The roaring crowd faded to a distant hum as Sora leaned against the hillside, her copper tail brushing against the soft grass, the sunfruit high above bathing them in comforting heat that wasn’t too stifling.

  In the meantime, tournament matches continued below, but her mind whirled with the day’s revelations: Kari’s unexpected apology, the Kumiho sisters’ cryptic exchange, and Wendy’s suspicious behavior.

  She cast a sideways glance at her sister, who sat with her knees pulled to her chest, pretending to be engrossed in the current match. Nilly had curled up beside Wendy in kitten form, purring contentedly, while Nerida practiced breath control techniques nearby—no doubt in preparation for whatever horrors Jin’s tournament might have in store for her.

  Are we really going to just skate by this, Wendy? Yeah, no, I’m not going to let that one side. You met the dangerous Kumiho who Diane warned us about and didn’t tell me? The moment we make strides as new sisters, something else jabs me in the nose!

  Do…you not trust me? You have to have a reason, I know you’ve felt really isolated recently with your powers, but we handled that with Aunt Rose. We talked about me trusting too easily. I said I’d do better… You were always more practical and grounded than me, so why would you keep this a secret?

  “Ahem. So,” Sora finally broke the silence between them, her voice deliberately casual after the past thirty minutes of silence since the match. “When were you planning to tell me about Yeon-ah?”

  Wendy stiffened, her puffy tail bristling slightly before she forced it to relax, arms pulling her knees tighter against her chest. “I was going to tell you…eventually.”

  “Eventually?” Sora’s ears twitched, mirroring her sister’s. Nilly shivered and Nerida dropped her gaze to her lap as if she were on blast. “Not, you know, immediately after a mysterious nine-tailed Kumiho approached you? The same one Diane warned us about?”

  Nerida glanced between them nervously before mumbling something about finding more plant waste bags and scurrying away. Smart girl.

  Wendy sighed, cheeks puffing up like a chipmunk before deflating. She ran her fingers through Nilly’s fur, a low growl rumbling in the tanuki’s throat. The kitten opened one eye, seemingly aware of the tension but choosing to remain silent.

  “Look, I wasn’t trying to hide it from you—kind of,” Wendy began, tugging at the hem of her hoodie. “It’s just…there’s been so much happening, and I didn’t want to worry you with one more thing. I wanted to get to the bottom of it… Be useful.”

  “Worry me?” Sora echoed, struggling to keep her voice down as another bout of cheers erupted from the crowd below. Even her ‘be useful’ comment fell on deaf ears. “What did she say to you that you thought would worry me? And when did this happen? How long ago?”

  Wendy’s emerald eyes finally met hers, a mixture of frustration and concern swimming in their depths. “Okay, a while ago but our world’s been on fire. Kari and you had your own thing going. You were constantly daydreaming about that fae boy… She said you’re too trusting, that you’re spreading yourself too thin by trying to help everyone. She wasn’t wrong…but I know how that sounds,” she added with a wince.

  “She—the crafty, over one thousand year old fox that we were warned about—wasn’t wrong? You know how that sounds? Uh-huh. Ya think?” The words stung more than Sora expected, perhaps because there was a kernel of truth in them. “And you believe her? We already talked about this, I thought!”

  “Look, I believed her because I already felt that way!” Wendy snapped back, then immediately looked contrite, glancing away. “We partially talked about it. You’re letting everyone into your orbit—Nerida, Aelion, all these people we barely know—and I’m worried you’re not being careful enough. Yeah, we did touch on it. I was still…trying to figure things out.”

  Sora’s tail twitched. “That’s not fair. You told me that and I took you seriously. I didn’t brush it off. I have been looking at people more closely. I’m just trying to—”

  “I know what you’re trying to do,” Wendy softly interrupted. “You’re trying to help everyone, be everything to everyone. You have cool powers that are unique. You want to use them to do right by everyone… You’re amazing like that. But what about you? What about what you need, huh?”

  For a moment, neither spoke, the tournament’s distant roar filling the space between them. Sora took a deep breath, trying to push down her defensive reaction.

  Wendy! I… No, cool down, Sora. Deep breaths.

  She let the hot air stream out, chest rising and falling as she tried to rewind, seeing the uncomfortable but concerned and determined look on her sister’s face. Still, she couldn’t meet her gaze, showing she felt guilty.

  This is Wendy… Trust isn’t the biggest part of her life right now. Her mom crushed her. There’s no going back on that or fixing this quickly, even if Noelia is there to help fill that gap. She’s still suffering… I have to be understanding. Even if…this hurts.

  What else has she been keeping from me, though? This can’t be the only thing… She mentioned Aiden. Wendy! Tell me you aren’t hiding anything Aiden asked you to tell me because he manipulates causality or whatever.

  “Okay… Let’s try to move past this then. And…when you mentioned seeing Aiden, was there anything more that you didn’t tell me?” she asked, her voice quieter now and hoping that wasn’t the case or that Aiden might feel like she’d blown him off. “You talked to Aiden, too.”

  A flush crept up Wendy’s cheeks, and she looked her way with barely hidden alarm that transferred to her tail before she glanced away. “How did you—okay, that’s not even… You don’t want me to tell you this. Trust me, please because…I may have asked him a few…things I shouldn’t have.”

  You have to be kidding me! And what is with that reaction? Don’t tell me… Do you like Aiden? What is with that weird blush and reaction?!

  “Wendy… Do you like-like him?”

  Wendy’s tail flicked nervously before going totally stiff and her wide eyes darted to hers. “What? How could you think—no! No, where did you get that idea?!”

  “I mean, look at your face!” Sora huffed, nose creasing and adding a pout. “What do you expect me to think?”

  “Uh. Son of a… How did it turn out like this?!” she hissed, running her hands through her hair and scratching her scalp. “No. I may have asked him, like…like if he liked you. And…if I could trust him to look out for you, since you seem to have a, umm, a thing for him.”

  Ice water dumped over her head, tingles shooting from her flattened ears and bristling tail.

  “You did what?!” Sora’s voice rose sharply before she caught herself, glancing around to ensure no one was listening. Nilly was on all fours, back arched and looking as if she’d bolt but Sora was far too emotional to care. “Wendy! You can’t just… What were you thinking?! Did you even think to ask me first?! That’s way over the line!”

  “I, uh, no… I knew what you’d say if I did,” she mumbled, sandpaper now in her throat. “I was just…so frustrated with how he’d flirt all the time and how he’d talk about you…but also skirt the line. You know what I’m saying. He does it to you! I just…had to have an answer.”

  Gut thoroughly twisted by this and acid threatening to exit up her throat, Sora took a few more breaths. Now her face felt like a volcano was about to erupt. Yet, the words still came in the form of a breathless whisper.

  “What…did he say?”

  A small, reluctant smile tugged at Wendy’s lips. “Oh. So you do have a thing for him, like I thought.”

  “That’s not the point!” Sora protested, fire creeping up her lungs now. “You went behind my back to interrogate a boy you thought I might like? That’s… That’s…”

  “Protective?” Wendy offered.

  “Invasive!”

  “I prefer ‘sisterly due diligence,’ personally,” Wendy countered, some of her usual spark returning. “Besides, you’re not exactly subtle when he’s around. Your tail practically wags whenever I mention his name.”

  “It does not and that’s not why it’s doing it now!” Sora choked, very aware of her tail’s current agitated swishing. “And you still haven’t told me what he said. You’re stalling this out!”

  Wendy’s expression softened, and for a moment, Sora could see past the defensiveness to the vulnerability beneath. “It’s…why I didn’t want to tell you.”

  A new screw drilled into Sora’s belly, her own gaze now darting to the side. “You mean…he doesn’t like me?”

  “For real?” Her sister leaned over to lightly jab her shoulder. “No, he said he thinks you’re amazing. That he’s never met anyone like you.”

  Something warm fluttered in Sora’s chest, a fire rekindling, briefly eclipsing her irritation. “He really said he’s never met anyone like me?”

  “Mhmm.”

  “But that’s good, right?” Sora’s brow creased, vision returning to Wendy’s somewhat conflicted expression. “You don’t want him to like me?”

  “No, I’d love if he said that with his chest out,” Wendy mumbled, ears now flicking with irritation before glancing up at her, frustration in her expression. “Want me to tell you exactly what ‘prince charming’ answer he gave me?”

  Hesitantly, Sora cleared her throat and straightened. “…Sure?”

  A low sigh escaped the tanuki’s lips as she glanced to their left, where a new set of contestants were being selected; once again, it wasn’t them.

  “His response hit me so hard I remember it exactly…and how I want to strangle him. There was this awkward silence when I asked, and I felt like my heart was being squeezed into pump…then he answered, running his hands through his feathered hair, and he looked directly at me—like it was easy!”

  Sora was already leaning forward, air locked in her lungs, able to picture the blonde boy’s rainbow-hued eyes fixated on her. Firm, honest, and without any guile whatsoever.

  “His exact words were: Honestly. That’s…hard to answer. I somewhat felt like this question would come up with how you were acting. I’m not sure as to why you want to know…but the simplest answer is because maybe I left some kind of hints that left that impression…

  “Yeah! He apparently knew I was going to ask something like that. I mean, how?!”

  “Quit stalling!” she shouted, ripping up some grass to throw it at her.

  “Fine! Fine!” she returned with a forced laugh. “It’s hard, though…”

  Her sister’s expression became more unsure as she rubbed her elbow. “He said, with a completely straight face, by the way:

  “Is Sora beautiful? Yes.”

  Yes? Sora internally screamed. I’m beautiful!

  “Am I attracted to her?”

  “Uh-huh?” Sora swallowed, ice running up her spine. “Is he?”

  “Mmm…” Wendy drew in her lips, like drinking bitter medicine. “…He thinks most men would be…and he does fall into that category.”

  “He’s attracted to me,” repeated, more stunned than anything else as her mind fell into a loop.

  I mean, that makes sense. I am super pretty… Honest truth. I do come from the line of a goddess of foxes, after all. But…he really thinks that? There’s more?!

  Wendy went on, each word bridging her up to new clouds.

  “She’s fun. She’s spontaneous, and has…a really good heart.” Then, Wendy’s tail bristled. “She’s…also a vulpes.”

  “Huh?” Sora’s ears leaned back slightly from their perky position. “I am? Why…does that matter?”

  Goosebumps ran across Wendy’s arms, which was new for her Null-Void body, and she looked conflicted herself. “I think you know what it means… He said you being a vulpes…makes him cautious. Then he corrected himself and lightened the word, which I’m not really buying. I don’t know. He said, that’s the wrong word…guarded? As a question.”

  “Oh.” Sora sat back onto her butt, vision falling to the grass as she plummeted from her clouds to smack right back into her body. “I…guess that is a real concern…with vulpes in general. So, he isn’t sure if he’s really attracted to me, or if it’s my magic as a vulpes Founder?”

  “I don’t know,” Wendy groaned, rubbing her face and looking upset on her behalf, which shockingly helped. “Boys are weird. He then said:

  “Honestly, I think Sora deserves someone far better than me and others would agree. Plus, she has so much going on that I wouldn’t want to stretch her too thin… She’s a dreamer. I like that about her—yeah, how mixed of a message is that!”

  “Super mixed,” Sora sighed, shoulders slumping and now feeling why Wendy had warned her about the answer. “It’s like he’s taking himself off the market before I can even explore the product! That’s super…I don’t know.”

  “Mhm… But nothing ever goes as planned,” Wendy mumbled, scooping Nilly up before scooting over to offer a hug. “I think he does like-like you, Sis. I do… He also said:

  “When I learned what she did for Daisy… That’s just… Yeah, then he shook his head, and the look in his eyes was electric. I think the spark is there. But yeah, that’s his frustrating answer that I didn’t know how to tell you without…feeling like I let you down.”

  Sora glanced to her left at her sister and offered a thankful smile. “I know all of this isn’t easy… Thanks for caring about me, even if it makes me feel like you don’t trust me at times.”

  Wendy’s fur settled down as Sora returned the one-armed hug. “Of course! And thank you for putting up with my…faults. It's been hard lately. It really has been…but you always make it easier. I’m sorry I’m such a burden sometimes, even if you don’t see it that way.”

  Knowing she knew that was everything but also told Sora everything she needed to know.

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  “…Feelings are hard.”

  “Mhm…” Wendy nodded, absently stroking Nilly’s fur as they sat shoulder to shoulder. “That’s not the end, though. And that’s where my intuition comes into play.”

  Sora’s lips became a line. “Okay, hit me with the next one, twisted sister.”

  Wendy chuckled at the band name addition. “Well, then I asked about Aelion. And yeah…”

  “Oh? What about Aelion?” Sora mumbled, the image of the strong, tattooed fae boy coming to mind and instantly making her look for him in the crowd. “You asked about him, huh?”

  “Yeah, and I asked if he knew anything about the fae boy,” Wendy explained. “And that’s when he got all serious and asked me what I knew about him. He’s heard a few things but had reserved judgement.”

  The flutter in Sora’s chest turned into a knot. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with Aelion? You can’t mean…”

  Wendy shrugged. “Nothing specific. Aiden just said there’s something off about him—how he suddenly appeared at Avalon despite being High King Oberon’s adopted son and how he showed up inside of a Shadow Pit.”

  “That could just be coincidence,” Sora argued, but even to her own ears, it sounded weak. “But appearing out of nowhere, and how no one talks about him as High Queen Titania’s son…is suspicious,” she had to admit. “Aiden…could be jealous though?”

  “Maybe,” Wendy conceded. “But Aiden was concerned enough to look into it. He could totally be invested in it because he’s jealous, but just as well, it could just be—”

  “His nature to be protective of those around him as a firebird,” Sora groaned, rubbing between her eyes. “He’s so…openly frustrating, and in the best-worst way!”

  “Preach, sister,” Wendy chortled. “He wears that helpful, competent look so well, like you’re the center of the world… That’s dangerous.”

  “Super dangerous…”

  I’m going to have to confront you about that answer, fire boy!

  Sora fell silent, processing all of that. Part of her wanted to be annoyed at both Wendy and Aiden for their cloak-and-dagger and honestly wishy-washy answer, but another part—the part that had learned painful lessons about trust—recognized their concern about her might be warranted. Plus, her being a vulpes was perfectly valid. Aiden wasn’t sure, basically. He did like her. That alone made her chest tighten, but was that a step forward? She wasn’t sure it was.

  “All of that being said… You should have told me,” she finally said, knocking heads lightly. “Both about Yeon-ah, Aiden’s feelings, and about this…investigation into Aelion.”

  “I know,” Wendy acknowledged, looking genuinely contrite. “But I noticed you aren’t saying I shouldn’t have asked now.”

  “Oh, shut-up…”

  “Hehe. I get it. I just…I wanted to be sure before I worried you with it. And Aiden’s answer made me want to slap him, so I wanted to work my way up to telling you… After everything with, ahem—with Jane, I guess I’m hyper aware of people who might be trying to use us.”

  The mention of Jane—Wendy’s mother who had manipulated and abandoned her—hung in the air between them. Sora’s irritation softened further, understanding finally blooming in its place after she’d given it root to grow.

  “I get it,” she said, reaching out to squeeze Wendy’s hand. “But we’re sisters. We’re supposed to face these things together, not shield each other from them. No more secrets, okay? Oh, and with Kari, it’s personal with her that she let me in on, so…”

  “No, I get that,” Wendy nodded, a small, grateful smile lifting her lips. “So, no more secrets that are between us.” She hesitated, then added, “Well, except maybe what Nilly does with those sardines I can’t find…”

  The tension broken, Sora found herself laughing despite everything. “Pivoting to the sardine army are we? Aww, look, you’ve got her all active now—look at her little head and big eyes. I’m pretty sure that’s a mystery best left unsolved with our deadly Cat Mother.”

  “Meow!”

  Nilly’s ears perked up at the mention of sardines, looking at them as if they’d stolen her meal, her gold-speckled eyes blinking accusations up at them.

  A sudden shift in the crowd’s energy drew their attention back to the tournament. The current match had ended, and Jian was announcing a brief intermission before the next round. Competitors and spectators alike began dispersing, seeking refreshments or relief.

  “So…what do we do now?” Wendy asked, her voice quieter. “About Yeon-ah, Aelion, all of it? Clearly, there’s something going on between the sisters, and it involves you.”

  Sora’s gaze scanned the arena, watching as the next contestants prepared. “We keep our eyes open. And we stick together.” She glanced at her sister. “Actually, that reminds me—isn’t it weird that none of us were called to compete yet? Not you, not me, not Nerida, Eyia…wherever she is.”

  Wendy’s brow furrowed. “You’re right. That is weird. Almost like…”

  “Like someone arranged it that way,” Sora finished, her tail stilling while glancing around again—the dragon wasn’t anywhere in sight. “Jin, probably. But why?”

  “Saving us for tomorrow?" Wendy suggested. “Like you said, Kari probably asked Diane to bring Eric here, so maybe save the best for last?”

  The reminder sent a chill down Sora’s spine. “It’s a guess, but I’m pretty sure she did make a deal with Diane to bring Eric here… I should ask her about that tonight.”

  “I still can’t believe she apologized to us,” Wendy murmured, her voice a mixture of skepticism and grudging respect. “I mean, to you, I can get. You two have some weird post-bully, eh…dynamic thing going on?”

  Sora’s eyes dulled. “Great framing.”

  “Am I wrong? Anyway, for her—Alpha Bully herself—to actually say the words ‘I’m sorry’ and to me, and then just…walk away like that. It was very…unlike the Kari I knew,” she admitted with an uncomfortable swish of her tail.

  Sora nodded, thinking of how different Kari had seemed in the arena—focused, powerful, utterly dominant. There had been no hesitation, no doubt in her movements or transformation as she tore through her opponents.

  Ever since she learned about Tiri, she’s found someone to live for again… Maybe that’s not the end goal healthy Mary is trying to help her get to, but it’s a step, and it means something. Finding her sister is everything to her.

  “She’s changing,” Sora quietly whispered, hope filling her breast. “I think…I think after what we uncovered, it’s given her purpose. Something beyond the anger and resentment she’s carried for so long for her brother… She has something to live for again.”

  “Well, I hope it sticks,” Wendy replied, though her tone lacked its usual edge when discussing Kari. “For all our sakes, because she can be a real savage.”

  Oh, not like you couldn’t blink her out of existence now accidentally with your Null-Void powers, Sora internally sighed. No, maybe not anymore, after what Aunt Rose did to change the direction of your transformation. What am I even thinking about…

  A flash of movement caught Sora’s eye—someone approaching their little hill. For a moment, her heart leaped, thinking it might be Eyia finally returning or perhaps Aiden coming to check on them.

  Instead, her breath caught as she recognized the small, unassuming figure of Jin, sauntering up the hillside as if she hadn’t orchestrated an entire tournament that was currently unfolding below. At least, once lunch break was over.

  The dragon’s golden eyes gleamed with amusement as she approached, her hands casually tucked into her pockets. There was something different about her today—a subtle shift in her aura that Sora couldn’t quite place.

  “Well, look at you two, having a heart-to-heart without supervision,” Jin drawled, dropping onto the grass beside them with casual grace. “How touching. Sisters reconciling. There’s something—”

  The chime of a bell made all of them go stiff, and all eyes went to Wendy’s lap—the kitten was gone.

  “Jin!” Their gaze darted to the previously empty space, where a pre-teenage Nilly, scooting back slightly, seemingly twelve or elven—not her cute and shy sixteen-year-old state. No, this version had wide eyes, fanged teeth, and a wide smile. “It’s been a while for Nilly!”

  “Lady Cat,” Jin greeted, regaining her with a nod. “Keeping out of trouble?”

  “No. Nilly doesn’t like a quiet life. Nilly’s a loud kitty! Rawr! Oh, where’s your sad friend Eyia? Nilly thought you two were planning…things of heart and steel with Nerida! Wait, is that now or next week—next dimension? Did I dream that? Hmm. In the sea world with the pretty fish people?”

  Immediately, the cat changed directions. “You’re so strong right now, Jin! Flex for us! Is your mom looking? No, not yet… Your orb hasn’t been introduced. Boo! I want to see lil fenris pups!”

  Fenris pups?! Sora internally screamed. What are you seeing, Nilly?!

  “Things…in the sea world? And we’re talking about my mother and my orb?” Jin echoed, her lips curving into a sardonic smile. “Sure. Is that what we’re calling emotional confrontations now and revealing the script before it’s written now, are we? How delightfully vague. What did Ylva call you? The deadbeat cat mom?”

  “Rude! Ylva can be mean. It’s not Nilly’s fault!”

  Sora studied the dragon carefully as she handled the First Generation Founder of the Cats, noticing the faint residue of power clinging to her like morning dew. Nilly wasn’t wrong, as usual. There was more power than before, yet Jin seemed completely unbothered by it—no signs of the strain that typically accompanied her more significant exertions that she’d expressed against Eric.

  “Where is Eyia?” Sora asked directly, not willing to play Jin’s usual games of evasion and half-truths that were also somehow blunt. “We haven’t seen her since the start of the tournament.”

  Jin stretched lazily, like a cat in sunlight as Nilly bobbled left and right, speaking nonsense in ‘meows’ to an invisible entity to the side of their group. “She’s having a heart-to-heart with your favorite Unseelie reformist. Very touching stuff—redemption, purpose, all that nauseating drivel you emotional types love so much.”

  “Sela?” Wendy’s brow furrowed. “What would Eyia and Sela have to talk about…or have in common at all?”

  “Oh, more than you might think, young, adopted tanuki. Ancient secrets, hidden portals, the standard mystical expedition for self-discovery,” Jin replied with a dismissive wave. “Nothing for you children to worry about. At least, not for right now.”

  Sora’s ears perked forward, her curiosity piqued despite herself. “What hidden portals and ancient secrets?”

  “That’s on a need-to-know basis at this point,” Jin replied, her gaze drifting to the arena below. “And you, little fox, need to focus on tomorrow. It’s going to be quite the opening act.”

  “What’s happening tomorrow?” Wendy asked, tension evident in her voice. “Let me guess, that’s when we’ll be put into the ring… Are you putting Sora and me against each other?”

  Jin’s smile widened, revealing teeth that seemed just a fraction too sharp to be human. “I’m so glad you asked. I’ve scheduled a special opening match, but not for you—for your firebird boyfriend versus that mysterious fae prince you’ve been mooning over, fox princess.”

  “What?” Sora’s tail bristled in alarm. Yeah, she’d been eavesdropping on them. “Aiden versus Aelion? Why would you do that?”

  “Entertainment value, obviously,” Jin replied, though her eyes held a calculating, deceptive gleam that suggested otherwise. The old, lazy, ‘I don’t care’ Jin had checked out at some point. Something changed. “Nothing like a little masculine posturing to start the day. You two will have your own opportunity to show off. And that’s before the main event—fenris versus fenris. Brother against sister. A family reunion for the ages.”

  A chill ran down Sora's spine. “Eric really is coming tomorrow?”

  “Oh yes, Diane will make sure of that, it. In fact, it plays right into the Foundation’s desires,” Jin confirmed, something almost like anticipation flashing in her golden eyes. “And he’s bringing friends. The question is, will Kari be ready to face him? This has been planned for a long time. I just decided to…speed things along. She certainly made quite the impression today, wouldn’t you say?”

  “She, as in Kari, I’m guessing, was…incredible,” Sora voiced without reserve. “I don’t know this new angle you’re taking, though. It’s almost like you’re…”

  “A villain now?” Jin snorted, rolling her eyes. “Just because I’m accelerating things doesn’t mean they wouldn’t have happened eventually… I’ve always been the type to work while everyone else plays…not that any of you know the things I’ve done or who I’m working with.”

  Sora had to still her body from the quake that ran through it with the look in Jin’s eyes, not the bored, ‘above everything’ gaze she typically wore. No, she had a direction. And with her power, no one was going to derail that except her mother, or maybe Ylva or Nilly, but that was unlikely.

  “What…are you planning, Jin?”

  The dragon reached over to pat her on the shoulder. “I don’t want to give up the surprise. Sometimes, growing pains are worth it. Kari’s learning that, isn’t she? She’s finally embracing what she is,” Jin said, her tone suddenly serious. “A Founder. A wolf. Both the predator and the protector. Who does she have to thank for that?”

  “…Me?”

  “You,” Jin snapped her fingers. Before Sora could respond, she rose to her feet in one fluid motion. “Well, this has been delightfully awkward. Cat Mother.”

  “Oh! Jin! When did you get here? Nilly was talking to Gong-Gong. He’s so very stubborn and funny—always mad and smacking pillars. He keeps coming up to try and bite Nilly’s tails and Nilly just *bonk!* Down he goes!”

  Jin’s smile vanished at that name, a bitter down-cast gaze darkening her face for the briefest of moments before she shorted, shrugged it off, and shook her head. “Yeah, that sounds like Gong-Gong… But I have a tournament to orchestrate. Explosions to arrange, lives to endanger—you know, the usual. Later…”

  “Wait,” Sora called as Jin turned to leave. “Why are you doing all this? You usually don’t care about anything on this level of, eh, Existence? What’s your angle?”

  Jin paused, glancing back over her shoulder but not at them—at Nilly, once again speaking to this mysterious Gong-Gong. For a brief moment, something strange flickered in her golden eyes—something almost like vulnerability, quickly masked by her usual sardonic humor.

  “Humph. Maybe I’m just bored but who can tell with me,” she suggested, her voice light. “Or maybe I’m wondering what happens when you throw all the combustible elements together and add a spark of foxfire. Either way, you’ll all find out soon enough… I have a prize to win.”

  “What…kind of prize?” Wendy tentatively inquired, ears drawn back under Jin’s hard gaze, despite her tiny stature.

  Jin’s focus drifted to her but Nilly was the one to answer, throwing up her hand as if in class.

  “Nilly knows! Nilly knows! Jin’s prize is a question! Jin gets to ask a question her mom never answers!”

  “No spoilers, Deadbeat,” Jin mumbled, rubbing her head and making the cat’s cheeks puff up into a pout. “Some things are better left dead…”

  With that cryptic statement hanging in the air, Jin sauntered away, disappearing into the crowd as suddenly as she'd appeared.

  “She is so weird,” Wendy muttered once the dragon was out of earshot. “And scary. Mostly scary.”

  “Yeah,” Sora agreed, her mind racing with the implications of Nilly and Jin’s revelations.

  Aiden versus Aelion, Kari versus Eric… Tomorrow will change everything, one way or another… And what of Eyia and Sela? What “ancient secrets” could possibly connect a Primordial Valkyrie, who operates on the same level as Founders, and the former Unseelie Queen, who is at most on this small universe level?

  “Should we be worried about Eyia?” Nilly abruptly asked, snagging their attention and now returned to her sixteen-year-old self. Her voice was softer now, concerned. “It’s not like her to miss something like this… Jin must have said something to make her join Sela, right?”

  “Probably… If she’s with Sela, I don’t know. It’s Eyia, though. I’m sure she’s fine,” Sora replied, though uncertainty gnawed at her. “Eyia can more than handle herself… At least, she can physically. Emotionally is another story.”

  “True,” Wendy acknowledged. “But what if—”

  Her words were cut off by a sudden commotion in the arena below. The crowd’s murmurs swelled to a roar as a figure emerged onto the central platform—tall, elegant, with a glow that drew all eyes.

  “Is that Professor Nerissa—the nymph instructor?” Nerida asked, jogging forward with her plant bags and settling beside them. “This tournament is insane! How can we fight our teachers?!”

  “Don’t worry,” Sora reassured, though her own gut was twisting with how Jin was organizing this, and seemingly with full authority from the school. “Jin told us we won’t battle until tomorrow.”

  “Oh, good! At least I can breathe a little,” Nerida cried, breathing into her bag again for support.

  As the day wore on, the matches continued in rapid succession. There were a few standouts, including the nymph and Katie Milla versus Yeon-ah—a dragon who truly looked like a European variant that left the whole area in blazing blue flames. Various other instructors and advanced students displayed their prowess, though none with quite the dramatic flair of Kari’s raw dominance or Kurosaki’s showmanship.

  By the time the final match concluded, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the arena. The crowd began to disperse, excited chatter about tomorrow’s promised spectacles filling the air. People now knew what to expect, but Sora knew better. Tomorrow, there would be changes. Drastic changes. She could feel it in her bones.

  “We should head back,” Sora suggested, suddenly feeling the weight of the day’s events. “Get some rest before tomorrow. Something tells me we’re going to need it.”

  Wendy nodded in agreement, helping Nerida gather her things—she’d collected quite a few items, including food that she’d scarfed down once realizing she wasn’t going to compete. There was also a strange shell necklace she’d obtained when she’d ran off that emitted a strange magical pulse Sora couldn’t identify.

  Nilly had returned to her kitten form, purring contentedly as Wendy scooped her up. The Cat Mother appeared to be in a more unstable state than usual today, which wasn’t a good sign.

  As they made their way through the disbanding crowd, Sora’s thoughts drifted to Kari, wondering where the fenris wolf had gone after her victory and subsequent apology. Was she preparing for tomorrow’s confrontation with her brother? Was she ready to face the person who had dominated and terrorized her for most of her life?

  And what of Eyia and Sela, off on some mysterious expedition while the rest of them were distracted by Jin’s tournament? What would Diane do tomorrow with all eyes here? What was the Foundation going to pull? Why had the High King and High Queen allowed any of this to happen? Is what happened to Ember somehow involved?

  Too many questions, too many uncertainties…but that’s my life.

  One thing was certain, though—tomorrow would bring answers, one way or another. Whether those answers would be ones they wanted to hear…that remained to be seen.

  “Sora?” Wendy’s voice pulled her from her thoughts. “You okay?”

  Sora forced a smile, pushing her worries aside for the moment. “Yeah, just thinking about tomorrow.”

  “We’ll face it together,” Wendy stated firmly, bumping shoulders with her. “No more secrets, remember?”

  “No more secrets,” Sora agreed, taking comfort in her sister’s presence beside her.

  “Meow!”

  They all smiled down at the kitten, who bumped heads with her extended hand.

  “And you, too, lil’ kitten.”

  As they stepped onto the transport gate that would take them back to their dormitory, Sora cast one last glance at the arena behind them. The storm of the day might have passed, but she could feel another gathering on the horizon—larger, darker, and far more dangerous.

  Jin’s storm.

  All they could do now was prepare, and hope they were ready when it broke.

  Who is my opponent tomorrow? What part do I have to play in this game you’re playing Jin, and is it a game at all…because it feels a lot more personal to you than you want to make it seem. Nilly showed up for a reason… She seems to change states sometimes as if on instinct. What did she tell you in all of that? Was it a warning…or confirmation?

  Hah. Questions. Always more questions.

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