Despite the raw Magyo filtering the voice, it was clearly feminine one. Her body made of the raw Magyo of swirling DARK, with sharp clawed hands. Her hair, long and white in color, slid all the way down to her torso. A mouth frozen in a frightening white smile, and five glowing golden eyes faced the Ta’ala as the being had climbed completely from what was just a secon before Zu's shadow. Her presence made Neva shiver, and she could tell Ayalinn felt the same. Whoever this being is – she was terrifying and powerful. Staring at the being of raw DARK Magyo, Ta'ala seemed unphased.

“Who dares to threaten my cub?” the entity growled. She observed the fox, and paused on his beads necklace for a moment, before meeting his eyes. The entity took a step back, before changing. The raw Magyo of the DARK retracted into a smaller form, and as the sense of danger the being was radiating with just a moment before dissipated. It was a Nyxian woman with shadow-back body, dressed in green and pale-yellow gown to match matching Zu's clothes. Her gaze, golden in hues, was facing the overgrown fox.

Neva's eyes widened, and she immediately fell to a kneeling position. There was only a single Shadow-lady that strong in the Paiviaz continent, and one that displays such power with such ease – the Kiadra Kagya herself.

“Auraiiya… Auraiiya Visho Dernoi-Sama.” Neva whispered in awe. Ayalinn knelt as well, despite her injured arm.

However, the Kiadra of the Abyssal Element ignored them, and instead focused on the fox.

“... Ta'ala?” she asked, in a surprising shift from her rage, “Is that you?”

Ta’ala’s eyes narrowed. His ear twitched slightly, as he remained silent. He was studying the Nyxian before him.

“Ta'ala... You know our Kiadra-Sama?” Neva asked carefully, her voice only ever so slightly louder than a whisper.

Auraiiya's eyes seemed to light up, despite showing no signs of hearing Neva. “It is you!” the Shadow-Lady exclaimed, her hostility vanished. She circled him, seemingly taking in his sight. “You have grown so much, dear friend. How much has it been – twelve thousand years?”

Ta'ala looked back at her before kneeling too, but his eyes showed recognition. He opened his mouth, then closed it, then opened it again. He tried to say something, but the Kiadra put her finger to his lips. “This name is long gone now, for I am now Auraiiya, the Kiadra Kagya.” she smiled mischievously, “And no such need in kneeling for you, dear friend.”

The fox looked at her dubiously, still kneeling. “If you may excuse my rudeness, Auraiiya-Sama,” he said through gritted teeth, “what is the meaning of this – behavior?”

Auraiiya looked back, she seemed to be genuinely confused. “Please elaborate, Ta'ala. And no such formalities needed.” She added.

“Fine.” Ta'ala stood up, now being significantly taller than the Shadow-Lady. “Who is the child?”

“My cub.”

“The Jewel?”

“No,” she shook her head, “Zutenko-Chan is a different one.”

Ta'ala looked at her, still skeptical. “And where is he now?” he asked.

“Slumbers in the DARK.” She shrugged. “He will return like nothing happened, as soon as I take my leave.”

“A summoning gate. That was the runic array on his clothes, wasn't it?”

“Indeed sharp as always, Ta’ala~” Auraiiya smiled. “It was a minor addition, just in case he felt threatened. The main spellwork was a self-defense blowback against an 'Ayalinn'...” she paused to look at the elven woman, her smile vanishing.

 “Which is you, I presume.”

“Pardon my rudeness, oh your mighty majesty.” Ayalinn gritted her teeth, “But your pet needs to learn to not take jokes too seriously.”

Auraiiya gazed back, with an amused expression. “Threats to devour a scared child and refer to him as food is not something I take lightly when it comes to my cubs.” She emphasized the last word, as if to correct Ayalinn that Zu was no mere 'pet'. Then, she paused, before shaking her head.

“But perhaps,, I may have overreacted.” She eventually admitted. With a stroke of raw Magyo, she produced a small bottle containing a potion before tossing it to the Demielven.

“This should be enough to heal it.”

Ta'ala stared at her. “You have a healing potion for injuries you cause on purpose?”

“Well, of course not.” The Shadow-lady replied easily, as Ayalinn poured the potion on her burnt arm. “What fool do you take me for? I have it to treat unintentional damage, quite obviously.”

“Um... Please forgive me, Kiadra Kagya-Sama, but...” Neva tried speaking, and knelt down as respectfully as she could, when the Kiadra of the Abyssal Element shifted her attention toward her. “What exactly is the relation between you and Zu- I mean, Zutenko?”

Neva shrunk back before Auraiiya’s direct glare.

“Zutenko-Chan is my cub.” She replied eventually.

Ta'ala seemed to get what Neva actually meant, and spoke for her: “Neva does have a point.” He said, trying Auraiiya’s attention.

“Why doesn't he have a contract with you? Why the need for such mechanisms to protect him, when no one will dare to touch a pet of a Kiadra?”

At once, Auraiiya’s eyes lit up, as she spoke to the nervous girl.

“You're Neva then?” she smiled, completely ignoring Ta’ala’s question. “Zutenko-Chan told me of you. I am grateful on his behalf, for how you saved him.”

Neva was caught by surprise with that remark. “O- Oh! I mean...”
She shifted slightly in her increasingly sore kneeling.

 “Speaking of... the truth is... I didn't do anything.. Why would he lie to you as well, if I may ask? I mean... lady Kiadra- I mean- your majesty-”

“'Auraiiya' shall suffice.” The Nyxian waved her hand dismissively, as she held out a hand to help Neva back on her feet.

“Of- of course, Auraiiya-Sama!”

“As for your question,” Auraiiya resumed, “allow me to ask for elaboration; Did Zutenko display an abnormal behavior during this? A burst of power perhaps – one that includes raw Magyo forming silver flames?”

Neva nodded.

“He did not lie then. Not according to him, anyway.” The Shadow-Lady explained, “You see, my cub’s power seems to hide itself from his mind. To that end, his own memories are altered, if not erased completely.”

“Fascinating, I suppose.” Ayalinn replied with a grin. Her face was still pale, but her arm seemed to be healed completely. “Any idea where such power came from, Lady Auraiiya?”

Auraiiya turned to look at the elf woman, and the glare she gave was enough to make Ayalinn's smile to fade.

“I have my theories.” She eventually said. “But regardless, do inform me of any future incident of these... 'Power Bursts', if possible.”

“I.. Understand.” Ta’ala nodded slowly.  he seemed still unsatisfied.

“Well,” the Kiadra said cheerfully. “That should conclude my little secret visit here.”

She turned to Neva once more. “Please treat my cub nicely~” she added.

Auraiiya took a single step back, before dropping down into her own shadow and vanishing. Not a moment passed, and Zu was there again. He was still shaking, like the Kiadra of the Abyssal Element was never there.

“I didn't do it... I promise!” Zu whispered in fear, before opening his eyes in surprise when Ta'ala sighed and patted him on the head.

“it's alright, I apologize.” The fox said. “I may have overreacted.”

Zu looked around in confusion. Seeing the still slightly unnerved Neva, the pale-yet-healed Ayalinn, and the tired fox looking back at him. “... What...?”

Neva and Ta'ala exchanged looks. “Zu...” Ta'ala started, but Neva cut him off.

“It's nothing, don't worry.” The girl with a smile, as she helped the boy up. “Come on, I'll show you around. There's so much stuff you need to see!”

With the still embarrassed boy holding her hand, Neva made up her mind: She will make sure Zu is welcomed here always, regardless of who his mistress is. She smiled as her hand rose to her mouth with a thumb and finger ready.

“For a start, I want you to meet our humble little fellas~” she grinned mischievously, before putting the fingers in her mouth and whistling to call the Poyuflé.

The eleven pets have quickly arrived from their hiding spots, and for Neva's amusement, curiously looked at the shy Vastoari; as if trying to decide if auntie Neva brought them a new friend or a toy.

#

Hours later, Zu was ready to depart. They planned for Ta'ala to escort the boy to the nearest teleportation point and send him home from there.

Just as the two were about to leave, a knock on the door was heard.

Zu was surprised at the sight of the red-haired woman stood beyond it.

“Au- Auraiiya-Sama!” Zu exclaimed with a mix of surprise and embarrassment, before rushing to her embrace. He then glanced at the Zdiosllin trio, who were not trembling in awe of the sight of a Kiadra.

Then it all connected.

“Auraiiya-Sama,” Zu asked, trying as delicately as possible, “did the mighty Kiadra Kagya paid a visit here?”

Auraiiya looked at her cub in a playful expression. “Any particular reason for such conclusion?” she enquired.

“I told you I want to wait before I let you meet them.” Zu pouted.

“So much for 'can't wait to meet y'all officially', I suppose. jig is up~” Ayalinn strode forward, a wide grin on her face.

Whatever Auraiiya put on Zu's clothes to hurt Ayalinn, she physically recovered from it already.

Zu glanced at her coldly, and hid behind his mistress. Ayalinn may dialed down a bit in the physical touch with him, but her attempts of teasing him with suggestions of feeding him to her pets had not encouraged him.

At the very least – her Poyuflé seemed more interested in scratchies than devouring him alive. that's a plus, I guess.

Zu shook his head, tried to stay on track. “You did come here then.” He muttered, as Auraiiya gently stroke his head.

“Yes, indeed I have.” she sighed. “It was just a safety precaution, no reason to cause a scene.”

Zu bit his lip, trying to stop himself from arguing further.

For him, it was definitely a reason to cause a scene – who knows what she did when she visited? But he didn't really have a choice. Instead, he took a step forward, and bowed respectfully to the trio and the Poyuflé that peeked from inside.

“Thank you for your hospitality.” He spoke.

He searched searching in Neva's eyes any doubts or betrayal – anything that imply her attitude changing from his mistress's visit.

There were none. If at all, her smile was even more genuine, even more confident in their friendship. The same feelings of reassurance that caused Zu to trust her the first time washed over him, soothing any nervousness he had.

“Come visit again, okay?” she replied with a smile.

 Zu smiled back and nodded, before coughing delicately.

“If my mistress allows, of course.” He glanced at the Kiadra, who didn't give any signs of approval nor disapproval.

As they left in a warp of Magyo by Auraiiya, Zu felt he’ll wanna come back more than he expected.

Today was a good day after all.