Starlit Heroics: A Spectrum of Hate

When the fight was said and done, Zora ran to Tempest's side, examining her wounds. "Shhh it's okay we'll take you back to the castle the blond lady is there she'll fix you right up-"

"I'm fine." Tempest insisted. "Let's just see them make the arrest and get ba-fff..." Upon trying to land, she found that her back leg could no longer support her entire weight, something she hadn't noticed in the rush of the fight. "Damn it. Fucker did more to me than I thought... maybe heading back now would be the best idea, but... no. Not yet... and furthermore, why, exactly, does the Shadowrian Undead Institute have dragon remains in their rank and file? Those are the property of the cryptminders of Dragonkeep, and I am under full authority to return them-"

"Tempest. Shhhh. Maybe they donated their body to science. Shhhhhhhh. Find your chill. don't go all Templar on me. That never turns out good."

"What's a Templar."

"Back on Earth they were this old group of knights who were apparently batshit insane religious zealots. Or they were the opposing force to the Assassins. Really depends on who you ask."

"Oh, okay. No, I would prefer not to be that first one."

Ila rolled her eyes at the conversation. "This is a fascinating history lesson but can we get to arresting this guy?"

-----------------

Tiamat shrugged. "Well I had a video shoot to get to but Ila can't show because she went to go on a corpse-caresser hunt so I gotta cancel."

"I mostly just came around looking for Angel." Spirit looked around. "But unless anyone here can fly, I have no way of getting up to Ventureni Castle. So maybe we should make our own plans."

----------------------

[Current OST: Cobalt Thief (continued)]

A guard at Zempheriea Castle opened the doors for Azurra, and she was greeted by the familiar cloud of cats that she had come to know and love. The visits had been frequent as of late. She wasn't sure that the royals minded her being around too much anymore, which was fortunate. She felt bad for them, and after the war and the hardships that came after, she was more than happy to provide the needed medical supplies herself... heh heh.

Followed by her feline host, she traversed the large halls, sort of walking in a pattern marked by the stone tile on the floor, in silvers and lavenders. Of all the castles she got to visit, this one was certainly her favorite. White, but not overbearingly bright as Lumentia's was. Instead of golds, the decor was silvers, which she fancied a lot more, and the lighting was lower, much lower. It made it easier for her to see. Paintings and inlays and tapestries of lavender forests and the phases of the moon lined the walls, in twilight blues and purples and whites. The one detractor was the dusting of cat hair, but even that added a certain charm.

The light in the princess's room was off, the only source being a set of pink magical crystals set around the bed, that looked to be drawing energy from her. Selene lay there, a pallor to her face, looking tired and sad.

"Azurra...?"

"Yeah, I'm here... just had to get the supplies, it'll be okay... I have the inhibitors now. This is gonna keep the power down, but you're not gonna be able to use more than some telekinesis. Is that gonna be okay?"

"It's fine... will it make it stop hurting..?"

"Yeah, it should... we're still waiting for the scans to come in, but we're gonna find out what's doing this. I love you. I'm not gonna let you go down without a fight..."

----------------

[Current OST: Bl1ND JUST1C3: 1NV3ST1G4T1ON !!]

...Unbeknownst to her, a fight she would get, however indirectly.

Three Lumentian Mob members, in their suits of white and gold, entered the Bel Air Casino loudly and without care of the attention they drew. Perhaps thankfully, most patrons were too drunk or too into their games to realize who had just come through the doors or who was going to the poster in the back.

Except one.

Colonel Adrienne LeClair of the Lumentian Spec Ops had been tasked with waiting for the Lumentian Mob at this casino. Their forces had known of their underboss's dealings with whomever resided beneath this establishment of sin and debauchery, and she had been sent to watch for any suspicious activity. She had arrived a little too late to be witness to the first exchange, but it seemed she was right on time for this one.

She watched as they pressed the button behind the poster, and waited. She waited until they were absolutely gone, and she rose off of her barstool, cracking her four sets of knuckles. Now, it was time to get to work. Using the stealth that only an agent such as she could muster, she sulked over to the poster, and opened up the way to the basement stairs herself. It was go time.

[Posted by Dan]

"Yes, I'd rather not let him get away." - Queen Diana remarks as she sidles up behind Fang with a sharp glare.

Telgard and Titania overheard the conversation between Zora and Tempest. Titania shoots a concerned glance at the zombie Fang was controlling while Telgard points his sword against it.

"Huh. Apparently dragon bones are a big issue over in this universe too. Should we be worried that we probably damaged the skull with that arrow I shot?" - Titania asks.

"I wouldn't worry about that, babe. I'm pretty sure it's fine... besides, the greater crime would still go to using the bones for necromancy. I'm more worried that this thing is going to jump back up and do something." - Telgard states as he eyes the zombie closely.

[Posted by Nyx]

Konoko frowned at Tempest with her apparent objections, but since the dragon dropped the matter, she figured she would too. She nodded to the two scientists behind her.

"Take it back to the lab. We'll take a look into the dragon skull and make sure it's properly rebuilt. We certainly wouldn't want to leave it defaced, now would we?" She adjusted her glasses and took another sideway glance towards Tempest. "And as for you," she addressed Fang, "I'm afraid we'll have to take you back for questioning..."

"Uh, no you won't," Kaj butted in. "We need to question him as well. You can't just steal our convict."

Konoko pursed her lips together, but quickly gave in. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a glowing blue crystal. "Fine," she said, and threw the crystal to one of the other scientists. "You guys take the corpse back without me. I'll remain in Nintendria until this is over..." She crossed her arms and looked around at the group, stopping on Queen Diana. "I'm sure you will be able to handle him."

"So..." Keith said from the opposite end of the road, "did anyone bring a teleporter crystal back to Nintendria? Because someone," he threw an ice cold stare to Diana, "crashed my shenomire." He bent down close to her, "and I'm sure the royal family would be happy to pay for the towing expense."

-------------

Back at Zempheriea castle, Monroe wandered the halls. "Hm, now where did Simba go?" The castle was a weird combination of quiet and yet, not quiet. Kaj was living here full time, Azurra may as well have been living here, and Bloodrain and Diana visited a lot. That said, they didn't really cause much stir. In fact, they really just pulled the attention of their respective loved ones away from him (or, well with Bloodrain and Diana it was, well you know what he meant.) Not that he was complaining, it certainly wasn't his place to complain. But still, it was... different. At least Xilva visited him.

He noticed Azurra walking back into the main hall. No need to stop her, he knew what she was here for. He gave her some distance and instead took a seat in a side room. Selene... she had been sick for months. They invited healers from all over the kingdom, but no one was able to help. At least Azurra had connections that somehow got her the crystals. Monroe wasn't entirely sure how it all worked. His beastmastery was of no help here. With this and his anxiety whenever he left the castle, he felt completely helpless. At least Lutrine had running the kingdom to keep her busy...

Snapping him out of his thoughts was a large lion, licking him in the face. "Oh, there you are," Monroe said, ruffling the lion's mane.

[Posted by Flareth]

Minuki listened in on Zora and Tempest's conversation.

"Ah, you mean like that anime?" she asked, a slight smirk dancing across her face.

Her smirk faded after Keith asked for a teleporter crystal.

"If no one brought one I swear to fuck...." Minuki groaned angrily.

Itsuki, however, was thinking about the dragon corpse.

It could have been donated for science. she mused to herself. But.....I have a feeling that things are gonna turn out a lot more interesting around here. I just hope Tempest doesn't snap again....

-----

"Yeah. Plans sound good." Cameron said. "I mean.....I'm at a loss on what plans we should make. But plans are good."

Ila quickly raised a hand and procured stone cuffs that shackled Fang. "Let's just take care of that right now... er... did anyone think to bring a Teleporter Crystal? That seems like something we all really should have remembered."

"Ah... no, but I think I can cover us." Zora cleared her throat. "Mr. Ran...th..." She trailed off as she remembered, sort of drooping. "Right... that's not gonna work. Okay, so we're boned- fff!" Something sharp hit the back of her head and she cussed out loud before bending over to pick it up. "Wh... where in the hell did this come from?"

"You forgot something at home." A voice, low and curt, emanated from behind a nearby tree. "I thought I'd bring it to you just in case you decided to get yourself into trouble, but I see I'm already a little late for that."

"...Sister, how long have you been waiting there with that teleporter?"

"Since the fight started. Someone said they saw a dragon fly off this way, so I followed. And here I was worried that you wouldn't put yourself in stupid amounts of danger today. You really should have read those-"

"Yes Anya I know I should have read the magic books. But they're big and stupid."

"They would have helped you more effectively deal with-"

"None of them even cover Time. You were all set up and good to go, but I'm the New Thing. No one knows how to handle me yet."

"...They would have given you an idea. Now go get your dragon healed. And remember. The club, at seven."

"Yeah yeah, I'll be there."

----------------------

[Current OST: Cobalt Thief (continued)]

As Azurra set up the new set of inhibitors, she saw another guard run past and address someone sitting just outside. Once the last one was set, she sidled up to the door to listen to what the guard had to say.

"Your Highness," Must have been one of her siblings, "we've just recieved the test results from the Librata Memorial Hospital in Nintendria." This made Azurra listen even harder. "They say it's cancerous. That's why the healers had so much trouble with it before. It'll be terminal unless she's sent in to have it removed soon."

"...I'll cover it." Azurra stepped out of the room and seated herself next to Monroe. "I promise. I'll see to setting up the date when I head home. You shouldn't have to worry yourselves over something like that."

----------------------

[Current OST: Blind Justice Investigation (continued)]

"My my, sister, whatever are we going to do with this one?"

"I dunno, Suz. Maybe we'll just have to have some fun with him for a while. See if we come up with anything."

The captured man seemed unnerved when the two panthers began to speak, but became even moreso when they seemed to melt away into the dark, into fluid which wrapped tightly around him when the panthers were gone. Soon, in front of his face, appeared a pair of glowing red eyes. The voices that spoke now had an echo to them, like audible telepathy.

Well, he certainly is an attractive man, isn't he?"

"Oh yes, very. The boss left us quite a prize."

"Oooh, when we're finished with him, he'll wish he never tried to mug the boss- what was that?!"

The pair of Xers stopped their tirade as the noise of boxes falling over rang clear through the basement. As the Lumentian enforcers plowed their way into the office, the two flowed off of their captive and into battle stances, enabling him to scramble up, and while a firefight ensued, make his grand, poncey escape.

Perhaps unfortunately for him, though, he would not be able to escape the Lumentian officer on the stairs, a gun drawn in either pair of hands.

"Mr. Alois Lowe, you are under arrest for embezzlement, the sale of illegal medical contraband, murder in the first degree, harassment, and treason with the intent to harm or kill one member or more of the royal family. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of-"

"Over my dead body, you will." From his once clean-cut suit, he pulled a handgun of his own, spurring Adrienne to open fire on him, and him to open fire on her in return. Though he sustained wounds to either shoulder in an attempt to disable him, it wasn't enough, for the last shot fired lodged itself firmly in her stomach.

As the basement quieted finally of gunfire, the man stepped over the unconscious body of the reeling agent without so much as a care to her condition, and left the casino.

[Posted by Dan]

Queen Diana loomed over Fang and stared directly into his eyes.

"What were you expecting out of your little monster experiment, hmm? Did you think your little minnow would've protected you from the law?" - She purred as she tapped his shoulder with the edge of her staff.

"I'm surprised you even went outside with that thing. The only thing you were missing was a big neon sign saying 'arrest me', for god's sake." - Telgard sighed as he slapped his hand against his forehead.

Titania looked off into the distance, with her eyes locking on multiple things at differing intervals. First at the zombie, then to Konoko and ending on Tempest. She lets out a troubled sigh as she squeezes her eyes shut. She puts a hand to her forehead and an arm against her chest. Telgard notices her shivering and taps on her arm.

"What's the matter, sweetie?" - He asks.

"It's just... something about the shift between universes is making me feel a bit sick. It's nothing serious though. Don't worry about it." - She says, rubbing her fingers against her throat.

"... You sure?" - Telgard says as he gives her a concerned glare.

"Yeah. Go help the Queen, Dan. I'll be fine." - Titania states with a smile.

[Posted by Nyx]

Fang's arms immediately dropped as soon as Ila fashioned the stone handcuffs around his wrists. "Hey what gives? This is just cruel." He snarled at Queen Diana and Telgard. "Well he was wearing a cloak! Not my fault people stared at his face long enough to recognize it was a skull! And who ya callin' minnow? That there is a DRAGON, he'dda gone kaiju on your ass if he wasn't so goddamn rusty after sitting on his bony dead ass for couple'a centuries!"

Konoko walked over and slapped Fang. "You have the right to remain silent, I suggest you use it."

"Aw, I wanna hear what he has to say," Diana complained.

"Unfortunately these idiot's ramblings are classified ramblings."

"Wait, classified?" Kaj asked. "How is this classified?"

Konoko sighed. "Obviously if it's classified I can't tell you... Let's just say our little troublemaker got his hands on a body he really shouldn't have. Now come on, let's go back to the castle before you all start asking me questions. The last thing we need is someone driving down the road in the middle of all this."

-------------

Monroe stared blankly at the guard. Cancerous? But... that... He couldn't think anymore. He didn't even realize Azurra had sat down next to him.

"Oh... right, thanks," he muttered. "Um, if you'd excuse me..."

Monroe stood up and briskly walked towards the entrance to the castle. Normally he hated leaving, but now the castle walls felt too close. The entire structure was too much like a cage. When he got to the outside, he let out a breath he didn't know he was holding in. He quickly turned and slid his back down the side of the castle, until he was sitting down. The lion that had been consoling him returned and rolled onto his outstretched legs.

"I've been indoors too long... It's a nice day today..." He wiped his eye with the back of his hand. Cancer... was it some sort of brain tumor? He thought Selene's medical issues were magical in nature... Maybe a tumor was causing her to be overly sensitive to the elements. Or... something like that. Something that could be cured. Like the guard and Azurra said, some surgery and she'll be fine... Monroe scratched Simba behind the ears. Should he tell Lutrine? No, there was no reason to worry her, not right now at least. Let her finish her important queenly business first. Luna said she'd be out today...

She'll be fine, Monroe thought again. She'll be fine...

[Posted by Flareth]

"Thank the gods!" Minuki exclaimed when she saw Anya bean Zora with the Teleporter Crystal, "Thank you, Anya. We fuckin' owe you."

Itsuki grunted as Konoko failed to reveal where that dragon body came from.

I should definitely prod her on this issue. But not right now. She probably is not comfortable with spilling the beans in front of this many people. Itsuki mused, putting her fist to her faceas if she was tapping the corner of her mouth with a pencil.

Anya glanced over. "Don't worry about it. I'm just looking out for this bonehead. Now, if you're in the middle of an arrest, don't let me stop you. I'll be off. Maybe I'll swing around later." True to her word, the Void Singer turned on her heel and started back down the path.

"I am not a bonehead..." Zora pouted. "Er. Anyway, yes. Let's get on the road. Everyone gather round." As she held onto Tempest and Ila dragged the earth around their captive close enough to be in teleport range, she held up the crystal, and in a flash, they were back at Nintendria Castle, surprising those who were still there.

"Rough time?" Tiamat asked. "Looks like you and Tempest got nailed pretty bad, huh."

"Yeah... yeah. It was worse than we thought it'd be. Ms. Spirit, ma'am-"

"Already on it." Spirit stepped up to Tempest's flank, and pressed her hand down on it. They lit up in a bright, crackling teal aura, and soon Tempest was able to stand on the injured leg.

"Thank you very much."

"It's nothing... does she need some help? She looks sick." Spirit motioned to Titania.

-----------------

Azurra watched him, then the guard, leave. This mess just got more complicated than it was before. But she wouldn't have to deal with the Lumentian Mafia to get Selene into surgery, she knew that. She was thankful for that. It was dangerous to deal with them. They were cunning, they were powerful enough to threaten the royals, including her stepmother. But Azurra had full faith that she was more powerful. Even if that man got away, she wasn't losing anyone in the process. She had left two Xers there for a reason. Worst that happened was she had to clean some glittery corpses from the basement. And she knew there would be retaliation, but with any luck, she would already be a step ahead of it by the time it happened. She would have her men on-guard in the hospital, too. Nothing would happen to her dearest Selene, she thought. Nothing.

No price was too large to ensure that her love came out of this alive and healthy.

Sure, she knew the risks involved with surgery, especially brain surgery. But she would have to trust in the doctors. They knew what they were doing.

-----------------

Breaking the deathly silence in the casino's basement was a pair of footsteps yet again headed down the stairs, followed by the worried tittering of what was recollected of the two Xers. As the basement lights had yet again shut themselves off, it was dark enough that the fading officer couldn't see who had rolled her onto her other side, and who was hurriedly patching up the wound, and who had lifted her up and started running. But as they burst forth into the light of the Nintendrian day, Adrienne could make out the color of bright red hair, and an amethyst-colored shirt, before going dark.

------------------

Not too long later, in the master bedroom of Ventureni Castle, the phone would ring, and Jade, busily cleaning herself and her bedside up, was caught by surprise as she answered.

"Hello?"

"Queen Ventureni?"

"This is she. Is something the matter?"

"This is Librata Memorial Hospital. Do you know a woman named Adrienne LeClair?"

"Yes... I do. What's happened?"

"She was brought in with a gunshot wound to the stomach. Her condition is critical."

"...I'll be right there." Jade hung up, pulled on the last of her proper clothing, and made a hasty exit from her bedroom.

[Posted by Dan]

Telgard, Titania and the queen looked around as they were returned to the castle via the teleporter stone.

"Hmm. They have teleporter stones here too... Interesting. Honestly, I was expecting a bit more out of that encounter. There was only one undead to deal with and the trip wasn't very --" - Queen Diana sighed as she put away her staff.

"Don't push it, queen. The point was to catch a criminal. Not for you to go on a slaying spree." - Telgard scoffs as he rolls his eyes.

"... Right, yes, that's what it was." - She grins as she curls her fingers.

Titania glanced at the ground as bile stirred in her stomach. She turned her attention over to Telgard and shook her head.

"... Ugh. I take back what I just said. I'm feeling a bit uneasy." - Titania mumbled, with her face turning pale.

"See what I mean? Do you want me to ask the people if there's a bathroom around?" - He says as he holds her right hand.

"That'd be a good idea, Dan..." - The fey woman groaned.

[Posted by Nyx]

Luna tapped her chin. "Hm, maybe Miss Diana has a point. The reports we were hearing were of mobs of undead. If that was the case, why did he only have one following him?"

Konoko sighed. "Maybe it's best if you guys question him first. Sounds like we're after him for slightly different reasons."

"Different?" Kaj asked. "Isn't the Undead Institute worried about the reports of patches of undead?"

"Well yes, and we dealt with those reports accordingly. But the reason this man is of such importance to us has to do with the undead you found walking around with him."

"Let me guess, classified?"

Konoko nodded.

"Hey! Hey hey hold a sec!" Fang squirmed in his stone shackles. "Mobs of undead just walking around willy nilly? The hell you doing blaming that on me?"

Kaj looked at him, slightly dumbfounded. "Uh, you're a necromancer on your way back from Shadowrian?"

Fang spat. Literally. Onto the ground. "You think I'm that bad? You think I'd make some kind of rookie mistake like that? That's like necromancer 101, don't leave your zombies out to wander around for the fuzz to find. I've been doing this for twenty years, I think I'd know better than to attract the attention of the system. This is bullshit. I only got caught because you were out looking for some green-gill who can't even clean up after himself. You don't even know what you got your hands on. At least glasses-lady seems to have any clue around here."

Konoko folded her arms. "So, you're saying there's another necromancer out there?"

"What? You can't actually believe his nonsense?" Kaj asked. "We found him, a necromancer, in Shadowrian, where there has been definite necromancing."

"It is curious, though," Luna mused. "Shadowrian and Zempheriea are separated by Ventureni, so you'd think we'd also hear reports of undead from there too. But I haven't heard anything. Unless our criminal also stopped by there too?"

"Spoiler alert: I didn't."

"Can we please stop questioning the logic until after we lock the guy up?" Kaj grunted. "I don't want this whole trip to have been for nothing."

------------

Kaze startled awake just as Jade shut the door to her bedroom. She must have been more tired than she thought... She yawned and stretched her arms out on the couch...

Wait, Jade was out of her room? Her mom had been battling an angry goddess for days, surely she needed her sleep. Kaze glanced over to a clock mounted to the wall. Only a few hours later... It was the same day, right? It didn't feel like a different day. Angel was still here after all.

"Uh, mom?" she hazily called out, still a bit groggy from her nap. "Where are you going?"

[Posted by Flareth]

"Thank the gods." Minuki sighed contently, as they were teleported into Nintendria Castle.

Itsuki was listening in hard on the interrogation.

"Another necromancer....." she spoke up, "A curious idea. And....actually, quite plausible. But.....at the same time, you are a necromancer."

She pointed at Fang.

"Which means...." she continued. "That we definitely have reason to lock you up. Even if you aren't the culprit of these mass sightings of undead. Am I right, Miss....?"

She turned to face Konoko, a bit sheepish because she did not know Konoko's name.

"Yeah, lock the fuck up." Minuki yelled.

"And then we could go on a hunt for this.....possible second necromancer? Maybe?" Cameron muttered.

So... what you're saying is, we just fought a super dragon zombie and this wasn't even our guy." Zora facepalmed. "Like, sure it's great that we took down the super dragon zombie but honestly now. Honestly. Could've just gotten my payment and we could have still been looking. Safe and sound. Mostly. And then Tempest wouldn't have had to have gotten hurt!"

"I'm fine, it was fine. Worthwhile in the name of justice. But, I'm curious. Why, exactly, are those remains considered so important to you?" Tempest leaned down to look Konoko in the eye. "By the law that we dragons have upheld for generations, those remains belong in the Crypts of Colors and Mayhem to be guarded and honored forever more. Unless of course, they serve some political purpose? The dragons that seek to serve royalty often choose their final resting place as the kingdom they serve. However, I still find it highly unlikely that this particular one was so willing to consign his remains."

"You're taking this really serious..."

"I was taught since hatching to upkeep the law, and I intend to follow through with it."

"That seems like kind of an unhealthy mindset, though. Can't you ease off a little?"

"Perhaps once I have an answer."

"Tempest, please... you're gonna give yourself a stress condition or something. And then where will I be?"

"...Alright, alright. I'm sorry." Tempest licked her partner affectionately. "I didn't mean to worry you."

Spirit glanced to Titania. "Oh, that should be through that door to your left. If you're feeling ill after that, I have a herbal tea mixture that'll fix that right up."

----------------------

"There's been an emergency. My most valued partner has been shot. I need to head to Nintendria." Jade answered. "I need to check in, need to ensure she's alright..."

Angel groaned as she sat up, rubbing her head with her flesh arm. "Urgh... wait, who'd you say got shot? Oh jeez..."

Little-known to them, a small shadow watched from behind a nearby corner. That 'most beloved partner' could only be one person. The one she'd grown so attached to. Katarina snarled. She would find who did this. She would find them, and she would kill them. Just as soon as she had more information. One might be concerned that an eight year old had plans for murder, but they didn't know this particular super-genius.

[Posted by Dan]

"Thanks. That'd be really apprecia--" - Titania states only to stop mid-sentence as the bile rises up to her throat.

She runs towards the bathroom without a word, with Telgard tailing behind her with a concerned look on his face. Queen Diana watches as them leave with a hand to her chin, only to flinch when a sickening yell muffled behind splattering noises comes from said bathroom. She follows after them and opens the door to see Titania lying against the ground, shivering, with Telgard wiping off the remnants of bile that missed the toilet seat.

"Is she alright?" - The queen remarks, leaning against the door frame.

"N-not really. That stuff was the same color as my Ether aura and it was... glowing. I have no idea what is wrong with me..." - Titania says, visibly shaking as she tries to get up.

"... Glowing, you say? Now that's something new. It appears that the shift between universes has had some adverse side-effect to your body and to your powers. I find it curious that neither me or Telgard have gotten sick. I mean, I felt off for sure but... you poor thing." - Queen Diana ponders.

She grabs Titania's hand and helps lift her up while Telgard cleans his hands.

"It might not be a good idea to bring her along for any mission for a while. Ask the people if there's a place she can stay." - Queen Diana states.

"... You don't have to tell me twice." - He says with a sigh.

Telgard walks out of the bathroom and back into the main lobby.

[Posted by Nyx]

Konoko was clearly peeved at Tempest's continued inquiry. "Yes, and that is exactly why these dragon bones are important to us," she said, crossing her arms and tapping her finger impatiently. "We at the Undead Research Institute do our best to uphold the law, even regarding the more religious based ones. Since you dragons are so particular about what happens to your remains after death, it's been incredibly difficult for us to study the properties of dragon physiology. You're certainly free to ask this dragon why he chose to donate his body to science if you meet him in the afterlife, but until then I'd like to honor his wishes of scientific progress."

Fang darted his eyes between Tempest and Konoko, but he kept his mouth shut. He couldn't help but smile ever so slightly in bemusement.

"If that's all," Konoko continued, "I'll be taking this man back to Shadowrian now. I can assure you he'll be properly punished for his actions. Oh, and don't worry about this hypothetical second necromancer. It's probably just some kid messing around with necromancy spells he found online. Leave it to us, nothing that royalty and the divine need worry themselves with."

Meanwhile, Daniel turned to Telgard as he reentered the room. "Is everything alright?" he asked. "You're free to stay here until she feels better."

--------

"Oh. Oh dear," Kaze said. She looked at Angel, who was just waking up herself. "Should we go too?"