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Day 1 [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Time:[/color] Twilight --> Night [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Weather:[/color] Cloudy, Moderate Rain [color=734e66]◈[/color][color=7ea7d8]Location:[/color] Skyship [Lower Deck Passanger Compartment] --> Open Skies Toward Harold's Academy [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Participants:[/color] Petyr[@Aeolian], Tessa[@Mirandae], Passengers
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The ride in the skyship settled down for a while as the silence of a cresting night took hold. Petyr had fallen asleep soundly, despite the sneezing passenger a few rooms up, which echoed through the hollow wood walls. The ship cruised through the skies, making several stops at different sky islands along the way. It seemed the stop at Harold's Academy was one of the last on the line. The murky clouds took a darker tone as they shifted to a steady rainfall; the air became cooler, and the stars, at least where they were, were readily visible from the top deck. Though, of course, being down below, Petyr and Tessa could not admire the natural beauty of their world during the rainy twilight.

When Petyr awoke to the sound of wind and rain racketing against the outer hull, his eyes flickered open to the sight of Tessa musing to herself in a low mumble. In a modelesque kind of way, he ran his fingers through his curly hair, yawning, [color=0054a6]"What are you on about?"[/color] he asked, scratching at his brow as the low lights of the inner cabin swung about on their metal hinges.

[color=ec008c]"Huh?"[/color] Tessa snapped out of her trance. [color=ec008c]"Oh, eh, nothing--"[/color] A brimming smile clad her lips. [color=ec008c]"You're awake. Sort of lost you there for a moment,"[/color] she continued while having a quick glance around the rather desolate place. [color=ec008c]"You can tell we're approaching the end of the line, yeah? Pretty empty, but we're not alone yet!"[/color] The lively blonde exclaimed and stood up, stretching her frame. [color=ec008c]"UURRHhh, man! My butt hurts like crazy. Let's walk for a bit, but maybe not outside -- sounds like we'd get quite the splash out there,"[/color] Tessa chuckled under her breath, imagining the scene as an amusing pastime.

Petyr looked at Tessa as she stood up, and then he gazed around, musing on her words, [color=0054a6]"Yeah — had a weird dream."[/color] He rubbed at his eyes a bit, taking in that there were far fewer passengers around. The section they were in had an elderly woman snoozing with her mouth open, two teenage girls absorbed in a game involving golden thread, and a tall young man in a Flothápou uniform thumbing through a pocket-sized book. He must've been from Great Locswald, Petyr considered, and then he immediately thought of Professor Lovebourne. After a good stretch, he stood up beside Tessa, [color=0054a6]"It does look a bit barren, but I'm fine with--"[/color] 

Crack! That sound, like a thunderous roar, cut his sentence short. Only, it wasn't a thunderous roar but a loud sneeze mixed with the sounds of an out-of-control firework. The sneezing became more persistent and violent, as did the loud crackling. Petyr looked toward the direction of the sound, and his thoughts went to the sickly passenger from before, the one sneezing fireballs, as Tessa put it. Though now, Petyr was actually concerned when he caught a whiff of what smelled like cinders or smoke.

[color=0054a6]"Do you smell that?"[/color] he asked Tessa in a calm voice, glancing down at her with a severe gaze. 

Tessa let out a modest shriek at the abrupt noise. Her first train of thought ran to reckless kids playing with fireworks inside the ship. But, coming up alongside that thought was the recollection of the sneezing man from before their lull. Tessa froze her movement and distractions for the duration of focus on whatever her tiny nose could pick up, and Petyr was right in that there was a fiery-smokey scent spreading all around them. [color=ec008c]"I do--"[/color] Tessa began and let go of her spearheaded attention. She curiously cast her sight around the cabin, finding the sleeping woman and the distracted youths unmoved by the change in mood. [color=ec008c]"--must be that old guy from earlier, no?"[/color] She said with a curious but concerned tone. [color=ec008c]"Come on, let's check it out."[/color] Tessa quickly gathered some of the things that she had spread out around their seating -- the current issue of some obscure fashion magazine, an obnoxiously yellow scarf, and a designer handbag that was way too big for her.

It must have been the sick man from before. What else could it be? A daemon attack, perhaps? While unclear, it was true that the students of Harold's Academy trained for these sorts of unforeseen moments. Petyr nodded to Tessa, then used his inner vitesse to lift himself gracefully into the air. He floated there, gaining a better bearing of the smell and sounds. Though it was generally ill-advised to fly indoors due to safety reasons, it was a much faster way to move about swiftly. 

Assuming Tessa was right behind him, he flew past the sleeping woman and the teens and the Flothápou, the latter being the most concerned of the passengers, as he stood up and shifted his glasses anxiously. Petyr flew through two empty passenger rooms, the smell of smoke getting stronger. He could see plumes of dry black smog seeping from under the closed door of the third passenger room, and he froze, hovering and swatting away at the smoke that inundated his senses. He coughed and then settled back to the floor; the rising smoke was too much for him to remain airborne. His hearts thrummed rapidly. A few more coughs left him before he turned to Tessa with a strained voice, [color=0054a6]"I think — there's a fire."[/color] 

Petyr coughed again, putting his hand on his chest to steady his breathing. [color=0054a6]"What should we do?"[/color]

Tessa touched ground a moment prior to Petyr. The hostile air was way too much for her senses. Besides, she was not supposed to fly around indoors as a representative of the Academy, and definitely not allow her students to do it. 

[color=ec008c]"Be careful, honey."[/color] Tessa reached for Petyr's arm to gently lead him away from the obviously dangerous situation. The safety of her students, especially as a Mentor, was her only concern during outings like this. [color=ec008c]"We should inform the other passengers back there--"[/color] Tessa began but was interrupted by a violent expulsion by the old man on the other side. The door from which the smoke had tried to escape burst open with raging flames and wooden splinters. The spectacle was like an explosion — as if someone had fired a cannon at the door from the opposite side. Perhaps the man had forced himself to sneeze again in an attempt to get out. 

Everything happened in a split second, and both of them would have been seriously injured if not for Tessa's reflexes. Her eyes had widened in that same moment, all manner of internal functions involving Vitesse and other chemical reactions spurring and spinning up into high motion. The smoldering debris from the shattered door and brightly colored flames forcefully slowed down their aggressive advance. Tessa stood there, intently staring at the beautiful time-slowed chaos. [color=ec008c]"Petyr--"[/color] she began, although with noticeable strain weighing down her tone. [color=ec008c]"--pick me up and move us away from this."[/color]

At that moment, and not unlike his traumatic fiery experience at the orphanage, Petyr had turned away from the door as the explosive decimation sent flames, debris, and shrapnel barreling toward them. If not for Tessa's gift, things could have turned out much worse. He looked on in tempered amazement as the flames and other bits of wood carnage moved toward them at a snail's pace. He hadn't even noticed his own survival instincts kicking in; his naturally dark brown skin had shifted cornflower blue, and his hair grew long and flowed about him as though submerged underwater. The fine scales upon his flesh shimmered faintly. 

He looked at Tessa, who he could sense was straining under the pressure of sustaining her gift to keep the advancement of the flames slowed down to a crawl, at least long enough for them to move to a safer position. Without hesitation, the blue-skinned 18-year-old ducked under the almost frozen plume of smoke overhead and swooped up Tessa in his athletic arms; being a Waaga player came in handy for his physique, it seemed. He carried Tessa like a damsel and ran with her back toward the previous room, talking to her through tepid breaths, [color=0054a6]"What about — the man? Shouldn't we — go back for him?"[/color] 

When they were enough paces away from danger, Tessa relaxed her focus, and the blast carried out its purpose. The absolutely worst part of Tessa's gift was how it affected sound, which had been particularly unpleasant in this case. However, being handled by this God-like man was enough of a distraction to take her mind off of that ghastly rumble. [color=ec008c]"He's probably coming out of there, no? There's an exit now."[/color] Tessa returned her gaze to where the door had been just moments ago. As she suspected, the old man came running out of the inferno, coughing and cursing, sniveling, and parts of his clothes having been burnt to a crisp. Even if the perpetrator -- if one could call him that -- was safe, the flames that he had caused had not ceased in their consuming desire. The situation rapidly escalated as the fire spread. [color=ec008c]"Hey guy, maybe you shouldn't travel on wooden things when you have a cold,"[/color] Tessa snapped at the old man. She was not prone to being angry, but there were some things in this world that certainly annoyed her from time to time.

Looking like a blue-skinned celestial from another realm, Petyr let Tessa down gently and then turned back to the fast-approaching flames as the old man ran out, tattered and bewildered, but otherwise unharmed by the flames of his own gift. Petyr nodded in agreement when Tessa snapped at him. 

The old man sniveled, though it seemed the last explosive sneeze emptied his tank, and there were no signs that he would sneeze violently again. [color=white]"It only started when I got on this skyship. My wife is ill and I --"[/color] the man stopped himself from rambling and looked around with a panicked expression [color=white]"-- I don't know how we're gonna get out of here! I can't extinguish the flames!"[/color] 

Petyr, ran his fingers through his hair again, a curious expression upon his face as the remaining passengers approached. [color=0054a6]"Sir, calm yourself. We'll figure something out,"[/color] Petyr said to him. The man began taking deep breaths -- in and out -- as the flames had made their way into the room just before their own, the first vestiges of smoke seeping through the threshold, hanging overhead. The teen girls were holding hands, looking as frightened as startled owlettes. The old woman who was asleep through most of the ordeal had finally awoken and was rightfully frozen with fright and confusion. 

The Flothápou, who at first stared in amazement at Petyr's magnificently beautiful and unusual blue form, shook his head clear of the unintended bewitching, [color=white]"Err — I've sent a parchment message to the Committee of Safe Passage. It appears the Royal Guards have already been dispatched and are en route."[/color] 

[color=white]"What good will that do if we get cooked alive before they arrive?"[/color] shrieked the old woman. The teen girls started crying as the sick man who caused this mess to begin with remained silent, fearful of what might happen once the Royal Guards discovered he was the unintentional perpetrator. 

Tessa stood there for a moment, thinking carefully. And then she had an idea and moved closer to Petyr, resting a sisterly hand on his arm. [color=ec008c]"Think you can blow a hole in the hull? Make an opening where there is none."[/color] Petyr considered her suggestion for a moment, never having really used his gift on something so thick and sturdy as the entire wall of a large skyship. Still, he reckoned quietly; it was worth a try, considering their current predicament. 

The smoke and flames were fast approaching. The old woman began coughing, as did the teenage girls and the Flothápou. [color=0054a6]"Ok."[/color] he said to her through a cough of his own and then shouted over the roaring of the impending fire, [color=0054a6]"Everyone, move back."[/color] Tessa made a motion to get the passengers to move away from Petyr. He stood a distance from the wall and faced it with a cool, focused expression.

Gathering the vitesse that rippled under his cornflower blue skin, the scales that adorned his flesh rippled, fluttering off his skin and swirling in front of him, following his precise hand motions. When enough of his scales joined together in a way that looked like little globulus fractals of blue iridescent stardust floating before him, he projected the blue "fairy dust" forth with one swift hand movement, and they exploded upon impact against the wood hull. It took three more attempts before he eventually blasted a hole right through, allowing he, Tessa, and the passengers to fly out into the empty wet sky, which had now turned to night. 

They all flew a fair distance away from the skyship, watching as the flames completely consumed the old vessel, steam rising as the unnatural fire met the rain. This ship was likely to be a goner before the Royal Guard could arrive, a relic to perish within the Endless Ocean Below. Parliament would surely conduct an investigation into the cause of this incident, no doubt. Tessa hovered over to him, smiling brightly as she often did, a twinkle in her eyes. [color=ec008c]"Nicely done, Petyr. You really saved those people just now,"[/color]  she said sweetly. Petyr smiled feebly through rain-soaked bangs, though he couldn't help but think of the fire that consumed the orphanage where he used to live. The thoughts penetrated his psyche, and it was only by Tessa's light tapping, did he escape this revelry. He immediately then shifted back to his normal human form. Meanwhile, Tessa took out a fancy piece of parchment from her purse, writing a message to Headmistress Minerva about what had happened (the parchment remained dry), and then when she had finished, they flew through the rain the rest of the way back to Harold's Academy. It wasn't too far off. It was likely they had enough Vitesse to make it in time for the Moonlight Masquerade Ball without the aid of a sky vessel. But unbeknownst to Petyr, as he traversed the wet open skies back to school, was a small rose petal tucked into the right pocket of his sopping cloak.


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Old Sick Mystic
[img]https://i.imgur.com/92n8kHG.png[/img]

Unknown Flothápou
[img]https://i.imgur.com/iNOcibt.png[/img]
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Day 1 [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Time:[/color] Night [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Weather:[/color] Moderate Rain  [color=734e66]◈[/color][color=7ea7d8]Location:[/color] Harold's Academy [Main Ballroom] [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Participants:[/color] Just About Everyone, Anastasia Arslan (Mentioned)[@Ti], Myrion Stevar (Mentioned)[@Teyao], Wolfgang Weiss[@Aeolian], Lady Penelope Upperton[@Aeolian]
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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vrd4UDT.jpg[/img][/center]

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[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D7c8QJFpco&ab_channel=GrissiniProject]♫[/url]

A strange air filled the ballroom as the main event was about to begin. Subtle whispers of Headmistress Minerva's sudden departure from the Academy was peculiar, if not a bit alarming. No one knew of the reasons, not even her son, Wolfgang, a sixth year from the House of Harold. Naturally, the students speculated amongst themselves, their many hypotheses all wrong, of course. Wolfgang, being extremely popular and well-liked, made efforts to quiet the rumors of his mother's nonattendance at the Masquerade Ball. Even stranger, Professor Magus Babalu and Professor Krystal Heartfilia were both absent from the festivities as well, having joined Minvera aboard her private, inconspicuous skyship to god knows where, for god knows what. 

Nonetheless, Minvera made preparations for the Masquerade Ball in her absence, leaving Professor Patty Grumble as the de facto leader of the school until her return. The latter of whom was positioned on the second level of the Ballroom, sitting squat in an old chair she'd placed out for herself and knitting something like a mitten for one of her many caits. 

The Illuminaires (and student council members by proxy) were often tasked with organizing, preparing, and executing many of the academy events (with the guidance of Minvera), just one of their many duties. Some were more involved than others, but the leadership of Anastasia Arslan and Myrion Stevar proved to be a great asset in getting the processions of this night underway. The Ballroom was magnificent. Beyond just the decorations and the live music, of which Professor Theodore Grisvögel somehow inserted himself into, the glass dome covering the Main Ballroom allowed for the serenity of night to bask the room in an aura of moonlight's gleam that rippled across every surface. And when the dome glass receded, allowing for the crisp cool air to filter in, the starlight echoed off the chandeliers and created little diamonds of light floating about the Ballroom, incorporeal, but beautiful all the same. It was still raining outside, but Professor Grumble, with her gift to control the weather, made sure not a drop of rain fell into the ballroom.

With most of the catered food now set, thanks to the efforts of Eusebia's Illuminaire, Myrion, the Academy kitchen maids brought out [url=https://i.imgur.com/P9ERjjL.jpg]spreads of food[/url] that were based on classical Lekëon food traditions, only prepared and eaten during special holidays and celebrations. You could say there was somewhat of a cuisine renaissance in the decade following the Time of Tears. Even still, some older Lekëons within and outside of the commonwealth sky islands, choose to prepare these traditional foods more often than the younger crowds, a symbol of the times more or less. Nonetheless, this spread was truly magnificent to the eyes and the smells were familiar and homely, like a blast from the past. There were opaline petal drizzle sweets, glittercakes, truffles, nectar fritters, gilded pralines which could turn your tongue golden if you ate too many, velvet tartlets, goblets filled with sour elixir, starlight Éclairs, sugarplums (popular among the Royal Family), sunberries and just so much more — a true feast of sweet and savory all in one. 

When it was finally ready for the Masquerade Ball to officially commence, Minerva's son, [url=https://i.imgur.com/9TIhAWi.png]Wolfgang[/url], flew high into the air above the crowd, which had mostly filled out by this point in dresses and suits and extravagant masks. Wolfgang himself wore a mask that resembled an abstract lion and his old-fashion Edwardian costume was a darker red, like maroon or cardinal. In his hand was a crystal, encased in a glass orb. He tapped it, grunting [color=white]"Errm errm! Hello! Testing Testing!"[/color] At the sound of his voice, the crystal lit up and his voice reverberated loudly throughout the Ballroom, drawing everyone's attention from their personal conversations. The live band, who were just playing casually on the main stage for ambiance sake, went silent. A large gaggle of girls at the front of the crowd cheered chaotically, drawing a pleased grin from Wolfgang. [color=white]"I guess it's on,"[/color] he chuckled, winking to the group of exuberant fangirls. He loved the attention, as was Wolfgang. [color=white]"Hello everyone, new and familiar. If you don't know me, I'm Wolfgang Weiss — yes, THAT Wolfgang."[/color] he began in an arrogantly suave tone, drawing more cheers nonetheless and a few queasy glares from his anti-fans. [color=white]"Let us first thank our spectacular Illuminaires for, once again, putting this Ball together. It wouldn't have been possible without them."[/color] 

Cheers and claps followed again, silencing once Wolfgang held his hand up. [color=white]"My mother, Headmistress Minerva, will, unfortunately, be absent from the Moonlight Masquerade Ball tonight, which I know many of you have already become aware of."[/color] Sudden whispers rippled throughout the crowd of students, drawing a strained look from Wolfgang, like he was desperately trying to mask his annoyance with a smile, though his eyebrows couldn't help but furrow in irritation. He continued, hoping to silence the gossip, [color=white]"By the way, you all look absolutely stunning tonight."[/color] Loud cheers again. He smiled, seemingly satisfied, and continued, [color=white]"As I was saying, there is nothing to worry about. So we can [i]CAN[/i] all the gossip--"[/color] he paused for extra emphasis [color=white]"-- immediately."[/color] Wolfgang cleared his throat, [color=white]"Anyways, in my mother's temporary absence, I have been tasked to introduce our special guest. She's bold. She's beautiful. She's timeless. She's a fashion icon. Everyone wants to hear her sing live, but few get the chance. So please welcome, the one and only --"[/color] 

Before he could even call out the guest's name, the students cheered again; there were rumors that it could be any number of musicians from their time, though a select few were floated during the weeks leading up to the Ball. Celestina Warmletter, Lazlo the Dreamer, The Mystic 9, Caits Laughing; any one of them would have drawn loud roaring cheers from the students. They were all very popular with the younger Lekëon crowd. But there was one musician in particular who, despite her age, had found a way to morph her singing and music so that she could appeal to the older generations and the new kids on the block. And that singer, of course, was -- [color=white]"Lady Penelope Upperton!"[/color] Wolfgang howled into the sound projection crystal.

At that moment, a burst of gleeful, adoring cheers sounded from the students as [url=https://i.imgur.com/szVIRIE.png]Lady Penelope Upperton[/url], in all her radiant glory, came floating down from the Ballroom sky opening. She remained hovering in the air where Wolfgang had been just before. Lady Upperton was an older woman, but beautiful and famous for having aged like fine wine. She wore an extravagant golden dress from Elara Lyra, a one-of-a-kind tailored just for her. And she was one for occasions and came with her own ornate golden mask, which revealed her plush lips and golden irises. The dress swished around her as she floated in mid-air, looking down at the crowd smiling; it was the frou-frou of it all. Shortly after, her background singers floated down as well and hovered just behind her, preparing themselves with their own voice crystals that matched the one Lady Upperton was holding, only slightly duller. The contracted band, who remained on the floor, had already been instructed on what to play once Lady Upperton arrived. 

The magnificent woman did a traditional Lekëon air curtsy and then didn't waste a second to begin her performance. [color=gold]"Come on band, hit it!"[/color] With a start, the band began playing traditional ballroom Lekëon music, and Lady Upperton started dancing around in the air, singing and twirling like a ballerina, like she did in her glory days. Penelope, despite Petyr's protestations, had a very charming, almost southern old-fashion accent, which made her singing voice notably warm and enchanting. [color=gold]"Alright, sugas', grab your partnas' and take to the skies. This is my new single, The Crystal Rose Will Not Fall Tonight. Played fust, right here, mhmm."[/color] For the unfamiliar first years, dancing during the Moonlight Masquerade Ball was not done on the floor, but in the air, as was tradition.

So, at last, the Ball was officially underway.

However, a strange feeling did linger, still. And little did the students know, that this would be a Moonlight Masquerade Ball they would never forget. And not at all because of Lady Upperton. But not just yet...

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Wolfgang Weiss, 6th Year, House of Harold, Son of Headmistress Minerva
[img]https://i.imgur.com/620AQXu.png[/img]

Lady Penelope Upperton
[img]https://i.imgur.com/ZBCFy1D.png[/img]
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Day 1 [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Time:[/color] Night [color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Weather:[/color] Moderate Rain  [color=734e66]◈[/color][color=7ea7d8]Location:[/color] Uninhabited Sky Island [Crysal Caves][color=734e66]◈[/color] [color=7ea7d8]Participants:[/color] ???, ???, ???, ???, ???
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[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/MyUzY4C.jpg[/img][/center]

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[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLfj3pAlrs4&list=PL60408EBD7150DDA5&index=1&ab_channel=JourneySoundtrack]♫[/url]
The time was of grave urgency, as something unpleasant loomed not too far out in the distance. The group, consisting of three men, a woman, and a teenage girl, had taken shelter on an uninhabited sky island, hiding for the past few hours within a crystal cave. 

[color=white]"We cannot remain here."[/color] the woman said, rummaging hurriedly through a tattered bag she'd heaved off her shoulders. The teenage girl was standing at the entrance of the cave, the glow of the makeshift fire illuminating behind her. The large crystals embedded in the walls created their own source of light too, basking the cave in a bluish-hue as water dripped from above and slushed underneath their feet. [color=white]"You can hear them, can't you? Their song --"[/color] she began, holding out her tongue to catch the rain, [color=white]"-- but it's different somehow. An unnatural song for them."[/color]

[color=white]"Yes! Which is why we need to keep moving. We have to meet her. Something about them isn't right, and we can't go to the authorities. They'll ship us off to Prison the moment we lay foot at their doorstep. Minerva is our only answer." [/color]

The oldest of the men was lying near the makeshift fire, a puddle of red around his silhouette, his left arm, where it should have been, completely severed; just the mangled after bits remained. He screamed loudly until the pain became so unbearable, it turned numb. At last, with his nerves depleted, he sighed knowingly, heaving through breaths that became more feverish and shallow, his flesh going cold. [color=white]"Just -- leave me --here. Fly. Fly as fast -- as you can, and don't -- look back! I've lost too much -- blood. My time -- is near."[/color] 

[color=white]"Grandfather, no!"[/color] The teenage girl made for him, but was stopped when the second man grabbed her by the arm, righting her to face him. [color=white]"He's right. He'll only slow us down, and he wouldn't make it, anyways. We must go."[/color] 

The girl gave her grandfather a longing look, tears welling in her eyes. He gave her an ephemeral smile, the kind you replay over and over again in your mind. And then his head went limp, and his eyes closed eternally. The girl's tears fell down her cheek, but a certain resolve filled within her, and she turned toward the entrance of the cave, determination driving her forward. The two remaining men and the woman came up beside her, looking at each other like this may be their very last flight together.

The third man, who had antennae sticking out his forehead and big buggy eyes, twitched. [color=white]"The song is near. It's now or never."[/color] 

The four nodded to one another and then took off into the rainy night sky, the fastest their Vitesse could will them. Several shadows flew overhead, just above the crystal cave, only moments after.

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