The sun sat high in the sky today, bathing the streets far below in a golden glow. It was beautiful. There wasn't even a single cloud in the sky. Frankly, looking at it made me feel as though the Gods were taking the time to personally spit in my face as the guilt became deeper than ever.

A perfectly clear sky with the sun visible high above even Divastyr's skyline, and the person who deserved to see it most couldn't.

My eyes fell from the sky, landing on the streets far below. The crowds walking about looked small from up here, even if I could pick them out clearly despite the four story difference between us. It made everything feel more manageable, but that was just an illusion.

My mind once again drifted to the conversation I'd had earlier, a harmless chat that haunted me more than that damn grinning fireball that refused to leave me alone. I'd helped Yur out by telling her a story of the past, the story of a single [Swindler] she'd exposed to a chorus of cheers. But this city was nothing like Addersbrook. Down there, countless people willin' to lie and cheat walked the streets in broad daylight. This place wasn't small enough that everyone knew each other, either. It was massive, and the people living here were farther apart from each other.

I rose from my crouch, hands stuffed into my pockets as the wind whipped at my long, unruly mane of golden blond hair. My fingers clenched around a leather pouch, one bloated with coin. Having money to spend and the freedom to buy whatever I pleased should've felt good, shouldn't it? I couldn't focus on anything else but that damn story.

Back in Addersbrook, life hadn't been exciting, but it had been something. Back there, Yuri had a family, estranged as she was. She had people she knew, a few friends, and could've been a good adventurer if given enough time. I knew she still valued me bein' around, but seeing her and talking to her just... hurt. If not for me, she'd still be a proper adventurer. I had no doubt she'd've been able to find a group better than ours given time. She was good enough.

More than anythin', she wouldn't have been a monster.

I fucked up. Badly. I knew that. I'd shaken up my entire life with a single bad decision, but that was nothin' compared to what I'd done to others. I'd practically ruined Yuri's life, and Dairen was probably dead. Or worse.

Yur was too Gods damned tough. Her mental strength was somethin' I wished I had. She'd been turned into... into a mass of meat like somethin' a [Butcher] would serve, but she still somehow managed to keep it together. I couldn't even imagine tryin' to live a life like she had now, trapped inside of a metal cage that served as her only way of moving. She sounded like she was gettin' happier, which was a relief, but she would've still been much better off if she'd never met me. It just... felt shitty. I'd taken her freedom away from her, and all that happened to me was a Gods damned growth spurt.

Yuri's goal was to 'see the sky'. Somethin' I and everyone else took for granted. Somethin' Yuri could've done at any time and any place she wanted if not for my bad choices. It pissed me off, but fixin' Yuri's sight was my top priority.

Or rather... it was all I could do for her now.

I didn't have time for wallowing, not when I had shit to do.

I jumped off the roof.

I'd always felt more comfortable on rooftops, far away from gawking eyes and expectant stares. The Nekari blood was strong in me, too. I knew I'd always be able to land on my feet no matter how far I had to fall. If only everythin' else was this damn easy.

I crashed sandals-first into the pavement without warning, falling into a crouch to help cushion the impact. More than a few people yelped or jumped back away from me, completely shocked by my sudden appearance. I knew it shouldn't have made me feel better, but I was smiling now.

Without waiting for complaints or until someone called the Watch, I started walkin', hands back in my pockets. I wasn't in my uniform today, even if I was 'on patrol'. I was wearing a shirt and shorts, and that was enough for me. I wasn't coated in fur like an Oldblood Tierakin, but my magic was enough to stave off the Scandian chill.

Even without my costume or the Velvet Star's symbol stamped onto my back, I could feel the stares and looks of recognition from the people around me. People knew my name, or knew what I was, if nothing else. I wasn't just a monster in their eyes anymore. I was one of the Don's Casters.

I saw murmurs and waves as I walked. Some people cheered or called out encouragin' comments, sayin' I did a 'good job with crushing those damn Pigs!' or 'you saved the Watch the job of dealing with those nuisances!'

It pissed me off. I didn't care much about the ethics side of it, that they were cheerin' on a known criminal that could walk around in broad daylight. I'd thought all of those Big Tooth bastards were scum, but now I wasn't sure of that either, dumbass as I was. They were assholes. That much was perfectly clear in my mind. They'd attacked Yuri in our base, targeted us in the damn streets surrounded by civilians, and resorted to drinking Boost in a shitty, self-destructive attempt to have some extra damn firepower. They didn't give a shit about the consequences, either. Didn't they know what that shit did to people? Did they not have families? Or friends? Anyone that would miss them?

It pissed me off, that they could do somethin' like that so easily, and here I was burdened by somethin' even less than that.

They weren't all bad though, or... at least not as bad. That one with the blond mohawk, 'Belcher', he...

Fuck. I didn't know. Did he deserve what he got? He made his choice to drink that poison, but what was the alternative for him? What was going to happen to this Sova shithole now that the Don was back in power?

I was thinking about pointless shit again. Stuff that didn't matter. This wasn't my city. I just needed to get power and money. Enough influence and agency to do what I want and spread my wings, to leave this place if I needed to. If... If I wanted to.

Not wanting to have to deal with another meaningless gesture or comment of approval I didn't deserve, I picked up the pace. My walk turned into a jog, and then into a run. I wasn't using Skills, but I was still faster than most of these spineless commentators waitin' for other people to clean up their messes for 'em could even dream of.

I needed to focus more. I was on patrol. This was work. I wasn't wearing my uniform, but I didn't have some secret identity or family around here that needed protecting either. I was a Gods damned seven and a half foot monster. A Half Nekari with a glowing ball of orange metal in my chest that shone even through my clothes. If these people didn't know who I was yet, they'd figure it out soon enough. I couldn't exactly hide my form without magic, no matter what sort of disguise I wore. But...

I was still better off than Yuri. She couldn't hide even with an illusory [Glamour] or artefact.

I didn't need the protection of a uniform either, not against chump Casters. Not if I wanted to grow. The only thing weighing me down beyond the jangling pouch of coin in my pocket was a scabbard hanging from my back. The one holding that sword that Yuri had crafted earlier on, after she'd come out of her 'slump'.

I didn't need it, and I didn't really want it, either. But... Yuri had insisted I take it. She said it was a good fit for me, and that the enchantment would work to amplify my magic through the blade. Sounded good in theory, but it was another gift I didn't deserve. I'd forced myself to slap a Gods damned smile onto my face and accept it gratefully, even if doin' that felt like someone was slowly jabbing a nail further and further into my heart. I was hoping I'd get the opportunity to put it to good use and cut someone down. I needed an outlet right about now.

My eyes snapped from side to side as I got faster and faster. My legs kicked against the ground, taking me from street to street, maneuvering around civilians, stalls, and wagons like a sharp gust of wind.

Nothing.

I was begging for there to be something. A street fight. [Thugs] harassing some little kid or defenseless old lady. A Gods damned supervillain or foreign invasion. But there was nothing. No robbers, no criminals, no monsters on the loose. It was painfully peaceful.

Wasn't this place supposed to be Scander? The vicious, barbaric north? It pissed me off that there wasn't a single person around to give me an excuse to let loose. Were they all in hiding? Taking a day off to enjoy the good weather, or out of the city on a fuckin' vacation?

Damn it.

There was nothing to distract me from the real reason I was out here on this 'patrol'. Why I'd come out carrying coin as well as a blade.

Another day, another street, another attempt. Stores that sold magic items were far from uncommon, especially in a city like this. Back home, there'd only been one or two stores like the sort you could find here in town. In Divastyr, there was around two stores selling artefacts on every damn street.

Common as they were, artefacts were still expensive. Specific, esoteric stuff was pricier, while common artefacts that had runes storing Spells from the 1st or 2nd Tier were way more affordable. Price wasn't that big a hurdle right now, now with the coin fattening up the pouch in my pocket. The real problem was that I couldn't find anything even remotely close to what I was looking for. There was no demand for this shit!

Who needed an artefact that 'transformed' a person's Soul or senses to create conventional eyesight? Nobody.

Blind people could have their eyes fixed or replaced with artefact prosthetics, but only if they had eyes in the first place. Slimes had the freedom to focus their sight through their bodies if they wanted to, despite normally having senses just like Yuri's. If her [Sensory Zone] was anywhere near as convenient, I wouldn't need to do this. Beyond those cases, just about every other race living in this city had conventional eyesight.

It was a serious drag. I'd gone from [Enchanter] to [Enchanter], [Blacksmith] to [Blacksmith], [Arcanist] to [Arcanist]. Nothing. It was a serious pain in the ass. If she wanted eyesight, we'd need to find some sorta specialist. Someone who could give a person 'new' senses. I planned on chatting to the Don about it, but the others seemed to be priorising that stupid Vox that Streiphen wanted first. It made me feel like this whole 'sight' thing wasn't important to Yuri at all, and that I should stop. I needed to push those thoughts away. This was what I could do for her.

If I wanted to find a specific contact, I'd need to ask someone like Pack Rat or wait until the Don was free. Until they weren't busy or I found an opportunity, this was the next best thing.

I'd gone into store after store, showin' my face all around Sova while asking around. I was the person who needed to do it, too. Yur couldn't search around stores for this shit herself, after all. Because of me. I owed Yur that much, and I wasn't gonna leave a single stone unturned.

My jogging feet came to a stop, and I felt my resolve waver as I caught sight of this street's sole shop for magic items. But I steeled myself. This was for Yuri, and I was gonna do whatever I needed to in order to make things up to her for all the shit I put her through.

Even... even if that meant walkin' into 'Lonely Heartz Empath Emporium'. Fuck.

The store was spacious looking, which was the one good thing that stood out amongst all the negatives. The storefront was painfully pink, with a ton of glowing artefacts visible in the front window. Glass cases for glowing rings that reduced stress and helped people keep their calm. Collars for pets of wildly varying sizes that helped them behave and understand the intentions of the owner. Potions for heightened emotions and adrenaline. Even a few carved instruments that had a soft glow to 'em.

All of this was according to the signs, but I guessed they must've all worked as intended. If the Enchanter's Guild crawled up [Merchants]' asses anywhere near as much as they did back home, this stuff was probably legit.

The thought of going in there was mortifying, but if this store had so much just for display in the front window, it might have some Sensory artefacts too. Empaths dipped into Mental and Sensory abilities a lot too, right? I really fuckin' hoped so, considering I had to walk in here to find out. Even if the chances were slim, I had to try. For Yuri.

I felt out of the place the moment I opened the door. The soft ding overhead didn't help to assuage my worries as I glanced around. It was just as bright inside as it was outside. With all the artefacts, potions, and whatever else lining the shelves, even the thought of using [Insight] in here gave me a headache. At least I could take solace in the knowledge that I wasn't the only customer in here that looked horrifically out of place. A few adventurers were off down an aisle to my left, probably shoppin' for cheap equipment. That was what we'd done, starting out. Trawling through shelves and stalls in the hopes of finding something good and cheap. Was it because they were lonely and had nobody, or because emotions played a large part in their magic? Knowing the type of adventurers around here, I'd put my money on the former.

My feet reluctantly dragged me further inside as I wished the bell overhead hadn't openly announced my shame to the adventurers. Then again, I couldn't exactly hide myself or sneak around a cramped space like this given my size anyway. Yuri would've had it even worse.

On a wooden column to my left was a ceramic white bowl filled with pink liquid. I glanced into it, spotting a small sign in front of it adorned with the word 'SAMPLE'. The bowl was surrounded by an array of small paper cups.

The liquid was calm and clear, and I found myself staring down into my reflection. The face staring back at me was a little scrunched up, which I could understand. I didn't know what this liquid was for, but I wasn't about to try it and find out either. [Empaths] needed licenses back where I came from for stuff like this. I hoped the Watch weren't as negligent with this sort of crap as they seemed to be with the local crime.

The aisles I walked through felt more cramped than they were. I had space to move, but not enough to fight in if someone attacked me. The adventurers had seen me, and I could hear them whispering urgently even from two aisles down. It ticked me off, but I wasn't here for a fight. I felt my left arm twitch, urging me to take the fight to them, but I had no grounds for it. Like it or not, I had an image to uphold.

Focus on the shopping, Sig. Don't give them the satisfaction of a reaction.

The aisles were filled with enough potions, creams, rings, and small artefacts to make any [Enchanter] jealous. None of the rings around me seemed to have matchin' styles, either. Simple and complex. Big and small. Warped and clear. Were they loot from a dungeon or traded in? Maybe the person in charge just handled enchantin', and bought their rings from someone else.

If I spent time scouring every single shelf, I'd be here all day. I wasn't about to devote more time to the 'Lonely Heartz Empath Emporium' than I needed to, so I made straight for the counter. My hand gingerly pressed down on a small bell that let out a pleasant, melodic chime. At least the bell was a normal colour.

"Down here!" came the tinny voice of a woman I couldn't see. "Sorry, just a moment!"

I leaned forward, looking over the counter as I saw a diminutive woman reaching for a wooden stepladder. She looked to be around middle-aged, but the makeup caked onto her face made it much harder to tell than it should've been. She didn't have the stocky frame of a Dwarf, nor the nose, frizzled hair, or generally stunned look of a Gnome, and all that left to my knowledge was a Halfling. Her hair was combed back, dyed the same shade of pink as the storefront. Needless to say, it was hard to look at. The way she moved didn't strike me as someone without combat experience, even if she looked like the least threatening adult I'd seen since coming here.

I'd keep my guard up a little, just in case.

"Whew...! Sorry about that, love," she said, climbing to the top of the stepladder to lean both arms onto the counter. "Now, how can I help you?"

"I'm lookin' for a Sensory artefact. Something that'll grant people eyesight," I told her. "I need it for someone big."

The Halfling pursed her puffy pink lips in thought. I couldn't tell where her eyes were looking, given the round glasses over them were covered with a rose coloured lens.

"Don't think we've got anything like that here, nothing for someone of your friend's size either, sorry. You'd have more luck asking at the Hunter's guild."

"No luck there either, I checked," I told her. They had artefacts for Sensory enhancement, not pure alteration like what I needed to make it compatible with Yuri's... condition.

"It's a shame, that," the Halfling nodded, her head tilting down towards the counter. "You're that Sunburst, aren't'cha?"

It was hard to mistake me for someone else, given my size.

"Yeah," I grinned back. "Glad my name's getting around like it should."

"Of course, the adventurers talk about you all the time!" the Halfling chirped, linking her hands together over the counter.

"Sayin' nothin' good I bet, even if they just lounge around doin' nothin' themselves," I replied with a roll of the eyes, prompting her to laugh in return.

"I'm sure that's just because they don't really know you yet, hun," the smaller woman smiled back.

I looked to the side, thinking for just a moment before I gave my reply.

"No, they're right to think that way. They don't want me as an enemy," I told her.

"I don't think you're the type that'd hate someone, even them, just for a bad comment or two," she said with a smile.

"Yeah? And what do you know about me?" I shot back with a raised brow as my hands were planted on the countertop.

"I'm an [Empath], darling. Being a people person is in my nature!"

She sounded completely unruffled despite the threat. If she heard about me, she had to know what I was capable of. I decided to afford her some modicum of respect for that alone.

"That so?" I asked as she extended a hand covered in glittery pink nails. After a moment, I accepted the handshake.

"I'm Alina. Alina Loma," she smiled.

"Sigura Brightmane," I responded, looking towards our linked hands. This alone just reinforced how out of place I was in here. Compared to the Halfling's hand, mine was huge. The Cat-like ears atop my head perked up as my eyes darted to the side. The adventurers were leaving as a group, and had just quietly closed the door behind them.

"What makes you so sure you'd just be an enemy anyway?" Alina asked as my eyes returned to her. "You're here for a friend, didn't you say? I'd bet it's that big girl in the mech."

She knew about Yuri, too. Those adventurers talked a lot. Too much for their own good.

"Yeah, I am," I replied stiffly.

"Then you're coming here to help a friend! That's already a sign you're a good person, Miss Brightmane."

"I'm doing this because I owe it to her," I responded dryly, rolling my eyes. Were all [Empaths] like this? Thinking they knew me off of surface level observations. Even then, why had I said that? Was I being open with her because I didn't see her as a threat? Or...

My orange-gold [Insight] flared to life around my eyes. If she was using Emotion Magic or some shitty trick or Skill on me, I was going to thrash this store, consequences be damned. But... although her aura was the same glittery pink as her hair and nails, there wasn't any strange fluctuations in it. She probably wasn't using an ability.

"That just sounds like a second good sign to me, Miss Brightmane," Alina responded cheerfully. "Not only did you come in here for a friend, but you've got a strong conscience too."

"You're taking all of this out of context," I snapped back. "You don't know the full picture, so stop acting like it."

"You're right, I don't," she nodded. "But I've seen this sort of thing before."

"You haven't seen anything like us before," I growled back. That growl only got a laugh in return.

"You'd be surprised! I'm a former adventurer, y'see. I've seen plenty of odd folks in my time."

"A retired adventurer? That explains why you're so damn full of pushy questions," I grumbled, looking away as my arms crossed.

"I'm sure we'd get on great if you gave me a chance!" Alina chuckled, smiling even more brightly than before. "The adventurers around here come for gossip and chat a lot of the time. They know I'm a liiiittle soft and won't cut 'em a bad deal, even if they don't know their way around a shop or proper pricing."

"You gonna gossip about me too the second my back is turned?" I asked, my voice a low growl. This wasn't just a threat, either. If she gave me a good reason, I would act.

"Only if you want me to tell 'em all the good impressions I got from you!" she chirped back, unruffled.

She was annoying. Still, I didn't feel as closed off and shitty while talking to this Halfling. Was she using some Skill I couldn't see through the shifting of her aura? Now I wasn't sure.

"How's Lulu keeping these days?" she asked out of the blue, interrupting my thoughts.

"What?" I blurted out, taken aback.

"Lulu. Lulu Lunazi, Lapin Human Halfblood? You're part of the Velvet Star, aren't you? I've seen the screens floating around and heard the rumours from the adventurers back at the guild. I hear she goes by 'Clever Girl' nowadays. How's she been doing?"

"How do you know her?" I asked. I wasn't about to give up information about our members to a stranger.

"She used to come here a lot back when she was a [Runner]. Delivered packages from me to other adventurers down on their luck or needin' help with their magic, especially if their emotions affected their ability to cast. She asked me for tips on how to improve her alchemy, and I gave her a helping hand up until that singer girl showed up. I heard she's part of the Star now, too."

She knew a lot, but that seemed to add up with what I knew.

"Bubblegum, yeah," I nodded. "She's a [Witch]."

"I know her folks, but her Mom doesn't show her face around much. Her Dad's great though, total sweetheart," the Halfling smiled, looking away as if to reminisce.

"You're saying an awful lot," I growled back. "Aren't adventurers supposed to be good at secrecy?"

"I'm retired, remember? Besides, these're no secrets hun, just a bit of gossip is all," she smiled back. "That's just the sorta thing anyone livin' around here would know if they kept their eyes and ears open. I don't know any big secrets worth keeping anyway, really! I'm just a shopkeep lookin' to do my part in keeping the community safe and happy. Divastyr's the sorta place that needs the services of people like me, and they've treated me well enough."

"You... know a lot of people around here then, but you can't help with the Sensory artefact?" I asked, relenting a little as my shoulders eased up. She was annoying, and her taste in fashion was obnoxiously bright, but she seemed... alright.

"No, fraid not. If I hear about someone passing through that could help with that, I'll be sure to pass on that bit of gossip your way if you're looking for it," she told me.

...

"Thanks," I sighed, giving her a nod back before turning to the side, resting one arm on the counter. "I've got to get going, but I'll come back some other time if you're still in business."

"Don't wanna buy anything before you go?" Alina asked, chancing it with a wink.

Did I? I could tell she just meant it as a joke, but maybe there was something I could use. The thought of openly saying this to another person, one outside the Star no less, felt dumb, but-

"You got anything that dulls emotions? Or... helps with... anger?" I asked, shoulders dropping. "I could use it."

If she had anything that worked like Yuri's [Silent Heart], or even something that could let me channel it into something less... self-destructive... I'd take it. I had the coin to spare, and it was worth the effort.

Alina's expression softened, and I saw a water-like flow of pink light peek out from behind her tinted glasses. [Insight]. It felt strange having people look at me through it, like they were seeing past my face and into my heart. But... it was strangely reassuring here. Did that mean she hadn't been using abilities to check me before now after all?

"I wouldn't try to bottle that stuff up if I were you," Alina advised, her [Insight] dying away to fleeting embers of light. "That's the third good thing I've seen from you though. Considerate of others, a good conscience, and being aware of your own flaws. Good traits for a Caster to have, but... I'd guess you use Fire Magic? Or Heat? Somethin' like that. Passion, anger, determination, all of that can play a big role in how well magic like yours does. Besides, Casters don't get anywhere hidin' from who they are, sweety. For better or worse, you've gotta charge right into it! Embrace it, make the most of it, and channel it. If you could find a constructive way to let all that anger out, it'll do you more good than any potion or artefact I've got."

It was a little disheartening to hear that, but I didn't expect to find an easy solution just like that anyway.

"Alright... thanks again. See you around, maybe," I said, turning away.

"That means you'll come back, even if only to chat?" I heard her say as I approached the door. "That's another good thing I see in you, even if only for me! Have a good day now, alright?"

I gave my head a half turn, nodding to the small, pushy, annoying woman. I was smiling as I pulled down the handle, letting the pleasant bell ring out behind me right before I stepped outside.

The sounds and smells of the city rushed out to meet me. Feet on pavement, the scent of cooking food and sweat, and the distinct lack of a sweet floral scent I hadn't even parsed before. Now that I left the shop, the change became apparent. A perfume that Alina had been wearing, maybe? I didn't know.

Right now, that didn't matter. I felt relief wash through me. Not only did I make the acquaintance of a good contact for the future, but the fight I'd been looking for might've come to seek me out, instead.

The adventurers that had been inside the shop were standing off to the left, looking nervous as they glanced between me and another trio standing across from me at the edge of the pavement by the road. I felt my left arm twitch as my fingers clenched into a fist, smiling as I recognised the three.

"Come back for revenge?" I asked, unable to hold back the toothy grin forming on my face as adrenaline pumped through my veins.

None of the adventurers present had drawn their weapons, but surrounding me like this had to mean it was only a matter of time. The three opposite me were familiar, too, even if I'd never seen them in the city proper. A Human with combed back sky-blue hair wearing a blue outfit that looked more pyjamas than battle armor with white polka dots all across its surface. To his left was a Half Elf with a withdrawn, wary expression, a thick green cloak covered in what looked like moss draped over his shoulders. On his right was a Dwarven woman with dark pink hair tied up into a ponytail and a beard on her face, eyes hidden behind sunglasses tinted bronze.

They were a familiar trio, even if it had been a while since we'd last met. The trio who'd ambushed Yuri outside Divastyr, barely hours after we'd escaped from the facility. I'd let them live because of Yuri's request, and now I was glad I had. Getting the chance to blow off steam and kick their asses again was a relief.

"That fight with Yur wasn't enough for ya, huh? Didn't think you'd come here for a rematch, but maybe you've got more spine in you than I thought," I grinned, crouching down to stretch my legs.

Lunge at them. You could beat them all and show dominance before their [Mantles] even finished forming.

Nah, not yet. I could see light flickering at the edge of my vision. The light of that talkative fireball that never left me alone. There'd be no fun or risk if I attacked them now. If I ended it in one move, I wouldn't learn a damn thing. Maybe I should try to challenge myself a little more. Invest in weighted clothing, or try to dodge their attacks a few times before beating them without taking a hit.

"We-" the Human in front blurted out before taking a deep breath. "We're here to apologise. We're sorry for what happened outside the city, and we just came to talk."

People actually tryin' to speak to us before attacking? That was a first. Shame they'd chosen to try that tactic a little late. Talking to us before we had status would've made it seem a little more sincere.

"Yeah, and who do you think you are, that you can just talk to me like this?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the Human as I rose to my full height.

"Snooze... I'm my team's leader," he told me, gesturing with his hands to his allies. "These are my teammates, Funghillie and Glint."

'Glint', the Cheetah-rider without a Cheetah, looked pissed. She seemed more ready for a fight than the other two, and I was hoping she'd rush me or lash out to get things started. The guy with the snot cloak, 'Funghillie', looked wary and nervous. Like a coward. The Human in the center just looked... repentant. Ugh.

Three conflicting stances and feelings. If they were out of sync, that'd mean their motivations would differ in a fight. It would hamper their teamwork. This was looking more like it'd be even less fun than I could've hoped. Would I even get Experience for beating these idiots?

They're just better at putting up a front than others. They'll attack you the moment your guard is down.

It was clear that the civvies walking around us could feel the tension in the air. The smart ones crossed the street to keep going, or walked the long way around the little 'circle' we'd formed. Meanwhile, the Extras that had guided these three idiots to me were looking less and less confident about being here. Spineless.

"I'm busy, and I don't have time to waste on you," I told them, feeling the desire to fight seep out of me. This wouldn't even be a challenge. "If you wanna stand in my way and get crushed, go right ahead, but I wouldn't give you adventurers the damn time of day."

"Just listen to what the Cap'n has to say, will ya?" the Dwarf chimed in, grumbling as she did. "Once ya do, we can go and leave ye alone."

"Right, right. Listen to you?" I snarled back with a smile, feeling some of that fire fan back to life within me. "Not happy that you're gettin' the same treatment you gave Yuri, are you?"

I watched the Half Elf wearing the oversized snot rag squirm, shivering in place. Better.

"Miss... Sunburst," the Human, 'Snooze', tried, taking a step forward. "You're a member of the Velvet Star now, aren't you? We... we're looking for information. The Velvet Star, are they really reviving? Were the scenes shown on those screens all accurate?

Screens? Right, the Big Tooth battle. That would've helped my fame spread. I'd need to give the Don my thanks for helping to put the adventurers in their place through that little demonstration.

"Who knows?" I replied, giving a casual shrug.

"We'll do what we can to reward you for any information you could give," Snooze tried. His teammates didn't seem happy with that, either.

"Reward me?" I snorted. "What could you possibly have that I'd want?"

"You went in there for a reason, didn't you?" Snooze asked, nodding towards the blindingly pink building behind me. "Is there something you're looking for?"

Nosy bastards.

"Yeah, and what of it? You think you can get what I need?" I asked, raising an eyebrow. Even humoring these little shits was more than they deserved, but maybe Alina had lifted my mood more than I thought.

"Yes... We can... we can do our best," Snooze nodded, eyes drifting down towards the pavement.

"I don't want your best," I snarled. "You either can, or you can't."

"We can do it," he replied, looking back up to meet my eyes with his. "We've got connections to Casters around town. Lots of adventurers do, and we've got good standing. We can swap favours to get info if we have to. We can get whatever you're looking for."

Awfully fuckin' big talk considering they didn't even know what I was looking for. Whatever, it didn't matter. It wasn't exactly private, and if they didn't deliver, that'd give me a real excuse to kick their asses.

"Fine, but if you don't get me a contact, a lead, or what I'm looking for in a week, then you'll need to use those 'contacts' of yours to set up an appointment with a [Doctor], because I'll kick your asses for wasting my damn time," I drawled.

Funghillie looked pretty worried, and even the angry lookin' Glint shivered at that. I felt the toothy smile on my face stretch wider at that.

"We'll... take that risk," Snooze nodded firmly.

Shame. I was hoping to watch him squirm or waver a little more on that, after what they'd done to Yur. Guess the guy in front had some real backbone. That, or he was an idiot that didn't believe I'd follow up on that. Part of me hoped that he'd give me the opportunity to prove him wrong.

"Fine. I'm lookin' for a specialist in Sensory Magic," I told them.

"Sensory Magic?" Glint asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah. Not the standard shit either. I don't need some fuckin' two-level chump. You've seen Yur, haven't you?"

My question led to the Half Elf gulping, but Snooze nodded.

"You mean... Homebound, don't you? The one in the mech? Equinox's leader?" he asked for clarification.

"And the one that kicked your collective asses without even breakin' a sweat after she tried and failed to talk you down peacefully, which, by the way, is a fuckin' disgrace," I replied.

Get angry. C'mon. You can work up the nerve to throw the first punch, can't you?

Despite mentally egging them on, Snooze nodded.

"You're right. We shouldn't have been as rash as we were," he admitted. Ugh. He was no fun.

You should beat them down anyway, just to send a message. It would be good for the adventurers to know how strong you are. To fear you.

My fingers flexed, and I was tempted to lunge and make a scene. But I pushed that feeling down. Not because I didn't want to thrash them, but because the exchange was more important. This was for Yuri.

"I need somethin' that'll let her see. Not like a [Sensory Zone], but more direct. Like a special eyeball that'll work for her body," I told them. They'd seen what Yuri looked like. "I'll give you three days to contact me with what you've found, got it?"

Finally, I heard and saw Snooze gulp. Still, he nodded. I'd more than halved the time he had to meet my request and he still wasn't getting angry.

"Then listen up!" I replied with a grin, planting both hands on my hips. "The Velvet Star is back. Equinox is part of it, too. All of our real members are allied with 'em, and we're making the Star stronger than ever. If your boss or master or whatever needs more concrete confirmation, I'll march into your damn Guild myself and say it to his face. That good enough for you?"

The effect my words had on the tension in the air was palpable. The worry and stunned silence rolling off of the adventurers choked the space between us.

"Right..." Snooze said, managing to pierce that silence after a few long seconds of emptiness. "Thank you for your time, Sunburst."

He wasn't getting angry or more worried at all. Was he the type that could keep a level head even in a situation like this? Negotiating with an enemy while managing to hold back whatever he truly felt?

Another emotion welled up inside me. Anger? Disappointment? Wishing I had an excuse to fight?

Something else?

I wasn't sure.

My left arm twitched again, and I clenched both hands into fists to keep myself under control.

"You'd better find somethin' to make this worthwhile, 'Snooze', or I'll pay you back for it," I told him, staring deep into his eyes, ingraining the threat into his mind. "You owe it to Yuri too, after that stress you put her though. Got it?"

"Yes," Snooze nodded, a single shiver running through his body. Then, he bowed his head, a gesture of respect I'd only seen a few times since coming to this dump of a city. "And... please tell her that we apologise for what happened. We heard... stories of a powerful monster out in the forest that had killed a group of [Hunters], and all of us were on edge. I know... that's no excuse, but please send Homebound our apologies."

Ugh. He really was annoying, huh? Humble even after all that.

"Fine," I huffed.

I could've jogged off, but I wanted to make a statement. We had an image to leave in the eyes of people and adventurers alike, and I was going to do it my way. I sprinted across the open street, stopping on the pavement as my legs tensed up, muscles rippling and veins becoming visible before I crouched. With one movement and a pair of [Releases] fired from beneath the soles of my feet, I shot directly upwards, leaving two imprints of my sandals in the concrete to mark my ascent as I soared, wind rushing against my face. My hand snapped out, skin and claw digging into the roof of a four story building.

Climbing onto the roof proper, I began to run and jump, leaving the adventurers with a bad taste in my mouth.

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

Ding!

Working out a crick in my shoulder with a rotation of my arm, I waited for the twin doors of the Velvet Star's workshop to drift open. After all that running and searching, I felt drained. I was looking forward to relaxing in here while I caught up with the others before getting a well earned hot meal. The thought of both helped to melt some of the feelings I'd built up on the trip, quickening my step as I entered the room.

Yuri, meanwhile, was doin' the opposite of relaxing. Her mech sat in the middle of her 'spot', legs folded beneath her while she was surrounded on all sides by plates of metal and boxes of assorted bits and pieces. Scrap, it looked like. With how enclosed she was by metal, it looked as though they were trying to hem her in or corner her.

She was makin' something new. To me, it just looked like a huge, half-formed rectangular box of metal, but to someone like Yur or Shafu, it probably seemed more intricate.

"[How was your patrol]?" Yuri asked as soon as I entered. She didn't turn towards me or make any sort of visual acknowledgement that she saw, but I knew she had. Rather than startle me, the sudden echoing voice reminiscent of that she had before the transformation helped me relax.

"Fine. Pretty uneventful," I lied, speaking at a regular volume despite our distance. I knew she could hear me anyway. "Just wanna lie down and rest a little before I eat dinner."

Maybe I should try to get one of those bean bag chairs from Conahan's room for the workshop. That would've been way better to rest in than those hard-backed chairs the Anvils of the workshop used.

"[Couldn't you have rested in our room?]" she asked.

"Nah. Don't wanna risk fallin' asleep, and I'll be going out for a nightly jog after with Lulu."

"[A long patrol and a jog too? Haven't you been doing a lot of these?]" Yuri asked as I came to a stop at Conahan's usual spot. I stole the purple cushion he tended to sit on, dragging it over to Yuri's nerd circle. It was an even tighter fit than the bean bag chair, and trying to sit into it was probably more uncomfortable than just sitting on the floor.

"Yeah, I'll be fine," I said, now close enough for Shafu to hear me speak. She was trapped in Yuri's ring, using her hooved feet to kick against the floor, leaning forward to spot me past Yuri's body. She threw me a wave, one I reciprocated. "I'm used to the exercise, and I need somethin' to keep me active anyway, otherwise I'll just get pissy. Don't wanna go feral on anyone here, y'know? Better to save that for the mooks and goons outside. Bet you can relate, right? You felt like that cooped up in the infirmary I bet."

"[Yes... I suppose you're right,]" Yuri replied. I felt a stab of guilt lance through me. Why the fuck did I bring up the infirmary? "[I should be getting out on patrols too, now that my wound is nearly healed.]"

"You sure you need to, Yur?" Shafu asked, glancing towards the unfinished metal box. "You could always just make things for your team in here, like Sigura's sword. That'd be really useful, I bet."

Her eyes turned towards me, and then towards Yuri, over and over again, but I didn't catch the meaning. Was she trying to convey something?

"[I don't want to be just another [Inventor] or [Tinkerer] that crafts tools for others without taking any real action themselves. I want to fight on the front lines, Shafu. My abilities are very well suited to acting as a commander in battle, but it only works that way at close range. This is how I can do the best I can,]" she spoke.

I nodded firmly, smiling to myself as my eyes fell to the metal ring.

"What's all this stuff for, Yur?" I asked. Then, I saw her bring a number of strange metal tools around her body, hovering them in my direction, just above the boxes. I had no idea what I was looking at, but some of them were glowing, too. Enchanted.

"[I've finally gotten proper tools of my own. I'm still learning how to use them, but Shafu has been teaching me more about how magic like ours truly works. I'm feeling like a proper Anvil, not having to use... tools cobbled together from scraps I found myself. Specialist equipment like this is far more effective.]"

Yeah, maybe, but I'd always thought it was pretty impressive that she could make her own tools, too. She was a pretty damn versatile Caster and smith when all was said and done.

"[I'm starting the base frame for a second mech,]" Yuri explained as what I presumed to be the heads of the tools all pointed towards the big unfinished box.

"Always good to have a backup just in case," Shafu smiled, pulling the end of a lollipop stick hanging out of her mouth to the other side.

"Could you even store somethin' like that in here?" I asked, my eyes wandering. The Aetherman, damaged as it was, stood pretty tall on its own, but another mech being stored here might make the place feel a little cluttered. Or... maybe that was just me.

"There's a storage area on the basement floor. Conahan's got his other mechs down there too, so there's plenty of space," Shafu told me. I nodded with relief, and she launched right into another topic. "Were you out shoppin'?"

"Yeah," I told her, reaching into my pocket before prying the bag of coins free. "Looking for artefacts to spend my coin on. Don't want to just let all this go to waste. Met some Halfling lady who knows Lulu, too."

"[Who?]" Yuri asked as the tools floating through the air converged on the second mech's frame.

"Alina? Alima? Somethin' like that," I told them. Alina Loma. "Halfling with bright pink hair and a ton of makeup."

"Oh, right, that Lonely Heartz place," Shafu nodded. "Empath?"

"Yeah, that's the one," I nodded, giving up on trying to sit down on the cushion. Instead, I'd taken to lying on the floor and using it as a makeshift pillow.

"[What were you looking for in there, Sigura?]" Yuri asked.

Finding that the cushion wasn't helping me get comfortable either, I picked it up, launching it across the room before it smacked softly against Yuri's mech.

"An artefact for you, dumbass," I replied, lying back down as I linked both arms behind my head. "Tryin' to get somethin' that'll let you see the sky. Magic stores always have all sorts of junk, so I had a look."

"Yeah, you made the right call, checkin’ everywhere you could," Shafu grinned. "It's a good mindset to have, bein’ so thorough, y'know? You'd've made for a good [Tinkerer]."

"This stuff?" I scoffed, glancing towards the sea of junk and scrap. "Wouldn't have the patience for it."

"[It's not about patience, Sigura,]" Yuri responded. "[It's about whether you enjoy it or not. If you do, it's very easy to lose yourself in the work.]"

"Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight," I drawled. "It's not for me anyway, Yur."

"[It's good that you've made some contacts though,]" she continued. "[We should get to know other Casters and store owners in the city if we want to succeed. I wanted to compile everyone we know of around here in the event that we need outside help or advice.]"

"Isn't the Velvet Star enough?" I asked, really not seeing the big deal. It was good to have subordinates, but 'contacts'? The Don would have more people to draw on than we ever would, so we could always just go through him as a proxy.

"Yeah, aren't we?" Shafu asked smugly, elbowing the side of Yur's mech with her own metal arm.

"[Maybe, but we should always try to be more prepared,]" Yuri responded. "[Just in case.]"

"Sure, sure," I nodded, getting the message.

Ding!

One of the Dolls opened up the door from inside, allowing a new figure to bound into the room.

"Hello Miss Sigura!" Streiphen chirped, even as he made his way over to Yuri.

"Hey pipsqueak," I smiled back as he leapt, jumping over the ring of junk and into Yuri's general area. Deciding that it couldn't be worse than the floor, I followed suit, hopping to my feet before leaping across the room, landing next to her mech.

"What's everyone talking about?" Streiphen asked as I sat down, leaning my back against the side of Yuri's metal body.

"[Our available contacts beyond the Star,]" Yuri explained. "[There's the Roden from the shopping center-]"

"Menmen, right?" I asked with a grin, closing my eyes as I linked both hands behind my head once again.

"[Menere,]" Yuri corrected me. "[The Dwarf [Blacksmith] we helped during Trainmech's attack, Barto, the group that approached Sigura, the orphans, and...]"

"You're including the orphans in that?" I asked, disbelief heavy in my tone. "What use do you think they'll be?"

"[They might have contacts we don't, Sigura. I just want to be thorough about this,]" she responded.

Yeah... They knew members of Big Tooth- or... what used to be Big Tooth, and some adventurers too. I could see where she was coming from.

"Oh! And Miss Sheera, too!" Streiphen chimed in.

"Who?" I asked, cracking open an eye to look in the Chimera child's direction.

"Oh... she's a Darkling I met at a book shop!" Streiphen replied, walking over to plop himself down next to me. "She was still learning Scandian Common, but she said she came from overseas!"

A random civilian or tourist then? Probably not someone they could rely on to be of much help. Then again, every one of those contacts seemed like a bit of a stretch.

"And Alina. The Halfling I met earlier today," I added.

"[Ah... damnit,]" Yuri mumbled to herself. I leaned forward, looking towards the half-formed frame of metal out in front. It was glowing hot and I could feel the heat from here, but nothing else had changed.

"Still havin' trouble with your magic?" Shafu asked. I couldn't see her from here, but I heard the sound of her chairs wheels zooming across the floor.

"[Just... I want to do something like Conahan did. If I could control this mech remotely, then-]"

"Don't bother," Shafu replied. "If you want to learn somethin' as hard as that, you've gotta start smaller. Make like... a ball-sized box first and go from there. Don't jump right into a mech if you're hoping to control it remotely."

"[It's just... I'm having trouble with getting the right 'feel' for it.]"

Huh. Rare to hear Yuri mention the 'feel' of an ability rather than something concrete. I rose to my feet, stretching my legs a little before looking up towards the emerald green helmet covering her 'brain'.

"Did you ever get the hang of [Release], Yur?" I asked her. "If you figure out the Luster Arts, everythin' else will get easier."

"[No, I haven't... but I'll try that,]" she replied.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy for her. [Release] worked better through a flow of motion, but she could only move through [Telekinesis]. I didn't have many tips that I thought would apply to this.

"I'll train it with you later, Miss Yuri!" Streiphen chirped.

"[Thank you, Streiphen,]" Yuri responded. I could hear the warmth in her voice, and felt glad someone like the pipsqueak was looking out for her.

Speaking of training, I wanted to get some done too. I knew I'd been out running already, but if I trained my [Release] a little better, I'd be more mobile. Small, controlled blasts were great for motion, but right now I was having trouble focusing it down. I'd seen how well that Wolfheart bastard had used it during our fight, and it made me want to keep up.

Training would have to serve as an outlet, too. If these criminals were all too damn scared of the Velvet Star to start anything whenever I went out on patrol, I wouldn't be able to beat anyone up. Was there a better way to get a fix? Martial Arts, maybe? Trips to a gym?

Heh. The thought of me trying to fit into the normal sized outfits brought a grin to my face. I'd need something custom made, but Debby didn't seem like the type who'd have any problem with that.

"Y'think I should go to a gym or somethin'?" I asked aloud, directing the question more towards the room at large than any one person as I returned to my seat. "These patrols aren't as action packed as I was hopin' they'd be."

The sound of wheels spinning over the floor grew louder as Shafu flew out from behind Yuri's front, heading in my direction.

"If you're lookin' for action, why not join the Adventurer's Guild?" she suggested. I felt my chest tighten up at the thought. "If you want more work to do, you could join up. You don't have a bounty or anythin' since you haven't broken any of the real rules, so there's nothin' saying you can't join."

That was... ugh. It would give me a chance to get more work and even scrape coin together, but the thoughts of going out on jobs with another team, or even having to lead... Worse still, adventurers were nothing but a group of assholes anyway.

"[It... might help our standing in the community too, Sigura,]" Yuri added. I'd hoped she wouldn't chip in, but she did. A weight settled in my chest. "[You'd be able to make even more connections and work off your energy. If you want to become stronger, it might be the fastest way for someone like you, and it would benefit our team and help to mend bridges.]"

"I... I'll think about it," I replied with a shaky smile, trying not to sound like I had to choke up the words. The thought of it pissed me off, but I could understand what they were saying. If I... If I did join up, I was flying solo. No teams, no extra baggage, no responsibility. The thought of joining someone else's team didn't appeal to me either.

But... when did Yuri start taking charge so much? It was a small change, but she'd become a little more assertive recently. She was changing. Changing fast.

Maybe that wasn't a bad thing in itself, I thought, closing my eyes as I heard nothing but the sound of metal against metal and my own roaring heartbeat. Then why did I feel so bad about it?

Images flashed through my head. Memories of the day we left Addersbrook. Memories of striking Toya in the snow before journeying to Divastyr. Memories of bad decisions, threats, and aggression.

Yuri was changing so much, but... I wasn't changing at all. She was growing stronger, and even if she had trouble with [Release], her abilities had grown more diverse and specialised. My abilities, and my growth as a person, linked as they were, felt like they were stagnating. I'd learned more Luster Arts, but anyone could learn those. Unlike true magic, they didn't mean anything for my growth.

I wasn't changing.

At this rate, how long was it going to be before Yuri changed beyond recognition?

Before she changed so much that she... didn't need me anymore?