The slums felt different now. Not the kind of different that came with a new gang seizing control of a few blocks, or an airship spilling its refuse onto the rooftops, or some amateur Tinkertot building an illegal shatter-bomb and bringing half an apartment complex down. The kind of different that went beyond the everyday struggles of the area, that went beyond the rough-and-tumble lifestyle that everyone there was so familiar with.

No, it wasn't any of those things, and if someone had told her that the streets could take on a new color a few months ago, she'd have laughed and suggested that they eat less Synthies. Too much synth-ham played with the mind, as some in the slums were all too prone to tell others after a bad trip. Or maybe some Rusty was showing off a bit by attempting to use a big word. But this wasn't that kind of different either.

This was something else. Something that wasn't all in her mind.

That something was her, of course. Fii. Not that her name meant much to anyone. To most people, she was just another girl in the slums, one who didn't stand out in any way. She wasn't a gang leader or an artist or anything like that. As far as they knew, she didn't do anything interesting or exciting, or even dangerous.

To them, she was just another street rat trying to stay alive. Except she wasn't, not anymore.

In the last couple of months, ever since her identity as 'Axion' had been revealed, there was a change in the air. Whispers now followed her whenever she stepped into the slums. The occasional murmurs, the sidelong glances, the hushed conversations that abruptly stopped whenever she walked by—all told her that the secret was out.

In her efforts to protect the people of the slums, she had inadvertently revealed her true nature to those around her.

As far as anyone knew now, she was a Super. The slums have never had a hero to call their own.

Never.

And to be fair, no one knew what to make of her. Sure, Supers were fascinating and powerful. Everyone had heard about their heroic deeds in the metropolis. Everyone knew about the extraordinary feats they achieved with their abilities.

But this was the slums.

To everyone, it just wasn't supposed to be possible. Supers weren't meant to exist in the slums. They were something other; larger-than-life beings who defended the affluent city across the way, not the cesspool of poverty and crime in which she lived. It was like hearing about someone finding a diamond in the rough. Not likely and when it did happen, it was hard to believe.

There was an unspoken belief that the Supers' world and theirs were two entirely different realms. A Super would never dare set foot in the slums. Why would they? There were no massive threats or global conspiracies to foil. There was nothing worthwhile here in their eyes.

The only thing that the slums had to offer was misery, rust, and rain. It was where the cast-offs of society went to wither away, a place to be forgotten.

For a time, her clandestine forays into the superhero gig, donning the moniker "Axion," had been limited to the odd jobs—breaking up street fights, mediating minor disputes, and the occasional daring rescue from a precarious rooftop.

To her, these were all routine activities.

There was something about the visceral thrill of embracing the mantle of a superhero that gave her a certain kind of... buzz. A rush of adrenaline that was different than anything that she had ever felt. Something about using her powers to help others, even if it was on a small scale, was exhilarating.

Plus, it wasn't as though anyone was actually watching her do this. Most of her 'heroics' had been done without much fanfare or recognition.

Or so she had thought.

Now that everyone knew, things had changed. People stared at her. Some nodded in reverence, others looked on in curiosity, and the majority remained skeptical or indifferent. Everyone had an opinion about her, whether good or bad, and most couldn't decide between the two. Just her presence was enough to cause a stir, but in truth, most still didn't understand her significance.

Fii wasn't ignorant of their confusion. It was like being thrust into the spotlight without warning. In a sense, she had gone from a nobody to an urban legend overnight, and she wasn't sure how to process that sudden shift.

Everything just felt out of balance. But before she could really sort out any of this, a rumble of a stomach brought her focus back to the present. For now, it was time to deal with the age-old question that every street rat faced: what's for lunch?

She sat down in the tiny alleyway between her own ramshackle hovel of a home and the adjacent apartment, whose cracked windows were the only decoration on the drab and dreary building that stood out amidst the ramshackle structures surrounding it. Across the lane was a mismatched patchwork of corrugated roofs and plywood lean-tos, casting shadows over the muddy, puddle-strewn ground below, with its pavement punctuated by cracks that revealed the persistent green weeds pushing through.

Her home itself wasn't any better, of course. But at least, it was hers.

Dangling her legs over the edge, Fii blew a few loose strands of hair out of her eyes. She wore a tank top and bike shorts, each ragged at the edges, but still in decent shape—well, okay shape, considering they were older than she was. She wrapped herself tighter in her tattered jacket, the familiar scent of worn leather enveloping her.

Despite everything, Fii enjoyed quiet moments like this. They were rare in the chaos of the slums, where something was always happening. Even if she was hungry, she had the sun on her face and the cool breeze against her skin. At least, for the moment, she could just be here and think about... nothing, really. It was kind of nice, honestly.

With Edith's disappearance and the emergence of her 'secret,' living in the Aether Clinic wasn't an option. Sheri and the others there would have had their hands full dealing with all the new rumors. People would have come there seeking her out, whether out of curiosity or because they thought she could help them somehow.

Best to keep to her old place instead, at least until everyone got used to her being a Super, or forgot about it. With how quickly things went from one topic to another in the slums, that wasn't a far-fetched idea.

Too bad this also meant she didn't have a stable source of food to sate her metahuman appetite. The clinic was pretty good with meals, so long as Sheri had a hand in it. On her own, she was forced to forage from her usual spots. Grub'n'Guzzle wasn't an option these days, though.

Last time, she'd felt everyone's eyes on her back. They all watched to see if her Super-ness made her too good for cheap, gritty burgers. Or maybe they wanted to make sure she wasn't going to fly away with the food.

A funny image, if not for the absurdity of it.

The thing was, she did stand out these days, even more than usual. She wasn't sure exactly why. Maybe people finally noticed how athletic she was? Maybe they noticed the white hair that clashed against her olive skin, or how bright her blue eyes looked among the grit. Or maybe it was the way she held herself, always looking up and walking with a spring in her step, even when others were hunched over and staring at the ground. Who knew?

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

With a soft exhale, Fii shrugged the thoughts off.

That was enough contemplation. Now was the time to eat.

She tossed the small haul she got from Rao onto the alley's cracked pavement, picking through the offerings as if selecting a prize. There was a package of Synth-O's, those silver-colored circles that didn't taste like much, a container of pure protein paste (no thank you), a single yellowy banana that looked like it had been run over, and an enigmatically labeled "Rations Plus."

Hmm. Which one, which one? Rations Plus, here we go, she mused, reaching for the colorful package.

At least the label was entertaining. The picture looked nothing like the contents inside, but who didn't like a nice surprise in the middle of the day?

She tore open the seal and grimaced. Yup. Grub. It smelled like... well, like someone had tried to cover up the smell of something worse. Definitely the usual for a super-duper, enhanced, gourmet Superfood. Turning the package over in her hand, she squinted at the minuscule fine print: "Our new, improved formula, fortified with essential nutrients and minerals. Now, even better than before!"

The words were followed by an asterisk, which led to an even smaller print that read, "*Better, of course, is a subjective term. Product may contain trace amounts of extraterrestrial or metaphysical substances. Do not consume if unprepared for existential musings."

What the heck did that even mean?

Fii rolled her eyes at the absurdity of it all, but hey, at least she was a step ahead of everyone else on that front. Her life was already crazy enough.

Without further hesitation, she took a big, squishy bite out of the gelatinous rations. Chew, chew, swallow, and gone. Ugh, the taste wasn't what one would call appealing either. It was gritty, for some reason, with a sort of fake sweetness that made her want to gag. But food was food. Not exactly the hearty meals she'd grown fond of at the clinic, but this would do just fine.

It brought a rueful grin to her face as she reminisced about life in the clinic's kitchen with Sheri. Sheri, the solid rock that held the place together, the eternal peacemaker, the warm center. All these were terms that only vaguely applied to Edith. She'd never be anything other than her gruff, aloof self. In Sheri's presence, there was always warmth, a comfort that often felt just out of reach in the stark, impersonal clinic.

Edith was, well, more like cold, smooth marble. But then, underneath that icy exterior, Fii had caught glimpses of something warmer, more... caring, perhaps? There was no denying the empathy she'd shown in treating her patients.

But even as this thought crossed her mind, Fii's smile faded.

Two months.

Edith had been gone for a two months already, and Fii was still no closer to finding her. The clues were sparse, the leads were drying up, and her frustration grew with every dead end. Where had Salvatore taken her? What was his aim in all of this? Was she okay? I hope so...

Virgil had promised to lend a hand, to dig around and see what he could turn up.

But that was weeks ago. Since then, there hadn't been a peep from him. She thought about going to him again, to press for some answers, but reconsidered. Virgil had a funny way of doing things, and he'd made it pretty clear he would come to her once he had anything solid. Pushing him wouldn't get her anywhere and might even do the opposite of what she wanted. And wasn't he mad about Edith's disappearance?

Wouldn't he be looking just as hard?

Her thoughts spiraled, a montage of worst-case scenarios playing out in her head, each more dreadful than the last. But no. She pushed those thoughts away, focusing instead on the things she knew for certain. Edith was resourceful; she was a survivor. It was easy to forget that given how clean and put together she looked, but if anyone had a chance to survive... whatever this was, it was her.

She had to believe that. Believing the alternative was unacceptable.

With a sigh, she downed the rest of her rations. That wasn't as tasty as she'd hoped. Next time, the run-over banana might just be the better option. Setting aside her disappointment in meal quality, Fii cast her gaze around the alley.

Mrs. Hest, a dear old Rusty who sat across from her house in her dilapidated rocking chair, sent Fii a friendly wave. The woman's smile was as warm as always, even though her teeth were almost all gone. She waved back with a genuine grin, finding comfort in the mundane rhythm of these small gestures.

From nearby, the cacophony of laughter echoed from some kids playing in the street. A group of ClipRunners were wrestling over a lost shaker of salt—silly, but they didn't care. To them, life was a game. Fii couldn't help but think back to when she was one of them. In a weird way, she missed those simpler times.

Before all of... this.

With her thoughts as disorganized as the clutter of the slums, she leaned back, propping herself up with her arms. Her gaze drifted skyward to the rusted fire escape that clung to the building across the alley. A derelict airship passed slowly overhead, its immense balloon casting a fleeting shadow that briefly veiled the scene below.

Fii frowned, remembering how it rained yesterday. And the day before that. And the day before that, and... the day before that. Would it ever just... stop raining for a week? Give things a chance to dry out?

Maybe it would, maybe it wouldn't.

Looking around, it was hard to miss the various water collection systems people had set up on rooftops and windowsills. Barrels, buckets, all sorts of containers littered the area. Everything that could be used to catch water was put to use, and from the looks of it, even that wasn't always enough.

The kids played, Mrs. Hest rocked, people collected water, and rain came and went, and would come again. Meanwhile, Fii sat, enjoying the calm.

Then her wrist chimed.

Lifting her hand, a holographic screen projecting from a watch-like device encircling her wrist. She checked the message: it was a ping from Virgil.

 GOT INFO. COME NOW –VM

It was concise, devoid of emotion, and exactly the kind of message she'd expect from Virgil. No small talk or anything like that. His tone was often a mystery to her. Despite how direct the man could be, she never really knew what he was thinking. There was always some... thing underneath those words that was hard to make out.

Still, he was helping, and that's what mattered.

Fii scrambled to her feet, excitement replacing the hunger pangs that lingered from her meal. Finally, a lead! This was her chance to find Edith, to bring her home safely.

With a renewed sense of purpose, she shot a quick wave and smile at Mrs. Hest, then took off down the alley, the woman's chuckles fading behind her. Fii moved with a practiced grace, scaling walls, leaping from fire escape to rooftop, and navigating the convoluted pathways of the slums with the confidence of someone who had done this a thousand times before.

Her control over her Gravikinesis was fine-tuned now. No more stumbles or misjudged landings for her. Fii had learned to wield it in sync with her movements, using gravity as an extension of her will as she jumped between buildings, or deftly skimmed past startled residents. All of it was under her control, with no effort involved. It was simply natural.

A huge difference from when she first started, that was sure.

But in truth, that was no different than before. She had been an incredible climber, acrobat, and runner when she was still just a normal person. Maybe being a Meta with an innate sense of gravity had always been in her, long before Edith's experiment, her powers were just latent until they'd been awoken. It was difficult to tell if that was just a bit of lingering denial, or if it was an intriguing hypothesis to ask Edith about whenever she saw her next.

After bounding over a roof's edge, her wrist chimed again, bringing her to an abrupt halt. Another message, but not from Virgil this time—it was from Quinn. A warmth spread across her chest at the thought of him. Their relationship was fresh, unexplored territory for Fii. But in all honesty, it was nice. Quinn was nice.

 Hey, we still on for lunch today? –Q

Oh, crap!

In the whirlwind of her thoughts about Edith and her mission to find her, she'd completely forgotten about her lunch date with Quinn. Running a hand through her hair, she sent a quick apology, promising to make it up to him soon. An excuse would just be a lie.

I'll come up with something later.

No reply, but she wasn't expecting one. Quinn was always considerate like that. He didn't pressure her for explanations. But even so, guilt gnawed at her.

She and Quinn had been exploring the extent of their feelings for each other. There were a handful of kisses here, a few make-out sessions there, but they hadn't talked much about where things were going or how serious it was.

Maybe one day, when the business with Edith was settled, they could finally sit down and have a real talk about whatever this was and where it might go.

If he even wanted that, which she still wasn't sure if he did.

Right now though, she had to go to The Vigil.