“Heh, sorry. But can’t really come with you.” Graam apologised, sheepishly rubbing his neck. “I’m a bit of a big guy and the Guard definitely got me pecked out on the streets. Wish I had a peg leg to really play the joke. ” His laugh sounded a bit wooden and then coughed awkwardly into his fist at Jak’s deadpan look.

Graam had taken Jak to the side shortly after breakfast, citing that it would be best for the girls to get ready by themselves, meaning they could use the time to talk. Grant, now fully awake, had wholeheartedly agreed with this assessment and the young wolf cat wasn’t about to let himself dragged into the perfectionism that at least Rehn was drawn towards. He got the feeling that Vee was just going along with it for her friend’s sake. And his little sister… Jenny would either play along or let all of this devolve into total chaos. Depending on what she thought was more likely to cheer Mina up.

Now Graam and Jak were standing outside of the barracks, a bit to the side and out of sight near the back to give them both a bit of privacy. The atmosphere was tense, chaos and revelations straining their previous relationship.

“So, ah, how are you doing now? What after that Demon and all that afterwards…” The shark trailed off awkwardly, unsure how much to say. What to say. If he even should say anything more.

“I’m… not fine.” Jak answered after a moment, biting down his anger that he felt at the reminder. At Haggard’s destruction. That bitch in white helping him. One that Graam seemed to know… but already another question as on his lips. Something that had stuck out to him that the shark had said. Because neither he nor Myra had told anybody about that thing on the rooftops yet.

“How did you know I got attacked?” His eyes narrowed at the shark.

“Didn’t I tell you that…?” Graam blinked confused, scrunching his forehead up in thought. Things had been going a bit fast after all, still were. “Some of my friends here saw you, the whole reason why I was even out to find you. They’d been a bit too late to actually help out, though…”

“Right, this whole secret organisation thing here… has this always been around? Was that the reason you keep an eye out on me in the first place? You knew about that thing and decided to keep an eye out on me and whatever it and Haggard were doing? Or whoever that bitch was you were fighting?!” Jak growled out, feeling like everything was sudden coming together. He was breathing heavily, grinding his teeth as more and more pieces fitted loosely together in his mind.

“Woah! Woah! Lass mal die Segel ruhen! That’s not at all the case!” Graam waved wide eyed, startled by Jak’s outburst. Rubbing his neck he searched for the right words, letting out a hissed sigh. “Yeah, I’ve been part of this long before I ever came to Dampfstadt. But that got nothing to do with keeping an eye out for you! Or even… the Orphanage. Didn’t even got a clue that there was anything about you that could have drawn a Demon’s attention…”

Jak grumbled lightly but nodded in acceptance, breathing out to calm himself. Only to blink owlishly as something else stood out to him.

“Wait, wait… that thing’s been sneaking around the Orphanage since I was little! Why would it wait until now to hunt me?!” Jak exclaimed in disbelief.

“You probably didn’t have whatever it senses back then.” Graam shrugged awkwardly. “Things like power, Arcs especially, need time to form. To develop. They rarely show themselves when you’re young like that. But now there’s something. And that something is apparently alluring enough to Demons that one risked revealing themselves out in the open like that. Just because you saw one would never be enough for that.”

“Great. So, what? I go some kind of incredible or what? What even are they anyways! What do they want with me?! And who was that… that gecko bitch with Haggard?!” Jak threw his arms into the air. A groan escaped him. “I didn’t even think they were actual Demons until now, just called them because that thing looked freaky as Abyss…”

“I… I can’t really say I know why they want you. Or for what. And maybe to your power? Got no clue about that kinda stuff.” Graam grimaced apologetically. “And yeah, that thing you had to deal with was a Demon. A creature of Nightmares. And under direct command of the Demon Witch herself, most likely.”

“Right… Nightmares.” Jak repeated with a drawl when a memory flashing through his mind. The ocean of magma. Eyes that burned into his. The crimson hatred. A glimpse of pure darkness between the sickle. His breath quickened and he rapidly shook his head to push the images back out of his mind. R-right, that’s what he had seen when that Demon had grabbed him. He swallowed nervously and rubbed his arm, looking much less disbelieving. “Y-yeah, that was a Nightmare all right…”

“Look…” Graam began with a sigh before cursing himself. “Agh, by Taboo’s curse! I know I’m bad at this! Okay, just… Right now they won’t be striking at you or your friends. Not with everything that’s going on - That I can’t tell you anything about! - So, just… just enjoy yourself at the Lebensfest with your friends. And after that I know some people who are much better at giving you the rundown on all of this than I ever could. I can… I DO promise you that you will get all your answer.”

Graam nodded firm and hard, looking Jak directly in his eyes.

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

The young wolf cat looked back, eyes hard. So many more questions whirled through his head. He want to barrage Graam with them, force the answers out of him, Now! But meeting the old shark’s eyes… Jak swallowed them down and gave a terse nod. And in part because he knew himself how bad Graam was at explaining complicated stuff at times.

“Phew, thanks for trusting me.” Graam breathed out in relief, relaxing with an exhausted smile.

An awkward silence began to fall over the duo that Jak was the first to break.

“So, any Lebensperlen I should get for you? Seeing as you are gonna be stuck here and all.” Jak smirked at him with twinkling eyes. “I’m sure they will be worth a few extra Shards to you~”

“Agh! I will give you your Shards…!” Graam exclaimed in mock affront as the two devolved into a verbal exchange of intense handling over an utterly trivial change in theme.

The tense atmosphere that had been cloying around them dispersed into lightheartedness.

———

There was a large difference between freshening up in the morning compared to getting for a festival, never mind something as big and important as the Lebensfest. It was a fact birthed by long standing tradition, at least on the female side. And one that Rehn was definitely taking part in. Which was the reason why Rehn and Vee found themselves once again in the bathroom. Saia had been nice enough to lend them some of her own makeup. Admittedly, Vee was only here because Rehn had forced her with those big, hopeful eyes of hers. All of this beauty stuff just reminded her far too much of her mother’s particular blend of appearance.

Rehn in contrast was busying herself with a cheerful hum as she applied some light shading to her eyes, emphasising the brilliant hue of her emerald iris and to meld with the dark blue to nearly pitch-black of her hair. She didn’t even look at all bothered by her current circumstances.

“…how can you be so calm?” Vee found herself asking with a raised eyebrow, already fine with just smoothing her own fur and hair. Though she did massage some oil into her scales to give them a more lustrous shimmer. She grimaced lightly. “I can’t help but feel like we’re just prisoners on parol.”

Rehn blinked, halting in her movements before gentle laying down her brush to tap her chin thoughtfully.

“I’m just used to being watched, I suppose.” She finally answered with a sheepish grin, cocking her head to the side. “My dad always has Guards watching over me at all times when I’m out and about. Pretty sure I saw some slinking around the School as well.”

“…wow, privacy much?” Vee sweatdropped then she blinked. “You never told me about that.”

“Not allowed to…” Rehn grumbled annoyed, a pout on her lips. “Pretty sure I wasn’t even supposed to notice them in the first place.”

“Heh, at least you can tell now.” Vee mused.

“Ugh, tell me about it! I’ve been dying to get this out of my system!” Rehn exclaimed, stretching her arms out as she leant backwards in relief. The two girls laughed.

“So, any tips on how to ignore stupid shit like that?” The chameleon weasel smirked at her.

“Heh, you asked the right girl, my girl~!” Rehn grinned right back, eyes sparking smugly.

While those two continued to get ready while chatting about this and that to distract themselves from from their current lack of personal privacy, Saia had taken to Jenny and Mina’s festival preparations in her own room. And the swallow had to say she was proud of her results. The fiery fennec mouse had been surprisingly eager to follow along even as she had fidgeted a bit much but Saia hadn’t really expected her to stand still anyways. She hid an amused giggle from the overly excited and cute looking girl.

Myra was watching from the side. The teenage bunny cat had never actually used makeup before and was grateful for Saia’s help. Though the main reason she hadn’t joined Rehn and Vee was to give those two friends a bit of privacy together. She felt more comfortable here than to intrude on them.

“Yeah, that’s it. Just apply it gently.” Saia guided her with a smile from the side while adjusting the threads of the traditional Lebensfest dress that she was fitting Jenny into.

The plated cloth was bound around her waist, flowing straight down her form but would billow outwards into a beautiful bell-shape with a twirl. A second cloth was draped over her shoulders to cover her chest and was bound to her arms and the central knot binding the main dress to keep it from sliding around. The dress was gradient in colour, a green flowing into blue along the plates that fit to her hair and fur. More expensive ones had often beautiful patterns or gorgeous sceneries embroidered on them, to unfold as one twirled. But even a simple one like this was still beautiful. Mina was wearing a similar one, with purple flowing into white instead.

“It’s like applying the right amount of coating to a isolated gear.” Myra grinned at Saia’s guidance,

“I will take your word for it.” Saia sweatdropped with a chuckle, having heard similar comments from Kass. She shook head lightly. Those two would get along like two peas in a pot… or clash harder than water and oil.

“Ooh! I can’t wait to surprise Jak with this! And then we’re finally going to the Lebensfest!” Jenny squealed, barely able to contain her excitement. She was vibrating on the spot in anticipation, her dress dancing and bouncing around her.

Mina watched awkwardly from the side, she was happy - was she? - that Jenny was able to have fun. But all she could feel was still numb guilt and muted sadness. The painful, overwhelming sting had dulled… and somehow that was even worse. It was all she could do to force even a small smile to her lips.

“How you keeping up?”

The parrot weasel startled as Myra suddenly asked her from behind, arms gently hugging her as she hesitated to pick her up immediately.

“…’m fine.” Mina mumbled, trying to force smile again. Unwitting she found herself snuggling into the bunny cat’s hold, seeking the warmth.

Unknowing of the hot tears that rushed down her face. Myra’s hold tightened gently. The older girl didn’t say anything.

“Now, let’s get that hair a bit more orderly!” Saia declared, fuzzing with Jenny’s hair all of a sudden to allow the other girl to cry herself out without feeling pressured.

“W-what?! No! It’s fine like it is…!” Jenny squeaked out wide eyed, arms flitting up to her head to protectively cover her raven’s nest of a hair style and accompanying, large ears.

Even through her tears, a small giggle escaped Mina.

———

It was well into the morning by now. The first half of Babylon’s operation had finally moved forwards on both fronts. One deeper into the depths of Dampfstadt. And within the city’s heart Leora had just woken up for her shift to keep guard while the rest of her team was still resting in anticipation of the remaining day.

All the while a cheerful hum echoed through the hidden crystal hollow even further below. With twinkling eyes Flizz smiled brightly in anticipation of the coming confrontation.