I knocked on the door of Spencer's house at around five-thirty. The formal was supposed to start at seven. The weather was cool and dry, with the sun slowly sinking in the west.

Spencer answered the door a moment later. She was wearing leggings and a t-shirt, her hair was wrapped up in a towel, and she had a face mask on. Her expression lit up when she saw me. "Oh, hey! Come on in. The boys are already here."

I entered the house, waving to her twin brother as I passed the living room TV. "Hi, Carter. You're not coming with us tonight?"

"Nah, I'm gonna go hang out with a friend," he replied, not looking away from his video game.

"He's got a date," Spencer teased with a wink.

Carter frowned. "It's not a date."

"Whatever. You guys are totally gonna end up together. Just wait."

"You're delusional," her brother mumbled.

She turned back to me. "This way."

We headed upstairs, finding Spencer's bedroom. There were clothes strewn all over the place. I carefully stepped over a bra and a pair of jeans before setting my backpack and purse on the bed. Joel was leaning against the windowsill, checking his phone. Luke was sitting in a chair in the corner, scrolling through his own phone.

I smiled. "Hey, guys."

"Yo," Joel greeted me.

"Hey," Luke said. I immediately noticed that the bruises on his face were covered by some sort of pale yellow concealer. His hair was held back by a thin plastic headband. I almost laughed.

"How's your nose?" I asked.

"Functional," he answered, as if surprised.

Spencer stepped in front of me, then pushed Luke's chair toward her vanity mirror. She stood in front of him. "I'm just gonna do some more work, and then you'll be good."

I took a seat on the bed and watched as Spencer went to work. The yellow layer seemed to be a sort of colour corrector, designed to cancel out the purple tones of the bruises. When she applied concealer over it, the effect was instantaneous. His skin tone looked completely normal. The tube of makeup obviously didn't match her own complexion, and I thought it was sweet that she seemed to have gone out and bought a brand-new shade just for Luke.

"Close your eyes," Spencer instructed, taking a sponge and dabbing the skin under his eyes. She blended the product upwards, then patted it with a tissue. Next, she set the concealer with some loose powder. "I think I should've been a makeup artist," she said, shaking a bottle of setting spray.

"I'd hire you," Joel chimed in.

"Thanks, babe!" She laughed and spritzed Luke's face with the setting spray.

He scrunched up his nose. "Oh, that's cold."

"I know." She stood back and studied his face before nodding in approval. "'Kay. I think we're done here."

Luke leaned in closer to the mirror. He turned his head side-to-side, inspecting his appearance. "...Wow. Spencer, you're good at this. Thank you."

"My pleasure," she replied with a dramatic bow.

He pulled the headband off and ran a hand through his hair. "Why don't guys wear makeup more often? This is incredible."

"Right?!" Spencer exclaimed. "Don't even get me started!"

Joel chuckled. "Society."

She rolled her eyes. "Society. Anyway, Chloe, we should get ready. You want to go first, or should I?"

"Um... I guess I will," I said, grabbing my backpack.

"Cool. You know where the bathroom is. Let me know if you need anything."

I headed across the hall and into the washroom. My mind was racing. I felt strangely excited. There was something about the atmosphere, the anticipation for the dance, that made my skin tingle.

I undressed, hanging my clothes over the edge of the bathtub. I then pulled the skirt and top out of my bag and laid them across the counter. They looked even nicer in natural light. I hoped they'd still look good inside the school gym. Along with the emerald tulle skirt and the black mesh top, I wore a gold chain belt, gold threader earrings, and black heels with ankle straps. The shoes were thankfully much comfier than the ones I'd been given at Diamae's birthday party, having low block heels.

I brushed out my hair, applied a bit of serum, then began to style it. My natural waves had become frizzy after spending so much time outside, so I smoothed them down and gathered them together into a low ponytail. I pulled a few strands loose to frame my face. Shaye would've been proud of what I'd learned.

Lastly, I retrieved some cosmetics from my bag. I covered my under-eye circles and any redness with some concealer, then set everything with translucent powder. After dusting a neutral shimmery eyeshadow all over my lids, I used a brown eyeliner pencil to define my upper waterlines. I finished the look with a couple coats of mascara, some blush, and a clear lip gloss.

As I studied myself in the mirror, a realization hit me. I actually looked pretty good. The fact that I was comfortable in this outfit was a huge confidence boost.

"Chloe, are you ready yet?" Spencer called from outside.

"One second," I replied, gathering everything and stuffing it into my backpack.

She was waiting for me in the hallway. Her jaw dropped as I stepped out. "Oh, that's so cute on you! You look awesome!" She grabbed my arm and tugged me into her room, where the boys were chatting. "Guys, isn't Chloe beautiful?"

Joel gave me a thumbs-up. "Looks great!"

"You look amazing," Luke said, smiling softly.

My cheeks burned. I glanced away, feeling embarrassed. "Thanks, guys."

"All right. My turn!" Spencer headed to the bathroom with all her stuff in her arms.

I settled onto the bed. The boys continued their conversation, which had something to do with the physics of space travel. I listened idly while watching Spencer's cat roam around the room, occasionally pawing at a shirt on the floor.

Through the corner of my eye, I examined Joel’s and Luke's outfits that they'd changed into. Joel was wearing a dark blue suit, white button-up shirt, and coral pink bowtie. Naturally, he had on a pair of white sneakers, but they looked like he'd cleaned them recently. A gold earring dangled from one ear. The only thing he'd left behind was his quintessential backwards cap.

Luke, meanwhile, was dressed in a black suit. He wore a white dress shirt underneath, with a skinny, emerald green tie that matched my skirt. His black dress shoes were polished to a shine. His hair was styled as usual, though it looked softer and neater. It was a little difficult not to stare. He looked very good.

A moment later, Spencer burst into the room, now wearing a floor-length, coral pink dress. The duochrome fabric shifted to gold as she moved. It had thin straps and a V-neck, and the skirt was divided into five tiered ruffles. On her feet, she wore metallic gold, open-toe platform sandals. Her hair was tied up in a high bun, with lots of coils hanging down around her face. She'd put on some gold dangly earrings and bangle bracelets. Her makeup consisted of winged eyeliner, shimmery highlighter, and pink lip gloss.

"I'm done!" she exclaimed.

"Gorgeous, Spitfire," Joel said, gazing at her lovingly. She smiled and blew him a kiss.

I nodded. "You look stunning."

"Very cool," Luke agreed.

She curtsied. "Thanks!"

I pulled out my phone and checked the time. It was almost 6:45. "Should we get going?"

"Yep. Let's go," Joel replied.

The four of us filed out of the bedroom and down the stairs. We grabbed our stuff, then stepped outside into the evening. Spencer locked the door and led the way to Joel's car.

"Shotgun!" she yelled. "You're welcome," she added, flashing me a mischievous grin. I rolled my eyes.

Luke opened the back door and climbed into the seat. I slid in next to him, buckling up. The car was small, and we were close enough that our knees almost touched.

"Seat belts on?" Joel questioned while adjusting his rear-view mirror.

"Check," Luke replied.

"All right. Let's rock and roll." He started the engine. The speakers immediately switched on, blasting a loud punk song. He quickly turned it down.

"What was that?" I asked with a laugh.

His cheeks flushed slightly. "A demo."

I grinned. "I still haven't heard your band play live, Joel. I feel like I'm missing out."

"Yeah, I'd like to hear you guys, too," Luke chimed in.

He began to back out of the driveway. "We don't exactly sell out concert halls, Chamomile. You're not missing much."

"C'mon." Spencer nudged him. "You have a YouTube channel! There are people who care."

Joel shifted gears and headed down the street. "Hah, those are so cringey! I don't want them seeing the old vids."

"Oh, we have to watch them now," Luke said, smirking.

"The camera quality is terrible," Joel insisted. "And we look like toddlers."

Spencer argued, "But the music is good."

Unable to resist, I fished out my phone from my purse and opened YouTube. I typed in 'Acid Punch' into the search bar. To my surprise, the band's channel popped up, with 56k subscribers and 148 videos. The thumbnails all showed Joel and his bandmates in various poses and outfits, across many years. The most recent video had been uploaded last week.

I leaned over to show Luke the screen. He let out a short laugh and angled himself more towards me. The two of us scrolled through the channel, laughing to ourselves and watching clips. I didn't know much about Joel's music, but I had to admit, the videos were quite entertaining. There were music videos, pranks, Q&As, and even a couple vlogs. They all seemed to have a great sense of humour.

"No way," Luke chuckled, tapping on a video. It was a music video called 'Dumpster Dive', featuring a young Joel, two boys, and a girl. They were all dressed in dark clothing and had hair that was dyed neon colours. In the video, the band was walking around a shady neighbourhood, then climbed into a dumpster. A song started playing, and they lip-synched along to the lyrics. The video was full of silly stunts, as well as a lot of laughing and jumping around.

"I got a rash from that," Joel remarked.

I tapped on another video titled 'Tele-Pathetic'. It opened on a shot of Joel lying on the floor of a dark house. The camera zoomed out to show that he was surrounded by dozens of antique, broken telephones. The song started, and he picked up a phone and began to sing into the receiver. As he sang, his voice distorted and echoed. The lyrics were about being disconnected and feeling trapped inside the static. It wasn't bad, per se, just very edgy. Like something from a fourteen-year-old's emo blog.

"Oh, no," Joel laughed. "That was a dark time in my life, okay? We had, like, no budget."

Luke chuckled. "How did you come up with these songs?"

"We just wrote whatever was on our minds. We were angsty and stupid."

"Hey, it's a classic." Spencer sang a part of the chorus, "Telekinetic! Tele-pathetic! You're so cold but you're so magnetic!"

I turned my phone off. "Well, I'm glad you have more of a career now. Those are pretty funny, though."

"They're so embarrassing," he sighed. "Anyway, we're almost there."

I looked out the window. The sun was low in the sky, painting the horizon gold. We were driving past houses and businesses near the coast. It was a calm and quiet night. We pulled into the school parking lot, which was mostly full. A few people were lingering around the gym doors.

"There are a lot of people here," I commented.

"I think the whole school's showing up," Spencer said.

Joel pulled into a free spot, then switched the car off. "Let's do this."

The four of us climbed out of the car, heading to the front doors. Inside the gym, music was playing. We stepped in and immediately felt the thumping bass in our chests. The atmosphere was electric. It was dimly lit, and the walls were decorated with paper lanterns, balloons, streamers, and banners. People were dancing in the middle of the room, while others hung around the edges, chatting and eating snacks. The buffet was laid out against the back wall with tables and chairs. There was even a photo booth in the corner.

"Wow," I murmured, taking it all in.

"I think we should start with pictures," Spencer suggested, "while we're looking our best."

"Good call," Joel agreed.

We made our way over to the photo booth. A line had formed, so we waited patiently until it was our turn. The booth was decorated with balloons, streamers, and lights. It was pretty big, and had a red curtain draped over the front. After a moment, a boy and a girl stepped out, giggling as they held their photos. I recognized Gavin but not his date. She was short with long, auburn hair, and thick-framed glasses.

Gavin's eyes landed on Luke, and he waved us over. "Hey, you're here! Glad to see your nose hasn't fallen off."

Luke cracked a smile. "Yeah, me too."

"You guys gonna take some pictures? Me and Zahra are gonna check out the food," he continued.

"Yeah, we are. You can go ahead," Luke told him.

"Okay, cool. We'll catch up later." Gavin gave a wave, then the two of them wandered away.

A few minutes later, it was our turn. Joel pushed back the curtain. There was a small bench in front of a large mirror. The camera was attached to the wall beside a touch screen. He and Spencer went inside first, followed by me and Luke. There was barely enough room for the four of us. Our bodies ended up all squished together. I could only imagine how red my face must have turned upon realizing just how close Luke was to me.

"Let's make some art!" Joel leaned towards the screen. He selected four copies with five photos each.

Luke was squashed up against the wall, his shoulder pressed to mine. He looked over at me and grinned. My heart flipped. "Are these things always so cramped?"

I looked up to meet his eyes. "Pretty much, yeah."

"Okay, five photos," Spencer spoke up. "Let's start with a serious one. Everybody look straight ahead and don't smile!"

A five-second countdown began. We faced the camera and stared blankly as if taking mugshots. I heard a click, and then a bright light flashed.

"Rad, very stoic," Joel said.

"Now do a nice one," Spencer instructed, throwing an arm around me.

Another five seconds started. We all smiled nicely for the camera. Another click and flash.

"Okay, now pose!" Spencer framed her face dramatically with her hands.

Joel raised his fist like a supervillain, opening his mouth wide. Luke and I glanced at each other for a moment. He held up a peace sign and raised his eyebrows. I gave the camera a stern salute, arching one brow and twisting my mouth to the side. Click, flash.

"Fourth one, goofy," Spencer directed.

Everyone halted for a moment, unsure of what to do. Joel leaned forward and crossed his eyes, grinning maniacally. Spencer covered one eye with a hand, then opened her mouth as wide as it would go as if she was screaming in terror. I looked over at Luke, who seemed like he was trying not to laugh. He then smiled, winked at the camera, and stuck his tongue out between his teeth. At the last second, I lifted my chin and bared my teeth, one corner of my top lip pulled up. Click, flash.

"Last one," Spencer said. "Make it count!"

Joel leaned over and kissed her, holding her chin between his thumb and index finger. Her arms draped over his shoulders. I felt a pang of jealousy.

I turned to Luke. He was already gazing at me. The look in his eyes was intense, like a storm brewing. The seconds passed like molasses. I just hoped my makeup was covering my blush. I couldn't look away, and neither could he. If this was a dream, I would've leaned in and kissed him. But this was real life. And in reality, he wasn't mine to kiss.

A flash filled the booth, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"That's our time!" Joel announced. "C'mon, let's see how we look."

The four of us squeezed through the curtains and waited for the pictures to print. We watched the image strips appear one by one in the slot. As the pictures progressed, I felt my face heat up. In the fifth and final photo, Luke and I were gazing at each other, looking like we were caught up in a trance. Our faces were only inches apart, and the air between us seemed to hum with electricity.

Spencer giggled and grabbed the strip. "Oh, man, that last one is sick! You guys are so cute!"

My cheeks burned. "Uh, right."

Luke rubbed the back of his neck. "Hah..."

Joel took the strip and squinted at it. "Wow. That's a good one. A keeper for the mantle!" He distributed one to each of us, then pocketed his own. Luke did the same, his face slightly rosy.

I, on the other hand, couldn't stop staring at the photos. Every one of them was beautiful. Spencer and Joel looked great – as usual – and the sometimes goofy, sometimes romantic chemistry between them was undeniable. I looked pretty okay, too. However, I could only focus on Luke.

In the first photo, he was solemn and modelesque, like he was posing for a magazine. Then, in the second, he wore his signature crooked smile, and the light sparkled in his eyes. I could tell he was having fun. The third one was a little silly, but more candid, and somehow still attractive. I started to wonder if he could take a bad photo. The fourth was just stupid, yet adorable and hilarious. And in the fifth...he was looking at me like I was the only person in the room. I quickly stuffed the photo strip into my clutch before I could stare any longer.

"Okay, pictures are done. Let's get some grub!" Joel said, clapping his hands together.

We followed him to the food table, where there was a vast array of snacks: chips and crackers, dips and veggies, sandwiches and fruit, cupcakes and cookies. It looked surprisingly good. I wasn't sure what to try first. The four of us grabbed plates and began to pile on a few things, then found a place to sit away from the dance floor.

As we ate, we talked and laughed. Joel told us stories about his band's antics. Spencer spoke about her current art projects. After a while, Gavin and Zahra came over to say hello. We made room for them, and they sat down to eat. The six of us spent the next half hour discussing everything from school to music, to sports, to video games, to world events. The conversation flowed smoothly, and I was genuinely having a good time. I hadn't realized how much I needed this.

"All right, Spitfire, let's dance," Joel said, standing up. He held out a hand, and she took it.

"Let's do it." They walked off towards the dance floor and disappeared into the crowd.

Luke looked at me. "Should we go dance, too?"

My stomach did a somersault. "I'd like that," I replied, smiling, before I hesitated. "That is, if you want to. Have you been feeling okay so far?"

He stood up. "You are incredibly considerate, you know that?" He offered a hand. "I'm doing just fine."

I placed my hand in his, and he helped me to my feet. He kept his fingers loosely around mine as we headed over to the dance floor. It was crowded, and the music was loud. A song came on, and the crowd erupted in cheers. It was a song everybody knew. People started jumping and waving their arms. The dance floor was packed, and the energy was incredible. Luke and I mouthed the lyrics to each other while bobbing and spinning around. It was silly and fun, and a great distraction. Luke had perfect rhythm. I was surprised since he didn't seem like the type to dance. I mean, he was no Ashkan, but it was still charming. A few songs passed, and then another. Every one felt so short. I didn't want it to end. We danced through three, four, five more songs, laughing and shouting along to the lyrics. It was a high I didn't want to come down from.

The next song came on. I didn't recognize it, but it was upbeat and fun. Everyone danced and sang along, and the crowd moved and bounced like a wave. Luke and I were both grinning ear to ear. Suddenly, our fun was shattered by Farrah and her posse, pushing their way into the crowd and surrounding us. She wore a lilac wrap dress with silver beading and ruffles. Some guy who I presumed was her date was holding her purse. Poor dude.

"Uh, what's up?" Luke asked her, yelling over the music.

Farrah turned to me instead. "Hey, Chloe."

"Hey," I replied, frowning.

"Having a good time?"

"I was."

She looked me up and down, sizing me up. What did she want? Couldn't I have just one private moment with Luke without her crashing it?

"I'm surprised you actually showed up," she said, flipping her black hair over her shoulder.

I crossed my arms. "And why's that?"

"I thought you would've been embarrassed. Or ashamed. Especially if the only person charitable enough to take you is Luke," she replied, smirking.

I was stunned. Was she seriously doing this right now? I shot Luke a look. "Charitable?"

He looked uncomfortable. "What are you talking about, Farrah?"

"I'm saying the only reason you asked Chloe to come is out of pity. You knew she had no other choice; you wanted to do a good deed," she explained, her voice full of poison. "I don't blame you. It's like picking a mangy puppy up off the street."

"Hey!" Luke objected, his eyebrows pulling together.

I clenched my jaw. I wasn't surprised that this was happening, but I was shocked that she was brave enough to do this in front of the guy she liked so much. What was her angle, here? Was she drunk? I had to remain calm. There was no way I was letting her ruin my night.

"Wow, Farrah. You think so little of me, and yet, you're still jealous," I retorted. "I feel sorry for you."

"Oh, please. You're pitiful, Chloe. Not me." She turned to Luke. "It's about time you start thinking straight. You know, she's only using you to make her feel better about herself."

"That's not true," he said firmly.

"Luke, are you serious?" Farrah scoffed. "She's using you to feel special. And she'll keep doing it because nobody else wants her. She's a leech." Her friends snickered behind her, some of them covering their mouths and feigning shock.

Luke's mouth dropped open. Anger simmered inside me, but it was nothing compared to the hurt. Her words stung like wasp stings. But I wouldn't give her the satisfaction of seeing me break down.

"Why would you say that?!" Luke demanded.

"I'm just calling it like it is." Farrah shrugged, and her posse giggled. "You'll thank me later. People like that don't make it far in life."

His eyes were blazing. "Farrah, just stop. You're being–"

I started walking away. The urge to slap her was too strong. I didn't want to stick around to hear anything else she had to say. This wasn't going to solve anything. Farrah and her cronies would just keep going. It would've been a never-ending cycle. I didn't have the strength tonight to deal with her.

Why, why, why? Why did she have to ruin everything? Why couldn't I just exist and have a normal school dance like everyone else? Why did I always seem to cause problems and rifts between people?

"Chloe, wait," Luke called after me, his voice barely audible above the music.

I didn't slow down. I pushed open the front doors and burst outside, into the cool night air. It was refreshing, but didn't bring the relief I'd hoped for. I heard the doors open behind me again, and I didn't bother looking back. I kept walking towards the running track behind the gym, finally taking a seat on the bleachers. My hands were trembling. The sound of the party was distant, now. I felt so small. It was just like Diamae's birthday, except with less wine and more Farrah. I refused to cry this time. There would be no tears.

"Chloe! Hey!" Luke shouted. He jogged over, then slowed when he reached me. He climbed the steps and sat down beside me. "Are you okay?"

I took a deep breath. "Yeah."

"I'm sorry about Farrah," he said. "I... I don't know what's gotten into her lately. She didn't used to be like that."

I stared at the ground, hugging my knees. "Maybe she's been like that all along, and you just didn't realize."

"I really hope that's not the case."

I looked over at him, meeting his eyes. "Were you actually once friends with her?"

He frowned. "We were, once. After sophomore year, I think, something changed. She got...colder. More competitive. She was always nice to me, and she was never mean to anybody, not outright. But she had a reputation. She'd get a little snippy if she didn't get what she wanted, and she could be passive-aggressive. It wasn't too bad, though. She'd snap at someone, and it would just roll right off them. I'm not sure why she's started to change."

It was because of me. Wasn't that obvious? Farrah's sudden attitude was a direct result of the competition she perceived me to be. If I didn't exist, she'd be in the clear. She'd have Luke all to herself. But instead of sticking with her, he was sitting next to me, trying to cheer me up. It just didn't make sense.

The moon hung above the track, full and round, like a bright spotlight. The wind was gentle, and the trees rustled.

"Do you believe what she said?" I asked Luke, staring out across the field.

"What, about you being a leech?" he clarified. "No, not even for a second. That's ridiculous."

I shook my head. "Not that. About me using you. And you being...charitable."

He was quiet for a moment. "No," he finally said. "At least, I don't see you that way."

A part of me wanted to press for more reassurance, but most of me didn't want to seem insecure. Instead, I decided on, "I never wanted to get in the way."

Luke tilted his head, a strand of hair falling over his eyebrow. "Get in the way of what?"

"You and Farrah," I said. I hugged my knees tighter, then rested my head on my arms. "If I was gone, everything would go back to the way it was before. She'd be happy. You'd be happy. No more drama."

"What?" he said, laughing bewilderedly. "Chloe, no. Our friendship started crumbling last year. There is no 'me and Farrah'."

"Then what would you call this?" I gestured around us. "We're sitting outside on the bleachers during the Winter Formal. Away from everyone. Away from your friends. Because your ex-friend-crush-whatever was insistent on badmouthing me. You could be in there, dancing, having fun. Not out here babysitting me. It's pathetic."

He frowned sadly. "It's not."

"It is!" I argued, lifting my head and staring at him. "Don't you get it, Luke? How can I be okay with the fact that she kissed you without your consent because of me? How can I be okay with the fact that her behaviour is completely out of control because of me?"

There was a long pause. "…You can't seriously think that was your fault. Farrah is responsible for her own actions," he replied, his voice soft. "She's always had that side of her. I saw it a lot. Just not this intensely. You taking the blame for that is like...saying an alcoholic parent drinks because their kid makes them. You might've had an effect on it, but you're not the root cause."

I stared down at my shoes. He was right. It was a twisted comparison, but it made sense. I was the catalyst, but Farrah was the cause. It didn't make me feel much better, though. I still felt guilty. But the damage was already done. There was no use dwelling on it.

Luke was studying me, his eyebrows pinched together. "What do you want me to do, Chloe? Stop being your friend? I'm not gonna do that. No matter how much Farrah would like it."

My chest tightened. "But why? Why not just...give in to what she wants? Spare yourself the grief."

"Because. You're worth more than that."

Luke spoke so genuinely, so earnestly, that I didn't have a deflective comeback. All I could do was stare ahead at the track. I knew he was being genuine, and it made me feel...warm. His presence, his words, his entire aura. Everything about him was comforting. It was something I could get used to but wasn't sure I deserved.

"And if you haven't noticed, I like hanging out with you," he continued, nudging my shoulder with his. "You're cool. We have a lot of fun together."

A blush crept up my neck. "Thank you," I said softly. "You're pretty cool, too. And very persistent."

"So persistent," he agreed.

I laughed a little. "Did you want to go back inside?"

Luke opened his mouth to answer, but a yawn escaped first. "Do you?"

"I asked you first," I said.

"Touché. To be honest, no. I kind of wanted a breather," he admitted. "I have a tiny bit of a headache."

I gave him a sympathetic look. "Since when?"

"Since about halfway dancing," he replied, rubbing his temples. "I didn't really want to mention it. I was having a good time. Still am."

I frowned. "Why didn't you tell me? I wouldn't have kept you out there."

"I didn't want to disappoint you. You were so excited." He smiled sheepishly.

I sighed. Under the bright moonlight, I could see the faint outline of the scab on his nose, alongside some barely visible bruising. I'd almost forgotten about his injury. I wondered if it would leave a scar. He'd still be handsome either way.

I looked back up at the moon, watching the stars glitter against the black canvas. The longer I stared, the more constellations came into view. There was one, then another, and another. It was like they were revealing themselves, one by one, slowly. It was beautiful. I felt like I could've sat out here all night. I kept quiet for a while, unsure if Luke and his headache would prefer conversational distractions or silence.

"It's pretty out tonight," Luke commented.

I nodded. "It is."

"I'm glad the semester's over. I could use the break," he continued, leaning back against the bleacher.

"Same. I can't believe the year's already half over," I said, thinking out loud. "Feels like just yesterday, I was starting."

"Time goes by fast, huh?"

"Too fast."

He hummed in agreement. "Feels like just yesterday, it was July, and I met this girl at the beach."

I couldn't help but grin. "That seems like forever ago."

"I remember, though," he went on. "She had this light blue swimsuit on and was reading some novel. I couldn't see the title."

My cheeks grew hot, and a flutter tickled my stomach. It was amazing how vividly Luke remembered that day, like it happened only hours ago.

He pressed a finger to his chin. "I was walking around, looking for a spot to sit down. Then, she saw me. I think she thought I was weird. I thought about waving, or smiling, but I just ended up asking if I could sit near her. She said yes. I kinda wanted to strike up a conversation, but I didn't want to interrupt her reading. I know how annoying that is."

"Very annoying," I agreed with a smirk.

He nodded. "So I just sat down and watched the waves. Eventually, she got up and went for a swim. But some storm clouds soon rolled in, so she had to start packing up her stuff."

I cringed at the next part. "And then, the sand under her umbrella turned to stone."

"Yes, and then the sand turned to stone," Luke recalled, laughing between words. "I noticed her umbrella was stuck, and I offered to help. So, I grabbed the umbrella and somehow yanked it free. The girl thanked me, and we went our separate ways."

"And the rest is history," I concluded with a smile.

His grey-blue eyes sparkled. "And the rest is history."

"There's been some good memories so far," I remarked. "Remember when Eric scarfed down six slices of pizza within ten minutes during the potluck in English class?"

"And then immediately left to go puke?" Luke chuckled. "He's an animal."

"Then there was the time with that abandoned locker with the hole in its floor," I added, stifling a laugh.

"Oh my god, yeah." Luke was grinning widely. "Heard a thud. Went to investigate. It was that girl with the green hair and glasses, wasn't it?"

"Yes! What's her name? Something with a J," I said.

"Jocelyn?"

"That's it!"

"Poor thing fell into a janitor's closet," Luke remembered, shaking his head.

"She was stuck there for a while. We had to go get help," I added, giggling. "Then there was that time in chem class, when Tyler didn't believe you could make yourself pass out by pushing on the arteries in your neck."

"So he tried it! The idiot actually tried it!" Luke threw his head back, laughing. "Woke up and didn't know who or where he was for like, ten seconds."

I wiped tears from my eyes. "God, and then that fight between Emily and Tasha. And she hung up posters after with her ripped-out hair taped to them?"

"What a mess." He was still chuckling. "I'll never forget that tagline. 'Got hair? Emily doesn't.'" I covered my mouth, wheezing. At the memory, Luke laughed so hard that he went silent. He clutched his sides, his upper body shaking. "How was anyone supposed to take that seriously?"

I could barely speak. "And the picture! It was a stock photo of a smiling woman brushing her hair!"

"Instant classic..." Luke wiped his eyes, his cheeks flushed from laughter. "Eh, she deserved it. Everyone was sick of her backtalk."

"Right?" I sighed, the tension in my shoulders melting away.

We sat there for a while, reminiscing and laughing. The air was cool and crisp, and the full moon glowed brighter than ever. My face hurt from smiling so much. It felt like nothing could go wrong in that moment. For once, I didn't think. I just enjoyed it.

Eventually, our voices softened, and the laughter faded. The two of us sat there, in silence, listening to the gentle wind and rustling leaves. We were so close that our shoulders were almost touching. I wondered if it was strange to be so comfortable with a person you'd only known for about five months. It didn't feel weird. It just felt nice.

Luke looked over at me, his eyes shining. "Did I ever properly thank you for helping me study chemistry all those times?"

I thought back, and a warm feeling rose up my chest. "You don't have to."

"No, I want to." He shook his head. "Thank you. Really. I don't think I could've gotten through the semester without your help."

I arched an eyebrow. "I dunno, Luke. You were struggling a little with intramolecular forces and crystal types, but by the time we got to organic molecules and redox reactions, you had it down. It started to feel like you were the one tutoring me."

Luke laughed lightly, scratching the back of his head. "Yeah, well, you were a good teacher. And I can't say that I hated chemistry as much by the end, with you around."

My lips curved up. "I'm glad I could help."

There was another comfortable silence. My mind wandered. What would happen if I reached out and took his hand? Or leaned on his shoulder? How would he react? Would he be okay with it, or would it be too weird? We were already pretty close, sitting together like this. But what did it mean? I didn't know. Maybe I was just overthinking things. Maybe it was nothing. Maybe we were better off being friends. I'd rather have Luke in my life as a friend than not at all.

The two of us never did end up going back inside. Instead, we just sat on the bleachers, chatting, laughing, and gazing up at the stars. Spencer and Joel found us at the end of the night, and the four of us drove home, exhausted and happy. Joel offered to drop us off at our houses, but I declined. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to the night. Spencer's house was far from mine, though, so we compromised on being dropped off a few blocks away from our respective homes. I was fine with walking to her place during the day, but not so much at night.

After saying goodbye, Joel and Spencer drove off, leaving Luke and me together in the nighttime suburbs once again. This time, however, the night didn't feel eerie. It was the opposite. The streets were illuminated with the glow of the street lamps, and the windows were alight with orange hues. The air smelled faintly like ocean water. A small bouquet of flowers was clutched in my left hand. White roses and sky-blue forget-me-nots. To Spencer's and my surprise, the boys had stopped by a floral shop before going to her house and bought us each a little something. Spencer had gotten a bouquet of pink orchids and orange lilies. It was the sweetest thing.

Luke walked me home, and we talked the whole way. Even as we reached the porch steps, our conversation didn't end. We sat down together, and our words filled the cool night air. The sky was a deep indigo, the stars twinkling brightly.

"Tonight was fun," Luke commented, leaning against a post. "I'm glad I decided to tag along. Especially since Farrah was being such a pain."

I smirked. "Are you sure she didn't give you that headache?"

He snorted. "I'm not, actually."

"How's the pain? Still there?"

"Kinda. It's not that bad, though. I think the fresh air helped."

I nodded. "That's good. Do you need anything else? Advil, or water, or...a pillow and blanket, maybe?"

He smiled, shaking his head. "No, I'm fine. Thank you, though."

"No problem," I said. "And thanks for walking me home. Again."

"Of course. You know it's never a bother."

I looked down at the flowers in my hands. The soft blue petals shimmered beneath the moonlight. They were so pretty. It was the first time I'd ever received flowers from a guy. On Earth, at least. I'd gotten roses a few times on my birthday, but never from someone I had romantic feelings for. It felt…awesome.

"These are pretty, huh?" Luke said, gesturing to the bouquet.

I glanced back up. "They're gorgeous. Spencer's were beautiful, too."

"I'm glad you both liked them," he said.

"Well, what made you guys buy us flowers?" I asked. "Not that we're complaining."

"Joel texted me with the idea. I can't take credit," he explained. "It's true that it would've been awkward if he'd bought something for Spencer and I'd showed up empty-handed, but I thought it was a good idea. I just didn't think of it. Joel's a good guy."

"That's very thoughtful of him," I agreed. "And you. So, thanks again."

He chuckled. "You're welcome. It's the least I could do."

I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "Well, I hope you have a good break, Luke."

"Same to you."

I glanced up at a window, where the curtains were drawn. The lights were off. Mom and Dad were probably asleep. "I should head in," I said.

Luke's face fell ever so slightly. I might've imagined it. "Yeah. Yeah, of course. You should get to bed."

I nodded, standing up and adjusting my skirt. I wasn't in any hurry to go inside, though. I just wanted the moment to last a little longer.

Luke stood, too, stuffing his hands in his pockets." Well, um..."

"Yeah..." I looked down, twisting my foot on the wood.

We were both quiet. Neither of us wanted to say goodbye, but we didn't want to make it obvious. The longer we stayed, the harder it would be. I'd just have to rip the bandage off.

"Goodnight," I said softly.

"...Goodnight."

I lingered for a moment, then pivoted towards the door. I didn't make it very far, though.

"Hey, Chloe?" Luke spoke up.

I turned around. "Yeah?"

He bit his lip, then stepped closer. He reached for my hand and clasped it gently. My heartbeat sped up. His palm was warm. I couldn't read the look in his eyes. His jaw was tense, like he was trying to find the right words. I didn't know if I should say anything. I was worried about breaking his concentration.

After a moment, Luke sighed, exasperated. "I was gonna try and say something poetic, but I'm drawing a blank. So...this."

I watched him slowly lean down, his eyes trained on mine. My cheeks instantly grew hot as if lighting a match. Was this really happening? He tilted his head slightly, his expression growing unsure. Maybe he was just as nervous as me. He paused a few inches from my face. He was giving me the chance to pull away. I didn't want to.

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Then, he moved to the side and pressed his lips against my cheekbone. They were soft. The touch was light, but it made my brain erupt into fireworks.

Luke pulled away, a ruddiness staining his cheeks. "Goodnight," he repeated, squeezing my hand before letting go. He gave me a quick, nervous smile before descending the porch steps.

I touched my cheek. It tingled. Luke had just kissed me. On the cheek, but still. Holy shit. Did this mean anything? It had to, right? Friends don't normally do that.

My hand flew outward like I was about to reach for him. "T-Text me...!" I called out, my voice pitched higher than usual.

He glanced back. "When I get home safe. I know. I will," he promised.

I exhaled, my shoulders relaxing. I stood there, dumbstruck, watching as he retreated into the night.

Once he was gone, I went inside. My hand remained glued to my cheek. A wide grin spread across my face. "Yes!" I whispered, punching the air. I did a quick dance, spinning on the heels of my shoes, then rushed upstairs.

I collapsed onto my bed, the flowers held to my chest. My ribs felt tight. My mind raced with excitement. It was hard to believe the night was real. The photos, dancing, the laughter, the stargazing, the flowers, the kiss. It was all so amazing. I rolled over onto my back, holding the bouquet to the ceiling. My head was swimming with a thousand thoughts, a million feelings. It was so intense that it almost hurt. There were too many implications.

It was a lot. But, a good lot.

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

The events of the Winter Formal stayed in my mind like the afterimage of a blinding flash. I found my focus drifting away on Emiarhia more times than I'd like to admit. Of course, the one day that I was struggling to devote my full attention to training was the day we started learning aero.

Aero was the short form of the term aerokinesis, and it was a specific branch of air magic that was easy to cast, but hard to master. Basically, aero involves quickly shifting your energy through different limbs to create currents in the air around you. The currents could be used to propel yourself in any direction, break a fall, jump extremely high, or deflect projectiles. The first few aero lessons were all about getting the fundamentals down.

Shaye already had a leg up on Ashkan and me with her natural air magic prowess. She didn't need much instruction from Kadia. With enough focus, she could jump to inhuman heights and glide back down safely. I, however, was struggling to do more than lift myself up a few feet.

"Just concentrate," Morgina said, walking over to adjust my arms. "Your hands should be out like this." She bent my elbows slightly and turned my hands outward, palms down. "There, that's better."

"How's this?" Ashkan asked, jumping and hovering briefly before crashing back to the ground.

"You're getting there," Tyrath said, moving across the arena. "Work on your landings. You're coming down too hard."

Above us, Shaye was leaping smoothly between simulated rooftops, manipulating the air under her legs to vault across them.

"Keep your feet pointed out!" Thorne yelled, cupping his hands around his mouth.

Shaye gave him a nod and continued. I focused on Morgina's corrections and took a deep breath. I could do this.

The first step was visualization. I'd read enough to know how to do it. I had to clear my mind, picture myself rising into the air, and hold the image as long as possible. The second step was projection. Once the mental image was formed, I had to take the energy inside of me and push it out in a way that mimicked what I'd visualized.

It sounded easy enough. I took a deep breath and began the exercise.

The first couple of tries yielded no results. By the fourth, however, I felt the wind under my feet shift and I jumped up, just high enough to clear a small rock. When I landed, I stumbled forward and nearly fell, but kept my balance and managed to stay upright.

The next exercise involved doing the opposite: breaking a fall. It was tricky to get right. If you braked too slow, you could wind up with a twisted ankle. If you braked too fast, you'd risk knocking the wind out of yourself, or worse. The three of us climbed to the top of a rocky ridge and lined up. At the bottom of the cliff sat a pit filled with spongy material. It was essentially a big bouncy mattress, made specifically for this purpose. It was about a fifty-foot drop.

"Remember, the timing is key!" Kadia shouted. "Keep your feet apart and knees bent, and you should be fine."

We took turns jumping off. Shaye was able to control her landing to an almost perfect degree, drifting the last fifteen feet down like a flower petal. Ashkan was next, and he managed to keep from plummeting too hard by leaning back slightly. My turn was last. I looked down at the pit below and swallowed. This was going to hurt.

"Whenever you are ready!" Reyshore called. "Do not rush. How you fall does not matter as much as how you land."

"Okay," I mumbled, taking a deep breath and preparing myself. "Here goes nothing." I stepped off the edge, immediately regretting my decision.

My heart thudded rapidly in my chest, adrenaline spiking. I tried to remember the instructions as the pit rushed up to meet me, but my mind went blank. I panicked and pushed my hands down. The air caught me for a split second, and then I slammed into the pit. I hit the cushion face-first. I tumbled to a stop and sat up, groaning. That wasn't fun.

"Not awful," Kadia said, offering me a hand. "You just have to work on the timing. And try not to hesitate. Hesitation is death."

"Yeah, okay," I said, rubbing my head.

We continued the lesson. It was an intense two hours. By the time the session was over, my arms and legs were trembling from the effort. Ashkan didn't look much better. He had a slight limp as we headed for the changing rooms. Shaye, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine.

"You're doing great, you two," she said, patting me on the shoulder. "Really, you're keeping up pretty well."

Ashkan shook his head. "I don't know how you do it, though. You make it look easy."

"Oh, well, I've always had an easier time with air than anything else," she admitted. "I can't manipulate vines and roots like you can. And I'm not a great healer or lightning-wielder like Brielle."

"It's all about what works best for each individual," I said, echoing Kadia's words. "But that's not to say that aero wouldn't be incredibly useful..."

"Right, well, I'm starving." Ashkan stretched his arms over his head. "Anyone want to grab some food at the market?"

Shaye tilted her head to the side. "You're supposed to go straight home with your guards, Ashkan. You know that."

"Well, can't we make a detour?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "It's not a far walk."

"No, your family is expecting you home for dinner."

"Oh, come on, you know they won't notice."

"No," Shaye said sternly. "It's going to be dark out soon."

I shrugged. "I could go for some street food."

"I knew you'd understand," Ashkan said, clapping his hands together. He turned back to Shaye. "As far as I know, our guards can't stop us from doing anything within reason. They have to follow us around. But they don't get to dictate where we go."

Shaye pursed her lips. "That's not a good attitude to have, you know."

He put his hands on his hips challengingly. "I'm a lord, and I want some red fried dumplings. Are you going to deny me?"

"Fine," she said, throwing her hands up. "You win. Let's get something to eat."

We left the arena and headed toward the market district, with our combined six guards trailing behind. They seemed a little irritated at having to babysit us for longer, but didn't argue. I knew that, ultimately, their job was to keep us safe. I didn't doubt that they were competent, but I was still uncomfortable having them around. It was unnerving to have a constant shadow.

The Nelorismel market was busy, as usual. Vendors called out their prices and wares, and customers haggled and argued over everything from bread to pottery. One merchant was selling a variety of fruits, all of which had been carved into the shape of various animals. Another was hawking jewelry, mostly earrings. The booths were lit by oil lamps, which cast flickering shadows over each stall.

The air smelled like a variety of foods, all combining to create an odd, but pleasant scent. It was like a cross between fresh-baked bread, roasted meat, and candied fruit. The aroma grew stronger as we passed through the market, and my mouth began to water.

"So, what are red fried dumplings, anyway?" I asked, looking over at Ashkan.

"They're amazing, is what they are," he replied. "The red is from the spices. They have a kick to them. And the filling is a blend of minced meat, herbs, and vegetables."

"It's an acquired taste," Shaye added. "I've never been a huge fan, but Ashkan loves them."

"What? They're delicious!" he exclaimed, shaking his head. "You get soup with them, and these little fried bread rolls..."

"All right, I understand, you're hungry," she said, putting a hand on his arm.

We continued through the market, passing dozens of vendors. Eventually, Ashkan found the booth he was looking for. He walked right up to the counter, and the moustachioed man behind the grill greeted him warmly.

"Well, if it isn't Lord Ashkan!" he exclaimed, wiping his hands on his apron. "What brings you to my humble stand?"

"Good evening, Mr. Sindo," Ashkan replied, smiling. "I'll have two red dumplings and a plate of fried rolls, please."

Mr. Sindo walked away from the grill, and I watched curiously as the pan kept simmering on its own, shaking ingredients around and stirring itself.

"Anything else I can get for you three?" he queried.

Shaye perused the menu hanging from the booth's awning. "A small plate of the gionfo noodles, please. And three cups of tea."

"Coming right up," Mr. Sindo said, turning away. "That'll be twenty-six trooks and five dulsas."

We split the bill and took a seat on one of the benches around the side.

"This place is so busy," Shaye mused, watching the bustle of the market. "You'd think that they'd have a more organized system by now."

Ashkan shook his head. "People have been selling goods here for centuries. No one wants to mess with tradition. And it works."

I was too busy taking in the sights and sounds of the market to talk. The place was teeming with life. Everywhere I looked, people were bartering and laughing. Kids darted in between the crowds, chasing each other. The energy was contagious. It made me happy to see it livelier than ever after the Inkblood attack months ago.

Mr. Sindo set down three cups of steaming hot tea in front of us, then returned to his kitchen. I wrapped my hands around the ceramic cup and breathed in the scent of the drink. It smelled spicy, but sweet. I took a sip, and it tasted just as good as it smelled. It was rich and had an almost smoky undertone. About ten minutes later, he returned with a platter balanced on his forearm.

"One order of fried rolls and two red dumplings with soup," he announced, setting the dishes down. "And your gionfo noodles, Lady Shaye."

We thanked him and dug in. The dumplings were served in a bowl with broth. I stared down at the orange, steaming liquid. The dumplings were swimming in it, and chunks of vegetable floated in the soup. Each round dumpling was about the size of my palm. They looked a little intimidating.

Ashkan had already grabbed one of the bread rolls and was dipping it in his own bowl. "What, are you scared?" he asked, grinning at me.

"No," I said quickly. "Just...observing."

I picked up a fried roll and followed his lead. I dipped it into the soup and took a bite. The bread was warm and soft, and a little crunchy. The broth was tangy, and a strong taste of peppers came through. There were hints of onion, too, and a few other spices I couldn't identify. The whole thing was incredibly flavourful.

Instead of using spoons or chopsticks, we had these strange, two-pronged sticks that were designed to fit in your fingers. They were called jiis, and were like tongs, but much slimmer and more precise. If you pinched the two prongs together, it formed a shallow spoon. I was slowly getting the hang of them.

I managed to pick up a dumpling after a few tries. When I bit into it, a flood of flavours burst over my tongue. The flavour profile was complex and delicious. They were slightly crispy, and definitely spicy. There was an undercurrent of sweetness from the filling, and the broth complimented the whole dish.

"What do you think?" Ashkan asked, lifting his bowl to his mouth.

"Pretty good," I admitted, taking another sip of tea. "Hot, though."

He nodded. "That's the whole point."

I ate about half of my dumplings before calling it quits. Ashkan, however, had a bottomless stomach. He polished off the rest of his bowl with ease, then finished mine. It was kind of endearing to watch how enthusiastic he was about his food. Shaye seemed content to eat her noodles and a few rolls.

I grabbed my satchel from the ground, searching for my water flask. My fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the glass, and I pulled it out. But as I did so, something else slipped out of the bag. A small, grey envelope fell to the ground, landing at my feet. I frowned and picked it up.

"What's that?" Shaye asked, nodding to the letter.

"I'm not sure," I admitted, turning it over. It was sealed with a golden wax stamp, but there was no identifying symbol or mark on it. Just the seal. No name, no address, nothing.

I glanced up and around, trying to spot who might've delivered the note. But no one seemed to be paying any attention to us. Everyone was wrapped up in their own conversations or meals.

Ashkan glanced over from his seat and leaned forward. His gaze was intense. "Wait. You also got one?"

I raised an eyebrow. "One what?"

"One of those," he said, pointing at the envelope. "I found one a few days ago, stuck in my bedroom windowpane. It looked just like that."

Shaye's eyes widened. "I discovered one on my balcony a few days ago as well."

I looked back and forth between them, shocked. "Wait, really? Did you guys open them?"

"I did," Shaye said. "They're...rather ominous. And a little creepy, to be honest."

"It's an invitation of sorts. I think," Ashkan explained. "Just open it."

I stared at the envelope for a moment, reluctant. This seemed very strange. Potentially dangerous. Who was sending us these messages, and why? Curiosity got the better of me, and I broke the seal, pulling out a folded sheet of circular paper. It was written on thick parchment, and the writing was neat and clear. The words were hand-scribed in an elegant, swooping script.

To whom it may concern,

If you are reading this, then you have been deemed worthy. Your potential has not gone unnoticed, and you have caught the attention of the League. We extend an invitation to you, good hunter.

If you are interested or simply wish to learn more, then meet us at the heart of the city, behind the statue of the King. You will find us on the sixth night of the week, at midnight, when the stars shine brightest. Bring no weapons. Tell no one. Do not delay.

May the sun rise upon thee.

"Huh," I said, looking up at the others. "That's not at all disturbing."

Shaye's eyebrows were knitted together. "I've never heard of any sort of 'League'... I don't know if we should trust it." She leaned over to examine the letter, but frowned. "Oh. It's blank."

I held up the paper. "What do you mean?"

"That's what happened to mine as well," Ashkan said, squinting. "I brought it to my guards, and they said the same thing. But when I looked at the letter again, it was written. Seems as though only the intended recipient can read it."

"So this is definitely for me..." I said, frowning.

"Looks like," Shaye replied, shaking her head. "I think we should ignore it. It's probably some sort of trap. We could be walking straight into danger."

"But it could also be a new adventure," Ashkan pointed out, shrugging.

"Yes, or death," she said, raising an eyebrow. "The last thing we need is more danger."

"I think you're overreacting," he replied. "There's no way to know unless we go."

I was quiet for a moment, staring at the letter. Something told me that this was important, somehow. That this could be an opportunity.

"Well, I say we go," I said, looking up.

Shaye blinked. "Seriously? You cannot be serious. We don't even know who wrote this. Or what their intentions are. Or if it's some sort of cult or secret society..."

"Oh, come on, we can handle ourselves," Ashkan replied, waving her off. "I agree with Brie. It's worth looking into."

"No! Absolutely not!" she exclaimed. "I will not have you two getting hurt because you went traipsing around in the middle of the night. We're not going, and that's final. End of discussion."

I stared at the letter in my hand. The calligraphy was mesmerizing. I'd never seen such beautiful handwriting. It was clearly done with great care. And the message was intriguing, to say the least. I felt a pull toward the words, as though they had some sort of power.

"All right," I said, glancing at Shaye. "I understand why you'd be worried, and I'm not gonna force you to follow. But I am going."

She looked taken aback. "What? Brielle, no, you can't!"

"Yeah, I'm coming too," Ashkan chimed in, nodding. "We're a team."

Shaye groaned, pressing a hand to her forehead. "Unbelievable."

I slid the letter back into the envelope. I almost didn't notice it begin to disintegrate in my hand until it had faded away entirely. The whole thing disappeared into a thin layer of dust. "Whoa, hey!" I said, holding my hands up.

Ashkan's expression turned puzzled. "That's new."

"Huh? What happened?" Shaye asked, downing the last of her tea.

"The letter just disappeared," I explained.

She looked skeptical. "What letter?"

"The one I just showed you."

"Hm? There was no letter," she replied, looking at me like I'd lost my mind.

I stared at her, confused. "I literally just read it."

"Brielle, are you feeling okay?"

"What? Yes, of course I'm–"

"You didn't show her a letter," Ashkan interrupted, giving me a knowing look. "Remember?"

"...Right," I said slowly. I realized what he was getting at. Since she wasn't interested in the letter's invitation, it must've been enchanted to wipe her memory of it.

Shaye narrowed her eyes. "Are you two jesting with me?"

"No," Ashkan said quickly. He leaned back to evade her line of sight, mouthing the words 'forgetting charm' over to me.

I nodded. "Sorry. I was thinking of something else."

She gave us a suspicious look. "Very well."

We soon finished our meals and left the market behind. The sky had begun to darken, and the streetlamps had been lit. As we walked, the air grew chilly. I could see my breath in the glow of the lamplight. The wind had picked up, and the sky was cloudy, obscuring the moons and stars. Shaye's house was the closest, so she bid us goodnight and walked home with her guards. Ashkan and I kept walking, our entourage a few steps behind.

He leaned in close to whisper, "So, I assume you're gonna be at that statue at midnight? Today is the sixth day of the week."

"You think this is a good idea? Going to a mysterious meeting like this?" I asked quietly.

"Maybe," he said, shrugging. "I can't think of a better way to spend my time."

I shook my head, laughing. "Of course you'd think that."

He chuckled, then gave me a sly look. "And what about you?"

I considered this. Was I really going to risk it? Shaye was right. We could be walking into a trap. But part of me felt excited by the prospect. Like it would be an adventure. A mystery. A chance to get out there and explore. To practice using my powers, maybe.

"You know what? Let's do it," I replied in a low voice.

"Smashing."

"We'll have to sneak out, though. Kadia will have a conniption if she finds out," I added.

"She won't," he assured me. "We're professionals. Here's the plan: I'll walk home, and you teleport back to Earth. Wait until midnight, and then return here. We'll rendezvous at the statue, and head out from there. Sound good?"

I nodded. "Got it."

"Great. See you in a bit, then," he said, smiling.

We pretended to strike up a casual conversation while our guards followed us home. When the time came, we parted ways. I waved goodbye to Ashkan before grasping my necklace in my fist.

"Honesty," I whispered, closing my eyes. In an instant, the cold, crisp air of the city faded away. I opened my eyes and was greeted by the familiar warmth of my bedroom. Now all I had to do was wait until around two-thirty in the morning and try not to fall asleep. Easy, right?

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

I couldn't believe that this was what I was spending Christmas Eve doing. …Not like Emiarhia celebrated Christmas, though.

After waiting around for what felt like forever, I finally returned to Emiarhia just before midnight, in the same spot where I'd left. The streets were still alive, despite the late hour. People were out and about, chatting and mingling. It made sense since it was the weekend.

I pulled my hood down and walked down the streets, making my way toward the centre of Nelorismel. I had a rough idea of where the King's statue was. A new sculpture was built every time a new king was crowned. The effigy stood in a large, paved courtyard, past the outskirts of the market. It was a bit of a trek.

As I got closer, the crowd thinned. I found myself alone on the empty street, illuminated only by the dim glow of the streetlamps. I walked briskly, my eyes darting around. My hands were shoved deep in my pockets, and my breath came out in little clouds.

The street widened, and the square came into view. The courtyard was surrounded by tall buildings and was bathed in shadow. I approached the centre, which was dominated by a huge, ornate statue. King Typhis' steel face gazed down upon the empty plaza, his expression solemn. His eyes were cast downward, his chin held high. He was dressed in royal armour and carried a decorated sword in one hand. His other was stretched out, palm facing upwards. The base of the statue was littered with bouquets, coins, and trinkets. Offerings from his people. Maybe the gods had some competition.

"Hi."

I spun around, my heart lurching. Ashkan stood a dozen feet away, his hands in his pockets. He gave me a nod of greeting.

"Hey," I said, my shoulders relaxing.

"You're jumpy," he observed.

"No, you're just really quiet."

He joined me in the courtyard, his eyes drifting up to the statue. "Well, looks like we're the first ones here."

I checked the position of the moons. It was just past midnight. "Now we wait."

"I suppose so..." He pulled his coat closer. "It's pretty chilly tonight."

"Yeah," I agreed, wrapping my arms around myself. "Do you think somebody will actually show up?"

He shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine."

We fell silent. A minute passed, and then another. Nothing happened. No one came. The only sound was the whistling of the wind. I was about to suggest we leave when something caught my attention.

There was a movement in the shadows. I stiffened, narrowing my eyes. Two figures were approaching from the south side of the square. They were tall and slender, cloaked in...white, surprisingly. It blended in with the snow. On their heads were matching gaucho hats, black, with wide brims that covered their upper faces. Dark scarves concealed the rest.

I exchanged a glance with Ashkan. He looked on edge, but curious. The two strangers stopped and stood motionless.

"…Hello," Ashkan ventured after a beat.

"Good evening," one of the figures spoke, his voice deep and raspy. He was the taller of the two.

"So," I said, trying to sound calm and confident. "This is the League?"

The other person, a woman, answered. Her tone was warm and lilting. "If you're seeing us, then yes."

Ashkan folded his arms. "Who are you?"

The man tilted his head. "That depends. Who are you?"

"Shouldn't you know that?" he countered, raising an eyebrow. "Since, apparently, we've caught your attention."

The woman spoke again, "You've certainly caught the eye of many. You've been making a name for yourselves."

"Enough," the man interrupted, holding up a gloved hand. "There will be time for questions later. For now, we must proceed. It is not safe to linger out in the open."

He turned, his white cloak sweeping behind him. He began walking away, and his companion followed suit. Ashkan and I looked at each other.

"Should we trust them?" he murmured.

"They haven't done anything suspicious yet," I replied, keeping my voice low. "I say we follow. If anything seems weird, we'll bail."

He nodded. "Stay close, then."

The figures walked across the plaza and disappeared into the shadows. We tailed them, keeping a healthy distance between us. I could hear them whispering, but I couldn't make out the words. We were led through a network of winding alleys and backstreets. At this point, I had no clue where we were. I hoped Ashkan had a better sense of direction.

Suddenly, the pair veered to the right, slipping through a gap in the stone wall. It was so narrow, I had to turn sideways to squeeze through. We emerged on the other side, into a secluded courtyard. It was bordered on all sides by dilapidated buildings, their windows boarded up. A single lantern was affixed to the brickwork, bathing the scene in an eerie orange glow.

The two strangers stood side-by-side, facing us. Ashkan and I halted. The silence stretched on.

"I have a bad feeling about this," he said under his breath.

I kept my eyes fixed on the figures. "So do I."

"Welcome," the man spoke, spreading his arms. His voice was a low rumble. "Welcome, young champions. To the League of Sacred Dawn."

The woman dipped her head, then reached towards the lantern. A flash of gold sparkled on her gloved fingers. She grasped the handle and yanked it down. The flame was extinguished, and the world plunged into darkness. I heard the sounds of gears grinding, and the scrape of metal against stone. Light began to pour out from a crack in the cobblestone, slicing through the murk. A trapdoor.

The man stepped over and heaved the heavy slab aside, revealing a stairwell. The passage was illuminated by white-flame torches. "After you."

The woman entered first, gesturing for us to follow.

I felt Ashkan lace his fingers through mine. We walked side-by-side, descending the stairs. Once we were inside, the man came down after us. He pushed the door shut, sealing it with a metallic clang. Then he passed us, leading the way. Our footsteps echoed off the stone walls as we descended. The stairs were narrow, spiralling around and around. I tried not to think about how far below the surface we were. We had to be at least a dozen floors beneath the city.

Finally, we reached the bottom. The tunnel ahead was straight and narrow. I wasn't sure, but I thought I heard music. It sounded muffled and far away. We followed the man as he strode down the hall, his cloak swishing behind him. His companion was close at his side. The corridor was lined with stone slabs, like a mausoleum. The walls were decorated with engravings of symbols and runes, all unfamiliar to me. The designs were abstract. Some of them were simple shapes, others looked more complex. We soon reached the end of the hallway, which was blocked by a wooden door.

The man paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Remember. What happens here stays here. Do not speak of it outside this place. If you are discovered, we will deny all involvement and erase your memories of us. Do not attempt to expose us. We are always watching." With that, he turned and pulled the door open. Warm, golden light spilled into the hall, and the distant melody became clear.

My jaw dropped. I was prepared to see something resembling a religious temple, or cult circle, or at least some kind of ominous chamber. Oh, how wrong I was.

The room was giant, and it was full of people, not unlike a tavern. The vast ceiling was carved into the shape of a dome. It was painted with a mural of celestial bodies. Suns and moons and comets and galaxies, swirling together in a dizzying spiral. The entire space was lit by dozens of hanging lanterns, candles, and white-flame torches. Their illumination was almost blinding. The floor was a patchwork of tiled stone. Every square was a different colour. A handful of people danced on the uneven ground. In the centre was a U-shaped counter made from dark wood. Its surface was worn smooth from use. The walls were lined with booths, tables, and alcoves. Loud music and chatter filled the air. Swirls of incense smoke curled up into the hazy atmosphere. A large tapestry hung from the far end of the room, opposite the door. It was emblazoned with a silvery-gold sigil, shaped like an intricate sun.

I glanced over at Ashkan, and I knew he was thinking the same thing. This was not what we were expecting.

Our escorts entered the room and began weaving their way through the crowd. We followed. The throng was comprised of people from all walks of life, all races and nationalities. They were dressed in clothes ranging from plain and simple to ostentatious and elaborate. I was struck by how diverse the gathering was. People were drinking, playing cards, dancing, socializing, or polishing their weapons. The only thing they seemed to have in common was their black, wide-brimmed hats.

Pretty much everyone stared at us as we passed. Some were curious, others standoffish, and others suspicious. I felt a pang of anxiety but tried to hide it. Eventually, our escorts stopped at a tall door with an arched top. It was nestled in an alcove, half-hidden behind a stone partition. The woman rapped on the surface, and a moment later, it swung open.

The room inside was small and dimly lit. It was like a den. The walls were lined with shelves and cupboards, all filled to bursting with various trinkets and supplies. There were glass jars, boxes, books, and scrolls. A desk was near the back wall. A variety of blades were displayed on the walls, along with a few shields. Sitting at the desk was someone in a high-backed chair, with their back to the door.

Our guides entered the room and knelt before the figure. The door swung shut behind us, cutting off the sounds of the revelry.

The man cleared his throat. "Your Eminence, we have brought them."

"Very good," the stranger replied, their voice a pleasant, confident alto. "You may go."

"Yes, Commander."

The two rose and left the room, shutting the door again. The figure swivelled in their chair, facing us. My eyes immediately widened. They stuck out glaringly against the ruggedness of everything I'd seen thus far.

They seemed to have a blend of Faennia and Deiq genes. Their skin was pale and shimmery with a pinkish undertone. Their round eyes were silver-grey, and they had light blond eyelashes and eyebrows. A large streak of their chest-length, iridescent hair shared this colouring, but the rest of the side-parted waves were pastel lavender. Pointed, opposable ears stuck out through the locks. They wore a loose, sleeveless top, exposing their slim arms. One arm was tattooed with a pattern of lines and swirls. Their pants were dark and fitted. They had on a pair of pointed boots with raised heels, and a black choker with a single pearl. But above all, the most surprising feature was the cycloid, opalescent scales on their hands, forearms, and under their cheekbones. They were a shade of calm turquoise.

They were holding a piece of fruit – an abaet, a plum-like food native to Winithas. The Commander took a bite, and their eyes flitted over us. "Welcome, newcomers. Glad you got my letters."

"You wrote those?" Ashkan asked.

"Of course. Nobody's cursive is as perfect as mine." They flashed us a bright smile. "Sorry about the theatrics, by the way. The whole spiel about memory wiping and whatnot. And the midnight meeting, and the ominous outfits. Can't risk exposure, y'know? It's a little much, but it helps to keep us hidden."

For what felt like the hundredth time, I eyed Ashkan. We both had no idea what to make of this. Everything about the League up to this point was dark, secretive and mysterious. And here was the Commander, acting so...normal. So casual.

The Commander leaned back in their chair before taking another bite of abaet. The scales on their body turned greyer. "Well, now that that's out of the way, introductions are in order. My name is Commander Lochkornakayniv, and I am the kingpin of the League. You can just call me Perl, though. No need to be formal." They gestured around the room. "This is my office. Or den. Haven't decided which..."

"I have a few questions," Ashkan said, folding his arms.

"More than a few, I'd think. Fire away."

"What is this place?"

Perl nodded, tossing the remains of their fruit into a bin. "We are the League of Sacred Dawn. A guild of fighters and vigilantes, working to protect the planet. We specialize in hunting down criminals and beasts alike. Inkbloods and Rotted, mostly."

I perked up. "Wait, really?"

They smiled, and a bit of pride slipped into their tone. Their scales turned a muted shade of orange. "Really. We've been active for decades in response to a considerable uptick in Inkblood activity. And we're very good at our job."

I wasn't sure whether to be impressed or concerned. Neither Inkbloods nor Rotted were anything to mess around with. And there were so many of them. I felt like it was a miracle that the League had survived this long.

"Our primary headquarters is in Shialumura, near the Chasm...for obvious reasons," Perl continued, "but we have a number of secondary bases all across the globe. You're standing in one of them right now. This is the main location in Winithas, though there are also some little-known refuges peppered around if you know where to look."

Ashkan spoke next. "Why did you send us letters?"

"Because, like I said, we've been watching you. The two of you are quite impressive, and so is Shaylie." Perl sighed and ran their fingers through their hair. Their scales shifted into a purplish-blue. "What a shame she declined my invitation. Too smart for her own good, that one. I knew she'd refuse. But still, I had to try."

"So, why did you invite us?" he pressed.

They rested their chin on their hands. "Because I want to recruit you. Both of you. I believe you would make fine additions to the League."

"You want us to join your gang?" I clarified, raising an eyebrow.

They tilted their head, their scales turning yellow-green. "Not a 'gang', a guild. A syndicate. We don't take contracts for mere pleasure. Or even for money. We're doing the world a favour."

I didn't reply, but I was thinking the same thing. I'd never considered that there might be people out there trying to fight the darkness. To protect the weak and innocent. I guess that was naïve of me. I was sure there were plenty of Inkbloods and Rotted out there, wreaking havoc. I'd just never thought there were people dedicated to stopping them.

"What about the monarchies?" I questioned. "Surely this kind of thing can't exactly be legal."

"Why do you think we're underground? Why do you think we hide ourselves away?" Perl replied, gesturing vaguely. "We are operating outside the law. It's true. Kings and queens have their own ways of dealing with problems. But they're too slow. By the time they catch on, it's already too late. That's why we're needed. To clean up their messes. And, yes, that does include hunting Inkbloods. As you know, they're very slippery, and bluebloods rarely want to deal with them, or even admit that they're a problem. That's where we come in."

I didn't respond. I could tell by Ashkan's expression that he was thinking hard.

"And there's no shortage of evil out there," they went on, a dark blue hue tingeing their scales. "It's a dangerous world, and it's getting worse by the day. There are forces at work that the rest of us can't begin to comprehend. It's going to take a lot of power and bravery to combat them. That's why I want people like you on my team."

I couldn't believe my ears. They were actually offering me a chance to use my abilities for good. To do something with them. To make a difference. Directly. Right now.

"What would we do?" I asked as I stepped closer. "Like, how does it work?"

Perl smiled, then stood up. They were even taller than I expected. "Walk with me."

They strode out from behind the desk and opened the door, motioning for us to follow. The three of us filed back into the entrance room.

They led us around the outskirts of the chamber, heading for a wide set of stairs against the wall. The Commander didn't pause to explain as they descended the steps. The noise of the crowd grew muffled as we travelled lower.

As it turns out, we entered a massive space with many levels, connected by ladders and stairways. It was like a multi-level shopping mall, but a cavern. The ceiling was supported by pillars. Lanterns hung from the rafters. We came to a halt at a balcony overlooking the floors. Even more people were below, milling about or sparring. I could see several other rooms and chambers opening off the main area.

"This is the central hub of the base," Perl stated. "We've got everything a hunter needs. Armoury, library, laboratory, medical bay, training grounds, dormitories. And a mess hall, of course. You would have access to all these facilities."

My mind was racing. This was unbelievable. The idea that this kind of setup existed right under my nose was insane.

"How many of you are there?" Ashkan piped up.

Perl shrugged. "Worldwide? About two hundred. Maybe three hundred. The exact number fluctuates. Members join, others leave. Sometimes they're killed. Of course, not everyone is active at once. Most are off the clock, tending to their normal lives. But when there's a big mission, we need more hands."

I tried to wrap my head around it. So many people, all working together to defend the world. That's what this was all about. To make sure the sun lived another day. It was amazing. And also incredibly daunting.

I bit my lip. I was still reeling. I didn't know what to say. I'd always known, deep down, that I wanted to do good. That I wanted to help people. It was why I trained so hard. It was why I got so angry when people couldn't see that. Now, it was being handed to me on a silver platter. The opportunity of a lifetime.

"You must understand," Perl said, folding their arms, "we have a duty, and we take it seriously. If you're willing to dedicate yourselves to our cause, then I would happily accept you. You would not have to abandon your regular lives. In fact, it would be preferable if you didn't. We don't want to raise any suspicions."

"How would we be able to balance this with school, training, and everything else?" I wondered out loud.

"I've got that covered. See, one of the reasons why we have so many members is because we need that security of knowing we'll have enough hands on deck at any given time. Taking into account that instability, our numbers are actually cut down. But we're rarely short-staffed, thankfully. Hunters are scattered all around each region. Even though not everyone is available 24/7, there's always a random group who can complete the task. I'm not asking you two to even be regulars. We've got plenty of people for that. I'm asking for you to be on standby as last resorts. Strong backup. That way, you can keep up with your studies and training. The calls won't be frequent, but they'll be for the direst of emergencies."

I was starting to feel a bit more comfortable with the idea. This would let me do what I wanted, while still having some semblance of normalcy. There was no doubt that it carried danger, though. But that didn't scare me. At least not yet. I wasn't sure why.

"Calls?" I echoed.

"We communicate through these." The Commander pointed to their left pinky finger. A golden insignia ring sat on the digit. "When a situation arises, a League member will report its location and the severity of the threat. Then, the hunters nearest to the area will see their guild rings glow red in the centre. They can decide if they want to accept the mission or not. If so, the ring acts like a compass, guiding the wearer towards their mission. It can also change you into your gear in an instant." They smiled. "Neat, isn't it? Magic jewellery. Anyway, you two wouldn't be getting normal rings. You'd have a special model, one that glows red only when a request from me comes in. And I don't give those out lightly. The range would be expanded to include missions anywhere on the planet, and it would teleport you straight there. You'd be able to accept or decline it at your leisure. If you decline the task, a fellow hunter will later send out a completion signal, and the ring will glow white when any threats have been vanquished."

I blinked. I'd never heard of anything like this. "Whoa."

"I'm aware that it sounds insane," they went on, shrugging again, "and honestly, it is. It's not like we're a massive organization with lots of resources and funding. Everything you see here is a result of trial and error. A bunch of crazy inventors and researchers coming together to figure out the best ways to fight evil. And it's working." They paused. "Oh, and Brielle, your ring would be extra special. Since you're on Earth half the time, you'd need to be able to gauge whether it'd be worth it to slip away or not, if needed. So, a red glow signifies a more serious threat, a white one is the all-clear. But a black glow would mean that a situation is escalating and requires immediate attention. Basically, it'd let you know that we need you, no matter what. You're the big guns. And I pray to the gods that we never have to call on you for something like that."

That didn't sit well with me. It was the mention of a black glow that was troubling. Something so catastrophic that it would require me, of all people, to drop everything and come running. It didn't seem possible. Surely, there would be others who could handle it. Others who were far more experienced.

I looked at Ashkan, hoping to get a sense of what he was thinking. He was quiet. I could practically hear the gears in his head turning.

I turned my attention back to Perl. "So, you're basically asking us to be part-time super-hunters."

The Commander nodded. "Exactly."

"How long would this arrangement last?"

"For as long as you're able. For as long as you want, actually."

I frowned. "And if we decided to leave? Or quit? What would happen?"

They hesitated. Their scales turned brownish-red. "If you wanted to leave, you'd have to go through a memory wipe. It's a necessary precaution, I'm afraid. We can't afford the risk of letting anyone slip. Not even former members. Everyone who knows of the League is involved in it. Even the janitors are League members. I know that sounds ridiculous, but it's the truth. I can't stress enough how important it is for us to stay hidden. Harmless procedure. I'm sure you understand."

"Right," I said slowly.

Their scales then shifted to a brighter, rosier hue. "Great. How about I let you two mull it over for a little bit, and I'll show you the rest of the facility?"

Ashkan and I both nodded, and Perl began leading us down the stairs, explaining everything as they went. The training grounds, the library, the dormitories. We walked and walked, the Commander pointing out everything, and the two of us listening intently. I could hardly believe what I was seeing. All these secret rooms and halls and people. Energy thrummed through my veins. Maybe this is where I belong.

The Commander had a long stride. They were clearly eager to show off the place. "Of course, I've been rambling on about the practical side of things," they said, turning a corner. "But the League is more than just a collection of buildings and gear. We are a family. People from all different countries, backgrounds, races, cultures, genders. We may be hunters, but that's not all we are. We work together. We protect each other. We look after each other. And that's what sets us apart."

It made sense, the more I thought about it. This was the reason why everyone had their own unique styles. It wasn't because they were showing off. It was because they weren't worried about standing out. Because they didn't need to hide themselves away. They could be their true selves. I was a little bit jealous of that.

"I'm not exaggerating when I say that the League has changed the course of history. We have saved lives. Hundreds of them. Maybe thousands. And we're going to continue doing so, as long as the gods see fit." Perl smiled. Their scales were bright violet, now. "We may be outlaws, but that doesn't make us villains. In fact, it makes us the very opposite."

A few hunters called out to the Commander as we passed. They responded cheerily. A group of members ran across our path, carrying wooden swords. Two of them nearly crashed into me, but they quickly apologized. A woman was sitting on a bench, polishing her gauntlets. She greeted the Commander with a salute. The base was full of activity. Full of life. It was amazing. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I didn't know if I could bring myself to decline the offer.

We reached the bottom floor, and Perl guided us into the armoury. It was enormous. There were shelves and stands and racks full of equipment. Every type of weapon imaginable was arranged in perfect rows on the walls. Armour suits were suspended from the ceiling, posed in intimidating battle stances like a museum exhibit. An extensive variety of firearms lined the rear of the chamber. The room was illuminated by bright overhead lanterns.

"As you can see, we've got everything you'd ever need," Perl declared, spreading their arms. "Every hunter is equipped with their own personal gear, which they are free to keep and customize. People can use their own weapons or borrow ones from here. Of course, we also have standard uniforms. If you do choose to join us, we'd provide you with the pieces. But the rest of your outfit is up to you. Just as long as it's not, y'know, offensive. Or too garish." They chuckled.

My gaze wandered around the room, taking in the various pieces of equipment. It was impressive, for sure. There was so much stuff. Some of the weaponry was completely foreign to me.

Eventually, the three of us made our way out of the armoury and continued on.

"How do you fund all of this?" Ashkan asked as we strolled down a corridor.

Perl laughed loudly, their scales colouring a sunny yellow. "We have our sources. It's nothing illegal, if that's what you're wondering. Many hunters decide to donate money, but a lot of our expenses are taken care of by the staff in each realm. And me, of course. As the Commander, I'm in charge of making sure the League keeps running smoothly. And I've got plenty of coin. Not that I'm bragging. That's just a fact. Well, also, some of our hunters occasionally steal from their opponents. Like, their loot and valuables. That's pretty helpful. I mean, what can an Inkblood do with a brooch full of sapphires after they're dead? Not a damn thing. Unless we know that the loot was stolen, in which case we return it anonymously, we'll just take the goods and sell them off. Or keep them. Simple as that."

"Do you pay your members?" I inquired.

"Rarely. I wish we had the budget, but alas, no." They shook their head. "If there's a hunter struggling to make ends meet outside of the League, we do try and help. We can't give them a salary to live independently off of, but we'll make sure they get food, clothes, supplies, or whatever else they need. If someone loses their house, or their job, or their family, or anything else, then we'll help them find somewhere to live, or a place to work, or a support system. Sometimes, we can't help. But most of the time, we can."

"That's nice," I said, and I meant it.

Perl's scales flickered pink. "I've got to keep morale high, after all. The more content the members are, the better their work will be."

We continued along. More and more corridors and rooms revealed themselves as we explored. There were a few times when the Commander led us off-course to show us something that had caught their eye. I couldn't blame them. It was a lot to take in. I couldn't believe it had all been constructed without the general public being aware. I felt like an archaeologist discovering a lost city.

The mess hall was the largest space of all. It was a wide, open room, with a vaulted ceiling and long tables. The smell of delicious cooking drifted in the air. Many hunters were already seated, eating and conversing. It was similar to the entrance room, but with a less rowdy atmosphere. And less blaring music.

"As you can tell, meals are served 24/7," Perl remarked, their voice loud enough to carry throughout the entire hall. "It's always a good idea to have some grub in your belly before a mission, especially if you're heading out into the wilderness."

I could feel dozens of eyes on me as the three of us passed. I tried not to fidget with my hands and kept my chin up.

"Oi! Commander!" someone called out, raising their stein. Many others sat near them, all dressed in various assortments of leather armour. I estimated they were all between the ages of twenty and forty. "What's the occasion?"

Perl stopped walking. Ashkan and I halted behind them.

"I'm giving a tour to our newest potential recruits," the Commander answered, their scales a light blue. "You recognize them, I'm sure."

There was a murmur amongst the gathered hunters. Several heads turned to stare. I felt uncomfortable under the collective scrutiny.

"Cor!" the man shouted. "We were wondering when they'd finally show up."

Perl smirked. "I know, right? Took 'em long enough."

A couple of the hunters laughed. One of them whistled.

"Give it a few weeks, and they'll be running circles around all of you!"

Another round of chuckles. Ashkan and I stood there awkwardly. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be smiling or not.

Perl turned to us. "Oh, where are my manners? Hunters, this is Brielle, and Ashkan. Brielle, Ashkan, these guys represent the international unit. Should you choose to accept my offer, you'd be working alongside any combination of them." They pointed to each person individually. "Dazz, Ribbons, Cannon, Steelshot, Halo, Blue, Nine, and M. And those two are the twins, Tabs and Trench. ...Don't ask me which one's which."

There was a chorus of greetings accompanied by raised glasses and waves. Ashkan and I smiled and nodded, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

"It's nice to finally meet you both," Ribbons said. Her ginger hair was very long and curly, and tied into two neat tails. She had slim, black horns that were wrapped in magenta fabric. "We've heard a lot about you two."

"Yeah, the rumours have been flying," Dazz added. His skin was a shade of deep grey. His long, thin ears had multiple piercings, and he wore dark-tinted, round sunglasses.

"What exactly have you been hearing?" Ashkan spoke up.

Halo grinned, the corners of his eyes crinkling. One was the colour of honey, and the other, pistachio green. A golden circlet rested atop his stubbled head. "That you've got some serious power, mate."

The man who'd spoken up earlier was Cannon. "Hope you're not afraid to use it," he said. He had a short, copper beard, and long hair tied back into a knot. His right eye was covered with a brown eyepatch.

Steelshot was a large, hulking woman, with a long scar across her right cheek. Choppy, dark azure hair surrounded her sharp features. Her left calf and foot had been replaced by a sophisticated prosthesis. "If you're joining the League, you can't be fearful."

"You've got nothing to worry about," Perl assured, placing a hand on Ashkan's shoulder. "I wouldn't have invited you if I didn't think you have what it takes."

"Well, what's it gonna be? Are you in or out?" Blue asked. She had a short, dark afro, and her eyes were a striking, glowing cerulean. Bluish gills peeked out from her jacket's collar.

"Don't rush them," Tabs reprimanded.

"Yeah, let 'em make their own decisions," Trench added. Both twins were incredibly identical. Like carbon copies of each other. The young men had the same voice, face, and body type, and wore the exact same outfit. They even had the same pushed-back, dark purple hair.

Perl's scales flared red. "We won't pressure you, of course. I've already given the sales pitch. It's up to you."

Nine's mouth twisted like he was deep in thought. He had pointed ears and dense eyelashes. Underneath thick locks of ash blond hair, his eyes were a pale, ghostly white. Tattoos of vines and serpents wound their way up his muscular arms. Upon seeing his hands, it didn't take long for me to guess why had the codename he did. The guy had nine fingers, missing the fourth one on his right hand.

I watched M lean over to him and sign something, gesturing quickly. Nine's gaze flicked towards the Commander. He signed back. M's face lit up, and she let out a soft laugh. Light brown waves were cropped just below her shoulders. She had a thumbprint-sized birthmark on the left side of her jaw, and wore all black.

"Commander," Nine said, "we've got a couple of questions. Can you spare a minute or two?"

"Sure thing," Perl answered.

"M wants to know if Brielle and Ashkan's Rime Guard trainers know about the League," he relayed, his tone casual.

The Commander rolled their eyes. "Obviously not. Why would the RG allow two of their most valuable assets to join the biggest organization of rogue hunters the realms have ever known? The King would have us arrested for undermining his authority, or for disloyalty, or something. It's a no-brainer. We don't cross paths. Let's keep it that way."

"He'd be pissed," Trench agreed.

"Beyond pissed," Dazz chimed in.

"No doubt," Halo mused.

"No, no, no. It'd be a bloodbath," Ribbons corrected. "RG people are scary."

Cannon smirked. "But they're not as gutsy as us."

"Or as driven," Steelshot grunted.

"All right, all right, calm yourselves," Perl said with a smile. "You've made your point."

M signed some more, and Nine translated, "She's worried they're too young. She thinks this might not be a good idea. And, uh, I agree with her."

The Commander's scales were a mottled orange. They looked at me, and then at Ashkan. "Are you too young?"

"I'm seventeen," I replied. "Eighteen in a few weeks, actually."

"And you, Ashkan?"

"Eighteen."

"Then no, you're not too young." Perl's gaze returned to Nine. Their scales flashed pink, yellow, and purple, like a sunrise. "It's a risk, yeah. But I know they're more than capable. And besides, how old were you, Nine? When you joined? Fourteen?"

Nine hesitated. He glanced down at M, and she signed something. He replied to her before looking back up at the Commander. "My case was different."

"How so?"

He opened his mouth, then shut it. His lips twisted into a frown. "You know how it was."

"Tell M that we’ve been rigorously trained," I said, breaking my silence. "I get the concern, but we're old enough to protect ourselves."

At that, Nine became suddenly irritated. He glowered at me. "She's not deaf, idiot. M had her tongue cut out as a kid. She can hear you just fine."

"I-I'm sorry," I apologized immediately. I could feel my cheeks burning.

M waved her hands. She patted Nine's arm. He calmed down slightly, though his eyes remained cold. She gave me a warm, sympathetic smile, and shook her head.

"Nine, stand down," the Commander said, their tone level. "We've all made mistakes. We're all learning. I know you're protective of M, but there's no reason to be hostile."

He nodded stiffly. M gave him a quick peck on the cheek, and his face flushed, the tension in his muscles dissipating.

"Anyway," Perl began, their scales a calm teal, "I'd rather not let you go without some sort of decision or answer. So, if you'll give me one, that would be much appreciated. You can leave and never return, and the escorts will erase your memories of the League. Or, you can become a hunter and change the world by helping us fight the monsters that plague this world. What's it going to be?"

My heart rate spiked. I had so many thoughts running through my mind, and none of them seemed like the right one. This was a huge step. A huge change. But a change for the better. Right?

"Ashkan?" I whispered, trying not to draw too much attention to myself. "What are you thinking?"

He didn't answer me right away. My stomach was twisting.

"I think..." He paused. "...I think I'm going to do it."

"Really?"

"Yeah. If you are, then I will too."

My brows furrowed. "No, don't think about me. Don't base your decision off of mine."

"Well, I'm not very keen on fighting alone," he reasoned. "But I know that I want to make a difference. I want to help. If this is the way I can do it, then that's what I'm going to do. No regrets."

I didn't disagree with Ashkan, but I felt the need to consider everything thoroughly. "What about the prophecy? That doesn't involve you making a difference in the world and helping people?"

He sighed and shrugged limply. "Sure, but we still don't know if all that will ever happen, let alone when. At the earliest, we still have to wait for you and Shaye to turn eighteen. But nothing might happen until we're twenty-five. We don't know. At least joining the League means that we're doing something now."

He had a point. The prophecy was vague, and we didn't know if, how, or when it would be fulfilled. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to keep waiting around.

"Besides, our identities would be concealed. Nobody would know. Not to mention that we'd get serious opportunities to train and strengthen our skills...instead of practicing on dummies all the time." He lowered his voice and leaned in to whisper in my ear. "Also, this could be our chance to find Balgaur, and maybe thin out his numbers. I have a feeling he's going to play a bigger part in our story. We could be doing it now, instead of later."

Ashkan made an excellent argument. He really could be very convincing when he wanted to be. I was still unsure, but the more I thought about it, the more it began to make sense.

I took a deep breath. "Okay."

He blinked, straightening up. "Okay?"

"Okay. Yeah. Let's do it."

His eyes brightened, and he grinned. I tried to mirror his excitement, but I still wasn't totally certain that this was the right decision. But, as he had said, no regrets.

Perl cleared their throat. They looked back and forth between Ashkan and me. "Well? Do you have an answer?"

"We're in," he replied without hesitation.

"Excellent!" The Commander clapped their hands. Their scales rippled and changed colour. A mixture of green, pink, and orange. "This is absolutely perfect. I'm delighted. You won't regret it."

The hunters at the table cheered and applauded. ...Well, some more than others.

"It'll be nice to have more faces around here," Dazz said.

"Happy to have you!" Tabs and Trench exclaimed at the exact same time.

Blue smiled. "Welcome."

"Don't scare them away on the first day," Cannon advised.

Ribbons laughed. "Or ever."

"I'm glad that's settled." Perl's scales were a dazzling yellow. They held their arms out wide, their hair billowing. "Let's get the formalities out of the way. Welcome to the League, Ashkan and Brielle! From this day forward, you are hunters. We're not bound by the law. We're not beholden to anyone or anything. Our job is to save the planet from the monsters that are out there and protect the lives of innocent civilians. Your rings will be delivered to you soon, in the same manner as your invitation letters. And I'll let you know your codenames before your first mission."

"Thank you, Perl." Ashkan bowed his head.

I smiled at them and repeated the gesture. "Yes, thank you."

"No, no, thank you. Really. Thank you. It's an honour to have you two here. You're going to be incredible additions. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a few errands to run. But feel free to make yourselves comfortable. Help yourself to some food and drinks, if you want. Or you can go. I don't care." They patted Ashkan's back and squeezed my shoulder. "I look forward to working with you two. Farewell, and may the sun rise upon thee!"

Before we could say anything else, Perl turned on their heel and walked away, their footsteps echoing. We watched them go, and the hunters at the table fell back into their previous conversations.

Ashkan turned to me, and his eyes grew wide. "...We're really doing this."

I nodded slowly. I didn't know how to react. Part of me was excited. And part of me was terrified. I felt like I was in a dream. "Yeah, we are," I finally answered. "We really are."

Merry Christmas to me.