Serah puts the box on the dresser in her room. She looks at for a moment and hesitates. Now that it's here I'm not sure if I should have bought it… She thinks with furrowed brows. Cautiously, her hand moves forward and slowly opens the lid, revealing the gnarled wooden branch. It looked like several black vines had been compressed and entwined before it continued to grow out in a bent and crooked manner. It looks kind of ominous… She thinks as her eyes follow the glistening black outer layer of the wand.

Serah puts on a brave face and reaches her hand out to hold it. “Ah!” She exclaims. Does this thing have thorns? She asks herself as she looks to her bleeding hand. She looks back to the wand, stained with her blood, to examine it for anything sharp, but couldn’t find anything.

Serah’s brows furrow. “I paid a lot of coin for you! So you better behave!” She scolds the wand before reaching out with her hand again and grabbing the wand firmly.

As she holds the wand, Serah’s eyes widen and her vision leaves her. Depictions of war, of anguish, of horrible, horrible pain, flashed across her eyes, and Serah became engulfed with emotion as tears began to flow out of her eyes. Instinctively, as if to protect herself, she let go of the wand, letting it clatter as it dropped to the ground.

Serah lets out a few sniffles as her body calms down from the experience. I’m not touching that thing ever again. Serah firmly decides as she wipes her tears.

Pick it up. A voice commands in Serah’s mind.

Serah’s eyes widen. “Deity of war? Is that you?” She asks cautiously.

I’m no deity. The voice replies calmly. Now pick it up. It continues to command.

Serah’s brows furrow. “No! That thing’s evil! I’m not touching it!” She exclaims.

I’ve tasted your blood. You are… Worthy… That wand is yours now, whether you like it or not. You may pick it up when you’re ready… The voice says before silence follows.

Serah’s brows continue to furrow. Should I pick it up? She asks herself. But before she could decide, Nickie’s voice resounds from outside.

“It’s there! It’s there! It’s there!” The voice calls out excitedly. Soon after Nickie scurries into the room and leaps onto Serah’s body, wrapping her legs around Serah’s waist. “Serah, it’s there! It’s actually there! I can’t believe it!” She continues to exclaim with a big smile on her face.

Serah could only smile. “What’s there?” She asks, glad for the change in mood. Nickie’s presence was like a holy smoke that cleared the gloominess in the room.

“The skill! Emotion magic! It’s actually on my skill list! I’ve already put all of my skill points into it! Eeeh! I can’g believe it!” Nickie says before giving Serah’s face several kisses out of happiness.

Serah’s eyes widen. “You actually have the talent for that? That’s wild! We need to celebrate!” She says as Nickie settles back onto her feet. “Come on, let’s find Samantha, and we’ll go out for dinner. On me!” She says with a heroic smile.

…

…

The three girls ordered two bottles of wine and three steak dinners at a fancy restaurant, and began to indulge. They’ve been on the road for so long that the restaurant was a nice change of pace. But unfortunately, happiness was seldom left alone; they were always prying eyes circling around out, waiting to take what it could.

The waiter approaches their table and bows. “Baron Douchard has invited you to his private room.” He says politely.

Serah smirks. “Douchard? That name must be the wildest thing I’ve ever heard. What’s his mother's maiden name? Dickette?” She says before bursting out into laughter.

The waiter lets out a bitter smile. “If you please. The baron isn’t one to be kept waiting.” He says, somewhat pushily.

Serah looks to her two girlfriends and they look back to her. Serah smiles. “Tell Mister Dickette that we’ll be dining without him tonight.” She says without a care.

Samantha shakes her head. I knew it. This isn’t going to end well. She thinks. Although the situation was starting to look bad, she agreed with Serah’s decision. She wasn’t in the mood to be meeting random nobility from another kingdom. If they could eat in peace and leave, she would be happy with that.

Nickie simply continues to cut into her steak and eat. “This steak is delicious!” She says with a smile.

The waiter shakes his head and stands up. Unfortunately, he could only tell the baron that he had been declined.