It hadn't been long since the escape from that Godsforsaken facility, but every moment up until now had been filled with an anxiousness that clawed at the edges of my mind.

Right now, it felt like I'd finally get some relief. That some of that anxious mess pooling in my mind would be drained away.

I sat back down on the end of a plush bed too big even for my huge body, watching as a bug piloting some Half Elven woman's corpse was inspecting the one person I trusted more than anyone. The one person from home that I still had by my side. My eyes were locked on the Malacanth, unblinking. The second she did something suspicious or out of line, I'd be ready.

As much as that whole corpse bug revelation had freaked me out, I doubted these people were going to try anything, at least not right now. They were examining Yuri, a mass of pink canyons and bulbous, pulsing flesh dripping with sweat. Seeing her like this still hurt, but at least we'd be able to get a better idea of what made her tick. If we decided not to join these people, we'd still have more insight into what Yuri needed to survive. How to help her.

I didn't know what to make of these people. They employed Dolls, which pissed me off, but that wasn't something unique to them. Plenty of groups with coin to spare made use of Doll labour. They seemed stricter than I'd expected from a criminal group, but they still didn't seem to be as bad as the Adventurer's Guild.

They had a blend of freedom and rules, here, and I hadn't seen where that line properly blended together yet. They had uniforms, and a code of how to speak with people, but outside of missions, it looked like they were free to do their own thing. If this group was willing to hire someone like that Incognito guy, then there had to be some level of leeway. He had to be the most unprofessional professional I'd ever met.

Even if they ended up being too restrictive for us, we'd still be getting this examination out of them. They'd offered it in 'good faith', but if that [Doctor] tried to put anything inside of Yuri to give them an edge over us, I'd tear her apart on the spot, consequences be damned.

"Do you typically excrete this much... fluid?" the Malacanth asked, some of the sticky goo coming from Yuri between her fingers.

"[It's just sweat,]" she responded calmly. "[And yes, I do.]"

That was still such a strange sensation to get used to. When someone spoke to me, I could tell where they were based on the direction of the sound. When Yuri spoke, her voice was clear and crisp, the words forming within my head. The Nekari ears atop my head perked up on their own, searching for a sound that wasn't there.

"Why do you care about the sweat...?" Jiggles asked, his voice coming from my right where he was sitting next to me. He leaned forward, face contorted with concern. "Is there something wrong with it?"

Yuri's sweat was the least of her worries, but if the Doc had some interest in it, then maybe it meant something.

"It's strangely sticky," the [Doctor] responded, walking back to the sink. She pulled a small glass jar from the drawer, wiggling her fingers to let some of the emerald mucus drip into it. "It's been altered by an unseen biological process. It could provide some insight into her constituent races when examined."

Should I push her on that? Was she keeping that bit of mucus for the sake of research? Did they have someone who could track or magically manipulate Yuri through her sweat? My gut said no, but the flames hadn't appeared to try and coax me into making a decision either.

"Are you familiar with Caster Classifications?" Aquamarine asked, glancing back towards Yuri, having put the jar back into the drawer without being challenged.

"[I haven't memorised them, but I'm familiar with a few...]"

Her voice sounded embarrassed, something that I couldn't imagine should have been too hard to hide. She wasn't using vocal chords to speak, so why couldn't she choose how her voice sounded? If it was some subconscious expression of her Soul, what did that say about her?

My eyes drifted to the posters above the sink. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Yuri shiver lightly, her body sagging into the mat. She didn't need to be upset about that. We were just beginner adventurers when we got taken. She shouldn't be embarrassed over not knowing.

Next to the poster of the ability ring, I saw a guide to all the Caster Classifications. I'd seen some of 'em in school, and I knew which one I fell under, but I didn't recognise a few. Back when I'd been learning about this stuff, the terminology had gone in two ears and out the others.

The poster only had the names and some pretty barebones descriptions of each. Even if I didn't recognise a few, it was important to remember. If I proved that I knew the terminology, I'd be able to show that I was capable to these people. This was the sort of thing we needed to know, no matter what we did.

Even if we didn't join up with these guys, it was important that they knew we were capable. I needed to leave that impression on their leader, this 'Don'. They'd said he needed time to 'get ready', and I was having a hard time convincing myself that getting 'ready' wasn't just setting up a trap, or some time-based Condition to his magic.

My eyes skimmed over the black boxes around each Classification, committing the poster to memory.

The 13 Caster Classifications.

Sword - Contact-short range Casters.

Spear - Short-mid range Casters.

Bow - Long range Casters.

Shield - Casters that protect themselves/others.

Syringe - Casters that heal/augment themselves/others.

Crown - Casters that use 'minions' or control others.

Wall - Casters that create/control a zone/territory.

Mask - Casters that focus on subterfuge and stealth.

Scope - Casters that focus on gathering information.

Glove - Casters that focus on stealing/displacement.

Wheel - Casters that focus on mobility.

Anvil - Casters that focus on creating/augmenting objects.

Mic - Casters that focus on manipulating others.

The descriptions were bare, but it was all I needed to refresh my memory. I was a Sword Caster. Yuri was an Anvil. Toya and Streiphen were... Swords too...? I wasn't sure. Fareel was some mix of Crown and Scope. Those were the important ones to remember.

"This mech of yours," the [Doctor] murmured, patting the side of the metal. She looked like she was staring into her reflection on the surface. "Did you make it?"

Yuri's skin rolled in rebellion at the action. The sight of it made me want to stand and pull that bug away from Yuri's damn lifeline.

"[No. It was... used to contain me, back at the Chimera facility. I repurposed it through my [Telekinesis].]"

Aquamarine nodded thoughtfully. Was she drawing some conclusion from that? As much as I wanted to contribute here, I didn't know shit about any of this stuff. I felt my foot tap against the ground, a lackluster outlet for my restlessness, but it was all I had.

"You've claimed to be capable of creating a heat-based artefact, which leads me to believe you're an Anvil Caster. This contradicts the brand on the front of your body. That blue Bird symbol is Chimera's way of marking Mic Casters."

My eyes glanced back towards the poster, just to make sure I knew what this quack was implying. Mics manipulated 'others'. If by 'others', she meant metal, maybe it'd work as a stretch. Beyond that, she didn't have a single ability designed to manipulate people.

"Then they marked her wrong," I spoke up, chest forward and tone confident. "She's an Anvil Caster. She might have some Wall or Spear in her, but she's not a Mic Caster."

She didn't directly 'control' a zone or territory, but from how well she could protect Dronrowth against several Casters, she'd earned the right to be called a 'Wall'. I barely noticed as my right hand slipped down to my side, covering the red tattoo on the outside of my right thigh. One that looked like a Lion's head, complete with a thick mane and the addition of two curling Ox's horns.

Yuri's form wiggled at the front. Was she trying to nod? She usually had the mech to help with that. The action had never really looked 'right', even with the mech helping her, but I'd been able to tell what she was trying to do with it. Without that mech, she couldn't even manage that single, meagre action.

"[Sigura's right. I don't have any abilities like that,]" she confirmed, backing me up.

"Strange," the [Doctor] said, half-turning away from us, one hand on the metal sink as she glanced down at the mucus. "It is rare for Chimera to label their experiments incorrectly. My assumption is that your experiment was intended to yield a Mic Caster as the result, but something went wrong during your... rebirth."

An indignant fire scratched at the inside of my chest, trying to burst free. I had to take a deep breath of air to try and cool it down, but the room had gotten muggy and warm from Yuri's body heat. It wasn't helping.

"What're you trying to say?" I called out to her, eyes locked onto her form. "That Yuri's the way she is because of a mistake?"

Aquamarine rubbed her neck, an action that made her look so much more Humanoid than what she was.

"Without mincing words for the sake of politeness, yes. Their labels are rarely wrong, but if Yuri possesses no abilities that can influence others, then something went wrong during their experiments."

"Nothing went 'wrong'," I snarled back. "Yuri was an Anvil Caster before she became a Chimera, too. Whatever the fuck they did worked, and she's got... a stronger version of the magic she had before."

I could see that the Doc had something to say. Even while wearing contact lenses and looking through eyes that weren't hers, I could feel it. She had a comment, or some kind of theory, that she was holding back.

"If you've got something to say, spit it out," I demanded. "What-"

The Nekari ears atop my head stood on end, my eyes turning towards the entrance of the infirmary. I heard movement outside. Not footsteps, but the creaking of the door's hinges. The doors opened, and a [Witch] flew in.

She wasn't the type of person that immediately screamed '[Witch]', but the tall, wide brimmed purple hat she wore and the broom she was flying on gave it away.

She was a young Human. Probably in her late teens or early twenties, a little older than me. She had pale skin, even if it wasn't the same deathly pale as the [Doctor]. From what I could see, her skin looked flawless, as if she'd dunked her face and hands into a vat of beauty supplies and this was what came out. She wore black eyeliner and pink lipstick that was so bright it was practically neon. Her hair was long and puffy, a reddish pink that looked like it was the only natural thing about her.

She wore a pair of thin, circular glasses and a purple scarf wrapped around her neck. Hiding her ample chest was a shirt tiled with the only damn colours this organisation ever seemed to use. A black skirt and long dark purple stockings travelled down her legs, ending in purple sneakers with a lighter purple underside. She bobbed her head up and down as she flew in, which would've made her look like a lunatic if not for the black headphones on her head.

The sides of the headphones had a glowing symbol, one of neon pink lips open wide, revealing an open mouth of the same colour. That design marred the sides of her violet broom, too, making it look a lot different to a traditional [Witch's] broom. Personalised. Even the bristles were different. Pink and soft looking.

She was the type of person that screamed 'give me attention or I'll shrivel up and die!' with every movement and aspect of her appearance. I felt myself growing annoyed with her even before she'd opened her mouth.

Sitting on the end of the broom was, of course, a Cat. That would've been the only redeeming factor for this person, if not for the fact that they were obviously conjured, with obnoxiously bright pink skin and round, pupiless eyes.

Her red eyes passed over each of us in turn, going from me, to Toya, to Streiphen, to-

"Eww..." she shivered, her voice acting as the finishing touch on the obnoxious city girl package. "What... is that?"

'Punch that bitch's teeth in...'

The words were a whisper, a voice from over my left shoulder. I didn't need to look to see the grinning fireball egging me on. When I realised what she was talking about, I was ready to listen to them. I despised those things that haunted me, but just this once, we were on the same page. I felt my claws audibly snap out, orange-red light seeping out of my body as my [Mantle] activated reflexively.

The look of shock and fear in her eyes gave me a sense of catharsis. If she thought that was scary, wait until I got over and punched a hole through her-

"Hrrrrrr... Bubblegum!" Pack Rat snapped, looking directly towards the young [Witch]. "I will not tolerate you speaking to one of our prospective members in such an egregious fashion! Remember that you are only a provisional member, and will be ejected without argument if you continue to act with such blatant disrespect."

Incognito shivered, looking away with worry and shock in his expression as the Roden rightfully exploded. It made me feel a little better, but I still wanted to relieve her of a few perfect teeth.

The [Witch's] hands, which I noticed had pink, manicured nails, because of fucking course they did, came up to cover her mouth as her eyes widened in shock. Both eyes were beginning to glow with neon pink flames as she examined Yuri once again. Even her Aera was obnoxiously coloured.

"I am soooooooooo sorry! I... I had no idea you were a person... M-Mr..."

"[Yuri,]" the brain-like Chimera responded flatly, her voice devoid of emotion. "[It's alright. I understand the confusion.]"

My fiery eyes turned towards Yuri, ready to explode at her, too. Why the fuck would she say that was alright? If someone spoke to her like that, she needed to defend herself. If she kept acting like a damn door mat, it was only a matter of time before people started to abuse that and walk all over her!

The thought reminded me of earlier, when we were talking in the corridor. I'd been trying to haggle our pay up, and she'd said... something like 'I only need enough to keep Streiphen and Fareel safe'. It was a nice sentiment, but what the fuck was she thinking? She should be pushing for as much as she could so we could arm ourselves. We were still on the run from Chimera, and we needed as much resources at our disposal as we could get.

She may have developed an excellent poker face, but she didn't have the right mind to abuse it. Yuri would have made a seriously shitty [Merchant] or [Gambler].

The [Witch] breathed a shaky, undeserved sigh of relief, placing one of her hands against her chest.

"Oh Gods... I'm so, so sorry, really... I had no idea..."

"I hope you can forgive my empty headed assistant," Aquamarine spoke dryly. "If it helps to ease your anger, she made very similar comments when she saw me for the first time, too."

"[I'm not angry... I was certain more people would be like that, actually. It's... comforting to see that kind of reaction being an exception, and not the rule,]" Yuri responded. I could feel my anger ratchet up at the words.

"How is that a fair comparison?" the empty headed [Witch] retorted in a huff. "You didn't have a host when I first saw you! I had no idea you were sapient!

"You made a foolish assumption because she has no visible sensory organs," the [Doctor] said, leaning over the device she'd used to assess Yuri's blood earlier. Now, she was examining the mucus. "It is no different from assuming I was not sapient, either."

The [Witch] rolled her eyes, finally seeing that she wasn't winning this battle. Instead of trying to fight anyone with intellect she clearly lacked, she put the only real thing she had going for her to use.

She waved in Incognito's direction, giving him a wink that made me want to throw up onto her. What made it even worse was that he winked back. I wanted to be as accepting as Yuri and give her the benefit of the doubt that it was just some inside joke, but I wasn't feeling very 'accepting' right now.

Worse still, she turned to look towards Toya right after. She looked the Slime-like man up and down like she was examining some dress before giving him a wave, too. His shoulders hunched up, and with an awkward grin on his face, the idiot waved back at her.

My claws snapped out again, and I growled, warding her off as she flinched, quickly looking away.

She definitely attracted Jiggles' attention, if nothing else. I'd need to keep an eye on this idiot and make sure he didn't do anything stupid. We hadn't joined these people yet, and we needed to remain... impartial. Didn't he even care about what she'd said to Yuri?

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Fareel. I'd thought he was looking for something to steal, or checking under beds for traps, and now I saw him peeking out from behind a bed, looking towards the neon pink Cat at the end of the [Witch's] broom.

I silently urged him on, praying to whatever Gods that were listening that he'd leap for the Cat and try to eat it. Or better yet, attack the [Witch], too.

"Have you noticed any abnormalities beyond the changes in your body?" Aquamarine piped up. The [Witch], Bubblegum, gingerly got down off the broom as she stood next to the Malacanth. Sadly, she didn't fall off of it.

"[What do you mean...?]" Yuri asked, her body shivering lightly.

"Alterations to your mindset, mood or senses. Beyond the obvious changes in your sensory organs," the Malacanth finished.

I had a good idea of what she was getting at. Yuri did seem a lot different than she was before becoming a Chimera, but... how could she possibly have known that? Had she figured that out by examining her damn sweat??

"[I... have noticed some things. Emotions and... thoughts, that seem to come from nowhere.]"

Aquamarine nodded thoughtfully. I saw Streiphen shiver next to Yur, too, his expression haunted, eyes wide with shock. Was this... something he'd been dealing with, too?

"What're you trying to say, Doc?" I asked, needing a clear answer.

"Most Chimeras experience Aera Dysphoria, a common symptom of having their Souls altered. It can occur from Soulburn, Arcane Mutations and Identity Bleed, but-"

"Just-" I cut in, raising my spare hand to rub my temple. "Stop beating around the bush and tell us what the fuck is wrong."

I looked up to see the Malacanth glancing back towards Pack Rat, an eyebrow raised. The Roden only smiled back before she turned to look at me.

"Aera Dysphoria is an issue with the Soul," she said, crossing her arms as the [Witch] next to her pressed two fingers against the golden circle rune. "It can cause sensory, mental or emotional changes through aspect imbalances in the Soul. Mental issues, emotional outbursts, sensory hallucinations... It's a very common experience for Chimeras, and can be extremely harmful in some cases. If you wish for me to better understand how to help you, I'll need to gather as much data as I can."

Fuck. Hallucinations and emotional outbursts? That fit those freaky grinning fireballs perfectly. Was that what I was dealing with? If...

My eyes rose from the tiled floor, looking from Toya, to Fareel, to Streiphen, and finally to Yuri.

If I'd been dealing with those fireballs egging me on, and this was 'common' for Chimeras, what were they dealing with? Did they have symptoms like this, too? What could...

"Is there a cure?" I asked, looking towards her. I didn't know what expression I was making, but I felt my face and chest tighten up.

"It depends on the nature of the affliction," the Doc replied, her shoulders sagging slightly. "We don't have someone on hand that can directly help with Aera Dysphoria, but I'm sure that the Don can find someone capable of providing direct aid if necessary. His connections run deep."

Was that genuine concern for Yuri, or something she was doing to push us to join?

That was the worst part about knowing I was talking to a 'Malacanth'. The body I was speaking to wasn't hers, and the control she had over it was incredibly high. For all I knew, each and every action was designed to disarm. She didn't strike me as being a liar, or someone giving false empathy, but how much of that was because of her bodily control?

"Chimeras often suffer similar issues to people with heavy Soulburn," the [Doctor] continued, pressing a gloved hand against the side of Yuri's body. Goo dripped from the region around the hand, sliding down the Chimera's form. "Many develop obsessions designed as a coping mechanism to unify the 'identity' of their Souls. It is more prevalent in some Chimeras than others, but it's rarely a negligible factor."

Obsessions, huh? A sigh of relief left my system. I had to deal with fireballs egging me on, but at the very least I was free of some heavy obsession on top of that. Gods be praised for small comforts.

"Does your body need anything to eat or drink?" Aquamarine asked, crouching down to observe the goo pooling around Yuri's body. Streiphen scooched over on the mat, joining her as they looked at the pale green mucus.

"[Yes... I don't have a mouth, or... any orifice I'm aware of, but my body soaks up water like... like a sponge.]"

My eyes forced themselves away from Yuri's form, shoulders hunching. Why had she compared herself to that? Had I gone too far making that joke? I didn't think so, but it could be hard to tell with Yuri. She used to have pretty thick skin, but now... I couldn't tell.

"Water...?" the [Doctor] muttered, running a finger through the goo. "Then she does require some form of physical nourishment. Reassuring."

I kept my eyes on her as she approached the desk. My shoes touched the floor as I walked towards them, wanting to at least get a better look at what she was doing first-hand. I didn't have a [Doctor's] expertise, but if I could glean anything from this stuff, maybe I'd be able to make deductions in the future. I felt my arms shaking as I came closer, gripping my clothes to keep myself still. I could go for a run later, but right now...

Dwarfing the two at the sink, I leaned against the metal, crossing my arms as I looked down at the device the Malacanth was hovering over. She was observing the goo, but I couldn't get a good look at the glass from where she was positioned.

"Reassuring?" I asked from next to her, trying to peek past the black hair hanging down over the sides of her face.

"Yes..." she replied. Tsk. She didn't even look up when she was speaking. Was she doing that on purpose?

"If she has a physical intake, it means that her survival isn't reliant on magical processes alone. If she had no physical processes, that would place far more strain on her Soul. Even something as simple as manipulating Aera could have put incredible strain on her over time. This mucus is the end result of an internal process."

I looked up from the device, planting my eyes on the [Witch] next to her.

The woman had grabbed a glass beaker, and was stirring some thick, green mixture with a wooden spoon. Her movements were slow, and I could see the head of the spoon glow softly beneath the surface of the sludge-like contents. It reminded me of a thick porridge, one that looked anything but appetising.

Her head bobbed in time with music I couldn't hear, if the headphones she wore were any indication. I'd never had headphones of my own, but everyone had read about luxury artefacts like them in newspapers and magazines.

She looked towards the [Doctor], opening her mouth to speak when she caught me staring. She jumped on the spot, her head craning up to meet my eyes. I kept my claws safely tucked away, but my eyes narrowed in suspicion without my conscious approval. I didn't bother forcing them back to normal.

She blinked behind her circular glasses, taking a deep breath that she might have thought was subtle, before giving me a convincing smile.

"Sorry about what I said, really. I didn't mean to offend your friend or anything. This mixture will take a few, so... do you want some bubblegum to help pass the time?"

The question came out of nowhere. I blinked in surprise, the idea completely catching me off guard. I'd never been a big bubblegum person, even before the change. Still, I felt my mouth water at the prospect of eating something with more flavour than salt, even if I wouldn't swallow it.

"...Sure," I replied, glancing towards her pockets. If I could see anything else within them when she rummaged, that could give me a better idea of how well equipped these people were.

Instead of rummaging, she turned away from me. Her hand reached out to the neon pink Cat, giving it a pat on the head. With two manicured nails, she reached down and... plucked a glob of whatever the cat was made of from its body. The gelatinous form of the Cat-like Familiar shuddered as it expanded to fill the space left behind.

Then, she turned, holding the glowing neon pink glob out to me.

I looked at her as though she was asking me to swallow a can of acid.

"You just plucked that off your Cat," I noted aloud.

"It's safe, really!" she replied, her head tilting to the side. "Cherry flavoured. Marcian's tried it too, he knows it's legit, right?"

She looked towards him for support, and my own eyes followed hers, staring the Half Elf down.

"It's pretty good," he nodded thoughtfully, bringing a hand to his chin. "Though it does turn your skin pink, so don't forget to wash afterwa- oof!"

The man's words were cut off by an elbow in the side. I couldn't stop the grin that came to my face.

"Hrr... what Incognito here meant to clarify," the Roden said pointedly, looking towards the sheepish [Witch]. "Is that Bubblegum's Familiar is safe to chew. I am not a fan of it myself, but there are no ill effects."

I nodded, glancing up at Toya. He seemed like he was ready to trust this [Witch] already. Maybe I could get him to try it first. I opened my mouth to speak when the woman popped the glob of pink into her own mouth.

"See? Perfectly safe," she assured me, clenching it between her teeth as she blew a bubble, one that popped loudly enough to catch Fareel's attention at the far end of the room.

"I ask that you don't pop your Familiar's guts in my ear, Bubblegum," the [Doctor] muttered, still trying to concentrate on the mucus.

The [Witch] blushed, giving her a sheepish "Sorry!" before turning around to grab another glob of conjured gum from her Familiar's back.

"You want some?"

At worst, it was poisonous to people other than the Caster, though I doubted it. There were much better ways to make us ill or put us under their spell than this. Without a response, I took the bubblegum, popping it into my mouth.

My tongue and taste buds exploded with flavour, a warm, fruity cherry rolling across the landscape of my mouth. The taste was cool, refreshing and pointed, making itself known with every chew. I had to admit, this tasted amazing. Compared to the shit at the facility, and the preserved food back at Dronrowth, this seemed heavenly.

"It's alright," I told her, chewing idly to myself as the [Doctor] rose from the glass.

The [Witch] sighed with relief, looking back towards the salve in front of her as she began to stir once again.

"In an ideal situation, you should have constant access to water," the [Doctor] said, addressing Yuri as she walked back from the desk. "Your body doesn't have any noticeable respiratory system, meaning the possibility of you being capable of drowning is low. I would recommend forming a tank around you filled with water at all times to avoid drying out."

"[Oh... um, thank you. I'll... figure something out,]" Yuri replied, her voice transmitted to everyone around her. She sounded distracted by something, even if I had no way of telling what it was.

"We don't know what other bodily functions you have, but it's likely that with a form of your size, it requires more than just water. Until we know what else your body needs, remain as you have until now, and don't take any drastic actions."

The [Doctor] turned away from Yuri, moving to hop back onto the operating table, her legs dangling over the side. Sitting there like that only served to remind me just how damn short she was. Malacanth or not, she didn't look like she'd beat a toddler in a physical fight. Was everyone else in this organisation as physically slim and weak looking as these four?

"You can climb back onto your mech. I doubt either of us have the time for a full examination anyway."

Yuri's body trembled in response, an action I gauged to be something approaching a nod. I saw the metal plates near me take to the air at her command, lifting her off the damp, greenish mat before I even had a chance to offer my help.

"[Thank you for your assistance, [Doctor]. If there's anything I can do to help with a more in-depth examination later, let me know.]"

Damn it. She was already making it sound like there definitely would be a 'later'. Even if Toya seemed apprehensive, I could tell Yuri had already made up her mind. She hadn't said as much directly, but she wanted to join up with these people.

"Well, what should we do then, Doc?" I turned, looking back at Aquamarine. "You say we shouldn't take 'drastic actions', but what does that even mean? What should we be doing?"

"Don't use any substances or artefacts that will disturb or otherwise alter her magic or Soul in any capacity. By extension, I would recommend keeping potion use to a minimum," she replied, turning her eyes towards Yuri.

"If you don't already have the ability to use Luster Arts, dedicate time to learning them. Any Caster who's worth their weight are capable of using them, and they grant greater control over Aera through use. If you want to learn more about your Soul, master the Arts and explore your magic."

Yuri's plates gingerly planted her back atop the mech. The metal 'legs' at the top moved to secure her in place once again, keeping her from sliding around on the smooth metal surface. The metal legs moving by themselves still looked eerie. Like a Spider, scrambling to grip its prey.

"[All Casters should be capable of using them...? I've seen skilled Casters fight without using Luster Arts, too.]"

Other...? Fuck, she was right. I nodded in agreement, directing my eyes towards her.

"Yur's right. We met some 'Heroes' back in our hometown. They fought a Dullahan on the streets, and they didn't use a single one of those Luster Arts."

The Malacanth gave a casual, dismissive shrug, her sky blue eyes looking over her shoulder at me.

"Then they are either weaker than you believed, or chose not to use the Arts."

"Why the Abyss would they choose not to use them? They'd have made 'em stronger in a fight with civs on the line," I retorted, raising an eyebrow. It wasn't unlike adventurers to be completely inept, but from what I'd seen, they had known how to fight. I felt almost offended that she called people I recognised as stronger than me 'weak'.

"Some people are willing to take that chance," she responded. "Risk and danger are great catalysts for magical growth and Experience. If they knew they were capable of beating this Dullahan, then using the Arts may have run the risk of making the fight too easy. It may sound strange, but it was possible they purposefully chose not to use them to increase the risk of the battle."

I hadn't even considered that. Was... was it better to not use stuff like [Mantle] in combat if we wanted to grow, then? It'd be more risky, but...

The [Witch's] spare hand moved from the side of the beaker, planting two fingers onto the glowing golden ring. I couldn't see her face from where she was standing, but I could guess what she was doing. I stood up off the metal sink I'd been leaning on, walking back towards Yuri.

"The Don is ready to receive the Chimera Team," a voice I could tell belonged to Screen spoke through the rune. Despite not being in the room, the sound was clear. "Incognito and Pack Rat are to guide them to the Don's office at their nearest convenience, and their mission will be complete."

The Half Elf smiled, hopping to his feet as his visor turned in our direction.

"Alright lads and ladies, time to get going! I'm starving, and the Boss is a busy man."

The Roden next to him groaned as he rose to his feet.

"Can you think of anything but your stomach?" Pack Rat asked him dryly. "I shudder to think of how industrious you could be if your thoughts were as focused on your missions."

Incognito laughed, a sound that caught the [Witch's] attention. She pulled back one of the headphone's sides, smiling at the Half Elf before she looked back towards the salve she'd been stirring. Did they have something going on, or...?

Yuri rose to her feet, as did the others. Fareel yawned, scratching the back of his head as he abandoned his search for treats and traps.

"[Thank you for the examination, [Doctor],]" Yuri told the Malacanth. "[Your assistance was much appreciated.]"

What assistance? She'd given us some info, but she hadn't really done much to help with our issues, in the end. I rolled my eyes once I was sure nobody was looking. I stretched my arms above my head, glad we were finally going to get moving again. I'd need to go for a run after all this was done.

"You're welcome," the [Doctor] smiled. "I hope that I get the privilege of working with you all in the future, should your meeting with the Don go favourably."

Right. Of course she was. I knew that Yuri was just being diplomatic, and I could respect that, but they were still people that might not even end up being our allies by the end of this.

"T-thank you, Miss Aquamarine!" Streiphen spoke, giving the woman a deep bow. He hadn't been here for the explanation of what she was, so... what did he think of her? He didn't seem afraid, at any rate. Lucky.

The Malacanth merely nodded, turning back towards the sink as she pressed two fingers against the blue raindrop rune on the desk.

"It was nice to meet you guys, even if you don't join up with the Star," the [Witch] said, turning to look over her shoulder. "See you later?"

My eyes followed hers, and I saw that she was looking towards Incognito. The man shrugged, giving her a wry smile that made me want to heave.

"Hopefully," he responded.

"Come," the Roden smiled, rolling his shoulders as he stepped away. "Let us not keep the Don waiting."

His claws clacked against the tiles, a sound mirrored by the heavier clacking of Yuri's metallic legs. He led the way out of the infirmary as Toya and Streiphen waved back towards the pair. The Slime-like man's expression was a little more somber now. Thankfully.

We followed the pair back up the stairs without issue. It was a little mustier down here, despite the steel ventilation on the ceiling, and I was glad to leave the basement behind. Yuri stopped for a moment after following us to the peak of the steps, pausing to grab the barrels. Metal plates flew out from within her compartment, as if being picked up by invisible arms. Pack Rat stepped forward, moving between her and the containers. My eyes narrowed.

"I believe it would be best for you to leave these here, if only for now. It would be improper to meet with the Don carrying extraneous baggage," the Roden told her.

The Don. We were going to meet this guy, but we still knew next to nothing about him.

"We'll get 'em on the way out, Yur," I reassured her, patting the mech's side with a resounding 'bong'. One way or another.

She and her mech nodded in response, a motion accompanied by a light jiggling of her flesh. A pleased wriggle, or a worried one? She really did have a serious poker face.

Fareel glanced towards the barrels once again as we turned, following Pack Rat and Incognito away from the staircase. We continued down a corridor, moving further and further away from the lobby we came from. Further from the entrance.

In the middle of another violet corridor sparsely decorated by paintings and doorways, we found another staircase leading up to the second floor, one that was just as gaudy as the banisters in the lobby.

I couldn't help but feel impressed as we ascended the stairs. Not by how well they were crafted or anything, but... alright, maybe it did have something to do with how they were made. They didn't even groan for a second under Yuri's weight. It was a sound I'd been expecting to hear, but I was pleasantly surprised. Were they just that well built, or soundless because of an enchantment? I didn't care enough to check, but I was glad to notice it either way.

As we continued to walk, I made a casual glance around, ensuring that our team was still together. I didn't want anyone to wander off here, but everyone was present and accounted for.

While Streiphen and Fareel looked, alright, Toya seemed... off. The guy looked constipated, with one hand clutching his stomach and his mouth opening and closing like a fish on dry land, taking deep breaths despite being a Slime.

"You alright, Jiggles?" I asked quietly, not looking directly at him. I wanted to keep this discrete, but... I saw the Roden's ears perk up. Damn it.

"I feel like I'm going to be sick..." he groaned, clearly not taking the hint. He spoke at an audible volume, as if he wanted the whole damn place to hear his vulnerability.

A hand clasped his as Streiphen made his way over, smiling lightly up at the Slime-like man. I wasn't about to comfort the guy directly myself, but it was good to see someone was shameless enough to bite the bullet and do it.

"We'll be fine!" the brat reassured him. "Everyone here is nice, so we don't have anything to worry about."

Alright. Reassurance was one thing, but if Streiphen actually believed that, he needed a serious reality check. They were being 'nice' for the sake of business, not because they themselves were nice. We didn't know anyone here. Not really.

"We're meeting the boss of a crime syndicate," Toya responded seriously. "I have a lot of things to be worried about."

As much as Jiggles could annoy me, at least we were on the same page here. Streiphen and Yur weren't taking this as seriously as they should be. We were in a foreign land, about to meet with an influential criminal in a city we knew next to nothing about. I wasn't about to throw away my second chance at having a real life, either. If the situation turned sour, I wasn't going to sit down and take it.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Roden smile.

"[What kind of person is this Don?]" Yuri asked, evidently having been keeping track of the conversation.

I was glad she had that level of awareness. She'd always been attentive during conversation, at least when her mind wasn't wandering, and with her new abilities and senses, that had only gotten improved.

We passed an open door, one that I took the chance to peek into as we passed.

It looked like... some sort of rec room, with an assortment of glowing artefacts with screens, buttons and panels that looked Vox-like set up by the wall. A red Darkling in this organisation's only suit design was playing billiards with... a larger looking Darkling? No... not the same.

They had the same red skin, and a pair of horns, but didn't have a tail. A different race, maybe. The larger Darkling was nearly as big as I was, with wild black hair, a pair of fangs hanging from the roof of their mouth, and black marks along their eyes and cheeks. I didn't know anything about Darklings, but... could they get that big?

At the back of the room, I saw a dark skinned man with wiry hair dressed in rags, a sweeping brush in hand as he went to work. I squinted, trying to get a good look at his face. The edges of his body seemed to blur, and I couldn't see any distinct facial features, no matter how hard I looked. A Spirit?

"The Don is an efficient and careful man, but he is nothing if not refined and honorable," the Roden replied as we left the room behind. "He puts much focus on this group, and wishes to leave his mark in this city, carving a great legacy known for generations to come."

"He's a scarily smart guy, too," Incognito chimed in as we began to ascend another staircase, rising to a third floor. A bare floor. "Being part of this group is a real relief, y'know? You can always rely on the Don to have a good plan of action."

Smart, efficient, careful and reliable? If those words made me think of anyone, it was Yuri.

Unlike Toya, who looked worried, Streiphen, who was trying to reassure him, and Fareel, who was beginning to look more serious than he had before... Yuri seemed unfazed.

She was taking this whole thing in stride. I suspected she was looking forward to this, rather than worrying about it. My heart leapt between being reassured and worried. Yur knew what she was doing, and she was smart, but...

I rubbed the back of my neck, glancing around in an attempt to stave off the building dread lodging within my chest. None of the doors on this floor were open. Each and every one had a nameplate on them, with custom designs and heavily stylised patterns on each of the letters. Most of the names were unfamiliar, but it was easy to tell they were all Epithets.

I recognised a few. The blue, crystalline letters of Aquamarine. A blue-grey muddied pattern for Pack Rat. A different colour for every letter, and a more playful, bouncy font for Incognito.

At the end of the corridor, I saw a pair of doors, heavy and ornate. Both had images of flowers carved into them, a perfect mirror of the front doors to this compound. They dwarfed the rest of the doors in sheer size and design. I didn't need to see the massive purple nameplate with blocky, shining letters on the front to know who that room belonged to.

The Don.

I tried to remember the names as we passed them, but most had fled my mind, now. I wasn't nearly as focused as I should be. As I needed to be.

We passed another open room, one with a lighter shade to the floor and walls. I saw benches, chairs and a dark window overlooking another garden at the back of the estate. Sitting next to the window, half-turned to look out towards it, was a woman in a black and white uniform.

It felt strange seeing anyone in a uniform not covered in coloured purple diamonds or wearing a gaudy visor. She had long, wild orange hair and sparkling green eyes. She seemed more like a [Maid] or a [Bartender] than someone part of a criminal organisation.

If the leaflets and magazines in the corner were any indication, it was a waiting room. She breathed out, revealing sharp teeth in her mouth. She was just a Human, but she might've had some other races dotting her family tree. Or she was wearing a [Glamour].

I didn't even know her, but the anxiety and stiffness in her posture helped to calm me. I felt a sense of kinship, a sense of reassurance in the knowledge that we weren't the only foreigners in this place.

I expected PR and Incog to lead us into the waiting room, but we walked right past it, standing in front of the massive double doors.

We weren't going to have to wait, huh? We were going straight into the Lion's den.

I needed to focus. This wasn't just going to be a conversation. This was a confrontation. A battle of wits that we needed to come out on top of. We needed to negotiate, probe and argue. To learn as much as we could about this city, this organisation and the Don. We had to get as much as we could from this exchange.

Then, we'd need to make a serious decision. All of us.

I could only pray to the Gods that Yuri hadn't already made that decision. That she was still willing to consider not joining if this Don turned out to be a prick, or someone we definitely couldn't work with. I knew how easily she could get focused on things, and that was as much a blessing as it was a curse. I... we needed to keep level heads. And we needed her to keep one, too.

"Good luck," Incognito said, turning around as he waved to all of us, a bright smile on his face. "I'll be in the cafeteria if anyone needs me."

Idiot. I couldn't help but smile at his words. Some of the anxiety in my chest melted away. If that idiot was able to work here and still be as relaxed and casual as he was, this Don couldn't be as bad as I feared. I needed to keep a level head.

"I wish you all the best, regardless of your ultimate decisions," Pack Rat nodded, bowing slightly before turning away, leaving the rest of us standing in front of the double doors.

Without any outside assistance, the colossal doors opened, the movement painfully slow. It felt like we were staring into the gates of the Abyss. The pressure in the air hung over us like a heavy fog. I didn't hear a word from any of the others as we stared ahead. I clenched my fists, walking straight forward as the others followed me. We could do this.

The doors finished opening, and as a group, we stepped forward to meet the Don.