After yet another walk through the backstreets of Divastyr, our modified team arrived at our next destination. Sitting in front of us was a lone doorway at the back of a long alley. It was painted dark blue, its surface marred by chipped edges and splotches of mud and dirt on the bottom. On the center of the door was a spray painted symbol, one depicting a Humanoid skull surrounded by a ring of blue rope.

The base, or... perhaps former base of a bottom of the barrel criminal gang, Bluebind. Low level Casters.

This run down street felt like the sort of place a gang without the sort of influence the Star or Big Tooth had would hide, and sure enough that feeling was right. It was out of the way, far from the prying eyes of the Watch and the main streets, sandwiched between two other buildings that had been long abandoned since the Disciples attack.

Today was a dull day in many ways. Cloudy weather. Mind numbing activities. The muted, sour mood of our travelling band.

Streiphen skipped around the silver-coated legs of my mech, heading straight for the door as I shifted to the side to give him room in the narrow alley. Without any reservations, the boy clenched his hand into a dark grey fist before politely knocking on the door. It was a surreal sight, but the thought of him keeping his manners even in a situation like this was hopeful. If nothing else, he was handling the monotony of the mission better than the rest of us.

"Knockin' like that's a waste of time, pipsqueak," Sigura drawled, tail swaying behind her as she stepped around me, leaving a long shadow as she approached the doorway. "They're criminals anyway, remember?"

"Hrr... There is nothing wrong with practicing good etiquette, hmm? Planting one's best foot forward at all times is the key to a fine first impression," Pack Rat added. His words sounded a little... off today. He sounded strangely defensive, almost.

He was the last of our group to approach the door, and was a surprising addition to our team, something he assured us was just a temporary measure. Streiphen seemed happy about his presence, and I had no problem accepting the extra help, but Sigura...

"Knock knock," Sigura grinned with a toothy smile, curling her clawed fingers around the old handle, her body language praying that this would be the base still occupied, one that would have a fight for her to enjoy.

She wore shorts despite the meek weather, and her leg tensed and flexed in place. She looked almost disappointed when the handle pulled down without issue, allowing her to open the unlocked door. Knowing Sigura, she must've been looking forward to kicking it down.

"[Not a good sign,]" I sighed, saying my piece as I turned around, facing my body outwards towards the street proper.

It was a smaller building than most, one not designed for the accessibility of... bulkier folk like myself. Sigura had the freedom to crouch down under the low door frame, but it was completely beyond my ability to pass through. Like several of the other 'bases' we'd visited, I took to keeping watch outside, sending out the Lyridium Cat sitting atop the front of my mech.

It leapt down off the metal construct, sending a small cloud of dust into the air as it landed before plodding forward with emerald paws.

Controlling the Cat was still somewhat awkward, but I was adjusting quickly. I'd been practicing [Release] and Aera control through it, given that using the offensive Luster Art was far easier for an attack when I had 'limbs' to work with. It was less direct than with my mech, and the most unwieldy of the three base Luster Arts for me to use, but still.

Progress was progress, however slow it might be. It was a small comfort, but one I worked to keep close to my heart. Or... whatever this body had for a 'heart'.

The Cat expanded its [Sensory Zone], following my three teammates into the building as an echo of the world blended into view around it. Like we'd suspected, the interior was dark and barren. Sigura conjured an orange ball of [Light] akin to a miniature sun, illuminating a meager living area as it cast shadows over the furniture.

Tattered curtains were pulled closed over the windows, and the style of furniture strewn about didn't look cohesive in the slightest, as though they'd been stolen from different locations. A patchwork of messy parts designed for function over form.

Sigura reached out, attempting to flick on a light switch by the entrance to save herself the Aera. Nothing happened. She flicked it up and down a few more times with growing speed, groaning to herself as she punched the wall next to it, leaving a mark as bits of plaster fell to the floor.

There were no bulbs or strips of material covered in runes along the ceiling. Instead, I spotted rectangular patches of broken plaster along the top of the room, a sign that they'd haphazardly ripped whatever was being used for light free and taken it with them.

"We really gotta search this dump and pick it clean too?" Sigura drawled, expression contorting into annoyance as she moved a dresser with one arm, looking behind it as her tail coiled around a handle, opening up one of the drawers.

"It is best if we search for clues, yes," Pack Rat answered the same question Sigura had asked at the past two bases. "A note or leftover item could prove useful. It will not take long with Homebound's scanning abilities, will it?"

Sigura didn't have much of a rebuttal for that, but she rolled her eyes, turning towards the entrance as she hovered around the open doorway, ready to leave as soon as possible.

"Fine. Do yer thing, Yur," Sigura grumbled.

Pack Rat had a point in that my [Sensory Zone] made it easy to search, but I wasn't sure why I was getting the grumble and bad tone. It wasn't my fault that my abilities were well equipped to deal with the situation. Streiphen made his way around the room, opening drawers just a crack for my zone to push around, allowing me to see into many compartments simultaneously even if it was becoming abundantly clear there was nothing to see here either.

We weren't far from the abandoned slum that our team had first arrived in Divastyr at back when there were five of us. It was a strangely nostalgic feeling in a way, something that made me evaluate my employment with the Star every time we left the bustling main streets we now called home behind for places like this.

I knew I shouldn't let myself get lost in thought, but it was hard to avoid thinking of the past as the Cat almost handled the search on its own, requiring little input from me as it scanned the area, padding around the base with sensations echoed back to me. The process was mind-numbing, but I was pleased to have a way to keep my focus on other things. The Cat was a little more independent than before, something I had my practice and magical growth to thank for.

After the Don had conducted his investigation with the prisoners, I'd spoken with them shortly afterwards. Kirigami and Sfumato had been... understandably less receptive to someone with less of a fearsome reputation like me, but after Sigura barged in and started threatening to harm them, they got a lot more willing to speak up.

The method... could have been kinder, but I couldn't deny it was effective. We needed to do what had to be done for the sake of our people. The safety of Sova was on the line, and if that was the only way to make them talk, then so be it. In retrospect, I was glad that Sigura handled the situation the way she did. We hadn't needed to waste time with a back and forth allowing us a few hours to head back to our rooms for some well deserved rest. Gods knew we needed it after last night, too.

I shuddered to think how much worse Sigura's mood might be now if not for that rest.

Neither of our prisoners knew anything about the Boost. Sfumato had been close with Visionary, one of Aerasthetics leading commanders. I suspected that she'd have a reason to seek us out personally to avenge and retrieve her subordinate, but now I wasn't so sure. I'd readied myself for an attack or to spot some scout or ambush when our team emerged from the base for recon, but it had been 'painfully uneventful', as Sigura had put it.

No attacks, no scouts, and nobody tracking us that I could detect.

I didn't wish to write off the possibility of a hidden [Spy] or [Scout] I couldn't detect like Swim or... or Languish, but it was... unlikely. If we were being trailed, surely they'd have taken some action against us by now.

Or... perhaps Visionary wouldn't care about her subordinate being captured. Aerasthetic seemed to have a surplus of eager Goons and Casters with no feelings of attachment to the group itself, only to their own growth. It was a feeling the organisation seemed to reciprocate, treating its lesser members as... disposable.

"Find anythin' Yur?" Sigura groaned, glancing back at me out the doorway from the wall she was leaning against with her bestial gold eyes, evidently praying I'd say we could move on.

I wished I could say 'yes' to give her some form of excitement during this job, but I couldn't. Bluebind just seemed like another minor gang holing up in an old abandoned house. Squatting Casters that used whatever abilities they had to commit petty crime and get by.

It was likely they didn't have much before leaving, and they'd taken whatever they had in this base with them.

"[Nothing yet I'm afraid,]" I responded quietly through my [Telepathy] as a cluster of metal hands flew in the doorway. Each helped to open more cupboards and drawers in an attempt to leave this place faster, but Sigura's mood had already dipped. "[It seems like this place was picked clean. No signs of struggle either, so...]"

"So they joined Aerasthetic too, prob'ly," Sigura sighed. "Least I'll prob'ly get a chance to pound their damn heads in for wastin' my time down the line."

Through my Cat, I spread and blended Aera along the [Sensory Zone], activating [Insight]. The world changed to my sight, now blanketed in plainly coloured mist of various hues and shades. Passive Aera. No sign of used Spells or activated Artefacts charged with intent, just the wispy remains of faintly glowing Aera around the removed light section on the ceiling.

No signs of strife. Bluebind left here willingly, making them yet another group taken in by Aerasthetic's promises.

"Hrr... If there is nothing to be found, that too is information," Pack Rat added, even if the attempted positivity just made Sigura's face scrunch up. "This proves they left to join with Aerasthetic, or... Hrm... In the best case scenario, it means they simply fled the region to escape the incoming war. Even if they try to fight alongside our foes, we have data on their abilities."

The Don's information network was a relief in situations like this, even if it wasn't helping us in the moment.

My mind drifted back to the prisoners, and the lack of useful information we'd acquired. We were no closer to figuring out where the Boost was coming from, nor who was selling it. It had left me seeming 'a little despondent' last night, or so I'd gathered from Streiphen's attempts to console me. Sigura had chipped in with those attempts, telling me the orphans living not far from here were doing... better. Her ability to teach them Aera control through Luster Arts was helping them build up some 'good habits', even if she claimed she was a harsh teacher by her own admission.

She couldn't have been more of a harsh teacher than Shafu at least, given how her methods from before had been nothing but throwing [Releases] at me until I understood the principles. But... just in case, I decided not to ask about how Sigura taught them. It wasn't my business anyway. They were students in Sigura's care, not mine.

"I thought the great n' powerful Don would be above these sorts of Casters anyway," Sigura snorted, eyes turning towards the Roden scouring the undersides of couch cushions with a stretched grin. "We could be back trainin' and doin' something productive instead of rootin' through the trash of some small fry's house with a babysitter."

I winced, sending ripples of water through the glass cube atop my mech and out from my bulbous pink form. I wasn't certain why Pack Rat had to come along, but Sigura had been annoyed and... somewhat embarrassed back at the base when he'd announced that he was coming with us. Her mood wasn't as grumpy as it had been, but bits of venom were still leaking through whenever she got bored during the investigation.

Needless to say, that was happening a lot.

He'd told us that it was to help carry objects and for 'interpersonal recon', a mission where he was to help determine combinations of abilities for future missions. His job was to learn more about how we interacted with one another to see who we could be teamed up with for specific purposes during the war.

He told us that he's done similar things in the past, and that it was the reason he handled the majority of the Star's recruiting. I had my doubts that Sigura believed him, and I wasn't certain either.

Regardless of our beliefs, Streiphen seemed to buy it right away.

"Don't worry Miss Sigura! We can train all we want when we get back to base! We can even try using [Mantle] and [Insight] for a while as we walk for endurance!" Streiphen chipped in, wearing a small smile on his face as he worked to salvage Sigura's mood like he had mine. It wasn't the most reassuring thing to see how often he'd been doing that lately. "I'm glad we have Mister Pack Rat's experience with us too! What if we did find something we didn't know about? Then we'd only lose more time trying to figure it out!"

Sigura's shoulders slumped as she leaned more of her weight against the wall, throwing her eyes skyward.

"If we found anythin' of note, maybe, but we've done nothin' but chase dead ends all mornin' without a damn thing to show for it," Sigura grumbled.

My mech twitched and fumbled in place just outside the building. I didn't know how to interject or soothe her here without looking like I was taking a side one way or another.

Sigura stepped away from the wall, approaching Pack Rat from behind. I saw the Roden tense beneath his cloak, even if he didn't stop his search of the couch. With one arm, she reached down and threw the cushions off the couch, causing them to bounce against the floor nearby. As she and I both suspected, there was nothing underneath.

"Making such movements is unwise, Sunburst," Pack Rat grumbled, shoulders stiffening as he looked back up at her. "Homebound did not detect anything of worth, but that does not mean there may not be concealed traps here."

Sigura didn't buy that, and neither did I.

With one hand, Sigura crouched down, gripping the front of the couch before lifting the whole thing into the air, staring down at Pack Rat the entire time.

"Nothin' under the couch either," Sigura observed, letting go as the couch dropped heavily against the floor. From underneath, a bug akin to a Cockroach scurried out from underneath, only to be swiftly crushed beneath Sigura's sandal.

Pack Rat still looked far from impressed as Sigura turned around, raising one leg to scrape the remains of the bug against the edge of a table.

"We're wastin' time with these small fry, PR. Don't'chu want to do somethin' of worth too? These people're just gonna be cannon fodder for Aerasthetic anyway," Sigura grumbled in an attempt to appeal to the Roden. "If they're just a bunch of weak ass local Casters with little ability, they won't get trusted with anythin' worthwhile anyway. There's no point doin' all this."

"Hrm... That is a risky mindset to take, especially against those willing to make this a life or death war," Pack Rat sighed, walking towards the entrance of the base. "Even those with weaker Souls can become powerful when desperate. If they were to produce unorthodox powers, counters to our abilities, or apply harsh Conditions to utilise with enough guidance and creativity from the enemy, they can become strong."

"I-If they break the rules, they'll be way more dangerous!" Streiphen echoed. "If Aerasthetic has all these good Casters, they can find ways to use them to hurt people we need to learn about!"

"Mhm," Pack Rat nodded approvingly. "That is on the tame end too, yes? With access to Boost, that threat only becomes greater."

Sigura grit her teeth at the argument, her face scrunching up before she took a deep breath to steady herself.

"Fine, fine, you've got a point," she grumbled back, expression pained. Pulling her eyes up off the ground and near my Lyridium Cat, she looked out towards my silver coated mech once again. "You satisfied with this dump yet?"

Turning my mech around on all eight legs, I faced the group with the coloured rose at its forefront.

"[Yes. I believe we've found all we can here,]" I told them, feeling just as eager and ready to leave as Sigura was, even if only to get this latest burst of bickering out of the way.

The Half Nekari Chimera snorted, stuffing both clawed hands into her pockets as she strode to the entrance, ducking her head under the doorframe. Streiphen gave the room one quick look around again before rushing back out into the cloudy outdoors alongside Pack Rat, allowing us to walk away as a group once again.

"Where next?" Streiphen asked, looking at the Roden as he walked to the front of the group.

"Lead the way, gramps, only a billion of these dumps left to go, I bet," Sigura murmured, standing alongside me as we followed behind.

Our group moved back the way we came, traversing the broken shell of Sova's backstreets until we found familiar territory. The sound of footsteps and idle chatter reached the edge of my zone as proper civilisation came back into my awareness. With a turn, Pack Rat led us through a wide alleyway, one that my large mech was only able to squeeze through with a bit of effort. The others had little issue, although Streiphen slowed down for me as I needed to curl the legs on my right inward to maneuver around a dumpster.

The sight shocked a Human man in a thick coat lying on the alley ground, staring up at us with wide eyes. He wore a thick scarf, one that couldn't fool my [Sensory Zone]. Underneath, I saw that he had... something that might've been an Arcane Mutation, or perhaps the sign of a race I didn't know. Beneath the scarf was an extremely long neck, one that coiled around itself like a sleeping snake.

Streiphen threw the man a wave, yet all he could do was stare back into the boy's starry eyes and bright white horn with stunned disbelief.

Leaving the impolite man behind, our group emerged from the alley and returned to the 'normal' sectors of Divastyr. New as I was to the city, even I could tell that the streets were different to when we'd first arrived. With a cursory glance, nothing looked too far out of the ordinary, though my [Sensory Zone] made it easy to view each and every person with precision.

The citizens were more stressed than usual. Wary. Many carried more bags, satchels, and cases than on the average day, speaking in hushed tones to others standing in front of businesses working as Caster guards in groups. Some looked as though they were ensuring they had their essentials, vigorously going through their bags while throwing glances around them. Wagons moving along the middle of the street carried more people than usual, some of whom held the hands of wary and confused children. Poorer folk that had less security.

Spotting one figure in a thick coat sitting around a corner while eyeing up a citizen scouring the bottom of their bag, it was a simple matter to bring forth a metal hand, allowing it to hover in the air high above in case he made a move. Given the state of today, I prayed to the Gods he would. My prayer was answered shortly after. As the civilian looked up and away, the robber moved around the corner, darting for the bag as the metal fist struck them in the gut. The Darkling thief doubled over, coughing hard as he clutched at his stomach. The stunned Human sitting on the sill of a bakery closed their bag, hurriedly making their way away from their would-be assailant.

People were leaving Sova, and those that remained were becoming bolder. More desperate.

The reasoning was understandable. War was coming to Sova, and many lacked the power to protect themselves. They wanted to get out before that happened, but... the lack of trust many people seemed to have in the Star to keep them secure was a difficult pill to swallow. They didn't trust our ability to protect them. I felt certain the rumours I caught wind of while scanning the crowd pertaining to the casino fiasco weren't helping.

I wished it was something I could ignore as easily as the old me could, but as things stood, this was... disheartening. Even worse still, that desperation was even seeping into the smaller Caster gangs throughout our territory. People felt safer aligning themselves directly with Aerasthetic than indirectly with us.

"[I hope we can end this war as swiftly as possible,]" I mused aloud, directing my words towards the three I walked with in an attempt to take my mind off the feelings brewing inside me. "[If we attacked all at once, could we secure a victory without risking civilian lives in our own territory?]"

Pack Rat's expression clouded, his brows furrowing as a sigh passed between his aged lips.

"I have my doubts, Homebound. Unless we manage to secure the enemy leader... Hrm," Pack Rat murmured. "Even then, if they are here for battle alone rather than conquest, victory will not be that simple. They are unlikely to be as concerned with safe, precision strikes, and will throw Goons at Sova to pressure us."

"Good," Sigura snorted, walking with long steps as a grin crossed her face. "Glad that they're finally comin' to our turf. They've done so much stupid shit to us and this place, we've got no reason to hold back once they throw the first punch. Anythin' that happens to 'em after that is their own fault."

I agreed with Sigura, though I suspected Pack Rat wouldn't be of the same mind.

"Hrr... Do not go overboard, Sunburst," the Roden growled back, his tone carrying a threatening note to it. "We still have a reputation to uphold."

Sigura's eyes narrowed into a thin glare, one directed at the diminutive Ratfolk.

"Ain't everythin' they've done already 'overboard'? Don't be stupid," Sigura drawled. "Just yesterday, when we were talkin' to those Aerasthetic shitheads locked up in yer dungeon, the Don himself said we'd need to resort to measures equal to the enemy or else risk everyone thinking less of us. You about to go against the Don's word, PR?"

"[It's true,]" I agreed hesitantly, backing her up.

I understood it was a topic on the group's minds, but did they have to bicker about it so much?

Pack Rat sighed after hearing my words, causing Sigura to grit her teeth and turn her head away. Streiphen looked up at the names of businesses and people around us, likely trying to drown out the argument.

"He may have simply been saying that to convince the enemy prisoners to speak. Even if he was speaking truthfully, events that happen behind closed doors are often easier to stomach for the populus than events they would see in person, hmm? Especially if there are Recorders or Chimen around to broadcast and reproduce it," Pack Rat retorted.

"So torture's fine, but fightin' people a little harder isn't?" Sigura snorted back.

"Do not attempt to... to simplify this matter, Sunburst," Pack Rat sighed. "It is... complicated. We and this city walk a fine line."

I spotted Streiphen's shoulders slump as he walked alongside me. For a moment, I thought it was due to the conversation, but after seeing where he was looking, I understood. 'Briney's'. A seafood restaurant with an Orc [Butcher] working in the window. With a knife in hand, he chopped up a massive blue scaled Fish the size of Streiphen's body in front of eager consumers sitting on stools at the counter.

The blue scales and thought of seafood made it easy to guess what Streiphen was thinking about. The lengths some people felt they had to go to preserve that 'fine line' saddened me.

"Yeah... The unspoken rules are important, so we need to fight to keep them alive, or else people can't live here happily," Streiphen added, chipping in with an earnest nod.

"Unspoken rules, huh?" Sigura mused. "I've heard a lot about 'em, but people're still willin' to pull shit like this. Must not be so damn important if even the idiot nobodies livin' here in Sova want to throw it away for a shot at some extra firepower. What good're these rules even doin' for people anyway?"

"You do not know why the rules are in place?" Pack Rat asked incredulously, looking up at Sigura as we walked. "These restrictions and those like them are key to the survival of any civilisation, especially in a place rich with Casters like Divastyr."

"Yeah, sure," Sigura replied with an idle roll of her eyes. "Zeradonia seems to get along just fine without rules like ours."

The thought sent a shiver along my body. The land where Shafu came from.

"The land of Demons and monsters is a... unique case. They are unlike us," the Roden countered quietly, his voice subdued.

"Then tell me why we're fightin' so hard to protect this shit when others're gonna abuse it. If we keep playin' by the rules, we're just handicappin' ourselves even more! Ain't that a bigger risk to the civvies than anythin' else?" Sigura shot back, staying on the offensive. "Or maybe the Don just wants that for more 'risk', huh? Forcin' us to grow and build up his own power regardless of what happens to us or Sova as a consequence?"

Pack Rat's ears fell flat against the top of his head. I was no skilled judge of a Tierakin's age, but the wrinkles around the Roden's eyes deepened, making him look even older than he was.

"It is... a disheartening thing to hear, if that is how you truly feel, Sunburst," Pack Rat remarked quietly.

Sigura blinked, taken aback by how tinged by sadness the retort was. She pulled one hand from her pocket, rubbing the back of her neck as her eyes were unable to meet his.

"Well... The guy gave us food and a place to stay, so he can't be all bad. Helped us learn more about magic and these freaky bodies we've got now too," Sigura conceded, her voice not nearly as charged with aggression. "We owe him, but... you can't deny his operations are pretty loose in the plannin' department, PR."

"Hrm... It is to ensure that the Don's Casters are able to work on their own initiative too in the event that our forces are spread too thin, or in the event the chain of command breaks down," Pack Rat replied. "Casters that receive too much direction and certainty neglect their own feelings and desires. A Caster that acts only on the orders of others alone with no true agency will never reach their full potential. Such restrictions are detrimental for Soul growth, Sunburst. The Don relies on a smaller group of elites rather than an overwhelming amount of Goons. For an organisation with such a structure, individual strength, skill, and judgement are key."

"Yeah, I know that much," Sigura sighed back, plunging her hand back into the pocket of her shorts.

"It is difficult to adjust to, I am sure, but it is for the best if we are to keep the peace," Pack Rat told her as we turned a corner, the crowds around us thinning out as he glanced up at her. "Do you need further reassurance as to the importance of the rules?"

Sigura shrugged, glancing up at a signpost as we came to a crossroads. Once the Roden chose our next route down a street to our left, she shivered, scrunching her eyes closed as she followed us.

"If it'll keep you talkin' and get my thoughts off the docks, be my guest," Sigura drawled, eyes turning skyward.

"Hrk! I promise you we will not need to go too close to the ocean, Sunburst," the Roden chuckled, a small smile coming to his face. "Rules like these are key. Not for the sake of morality or protecting our image alone, either. It is a primal thing, one that ensures our continued survival."

"Our 'continued survival'?" Sigura asked with a raised brow. "No need to be so damn melodramatic. War's war. People're gonna get hurt no matter how we fight it, old man."

"And if there are ways to minimise the horror and death of such a conflict, should we not take it?" Pack Rat asked with a raised brow. "In ages gone by, there have been race wars, genocides, and conflicts that bring forth mass devastation. Tell me, Sunburst. Even for the winning side of such a conflict, do you know what the most dangerous thing is?"

"Dividin' up the spoils in a way that leaves everyone satisfied and not clawin' at each other's throats?" Sigura guessed.

"Survivors," Pack Rat replied simply.

The word sent a shiver down Streiphen's spine. He reached up to rub one arm with his hand, fighting off the chills the word brought with it. He jumped as we walked, stunned by the sudden appearance of a metal hand on his shoulder. Wearing a small smile, he turned to look up at my wrinkled pink form, thankful for the support.

"Pretty grim answer, ain't it? I was gonna guess a secret weapon or artefact next," Sigura replied, seemingly unflapped. "If survivors are the 'most dangerous thing', then ain't a war without those rules safer?"

"Only if victory is absolute," the Roden responded seriously. "That, however, is almost never the case. Magic and the Soul grow from risk, yes? Being brought to the brink of death calls forth great danger. When one is pushed to their physical and mental limits, they sit on a breaking point."

Despite the... grim nature of the Roden's words, Sigura's eyes looked focused now as she stared right ahead, her ears standing to attention as she drank in every word he said.

"The risk of death is one thing, but there can be more at stake, yes?" Pack Rat continued. "Those devoted to their homelands and their people, sitting on the brink of losing their civilisations? Their friends? Their family? Their homes? Those who face the complete obliteration of all they hold dear and what makes them who they are have the most to lose. If people escape after suffering such risk, the emotional and magical results, both immediate and dormant, can be... extreme. The more one has to lose, the more they can grow if it is threatened or ripped from them."

Classes in the schools I'd attended speaking of old wars and ancient conflicts had briefly touched on the risks of such things, but not to... this degree.

"The survivors of war waged with full force by both sides can experience explosive growth in power. Awakenings and Arcane Mutations that give birth to dangerous, dark powers fueled by vengeance become commonplace. A single minded desire to enact justice onto all that wrong them," the Roden explained. "That is the gamble civilisations like ours play with when we dance along the line between order and ruin. If we attack with great force, then we have the potential to birth monsters we cannot handle. It is a concept Aerasthetic, fools that they are, seem to completely neglect."

"Or one they welcome," Sigura added. "They might be hopin' for people like that to pop up if all they want is strength and a good fight."

"That is... a harrowing thought," Pack Rat sighed. "But not a wholly unrealistic one, I suppose. They are messing with forces they do not fully understand, and may come to face consequences they are not prepared for."

"[If Aerasthetic are remaining silent about the hostage situation, they may be trying to provoke an attack or hasty move from our side,]" I threw in. "[They might be trying to force us into making a desperate attack out of anger in the hopes of triggering powerful growth in their Casters. As much as I don't want to hold back from harming these people enough to keep our people safe, I understand where Pack Rat is coming from.]"

"Eeeeeeeever the diplomat. Always know what to say, huh Yur?" Sigura grinned. "I don't want Aerasthetic to get any stronger as much as the next gal, but having to hold back against 'em is a pain."

Pack Rat nodded in agreement.

"Hrr... We can only hope the Star manages to secure a cleaner victory than Aerasthetic expects, but I do not believe we have the firepower to do so. Not now," Pack Rat sighed. "If we are lucky, this war will not begin for some time, and the stronger members of the Star have a chance to return."

"The 'stronger' members of the Star?" Sigura asked with a raised brow.

"The other Capos. Our... 'commanders', you could call them. The leaders of our divisions," Pack Rat explained. "Gearhead is a very skilled Caster, but in a proper battle against another territory, we will need all the aid we can get. These opponents will not be as easy to combat as Big Tooth. Worse still, devoting forces to fighting Aerasthetic opens up the possibility that the other territories will strike in a moment of weakness. If all goes well, the Don will be able to buy us time at the Territorial Summit."

The summit... I'd heard about the event here and there from the frightened lips of civilians dreading the event. A meeting of the 'Seven Territory Lords' that lead Divastyr behind the scenes.

"[When is this summit happening? Will we have much time to prepare for it?]" I asked.

Pack Rat let out a sigh, his eyes growing old and weary from the question alone.

"The summit is tonight," he replied quietly.

Streiphen blinked, his nose wrinkling for a moment before a smile dawned on his face. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes as his gait changed, a newly formed spring in his step.

"The smell of the sea!" he chirped, sounding happier than he had earlier.

"And the constant complainin' of Gulls and shitty birds," Sigura added dryly, looking skyward towards the clusters of white birds circling the dock and the boats below. Despite playing along with Streiphen's comment, her eyes were heavy with contemplation.

"We will not be here long, Sunburst, have no fear," Pack Rat added with a relieved sigh, his eyes turning towards Streiphen. The Roden seemed to be as relieved as I was at the sight of Streiphen's mood recovering.

I wished that I could experience the harbour like the others could, warts and all. The cold winds, the scent of salty sea air, the feeling of walking next to the ocean. All of it was muted by this body and the steel around it. The only other ports I'd been to, one on the Lucanian and Selvanian coasts from arriving on this continent, paled to Divastyr's in sheer size and scope. Because of this body, I was missing out on the experiences that seemed to bring those feelings out of Streiphen and Sigura.

I hadn't expected there to be many people around the dock and beaches on a day like this, and I'd been right. There were only a few civilians here for commerce and recreation, giving the stone harbour over almost entirely to those conducting business. [Sailors] lifting crates, [Merchants] talking to those on ships at the waterside in thick coats to keep out the chill, and the occasional Triton and Fishfolk who wouldn't mind the weather or chance of rain anyway.

It was... a melancholy sight.

My attention was drawn to a sort of... ship that I'd never seen before. The entire structure caught the attention of my [Honed Vision], pointing my focus towards a vessel that looked more like a metal tube floating in the water. It was some sort of strange device I'd never seen before, one with a protruding pipe-like section on the top that opened up as it clanked against the wooden dock, allowing a collection of Human [Sailors] to climb out from inside.

The back of the device had an unmoving fan-like portion, something I'd love to assess and draw inspiration from. As much as the [Tinkerer] in me wanted to approach and ask questions, I doubted the [Sailors] would be eager to answer without reservations given my form.

Besides that... we had more important work to do first.

The Velvet Star kept tabs on people in and around their territory. While the docks weren't strictly in Sova's boundaries by technicality, they were close enough to our lands that we needed to be wary. They were well within Aerasthetic's reach too, and that meant they could become potential enemies.

"Why're we here anyway? Who's next on the choppin' block?" Sigura asked idly, her eyes on the birds cawing overhead as her face scrunched up into a frown.

"Siren's Sail. A [Pirate] crew based here in the harbour," Pack Rat told us. "They operate in the oceans some distance from the port, but use Divastyr to store their looted goods. Should they fall under Aerasthetic's command, they could influence the Don's trade deals overseas. Even in battle, it would be prudent to know whether we will need to face them. The group has an abundance of [Hydromancers], all with some degree of control over Water Magic."

Sigura shivered at the thought, and I felt a twinge of guilty mirth at her reaction. My magic and body were well equipped to deal with any Water Magic that wasn't Sharktooth's strange decaying abilities, so I suspected they would pose little threat to me.

"Fine, lead the way then and let's get this over with," Sigura grumbled. "The quicker we get this done, the less of a chance one a' these shitty birds'll drop a partin' gift on us."

The comment earned a laugh from Streiphen, and Pack Rat relieved some of the tension from his body through a sigh. She was still in the mood for jokes, at least. For now.

It wasn't long before we ventured further north along the harbour, arriving in a region further from the docks themselves. There were no storefronts for common [Sailors] and [Merchants] here, just abandoned storage buildings and active warehouses hiding among them.

"Come then, we are not far," Pack Rat told us, waving with a hand as we followed him through a maze of buildings.

Most were empty from what my zone could detect. Empty boxes or bare shells of buildings with no purpose but gathering dust. Some had people sitting or working within, although I had my doubts the work was legitimate. While a few buildings looked up to code and worked without fear, others kept the light low and had curtains and blinds drawn, feigning emptiness to the outside world.

The thought of it brought forth a level of foreign annoyance that left me stunned. It sparked an almost indignant feeling deep within me, another alien experience I shouldn't be having. They weren't part of Sova, of our territory, but the working conditions for those in illicit warehouses couldn't have been good.

I didn't have long to mull over the unfairness of the situation. After only a few minutes, Pack Rat came to a stop in front of a warehouse that looked no different to the others located not far from the docks. Either he had a good memory of the path here, or he had some sort of mental map given to him by a Caster like Screen. I couldn't see any identifying features here that made this place any different from the other abandoned warehouses dotting the docks.

Streiphen reached up, gently rapping on the large, heavy metal doors with his knuckles. The sound reverberated through the building, but there was no response from within. As expected.

"Should we wait for an answer?" Streiphen asked.

Sigura wasted no time reaching down for the handle, pulling it down to push her way inside, opening the door without issue.

"Let's not," Sigura drawled, stepping inside.

The doors were large enough for me to enter, but this was unfamiliar territory even beyond our usual jurisdiction. Once again, I let the Lyridium Cat jump off my mech, padding inside in my place as I kept watch.

"Finally," Sigura groaned, walking into the building proper with a ball of [Light] floating in front of her.

It didn't take long to figure out what she meant. There were bottles of water and crates of salted meat here. They didn't look like they'd been abandoned and left here either. These had been moved recently, and the base was still in use.

Trespassing was the least of my fears now that we'd actually found a base we might be able to use for information, even if it wasn't something we should be doing without proof of them joining forces with our enemies.

"You sure this is the right place, PR? Doesn't exactly scream '[Pirate]' to me, y'know?" Sigura asked, rooting through cupboards with cans of fish and rations still sitting inside. "Every place we've been to so far has been a complete dump, so forgive me for bein' wary."

The Roden sighed with exasperation, nodding in agreement.

"Hrr... This is certainly their base, but their true 'home' is the ship they use for work," Pack Rat answered, sniffing around the countertops as his nostrils began to glow with a soft blue-grey light. [Insight] through his sense of smell? "I do not detect any recent spellcasting."

"[They were here not long ago,]" I informed the group. My [Heat Sense] detected lingering warmth on the couches at the back of the room.

"Yeah, Yur's right," Sigura nodded in agreement, sniffing at the air. "Prob'ly a few of 'em."

Pack Rat's brows furrowed with thought, his eyes turning towards Streiphen.

"Hrr... If Siren's Sail is still working through this building, we should find them as soon as possible," the Roden advised. "Stardust and I will continue investigating here if you and Homebound wish to scout the surrounding area. If you find them, inform us through the Construct and we will back you up."

Streiphen turned, looking towards the green coated Cat in the darkness. His body shivered a little as he realised with a start that it had been standing right next to him.

"[If we go too far, I'll have the Cat walk out and stand at a mid-point between us and you two. I should be able to reach with my [Telekinesis] at max range that way,]" I told them.

"Understood," Pack Rat nodded, finding a thick book that looked like a charter within one of the cabinets, planting it on the countertop.

Wary and focused as Pack Rat seemed, Sigura looked glad to have a reason to leave the latest base inspection early. She stepped out of the building as my mech rose back to its feet, giving me an elbow in the side accompanied by a wink.

"Owe ya one, Yur," Sigura grinned, walking off to the left as I stood up to follow.

"[Where are you going?]" I asked. My [Heat Sense] wasn't so strong as to pick up footsteps, so...

"They shouldn't be far from here, Yur. I caught the smell of 'em off the couch," Sigura replied, tapping her nose.

Right. [Enhanced Senses]. Again, I felt a pang of melancholy at the senses I didn't have, but swallowed it for the sake of the mission.

Before long, Sigura stopped again, holding one arm out to the side before turning her head towards me, one finger to her lips. Both of the Cat-like ears atop her head were standing straight up, primed and alert.

I nodded with the front of my mech, moving as quietly as possible behind Sigura as we slowly approached. Large and cumbersome as my mech was, it didn't creak or squeak like the previous iteration, something that was serving me well if enemies were nearby. I felt sure I'd detect enemies through my zone before they saw me, but a person's sight went farther in a single direction than my [Sensory Zone] could. Leaving this in Sigura's capable hands was the best course of action.

At the edge of my zone, fuzzy shapes came into view. Clothed figures next to a wagon. As we got closer and the group gradually entered through the boundaries of my zone, I got a good look at them. Three people in heavy garbs with coats to keep out the cold. All of them carried curved blades that hung from their sides, each the same type as the one Sigura had owned a lifetime ago back in Addersbrook. Scimitars?

The two wagons had black tarps over them, hiding the contents from prying eyes. It was far from enough to stop my zone, and looking beneath was a simple task. The undersides of each tarp had a pair of runes woven into them, both of which resembled dark blue Human lips with X symbols over them. Some sort of silencing effect?

Given what was inside both of the wagons, I could only assume that was the case.

In the wagon closest to the [Pirates], I saw a collection of people with bound limbs and gagged mouths. Each had pointed ears common to Elvenkind and pale blue skin lighter than the sea. All of them had chalk white hair and abnormally short bodies. The group were clustered around one corner of the wagon, huddling together to fight off the chill. Or... just for the emotional warmth of physical closeness.

Snow Elves.

Some sort of exchange? I didn't know much about Snelves beyond the fact that they were native to the north, far from any land I'd lived in before Divastyr. In a situation like this... they couldn't be anything but slaves.

Under the other tarp-

My blood ran cold.

"Do you have what we came here for or not?" one of the [Pirates] asked, warily eyeing the second wagon. "We expect a demonstration to know what we're working with, and that you aren't trying to pawn off some fancy Doll."

The speaker looked... Half Elven, with Humanoid skin, pointed ears, and eyes boasting two colours, a blue ring around the outside of the iris, and an orange interior. Though... his neck had reddish scales, and small fins protruded from a second set of scales on his cheeks. Once again, I felt a lance of melancholy run through me. He was a Halfblood like I'd been, one with some sort of seafolk ancestry. Triton, if I were to guess.

"Not to worry, gents. This'll be everything you're looking for and more," grinned a Human man standing across from the [Pirates], one wearing a nondescript thick black coat with long white hair atop his head. I hoped to find some sort of identification card within his pockets through my zone, but the search came up empty. No ID, just a small rolled up note of little importance. All I saw were blue chain tattoos on his hands, coiling up around his arm from his middle finger to his shoulder.

With one hand, he gripped the tarp, pulling it off the second wagon to reveal the source of the stunned shock I felt, a feeling that the three [Pirates] didn't seem to share.

It was a single creature, but not like any I'd ever seen. It had a vaguely Humanoid, muscular frame covered in dark blue scales that looked close to black in shade. The beast had a Crocodile-like head and Shark-like fins along its beefy arms, both ending in webbed fingers tipped with claws. The bottom half was missing a Humanoid's legs, replaced by a cluster of scaled tendrils akin to that of an Octopus. Its golden eyes squinted against the sudden light, yet it made no sound as a pair of wings on its back silently fluttered within the confines of the cage.

Under its neck, I saw a familiar symbol. It was a blue bird, one with its eyes staring directly forward and both wings proudly extended. The same symbol that marked the front of my pink body's form.

It was a Chimera.

"[Take it slow, Sigura. I can see them from here,]" I told her.

She nodded, continuing to walk forward slowly as I followed close behind. The man across from the [Pirates] clapped his hands together, a sound that Sigura's perked up ears evidently caught.

The trio watched as the Chimera used [Mantle], coating itself in a dense but oddly shaped sea-green Aera. The ability was undeniable, but it was concentrated almost entirely on its upper body, with very little of the aura extending down over its tendril-like legs.

"This is the kind of thing you can acquire with our help," the man told them. "We can loan you this aquatic Chimera to help with your work. It can fight, scout, and even repel other Sea Monsters without lifting a finger! With this, your voyages will be nothing but smooth sailing."

He was selling the services of the Chimera. The thought brought my blood to a boil. The legs of the mech twitched against my will as I forced myself not to dart ahead or prematurely open my compartment. I needed to be cautious.

"[Wait here Sigura,]" I told the Half Nekari. "[I can eavesdrop and see everything from this distance. We'll get more information this way.]"

Sigura raised an eyebrow in my direction, but gave me a nod as she leaned against the wall of a warehouse we took cover behind. I didn't want to see what would happen if she saw the caged Chimera now. We needed some form of lead, and hasty action wasn't going to get us one.

The [Pirate] in front crossed his arms, evidently unimpressed as he kept his eyes locked on the Chimera. The monster stared back at him in return, still completely silent.

"Clapping is one thing, but we need aid that can listen to proper commands," the [Pirate] told him, distrust heavy in his gaze. "Can it do anything other than glowing parlor tricks?"

"The beast is skilled in all forms of combat," the man replied with a smile, completely undeterred by the look. "In land, sea, or sky, Eta-299 can hold its own. It can produce powerful gusts of wind to deal with Wyverns or particularly large birds, or shoot globs of acid at those that won't be pushed back by an attack like that. It can detect prey underwater with a special Skill equivalent to [Current Sense], and takes traits from a Triton, an Isonade, an Octopus..."

He paused, reaching into his pocket for the folded up note I'd spotted earlier. After checking the top...

"And a Knucker!" he finished with a grin. "Give it time to hunt for itself after each job and you won't even need to worry about feeding it. Just give it directions and a place on land to sleep and you'll be golden."

"You did not answer my question," the [Pirate] growled. "You want us to just lead this beast around by the nose like a Dog? What assurance do we have that your creature won't turn on us the moment it loses interest?"

"You really still doubt it?" the white haired man asked with a raise of his brow, patting the side of the wagon. The Chimera's eyes didn't leave the [Pirate] for a second. "Look at him, he's not even making a sound!"

"We are not here to play games, boy," the man growled back. "If you want to bargain for our help, you will conduct business properly. Prove that the beast can follow orders."

The man sighed in the face of the clear distrust, planting both hands on his hips as he looked up at the stoic faced Chimera.

"Show off a bit, Eta-299. Just nothing outside the cage, got it?" the man commanded, raising a brown boot to kick the side of the wagon.

The structure rattled a bit, even if the creature within looked completely unaffected. The Chimera looked the same as ever, but I found myself growing annoyed. Annoyed and... glad. Glad that Sigura couldn't see this.

Wordlessly, the Chimera raised a webbed hand as a [Water Sphere] was formed from the glowing, rough blue Aera surrounding it,. The sphere undulated and spun in place above the creature's hand. The demonstration continued as the Chimera rose its casting arm, causing the sphere to fly in a spiral shape around the extended limb. It was followed by several more [Water Spheres] forming all around over its body, the light of its Aura transforming into liquid that flew in a practiced looking formation without the creature pulling its eyes from the [Pirate] for a second. Creepy.

"Those things're no joke...'' one of the [Pirate's] allies added quietly. The third figure, a skittish looking Human man, gave a fervent nod in response.

The [Pirate] in front watched the beast with pursed lips, keeping eye contact before his head turned to look back at the smug, satisfied salesman.

"How'd you get the beast so strong, and what're you lookin' for it?" the [Pirate] grumbled.

"We're just loaning it's services, not selling it," the man clarified. "All we want is just a few jobs to take priority over your usual work. A few cargo runs from Rengrasia need some slowing down. As for the secret to its strength..."

He paused, raising one hand with a finger extended to ask for patience as he went behind the wagon. He reached down for a small compartment at the base of the cage, opening it up to reveal-

"What's happenin' Yur?" Sigura whispered next to me.

It took me a moment to get my thoughts in order.

"[They... They're still just talking. I'll keep you informed,]" I responded uneasily. Sigura narrowed her eyes.

Boost. Without a doubt, it was Boost.

"This is a good brew, gents," the man replied, holding up the swishing bottle of blue-pink liquid. "It's not the shabby unrefined stuff you'd find elsewhere on the market. See? This guy still has his mind. He can take orders and everything! As a real show of trust, you can have one free sample bottle on the house."

The man held out the glass bottle for the [Pirate] to take, which he stepped forward to grab with a wary eye that never left the salesman.

"Take it in small portions at a time whenever you're ready, just don't try chugging it. It isn't beer," the man advised.

The skittish looking Human eyed the bottle worriedly, and the salesman raised a brow.

"It's best to take when you've got a good peace of mind, so hold off on it for now," he added.

"Aye, we understand how this works," the [Pirate] grumbled back before taking a breath. "We'll keep that in our thoughts."

"If you side with Aerasthetic and take part in the conquest, we can promise even more magical assistance like this," the man tried, tilting his head slightly.

"And... all you want is to disrupt some trade and slow a few boats down?" the [Pirate] asked uncertainly.

"Yup! That's all we're looking for, gents," the man grinned back.

Aerasthetic...? So these people weren't Chimera themselves, yet they had a Chimera in custody they could 'loan' to others that obeyed commands? Did Aerasthetic have some sort of tie to the organisation?

"You'll still have a place to come back to when we're done, trust us," the man continued. "We're not just warmongers. We want to make Divastyr a better place for people like us.”

And what about the people that weren't like you? The civilians? I heard a light rattling, the sound of my mech twitching before I focused on steadying it. I needed to focus.

"What's happenin' out there Yur?" Sigura asked again, her voice more persistent. "Why're you keepin' me in the dark here?"

"[I'm not... They're performing a trade. The pirates are talking with someone I believe to be an Aerasthetic rep,]" I told her.

"What kind of trade?" Sigura pressed. When I didn't answer immediately, her brows furrowed. "Boost, Yur?"

It was only a matter of time before Sigura caught on. Lying would only complicate matters.

"[Yes... But we should wait before we attack,]" I replied hurriedly. "[We need as much information as can get before we strike.]"

Sigura's eyes widened, filling with a look of... hurt? The Half Nekari Chimera scrunched her eyes closed, sighing to herself before giving me... a wordless nod.

I'd expected more of an outraged response to the revelation, so this was a welcome surprise. Figuring that Sigura could handle herself, I put my focus back on the group.

"The city's fate isn't somethin' we're worried about. Divastyr ain't special, and there's others like it. We're just wary of that Sea God's presence," the [Pirate] in front explained as I looked back.

"Leviathan, right?" the man asked, causing the [Pirate] to wince.

"Aye... but don't say its name, boy. Didn't anyone ever teach you..." the [Pirate] paused, letting out a defeated sigh before standing up straight again. "We saw the echo of the Sea God, and its servants. The thing has put us all on edge, and we need somethin' to avoid it. We came close to bein' attacked by a gang of its Sirens and barely made it out alive. He's been like this ever since."

With that, the Captain jerked a thumb towards the skittish looking man standing alongside him.

"All the more reason to join us then!" the man smiled, causing the [Pirate] to raise his brow. "The whole reason your 'Sea God' came here was because some Velvet Star member called it. We're trying to get them out of here, and if we're successful then it won't have any reason to come here again."

"Hrm..." the [Pirate] grumbled in quiet contemplation. "We don't fight battles on land if we can help it. Our Skills aren't made for solid ground, but we'll handle yer boats if it keeps that monster away."

Bastards. It was bad enough that they were using Boost and Chimeras, but now they were trying to drag our name through the mud and use Fareel as an excuse to sway this group. They were the only reason he felt compelled to do that in the first place!

Or... so I hoped.

"That's a relief, y'know?" the man smiled, clapping both hands together. "We'd be glad to have brave people like you lot on our side. Not even an ounce of fear out of you after seeing this big lug. Guess you're more worried about monsters like the Big L than this guy, huh?"

The man jerked a thumb at the unmoving Chimera, but the [Pirate] looked less than amused.

"This thing is no 'monster'. A tamed beast perhaps, but you folk don't know the first thing about real monsters," the [Pirate] replied.

"I haven't spent all my time cooped up in this city," the man drawled, looking unimpressed. "I've fought monsters. I was an adventurer before I joined up with Aerasthetic. I've gone toe to toe with Direwolves and Wyverns outside these walls."

The [Pirate] only snorted in response.

"Your 'Adventurers' and the like are too lenient with what you'd label a 'monster'. The real threats are deeper down, both on land and sea, and we who sail the world's oceans know 'em well. This thing you've got is a deterrent, nothin' else," the [Pirate] retorted. "In a proper fight, they wouldn't hold a candle to a true monster, but if we can detect and avoid 'em, that'll be enough for us."

"And the Boost?" the man asked, raising another bottle of the liquid. "We could offer you some of this too if you wanted a bit of extra firepower."

After one glance back at the unmoving Chimera, and at the flying balls of water effortlessly orbiting its form, the [Pirate] nodded.

"Aye. We'll try it."

"[They're taking the Boost, Sigura. Get ready to move out,]" I told her, my body preparing for movement once again.

"Finally... Got it, Yur," Sigura replied quietly, her voice a bit... subdued. As she rose from a crouch, she moved straight for the corner before a metal hand gripped her shoulder. With a snarl, she whirled around and looked back at me. "What now? We've got to stop them Yur, don't we?"

"[Yes, but we should wait for the others. We're in no immediate danger yet,]" I told her.

"Pack Rat, you mean," Sigura hissed, looking away as her shoulders slumped a little. "We don't need his damn help, Yur. We were doin' just fine before he butted in. C'mon, let's just go. They'll catch up."

"[Ah! Wait, Sig-]"

She wriggled free of the hand, anger still written on her face as she wheeled around the corner, breaking into a run towards the enemy as I followed behind. My compartment snapped open as assorted chunks and weapons of metal flew free from within.

"Hold it, we're taking you all in!" Sigura roared, catching the attention of the group.

Needless to say, the eyes of the [Pirates] went wide at the sight of the seven and a half foot Half Nekari woman and the gigantic mech housing a brain approaching swiftly.

Sigura's eyes widened too, her focus turning towards the blue skinned Chimera sitting in the wagon.

"Fuck! That's what you people were doing?!?" Sigura growled. "Step away from the wagons, you bastards!"

The white haired man paled at the sight of us turning the corner as he wheeled around to retreat.

"Velvet Star, shit!" he shouted, looking towards the [Pirates]. "Stall them and get out of here, they're the enemy! They'll have more monsters around as backup!"

A fearmongering tactic? Given the stunned expression on the white haired man's face, the pirates' next course of action wasn't what he expected.

"Get the beast out, Sternwall! Have a Chimera fight these things, but we can't afford to be gettin' caught here!" the [Pirate] in front shouted, gesturing for the larger man to move.

He went straight for the cage, reaching down for the metal lock as a dark blue [Mantle] formed over his hands in his attempt to break it, worriedly casting looks over his shoulder.

"Stop, stop!" the man shouted back. "You can't do that, you still need to get checked and attuned for-"

Seeing how Sigura was closing the gap around the warehouses, the white haired man gave up and turned around, ready to leave the moment he deemed it necessary. A stupid, arrogant move given how fast Sigura could be.

The Chimera in the cage was unmoved by the commotion. It remained still, its eyes still patiently locked on the hefty [Pirate] fumbling with the lock.

"[We've found the enemy!]" came the voice of my Lyridium Cat. My second [Sensory Zone] unfurled once again, showing me Pack Rat and Streiphen in the middle of some conversation within the Siren Sail's base. The Roden looked up with shock as the Cat turned without warning while I commanded it to come to me. "[Follow!]"

The white haired man's eyes darted between the [Pirates], the Chimera, and Sigura. Sigura's [Mantle] burst to life, creating a radiant sunset light around her. The man acted in kind, creating a strangely crystalline, cloudy white [Mantle]. Even without using [Insight], it would've been easy to tell his Aera wasn't that of a mere Goon. It had too much depth and texture.

"U-use the bottle, Cap'n!" the skittish [Pirate] squeaked, looking towards the man in charge.

"We can't use it here you dolt, it's an emergency! It'll-"

"I'll take the plunge, Cap'n! I'll do it for the team!" the skittish man interrupted, reaching for the bottle in his captain's hands.

He snatched it from the distracted Half Triton, popping off the top as the Captain watched in horror. The skittish man began to chug the contents, retching as some of the liquid spilled back over his lips, splashing to the stone ground under his feet. Still, he forced himself to drink more and more.

"Spit that out!" Sigura roared, clenching her fist as Aera coalesced, allowing her to fire a blinding [Release] straight at him.

The blast smashed right into the bottle, breaking it instantly. The rest of the bottle was sent spiraling from the man's hands as the remainder of the Boost spilled to the ground. The skittish man yelped, clutching the hands now pierced with glass shards and stained with flecks of Boost.

Then, the sound of his cries turned into strangled gargling sounds as he began to change.