“We’ve gotten a distress call from another Grotto member in Nix End. You’ve been saying Shainoah needs more experience, so we were wondering if we could bring him along,” Titus said.

Aline looked at them flatly. “Fine.”

Smith shook his head. “Be careful. I have to remain here and look after Saga.”

“Duty-bound. We know,” Titus replied.

“I’m still going,” Aline said.

Oz nodded. “You have to. The Grotto agent specifically requested the Nightflier.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why do they know I’m in Nexus with you two?”

“It’s our job to report everything that happens in Nexus, including the arrival of the illustrious Nightflier,” Titus said.

Aline looked back at Shainoah who was leaning against a wall with his arms crossed. “Did you know they did that? Answer me truthfully.”

He shook his head. “No, but I haven’t been to Nix End since my freshman year. I heard it’s gotten a lot colder. Are you okay dressed like that?”

“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Aline asked.

“It’s snowing there,” Smith informed.

She shrugged. “And? Let’s hurry up and leave that way I can figure out what this person wants.”

They piled in the van and Shainoah stared out the window. Their weapons were in the back in case of any emergencies.

“Yes! Shainoah’s first job as an unofficial Grotto agent. This is great,” Titus said excitedly.

“He is not going to be a Grotto agent, and plagued with false information.”

“False information?” Shainoah asked.

Aline nodded. “Kazuhiko Akiyama has only ever helped when his power as the leader of the Grotto, or the Grotto itself was threatened. He makes his agents work for his personal problems, not the Compass’ wellbeing.”

“She’s not wrong,” Titus said.

“Then why do you two still stay in the organization?” Aline asked.

“We still help people,” Oz said. “You have to admit, as selfish as Akiyama is, his answers to most problems have the least casualties.”

“But yet there’s still problems going on,” Aline said. “The Shadows is a growing revolutionist organization and Kazuhiko has only now drawn his attention to it because they threaten what the Grotto stands for.”

Oz nodded. “Yeah. That is a rising problem.”

“The Shadows?” Shainoah asked.

“It’s an organization full of nonhumans considered low-class, like Duisteren.”

Shainoah scoffed. “I might consider joining.”

“Hmph, these two wouldn’t let you, especially because they were sent by Kazuhiko to keep an eye on you. Tell me. Am I right?” Aline asked.

“Is she?” Shainoah asked.

“Actually it was to keep an eye on Smith, or Rynoah, as you call him. Believe it or not, he was notorious for being a troublemaker, such as yourself,” Titus said.

“You said you two are nicknamed the ‘Miscreant Twins’. I’m not sure if Kazuhiko Akiyama made a good choice,” Shainoah joked.

“We’re get the job done nonetheless,” Titus said. “Just out of curiosity, why do you call Smith ‘Rynoah’. To piss him off?”

“Divina referred to him as such. I don’t know why he changed his name,” Aline said.

“Smith and I come from an old Duisteren clan called the Kan,” Oz explained.

“Clans are still around?” Aline said. “Wait, you two are related?”

“They’re not anymore, and not by blood. Smith came long before I did, but wasn’t born into the clan. His mother and him were brought in, and he was raised by my father, Noahmai. Smith was named Rynoah.”

“They take the first part of their father’s names?” Aline asked.

“It’s tradition,” Shainoah added. “Originally my name was Shai, but he added on the Noah part as being part of the clan. The females took on their mother’s names. That’s why Saga’s name is just Saga.”

“And what happened to your clan?” Aline asked.

“Died out. I’m guessing Smith and I are the last ones left.”

“That doesn’t bother you two?”

Oz gave a momentary pause as he took a turn down a road. “Smith left the clan after his mother died, and was cast out by my father. When I was old enough, I left and never looked back. He and I later reconciled in the Grotto, and we agreed to refer to each other as different names in front of others.”

“Oz’s real name is Ozenoah,” Shainoah added on.

Aline narrowed her eyes at Shainoah. “You knew all about this?”

“Yeah.”

“But he didn’t bother giving back your memories?” Aline scoffed.

Shainoah shook his head. “I think in a way he was always warning us about the dangers in the world. He told us stories about the clan and their legends.”

“It’s good you two left, because then you wouldn’t have met me,” Titus joked. “Together we’re terrible influences. I remember Shainoah was only 12 and Saga was 6 and we made them get their ears pierced. We signed off as gay parents so they could get them.”

“It’s true,” Shainoah admitted.

“That’s why you two have those?” Aline asked. “Ugh, I never understood this punk rock generation.”

“Punk rock?” Shainoah asked.

“We were gonna pierce his nose too, but then Smith caught us,” Titus laughed. “Oh! The look on his face when he saw Shainoah and Saga!”

“We didn’t stay in the house for a week. We had to stay in a motel room,” Oz chuckled.

“No wonder you guys disappeared that week. You guys didn’t tell me where you went,” Shainoah laughed. He looked over at Aline, and he was surprised to even see her with a small smile.

Their trip ended after about three hours of driving. They arrived at a hotel in the city and they piled out of the car. Shainoah stretched and put on his baseball cap as Aline walked over to him.

“Are you still getting used to it?” Aline asked.

“What? My new look?” Shainoah asked sarcastically. “Sort of.”

Aline sighed as they looked over at Titus and Oz looking around. “Even though I wish you knew the truth sooner, it’s nice to see that your childhood was filled with memories with these idiots. I never got the pleasure of living out a normal childhood. I’m sure Rynoah feels the same.”

“They’re like my brothers,” Shainoah said.

A girl appears outside the hotel, sitting against her car. She had pink hair put up in a ponytail. She wore the standard Grotto suit, except a grey skirt, black leggings, and snow boots. Shainoah didn’t understand how these girls wore skirts in the heap of snow. Wait. He looked closer at her brown eyes and the rest of her face.

“Rosaline?” he called.

“Ry… Rylan? What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Rylan?” Aline asked.

“That’s the name I used for school, and this is a girl I went to school with,” Shainoah quickly explained.

“Good to see you again, Rosie,” Titus chimed.

“I called you two, but I didn’t expect Rylan to be here,” Rosaline said.

“None of us expected to see you either,” Oz agreed.

“I didn’t know you made it into the Grotto Academy after you graduated,” Shainoah said.

“Yeah, I kind of kept it under wraps,” Rosaline explained as she looked sheepishly to the side. She then looked back with a grin. “I guess since I’m in the Grotto now, you should get a proper member's greeting. Rosaline Le Gall; Ranked 15th in Standard Division.”

“Oswald Pierce. My rank is 20th in the Elite Division.”

“Titus Cunningham, and my rank is 22nd in the Elite Division.” He did a salute and waved it off. “Welcome into the Grotto.”

Rosaline looked at Shainoah. Dhe probably expected a greeting like that too, but Shainoah remained silent. “I can see your senior year has been interesting, given you’re here?”

“I dropped out,” Shainoah said. “I was given the opportunity to work alongside my cousin like an intern.”

“That’s not how it works,” Oz muttered to him.

“Right,” Rosaline said with uncertainty. She then looked at Aline. “You must be the Nightflier.”

Aline didn’t look very happy. “Very perceptive of you. What is it you want with me?”

Rosaline seemed uneasy. “I have a suspicion there’s a Dark Ozen outside the city. I scouted the area and saw Akuma surrounding the little camp he and his gang of nonhumans, have made outside of Nix End. However, I’m not sure what he’s planning. There’s another problem a little farther away that needs to be dealt with. A Yuki-Onna.”

“Why does Akuma indicate a Dark Ozen?” Shainoah asked.

“Dark Ozen can control Akuma, amongst other dark fiends, but the Yuki-Onna is an entirely separate problem.”

“And what exactly is a Yuki-Onna?”

“A wraith associated with the snow. Either froze to death or haunts a certain piece of land that snows year-round. Perfect for in a place like Nix End,” Aline explained. She looked at Rosaline. “This doesn’t exactly answer my question. What do you want from me?”

“I can take care of the Yuki-Onna, but I’ve never faced a Dark Ozen before. I was hoping you two,” she said to Titus and Oz, “And the Nightflier would help me get rid of him.”

Aline shook her head. “No chance. Titus and Oz can take care of it, but Shai- Rylan and I are staying out of it.”

“Aline,” Oz pleaded.

“I don’t do favors for the Grotto anymore,” Aline snapped.

“This isn’t a favor for the Grotto. It is a favor for me and the people of Nix End. I don’t know what this Dark Ozen is planning being so close to the city, and I don’t want to leave him be, and days later people are getting killed,” Rosaline pleaded. “What do you want? Money? I’ve heard you were callous and cruel, but not low enough to be completely heartless.”

Shainoah was surprised by her sudden anger, and so were the other two boys. They all looked at one another, then at Aline.

Aline stared at her then groaned. “Fine. How many nonhumans are with the supposed Dark Ozen?”

“4. Three males, one female.”

Aline crossed her arms. “If it is a Dark Ozen, we can at least be glad there’s only one. In Dark Ozen gangs there’s always only one, as most of the time their insatiable hunger for power makes them difficult to work together. The other nonhumans are probably dark fiends.”

“Like what?” Shainoh asked.

“It’s a very long list,” Aline said. “Most creatures considered lesser demons, like banshees and succubi, are examples.” She then began to go to the car and grab her umbrella. “The plan is Titus, Oz, and I will go get rid of this Dark Ozen and his gang.” She turned to Rosaline. “You will deal with the Yuki-Onna. Do you have a room?”

“Yes?” Rosaline replied.

“Rylan’s staying there.”

“What?!” Shainoah outburst.

“You heard me. This just got a whole lot bigger than I originally thought it was going to be.”

“You’re the very one that told me I need the experience,” Shainoah said. “What the hell happened to all that ‘you need to be ready’ crap you’ve been repeating day in and day out?”

She nodded. “Yes, but it’s a Dark Ozen. I can’t babysit you and fight him at the same time!” He remained silent. “You’re staying here while we go hunt the Yoki-Onna and Dark Ozen. That’s final.” She turned back to Rosaline. “Where is the Dark Ozen?”

“Outside the side of the city where the Ranger Casino is. He’s hidden in the forest. I can show you-”

“No need. That’s enough information for me to track him. You just see to the Yuki-Onna.” They began to get back in the car.

Titus held up his watch. “I’ll notify you if things get heated.”

Shainoah scoffed as he began to walk away from her.

“Hey!” she yelled at him. Shainoah turned back, and she grabbed his sword from the back of the car and tossed it to him. “Keep this on you while we’re gone.”

Shainoah grumbled as Rosaline showed him to the hotel room.

“How do you know the Nightflier?” Rosaline asked.

“Uh, she’s also my cousin. She’s recently showed up in my life and began to train me.”

“What do you think of her?” Rosaline asked.

“I… I honestly don’t know what to think of her.”

Rosaline stopped at the door, then turned to Shainoah. “You said you needed the experience? Then let’s go hunt a Yuki-Onna. Shouldn’t be too hard for a newbie like you.”

“Hmph, I haven’t heard that since she’s arrived. You don’t think I’ll get in the way?”

Rosaline shook her head. “New recruits in the Grotto always get in the way, but how else are they supposed to learn? Besides, sometimes we do better in numbers.”

Shainoah tilted his head and smiled. “Last year you were very strict about following the rules. Remember when you stole my phone because it had the answers to a test and you threatened to-”

“Don’t remind me,” she groaned. “The Nightflier’s rules aren’t my rules. Also, can you forget that ever happened?” she asked as they made her way to her car.

He smirked. “How can I? That’s when you admitted your jealousy and all of your love for me. Then I turned you down cold.”

She turned on the car and began to drive. “I didn’t miss your sarcasm.

Shainoah stared out the window. “You know I tease only because it was more embarrassing for me than it was for you.”

“Yeah. Me? A rebound after Kalla? No thanks.” His smile dimmed at that and he continued to stare out the window. “Have you talked to her since then?”

“No. After she claimed I could never understand how she felt being a Duisteren, she blocked my number and never talked to me again.”

“Don’t be so down about it. You two weren’t meant to be then. That’s fine. You’ll find someone else,” Rosaline assured.

He shook his head. “I’m not looking.”

Rosaline giggled. “I sure am. I can’t handle the single-life. Do you know how many Grotto dinners I’ve gone to alone?”

Shainoah raised an eyebrow. “What? Really? I’m sure someone in the Grotto has a crush on you.” He snapped his fingers. “You know what? You should show them your cheerleader pictures. That’ll really get them.”

She glared at Shainoah. “Those pictures are long gone.”

“Why’s that? Everytime you look at it you can hear Coach Carter screaming at you?”

She nodded. “That and I can feel the time I snapped my ankle.”

Shainoah gasped. “Oh yeah! I forgot that happened!”

“That was literally, like, the most embarrassing moment of my life. It was in front of the entire school at our first football game,” Rosaline groaned.

“I remember Darren ran off the field to grab you and run you to the ambulance,” Shainoah said.

She pouted. “As annoying as he was, sometimes I miss Darren.”

“Really? You miss the way he flirted 24/7?”

She paused. “Nevermind. You’re right. Did he ever tell you he had a crush on me?”

“Yeah. Did he ever tell you he had a crush on me?” Shainoah asked.

She gasped. “No.”

“Yeah. That was awkward because it was the night of junior prom, and Kalla went to the bathroom. He comes up to me and tries to kiss me.”

“What’d you do?”

“I pushed him, and I was like ‘Bro, what the fuck?’. Then he ran off. I saw him at school the next week and we talked it over.”

“You weren’t mad?”

“I mean, a little, but he was still my friend, you know? I just told him I’m not like that, and he understood.”

Rosaline stopped the car. “As much as I’d like to keep talking about high school drama, we have a Yuki-Onna to hunt.”