Neva strode back and forth across the room, the wooden floor squeaking beneath her feet. By the nearby table, Ayalinn was sitting. She frantically wrote in her notes, her eyes darting from books to the parchment in front of her.

Eventually, Neva broke the silence:

"C'mon boss," she complained, "there's gotta be something you can tell me!"

Ayalinn ignored her, continuing to scribble in her notes. Neva tried to peek, but her boss covered the parchment with her arms. Even from what she managed to see, it was loaded with formulas and equations Neva couldn't understand.

"Seriously, Ayalinn!" she groaned. "You usually never shut up about a project!"

The elf remained silent. That didn't make Neva feel any better.

"You and Ta'ala behave strange." she said eventually, "Ever since you stupidly tried to melt Zu-"

She was interrupted by the sound of a claw, digging into a wooden table. Ayalinn stood up slowly, partially transformed.

"Some things you won't understand, kiddo." she said coldly, before sitting down back to her notes. She rubbed her eyes, before continuing to write.

"Plus, if you are so obsessed with that short-stack twerp," She continued, head still down. "why won't you just go over to his house, instead of wasting your time being upset with me?"

Neva hesitated. The truth was, she wanted to. However, she couldn't help herself but blame herself too. She realized what danger Zu was in, but only too late to stop it. It was Auraiiya who saved Zu, Neva had done nothing to help.

I can't go there, Neva thought to herself, what if he'll hate me too?

"I'm sorry.." Neva said awkwardly.

Ayalinn waved her hand dismissively.

"Don't mention it, kiddo."

Neva opened her mouth, then closed it again. She wasn't sure what to add. She nodded awkwardly, and left the room.

She went to her room, and picked up one of the history books Zu left in their home. She flipped through the pages, trying to find anything useful. She was unsure of what exactly she was looking for. Perhaps something for a peace offering, of sorts?

There was not much to tell. CrossWorlder were rare, and arrived at their world with an unusual amount of Magyo for Vastoaris. While some managed to have a career as legendary heroes, most lived in hiding. Or at least, those that weren't hunted down by their own kind.

Typical Vastoari superstitions. Neva thought to herself.

Under normal circumstances, Vastoaris do not have access to their own Magyo, even if born with plenty. The only possible way they get access is if someone with a an accessed Magyo opened the path for them. For that reason, Mages were not very well accepted in the Vastoari areas - always treated as if made a deal with the devil. A superstition that expands itself.

She didn't know for how long she had read, before she heard knocks on the door. She leaped down from the small balcony of her room. She opened the door, expecting a customer. However, the white wooden mask was unmistakable.

"... Zu?" Neva asked in hesitation.

Zu's rapid, nervous breathing was heard through the mask. He nodded shortly, before waving his hand slightly in a greeting motion.

"h-hey.."

His voice was slightly muffled from the mask. He hesitated for a moment, before removing it.

His brown eyes shot in different directions, scanning the area beyond Neva. He then spoke again:

"Can.. Can I come in?"

Neva blinked in surprise, before mustering a smile. She moved aside, allowing him to enter.

"Yeah, of course." she replied awkwardly.

Neva didn't call Ayalinn to let her know Zu was here - She knew that won't make the boy feel comfortable.

They sat together on one of the sofas for a while, before Neva tried to speak. However, Zu beat her to it.

"I'm sorry for staying silent." He said stiffly, rubbing his eyes. Neva noticed the dark circles under his eyes, they looked worse than usual. He seemed exhausted.

"It's been... A weird week for me. I felt like I needed to be ready to leave the castle again."

Neva nodded. She felt something in his voice, like he phrased his sentence too carefully. She didn't know if it was smart, but decided to test her theory anyway:

" Well, are you... Feeling ready now?" she asked carefully.

At that, Zu smiled weakly.

"Well, didn't actually get a say in that."

Neva arched an eyebrow.

"What does that mean exactly?"

#

They finished breakfast, when Auraiiya approached him.

"Zutenko-Chan," his mistress began, "I have a guest today."

Zu looked at her, confused.

"Yes, Auraiiya-Sama."

Auraiiya smiled slightly, stroking his hair.

"I am aware of the rudeness of my request, however... I need you to be not here."

Zu blinked in surprise. He was never sent out when Auraiiya received guests. He was locked in his room, sure. He knew the risks.

"Isn't staying in my room be enough?" he asked eventually.

The Kiadra shook her head.

"Unfortunately, no." she said. "For you see, our guests are... Of Duatsow."

Zu groaned internally. Of course it was. Nyxians visiting a Kiadra meaning they were elites. Nyxian elites from another continent meant potential spies working for another Kiadra. And he was still a secret.

"Why did you accept their request then?" Zu asked grumpily. "I thought these kinds of meetings are.."

"I invited them." Auraiiya replied simply, catching the boy surprised again. He took a moment, before realizing.

"It's just your plan to make me meet Neva again, isn't it?"

Auraiiya smiled, not answering.

Zu groaned internally. He wasn't ready yet.

#

A few hours after Zu left, the guests arrived. Auraiiya opened the gate herself, to welcome the two.

"Greetings, Lord Fijeris Gelo Viqroa." she said with the lightest of bows, "welcome to my humble residence."

The reptile-like Nyxian bowed deeply in return.

"Quite so, Oh Kiadra Kagya-Sama. I am deeply honored indeed to be invited by such as yourself~" he replied professionally.

Auraiiya then motioned to her cubs, both standing behind her.

"You have met Hilliya," The Kiadra began, Hilliya bowing as she spoke, "I do believe however, that you did not meet the other; Kaybol Tsobio Dernoi."

Kaybol bowed too.

"Ah, yes. I do believe I have heard of your Jewel." Fijeris nodded wisely, as he bowed lightly in return.

He then motioned to the young Vastoari child by his side. "That is my own pet; say hello, Bukon~"

Bukon took a small step forward, and bowed deeply.

"Bukon Tsobio Viqroa." He said with a quiet voice. His eyes were locked at Kaybol, glittering with curiosity and excitement.

Auraiiya resolved herself to ask about that later.

#

Ayalinn sat in the balcony, her focus on Neva and the brat. She listened to his story, and how easily his mistress kicked him out. Had she succeeded, he wouldn't have to be tossed around like that.

Unfortunately, she failed. She got him trusting even less, and an angry Kiadra breathing down her neck.

She continued to watch the two.

"Well, if you're here to pass time, we can look in the CrossWorlder books you've left here." Neva said, handing the boy the Qliprue she held, and smiled as she opened a book.

"Too shy to join them?"

Ayalinn didn't flinch from the soft yet firm paw on her shoulder. Ta'ala looked at her with an amused smile, hiding a bit of concern. For a Nyxian his size, he was extraordinarily silent when he moved.

"He likes you better." she shrugged. The midget was none of her concerns. Or at least, shouldn't have.

She continued to watch the boy, who was now lying back, scratching the Qliprue Neva handed him.

Ta'ala moved again, descending from the balcony. He then spoke, making the two notice him.

"Hello, Zutenko. How are you doing today?" He inquired.

The boy bowed his head back in a greeting, a slight smile on his face.

Neva smiled too.

"He just arrived, Ta'ala." She said. "He needs space."

Ta'ala nodded, and turned to sit further away. He looked back at Ayalinn with a nod, when the two didn't notice. Ayalinn's attention was on the boy still. He put down the Poyuflé on his lap, and started twiddling his thumbs.

Something in the Qliprue's behavior caught her attention; he was unusually affectionate to the boy, rubbing his head against the brat's shirt.

Then, the boy suddenly spoke, gathering courage.

"I, uh... I'm actually..." He started awkwardly, before taking a deep breath. "I'm curious about something else lately."

Neva's head shot back up from the book. Ta'ala didn't move, but Ayalinn could notice one of his ears perking up.

"Really? What is it?" Neva asked in curiosity.

Somehow, the boy looked even shier.

"Can you show me your circle, please?"

Ta'ala looked surprised, but in a strange way. As if something was said out loud that wasn't supposed to.

Ta'ala knows something. Ayalinn realized, but stayed silent.

Neva looked at the boy in surprise too, but a more innocent one at that.

"Sure!" Neva said, breaking into a grin.

She opened her palm, the glowing magenta circle appearing. Zutenko looked at the circle, mesmerized.

"What does it do?" he asked in barely contained excitement.

Neva chuckled in response. "My circle is kind of weird.. I can charge wherever it targets with speed,"

she then picked up pillow, and the circle transferred to it-"

The circle began to whirl inside itself, as Neva continued:

"and can release it all at once."

The pillow flew out of her hand, all the way to the other side of the room. Ta'ala caught it easily, watching the demonstration.

Neva smiled sheepishly. 

"I usually use in on myself, to enhance speed." she explained.

"Like how we did back then." the boy exclaimed in excitement. "Are you able to do it on me?"

On the other side, Ta'ala laughed, shaking his head.

"I highly doubt it'd be smart." He said, gesturing to Neva's direction. "Neva here can charge the speed only after she targeted with it. You wouldn't fancy being tossed to a certain direction at extreme speed, do you?"

Zutenko gulped, nodding quickly. His reaction made Neva chuckle. Ayalinn could barely contain her own.

"Don' worry, Zu." the girl said, poking the boy on the nose jokingly. "I'm not gonna do anything that risky anyway."

As Neva spoke, a Folleous climbed onto her lap, and she started scratching his head absentmindedly. Ayalinn didn't pay it no mind. The Poyuflé loved Neva, that was known already.

The boy, however, blinked in surprise. Ayalinn's eyes darted to the creature at Neva's lap, as the brat's expression changed to nervousness.

"Neva?" He began, "That Folleous... I think it stares into my soul..."

Neva started reading again, while still scratching the Folleous's head.

"I'm sure he's astonished by how beautiful it is- Ethlonq?" Neva raised her eyes from the book as the Folleous left her, and went to Zu instead.

Zutenko froze, hearing the name. Ayalinn carefully observed the boy. She knew exactly why the boy wouldn't feel comfortable and Ethlonq. She slowly stood up. She something got different. The Qliprue, now this -

Ethlonq the Folleous put its head against his chest and purred in affection. The boy was frozen, too shocked and scared to act.

"Isn't that- who-" he began, stammering nervously. Ta'ala started to get up too.

Neva blinked in confusion, her ear twitching 4 times.

"That's Ethlonq. Why?"

The boy's eyes widened.

"No.."

He whispered, terrified, while Ayalinn finally approached.

"That's him, yes." she stated, not even bothering to hide her confusion. Her mind raced; she thought it failed.

"He seems to like you even more now." The elf stated, thoughtful.

The Qliprue started twitching, and immediately flew up.

Neva's ear twitched twice more, and her eyes widened too. She quickly took Ethlonq away from the boy.

"Okay, Ethlonq, give Zu some breathing room..." she whispered to the Poyuflé.

The boy staggered back, finally managing to get out of his fear-frozen state. The Folleous continued stretching its limbs trying to get to him. It seemed like the more intense the boy - Zu - felt, the more desperate Ethlonq was to be with him.

"Sta- Stay away!" Zu almost whimpered. Aiming it to Ayalinn as much as to the Poyuflé.

Ayalinn finally shook off her shock. "It worked, didn't it?" she voiced her thoughts out loud. a smile slowly spread across her face - her sharp teeth visible.

"But to what degree? We have to figure that out~" she exclaimed, launching toward Zu "C'mere, short stack!"

The boy rolled aside, trying to run. His eyes flashed silver.

Oh Nyx, I should've thought of it.

Ayalinn transformed. She couldn't let him run. She must know. She'd tie him limbless if she had to. She growled, and launched at the boy again, her clawed hand grabbing his wooden mask. She then felt something heavy tackling her. Ta'ala shoved her, and she tightened her grip of the mask.

"What in Nyx's name has gotten into you?!" The fox growled.

As he spoke, Zutenko reached with his hands. A silver circle appeared between his hands. Then, he vanished.

"Wha- Zu!" Neva exclaimed, still holding Ethlonq.

Ayalinn shook Ta'ala's hand off, trying to reach where the boy was before. He was no longer there. She growled, her eyes darting everywhere. She tightened her grip on the mask, when it lit in silver flames of raw Magyo.

She cursed, dropping the mask. The flames dissolved almost immediately, leaving nothing from the mask. She shook her head.

"You won't find him -" Ta'ala eventually spoke. "His circle stops everyone from locating where he is."

Ayalinn growled. Then it clicked. The brat's curiosity of circle, the reason he arrived last time - talking to Ta'ala alone, that was the real reason.

She whirled around to face Ta'ala. Anger choked on her voice.

"You unlocked his Circle? are you out of your mind?!" she hissed at him.

Ta'ala narrowed his eyes.

"And what would be wrong with that?" he asked sternly.

Ayalinn dropped to the floor. She pinched her nose bridge so hard it made her bled. The boy is gone. And due to the fox's recklessness, is now in worse danger than before.

"He's a soul fragment, Ta'ala." she eventually said. "He's reliant on an unstable remnants of Magyo."

They both freeze as the door to their house is slammed shut.

Ayalinn started to get up. The more the boy uses Magyo, the closer his fragment is close to fading. They had to find him.

However, Neva spoke first.

"I'll go after him." she said, putting Ethlonq back down to the floor. "I.. Don't think he'll trust either of you much right now. It's better if it's only me."

Summoning her spear, Neva left immediately.

Ayalinn wiped the blood of her nose, finally noticing it. She released her form, regressing back to her Elven form. Ethlonq perched on her lap, purring in concern.

The Demielven stroked his head.

She hoped that maybe something in her attempt went right. Perhaps maybe, Ethlonq did have a connection, and could buy Zutenko at least a little more time.