The shadows were long and crisp, the sky dulling blue, clouds dark upon the horizon. The Blue Slime team house glowed in the fading light, transformed—if but for a moment—into a welcoming place, the kind of home you'd be glad to return to. Inside, a more permanent transformation had taken place. Thanks to a heroic effort from its new inhabitants the broken past had been cleared from its rooms, leaving them fresh for whatever the future might hold. The main room was looking positively homey, with several couches arranged around a low table. Upon this table Tzugakk had placed a large green vase filled with bright yellow and pink flowers. The piano Amanda had moved in added a certain character to the room, although nobody could play it and it was horribly out of tune.

As for bedrooms, Praetorian had selected a long narrow room on the upper floor, furnished with several desks and bookshelves. He was only halfway through unpacking his trunks but it was already cluttered. Amanda and Mist were sharing the largest room on the lower floor, slightly bare but with cheery blue walls and a view of the garden, which was nicely tidy thanks to Tzugakk and Kitten's combined efforts—the fountain had even started working, although no one was sure how. Kitten had taken a liking to the attic, which was cramped but warm and bright thanks to the skylight. Presently the slime was in a state of minor hibernation, sleeping off the immense quantity of weeds, rats and other digestibles it had consumed over the day. Tzugakk had chosen a small room next to the kitchen, with the one next to it reserved for Nala—who was still missing, to the increasing concern of her team mates. Some of them, at least.

"I sent her some messages," Mist said, as she and Amanda prepared for the party—well, mostly it was Mist doing the preparing, seeing as the full extent of Amanda's preparations was 'put on a hat'. "But she never replies, do you think she's okay?"

"Of course she is. She's just, you know, being her. She'll probably turn up with some new plan or something, I don't know. It's not worth worrying about Nala. Do you need help with that?"

"Um, could you? I've never actually worn it before, it's a bit fiddly..."

Mist's newly-repaired dress was a complicated arrangement of fabric and metal meant to combine with her armour. In order to equip it certain parts—such as the breastplate—had to be removed, which was presenting something of a challenge.

"Um, maybe if I put my arms up you could—um! Gentler! That part ... oh, actually that's fine now."

"I think it goes around like this. If you bend over then it might be easier. What is this thing made of, anyway? Silk?"

"I'm not sure ... it was my mother's, like my armour. It's sort of an alternate costume, I guess."

"Like a battle dress?"

"Maybe ... I don't know. She never really got to tell me anything like that. I don't even know how it got so damaged ... maybe she was fighting in it..."

"You can straighten up now."

"Is it done? Oh..."

Mist examined herself in a large mirror, then shyly turned to face Amanda.

"Is it okay? Is it ... okay?"

The dress was a shimmering blue-green, flowing with the lines of Mist's armour, hidden slits and cunning folds giving her both freedom of movement and a formal elegance—or at least, that was the intention. With Mist's small frame and oversized armour the effect wasn't quite there, but Amanda smiled at her anyway.

"Swish," she said, and Mist smiled back.

"Should I have my glasses? I do kind of need them to see, but..."

"You look cute in them. Keep them on." Amanda hesitated, then continued: "How about me? Is the hat okay?"

"It really suits you! I think you look great. But, um, you always look great anyway. You have such a look!"

"I do?"

Mist's answer to that, whatever it might have been, was interrupted by a heavy knocking on the front door. The two girls went to investigate, joined by Tzugakk from his room and Praetorian from upstairs. The little goblin had borrowed a waistcoat from Praetorian, far too big but with a few adjustments he was making it work, and he'd also donned a slightly battered but perfectly serviceable top hat. Praetorian always looked formally dressed anyway, with his high collar and gothic coat and thin black tie, so he'd just given his pointy shoes a damn good polishing.

"Oh. Hello, Mist. I like your dress. Where's Nala, is she here? Did she get my message?"

Summer Rain stood outside, austere as ever in her grey and green mintmedic dress.

"I, um, she did, but she just said you were worried—"

"I am. She didn't go out, did she?"

"Yes—"

"Contact her. Tell her to come back."

"Why—"

"This is serious, Mist. May I come in? I feel exposed out here."

"Um, of course, but—"

"Thank you. Please send Nala a message. As quickly as possible."

Summer looked around at the living room while Mist sent the message, her eyes resting on the broken piano.

"Hm." Summer's gaze returned to Mist. "What's wrong?"

"It, it's not working—'BrightCircle Untethered', what does that mean?"

Summer stared.

"Um, is it bad?"

"Yes. I don't know. But probably. Your team has made a lot of people unhappy—"

"What? Us? What did we do?"

"Existing is enough."

Mist blinked at Summer.

"Don't you understand what you are?" Summer said. "What you represent?"

Mist and the others glanced at each other, then looked back at Summer.

"Huh?" Mist said, summing up the team's feelings.

Summer let out a sigh.

"Forget that for now. I don't like to be dramatic, but something might have happened to Nala. Tzugakk—"

Summer cut herself off and raised her hand to her mouth.

"What is it?" Tzugakk asked. "Are you unwell?"

"No, I just ... didn't expect you to be wearing a top hat. It's slightly adorable." Summer shook her head. "This is serious. Have any of you left this house today?"

Mist looked around at the others before replying: "We went out earlier—"

"Did you notice anything? Were you followed? Watched? Attacked at all?"

"No—"

"No, probably not. They'd focus on just one of you—on Nala. She's the real threat. Without her you're nothing. No offence."

"Very little taken," Praetorian said. "Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I've been patiently listening to all you've said and it seems as if you're acting on information received, as it were. Do you have some kind of evidence to back up this paranoia?"

"It's not paranoia—although, no, I don't have anything solid. You're just going to have to trust me about this—"

Summer stopped and turned, her dark eyes widening when she saw who stood in the front entrance.

"Nala," she said, relief clear in her voice. "I was ... where were you? Why isn't your BrightCircle working?"

Nala looked down at her hand. In response to a touch her BrightCircle glowed as clearly as ever. She looked back up at Summer.

"Mist tried to send you a message, it said 'untethered'—where were you?"

"Why do you care?" Nala asked.

"Why—because—of course, it's natural that I wouldn't want anything to happen to you. I want this tournament to be fair, or as fair as possible considering the circumstances, and so protecting you—"

Summer cut herself off with a wince. Nala's gaze remained upon her.

"I didn't mean that like it sounded," Summer said. "Let me start again. I have some information—"

"I don't need it."

"You should at least hear what I have to say—"

"Leave now."

"Nala!" Mist said. "Summer's our guest, don't be rude to her!"

Nala looked at Mist, who shrank back a little, then at Summer.

"Leave," she repeated.

"Nala!"

"It's all right." Summer smiled at the floor. "I'll go. Do please be careful, though. All of you."

"We already kind of were," Amanda said. "It's not like being attacked is anything new for us."

Praetorian chuckled dryly, then adopted a more serious expression. "True, though as of late we haven't attracted much negative attention—perhaps we've grown overly comfortable, perhaps a reminder was pertinent after all. Thank you for visiting, Miss Rain."

"Summer is fine," Summer said, with a smile at Praetorian. "I suppose I'll see you all at the vampire party tonight, in any case." Her smile tightened. "Won't that be fun."

With that and a small bow of her head, Summer left. Mist waved after her, then turned on Nala.

"You were really rude to her, I think you should apologise."

"She is our enemy."

"She's not! She's really not, can't you see that? She wants to help us!"

"Does she?"

"Of course she does—she was here to warn us—"

"About what?"

"I-I don't know, you kicked her out before she could tell us—"

"She had nothing to tell. Her information is incomplete. Her source is flawed."

"Hm." Praetorian stroked his pointy goatee as he regarded Nala. "And I suppose you have a superior source?"

"Yes."

"Is that where you were?" Amanda asked. "Getting information? Mist was really worried about you."

"I WAS really worried! You were gone for hours, could you at least tell us where you're going or something? Or for how long, or, or SOMETHING. Anything!"

"I won't leave again today." Nala looked around at the others, taking in Mist's dress and Tzugakk's waistcoat, her gaze resting on Amanda's hat. "Until the party."

"Ah, so you're going?" Praetorian said. "I thought perhaps you'd give it a miss."

"Why?"

"I'm ... not entirely sure. I suppose you just don't seem a party sort of person."

Mist clucked her tongue. "Well I'm happy you're coming with us, but I'm still not finished about all the other stuff—like with Summer, could you please say something to her? I think she's really trying hard to be your friend and you just keep brushing her off—"

"Mist," Amanda said.

"What? I like Summer! And Nala should too, they're so alike, I'm sure they'd have lots to talk about ... isn't it just nicer if people get along? And politeness doesn't cost anything, you know! It's not ten merits every time you say 'hello' or 'thank you' or 'sorry'!" Mist narrowed her eyes at Praetorian. "What are YOU smirking about?"

"Was I smirking? I apologise. I was just thinking, you've become rather assertive as of late. Quite different to the shy little mouse we encountered on that first fateful day. Perhaps it's true what they say about Bright Battle Academy, perhaps it really does unlock one's potential. In any case I welcome the change and applaud this new bold Mist. It's always pleasant when those around you speak their minds, rather than keeping everything locked within their still dead hearts."

"Subtle, Darkcede."

"I, I just ... I want us all to get along, and with other people too—this place doesn't have to be terrible. It's not terrible, there are lots of good things about Bright Battle, and we ... well, maybe we don't have much of a chance at the tournament but we're in it, at least. Lots of people would give anything to be where we are now, right? And we've got Nala, and we all know how amazing she is ... but ... I don't know. Maybe we should just go to this party and ... and see what happens." Mist took a breath, then fixed her eyes on Nala. The dwarf looked as impassive as ever. "And when you see Summer you SHOULD apologise. She probably had something really important to tell you, I don't even know how you can ignore someone trying to warn you about something!"

"Yes," Praetorian murmured. "She did seem rather serious about it, didn't she? I can't help but wonder what it was that she thought so important..."

Everglim Heights rose from bushy trees and sprawling gardens to present a glittering cliff of rose shale. Into its sides smooth pathways had been carved, leading up to cobblestone terraces and quaint houses and cute cottages, and to one of the better views in Bright Battle—there was Everglim below, of course, with all its bright flowers and brighter rooftops, and beyond that the angular yellowstone buildings and circular streets and fluttering flags of the central academy, and further still was the mass of blocky grey forts and solid towers and functionally square buildings that made up battle quarter, and then of course the wall, just visible in the distance, and beyond that a feast of orange and peach clouds served on a glowing silver platter; the last of the Bright Battle sunset.

Summer Rain walked alone, making her brisk way up the path. She didn't pause to admire the view, but appreciated it nonetheless. By the time she reached the top of the cliff Summer had attracted a second shadow, and she stopped beneath an ancient tree to acknowledge the shadow's presence.

"It's surprising to see sunrise maples here," Summer said, looking up at the brilliant red of the tree's foliage. When she looked down again it was at her brother, dressed in his usual instantly forgettable clothing, as dull as dull could get, although his black scarf was noticeably long. "I suppose at this point I shouldn't be surprised at anything this place offers. It's nice to have a little touch of home around, anyway. Did you have much success? More than I did, I hope."

Night looked up at the tree, then back at Summer.

"Hm," she said. "Well, it's not like Nala isn't paranoid to begin with—she doesn't even trust me."

Night smiled at his sister. Summer smiled back.

"Perhaps rightly," she admitted. "Still, that she wouldn't even listen is interesting. What's got her so confident?"

Night nodded at the tree's shadow, so long and crisp.

"Oh?" Summer said. "Really? That is interesting ... and raises more questions than it answers. I wonder if she's working for the Guild, they're the ones who handled renegotiations with the shadowtails. Is there any connection between Caroline Hale and Nala?"

Night cocked his head to the side.

"Any connection between Nala and anything?"

Night gave a slight shrug.

"But she must have had some kind of life before she came here. Nobody comes from nowhere. What about Tzugakk, they arrived together—nothing? If only she wasn't casteless, that'd at least give us a starting point. Maybe she did belong to a caste, but had the tattoo removed somehow ... I've never heard of that being done, but that doesn't mean it's impossible. Haha, listen to me, I'm really rambling on—she is fascinating though, don't you think? Anyway, I suppose I'd better head to the house and get ready for the party ... um, how do I look? Is my hair okay?"

Night patted his sister on the shoulder.

"Thanks. You're ready for your thing? Of course you are, why do I even ask. Be careful though, won't you? I know you always are, but I really am worried about things here. I honestly don't know what they'd do—I don't even know who 'they' are, the Guild, the academy masters, the vampires and the elves and the heroes, they've all got their motivations. Hah, and I thought coming up here would be an escape from messy politics, I should've listened to you! Not that I would've done things differently even if I'd known. This is the most fun I've had since we started adventuring—and if we could actually win the tournament, our way, unconventional but completely and undeniably fair..."

Summer trailed off with a smile directed at herself.

"I'm rambling again," she said. "You should stop me when I get like this. You know I always go on when I'm nervous."

Night had been looking out past the tree as Summer talked. Now he raised a hand to capture a falling leaf between two fingers, his gaze never leaving the beauty of the sunset sky. With grave ceremony he presented the bright red leaf to his sister, holding it in both hands as if it were something precious. Summer accepted it with a small bow.

"Please do promise me," she said, looking down at the leaf as she twirled it between her fingers. "It'd make me feel better. Promise me you'll be careful."

"I promise," Night said. Summer nodded at the leaf.

"Thank you. Whoever 'they' are, it's clear that they're serious about maintaining the status quo. They might go so far as to kill someone to keep things stable." She laughed, but was unable to hide an edge of nervousness. "Probably Nala."

Her gaze still locked on the red of the leaf, bright in the last of the dying sun, Summer felt the reassuring pressure of her brother's hand upon her arm. Then the pressure vanished, and when she looked up Night was gone.

Summer let out a soft breath.

"Or me..."