There were times Marvin honestly couldn’t stand his grandma.

He loved her, of course he did, but he’d been secretly hoping that she would have some, any, objection to him attending this event. But in her everlasting wisdom, Minerva Norrinson had decided that her grandson ‘needed some time to rest himself’.

And it was thus that Marvin, dressed in a tuxedo of all things, was currently standing at the top of one of the Mallory state’s twin staircases looking down at the crowd of people talking amongst themselves. He wasn’t the only one up there, but it looked like everyone that was there wanted to be left alone. Ironically enough, he found that he didn’t.

Most of the people inside the house were around his own age and apprentice-level in the Association, related to the important people outside, or both. He could see Marly, talking with some people, a few of them looking like they were dhampirs like her.

She looked like she was having fun. Adam and CB were in some sort of werebeast summer camp, and based on the few texts he’d exchanged with the former, things were looking good there as well. It had gotten tiring for him to constantly feel like an outsider, but thoughts of them all being better off without him now that Ava was rescued were swirling in his head again.

Their relationships were mending, and even the sparring sessions he had with Marly didn’t benefit her in any way. He wasn’t skilled enough to be an actual threat for her.

Not yet at least.

“Isn’t it lonely sitting here all alone?” came a playful voice from behind him. Turning around he saw Ava standing behind him, looking at him playfully.

“I’m just sulking over the fact that we didn’t start the next phase of my training.” quipped Marvin. Which was not entirely untrue. All of last week’s training was postponed and he was mad about that, but he understood that after everything that had happened, she was going to need a lot of time to adjust.

“I’ve been MIA for the past two years. People want to see me.” quipped Ava as she looked down. “Marly looks like she’s having fun.” she said without looking at him.

“Am I really that easy to read?” sighed Marvin. First Kara and now this. He really didn’t have a good poker face.

To his surprise, Ava laughed at him. “Not really. But then again I suck at reading people as well. You know, most sorcerers feel like you do at some point in their lives.”

“I’m not really comfortable with this conversation.” said Marvin as he looked down at his shoes. He really wasn’t. Nor was he comfortable being in this house. He didn’t even know if he could trust Ava Mallory after what Adam had told him.

Kara or Eobard. That was who he needed. The two anchors he had in this world. Only Kara was dead, and he had no idea where Eobard even was.

“I understand. But I think you should go talk to Marly.” she said as she leaned in and whispered to him, “A lot of the people here are too posh to handle alone. And I can guarantee that she won’t be ashamed of you. You may not know it, but you’re a bit of a hero.”

What? He was what? He let out a laugh at hearing that. His only contribution during that mission was doing something that anyone else could have done. Sure, he was the only one who could have gone through the portal, but it wasn’t because he’d done anything to make himself stand out.

“I’m not really anything close to that. I don't know what Marly has told you, but it probably made me sound better than I am.”

Ava didn't say anything as she smirked and walked away. "Tomorrow you shall progress to the next phase of your training.

"The doors to the world of sorcerers have just opened for you Marvin. Enjoy your last days of pure ignorance. They are more precious than you know."

Marvin watched the woman go down the stairs and he thought about her words. Kara had said something similar.

“I’ve told you before to not let the universe break you. When the time comes, when you see it, remember my words. That-no matter how real it feels, even if it prays into your deepest fears, remember them.”

It. Whatever it was would become apparent tomorrow. He was certain of that. So he made like Ava Mallory and descended the stairs.

It wasn't especially hard to find the heterochromatic girl among the crowd, given how she was the only person wearing a deep blue shirt with a golden M written on its left side.

She was in the middle of two other teens, the larger crowd next to her having broken off thankfully. A brunette boy who was standing too close to her for his liking was on her left. His eyes were dual colored with the left one being crimson, a sure sign of his vampiric heritage.

And he was just so tall dammit.

On her right was a Japanese looking girl, also brunette, wearing white gloves. She didn't appear to actually participate in the conversation much, looking around the room and was thus the one that noticed him first.

"Can we help you?" she asked in an accented voice.

The brunette boy looked at Marvin annoyed which disheartened him a little, but the smile that decorated Mary's face more than made up for it.

“You're late, idiot.” she smirked, lightly slapping his shoulder.

"I don't think that was very nice of you Marly." smiled the unknown dhampir as he placed his arm around her. An action that made Marvin feel even more uncomfortable.

"I swear on my name I'll cut off your arm if you don't take it off." said Marly, oddly casually.

"Uh, I-" Marvin was at a bit of loss. This was rather different from what he knew of the girl and her interactions with Adam and CB.

"This is Marvin Perlie." said Marly as she put her arm around his back.

"H-hi. I'm Marvin?" Why did he sound unsure would be a fair question. But there he was, his ever social self hard at work.

"Perlie, huh?" said the boy as he rubbed his chin in thought. "Yours is a name I've heard before. I go by Alpha. And I can't help but say that I'm rather disappointed."

Heard of before. So Ava wasn't exactly lying to make him feel better. But if the boy's reaction was anything to go by, then it would appear the rumors made him to be more than he actually was.

"Always brutally honest, aren't you Alpha?" smiled the other person. "You can call me Yui, and I'm here to balance out the knucklehead over here."

Before another word could be spoken, the lights of the large house shut off momentarily before being brought back on.

But there was another figure there. Dressed in a crimson suit identical to that of the being from his nightmares and holding a longsword with only one hand. A man with pure white hair, pale skin and crimson eyes.

Eyes that seemed to be staring directly at him.

"Humans of the International Defense Association. My name is Arnoldo. I am here looking for two people in particular. Coorparate with me and I shall spare those of you that are unimportant.

"But I advice you not to trust me." he smirked, showing off his unnatural fangs, "After all, how else are we going to enjoy ourselves?"

Marvin felt himself shudder. Another vampire? But he wasn't like Andis, no. Amdis was a sadistic bastard who wanted to go down fighting while also causing as much mayhem as possible.

This one felt different. He felt like a warrior though Marvin wasn't exactly qualified to speak on that front if one were to consider just how much his legs were shaking then.

"You!" he pointed his sword at Marvin. Or Marly. He thought about Maria Rockwell and the heterochromatic girl's tattoos.

As the Vampire shifted his position, no doubt to move in impossibly fast speeds, Marvin grabbed onto Mary's shoulder. They looked and nodded at each other. Adam and CB weren't there, but a room full of apprentices wasn't half bad.

The adults hadn't come yet, so Marvin figured this was a larger assault than they'd anticipated, or there was a sort of spell preventing them from doing so.

Either way, they were going to have to make their stand there. And they couldn't afford to fail.