Another mission.

It's a little brighter out today. Brighter than it had been on our last mission a few days ago.

The sparse rays of sunshine that pierced through the weakened cloud layer was reassuring. It told me a little more about what was happening in the world above my head that I wasn't privy to seeing with my own 'eye'. Despite the growing evening light, it didn't help me feel any less... off. Unbalanced. Abnormal.

The bustling sounds of the streets around us felt distant. Faraway. The sound of my metallic limbs clacking against the pavement and the soft footfalls of my remaining teammates were all that I heard. All that I wanted to hear.

I'd been hoping that the Don would be able to find us some work, even if it was a sudden request. I wanted to make up for our recent...

Lack of manpower.

We were a four man team now, and I wanted to find work that could fill time, that I could use to rebuild the team dynamic now that things had been shifted around. This wasn't a mission dedicated to combat or coordinated attacks, but something lighter. It was a scouting mission designed to help gather intel on some of Big Tooth's remaining subordinate groups. It was suitable for us, given our abilities.

If we performed more missions, we'd be able to secure greater funding and standing within the Velvet Star. If Equinox grew in worth, the Don might even elect to grant us the Vox that Streiphen had proposed during the meeting on that day. If nothing else, it would help to cheer Streiphen up a little. Better still, it would serve as a great opportunity to expand my horizons and lose myself in a sea of information.

I needed something more... productive to do. If I continued to work, train, and apply myself, I'd be fine. As long as the to-do list kept growing, I could retain my focus.

My magic hadn't been willing to cooperate as of late. While my Skills worked fine, I found it difficult to reach for memories and attain the state of focus necessary to create something new. If I still had access to my [Silent Heart], this would be simple, but... I didn't. I was burdened by these irritating feelings and had to make do with what I had.

I'd initially only planned on Fareel and I going on this mission. Our abilities were best suited for reconnaissance, and we weren't intending on going for a fight. It helped that Fareel wasn't exactly the talkative type, either. I just wanted some peace and quiet.

Once Sigura had found out about the mission, she insisted on coming, 'just in case'. I didn't have the energy to argue or put up a fight about it, so I gave her the necklace and told her she could come with us as a bodyguard.

Once that had happened... it would have felt wrong to leave Streiphen out of it. It was a bit of a struggle getting him to come with us, but I knew that getting out of the base for a while would do him good, even if it raised the chances of a conversation that I didn't want to have starting up. At least I'd be able to use concentrating on the mission as a convenient excuse in the event that an uncomfortable conversation topic came up.

Even though I tried only to focus on our group, it was hard to look away from all else without retracting my zone, which wasn't an option. We were still in a public area, not far from the secret tunnel leading from the base. All around us, people in heavy woolen clothes went about their day as though everything was normal, going about their lives as usual, largely unbothered by our team's current mood.

Amidst the sea of sideways glances and wary looks, I saw some that shone through the murk. Glances of recognition. Excited civilians pointing at us while speaking to friends. Looks of interest and nods of acknowledgement. They weren't the reactions I was expecting, but it seemed our reputation was beginning to grow, despite what we were. It wasn't an opportunity that we would've had without the Don's aid, I suspected. As nice as the realisation that we were slowly being accepted should have been, I found it hard to feel happy about it right now.

Instead, I felt bitter.

I hadn't been talking to the group much either, these past few days. I'd been dedicating myself to nothing but futile magical experimentation and practice that I couldn't get myself into. This was a good opportunity for us to... do something together. As a group. A team. A real team with real connections.

Fareel kept his bulging orange eyes ahead, black wetsuit stuck tight to his body as he followed just to my right. His eyes swept over the people that parted for us as I led the way, glancing up at [Salesmen] and [Merchants] calling out to advertise their wares above the noise of the street and the glowing neon light of signs working to attract the eyes of all who looked towards them.

His blue, webbed hand was on the back of Streiphen's puffy sky blue coat. The white fluff around the hood and shoulders partially covered the side of his dark grey face and neck. His starry eyes had none of the light or desire to explore that Fareel's held. They were locked onto the pavement, focused only on putting one foot in front of the other. That alone looked like a colossal effort.

Sigura idly glanced around to my left, both hands jammed into the pockets of her orange shorts. Her tail hung low, not swaying like it usually did whenever we were out. I'd known there was something different about her after we'd left the base, but I'd only just placed it. It was hard to tell how Sigura... felt about all this.

When... when I'd given her the news, she was furious. Her [Mantle] had turned her into a miniature sun, and she'd stomped over to me, demanding to know where... he went. She wanted to know where he was gone and talk some sense into him, to give him a piece of her mind, but none of us knew where he was. For all we'd known, he could have been out of the city by now. As a Slime, he didn't need to eat or drink, and it was unlikely he'd freeze to death in the snow and wind, either. He'd be able to survive in the wilderness if he needed to.

Without our help.

Alone.

Now, that fury had left her, leaving behind a hollow echo of what it once was. I'd seen the moment it had fizzled away, too. When she'd seen Streiphen sobbing, trudging along behind me out of the workshop, the anger in her boiled. She turned around, sniffing at the air, and then... her tail fell. She glanced back at Streiphen, and we walked in silence.

The others had tried to offer Streiphen and I support. I gave my thanks and words of acknowledgement to their efforts, but the feeling behind their words hadn't reached my heart. Nothing had changed on the inside, where it mattered.

We turned, heading off the main streets. We abandoned the bustling life of the city behind, disappearing from the glances both wary and approving alike. Now, we traversed the darker, lonelier streets, where the only looks we got were from the homeless, owners of... less reputable stores, and the occasional [Scam Artist] that called out to us. The latter only got death glares from Sigura. They usually quietened down after that.

When the people around us began to trickle away, the world turned quiet. The bustling Humanoids, Tierakin, and Sapients of the city gave way to the silence of smaller life. Bright storefronts and towering structures turned to old shells and abandoned buildings, ones filled with Rats, small Insects, and the occasional small creature like Street Snails. It was a melancholy change, even if it stood as a testament that we were growing closer to our goal.

The sound of clacking legs against stone was broken every few moments by the crunching of dirt or gravel beneath my 'feet'. Without the constant aid of the council and the Watch, this section of the city was abandoned in favour of areas that would really bring in the coin.

I took the time to distract myself with the wildlife, zeroing in on unusual creatures scattered throughout my zone.

In the midst of a deserted marketplace, a small dark blue Spider with sky blue patches and prominent pincers made its home. It clung tightly to the rotting wood at the peak of the stall it called home, even as the half-torn banner lined with worn, illegible text whipped in the wind. Behind the banner was a pale blue web, one that released a very slight mist, like breath on a cold day. A sight I'd never get to see in front of my own face again.

In a cramped alleyway, clumps of dust began to swirl, coming together to form a cloud carried by an invisible wind. It was forming around a shape that looked like nothing to the naked eye. The white sphere and dirt-brown Aera surrounding it was visible only to my [Insight]. The Soul of a Spirit being born. The creature's 'body' began to take shape, a form made only of dust and debris. It formed a shape mimicking that of a small Animal. It was a Spirit I'd seen before, back in Addersbrook. It was a Dust Bunny.

In an old office with no piece of furniture untouched by age and decay, I saw a small shape hiding, squishing itself into the small of a desk. A cubbyhole. It was a grey shape, one with the consistency of a thick liquid. I felt my body tense as I recognised it. The creature wasn't metallic, but instead looked dull and worn out. Perhaps it was waiting for Rats or other vermin to pass by before it struck, leaping out like an ambush predator. Squatting. Homeless. Waiting for scraps whenever they appeared instead of seeking out and creating opportunities for itself. It wasn't a Slime I'd ever seen before, but the shape and consistency were unrecognisable.

They looked different, but the creature was still uncomfortable to look at. I tore my sight away.

Occasionally, a cold, frightened squatter entered my zone. Poor individuals that might have done nothing wrong, but were left without anything. No coin, no companions, and no home to call their own. Would they choose to reach out and take these things if given the chance, regardless of the hand that offered it to them?

Before we joined the Velvet Star, we were just like them. Scavenging what we could. Lying in the cold. Hungry, forced to steal and make enemies just to survive.

This was what he could become. He'd given up everything we'd worked so hard for, and for what? This?

Irritating. Irrational. But... it still ate me up inside, thinking about all of this. I needed to focus.

"[Is everyone alright?]" I asked, my voice hollow, seeking distractions in others.

I saw Sigura jump at my words, claws flashing within her pockets out of reflex as her head snapped towards me. Then, she relaxed.

"Yeah... I'm holdin' up, Yur," she responded, her tone twinged with annoyance. It sounded fake.

Streiphen nodded, and Fareel shot a glance my way.

"[We should find signs of people soon,]" I informed them, now that true civilisation had long since passed from the edges of my bubble.

"What do you want us to do, again?" Sigura asked, her pace picking up a little.

"[Just... guard us. Yakamoz and I will do the heavy lifting,]" I informed her. "[You two are just here for insurance. 'Just in case', remember?]"

Sigura nodded, and I kept my senses open and zone extended, ready for the first sign of life or trouble. Along the way, I saw signs that we were getting closer. Beyond the worn out symbols, drawings, and graffiti that stood as outdated symbols and jokes alike, I began to see icons that were crafted with greater care. The symbol of a white Wolf's head with a set of three golden chains around its neck. It was a symbol sparsely littered around the area, painted onto walls and over worn out signs.

It was the gang symbol for our targets, the Chained Wolves.

Apparently they were an older group, based on the intel the Don had provided. Unlike groups such as the Velvet Star and Big Tooth, they were content to stay small. They'd been around for quite some time, but weren't a group that bothered fighting for prominence. They kept their heads down, did work that typically involved kidnappings, intimidation, and procuring slaves to sell to foreign nobles and people in power, and kept it that way. They paid some respect to the larger groups in power, but wanted to lay low and unseen.

After several long minutes of walking at an agonising pace, I saw it. At the very edge of my zone sat a warehouse distinctly different from the others. Unlike the empty, worn out shells surrounding it, the building had a fresh coating of silver paint. The doors and windows were blocked by metal shutters. It looked far more fortified than the temporary warehouse that the other gang had been using for their little meeting, like a miniature fortress. There weren't any guards in sight, but it didn't look like it needed any.

With a building like that, I couldn't really picture them as being the type to 'lay low', but I'd trust the Don's word.

Getting a look inside wasn't easy, but it was manageable. I pushed the force of my zone under the heavy metal entrance, sliding it under to get a look inside. The bottom floor was occupied by a number of grunts and individuals I guessed were low level members. They all wore dark clothing and black leather jackets with their emblem adorned proudly on the back. Metal chains hung around each of their necks, and judging by the broadswords, axes, and long pipes affixed to their backs, they preferred heavier weapons.

Some of them were smoking, which I would've guessed would be a hazard considering none of the windows open, if not for a Sylphid-like Spirit hovering by the ceiling. It had a body of writhing, congealed smoke, creating a form from the residue left by the gangsters's cigarettes. It'd body was pitch black, carrying none of the light, airy energy that the Sylphid [Waitress] back at Fancy Freakies had.

I needed to judge the number of enemies, their potential strength, and their equipment.

I couldn't see any glowing artefacts on their person, but there were easily twenty of them in the building, not including the odd Sylphid. They all had a single weapon on their backs, although a few carried knives and sidearms around their waists or in their pockets.

Contrary to the gang's name, I didn't see a single Inura, not even a Halfblood. I knew organised crime of any kind was rare for an Inura, but part of me was a little surprised, given the group's name.

It wasn't until my zone spread up the spiral staircase at the back of the dingy warehouse that I caught the meaning.

There were two grunts sitting at the edge of the room, near the stairs. Both glanced down the stairs, keeping an eye on the group below. They were both on guard, even while chatting idly to one another.

Beyond them, there were only three others in the room. The second floor was more luxurious than the first, with glass cabinets holding weapons and exotic trinkets, a carved marble table, and three wide, plush couches at the back. Sitting on the couch closest to the back were a pair of individuals that looked different to the grunt that was in the middle of giving them some sort of report.

On the left of the couch was a smiling woman, one wearing the same uniform as the others, albeit changed to fit her slender, generous frame. She had red whisker or claw-like marks that resembled tattoos on both sides of her cheeks, and a silvery-white glow around her nose. No matter how long my attention lingered on her, the woman's eyes remained closed the entire time I watched. She had long white hair that tumbled over her shoulders and down her back, and a pair of Fox-like ears protruding from the top of her head. I might have thought she was an Inura Halfblood, if not for the three swishing white tails protruding from her waist, swaying gently behind her.

My guess was that she was a Kitsune, like the performer back at Fancy Freakies. But a deeper part of me told me I was wrong. A part of me that cried out with poorly restrained rage and indignation that grew the longer my awareness lingered on her.

I couldn't risk my emotional outbursts jeopardising the mission or sullying my mental state, so I quickly turned to look towards the second person sitting on the couch.

Unlike the steel chains surrounding the neck of the grunt, or the white chains sitting around the Kitsune's neck, the man wore three hefty links of bright gold chains. Despite their size, they barely managed to fit around the man's meaty neck. He was undoubtedly a Human, one with a larger than average size, just like Gearhead, but it had taken me a moment to come to that conclusion. From the snout upwards, the man's head was that of a white wolf, one with glowing red eyes, ears standing tall, and a long mane of hair that travelled down his back and meshed with the fur on his jacket, one that was stretched so thin and skin-tight that it looked as though it was begging for release. It was only after a proper inspection that I realised it wasn't a mutation. He was wearing a mask over the top half of his head, like a [Wrestler] or [Luchador]. Beneath it was the harsh face of a Human man with deep reddish eyes and tight-cut light grey hair. He was a powerhouse, one that barely fit into the clothes he was wearing.

Part of me was glad that it was just a mask, and not some sort of strange mutation. Sigura definitely wouldn't have been able to sit still if it was a Boost-related change.

Just like the chains around the necks of the gangsters, the remaining three members of Equinox all wore their necklaces. They wouldn't need to use [Camouflage] or even conceal their identities for this mission, but... after seeing the enemies, I was glad the team was wearing them, even if only for the extra insurance.

I sat down in an alleyway, folding my legs beneath my mech as Fareel plopped himself down next to me. He let out a breath of relief, now that he was able to focus entirely on the senses of his Familiars. If I found a way into the warehouse he could use without getting spotted, I'd let him know.

While Streiphen sat opposite me, pulling his knees up to his chest, Sigura leapt skyward, perching herself on the roof above my head. She sat at the edge, legs dangling off the side as she took a long, deep breath.

"You doin' okay down there, pipsqueak?" Sigura asked, calling down to Streiphen. The boy said nothing, but sent his weary, star-filled eyes up to meet hers. "You've been pretty quiet."

"Umm... I don't feel like talking," Streiphen muttered back, linking both hands around his knees as his eyes fell to the ground. My body twisted up at the sight beneath my helmet.

"Yeah, I get it. Don't blame you. But... Jiggles said he didn't want to hurt you, right?" Sigura asked, leaning back a little as she cast her eyes up towards a sky beyond my sight. "It's not like he's gone out of your life for good. He... said he'll be around and in touch, right? You'll meet him again, pipsqueak."

Streiphen managed to raise his eyes again, looking up towards Sigura. Once he saw that her eyes hadn't stayed on him, they fell once again.

"But... what'll he do without us? Will he... be okay?"

"He's tough enough," Sigura shrugged. "With a body and abilities like his, I'm sure he can defend himself. If he's really desperate, I'm sure he'll call for us again anyway."

I watched as Streiphen's expression tightened, scrunching up. He buried his face in his knees, lightly shaking his head side to side. With a deep breath, he looked up again.

"Do... do you really think so, Miss Sigura?" he asked, his voice cracking.

"Yeah, I do," Sigura responded easily. "He doesn't hate us, I'm sure. He just can't stand working with criminals."

"But they're good people, aren't they?" Streiphen asked, his brows furrowing with confusion.

"Who's to say?" Sigura shrugged again. "We're not full members yet, but they seem like good people to me. They're not out to get us, they give us shit and a place to stay in exchange for help, and they work to make people's lives better, even if its in roundabout ways. That should count as being 'good people', right?"

Streiphen nodded, a slow motion overflowing with uncertainty. His eyes narrowed, and his face fell. The screws of my compartment came undone, and a single metallic hand drifted forward, giving the boy a gentle, reassuring pat on the back. He shook from the contact, but didn't pull away.

"They're not perfect, but they're not the evil bastards Jiggles is makin' em out to be," Sigura continued, lying on her back as both hands linked behind her head. "I don't know what his deal was back before Chimera, but he's got his own shit to work through, obviously. They didn't even ask us to do anything illegal and he cracked, so whatever's he's got going on, it's important to him."

Something personal? His own grudge against criminals as a whole?

"[Can you be certain that's what his problem was?]" I asked, speaking quietly for the first time since this conversation started. "[Do you think he might have just been overcautious or paranoid?]"

"Doubt it," she responded. "It's probably more deep seated than that, y'know? He wouldn't have gotten like that if it was just paranoia."

"Couldn't... couldn't he have just asked us to help?" Streiphen whispered, more to himself than us. "Or just t-talked to us about it...?"

"Yeah, he could've, but he didn't," Sigura told him, her expression taking on a hint of irritation. Her clawed toes curled up at the edge of her sandals before she slowly pushed them outwards again. "Maybe he thought we were too deep in the group, or that we'd brush off his worries or somethin'. I don't know."

I didn't have a throat to form a lump in, but a heavy block of guilt weighed me down after she said that.

"[Toya was distant from the rest of our team from the start,]" I interjected. "[Whatever issues that bothered him weren't properly communicated, which led to this happening. We might have an opportunity to speak with him and work through all of this in the future, but we need to focus on the now and keep our eyes on the road ahead.]"

"Yup, the Captain's right," Sigura droned. Then, she glanced to her right, looking down from her perch and towards the sea of empty shells around us. "Why does a city have so many shitty places like this anyway? I'd expect one or two, but there's so many abandoned districts."

"[You're bound to find a slum or abandoned area anywhere, but it is a little strange,]" I agreed.

If I were to guess, I assumed it was due to Caster conflicts making it difficult to live safely in certain areas, or keeping areas free of civilians for their underworld's illegal deals to go through without affecting those trying to live normal lives. I wouldn't have been surprised if that were the case, given what we knew of this 'balance' kept between the leaders of the city, both official and unofficial.

"E-everywhere had one...?" Streiphen asked, looking back up as his expression clouded with confusion. "I don't think my home had one..."

"They're everywhere," Sigura replied. "A settlement without a slum or abandoned section at all would be rare, or too small. Sometimes stuff just gets reclaimed by nature, or isn't worth fixing up over making something new. In a walled city like this though, I didn't expect it."

She was right. I hadn't thought much about it, but the closest thing to an 'abandoned' area back in Addersbrook would've been the houses beyond the walls, those not far from my family's home. I understood where she was coming from.

But I was letting myself get distracted. I pulled my attention away from the idle conversation and back to the mission. Fareel had been working without me, I presumed, so I wanted to get back to doing our job to take some of the weight off of him.

"[There's no point in using your Familiars here,]" I informed him. "[There's no simple entrance point to get through.]"

He didn't respond. I knew that Fareel hadn't been tuning in to the conversation because of his Familiars, but it was rare for him to not respond at all when directly addressed. His eyes were still closed, his body swaying lightly. Maybe he was just that focused.

When my awareness tuned back into the building, I listened in on the conversation going on by the couches on the second floor. Maybe we could learn something that would be of use to the Don to help-

"-ow. Surround them," the massive man with the Wolf mask spoke, his voice rough as gravel. "We'll take our time training the juniors against them while we learn who they are and why they're here. Use the tunnels."

The grunt he spoke to nodded, bounding back towards the stairs. He didn't move with the speed of someone who was delivering orders for a later mission. He leapt urgently, as though the order was relevant now.

My body tightened up.

"[We're leaving,]" I spoke abruptly, cutting into something Streiphen was saying. "[The enemy might have spotted us somehow.]"

Sigura's lazy eyes snapped open with shock as she sat up. I was just as surprised as she looked. There shouldn't have been any way for them to detect us this far away, not without someone walking into my zone.

"You sure, Yur?" Sigura asked, reaching up to pinch the bridge of her nose before taking a long, deep breath. "If there were scouts or someone comin', I would've heard or smelled them."

Then why was the grunt so active? Were there concealed guards capable of hiding even from my senses and Siguras, constantly aware and ready for danger despite the lack of warning?

Sigura hopped down from the roof, reaching for her necklace before stealing a glance at the Varani-like head at the base of it.

Fareel still hadn't moved.

I pulled the metal hand from Streiphen's back, using it to nudge Fareel. Still no movement. He swayed like a drunken [Sailor], mouth pulled into a wide, lipless smile. Then, I struck him hard enough to knock him over.

The Fishfolk blinked rapidly, jostling his head from side to side as he looked around. He jumped to his feet, startling the others as they were preparing to use [Camouflage].

His hands hurriedly came together, forming a [Water Sphere].

Sigura shivered, raising an eyebrow as both hands went to her hips.

"What're you doing, Fareel? We've gotta-"

"[He has something to say,]" I interrupted her. "[Wait.]"

Much like it had before, the ball contorted in shape, becoming a wide oval. Then, four lines extended from the diagonal portions of the shape.

"An eye?" Streiphen asked, squinting as he looked over the shape. "No eye? Don't look?"

Fareel nodded quickly, and I couldn't help but think of it as impressive. I hadn't been able to grasp the meaning as fast as Streiphen had, but... maybe that was due to my current panicked state. He was dealing better than I was.

"Don't look at what? You'll need to be more-"

Sigura's words were cut off by the sound of metal hinges unlocking and creaking. Concealed trap doors swung open as small squads of the enemy leapt out into the adjoining streets, black leather jackets whipping in the wind. The sound of yelling and calls for us to 'come out' prompted my teammates to use [Camouflage] as the white sheet flew from my compartment, covering me.

They were all around us, and I hadn't seen them. There would be no running from this now, not with my body. If they found us, we'd be forced to talk or fight, and if I'd learned anything from the people of this city, most of them chose 'fight'.

Like the members in the warehouse, they were all dressed like [Delinquents], carrying steel chains, metal bats and huge weapons, their eyes betraying their desire for a fight. One of them was familiar. A man with a short buzz cut of black hair that had been shaved at the sides. On both of his hands were a pair of dense, steel knuckle dusters.

Even if I didn't know his name, I could recognise the grey Aera surrounding him. He'd attended the meeting at the warehouse a few days ago. He'd been one the very few criminals capable of taking one of Sigura's strikes without crumpling to the ground. That familiar Aera flared to life around his eyes, and through the veil of [Insight], he began to cast his eyes around. Even while [Camouflaged], the ability only altered the colour of physical bodies.

When the familiar [Delinquent] made a full turn and saw Sigura's Aera, he was stunned. That expression of shock was quickly overtaken by a mask of rage.

How had they spotted us? Did they have someone constantly using [Insight]? I hadn't seen any of them with Aera around their eyes, but... If they had tunnels beneath the area, they might have been able to spot us through the earth. Was that why the group had no visible guards?

Then there was the Tierakin woman, too. Her Aera had been focused on her nose. It didn't look like it had been transformed, either, like a normal Spell. Was she capable of using [Insight] to augment her sense of smell?

I should have guessed other groups would have dug out tunnels. It was a foolish miscalculation on my part. With the help of a [Geomancer] or a small group of [Diggers], it would be easy for criminals to extend their bases outside of the public eye. The Don's estate was laden with interconnected tunnels, so... I should have made the connection. Especially if they were doing something like slave trafficking, a tunnel system was hardly a reach.

I should have been more cautious. All of this was making me sloppy, and irrational, and-

"At least the Don doesn't care if we beat these guys up," Sigura commented with a grin as a number of [Delinquents] turned the corner, staring directly at us despite the [Camouflage]. She undid the ability, prompting our pursuers to raise their weapons towards her.

Through my own [Insight], I inspected the warehouse. Had I missed something else? I scanned the area, awareness snapping from object to object, person to person, moving faster and faster as the surrounding danger grew.

Then, I saw Fareel's Familiars.

They were all still alive and unharmed, yet all of them were swaying. It was the same drunken unsteadiness that Fareel himself had been experiencing. Why? Was it the ability of an enemy? Some sort of counter surveillance ability? Somehow, Fareel's Familiars had been targeted by an ability that even my zone hadn't detected, and it had spread to Fareel.

Too many unknowns. We didn't know the enemy's abilities, and there were more of them by the second.

One of the [Delinquents], a young Half-Orc man with a pink snout surrounded by pale, cream-coloured flesh, raised a metal baseball bat, aiming it directly at Sigura. His eyes turned to look towards my form, still hidden beneath the cloak. Despite how serious his expression was, Sigura's eyes were locked onto the tall, snot-green mohawk on the top of his head.

"You're coming with us!" he yelled into the alley, attracting more of the [Delinquents] to our position. "We know there's four of you here, so come out! You're outnumbered, and we've got strong Casters on our side, so don't try any stupid shit!"

Right. Four.

Streiphen undid his [Camouflage]. His expression wasn't one of concern, shock, or worry, like I'd been expecting. His hands reached upwards, gripping the handle of his weapon with a look of... acceptance. He was prepared for this. He might have been expecting or hoping for it, even.

"We've heard that a few times since comin' here, and it's never worked out for the people against us," Sigura grinned. "There's no chance we're coming quietly, either, so if we have to kick the shit out of everyone here to leave, we will. Or you can back down and let us go. Your call."

The Half Orc snarled, a pale green [Mantle] flaring to life around him as he swung the bat forward with enough force to be audible, aiming it right towards Sigura's head.

"Don't get fuckin' cocky! People've come here before, and they've all-"

A hand was placed on the mohawk Half Orc's shoulder. The familiar [Delinquent] with the knuckle dusters stepped forward, his expression angry yet tempered.

"She's the one I mentioned in the report, Swerve. She's strong, so don't do anything stupid."

Shit. They knew who we were, and that we were at the warehouse. I hadn't predicted something like this happening.

"Her Aera's the same, and she mopped the floor with me," the black haired [Delinquent] said. "I couldn't see her body, so she had the advantage, but she's not some Goon fodder either. Underestimate her and you'll be eating pavement."

Sigura raised an eyebrow, planting both hands on her hips. She gave what I could only see as an approving nod, one that I really hoped wouldn't compromise her ability to fight them. I doubted it would, but... I was on edge. Logic wouldn't be able to hold back inane thoughts like that from creeping into my mind.

"You should listen to your pal, mosshead," Sigura smiled, flashing teeth. "Let us through and tell us a few things, and we won't touch a hair on your pretty little head. How'd you see us, and what'd you do to Yakamoz?"

Sigura? Trying for diplomacy? Well, maybe it was closer to threats than diplomacy, but it was still a first. The fact that they'd given us the option to 'come quietly' was somewhat hopeful, too.

"We don't have to tell you anything," the Half Orc, 'Swerve', spat back.

"Yeah, you don't, but telling us is in your best interests," Sigura responded with a grin, taking a single step forward.

When her sunset coloured [Mantle] burst to life around her like a towering inferno, the enemies took that as a challenge. Without any other attempts at a peaceful resolution, the enemy rushed her, swinging metal bats, chains, and a broadsword. That was... expectedly short lived. Metal flew out from my compartment, hovering in the air around me, ready to assist.

Still, only four of them had rushed Sigura. That wouldn't be nearly enough if they were relying on physical force alone. The Half Nekari Chimera took a little too much pleasure in leisurely dodging around their uncoordinated swings, limbs snapping out at blinding speeds to strike at stomachs, inner elbows, and jaws before her opponents could even realise they'd been struck.

Two fell to the ground, clutching at their now bruised bodies, panting as the other two backed away, stunned. Their weapons fell to the ground from the force of her impacts.

"Y'know, I'm glad you didn't just tell us what we wanted to know without a fight," Sigura remarked. "This is way better."

"She's not just talk, idiots, I fuckin' warned you," the man with the knuckle dusters drawled, his unimpressed eyes locked on those that had fallen.

Then, some of the more imposing looking Casters stepped out from the tunnels. The smoke-like Sylphid flew up into the air, casting a shadow over the alley as they hovered overhead. They were followed by a massive, red haired Minotaur woman wielding a club. She towered over the [Delinquents] in front of her, and the sight of the woman caused Sigura to snarl, clenching her fists.

Around her neck was a set of three white chains, just like the one I'd seen on-

From the tunnel behind us, the two 'leader' figures that had been lounging on the second floor of the warehouse emerged. The Kitsune woman that caused my heart to boil with a sourceless rage, and the massive Human with the mask and golden chains.

We were surrounded, but it wasn't like we'd never been in this situation before. I was ready.

"Who are you?" came the deep, gravelly voice of the masked man. "Who're you working for, and why are you here?"

I hadn't expected them to ask questions here. Usually the people of Scander were a more 'punch first, ask questions later' kind of folk.

"Is this the part where you'll say if we answer you'll let us go?" Sigura grinned, whirling around to look towards him, her eyes sharpening as she stared into the eyes hiding behind the mask. "Because that ain't happenin'."

"This is 'the part' where you answer, and we won't beat you to the point of helplessness," the man responded with a snort. "If you comply, we'll only beat you until you need a [Healer] afterwards to spread the message that spying on us is a bad idea."

His eyes drifted from Sigura to my sheet, then to Fareel, and finally landing on Streiphen, where they stayed.

"If you came here and can watch us from this distance, you're not chump Casters. Looking at you now, I'm certain of it," the man continued, his eyes glowing gold with [Insight]. "Do you intend on giving up answers, or do we have to beat them out of you?"

The laugh that pierced the air told me and all around us everything they needed to know.

"Do your worst," Sigura grinned, the air around her fists distorting from heat.

The man snapped his fingers, and the enemy began to converge on us.

Fareel leapt onto my mech, distancing himself from the roaring enemies as they charged with weapons drawn. A wall of metal plates flew down from the air, striking many in unison as my [Battlefield Awareness] truly flared to life. Some attempted to parry the strikes, but I wasn't in the mood to hold back. If I... If I tried to fight against my emotions here, then I'd only exhaust myself and be more inefficient in the long run. They were the ones to challenge us. They deserved this.

Weapons were knocked from their hands as blunt strikes sent many sprawling.

They had an overwhelming advantage in numbers, and this was their territory. They knew the environment, having likely patrolled and walked through the area dozens of times. They knew where the best vantage points were to fire bullets and arrows from, unorthodox spots like windows and rooftops which would let them weaken and pick off enemies from afar.

It would have made for an incredible advantage, if not for my omnidirectional guard.

Projectiles pinged and dented against the force of my flying walls as more and more plates and lumps of metal swerved at increasingly greater speeds, blocking shot after shot from the enemy. I didn't let them get away, either. Shards and pipes flew forth, entering the houses and alleys that I had a perfect internal view of to strike them from behind. While many were leaning out windows or over the edge of roofs with their sights on us, I was attacking them from all angles, knocking weapons from their grasp while striking and maneuvering the metal to knock them out as swiftly and efficiently as possible.

Streiphen fought against a pair of [Delinquents]. The green haired Half Orc with the bat swung forward, clashing with Streiphen's warped weapon. Their [Mantles] flared with light on contact, and despite the sweat dripping from the boy's face, he held firm. His reflexes were quick enough to keep up with the older combatant, while his Chimera physiology let his muscles match the enemy despite their difference in age and Experience.

The second [Delinquent] swung a length of chain forward, looping it around the jagged edges of the weapon. With a tug, Streiphen was pulled off balance, allowing the bat-wielding Halfblood to get a solid strike on the Chimera's arm.

Streiphen winced as his trembling limb worked to keep holding the weapon.

Deep, cracking sounds resonated through the area as I sent the fists of metal forward, smashing them against the arms of both [Delinquents] with enough force to break bone.

Eye for an eye.

"She can hit that hard even through [Mantle]...?" I heard the Minotaur say. She hadn't stepped through the crowd to fight us yet, but was watching intently. Letting her grunts do the dirty work while she observed us.

The smart decision would have been to conserve our abilities. To hide what we could do and bring them out at the time where we'd need them most.

Four of the eight flying fists hovered protectively around Streiphen. The metal turned a deep, shining shade of emerald, each tinged with red as the effects of [Heated Steel] combined with that of [Sheen].

"[I can hit even harder than that if you don't back down,]" I responded coldly, pulling the white sheet off of my form with a telekinetic grip.

The Minotaur snorted, crossing both arms.

My awareness turned, shifting towards Sigura. With [Light Swords] in hand, she danced around a group of six [Delinquents]. As soon as one fell to her blades or a strike from her legs, another stepped forward to take their place.

She didn't need the help. Even if they began to overwhelm her, I'd seen enough of Sigura fighting in that body to know she was still only warming up. Instead, I focused on the attackers from afar, or tripping up those coming closer before they could. Their numbers meant nothing if they could only fight us a few at a time.

On top of my form, Fareel vomited once again, spewing a collection of transparent eggs out next to my helmet. As they began to hatch, Fareel's eyes widened.

I saw the Minotaur begin to sprint forward through the crowd as Fareel smacked a webbed hand against my form. He pointed, and I saw what he had.

Streiphen was stumbling. Not from injuries, but from the effects of an ability. Like Fareel had before, he was swaying like a drunken Human, wobbling from side to side as he walked towards the crowd of [Delinquents] in waiting. His [Mantle] had fallen, and he'd dropped the mangled weapon I'd crafted, leaving it in the dirt, abandoned.

He was walking towards the woman with the claw-like marks on her face and the Fox-like ears atop her head. Her eyes were wide open now, a pair of golden globes with a long dark slit down the center. They weren't glowing with [Insight], but they were locked on Streiphen, and he was looking right back at her.

Was it an ability that spread through sight? If she was the one who'd been able to track us and do that to Fareel, we needed to be wary.

My plates flew forward to grab and defend Streiphen, but were blocked by the Minotaur. The Bull-like woman swung the club in a wide arc, using [Release] to push back the wave of metal soaring towards him. He reached the crowd, and the laughing gangsters parted to let him through.

My heart dropped in my chest as he arrived at the monstrous woman's side. He fell to his knees, eyes glazed over and dazed. This was one of her abilities.

My memories told me I'd never seen this ability before today, but part of me felt as though it knew what Streiphen was going through. It was as if I had personally experienced it and could empathise. Another feeling that seemed to appear with no source. What did it mean?

Could one of the other Souls from the vat have experienced it? Could their experiences have bled into my own?

She flexed her fingers, and the woman's nails extended into sharp claws, held right at his neck. The [Delinquents] fighting Sigura pulled away, limping or clutching at their bruised wounds. She was confused for a moment, eyes snapping around before she saw the parted crowd, and Streiphen at the back of it.

"You do anything to hurt him..." Sigura growled, flexing her fists as a dark look crossed her face. "And we'll seriously fight. You don't wanna see what'll happen when Homebound and I really get serious."

I didn't want to see that, either. I was worried about Streiphen, but the thought of going all out with no concerns for holding back was...

What would happen? How much damage would I inflict if I put all of my focus not on disabling and knocking out, but on lethal strikes?

It wasn't a pleasant thought, but I preferred it to the thought of Streiphen's neck being slit.

"[If you make another move, Kitsune, I promise you'll regret it,]" I added, spreading my [Telepathy] to all around us.

The looks of those around us contorted not into anger or indignation, but into fear. Before the thought that I'd been intimidating could even finish forming, I saw the look of genuine hatred form in the eyes of the woman. Her eyes were stretched as wide as they could go, and her silvery aura burned bright around her. Her gaze was locked onto me.

Kitsune? Had calling her that set her off?

I flexed all eight of my [Sheen] empowered hands, feeling anxiety creep over me. Streiphen's life hung in the balance. Our hands were tied, but... if they tried anything on him...

I had one experimental attack. Something I'd been holding in reserve. I'd only been planning on using it in a life or death situation, if at all, but I could feel my hands trembling. This was an opportunity to use it. To grow further. But...

These were the 'bad people' Toya feared. The type that would take a child hostage. The kind that might be safe to attack with all of my strength-

"I will ask again, now that you are looking more cooperative," the Human with the Wolf-like mask said, his gravelly voice carrying over the hushed whispers of the crowd. "Who are you?"

For a moment, I considered not responding. I wanted to stonewall them, to not say a word in the hopes of spitefully getting back at them. It was a horrible idea, one that could lead to Streiphen being-

"Team Equinox," Sigura responded, having not hesitated like I had. "We're working to take down Big Tooth."

She was offering information they hadn't asked for, too. It was a little concerning, but... if it was to get on their good side and ensure Streiphen's safety...

"Who are you working for?" the man asked. "Even Casters like you four can't possibly think you'd be able to handle an organisation like them yourselves."

"We're flying solo," Sigura lied flawlessly. "We're taking on local criminals and getting more Experience as we go. Workin' our way up."

The man crossed his arms, glancing towards the white haired woman at his side. I saw her mouth contort into a thin, spiteful smile. She shook her head.

"Lie to me one more time, and the kid'll have some deep scars to go home with."

Damn it. As much as the unearthed lie unsettled me, I felt a deep seated relief. Even after a lie, he'd threatened to leave scars, not death. The Don was right. People around here worked to avoid fatalities where possible, like his own group did. Were the repercussions that heavy?

"The Don," Sigura sighed, hands finding her hips. "We're working with the Velvet Star."

The man with the buzz cut's eyes widened. I only noticed now that he hadn't stepped forward to fight against Sigura, despite now bearing knuckle dusters. Was he specifically told to wait?

Behind his mask, I saw the Human's eyes widen with shock.

"He's still around?" he responded. "I would've thought he'd given up or moved somewhere else after waiting for so long. Greedy bastard, letting another group into power while he sits on the sidelines."

Sigura nodded, and I saw relief in her slack shoulders.

"Yeah, so if you know what's good for you and your group, let the kid go."

The monster of a man let out a deep sigh, eyes glancing towards Streiphen from behind the mask.

"Don or not, we have a reputation to uphold. I am sure he would understand. We'll do whatever we need to do to stay who we are. Big Tooth are the people in charge of the region, and so we are their allies for the time being."

A lump formed deep within me, growing stronger and more oppressive with every passing second. Did they intend to keep us as prisoners? Hand us over to Big Tooth as a way of showing 'loyalty'? It was a ridiculous thought, but if that was what they were going to do, we had to be ready for-

"If you want us on your side," the man continued. "Prove you're worth it. Now that you're here, my men have gotten riled up."

Sigura grimaced, turning to spit on the ground next to her, sending a glob splattering against the dirt.

"We don't want your damn help. We're here to check on you. Nothin' more, nothin' less," she replied with a drawl.

"Either way, you're not running from this fight," the muscled man responded with a grin. "Sounds like Buzz owes you one from the other day, too."

Sigura wore a grin as she looked back towards the man she'd beaten, the one now baring their knuckle dusters high and proud, ready for battle.

"I thought you'd tell us to lie down and take the beating to keep the kid safe," Sigura commented idly, turning her gaze back towards the leader of the Chained Wolves. "But you don't want that, do you? You just want a fight."

"Beating down opponents without a fight is worthless. It is not our way," he replied. "Experience does not come without risk."

As the [Delinquents] around us began to raise their bats and flare their [Mantles], the man's eyes turned towards me.

"You two. Don't interfere."

He wanted Sigura to fight them alone? The lump within me tightened, feeling like it was threatening to pull and rip the skin around it. Fareel snorted, rolling his eyes. He didn't seem worried about Sigura, and in truth, neither was I, but how many of these people were there? If they attacked as a group, could she hold out?

Would it matter? At the end of it all, they still held Streiphen hostage. We couldn't just rely on their supposed good will to let him go after this was done. I was tired of inaction. I was going to do something about this. I had to be clear. Direct. Decisive.

Once again, the crowd converged; swinging, slashing, and striking out at Sigura. Eight attacked at once, and although three of them grazed her, she dodged the worst of the onslaught, becoming a whirling dance of claws, fangs, and magic that dealt far more damage to her attackers than they were doing to her. Judging by the steam and cries of pain rising from her foes, she was starting to use her Heat Magic, too.

I couldn't openly protect Sigura. If they saw my metal moving to guard her or attack the Kitsune, they'd take action. I needed to focus.

My zone extended as far as it could go, taking in the positions of every single [Gangster] and [Delinquent] in the area.

The Minotaur, Kitsune, and leader were all together, watching Sigura's fight. The smoky Sylphid Spirit hung high in the air, watching from above. The eyes of those on rooftops and windows pulling themselves together after my attack were locked on Sigura or I.

One by one, I analysed their positions and line of sight. I gathered as much information as I could, and began to form the plan.

Sigura was taking down opponents left and right, but the damage was starting to build up. Even if they only landed one blow on her for every ten she dealt to them, that would become a problem over time. I couldn't afford to waste a second.

Pulling the metal I'd used to attack those in hiding away, I began to gingerly move and control the steel that lay out of sight. The shards drifted through the air, floating silently as I worked to keep each and every peace out of sight.

Some of the enemies turned away to chat with another of their colleagues every now and again, their eyes turning away from the battle. I kept a close eye on all that deviated from watching the fight. Positioning the metal closer and closer, hiding them behind crates and shadows as they crept ever closer to their goal. Gathering more and more data to find the perfect blind spot. It was painstakingly slow, but it was progress.

Even if I could successfully attack her, I needed to consider what would come after. I needed to grab Streiphen immediately. If the Kitsune used her abilities to pacify me, I needed a contingency plan. Even if I'd never been impacted by the ability before, I was confident I knew how it worked, so I prepared for that, too. If the bulky man had superhuman speed, I needed metal to deter and block him, too.

While Sigura was thinning out the numbers of the enemy's gang, I took step after step after step, gradually completing a mental checklist that would allow for this plan to work.

One final check. Fareel was still on my body, keeping the crafted Familiars around him, as though they could serve for protection. Streiphen was still kneeling by the Kitsune's side, helpless. Sigura was getting more and more vicious, using her magic to melt weapons and leave scorch marks on her foes. Her expression was filled with rage, and I had to do this before she exploded or the gang took things further.

I put the plan into action.

The Kitsune cried out in pain as a metal shard pierced her hand. The eyes of those around her snapped to her side, and I was forced to work quickly. Hands snaked out towards Streiphen, only for a collection of concealed metal around the legs of the [Delinquents] to leave cuts and slashes to disorient them as they hooked under Streiphen's limp limbs and clothes. I roughly hoisted him into the air despite the strain, far out of reach.

He'd be sore after this, but I didn't have many options. He'd need to bear with it.

A two-layered wall of [Sheen] empowered metal served to block the [Release] from the Minotaur, and a similar wall hampered the movements of the leader. The massive man's arm smashed against the metal, crumpling the steel after his own gold coloured [Mantle] flared to life. Even with [Sheen], the metal bent under the weight of his blow.

I flew Streiphen over to my side, dropping him onto the other side of my mech as Fareel hurriedly scurried over to check on him, jostling the boy. I turned around to face the crowd, bringing two of the metal hands in front of my body.

"[Guard yourself]," I spoke coldly, my [Telepathy] spreading to the enemy.

I formed a circular hole by cupping the forefinger and thumb together on each hand. Between the [Heated Steel], [Ignite], and [Fire Runes] etched into the inside of the fingers, a roaring flame burst to life, sitting within the ring. While they sat within the confines of my hands, the two panels at the front of my mech slid open, revealing two panes of metal mesh and the pair of fans behind them.

"[Mantles] up! Now!" the massive man roared, a sound that gave the [Delinquents] just enough time to coat themselves in light before I unleashed the technique I had yet to properly test.

The fans burst to life at full force, sending a powerful [Blast of Air] surging forward. The wind passed through the holes formed between the clenched digits of the metal hands, catching the flames as twin gouts of fire shot forward. The crowd was coated with flames, clothes igniting as many dove for the safety of side streets or rolled around in the dirt to put out the fire.

This was for Streiphen. This was to keep Equinox safe.

I turned and wiggled my form, spreading the flame even into the side streets. The surrounding buildings began to catch fire. While the buildings made of stone were safe, the crates, abandoned wagons and structures formed of wood were lit up, brightening the dull, cloudy day with warmth and light.

The Sylphid high above was stunned, flying down as their smoky arms unfurled and extended, moving like a pair of upside-down tornadoes. Their whirling form enveloped the flames, choking them out as the surrounding structures were spared from the sea of fire I'd created.

Thankfully, whatever the Sylphid was doing to the fire wasn't something it could use on its allies.

The Kitsune retreated while the Minotaur stepped forward, rage twisting her expression as she patted the worst of the fire from her long red hair. Brandishing her club, I met her advance with four thick fists of glowing emerald metal. Two of them opened to meet the first swing, which I was able to block. Compared to the Human, her power was manageable. The other two fists swung into her gut, a strike she was able to take without issue. Even if her physical power wasn't enough to break my defenses, I wouldn't be able to beat her quickly, either. It would become a battle of attrition.

As the area began to fill with smoke and the aftermath of flames, many of the coughing [Delinquents] were forced to retreat. The Minotaur was further from the flames, but it wouldn't be long before they began to feel the strain, too. The fire and smoke was magically conjured, so even though it was growing by feeding off the wood, I knew it wouldn't last long. Still, any advantage I could get over the enemy was one I had to take. The problem was that my allies were sure to be affected soon, too.

In the midst of the chaos, the grinning man wearing the Wolf mask stepped forward, his golden [Mantle] flaring to life as he approached Sigura. His mantle had a strange texture and edge to it, making it look more like a glowing coat of golden fur than other [Mantles]. It gave him an ethereal appearance, one that made him look even bigger than he already had. Like a true Wolf.

"Step forward and fight me yourself," the man said, his golden glow contrasting Sigura's sunset orange.

"Fine," she grinned, stretching her arms. "Those small fries weren't doing a good job of showing off our 'worth', as you called it."

They were going to fight, but we didn't have time. I'd seen just how powerful this man's strikes were, and Sigura was already injured. As skilled as Sigura was in a one-on-one fight, I wasn't fully confident she could manage. I needed to end this quickly.

The two began to exchange blows as the Minotaur worked to get closer and closer to my form. My hands had long since stopped spewing flames, and now all eight worked to hold back the Minotaur. Even if their strikes didn't have the same force of the Human, her endurance was incredible. She was able to deflect blows from metal fists empowered with both [Sheen] and [Heated Steel], barely giving off more than a wince as her skin was singed from the contact. She wasn't getting any closer, and this battle of attrition was looking like it would be our victory, but we didn't have time.

Streiphen came to, and was breathing hard. He coughed into the open air, struggling to keep his eyes open. The smoke hadn't reached this far, but the air had thinned. We had to move fast.

Sigura and the monstrous Human were in the middle of combat. They traded blow after blow, striking one another in quick succession. Neither were focused on strict defense, and instead poured everything they had into attacking as hard and fast as they could. The man's strikes carried as much weight as Sigura's, which was incredible for a Human without the augmentation of being a Chimera. His skin burned beneath her fists and claws, yet healed at a far faster rate than they should have. [Regeneration]? If he had such a difficult ability to deal with, there had to be some way to slow it down, but we didn't have time to find his weakness.

If this went on, he'd beat Sigura, but that was the least of our worries.

At the far end of the crowd, I saw the Kitsune step forward through the smoke, eyes wide and mouth curled into a snarl.

Then, I felt her ability wash over me.

The monstrous man's fist fell short of striking Sigura's face as her form went limp. She fell to her knees, panting as she tried in vain to fight against her eyes glazing over. The man was unaffected, turning to look back at her with a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

My control over the metal sapped away. The metal fists I'd been using to defend myself lost their brilliant emerald [Sheen], allowing the Minotaur to easily bat them aside as they approached. Metal clattered to the ground all around us, falling from the air as they were buried in the soft earth or smacking against the stone footpaths. Despite the lethargy settling over me, and the horrified worry deep within me that this wouldn't work, I felt a surge of relief.

Her ability worked exactly like I predicted. Or rather... like some part of me had experienced?

I didn't have any innate resistance against the effects of the ability, but I knew how it worked.

Clever Girl was right.

Having knowledge about the enemy's abilities made fights possible. Understanding the little details was enough to turn the tables.

"The fight could have gone on for longer," the massive man said, looking back towards the Kitsune as she fell to her knees, not letting her attention falter. "We still had time."

He was wrong. They didn't have time.

The sound of metal on metal rang out, a loud, grating sound that caused the Kitsune to wince. It had been too hopeful of me to believe that would break her concentration, but that wasn't my aim.

The huge metal plate positioned above my form dropped as the control I had over my metal slipped away. I'd held it in place to block against arrows and bullets from those in the first wave, but now its true purpose came into effect. It smacked against the bronze helmet covering my body. A wave of pain rushed through me as the impact vibrated through my body. That was definitely going to leave a bruise.

For just a moment, it broke the ability's hold over me.

The plate rose into the air again, positioning above my form in case I needed to break free. While the Minotaur advanced, countless metal plates I'd used to disorient the [Delinquent] rose from the area, surrounding the Kitsune. Jagged metal hovered in front of her neck and eyes, covering her on all sides.

"[DON'T MOVE!]" I yelled, my voice carrying far more stress and anger than I'd consciously registered as the [Telepathy] spread to everyone around us. "[If you do anything else, I-I'll... I'll kill her! Disable the ability!]"

The Kitsune snarled, but complied. The glazed look over Sigura's eyes passed. Once she registered where she was, she leapt backwards, getting back to her feet as she shook her head side to side, shaking off the groggy daze.

The monstrous, masked man looked in my direction with a smile. He spat a glob of saliva and blood into the dust before his eyes turned towards the horrified Minotaur.

"You four aren't bad," he admitted. "We're done here."

Just like that? Even if I held a hostage, there'd been no guarantee that he was going to let us go. I'd been hoping that as a commander, she was important to the organisation. She held weight, and the loss of her could be devastating to the group.

"Give the Don my regards," the masked man said, stretching his arms as he began to walk towards Sigura. I didn't move the metal from the Kitsune's form, but I saw Sigura relax. He wasn't moving like someone who intended to continue fighting. "If he doesn't treat you well, seek me out. I'd welcome people like you two with open arms, if you had the stomach for it."

It worked. Relief flushed through my body, causing me to slacken almost as much as the Wolf-like woman's ability had.

The man clapped, and the Minotaur raised her club. For a brief moment, panic ran through me as I expected another strike. She fastened the weapon to her back with a long, diagonal leather strap going over a shoulder, and turned away. All around me, I saw the [Delinquents] begin to groan and move away, heading back towards the open tunnel entrances. They were leaving.

Sigura was wounded. Streiphen was coughing and spluttering. Fareel was wide-eyed.

I began to walk back, heading back through the streets as Sigura began to stretch and follow. It was only when the furious Kitsune sat at the very edge of my zone that I pulled the metal away, sending it flying back after me.

The use of that technique had been brutal, but had it been necessary? We could have tried harder to talk the enemy down, but... No, that was necessary. We had to be as brutal as they did to get our point across. That was the right thing to do.

No amount of convincing helped me reconcile every movement.

Toya was dominated by irrational emotions, but were we any better?