I was trudging through a dark forest, my wrapped paws lightly touching on mud before moving forward.

The trees were both foreign yet familiar. The bark of the trees around me were a dark blue and purple while the leaves were darker in shade. The sky high above was a deep lavender, a colour I'd grown up with. Sometimes the sky was blue, or a mild orange or pink, but this was standard for most days. This was a normal sight, yet it felt somewhat... alien.

Shadows stretched all over the forest from a moon I couldn't see behind the cover of clouds. Gnarled branches formed shapes akin to twisted, broken arms and legs. More than once, my head whipped around with shock, expecting to see a monstrous, giant Wolf or its glowing red eyes staring at me from the darkness. I was more on edge than usual, it seemed. Strange.

I had no way of knowing what was lying in the underbrush, waiting for me to let my guard down so it could strike, but that was a normal fear in these lands.

I felt like I was at home here. Like this dark forest was where I'd lived my entire life. My long, lithe limbs carried me over twisted roots and hidden shrubs that I'd seen thousands of times before. My body was thinner and taller than that of many Humanoids and Beastfolk, something that was always a cause for concern among easily frightened folk. As powerful as I could be, I was far from the greatest cause of concern among these lands.

Movement was simple. Light and easy. Part of me felt as though that should not have been the case, that I should have been heavier or more cumbersome, but I brushed the odd thought aside. That 'weight' was something my kind did not experience like others did. My [Telekinesis] worked best on my own body, of course, and so gliding over treetops or pulling myself around to avoid the typical hazards of the forest was simple.

I was hungry and on the hunt, eager to find what sapient life I could at this time of night. Food was an easy thing to come by in these verdant yet treacherous lands. Berries, mushrooms, and even small Animals if I were truly desperate were plentiful. Simple. Yet that wasn't the type of sustenance I sought. Not tonight. I needed something that satiated a different form of hunger.

I knew that I couldn't live by the main roads. The paved and worn paths were often travelled by the likes of Darklings and Western Drow on the way between their settlements. It was ripe with potential food, but I couldn't live too close. Even when my burrow was cloaked with Illusion Magic, [Explorers], [Hunters], and the like had a habit of getting too close for comfort. Whenever that happened and they stumbled upon my humble abode, I'd be forced to feed, even if I was full.

Their ability to retain recent memories would be lost. I'd consume their surface thoughts and leave them in a daze. With a single clawed hand, I'd turn them around and lead them away from my home, sending them on their way once their minds recovered.

The two curved claws at the end of my hand hooked onto a branch as I swung forward like a common Ape or Gorilla. Having two fingers and a thumb didn't make for dexterous hands in a laboratory, but [Telekinesis] and other Skills helped to bridge the gap.

I was feeling tired. My body was not wracked with physical fatigue, yet I could feel a stagnant, unmotivated air overtake my mind. Thankfully, I knew how to work through such an incoming slump. It was in my bones and body, as it was for all of my kind.

My body picked up speed as I began to run, my long legs using the full force of their muscles in an attempt to wake up my drowsy mind. I leapt over bushes and twisted tree roots, dipping around corners and lumbering trees, avoiding the general dangers of the forest as my mind began to sharpen and wake.

Thoughts accelerated with motion, allowing me to think and perceive more and more. The sensation was... beautiful. Euphoric, in a sense. It felt as though I was only truly alive while in motion, when compared to the sheer stagnancy of my 'sleeping' mind. My brain floated along behind me, free and embraced by the wind as it twisted like the long locks of a young maiden's hair. It was my pride and joy, the source of the Skills that kept me and my kind going.

My vision narrowed and blurred as my body sped up more and more, yet my other senses sharpened to compensate. 'Blips' entered my awareness. I was capable of sensing general shapes around me, which was the only thing that stopped my quickening form from crashing into an unyielding tree or the maw of a beast lying in wait. Like this, I could dip, swing, and leap around with reckless abandon in search of tonight's meal.

Pulses flashed in the air. I did not detect them through sight, nor sound, nor smell, but directly through the mind. They came in waves, pulses emitted from all living creatures, big and small. Insects with tiny pulses visible only when I came close. Small Animals hiding in trees or among bushes, working to do their part in the ecosystem. Even a nest of monstrous Barghests I'd frequently passed. I would've warned travelers on the road unfamiliar to the area of their presence, but the sight of my unorthodox form often got responses of horror or aggression. It was a shame, but I understood why those I met were wracked with worry. Danger was the rule of the Zeradonian wilds, unfortunately.

Then, I detected stronger waves. Hmm... No, perhaps that wasn't accurate. They weren't stronger, necessarily, but more complex and developed. More dense. They were the pulsing waves of a sapient mind.

I approached quickly, leaping and darting silently among the underbrush, ensuring to keep out of sight despite my vibrant pink fur, tall frame, and startling appearance. I had no wish to make an enemy of my target.

I couldn't see what they were wearing in the gloom, yet something sparkled and shined in my blurred sight. Armor? Artefacts? The [Mantle] of a frightened wanderer? It was difficult to tell, but it didn't matter.

I leapt from the treeline, my clawed feet touching down on worn stone roads as I shot towards him like an arrow fired from an [Archer's] bow. He turned towards me with shock and fear in his eyes, yet it was too late. My clawed hand snapped out, stunning him just long enough for me to feed. My sharpened digits swiped at the space next to his head, and the man shivered in place.

My mind exploded, filling with new ideas and thoughts. It was as vibrant a taste as ever, a delicacy on par with one's first meal. Delicious. It was difficult to process all at once, but there was no need to rush the digestion. It could serve as inspiration later, after all. I ran to the other side of the road, launching myself off the ground with twin [Releases] from the balls of my feet, allowing me to land on a branch high above the ground. Even stationary, the high of the motion I'd built up refused to fade while I was processing my meal.

I sat in the branches as my vision steadied, returning to normal as the blur sharpened. I'd fed from a Darkling, a startled looking man with blue skin, curled horns, and cloven feet. He blinked, his expression delirious and filled with confusion. He looked like a [Merchant] of some sort, with a glowing Bag of Holding at his waist. He wore a ring on his hand, one that emitted a sinister red light. A defense mechanism that triggered if he was attacked, perhaps? Unlucky was the [Bandit] that did not see such a thing before striking a lone wanderer. It was good that his artefact did not trigger from my 'attack' alone.

I savored my [Cognitive Meal], keeping my eyes locked onto the poor man. He was not swaying on his feet like a drunkard at risk of falling hard, yet he stood staring straight ahead, like a Zombie without purpose. I'd had my fill of surface level thoughts and cognitive energy, but it was only polite to keep watch until my prey recovered. Calling them 'prey' had always sounded too predatory, given that I never ate the bodies of Humanoids, but what better word was there to call them? It was merely common courtesy to wait until they came to their senses. If anything or anyone attempted to hunt, attack, or rob him while I was here, I would swoop down and ensure everything was alright.

It was only fair. I sat and waited, curling down into a crouch as I kept my eyes locked on the stationary Darkling. I allowed the consumed thoughts and ideas to trickle into my awareness, feeling them swim around in my mind.

He wished to attend a festival in the next town over. Within his bag was an expensive gift, one he planned on using to court a Darkling woman from an opposing House. It was a shame that sapients were often so entrenched in their differences rather than seeking out their similarities, but such was the way of civilisation. Even if I couldn't get a clear picture of what the man expected from the festival to come, snippets drifted into my mind. Magical shows. Fireworks. Competitions for... tattoos? Or unusual birthmarks, perhaps? I could never be too sure when it came to these strange sapients.

The cognitive energy of sapient creatures was always the most delicious and intellectually stimulating, but no matter how large or how little I took, there was always a pang of distant regret. Regret that I was seen as more of a 'monster' than as a fellow sapient creature. The world of man was a fascinating thing, but clearly not one I was destined to explore. Being able to consume the surface thoughts of my prey was a... what was the term? A 'double edged' sword?

I wished that I was more skilled in Illusion Magic than I was. If I was able to cloak my form with a [Glamour] to hide my more... striking features, I would be able to blend in with Humanoid societies like other 'monsters' and beings like myself have proven capable of doing. Yet we were not all gifted in the same way with magical arts. It was simply the natural order of the world.

It was selfish thinking, I knew. I should've been thankful that the Gods had gifted me the control over Aera I had. I was gifted with the potential to create [Illusory Zones], cloaking the front of my abode to help deter wandering creatures or especially curious or danger prone folk. I was only skilled with illusions in a given area, not over a moving object or creature like myself. Nor was I skilled in the art of Shapeshifting Magic, although few of my kind excelled in such a School nonetheless.

It was a shame. I longed to view the world of man, yet the opportunities I had been given to explore such a thing were few and far between. I understood my place in this world, but that understanding never managed to stop the pang of regret and longing from forming a hard ball in my chest.

I rubbed at the pink fur along my arms, sighing sadly as I saw a pale blue light burst into my vision. Ah. The man was awake.

The Darkling's body was coated with [Mantle], one that was clearly the [Mantle] of a [Merchant], unrefined and lacking in sturdiness. I doubted it would protect him from anything more than a quill pricking his finger, although perhaps that was all he'd have ever needed it for. He pulled a sword of metal from its sheath, his head snapping around, looking at the trees and shadows around him in vain.

"Come out, monster! Face me!" he shouted into the dark. It was a foolish decision to make, given that he may attract monsters to the road. They disliked a substance hidden beneath patches of these roads, but that did not make the paths perfectly safe to travel. The man's tone carried a sense of bravado, but one tempered by the quavering wariness and fear evident in his tone. That, and his tail was coiled around his legs, as though that would protect him.

He would be fine from here, I was sure, although his short term memory of the trip to this point may be... spotty. He would have a strange story to tell to those he would meet at this festival of his. If he had a talent for storytelling, perhaps he could weave my unseen attack into the tale of a Vampire encounter. My kind were often mistaken for such sudden encounters. If he was lucky, perhaps the [Merchant] could spin a tale of his valor and bravery in the face of such danger to woo his mate. I wished him luck, even if he mightn't have needed it. He had been born lucky enough already, given that he could freely live within the cities and towns of this land.

I leapt from the branch that had kept me company until the man recovered, darting from tree to tree as I soared over the road below. I was certain the man would've looked behind him, staring up at the rustling leaves with fear, yet he had nothing more to worry about from me. I would leave him to his business now that I had acquired what I came for.

Now, I was returning to my abode, a small cave hidden around a burrow. Despite the speed I'd employed in coming here, I elected to take my pace slow and steady. I was still full from the encounter with the Darkling, and had no wish to overtax my mind with a headache born from Soulburn.

Then, the hedges to my right rustled fiercely. Such a thing was not uncommon, but rarely so close to the road. I saw the glint of claws, leaping back right as a massive shape burst free from the underbrush.

It was a Barghest, a massive black Wolf-like creature coated in flame-like shadows that rippled from its fur. They had a wavy aura reminiscent of Spirits, albeit being physical creatures. We rarely crossed paths despite the proximity of our homes thanks to my abilities, yet he had come closer than in past encounters. The man's shout may have agitated it.

I jumped back, working to dodge away as my lithe form was carried by [Telekinesis]. I felt a small cut open up on the back of my shoulder from a stray branch, but that was a problem easily fixed. From the side, two more Barghests, the adult's young, leapt with none of the caution of their parent. The recklessness of young who have not experienced the dangers of these lands. I was certain that caution was a lesson they would be harshly taught, but I was not going to be their teacher if I could avoid it.

One of their claws clipped my arm as I leapt behind a thin space between two trees. They struggled to reach me as my own arms snapped out, slashing at the spaces next to their arms. I didn't fancy overtaxing myself with cognitive energy, but nor did I wish to be a monster's next meal.

Their muscle memory deteriorated as the monster's stopped attacking for just a moment, allowing me to jump forward through the trees, swiping at the space next to their heads as the two monsters entered a muddled daze. I landed with one foot on either of their backs, causing the adult to think twice before assaulting me. That was the window I needed.

I leapt higher into the trees from the dazed monsters, sitting near the top branches of my forest's mighty flora. Now out of reach, I was safe to dart along despite the creature's indignant roars of anger.

I'd sustained some minor damage, but such superficial wounds were a simple fix. Bandages and medicinal salves would do the trick. I'd learned how to make them not only from my [Cognitive Meals], but from the books I'd occasionally swiped from those I passed. With the help of their surface thoughts and my own [Thought Acceleration] and [Speed Reading], I'd learned to decipher the writings of the local tongue. Books on the subject of alchemy had served me well. I knew how to make some basic salves from the nearby flora, even if true potioncraft was beyond my meagre specialties. Still, it was enough to serve my purposes and keep me self-sufficient.

As small as the injuries felt, one of them was beginning to sting far more fiercely than I'd expected. The injury to my head.

My... head?

Was it an injury from a branch? No, that had nicked my shoulder. The Barghests? No, they'd slashed at my arm. Then... how? I raised a single clawed hand as I came to a stop atop a high branch beneath the lavender sky. My hand looked more alien than it ever had, a strange, unusual sensation. My fingers clenched hard, an action that sent fear, surprise, and longing rushing through me. I rubbed the back of my hand against the forefront of my head, yet felt no blood or wound beneath my touch.

Strange-

I fell to one knee, feeling my form tremble. I was breathing hard, and the pulsing, throbbing pain was getting worse. A headache? Soulburn? Surely I hadn't taxed my Soul enough to warrant such a vicious, violent response? Had I overeaten? The minds of mere Barghests couldn't have been worth that much, could they?

The pain became more pronounced. Clearer. It felt not like the nick of a branch, nor the slash of a claw, but like it had been pierced.

By a...

By a...?

[Tinkerer - Level 17 → 18]

[Cognitomancer - Level 10 → 13]

[Passive Class Skill obtained - Metal Shaping]

[Active Class Skill obtained - Metal Hand]

[Active Class Spell obtained - Reinforcement]

[Active Class Spell obtained - Dragon's Breath]

Where...? Still dark... Had I closed my eyes? I wasn't in the forest anymore? No wind or cold?

...

Forest...?

My mind was swimming with uncertainty, grasping desperately at the fleeting images of whatever my dream had been about that quickly sank back into the murk of my subconscious. All I had left was a strangely melancholic feeling, a dazed sadness that punctured through even the dull, painful throbbing that echoed throughout my body. A feeling that was joined by the excess sweat rolling out of my pores.

I felt the wrapping of a thick bandage at the forefront of my form. Despite the sweat rolling off my body, I wasn't bleeding. Not anymore. I wasn't in as much pain, but my flesh felt... tender. Sore and uncomfortable, especially around the bandage. I was too afraid to spread my senses under the bandage to see the extent of the damage.

Still, if there was any redeeming quality about this awful situation, it was that my body was planted on something soft. A mat, or a blanket, maybe. It was soothing, a relaxing change from my body lounging inside my metal mech the whole time. Maybe... maybe I should get an absorbent blanket for my helmet, too.

Leaving the idle thoughts of comfort behind, I worked to reassert my thoughts despite the efforts of the pulsing to shut me down. I didn't know where I was or what was happening. Evidently I'd been treated, but anything other than that was beyond me. I needed to know.

Strain rippled through me as I worked to access my Skills. The dull throbbing got a little sharper, but the pain wasn't nearly as bad as it had been during... the fight. The worst was over, if nothing else.

My [Sensory Zone] expanded, taking in my pink form and the mat I was lying on. The entire front of my form was damp and white from layers of soaked bandages, but I refrained from peeking underneath. Just in case I saw something that made me lose the will to keep spreading my zone.

I held my zone in place around me, taking a few moments of silence, patiently waiting to steady myself and adjust. Then, I pushed outward, and the zone expanded without as much issue as I thought it would.

The first thing I saw after waking up and spreading my zone was, predictably, metal. Unlike most other times I woke up, the metal wasn't mine. I was staring at the familiar prosthetic arms of Shafu, who was sitting in a white chair on my left. One red skinned leg was swung over the other, and she was reading some sort of magazine. The front of it had a pair of crossed hammers hovering over an ice-coloured anvil surrounded by blue flames, with the words 'Anvils of the North' above it.

I saw her glance towards me for a moment, and wondered if she knew I was awake somehow. Her expression was tired. Pained. She sighed, looking back towards the magazine as she flicked to the next page.

[Telepathy]. I wanted to speak through it, but even the thought of it brought strain. Making even a whisper would hurt. Was there something else I could do...?

I pushed my zone further, expanding outwards to find the white tiled floor of the Velvet Star infirmary. I saw beds concealed by pulled curtains and sleeping, injured people. Some were semi-familiar, the Goons I'd seen at the battle. One of the Casters I recognised was Cozen, the black feathered Avarian Birdfolk from the meeting. I hadn't seen his abilities, nor who his opponent was, but he was sleeping soundly, his wings folded around him like a blanket. In the bed across from me, I saw Tizam sitting up, round reading glasses on his face as he read a copy of the same magazine Shafu was. He looked strange without the clockwork gadgets and bronze tinted goggles that identified him as 'Tick Tock', but despite his injuries he seemed relaxed.

At the very corner of the room, I saw a lump of metal. Not just any lump of metal, but my lump of metal. My mech was mostly intact, even if two of the legs were still busted from Big Tooth's bat, and the side had been heavily dented from several falls. They weren't beyond repair, but even the thoughts of trying to fix the mech in my current state filled me with dread.

Although my mech was stuffed into the corner, the dresser next to the mat I'd been placed on had some familiar shapes. Emerald threads, silver threads, and those that had been decorating the forefront of my mech's rose were all pooled up into a pile atop it. They'd all been cleaned of blood too, thankfully. It was a worrying thought, realising how badly they must've been stained before. I'd need to thank whoever cleaned them later, given the risk of grabbing the sharp, fine threads.

I knew I needed to rest, but the thought of sitting here doing nothing irritated me to no end. I'd drive myself crazy with nothing to do, and so I tried a different Skill. [Telekinetic Field]. I reached out, finding it easier to use than [Telepathy], grabbing a small pile of the coloured Ironmaw Spider threads.

They were heavier than they should've been, but I chalked that up to my current state. Lifting a bundle from the dresser, I brought them to the forefront of my mat, laying them down in front of me with a soft squelch.

From there, I worked to pass the time under the infirmary's white light, creating small squares of emerald thread in the air. Using the silver, I formed shapes within those squares, going from circles, to more squares, to ovals. Wanting to try a little harder to work on precision, they changed into an expression, one with... somewhat convincing mobility. Janky, perhaps, but it served to amuse me somewhat. Maybe I was still delirious, if I could find enjoyment in something like this.

More thread joined the mix as I began to instead make a miniature head, weaving hair, small scales on cheeks, and coloured marks around the eyes, crafting a disjointed replica of the face I used to have before-

"Are you doing that?" Shafu murmured, her voice reaching me. "You awake, Yur?"

Who else would be doing it? I'd never seen her doing something like this, and what other options were there? Did she think I was doing this in my sleep, maybe?

That was how I wanted to respond. With a quip that would help to brighten her spirits and relieve some of the stress and worry from her expression.

"[Yeah...]" was all I could manage, the sound barely a croaked whisper in her mind. Maybe it would've been better to make signs with my threads like Fareel. Even the whisper had sent a thin pulse of pain along the length of my form, but...

No. I could manage. I needed to stretch my Soul a little and readjust to using my Skills again anyway.

Shafu slumped, leaning back into her chair as her face turned skyward, eyes closing with relief.

"[H-ho-how l-long was I o-out...?]" I croaked, my voice weak.

"A few days," Shafu responded, sitting up to lean properly against the chair.

A 'few days'. Two? Three? More? It didn't feel like that much time had passed at all.

"[I-is everyone... else a-alright?]" I asked, feeling my voice become steadier, bit by bit. Gradually adjusting as the painful pulsing became a little easier to bear.

"Some people were injured more than others, but we won," the Darkling answered with a smile of relief, raising a single metal arm to run through her spiky blond hair. "You were injured the worst out of everyone, which is pretty surprising. How're you feeling?"

"[Not... a-as bad as b-b-before,]" I told her, hoping to assuage some of her worries. "[Why is that s-surprising? I'm not e-e-exper-experienced y-yet.]"

Shafu grimaced, moving her arm down to fold the corner of a magazine page before closing the book entirely. Even if I had no interest in whatever 'Anvils of the North' was right about now, the sight of her doing that to the poor book brought with it a pang of pain different from the pulses.

"Because you're supposed to be a backline fighter, yet you tried to go head to head with Big Tooth, a Sword Caster leading a gang. What made you think that was-"

"Oh!" came the sound of a woman's voice to my right. I turned my awareness, spotting Blaise, or 'Bubblegum Pink'. The reddish-pink haired [Witch] made her way over, her expression a mask of relief as her shoulders slumped. "Gods, you're awake! Good... I'll let Capillary know to pass on the message."

"[Message...?]" I asked, only for her to whirl around and bound over to the table by the far wall on my right, where Capillary was hard at work crushing some sort of plant for a salve.

"Your teammates told Cap to let 'em know when you woke up," Shafu informed me.

"[They're not h-here?]" I asked, feeling a pang of relief. They hadn't been injured that badly then.

"Sigura was here too, but she got discharged early," Shafu said, crossing her arms as her eyes remained on Capillary. "She had some, uh... 'foreign Aera' lodged in her body, so Cap had to make sure she was alright before she was let out. The Don probably knows what's up with that, but he hasn't said anything to us about it. Cap seems to be in on it too, whatever happened, but she's being tight-lipped as usual. Sigura's been out training pretty hard since the battle ended, and told us to let her know as soon as there were any changes in your condition."

She'd only mentioned Sigura.

"[S-Streiphen? Fareel?]"

Instead of a grimace or eyes looking away that would've sent my heart tumbling into an abyss, she wore a small smile that calmed my nerves.

"The kid was sleeping in this chair for a while, keepin' it warm for me," she told me. "He'd been staying at your side for a day and a half until Capillary sent him out for food and rest. I promised him I'd stay and watch over you while he was gone, and your Fishman friend left with him, just to keep an eye on 'em."

He'd been here? I hoped he hadn't... seen the injury in its entirety. I didn't know what it looked like, and I was too afraid to know, but I shuddered at the thought of his reaction.

"[Are they a-alright?]" I asked. I suspected they were, but... that knowledge, despite being logical and sound, once again failed to placate the unruly storm of emotions that seemed to plague my every waking thought.

"Yeah, they're fine. A few cuts and bruises, but nothing that rest and potions can't handle, so stop worryin' so much."

I felt the sides of my form tinge red from embarrassment. I hadn't meant to... overdo it.

"[S-sorry if I'm annoying you...]" I replied sheepishly. Shafu sighed, smiling to herself. I knew she wouldn't want me to ask, but I had to get these questions out of my system one way or another. If she didn't want me to overload her with questions, then... then she shouldn't have been constantly encouraging me to speak my mind. She could take part of the blame for my stream of worries.

"[Am I alright?]" I asked, my voice subdued.

The smile dropped from Shafu's face.

"Hard to say," she responded vaguely, rubbing the back of her neck. "Cap thinks you'll recover, but your body's really weird, Yur. Sigura was pretty adamant that Cap needed to focus on you and learn how your body works. She went on about how you're clearly valuable since you took down Big Tooth, and that you deserve the attention."

I didn't want preferential treatment, especially when our allies were injured too, but... It was nice. I appreciated the sentiment.

Was that why she pushed me to get that 'last hit' alongside her? Not just for revenge against the Orcs for what they'd done to us, but to raise my value in the eyes of the Don? She wanted me to beat the leader because she suspected I could, and that it would get me more potential resources to work with?

"[L-last question. I promise,]" I said, my voice quiet.

"Sure," Shafu replied, tapping the armrest of her chair with a single metal finger. "Ask as many as you want. Even if it's a little annoying, I'd be a real monster to deny the questions of a friend in your state, wouldn't I?"

Friend... Not just coworker, or ally, but friend.

I knew she was trying to make light of the situation, but the final question lingering in my mind weighed me down like an anchor, one that my mind and emotional state had been slowly dragging me back towards.

"[Did... Did B-big Tooth survive?]"

Shafu's bright amber eyes widened with shock. Evidently that wasn't what she was expecting my last question to be.

"Umm... not sure, Yur. I didn't ask, and I don't really care, either. The Don probably knows, but I don't," Shafu said, crossing her arms as her eyes gazed forward. "As far as I'm concerned, he's better off in the ground if he refuses to keep up with the unspoken rules. People like him threaten the damn balance of Divastyr completely, and it's flimsy enough as is."

The unspoken rules. The Scandian way. Two ideas in complete opposition, yet both on the minds of Casters I'd met with. It was-

The doors of the infirmary burst open as someone sprinted inside, flanked by four more figures. Streiphen rushed into the room, still wearing his uniform with a big bucket of water in his hands. With how fast he was going, the boy nearly slipped on the tiles, causing some of the liquid within his container to spill out onto the floor. He didn't let that slow him down, rushing forward with reckless abandon. The four figures behind him, a collection of Dolls, were carrying similar buckets, with the exception of a single Doll holding a bundle of towels. It knelt to the ground, calmly wiping up the water left behind by the speeding Chimera child as those with the buckets followed Streiphen at a measured pace.

"Are you alright, Miss Yuri?" Streiphen breathed as he skidded to a stop in front of my mat. I saw Shafu lift her magazine high into the air with one hand, keeping it far away from the rolling liquid within the boy's bucket.

"[I-I'm fine... Don't worry about m-]" my voice cut out. I felt a painful pulse roll through me, and Shafu winced.

"Don't force it, Yur. Take your time," she told me. I was trying to sound normal for Streiphen, but speaking too loud was torture.

"Are... are you really okay?" Streiphen asked, placing the bucket down at his feet. His hands were clenched, balled up into fists. His eyes carried a mix of worry and... hurt? Anger? It was a feeling more specific than that, a feeling I couldn't make sense of.

"[Yes... I'm still in p-pain, but I-I'm m-much better than I w-was.]"

Tears began to stream from the boy's eyes, and I was taken aback by the sudden display of raw emotion. I couldn't ignore his hands quivering. Out of the corner of my awareness, I saw Blaise beginning to walk back towards us. After seeing Streiphen... she stopped, turning around to head back towards the table.

"Are you... you said you'd be fine!" Streiphen exclaimed with more force than I'd expected. I didn't want him to be too loud, or he'd interrupt the rest of those injured around us, but he didn't seem aware of that. "You promised you'd be okay, and you're not!"

His words left me stunned. My thoughts ground to a halt, leaving me with nothing but the awareness of pain throbbing from the bandaged wound at the forefront of my body. I saw Shafu reach out with an arm, hoping to calm the boy down. That same arm tensed as he exploded once again.

"Why?!?" he exclaimed, not giving me a single chance to try and collect myself. "Why did you fight the strongest person after promising me you'd be okay?"

My words reacted automatically. Even if I didn't know how to handle his emotions, I could explain myself.

"[It was f-for the s-safety of our g-g-group,]" I told him. "[If I b-beat h-him then he couldn't hu-hurt a-anyone else.]"

The explanation might've sounded stupid now, but it had been a painfully clear decision in the moment, and... No. No! It wasn't stupid. If I'd been forced to make that decision again, I wouldn't do anything differently. The problem was my sloppy execution, not my decision to do the best I could for our team.

"But you promised me you would be okay! I wanted you to be fine!"

"[I-I did i-it for e-e-ever-everyone's s-sake...]" I replied, my words struggling to find themselves out of my mind even more than before.

Streiphen's mouth clenched shut. The boy shook his head side to side, and let out a huff.

"You need to be okay..." he murmured.

Providing some meagre form of relief, I watched as Capillary began to walk over towards my mat. The golden glyph hovering above her table had vanished, and the message had been passed on to... presumably Sigura. And if I were to guess, the Don.

"I'm glad to see you're awake, Homebound," the Malacanth [Doctor] said, linking both hands behind the back of her lab coat. Despite the state of Streiphen, her green eyes and pale face betrayed no outward emotion or reaction. Was she that good at hiding her thoughts behind a clinical mask, or did she truly feel nothing from this?

"[Y-yes... Thank y-you for your h-help, Ca-Capillary,]" I responded, feeling a little upset that I couldn't give her a nod of thanks in my current state.

Her lightly glowing Half Elven host form gave me a once over, her head turning and black bowl cut swinging to the side as Streiphen turned his attention on the [Doctor].

"Is... Is Miss Y-Yuri going to be fine?" he asked, his voice quivering.

"I cannot say for certain, but I believe she will recover," Capillary responded smoothly, turning her eyes towards my form once again. "I've had more time to assess your body's composition, Miss Scalesmith. Sunburst offered to pay for a more thorough examination from her own pocket out of what you earned for your contributions in subjugating Big Tooth. The Don turned down her offer, telling me to give you a full examination while permitting the funding of artefacts that would give me a greater insight into your body."

My body warmed at the thought that Sigura had wanted to fund an examination for me, but it was a feeling of warmth tainted by the mention of the Don. I'd won the fight, like he'd hoped I would, but not sending me help while my life had been in danger? It made me angry. A boiling emotion that bubbled to the surface after hearing of him, and one I couldn't suppress.

It made me feel as though I could understand Toya's emotions a little better.

The doors on the far left opened once again, and Fareel entered the room. His eyes widened at the sight of Streiphen's tears, but that reaction paled in comparison to the full body shudder of shock when he saw me. It was some of the most emotion I'd seen on his face since the joy he'd felt after Debutante had gifted him that costume, the one that made him look nude. His expression was somber, rubbing the back of his neck just below a fin as he made his way to Streiphen's side.

"[So... d-did you learn anything about m-my b-body?]" I asked, directing my focus back towards the [Doctor].

"I had time to observe your body and Soul when you began to heal," she told me. "Your Soul connects to your body in very direct ways, Miss Scalesmith. From what I could see without actively prying into your wound with tools, I've determined that you don't appear to have any bones that could grow improperly without being set, nor do you have an abnormal regeneration method that could cause bad interactions with Healing Potions. They're safe to use on you, Homebound."

That was... a relief. I'd rarely used Healing Potions back in Addersbrook. I was seldom ever injured enough to warrant buying any, nor did I want to waste the money buying any expensive potions over more materials for work.

"Although your body lacks some of the issues that other creatures have when it comes to Healing Magic, I made a few other unusual discoveries," Capillary explained, walking back to her desk. The metallic, prosthetic tail protruding from her waist extended, wrapping around the armrest of her chair before pulling it around the operating table at the back of the room, wheeling it over to my mat. "Your body lacks a number of organs that other creatures have. You don't require oxygen to pump blood, and your body absorbs water and sunlight for energy. I've collected data and spoken with Shambles on the matter of your specialties, and my hypothesis is that your body acts solely as a nexus for Skills and anchor for your Soul, using your abilities to simulate key bodily functions to sustain your form despite your unorthodox physiology."

Once the chair came to a stop, she sat down, letting the metallic tail hang out from her right, wrapping around the base of the chair.

"Whether you have a 'heart' to pump blood or not, or how it differs to normal blood in strict composition, I am unsure. However, I suspect your body uses a passive variant of your [Telekinetic Field], binding to the trace iron contents in your blood to move it."

My [Telekinetic Field] was capable of that? Even if it was a subconscious effect, the thought of it was... strange. I knew I'd been able to move Ironmaw Spider threads, which weren't entirely metallic, but blood?

"There's iron in blood...?" Streiphen murmured, looking towards... Fareel. Asking Fareel of all people for guidance on this sounded pointless, and my suspicions were confirmed when he replied with a nonchalant shrug, continuing to pat the boy on the back.

My body had... no bones, and a 'lack' of organs that other creatures had. I had no lungs, nor the ability to breathe. I tried to look at the bright side of things, but... it was still a hard pill to swallow. Not that I could swallow hard pills anymore either, for that matter. I felt more alien than-

No. Stop thinking about that.

It didn't... it didn't really matter what I was. I was alive, and my allies were alive, and we still had a place to call our own. That was all that held importance. That was what I needed to cling to.

"[How long w-will I t-take to he-heal?]" I asked, feeling my voice steady a little as I tried hard to keep my emotions from exploding and taking all semblance of reasonable thought to a place far beyond my reach. "[Will I be able to move around much?]"

"It's hard to say," the Malacanth responded, crossing both arms. It was then I was reminded of the patches of scales sparsely located around her neck and hands. A reminder that her host, the corpse she inhabited, was closer to being what I was more than what I was now. "I'll be giving you sparse treatment every few hours with the aid of Health Potions before applying water to your body. Now that you're awake, I hope to safely move you into a large metal basin filled with some amount of water that you can absorb at your leisure. In the meantime, I'll be searching for a way to grant you additional nutrients to aid your body in regenerating, another project the Don has given funding for."

Don this, Don that. It would've been improper for him not to fund projects to bring me back to health, given that he was a large part of the reason I was like this.

"[A f-few days? Then I can l-leave?]" I asked, voice hopeful.

"If all goes well, yes," Capillary nodded. Shafu smiled with relief, although Streiphen's expression remained unchanging. "Between treatments, I ask that you gradually get used to using your Skills again to readjust and allow your Soul to heal and set to your regenerated mass. I'll observe how that affects your body and attempt to gleam further data, but-"

I watched as the [Doctor's] face took on a note of irritation, a look that deviated from the perfectly calm, stoic expression she'd been wearing before.

"You pushed yourself too far despite my previous warnings, and now you'll have to pay the price. Consider the pain you feel and have caused as punishment for that, Homebound."

Ouch. She didn't mince words, did she? My awareness turned to Streiphen, and the guilt was stronger than any pulse of pain surging along my skin.

I was hoping to get some support, but instead Streiphen began to nod furiously, pointing a single dark grey finger right up at the center of my mass.

"Yes! So no leaving before Miss Capillary says so, Miss Yuri! You have to rest now! When you're healed, you can leave and we can do things and talk to the Don and make everything better, but right now you have to rest!"

It felt strange hearing Streiphen of all people saying I should rest, given how opposed to resting he'd been when he'd been injured. A little hypocritical maybe, but I was in no mood to argue with him. Not when he'd gotten so emotional and upset over it. I knew it might drive me a little crazy, being stuck here for a few days, but I'd sit through it and take my 'punishment'.

"[Alright,]" I told them, my [Telepathy] spreading to the four around me. "[I'll rest.]"

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

Finally.

More than once, it had felt like time stretched on into infinity, where some moments never seemed to end. In truth, part of me felt like I was never going to get out of that infirmary with my mind intact.

But I made it.

My body had taken time to regenerate. Days of basic exercises with Skills to readjust and doses of Healing Potions with a heavenly bath of water to follow. I was able to take more potions than most before side effects started to show, but that came with the caveat that we needed more potions to heal my wounds than that of the average person. Once again, it hammered home the fact that in order to secure our future safety, we needed funds.

While my body was busy regenerating, my mind had to keep busy. I'd been getting better at making shapes with threads, while the regular visits from Streiphen and Shafu helped to keep my mind stimulated. Streiphen was... still upset at me, but he seemed better than he had been when I'd first woken up. Shafu had been sharing her magazines with me. The 'Anvils of the North' wasn't a magazine about literal anvils, but about Anvil Casters. Those who used magic by imbuing their Aera into physical objects. Like me. Like us. It did wonders for keeping me sane during the recovery period, and ideas were flowing through me, ready to be unleashed onto the metal that waited for me back in the workshop.

That was, of course, assuming my [Creative Process] was willing to cooperate.

Before that, I had some... work to get through. Not the fun work of exploring magic and chatting with friends, but the 'work' of communicating with our superiors. Right now, I was slowly, awkwardly walking alongside the rest of my team. My hastily repaired mech still felt... off balance. I couldn't wait to get it in full working order again, but thorough fixes would need to wait. The '[Metal Shaping]' Skill made the moving and warping of metal far easier, but my Soul had yet to properly recover. I was glad my team was patient and content to walk at a slow, casual pace, or I would've been even more of a mess.

"I'm sorry if I got really upset before, but... I'm glad to see you're okay again, Miss Yuri," Streiphen commented to my left, breaking the silence of the slow walk to the Don's office. Fareel nodded in agreement.

"Yeah..." Sigura said, her voice a little more... subdued, than usual. "When we get to the Don's office, we'll make damn sure that you get everything you earned from that battle, Yur."

I couldn't place what was wrong with Sigura this time, but it had been persisting for a while now.

Sigura... hadn't visited me as much as I'd expected her to. As much as I'd hoped she would. She'd visited three times over the first two days of recovery, acted strange, much like she was now, and hadn't come back afterwards to see me until... now. Until I was formally discharged. I'd asked if it was due to the 'foreign Aera' within her body that Shafu had brought up, but she told me it wasn't. She didn't know much about it either, and was going to ask the Don, but she assured me it wasn't an emotional effect.

"[Are you alright, Sigura?]" I asked hesitantly, hoping she wouldn't become even more subdued. Part of me was hoping she'd get angry and lash out like she usually did.

"Yeah, guess so," she nodded, both hands stuffed into the pockets of her orange shorts. "That fight sorta made me realise I've got a lot of training to do, Yur. I thought I'd mop the floor with that Wolfheart guy, y'know? That I'd beat him and have time to run and back you up, but I only barely beat him. And you..."

Then, her eyes darkened. Her head tilted towards the floor, her hands clenched into fists within her pockets, and hair fell over the front of her face.

"By the time I found you..."

"[Yeah...]" I responded awkwardly, not sure what else to say. I'd been told that Sigura was the one to carry me, again, but that she'd been completely exhausted after her fight with Wolfheart. She'd been found by some of the others, stuck beneath my mech and on the verge of unconsciousness. Afterwards, Bubblegum carried me using her Cat-like Familiar, Blaze. "[I... I appreciate that you came for me, despite how tired you were, Sigura.]"

Clear communication. I needed her to know that I appreciated what she did. That was key.

"Yeah, alright," Sigura nodded, not looking any better. I'd been hoping for a better response, but I didn't know what else to say. It was so... rare to see her look so beaten up. After a moment of trembling, her hands unfurled, climbing out of her pockets to run through her hair. "Let's... just get this over with."

I didn't say anything after that, and neither did the others.

We arrived at the base of the staircase, where Sigura gave Comnica a nod of acknowledgement. Streiphen waved with a smile, which got a warmer response from the Machina [Receptionist]. We climbed the stairs, heading down the corridor of the second floor as we passed door after decorated door. Once the Don's room was in sight, I saw the members of my team steel themselves. Streiphen's face filled with determination, his eyes hardening. Sigura took a deep breath, stuffing both hands into her pockets. Fareel... well, Fareel looked about the same, if not with a little more concern as he walked alongside Streiphen.

The doors to the Don's office opened before we reached them, letting some of the darkly tinted light from within spill out into the corridor. From within, the grey haired Roden, Pack Rat, stepped out into the hallway.

"Hrm?" he murmured to himself, smiling as he closed the door behind him. The smile dawning on his face caused the edges of his fu manchu to curl upwards. "I am glad to see you've recovered, Homebound."

It was... refreshing, to see him again. It felt like I didn't get to see him enough, but he'd dropped by to visit me in the infirmary a few times. He never had the chance to stay for long, but he helped to keep me sane in the quieter moments.

"[Thank you, Pack Rat,]" I responded, my voice betraying the mote of relaxation I felt. "[How've you been?]"

"Busy," the Roden admitted. "But I hope I will have time to catch up and ensure your group is settling in well soon enough. The Don is very pleased with your exploits, Equinox."

'Exploits'. I was still bitter over it, but I didn't want to let it out here. Not in front of Pack Rat. He seemed like a kinder person than the Don was, if nothing else, an impression Shafu had backed up. She had nothing but good things to say about the elderly Ratfolk.

"[I'm glad,]" I replied stiffly, words echoed by Sigura's scrunched up expression.

"Hrm... I wish you luck with the Don," Pack Rat responded, his expression curling with confusion as his eyes turned from Sigura to I. "I am sure all will go well."

"Yeah, we hope so," Sigura responded idly, turning her head to sneak a glance up at the emerald covered helmet concealing my body.

I led the walk forward, and the Roden passed by us.

"Bye Mr. Pack Rat!" Streiphen waved, a smile forming on his face despite the look in his eyes. "I hope we can train again soon!"

The Roden smiled, placing a hand on the banister before he called back to the young Chimera child.

"Of course. I look forward to seeing your progress, Stardust," he replied before heading down the stairs, disappearing out of sight.

Once he'd disappeared, I heard Sigura groan beneath her breath, rolling her shoulders before we arrived at the tall purple door, one ornately carved with roses and the Velvet Star in the center. It was daunting, standing here, but the door didn't feel quite as big or impressive as it had the first time we'd arrived here. It might've just been my current mood, but... that was how I felt.

With a hesitant motion, I raised a single leg, tapping the silver thread covered tip against the stone, knocking once I realised the others were waiting for me to act first.

"Come in," came the slightly muffled, silky voice from inside. Even from here, I felt a shiver roll through me. As annoyed as I was with him, his voice still held that strange quality to it. The quality of casual command. Confident and charismatic.

Sigura reached forward, pulling both hands from her pockets to push open the door before stepping back, allowing me to lead the way into the Don's lavishly decorated office. It was early morning, and the light streamed into the room through the darkly coloured windows, bathing the ostentatious furniture, medals, and small statues with a tinted light.

"It's a pleasure to see you all in good shape," the Don smiled, sitting in his lavish chair behind the desk. Three chairs had been set up in front of his desk, ready and waiting. One less chair than the last time we'd visited. "How have you all been since the battle?"

'Good shape'. It almost felt like he was making fun of me with a comment like that. Maybe I was being too harsh. Seeing shadows and digs where there weren't any.

"[I've been better,]" I responded as my team followed me in, letting the doors slowly, smoothly close behind us, taking their places by the table without a word between them. "[A lot better, in fact.]"

My words carried a hint of venom. Although the Don didn't react to my tone at all, the ginger coloured Cat Adept at the Don's side frowned.

"I'm sure you have," he smiled. "But injuries are a natural result of battle. What matters is that we all walked out of it intact and prepared for another day."

'We'. As though he'd done anything.

"You just gonna gloss over the fact that Yur got seriously hurt because you didn't do shit to step in?" Sigura asked, her voice low and arms crossed. There was a heavy look in her eyes, but the anger I'd come to expect didn't seem as strong as I'd come to expect.

"Help was within range of the battlefield should you have truly needed it," the Don replied smoothly. "If one of you were on the verge of death, we would have evacuated you and defeated the enemy with our reserve Casters if necessary."

"[I... I was almost scared to death when Big Tooth started attacking without any caution whatsoever. One wrong move and he could have killed me. Is that not something you view as warranting backup?]" I asked, my voice openly tinged with venom.

Sigura looked towards me with wide eyes, evidently shocked at my open show of emotion. The Don's smile only grew, and I had no idea what to make of that.

"Plague Prophet's abilities indicated there would be little to no chance of death for any members. I'm more willing to trust the word of a specialised precognitive than the haphazard actions of an Orc swinging a metal stick. Despite her assurances, I had Casters in place if a truly unforeseen emergency came to pass, but everyone made it out alive."

I didn't know this 'Plague Prophet' person well, but the Don trusted their word. Yet... I'd seen them back at the meeting. I knew they were a Chimera.

"[Even if we didn't die, what about lasting damage?]" I pressed. "[Broken limbs, curses, anything? What then? She can only predict chances of 'death', can't she?]"

The Don nodded thoughtfully, the smile on his face dropping fractionally.

"The Boost introduced many unknowns to the equation. I wasn't expecting the magical aid, although Wolfheart's contributions were within the scope of my expectations, given the results of your previous mission," he replied.

I didn't appreciate him bringing that up, but... was that partly our fault? It made sense, but that didn't alleviate the Don from blame. He could've been more prepared, but he abandoned caution for pageantry. For a better spectacle. It wasn't like we hadn't made suggestions, either.

"Still," he continued. "It wasn't as though there were no benefits to such an event occurring."

Even if his previous comments hadn't riled up Sigura, that made her look angry. I felt relief form inside me at the sight of it, despite myself. My emotions were... seriously difficult to understand. I should not be pleased to see her get angry in front of the Don.

"Benefits?" Sigura snarled, her fingers digging into her arms as she worked to keep them folded.

"Surprise and unexpected factors are common when one creates a plan. It adds to the risk of an operation. Even if I knew that the Chained Wolves would bring Boost, I wouldn't have mentioned it to anyone present. Not telling you increases the feelings of risk and danger within you in the midst of an operation, heightening your potential growth. Many groups use this tactic, in fact," the Don explained with a smile, as though that was enough.

"If there was any true risk of death, I would've stepped in. Triggering great growth and understanding your full limits before entrusting more impactful future missions is important to me, but all of that potential growth would be useless if you were to die, especially when I have put resources into ensuring you enjoy your time here and can prove yourselves valuable," the Don smiled. "If you do not trust in me, at least trust in the knowledge that I am a pragmatic man, and one that does not waste resources without good reason. I believe you all have the potential to be excellent Casters, which is why I invited you all to join my group, and although there have been some understandable bumps along the way, you have not yet betrayed my expectations. You all leveled from the battle didn't you?"

Fareel was the first to nod, followed by a hesitant Streiphen. Sigura did nothing but sigh, and I didn't move an inch.

"[If our group meets with Wolfheart, he needs to pay recompense to us, or the Orcs, or... have some sort of punishment for what he did to them,]" I replied stiffly. I knew everything he said was right, and he seemed to know what to say to make me think that way, but I was still angry that he could think that way.

"That isn't for you to decide, Miss Homebound," Master Cat spoke. The Cat Adept's words were stiff, and his eyes were narrowed, locked onto the front of my emerald helmet.

"Oh yeah, that reminds me," Sigura piped up, sitting straighter in her chair as she locked eyes with the Don. "Capillary told me I had some 'foreign Aera' in me too, but she wouldn't say a thing about it. She 'treated' me for it with [Ripple], but didn't actually explain anythin'."

Master Cat's eyes turned towards the Don's, filling with uncertainty. Not the uncertainty of someone who was out of the loop, but the uncertainty of someone who didn't know how to respond.

"It came from Wolfheart, and is a consequence of his abilities," the Don replied. "If you wish to know I'll inform you, but know that this knowledge must not leave this room. Is that understood?"

What...? He'd gotten a little more serious, all of a sudden. The change in his tone threw me off.

"Is it that big a deal? Some secret he's got?" Sigura asked.

"Yes, it is," the Don nodded. "If it isn't a secret you are confident you can keep, then I ask that you take my word that any potential damage has already been undone."

Sigura frowned, but she nodded. Part of me wished I'd used [Insight], because I saw Sigura's eyes widen, as though unspoken words had gone between her and the Don.

"Seriously? You could've-"

"Unless you are confident your teammates are also fully capable of keeping this secret, then I would ask you to keep those concerns to yourself," the Don replied, smoothly cutting her off. "We have other business to discuss, and I'd rather not get more sidetracked than necessary."

"[What about Big Tooth? What's his situation?]" I asked, my voice growing in volume. I agreed with him, at least on this. Wolfheart was the least of my worries right now. Still, I found it strange that he seemed more invested in keeping this secret than knowledge of his own organisation from getting out. I'd have been lying if I said I wasn't curious, but this wasn't the time.

"What about him?" the Don asked, eyebrows raised.

"[Is he... Did he make it out?]"

The Don tapped his fingers on the top of his desk, pausing for a moment as he glanced between the members of our group. Of my team.

"He's alive, but he certainly won't be fighting again anytime soon, after your battle," the Don informed us after a prolonged pause. "He's in intensive care, although he no longer has the funds or resources to secure the aid of any notable healers beyond some that have aided him of their own accord. Still, his support is slowly trickling away now. I offered to extend some of my own assistance as a gesture of goodwill to aid his recovery, but those under him refused in his stead. A terrible shame."

He didn't sound like he thought it was a 'terrible shame'. I didn't hear even a shred of remorse in his voice.

I had mixed feelings about the revelation. I wanted him to hurt, after everything he'd put me through, but I knew that those feelings could lead to something stronger. It wasn't the type of path I wanted to take, but with every moment I thought about Big Tooth, it felt as though the dull pulses of pain from the wound reminded me of what he did. Even after days of healing it still hurt, the pain haunting me even if it was safe to move my body.

"[Why did you give up your seat as the dominant power in Sova? Why did we have to fight them in the first place? Couldn't all of this have been avoided?]" I asked, continuing to adamantly press for answers.

"You have lost some of your manners since your last visit, Miss Homebound," Master Cat said, his voice stiffer than mine had gotten. "It is important to know your place."

The Don raised a hand, waving it lightly in the direction of the Cat with a slight shake of his head.

"Stop, Constantine. I much prefer this, in truth," the Don responded, his smile having grown once again. "This is a positive change for Equinox as a whole, I'm sure. Besides, being surrounded by nothing but Yes Men has never gotten anyone anywhere. I much prefer honest people to those who live behind nothing but a professional mask. Shafu has been an excellent influence on your growth, I see."

A 'professional mask'? Wasn't that how the Don himself acted? It was hard to believe that the measured smiles were anything but a 'mask'.

"[Why did we have to fight them?]" I asked again, refusing to let this drop.

Master Cat didn't look happy at my line of questioning in the slightest, but he wasn't the person I was speaking to. The Don's hands linked in front of him once again, and his smile turned towards me.

"To put it plainly, it was because our group was a rather unsightly mess after the Disciples came," the Don answered, his smile losing some of its energy. Becoming more... regretful? Melancholic? It was hard to read the emotion in his face, despite how he talked about not wearing a 'professional mask'. "We called for a 'temporary retreat' to recover, as we had planted a significant amount of resources and manpower into protecting businesses, individuals, and groups of note associated with us from the Disciples. We never directly won any battles, nor managed to kill any of their members like the Miracle Workers did, but we held our own, if nothing else."

The 'Miracle Workers'...? No, I couldn't let myself get sidetracked.

"['Killed'. What about the 'unspoken rules'? Would you have killed these Disciples that easily?]" I asked.

"Yes," the Don answered without hesitation. "Those rules were created to protect the order and structure of this city, not any single person or group. They do not apply to those who wish to destroy the order and structure the people of Divastyr have worked to painstakingly build. The Disciples are notorious for breaking rules and people wherever they go. They do nothing but leave messes in their wake. For a city like Divastyr with a delicate balance, their arrival could have been catastrophic."

I'd only seen one side of this 'balance', and still knew little about it, but from what I'd seen of the slums, and of the people affected by the attack, I could tell it had been serious.

"We needed time to build up new forces and recover, while our image and fame is key to our group's goals and success. If other regions not as directly affected by the Disciples' rampage saw our weakened state, they may have chosen to invade. By stepping back and allowing a power struggle to take place among other gangs within our region, another group would emerge to control Sova," the Don explained. I understood that much, but...

"Knowledge is power, Miss Scalesmith, as I'm sure you know. Any invading groups would clash against these new leaders without knowing our location, status, or how strong our forces were. That threat alone was enough to keep the region safe. If others did invade and weaken the new leaders, we would crush both groups in a single motion to deter other invaders," the Don told us, emphasising his words with a harsh clench of his fist. "Once our group recovered and flourished with both new recruits and the healing of our wounded members, we would be ready to take to the stage again. Naturally, the new group in power would know none of this, and wouldn't take kindly to us barging back in to reclaim the throne they'd kept warm for us, leading to the battle that you recently ended through your quick thinking and tenacity, Homebound."

"Were you that weak, that you'd have lost to any invaders?" Sigura asked, eyebrow raised. "You've got teams working outside the city too, right? You could've called back whatever manpower you had outside and beat 'em."

"Ah... so you've heard about that too," the Don smiled. "You're correct. If we needed to, we could've held our seats and beat back invaders despite our wounds. However, we may have sustained further losses by remaining in the spotlight, tarnishing our spotless record. We are not infallible either, even if we appear as such, Sunburst. Divastyr is home to other groups of comparable power to our own. If they were to make a move, our group may have fallen. If you've heard about the teams beyond our city's walls, then perhaps you've also been told what my personal goal is. While we may have been able to survive attacks from other groups, that isn't enough. To achieve this group's ultimate goal, we must retain that spotless record. I wish to create a lasting legacy in this city."

As the Don spoke, his voice changed. Despite its smoothness, more passion was poured into it over time. His hands were no longer linked, now moving in time with his words to emphasise the meaning as he rose out of his chair and to his feet.

"When it comes to making a legacy, deeds and charisma are key. Without deeds, one is never taken seriously, yet without charisma to direct the minds of others, people can easily misinterpret those deeds. Undeniable power and the ability to shape public opinion are the key ingredients to creating a legacy. The quality of 'acting' proper is not the same as charisma, either. I hold my members to a high standard and promote these ways of being, but simply forcing people to act a certain way is ultimately pointless. Acting will only get a person so far, because in the end, we are all still people. We can make mistakes, or have bad days. What draws others to a person isn't truly their professionalism, nor their acting ability, but their sincerity. It's important to make that properness part of who you are, not just to wear it as a mask. You must live proudly, and with elegance. It's important to weave it into your very being and use it to shape how others view you. By making it part of who you are, you can become your best self. That is the face I wish to show the public, not one of a wounded, weakened man and his gang struggling to fight off weak invaders without issue. I want the face of our group's legacy to be one of strength, solidarity, and confidence. Powerful individuals brought together under a united goal with a solid foundation. That is why I took the path I did, Sunburst."

His hands gradually dropped back to the desk. I was still upset with the Don, but... perhaps I'd been wrong to say he was nothing more than a 'professional mask'. The passion in his voice and movements were undoubtedly real. The twinkle in his eyes. The wideness of his smile. They all spoke of how he truly believed in what he was saying.

No words rushed to the fore, not anymore. The others had gone silent in the face of the Don's speeches, too.

"Now, as for the conclusion of the mission itself," the Don said, his voice gradually returning to normal as he sat back down. "I offer my congratulations. Even if there were hiccups along the way, you all performed excellently, and I wish to give credit where credit is due."

The Human that felt larger than life leaned back into his chair, hands linked in front of him as he looked between Sigura and I.

"I would like to take the opportunity to offer both Homebound and Sunburst full membership status, should you accept it and live in accordance with the Star's creed, as well as allow both Stardust and Yakamoz to work under you as subordinates until they too have risen to the high standard that I hold my members to, as you both have."

My feelings and thoughts were a mess. The anger and infuriation I'd entered with were nothing more than a tattered, jumbled pile. That same fire wasn't burning as brightly anymore. My emotions had... settled, somewhat.

"[We accept,]" I heard myself say with a sigh. Sigura nodded in turn.

"Excellent," the Don smiled, giving a nod of his own to Master Cat. The Adept sighed, but began to glow a soft ginger colour as the Don's eyes turned back towards us. "Now that you've become full members and have performed well on a mission, what can I do to make the injuries incurred up to you? It is only proper that excellent work goes well rewarded."

No matter how I felt about this whole situation after everything the Don had said, I was still glad to hear we'd been properly inducted into the group. It felt right, like we were ready to stand as equals to those around us. Pride welled up within me, and I replied without hesitation.

"[I'd like some better material to work with,]" I told the Don, feeling better. "[I want to upgrade my mech and ensure my legs are more durable for future missions. If my legs are broken, my... effectiveness drops drastically in a fight.]"

"Very well," the Don nodded. "I'll look into securing more high quality metals."

When his eyes turned to Sigura, she raised an eyebrow, looking up at the ceiling.

"I just want money, or maybe an artefact that'll help me fight better. That's about it," Sigura responded.

"Oh! And the Vox!" Streiphen chimed in, glancing up at me. I had no idea what he'd been thinking as the Don spoke, but now he took the time to speak up.

"[The Vox...?]" I replied uncertainly.

"The special one I asked for, remember?" he asked. "For you! If we had more information and stuff, then maybe... we could've done more and, um... fought together more. As a real team."

'As a real team'. The words stung. He still wasn't happy about my broken promise, evidently. It had been the right move, I was sure, but Streiphen didn't see it that way. I shouldn't have promised that I'd just be looking out for myself, or that I'd be fine when I knew that the possibility of danger was present.

"Ah, yes," the Don nodded. "I'll see what I can do to procure you a Vox if possible, Homebound. Once your individual rooms are complete, I'll work to have one included."

Individual rooms...? Like the studios that Shafu and Debby had?

"What're those rooms used for?" Sigura asked. "We already have a room."

"The personal rooms are more spacious, and you are free to use them however you see fit," he replied.

Streiphen's eyes found my mech again. He was looking up at me from the corner of his eyes, and I could practically feel the dread.

"[You're free to stay with me in my room, Streiphen,]" I told him. The boy was the only one privy to the message, and his shoulders slumped with relaxation after the reassurance.

"Now, if that's all, then you are dismissed," the Don concluded. "Thank you for your contributions, Equinox. I expect even greater feats from you in the future."

"Thank you, Don!" Streiphen smiled, practically leaping out of his seat. Sigura gave the Velvet Star's leader a curt nod, her eyes lingering on him before they pulled away. She rose up out of the plush lavender chair to approach the door. Fareel wasn't long to follow as I turned, letting Sigura open up the doors as the white light from the corridor outside spilled in.

"[Thank you for taking the time to see us,]" I told him. It felt more like a courtesy, but my feelings of anger towards him had died down somewhat, even if annoyance still sat inside me, refusing to dissolve.

The Don nodded once more, turning to look towards his Cat Adept assistant as we stepped out, the ornate doors silently closing behind us, cutting off the darkened light.

"Gods, I thought he'd never stop talking," Sigura grinned, leading the way down the corridor. She seemed less... stiff, than she had been, but some of it still lingered. "If he hadn't at least given us membership and rewards like that I would've smashed his god damn table."

The dull throbbing in my head still hung over me like a dark cloud, even as we walked down the hallway and towards the staircase. It had been a... longer meeting than I'd expected, but it had went... well. Now, I just wanted to take some time to relax.

"The kid's right though, Yur," Sigura said, glancing up at me. "You should be lookin' out for yourself first. If that Big Tooth bastard was strong and you thought you couldn't beat him, you should've run."

Where was this coming from...? I'd expected to talk about the rewards, or what we'd do now, but not a lecture.

"[It's not that simple, Sigura,]" I replied.

"I don't think it's any more complicated than I think it is, but it doesn't matter," Sigura replied with a shrug. "You... I didn't think you'd get as hurt as you did when I dragged you along, but that shitty Orc was tougher than I thought he'd be. I know you were probably lookin' out for the others, but these people can handle themselves, Yur."

She went silent for just a moment before her gaze turned skyward, grinning up at the white lights on the ceiling.

"We're members now too, huh?"

It wasn't long before we arrived at the staircase, following in Pack Rat's footsteps made our way down to the lobby.

"Movin' up in the world. Making progress," she spoke, her words carrying a lilt of joy as we arrived at the base of the staircase. All three of my teammates gave Comnica a wave before Sigura started to stretch. "Now, I'm going out for a run, and you need your rest. Don't slack off on slacking off. If you get yourself hurt because you started training too hard I'll be pissed, Yur."

"[I won't overdo it, Sigura,]" I responded on reflex. While part of me did want to train, I had something else to do first. Something more important. "[Good luck on your run. Stay safe.]"

She rolled her eyes, jogging to the edge of the lobby before looking at me over her shoulder.

"Yeah, sure. I'll try not to get run over by a wagon or get attacked by a [Thug]. As if I need you of all people to tell me to be careful," she quipped with a wave before taking off.

As Sigura darted off down the hall towards the tunnels leading out into the alleyways of Divastyr and beyond the range of my [Sensory Zone], I heard the sound of a rumbling stomach. Fareel groaned, stretching his own arms before scratching his back through a thin shirt. The closest we could get him to 'formal attire' beyond his costume before arriving at the Don's doors. He turned left, heading towards the cafeteria.

Streiphen turned in the same direction, beckoning me forward.

"Let's go, Miss Yuri! To the workshop!"

I was tempted, but I did need rest. Sigura was right, as much as it annoyed me. Besides, I needed time to reflect on everything I'd heard and get myself in order. My mind and heart still felt like a tangled mess, even if relief permeated my mind that the talk I'd been dreading was finally over.

Instead, I turned to the right, heading down the corridor opposite to both the cafeteria and the workshop. My sudden action prompted Streiphen to speak quickly to Fareel before darting after me.

"Wait, Miss Yuri! Where are you going?"

Back to a place I can really rest, I thought. The infirmary was a place to heal, but there was only one place that would let me relax and collect myself even more than the workshop.

After the conversations I'd had with Shafu, I'd been thinking hard about my magic. She believed my specialties weren't specifically 'memories', and now I was inclined to agree with her. I'd been thinking hard during the battle, and after it. I'd had nothing but time to think about it while I'd been recovering in the infirmary.

My metal legs touched softly along the carpet adorning the hall's floors. Streiphen seemed confused, but once I took a right turn further along the path and he realised where my destination lay, his face lit up brighter than any [Light] Spell could hope to match. Without a word, he sprinted off ahead of me, darting down the hallway.

I'd been thinking hard about my specialties, and what my magic was most firmly connected to. What I was most firmly connected to. My memories were important to me, fragments of a life I could never truly reclaim or revisit, but fragments I cherished nonetheless. Memories of better, easier times, where life was a simple, straightforward thing. The past. It was in the midst of that battle that I'd had an epiphany. Magic was a reflection of the self, and I'd finally realised what my magic was all connected to. What all of my [Creative Processes] and the memories within were connected to. It was in a moment of panic and fear that I'd connected the dots and made the realisation.

I arrived in an open space, a ring of rooms all around me. With laboured steps and a mild throbbing sensation in my head. I approached a familiar door. Raising a single metal leg, I let some of my Aera focus through the makeshift limb, seeping through a plastic panel and into the blue Selarium crystal within.

The doors next to the panel parted, and I stepped inside, surveying the room.

Four bunk beds covered the walls on either side, bringing the 'walls' of the room a little closer together. Even if one of the beds were unoccupied, the others showed signs of use. A mannequin adorned with multiple sets of clothes sat to my right. Newspapers and magazines were scattered across one bunk, while a pile of assorted clothes sat on the bunk opposite it, connected by hanging bunting and coloured flags. At the back of the room, a Heater Box sat with a dresser as its neighbour, while a poster for 'Bubblegum Pink' with bright neon colour hung above them. A Unicorn wearing a red beret far too big for it sat on top of the dresser, barely able to 'see' past the shadow of the headwear. Finally, a small potted plant with green leaves. The Viridian Hat rose out of its dirt, standing proud and tenacious, adding the familiar green touch of colour to the room that I needed.

Most importantly, I saw Streiphen standing opposite me, smiling happily as I finally returned to our room. The pictures around the archway were new, but the touch was perfect. Me, Sigura, Streiphen, Fareel, Toya, and the others. It was our community, as odd, makeshift, and disjointed as it was. The final, secret ingredient that the Chimera boy had figured out and mastered before I had. The most important piece of the puzzle that tied it all together.

With one mental push, I let the words out. The words that both Streiphen and I wanted to hear. The words that my thoughts and feelings culminated in.

"[I'm home.]"