Light spilled out of the stone corridor before us, a clear white wave of light that coloured the front of our bodies and the ground beneath our feet. It wasn't an overpowering light, nor did it seem harsh or artificial.

With a tornado of excitement, curiosity and anxiety swirling around within my heart, I found myself unable to take the first step forward. I wanted to move. To explore. But...

One metallic leg rose, but Sigura was the first to enter the building, hands in her pockets as though she hadn't a care in the world. And she... just walked in, without any issue. I wasn't sure what I was expecting. Some electric trap or a magical alarm system, maybe? We were Chimeras, possibly in over our heads. But we were Casters with magic that still had great potential. We were useful. I was worrying over nothing.

These people were criminals, but they'd expressed no desire to harm us. A metallic leg came down on firm black stone, and my mind was grounded. I couldn't take a deep breath, but I needed to get a hold of myself. If I let fear grasp me now, I wouldn't be able to move forward with an open mind. The last thing I wanted was to be jumping at shadows, like Toya. My [Telekinesis] flexed through my mech, exploring every nook and cranny of the assorted metals. Grounding me.

Our pair of guides followed Sigura into the corridor with the rest of us closely behind, the two Dolls slowly, methodically rising back into a standing position, never once looking directly our way as their eyes stared forward, unblinking. Eerie.

The door closed behind us as we entered, groaning shut with the same precise movements with which it had opened. The Dolls hadn't moved to close it behind us, meaning the door was likely enchanted. That, or there was an invisible caretaker or something following us around. No... probably just enchanted.

The corridor we walked over was smooth and firm, with a straight black line of stone stretching forward and out of my vision. On both sides of the floor were twin lines of darker purple stone, distinctly painted against the black, as if to box us in. The walls and floor were bathed with that same white light, emanating from a long glass sheet panel overhead that extended into the darkness, a light that made everything seem more... alive.

There were no windows in the corridor, yet the artificial light and cold stone corridors didn't arouse any feelings of anxiety within me. This place didn't feel like the facility. It didn't carry that same air of empty sterility.

I suspected that was partly thanks to the paintings that lined the walls. All of them were surrounded in metallic lavender frames, each different from the last.

Some depicted what I presumed to be prominent or well known Casters. While some wore flashy outfits with magical effects around them I didn't recognise, two of them helped me feel a little less lost. Both were Human, or... at least looked like Humans, on the outside.

From what I'd heard about them, theories ran rampant that they weren't what they seemed. It wasn't uncommon for adventurers to hide their true race behind a Human [Glamour], even if they needed an artefact to use the Illusory Magic Spell to do it. Especially since both of these people were rumoured to have been alive for at least several hundred years.

Needless to say, without some pretty extreme magical circumstances at play, no Human had ever lived that long.

The first was a gargantuan man, one approaching seven feet tall with spiky red hair. He had tattoo-like markings around his eyes, all forming red lines down his cheeks and rising upwards to culminate in a red sun-like design on his forehead.

He was dressed in a heavy black overcoat, despite the sun high in the blue sky of the painting. The handle of an oversized greatsword sheathed in a dark metal casing peered over his shoulder. For a moment, I felt a bit disoriented, not being able to see the full blade on his back. I was starting to take my omnidirectional [Sensory Zone] for granted. Perspective seemed strange now, even in a painting.

The second was a more modestly sized man, one garbed in flowing brown robes and a green cloak around his shoulders, hanging down over his front. He had a much more peaceful expression framed by light brown hair swept to the side, especially in comparison to the stronger man's hard, serious one. He had a personable, casual air, one that made Feng Sol seem aggressive when put side by side.

He had emerald eyes, a sparkling colour that seemed to shine even through the painting. His feet were covered in wooden clogs with the toe pointing upwards, as muddy as the other man's dark combat boots. He was surrounded by a dense forest, flecks of blue sky poking through a towering canopy.

Feng Sol, the Hero King. The strongest man in the world, and one who had defeated countless powerful beasts and beings that threatened even entire countries.

Bleddy Arborheart, the Viridian Sage. A magnanimous man of nature and nurture, one who lived to protect, rebuild and aid, who had helped to revitalise entire civilisations.

They were the only two people I recognised among the plethora of paintings. The impressive collection should have taken me aback, like it had Streiphen and Toya, but I couldn't bring myself to feel that way. Despite seeing two of the most influential people on Alvelotyl and a range of beautiful landscapes, all I could think of was the sky.

Even if I couldn't see the true sky above, I could see it in these pictures. A pale reflection of the real thing that I was certain couldn't live up to their inspiration. It felt as though the pictures were taunting me, almost.

It was a stupid thought to have, but I'd been having stupid thoughts more regularly since my ability to have a [Silent Heart] had been stripped from me. I was starting to become jealous of a painting.

"How much did all these cost, anyway?" Sigura asked, her eyes swaying back and forth as she took in the pictures around us. "You must be loaded if you can afford all this stuff."

I saw her eyes linger on a landscape painting, one of a deep, rocky hole, an abyss that was being looked down on from above. Bright, colourful bugs and monocolour creatures leapt between ledges and oddly coloured foliage.

"They're pretty pricey, given the boss' tastes," Incognito replied, smiling to himself. "Most if not all of these were done by high level [Painters] and [Artists]. Some of them are originals, too. You'd find it hard to spot a single one of these pictures that'll wear over time. All of them were made with the help of the [Permanent Paint] Skill."

Sigura was impressed by it, something that I felt embarrassed about. I wasn't embarrassed for her apparent interest in fine art, but rather my lack of knowledge on it. I liked comics, but I'd never been a very 'artsy' person. Funny how that worked, given my Classes.

Fareel didn't seem to care much for the works either. He threw a few casual glances at the walls, then devoted his eyes to looking straight ahead. I wanted to find comfort in having someone else not bothered by the art, but I couldn't find solace in Fareel's unsurprising lack of interest in fine art. I wondered if he was fine walking through this stone corridor without any footwear, but he didn't seem to be bothered by the cold.

"Is that the Painted Pit?" Streiphen asked, pointing towards the colourful rocky abyss Sigura had been looking at.

"It is indeed," Pack Rat replied, giving the boy an approving nod. "A perfect recreation of the 'Gods' Playground', a fine piece."

I saw the Roden look towards me, and felt my body tense up beneath my bronze helmet.

"You are an Anvil Caster, are you not? Do you have any interest in such things?"

Great. I was hoping he wouldn't address me at all, in truth. I didn't want to have to make some excuse as to why a kid knew more about fine art than I did.

"[Fine art has never been for me,]" I responded sheepishly. "[Art like this has never been a Varani thing, either, outside of... religious material. I recognise a few of the people, but not any of the places.]"

"Varani?" Incognito echoed with a raised eyebrow.

Streiphen's face contorted into a frown as he looked up towards Sigura with a puzzled expression. With a deep feeling of embarassment blossoming to life in my chest, I knew what he was going to ask.

"What's that...? Va-ra-knee?" he asked, confirming my fears.

Even after this time we'd spent together, they didn't know what I was. It wasn't something I'd thought about, but this body held no traces of my original form. It was only natural that everyone other than Sigura had been completely unaware of what I'd been before becoming a Chimera.

"Lizardfolk," she told him without turning, her expression neutral. "There aren't many of them this far north. They don't like the cold."

"You could'a fooled me," Incognito smiled. "All the Varani I've met were cold, heartless bastards. No offense. I wouldn't've guessed that's what you were. You're a lot different than every other Varani I've met."

"[I know...]" I responded quietly. Even someone who hadn't known the original me could tell. The distance between me and my people was just that obvious. "[But... I'm not well versed in art.]"

I wanted to shift the conversation back to normality. My true race really... wasn't a big deal.

"A shame," Pack Rat responded, turning away from me. The smile on his face faltered, but he nodded. Reassuring.

The only 'art' I'd ever found myself drawn to sat between the front and back pages of a comic. I wouldn't call my parents' craft 'art', but if that counted... then I loved that, too. That had to count for something, didn't it?

"If you've got so much money to splash around, how much does your boss plan on paying us?" Sigura asked, saving me from further embarrassing myself in conversation.

"That depends on your performance, I'm sure," the Roden replied. "The Don rewards people based on their track record and quality of service. I am certain the promising results of our test will raise your value in the Don's eyes, although I cannot speak for the others."

"So... me and Yur will be getting paid more than the others?" Sigura asked, her eyebrow raised.

"A likely result," Pack Rat told her.

"[As long as I have enough to keep our group afloat, I'll be content,]" I told him. Sigura turned to look at me over her shoulder, giving me an evil eye.

"[I... want to have enough to ensure Streiphen and Fareel have what they need to survive...]" I finished, pausing as I tried to piece together what Sigura was communicating.

"No!" Streiphen's starry eyes widened as he exclaimed, looking up at me with a surprising determination. "I'm... I'm a fighter, too! You should keep your money to help with your magic, Miss Yuri! I'll prove I can be useful, too!"

Pack Rat laughed, glancing towards the boy with a smile.

"Then I will ensure you are tested too, in time. I would not want the Don to undervalue you."

The corridor before us opened out as a spacious lobby area entered my bubble. I saw tiled floors with deep purple and lavender panels set up in the same way as the walls outside. The lobby had black tinted windows along the walls, each of which revealed the verdant gardens outside. I saw a lavender coloured flower bed along the windowsill, one filled with an assortment of flowers. Each and every one were lilies, all with purple petals and golden centers.

While the box seemed a little dreary, the sight of the flowers on the windowsill helped to calm me. It made the space seem a little less... overwhelming.

Corridors stretched out to my left and right, while a dark purple desk sat directly in front of us, flanked on both sides by a pair of curling staircases showing off ornate banisters. I was reminded of the setup at the Adventurer's Guild buildings, or... an old castle. I saw Toya take a deep breath to steel himself, his eyes locked on the desk, even before I saw the reason why.

Sitting with one leg swung over the other behind the desk was a [Receptionist]. They were a woman, one with silver skin, bright golden eyes and long metallic hair. She wore a suit, one with black sleeves and the organisation's signature purple panel pattern over the front. Black pants, a white undershirt and a slim black tie completed the look.

My first instinct was to say she was a Doll. She clearly didn't have an organic physiology or skin, yet her posture and expression seemed nowhere near as refined and calculated as the two by the entrance.

On the desk was a rune, a golden circle with a hollow interior, the center adorned with a golden dot. The magical symbol glowed softly, projecting a yellow screen of light into the air. The panel of light was lined with white text visible on one side, which the [Receptionist] seemed to be reading intently until we came into view.

On the table next to her, I saw a thick plastic cup, one with a see-through straw poking up from the top. As I watched, she reached up with a slender metal hand, bringing the cup to her mouth. The liquid she drew from the cup caught the light in the same way her own 'skin' did. Through the locking on of my [Honed Vision] as a test, I confirmed she was drinking liquid metal.

She placed the cup back down onto the desk, her eyes glancing over in our direction. I saw her eyes glow golden as she inspected us one by one, her expression changing fractionally after looking at Sigura and Toya.

"Welcome back, you two," she spoke in a voice that was sonorous, yet nowhere near as lifeless as the Dolls. There was real, audible inflection and emotion in her words. "Are these the new provs?"

Incognito nodded, smiling as he walked up to the desk. He tried to peer around to the other side of the golden screen of light, which vanished as he leaned over the table.

"You're no fun," Incognito grinned as the glow emanating from the rune faded away.

"Thank you for the warm welcome," Pack Rat replied with a smile. "These people are a group of promising Casters, ones whom we hope the Don will grant a place among our ranks."

With a... smile, the Not-Doll leaned over the desk, extending a hand towards us. Or rather, she extended it towards Streiphen, despite Sigura being the closest person to her.

"I'm Comnica. Good to see some new-"

Pack Rat coughed into a fist, looking at the Not-Doll from behind the visor, his expression stiff.

"They have not yet been admitted into our group," he told her. "It would be more appropriate of you to introduce yourself by your Epithet."

She looked as though she were about to lean back into her seat when Streiphen suddenly reached out to shake her hand, smiling brightly.

"I'm Streiphen! Nice to meet you, Miss Comnica!"

The Not-Doll gave Pack Rat a sheepish grin, before looking back towards the boy.

"Ah... Screen, actually. For now, please call me Screen. It's my Epithet. But... it's nice to meet you too, Streiphen."

"Can't say I've ever seen a Doll act like you," Sigura commented, raising an eyebrow as she looked down at the metallic woman. "Every Doll I've met so far has been stiff, uncaring and a serious piece of shit."

The woman looked nervous as she released the boy's hand, pulling it back behind the safety of her desk as her golden, glassy eyes turned towards Sigura.

"Machina. I'm a Machina, not a Doll. It's a common mistake."

Toya seemed a little relieved to hear that, his chest deflating as air slipped out through his mouth. Fareel was eyeing the flowers by the windowsill, as though contemplating whether or not to eat them. I gingerly let a metal plate slide free of my compartment, to be prepared in case I needed to defend their safety.

"What's the difference?" Sigura asks. "I've never met a Machina before, so..."

"Well, we're all Constructs, but Machina-"

"Apologies, Screen, but could you inform the Don that we've arrived?" Pack Rat cut in. "We may be tight on time, so I ask that you keep such conversations until we have notified the boss."

The... Machina's face straightened, and she nodded.

"Of course. Sorry for the delay."

Her arm hovered over the desk, one finger pressed down against the center of the rune as it began to glow softly once again. She didn't say a word, but her expression was focused.

"Didn't your boss know we were coming?" Sigura asked, looking down towards Pack Rat.

Screen frowned, while Toya's shoulders seemed to stiffen.

"The Don is a busy man," the Roden told her, looking up. "He did not know how long we would be, and always wishes to be prepared before he meets a new face. Beyond that, it would be rude to bring you directly to him without giving you a brief tour. A taste of what our organisation offers."

The Machina blinked, taking her finger off the rune as the glow died down, looking back up towards Pack Rat.

"The Don told me he'll be ready to receive you all shortly. I'll notify you all once he's fully prepared."

Incognito nodded with a smile, his shoulders slacking as he stepped away from the desk, turning towards the right corridor.

"Great! In that case, I'm going to the cafeteria to-"

Both Pack Rat and Screen's eyes locked onto the Half Elf's back.

"Your job is to guide them, Incognito," Screen spoke. "That was your mission."

"They're here now, aren't they?" the man replied, slumping slightly, his expression defeated.

"Your job is not complete until they are out of our hands," Pack Rat told him with a smile, patting the man's back reassuringly.

"You that sick of our company already, shapeshifter?" Sigura asked, wearing a toothy grin as her tail swayed behind her. I suspected she'd already come to the conclusion I had.

"It's not that," Incognito responded dryly, rolling his eyes as he whirled around to face us. "Your company has been fantastic. Nothing but great treatment for our service and hospitality all around, buuuuuuuuuuut-"

"But you got hungry after walking in on us eating breakfast, without telling us when you'd arrive," Sigura finished. "Deal with it."

The man groaned, looking away from the group. A small smile dawned on his face, one that seemed out of place in comparison to the rest of his body language.

"Fine, fine. Guess I'll have to grace you with my company and wisdom for a while longer," Incognito said.

The Roden nodded, gesturing with an arm for us to follow as he began to walk down a corridor to our right.

"Come. Let us not bother Screen any further. We shall show you around."

"To the cafeteria?" Incognito asked hopefully.

"No," Pack Rat responded curtly.

Sigura nodded, glancing back at the wary looking Machina once more before following. Toya kept close to me, making sure Fareel was still with us as we moved along.

"We'll see you later, Miss Screen!" Streiphen chirped, waving to her as he walked with us.

"[It was nice meeting you,]" I told her, my voice earning a mote of surprise as she glanced between us, her eyes settling on me.

Right. I'd forgotten to introduce myself. That was why she was surprised. It was the first step to a successful business relationship, and it hadn't crossed my mind in the slightest. I wanted to place blame elsewhere, maybe on Sigura or Incognito for leading the conversation so much. But... I could have pushed for it, or introduced myself when Streiphen did. There was no excuse for poor etiquette.

"Nice to meet you all, too," the Machina responded, activating the rune once again as the screen of light appeared above her desk.

Following behind the trio in front, I walked alongside Streiphen, Toya and Fareel as we moved deeper into the complex. The corridor we passed through wasn't as heavily decorated with paintings, thankfully, but was lined with black tinted windows and the occasional picture here and there.

While I hadn't seen much of the complex so far, none of it truly stood out to me as being 'villainous'. The purple colour scheme and lavish paintings might've fit the bill, but I'd never read about any criminals with a beautiful front yard or a relaxed [Receptionist] sitting out front. I had been expecting something like an underground bunker or complex, or a special warehouse with trap doors leading into a labyrinth of stone corridors. This just seemed like... a posh private Guild, or a nobleman's house.

Between the generally relaxed air and the flowers on the windowsill, I found myself liking the base. Not in the entirely utilitarian way I'd been expecting, but it was... nice. Maybe a little over the top when it came to the purple decorations, but overall it felt relatively comfortable. Not too strict, but not too casual, either. A place I could see myself getting used to.

"How many people are part of this group, anyway?" Sigura asked, her eyes looking out into the lush garden beyond the coal black window.

"Actual Casters? Mmm... forty to fifty, maybe? Not many," Incognito told us without turning. "We hire goons sometimes too, but not often. The Boss likes to keep a tight ship and delegate work and cleanup to us and the few Dolls we've got."

'Goons'. Deep within my gut, I felt a churning anger, an instinctive reaction that hit me as soon as I heard the word.

"[What's a 'goon'?]" I asked him, keeping my walking steady to avoid accidentally stepping on my allies. It took a bit of concentration, given how a rolling indignation was beginning to somersault within my head, threatening to knock me off balance.

"Henchmen," Pack Rat responded, looking to something on his left, further ahead than my bubble could see. "Individuals without Classes or abilities appropriate for work that are called in for... manual labour. They sign different contracts than provisionals. Short-term, or with fewer responsibilities. There is no shortage of people willing to fulfil such a role in this city."

"[I see...]" I responded thoughtfully, keeping my eyes ahead as I hoped my heart would stop whatever it was doing so I could focus.

The idea of 'goons' irritated me on a level I couldn't fully understand. Another emotion with no rational origin, a feeling that appeared within my mind just to be a nuisance.

I had to think of something else. Something to distract me. What else was I feeling, beyond indignation?

I felt a little stunned at the group's numbers, even if the feeling had been drowned out right afterwards. Our own Adventuring Guild back in Addersbrook had roughly a little over half those numbers, if even that. The group seemed more like a large private guild than a 'tight' criminal organisation.

Maybe that was how they did things in the city. If there were more people here, then maybe the organisations were larger, too. It was a bit of a daunting thought. I considered myself to be good at professional relationships, but forty to fifty was a lot of people to remember and figure out ways to appease and interact with. I hoped this 'Don' would be lenient on something like that, at least for a while. I wasn't used to being part of any group with this many people.

We approached another set of open doors, ones that were made of a much lighter looking wood, with none of the ornate care that the front doors had. More casual looking. The sign above it held glowing letters, a bright lavender that stuck out against the darker purple box around it.

CAFETERIA

I could see Sigura gulp, while Incognito was trying his hardest not to look at the double doors. Despite his earlier warnings, Pack Rat took to the front of our group, pushing open the doors.

"This is our cafeteria. If you have the need for food, this is where you can sate your hunger. If you choose to eat beyond this room, you must clean up after yourselves."

It was a spacious hall, one with long light purple benches and only a few people sitting around. Most of those I saw wore adventurer-like costumes, with bright or pattern covered clothes, all with those signature V-shaped visors over their faces. It was only now that I realised the connection.

The bulk of the people I saw that weren't seated approached the doorway, seven people in dark grey clothes moving as a single, cohesive unit. They were the only people in the cafeteria I could see that weren't wearing metallic visors, and looked... rather ordinary, in comparison. Like civilians. Each was dressed in grey uniforms, black work boots and caps that read 'Divastyr Trash Service'.

The man in front was rather short, yet his expression was strangely intense. I wasn't sure if he was a Halfling or a Human based on his size alone, but the people following him were considerably taller. He had a thick black beard, and long dark hair that spilled out from beneath his cap. If he was stockier in build, I might've written him off as a tall Dwarf.

He and his group stepped out of the cafeteria, all hauling black bags over their shoulders, backs straight and eyes forward. Sigura's face rankled as she backed up to give the group room to leave.

"Hrr... you are doing excellent work, gentlemen," the Roden said, taking a long, deep breath as the... janitor(?) gave him a curt nod, not saying a word as they passed us by, heading for the lobby we'd come from.

For once, I was glad to not have a sense of smell. If it bothered Sigura, and appealed to a Roden, chances were it wasn't something I'd want to experience first-hand. At least Screen was a Machina. If they were anything like Dolls, she wouldn't have to worry about the stench.

"That reeked!" Sigura exclaimed, moving quicker down the corridor now, as if to run from the scent left behind.

"They take their work very seriously," Pack Rat smiled, picking up the pace to follow her with an approving nod. "It is not an easy job for Humans, I am sure, but it is a rewarding one. They are dedicated to their craft."

"It wasn't that bad," Toya commented, raising an eyebrow at Sigura. I couldn't help but notice he was the only one of our group not holding their nose. Well... among those with noses to hold.

"It didn't smell very good..." Streiphen argued, his voice sounding higher pitched as he squeezed his nose, scurrying along behind Sigura as she slowed her pace.

Sigura released her nose, taking a deep breath afterwards, before shooting Toya a look.

"If you didn't think that was awful, Jiggles, you need to get your nose checked."

"Might just be his race," Incognito shrugged. "Some races aren't affected by scents like that. Some even like it, as wrong as that is."

The last comment sounded rather pointed, punctuated by his furrowed brow as he glanced back towards the brightly smiling Roden.

"I will not belittle your experience, but it is a pleasant scent to me. It is comforting, in a sense."

"Comforting, my ass," Sigura quipped, rolling her eyes.

If the smell was anything like the scent of a sewer, I could understand Sigura's reaction. I'd never been too bothered by the smell, but the rest of our old team had always complained about Giant Rat hunts. They claimed it was because the sewers were unsanitary, but I had always suspected it was because of the stench alone.

"Where do you wish for us to take you?" Pack Rat asked. "We have not prepared a full tour in advance, but if you have a preference, let it be known."

He'd take us anywhere in this base? That wasn't something I'd expected, given how tight their security must really be. With a place like this that clearly had money to spend, I felt eager to explore. Did they have their own library? Maybe a workshop for Anvil Casters? Or even some sort of training range to let them assess Streiphen before the Don called for us? What about a-

"The [Doctor]," Sigura spoke, after a moment of contemplation, jerking her thumb in Incognito's direction. "He said you had one, and I want to see them. If they're any good, they can figure out what's up with our bodies. If there's anything we can do for Yur, I want to know."

Incognito and Pack Rat exchanged pensive looks, something I couldn't help but see as pointless with those visors in the way. If they wanted to communicate something silently, wouldn't they need to see each other's eyes? Or maybe one of them had some form of Mental Magic to transmit information?

"... Very well," Pack Rat replied after a lengthy pause. "However, we must ask that you do not be alarmed. Our [Doctor] is very skilled, and very reliable, but they are... different."

"Different... how?" Toya asked, his eyes darting between our two guides, suspicion thick in his eyes. "Like us?"

Incognito rubbed the back of his neck, looking back over his shoulder towards Toya, then down at Streiphen. Was he assessing them? Trying to see how we would take whatever news the two were mulling over? I couldn't be certain. Sigura was staring him down, and I knew she was trying to gleam details from him, too. Was... were they a Chimera? Was that why they were worried...?

"She's... a Malacanth," he said, after a pause. Pack Rat's shoulders hunched up, and I saw the Roden sigh.

"What's that?" Streiphen asked, looking up towards Incognito.

I saw Fareel shiver to my left, worriedly glancing back down the hallway. Did he know what Incognito was talking about? Just our luck that the only one wise enough about this to be anxious was mute.

"The name... sounds vaguely familiar..." Toya said, narrowing his eyes as he looked down at the ground. "They're... a Zeradonian race, aren't they? A bad one? Monstrous?"

"No, no," Incognito sputtered out. "Well... Yeah, but she's fine, really, just a little weird. She's-"

"She can explain it more tactfully than either of us are capable of, should you truly wish to know," Pack Rat interjected. "I only ask that you do not judge her on race alone, not least before she has the chance to explain herself."

Even if the others felt strange about this [Doctor] on the first meeting, the words struck a chord with me. So many misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts could have been solved with just a bit of real communication. Silently, I resolved to hear the [Doctor] out, regardless of what happened.

We followed the guides down a few more corridors before arriving at a metal staircase, one that looked barely wide enough for my body. I unhooked my metal compartment, pulling free a pair of metal plates to push the barrels up and out of their straps. Streiphen ran over after spotting me, hands extended as I brought the barrels down to the ground, wordlessly helping me set them in place.

"Sorry if it's a tight squeeze," Incognito said, looking over the barrels as we set the second one down onto the ground. "A lot of these city buildings were made with bigger folk in mind, but... your mech is... yeah."

"[I'll be able to walk down without the barrels,]" I told them. "[The issue is width, not height.]"

I was glad for it, too. The last thing I wanted was for something as vitally important as a [Doctor] to be in a place I couldn't reach due to my unwieldy form.

Toya stood at the top of the staircase, looking down into the relative gloom with worry on his face.

"She's not some [Mad Scientist] or something, is she? She's a proper [Doctor]?"

Incognito laughed, patting the Slime-like man on the back before taking the first step down, doing nothing to assuage the man's worries. I began to follow them down into the gloom, Sigura directly in front of me. Pack Rat turned left as his bare feet touched down on the solid stone, guiding us through the underground corridor.

"Our base is a large building, although it is not old. Much work has been done to expand upon it in the past few years we have been around, but there is still refinement to be done. Our infirmary has been made to accommodate larger beings, but I am unsure how easily we can find a spot for Miss Yuri to be safely examined."

The thought didn't help to ease my thoughts as we arrived at a pair of similarly plain wooden doors, much like that of the cafeteria. It was marked INFIRMARY, much like the room before it. Pack Rat pushed his way inside, leading the charge.

The infirmary itself was another spacious hall, one with beds lining both sides. All of the beds looked massive, with each being easily twice as wide and long as the ones back home. Whatever worries I had about myself, at least Sigura would be accommodated.

None of the beds were occupied, each visible and uncovered. White curtains hung on a rail above the beds, yet none were drawn closed. I decided to take that as a good sign, if people weren't here, injured.

The only drawn curtain was at the very far end of the infirmary, something that only came into view as I stepped further down the hall. My metal legs clacked against tiles as my [Heat Sense] picked up a single person at the far end of the hall. From what I could see... they were strangely shaped, and appeared to be floating in the air. Were they using [Levitate], or some sort of [Telekinesis] ability?

When I saw the curtain, I disabled the Skill, wanting to give whoever they were some privacy. I tried to pull my [Sensory Zone] back a little, too, not wanting to peek under or above the curtain if they were doing anything sensitive.

Still, I could see their silhouette on the other side of the curtain from here. As horrific as Incognito and Pack Rat were making this all sound, the silhouette looked like a regular woman. One shorter than both Sigura and Toya, even if still taller than both the childish Streiphen and the hunched Pack Rat. I spotted something akin to a girthy tail extending from their back, something that made me idly wonder if they were a Varani.

"You busy, Doc?" Incognito called out, causing that thought to wither away as soon as it came to life. His voice echoed in the empty hall, filling the room.

"That depends. What do you want?" came the voice from beyond the curtain. Toya frowned, mouth slightly ajar as he heard the sound. Sigura crossed her arms, eyes raised at... either the comment, or her silhouette.

She looked like a normal person, and she sounded like a normal person. I wasn't dumb enough to think that the worries of our guides were unfounded. That was the sort of assumption that could lead to a horrific misunderstanding. I'd read comics, and I wasn't about to fall for some cheap scare if the curtain was pulled back and she was revealed to be horribly disfigured, or looked alien, or something.

"Some new provs," Incog replied. "The Don hasn't fully checked 'em yet, but I'm pretty sure they'll do fine. We've got a Chimera looking for a checkup."

I could hear a sigh. One that was very light compared to the sound of the others.

"I work better with flesh, Incognito. I'm not skilled enough to fully diagnose issues with the Soul."

The Half Elf man glanced up at me, and then back towards the curtain.

"It's... definitely a flesh thing. Probably. You should check her anyway, just to be sure."

Behind the curtain, the tail snaked out from the main body, reaching out for the curtain as it was slowly pulled back, revealing... a normal looking [Doctor's] office, and a relatively normal looking [Doctor]. Relatively.

Against the wall was a desk, one with a sink, a few boxes, two runes next to that sink, and a tall glass jar filled with a deep, mushy blue cream. Standard.

I didn't recognise the cream, and there wasn't any label on the jar, either. It didn't look like anything dangerous, but the texture looked thick and pasty enough that I wouldn't want to have any of it rubbed on me, either.

The two runes next to the sink were both familiar looking, even if I'd seen both in different places. Closest to the edge of the counter was a gold ring with a dot in the center, the same communication rune I'd seen on Screen's desk. The other rune was a blue raindrop, which could have meant it worked with the tap in some way, or handled sanitisation. My bet was on the latter.

The wall wasn't as littered with posters and informational leaflets as the [Healer's] office in Addersbrook had been, but two of them hung high over the sink, evenly spread apart.

The first held a picture, one I'd seen just about everywhere back home and in Addersbrook. It was a sheet with the ability ring on it. A circle with a white left half and a black right half, with a six coloured hexagon in the center of it. On the left, the word 'SKILLS' was written in black. On the right, the words 'LUSTER ARTS' were written in white, each a mirror of the other.

The hexagon was divided into six colours, one for each of the 'Six Schools of Magic'. Red for Elementalism, green for Shapeshifting, purple for Necromancy, white for Manipulation, yellow for Perceptionism, and blue for Enchanting, going clockwise. I'd seen it everywhere at school. It was a diagram I could draw by heart, if I'd had a working hand and pen. Or... even a heart.

I really needed to have this [Doctor] figure out what was going on with my body.

The [Doctor] in question looked like a Half Elf, complete with pointed ears going upwards and that signature racial glow that made her look 'sharper' than everything around her. She wore a black sleeveless top with a lap coat two sizes too big over it, with black pants and... a pair of platform shoes, ones that made her look taller than she was. I couldn't fault her for it. Even with the shoes, she was barely taller than Pack Rat.

Her skin was deathly pale, dotted in places by patches of leaf green scales around the backsides of her hands and around her neck. They were the kind of scales that made me think she had some amount of Varani blood in her, even if neither of her direct parents had been one.

Both of her eyes were different colours. While her left was a deep, ocean blue, the other was an eerie gold, one that emitted a dim, ominous glow.

"Hey, Doc," Incognito said, pointing at his eye. "You're missing one of your contact lenses."

She frowned, turning back towards her desk. Spotting the small, mostly transparent lens near the taps, she reached for it, popping it into her eye with a precise hand movement. She hadn't even flinched for a second.

When she turned around, I got a look at her tail, and I felt my 'heart' soar in my chest.

It was a prosthetic, an artefact formed of sharp, segmented silver coloured plates with a flexible rod in the center. It moved with a smooth ease that filled me with jealousy and hope. Was it animated through magic? What kind of mechanisms did it use? I couldn't see where on her body it was attached to, but I saw a spacious flap in the back of her lab coat the tail snuck out of. If she'd made that herself, then a diagnosis wouldn't be the only thing she could help us with.

She turned back towards us, both of her eyes fully blue now, the glow I'd seen behind them sealed away. Between her pale skin and abnormally graceful movements, I would have been inclined to think she was a Vampire, if not for what our guides had already told us.

"[Did you make that prosthetic yourself?]" I asked, the first words any of our group had said to the woman. Way to make a good first impression, Yuri.

She pointed her eyes in my direction, looking over my mech with what I hoped was a critical eye.

"No," she responded curtly. "It was created for me by one of the [Inventors] here. A member of Gearhead's clique, I'm sure. It serves as a convenient toolbox, even if I must meet with the creator to get it retuned every now and again."

Gearhead. I filed the name away for later. She mentioned... a toolbox? Did it have extra features? Hidden tools within the segments? Additional-

"Would you be able to examine her before she meets the Don, Aquamarine?" Pack Rat asked her.

She looked back towards my body before turning, reaching into a drawer for a pair of rubber gloves.

"For free?" she asked, standing back up. "Did you speak with the Don about this?"

Incognito grimaced, yet the Roden took the comment in stride.

"It is a gesture of good faith. I am certain the Don will take a shine to these people."

"Suit yourself. I'll get Experience from the examination either way," the... Malacanth shrugged in response, pulling on the gloves.

"Turn off whatever shielding you're using to disguise your Soul," Aquamarine said, turning back towards me. "I can't get a good look at your form through it."

Shielding...? Was she talking about my helmet?

"[Ah... Apologies...]" I said, gingerly lowering myself to the floor. I spread my legs out, careful not to accidentally spear or flatten anyone around me. Using my [Telekinesis], I removed the helmet, revealing my bare form to the [Doctor].

"That was your true shape after all?" the [Doctor] muttered, eyes fractionally widened in shock. I hoped it was shock, given the alternative was probably disgust. "Since you have an unconventional Sapient body type, I'll need to do a general examination for details before I provide any meaningful insight."

"[Sapient body type...?]" I echoed, watching as she walked to her desk, retrieving a syringe and a metal device I wasn't familiar with, one with a round dish at the base, and several layers of glass rings of varying size and shape above it.

"Meaning you don't fall into any of the other nine Racial Classifications. To my knowledge, there's no precedent for a form like yours occuring in nature, even taking Aera Pollution and Arcane Mutations into account," she told me.

Incognito and Pack Rat gave her some space, sitting at the edge of one of the unoccupied beds. Toya did the same, while Fareel wandered around the rest of the room, peeking beneath beds and into the drawers next to them, searching for God's knows what.

Sigura and Streiphen stayed standing, remaining close by. Supporting me.

When the [Doctor] came back over, she brought the needle to my side. Sigura's eyes were on her like a [Veteran Scout] tracking its prey, never once leaving the Malacanth's hands as she pierced my flesh with the syringe's cold iron tip. It was only a prick of pain, but I felt my body tense up, sweating from the contact. I'd never been bothered by a syringe before the... the transformation. Guess that changed without me realising, too.

"You okay, Yur?" Sigura asked, coming over to place a hand against the side of my mech. I felt my body relax a little.

"[I... I'm fine. Thank you, Sigura,]" I responded.

Aquamarine stepped back with the full syringe, walking to the table. She squeezed the end of the syringe, pushing the viscous red blood out onto the dish at the base of the device.

As strange as it might sound, I was relieved my blood was still red. I hadn't been paying attention to my blood during the fight with the adventurers, but seeing it now... I felt silently glad that even if everything else was different, the colour of my blood was the same. A small, inconsequential victory, but a victory nonetheless.

The pane of glass right above the abnormally thick blood began to softly glow as the [Doctor] pressed her eye to the top, looking down at it.

"Hmm... Only a small amount of Human blood is used for stabilisation. There are traces of Goliath and Varani, too."

"S... Stabilisation...?" Toya muttered, looking towards the [Doctor]. "What do you mean?"

"Most Chimeras created by the Organisation are hybrids," she replied, not looking up from the device. "Fusions of various creatures mixed through a specially formed alchemical solution. Humans, Elven subspecies, and Goblins are the races typically used to stabilise the Soul structure and body, since they have the most malleable, adaptable Souls. There's very little Human used despite a successful experiment, meaning this was a clean operation. You should consider yourself lucky that you survived."

Sigura's claws snapped out. Her fur stood on end, eyes turning hard.

What had she taken offense to? To [Doctor] was just explaining-

A smaller hand grasped her own, and the tall Chimera looked down into starry eyes and a quivering lip. Her own fingers curled around that of Streiphen's, both working to stabilise the other.

"I'll perform more tests shortly. If I can identify all of your constituent races, I'll be able to get more accurate readings on the subcons... Subconscious Conditions, that dominate the physical workings of your body."

Her hand moved away from the desk, causing the glow around the glass to fade. She turned as Sigura opened her mouth. For a single, frightened second, I was afraid she was going to say something she'd regret. That we all would. I knew something was coming, but I didn't know-

"What's a Malacanth, Doc?" Sigura asked, keeping her voice steady.

The woman narrowed her eyes, head turning to focus her sight on Pack Rat for just a moment, before turning to land on Incognito. The man paled, turning slightly as he became unable to meet her eyes.

"You told them? People that aren't even provisionals yet? What would the Don think of that, Incognito?"

"Well..." the man stammered out, his mind surely scrambling for an excuse. "They were going to see you anyway, Doc. It was... a show of trust, y'know, a-and I figured they wouldn't be bothered, since they were Chimeras, and..."

Aquamarine looked away, craning her neck upwards to meet Sigura's eyes.

"How much do you care? Do you want a simple answer to placate you, or a proper explanation? I am not your enemy, if that is what you're concerned about."

"I want to know who, or what, will be examining my best friend, that's what," Sigura told her. Despite the Half Nekari Chimera's hard eyes and decidedly hostile posture as she loomed over the shorter [Doctor], I felt a joyous warmth build in my chest.

The [Doctor] glanced in my direction, and then towards Streiphen.

"Very well," she replied, without a fuss. "Take the child out of the room. If any of you are squeamish, I'll ask you to leave, too. This explanation will not be suitable for the faint of heart."

Pack Rat got off the end of the bed, approaching the now panicked looking Streiphen.

"Wait! I want to stay here with Miss Yuri! What if something happens to her while-"

"I won't let her do anything until we know what we're dealing with, pipsqueak," Sigura assured him, squeezing his hand. "I'll call you when she's done."

Streiphen looked conflicted, his eyes darting from me to Sigura. I planned on reassuring him further, but as he looked over his shoulder at Pack Rat, he loosened his grip on Sigura's hand. He didn't need it. "Okay..."

He stepped away from the taller Chimera, walking towards the entrance to the infirmary.

"Please don't let anything happen until I come back!"

Sigura nodded, waving him off as she looked towards Toya. The Slime-like man's expression was a mixture of confusion and worry, his body shaking like a leaf caught in a rainstorm.

"You're not leaving, Jiggles?" Sigura asked, raising an eyebrow. She seemed calmer now than she had a moment ago, which I was relieved to see.

"[Are you sure you want to stay? I appreciate it if you're staying to support me, but there's no need to push yourself.]"

The man shook his head, taking a deep breath that sent even more tremors through his body. "I... I'll be fine. I can... handle it. I just want to know for sure what we're dealing with."

Sigura grinned, patting the gelatinous man on the back as she sat down next to him on the bed.

"Actually... I'm going to sit this one out, too," Incognito told us, hopping off the end of the bed. "An 'in-depth' explanation means she's going to get really gross, and this little orientation was bad enough the first time."

"Your tactlessness amazes me even now," the [Doctor] said drily. "I'm standing right here, Marcian."

The Half Elf blinked, glancing towards the doorway. "Pack didn't hear that, but you're supposed to use our Epithets, Ca- fuck, Aquamarine."

"You divulged my race to those beyond our group without asking my permission," the woman said shucking off her lab coat, folding it up on the countertop. "Speaking your first name is a fitting 'punishment', if you can even call it that."

The man, 'Marcian', shivered at the sight of her pale, bare arms. Looking at them now, I saw faint, thin black lines running down along her thin limbs, barely visible to the naked eye.

"Right, sure, sorry," he stammered out, turning around to walk away. "I'll make it up to you later if it actually bothered you, Cap, really."

For the first time, the 'Malacanth' smiled.

"Leave," she told him.

He did as she advised, leaving Sigura, Toya and I alone with the [Doctor]. Fareel was... probably still in the hall, too, even if he wasn't watching. I hoped he was still in here, anyway. The last thing we needed was for him to have wandered off on his own.

She placed two fingers on the golden ring, causing it to glow before looking back up towards us.

"If you need to stop me to ask questions, do so. If you feel the urge to vomit at any point, tell me and I will get you a bucket. I don't want chunks of bile clogging up the sink."

Sigura frowned, a flicker of apprehension passing over her eyes.

"Lucky for you, I'm the only one here who can vomit at all. Go nuts," the Half Nekari Chimera told her.

"As you wish," the [Doctor] said, stepping away from the counter.

She flexed her arm, an action that was far from impressive given her slight frame. Sigura gulped, watching as the faint thin lines I'd spotted thickened, becoming a network of deep black veins.

"The people of Velvet Star call me Aquamarine. My true name is-" she stopped speaking whatever language our brains had taught us after the transformation, and began making a quick, chattering sound. One that I wasn't certain a Half Elf's vocal chords could make. "It means 'Capillary', in your tongue."

I watched as she turned around, using the tip of the tail integrated into her lower back hook underneath the base of her shirt, lifting it up.

Toya looked away sheepishly as her pale back was revealed, alongside the black bra strap on the upper half of her body. I wasn't sure Slimes couldn't blush, but Toya's cheeks turned a sky blue shade. Sigura's eyes widened, and she reached over to tap the man on the shoulder, prompting him to turn and look at...

An enormous, horrific scar, one that went from the base of her neck to the bottom of her back. The full extent of the scar's damage was hidden, thanks to the integrated tail sitting on top of it. It was... frightening to look at. I couldn't possibly imagine anything surviving a cut like that, not without some truly incredible Healing Magic. And even then...

"Are you Undead?" Sigura asked, not a hint of judgement in her tone. None that I could detect, at least. "If you're not a Vampire or something with incredible regeneration, there's no way you survived a hit like that."

"She didn't need to," the Malacanth sighed, turning to face us as she let the shirt drop. "The body you see before you is a corpse, and the scar was applied after death. I am not an Undead, but an Insectoid piloting my host from within."

The room went dead silent. The only sound permeating the space was the distant shuffling of bedsheets towards the entrance of the hall.

I found it hard to process the words. Everything she'd said in the past few seconds almost felt as though she was speaking another language. There was so much to put together that-

"You're possessing people?" Sigura asked, blinking with wide eyes. Toya sat next to her, looking absolutely horrified. Was... was that what I was supposed to be feeling?

"In a sense," she responded nonchalantly, leaning against the operating table right behind her. "My kind are capable of bonding with living vessels, although most die of shock or rejection without magical support. Possessing corpses is a natural extension of that parasitic relationship, a solution that harms nobody in the process."

"There's no fucking way you're some insect piloting a corpse," Sigura breathed, her words dripping with disbelief. "I've never heard of anything doing something like that. Prove it."

"Don't! Please, don't prove it!" Toya spluttered hurriedly, beginning to hyperventilate as he looked away, eyes wide.

I didn't know how they expected her to 'prove' it, short of opening up that wound in her back and crawling out. But... No, there was another way to prove it.

"[She's telling the truth,]" I told them, having confirmed it myself. "[I'm certain of it.]"

With [Heat Sense] active, she looked drastically different. What I'd believed was her 'floating' was instead her latching into her body. I could see the outline of her body, surrounded by a sprawling network of warm veins spreading through the otherwise cold, lifeless corpse.

She was massive by insect standards, a long creature with eight segmented legs wrapped around the ribcage for support. Both of the forefront legs opened up, letting out a collection of meaty tendrils that spread all throughout the body, acting as the 'veins' that I could see. Her 'head', a pointed, elongated segment of the top of her true form, was nestled around her chin, just below the skull.

"What? How can you tell, Yur?" Sigura asked. I saw the [Doctor] shift, both her flesh body and the heated silhouette within turn to face me. She looked curious, too.

"[The... host isn't warm, like a living body is. I can see it with my [Heat Sense]. She's telling the truth about it being a corpse. I can see the outline of her own body within, grasping the ribcage for stability,]" I told them.

Toya didn't have organs, or any food within his body, but he looked the most ready to throw up out of all present.

"Is that so?" the [Doctor] responded. "I haven't encountered anyone with [Heat Sense] in quite some time. I was unaware a Skill like that was able to reveal me. I'll need to find someone capable of producing an artefact that can simulate body heat to better conceal myself."

I was capable of making [Heat Runes]. The thought of using them for a form of camouflage against an esoteric sensory ability had never once crossed my mind.

"[I could try making something like that, later. Maybe... as a form of payment for an examination?]"

The [Doctor] smiled again, shaking their head.

"I've already stated that I will perform this examination as a gesture of good faith. This is to foster trust and good work relations, should the Don deem you worthy. We can talk about such an artefact in the future for a different exchange, if you wish."

My body and form nodded. I'd like that. Even if that payment was a favour, or maybe medicine for Streiphen or the others they might need, I was glad. It meant my abilities could be useful here. I could serve a purpose for my team and this group, and they could help us in turn.

"Did... did you kill them?" Sigura asked, some of her shock giving way an exhausted incredulousness. She sounded nonchalant, almost, but I could see the lingering threat in her eyes. "Your 'host', I mean."

"No. That would be inhumane," she responded calmly, with the tired voice of someone who'd said this dozens of times. "The Don has a deal with the local morgue. He supports and funds my research and medical expertise in exchange for my assistance. This body was donated to the city council willingly for medical use and research, and was passed on to me as a result, an act which I hold great respect for. I have not once killed a person to use as a host."

Toya still looked shell shocked, but he didn't seem quite as frantic and panicked as he had before. It was only by comparison that I realised how calm I felt. Maybe my emotions had yet to catch up with my understanding, but I was glad that I hadn't had any extreme reactions to the revelation. It helped to ground me, just a little bit more.

The door to the hall far behind me opened. I heard the clacking of claw against tile as Pack Rat entered my bubble, returning to our group.

"Hrr... I have decided to swap with Incognito. I will stay to observe and assist if need be," he said, sitting back atop the bed. "Incognito is stationed outside, minding the child."

Aquamarine gave the Roden a dry look, crossing her arms.

"You left Incognito in charge of a child?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Pack Rat laughed, a hearty, jolly sound that helped to melt away some of the heavy tension lingering in the air.

"He is eccentric, certainly, but he is not inept," the Roden replied with a smile. "I am certain he is capable of minding a child for a few minutes."

If I hadn't known she was an insect in a corpse's body, I wouldn't have suspected a thing. Her mannerisms and facial expressions were very well tailored towards fitting in with a Humanoid society. Was that something she'd been forced to learn? Was she tapping into muscle memory through those 'veins'? Could that be enough to hide herself within a body like she was?

The emotions that caught up with me were curiosity and fascination, rather than horror and disgust. As strange as it might sound, she was like me, in a way. A weak body requiring a 'suit' to survive and move around. Even if her suit was flesh, and mine was steel, there might be lessons to learn from her. Maybe I could use information on how her Racial Skills worked as 'payment' for a heat cloaking artefact?

"Streiphen can take care of himself anyway," Sigura said. I could see her chest fall slightly as she spoke, letting some of the tension leak out of her stiffened form. I was glad she was starting to come to terms with all of this, even if it was gradual.

"If Pack Rat suspects he's capable of working with our group, then I'm certain he is," Aquamarine responded, turning to look back towards Sigura and Toya, the latter of whom had managed to collect himself. Somewhat.

"If you have any other questions, ask now before I examine your friend."

Toya's face scrunched up, his eyes locked on the tiles. His expression was deep in thought, no doubt trying to process everything he'd been told.

"Can't... couldn't you use a Doll...?" he asked, his voice almost pleading as he looked back up at the Malacanth. "Or... or a mech, like Yuri?"

Aquamarine shook her head.

"It isn't as simple as moving a body around. Malacanth bodies are capable of binding with a host's nervous system for movement and control. Dolls don't have conventional nervous systems to connect with."

Toya gave a slow nod, his shoulders slumping.

"Why that body?" Sigura asked, eyeing the woman up and down. "If you could bind with any corpse, wouldn't you want something... stronger? Like a Goliath or a Minotaur?"

That was... true. Maybe she needed a smaller body for precise work, like operations? I'd never heard of a Minotaur [Surgeon] before.

"I prefer slimmer, female hosts," she replied. "My true body is female, and rather small compared to others of my kind. Bodies that are too large require me to stretch my nerves farther, weakening my control and reaction speed. Bodies like this aren't too cramped, nor too large. Elven hosts work best due to their longevity. The decaying process isn't as prominent with hosts like this one."

I hadn't considered that at all, but it made sense. As much as I might like to, a smaller, more compact body was impossible for me. It seemed as though the inverse was true for Aquamarine. With the others around me, in the midst of a criminal base, I decided to ask a question that had been on my mind, too.

"[Why did you join this group, Aquamarine? If you just wish for a connection with the morgues for bodies, couldn't you work for the city itself?]"

Sigura gave me a curt nod, smiling lightly to herself as she looked back at the Malacanth. The woman's artificially blue eyes were locked on the tiles before rising to meet me.

"To explain, I would need to tell a brief story, so I ask that you bear with me for a few moments," she said, standing up from the operating table.

She walked around to the drawer by the sink, pulling free a thick, rolled up white mat, one that looked too large for the drawer to hold on its own. Through my [Sensory Zone], it was easy to see that it was enchanted. The items within the drawer itself looked smaller, as though they'd been shrunken down. It was only as she pulled the mat from within the drawer that it expanded to a normal size.

"You, Nekari. Unfold this mat for your friend," the Malacanth said, her eyes on Sigura.

With a moment of hesitant reluctance and a furrowed brow, she rose from the bed, walking over to take the mat from Aquamarine. She carried it with greater ease than the diminutive [Doctor], giving me a wink as she walked past, leaning down to begin unfolding it on the floor.

"I come from Zeradonia, like many of my kind," Aquamarine began, hopping onto the operating table, her legs dangling over the side. "I was born to a large brood, all residing in-"

Again, her words changed to a chattering, clacking sound. With my [Heat Sense] active, I could see her thin 'mouth' clicking as she spoke. Whenever she'd been using the common tongue, her true mouth had remained closed.

"Your people would call it 'Cancer's Pit'. My old home was destroyed by a cult of self-righteous fire worshipping Drow. It is a shame, but Zeradonia is no stranger to such conflicts. The survivors of my people ran, retreating as we inhabited whatever bodies we could. We travelled overseas to this continent as a collective, but after arriving, our group was divided."

Pack Rat sighed, looking away as she spoke. Toya's eyes softened, his mouth slightly ajar as he listened to the monster's tale.

"Many wished to take to arms. To gather more bodies, reproduce and travel overseas at a later date to wage war on those that had wronged us. While I too wish to see my homeland safe and within our hands once again, I have no taste for war. It was difficult, but I parted ways with the rest of my kin, leaving to find my own path in these lands."

The Malacanth didn't let emotion creep into their face. I couldn't tell if it was because they didn't feel sad about what had happened, or because they were better at hiding it than I would've been.

"Did anyone come with you?" Sigura asked, her voice raised to reach the [Doctor] around my form. Out of the corner of her eye, I saw her glance towards me. "You didn't come here alone, did'ja?"

"I wasn't the only one to leave, but none came with me to Divastyr," she replied. "I have worked to keep in touch with others that have abandoned our [King's] call to arms and lead peaceful, civilian lives. Others have found lives much like mine, even if we have found it difficult to adjust to this land's customs and way of life. I keep regular correspondence with a Malacanth named... Rickets, who owns the Timeless Tome, a book store in Salem City, far to the south, and an [Alchemist] named Scalp in Sharstead, a Pagonian village."

Toya's shoulders slumped at the mention of his homeland, but I saw the Malacanth wear a small smile.

"It helps to keep us... connected. I do not feel as distant from my kin thanks to this land's postal service. I joined this organisation because of its reputation and relative wealth. The Velvet Star needed a [Doctor], and I was happy to lend my services in exchange for safety and coin. Of course... I admit I also came here to research and learn about the Don's-"

Pack Rat coughed into a fist, cutting Aquamarine off. Behind the visor, his eyes were locked onto her.

"Never mind," she finished weakly, the small smile returning to a neutral position.

If anything hadn't looked natural about Aquamarine's movements, it was that. She had an exact control over her body that others lacked. When she wore a small smile, it was always the same size. When she raised an eyebrow, it was to the same height. It seemed eerie now that I'd noticed it, even if I felt a pang of jealousy at her level of control, one that seemed to exceed even those that had been born into their bodies.

Behind us, I saw Sigura rise to her feet. The mat she'd unfolded was far thicker than I'd first anticipated. It looked absorbent, and was easily big enough to accommodate my form. She stepped around my mechanical body, placing a hand against the side of my mech as her eyes landed on the downcast Malacanth.

"Mat's ready. I'm going to go tell Streiphen we're done talking."

"Very well," the Malacanth said, hopping to her feet. She walked to the back drawer, rummaging within it for something that-

"You want me to help you onto the mat?" Sigura asked, piercing through my thoughts. When she spoke, Toya looked up too, standing up from the bed as he approached us.

"[I... I can do it myself,]" I responded firmly. I didn't want it to sound confrontational, but this was something I could handle.

Sigura's mouth tightened, but she nodded, looking towards the Slime-like man next to her.

"You go get Streiphen, Jiggles. I'm staying here to watch over Yuri."

"Right..." he responded, glancing back towards the [Doctor] for a moment as she pulled out a white face mask and a pair of thick, dark blue goggles.

He stepped away, leaving my field of view. The side compartment of my mech unhinged, allowing a collection of thin plates to fly free from within. I knew how much power I needed to lift myself, and that it would be far from easy, but I could manage it. I needed to slide them beneath me and lift.

Sigura opened her mouth to say something, her tail stiffening as it rose, but she held her tongue, her chest deflating as I managed to hook the plates beneath my form without causing myself any harm.

I lifted, internally groaning from the effort. My body was heavy, especially for something that wasn't as large as my mech to carry. I could feel the influence I had over the plates slipping before I reasserted my focus, keeping calm as I rose off the mech for the first time since my transformation.

The plates brought me backwards, hovering over the mat. With a gentleness I'd had yet to master with my metallic hands, I slowly lowered myself down, slipping the plates out from under me as I fell, landing with a sickening squelch.

Sigura and I both shivered. While Sigura probably shivered from the sound, I shivered from the comfort. As reassuring as the mech was, being able to sit on something approximating a bed was heavenly. I'd been sleeping on a metal mech, and felt silently glad that this body didn't seem to ever cramp or give me back problems. One of the very few blessings my current body seemed to have.

My body relaxed, slouching a little as Toya returned, bringing Streiphen and Incognito with him.

Streiphen ran up to me, looking from my mech to a spot above me, and then to my form.

"Is everything okay? Nothing bad happened yet, right?"

Nothing bad would happen with him here either, hopefully. Unless he just had a fear of [Doctors]. I'd never cared much about them myself, but I knew a few Human friends that had been reluctant to visit our town's [Healers].

"[I'm fine, Streiphen. You haven't missed anything,]" I reassured him as he sat down on the mat next to me.

I couldn't imagine that I would be comfortable in the next few minutes. My body was still sweating and excreting goo that soaked into the mat, causing it to gradually swell in size. It didn't do anything to make it less comfortable for me, but I doubted Streiphen would feel the same way when it started getting soggy. I knew that sort of thing wasn't something most Humanoids found comfortable. I didn't have the heart to say he shouldn't sit on the mat, but...

My body still rolled with nervousness, even though I knew I was safe. At first, I thought it might have been anxiety caused by the [Doctor], right up until I noticed I was still holding the metal plates high in the air.

This was the first time I'd been properly separated from my mech. The thought of letting these plates go and not being able to get back to my only means of movement was... horrifying.

I slipped one of the plates under the front of my form, and connected another plate to the end of that. With the collection of metal I'd used to lift myself, I created a makeshift chain between me and my mech. If I needed to, I'd be able to control the mech like this. It wasn't the most efficient way of doing things, but it brought a level of comfort to my squirming form that I hadn't known I'd needed.

I felt better, knowing I still had the option to control my mech, should I need to. It helped me to relax.

With rubber gloves on her hands, mask and goggles on her face, and her lab coat back on her body, the [Doctor] puppetting a corpse approached, looking over my form.

"Let's begin."