Ándras stepped on the melting concrete under his feet. La Loupe backed off anxiously.

"You're next." Ándras huffed steam from his mouth.

"This is above my pay grade." La Loupe was sweating.

He coated his string in his malicious magic. It revealed the strings, black and reinforced with Pierce.

"Black widow!" La Loupe whipped the line.

It managed to withstand the heat and cut off Ándras' leg. Yet, the foot regenerated in a flash, just in time for Ándras to take another step.

"You would make a fine toy. I wonder how small pieces can I cut you to?" La Loupe let out some of his malice through a wide grin.

He cut and slashed Ándras' legs and arms at the pace they regenerated. They did not pile, however, but dissolved away like cotton candy into water.

"Can you keep up? No human can regenerate infinitely!" He burst into laughter. "I will make you regret not being able to die!"

Orel's throat had run dry. He lifted his left hand, where blood burst out of the stump. Lifting his gaze, he saw La Loupe with his hands dancing in the air. They floated around like the hands of a maestro as his strings cut Ándras up. Because of the constant damage, Ándras could not take a step forward before his leg would become minced meat. Orel looked at his other hand. It shook the blood, yet it was still red. The memory of the dead man in the snow flashed in his mind. For a moment it looked like it was him on the ground. Orel could hear his heart beating against his chest. He couldn't stop his hand from shaking, but it was not out of fear. Something else was bubbling from deep inside his heart. It had lingered since that day, but only now could it emerge.

"No way I'll give up now," Orel said under his breath. "I won't let anyone stop me," His eyes burst into a different flame. A cool, supple blue fire with only one goal. To continue at any cost.

La Loupe felt a tingling sense of danger on his side. He glanced at Orel with a sly smile. "You feel as mad as you want. Nothing you can do with that hand of yours!"

Orel grasped his hand shut. "I can feel the magic surging within me." He closed his eyes and breathed in. "I finally see it, the way my spell is meant to be used," They opened with the glimmering blue flame. "It isn't for carving my path, it's for creating it!" He lifted his hand to the sky and announced. "With it, I will grasp even the stars! Per aspera ad Astra!"

Sparks of light like stars sparkled around Orel. In those flashes, he saw the outcome of his potential. Without a second thought, he grasped at one. It glimmered in his fist and exploded with light.

La Loupe stumbled in his steps. Blood burst out of his eye and a coin dropped out. "What the hell was that?" He closed the wound with his string like doing crude surgery. "I was sure I had my Spiderweb active."

Another set of sparks fluttered around Orel. He grasped one again, yet nothing came to La Loupe. Another pain struck him. His index finger fell off, cut off by a bloody coin. The string pulled the finger back to its place and began attaching it to the hand.

La Loupe swiped blood off of his face. "Wasting such a good spell on coins. I should cut off your other hand!" He lunged toward Orel.

"Try me." Orel smiled. "I already did my part."

Perhaps it was because of La Loupe's numbness for pain or his seething bloodlust, but he only noticed a burning sensation on his blind side as Ándras' fist was about to hit him. He covered his skin with strengthened string only a moment before impact. It absorbed most of the damage but did not give protection against heat or impact. Branded with a cross-stitch pattern, La Loupe recoiled back like a punching bag.

"Well, this is no fun at all." La Loupe snuffed out his burning mustache.

He tried to flee, only to find a coin in his leg. Next was a fist to his chest. Air gushed out of his lungs. Ándras found his arms and legs cut to pieces, not that it bothered him.

La Loupe stepped back, holding his broken ribs. "I still have another duel waiting for me, so ta-ta." He flung himself away by pulling his strings.

Ándras had no reason to follow but kept his guard if he was still around. He returned to normal and turned his attention to Orel. The flames simmered as he rushed over to him.

"This isn't good. You've lost a lot of blood." He noticed Orel's pale face.

"I don't feel so good," Orel was about to fall to the grass.

Ándras caught him in the nick of time.

"This can't keep going on. Next time you might lose more than just a hand." He picked the hand up. "Let's just hope they can put this back on."

Under the desert, the sparkling mall district, Apple Serpens, was on the fifth level of Eden's gate. After a few hours of shopping, Norman felt weighed down, mostly from carrying all the shopping bags.

"Honey, how about we stop for a drink?" He peeked around the pile.

"I was just about to say the same." Annabelle fanned her face. "All this walking is making my face blush."

The two stopped at a small yet premium café and settled on the second-floor balcony space. Others gave them looks, but would only whisper their thoughts to one another. Before too long a waiter came back with their orders.

Norman frowned, for the coffee he ordered was in a cup smaller than the diamond on Annabelle's wedding ring. He sighed and drank it like a shot of alcohol.

"You left the guards at the doors." He noted.

"Yes, I had something I wanted to talk about." Annabelle sipped her tea.

"What is it this time?"

"My parents are coming to visit."

Norman dropped his mug from his pinky finger.

"Why? Did you invite them?" He asked.

"Of course not." Annabelle retorted. "They were invited by your family."

"Those were the bad news, right?"

"One more thing. The dinner party is going to be hosted at your summer villa."

Annabelle saw Norman turn pale as the sheet over their table.

"What is it?" She asked.

"Nothing, just the coffee burning my throat." Norman coughed.

"Then don't drink it so fast."

A sound of an alarm broke the two's bickering. A loud echoing warning sounded throughout the shopping district.

"Warning! A beastman has broken through the lower levels of Babel and is heading up to Apple Serpens! Be warned, the zou is armed and deadly! Citizens should stay inside until they are apprehended!" The announcement rang out.

"Why would someone break into Eden's gate?" Norman stood up.

"Let's go honey before that awful thing gets here." Annabelle tugged him.

"Do not worry, miss Annabelle, we are here to protect you." The guards ran to them.

"Come on, honey, let's go back home-"

A large ball of fur lunged inside the cafe. Heaving like a dog, it took hold of a long serrated blade from under its ragged clothes. A panic erupted as people ran outside. The guards took out their wands.

"Come outside, furball. We have you surrounded." A voice speaking through a megaphone announced.

The Wolfman glanced over to Norman. Its stone-cold eyes dodged around, seeking desperately an escape. Annabelle's guards readied their spells through their wands. The beast bounced toward them. Before the men could release their spells, their wands split into two in a flash of dark steel. The wolf passed between the two and jumped out off the balcony. Spells erupted outside with zaps and explosions with police whistles running away.

"Are you alright, sir Norman, miss Annabelle?" The guards turned.

"Quite." Annabelle dusted her dress.

"I think I got a hair in my mouth." Norman rolled his tongue around.

"Thankfully we were saved by our brave and trustworthy bodyguards," Annabelle smirked.

The two guards gulped and hid the cut wands in their pockets.

"Here, have these." Norman lifted the shopping bags. "Be useful for once."

The two nodded and stood like punished soldiers with the many bags in their arms. Annabelle and Norman shared a giggle. Norman, however, could not shake what had just happened. Rarely, if ever, did someone try to breach Eden's gate.

"Is this...Common?" He asked.

"What? No, I can't remember the last time I heard such an alarm outside the campus."

"So, it still is such a dangerous place?"

"At least one evoker always finds a way to cause a fire in the training halls." Annabelle giggled.

"Speaking of the academy, how is work there?"

"You know I have had no time for such a thing. Managing this rickety house takes all of my time."

"Right." Norman coughed. "I suppose I should seek work there if they still take me, that is."

"Yes, you ought to do that. Tell me, what is the yearly salary of a lecturer or professor?

"That would be...Around a million Doli if I remember. Why?"

"Then it would only take, what, a hundred years for you to pay to pack your little expedition?"

"You know what, I do not feel an ounce of regret from doing that. It was neither your nor my money." Norman crossed his hands.

"That is the point. If you want to piss off your parents, grow a backbone and say it to their faces!"

"Miss, perhaps we should get going," One of the guards proposed.

"Shut it! This is family time!" Annabelle snapped. "Get the car and let us discuss!"

"Yes, ma'am!" The two ran away with the bags.

"I was getting done with this conversation, actually," Norman said.

"No, no, no, no." Annabelle shook her finger. "You either stay here or flip off your parents and walk out."

"Didn't you want to stay like this?"

"Yes, I enjoy all things premium, but with a man like you it's like having an allergy to gold."

"Just marry someone else then." Norman shrugged.

"Well, firstly, no way in hells our parents would accept that, and secondly there is no one else that would take me."

"Wait, why?"

Annabelle hid her slight blush. "Don't make me say it out loud in public."

"Admit what?"

"Ugh. I will explain back at home." Annabelle turned. "Also, I have a dinner party planned this evening. Remember to act accordingly."

"Wait, as in our home?"

"Where else?"

"And I only hear it now?"

"This was planned before I heard of your coming. Chop chop now, I need to organize." Annabelle walked out.

"Sure, honey." Norman sighed.

The beastman got himself into a corner, surrounded by the city forces.

"Drop the weapon." They said, pointing their wands at him. "You are under arrest for theft."

"You are the thieves! You stole our home, our history, our treasure!" The beast swung his sword. "I will not now down to you!" He howled his last words.

Norman could barely hear the distant sound of sparks flying off before stepping inside the car.

Diarmuid looked down on a row of suited men and women in the backroom of the casino. It was rather dark with dim lights. Diarmuid could hear all the machines and pipes rumbling in the background.

"What is your answer?" They asked.

"From left to right: Knife on the left leg, pistol in side holster under the coat, a wand in right sleeve, cuffs in the front pocket, and a sword or other larger weapon under the dress."

The judges turned to look at each other and nodded.

"Impressive." They gave a clap. "You pass."

"Then, what now?"

One stepped closer and pulled out a card. "Memorize this address and time. Be there tomorrow. Do not share this information with anyone, even with Guild."

"Understood." Diarmuid could tell that this was where the line between legal work swayed.

"Good day to you." They bowed.

Diarmuid's phone rang just as he stepped out of the casino.

"Orel? What is it?" He noticed the name.

"Get to the hospital. Orel's hurt!" Ándras sounded shaken.

"Ándras? What happened?"

"No time. He's going into emergency surgery."

"Alright, I'm coming."

Ocham saw Diarmuid rush off to a taxi as he stepped out of the casino as well. He passed as well, easily, even though his costume did raise some eyebrows.

"So, it's going to be a team?" He thought to himself. "I can't take them out yet."

His phone rang.

"Who is it?"

"It's me Ocham," Darius said.

"I told you to not call me unless it is urgent."

"I called you because you wanted a safe house! Guess what, I got it."

"Then send me the address and be done with it."

"Geez, man. Not even a thank you?"

"Goodbye."

Ocham walked into an inconspicuous side street, stopped, and pulled open the sewer cover. He stepped inside, dragging it back shut. He took out a piece of paper with a row of arrows written on it and started walking down the dark tunnels. After making enough turns in the dry yet smelly tunnels, he arrived at his new hideout. Originally a control room for the local sewer system, now abandoned and full of dust and cobwebs. It was not the fanciest or nicest place, but it was secure, and even renovated with a makeshift shower and bed. Ocham jumped on the bed and stretched himself with a deep sigh.

"How long do I need to wait to get it back? Maybe I should just storm the place instead. No, that's not what mom would have wanted. Keep on living, Ocham. Keep on living."

With those words, Ocham drifted off to sleep.

A lone little girl skipped in the streets with bouncy steps and a smile on her face. Behind her was a horde of people, slowly yet surely following the skipping girl.

"Come on, everyone!" The girl cheered. "Let's go get more friends!"

A passerby noticed the girl's cheers and smiled back at her. "Where are you going?"

"To Avus!" The girl took his hand.

The man stopped with a sudden gasp. "What?"

His hand went limp as drool poured out of his mouth.

"Yeah, and you're coming with me!" The girl smiled.

The man nodded and went along with a straight face.

"The blue anemone out on the slopes blooms, curtsies, and says 'here spring comes'." The girl sang.

"Children come and pick it up, rush home, and put it in a cup." The others continued in eery unison.