I wasn't sure we'd come out of this fight as easily as Sigura hoped. It wasn't that I didn't have faith in my teammates' combat abilities, but we were facing off against a group of five Casters, the abilities of which we knew nothing about, while ours had been publicised.

I stood behind my teammates in the midst of a neighbourhood on a cloudy morning, unable to bring myself to move.

"[How strong do you think they are based on [Insight], Sigura?]" I asked the battle-ready Half Nekari. Both she and Streiphen stood facing their two opponents with blades in hand. The darker skinned Elven woman in the red dress with the blindfold and the Mothman brandishing the oversized paint brush were both ready with [Mantles] active.

"Not strong enough," Sigura murmured back, her expression stiff and eyes locked on the enemy. "We can handle 'em."

Was that true? I had no way of knowing if she was lying, given that I couldn't check their relative strength myself. While it was true I could use [Insight], and had it active at this very moment to see the auras of those around me, I didn't know how to judge 'strength'. Their auras, like ours, were hovering within and just around our bodies. The 'size' of our auras didn't seem to mean anything either, given that the civilians we'd met were the same. I didn't know what metric Sigura was using to make her judgement.

"[Will you need my help...?]" I asked tentatively, not wanting to start this inevitable battle off poorly by angering her.

"We won't," Sigura murmured, a sentiment echoed in Streiphen's nod as the grey skinned Chimera boy stood beside her, the hilt of his weapon gripped in both hands.

From behind the pair, a cluster of small blue insects with eight legs and a pair of Lobster-like claws leapt upwards, clinging to their bodies and clothes. They all bore the same 'head' as Fareel, making them unmistakably his.

"You really gonna fight us with those things crawling all over you?" the Mothman, 'Swatch', called out with a sharp toothy grin on his face.

"This is barely even a handicap," Sigura called out, her expression serious and eyes focused.

Despite being armed and coated in [Mantle], neither side moved an inch. Even through my metal helmet, I could feel goosebumps rising along my skin, rustling against the thin blanket over my body. The tension in the air was so thick it felt suffocating.

"Aren't you gonna shoot at us?" the Mothman asked, raising a single furry eyebrow. "We're standing right here!"

"When you say stupid shit like that, it makes me positive that you're tryin' for some sorta trap," Sigura drawled. "'Sides, you're standin' right in front of the monument. If you dodged, we'd hit it. Move to the side and we'll fight."

The Mothman sighed, giving a shrug before walking to the left, the glowing Half Elf moving in step with him. She seemed to walk in perfect sync with his movements despite their difference in height.

"Worth a shot," the Mothman grinned. "Would've been great if you broke the monument yourself for our audience, but I guess we'll just have to settle for kicking your asses instead."

The 'audience'. Swatch wasn't just referring to me, now that I looked. All around us, there were spectators. Not standing in the streets or within range of a Caster's blows, but behind the relative safety of walls and windows. Civilians looked out from behind curtains and the windows of closed doors, silently observing the fight. Parents and children of various races living in the area had their eyes on us, wanting to see how this would go.

If the public's eyes were on us, that was all the more reason that we couldn't display weakness.

The sound was quiet to ears not as sensitive as my zone, but the light tapping of insect legs against concrete and stone pathways sounded comparatively loud in the deafening silence. Fareel's Familiars spread out, getting sight of as much of the area as they could. With this many insects, Fareel's field of vision of the monument and the street around it had to be close to my own.

Both sides were waiting for the other to launch the first strike. In the tense silence, I fought to restrain the urge to unscrew my compartment. To reach for my metal weapons and prepare to engage the enemy alongside my team. It was a shame my abilities were so... cumbersome. If they were more subtle, I might've been able to aid my team without them needlessly worrying. I wanted to help discreetly in a way that didn't lead to me getting a concerned earful later, even if I didn't know how to do it.

Sigura and Streiphen glanced towards one another with minimal movements. With a brief, subtle nod from Sigura, the battle began.

The pair swung their weapons downwards in a blinding arc as flashes of light erupted from the edges of their blades. One sharp wave of golden-orange sunset and another of shining emerald with black streaks cut through the morning air, flying straight towards the enemy. [Release].

Without a word, the enemy did the same. Swatch's paintbrush swung down, sending a multicoloured blocky 'slash' from his makeshift weapon, while Vis brought her arm down in a chop-like motion, sending a kaleidoscopic [Release] with an almost liquid-like texture to it flying alongside it. All four [Releases] collided in the air, exploding with a shockwave of vicious colour.

As the light faded, it was replaced by a thick cloud of white smoke. My teammates moved in unison, dashing through Streiphen's [Smokescreen] to swiftly approach the enemy in the cover they'd created. The smoke wouldn't be easy to see through, even for Casters with [Insight]. The smoke itself was formed from Aera, meaning [Insight] would still 'detect' it, making it harder to look through than normal smoke. It didn't affect Streiphen, and Sigura had her [Enhanced Senses] to rely on. From the first move of the fight, they were putting the enemy on the defensive.

Or... so they should have.

Although the two moved in unison, Sigura's speed was far above anything Streiphen could manage. She shot through the smoke, her blade swinging down before he'd even closed half the distance, knowing that by the time she reached them, her weapon would strike true.

But she never made it. Sigura's eyes widened, her expression contorting with pain as she skidded to a stop, dropping to one knee. Her fingers uncurled around the pure metal handle of the weapon I'd crafted for her, moving to cover the pair of Cat-like ears atop her head with a grimace.

I had no idea what had happened. I hadn't perceived any attack, nor the use of Aera from the enemy. The only difference I saw in them was that Swatch's antennae were beginning to wiggle and vibrate. It clearly wasn't a nervous shiver. He'd done something to Sigura.

All around us, I could see Tierakin behind windows and closed doors clutching at their ears. I saw and heard whines of anguish as some of the spectators closed their windows or backed away from doors.

Was he capable of creating some high frequency sound I couldn't perceive? Something that only affected the Beastfolk around us? Was that some form of Sound Magic, or a natural ability of the Mothfolk?

I knew too little. We knew too little.

The sound didn't stop Streiphen in the slightest. He darted forward, bringing his blade down as Swatch's paintbrush was held out in front of him. The brown bristles were coated with a jigsaw of colour as [Sheen] spread through them, stiffening the end of his weapon. With a swing, he met Streiphen's challenge, blocking the blade's arc.

"Bastard!" Sigura roared, still clutching her ears while her teeth grinded against one another.

"What's wrong, pussycat? Can't handle a little noise?" the Mothfolk responded with a grin, his eyes still locked onto Streiphen. "You look like you're all bark anyway, so I thought you'd be used to it."

Streiphen pushed harder on his blade, but was unable to force him back. The other woman, Vis, still hadn't turned or looked away.

Then, Sigura rose to her feet. She pulled both hands, which I now saw were glowing gold, away from her ears. Even though she was panting hard, she wasn't grimacing quite like she had been before. Her ears were stuffed now, clogged by two triangular formations of [Hard Light].

She'd created earplugs.

I didn't know how effective that would be in the long run, but we didn't have a better answer to his ability than that. We were lucky she was a Halfblood, given that she still had her less sensitive Human ears on either side of her head to work with.

"Go for his antennae, Streiphen!" she roared to the Chimera, clenching the handle of her dropped blade between her toes before flicking her leg upwards, sending the weapon spinning back up and into her grasp.

Dark smoke began to spill out from Streiphen's skin, filling the space around him. His skin began to change as a collection of small white spots akin to freckles formed on his face and exposed skin. Lines spread out from each dot, connecting them like sets of constellations as he began to float in the air, still gripping his blade tightly with both hands.

"Above," Vis spoke calmly.

Streiphen jumped, his feet leaving the ground as the smoke around him acted as a platform to help him reposition. He took force out of the weapon clash, letting the giant paintbrush push forward as he swung his leg up around the artefact, kicking straight for the Mothman's head.

Swatch grinned, raising an arm to block the strike even before Streiphen had finished doing it. The Mothman's sleeved arm was coated in [Sheen], blocking the attack without risk.

"From your right," Vis spoke again.

Streiphen pulled his leg back from his mid-air strike, letting gravity pull him down for just a moment before he swung the limb around to strike at the Mothman's shoulder. Swatch's arm snapped out, [Sheen] coating the inside of his palm as it faded from his sleeve. Blocking the force of the strike, his fingers clamped around the boy's leg as Streiphen's eyes widened. With a [Sheen] of a jigsaw-like colour formation coating his forehead, he swung forward, bashing into Streiphen's own, sending him careening back in mid air as Swatch released his grip.

"Easy!" Swatch grinned. "Guess this is what they call 'child's play', huh? Nothing like putting weaker Casters in their-"

"Fly," Vis spoke, interrupting the Mothman's taunts.

Without a moment of hesitation, he began to flap his wings, kicking off the ground to quickly soar into the air as a cluster of Fareel's Familiars leapt off of Streiphen's body and from around him in unison. Swatch flew out of their reach, using his spare hand to mockingly yawn. Then, he raised an eyebrow, looking back towards his ally.

"Really, Vis? You got me to dodge those little things?" he asked.

"They're stronger than they look, Swatch. They're still the Velvet Star's Casters, inexperienced as they are," she chided.

"Yeah, but they're light," Swatch grinned, flapping his wings faster. A gust of wind billowed out from within, accompanied by a flash of multicoloured [Release]. Was he using Wind Magic, or simply the force of the [Release] alone? It was impossible to tell, but the force sent the cluster of Familiars tumbling away at high speed, dispersing as they rolled down the street.

Sigura burst free from the smoke, bringing her blade around with a deadly slash, aiming for Vis' midsection.

"[Fortress]," she spoke, raising a single arm. The palm of her hand began to glow in a manner similar to [Sheen], but... different, somehow. Instead of a coating, it appeared more like a brief flash that appeared during the instant the impact hit. It emphasized the wrinkles and lines in her palm, making it seem much more vivid and detailed during that one instant.

Sigura's eyes widened as she blocked the blow one-handed, leaping back to gain distance from her.

"The fuck was that...?" Sigura muttered, lowering her voice. "That wasn't just reflex, Yur. She's got some crazy abilities up her sleeves."

"Yeah, yeah, keep attacking," Swatch grinned.

Sigura did exactly that, lunging forwards once again at even greater speeds. The blade was hard to track, but my [Honed Vision] let me keep it entirely within my focus. Once again, she muttered [Fortress], blocking the strike with her arm. The sleeve of her dress flashed with that painted, kaleidoscopic look, emphasizing the folds and even individual strands within the fabric as Sigura's attack seemed to have little effect.

"That ain't just some single use Skill either," Sigura grimaced, skipping back after her second strike. "It looks like [Sheen], but it feels different. Another Luster Technique?"

"You'll never hit Visionary, kitty Cat," the flying Mothman jeered. He flew at the edge of the smoke, his eyes glowing with [Insight]. "She can see the future, so you don't have a chance. She's a combat precog."

Precog? This 'Visionary' had precognition? It seemed different from the precognition I'd seen from Plague Prophet, who could only detect something specific and vague. Was there some sort of gimmick to her abilities, too?

"Fly backwards," Visionary spoke, completely unflapped by the commentary.

The Mothfolk raised an eyebrow, but flew backwards. Sigura whirled around on the spot, launching into the air as she cracked the ground beneath her feet with [Release]. Her blade lanced through the smoke, barely missing Swatch as he drifted away.

"Nice try, kitty Cat," he grinned. "Your physical abilities aren't bad, but-"

"Keep flying, Swatch!" Visionary shouted, raising her voice while spinning around as Sigura's face was adorned with a toothy grin.

"[Sky Step]," Sigura murmured, kicking against the air. Despite being high off the ground, the controlled burst of [Release] pushed against the air around her, the shockwave launching her forward. She shot forward like a bullet, prompting the stunned Swatch to raise his paintbrush, [Sheen] coating the bristles. He managed to block Sigura's slash, yet the force of it caused both the artefact and his arms to shake.

"Above y-"

Visionary's words were cut off as Sigura once again kicked the sky itself, replicating Streiphen's failed technique to smack her leg hard into his shoulder.

Swatch was sent shooting down towards the ground, his spare arm clutching at the bruise she'd left, even through his [Mantle], as he flapped his wings, gliding to avoid smashing against the pavement. He landed on his feet, still grinning to himself.

"You're a real lucky guy," Sigura grinned, falling from high up before landing on her feet with ease. A Nekari Racial Skill. "If not for your pal, I'd've kicked those shitty antennae right off your damn head. Least I got you to shut up that damned racket."

Sigura's ears were still plugged, but I could see clear as day that his antennae weren't vibrating anymore.

"Good job, Miss Sunburst!" Streiphen chirped, making his way to her side with weapon drawn.

"You've got more power in you than I thought, for a newbie," Swatch grinned. "Guess that video of you keeping up with Wolfheart was the real deal."

"Compared to him, you seem like you're moving in slow motion," Sigura snorted, pointing the tip of her blade towards the ground. "I was expectin' more from you. Even against a kick as slow as that, you needed your pal over there to help you dodge."

Swatch grinned for a moment, believing it to be a bluff. When he saw the serious, bored look in Sigura's eyes through the rolling fog, I saw that grin slowly but surely falter and erode. He realised that Sigura truly could still go faster.

"You're not usin' any damn magic, and neither is she," Sigura commented, jerking her thumb back towards Visionary, who hadn't moved from her spot since the fight began. "You lookin' down on us, Butterfly?"

"Why would we bother using magic against people like you two if we don't have to? Knowledge is power, Sunburst," Swatch grinned.

He said that, but he was willing to mention that Visionary was a precognitive? Was that a simple slip of the tongue? A comment used solely for intimidation? Or... was it a lie designed to mislead us? To make us think her abilities were something they weren't?

While the others were speaking, a cluster of Fareel's Familiars leapt off the streets, jumping for Visionary in unison from all directions. Even though many should have come from her blind spots, she dodged them all perfectly. She moved with small, calculated motions. Gingerly lifting one leg, pulling her left arm inwards, swerving her body to the side. Minimal actions that kept Fareel's insects just out of reach.

As more of them clustered around her, she was forced to move from her original location to avoid the horde. Even with the ability to 'see the future', that meant nothing if they attacked from every direction at once. She took a step back, raising one leg like she had before. Through my [Insight], I saw something forming just above her foot, a blurry, painted looking 'bubble' of air. As the Familiars left, the 'bubble' popped, sending a shockwave outwards in all directions, knocking the horde of insects backwards as she allowed herself to be blown back towards the curb.

What was that? The effect seemed similar to [Release], and the intent to blow them away was similar to Swatch's usage of it earlier. Did that mean that he didn't use Wind Magic, but simply a [Release]? In that case, what had she used? Was that a... different way of using [Release]? She didn't control its path and shape through a physical motion, but by creating a 'bubble' of Aera just off the surface of her skin.

Whirling away from the Mothman, Streiphen made his way back to Visionary, joining the horde of Familiars as they worked to pressure and corner the Half Elven woman. Those still clinging to the boy's body leapt for her as she dodged, avoiding both his swings and the leaping Familiars without issue. Even at that close range, they weren't able to land on her. She seemed to know exactly where to be to avoid getting struck. Did she really have some form of precognition, or some sort of advanced [Danger Sense]?

I needed to analyse every clue I'd been given. Understanding the abilities of the enemies was key here. If our foes started counterattacking instead of simply defending against us, I'd need to help. Visionary could only do so much if she was boxed into a corner with my metal, and creating walls to stop Swatch's retreat would've helped Sigura, too. If we couldn't beat them, we could at least pressure them into using their magic. Into giving up hints as to how their abilities worked.

But how could I help in a way that didn't put my Soul at risk? Or put my teammates at risk, for that matter? The woman with the night-black skin was staring me down. If I used my abilities, would she or her allies intervene? I couldn't discern their strength, but if they were all as skilled as these two, it was possible we'd lose an all out brawl. I didn't want to have to fight full force in a residential area anyway, but Big Tooth had taught me that we didn't always get to choose the most convenient battlefields.

Our side hadn't used much magic, but if our enemies were this experienced and skilled with using mere Luster Arts and coordination alone, this could go badly fast. We needed to keep up with the enemy, especially with the audience of civilians watching us. Relying on us. I needed to help, to call out my metal and-

You can rely on us too, Miss Yuri!

I stopped, calling off the attempts of my [Telekinetic Field] to pull me into the fight as Streiphen's words echoed within my mind. Even if the enemy managed to win and deface the monument, it was important we got out of this strong enough to fight another day. If these people were going to go at war with the Velvet Star, I couldn't afford to push myself too much in this trivial conflict.

I... I couldn't let myself be useless. Not again.

Even if I couldn't help with the battle itself without risking the health of my Soul, I'd learned a lot about the enemy, which I could...

No. Even if I couldn't fight directly, I was still the team leader. In a situation like this, where I couldn't directly fight without consequences, there was still something I could do.

I could lead.

"[I'm going to help-]" I told them, sending my [Telepathy] to the Equinox members present. Before I'd even finished speaking, I could already see grimaces and mouths opening to tell me off. I wasn't going to let that deter me. "[-indirectly, by working as a battle commander. Unless it's an emergency, I won't intervene myself, but I want to help.]"

Although Streiphen looked apprehensive, Sigura gave a small nod and a big smile.

"Fine, alright. Lead the way, boss," she murmured quietly, voice tinged with anticipation.

Working through all the data I'd gathered, I made my first move.

"[First, you all need to target 'Visionary',]" I commanded, hoping I wasn't making a mistake. "[Attack her with everything you've got without revealing any new information, but be ready to turn your attention elsewhere.]"

Sigura raised an eyebrow at the command, but made no complaints as she spun around, dashing after Streiphen as she left the wide-eyed Mothman in the dust. She joined Streiphen in attacking Visionary as the two Chimeras and the horde of Familiars threw blow after blow. She dodged, wove, and blocked with that '[Fortress]' ability, but her stamina couldn't be unlimited. She'd have to reveal something eventually.

"[Position some of the... Fareelings to occupy Visionary, and have some of them latch onto Streiphen and Sigura in the fray,]" I said, watching as Swatch took to the air faster than I anticipated, beginning to fly towards the two Casters with their backs to him. "[Now! Leave Visionary to the Familiars and attack Swatch together!]"

Streiphen blinked with confusion, but was barely a moment slower than Sigura as they turned their backs to the Half Elf, blue insects leaping up to cling to their bodies and clothes. Sigura half-crouched, allowing Streiphen to hop onto her back. He held his blade in his left hand, while his right was wrapped around Sigura's shoulder. With a pair of [Releases] cracking the ground, Sigura launched into the air with Streiphen clinging to her back as a cluster of Fareel's brood continued to harry the Half Elf.

Swatch's eyes widened as he flew higher into the air and away from the sudden attack. He didn't get far as Sigura kicked against the sky, flying after him.

"What's the goal, boss?" Sigura asked, her eyes locked firmly on the Mothman as she chased him, blade in hand. "We tryin' to take them down?"

"[It's unlikely we can beat them if they all use their abilities. The goal is to show our skills to the audience and gather intel on their Casters. Our top priority is figuring out how Visionary's abilities work, so I'm keeping an eye on her. I suspect her abilities aren't as simple as 'future sight'.]"

"Got it," Sigura grinned, raising her weapon.

I didn't know how hard wings were to heal through Potions or conventional Healing Magic. If they were anything like bones and came with extra complications, I didn't want to cause any unnecessary damage. Even if they had waged war on us, that didn't mean that the city-wide agreement wasn't in effect, right? It was best to beat them cleanly, to be safe rather than sorry. To show restraint and control, like the Don often preached.

Sigura's blade came down against the Mothman's [Sheen] covered paintbrush, a blow he couldn't easily defend against in mid-air.

"[Fareel, try to get some of your Familiars onto him. Don't aim for the wings, I want you to target his hands. If we can force that artefact away from him, we'll have a higher chance of pushing him into a position where he'll have to use his magic.]"

Fareel nodded as my eyes turned towards Visionary. He was working to pressure her while simultaneously fulfilling my orders. I still wasn't sure how Visionary perceived the world. Was her 'future vision' some omnidirectional ability? It clearly didn't rely on sight to create her 'visions' of the future, given that she could block and dodge attacks from her conventional blind spots. Did she have an ability like mine? Like [Sensory Zone]?

The trio by the monument didn't try to interfere with either battle, even as Sigura and Streiphen's combined bladework continued to pressure Swatch. The three of them were looking up at the glowing [Mantles] high in the air, yet none of them even offered a word of advice or assistance. Was it a mere lack of camaraderie, or were they hoping he'd lose? The Centaur Halfblood's expression was disapproving and stern. He clearly wasn't pleased to see his... ally(?) getting pressured like this.

Through my [Insight], I worked to get a better idea of who these people were. I had a spare moment to divert my focus with [Thought Acceleration] anyway. I read into his Aera, putting particular focus on sharpening the 'impressions' he gave off. They seemed... clearer than impressions I'd gotten from others. Was that due to my growing skills, or something to do with him?

Like I suspected from his expression and body language, Contour was far from pleased with Swatch's performance. He wanted this to be a pure show of strength. Turning my [Insight] on those with him, I tried to gleam further details. The [Painter] looking man, Medium, gave off an impression of amusement, like he enjoyed watching Swatch getting overwhelmed. The dark skinned woman, Sfumato, seemed closer to Contour in feeling. She seemed stern, disapproving, and... exasperated? The impressions were nebulous, something I was still learning to discern, but I felt relatively confident in my readings of the trio.

They were all using [Mantle] without taking part in the fighting. Was that to practice keeping it active for prolonged periods, or just for intimidation?

In the air, Swatch began making defensive swings, trying to knock Streiphen and Sigura's weapons away with his own before they could launch combined attacks on him. He had more physical power than his frame suggested, but it was far from enough power and speed to get Equinox off of him. I was stunned with how easily Sigura was keeping up with him, but such constant usage of Luster Arts had to be taking their toll. As grand as Sigura’s reserves of Aera and stamina were, they weren’t endless.

With his weapon in one hand, Streiphen brought his mangled blade in from the side, the black starry smoke he was conjuring hovering around his arm and body. With reduced weight and greater speed, Swatch was forced to use the entirety of the paintbrush to block a direct hit, guarding with the massive handle of the weapon.

It was a poor decision, given that it left him open for Sigura's strike. Despite being high in the air with a full person clinging to her, she was capable of keeping her balance. The focus in her eyes was incredible, devoted entirely to the battle ahead of her. Even though Streiphen was using the smoke to help take some pressure off of her, a battle like this required intense levels of balance and control with her Luster Arts. She was focusing on her [Mantle], the [Sky Steps], and the [Sheen] along her blade. While the balance in the air was in part due to her Nekari prowess, much of it was just... natural talent.

I'd always held the impression that Sigura was a prodigy when it came to combat, and now these enemies were seeing it first-hand.

Spotting the massive opening Streiphen created, Sigura brought her weapon down. She smashed the bottom of the metal blade's hilt into Swatch's shoulder. She kicked against the air with [Sky Step], pushing herself towards Swatch's blind side as he recoiled from the strike. Sheathing her blade, she brought her hand down with a one handed chop into the Mothman's exposed neck before he could raise an arm to block.

He spluttered, wings flapping wildly as he moved to gain distance from the pair. Sigura's fist began to glow from light, and she made a blatant punch towards his midsection. No longer grinning, the Mothman flapped against the air, creating a blast of wind that sent both Streiphen and Sigura's hair billowing. He barely dodged the direct impact of the fist, but that didn't stop the blunt wave of [Release] from flying forward, striking him directly in the chest.

The Mothman was left gasping for breath, pushing the paintbrush out of Sigura's reach when she went for it as he began to careen downwards, flying back down to earth. He began to pick up speed while facing away from the pavement below in an attempt to catch his breath. His wings flapped again, working to take some of the force from his fall. Despite the power in his wings, he couldn't divert enough velocity to fall harmlessly.

I felt a pang of dread in my chest. If he truly fell to the concrete and died from the impact, would we be blamed? He was the one that started this fight, and-

Sigura kicked against the sky, sending herself flying towards him. Her expression contorted into a snarl as she worked to move faster and faster to catch the Mothman.

Swatch must have judged that she was going to strike him again, because his eyes and Aera filled with a feeling of shock and indignation.

Then, he used his magic.

Pushing against the force of the wind, his Aera began to coalesce around the brush clenched tightly within his claws. I watched as the Aera transformed into thick green paint. He swung the brush down, sending a wave of paint splashing down towards the pavement below. As he collided with the puddle of bright green he'd created, the ground appeared to buckle within the paint. Swatch sunk down, and was suddenly bounced lightly upwards as though caught by a trampoline.

How much of that was his magic, and how much was that of the brush's runes? Even without knowing, this was a massive hint to his overall capabilities.

Off to the side, I saw the Centaur/Goliath Halfblood sigh, his eyes locked onto Swatch as he touched down on the unpainted pavement, working to catch his breath.

"He's a fool for letting his guard down," Contour muttered. "He should have focused entirely on attacking at range and keeping his distance.”

"Keeping his distance is easier said than done," Medium shrugged. "She's a Sword Caster, and her physical abilities are pretty damn impressive."

"She's still a novice to magic," Contour replied, his eyes travelling upwards to look towards Sigura as she flew down towards the pavement like a sun-coloured comet. "She only possesses rudimentary Spells, even if her command of Luster Arts is passable. They are not much if she is restrained or zoned."

Instead of responding, I caught sight of the [Painter's] pocket vibrating. He reached one hand in, pulling out a silver coloured Vox. When he pulled his eyes from the fight and to the artefact, I was stunned by how completely unconcerned they were about the state their ally was in. Were they that confident he would make it out fine? Or did they not care?

Swatch dropped the paintbrush to the pavement, gasping for air as Sigura and Streiphen swiftly approached. She swung her legs downwards, kicking against the air with one final [Sky Step] to break their fall before she touched down on solid ground. She was sweating with the exertion of constant Luster Art usage, but looked far from ready to quit.

"You've got a lot of Aera for a newbie," Swatch said, looking up towards the pair as Streiphen hopped off of her. "Both of you."

"Stop tryin' to play this 'oh you're better than I thought' game with us, shorty," Sigura drawled, planting both hands on her hips. "You're gettin' your ass kicked, and you had to use your magic. Just admit you're outclassed."

"Time to head back," the dark skinned Sfumato called out. "Stop fooling around Swatch, we've got to go."

Sigura took both hands from her hips as they began to flex once again. I noticed her arm twitch, her expression contorting into one of anger.

"Not happenin'," she grinned back. "I've had enough of this shit of people thinkin' we'll just let 'em run off as soon as the goin' gets tough. You picked this fight."

Despite the Fareelings continually leaping for her even now, I watched as Visionary began to move from her spot, walking to approach Sigura.

"Vis...?" Sfumato murmured, looking towards the Half Elf. "You don't have to waste your energy on these chumps."

"No. This is important," she responded without looking away from Sigura's direction. "There are people watching all around us."

Only now, her allies began to glance around, making eye contact with some of the spectators behind windows and doors. Many broke that eye contact immediately, or pulled curtains in the way to hide themselves.

Visionary must have had an ability like mine if she could see that. I'd been keeping track, and I hadn't seen her look towards the houses around us once during that entire fight. If it was just some combat based precognition, would she really be able to focus on visions of people all around her, too?

"We should fight them as a group," Visionary declared. "Contour will remain behind just in case."

"Understood," the Halfblood nodded.

With a sigh, the [Painter] began to unstrap the belt from his waist, creating a silvery ripple in space next to him. It was an ability I recognised, even if the pattern of that 'ripple' was different. It was the same as Pack Rat's [Hammerspace]. Spatial Magic.

I'd asked the elderly Roden about learning it, given the ability's sheer convenience. He claimed that creating 'miniature' Pocket Dimensions wasn't that hard for those with an affinity for Spatial Magic, but far harder to learn as a generalised ability. Even simple Spatial Magic was harder than intermediate abilities of other Schools, or so he'd claimed. It wasn't something just anyone could learn without great effort.

Swatch used some form of Property Magic that influenced paint. Medium had Spatial Magic. Contour likely had some form of movement ability, and Visionary had an omnidirectional sight ability like mine.

Little by little, I was beginning to put pieces together.

Streiphen took a step away from Sigura, gripping his weapon with both hands as the Fareelings stopped attacking Visionary. Now, they positioned themselves defensively around our two allies.

"[This could break out into a proper fight. Are you... sure you don't want my help? You'll be outnumbered,]" I spoke, hoping they'd relent and I'd get a free pass.

"We'll be fine, Yur," Sigura replied under her breath. Streiphen shook his head to deny my help, as did Fareel, who was still standing next to me.

The Half Nekari Chimera stepped forward, grinning as she began to crack her knuckles.

"No idea what your gimmick is, but it doesn't matter. You really gonna throw punches with me after seein' that?" Sigura spoke with a toothy grin, moving over Fareel's miniature sea of bodies to meet the woman's challenge.

Visionary nodded, transitioning into a lowered battle stance. Whoever she was, she had experience in close quarters. Before now, she'd been in a purely relaxed stance before making any loose, minimal dodges. Now, the air around her felt different.

"Good," Sigura grinned, darting forward as she threw the first punch.

The moment they stepped within range of one another, the battle became a one on one clash of blows. Visionary was fast, but she lacked the sheer reflexes and speed of Sigura. Even if that much was evident... it didn't matter. She could block blows even before Sigura threw them. She could see through feints with ease and block accordingly with little to no warning from the taller combatant. She didn't even need to use her limbs to guard, with flashes of that sharpening light appearing on her body along spots that Sigura struck, drastically reducing the force of her attacks.

Whatever that '[Fortress]' ability was, it was incredibly potent. It wasn't long before Visionary started fighting back either. She threw curved punches and high kicks accompanied by flashes of light. Every single strike hit their mark, moving to damage Sigura even when she attempted to dodge. Was it true 'future sight', or was she capable of making people move a certain way? I was aware that was possible with Mental Magic through subtle cues, but I saw nothing that suggested it. No matter what her abilities truly were, they were no mere gimmick. As the blows grew faster and faster from both sides, it became clear to me that she truly did have some ability that let her see the future.

With each blow from Visionary's fists and feet came a blinding flash of light. It wasn't the flash and shockwave of a [Release], but the sharpening 'flash' of [Fortress]. Alongside incredible defense, the ability clearly allowed her to enhance her blows. With every strike she landed, I saw Sigura's face grimace as her focus sharpened further and further.

Around the pair of blurring fighters, nobody was fighting. Streiphen was stunned to a stop as he watched the two clashing. Sfumato let out a sigh, and I could practically feel the relief radiating off of Medium. Was it because he hadn't wanted to fight, or because he was worried about Visionary prior to her first clash of blows with Sigura?

With both sides becoming winded from the fight, both Sigura and Visionary took a step back, breaking the never-ending flurry of punches.

"Are you ready to stand down and let us do our work in peace?" Visionary asked. Although she was out of breath, Sigura hadn't landed a single blow that hadn't been severely weakened by [Fortress]. "The people have seen enough to know this is a decisive victory, even without my allies stepping in."

Sigura said nothing. She pointed her head towards the sky, closing her eyes as she took long, deep breaths. Both hands linked behind her back, stretching her arms as far as they'd go as the crack of knuckles and bones pervaded the silence.

"I'm glad I got to fight you, y'know?" Sigura grinned, crouching to begin stretching out her legs. "I've been fightin' nothin' but chumps for days now, and I haven't gotten a good workout. Y'know, I've been thinkin' that I'd gotten spoiled after fightin' against Wolfheart. Nobody else really does it for me. I was worryin' that I'd start gettin' rusty if there was nobody worth givin' my all against. I still hate what you're doin' here, but I'm grateful that out of all the people that could've been around here to kick your ass, it was me."

Stretching both hands above her head with one last motion, Sigura relaxed, letting her arms fall to her sides before both hands clenched into fists. Even though her body was covered in bruises from Visionary's attacks, she raised them once again.

"I'm warmed up now," Sigura grinned.

"If you haven't learned your lesson yet, then I'll have to teach you," Visionary sighed, getting back into her combat stance.

Streiphen and the pair of Visionary's allies took a reflexive step back in the moment that Sigura and Visionary stepped forward, engaging in a rush of punches once again.

There was a serious fire in Sigura's eyes. Her speed had increased once again, as had her power. It was difficult for Visionary to keep up and punch her back, but that [Fortress] technique took most of the force from Sigura's strikes. It was far too potent for me to think it was just a Luster Technique. Was that part of her magic...? Or were these Luster Techniques that potent in the hands of a master?

I checked with my [Insight], keeping my attention focused entirely on those flashes the moment they appeared. I couldn't see any Aera transforming, nor a change in 'identity' that marked the change into a Spell. Whenever she used [Fortress], her Aera became thinner and duller everywhere else on her body before becoming incredibly bright and thick in the spot where Sigura struck. As hard as it was to believe, this was a Luster Technique too. This wasn't even her magic.

The air around Sigura began to distort. Streams of light steam began to roll off of her body as sweat boiled from her skin. I was hoping that Sigura's Heat Magic would deal lasting damage that the instant flashes couldn't deal with, but... Sigura wasn't getting any hotter. Was she holding back her magic? Had she run out of Aera from before already...? They already knew what we could do from the battles against Big Tooth, so why hold that back?

In the midst of the clash, Visionary landed a clean strike to Sigura's chin. Her eyes rolled back, and I saw the Half Nekari stumble back a step, panting for breath.

"Fuck..." Sigura grimaced, raising a hand to wipe boiling sweat from around her mouth. "You really aren't all talk."

"You've only noticed now?" Visionary asked, raising an eyebrow. "Do you still doubt my abilities? You're underestimating me, Sunburst."

"Nah, not really," Sigura grinned, giving a shrug. "I was just thinkin' about how good it'd be if I could beat someone that could see the future with pure physical force, y'know? That'd be a real boost to our fame."

"But you can't," Visionary said, taking a step forward as a punch flew.

Streiphen jumped forward, raising his mangled blade in front of him as a green and black edged [Sheen] covered the front section of his weapon. With a flash, the [Fortress] enhanced punch collided with the weapon. I saw him clench his teeth together as the impact hit, shoving the other side of the blade into his protective jacket. The force sent him soaring backwards, skidding along the pavement as he coughed into the cold air, eyes wide with shock.

Sigura had been taking blows like that this entire fight.

"We don't care if you want to surrender, or if you consider this a draw," Visionary continued as Swatch walked past Sigura, joining Sfumato and Medium behind her. "I could beat you until you're unable to move, but it would make no difference. We have other things to do, and will continue this another day."

"You really gonna insist on runnin', huh?" Sigura grinned, trembling as she got back to her full height. "Well? If I had Yakamoz's Familiars stall you, are ya that confident your friends could beat me, even in the state I'm in?"

"Are you saying we couldn't?" Sfumato snapped back, eyes narrowing as the shadowy mist around her thickened. Visionary brought her arm out to hold the woman back, prompting both her eyes to widen.

"If you think you can, come at me," Sigura replied with a toothy grin, stretching her arms to the side. "Think of it as an invitation."

Once again, I caught sight of Medium's pocket vibrating from the Vox concealed within.

"We should go," Medium spoke again with a sigh. "We can deface the monument another day. The people around here have seen enough, given that you had another flawless fight, Vis."

After a brief pause, the Half Elf nodded.

"You're right. It's time for us to take our leave" she replied, turning away from us. "We'll see you around, Equinox. If you're this persistent, I'm sure we'll have to fight you again another time."

"Yeah, I look forward to it," Sigura grinned. Even if it was a roundabout way of doing it, we'd protected the monument, at least for today. "Next time, bring more reinforcements."

"We didn't even fight fully and kept up with you," Swatch groaned, rolling his eyes. "Don't get so cocky, Velvet Star. You're lucky that-"

"Say another word and I'll give you a few more bruises to go home with," Sigura growled, her fingers flexing.

"C'mon Swatch, it doesn't matter," Sfumato spoke, turning away to join Visionary in heading towards the Centaur/Goliath Halfblood. "They'll see what we're made of soon anyway."

"Yes. We will let our actions do the talking," Contour agreed. He unfurled his arms, reaching down towards Visionary. While giving her a hand, she hopped up onto his Goat-half. The rest of their group did the same until all four were on the massive figure's back. With one last glance, Contour turned, beginning to gallop away with his allies riding along. He leapt into the air, the movement taking him high over the ring of houses at the end of the cul-de-sac and out of view.

"Fuck," Sigura groaned quietly, breaking the silence that was threatening to creep in. She hadn't fallen, but she was beginning to sway. Her eyes widened with shock as she took a half step forward, trying to steady herself without falling to the ground "Hey, Yur... Hate to ask you this, but you mind returning the favour from before and carryin' me once we leave this street? That bitch hits so Gods damn hard."

That wasn't something I expected her to say, but I nodded with the front of my mech.

"[Are you alright to walk that far?]" I asked as she took the first step forward. Streiphen made his way over, offering to help support her, but she brushed him off.

She nodded in silence, and we turned away from the Miracle Workers monument, beginning our trek out of the cul-de-sac.

"[Why didn't you use the full extent of your Heat Magic, Sigura?]" I asked. "[Did the Luster Arts take that much Aera from you?]"

Despite the incredible defence that [Fortress] provided, it only worked for an instant and on a small section of her body. If she could only block for that length of time, her Heat Magic would have had more effect.

"I might’ve gotten Soulburn if I kept going after all those Luster Arts, but... nah, that wasn’t it... It was because I didn't want to win like that," Sigura grinned, taking a moment to spit a glob of blood out of her mouth. Despite her injuries, she walked in a way that made her look like she hadn't nearly been beaten into unconsciousness. "She's a seriously good fighter, and I don't care about our image as much as you do, Yur. I don't care about givin' the people hidin' behind doors and curtains a show as much as I want to improve. Think about it, Yur. How strong could I get if I managed to outpunch someone like that? Someone with that level of power and defence. Someone who could see the damn future."

She'd held back on purpose? That was... nothing like what I'd expected. Even after all those hits...

"They care too much about image, but I don't give a damn," Sigura grinned, looking my way. "I'll carve out our own reputation. We don't need to rely on the Velvet Star's name to get respect. People will learn about us, not just our group. I want to get results, not just reputation. If we take the easy road to success, we won't get to that."

Sigura sighed, her body trembling with something that I suspected wasn't mere pain or the aftereffects of her injuries.

"Greater risk, greater reward, right?" Sigura muttered, flashing a wide, toothy grin.

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

"They claimed they were waging war?" the Don asked, sitting in his violet plush chair behind his beautifully carved wooden desk.

As my teammates, wounded and weary as they were, stepped into the Don's office, I used a single leg to gingerly push the doors behind me closed.

Sigura tried her best not to stumble as she entered, getting her gait and posture refined to an acceptable level despite the visible bruises lining her body. She said she was fine to walk by the time we'd returned to the base. On the way back, we'd settled on a compromise. She'd sat atop my mech, her back to my suit's helmet with one leg swung over the other. She'd managed to look imperious and serious, keeping her gaze sweeping along the crowds of Divastyr's streets as though we were having a normal patrol despite not being able to walk properly unaided. Now that she'd had a 'bit of rest', she claimed she was fine.

That didn't stop her from grimacing as she eased herself down into the plush chair the Don had prepared, even if she'd managed not to groan or cry out. When we'd explained the situation to Comnica, she worked to set up a meeting with the Don after checking with Master Cat first. Although he'd been briefed on our situation, he wanted us to come in and talk about specifics.

"I can't say I expected anyone to target the monument," the Don mused, running a hand over his slick, jet black hair. "It's a shocking and disappointing thing, to disrespect the fallen so readily."

"[That claimed it was a monument to the past that stood in the way of people's safety. That it was creating 'false peace',]" I informed him as the rest of my teammates took their seats, giving me the space to fold my legs and sit down on the intricate lavender rug.

"False peace, hmm...?" the Don murmured. "Then what even is true peace in their eyes, if not this?

"[They wanted the common people to be able to protect themselves. They didn't want everyone to rely on 'false' protectors, even though we've been doing a good job keeping crime off the streets,]" I replied.

The Don's auburn eyes gained a new light to them, and the Human nodded understandingly.

"Ah. I know who you're speaking of now, with a philosophy like that. 'Aerasthetic'. They're another ruling group, much like ourselves. They control Divastyr's Karisti region, a neighbouring area."

'Karisti'? A different region to our 'Sova'.

"Their plan is short sighted and hopelessly optimistic," the Don sighed, whirling his seat around to face the pure black windows filtering the midday light. "They're little better than an anarchist group, even if they don't believe themselves to be such. Casters attain greater power and Experience through risk. Entire communities that dedicate themselves to the relentless pursuit of this principle rarely last long. If they survive such an ordeal of constant risk and competition, they'll become a small and tight-knit group. To form this 'peace', there would be incredible loss of life no matter how they operate."

Streiphen's eyes drifted down towards the floor, both hands rising to take off the hard black mask around his eyes.

"Who did you encounter?" the Don asked, glancing towards Sigura. More specifically... her wounds.

"[Swatch, Contour, Medium, Sfumato, and Visionary,]" I answered concisely. I didn't know how much Sigura wanted to talk on the matter, and I'd agreed to do most of the talking on the way here.

"Ah, yes," the Don nodded, leaning back into his seat. "Visionary is one of their higher-ups. If she was the one to cause this much damage to our dear Sunburst, I can understand it. Did you learn anything about her abilities?"

Sigura sighed at the question, looking up towards the ceiling. The clear displeasure at the question didn't go unnoticed by Master Cat, who shot her a disapproving glare she didn't catch.

"[She didn't cast a single Spell,]" I replied, tone tinged with regret. "[Although her allies claimed she possessed future sight.]"

"Or so the rumours say," the Don replied smoothly.

"[But... it seems to be more than that, if it's that at all,]" I responded.

"Oh? Do tell," the Don smiled, an eyebrow raised. "Any details you can offer on their abilities would be appreciated."

"[It's...]" I came to a stop. I didn't want to give pointless conjecture and theories that might not even be true, especially when it could lead to assumptions that would blind us to her capabilities in later fights. "[I haven't been able to confirm anything, but I've made some... observations. I... suspect her Sensory abilities are somewhat like mine. She doesn't use her eyes to see, and can instead perceive everything in a space around her. It... isn't as simple as battle precognition. It's something else too, but I don't know much beyond that.]"

The Don nodded understandingly, glancing towards Master Cat. The Adept's eyes were closed, and his expression became more focused. Committing the details to memory? Sending a [Message]?

"[And... We found out some other minor details. Swatch uses Property Magic, something that works with paint. He was able to make the pavement bouncy to break the force of a long fall.]"

"Good to note," the Don nodded. "From what I understand, Visionary is a very accomplished fighter even without her 'special sight', although I've heard little of the others. Still, I'm surprised Sunburst ended up so injured despite dueling Wolfheart like she did before."

"Yeah," Sigura groaned, stretching her arms to link both hands behind her head. "I wasn't wearing my costume, so she got clean hits on me. I didn't think I'd actually be fighting anyone of worth, so I didn't bother putting it on."

"Is the costume uncomfortable?" the Don asked with a raised brow. "I could ask Debutante when she would be next available if your costume needs alterations."

"Nah, the costume's perfect," Sigura replied with a shake of her head. "That Lich knows her stuff. I didn't wear the costume because it's too good. Figured I'd grow more without it, seein' as how there'd be more risk in a fight and all."

The Don nodded understandingly, a smile dawning on his face and a twinkle forming in his eye.

"[I believe Sigura could have won the battle if she was fighting at full strength,]" I spoke up, working to defend my teammate. "[She didn't use her Heat Magic, as she wanted to test and scope out Visionary's combat abilities.]"

Streiphen nodded in agreement, giving the Don a serious look. I didn't want him to think less of our ability to get jobs done, and I was glad for the unspoken support. Part of me expected Fareel to nod too, but... he was staring at the black window. Although my focus hadn't been on him, I didn't think he'd moved his eyes from that spot since sitting down. His expression was... forlorn.

"I wanted to grow, not just to win a fight," Sigura added. "Especially if she wasn't usin' any magic either. They were assholes, but I wanted to squeeze all the growth I could outta that fight, especially since we weren't the targets at risk."

"An admirable mindset, even if it left you with injuries," the Don commented.

"Yeah, she used some Luster Technique I'd never seen before," Sigura replied. "It gave her a serious edge over me in that fight."

"[Fortress]," I supplied, spreading the word through my [Telepathy].

The comment caused Master Cat to frown as his eyes reopened.

"Yeah, that," Sigura nodded. "Anythin' you can tell us about it, boss? Or how I could learn to use it?"

"[Fortress]... it's a risky ability," the Don replied. "Visionary may be one of the few very common users of the technique in all of Divastyr. It drastically increases the power and defence of a spot on the body by centralising nearly all of one's Aera on it. One cannot cast Spells while using it, and the effect causes the Aura around the rest of the body to centralise on that single point, leaving the rest of one's form even more vulnerable than usual, even if only for an instant. It causes other segments of the body to be weaker than even that of a low levelled Caster without [Mantle]. It's a high risk, high reward ability that requires incredible skill and timing, one I'm certain she can abuse with her 'future sight'."

"Fuck, alright," Sigura groaned, crossing her arms.

"It's an ingenious use of the Luster Technique, in truth," the Don admitted. "It creates a great amount of risk, which I'm sure has done wonders for her growth and Experience gain."

"Umm... I've been thinking," Streiphen interjected, glancing towards the Fishman staring at the window. "Maybe they're connected to the people Fareel met before?"

"[Which group?]" I asked, feeling concern well up within me. I hadn't heard anything about this, and neither had the Don, if his raised eyebrow was any indication.

When Fareel didn't respond to his name being spoken, Streiphen leaned over the tall arm of his own plush chair, reaching over to prod the Fishfolk in the arm. The distracted Chimera jumped, blinking his wide orange eyes before looking back towards Streiphen.

"What was that group you told me you met before, Fareel?" Streiphen asked again.

With a sheepish grin, the Fishfolk raised a single webbed hand. The blue glow of his Aera appeared before transforming into a [Water Sphere], the shape molding and shifting until it became a rough, empty square with a single dot in the center.

Even if Fareel wasn't usually a very attentive person, it was strange for him to be so... distant. I'd never seen him like this.

"Ah, that's a familiar symbol," the Don nodded.

"[Are they an important group around here?]" I asked.

"In a sense, yes," the Don replied, turning his eyes back towards the forefront of my emerald helm. "They're known as 'Gold Standard'. They work as independent mercenaries that operate in Divastyr and beyond. They don't side with any one of the Seven Territories in particular, and instead aid whichever one has the most coin to offer. They handle jobs like smuggling and breakouts primarily, and have an excellent track record for well-paying jobs."

"There are independents too?" Sigura groaned, looking back down towards the Don. "How do they fit into this city's ridiculous 'balance'?"

"They don't," the Don replied stiffly. "They can be a problem at times. Conflict between rulers is profitable for them, so they've been known to try and orchestrate battles between territories."

"[Shouldn't the rulers unite to take them down, then? That was what was agreed on for the Disciples, wasn't it?]" I asked. "[How could they get away with that?]"

"They're smart," the Don responded. "They're always careful to moderate their little games to make sure they don't go too far. Unlike the Disciples, they care about the rules, and have a desire to keep the city's 'order' intact. Even if conflict is better for them, outright war would cause the framework of Divastyr's tentative structure to topple to the ground. If that happened, they'd lose their treasure trove of villainy to make profit from, much like we would."

"Right. Not a problem for now then," Sigura nodded. "Can you get someone to patrol or keep watch around the monument? Those 'Aerasthetic' bastards told us they'd be back to finish the job."

"Of course," the Don smiled. "If we know where they plan to strike and why, then I'll make sure we have eyes on the area, as well as Casters on standby that can teach them that our reputation doesn't just come from bluster and the deeds of the past. If they doubt our abilities, we'll remind them why the Velvet Star formed such a legacy in the first place, and ensure we have a sufficient welcome party ready for their return."

"Good," Sigura responded, relaxing again as a toothy grin spread across her face. "I'll be waitin' to see their smug faces shoved into the pavement."

"While I have you here, Equinox, I'd like to thank you for aiding Firecracker and Sparks the other day," the Don smiled. "Even if they aren't members like you are, they're an asset to the future of our group. Losing them would've been unfortunate on a number of levels."

To the future of the group...? Were they that important? I didn't want to think ill of them after just one meeting, but they didn't seem to be anything special, at least not enough to warrant that kind of response from the Don.

"And, of course, your private rooms are nearing completion. You should expect to receive the invite to them shortly to attune your Aera to the Selarium locks."

"We can still use that communal room though, right?" Sigura asked, trying not to grimace or groan as she repositioned in her seat.

"You're free to stay there if you wish while using the private room for storage, training, or whatever else you like. Many of our members live elsewhere and do much the same. How you use your private space is entirely your decision."

That was a relief. Still, it was something to think about. I already had a place to sleep and rest with the communal room, and I had the halls and workshop for training and building. Beyond housing the Vox, I didn't know what I'd be using that space for if we were allowed to keep our existing room.

"I must admit, I'm glad to hear the monument wasn't defaced," the Don commented, breaking eye contact to whirl around and look back out towards the black window. "Having that monument tarnished would be... disappointing."

"[What were they like?]" I asked. "[The Miracle Workers, I mean. You talk about them like they were your allies.]"

If they were closely tied to the Star, and losing them contributed to their fighting force being reduced, that could've served as a reason for their sudden retirement.

"Oh, no. They were our enemies. A real thorn in my side," the Don smiled. "They were prominent adventurers in the community, not criminals like you and I. That being said, they understood the need for the order of things here in Divastyr. Sadly, that awareness made them keenly aware of knowing where they could take action against us and others while getting away with it. It kept us on our toes and caused a headache or two, but I must admit I miss our conflicts. Things have been less stimulating without them around."

I heard the Don sigh, a rare, open display of opinion unrelated to our missions. After a moment of silence, his smile returned in force as his chair whirled around to face our team.

"But it seems I won't need to worry about that for long, given that Aerasthetic appear eager to fill the gaps in my schedule with this war of theirs. I'm looking forward to it," he smiled.

So were we. We'd lost once, but we'd learned and grown from the encounter. After both Sigura and I fully recovered from our wounds, we'd be ready for battle. We'd make sure to train, to gather everything we'd learned and work to apply it, to be prepared.

I'd learned much from the battle, as brief as it had been. Visionary's unorthodox way of using [Release]. Just how efficient our team could become if I focused not just on my own methods of combat, but strictly on the observation of our enemy's abilities and the coordination of my allies.

We still had a lot of room to grow, and Aerasthetic had opened our eyes to the path towards that growth.

"[So are we,]" I responded, a smile in my voice. "[Next time, we'll earn a decisive victory.]"