Where is Nilly looking?¡± Her wide, golden eyes¡ªso ancient, so full of knowing¡ªwere fixed on the crimson mist and gore, curling behind the glass. Sora felt it, too. A shift, a pulse of something deeply wrong. ¡°Like I¡¯d know? Are those¡­organs, bodies? I don¡¯t know, just¡­yikes. Do you¡­hear that?¡± The back of her mind itched, pressing with thoughts that weren¡¯t her own. A voice, whispering, distant yet intimately near from all directions: ¡°You are not Her. Yet you are made of Her. You do not belong to Existence. And still, you resist oblivion?¡± The pressure tightened, sinking into her lungs. Sora¡¯s tails lashed, instinctively drawing on the defensive heat in her core, but she hesitated. Because this wasn¡¯t Nihility itself speaking. It wasn¡¯t Aunt Rose. This was something else. Something new. A dark chuckle vibrated through the space like cracking ice, and Sora¡¯s fur bristled as a second presence layered over the first: ¡°I tried to warn you. You stayed too long, Little Spark. They see you now. Not that it matters. It isn¡¯t like they can do anything¡­yet.¡± A flicker of golden light illuminated the thorns ahead of them. Sora turned, her breathing evening out as the void-clothed woman emerged from the shifting thorns, her chains rattling against unseen forces. ¡°Aunt Rose!¡± Wendy¡¯s call was quieter. Questioning. ¡°Aunt¡­Rose?¡± She looked¡­strained. Her body flickered, pieces of her dragged in opposing directions, as if two invisible forces were fighting over her presence. Their aunt¡¯s golden, effulgent eyes met Sora¡¯s with an amused tilt of her head, but the tension behind them was unmistakable. She was struggling. ¡°Ah¡­ You really didn¡¯t get my warning last time.¡± She sighed. ¡°You have the worst timing, girls, you know that?¡± Her lips curved into a lazy smirk, but her fingers twitched against the black thorns, betraying her effort to remain still. The chains binding her arms shuddered, red liquid bleeding from the cracks along their surface. Sora swallowed. ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing much.¡± Rose tilted her head back in her suspended position, gaze flicking toward the roiling Blood Sea above them, watching as the waves coiled inward, colliding in crimson spirals with the fog and gore. ¡°The Crimson Tide and the Ever-Shifting Mists have decided to join Fate and Destiny¡¯s game. And it is getting quite¡­messy. The cage is holding, though¡­if barely.¡± Sora¡¯s mind reeled, trying to piece together the implications. But, she soon abandoned that idea as Wendy nudged her forward, taking them closer. ¡°Fate and Destiny?¡± she mumbled, following the chaos around them while shying away from the fluctuating thorns of Nihility. ¡°Do we¡­need to know?¡± ¡°No.¡± She strained a laugh and gave an almost bored stare at the colossal forces expanding and contracting above her true, event horizon body and glass. ¡°Destiny is exerting her influence over Karma now, and so many little pieces that ripple bit by bit throughout the Blood Throne¡­ Your little companion understands but it isn¡¯t anything for you to be worried about. Me?¡± Rose tilted her head in a debating way. ¡°Mmm, we shall see.¡± Wendy let go of her hand to give Nilly more attention, still pressed against her chest beneath her hoodie, her small body visibly shaking. ¡°All I can tell is that two colossal factions are colliding? Right?¡± she mumbled. ¡°Really powerful ones. And they want you¡­ That¡¯s what¡¯s causing the instability? They¡¯re looking for you?¡± Sora¡¯s tail flicked as she glanced at her sister. I can¡¯t tell any of that¡­ All I¡¯ve got is that we really shouldn¡¯t be here. Rose hummed, thoughtful. ¡°Oh, dear nieces, it¡¯s much more than that, but you¡¯re on the right track,¡± she chimed with pride that made Sora¡¯s gut twist, as if she¡¯d gotten the answer wrong. ¡°The Blood Throne must be stabilized.¡± The thorns around them pulsed, a subtle tremor reverberating through the space. Rose let out a soft sigh, her smirk faltering just slightly. ¡°Nothing you need be concerned about. Now, if my dear little brother were here and¡­himself, that would be a different story. But I won¡¯t ruin his party with two lovely wives¡­whatever that means. I¡¯m kind of jealous that he¡¯s found something I don¡¯t understand. Does that make me a¡­buzz kill? Hmm. Well, anyway, it will stabilize.¡± A pause. A flicker of something more solemn in her eyes, and a lonesome smile brightened her perfect, alabaster cheeks. ¡°Worry not about my washing up on the shore, girls¡­ My love is like a lagoon, thrilled at suddenly being discovered by you. I¡¯m comfortably in pain, happily insane, and singing a lonely tune, my droplets of dew bouncing off the moon.¡± Instead of terror and confusion, heartache overtook the emotions as Sora pressed a hand against her chest at her words. ¡°Comfortably in pain¡­ Aunt Rose, as insane as you are, every time I see you, I want to save you¡­ Then you tell us you¡¯re super dangerous and are being watched¡­ I don¡¯t know what to feel about you!¡± Wendy nodded, still comforting the Cat Mother, still hiding. ¡°That was¡­really poetic. You¡¯re not a creature of Existence, like you said to us before. But it really feels like you want to be, like our dad is. Are you actually giving us hints that¡­you need help?¡± she asked, glancing around at the crazy shift in the prison she was held in. ¡°I¡­can feel you¡¯re drawn to us. I really need a teacher¡­ I¡¯m just saying.¡± Rose¡¯s lips fell with her gaze, drifting to the cracked shackles holding her in place. ¡°How cruelly lovely¡­ My heart is a crustacean that you¡¯ve come along and cracked open. I should be wearing a caution sign for how hazardous I am to you two¡­and you are to me.¡± After those words, she smiled, that pure, innocent smile that mirrored insanity. ¡°My mouth is like an open wound, the words are bleeding out, every secret is a stain upon my tongue¡­¡± she paused, turning away and distorted frame trembling in gentle, forlorn amusement. Sora blinked. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Nothing¡­ In the meantime,¡± she added, showing a dry smile, ¡°you two shouldn¡¯t be worried about the prison wardens, as The Herald was before. They are¡­busy, as you can tell.¡± Wendy¡¯s grip on Nilly tightened while adjusting her to not tickle her cheek. ¡°No, I want to know,¡± she demanded. ¡°You¡¯re my aunt, right? I want to learn the full story about how you¡¯re here. Right, Sora?¡± ¡°I mean, sure¡­but should we be worried? We came here for you, Wendy.¡± Rose gave them a pointed look, her golden eyes glinting. ¡°It is astonishing you two are my little brother¡¯s children¡­ I tell you one thing and you blatantly ignore it. Very unusual for our kind, but¡­compelling. I suppose that is your mother¡¯s influence. One day, I¡¯d like to meet my sister-in-laws¡­ What an odd word.¡± ¡°¡­Aunt Rose?¡± Sora prompted as she went off topic. She turned her gaze upward to the colliding forces with a short, dismissive chuckle, the distortion and pain in her voice evident. ¡°In short, two Eldritch factions have collided. Vast, terrifying amalgamation of that which lies between Nihility and Existence. The Blood Throne¡¯s guardians are a tad busy with that, you think they have time to monitor one, insignificant prisoner? Well, maybe insignificant is a bit reductive,¡± she wryly mused. Sora didn¡¯t like how easily she said that. She also didn¡¯t like the implications. The Blood Sea was destabilizing. The Maelstrom, or whatever she¡¯d called it, was being altered by titanic forces that had even Nilly the Heroine trembling. But¡­Rose was right, what could they do? Wendy exhaled slowly, as if processing the weight of those words. Her eyes flickered toward Rose¡¯s fracturing chains. ¡°Does that mean you¡¯ll be free if they find you¡­or just a different prison and warden?¡± she carefully asked. A sharp laugh bubbled from Rose¡¯s lips, but there was no humor in it. ¡°Oh, Wendy, you naive child¡­ To worry about one such as I? Freedom is such a complicated thing¡­and freedom for me would be a calamity in any scenario¡­ Mmm. Almost any scenario,¡± she corrected with a wistful twist to her mouth. The mist curled deeper, and for the first time, Sora swore she saw something moving within it¡ªsomething more vast than she could comprehend. Not Rose. Not them. A network stretching into eternity. Sora tried to ignore the creeping pressure pressing against her skin, but the deeper she focused on Rose, the more she could feel it¡ªan unnatural pull, something dragging the space around them in two opposing directions. The chains that bound Rose trembled, their golden glow flickering like a failing candle. They weren¡¯t simply restraining her. They were being tested. But Rose thought they¡¯d hold. Sora swallowed hard, gaze flicking between the wavering chains and Rose¡¯s too-casual smirk. ¡°You''re acting like this isn''t a big deal,¡± she muttered. ¡°Like you''re not¡ª¡± ¡°¡ªBeing yanked in two different directions?¡± Rose finished smoothly, her brilliant eyes half-lidded, voice layered with amusement and something far more fatigued beneath it. Sora¡¯s tails bristled. ¡°Yeah. That.¡± Rose rolled her wrists against the black thorns, the black ink leaking out where the chains cut into her. She exhaled, as if debating how much to actually say. Then, she raised a hand¡ªor tried to. The moment she did, the chains convulsed violently, snapping her back with a cruel jolt, bloody mist spraying outward. Wendy took an instinctive step forward, but Rose only laughed softly, shaking her head. ¡°No, Wendy. Don¡¯t mind that,¡± she lightly instructed, as if she weren¡¯t literally bound by forces beyond their understanding. ¡°It¡¯s just the usual game. A tug-of-war between forces that have existed far longer than even Nilly there.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°You mean Fate and Destiny? You talked about them before.¡± Rose smirked. ¡°Not quite, Little Spark,¡± she murmured, tilting her head back toward the storm above. ¡°The Eldritch, Fate, Destiny, Karma¡­and many more factions that seek me out are but barking dogs at the foot of the Blood Throne after She fell¡­ Fate¡¯s strings have snapped. The Lunar Hare kicked it and woke up a little girl, who was thoroughly confused as to where she was at. At least¡­until she heard The Song out of Magthera.¡± The weird words hung between them, sinking into the marrow of Sora¡¯s bones like an unavoidable truth that she couldn¡¯t understand. ¡°Again¡­ What?¡± Rose¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°Didn¡¯t I say you needn¡¯t know? This isn¡¯t even why you are here, nieces.¡± She lifted a deliberate hand, gesturing toward the swirling black thorns behind her. ¡°Enough about your tragic predator of an aunt. Why not create a seat for your sister and cat friend, Wendy, so we can have our real chat?¡± The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Wendy inhaled sharply, glancing around once more. ¡°I guess¡­it¡¯s not as scary as I thought it was¡­and I do need help. What do you want me to do?¡± Sora shrugged beside her. She¡¯d been lost since the start but she was sure much of this was critically important in the grand scheme of things. ¡°No need to think. You can do it.¡± Rose tilted her head. ¡°Shape the Null-Void as Sora shapes Existence. Just like you did your body. Only¡­¡± She paused, her golden gaze flickering. ¡°Don¡¯t place your consciousness into it or it might become¡­awkward.¡± Wendy hesitated, glancing at Sora, a short giggle passing through them, as if universes weren¡¯t being torn apart around them. No, probably something much bigger than universes. ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora mumbled, ¡°becoming a chair sounds rough.¡± ¡°All those farts,¡± Wendy laughed. ¡°Now I¡¯m thinking about life as a chair¡­¡± Sora exhaled, feeling the weight of the environment being swept away by Rose¡¯s casual attitude, downplaying everything. This was the kind of help Wendy needed. Whatever was happening to Rose wasn¡¯t on their level and probably wouldn¡¯t be there for a long time, considering Nilly¡¯s reaction. Her sister squared her shoulders, pushing down the hesitation as she carefully extracted Nilly from her hoodie to hand to her. ¡°Meow!¡± ¡°I know it¡¯s scary¡­ Just¡ª¡± ¡°Nilly?¡± One blink and the cat had vanished from their hands. A jingle of a bell. And an adult Nekomata was standing in front of them, linked earrings dangling down her ears. One hand was on her hips, creasing her bloomers, her other held loosely at her side as she glanced around. Her split, ignited tails were long, weaving lightly behind her. ¡°Nilly?¡± Sora tentatively asked as the cat¡¯s head tilted up toward the suspended event horizon. ¡°You okay?¡± ¡°Not in the least, Sora.¡± Mature voice tickling Sora¡¯s ears, the Cat Mother released a low hiss. ¡°What a mess. No wonder we don¡¯t leave our Existence often. Wendy¡­¡± Wendy jumped to attention as the beautiful cat woman turned her head, bells chiming as she showed a confidence and radiance that reflected the teen girl, only on a divine level. ¡°Hmm?¡± ¡°The restlessness in me is only growing¡­ I can feel your hunger growing. Thank you for letting me into and giving me a piece of your heart. I tore myself apart, and you kept me out of oblivion.¡± ¡°Cat Mother¡­¡± Long black hair swaying behind her, Nilly turned her bright eyes toward the suspended woman. ¡°The Black Rose of Nihility¡­ It is your lucky day,¡± she cooed, flexing her clawed fingers. ¡°As it so happens, I have a little kitten within that Red Sea.¡± Sora¡¯s tail was as tense as Wendy¡¯s as the two women stared each other down. Rose¡¯s melancholy smile returned. ¡°¡­You¡¯re picture-perfect blue, sunbathing under the moon, stars shining as your bones illuminate. You walk on fire and play it so sweet with that innocent disguise, being as shackled as I. And just like me¡­you never wish to be set free. You best get going before the one holding your leash tugs it.¡± Nilly¡¯s leashed? ¡°Oh, shush, shush, you!¡± The curvy cat shifted her weight to the opposite hip as the black thorns rolled around them, her sharp-fanged smile lifting. ¡°Don¡¯t pretend not to be excited. Take your time¡­ Your nieces have earned it. I¡¯ve got a new chew toy, so don¡¯t fret.¡± A flash of green fire, and Nilly was gone, leaving them in silence. Sora blinked as a flash of emerald blanketed the heavens. Eyes going big, Wendy followed her gaze to the shattered glass¡­now whole. Green flames bathed everything before flickering out, the turbulent Blood Sea returning to its previous state, the cracks along Rose¡¯s chains repairing. ¡°What¡­¡± ¡°Was that about?¡± Wendy finished. ¡°We went from, ¡®Hey, Wendy, make a chair,¡± to¡­Adult Nilly taking out the Eldritch?¡± Rose¡¯s smirk didn¡¯t shift, but her golden gaze darkened slightly. ¡°Not exactly, dearies. Just watch¡­¡± Sora drew in her lips, watching the sea of jade flames slowly disappearing into the depths of the Red Sea, where the mist and gore had retreated. Rose¡¯s voice was soft, the distortion dissipating with each word she spoke. ¡°The unsung hero of the Founders¡­ The Mother of Cats: we were born alone, and we die alone. No, oh, oh. What a way to go. Now, we are on our own, but we¡¯re not sorry, no¡­ ¡°Look at us go. Look at us, high and low¡­ Look at us, picking ourselves back up from the underground, oh. We¡¯ve died a few times before, we know what it¡¯s like when we can¡¯t see the light. We find a light of our own. Shine like a diamond¡­like a lonely diamond. ¡°We were born alone¡­and we die alone. No, no, no no no. What a way to go. Now we¡¯re on our own¡­but I¡¯m not sorry. No.¡± When the distortions faded, Rose held a hand against her chest, the thorns and black hole above now stable as she gave Wendy a gentle smile. ¡°Once again, you have done more than you can fathom.¡± Sora gulped, glancing between her bewildered sister and aunt. ¡°Wendy¡­saved you? I thought nothing could be done. I¡¯m so confused!¡± ¡°As am I,¡± Rose chortled behind her melancholy stare. ¡°Isn¡¯t that wonderful? But what this means is that we have the time to discuss something I should have been more clear on¡­ Things have changed.¡± ¡°I¡­can guess that,¡± Wendy mumbled. She lifted her hands, the fabric of Null-Void rippling with her movements that made Sora step back. ¡°I can feel it better now¡­ The shape.¡± And it bent to her will. Sora inhaled sharply as black filaments wove together in an instant, forming something smooth, stable¡ªcrafted with precision. A chair. Wendy stared at it. Then, slowly, she smiled. ¡°It¡¯s so easy!¡± Sora swallowed. ¡°Is that good? This is spooky Null-Void¡ªeh¡­¡± She trailed off upon seeing Wendy¡¯s face. She¡¯s¡­never looked so empowered. But this stuff can swallow and consume Existence itself. I mean, my desire magic is one thing, but this is¡­total annihilation. The Herald did warn us about her and Null-Void. But¡­Nilly seemed friendly with her. That¡¯s Adult Nilly, though, which is a whole different ball game. She wasn¡¯t sure if that scared her or reassured her. But, whatever the direction it tilted, this was a dangerous game. She finally exhaled, voice coming out quieter than she intended. ¡°You¡­were calling out to us because you were warning us, right?¡± ¡°Called? My messages never reached you.¡± Sora stiffened. ¡°What? But you said¡­¡± Rose¡¯s expression became unreadable. ¡°Just because they were sent, doesn¡¯t mean they were received.¡± The air grew still as Wendy created another chair and they took their seats, looking at one another. This had certainly taken a turn they hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°What¡­have we been seeing then?¡± Wendy mumbled. ¡°It felt like you, sort of¡­but maybe not? Your pendant¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s hands trembled as her seven-pointed necklace floated out of the void behind Sora to circle in front of her sister. ¡°How did it get here?¡± Rose¡¯s emotionless expression broke as if it took too much energy to maintain. She sighed and gestured for it to stop in front of Wendy. ¡°It followed you¡­ How do you suppose it got past Sora¡¯s wards and found you at night? It has¡­ I have been trying to throw it off your trail.¡± Wendy¡¯s hands tightened on the seven-pointed pendant before hesitantly putting it on. Its faint glow pulsed against her chest like a second heartbeat. The air around them seemed to thicken, pressing in, warping slightly at the edges of perception. ¡°You weren¡¯t wearing it¡­ No wonder you didn¡¯t receive my messages.¡± Rose¡¯s voice was smooth¡ªtoo smooth. The teasing lilt she often carried was gone, replaced by something low and edged with scrutiny. Her effulgent eyes didn¡¯t flicker with amusement this time. They pierced straight through Wendy, making Sora shiver with her sister. Sora¡¯s ears flicked up at the shift in tone. The chains binding Rose shuddered violently, rattling against the unseen pull of forces beyond their understanding. A strange tension coiled in the atmosphere¡ªlike a hand poised above a chessboard, waiting to make the next move. She shifted uneasily beside her brunette sister. ¡°Are we talking about the sleepwalking incident?¡± Wendy exhaled sharply, struggling to steady her voice. ¡°Did¡­you know why I was sleepwalking to get it? No, you said it followed me. Why was I watching Sora because that¡¯s freaky? If it wasn¡¯t you, then who was it? You said it was something¡­within Nihility. Was it a family member?¡± A quiet, considering pause stretched between them. Then, finally¡ªso softly it was barely above a whisper¡ªRose spoke. ¡°It is best not to discuss it in subject or abstract, Wendy.¡± Sora¡¯s blood turned to ice at that warning. The silence that followed was deafening. For the first time, Rose refused to answer. Sora¡¯s tails bristled, her unease mounting. ¡°Is it really that scary? We¡¯re in Existence, though. It can¡¯t get to us. No, is your pendant the thing allowing it to reach us?¡± Rose exhaled, slowly, as if measuring her words. Wendy slowly shook her head, holding up the necklace as if receiving instructions from it. ¡°No, the reason it makes me feel¡­at home is because of Aunt Rose¡¯s protection in it. I think I get it. I¡¯m¡­vulnerable.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Rose confirmed, her melancholy expression returning. ¡°Due to how strongly you are attached to Nihility, you are far more susceptible to those who dwell within it than Sora. Sadly, you¡¯ve become even more unstable since, which has changed my opinion.¡± Sora could practically feel Wendy¡¯s stomach drop. The pendant in her grasp pulsed again¡ªonce, twice¡ªbefore dimming. Sora¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Rose tilted her head slightly, her gaze flicking toward the ever-shifting darkness beyond them. ¡°It means there are hungry things in the void¡­ And Wendy is a gateway that allows them to see the endless food she basks in. Think of it as the most impoverished, starving person who is forced to watch a person with unlimited resources enact their wealth¡­without a voice to speak.¡± A distant rumble vibrated through the black abyss. The crimson mist along the horizon coiled inward again, only to be repealed by the dwindling emerald fires, shifting in unnatural spirals back into the crimson veil. ¡°Not like my brother or I,¡± Rose continued, voice still soft but carrying an unmistakable weight. ¡°I suppose you could consider them creatures less¡­structured. Aligning more along the Eldritch lines. With the Ever-Shifting Mists and the Crimson Tide colliding, it allows¡­smaller factions within Nihility to act in their wake. Luckily, Nilly is causing chaos right now¡­for everyone,¡± she giggled. Sora¡¯s ears flattened but she couldn¡¯t help a smile. ¡°She is a pretty naughty kitty¡­ Eh, smaller factions, though? Won¡¯t the Three Pillars act if they feel Nihilty creatures sneaking into our Existence?¡± Rose smirked, but there was little amusement in it and more sorrow. ¡°Yes, which is why we must change course.¡± ¡°How much of a shift?¡± Wendy hesitantly mumbled, scooting back to run her fingers along her chair. ¡°I just¡­felt like I could do something. Now you want to take it away from me? That¡­sucks.¡± ¡°Wendy¡­¡± Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel tears coming to her own eyes at the riddled, restrained emotion in her sister¡¯s face. ¡°No, your pendant! Right, Aunt Rose?¡± ¡°Hmm. My pendant will indeed shield all things in Existence if you are influenced¡­¡± she confirmed in a cryptic tone, the bright circles in her eyes drifting to the side in thought before moving to her. ¡°That was what happened before. Yet¡­Sora is another matter.¡± ¡°No! You¡¯re saying I¡¯m the problem?¡± Sora growled, running her fingers through her hair in frustration and wanting to slap herself at the single tear that fell down Wendy¡¯s cheek. One she was desperately trying to hold back and be tough. ¡°What¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± she cried, reeling from the accusting arrows now pointing all around her. ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? I can hide things of Existence using Null-Void¡­ You, however¡­¡± The words and implication hit like a physical force. Sora¡¯s breath stalled, confusion twisting through her thoughts. ¡°I¡­have a Null-Void outline? Is that what you¡¯re saying? They¡¯re blind to Existence, so I stick out like a sore thumb¡­which is why Wendy was in my room, looking at me.¡± Wendy¡¯s fur redoubled its bristling. ¡°Okay, no! We aren¡¯t going to have creepy Nihility spirit things possessing me and trying to kidnap you, or whatever! How do we stop this? Why didn¡¯t we talk about this before? What?! Am I just supposed to let it influence me and stalk my sister randomly? Not interested!¡± How am I ruining everything for Wendy? First it was this messed up family adoption ritual¡ªshe lost her flipping body! Then I¡¯m making her feel isolated by her not being able to use magic and now I¡¯m in danger for her feeling like she can accomplish stuff on her own? Give my sister a break! Rose only chuckled, though it carried a note of something far too knowing. ¡°Perhaps I¡¯m explaining things backward,¡± she smoothly interjected. ¡°I am going to change things to¡­shift the balance. There will be some¡­growing pains, but I¡¯m sure you will more than welcome them. They won¡¯t be able to hurt or find you so long as you isolate your Null-Void. An inversion.¡± Sora clenched her fists. ¡°An inversion? How? Her whole body is flippin¡¯ Null-Void! Are you saying she¡¯ll be able to get a real body again?¡± Wendy¡¯s eyes lit up¡­only to be crushed. ¡°Not exactly. That cannot happen, at least, not in full, but there is a sort of¡­medium. Eventually, the same will happen to you, Sora. I am certain, but¡­in my humble opinion, we are far more preferred than the¡­fleshy mess that you are, Sora.¡± Sora¡¯s ears pulled back. ¡°Thanks? I¡¯ll unpack that later because damn, that makes me want to just lay down and die. No offense, Wendy!¡± ¡°None taken! I¡¯m still coming to terms with me being a freaking brooch!¡± ¡°I bet! So, if you¡¯re trying to reverse Wendy¡¯s Null-Void, then does that mean¡­¡± Rose smiled again¡ªsomething between amusement and inevitability. ¡°It means it is better for her to lean toward her mother¡¯s powers¡­ Not your father¡¯s.¡± The statement hung like a blade suspended by a thread. Wendy¡¯s fingers twitched. ¡°My mom¡¯s power¡­ I get to,¡± she cut off, breathing erratically as a smile bloomed, ¡°I get to learn from my mom? She can teach me¡ªspend time with me¡ªhelp me w-with homework and stuff?!¡± Sora¡¯s emotions immediately took a 180. ¡°That¡¯s amazing! Why didn¡¯t we try this¡­ Because you wanted us to stay connected?¡± she asked with a slightly accusatory glare. Rose let out a quiet breath, her voice gentle. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t understand, Sora¡­ Wendy is a pretty little rose, with thorns that will make you bleed. At least, that¡¯s how I see her with my vision, and she¡¯s¡­magnificent. Stunning. What my brother created between you two is something extraordinary. Of course I¡¯d want to further watch her blossom, but not at the expense of her or you. And that is why you should wear the pendant, Wendy,¡± she softly finished. Wendy sucked in air, trying to ground herself, her fingers still clutching the chain around her neck. ¡°That¡¯s¡­a lot to take in. So, you¡¯re already doing this, aren¡¯t you? Recalibrating it so I don¡¯t use my Null-Void. But¡­I¡¯m totally fine with that if it means I get to have¡­¡± She cut off, smiling again, her cheeks turning rosy with just the thought. ¡°I can¡¯t wait for our break when I can surprise Mom.¡± Heart pricked, Sora reached over to squeeze her hand, tail now wagging in unison with hers. ¡°We¡¯ll get to really practice magic. I¡¯ve got a good head start on you and was always better at school!¡± ¡°Only because I was too busy drooling over pretending to be a magical¡ªnevermind,¡± she grumbled, glancing away and making her giggle. ¡°I was poor and was distracted every time we were together because I was living a fantasy. Okay?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re saying I spoiled you too much?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. Yeah. Maybe that is one thing my mom¡ªJane was right about¡­¡± Rose¡¯s lips curled, a dry chuckle escaping. ¡°I can taste the venom for this Jane creature.¡± ¡°Creature¡¯s a good word for her,¡± Wendy grumbled. ¡°She has teeth that she sharpens with beer bottles¡­ Ahem. So, I¡¯m really going to become more of a tanuki or squirrel? I can sense and practice magic with Sora?¡± Their thorny aunt turned her gaze upward toward the storm raging through the glass above as the green fire continued to dwindle away. ¡°Unfortunately, so. I must let your budding flower lay dormant until there is a better solution¡­perhaps with my younger brother. We shall see. Hmm. It isn¡¯t every day you get to see two colossal, opposing Eldritch factions collide¡­ With an anomaly like Nilly causing trouble for everyone.¡± Sora¡¯s tail twitched. ¡°So what now?¡± Rose¡¯s smirk widened, but there was no amusement in it. ¡°Just let it happen?¡± She let out a small hum of thought. ¡°Nilly allowed the Blood Throne to restore its hold. The slightest distraction, which¡­is extraordinary, considering the strength and diversity of the assault she was under. But, as she said, she has a little adopted kitten within that storm.¡± Wendy ran a hand through her hair. ¡°Well, that¡¯s¡­comforting, I guess,¡± she muttered. ¡°I bet she¡¯ll be meowing for some milk and acting all proud when we get back.¡± Rose¡¯s golden eyes darkened slightly. ¡°A warning with Nilly¡­ You should be more concerned about what happens when the Cat Mother stops winning.¡± Sora and Wendy both stiffened. Yet Rose just changed the subject, turning her gaze to Wendy, her smirk softening into something almost¡­fond. ¡°But enough about the Cat of Nowhere.¡± She studied Wendy, eyes flickering toward the pendant still clutched in her hands. ¡°Remember¡­¡± she murmured, her voice softer now, quieter. ¡°Wearing the pendant at all times is necessary, Wendy.¡± A slow pause. Then, a look of longing and sadness creased her perfect face. ¡°It appears we are out of time. A shame, but even Nilly can¡¯t hold out forever.¡± A pulse reverberated through the air, making Sora¡¯s ears fly up. ¡°Wait! What about the Herald?! I haven¡¯t seen her in like, forever. Isn¡¯t she supposed to be here guarding this place or something¡­or defending me?¡± A pressure, like being pulled through a small tube dragged at her tail as Rose brought up a hand to point above. ¡°Pandora? Oh, she¡¯s taking advantage of the chaos as much as Nilly and other shadowy factions. It¡¯s not every day you have such potent artifacts and opportunities like this¡­or every Existence. I would know¡­I¡¯ve consumed many.¡± And suddenly¡ª Everything collapsed. Sora gasped sharply, her body jerking as her senses snapped back into reality, her tail feeling as if it had been pulled to twice its length. They were back. The familiar weight of her bed was beneath her. The scent of Avalon¡¯s air¡ªclean, laced with magic¡ªfilled her lungs. Her hands felt empty. Her pulse too fast. Wendy let out a quiet breath, sitting up slowly beside her. Her hands still clutched the pendant, her expression blank¡ªbut her shoulders were tense. Sora¡¯s ears flicked, scanning the room. The thorns were gone. But the pendant¡¯s glow had changed. A new rune had appeared on its surface¡ªone they hadn¡¯t seen before¡ªa scratchy mark of a poorly drawn y. ¡°Wendy¡­¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to use magic.¡± ¡°Yeah!¡± Lurching in unison, Sora embraced her sister, laughing as tears fell down their cheeks. ¡°Meow!¡± They jumped, spotting Nilly at the foot of the bed, licking several light cuts along her body. Sora¡¯s tail instinctively flashed with blue flames, and Nilly smacked tails together¡ªlike a high-five¡ªspreading the fire along her body and mending the wounds. It was shockingly easy, considering who the cat had been fighting. ¡°Umm. You okay, Nilly?¡± Wendy asked, picking up the cat to examine her once the fire was extinguished. ¡°No broken bones?¡± ¡°Meow.¡± Nilly shook her head and curled tightly into Wendy¡¯s lap, her small body now rumbling with purrs. Sora looked at Wendy. Wendy looked back. And they both smiled, bothing no doubt thinking the same thing. Nilly¡¯s Nilly. Sardine Armada slaying heroine. Sora exhaled slowly, running a hand through her hair again to puff it out before jumping up and flipping around to grin down at her. ¡°Okay, who is ready to get in some real training and see how fast Aunt Rose¡¯s promise holds true?¡± Wendy pointed down at the cat in her lap. ¡°I mean, I¡¯m being held hostage here.¡± ¡°Huh? By who?¡± Both of them tilted their heads to the side with a small smile as 16-year-old Nilly stood, checking herself in the closet mirror. ¡°Mmm. Do you think I should go with a skirt today or shorts? Eyia told me I need to learn to fight in a skirt ¡®cause sometimes a plateskirt is all you¡¯ve got. Thoughts?¡± ¡°Eyia Eyia,¡± Sora snickered. ¡°We¡¯re going to be practicing magic. You with us to test out your own magic, Cat Mom?¡± ¡°Stop!¡± Nilly blushed, tail curling around her legs as she gave them the stink-eye. ¡°Don¡¯t make me feel old and wrinkly. I¡¯ll have you know I don¡¯t have a single kitten at this point in time¡ªof my time¡­that was when this was¡­however old I am. What am I, are we¡­ Don¡¯t confuse me! Meanies,¡± she grumbled, ears pulling back as she returned to the closet. ¡°I¡¯ll go with shorts and a tank if we¡¯re practicing magic¡­¡± Wendy called out. ¡°Oh, bring a double pair! Maybe triple.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Sora snorted, left ear folding down as she looked at her mischievous sister. ¡°Why? Because you¡¯ll probably burn our clothes off with your fire!¡± ¡°Wha¡ªI have control!¡± ¡°Mmm. I remember someone having a little, ahem, bathroom skirt incident she told me about,¡± Wendy mumbled, scratching her cheek and looking to the side. ¡°Walking all the way home with her butt hanging out.¡± ¡°I had illusions!¡± ¡°Uh-huh. Sure¡­¡± ¡°Okay, maybe I will burn someone¡¯s tail!¡± Sora laughed and joked with Wendy and Nilly as they got a duffle bag full of items ready. Not a few minutes later they were on their way out, debating if they should go to a training field or her personal realm. Wendy brought up a good point in asking for permission. So, their first stop was the head of the Academy¡¯s office to see if they could snag an appointment with someone important. Note likely, but might as well try. Maybe staff did work on the weekends in Avalon. In any case, there was one thing still nagging at the back of her mind¡ªEmber¡¯s personality change. She had to see if she could at least get answers to that oddity. the weekends in Avalon. In any case, there was one thing still nagging at the back of her mind¡ªEmber¡¯s personality change. She had to see if she could at least get answers to that oddity. B3 — 21. New Ground A cold morning mist curled around the dormitories as Sora, Wendy, and Nilly stepped out into the crisp Avalon air. The Cat Mother was back in her feline form after dressing, sitting atop her brunette sister¡¯s shoulder. The sun barely kissed the sky, casting long shadows against the towering architecture of the academy. The stone pathways hummed softly beneath their feet, laced with intricate fae enchantments that shimmered with every step. Most of the students seemed to be sleeping in but she spotted a few vulpes girls ahead of them, heading for the portal across the bridge. Their two tails swayed behind them as they glanced back, curious smiles lifting their mischievous faces. Magic swirled around one as they dampened their voices to whisper about them before disappearing into the gate. Right now, we¡¯re just the interesting girls in the dorm, Sora internally sighed, but that could change fast. It¡¯s¡­more like I¡¯m Kari here, though. Everyone whispers about me behind my back, good or bad, and looks but don¡¯t want to interact with me. Huh¡­ Feels weird. ¡°Alright,¡± Wendy muttered beside her, rubbing the string of her amulet, hoodie pulled up. ¡°Tell me again why we need to go see Miss-Scary-and-Disapproving to go to your realm? I thought we were basically untouchable.¡± Sora rolled her shoulders, already regretting this decision while thinking about the entrance ceremony and Elder Abigail Rosewood¡¯s introduction. ¡°Because I need a few answers first. And you know, official channels and all that? I¡¯d rather not cause problems where there doesn¡¯t need to be.¡± ¡°Official channels, my tail,¡± Wendy huffed. ¡°This is about Ember, isn¡¯t it? I just hope she doesn¡¯t like, send us to detention for something Kari did. Seems like something the punishment officer would do after that speech she gave. You know, collective punishment military stuff.¡± Nilly let out an exaggerated meow from atop Wendy¡¯s shoulder, her fluffy black fur bristling slightly. ¡°See? Even the mighty Cat Mother agrees,¡± Wendy muttered, tail flicking to the side as they passed the bridge. ¡°Do we really need to see Ms. Rosewood or can we just go straight for¡­ What¡¯s her name? Grand Chancellor Elowen Moonfellow?¡± ¡°Moonshadow,¡± Sora corrected, not entirely disagreeing. ¡°And maybe we can¡­ I don¡¯t really want to go straight to Ms. Rosewood and ask her to her face if she messed with Ember¡¯s mind. That¡¯s¡­like Academic suicide, I feel.¡± ¡°Uh, duh! You know that movie we watched when we were ten? Let¡¯s not try to paint a bigger target on our backs when we can be, uh¡­more discreet about it or figure it out ourselves. I get the ¡®ask for permission¡¯ part with the realm thing since it¡¯s a gray area, but Ember? Yeah, let¡¯s work smarter, not dumber.¡± ¡°Fair point¡­ We¡¯ll see what happens. I know Ms. Rosewood isn¡¯t my biggest, ahem, ¡®fan¡¯ after I snubbed the Entrance Ceremony. Maybe we can fix things? Maybe Ember¡¯s punishment wasn¡¯t her fault and it was someone under her? You never know.¡± Wendy gave her a doubtful raised eyebrow that Nilly mirrored from her shoulder. ¡°Hey, I¡¯m just saying. A lot of weird stuff can happen here.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Sora took a deep breath and let it go. Ember¡¯s sudden personality shift gnawed at the back of her mind, and she needed to understand what had happened. Ember was supposed to be her guide to Avalon, personally introduced to her by High Queen Titania, but now she was totally MIA and practically ghosting them. Obviously, something isn¡¯t right. There¡¯s a lot of darker aspects about Avalon if you start looking past the surface magical glamor¡­ Wait, High Queen Titania introduced her to me¡­ No, don¡¯t think stupid things! Just find out the facts. They reached the nearest warp gate, an elegant archway of woven silver branches, pulsating with raw magic. As they stepped through, stating where they wanted to go, reality folded inward for a heartbeat before expanding outward, transporting them across Avalon¡¯s massive landscape. The Administration Building loomed ahead, less of an office and more of a palace. Its marble walls gleamed under the morning light, adorned with cascading ivy that shimmered like liquid stardust. Faintly glowing runes lined the entrance, each one humming with layered enchantments¡ªwards of power, authority, and unyielding governance. She¡¯d seen a lot of extravagant places in Avalon, but this felt like an iron palace: totally protected against any kind of manipulation or magic. Did that mean she couldn¡¯t? Maybe. Maybe not. She wasn¡¯t going to test it. Wendy exhaled slowly. ¡°Yep. This definitely screams ¡®all-powerful Grand Chancellor who could erase us with a thought.¡¯ So, what¡¯s the play?¡± Sora gave her a side-eye. ¡°You know, I¡¯d rather not test that theory. And once again, this place is a dead zone¡­ No one here. I hope at least one staff member is working who can give me a clear answer.¡± ¡°Mghm,¡± Wendy grunted, sniffing the air as if smelling a government meal. ¡°It certainly would taste nice¡­ But, it¡¯s not as sharp as it used to be. I guess, Aunt Rose¡¯s change is slowly taking hold. That¡¯s progress.¡± Smiling, Sora lightly brushed tails with her. ¡°It is. Excited?¡± ¡°Uh, yeah. Why do you think I¡¯m so antsy?¡± She looked up at the palace, ears drawing back. ¡°I can already feel annoyed. I¡¯m calling it now, Ms. Rosewood is going to say, ¡®No way in hell. You stay here or else it¡¯s a thousand tail pull-ups¡­ Have you tried one?¡± ¡°Pfft! No,¡± Sora chuckled. ¡°Have you?¡± ¡°Uh-huh. It¡¯s tough! I bet I could do more than you.¡± ¡°Bet!¡± ¡°Meow!¡± They gave the Cat Mother a light glare, split tail weaving behind her. Wendy no doubt thought the same thing as her. How many tail pull-ups could she do? It probably changes by the minute. Giggling and putting the topic behind them, they walked forward. The grand doors, impossibly tall and made of polished obsidian laced with silver, creaked open before them, revealing the vast entrance hall of Avalon¡¯s Administrative Wing. And, as if decreed by divine word, waiting inside was none other than Elder Abigail Rosewood. Great¡­ Aiden, is this your fault? It probably is¡­ Damn your causality! The moment Sora stepped inside, the air tightened. The elder stood at the center of the hall, speaking with a few faculty members, her expression sharp and unreadable. She was tall and poised, dressed in elegant crimson and gold robes that spoke of old power¡ªit probably had been in her wardrobe for ages. Her auburn hair was twisted into an elaborate braid, streaks of silver threading through like veins of age-old wisdom. Her piercing emerald gaze flicked to them the moment they entered, and the warmth in the room dropped a few degrees. ¡°Ah,¡± Abigail smoothly addressed them, her voice rich but devoid of warmth and sparking the other faculty to follow her gaze. ¡°And what do we owe the honor of your presence, Miss Sora, Miss Wendy, and¡­a cat?¡± ¡°Nilly, Ma¡¯am!¡± Sora jumped with her sister as the Cat Mother, now a grinning teen stood behind them, vanished off Wendy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Consider me a pet of the family.¡± ¡°Mhm¡­¡± Sora resisted the urge to fidget under that gaze. ¡°I, uh, sorry, Elder Abigail.¡± ¡°For?¡± the woman¡¯s eyebrow lifted, her homely appearance taking on a more sinister sight as she stared down at them. The other faculty stepped back, glancing at one another as the Dean of Magical Disciplines stode over to leer down at them. ¡°Is there something you wish to confess? Punishment can be lightened for owning up to one¡¯s¡­misdemeanors.¡± Ears pulling back, Wendy and Nilly¡¯s doing the same beside her, Sora couldn¡¯t help but feel the air being frozen in her lungs. She doesn¡¯t know about Kari and my adventure yesterday, does she? Does she think I suspect her of doing something to Ember? No! Don¡¯t be paranoid. ¡°Ahem, I, umm,¡± she tried to regain her balance but her voice came out scratchy. ¡°I was just hoping to meet with, umm, ahem, the Grand Chancellor?¡± Abigail lifted a single, judging brow. ¡°Oh¡­ Is that all?¡± She drew in her bottom lip, nodding and hiding her arm behind her back to not show the goosebumps running along it. Her tongue felt too numb to respond. ¡°I see.¡± Her frosty gaze drifted between them, even the faculty holding their breath from the chilly atmosphere that swept the area. ¡°So¡­privileged. You presume an abrupt and unscheduled audience with the Grand Chancellor because¡­¡± Well. This is going exactly how Wendy thought it would¡­ She hates me. Sora straightened her shoulders, trying to rebuild her confidence. ¡°It¡¯s important.¡± Silence. Gravity intensifying. Then, Abigail exhaled slowly, glancing at Wendy and Nilly again, who both were trying to shrug off the tension. Nilly was back to her timid sixteen-year-old school girl state, tail as stiff as theirs. A few more drawn out seconds went by before the old fae looked at Sora again. ¡°I see,¡± Abigail said coolly. ¡°And does this ¡®importance¡¯ relate to another special exception you expect to be made for you¡­such as making a joke and being above the Entrance Ceremony? Ah. It does.¡± Sora clenched her jaw. There it was. Before she could formulate a response, Wendy forced a laugh, glancing away and mumbling, ¡°Wow, that¡¯s crazy. Didn¡¯t know wanting to talk to the Grand Chancellor was such a crime. Aren¡¯t we special entry students? Thought it came with the territory.¡± Wendy! I mean, nice! But you didn¡¯t have to take out the dagger. Sora flicked a warning look at her, but Wendy just flashed a sharp grin, her tail curling behind her. Abigail¡¯s gaze darkened ever so slightly. ¡°¡­Indeed, you do have certain¡­privileges. Yet, humility seems to be¡­wanting. You and your sister have quite the sharp tongues and troublesome behavioral habits.¡± ¡°Actually, this is kind of new for me,¡± Wendy replied without missing a beat. ¡°I was kind of the ordinary quiet girl before, well¡­my whole world fell apart. So, can we, uh, go and knock on the principal lady¡¯s door? Sorry, old human habits,¡± she added with an innocent grin. Sora quickly stepped in. ¡°Right. I¡­wouldn¡¯t be here if it wasn¡¯t important.¡± Abigail maintained her sister¡¯s reflected green eyed stare for a long, uncomfortable moment before her lips barely curved into something that might have once been a smirk. ¡°If you say so. Then I hope the Grand Chancellor is as accommodating as you expect her to be,¡± she said, voice laced with something unreadable. ¡°You have wasted enough of my time.¡± And with that, she turned and dismissed them, moving back to the faculty. ¡°We will move to the next phase of the integrity checks for the northeastern coordinates.¡± Sora exhaled slowly, feeling tension unwind from her shoulders as Abigail moved past them on some sort of mission. Wendy watched her go with narrowed eyes before muttering under her breath, ¡°I don¡¯t know what her deal is, but I¡¯m adding her to my list of ¡®People Who Probably Have A Dark Secret.¡¯ Seriously, she gives off the ¡®I¡¯m Evil¡¯ vibes. What¡¯s her deal?¡± Nilly forced a smile. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that typically mean she¡¯s less likely to be the villain?¡± ¡°Depends on the story,¡± Wendy mumbled suspiciously. ¡°The classic double twist. You think she¡¯s good because she¡¯s a total bitch and then she turns out to be a real bitch.¡± ¡°C¡¯mon, Wendy. I kind of made a bad first impression, don¡¯t you think? I totally ditched the meeting to see what was bothering Kari, eh¡ª¡± She internally kicked herself for mentioning the wolf, seeing her sister¡¯s side glare. ¡°I¡¯m just saying she has a reason to be pissed at me. I get it! But wait, you have a list?¡± ¡°You should too,¡± Wendy muttered. ¡°It¡¯s getting long. Kari¡¯s not even at the top anymore. Imagine that. She¡¯s moving down in the world,¡± she added with a small smirk that made Sora giggle. ¡°See, I¡¯m totally unhinged now. Just wait ¡®till I unlock more of my mom¡¯s side.¡± Sora opened her mouth to respond¡ª Then a voice echoed from above. ¡°You three are quite the troublemakers. I do hope I¡¯m not interrupting your fun.¡± The air shifted. Sora turned just as who must be Grand Chancellor Elowen Moonshadow began descending the staircase, her presence as effortless as moonlight spilling across a midnight lake. Her silver-blue hair cascaded like liquid silk, adorned with delicate strands of enchanted ivy that curled like living veins through her locks. Opalescent fae wings shimmered faintly at her back, and her robes¡ªlined with embroidery¡ªseemed to move like woven stardust. Immediately, Sora thought¡¯s returned to Sela¡¯s trial, where she¡¯d seen a handsome fae man who resembled this woman. Possibly her relative. Of course, the Grand Chancellor would be connected to one of the royal kingdoms in Avalon. Or¡­I¡¯m just reading too much into it. She wasn¡¯t alone. Beside her, stood a visibly ageless woman with long, raven-black hair. Clad in ink-stained robes, she held a measured stance behind the Elowen. A golden tome hovered nearby, its pages turning of their own accord, a quill skating across its surface. Is she a Leann¨¢n Sidhe? An Irish fairy muse of knowledge? Dad used to read stories about them¡­ A soft chime of power resonated as they reached the final step. ¡°Are¡­you Grand Chancellor Elowen Moonshadow?¡± Wendy muttered, voice barely above a breath. Elowen smiled as she regarded them with calm curiosity. ¡°I am. And I heard through the stones that you are requesting my presence, Miss Sora.¡± Sora cleared her throat, suddenly feeling small in comparison to the sheer elegance before her. It was like being in front of the High King and High Queen again. ¡°Yes,¡± she said quickly. ¡°If it¡¯s not too much trouble.¡± The Grand Chancellor turned to the dark-haired fae standing beside her and said, ¡°Muireann, please clear my schedule for the next hour.¡± The fae creature bowed slightly, the quill striking out places as pages flipped around. Elowen turned her attention back to them. ¡°In fact, I am delighted to speak with you. Your mother was¡­ Mmm. The words escape me,¡± she laughed. ¡°Phenomenal is one that comes to mind. Ethereal, like a beautiful, eternal flame.¡± The woman gestured lightly toward the staircase. ¡°Muireann can entertain your sister and Nilly with a few fun areas you girls might want to visit¡­ Shall we?¡± Sora hesitantly walked forward, glancing back at Wendy and Nilly, who shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ll be here, I guess. Please don¡¯t take an hour, though,¡± Wendy said with a strained smile. ¡°We have limited daylight.¡± ¡°Seriously,¡± Nilly jumped in, head bobbing. ¡°Do you think we could, umm, get some breakfast before doing the¡­you know¡­¡± She smiled, happy to have friends again. ¡°Sure thing, Nilly. Be back soon.¡± Sora followed the Grand Chancellor up the spiraling staircase, her shoes soundless against the cool stone steps. Yet, after only two turns, they emerged at the top of the vast palace, standing before a pair of beautifully adorned wooden doors with swirling gold and silver inlays that pulsed like living veins. Her brows furrowed. Wait. That was¡­way too fast. Elowen gave her an amused glance, her opalescent wings shifting with an effortless grace. ¡°Avalon operates on a different level, wouldn¡¯t you agree? The mystery of magic can surprise even those of us who grew up in its embrace.¡± Sora let out a small chuckle, shaking her head. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s an understatement. Everything here is like¡­a puzzle that solves itself before you even ask how. Almost¡­like my desire magic, in a way.¡± ¡°That is by design,¡± Elowen mused, lifting her hand as the doors softly swung open. ¡°Our three fae deities structured it after your mother¡¯s powers to respond to intention. I suspect you sense the Founder¡¯s touch woven through our very realm. We only ever arrive where we need to be¡­or that is how it is supposed to work.¡± ¡°Maybe?¡± She scratched her left ear while taking in the cryptic door. ¡°Overall, everything is just¡­kind of super complicated. Normal magic and¡­whatever this is. I¡¯m still learning.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Sora wasn¡¯t sure if that was comforting or mildly terrifying. Regardless, she stepped inside as the way opened in response to Elowen¡¯s presence, her gaze sweeping the space. The Grand Chancellor¡¯s office was breathtaking. High arched windows framed shifting landscapes¡ªone depicted a moonlit lake under an eternal eclipse, another a garden where crystal butterflies flitted among towering, violet flowers. Enchanted bookshelves lined the walls, the tomes rearranging themselves in an unseen rhythm. A sleek, wooden desk sat at the center of the room, its surface inscribed with intricate fae runes that pulsed with slow, calming energy. Sora hesitated at the threshold as something else hit her. Something familiar now. Her focus was drawn to the book shelf, but not it itself¡­but something thumping beyond it. Fae Founder magic? Elowen studied her for a moment, a small curve lifting the edge of her lips while following her gaze. ¡°Ah, interesting that you would immediately be taken by something that should be totally sealed. I suppose there are magic waves even I am not capable of identifying.¡± She gestured toward a chair upholstered in deep green velvet. ¡°Sit, Sora. You needn¡¯t be shy. As to what I am safekeeping, I suppose I can be like your typical stories and be dark and mysterious. Perhaps you will find out what it is by the end of your stay in Avalon.¡± She gulped and did as she was told, watching as the Grand Chancellor took her own across from her, folding her hands delicately atop the desk. ¡°I feel like I¡¯m trapped in a game already.¡± ¡°Of course you are trapped in a game,¡± the woman whispered, giving her a rather kind smile. ¡°We are all caught in a game beyond our understanding. The difference is if the players are aware of us, oblivious, or care at all. Still, our choices ripple across all that is and will be.¡± She gestured toward the bookcase that hid the Fae Founder magic, item¡­or person. ¡°In this world, I hold great power and have lived a very long life. Yet, on the grand scale of things, I know I am insignificant. We all have our place in this grand design that is Existence. You play a much larger role than I ever will¡­and it is freeing to reconcile with that fact and banish the pride that stirs within me.¡± The woman leaned forward, moving to bridge her fingers and look directly into her soul, or, at least, it felt like it. ¡°You bring great turmoil to Avalon, Sora, by your very being here. Yet, with that trouble comes new hope in powers that shape reality to their will¡­and with that knowledge, there will be no shortage of people attempting to latch onto your tail as you ascend step by step¡­ Go on. I can sense you¡¯re troubled.¡± Sora swallowed, caught off guard by the immediate dive into heavy territory. ¡°I¡ª¡± Elowen¡¯s eyes softened. ¡°Perhaps I came on too strongly. Let¡¯s start simply. How has your first week been? From what I hear from Professors Kurosaki and Queen Sela, you¡¯ve been quite attentive and making great progress.¡± The mention of her instructors made Sora¡¯s tail flick slightly. She supposed it wasn¡¯t surprising that Elowen kept track of some students personally. ¡°It¡¯s¡­been a lot,¡± she admitted, exhaling. ¡°I¡¯ve been learning so much¡ªabout Avalon, about magic, about myself. And I won¡¯t lie, it¡¯s overwhelming, but also¡­¡± ¡°Thrilling?¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Sora smiled faintly. ¡°That too.¡± Elowen nodded approvingly, glancing to her left where a shimmering mirror materialized, showing her sister and Nilly. ¡°What about Wendy? I understand she¡¯s not progressing as swiftly as you are and there is some concern. Queen Sela has made a point of worrying about her growing anxiety.¡± That caught Sora off guard. ¡°You¡¯re keeping track of Wendy, too?¡± Sela said that¡­ She really is changing. I wonder if there¡¯s a way to save her kingdom from The Darkness, and purify her subjects¡­that survived. Unless, did Mom resurrect them, too? Wow. There¡¯s so much I¡¯m blind to¡­ I need to do better. The Grand Chancellor¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°I can see guilt forming within you¡­ multifaceted, tangled with shifting hues. A responsibility that weighs, yet you refuse to cast it aside.¡± Her gaze lingered, assessing. ¡°Of course. You are both exceptional cases, and Queen Titania personally ensured your placements. Your well-being, both of you, and those you brought, are of interest to me.¡± Sora glanced away, absorbing the weight of that statement. Something tells me she knows about Kari and my journey into the forest. Why wouldn¡¯t she? I doubt I could hide from High Queen Titania and this lady gives off the same vibes. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Elowen gestured subtly, and a crystal goblet of shimmering silver liquid materialized on the desk before her. ¡°Would you like something to drink, Sora?¡± Sora blinked, ears twitching in immediate suspicion. Wendy¡¯s voice rang in her head from last week in her relentless hounding of her safety: Never accept food or drink from the fae unless you¡¯re ready to debate contract loopholes with someone who¡¯s had centuries to practice. You know your dad¡¯s stories when we were little girls! She cleared her throat, forcing a polite smile. ¡°Oh, uh, no thanks. I¡¯m trying to cut back on¡­potential lifelong ensnarement.¡± Elowen chuckled, swirling the liquid in her own glass. ¡°Wise. Though I must say, the stories are exaggerated. Our refreshments do not always bind one to eternal service.¡± Sora¡¯s tail flicked. ¡°Yeah, but, with all due respect, ¡®not always¡¯ doesn¡¯t exactly inspire confidence, Grand Chancellor.¡± The woman tilted her head, a twinkle playing in her eyes. ¡°Fair enough.¡± The goblet dissolved into mist, vanishing as quickly as it had appeared. ¡°That prudence will serve you well and has served you. I¡¯ve counted at least twelve fae and vulpes interactions attempting to play pranks on you that you¡¯ve managed to sidestep.¡± Gut twisted, she quickly shook her head, the truth already smacking her in the face. ¡°Not me! Probably Aiden¡¯s powers at work¡­ No wonder he¡¯s been flirting with a bunch of girls, I think?¡± she mumbled suspiciously, glancing to the mirror as her sister questioned the raven-haired assistant downstairs. ¡°I suspected he had some pull on causality,¡± Elowen whispered, a thoughtful hum in her throat as she followed Sora¡¯s focus. ¡°Your mother hinted at quite the conclusion to your stay here. How I interpreted her will certainly be intriguing and enlightening to see play out.¡± Sora exhaled, relieved she wouldn¡¯t have to navigate a fae contract or hold her tongue much with this woman, like the punishment officer. ¡°¡­Umm. As for Wendy, she¡¯s figuring it out,¡± she honestly stated, tone lighter as she shifted back to the topic at hand. ¡°In fact, I think you¡¯ll be surprised. Her power is¡­complicated. But she¡¯s getting there and will definitely show off this week.¡± ¡°Oh? I¡¯m glad to hear that. Jin is¡­quite a character.¡± ¡°Yes¡­ Yes, she is,¡± Sora returned with a strained laugh. Bringing her tail around, she bit her lip and stroked it for a moment. There was no easy way to bring up what had been gnawing at her. She hesitated. Then¡ª ¡°Chancellor¡­has anyone mentioned anything strange about Ember?¡± Elowen¡¯s expression barely shifted, but there was a pause. ¡°Ember? The Fire Fairy that the High Queen assigned to you? I will admit to having peeked in on you from time to time. I would not dream of depriving you of your autonomy and growth. However, now that you mention it, I have not seen her with you and that new, adorably shy siren, Nerida. Hmm. Strange in what way?¡± So, she isn¡¯t looking at me all the time¡­or is she just telling me that? Sora studied her spiritual aura. It wasn¡¯t impenetrable, like Kari. It wasn¡¯t totally open, like Aiden. It wasn¡¯t guarded with deception, like Sela. It was utter chaos. Impossible to tell what she was looking at. I guess that¡¯s to be expected. No use in even trying at this point since it will only give me a headache. Just be honest! ¡°She¡¯s¡­different. After, umm¡ªand I¡¯m not blaming her, per se¡ªbut after Elder Abigail disciplined her, she wasn¡¯t the same Ember I, eh, I met before. I know that sounds weird. Ember was excitable, kinda clumsy. You know? Now, she acts¡­¡± Sora exhaled, struggling for the right word while running her fingers through her hair. ¡°Regal. Controlled. Like she¡¯s playing a queenly role¡­ She kind of ditched me and said her duty was complete.¡± Elowen¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°That is¡­not something I have heard. Hmm. I am quite aware of Ember and her antics. She is the oldest Fire Fairy of her rank, being unable to pass the trial. That shift in personality does reek of manipulation.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach tensed. ¡°You¡¯re sure? I mean, I know discipline means different things here, but I didn¡¯t think it involved altering someone¡¯s personality¡­ Is that something that is done?¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t. No,¡± Elowen firmly confirmed. ¡°The disciplinary courses, particularly under Elder Abigail, are designed to be instructional, not reformative. They focus on community service, structured magical refinement¡ªnot psychological shifts. It may have taken place after she left the disciplinary courses.¡± Sora¡¯s nails lightly dug into her palms. ¡°I¡­didn¡¯t even think about that. Then something¡¯s not right. What do we do? I didn¡¯t really feel any magic used to control her or anything, but¡­I wasn¡¯t that skilled¡ªstill not that skilled.¡± Elowen studied her for a long moment before inclining her head. ¡°¡­I will look into it. Would it be acceptable if I get back to you by next Sunday?¡± Sora wanted to protest, but the rational part of her knew this was probably the best she could get. This is the Grand Chancellor of Avalon. She probably had a lot on her plate. ¡°¡­Yeah. That¡¯s fair,¡± she conceded. ¡°Do¡­you know where she is? I thought she¡¯d show up again but she hasn¡¯t.¡± Elowen gave her a reassuring smile, though a flicker of something unreadable crossed her features. ¡°I am not aware of where she currently is, though I can find out. Don¡¯t worry. I will look into it, Sora. Now,¡± she continued, ¡°was there anything else? There seems to be something else making your tail bob with anxious jitters.¡± Sora hesitated, her cheeks coloring slightly while staring at her puffy fur. ¡°¡­Have there been any reports of a shadowy wolf in Avalon?¡± This time, the shift in Elowen¡¯s expression was immediate. Her gaze sharpened, fingers lacing together. ¡°Shadow Wolf? There are many kinds of wolves in Avalon, as you might imagine. Many mystical creatures. But I sense you are referring to something beyond an ordinary magical beast.¡± Sora nodded. The Grand Chancellor exhaled, taking a moment to look at the bookcase with its ever-shifting volumes. A few seconds passed. She unlocked her hands and tapped a single finger against her desk. ¡°If you are speaking of your friend, the Founder fenris wolf, Kari, then no¡ªI have not received any such reports about a shadowy wolf that fits that description.¡± Sora tried to suppress her disappointment. ¡°You¡¯re sure?¡± Elowen¡¯s gaze didn¡¯t waver. ¡°That does not mean a report does not exist. Avalon is vast, Sora. There are hidden realms, pocket dimensions, entire sectors governed by independent councils. For example, the Vulpes District you¡¯ve become familiar with is primarily overseen by the Vulpes Council, not my direct administration.¡± ¡°¡­So you don¡¯t track everything?¡± ¡°I delegate to those I trust,¡± Elowen corrected smoothly. ¡°Just as the High King and High Queen oversee all of Avalon and delegate the governance to the Royals, such as my elder brother, I cannot know of every action that takes place within my domain. But, I will inquire about this¡­wolf.¡± Sora exhaled, nodding. ¡°Thank you.¡± Elowen regarded her with something close to amusement, her serious contemplation vanishing as if never there. ¡°You are quite the inquisitive one. This meeting has been illuminating and given me much to think about regarding your mother.¡± ¡°Well,¡± Sora muttered, rubbing the back of her neck, ¡°there¡¯s a lot I don¡¯t know. And my mom? Yeah¡­ I kind of have wanted to tug her tails a few times this week. Maybe I will¡­¡± A small chuckle. ¡°Then I expect you¡¯ll continue to ask the right questions. There¡¯s one more, I sense.¡± Sora hesitated, then shifted in her seat. ¡°You caught me.¡± Elowen chuckled and sat back, folding her hands in her lap. ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Umm. Right, so¡­can I go to my realm?¡± This time, Elowen looked genuinely thoughtful, the mischievous undertones vanishing like smoke. ¡°That is an excellent question. Queen Titania and I have discussed this matter, in fact. You have been granted a great deal of leniency. However, Avalon Academy is meant to be an immersive experience.¡± Sora braced herself. So that¡¯s a no. ¡°The choice is yours.¡± Sora blinked. ¡°Wait¡­ What?¡± ¡°You have been given discretion,¡± Elowen continued without pause. ¡°Many of those around you are also special cases, but rules exist for a reason. It is better to ask why a rule exists rather than permission to break it,¡± she winked. ¡°If one knows the purpose, one knows when it is acceptable to bend or skirt. Ponder that reason. Still, Titania left this decision in your hands.¡± A sudden pressure settled on Sora¡¯s chest. So it¡¯s¡­up to me. Nice. Everyone always throws it back in my face! She swallowed. ¡°Right. That¡¯s¡­good to know.¡± Elowen smiled faintly. ¡°You hesitate.¡± Sora shifted. ¡°¡­It just means I have to decide what¡¯s best, I guess.¡± The Grand Chancellor¡¯s expression softened, and then she leaned slightly forward. ¡°How about a little guidance before you go?¡± she murmured, wings shimmering a little with her sweet eyes. ¡°Would you accept one question from me for payment in annoying the many meetings I skipped for you?¡± Sora straightened slightly, anxiety now fluttering in her chest. ¡°I mean¡­I guess that¡¯s fair. Ahem. What is it?¡± Elowen¡¯s eyes twinkled like moonlight reflecting off water. ¡°Simple questions can raise deep questions to the surface¡­ What do you want from Avalon Academy?¡± Silence. Sora opened her mouth¡ªthen closed it. Her first instinct was to say to get stronger. But that wasn¡¯t entirely true, was it? I want answers¡­ I want to learn more about myself. About my friends. About this world. I want to protect what I care about. But¡­all of that seems a part of some bigger word. Her throat tightened as it finally slipped out. ¡°¡­To grow.¡± Elowen¡¯s expression warmed as if she¡¯d heard that answer from someone else. ¡°Then I shall support you in that endeavor.¡± Sora exhaled. As she stood to leave, the weight of her decision settled in her chest. Avalon was not like Earth. It was built on self-discovery, not rigid academia. This place would push her. It already was. She turned, pausing at the door. ¡°¡­Thank you, Chancellor. See you Sunday.¡± Elowen merely smiled. ¡°Think carefully about where you place your efforts, Sora. Your actions cascade across not only Avalon, but your mother¡¯s entire territory and off into infinity.¡± Sora nodded. Then, with a final glance, she stepped out, returning to Wendy and Nilly¡ªwho were already deep in a conspiracy debate about Elder Abigail. And now, she had a lot to think about. Sora descended the staircase with a swirl of thoughts still bouncing in her head, trying to process everything the Grand Chancellor had told her. The moment she stepped into the main hall, Wendy and Nilly were already deep in their own whispered conversation, Elowen¡¯s aide nowhere to be seen. At her approach, Wendy leaned against one of the polished marble pillars with a knowing smirk. ¡°That took forever,¡± she exaggerated, tail flicking. ¡°What, did she take your soul as payment for the meeting? I told you to be careful!¡± Nilly crossed her arms with a nodded. ¡°I had five different theories on what happened. So far, the leading one is that she trapped you in an elaborate fae riddle that you only escaped because of sheer stubbornness¡­or cooking her a fish with fox fire¡­and you burned three of them.¡± Sora let out a small snort, shaking her head. ¡°Why three? But no soul-binding contracts. Just¡­a lot to think about.¡± Wendy¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°So? Spill.¡± ¡°Later,¡± she sighed. ¡°Let¡¯s get moving first. We¡¯re burning daylight. Remember?¡± ¡°Food first!¡± Nilly cried, holding her belly. ¡°I¡¯m begging!¡± ¡°Okay! Okay! Wendy?¡± ¡°Starving!¡± The trio exited the Administration Building, making their way back toward the warp gates. They took it to some random cafeteria that only offered vegetarian food, which¡­none of them were really happy with but they made due. The conversation with Elowen had left Sora with a lot of information to chew on, and she wasn¡¯t sure she had the energy to unpack it all right now. Her biggest takeaway? She was responsible for her own choices. There was no higher authority barring her from seeing her mother¡ªonly herself. As they stepped through the warp gate to the southern edge of Avalon Academy, Sora let out a slow breath. I think that¡¯s what I should do¡­ ¡°So,¡± Wendy piped up once they were back in the dormitory district. ¡°We¡¯re going to your realm so we can train, right?¡± Sora gave her a sideways glance. ¡°Our realm.¡± Wendy blinked, then gave a small, lopsided grin. ¡°Okay, Lil¡¯ Sis. Our realm.¡± Nilly clapped her hands together. ¡°Good! I was wondering when we¡¯d go back there. The whole ¡®created by your mom¡¯ thing means there¡¯s gotta be something useful waiting for us. I bet you anything, thinking back to lil¡¯ Amy.¡± Lil¡¯ Amy? Grandmother¡­ Wendy gave the cat a confused stare but Sora let it go. She wanted to know more about her grandmother. However, she had enough to think about right now and it didn¡¯t seem like the teen Cat Mother was leaving any time soon. Sora stretched her arms above her head, tail swaying behind her. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re not going there to lounge around, though. If we¡¯re doing this, we¡¯re going to take Avalon¡¯s rules seriously. That means we treat my realm like we would any of the training grounds here. There¡¯s probably stuff Mom put in there that¡¯s important. Sure. But I consider that like sending it through the post office.¡± Wendy exhaled, rolling her shoulders. ¡°Yeah, yeah. No sleeping in and skipping lessons. Got it. I just want to sink my teeth into my mom¡¯s abilities! Tanuki are like, super masters at¡­ Nope. I¡¯m blanking.¡± A flicker of uncertainty crossed Wendy¡¯s expression, but she quickly masked it. Sora had a feeling she knew what was going through her head¡ªthis would¡¯ve been a great time for Wendy to see her own mother. But she wasn¡¯t bringing it up. They could figure it out together. Instead, Wendy ran a hand over the pendant around her neck, fingers brushing the familiar texture. ¡°Guess I¡¯ll just have to figure out more of my powers on my own,¡± she muttered. Then, she smirked. ¡°And show Mom later. Yeah, that sounds magical.¡± That made Sora smile. ¡°Exactly.¡± Not a soul lingered near the entrance port as Sora, Wendy, and Nilly approached the many shimmering portals. Without hesitation, they stepped into the one that led to her mother¡¯s realm, and reality folded in on itself before expanding outward into a breathtaking landscape. A vast, celestial expanse stretched before them, its sky painted in hues of deep turquoise, violet, and indigo, a never-ending twilight where cosmic wonders shimmered like distant dreams. Moons of various sizes and colors hovered in the heavens, casting a soft, otherworldly glow upon the land. Rolling fields of lush, emerald-green grass swayed gently in an unseen breeze, stretching as far as the eye could see, dotted with fuchsia-leaved trees. Their thick trunks twisted with age, their massive branches arching outward like protective sentinels in the distance. A slow-moving river wove through the heart of the realm, reflecting the heavens in its still, mirror-like surface. Waterfalls cascaded from floating islands, their falls vanishing into the mist below, only to reappear in an endless cycle of motion. Tiny orbs of light flitted about like fireflies, trailing wisps of energy in their wake, while spectral birds¡ªmere illusions crafted from magic¡ªsang in a chorus that harmonized with the ambient hum of the realm itself. It was peaceful. Timeless. A sanctuary woven from her mother¡¯s magic, meant to be a haven where she could grow without fear of disrupting the delicate balance of the world outside. Sora exhaled, feeling the weight of Avalon lift from her shoulders, just a little. ¡°This magic feels so much more¡­natural and fresh than the complex mess of Avalon.¡± ¡°Still blows my mind,¡± Wendy murmured beside her, hood falling back as she tilted her head to take in the sheer vastness of it all. ¡°Still tastes like vanilla.¡± Nilly stretched, fur flaring slightly before she danced ahead. ¡°Hmm. It has grown since the last time. Hasn¡¯t it?¡± Sora wasn¡¯t sure how she felt about that. This realm was an extension of her mother¡¯s desire for her and she still planned on training here with Kari soon. ¡°Come on,¡± she said, shaking the thought away. ¡°We¡¯ve got training to do for this week.¡± With that, they ventured deeper into the dreamlike landscape, along the road leading toward the elevator, camp site, and Stephanie¡¯s temporary house. Well, the house was gone but there was something else waiting for them at the campsite, where she¡¯d met Ember. Parked beside it was her sleek, jet-black car. ¡°¡­Okay,¡± Sora blinked. ¡°What?¡± Wendy squinted. ¡°Did¡­your dad misplace your Bently in the middle of an alternate dimension or did he park it here for you?¡± Nilly hopped up and down. ¡°We¡¯ve got wheels!¡± ¡°I guess he thought I might want to use it,¡± Sora muttered, walking with Wendy and Nilly to expect it. It was unlocked. ¡°But how did he get it through the elevator?¡± Sora slid into the driver¡¯s seat, the familiar leather cool beneath her fingers as she picked up the letter. The lingering scent of her parents and Noelia clung to the parchment, a faint mix of twilight roses and stardust magic woven between the lines of ink. Wendy, already grinning, leaned over her shoulder, tail swaying in anticipation. ¡°Let me guess. My mom shrunk it down to a Hot Wheel?¡± Sora snorted, flicking an ear. ¡°Probably. Not like anyone else could¡¯ve done it¡ªSteph¡¯s basically powerless now. I wonder how Ron and the baby are doing.¡± Carefully unfolding the letter, her gaze tracing the neat, elegant script of Noelia¡¯s handwriting. It carried a faint shimmer of magic, the scent of moonlit gardens and aged parchment rising from the ink that told of its origin¡ªher magical senses were getting better. She cleared her throat and read aloud: ¡°We thought you might need transportation. Adjusted for convenience. Runs on magic now. Enjoy. ¡°P.S. ¨C Don¡¯t drive it into any dragons, please. ¡°P.P.S. ¨C Stephanie is recovering well, though still adjusting. The baby, however¡­well, he¡¯s proving to be quite the anomaly. Not unexpected, but fascinating nonetheless. I¡¯ll keep you updated. Also, please return a letter for us and tell your mother to let me heal her ridiculous bruises before she starts a movement about ¡®remembering past mistakes.¡¯ I refuse to be complicit in her nonsense.¡± Wendy snickered, already smirking before Sora finished reading the next part in her mind. ¡°My mom definitely added that last part. She was always super attentive toward us growing up and now it looks like she¡¯s babying your mom.¡± Sora sighed as Nilly poked her head in to scan it before cracking up. ¡°Yeah, well, Mom is kind of dealing with a¡­personal crisis right now.¡± Wendy arched a brow. ¡°Do I even wanna know? Another fire? Another laptop murdered in the name of tech genocide?¡± Sora cringed, the mental image already playing out in her mind. ¡°She, uh-ahem, got her tails caught in the revolving doors downstairs yesterday,¡± she muttered, shaking her head. ¡°Dad said it was a full-blown fiasco. She refuses healing magic so she ¡®remembers to keep them close.¡¯ She¡¯s trying to act tough but your mom says there are some hairline fractures.¡± Silence. Then¡ª Wendy howled with laughter, doubling over in the seat. ¡°Are you serious?! Oh my¡ªI know I shouldn¡¯t be laughing. I know I shouldn¡¯t! But your perfect goddess of a mother that can see everything just fractured her tails! I can see it! Your mom, big-eyed, sniffling like the saddest goddess in the universe, cradling her tails like they¡¯re wounded warriors, while your dad¡¯s all, ¡®There, there, dear, the door didn¡¯t mean it. Please don¡¯t murder all its revolving door children,¡¯ as she cries into his arms.¡± Sora groaned. ¡°It¡¯s exactly that! And your mom is probably sitting a ways off, glaring at daggers, being like, ¡®you¡¯re eating this up way too much. Just let me heal you.¡¯ And my mom¡¯s like, ¡®No! Then I don¡¯t get attention!¡¯ Yeah, my mom is attention starved.¡± ¡°Can you blame her?¡± Nilly snickered. ¡°She¡¯s totally the problem, but she¡¯s millions of years old and has been deprived of your dad¡¯s touch for like¡­sixteen years! So close but so far away¡­ Wait, shouldn¡¯t that mean she has better patience?¡± ¡°You¡¯d think!¡± Wendy mused, ¡°but when you have something strong like that, I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s even harder to go without. She probably feels lonely just minutes apart from him. It¡¯s a freaking drama! I¡¯m going to have to ask my mom to tape it for us.¡± Sora jabbed a finger at her as if she were a genius. ¡°That! Yes, that! For, ahem, posterity. Oh, on another note, Steph apparently walked in during the middle of it, looked at her, looked at Dad, and just walked back out, dragging Ron¡­ Poor Mom. She must feel like the biggest loser¡­¡± Wendy wiped at a tear, gasping. ¡°Best mental image ever. This is why we need constant surveillance of your mom¡ªcomedy gold. She¡¯s so different from the perfection that she was when she talked to us on the moon.¡± Sora rolled her eyes, but she couldn¡¯t suppress her smile. ¡°Anyway¡ªbefore we turn this into The Tails of Mia¡¯s Misfortune¡ªlet¡¯s just be grateful we have a ride and a place to train.¡± ¡°True, true,¡± Wendy agreed, still giggling. ¡°Now, let¡¯s fire this baby up and see how she runs on magic. We can practice near the portal.¡± Sora exhaled, shaking her head as she folded the letter and tucked it safely into the glove compartment. There was a piece of paper and pen on the inside. Heart warming, she took it out and used her magic to write a return message: Thanks for all the updates and taking care of my hopeless mom. Yes, I¡¯m looking at you, Mom! Let her heal you! I don¡¯t want to hear a fuss. You¡¯ve got old tail bones as it is. She snickered with the others as she continued. I love you all so much. Take care of yourself, Mom. I¡¯ve got a lot of questions for you but I¡¯m figuring things out. And, Dad, thank you for everything you do. I know there is a lot going on¡­ Trust that me and Wendy are working things out with Aunt Rose. You¡¯ll see when we get back. I know all the women in your life are nothing but trouble. You¡¯re a saint. Love you. Don¡¯t let the hotel burn down! Again, for posterity. With a flick of her wrist, the engine purred to life¡ªnot with the usual low growl of a combustion engine, but a soft, almost purring hum of refined magical energy. She grinned, running a hand through her hair and letting out a breathless laugh before gripping the wheel. ¡°Alright, so what you¡¯re saying is¡­I own the first magic-powered Bentley. Let¡¯s take him for a spin.¡± Wendy grinned. ¡°Hit the magic!¡± Driving to another location, she found the car far more responsive and powerful, making them squeal as they were slammed into the seat. After a bit of fun, they spent the next few hours training, testing the limits of their abilities within the realm. The specifics were unspoken¡ªplans were formed, battle strategies were discussed, new techniques honed. It was all leading toward the tournament. But they agreed to keep it all under wraps. Nilly had her own clever moves she came up with that was¡­quite literally insane! But that was the Cat Mother. As dusk neared, they climbed into the Bentley, watching the clock tick over to Avalon¡¯s timekeeping system¡ªa gift from Noelia that told them when curfew would be. A smooth turn of the key, and the Bentley glided effortlessly through the swirling portal. The moment they emerged¡ªthey weren¡¯t at the Academy¡¯s main entrance. Instead, they were in a stable. Blinking, Sora glanced left and right. A massive, sprawling stable, lined with dozens of intricate stalls¡ªeach one seemingly designed for otherworldly mounts and magical vehicles. Avalon really does act a bit like desire magic¡­or did the Grand Chancellor do something to unlock this sort of feature? That would be sneaky¡­ I can see it because it didn¡¯t do this before. The car¡¯s presence seemed to startle the environment. The stable stall they arrived in was enormous at first, but the moment the Bentley settled, the walls shrank down, adjusting to their size. ¡°¡­What just happened?¡± Wendy murmured, eyes darting around the stable. ¡°Did that thing just adjust for the car?¡± Sora exhaled, stepping out and glancing at the various contraptions around them. Some looked like enchanted chariots, others resembled creatures harnessed to woven carriages of ivy and light. Fae mounts, skyborn steeds, even strange aquatic transporters filled the surrounding stalls. ¡°This place is wild,¡± Nilly whispered, peering around with wide golden eyes. ¡°I love it! I think we¡¯re close to our dorms. We didn¡¯t even have to go through multiple portals! Huh. I wonder why it was different this time. There was a weird magical glitch, I thought I felt. You guys?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t sense it,¡± Sora mumbled. ¡°But, yeah¡­we¡¯ll try it again next time and see if it is repeatable.¡± Wendy jabbed her thumb at her. ¡°Experiments! I like it.¡± The three of them stepped out of the stable, walking past an unusually large, birdlike creature curled up in a nearby stall before making their way toward the dormitory. They were on the outer left side of the building, it seemed. Due to the teleportation, they were at least thirty minutes early. The familiar, welcoming warmth of the dorms enveloped them as they stepped inside. Eyia and Nerida were already chatting at the common area table, several vulpes girls around them, asking for tips and anxious about tomorrow. Jin¡¯s reputation was spreading fast and people appeared to be getting nervous. The siren¡¯s aquamarine hair was still damp from what must have been another brutal training session. ¡°Back already?¡± Eyia observed, tilting her head. ¡°You still had time to train. Nerida collapsed and needed to be brought to the medicine man.¡± Nerida glanced up, giving them a shy, embarrassed nod. ¡°Uhm¡­ Next time, can someone please come with me. I can¡¯t say no to her. Did, uh, you guys¡­figure things out?¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll do fine tomorrow with Eyia whipping you into shape,¡± Wendy quipped, flashing a sharp grin. ¡°And I totally got some magic now. You¡¯ll see!¡± Sora exchanged a glance with Wendy, then smiled and gave her a high-five. ¡°We¡¯ve got some new moves. Oh¡­do I hear Kari upstairs,¡± she asked, ears flicking up. Eyia nodded, the other nervous vulpes girls looking at the blonde as if she were their savior, tails beating and waiting for further help. ¡°Indeed, Sister. She returned just before we did. Come here, Wendy. I do feel something¡­different about you. Might I inspect your body?¡± Wendy snorted. ¡°What a phrase! Don¡¯t change, Eyia. Sure, tell me what you can tell! Because what you can, I¡¯m sure Jin can.¡± Leaving the joking, freaking out, and giggling girls downstairs, Sora went up and knocked on the open door to Kari and Nerida¡¯s room. ¡°Room service.¡± Kari was lounging on her bed, tail lazily swaying between her legs, a book in her hands. She glanced up when Sora approached. ¡°You don¡¯t have enough meat on your bones. Pass.¡± ¡°Pfft! Nice. What are you reading?¡± Sora asked, noting the way Kari¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. ¡°Pretty good?¡± Kari flipped the book shut and tossed it onto her bed. ¡°Jin made this for me.¡± Sora opened her mouth, paused and had to repeat it in her mind. ¡°Jin? Jin wrote a book?¡± ¡°More like transcribed a bunch of dragon lineage memories.¡± Kari¡¯s expression was unreadable but being somewhat conversional at least, which was a plus. ¡°It¡¯s¡­enlightening. But dragons have a very different perspective than my mother did.¡± Sora frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Kari exhaled, stretching out on the floor. ¡°It¡¯s annoying to explain. So I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°Awesome talk.¡± The wolf gave her a dry look. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. Jin already made a tournament bracket. And you¡¯re signed up. She¡¯s no joke. I hope you weren¡¯t messing around today.¡± Sora groaned. ¡°Naturally. We should talk about¡ª¡± ¡°Naa. I¡¯m good,¡± she waved off. Sora paused at what she could only describe as a trusting smile lifted her lips, making the wolf actually glow in a new light. ¡°I¡¯m good. We¡¯re good. Also, you missed Mary¡¯s appointment but she said she¡¯d come back tomorrow.¡± ¡°Oh, dammit!¡± Sora cried, scratching her left ear as it twitched. ¡°I really wanted to see her. I somehow totally forgot!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t sweat it. Like I said, she¡¯s coming tomorrow. She actually wanted to talk to us both. Anyway, better bring your A-game. Jin¡¯s riled up. The fights won¡¯t be pretty.¡± Sora gulped, but felt new hope shining out from the depths of her heart; Kari seemed¡­good. Not depressed. Not self-hating. But¡­normal. Whatever Jin did, it appeared to be enough to shift her into a positive mind state. ¡°Okay? Define not pretty.¡± Kari smirked. ¡°Magic prevents death. But losing a limb? Entirely possible. Of course, that¡¯s not a problem for me.¡± Sora¡¯s stomach twisted. ¡°Yeah, well I¡¯m not a super wolf with ultra regeneration, so excuse me. I need to go throw up!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be a puss! Nilly¡¯s already got that covered.¡± ¡°Hey! Don¡¯t be a meanie!¡± the cat called out from down the hall. ¡°I¡¯m the biggest pussy in the¡ªuh. Forget what I said¡­¡± She was already out of the door as laughter erupted throughout the whole dorm. She was busy running toward her room window, though. Anxiety was actually bubbling up. Not many people had felt what an angry Jin was like. Kari didn¡¯t know it. But she remembered the Hell Amphitheater and when she¡¯d ghosted Eyia¡­ When Jin had literally come over to rip her heart out. This tournament was going to be brutal. And it started tomorrow.