Fenix Tear’s Fiore Base _{or is it?}

"I just bought an Exceed, Voss-sama. I will call him Fortune!"

"How... charming. Let's hope its name will prove true for this mission, yes?"

Well, that cemented it; things were not going to go well on this mission. Voss had hoped it would be different with an S-Class wizard on their side, but it seemed that no matter what, whenever a mission with a group larger than himself happens, some circumstance appears that tilts everything on its side, as it all spirals out of control, but who knows?

Maybe, just maybe, he could relax a bit. They weren't going straight to the mansion after all, he could have a nice evening before everything went downhill.

Objective: Chase down Sora, who knows whatever y'all looking for are there.

And of course, situations always had to arise that destroyed any of his plans which involved him having a relaxing evening, didn't they? As he saw both Val and Aiko chase after Sora while Grae did his usual of being unhelpful, or being a bum, as he calls himself, Voss simply walked forward in the direction Sora was sailing in. With two capable wizards after her, she was sure to be saved; any input on his part would just be unnecessary.

However, he'd rather go with them than follow Grae, being one of his main tormenters and cause of many an annoyance himself. Grae could handle himself anyway; if he couldn't, then Voss was sure he would be dead in a ditch somewhere, as his antics would have caught up to him. The group that went after Sora was looking to be quite far ahead however, so he thought that he should pick up the pace.

Voss heard a sinister voice in his head and an imagery of a snake consuming his naked body. "Let me out, brat!"

In the end, as he predicted, everything was fine.

Sora was safely secured while needing no effort from his part, and he caught up quite easily due to her motion sickness impacting her movement. Still, this experience made him feel a tad bit of pity for her as with every time her motion sickness took effect, she would never be able to experience luxury cruises or the like without it getting in the way. With a sigh, Voss went to pat her back as if to soothe her motion sickness, "There there, you'll feel better in a minute or so."

With nothing else to do, Voss idly looked up into the open sky, the stars shining as bright as ever. Call it blasphemy due to him being a celestial wizard, but beyond the practical aspects, Voss never saw any real connection or relationship with consolations. While he could appreciate their beauty, that was it. Of course, as he learned to read consolations, he found himself looking at them more often. Even if, like now, they didn't paint the best picture of what was to come.

Not helped by the fact that she was still doing her usual of giving a very good reason as to why not to let her out ever. At times Voss felt like putting her key in the pocket closest to his heart might have been a mistake, almost like she would somehow be able to stab into it at any time. But he would rather not subject his keys to the bad luck she's rumored to bring by putting her on his chain with the rest of them, or put her anywhere less secure to where the key might get stolen somehow.

So lost in thought Voss was that he almost didn't notice the feeling of deja vu that came over him, but it did well to knock him out of thinking anymore of Ophiuchus.

It goes without saying that whatever happened to Aki during the rewinding of time, he didn't seem to notice all too much, save perhaps for the feeling of what he could only assume was saliva going down the wrong tube, and him in a sudden coughing fit for seemingly no reason. There would be a similar case of Deja Vu that everyone else seems to deal with, except for him, even that familiarity seemed either out of his focus, or not noticed at all.

Part of that, was due to Yuna, for while Aki doesn't remember anything prior to the strange reset, Yuna did.

She bore witness as the world around Aki changed, as he was thrown suddenly into an aquarium without rhyme or reason, a pack of piranhas biting at him, and some pink-haired woman in a maid outfit and kicked him, knocking him out cold. All while she couldn't do a damn thing about it, the boy being captured and captured and about to be captured again it seemed.

For Yuna, who was supposed to be there for him, this felt like a vivid nightmare.

Only to find that, all of a sudden, that it seemed to be just that as everything went back to form. Without a processed thought, still confused on the situation, it was as if her unstable powers and her subconscious moved for her, blocking out even the slightest memory of what just happened, or perhaps what's about to.

No...things turned out slightly different this time. No sudden Ocean they were drowning in, the Rabbit girl didn't seem to show up - not yet anyways - and Aki managed to sneak into Everlue Mansion's basement through distorting the space where the wall of the mansion and the ground beneath him met, crawling in the result hole like an insect.

...What happened instead was the feeling of Reflector and her own power getting severely diminished. They aren't aware of the cause, that being Dragon Law taking effect... But, in a way, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

Like a heart slowing down after a panic attack-induced Tachycardia, Dragon Law's magical diminishment caused Yuna's own power to get weaker and stabilized itself as a result. Yuna took a look at her hands, previously distorting and glitching out since leaving the courtroom, now back to a normal form. Although she didn't need it as a ghost, she couldn't help but sigh in relief. All the while, Aki seemed to have found a small room - well, it was more like a closet really, or perhaps the space behind a mansion's walls; there was hardly space for more than just him in there - and sat down on the floor of it, breathing out a deep, much needed sigh. The area was quiet. Even now, he had no idea if anyone was living here - let alone it belonging to a criminal - and if someone was there, they were either gone from the Mansion, or he was in a spot of it far away from any activity. Either way, it was the perfect place he needed to take a moment and process his situation.

...First thing's first.

"What the hell was that back there, Yuna?" He asked his partner.

"...I, I don't know. There was this...flash in my head some thought I had all of a sudden. I don't remember what it was, and I don't think I recognized it even if I did. I...I think it was an image of some kind... A person? I- ...Goddammit, I can't think of it. Whatever it was, for some reason it just sparked something in me, this feeling of...Pain? ...Fear? ...And most of all...Hatred. It riled me up-I...It was like something just hijacked my emotions; I couldn't contain myself!" She tried to explain, flustered over everything she's been experiencing today.

"...I never seen you like that before."

Neither have I! I thought I had a grip on this Ghost stuff now, but this...This felt different. That wasn't Spiria back there, and it's definitely not Spiria on your sword, I can tell you that much. ...I have no idea what I did to those people back there, and I have no idea what I gave you with that sword. Yuna said, Aki staring at the new form of his sword that she made, the green glow coming off it making him uncomfortable. ...Come to think of it, the glow was coming from the green linings upon the blade, rather than the aura around it which seemed to have faded. He tried to use Reflector a little to test out what he was thinking, if only to try and give himself a little more space in this cramped environment. But it seemed not be working, or rather, it's struggling to make a distortion as if something is keeping it from happening.

"Any idea what this is all about?" Aki asked.

"No idea, it feels like something is pushing down on the magical forces within the area. White Magic maybe, but it feels...different somehow, more...brutal? It's like something is pushing down on magic and keeping it from being active. Either way, it means we'll have to deal with being magicless until this blow over." While this meant that Aki was powerless while whatever field they were in was still in effect, it also meant that he was the closest thing to human for the moment, as he could feel the vampiric magic within no longer showing any resistance to the restraint on his neck. Like Yuna, he was having some mixed feelings over this situation. As good as it might be to feel human again, he was also powerless, and Yuna seemed effected by this as well. They were vulnerable, inside the crawlspace of a mansion's basement, potentially owned by someone who probably won't take his intrusion lightly.

...Still, wandering around the dark basement he knows nothing about may be reckless and dangerously stupid. Not to mention, this is probably the only chance he'll have to actually sit down and get some very much needed rest.

""...Yuna, would you mind...?"

"Wait! I think we should keep going..." She said before he could finish. She knew what he was thinking and immediately the thought of what transpired flashed in her eyes once more. They maybe in a safe area now, but this mansion clearly was dangerous. Whoever caused all that, assuming it wasn't a dream, must have been close by, probably in the mansion they were under right now. Which meant that whoever they were, they were aware of their presence. Not to mention, that Rabbit girl may coming soon and Ankh knows what the hell that one's deal was.

Aki looked at her astral form, confused.

"You alright...?" He simply asked.

"...Before this field hit, I...I sensed something. Someone's in this place and whoever it is, they're hostile. But they also might be just as debilitated magically as us. If we go now, we may be able to escape before they notice or do anything about us." She explained. Aki was confused, yet unsurprised. Of course the place they choose to rest in also happens to be the home of a fucking hostile, just his life now it seems. Moreover, she could've told him this before he entered into this place to begin with. Regardless, he got out of the crawlspace he was in and walked into the darkness of this basement. Who knows, maybe he'll find something here that'll help him get as far away from city life and people in general as he could.

In her defense, Yuna wasn't even sure about that, or if what she saw back then was even accurate. That whole situation felt like a fever dream or a hallucination, and in truth, she couldn't detect anything from within the mansion when they were outside of it. Still, you don't generate an ocean to drown in from a long distance. Whoever caused that and was master of that pink-haired lady that appeared during that, must have been close by, and most likely the mansion.

She didn't quite understand it, but Fate seemed to give her a second chance to save him, and she wasn't going to waste it.

Collab post with @Dane & @Noob5674: Grae's encounter with Anya Dragvern.

Anya had Grae’s chin, raised a tad bit to her level as they locked eyes. An undulating set of passion, gazed upon like a Kaleidoscope’s allure. “Come.”

She paused, immediately twisting & turning while subliminally sending mixed signals as she played with the short hem of her skirt.

“Bluegraver. Like what you see?” Behind Anya is the Tavern and a quick spawn into the lobby of collections.

A collection of alchemic and demonic objects, too many to name, and too many to see.

She’d get a playful whistle at the sight. “Wooow, seems someone’s got quite the hobby?” His eyes look around, not quite glances, but never lingering.

He’s… definitely not paying attention to what she’s showing off. Not any more than he has to, at least, as his focus remains leveled at her.

Playful he may be, she’s seen enough in his eyes, and there’s no mistaking the steady calm behind his frivolous attitude. That and Mizore have long since exposed how tough a nut Grae is to crack.

Arius smirked and thought of Mizore deep within. Having said that, the Sparda, from the seed of Jordan are just too thick in the head to even notice. Change of tactics.

“Hayley serves nice drinks. This Földahtler has such a nice kick to it. That said, you're quite the rare visitor in this Tavern, welcome to Fenix Tear’s Fiore Base. Bluegraver.”

Hayley rolled her eyes. “At least it's not Agria. Do whatever you want, it's on the house, Sterling.” She prepares red phoenix lasagna, it's a lasagna dish with one flavor stack after another and refills itself.

Földahtler is a dry-aged cyanide honey grape ale beer.

“Make yourself at home. And don't mind me, just because I'm wearing a bunny suit, doesn't mean I will entertain you.” Hayley said.

“Anya is one of our peers here, you met her once with Lady Sangreveld, a year ago in that Bullet Drake, Dark Guild Bounty. Don't go slacking off, Sterling. I'm still part of this Quest. But for what's worth, this side of the Tavern has lots to tell. Where's the rest?”

Hayley wondered.

She sighed in disappointment.

“You got them lost, didn't you?”

“They got lost on their own.” There was no hesitation as he took a seat. “Sora’s vehicle sickness landed her in a barrel rolling downhill; everyone else went after her, and I certainly wasn’t gonna go to that side of town without permission.”

Still, Anya would see Grae give Hayley a very shiny puppy-eyed look. The Heartfeelia would already have seen it before.

Don’t be fooled into thinking she caught his eye where Anya didn’t; Grae doesn’t hide where his interest lies, and when it comes to enjoying himself, that’s ranked first…

So that’s all just the usual silent “can I have a drink?” kid look. “Blink Blink.” That one’s spoken.

Hayley genuinely smiled.

“Fine. The usual tick.” Hayley then prepared raw and cold goat milk that never loses its coldness.

“Lux et Veritas. Sterling. You know the drill, when it's always you and me, I can't lie and neither can you.”

Light & Truth: Lux et Veritas, Hayley's celestial potion that makes people tell the truth.

For that matter, it's only between them while Anya is exempted.

“Glad all that teasing from Mizore taught you something. Lady Sangreveld’s tavern is quite the sobriety for the drunk. Whatever is said in this bar, stays in this bar, and you know that.”

“I got you the blue banana cakes, your favorite. I'm not gonna lie, I could learn some slacking for a while from you, but hearing Ifrit’s sermon can be annoying.” Hayley said.

Anya coughed.

“Let's enjoy company for the time being, Celestial Girl & Bluegraver. So chillax, we are in a VIP chamber after all. Feel free to touch anything and try not to bleed, I can be a little wild if you do.” Anya’s fangs protruding.

“There will be an auction later tonight, perhaps a little bidding to gamble would be fun, if it suits you.” Anya said.

“A hobbyist gamble. Someone out there who have Mard Geer’s Black Rose, which is worth a fortune, while they may take interest in other things like this black book over here. So Bluegraver, I heard you're quite the enthusiast in wicked objects, find anything you want to do?”

Another whistle from the Bluegraver behind a milk froth mustache. For once, his attention’s caught, but whether he’s hooked…

“Both are fairly tempting bids. You're lucky this isn’t my mission; otherwise I wouldn’t be here with money to spare.” And plenty at that, given they could’ve given Voss this mission at any time.

“But my plans were still to make it look like it was mine, at least from Everlue’s perspective. And while I certainly see a fine auction to gamble and a fine lady to do-” He winks at Anya, as expected of the Blueballer Bluegraver.

“-still gotta ask for formalities: will he be there too?”

“This has nothing to do with Voss Agria’s Quest, at least on a surface level. Everlue on the other hand, is a collector you see, so he will be here tonight.

But for you, it's not about the money, it's about contracts.

Then again those two things might overlap.

He is after something I have, you see, one that can turn darkness to light and light to darkness.

Have you ever heard, the tragedy of Raja Roubaul?”

Hayley sighed. “This is nerd talk, I will leave you two alone, just tell me if you need refills.”

“Bye bye, Hayley!” He waves her off before Grae’s attention returns to Anya with one eye closed. “As for them…can’t say I’ve been a fan of hearing others’ tragedies, so no.”

“I thought so. It's not an independent guild nor a light guild’s tale to tell. It's a dark guild & Black Mages story.

Raja Robaul was the chief of the Nirvit Tribe, 1400 years ago.

So versed in Cursia and Spiria, Robaul The Wise, influenced ethernano and opened lost stargates to different worlds; he even stopped people from dying.”

“Mmm.” She still has his attention, even if the tale is quite the long-ago kind to be telling. “Well, hardly sounds like a tragedy just yet, so I presume that chief overstepped his good intentions?”

Anya smiled.

“The gateway to hell is paved with good intentions, my dear. He became so fixated with godhood and granted vampirism by turning what's dark to light and light to dark; he actually doesn't mind sharing. In fact, he shared too much.

Those he loved and became Vampires, only ended up divided; they ended up killing each other until Roubaul was left without a member of his family.

Fortunately, he remarried, but more tragedy came. His own son, Argus Vortigan of the Tartaria Kingdom, grew up a tyrant and split the continent into two, Tartaria and Sparda.

Ironic, isn't it? Roubaul wished for Harmony yet it was the Inverse of his fortunes.

His bloodline is a house so divided that the Great Tyrant, Argus Vortigan, was upstaged by his nephew, Arius Vortigan and took the throne for himself. Instead of Arius letting Adam Vortigan, his father, rule the throne and reunite Sparda and Tartaria, he disowned his own father and put him on ice.

Roubaul can share his gifts, but those who reap them are cursed.

He spent his eternity in exile at Hadal.”

There’d be a pause of silence to let the tragedy settle, not from the gravitas inherent to the tale, but just a moment of respect for those passing.

“The history of Sparda huh…Sounds like you’ve got more vested interest there than even my own family bothers out of formality.” For some, such interest would be suspicious. It would invite pressing further, seeking what it means by force.

Grae sees a tad beyond. Nobody reminisces like this unless it's personal, and for a personal tale… “A pity for the grandfather who needed a tyrant to right his good wrongs.” He raises his glass of milk to a toast.

“History of Vortigan. Funny how you should say that, but you and I are kindred spirits, Grae.” She finally uses his name.

“Don't worry, I'm not some elitist idiot, who would be so fixated on our clan's history.”

Anya wiped the milk stains on Grae’s lips, closer than ever.

“You're a fun company to be with, Grae.”

She hugged him tenderly with no malice.

“As a Vampire, I can smell the Sparda line in you, and as a Vortigan, it seems that our bloodlines draw us, I was expecting hate but you're a good listener.”

Her hugs became tighter and her chest against his face. A hug reciprocated, as he hugs back.

Not even flustered by the rather promiscuous position his height places him as his head tilts upwards and their eyes make contact.

“Most tend to expect hate from the Bluegraver, but few remember how Sterlings are.” And a cheeky grin pops on his face. “We’re simply greedy little birds who seek all. And to want all, we have to be able to love all.” She feels him squeeze the hug tighter as his head is raised.

And the same look he gave Hayley earlier aimed straight at her.

In a distant echo of time, a tryst of lightning and thunder applauded.

And so from a certain point of view, they connected. He could feel her soft lips, and she could taste milk on his. And that’s a moment where she’d notice the oddity.

Because she had wiped the milk from his lips already.

Open eyes would show the cheeky truth, as she stares down Grae’s forehead with two fingers in peace with her lips placed upon. And that grin is no doubt the same Mizore has retold about the missed potential of the Blueballer. “Ehe~”

The pupils of Anya dilated as it slitted of their situationship.

“Interesting.” She licked her fingers, which were dipped with milk, yet somehow there was blood. Anya sucked the blood mixed with milk.

“Your blood is tasty, as a reward. Take three items that you'd like in this collection. They say you slack, but I don't see it that way, you're merely building Voss Agria to be his own man- such a good senpai you are.”

“An older brother of a guild has to take care of his siblings after all.” There’d be a chuckle as Grae wiggles out of the embrace.

He wouldn’t even need to ask for details, as he picks the rose and the book with light skips in his gait. Two items picked in seconds before he spun on one foot back to Anya.

“I think these two fit me well enough. As for my third pick…” One arm would bend behind his back before that grin came back and the two fingers she kissed were raised in front of his lips.

“Think you can make it more tales like Nirvit?” And the unspoken pair with that item are the moments they shared just seconds ago.

“I don't mind at all. In time, you will. For now, we will enjoy. Consider this a fourth offer.” Anya used a globe tarot card and showed Grae the true humanoid image of the planet Eden.

She wouldn’t hear a reply. She wouldn’t need to.

After all, all Grae gave back to that offer was a grin, different from the playful one teasing her. Nor was it filled with any kind of lust one would be familiar with at a bar.

If there was anything more damning of cementing that joke title of Blueballer Mizore gave him, it’s that honest smile of a boy in love.
And the insatiable temptation to claim it for oneself instead.

Survataen Dragneel

Bedridden, but not completely out, Survataen scoffed at the thought of needing any sort of proper healing. "I'll deal with this the same way my kind deal with any ailment. I'll just burn it off." She went to get up, shaking as her arms tried to push herself from the bed, only to find her legs were shaking just as much. It was disgraceful to be in such a sorry state. Someone, something like her shouldn't be able to be poisoned... but nobody ever said she was smart. Perhaps above average in intelligence, but she had little understanding of things like this. She saw a chance for the strength she needed at the time, and she took it. Things like consequences... few Dragneels could look far enough ahead to see them coming.

Even when time seemed to shift, she would notice and yet completely misinterpret what had happened, feeling as if someone had used their magic specifically to put her back in bed. And so her legs would swing out again, and once more she would attempt to get up.

This time though, it was a massive white paw, the size of her entire torso, that pressed on her shoulder and pushed her back down into bed. It was the master of the house so to speak... the one who ran things around this side of town, even if he still answered to others, and wasn't fully in charge.

Mio

The world rewound, altered and shifted to everyone else. It must look like déjà vu to the few in the known, it must look like a grand spell. But for the person named mio who knew the truth.

“ Why did you do that”

Despite mio not changing even a centimeter, her voice reset to a profound coldness.

Nyxen” Aki, who's going to die if I don't step in?”

Nyxen is one of the seven primordial gods representing dreams, possibilities that Sunday, an existence so profound the world would cease to function without her existence.

Mio” I'm sure, Lamy, how it handles it. There's no need for you to interfere

A voice of absolute disrespect and dismissal from the speaker in question

Nyxen ”Fine, find I'll stop meddling for now. Oh, just because I remembered a tea party is happening soon.”

Mio” Do you ever have a tea party”

Nyxen ”It's not like anything else I have to do. I think the theme is going to be "Beachside masquerade.”

Mio” do as you please.”
—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lamy

The feeling of deja vu was an incredibly common one Lamy after all when you're at the personal retainer of mio one gets a custom to the feeling of deja vu

“ this machine might be harder than I thought”

Lamy what's the feeling The suppression of the city's magic four Lamy it feels like moving through molasses but no matter what she will complete her mission

“ I think I can still smell them to take me but I could probably find them still With a dampening on my strength”

Lamy looking around spots Grae

“ What's going on Why is he making out with that black hair woman”

Despite having black hair herself he is rather repulsed by the color of black

“ What's this barrier weakening me i'm probably going to need allies i would've preferred one of the girls but he'll do”

Proceeds to run to the location

---

Aiko's eyes would suddenly sharpen as she felt something wrong with the greeting. Her eyes, capable of seeing the slightest details of magic can also be used to detect falsehoods or veiled words.

Did time pass in matter beyond it’s usual state?

Letting out a sigh, Aiko would just put her hand on Kintsugi's handle before speaking.

"I do not drink in the middle of missions but I would appreciate some tea." Aiko spoke as she looked at the tall lion man wondering about his strength.

Deep within the bowels of Hizuru

Genbu tucked a stray lock of her raven hair off of the white, featureless mask covering her face and tucked it behind her ear. Department Head of the Empire's Research Team, along with a handful of other unrelated titles, she had personally come to oversee the retrieved object, as per Her Majesty's request. "Terra, could you place the crate with the weapon on the desk?" She asked her Head Assistant. Terra was a brilliant girl, the best assistant she'd had ever since she took over this post from the Judge Magister. And only in her teens. Truly her mother's daughter.

"Right away." The girl, Terra said, the white coat over her a business dress and she immediately rushed to put a new toy upon the desk as ordered, black heels echoing each step across the room.

The little Lab assistant had the kind of job someone of her mental caliber could only dream of. A Position she earned through her well-developed intellect, and a want for knowledge keeps her around. It is a shame her mother hadn't appointed her head of the Research Team. But the teenaged researcher can't hold it against her; fortune seemed to have favored her when Genbu proved herself a most competent boss, and one with just as much a desire for knowledge as herself. If anyone has to give her orders, it's nice that it's someone who she can understand, and who understands her in kind.

Moving the strands of her own violet hair away from her face, she opened the crate to get a good look upon the weapon extracted, her yellow eyes reflect the sparkle of what appears to be some oddly shaped stalagmite of red crystal. Unusually large, but from a first glance, nothing but a beautiful jewel. However, it was easy to see this was hardly anything as ordinary as a mere ruby. Obviously some kind of magic is involved, but...

"...Fascinating. The formation's hardly natural, and it has a some kind of metallic smell to it...Yet, It doesn't seem to be frozen." She said, as she grabbed hold of it with gloves.

Genbu huffed softly in amusement behind her mask, almost inaudible to the young woman holding the crimson spear. "That's the smell of blood, dear. You'll get more than used to it when you first go afield to your first forensic investigation." That was the shame of it. The girl's mother was adamant Terra do no field work. It was a crime against her intellectual gifts to deny her of empiric investigation. She flipped through the memo the field team had left them. "Found at the scene of what the boys called... a 'bloodbath'. I need to have a word with them about proper report lingo." She sighed and inspected the weapon for the first time with her own eyes. "And I suspect it's not the blood of others... Crystallized blood, would you look at that? I know a certain dark mage who'd be doing cartwheels if she discovered how to make these." The raven-haired woman chuckled. Maybe she'd pass along a sample through her network. The Fleshcraft user was ever a useful informant within her own guild.

The more information her boss gave her, the more excited she was. The idea of it coming from a bloody scene was unsurprising, to say the least, if the was truly a case of being blood.

Crystallized...Yes, it does seem to be more a crystaline structure. ...I've heard rumors of particularly powerful vampires being capable of Blood-make magecraft...But I must say, I've never heard of them being able to crystallize blood like this. She said, pricking her finger on its tip to see how sharp it was. While she put the wounded finger in her mouth to keep the bleeding from being in the way, she twirled around the spear until the pointy end was facing down, and stabbed it a few inches through the metal desk.

"Sharper than expected, I can see how they'd find it amidst a slaughter. A spear like this could theoretically go right through people quite easily, may even be able to pierce right through armor like a knife through butter. I've seen Ice-make create weapons before, but this is...different. ...I don't recognize the Mana signature at all. It's obviously not Spiria, could be cursed or ether, but either it feels off from the typical Magecraft. ...I'll get this analyzed as soon as I can. Something as unique as this... we may be able to track down its owner quite easily once we figure out what its being drawn from." Terra said. (edited)Wednesday, June 24, 2026 9:54 PM

"Worry not about the owner. My agents from my other job posting are tracking him." Genbu assuaged her assistant's concerns. "You are absolutely correct about the mana signature. Good senses, Terra." She congratulated the girl. "We'll put it through all the standard tests to see if it yields any clues for us to follow. If not, more rigorous testing. I want to know if any Blood Make mages in our ranks can learn to make weapons like this. It'd certainly be a boon." The masked woman listed their to-do list. However... something felt off. The longer she beheld the spear, it felt like there was a connection. To her, nonetheless. That shouldn't be possible. She knew for a fact the owner had never met her. So...

"Let's dismiss safety protocol for a brief window. I'll have a brief examination with my magic to see if it responds. And don't fret, I have methods of purging myself of any Cursia with my magic." She reached out with one of her Magics, -Jagr-, and touched the spear with her gloved hand. Definitely not cursed. All in all, it was just an extremely durable and sharp spear made of blood. But... there was this tiniest trace of something unfamiliar energy. Not even magic. Some sort of particle. So minute she should've missed it under normal circumstances. She pressed deeper with Jagr, arcs of blue flickering between her fingers. And then...

"Cross it, cross it, cross the threshold and open the door. Open the door, you foolish girl, and receive my majesty." The words pounded in her head and then both memory and thought of it were gone. Slipped from her mind like water. And the particles were no more.

"Well, it's not cursed, at least. Put it through the standard ringer of tests, Terra. Let's see what our analysis comes up with."

While she was wearing a mask, Terra could tell by the subtle body language that Genbu noticed something off. Whatever it was though, it seemed like the feeling faded as she gave her her orders.

"Understood, Chief." She said, taking the spear further into the lab.

It was then an alarm sounded. "Another arrival..." Genbu muttered under her breath, inspecting the screen that showed a red blip over the map of the world. "Terra, hold down the fort. Run those tests. And pray I can catch this new anomaly before they run off!" And like a bird escaping its cage, she was gone.

----

In the Everlue Mansion

The ebony-skinned beauty clad in an ornate, navy blue kimono with white adornments took a long drag of her expensively decorated pipe as Everlue barked his orders to her. Maledight, one of Everlue's precious gaggle of competent women. She waited for her superior to grow impatient before she exhaled the smoke out of her lungs.

"I'll find your brat, sire. But since you're sending me, I know you won't mind if I cut him up a little in the process. Already, I have an inkling where he might be." Maledight grabbed her sheated blade from the weapons rack on the wall of the room and set off, not hurrying in the least.

----

In Aki (and Yuna's) hiding place, time itself did seem to play more tricks on them. The flicker of candles seemed to halt in place, along with any specks of dust floating down. The horned girl they had spotted earlier in the courtroom was once more with them, looking as ominous as before. "She comes. The woman of wicked bone and flesh. Everlue sends him to recover you. But she won't. She'll rend you apart into ribbons if she catches you. Run, boy, run." And with her foreboding warning delivered, the devil child was gone and time continued on as normal.

----

At the inn, Night Side

Val wasn't sensitive to any time shenanigans like the others, but she was finely tuned enough to her own spellcraft she noticed her magic grow sluggish, then disappear entirely. To test her theory, she strummed a string of her Lyrebow once or twice. No effect whatsoever. She cursed under her breath and looked around. She knew why, though. She knew this was a border town, and from her geopgraphy lessons that Dragon Law rendered all magecraft useless without being a citizen of Dragnovia. Or gaining permit from nobles.

Then the white tiger wereman busted out from the backroom. Val gulped, knowing this was supposed to be her chance to act like a team leader for once. Make that damn Mizore and the guild proud. Aiko, her ever faithful swordsman companion, thankfully took off her the pressure
of being the first to speak.

"Yes, hello, sir. For welcoming us into our local base, I thank you. You wouldn't happen to know any Dragnovian nobles lenient enough to lift the Dragon Law off of us? Perchance... in exchange for armed swords. ...or healing?" The redhead asked, in case her own specialty managed to find any purchase in this foreign land.

Wandering alone with a brown hooded travelling cloak over his garb, seemingly with no clear direction through the wilderness of Hizuru, Crobalt surveyed the lands as if searching for something. Though as to what, only he himself knew. Either way he'd been searching for hours at a steady pace, and finding no trace of his quarry. He cursed under his breath, something about a "stubborn cockroach" before continuing onward.

"So, how long exactly is this search going to take?" A voice echoed in his head, the man's eyes briefly looking up as he walked forwards, maintaining his course.

"As long as it has to. Preferably sooner rather than later. Just wish I wasn't flying blind here." Crobalt said to the voice, though to anyone else it would seem as though he was talking to himself.

"So we're chasing someone with no clear idea where they even are. Well that's just wonderful." The voice said with no clear attempt to mask his sarcasm.

"If I have to tear this whole world apart to find him, I will. To just leave him be invites disast-" He didn't finish his sentence as his gaze suddenly looked to the horizon off to the side.

"Something wrong?" The voice said, Crobalt's hand slowly reaching for the sheathed blade beneath his cloak.

"I sense something... Something or someone's coming right for us. Fast." Crobalt said, turning to face the potential threat.

"That can't be right. No-one knew I was even around save for the folks who bought my arms and armour." The voice said, seemingly bewildered. Crobalt meanwhile remained laser focused on the oncoming target, until, to his senses it just seemingly... Stopped?

"...It stopped?" He'd say before blinking in confusion. He could've sworn the presence was headed right for them at full tilt. Had his senses been playing tricks on him? Cautiously he slowly headed towards it, his hand resting on the handle of the sword at his side.

"Sure it's not your target?" The voice said, seemingly on edge now as Crobalt walked towards the presence he'd sensed.

"It'd be too straightforward for him. Either way, stay alert. Could be dealing with anything here." Crobalt said, not knowing whether or not he was walking right into another of his quarry's tricks, but he had no choice but to face it head on.

After some time, he'd stop in plain view of whatever he'd sensed, his gaze fixed upon the person before him, uttering only a single, brief sentence: "And you are?"

Collab between @Noob5674, @Thanatos 7 and short supervision of @Dane
Short side story: Static Bunny
There wouldn’t be many expectations Lamy would have for Grae. Not necessarily out of dismissal of the boy, but when it comes to putting up a fight, anyone else in the guild is more appealing at a glance. (Even Voss, given the veritable army he commands, is top-class at guard missions)

But pickiness is for people with choices, so she would enter the tavern with her hop-hop gait that both would recognize and turn to.

And that was the only split second she would get, as the bad vibe that black held was far overshadowed by those eyes.

Lamy
Lamy's emotions are in absolute turmoil; her thoughts were racing too fast, yet she couldn't properly register a single one. Her muscles were tense enough to kill the person in front of her, yet she was too scared to attack the source of her anger and fear.

Lamy is not a subtle person.

She wears her emotions on her sleeves and says what she thinks if Mio were her goddess, who gave her salvation and freedom.
Then the person sending right in front of them, even in this other form they take, there's only one possible thing she could describe as the Devil.

Anya
“As for business, our interests align for the time being. Here's your black card membership to Lady Sangreveld's Tavern. You can meet me anytime. Everlue's auction is tonight; sometimes you have to keep your friends closer, Grae, rather than your enemies.”

Anya noticed the arrival of another party and looked at her with intimidation; her gaze was intense, yet that intensity afflicted only that person. "Looks like you've brought a friend, Bluegraver."

Grae Sterling
The recognition from the hop-hop would be immediate, but he’d question how as he looked to Lamy. Many questions would go through his head, and briefly, that goofy smile would be on his face as he caught the card from Anya.

Until he sees Lamy.

There was no effort to hide her tension, legs braced halfway between running and fighting, and that look she had towards Anya. Neither of the two would notice Grae’s shift. Posture straightens along with his gaze, and the smile is wiped.

“Ah, think guild business has caught up to me. I’ll have to excuse myself then-” The boy’s face would be hidden under the brim of his hat from Anya’s view as he went up and tapped Lamy on the back of her hand. “C’mon. Let's talk while we walk.~”
His voice is calm. Hints of that jolly boy from moments ago linger in his voice, but Lamy can see his expression. Tensed. Cautious... Worried.

Anya
Bursted out laughing, “I'm sorry, my dear. You, Vampires, Demons like us, aren't particularly welcoming to the pungency of Devil Slayers.”

Lamy
The small hand tapping her, that's a very common feeling for Lamy, and it's probably the only reason why she didn't vomit right then and there.

When she took the hand to be led away, it took her a while to realize it wasn't Lady Mio but Grae. It's not like she had any particularly negative feelings towards the guy. It's just him being one of Mio's descendants that makes it hard for her to approach.

A Whisper, a mindless mumble, even came out quieter than anything she's ever said. “I am Lady Mio's cute bunny and personal attendant.”
The words she said were profoundly quiet, yet she knew the person in front of her heard them.

After all, he was one born with a special constitution. If anyone in the world knew the potential of those bodies, it would be her.

Grae Sterling
She’d see his step pause as they leave the tavern. Just for a moment, before he continues leading them along the streets outside. Strides wide, even if they are average-paced for her, as if to leave the words she muttered behind.

It would be a blink in her state before she finds herself seated across from Grae at a cafe, quietly and privately tucked away in a corner, and a small carrot cake served before her.

A few blinks would process the changed scenery as she takes a small bite before her gaze slides up from the table to Grae and the sound of silverware, which is difficult given the sundae with a sparkling happy birthday atop it, what.

She’d see him peeking from behind his dessert as she looked up. “It’s not really my birthday, just fyi.” There’d be a moment of silence as he eats another spoonful from it…before he finally brings up what happened.

“Lamy…How did you end up as…” There’s a pause. “Well, Mio’s bunny assistant?”

Lamy
Honestly, she kind of did want to talk about it. She really did, but she really couldn't. It wasn't just a traumatic memory for her. It's because the genuine off-chance Lady Mio may overhear. After all, nothing could escape her sight if she really wanted to.

“I used to not like carrots. They were always the last thing the other kids took, so I was always forced to eat them if I didn't want to die.” It's rather obvious to anyone that she's clearly deflecting, but this is truly the closest she has ever gone to telling anyone her situation.

“In the area of Tantania, really, that whole continent never particularly liked humans, so my orphanage didn't particularly like me, and it didn't help that I put in more effort than the other kids.”

Lamy was clearly trying to present a sob story to deflect from the original point. She did not consider the fact that she was releasing a bit of a lot of information, like the fact that she was human and seemingly having a condition with her body.
“Now, carrots taste like ice cream, straight-up sugar for someone like me.”

Grae Sterling

She’d hear chewing from Grae, steadily following her story and pausing intermittently. Clearly, at parts where she revealed something…and when she said ‘now’ at the end. There wouldn’t be a chance to cover that up as he asks on the spot.

“Then who picked you from the orphanage?”

A sharp question. Certainty about Mio that left a gap in her sob story. Little doubt in his eyes about the blank in her story being what she really wanted to speak of, yet didn't want to delve back. And the flinch is all he needs to confirm it.

"You...don't need to speak of Anya if you wish." And that one's a guess from her wearing that look from back at the tavern. It had to be, with that wrong name.

Lamy
“There's a story I heard once when I was a child. It went something like there are two mice, one lives in the country and one lives in a city, and, yeah, despite both being mice, neither could comprehend the other. The country mouse could not comprehend the luxury of the city mouse, and the city mouse could not comprehend the comfort and safety of the country mouse.”
“I always thought I would want to be the city mouse. After all, there's nothing more crushing than a life that feels worthless...”
“For as long as I can remember, my life has never been my own, be it my body deteriorating, a man's cruel experiments, or even Lady Mio's whims.”
“I understand salvation, but freedom is a concept that is foreign to me. Lady Mio is my savior, and yet a piece of cloth can be just as bad as chains.”

Grae Sterling
“Then why not strip-” He has to cut himself off with a cough, realizing he's halfway too deep into the metaphors.

“How about a change in…perspective? The cloth is not binding you, Lamy, not as chains did before. Not in knots binding you, but in clothes that you don’t know how to wear. Pants too long, skirts tripping you with every step. Dressed to the design of something not your own.”

He glances at his parfait and his reflection with a huff as a gear stares back. “It’s not that the cloth has you bound, Lamy; you’re tripping over overflowing weaves, getting lost in them without knowing where to fit in. Hell, everyone gets lost without someone to help dress at first…you just simply need to change how you're dressed...”

Grae goes to say more but realizes he’s gotten lost and was about to say something suggestive again.

“Just- know that while the guild hardly has as much of a family vibe as others, you're free to ask others for help.”
“Aiko would always like a fight; Voss can help with any finances if he gets a cut; Ifrit is always willing to wrangle in trouble…”

He taps his glass with a spoon as Grae stands on his chair and leans it toward Lamy to take a bite. “And of course, if you ever need advice, the guild’s big brother is always willing to lend a shoulder.”

Lamy
Lamy was pretty zoned out; she was mostly just monologuing, not actually looking for a real conversation, but the person in front of her, one of Mio’s blood, decides her fate. "Do you want me to strip down to my bare flesh? I'll do it after all, you're someone with control over my life."

“It's not like anything truly belongs to me anymore”

Ur
Arriving at the scene with Akane in her chibi form, resting on her shoulder. I didn't quite permit you to be here, Lamy, but that's ok. I panted in exhaustion after that horrid meeting at the royal courts in Hizuru.
"Grae." *The air around us tensed. "You were assigned to lead this Quest, under the supervision of Mizore. Never mind her, I got Intel from one of Mae's bats on what happened. Don't tell me, you ran and slacked off."

Grae
As Ur walked in on them, Lamy could feel the mood break as Grae’s face showed a moment of panic before being replaced with bravado.
“I did not! I'm following the plan for the mission at large, where I went to make a fuss elsewhere for Everlue to focus attention away from everyone else, who are gonna be getting justification to raid him. Something especially needed given Dragnovia Law being applied over the place.”

Lamy
“Wait, what right. That's what I was doing. Lady Mio told me to retrieve Aki. I got distracted.”
“ I need to move quickly; I can't disappoint her”

Lamy stood up, clearly in a panic. “Wait, but the stupid spell I'm working at half capacity who knows what's going on there-” She turns to look at Grae. “-Forget everything you just heard; none of it matters, and none of it's important, or I'll tell lady mio"
Lamy is an incredibly unsubtle person.

Grae Sterling
“Aki’s here?” There’s a glance at Ur on the deal over that before Grae gets up and sits Lamy back down. And slides his parfait to the center of the table, clearly meaning to share.

“Anyways, sounds like you got as much business here as we do on that Law, so you’re free to join us if you want to. And regardless, you still have your own body and mind to keep to yourself-”

He couldn’t have known about the landmine that the claim he tried to use to brush off her mood was.

Ur
Not the real deal but merely a Thought Projection, Akane herself wasn't even real either, just an imitation, cosmetically Ur strips.
[“Ur you freaking guilt stripper!”]

Don't bother trying. You have to wait for the next cycle. Once people are inside the Dragnovia's Border, there's no way out; they are detained for the night.

Lamy
“Why are all ice users like this?” Lamy reflexively takes the parfait. “I need to move faster; Lady Mio shouldn't be kept waiting for Aki scenes, rather invested in him, more than usual.”
“I wish Heine & Juliet were here. If they were. I wouldn't have to concern myself with this silly barrier." Honestly, any thoughts of Aki left Lamy's mind ever since she saw the devil. A quiet mumble: “ I under no circumstances, Lady Mio see-”

Even one with a special constitution like Grae couldn't hear what she just said.
But it doesn't take a genius to tell that something is still up with Lamy.

Grae Sterling
But even a genius couldn’t know what isn’t said. Even as a pot boils over and smoke spills, there’s no certainty of what’s under a lid kept so shut from the outside. Nor could he tell what was under Lamy when she coiled into her own trauma like this.

And so, Grae does the only thing he can, not as one of Mio’s lineage, nor as the genius of the guild.

The chair would tilt slightly under the two, as Lamy feels his weight on her back. His arms wrapped around her neck and his head nestled between her ears.

“It’s alright, Lamy. You know Mio better than I do, and she is many things but impatient. A few pages of boredom are nothing new for her, nor is she the kind to criticize impromptu scenarios. Aki's a strong boy; he might run far, but he wouldn't get into impossible trouble. Not from what I've seen of him in the short time I have.”

She could practically hear his heart beating steadily this close…kinda too fast for a resting pace, though?
“Now, seriously, help finish my parfait; I think I'll get sick if I eat any more.”

He already ate 2/3s of it, which is insane for his size.

Lamy
Lamy has not been hugged in a very long time.
It took everything she had not to cry, because the last time she was hugged like this, Mio wasn't sad. She could experience regular human emotions. The person who saved her was normal still.

A memory
The girl all white who smiled like the sun: Mio
“O The world is truly so beautiful. From now on, the world has been made for my convenience.“

“You're just like her.” Profound words are an indication of his true lineage, yet the person who sees them would have no clue: “You're right, Mio can wait a day. Let me finish this parfait.”

Lamy grabbed the spoon of Grae I's with resolve and put it in her mouth. She will later be embarrassed by this action because it is, in fact, an indirect kiss

Nyxen Dremyss
“Operation static bunny total success”
Nyxen, one of the seven primordial gods, one of the most powerful and important people to ever exist, using one of the most powerful spells ever conceived, Universe Morpheus: Moon Eye Dream Rebirth — Izanagi: A spell that gives the user the capability of rewriting reality to do whatever they choose to see fit, and she used it to see her ship happen.

Despite her best efforts to distinguish herself, she truly is just like Mio.