Andrew, Sophia, and Oliver made their way to the house of a hundred candles. Reading the data surrounding the house, Andrew noted that they’d likely been one of the tens of thousands to do so in just this day along. However, the space warping abilities of the building, made it feel like the area was abandoned and hadn’t been visited in ages.

“So what have you been up to, Ollie old chap?” said Andrew. His eyes scanning the sky as his senses watched for the moment where Nurari’s physics ended and the distorted physics of the figment realm began.

“Er...Not much. I guess. After I was done handling the things you asked me to help you with, I just sort of ended up getting back into the academy grind. It’s a little bit different here though. We have to spend time grinding resources from this ‘house’ to earn vouchers that’ll let us attend lectures above the basic level.” said Oliver.

“Really?!” said Andrew.

“Yeah…It’s a grimy practice, but I can sort of understand why they’d do it. If outsiders of the sect come here and bleed for them, it means they don’t have to go through as many of their disciples into this pit. Hell, that’s why they even open this place up for non-students to enter.” said Oliver. Shrugging helplessly.

“Hm...I’d been wondering why they’d be so generous as to let non-affiliated people into their hidden realm like this...But it sounds like things will be a wee bit more dangerous than I thought. I’m surprised we haven’t lost anyone from Blackvale if that’s the case.” said Andrew.

“Well...It’s not like we’re helpless. Blackvale was a decent school. Plus, since Oddvar-Luce and Housecarl Industries have been helping us out, no one from Blackvale’s gotten desperate enough to go into the really dangerous levels of HHC.” said Oliver.

“Ah…Well, that’s good then,” said Andrew. Feeling more than a little embarrassed. He’d been aware of things enough to know that the students and staff members in his care weren’t in danger but he’d clearly not been paying enough attention if something as big as the HHC was involved.

“So how does this usually work?” said Sophia.

“Huh? What do you mean?” said Oliver. Looking over at the white-haired woman with a distracted expression as he stepped through the overly large front door of the house.

“This...The hidden realm and the excursions into its depths. What is expected of us?” said Sophia.

“Oh, uh...I don’t suppose you’ve ever played an RPG?”

“Of course she has. Honestly, I’m surprised that you’ve played RPGs, considering some of the things you told me about your childhood,” said Andrew. Entering the building behind the other two. Noting how everything seemed to be two to three times bigger than it needed to be as if this were a house meant for ogres rather than humans.

“Then you weren’t really paying attention. I was raised to be a peon, pal, and companion to the sons and daughters of my family’s ‘betters’. I couldn’t really do that if I’d never touched a video game, or table top game, before.” said Oliver.

“Ah. Okay, I guess that makes sense,” said Andrew. Looking around and frowning as he realized that everything in the house seemed to be covered in a dingy, grimy, layer of wax.

“Heh...I’m glad my life makes sense to you,” said Oliver. Shaking his head.

“Where are we headed exactly?” said Sophia.

“Downstairs...I figured you’d have known that already,” said Oliver.

“Yes...But according to maps I’m looking at we just passed the basement door a while ago,” said Sophia.

“Oh...Well, uh...the basement door is the entrance that the sect uses and they barely like letting HNA’s regular students use it, never mind us folk from Blackvale,” said Oliver. Looking chagrined and more than a little bitter, before running his hands through his hair and sighing.

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“Is that so? Interesting,” said Andrew. Frowning, the gears within his mind turning as he absorbed the fact and added it to several others that were already working to inform his already low opinion of the Hundred Night Academy’s leadership.

Oliver paused and then he smiled faintly. Shaking his head again, as he found himself feeling oddly comforted to see the other boy was just as annoyed by the state of affairs as he was.

“Anyway, there are other ways down into the basement. They shift and move around a bit, but I’ve come to realize with it comes to the house of a hundred candles, all roads lead to the basement. You just have to watch the wax and see how it's flowing,” said Oliver.

“I see…” said Andrew. Looking down at the shallow marsh of liquified wax that they were all standing in and then using his data-absorption to read the wax and the surrounding space.

“So, where are we headed now?” said Sophia.

“The kitchen. I just ran out for a bit to get some supplies, but I’ve got a party waiting for me,” said Oliver.

Oliver lead the two youths to the kitchen. Leading them past an ancient fridge with a smell of something awful issuing out of it, ominous groans and thuds, emanating from inside. Leading them past a counterpart that was built high like smooth topped mountains, topped with countless knives, and waterfalls of wax falling over the edge.

Leading them past an oven built large enough for multiple people to be stuffed inside and roasted alive. And a stove with all its tops live and aflame, releasing a punishing heat that kept the surrounding wax fully liquid and almost scaldingly hot.

Andrew wiped his brow and frowned as they passed the stove. He looked down at his uniform and suddenly understood certain eccentric choices the school had made when deciding on its uniform.

He’d thought that the black cargo pants made of heavy canvas, calf-high, boots, and a heavy-duty synthetic beast hide, raincoat, were a bit odd as uniform choices. However, knowing that wading through molten wax was part of the curriculum now made the uniform more seem quite practical.

It honestly made the white button down shirt, red tie, and black blazer worn beneath the more work-safe clothes seem more than a little unsuitable for the life the school had laid out for its students.

Oliver lead Andrew and Sophia to a closet. The massive door of the closet had been torn off its hinges, hacked in and combined with some of the extra-sized, wax-covered, furniture to make a rough barricade. Past the barricade stood a small impromptu camp manned by a party of four. One man, three women. Two out of the four had the distinctive Asceline silver-green looks and olive-gold skin. The other two were a familiar pink-haired gnome and blue-haired owlkin.

“Halt, who goes there?” barked the male half-elf.

“Oh, get off it, Mikel. You know it’s me. Who else would it be, you numpty?” said Oliver.

“Huh? Oh?! So it’s you, cousin Oliver. Did you bring goods.” said the Mikel Asceline. Dropping out of his guarded stance and looking a little abashed.

“Of course it is...And yes, I did bring lunch...If that’s what you’re asking?”

“You hopped out of a dungeon run to grab lunch?” said Andrew.

“Er...Well, yeah...There’s little taco place a few blocks away...and well, doing this all day is hungry work and with those storage devices you gave us, it’s not like its hard to pack something better than standard rations.”

“I guess...but why not grab lunch before you head down into the pit of endless horror?” said Andrew.

“The taco place doesn’t open till ten,” said Mikel.

“Ah…” said Andrew. Not sure what expression to make.

“Who’s this?” said Mikel. Seeming to suddenly realize that he was dealing with a pair of unfamiliar faces.

“Come on, Mikel. I know you’re thick but not that thick… you’re telling you don’t recognize our family’s first real allies in ages.” said Oliver. Sniffing derisively.

Mikel looked over at Andrew and Sophia. He leaned forward for a moment in a way that suggested that he might be part of the small segment of the population that needed glasses and couldn’t fix it with serums and treatments. Then the stocky half-elf’s eyes widened and he said,

“Ah!”

“Yes, ah…” said Oliver. Rolling his eyes at his cousin.

“Mikel, meet Andrew and Sophia Oddvar-Luce.”

“Andrew, Sophia...Meet Mikel. He’s my cousin and basically my little brother, especially since his mum’s also my zwei-mother.” said Oliver.

“N-, Nice to meet you,” said Mikel. Looking nervous.

“Charmed I’m sure,” said Sophia. With an elegant quarter-bow.

“Ngh…” said Andrew. Grunting in greeting.

“I recognize, Miss Karan and Miss Morgan, but I’m afraid I’ve yet to become acquainted with you Miss?” said Sophia.

“Mh ...I'm uh, I’m Olivia ...Hi.” said the soft voice of the second Asceline.

Andrew frowned looking between his friend and the new girl. They were definitely twins. Olivia Asceline was a tall and slender half-elf. Distinctly curvier compared to her brother, and maybe just a hair prettier, but ultimately, almost identical to Oliver.

Sharing the same silver-green hair, the same dazzling blue-green eyes. The same long and elegant nose and sharp cheekbones. If there was a noticeable difference it was that one of her eyes was cybernetic.

According to the young woman’s data, the eye was a biomechanical replacement that was surgically installed after an unfortunate childhood accident. Said eye was more greenish-silver than blue-green, but not obviously so.

The young woman also seemed to have a more reserved air to her than her brother. Or maybe that wasn’t all that different. Looking closer, she kind of reminded Andrew of what Oliver had been like after his failed first attempt to befriend Andrew.

“Er...I didn’t expect you guys to meet quite so soon but uh, meet my sister. Lolly.” said Oliver.

“Ollie and Lolly?” said Andrew. One brow raised.

The young woman jolted, scowling at her twin. Then she turned back to Andrew and Sophia.

“No one calls me that. Please don’t call me that.”

“Uh, sure…” said Andrew.

“What you would like to be called then?” said Sophia. Smiling despite herself as she watched the young woman’s stony composure shattered.

“Olivia is fine...Or Liv...Whatever. Just not Lolly.” said Oliva.

“Cool...No problem. So how about we get this show on the road?” said Andrew. Impatient pushing things along because he was sensing something coming from the lower floors of the house of a hundred candles and he had a feeling that it might either be something very good, or something very bad.