Night time.

When the moon decided to show its face and the world went to sleep, that was when I got a chance to relax. Instead of bustling streets, the village had become an empty Ghost of a town. Familiar yet distant. Something fresh and quiet.

It used to be a relaxing thing, but a city was different. It didn't follow the simple, easy to understand framework of day and night. Instead, lights were still on, people were still out, and the world was alive with activity. If there was anything I didn't like about this city beyond the rampant use of magical drugs that were somewhere out there in this jungle of concrete and neon lights, it was that.

Tonight, I didn't even have the luxury of jumping between rooftop to rooftop, either. I was jogging through the well lit streets of Divastyr, weaving around the occasional passerby or small group. The streets weren't nearly as packed with people as the day, but the world didn't sleep here in the same way it did in Addersbrook.

If not for the very different situation I found myself in tonight, I wouldn't be anywhere close to these people. I'd be watching from the sky, looking down at the world below from my perch, untouched and relaxed. But tonight I wasn't jogging alone.

Next to me was a tiny Lapin Halfblood with long blue ears, a cute little puffy tail, and full jogging gear. Maybe it wasn't right to call her 'tiny', but compared to me, most people were. I was a 7 and a half foot Nekari Halfblood with long blond hair and an altered body, while she was... what, a little over five foot four? I wasn't the best judge, but she was still almost three heads shorter than I was.

Still, when it came to running, Lulu wasn't half bad, in truth. I'd been planning to slowly speed up over time and leave her in the dust as a joke, but she was keeping up without a single complaint. For an [Alchemist], she wasn't too shabby. It looked like those levels in the [Runner] Class hadn't gone dormant. She had a spring in her step that matched my own. I wasn't going full speed, obviously, but I doubted any one of these schmucks wandering the streets at night could keep up with me either. Although she wore shoes around the base, now she ran barefoot. A personal preference, or maybe it was a Lapin thing. I'd have to try it sometime.

"So, how'd your mission go?" she asked, keeping pace with me. "You got into a scrape with the Chained Wolves, didn't you? Are you sure you're okay enough to be out like this?"

I snorted at the concern, turning a corner as we passed a tavern that sounded like it had a party going on inside of it. Adventurers, maybe, or a celebration.

"I'd be more worried about them. Yur and I gave them a serious thrashing," I retorted.

"You were lucky to get away without anything more than a few bruises," she continued, her voice tinged with an unwelcome concern.

"It wasn't 'luck', so don't call it that," I told her, a bit of venom seeping into the word. "We've worked hard to get as strong as we are now, and this is just the fruits of our labour. We're not pushovers."

That, and it was better than sitting around doing nothing. I couldn't stand the idea of being idle, especially now.

Beneath the golden glow of the streetlamps and the occasional neon flicker of an overhead sign, the two of us jogged side by side.

It was weird. I'd never jogged with anyone before. Part of me had expected to dislike the idea more than I did. To see it as someone invading something sacred, an activity that was designed for me, and me alone. I did feel that way on some level, sure, but it was a little relaxing, too. I'd intended to do this to build rapport and for a change of pace, not because I was sure I'd like it. I wasn't the type to settle into routines like Yuri was, and I didn't mind a bit of change.

It was still... strange, though. There were so many people in the Velvet Star, and I was still working to remember everyone's names and Epithets. I'd confused a few people for others already, but I'd been doing my best. Yuri wanted us to really integrate, so I was making an effort to adjust.

The idea of being part of the organisation proper was daunting. I wanted to be free to do my own thing and follow my heart and all that other sappy shit, but would being part of a group get in the way of that? It was worrying, but I didn't need to think much about it anymore. Yuri was the leader, now. I was concerned about the direction Yuri wanted to take this time, but I wanted to drive Yuri away even less. An approach like hers with someone like me was bound to end in disaster, but if Yuri was confident she could pull it off, I believed her.

Lulu jogged through a side street and I followed, leaving some of the drunkards and late night merchants behind in favour of a quieter jog. I felt my mouth curl up into a smile.

"And... how's your team getting on?" the little Lapin asked without turning her head to face me. "I heard about what happened with Moonshine, too."

Ugh. Right. The fact that he bailed on the team when she wasn't there was annoying enough, but leaving her to deal with the aftermath was worse.

"They'll deal," I responded, speeding up a little as she easily kept pace. "It's gonna hurt 'em for a bit, especially the pipsqueak, but I'm sure Yuri'll be able to help him through it. She's smart like that."

For a few moments, the Lapin went silent. She was thinking something, and I was hoping she'd share whatever was rattling around inside her head soon. At the end of the alley, her legs curled and she leapt, jumping up two stories onto a rooftop.

Glad that she was speaking my language, I hopped up and followed her as she continued the jog, being careful not to damage the tiles of Divastyr's smaller buildings. It felt safer being up here, too. It felt more natural to wander the skyline like this. It was probably my Mom's side of things, my instincts telling me I was better off up here than down there.

"And... what about you? You only mentioned them, right? Are you doing fine?"

I liked having a jogging partner. It was a novel experience. Something different. I didn't know if I'd do this every night, but I didn't want it to end just yet. Still, I wasn't in the mood to mince my words and dodge around the question, but... something about the night time and the quiet made me want to actually open up a little more. To talk.

If she hated me for what I had to say, then... well, I was better off without her.

I realised that I hadn't been saying anything for a few seconds as we leapt from one rooftop to another. I felt light as a feather soaring through the air, even with the ball of glowing orange metal lodged in my chest. It was far from enough to hold me down.

When she landed on the next roof, she stopped for a moment, looking over her shoulder at me. The look in her eyes was pleading, almost. Did she really care that much about this? Well, I couldn't leave it be like this, anyway.

"Am I a bad person for not feeling shitty about him leaving?" I asked in response, rubbing the back of my neck as I broke the unintentional stonewall.

"What?" she responded, raising an eyebrow.

"I guess... I don't care," I responded with a shrug, picking up the jog again at a slower, more manageable pace. "It hurts to see the kid and Yuri feeling like shit, but I can't bring myself to care. I felt like he was gonna leave eventually anyway."

"You knew he was going to leave?" Lulu asked curiously, jogging after me as we leapt from one slanted, tiled roof to another in unison, a flash of gold and blue flying over an alley below.

"Yeah, guess so," I replied nonchalantly. "He was really distant, especially around me. I lashed out at him over something stupid when we left the facility. Before we found Divastyr. He was never much of a talker, but he said even less after that."

I didn't see it in the dark, but I could almost hear Lulu grimace with the tension she gave off.

"I tried to patch things up, but I don't think he's the type of person who wants to heal, so I didn't really bother, y'know?" I continued, wanting to fill the silent jog with something. "He never spoke his mind, so how was I supposed to help him fit better if I didn't know what his deal was? If a person doesn't want to heal, then you can't force 'em."

"Don't you want a decent relationship with your teammates?" she asked. "I know that partnerships aren't always carrots and roses, but even just being on neutral terms is better than being negative. Sticking with a team you know doesn't like you is pretty dangerous, especially with a business like ours."

She was probably right, but I wasn't scared of Jiggles. He couldn't do shit to me, or Yuri, and he probably wasn't about to go after Streiphen or Fareel, either. If he did anything to the Star? Well... they could handle him pretty well too. If they got to him before I did, that was.

"I guess I just never saw the point if he wasn't willing to make the effort to reach back," I confessed. "I don't care what other people think of me as a person. I know Yur wants that, to be actually close to a lot of people in the community to fit in, and it's a little worrying. I'd rather just be famous."

"Famous? Isn't that almost the same thing?" Lulu asked. "That's what Blaise- ah... Bubblegum wants too, but she likes to get in touch with her fans."

"Yeah, maybe that's fine for some people, but I couldn't give a shit about that," I replied with a sniff. "If I can go somewhere else and people don't give me shit because I've got a reputation and they know who I am, that's good enough for me."

I saw her eyes turn towards me, a pair of sparkling blue orbs in the dark as we soared over another well lit street.

"That's what you want...? So you... want to be around people that know your reputation but don't know you as a person?"

"Yup, pretty much," I confirmed with a light nod.

"That just sounds... lonely," she murmured, eyes glancing a little further down as we ran over the crest of a gym's rooftop.

Lonely, huh? Maybe she wasn't wrong, but it's fine.

I was part of a crime syndicate. I wasn't just a criminal, either. I'd been changed. I was a monster, too, a free creature that can eat and do whatever they want whenever they see fit. They're hated and hunted, but if you're strong enough to survive, then isn't the freedom that comes with it worth it? I didn't care what other people thought of me. If I was satisfied, that'd be enough for me.

"Sure, but it's for the best," I replied. "It's good that we're talking like this on a jog instead of sittin' down because it helps me unwind, but I've got a really shitty temper. I know it, too. When people get close to me, it's only a matter of time before I explode and drive them away. I've tried to deal with this sorta shit, but it never really sticks. I'm not bitter about it, but I've made my peace with it. It's better if I do this for other people, too. Streiphen's only sticking around because of Yuri, and I think Fareel's still hanging around because it gets him money and a place to crash. Toya's got a Humanoid form and good abilities, so he doesn't need us like the others do. It was only a matter of time for him, so why worry about it?"

Once again, the Rabbit went quiet. But what else could she say to shit like that? I'd said the wrong thing, maybe, but it was better to actually fucking talk and get it out then leave it unsaid and cause problems later, right? She was the one who agreed to jog, and had started the conversation, so if she didn't like this... well, tough.

"Yuri's great, y'know?" I continued again, filling the night silence, voice carrying over the distant chatter and occasional cheer on the streets below. "She's smarter than I am when it comes to keeping her cool, and she even knows what to say to people more than I do sometimes, even though she was a Varani. Crazy, isn't it?"

Just goes to show how fucked I am, and what my temper and shitty decision making skills do. Still, if Yuri was around, she could keep things together. She was my anchor. If I wanted to make it in any capacity, I'd need someone who could patch things up when I ended up tearing them down.

"Did Yur ever tell you? That we used to be adventurers before Chimera got to us?" I asked, risking a glance towards her. She looked oddly sad, and part of me wanted to stop. But I'd come this far, and a huge part of me begged to keep going. A desperate part of me, maybe. "Our team was on the verge of falling apart before she came along. I was looking for new members to replace the old ones, because like I said, it's always only a matter of time. But... she was smart, polite, proper, and good at the whole management thing. When we first met, she was all shy and quiet and shit back home, but she managed to defuse situations. She was able to fuckin' read me better than I could read myself, it felt like. She makes those rumours about Varani being a bunch of anti-social isolated bastards look like nothing but a Faerie Tale. Crazy."

"I guess I wouldn't know," Lulu shrugged, the first words she'd spoken since I started hogging the conversation. My claws snapped out, and I reflexively swiped at a chuckling ball of flame over my shoulder before it had a chance to let out a peep. "Reptilian Tierakin and Snakefolk are pretty rare this far north, so I've never met one. I know there's a famous Draconian south of Jack's Pass across the border, but that's the only one I've heard of near here. Is... is that what your people thought of them?"

Yeah, that made sense. Yur had always commented about how her folks didn't do well if things were too hot or too cold. They needed somewhere temperate with plenty of water, and if other Tierakin were the same...

"That's just what they're like," I nodded. "Or at least, that's what I've heard. Yur sorta confirmed it too, with what she told me of her parents. She said they're not bad people, but they're not like Humanoids either. They don't feel the same way we do."

"What do you mean?" she asked, throwing a glance my way as she kicked lightly against a roof, soaring over one building and onto another. She'd jumped from a two story building to a four story one. We were going higher.

"They don't have emotions, I think," I told her, following with ease. I felt the bruises that masked bastard had left on me cry out in protest, but pushed past the pain. "I never really spoke to Yuri's folks. She never let me. But that's what she told me. Or... or they don't feel 'em as much? Somethin' like that. Yur had some Skill that let her hold her emotions back too, but she can't use it anymore."

Lulu shivered at the thought. Or because we were getting higher up in a northern region. Could've been either or.

"She had a Skill to dull her emotions? That sounds..."

"Useful?" I supplied helpfully.

"Horrible!" she shot back, looking towards me in the darkness with those piercing blue orbs. "I can't imagine what a kid would grow up like, having Human emotions but the ability to just... shut them down."

I couldn't help but snicker at her blatant overreaction.

"Yeah? Well, why don't you ask one? Yuri was in that boat up until we escaped from Chimera."

Lulu's eyes fell to the ground as we stopped. Landing on the flat roof of a tall building overlooking Divastyr's Sova region, she turned on the spot, sitting on the ledge with her legs dangling over the side. It was a pose and position that sent a shiver through my body, but I sat down next to her.

This wasn't the wall.

We sat in silence for a while. My eyes were on the lit up streets below, bustling with activity and possibility. Hers were on the round, shining moon casting light on everything below, the sky cloudless and free.

"She kept our team together right up until the end, y'know?" I murmured after a long, empty silence. "I know she's trying her best for the team and I, even if I don't deserve it. I didn't really care at first, but... even after going through that damned, Godsforsaken facility and back, after becoming a monster, she was still lookin' out for me."

My eyes turned skyward, joining Lulu's as we looked up at the starry moonlit sky.

"My body just got bigger and stronger, but she got completely fucked up. Even now though, she still seems like she's got a better head on her shoulders than I do. That's... that's the crazy part."

It was a disgrace. I was supposed to be the leader, and I ended up scaring away another person. Even if I couldn't give a shit if he died or disappeared or whatever, what worried me more was what it would do to Yuri. What it'd do to Yuri's impression of me. It felt shitty thinking of it that way, and it felt even shittier not being the leader, but how the fuck can I lead a team and bear the responsibilities of the role when all I do is lead people into messes?

She was so much better at this shit than I was.

I leaned back against the cold tiled roof, linking both hands behind my head as my eyes turned skyward, staring up at the sky once again. On my face, I could feel a bitter, shit-eating grin begin to form.

"It's so fuckin' unfair."

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Thank you, come again!"

I gave the man running the food cart a wave as I left him behind with some of the coin I'd earned from our recent missions. His hot cart was blanketed in the shadow of an umbrella to shield his wares from the elements.

In my hand was a long, thin bread bun with a thick slab of cooked meat slathered with grease nestled inside. I could feel the warmth of the food on my fingers, even through the bun. After my first bite, I could see why those types of stalls were popular around here. Warmth spread through my body as I bit my way through the Orc's Finger.

It was pretty good, but a cooked Fish would've been better. For a coastal city, this place had a surprising lack of similar vendors for seafood. I'd passed up a few of those hot food stalls on the way here, but I was getting close to the point where I wouldn't see any more of 'em. If I wanted something to eat, I'd need to take what I could get and pass up the prospect of a quick cooked Fish.

The flow of the midday crowds was beginning to thin out as I strayed further from the safer, patrolled streets, and closer to the no-man's land that was the abandoned 'slum'. It wasn't even close to the 'death district', as the people around here were calling it, but people still steered clear.

Less people around worked better for me, anyway. I didn't care about people watching me or wondering who I was, but having more of the sidewalk to myself was more comfortable. It let me move however I wanted without needing to think about the space of others. I passed by a woman formed of lime green Slime wearing light, casual clothes like mine. Her eyes were wide as she passed me, which I knew she couldn't help, given my height, but the wave was unexpected. My eyes gave her a once over, and I returned the wave with my free hand.

Once the last of the 'finger' had passed my lips, I couldn't help but sigh.

I'd found a jogging partner, and had managed to fuck it all up on our first outing. I bet Lulu had been expecting light conversation, but when she'd poked the one thing that had been on my mind, I couldn't help myself. If she didn't want to go out for another run and make things even more awkward, I wouldn't blame her.

It was annoying, but I couldn't worry about Jiggles or what that was doing to the team. I had my own shit to focus on, too. The team wasn't my only responsibility, but now that I've pawned that off to Yuri as the new leader, I was a little more free to deal with other matters.

Again, I felt shitty that I'd been neglecting this too, even if it was a little lower on my list of priorities. My hands were stuffed into my pockets as I crossed the invisible threshold between the civilised streets and their empty, lawless neighbours. I knew I'd been busy and all, but it wasn't like I didn't have time. It just... hadn't crossed my mind. Not with everything else going on.

I knew this place wasn't exactly packed to the brim with criminals just wandering the place for easy pickings, but I was really hoping somebody would disregard my size and their own common sense to try and mug me. I didn't even have my hands out! I was a lone, unarmed woman walking through an empty street with no [Guardsmen] around. As much as I wanted to blow off some steam and ruin someone's day, I wasn't lucky enough to get attacked.

The past me might've been bothered by the scent of rubbish and rodents, but after walking through that damn sewer on the day we'd come here, this was a cakewalk. Unpleasant, but bearable. I'd live.

The scent among that mix that I hadn't expected was that of an Orc. A sweaty, meaty smell mixed with the scent of wet fur. It was a smell that I'd become more acquainted with recently than I would've liked. It sure as Abyss wasn't coming off my breath from the food, either.

Feeling a rush of excitement and anticipation run through me, I began to pick up the pace. A groan passed through my lips as I realised that the source of the stench and my actual destination were one and the same. I hadn't come here to hunt Orcs, obviously, but it looked like my real reason for coming here might need to wait.

I passed through familiar streets, throwing an idle glance at a house I knew held a metal bunker, the same one Yuri had found with her incredible Skills. But that wasn't why I was here, either. Still, keeping that in mind would be useful, too. Maybe I could raid some more stuff from it on the way back.

My destination was further ahead, and soon, it came into sight. A larger building than most, with broken shards of glass at the edge of windows completely removed, replaced by thick black curtains that blocked the sun from penetrating its walls. Even before I came into eyeshot, I could smell the vomit and sweat from within. Fainter than the fatass Orc nearby, but still there.

The building housing the group of orphans I'd been neglecting was still as rundown and shitty looking as I remembered it. It looked even worse than before, but that might've just been because of the colossal Orc in armor standing right outside. Poking out from between the curtains at the entrance was the frizzled grey fur of an Inura. The elderly Dogfolk's eyes were squinted shut, and his body was trembling. Whatever he was saying to the Orc, it was quiet. I didn't think that old Dog would come to the 'door', considering his magic didn't work when exposed to sunlight. Or at least, it couldn't move through sunlight. A lesson I'd learned the hard way. The Orc's weapon wasn't drawn either, which meant I could get the drop on him if I wanted.

But that would've been pointless. The Orc was familiar enough that I knew his abilities, he was weaker than I was, and he was the only one of his kind around.

"What the fuck're you doin' here?" I called out, walking down the street as I approached the wall of metal and meat.

The Orc, who was the biggest of the group Yur, the pipsqueak and I had fought in the streets, turned towards me with stunned eyes as wide as saucers. He carried a small metal baton with him, but last time I'd seen him, he'd fought barehanded before Yuri had handed his ass to him. He was a massive Pigfolk with a bright pink snout, brown fur, and a blonde mohawk atop his head. It was the one who'd burped out a giant Fish.

He didn't reach for that baton at his waist, meaning it was probably for show. His [Mantle] burst to life around him, a thick blue-brown light that encompassed the entirety of his body. I didn't bother responding in kind.

"Sunburst...?" the Orc responded hesitantly. "Why are you here?"

With my hands still stuffed into my pockets, I walked right up to him. He took a cautionary step back as I approached, and I smiled at the unspoken show of respect.

"That's what I should be askin' you, fatass. If you're here to extort these kids, say so now and we'll wrap this up quick. If you try lyin' to me, this'll be much harder on you."

"Do... not... fight..."

The voice was so damn quiet that it could've been the wind, or a stray fart. I raised an eyebrow at the shriveled up excuse for a Tierakin peeking out from behind the dark curtain. His head was turned towards me, even if his eyes hadn't opened.

"Why not? What's he here for?" I shot back.

The Orc blinked, glancing between me and the old Inura.

"Some of the children ran off with a few bottles of Boost," the fatass told me. My eyes snapped back up towards his ugly mug, and he flinched at the sudden movement. "This elder asked me to find them."

Boost? Again?

"Why the fuck did you let Boost back into your damn shitshack?" I growled, eyes turning back towards the Inura.

"Safer... when rationed... kept it... hidden... they... found it..." he whispered back, his tone weak. He sounded even older than he looked, which was a pretty impressive feat in itself.

"It's not safe in any amount, you old mutt," I seethed. "I told you not to let that shit anywhere near those kids. I promised I'd train 'em instead, didn't I?"

The Inura's furry eyebrows pulled down, furrowing as his face coiled into a grimace.

"Never... came..."

Fuck. They did this because I was late coming back here? That was no excuse for getting more Boost when I explicitly told them not to use it or accept it, but...

For yet another thing that wasn't my fault, I felt a piece of angry, targeted guilt add itself to the pile.

"Yeah, well, I'm fuckin' here now, aren't I?" I snapped back. "We've all been dealing with our own shit. I told you I'd train the brats, and I will, so you should've held on and waited. If you want to blame anyone, blame this shitty Pig and his gang."

The Orc's [Mantle] dropped in intensity. I didn't expect that, but it didn't matter in the grand scheme of things anyway. [Mantle] or no [Mantle], I could kick the shit out of him regardless.

"Where'd they go?" I asked, lifting my head right as the Inura's dropped.

"Don't... know..."

Idiot. I'd come here hoping to get some real training done, and now I had to clean up this guy's mess because he was incompetent.

"Do you know who went?" I said after a sigh, working to keep myself from exploding on him. "You got any spare clothes or blankets they use?"

For a moment, confusion clouded the grey eyes barely visible beneath his brow and facial fur. Once he finally got my meaning, even if it took him a few seconds longer than it should have, he nodded.

The man turned around, speaking to someone beyond the curtain.

"Are you going to look for them?" the Orc asked, his [Mantle] dimming to nothing more than a light tinge around his fur and armor.

He was still here?

"Yeah, and I'll find 'em too, so if that's why you're here, you can leave and go be someone else's problem."

I saw him bristle at that, and smiled a little at the satisfaction it brought. The curtains parted again as the Inura's top half emerged, holding a worn out black blanket towards me with a single trembling arm. With a hurried motion, I snatched it from him, bringing it close to my face.

With [Enhanced Senses], it was easy to get a good whiff of the scent. Even before becoming whatever I am now, tracking was something I was good at. I had pretty acute senses before, and they'd only gotten even stronger after leaving the facility. It wasn't like I'd been training them or anything, but this'd serve as a good refresher course.

Throwing the blanket back to him, I began to squat close to the ground, shutting my eyes. With the rest of the scents in this shitty place, it wasn't easy to pick up, but I found it. They hadn't been gone long, and chances were they hadn't gone far either.

"Got it," I murmured, rising to my feet. "Don't let any of these brats out of your sight for the next few minutes. If the idiots who went and stole bottles of Boost have drank any, they could be dangerous. Got that?"

The Inura nodded, dipping back inside the building.

"I'll... come with you," the Orc said.

Why? He wasn't a threat, but he wasn't going to be much help either.

"You know you can't beat me, right?" I asked, feeling exasperated. I felt the pang of the bruises wince in response, but even with that he didn't have a chance. "You should know that by now. Even if you called a bunch of your friends, I could beat you with an arm and a leg tied behind my back."

"Not to fight you!" the Orc blurted out, fists clenching. "To help return the children."

"Yeah? And what can you do to help?" I asked, giving him a very unimpressed once over.

The curtains to my left began to shift, slightly parting as a few small eyes poked out. Kids were watching now, too.

"I can take hits if I need to buy time, if the worst happens," the Orc said, sounding more resolute than I'd expected one of his people could.

I didn't want to viciously shut him down in front of the kids, either. It would've sent a good message that his group was weak, which would've been a bonus for our organisation, but...

"Fine, but I'm not going to wait around for you," I told him. "You better keep up."

He looked very uncertain he could, but he had the gall to nod regardless.

Then, I began to jog away from the building. With one of the brats' scents thick in my nostrils, it was easy to follow. I knew for a fact that fat armored Orc wouldn't be able to catch up, but I wasn't going to wait, either. Still... whatever, he'd said he'd help. If he needed to take a hit for me, then he could do it and save me the trouble. I made sure my steps were heavier than before, my sandals slamming hard into the dusty path with every footfall, leaving a trail of thin prints he could follow.

On the bright side, there was no risk if he followed. Unlike the people who actually mattered, there'd be no problem if I got angry with this guy. If I exploded and made him angry or started something, he was an enemy. I couldn't see a single downside with letting him tag along. It wasn't like these stupid Pigs could do anything on their own anyway.

It wasn't long before I turned a corner, spotting a few kids in rags half-slumped against the wall of an alley. Glass bottles rolled along the dusty pavement at their feet. Empty.

There were three of them, all coughing and clutching their chests. Shit. The first signs of Soulburn already. Boost was seriously nothing but trouble. One of many byproducts of those damned mad scientists. I was going to give them everything they deserved when I finally caught up with them.

The sound of heavy footfalls echoed behind me, and I raised an eyebrow as the Orc barreled down the street in my direction. It was easy to tell from the damp fur and stench that he'd sprinted after me, so I'd at least give him points for trying.

"Hey, Pig!" I called out, raising an arm to wave him over as he arrived. "You know any way to deal with Soulburn symptoms? They drank all of the bottles."

His eyes widened with shock and panic, but he shook his head.

"N-no... I don't know first aid or Soul relief."

Fuck! I whipped my eyes back towards the kids, thinking fast. It'd be risky to approach and startle them while they were having a fit. If they panicked and tried to defend themselves, they could end up making the problems worse.

I had to give them relief, and I had to do it now. I wouldn't waste time.

I've been training, too. While Yuri had been focusing on her magic, I'd been wondering where to take my abilities. My magic was centered around heat, which wasn't the most flexible type of magic in the world. The whole Light Magic schtick felt more like a gimmick in comparison. Something weaker that I used as a supplement. Back home, I'd hit a wall when it came to magical development.

That had changed after I'd met Yrlack.

Back in the facility, that brainiac monster had taught me Luster Arts. I'd vaguely known they'd existed of course, but learning to use magic had always been far more important. When he'd taught me even those three measly starting Arts, I'd felt different. Like I understood Aera just that little bit more. If not for that brainiac, I wouldn't be nearly as strong as I was now. I would've been still stuck behind that wall.

It took a lot of [Mantle] usage to... adjust, after the changes, too. I'd been stuck with trembling limbs and unable to get my Soul in the right spot. After the transformation, I worked hard to get used to the changes in my body. With the help of the [Mantle] training he taught me... it sped up the process. I got good at it, and I really felt as though I'd been making progress again.

It was a shame he hadn't made it to see my progress. I felt my chest scrunch up at the thought.

I stepped forward, moving slowly as I took a long, deep breath of putrid alley air. Sunset light flowed over my hands as I worked to control my mood. A gentle outlook would make the light that much more soothing.

The Luster Arts were a good starting point, but while Yuri'd been learning to expand her magic, I worked on pushing what the brainiac had taught me to the next level.

Luster Techniques. Further applications of the base three Luster Arts. Between [Mantle], [Insight], and [Release], a Caster had plenty of tools at their disposal. But when refined and altered, they could change. Become something more.

Yuri, the damn prodigy that she was, had already learned one of 'em without even needing to research or train it. [Sheen]. An extension of [Mantle] that was more concentrated, and could travel through and over objects. I'd learned it too, but I'd been forced to figure it out with the help of research.

Another deep breath. Focus. The kids' expressions filled with shock as I approached. One of them squealed, scrambling out of the alley. The other two stayed where they were, frozen.

The light coating my hands and forearms began to change. The flame-like edges of my Aera began to sway as a gentle wave rocked back and forth over the surface of the light.

When I got close enough, I crouched down to their level, holding one hand out to each of them. I'd been planning on using this to teach the orphans. To get them used to the flow of magic that little bit easier by stimulating their control over it without directly attacking them with magic. But it could be used this way, too. To attune to other people's Souls and Aera, and help deal with damage. This was all I could do.

"Take my hands if you want the pain to go away," I told them, my voice even, betraying none of the anxiety I felt.

One of the children, a Half Elven boy, reached out with both hands, grasping my oversized digits in a rush, as though they were the sole life raft in the middle of a churning ocean. Seeing the other boy move without hesitation, the slightly older Human kid reached out with shaking, tentative hands, breathing hard as he made contact.

"[Ripple]," I murmured.

I'd never learned how to heal or adjust to people with the ability. Luster Arts were complicated enough using them normally. I'd learned 'em fast, but I'd focused on quantity over quality. Learning a ton of 'em without properly exploring each one. I knew a few of them, but not everything they could do. I'd need to play this by ear.

When my eyes drifted closed, I focused on what I was receiving. I could feel the Aera bouncing around within their bodies, frantic and agitated, pushing against my own. It had no outlet as their Aera caused pain in pulses, and the damage was only getting worse. I could feel what they felt. Their worry. Their desire for strength.

Don't worry, I've got you. I made a promise to make you strong.

The most powerful feeling resonating through the impressions of their Aera wasn't strength, or pain, or even panic. It was a different feeling. A feeling I was pretty damn familiar with, and the feeling I hated most of all.

Helplessness.

I couldn't help but snicker aloud, even as they flinched from the sound. We came from completely different worlds, but we both knew exactly how that felt, huh? Not knowing what to do, how to do it, or whether they were doing anything right at all. It was a shitty feeling, but a feeling I knew.

I pushed forward, sending my [Ripple] through their Aera. It bounced back, pushing and stabbing at the sudden interference. I kept my breathing steady. Strong as the effects of Boost were, I was Sunburst. Sigura fuckin' Brightmane. There wasn't a hope in all the heavens I was letting two kids push my mental, emotional, or magical state out of whack. I pressed forward, encouraging the erratic, panicked Aera to match my flow. To equalise.

More than once, the pulses pushed against me with force, trying to throw off my rhythm. No matter how hard I pushed with the waves, this just wasn't working. I grimaced, grinding my teeth together. What was I doing wrong? My waves were stronger than theirs, right? In terms of sheer Aera quantity and power, I was far above them. So why...?

One of the pulses struck against my rippling wave out of sheer coincidence, and I felt the connection deepen for just a moment. I stopped, listened, and observed. The pulses weren't as erratic as I thought they were. They were messy, panicked, and uncoordinated, but they were easy to predict. With reflexes like mine, it was easy to follow them.

Having stumbled on the answer, I began to work through it. This whole '[Ripple]' thing was an extension of the [Release] Luster Art, the flash shockwave ability, just on a much more... subtle scale. I'd guessed that it was just about overpowering the other party to force their Aera down into a steady rhythm, but that wasn't it at all. It was more about the form. The control. I couldn't just overpower them to make this work.

I needed to make the waves of my [Ripple] match their pulses. They didn't need to just adjust to me, I had to adjust to them. To meet them in the middle and gradually pull them back to safety.

With that in mind, things got easier. The waves were held back, timed to release only when I knew it'd match a pulse. I missed the timing more than once, but now that I knew what I was looking for, I could manage. With each pulse matched with a wave, their Aera was beginning to calm.

Each time we got a little closer, things got a little easier.

I let out a breath, my eyes slowly drifting open as their Souls began to stabilise. Damage had been done, but I'd managed to limit it. They'd be sore, and have difficulty casting for a while, but they were alive. After what they'd pulled, that was the most they could hope to ask for.

Sweat poured down my face as I panted for breath. I rose back to full height on shaky legs, feeling the exertion in my Soul resonate through my body, bouncing painfully against the bruises lining my form. It wasn't easy to do, but I'd managed.

"Don't... do that... again..." I ordered in between breaths.

"T-thanks..." the Half Elf on the right said, glancing towards the exit to the alley. "Our friend, he-"

"I know," I interrupted him. "There's still one more."

The boy nodded, and I glanced behind me. The Orc was looking down towards me, face filled with a tentative, uncertain relief. Weird. Was he actually concerned for these kids? He hadn't attacked me while I was doing that, either. It would've been a good time to strike.

Nah. He might've just been afraid he couldn't down me in one hit and I'd strike back.

"Are you al-"

"Don't waste your breath," I replied between my laboured panting. "Leave some air for the rest of us. Let's get this over with."

He opened his mouth, looking like he had something else to say. Instead, he made the smart decision, and closed it. With a nod, he followed me forward, walking past the pair of startled, trembling children, and out into the bright clearing beyond the shade covered alley.

In the middle of a crossroad between streets, the final child was on his knees. He was crying, tears streaming from the Human kid's eyes, but it was easy to tell it wasn't normal.

His entire body was covered by a hazy blue [Mantle], the edges trembling and wobbling with bulges rising from the surface, like a disturbed pond with children throwing stones into it. The tears expanded as they flowed from his face, creating a thick puddle of conjured water all around him. Occasionally he'd let out a loud, pained sob between futile attempts to wipe away the tears. With each sob, a thick torrent of water would spill forth. When he raised an arm to block the stream, it snapped out, a jet of water that cut the top of his hand and cracked the stone wall of a nearby building. Damn it.

This was serious Soulburn. It was more than that. He wasn't clutching at his chest anymore. Now, his magic was actively injuring him, and it was tied to something he couldn't control. His skin was becoming paler and thinner, looking more emaciated by the second. His magic was using the moisture in his body as the catalyst. If this went on for much longer, there'd be little more than a mummified corpse left at the end of it.

I hated water, but I had to focus. My hair stood on end at the sight of it, and I forced myself to keep my feet where they were as the puddle expanded, soaking into my sandals. I wasn't afraid of water, obviously, but I hated uncontrolled water even more than rivers and lakes. I could make it through showers or bathe with wet towels and basins, but stuff like this...

It wasn't just my hatred. It was dangerous too, if that jet of water was any indication. If his emotional state was disturbed further, the water could change. I could handle steam or boiling water, but the jets would be a problem. Still, danger was something I was used to. It was something familiar. Comforting, almost, in a strange way.

I couldn't trust the Pig to block for me either. We didn't have time for a slow advance. I took a deep, reluctant breath, gulping down the lump in my throat that stood as the vanguard for my instincts shouting at me to leave.

My [Mantle] flared to life, turning me into a sunset silhouette of orange light. I activated my [Heat Aura], not giving a word of warning as I ran forward.

Shock filled his expression as I dashed in. I'd been hoping he was too enveloped in his emotions to see what was going on, but the panic in his eyes only made the water spill out faster. His mouth was wide open now, too. If he wasn't careful, he could end up drowning in his own sorrows. Literally.

A spray of water shot towards me, and I intensified the aura. The spray turned to steam on contact with the invisible barrier, becoming a harmless mist that was much preferable to actual water. My sandals made loud, deep splashes in the water as I charged, which helped to drown out the sound of the Orc shouting far behind me. Whatever he was saying, it was only a distraction. Focus was all I needed.

Every impulse within me said to leap away. The giggling ball of fire over my shoulder told me I couldn't handle this. I didn't want to do this.

But I didn't care. My impulses could shrivel up and rot for all I cared. I'd been letting this sort of nonsensical shit dominate me for nothing. If I wasn't able to do anything about my anger, then I'd at least direct it in a constructive way. I used it to fuel the aura, shielding me from the blasts.

The aura of raw heat was protecting me, but I was getting close now. Once I saw the burn marks form on the surface of his skin, I knew I was in the danger zone. I deactivated the [Heat Aura], relying on my powerful [Mantle] and luck to get me through. My body swerved, working off reflex and instinct to dodge the stray jets of water using the physique Chimera had left me with after their little experiment. As I drew closer and closer, the window for error with each movement grew smaller.

A jet of water slashed right through my shoulder. Blood spilled from the wound and joined the torrent around me, tinging the growing puddle beneath our feet a dark, murky red.

A cut to the leg. To the arm. Another on my lower stomach. My [Mantle] kept out the worst of the damage, but my body was still peppered by slashes of high-pressure water.

My Soul reacted, preparing waves of its own as the Aera around my forearms changed. I lunged through the air, forearms channelling [Ripple] as I ducked beneath a thick torrent of water aimed right for my head.

The boy screamed, and I gripped his shoulders tightly. He was so thin, and he couldn't-

Focus.

My body was getting drenched and slashed relentlessly. I felt a deep shiver run through my body, a shiver that didn't disappear as I began to tremble like a newborn Lamb. I hated this. And what was I doing it for, anyway?

A kid?

Some idiot who couldn't follow instructions?

A fool that risked everything for nothing, just to try and get a taste of what power, fame, and freedom from his fate he could? To see what it was really like beyond his tiny, shitty world?

My emotions poured through the [Ripple]. Waves generated by my Aera worked quickly, matching the flow with his erratic mess. His magic was like mine. It wasn't just fueled by ideals, or history, or any of that shit. It was raw emotion. The sadness and helplessness that washed over him was almost crushing. It was an emotion that spread through me, too. It was too late that I realised the feeling was being transmitted through contact with the water as well as the [Ripple], strengthening the effect.

I matched wave after wave with pulse after pulse as the boy screamed and cried into both sets of my ears. My senses were overwhelmed, while tears and blood spilled down my body, getting more intense by the second.

The waves were working, but I couldn't tell if it'd be fast enough. He was calming, slowly but surely, but the damage ran deep. Even if I made it through this, I didn't know if he'd pull through afterwards. I could only hope.

I could feel everything he could feel. I worked to convey one thought. One idea. That was all I had.

What did you risk your life for? Do you see yourself as expendable? Worthless? That it didn't matter if you failed? Are you going to lie down and let yourself die here, in a puddle of your own damn tears?!?

PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!!!

The boy cried. His tears flowed down his cheeks, dripping down into the puddle I was kneeling in, or sliding down his drenched rags and body. None of it exploded outwards or spilled out into a torrent. The tide of magic within him had receded.

All that was left were tears.

Both me and the kid were left panting for breath. It was just one ability, but it had taken a lot out of me. The strain was emotional as much as it was magical, and right now I was tired. Kneeling down in the water wasn't doing my nerves any favours, but I had to work with what I had.

I raised my head, looking back up towards the kid. He was trying to calm down in between laboured sobs, but he was making little progress. Still, his life wasn't in danger. Not anymore.

"You doin' okay?" I asked, slowly pulling myself upright. My sandals were drenched, squelching uncomfortably beneath my feet.

The boy only nodded, unable to get anything beyond a squeak out past his sobbing.

"Don't fucking go near Boost again," I warned. "I said I'll train you brats, so don't pull a stunt like this again, got it?"

He shivered on the spot, sobbing to himself. I was about to turn around and finally dry myself off, but I saw him try to gulp down the sobs. He had something to say. I kept my eyes on him, deciding to give him a bit of time before I parted from him. Before I let go. My hands were still on the kid's shoulders, and I liked to think that helped.

"We... we didn't think you'd come... back... you were... gone for so... long..."

The whispered words were more potent than any damn poison. They hurt to hear, but... fuck.

"Ugh... I... I'm here now, aren't I?" I retorted, snapping when I shouldn't have. "I was researchin' ways to teach you brats better, alright? I've been busy, but I'm here now."

But never when it counts.

One hand pulled from the boy's shoulder, claws snapping out as I crushed the laughing fireball hanging just over my own shoulder. Stupid things. My wrist brushed against the drenched shoulder of my handmade shirt, and I shivered once again.

Once the boy nodded, I pried my other hand off of his shoulder, beginning the trek back to dry land. I threw glances back a few times, just to make sure, but he seemed fine now.

Fuck. It felt shitty knowing Boost was so damn prominent here. It wasn't just in the slums either, but even criminals in populated areas were trading with it. Magic was such a cool thing. It had been my father's trade as an adventurer, even if I'd never met the deadbeat, and now magic was my trade, too. Seeing it warped and twisted like this in ways that it messed with people was a serious pain. It was a shortcut, as though the substance was designed just to poke fun at those who'd gained their power through hard work and dedication.

Just one more reason Chimera deserved everything I was going to give them.

They were just stupid kids that didn't know any better, but the adults had no excuses. It was shitty.

"You... you did a good job," said the Orc as my squelching sandle finally touched down against dry stone. "I am grateful you helped me out."

I grimaced at his words. He was completely misinterpreting what I did. I took a step back from him, and began to shake wildly. He raised an iron clad hand to cover his face as water flew from my clothing, wet mop of hair, and splashes of fur around my body. Once the worst of the wet was gone, I activated my magic. My body heat skyrocketed, causing the air around me to distort with warmth and turn misty as the remnants of the brat's magical tears evaporated into nothing.

Much better.

"Do you really think I want your damn approval?" I asked, stretching out my now dry arms and legs. "We're enemies, y'know? I did it for these shitty brats, not you."

The Orc lowered a damp gauntlet, rubbing at the back of his neck.

"Well... Even if you don't want my approval... It would not have sat right with me if I hadn't given you my thanks. I appreciate it."

Ugh. These Orcs were the last people I'd expected to get all sappy and sentimental.

"I thought your group couldn't give a Rat's ass about these people. Why're you suddenly deciding to give a shit?" I asked, my eyes still focused on his expression, scouring for any hints of deception.

"We are... we're not as strong as the other groups ruling this city, or even the former rulers of this territory. We must do what we have to in order to build our reputation. To keep outsiders and invaders away, and that we're strong enough to hold this area under control. It's very important."

My ears perked up. Not just at the Orc's drivel, but at the sound of quiet footsteps. Not the footsteps of a Human or Half Elven child, but the footsteps of someone trying to be quiet and discrete. They were familiar sounding footsteps, and now they were moving away from us. The direction they were moving in made it perfectly clear where they were going, too.

Anger and indignation welled up within me, but I had to push it down. Those two kids were still nearby, and I didn't want to set off the crying kid again, either.

I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully to avoid exploding on the Orc in front of the wounded children.

"I couldn't care less if your little band of misfits were doin' all this to save all of Alvelotyl. Your group attacked a friend of mine, and that's what I hate your guts for, got it?"

The Orc stared down at me for a few long, uncomfortable seconds as I held his gaze, my eyes sharp and unwavering. I kept eye contact until he was the first to look away, and felt some of my anger melt in turn.

"I... understand," he muttered.

"Good," I said, giving him a nod as both hands returned to my pockets. "You three!"

The sudden shout caused the trio of children watching to jump, and I cast my eyes around, locking onto theirs one by one.

"I'll be meetin' your group later today for training instead, after you've had some time to collect yourselves and spread the word. Got that?"

The sobbing child pulled himself to his feet, wiping away the last of his tears as his two friends emerged from the alley. There was no telling if that Boost would have lasting effects, but for now, they were fine. They waited near me, watching as the boy drenched in his own tears trudged through the puddles on his way back to them.

Once they reunited, the trio began to run off, with the Half Elven boy throwing me a wave and a "Thank you!" over his shoulder as they went.

As soon as they were out of earshot, my eyes snapped back up towards the Orc with such speed and intensity that he flinched. Satisfying.

"And you. Make sure those kids don't use any more fuckin' Boost. If they do, I'm blaming you, and you don't want that happen. Got that?"

The Orc nodded, the action resolute. If he was willing to actually look after those brats and make sure they didn't do anything stupid, then I could go and prepare for the afternoon's training session.

After I sorted out the training area, and the problem that was lying in wait there, at least.

I turned, pulling my hands from my pockets as I broke into a sprint. With the help of both the [Headstart] and [Burst of Speed] Skills, I hit my top speed instantly, rocketing through the streets as I kicked up clouds of dirt in my wake. I hadn't expected this opportunity to present itself to me this soon, but I wasn't going to pass it up. Not when it was lying in the place I needed to be, too.

It wasn't long before I arrived at the top of a staircase, skidding to a stop that wasn't doing my thin, damp sandals any favours as a cloud of dust kicked up in my wake.

The entrance to the abandoned Dronrowth Shopping Center. It was just as dark, empty, and dreary as I remembered, now that Yuri's artefacts and influence was gone from the place.

I snapped my fingers, creating a ball of golden [Light] to float above my palm. I sent it forward, letting the ball drift ahead of me as I began to walk downstairs. The tiles of the floor came into sight, as did the closest of the storefronts that had been picked clean. There was no trace of someone being here. No sound, or scent, or sight. But the person here was hiding. They didn't have a natural scent, nor did they have conventional muscles that needed to make sound or even breathe.

"I know you're in here!" I called out into the empty darkness. I might've looked like a lunatic if there wasn't anyone here, but at least nobody would know if I was wrong. "Come out here before I drag you out myself!"

For a few agonisingly long seconds, I stood around alone in the dark, eyes darting from side to side as the shadows of the center shifted and changed with the ball of [Light] drifting forward. Something stood up, rising from a crouch or sitting position. The Cat-like ears atop my head twitched as the sound reached them, and the ball of [Light] caught a flash of blue from the butchers as the figure stepped out to face me, their posture hunched up and defensive.

"How... how did you know I was here?" Toya asked, emerging from the darkness.

"I didn't," I responded, crossing both arms. "Not until you started stalkin' me like a fuckin' creeper. I came here to teach the orphans and set this place up for training, and now I come back to find you're back squatting in this shitty place."

The Slime-like man looked away, his expression flecked with shame and annoyance. He didn't want me here. That much was obvious. The anger inside me bubbled up, begging to be let out as it scratched at my throat.

I took a long, deep breath, forcing the feelings down. I was furious, and if anyone deserved to get a verbal lashing, it was him. But that wasn't going to help, and the feeling wasn't... overwhelming, yet. My defences were still up, and willing to stay up.

"You know you really fucked them up, right?" I asked, my eyes firmly locked onto his face, ready to meet his eyes the moment he lifted his head. "You could've gotten everything you asked for with that group. You agreed to join, just like we did. Then, you start getting all quiet, broody, and distant like a melodramatic [Rogue], and then you just fuckin' leave? How the fuck could you think that was okay?"

"How else was I supposed to say it?!?" he snapped back, head turning. As soon as his eyes met mine, the anger and frustration in his expression quickly gave way to fear and apprehension. Regret. "I... I couldn't bring myself to stay with those people... N-not... not the team, but with the criminals."

"You should've fuckin' talked to 'em," I responded, feeling some of the anger die down, just a bit, as I leaned against the wall closest to me. "Yuri would've done everything she could to make you feel like you belonged. She would've figured out a way to do it, too, as hopeless as you are. But you didn't. You didn't say a damn word until you'd made up your mind. You ran away like a fucking coward, and you don't even have to deal with the aftermath. Yuri's gonna beat herself up about your stupid shit, you know that, don't you? That you've made it their problem too?"

The fire grew with every passing word, and the wall I'd erected to keep it from coming out was crumbling as my desire to restrain myself fell to pieces.

"They... they would've tried to get me to stay," he murmured, looking away once again. "They might've convinced me to do it for a while, but... but that would've made it hurt more when I left later. This was... this was the best way to do it. The safest way."

I was hoping, for his sake, that he'd say what I wanted to hear, but nothing but bullshit was coming out of his mouth.

"Why?" I snapped back, my voice raising. "What's your fuckin' problem? The Star would've given you everything you wanted! A normal life, money, a place to stay, friends, a community, what the Abyss do you have to be unhappy about?!? A massive opportunity that people would kill to get fell into your lap, and you spat in the faces of those givin' it to you, and to us!"

"T-they... they would've done it the wrong way," Toya replied, his fists clenching. "They're... criminals. If they set a bad example like that, then it won't make a difference. It'll just be crime enabling more crime, and I don't want to be a part of that cycle. Trust me... I know criminals. This is... just how they work. If adventurers had reached out to us instead, then maybe-"

"So that's what you're gonna do?!?" my words spilled out, carrying a hint of the flame within me with them. "Become an adventurer, work your magic alone and make everyone all happy again to match your little fuckin' fantasy land view of things? Because lemme tell you, adventurers are even more fuckin' selfish than the people at the Star! Trust me, I know adventurers."

My words were mocking, but he deserved this much. He deserved much more than what I was dishing out, but I was holding back. Not for me, but for Yur. For the future.

"I... I can't... It's not just about results, the journey matters too... even if you're right and adventurers are selfish, that's still better than making things right through crime. It's a slippery slope, and-"

"Lemme guess," I snapped out, interrupting him with the sound of my fist smashing against the wall. The impact left a knuckle print in the stone, one similar to the mark left elsewhere in Dronrowth. "You're gonna go on about how they're so much better because they aren't breaking some shitty rules that a fat monarch on a throne decided on? It's not about intention, either. Nobody does anything out of the 'goodness of their heart', dumbass! Everyone's lookin' for something, even if you don't think so. Whether you get money, fame, and results on either side of the law, it's all the damn same!"

Toya's shoulders relaxed, which I couldn't help but feel dread at seeing. I knew he was going to say something stupid. Relaxation shouldn't be what he was experiencing, but-

"You didn't have to save those kids, Sigura," Toya responded softly, raising his head. His eyes met mine once again, and this time I was the one wishing I could look away. "I know you don't like water. People with Soulburn are dangerous, even if they're untrained. You didn't have to risk your safety helping them, but you did."

"Are you joking?" I responded, face curling with disbelief. "I didn't do that just out of the 'goodness of my heart'. Did you see how much water that kid was letting out? He's got potential. He'll make for a seriously good subordinate or adventurer if he can learn to train and control their abilities."

He remained silent, which I was relieved about as I worked to catch my breath.

"'Sides, we have to make sure the enemy don't have a ton of Boost users capable of controlling and training their shit as enemies in the future. If we don't help these kids out, it'll cause damage to everything and everyone. This is to make sure we have good allies in the future, and to make sure we don't risk everythin' because dumb kids don't know the dangers of Boost!"

His face was clouded with disbelief. The anger within me was tempered by confusion. Even I knew the words spilling out of me were bullshit. Why did I care? It wasn't like I couldn't have handled a kid like that in an actual fight, and-

"He would've died," Toya said simply, a trio of words that caused a lump to form in my throat. "If you'd left him, you wouldn't have had to worry about him anymore. You did it to help him."

He'd be an asset, an ally, it- Ugh... Fuck. I sighed, taking another deep breath. Fine, whatever. It didn't matter in the end. Doing one little thing like that didn't disprove my point.

"You're not going to reconsider, are you?" I asked him, the anger within me tempered by confusion and resignation. "You're going to... what? Volunteer for a while? Become an adventurer? Retire from the Caster life and work as a [Janitor] or something?"

His face was coloured with contemplation. The look in his eyes seemed about as uncertain as I felt.

"I... I don't know."

The air was tense between us. Not angry, but uncertain. Filled with lingering regrets and irritation. His answer pissed me off. Not in a way that fueled the flames of anger dying down in my chest, but in a way that just made me annoyed. This bastard didn't even know what he wanted to do with himself and he left. He practically betrayed the group, and he had the gall to come back here and squat in our old base without giving us any warning. I didn't want him to just be here either.

"I'm going to start setting this place up for training," I told him, my voice as even, cold, and detached as I could manage to get it. "We found this place as a group, and just because you crawled back here after abandoning us doesn't mean you've got more claim to it than we do. Stay out of the way, or you'll end up like that mark on the wall. Got it?"

Without a word, Toya nodded.