Hallya, Nadi and I scrambled back. I drew my sword. Nadrire started casting a spell. Hallya had pulled two wicked looking knives from seemingly nowhere.

An adult, also of indeterminate gender, walked up and laid a hand on the child’s head. Their hair was raven dark - it gleamed blue black in the light - and they were pale, paler than the child, and their skin had blue tones to it. Their glasses had round, black lenses so shiny I caught my sweaty reflection in them as I observed the stranger. They were neatly dressed in a dark coat, a dark top hat, white gloves and a pale blue striped waistcoat, and pinned to the lapel was a matching blue pin that looked suspiciously like the webbed foot of a duck.

“Calm down,” they intoned, holding out a hand.

“Calm down?!” Hallya gripped her knives. “There is a possessed child right there and you expect me to calm down?!”

Nadrire eyed the child suspiciously. “That child could very easily attack someone.”

“First of all,” the stranger began. “I’m a registered exorcist.”

They rolled up their sleeve to reveal a seal on their forearm. Nadrire’s eyebrows shot up.

“Second of all,” they continued. “I know that you have a ghost in that suit over there.”

They jerked their head at Abi. Hallya began backing away from Nadrire and I, looking back and forth at us.

“So, although you have one of the most remarkable stabilizing devices I’ve ever seen, how do I know your ghost isn’t going to attack? If Xaolune here were to go berserk, I could remove the spirit within them in less than fifteen seconds. None of you are exorcists, as far as I can tell, although you…” they squinted at me. “...you are rather odd.”

Their hand was still resting on the child’s head. The child had continued to grin maniacally.

Shei scowled, then reached into an inside pocket. There was a barely audible click - I knew for a fact none of of my other companions had heard it - and the runes on Abi’s armor began to glow. They had begun moving their hand up to touch Shei on the arm, but as soon as the runes lit up, they stopped. Their fingers were bent at an odd angle.

“There,” Shei folded their arms. “They’re frozen, and can’t move until I unfreeze them. Happy?”

“Yes, although the word I would use would most likely be reassured,” the stranger flashed a small grin at Shei. “Now, I know that her appearance is likely a bit deceiving, but Xaolune wasn’t lying when she said she could lead you to the tsukigami. That being said, should she do so, she has a favor she would like to ask in return.”

“Before I agree,” I gave the adult a hard look, then glanced at Xaolune. “What’s the favor?”

The child looked up at me, still with that maniacal, dazed grin. Their eyes flickered. Their voice came out with an ominous echo. Their lips didn't move.

“I want you to get my friend back.”

“They- they have a captive? I thought they didn’t…”

“They don’t,” the stranger cut in. “The ghost in Xaolune is currently the one speaking. The ‘friend’ she is currently speaking of is a tsukigami unaffiliated with the menagerie under the city. He was taken from her, most likely to be forcibly recruited, and they’d like her back.”

Nadrire and I looked at each other, arms folded. After a few brief moments, I looked back at the stranger.

“That seems reasonable enough,” Nadrire tilted her head to the side as she considered the strangers. “But if we are going to make this deal, we’re going to need a bit more information.”

“Starting with some names,” I intoned.

“Well, as you know, this is Xaolune,” They patted the child’s head. “And I am Kieyah. Mx. Kieyah, that is.”

I glanced at Nadrire inquisitively. She gave the tiniest shake of her head.

“I’m Velia,” I said, extending my hand to shake. Kieyah took it, then they shook Nadrire’s hand. Shei unfroze Abi. Abi whispered something in their ear. The rest of my group introduced themselves.

“Well, I’m glad we got this resolved,” Kieyah announced after the formalities had all been resolved. “Because we’re almost out of time, I’m afraid.”

“What?” I frowned.

“Because,” Kieyah declared dramatically, gesturing at the setting sun. “It is almost sundown.”