The sound of shattering glass was always what started the dream.

My eyes snapped open, blinking fast as the remnants of sleep stung at the edges of my sight. I pulled both hands out from beneath the covers of my bed, rubbing crust from the corners of my bleary eyes. Despite my weariness, I sat up in the bed, shivering as the blanket fell off me. My room was pitch black, and every movement of my body felt abnormally sluggish compared to what it was today.

It wasn't like it mattered much, since I was never the one controlling the body anyway. The dream always played out the exact same way every single time, no matter how much I tried to move or change it. I was a captive in my own nightmare. I wanted to say I'd grown up enough to be 'fine', but it always left me shaken. It was a constant reminder of how useless I'd been back then.

My past self tried to be quiet, sliding both legs out from under my covers with sloppy, sluggish movements. I didn't have the [Silent Step] Skill back then, but the sound of my feet was muffled by the yellow slippers I put on next to the bed. It matched the yellow and white pyjamas I was stuck in, a look that anyone could've seen from a mile away. The body shivered as it parted from the bed, rising out from under the safety of the warm blanket. No matter how much I willed it, I couldn't get the body to just... stay.

To avoid everything that was doomed to happen

My first thought that night had been to try and help. That there must've been an intruder or something, like a [Burglar]. I didn't think a [Burglar] would rob from the house of a well known, successful adventurer, but maybe they were just dumb or overconfident. Mom should've been back home from work, too. Even if she wasn't, all I needed to do was startle or stall the intruder until she came back. Easy.

It sounded simple in my head, but the horrible reality had been anything but simple.

If only I'd been so lucky.

Making my way to the door, a new sound reached my ears. A snapping sound. An ear-curdling crack of smashing wood. Not the sort of sound a regular [Burglar] would've made while trying to quietly rob a house. I couldn't even brace my body for the shrill scream of pain that followed. The sound of my mother's scream.

Hurrying up, I fumbled my way to the door. My breathing came heavy and panicked, head whipping around to the table behind me. I saw my pet, a small, blond Canary, squawking silently and ineffectually. Its cage was surrounded by books for study, the noise muffled by a [Silence] Spell woven into its enclosure.

The thought that it could have alerted my presence to whoever was downstairs had sent my heart into a panicked frenzy that only made the experience even more uncomfortable.

Our house had never been broken into before, and for good reason, too. The windows and doors were all enchanted against wear and tear, and a number of barriers would erect themselves if an unfamiliar person's Aura came into contact with the house. Dad might've been exaggerating when he'd said that not even a battering ram could get through them, but it had made me feel safe at the time.

Had someone stolen a key? Had they snuck in through a blind spot somewhere? My past self had been terrified at the thought, blood running cold at the idea that I could've left a window open or a door unlocked before I went to bed. That I'd given some faceless intruder a free ticket into our home.

Mom would've been furious if I'd let someone in. That was all I'd been thinking at the time, the words burned into my mind with perfect clarity like everything else that happened that night.

The thought made me miss her all over again.

My past self stepped out onto the upstairs landing, gently closing the door behind me with a soft 'click'. It was dark up here, but a ray of light shone from the opening to the kitchen downstairs. With cautious steps I padded my way to the stairs, heart pounding with every moment spent getting closer and closer to the first floor.

My mother, the real Canary, could handle herself in a fight. She was an invincible adventurer, a prestigious member of a group that made miracles come true. That scream had to have been one of shock. Maybe the intruder had gotten her by surprise before she'd turned it around on them.

Reassuring thoughts like that ran through my past self's head on repeat like the sound of a Recorder with scratched, distorted runes. I reached the base of the stairs without issue, creeping down the hall while my past self fruitlessly prayed to the Gods with all their heart that my mother had dealt with the intruder already. That she was safe.

I knew the truth, but my past self was about to experience it all for the first time.

I reached the end of the corridor.

I peeked in through the crack of the kitchen door, looking inside with a single golden eye.

The kitchen was almost unrecognisable.

It looked as though a hurricane had blown through, destroying everything in its wake. Broken plates were strewn across the floor and countertop, shards littering the once orderly kitchen. A cupboard holding Mom's old awards had been flung against a wall and cracked to the point of collapsing in on itself, breaking several of the golden awards and now dented medals. The back door had been ripped off its hinges, a massive fist-shaped dent in the center of the metal as cold Scandian air drifted in from outside. I'd barely registered the sound of running water over my pounding heartbeat. A burst or broken pipe, I'd thought.

Part of me had been praying that this was all a horrible dream. Even if it was only a dream now, it had all been a horrific, surreal reality that night.

My eye scanned over the disaster, but my conscious thoughts stayed firm. I tried to brace my mind despite the pounding sound in my ears. It was the same every night, to the point where I could count the seconds to the moment it happened.

To the moment I saw Mom.

Her blond hair hung low over her bloodstained face. The features that I could see behind her locks were frightened, beaten, and bloody. Her chest rose and fell with heavy, desperate gasps for air, while both her stomach and neck were bruised purple. It was a shock she could still breathe in her position, but Casters were stronger than the average person. Even still... it meant that singing and speaking were completely out of the question. She'd been completely unable to use the bulk of her magic like this. Helpless.

As horrifying as the dream was, this was always the worst part of it. The fact that the sight of my proud, powerful mother had been brought low in a way I'd never even imagined could be possible was what felt clearest to me.

Back then, I'd been naive.

My mother was a famous adventurer, a hero of the Miracle Workers. She'd taught me about magic for use in combat, shown me sparring matches between adventurers to demonstrate the range of magic and tactics people used, and had let me use her Vox to research everything I could about adventurers and the monsters they fought. The monsters that I'd fight one day.

Back then, I thought I knew what a monster looked like.

Standing next to Mom, facing towards the broken sink and wall opposite me, was a monster.

Not the type one could find in an encyclopedia or Vox. It wasn't a leering [Assassin] with a poisoned dagger, or a hefty, bloated Hobgoblin wielding a tree branch as though it were a club, or even a ferocious, drooling Direwolf with knives for teeth. This was something that had presence.

This was a real monster.

Back then, I'd thought it resembled a Mummy more than anything else. An Undead monster wrapped tightly in bandages, one that could use powerful Skills to drain others of moisture and leave them as empty, obedient husks. That was what it had reminded me of.

The monster was a Humanoid figure with a bulky physique covered head to toe in layers and layers of black wrappings. The suit was so dense that I couldn't see a speck of skin beneath it. The material had an odd gleam to it, looking more like polished leather rather than cloth. As strange as it was, I made the connection quickly.

Belts. The monster was clad in layers and layers of belts.

The creature's presence was so heavy and thick in the air that it was hard to move or think. Even after having seen this same scene so many times, my mind was taken by fear so raw it made me want to cry.

My body trembled like a newborn at the entrance to the kitchen, feeling white hot panic racing through every muscle as my hair stood on end.

I'd seen this monster before.

It was blanketed in a malicious black Aura, a [Mantle] of shadowy Snakes unlike any I'd ever seen before now, one that exuded an almost crushing weight.

The shoes curled upwards at the ends like that of a [Jester]. Sharp claws tipped each of its fingers. The suit slowly moved on its own like a nest of writhing Snakes, with each individual belt looking like it was alive.

One of its hands were clenched around something barely visible in the sea of churning darkness. Something made of glass, something with a label, something...

The monster was holding a jam jar.

With a methodical, graceful movement, the monster lowered two of its elongated fingers into the half-full jar. It emitted some sort of discordant noise from its head, a muted, rhythmic hum that went up and down in pitch. A warped song.

It lifted both stained digits, pressing them against the wall above the sink. Smearing jam on the cream coloured surface, it slowly and painstakingly swept both fingers around, dirtying the surface with purpose. It was drawing... something. A wide, curved line, the the top of a-

"...un..."

The heart of my past self caught in its chest. My eye snapped from the monster's play to my mother's pained, terrified eyes. Mom had spotted me, like she always had. She'd always been an incredibly perceptive Caster. It was something to admire that she'd been able to spot me even in that situation.

My past self was reeling with shock, but her croaked words cut through the haze like a knife. My current mind felt nothing but a sick, queasy anxiety, but I vividly remembered the fear and disbelief that had paralyzed me back then. My own mother, a brave adventurer, had been beaten to this state in her own home by some...

Monster.

"What kind of house doesn't have ketchup? Really, using jam is such a pain. This is starting to be way more trouble than it's worth. You're just one of many, so killing you can't be that bad, right? No... I guess I can't afford to be lenient, otherwise something like this could happen again, huh?"

The monster spoke, a deep, droning sound that sent chills down my spine. Muffled as it was under layers of belts, I could tell the voice was female. Based on the physique alone, I wouldn't have thought the monster was a woman. At least... not a Human woman.

My body had to act. I'd known I didn't have the magic or skill to beat an opponent Mom had lost to. I'd needed to get help. To get to someone with a Vox or artefact to contact the rest of the Miracle Workers. The Watch wasn't prepared to catch a monster like this, but if anyone could manage it, they could. They'd killed one of these nightmares already, putting them down for good.

The Disciples.

My body turned around with painstaking slowness. The first few times I'd had this dream, I'd screamed at my past self to move. To stop worrying about the distance between me and the front door and go. But it never worked.

The hallway loomed in front of me, looking longer and more alien than it ever had. Even the muffled footfalls of my slippers sounded deafening in my head. I could feel the ringing ears and wobbling of my body as though they were my own. My chest rose and fell with heavy breaths, bile rising up my throat. The heat and weight in my head made me nauseous, but my past self fought the urge to collapse and give up.

A prisoner in my own body.

'Is this how I'm going to die? Vomiting from fear and stress, only to be killed by a monster in my own home right after'?

The thoughts had been seared into my mind.

"Thank the Gods! Jam is a pain, but I guess its not so bad when you get used to it. A little thicker, sure, but I can make this work. So, whaddaya think? Not too bad for a rush job, huh?"

The playful tone and words of the monster sounded wrong. They were too casual for the dark and bloody world beyond that kitchen door. It sounded like an insult to my burning fear, and my past self had tried and failed to drown out the sound.

I reached the door without incident, clasping the cold, yellow handle with trembling fingers. The handle crept down inch by inch as I'd forced myself to move, heart pounding in my ears.

'Was Mom going to die? Should I be staying here to give her first aid after the monster left? Would there be more monsters waiting outside for me the moment I opened the door?'

'Was I going to die here, in my own home?'

Insecurities and doubts that I could feel in my choked throat and trembling body dug their long claws into my mind. My cheeks were damp from streaming tears, body shaking from the sweeping, uncontrollable emotions. The stress was getting to me, and the need to vomit was growing. I'd resolved to do it the moment I was out the door. Then, I'd sprint for help.

I tried to brace myself, but I couldn't stop the mild feeling of naive hope in my past self's body from reaching my mind. Maybe this time would be different.

The door above me exploded into a shower of splinters. A scream of horror ripped its way out of my throat, cut off as both hands slammed my mouth shut. Tears streamed down my face and over my fingers, a feeling that left me shaking more than before.

Something hard had smashed into the door in the darkness. The top half had been caved in and obliterated, allowing the frigid night air to slither forward and pervade our home. My teeth chattered behind both hands, but I stayed low.

I'd known I wasn't able to run. My legs wouldn't be able to take me two steps before I collapsed. I couldn't go. If I stayed here, maybe I'd get lucky, but I had to be quiet.

The eyes of my past self slowly turned to the left, spotting something long, thin, and black brush over the floorboards.

A belt.

More of them emerged from that hellish kitchen, scanning over the walls like winding tendrils of shadow. One of them knocked over a mirror that hung near the kitchen entrance, glass breaking as shards spilled out over the floor.

One of them brushed against my hair.

My current mind felt revulsion, but it was nothing compared to what my past self experienced. I couldn't hold back the vomit, clenching my eyes shut as last night's dinner spilled out into the floor, staining my pyjamas.

One of the belts snapped around, making a cracking sound like the end of a whip. My past self gagged as three of them converged on me, wrapping around my waist, neck, and an ankle simultaneously. The leather bit in deep, cutting off the scream that prematurely died in my throat.

I was torn from the wooden floor, ripped off the ground and away from the puddle of bile and the safe oasis the front door promised as the belts dragged me into the pits of the Abyss.

My eyes screwed closed against the abrupt light of the kitchen. As the belts swung back, I was slammed against one of the kitchen chairs hard enough to crack the wood. Pain lanced up my arm, but another belt grabbed it hard before the limb could move, pinning it in place as the arm was jerked upwards, holding my body aloft.

Mom and the monster were looking at me.

It was only then I'd been able to see the monster's face. It wore a plain white mask with a red, jagged grin painted onto the bottom half. Two holes had been carved in the front, revealing a pair of inhuman, hungry crimson eyes lurking behind them. A third 'eye' marred the forehead of the mask, painted to be larger than all the other features put together.

Red Eye. One of the Disciples.

My past self was shaken on an emotional and physical level as every part of me worked to make sense of the situation and convince myself this wasn't happening. I coughed, causing some of the vomit to dribble down my lip.

It was an awful sensation, one that felt just as disgusting and visceral as it was the night it had happened. I screamed out as the belts jangled in the air, shaking my wounded body like a limp, broken puppet. The grip of the belts was tight enough that the flesh beneath it felt as though it were on fire.

"Oooh, lucky me! Who's this?" the monster chirped, leaning forward towards my dangling form.

Mom refused to answer the monster. In her state, it was the only act of defiance she could muster. She stared down at the ground, blonde hair masking her tears.

"No response?" the monster said. "Guess you don't care if I just beat her to death then, huh? Blood would make this way easier than jam."

Mom's face shot up, all thoughts of defiance forgotten. Her expression was heartbreaking even now, lacking any of the composure I'd always seen my mother wear up until that night. Even today, that expression was what I reflexively pictured whenever thoughts of Mom came to mind.

"no..." Mom croaked, her voice hoarse and pained.

"No? No, huh? Hmm, guess I can't do that then," the monster nodded. "I'd like to take her with us for a bit of fun, buuuuuuut I'm already done with the calling card, and it would feel sorta cheap if I didn't leave at least one body at the crime scene. People are gonna feel cheated if they saw my work and didn't see a body beside it, y'know? It betrays people's expectations. We've got a reputation to uphold, lady!"

"please..." was her mother's only response.

The belts jerked me forwards again, eliciting a brief scream as fresh pain ignited beneath the dark leather. Once they stopped, I was left dangling in front of the wall. In front of Mom.

Next to the monster.

"So, whatcha think? I only had jam to work with since I can't kill your mom. Woops, that came out wrong. Lemme rephrase that. I could kill momma bird, but I'm not supposed to. I'm taking her instead."

My body was frozen. Paralyzed with fear and disbelief. As much as I tried to stop it, my past self looked towards Mom, unable to think of anything else. At the time, my mind had barely registered the words. All I could think about was seeking her support.

'She can't fight anymore. Mom's going to die. I'm going to die. There's nothing I can do.'

Mom looked horrified in a way I'd never seen from her before. She was trying and failing to bury that feeling of helplessness and despair in her eyes, an act that only made seeing it hurt more. She'd been able to resist giving in before the monster dragged me here. I'd been the one to break Mom's composure. I was holding her back.

Even now... I couldn't help but feel that way. It didn't change anything in the end, but... maybe Mom could've gone out with more peace of mind.

The belts snapped around again, throwing me back and forth over the air. The furniture, broken plates, and white floor tiles danced in my vision. The vomit that had threatened to come up earlier arrived in full force. My past self heaved, staining the floor beneath me.

"Hey! I asked what you thought! I worked really hard on this, and if you don't say anything, I'm gonna start feeling really self conscious here, y'know?" the monster whined in that discordant, wrong voice, lifting my body up high.

"...ck..." my past self choked out against my will.

I didn't know what I'd been trying to say back then. With the dark leather tight against my neck, I'd been feeling delirious. My body felt like it was on the verge of passing out, but I knew such an easy release wouldn't come.

"Oh c'mon, don't be such a baby. I didn't even hit you that hard." the monster told me, walking around outside of her peripheral vision.

The fear of what she could've been doing outside the sight my limp, lolling head provided was gut-wrenching.

"You're a really lucky girl! We've got a super fun night ahead, your mom and I. I just learned I can paint with jam too, so I'm feeling generous! Here's what I'm gonna do, little birdie. I'm gonna let you live! Buuuuuuut you have to tell me your name, otherwise it doesn't feel personal enough."

I'd heard the words, but my mind hadn't processed them. How could they, when the situation had been so surreal? I'd never even been in a proper fight at school, just a few mock battles and training simulations with Mom, and now I was dealing with something like... like this.

"...nia..." I whispered.

I hadn't even been able to say my own name. I'd wondered whether the monster would get bored and kill me because I couldn't speak. That it would go back on its words and kill Mom right in front of me because I was useless.

"I don't have hearing that good, c'mon, work with me here! Is it just because- oh, wait. I think I've got it," the monster responded.

The belt around my neck loosened, and my past self took a full breath for the first time since this ordeal began, lungs gasping for air.

"Sonia!" I roared, my voice a half-scream.

Mom looked up at me with an expression filled with desperate horror, a look that stabbed a fresh lance of guilt through my heart every time I saw it.

"There we go! I knew you had it in you! Alright Sonia, here's your reward for playing along! I'm gonna let you live!"

More belts unfurled from the monster's suit, snapping into place around my left ankle and leg. Bile threatened to burst out of me again as my body was twisted in the air, the world turning upside-down.

My pyjamas partially slid down as my body was pressed against the wall.

The biting cold of the surface was jarring, a strong contrast to the heat of my body. My breathing became quicker now that I had a full view of the kitchen I'd known all my life reduced to a warzone. As much as I tried to clench my mouth shut, other belts rose and slammed into the wall around me, sending up a cloud of dust and plaster that caused a burst of violent coughing.

"...stop..." Mom wheezed, causing the monster to turn its mask and glowing crimson eyes directly at her.

"It's really rude to interrupt a conversation too, y'know? You say you want me to stop, but I even said I wasn't gonna kill her. Unless you really want the alternative, you should learn to keep your mouth shut for once, little birdy."

Mom didn't speak again.

More of those dark leather tendrils curled off the monster's form, reaching forward to encase my body completely. They coiled tight around me like a cold, unyielding Snake. Layer after layer, thick and heavy. The last thing I saw before the world turned black was Mom's eyes, the monster's mask, and the massive red eye painted in jam above the broken kitchen sink.

Blood rushed to my head as my vision was consumed by darkness. Only my mouth was left uncovered, hyperventilating as the muffled sound of belts digging through plaster reached me from behind.

"There we go! Nice and snug, wrapped up like a New Year's present for the Watch to open when they get here! It'll probably take 'em a while, but I think it'll be worth the wait when they see the look on your face, Sonia!" the monster smiled, its voice sounding deceptively far away.

My body wasn't dangling any longer, but I still felt delirious. Since the moment I was dragged into the kitchen, this was the first time my past self had gotten the chance to freely speak.

"Don't...! Leave my mom alone!" I pleaded.

I couldn't turn my head enough to face the source of the monster's voice while stuck in the leather coffin.

"So you can talk after all, huh? I'm taking your mom with me because she's done some real bad stuff, Sonia."

Bad? Bad?!? The thought lit an indignant fire within me. What had Mom done that was even close to 'bad'?

"She didn't do anything bad!" I shouted, fear and adrenaline running high through my body.

I knew what the monster was talking about. Mom's justice, the city's justice was their 'bad stuff'. A few seconds passed in silence as I'd wondered whether this was the moment I'd die. My body tensed up beneath the leather with only the sound of laboured breathing and pounding heartbeat assuring me I was still alive.

"She committed murder, Sonia! Can you believe it, a hero like her?" the monster exclaimed before breaking out into a throaty laugh. "She killed a pal of mine, so we've gotta teach her a lesson Sonia! People like us don't have any sort of prison, but we've gotta get our justice somehow, y'know?"

'Teach her a lesson'. Spoken like a common [Thug] rather than a living nightmare. Tears stained my eyes, rolling over them and down along my forehead. The pain in my arm throbbed through my body, painfully out of sync with both my breathing and heartbeat.

"She did... she did the right thing...! You don't do anything but hurt people! You're a monster!" I cried out.

I'd said my piece. Back then, I'd felt proud, thinking that my mother would be proud of my bravery. I'd convinced myself that if I died there, I'd at least die as a brave hero Mom could be proud of. She'd have wanted me to go out that way, right? If Mom was about to be killed anyway, then maybe this was for the best. I hadn't been able to imagine living without Mom anyway.

It was a selfish thought born in a moment of desperation. I knew Mom wouldn't have wanted me to die, and even the echoes of those thoughts made me profoundly uncomfortable and ashamed of the person I used to be. The person part of me still was.

The monster laughed, a sound that caused the hairs on my body to rise and my blood to run cold.

"Exactly, Sonia! I'm a monster! Us monsters have to stick together, y'know? Where else is a monster supposed to go than with other monsters? There aren't many people who have the courage to be a real monster living out in the open anymore, so we're practically an endangered species! Should we just let her go because she killed one us for a 'good' reason? How's that fair?"

My past self didn't have anything to say to that. What could I say when confronted with words so distant, callous, and evil?

"You... the Miracle Workers will come for you...!" I spoke, my voice cracking from the mounting emotional strain. "Y-You better leave Mom here, or-"

"Don't worry your pretty little head! The Miracle Workers will get their turn too, Sonia," the monster spoke, her voice tinged with smugness. I heard the sound of a plate being crushed firmly underfoot. "Well, it's getting late! Can't be out after curfew, right Sonia? I hope I'll get to see you again someday! Don't go dying or getting any bad ideas before I find you again!"

The monster was leaving. The revelation brought a brief sense of hope to me that hurt most of all, one that was ripped away the second I heard the pained, muffled wheezing coming from Mom.

"Wait! Don't-!" I called out as the back wall was shattered, sending a cloud of dust over to me.

My past self coughed furiously as I wriggled ineffectually against my bonds. My blood felt like it was pumping again as I worried whether I was going to suffocate.

For what felt like an eternity, I focused only on breathing. Blowing dust away, breathing in, and hoping I wouldn't die.

When the cloud passed and my breathing came normally to me again, there were no sounds.

The monster was gone, and so was Mom.

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

[Sonamancer - Level 18 → 19]

[Active Class Spell obtained - Fake Sound]

In a flash, my eyes snapped open as I shot up in the bed. My hand reached for my chest, clenching hard as I gasped aloud. Damp streaks streamed down my face, and the sound of my heartbeat pounding in my ears was deafening. But... I was back. I was... was home.

Not the ruined home of the past, but... this.

I hated the dream. I was always like this after those nightmarish events finally passed. Forcing myself to stop thinking, I committed myself to nothing but drowning all else out. If I wanted to get back to normal as fast as possible, I had to try and work through the emotions tumbling through my head.

I closed my eyes, focusing only on taking deep breaths. In. Out. In. Out. With each and every inhale and exhale, I counted down one number from ten in my head, giving my body the time it needed to adjust and catch up with my mind.

That coffin of dark leather wasn't around me anymore. I was safe. They were gone.

After finishing my countdown, I gingerly opened my eyes once again. By the end of it, my heartbeat was very slowly adjusting. My eyes turned towards the window, watching as the gentle morning sunlight drifted through the curtains. I was... safe. I was back in the present, and they were gone. The Disciples weren't here anymore.

My mind had come to grips with the situation, yet I had to wait patiently for my body to catch up with the realisation. Although it still trembled from fear of the experience, I felt my heartbeat grow a little calmer after every long, deep breath.

"Squawk! Scraaaaaa!"

My head whirled towards the cage sitting atop my desk, heartbeat racing once again from the sudden noise that undid all my hard work. The golden Bird from the dream was older now, yet no less protective of me. Morning had come to Divastyr, causing the [Silence] enchantment on the cage to deactivate, allowing her to greet me now that I was awake. Or... to reassure me.

Sighing at the thought, I brought both feet out from under the covers, touching down on the wooden floor without a sound. I climbed out of bed, the cold floor helping to center my body. Walking towards the desk, I stopped as I came to an abrupt realisation. My steps were completely silent. I... must've activated the Skill out of habit. It was a habit I'd tried to break, but the nightmare wasn't making it any easier.

Leaving those melancholy thoughts behind, I walked over to a mannequin stand next to the desk as the [Silent Step] effect was lifted.

Sitting on the mannequin was a grey bodysuit with yellow metal plates over the shoulders and my vital regions. In the center of the chest was a circular golden plate boasting the symbol of a golden Bird's head with beak open and proud facing the observer. Standing in front of the mannequin, I stared down the tired, sweating face of my tinted reflection in the golden visor.

In moments like these, it felt like the mannequin was more worthy of wearing the costume than I was.

My bleary eyes turned back towards the curtains, glancing towards the light peeking through them. I was stronger now than I was then. I needed to be after what happened, but... I still wasn't strong enough to beat a crummy nightmare.

I planted a hand on the squawking Bird's cage, allowing its occupant to rub their beak against my fingers until their worried sounds stopped.

"I'm okay, Tweetie. I'm fine," I murmured, giving the Bird some hollow reassurance.

But she didn't know that it was just a mask. I'd still need a few minutes to calm down, but I'd be alright soon, just like always. In that sense, Tweetie was so relievingly trusting.

Pulling my hand from the cage, I made my way to the door, stepping into my slippers. Once my feet were out of the cold I opened the door and walked out onto the landing beyond. Leaving my room after the nightmare was never easy. My chest seized up, but I felt myself walk up to the railing separating me and the corridor below.

Resting both arms atop it, my eyes turned to the door that had been replaced after the incident. To the ground that was no longer littered with shattered glass. To the walls devoid of cracked plaster and settled dust. The irrational, childish part of me felt relief at the sight.

When I'd been let out of the hospital and brought back here, all of it had been fixed. It had left me wondering whether it had all been some strange dream or delusion, even if I knew in my heart it wasn't, because... because...

Because Mom never came home.

I took a deep breath, glancing over the railing as I fought back a lump in my throat.

Don't get any bad ideas!

I shivered, gripping the wooden railing tightly as I tore my eyes away from the floor below. That monster's words rang out in my ears, echoing with enough force and clarity to make me nauseous. My stomach gurgled hungrily, but I didn't feel ready to go downstairs yet.

Raising my eyes from the floor, I caught sight of an untouched picture hanging in a golden coloured frame, one with a happy, intact family sitting inside it. Me, Mom, and Dad.

Dad had been right to leave. He and Mom had split apart because of me, and I knew it. Because Mom wouldn't retire from the dangerous adventuring business despite me being here. Even from my room, I'd heard their arguments. He'd called her reckless and irresponsible. When he'd given her his final ultimatum, she chose her duty to the city over him. Then... he left.

The sentiment had felt unfair at the time, and I'd grown to resent him over it.

Now? Now I felt certain he'd made the right decision.

He'd been afraid to see or hear of Mom dying when he poured so much of his love and attention into her. How much risk I'd be in should the 'rules' of the city be threatened like they were now. I'd cursed him out for being selfish and abandoning us, but the moment I'd woken up after that first nightmare, I knew he'd made the right call.

It was hard to pull myself out of bed some days, but I always managed. Being in this house still brought out... difficult, conflicting feelings in me. The thought of abandoning it felt wrong after all the legal legwork the City Watch put in to 'let me' keep the place instead of living with a relative. It had been hard to refuse.

I wasn't sure if I believed the 'legal delay' story. The officials that had worked with the Miracle Workers claimed that the Disciple attack caused infrastructural damage from the loss of key personnel. My eighteenth birthday happened not long after the attack, leaving me old enough to own the house once the city was well enough to pick up the pieces.

It felt like I'd been given special treatment to live in a house that... that...

My eyes scrunched up, tearing themselves from the picture as I let out a sigh. I had... memories here. Good and bad. I didn't want to give up on it that easily, not without a fight. I wanted to try and learn to love this house again. The house I'd been raised in.

They'd all said I was lucky to have survived and inherited this shell of a home. That my Mom had left me a special place to live and carry on her legacy, even if I wished that she was here instead. If I had to choose between the safety of the city or having Mom back... It didn't feel like a hard decision to make.

Some mornings I woke up wishing I hadn't made it through that night, but not this morning. This morning was... good. A morning where I could hold myself together and not become a sobbing mess. But... even on a good morning, those dark thoughts and the memories that followed rarely went far.

Turning left from my bedroom door, I stepped into the bathroom, walking over the tilted floor in my slippers. My tired eyes met those of my reflection in the mirror above the sink.

Long blond hair, piercing gold eyes capable of great warmth like Mom's, and a round, plain face. Others had called it 'cute', but between my messy bed head and the flecks of sleep still clinging to the edges of my eyes, I couldn't see anything 'cute' about it.

With a toothbrush in hand I began my morning routine, using the methodical back and forth of the tool to push those thoughts away.

Maybe one day I could move past all this, but I wasn't feeling especially confident. Everyone always said these things got easier, and that they healed with time, but... how much time? If I kept waiting forever and it didn't get any easier, what then?

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath through my nostrils, counting downwards from ten with deep inhales and exhales.

I needed to help people wherever I could, to make sure nobody else had something like that happen to them, too. Now that she was gone, I had my mother's shoes to fill. To keep the legacy of Canary alive and let it stand the test of time, not let it die in the bloody tragedy that was the Disciples' final act of vengeance.

More than anything, I wanted to make Mom proud. That's what I needed to focus on.

Gargling water and toothpaste, I leaned down to spit into the wet sink, fighting to drive the memory of vomit from that night out of my mind.

With a sigh, I rose my head, looking up at-

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-my own face in the mirror after spitting mouthwash into the sink. Letting out a breath, my humming started up again in time with the pop blaring from my room.

Even in the early morning, I had the freedom to go all out with it. I didn't have the energy to sing along as much as I would've liked today, even though the neighbours would all be out of their houses already.

Sitting down on my stool, I pulled a pink brush from the drawer beneath the sink, getting to work on doing up my puffy, reddish-pink hair. Both the brush and hair complimented my violet-pink eyes, but that wasn't enough to help my mood this morning. I had a lot to be thankful for in the looks department given how lucky I got with having the best features of both my parents passed down to me, but work was... eh, right now.

Once my hair was thoroughly brushed, I smiled into the mirror, flashing a row of shining teeth with a pair of small fangs at the edges of my mouth.

I always enjoyed cleaning myself up in the morning. With how stressful work could be at times, it really helped me to unwind and get ready for whatever the day ahead decided to throw at me. The Gods knew I needed that relaxing too.

I was thankful that Sunburst had jumped down into those sewers, but there was no way I'd follow. Getting the smell out would've been a nightmare, especially for my hair.

I moved onto the next part of the process, making sure that the paint over my nails were dry from earlier. I'd been trying to colour them permanently with [Sheen], but it hadn't worked out yet. I'd read online that it could be done, but I'd been painting over them with [Sheen] active for ages and hadn't seen any change.

It was a drag, but I had to just keep at it.

The song moved back onto the chorus, and I bobbed my head along to the beat. I couldn't stay mad whenever Love Thistle's music was playing. When the words finally came around, I couldn't help myself as I rose from the stool with a start.

"Is love trust? Is love faith? Is love paaaaaaassiooooooooon?" I echoed, singing along with the Recorder's music, throwing my head towards the ceiling as that heaviness in my chest lightened up a little. Music never failed to brighten my morning.

It helped to remind me why I was doing all I was, too. The Don had his priorities straight, unlike a lot of other people in this city. He wanted fame, not fortune. Having money was great and all, but having a reputation and leaving a legacy was something way more important. The thoughts of people talking about me and singing my songs overseas gave me chills. It was something to work towards.

I moved my brush to the side, allowing Blaze to reach down and take it in his neon pink mouth. With an adorable little pop he leapt off the sink, reaching up with one paw to open up the bottom drawer on the dresser, dropping the brush inside.

I moved to turn off the tap before taking one last look in the mirror. I didn't feel complete without my hat and makeup, but today wasn't a performance day.

Pushing the stool to one side with a leg, I moved back into my room, glancing towards the morning light sneaking through my blinds. Without missing a beat, I closed the curtains to cut off the shine. I wasn't a morning person, and the dull gold was not helping with the atmospheric light of my glowing lava lamp and purple bulb overhead.

My eyes lingered on the lava lamp, thoughts swimming to mind as Blaze hopped into the room after me. It was a special lava lamp, a gift Mom got to help me with magic when I was younger. The shape and colour of the goo inside could be tinged by Aera to help people figure out what their affinities and potential abilities and all that junk could be with some work. It hadn't helped that much, but the goo looked really nice in pink.

It helped to inspire Blaze's form after I tried to recreate it too, soooo, it sort of helped?

Passing by posters of awesome bands lining the walls, I stopped in front of a Mirror Mannequin that had been enchanted to match the shape of my body. I knew I shouldn't be looking at it or the stage outfit it was wearing when I should be getting ready for work, but I couldn't help myself. I really just wanted this war and all the crap that came with it to be over already.

The 'war' hadn't even started and I'd already done something shitty. I hadn't wanted to just leave the others out to dry when they gave the boss the bad news, but I had to get back home. As soon as word of the casino attack reached them, I knew my parents would be worried sick. I didn't want to risk Mom overreacting again or getting the wrong idea, which she definitely would have.

Raising one arm, I sent my neon pink Aera out to soak into the mannequin. The structure began to glow, moving without my direct prompting to strike a pose. One hand on the hip, and the other pointing off into the distance. Even though it brought a smile to my face, it only made me want to wear the costume more. The mannequin looked good in that outfit, obviously, since it had my body shape, even if it lacked facial features.

With a sigh, I turned away from the mannequin.

Normally I liked work, but this whole war business was a serious pain in the ass, especially with the lengths these mad Aerasthetic people were willing to go. Breaking the truce was no joke, but those crazies didn't seem to give a damn about that.

Everyone had a great thing going here in Divastyr, but of course some group just had to be selfish and greedy and ruin the whole thing for everyone. Still, it seemed like the Casters in their group were all chumps anyway, so with luck we'd handle this quickly and painlessly. We deserved a bit of luck too, given that we'd fought to defend that church.

Once they were out of the way and back in their place, everything would go back to the way it was.

"Come, o' daughter of mine! Your morning meal has been prepared!" came a sonorous voice from downstairs.

Muffled as it was by my closed door and the music, it wasn't enough to keep the cringe I felt seizing up my shoulders.

"I'll be down in a sec!" I called back, rushing to get my clothes on.

Moving fast so the food didn't go cold, I slipped on a tiled purple shirt, black skirt, light purple stockings with dark diamond patterns going up along it, and a purple scarf.

Even if he could be a little uptight sometimes, the Don had a great fashion sense. That was admittedly part of why I'd chosen to join his group. Alongside the perks of the job, obviously.

After slipping on my shoes and black headphones alongside a click of my fingers, I called my broom out from the closet to follow behind me as I stepped out the door. After Blaze hopped out after me, the door closed by itself. The perks of a honed [Telekinesis].

Heading downstairs, I walked right into the kitchen. It was mostly normal looking if I used my friends' kitchens as the baseline, other than the massive cauldron Mom was using to cook something in the corner. Since she wasn't using it in her workshop, she was probably just being dramatic, using it to cook up a soup rather than a potion.

Mom was just as dramatic looking as the cauldron, with reddish-pink hair, a black dress and matching [Witch's] hat, and slightly tanned skin that matched my own. It was a rarity in Divastyr, and something I was glad had been passed down to me. Pink spear-like runic tattoos surrounded one of her eyes, with the base of the middle travelling down over her cheek like a long glowing blade.

Surrounding her were a cluster of Tilberis slinking around the floor, all looking for bits of soup that spilled over the sides to soak up like a group of living sponges. Mom called them 'Witch's Cats', even if they weren't strictly 'Cats'. They were a bunch of clingy drama queens. None of them were as cute as Blaze, but they were nice to have around all the same.

"Morning Blaise," Dad smiled from the kitchen table.

"Morning Dad," I replied, heading for the chair closest to the stairs.

His fangs poked out from the sides of his mouth, a feature that I knew Mom was jealous of me for having. I had his violet-pink eyes too, even if his short white hair looked nothing like mine.

I felt my mood sink a little as his smile faltered, both eyes looking over my uniform.

"Going to work again today, Blaise?" he asked. His eyes were trying to give me 'the treatment', but I couldn't just bail on the Star and give in to a guilt trip, not when we were getting so busy.

"Yeah, of course I am, Dad," I replied with a light roll of the eyes.

I was glad I'd come back to tell them what happened at the casino on my own terms, but I should've made it sound like we'd had more control over the situation than we had. If I did, I might've been able to save myself this whole song and dance.

"That 'Don' fellow is a powerful Caster, but you'd have a stronger and safer career dedicating yourself to witchcraft alone," Mom told me, turning her head towards mine as one hand pushed up the brim of her hat.

"I'm happy doing what I'm doing Mom. The work's good, promise," I groaned back, wishing my magic was teleportation or invisibility or something that could just let me out of this situation.

I could've flown out the window on my broom. Maybe it wasn't too late to try it either. If I went for a bathroom break and- No, that would just make things worse.

"Can you... tell us a bit more about what happened last night?" Dad asked hopefully, even as I winced at the query. "You came in the door, gave us a bare explanation, and promised to talk more about it in the morning. You aren't going to break your word, are you?"

Shit. Yeah, I'd promised that, but I hadn't been able to think of any excuses or half-lies that wouldn't get debunked the minute they heard the story from other people.

"Same old, same old," I replied with a nonchalant shrug, leaning back against the chair as Blaze moved away from me to play with the Tilberis. "We went on a scouting mission, some enemies popped up, and we took care of them."

...

I waited for Dad to ask something else I could form an excuse around, but he let the silence drag on as Mom came over with a bowl of warm meaty soup of brown broth, placing it in front of me.

"Thanks Mom," I murmured, reaching out as my [Telekinesis] opened the drawer nearby, causing a spoon to float out from within. It was surrounded by a neon pink sludge-like light that dissipated as it reached my hand.

I didn't want to keep going, but Dad was gonna press harder if I just stayed silent. That was no better than an admission of guilt.

"It was those Aerasthetic guys from Karisti. The people with the paint stained clothes," I continued with a shrug, dipping the head of the spoon into the bowl before gently swirling it in circles. "We beat them easily, they ran away, they got one of our other enemies and one of our guys, and that's pretty much it.

"Got?" Dad echoed, his eyes wide and stunned.

Shit.

"Not got got! Like, captured got, not killed," I replied hurriedly.

"That... still doesn't sound good," Dad replied, frowning as I internally cursed myself. "Will you be alright with things like that happening?"

"Yeah, we'll be peachy! It shouldn't be too big a hit to us anyway. Marcian can do the same sort of things the got guy could," I assured him. To make matters even better, even Homebound seemed to be good at that espionage stuff too. "We captured two of their Casters too, and the other person that got nabbed was the Vice Captain of an enemy gang, so it was even better than a regular victory."

All in all, I was pretty proud of how the mission went, even if I knew other people wouldn't see it that way. I'd even managed to take out one of their Casters and capture them single-handedly! With a source of info like that, the Don would get way more from the win than they would.

"That's... they still captured one of your teammates," Dad noted as Mom planted a bowl in front of him while he gave her a silent nod of thanks.

"Not a teammate, a coworker. It's fine anyway. All he really did was espionage and he's really strong anyway. He can handle himself," I replied, taking a sip of the soup. I needed to eat fast, otherwise I was gonna risk losing my appetite or be stuck talking at this rate.

"I've got as much faith in the Don's men as anyone, but... no matter how strong a person is, no Caster is invincible, Blaise," Dad sighed, eyes turning down towards his soup.

"He'll be fine Dad, really! These Aerasthetic assholes-"

"Language, Blaise," Mom corrected me. "Not in front of the Tilberis."

"Right, sorry..." I murmured back, looking up at Dad once again. "These Aerasthetic people have guts, but they're not smart. It'll be an easy win, just like with Big Tooth. No casualties, no problems, nothing we can't clean up afterwards."

Dad didn't respond. Or look up from his soup. I took the time to eat, bracing myself for whatever he or Mom would throw at me next.

"You're an adult now, Blaise. You're free to make your own decisions, but we just want you to be safe," Dad spoke quietly, the somber tone of his voice hard at work dragging my mood down. "You're a strong Caster, but even the mightiest Casters are still people. Everyone has their moments of weakness."

"Your father speaks only the truth, oh dear daughter of mine," Mom added, sitting down at the table with us with a bowl of her own. With one hand, she sprinkled Aera into the soup, causing the meat and broth within to change wildly in colour, shifting slowly by the second in the same way my lava lamp did. Probably just for aesthetics.

This was... a real bummer of a conversation. I'd been expecting a pep talk or something, but this sucked. Not even Dad had confidence in our group's abilities. We'd defended this place against the Disciples even! Well... Not me, but the higher ups had been able to hold their own.

Lowering my spoon into the broth, I ate fast to satiate my fleeting appetite while I still had it.

"I managed to capture one of the enemies by myself too, and the others captured some other Elven Caster lady. Aerasthetic ran off with a really dangerous enemy Caster that isn't in our territory now either. Three for one is a really good deal," I continued, hoping to alleviate some of the gloomy pressure hanging over the table.

"Blaise..." Dad sighed.

"What...?" I groaned, my spoon going limp within the bowl.

"That's still a captured ally. Three for one... It's... These people are violent, aren't they? I've heard rumours about them at work," Dad replied, his voice quiet. "People are saying that they don't care about the rules or Divastyr's safety, and that... that war might break out soon. A serious war. The [Head Alchemist] back at work is advising people without protections over their homes to move away with relatives until this all blows over."

I couldn't raise the spoon again.

Turning my eyes away from the table, I spotted a few younger kids playing on the streets outside. They held sticks in place of wands, making noises to simulate blasts of magic. It was Goons and Casters, a game I could've recognised from a mile away, even if the kids called it something else now. It was a bit of roughhousing for play and scraps of Experience. Harmless.

The game was encouraged by parents and peers alike. It wasn't easy for a kid to find a good job with how competitive this city was, but that was the beauty of it! People with talent that worked hard could go really far, like I had. I was part of the group that ran Sova at eighteen. My family was strong, I was strong, and...

"We'll be fine," I replied after a pause, my voice hollow. Saying anything else now felt like a waste. They'd both already made up their minds about how to feel on this stuff.

"What if you were the one captured, Blaise?" Dad asked, his words coming out faster as his eyes rose to meet mine.

The unexpected intensity had caught me off guard, his words leaving me cold. Reaching down, I lifted the bowl off the table with both hands, slurping up the rest of the soup. It was far from a clean way of doing it, but I was behind closed doors and had [Telekinesis] to make sure all of the now glowing soup made it into my mouth and down my throat without choking.

Once I finished eating, I got to my feet, putting the bowl down hard against the table.

"I've got my broom, I've got Blaze, and I've got my magic. You guys know how strong I am, so... have a little faith, alright?" I replied, feeling exasperated as the broom next to me flew into my outstretched hand. "I'm not just some amateur Caster anymore. I'm with the big leagues."

"We know," Dad sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Just... be careful Blaise. Promise me that much."

The hand gripping the broom trembled.

"I promise," I replied, turning away to walk around the table and towards the front door.

"If you face these Aerasthetic people in battle, show them the full might of House Wildrose, Blaise," Mom added from the table, her voice serious and hard.

I couldn't tell if she'd said that to give me confidence, make me feel better, or because she really felt it, but the words gave me strength regardless.

"Yeah, I will," I replied, smiling a little as I opened the door, letting the weak morning sun of a dreary morning beat back the worst of the gloomy atmosphere. "C'mon Blaze, time to work."

The Familiar leapt onto my outstretched arm as I pushed my Aera through the broom in my hand. With one last deep breath, I gave my parents a final reassuring nod before turning away as I stepped-

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-out and into the fresh air, even if the body I was stuck with couldn't feel it.

Surrounding me on all sides were the streets that had served as my refuge for these past few weeks. I would've liked to have a place to stay for longer, but Divastyr... hadn't been the kindest to me. Relief washed through my mind and body at the thought of finally leaving for greener pastures, but it was tinged by melancholy.

All I had now were a few belongings, the clothes on my back, and the gelatinous form I'd been saddled with.

The people I'd had at my side after escaping the facility were gone.

Turning around, I faced towards the small dome-shaped house sitting on the small suburban street I'd called my own for the past while. My chest tightened up at the thought of finally leaving it, but I knew it was for the best. I had to be strong.

Standing in the open doorway was a short Halfling man with long, puffy blonde hair and bright green eyes. He wore a tank top, striped shorts, and a pair of fuzzy slippers. On his shoulder sat a small, Cat-like Spirit made of curly brown wool. Despite Scander's cold and Divastyr's abundant dangers, he looked as casual as could be.

He and his home had served as the perfect hiding place from the serious and taxing nature of the city, but now it was time to move on.

"You'll do great out there," Manfri smiled, raising one hand in a wave. "You can always give me a call if you need a hand, Toya. Not like I'll be going anywhere anyhow."

Between the smile and those warm eyes reassuring me, I could almost believe it.

"I... I'll be fine. Thank you," I replied, trying for a confident nod.

Sock, the Halfling's Tilberi pet, wriggled uncomfortably atop the man's shoulder. Was it from the cold, or... no, it had never shivered from the cold before. Had I been so transparent that even he could pick up on it? My shoulders stiffened at the thought, but obviously that wasn't going to help me keep up the act either. Stupid.

"Getting cold feet, huh?" Manfri asked with a small smile.

"I'm... not sure," I answered honestly, even though the words brought forth a prickly feeling, like hundreds of pins and needles tickling the edges of my skin. "I'm still trying to figure out what to say. To them, I mean."

"Sounds to me like you know what to say, just not how to say it," the Halfling replied, stuffing both hands into his pockets. "Tell them you were thankful for their help and that you wish them the best in all they do. It doesn't have to be anything fancy or elaborate. After that, all that's left is to hope they wish the same for you and go your separate ways. Just don't live without regrets, remember? That's what it's all about, Toya. Make the life you want to live. As long as you don't forget that, I'm sure you'll do fine."

"Right," I nodded, feeling like I sold the confident look better the second time. "Thank you, Manfri. For everything."

The Halfling nodded, and Sock rose a single woolen paw, wiggling it in goodbye.

"Stay safe, Toya," the Halfling smiled.

Wearing a small smile, I gave them a wave in return before turning to walk away.

I knew in my heart that Manfri was right. Everything he said made perfect sense, and all I needed to do was trust it. But... once Manfri disappeared from my sight, I felt the smile on my face droop as fear and unease settled in, taking advantage of the silence. Walking through a few idle streets, I arrived back in the city proper, not just a quiet neighbourhood.

Back in the truly chaotic mess that was Divastyr.

I passed through a crowd of civilians indifferent to my Chimera form. Compared to others like Yuri and Streiphen, I'd gotten off lucky. I could pass for a sapient Slime and not get nearly as much attention, even if the thought felt... misleading. Like I was lying about who and what I really was.

Panic and unease was thick in the air for reasons beyond me, making the chaotic feeling of the streets even greater than usual. It was astounding how different the atmosphere around me felt now. Compared to Manfri's home, it felt like an entirely different world to that small, warm neighbourhood.

The air made me want to turn around and go back. To hide in his home and never leave, but... I couldn't be that weak and helpless after Manfri had been so accommodating and hospitable. I needed to be strong for him. For the others. For myself.

I needed to focus. What was I supposed to say to them after all this time? After how we parted ways... it was hard to find words that felt right.

'Thank you for everything, and I wish you all the best'.

It sounded so easy when Manfri said it, but it couldn't be that simple for me. What would I say or do if I was challenged? If they pressed me on something I wasn't prepared for?

Cowardly thoughts of leaving without saying anything swam to mind, leaving me distracted and kicking back to stop them from taking root.

Sigura would be the hardest to be around, but... if I wanted to leave without regrets, I'd have to confront her too. She was as much a member of Equinox as the others were. As I'd been. The thought of how she might react to seeing me was more worrying than anything.

I shivered, hearing the sound of collective murmurs speaking with purpose as the atmosphere around me changed.

After glancing around to see what the commotion was, my eyes followed those of the civilians surrounding me towards a golden [Light Screen] projected onto the side of a tall building. Before long, the plain gold gave way to new visuals as the surface of the Spell rippled.

It depicted the Glittering Coin Casino, a 'church' dedicated to the Glittering Fortune. Or so the text scrolling along the bottom explained. There'd been a smaller one a town over back where I'd come from, and the memories of it were... not fond ones.

The screen showed a lavish yet damaged interior and a collection of injured civilians. Overturned tables. Smashed floors. Thin puddles of blood and countless dried stains.

Not long after looking, I heard a male's voice in my head, that of an [Announcer] or [Reporter] distinct from the murmurs and noise of the crowd around me.

"[-Although many suffered injuries, there were thankfully no fatalities or life threatening wounds, a clear gift from the Glittering Fortune. The Velvet Star were reportedly at the scene, fighting hard against members of the Karisti region's Aerasthetic group.]"

The screen changed, showing some recording from a civilian's point of view. The figure darted away from the church amidst a crush of bodies, making it nearly impossible to see what was going on. They turned around, looking back towards the church as a cluster of Casters I didn't recognise darted out of the building. A few seconds later, I felt yet another shiver lance through me as Sigura and several plates of floating metal flew out of the front entrance, running towards the alley the Aerasthetic group had escaped to.

"[Although they were in hot pursuit, there have been no reports of a decisive victory nor any concrete Star testimonies about what happened last night as of yet. Some civilian reports claim that the Vice-Captain of the Chained Wolves, 'Cynosure', was captured by the Aerasthetic group alongside a yet unidentified Caster. The Clergyfolk who bore witness to the attack have not given further testimony on-]"

I tore my eyes from the screen, the words of the announcer slowly fading from my mind. Grabbing the straps of my backpack tightly, I banished thoughts of the attack and focused on the task ahead. The longer I looked, the more easily I'd be psyched out of what I needed to do to live without regrets.

But... there were civilians injured in that fight. The Velvet Star was thrown headlong into the midst of conflict once again, and the enemy had escaped with Cynosure and... probably one of the Star's Casters. What would happen if that Chained Wolf monster's abilities were to be turned on the Star to let people like Aerasthetic take over?

My stomach churned sickly at the thought. Would fewer people have been harmed if I'd been there, still toiling as part of that group? I groaned at the thought. I hated that internal argument, but it was a common one that always found some way to worm back into my head. I didn't want to work with criminals, but if I had to pick the lesser of two evils...

No. I didn't have to pick either, and I wouldn't. I was leaving this city, and that was all there was to it.

There were going to be injured people here I could use my powers to help, but that... that would be the case anywhere, not just in Divastyr. I'd be better off helping people in a smaller community. Something more manageable and less volatile. A safer, warmer place.

...

Ugh. No matter how much I tried to keep that reasonable conclusion in mind, arguments wormed in one by one to clog up my thoughts.

It felt like there was no right answer. That there never was or would be. The options I had were to live my life peacefully for myself and let people get hurt, or join the criminals at the heart of the conflict and lose myself in an attempt to help others. It was shitty, this city was shitty, and I was shitty for even having to deal with this conflict in the first place.

I just needed to leave this city and get away from it all. That was the only 'right' answer. Once I spent some time away, all of this would fade away.

Right. I just needed space. To get away from it all. The atmosphere of the crowds was suffocating, but there was an easy answer for that, at least.

Squishing around the gathered civilians, I stepped into an alleyway. With the help of my [Gelatinous Growth] and [Amorphous Body], both arms bulged and contorted with thick blue slime, stretching upwards before my hands gripped the edge of a building's roof. My arms contracted, pulling me off the stained asphalt and up away from the crowded, suffocating streets below.

I climbed up over the edge, landing on the smooth rooftop as my arms slid back into their rightful shape and size.

The thoughts didn't waste much time following me from the alley. It was more peaceful on the rooftops, but I knew that Sigura could be up here. The thought of meeting her alone, without the rest of Equinox to reign her in... it made my skin crawl. I just wanted to meet the group quickly and get this over with. The last thing I wanted was to be left with these thoughts while wallowing in regr-

"Hey, Blueberry!" came a somewhat familiar voice, the sound carrying over the light Scandian breeze.

I turned my head, spotting a figure I recognised, but not any of those I was looking for. A Human woman with a bulky build, a rough face, and a scruffy head of red hair. She leapt from rooftop to rooftop, heading towards me in jeans and a heavy green jacket.

Mosaic. An adventurer of Divastyr.

"Mind givin' me a minute if you don't got somewhere to be, mate?" she asked, landing heavily enough on my rooftop that I took a reflexive step backwards.

"Yeah," I nodded shakily. "I've got somewhere to go, sorry. I'm looking for..."

I paused. Should I even say? I knew Mosaic's captain didn't like the Velvet Star, and-

"Lookin' for...?" Mosaic probed, tilting her head to the side. "Whatever, yer lookin' for people too, right? We can help each other out. A little exchange of info, yeah?"

She was looking for someone too?

"Who are you looking f-" I asked, my words cut off from shock as I stumbled back away from the building's edge.

Two figures leapt high into the air from the alleyway below, landing on either side of Mosaic.

Domino, an intimidating woman with a lean, muscled form beneath a skintight purple bodysuit with pure white 'eyes', a hole in the back of her mask for her puffy black hair to spill out of, and a chest area with five white dots making an 'x'-like pattern.

The second figure was a much more welcome sight, a young woman with a grey bodysuit smattered with gold protective plating and a matching coloured visor. The chest was adorned with a golden Bird's head facing towards the viewer with a wide open beak. Canary, the one member of their group who'd been completely reasonable during our last encounter.

She gave me a wave, and I felt myself returning it without thinking.

Domino's reception was much less accommodating. Even without being able to see the woman's face, she practically radiated disapproving energy as she crossed both arms, looking towards her red haired teammate.

"What are you wasting time up here for, Mosaic? We've got work to do and we're on a schedule," the team's leader chastised her.

"Don't worry Dom, might've just roped in some extra help," Mosaic grinned, jerking a thumb in my direction. "Saw Blueberry up here, and he's lookin' for someone too."

"Moonshine," Domino corrected her.

"Toya. Not Blueberry or Moonshine," I corrected them both, shoulders slumping. "I'm... busy too right now. I... I've got to go."

"C'mon, don't be so cold, Blueberry," Mosaic frowned, glancing back at Domino. "He says he's lookin' for someone, so we can help each other out. He might've seen 'em."

"Don't tell anyone what we're doing, Mosaic," she hissed from beneath the mask. "Especially not someone with former ties to the Star."

"He's standin' right there, Dom. Don't be so cold," Mosaic responded, crossing her own arms.

"Whatever, we're low on time," the purple-clad adventurer sighed, turning her eyes towards me. "We're looking for two Casters. Human, pale skinned, matching costumes. One has slicked back yellow hair and a lightning themed bodysuit, and the other has spiky red hair and a flame coloured bodysuit. Answer quickly if you know. We're busy and can't afford to waste time."

My mouth opened to reflexively tell them I hadn't, but...

"They're with Aerasthetic," I blurted out.

Canary flinched at that, looking towards Domino with wide eyes from behind her visor.

"What do you know?" Domino asked, taking a step forward.

"I just saw it on the news a few minutes ago. There was a projection on one of those big towers," I told her, pointing towards the tall, glass covered building in question poking above Divastyr's skyline. "They escaped the Glittering Coin Casino with other Aerasthetic members after an attack."

"Fucking idiots," Domino cursed, breaking her stance to run a hand through her hair. "We needed them to be here. They have a job to do and now they've run off with the enemy?"

"Who are you looking for, Toya?" Canary asked hopefully, trying to get my attention off of Domino as she turned around to fume silently.

"Equinox," I replied plainly. "Have you seen them?"

"Why?" Domino pressed, looking back over her shoulder, voice tinged with suspicion and concern.

"I... wanted to say my goodbyes. I'm leaving the city," I told them, sighing aloud as I felt relief wash through me. It was... unexpectedly nice to say that out loud. It wasn't any of their business why I was looking, but the words spilled out of my mouth before I'd even thought about it.

"I see... alright," Domino nodded, looking away.

"Probably for the best, mate," Mosaic added, stuffing both hands into her pockets. "Especially with all the crap goin' on around here. You'd be better off somewhere else if yer not lookin' fer a fight."

"Thanks," I replied, feeling a mote of reassurance that she seemed to think so too. "So... have you seen them?"

One by one, the trio in front of me said they hadn't. That left me feeling like it had been a very uneven trade of information. I didn't care much for that, in truth. It wasn't like I gave up some secret by telling them, I just wanted this done so I could leave.

"Alright..." I replied slowly, half turning. "Good luck finding those Casters."

"Thanks mate. Good luck leavin' this Abyss of a city behind," Mosaic grinned back.

Canary threw the redhead a dark look, her shoulders hunched in a way I hadn't seen from her before. The look thankfully loosened as she turned her eyes towards me.

"I hope you can find somewhere that... that suits you better, Toya," Canary told me.

The words were nice to hear, and provided a level of reassurance as I steeled my resolve.

I wouldn't wait for a goodbye for Domino. I didn't care for one. Instead, I gave the group a wave and moved to turn away.

"Thanks for-"

My words were cut off as a burst of burning sound smashed into me. The four of us whirled towards the glass tower that had hosted the [Light Screen] projection. My jaw fell as I saw the fire and smoke surrounding the building's base, shards of shattered glass spilling out in sheets down to the streets below.

An explosion. One that caused true damage to the city without an ounce of restraint. I felt a lump build in my throat.

"Fuck! We've wasted too much time! Move!" Domino roared.

She kicked against the smooth roof with a flash of violet light bursting out from beneath her feet as she rocketed off the rooftop. I only saw her movement from the edge of my vision, unable to pry my eyes from the tower of smoke rising into the air.

"Well... guess that's it then, huh?" Mosaic gulped, turning towards me with a grin that felt surreal. "I can give ya a pretty good guess on where yer Equinox will be goin' soon enough, Blueberry."

I knew too. They'd be in the thick of things like they always were. Once word of this reached them... they'd be taking part in the...

The war.

Time felt like it was slowing down around me, even as another explosion of sound rang in my ears somewhere off to my left. Further away, but no less immediately pressing.

This was my turning point. If I didn't leave the city now, I could get... stuck. If I stayed, I knew I'd get caught up in all this. Finding Equinox and having a proper conversation wouldn't work if this coordinated attack was truly the signal for the war's beginning.

If... If I had to wait until the end of the war to find them... No, maybe I'd get lucky and spot them in the thick of things during a quiet moment. Even if I did, would they be in any state to have that conversation? To have the level heads and calm hearts needed for a proper, fulfilling farewell?

"Damn, Domino's really not gonna slow up and wait fer us, is she?" Mosaic mused to herself, turning her eyes back towards the street. "Later, mate. Or... not, I guess, if yer lucky."

The redhead adventurer jumped from the rooftop, a wave of rainbow-like crystalline Aera exploding outwards from the soles of her shoes. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her jump from roof to roof until she too was gone.

Canary turned towards me. Even behind her gold tinted visor, I could see a pair of eyes coloured by concern.

"For... for what it's worth, I'll help you find them if you decide to search," Canary told me. "I can keep you updated with my magic."

I didn't want to search. I didn't want her to keep me updated. I didn't want to stay here.

If I did, I'd be going right back into the belly of the beast when it was about to get worse than ever. I wanted to run as fast as I could and leave it all behind. To turn away, go silent, and embrace the coward in me to escape before this city could sink its fangs into me again.

I wanted a true fresh start. A clean slate.

But I couldn't have that. The city wouldn't let me. If I left now, these regrets would fester and cling to me like a disease. If I didn't make things right now, I'd never get this out of my system. It'd be a permanent stain on my Soul, one that no amount of relaxing, philanthropy, or still peace could ever wash away.

In that moment, I envied my father, a man able to live without any sort of connections, bonds, or empathy.

Aerasthetic were playing for keeps. They were disregarding the thin rules that kept this city together, the one thing ensuring Divastyr had anything resembling 'order'.

Equinox were the ones that had saved me from that Abyss-on-Alvelotyl facility. No matter what they chose to do after that, whether they saved lives or worshipped Demons, the fact that they were the reason I was a free man today wouldn't change. In this lethal war that could bring about death and destruction beyond anything I'd seen before, this could be my final chance to set things straight.

My last chance to clear up these regrets.

The sound of screaming, panic, and stamping feet from various races echoed up from the streets below, a Siren's song calling, begging for help and order.

"I'll come with you," I croaked, already hating my decision. Hating myself. Hating this city.

Canary looked down, turning away from me and towards the city below. The moment before she turned, I caught a flash of emotion in her eyes. Regret.

She nodded, not saying a word as she ran for the edge of the rooftop, leaping off of it with a flash of gold that launched her skyward and onto the next building. Closer to the unfolding disaster below us.

Quelling the roaring voices and wriggling goosebumps haunting my mind and body, I took a deep, terrible breath.

I ran towards the edge of the building, and I...

I jumped.