The tall man had bronze skin and black hair. His white longcoat billowed behind him as he walked towards them casually. He looked like a cross between a secret agent and a fashion model. His eyes didn't move off from the two women as he approached them.

"You didn't say he was hot," Isabella said as she watched him approach.

"Wah?" James said as she glanced at Isabella, caught off guard by her comment. "That's... Wait, what?"

"Nothing," Isabella said, gesturing at Elias, who finally drew to a conversational distance.

"Hello," Elias said as he looked over Isabella for a moment before turning his eyes entirely to James. James felt a bit uncomfortable being under his direct scrutiny. Sher nose wrinkled slightly at the smell of whatever cologne he was wearing. She had gotten more used to a new world of extreme smells in this form, but this reminded her of something she couldn't quite place.

"I apologize for not finding you sooner," Elias continued as he stopped a few feet from James. "But the last time I saw you, you were less presentable."

"Wha?" James said as she tried to reboot her brain and get back on track with the conversation.

"He means you looked like a hobo," Isabella supplied helpfully.

"I didn't..." Elias started but trailed off as James sighed loudly.

"Yeah," James said as she gestured around. "I don't even want to be here, so can everyone please not pick on me for a few minutes."

"I apologize," Elias said as he gestured back into the park. "Why don't we go for a walk. We can discuss things with fewer ears listening in."

"There are others here?" James asked as her ears perked up, and she glanced around. "I knew this was a trap."

"It's not a trap," Elias and Isabella said simultaneously. The two glanced at each other momentarily at the unexpected synchronicity. Isabella smiled in return before Elias turned his attention back to James.

Elias shook his head. "My associates have secured this area. We attempted to do so quietly, but this still alerted the others to our interests."

James finished her looks around, not having spotted anything obvious, and scowled. She was being played again, wasn't she? So, instead, she decided to take charge of the situation.

"No," James said as she rifled through her bag and pulled out her compact. She opened it and began to focus on her appearance.

"No? I am not-" Elias started but stopped. He watched in fascination as James' ears and tail vanished from view once again. "That's quite the item."

"No, nope, not an item, and not happening," James said as she put away the compact and glanced around again. She pointed at a small white gazebo in the middle of one of the park's fields. "We'll talk there," she said as she began to walk in that direction.

Elias looked momentarily uncomfortable with the suggestion before nodding. That was all James needed to confirm that it was a good idea.

The group made it over to the gazebo before finding seats within. Isabella and James were on one side, and Elias was on the other.

They sat in silence for a few moments before Elias began. "Thank you for coming to meet with me. While you may have reservations about this meeting, please know I mean no harm to you."

James scuffed at that last statement before speaking up. "I find that hard to buy. You've been nothing but a problem..." James said but trailed off, thinking better than continuing that line of dialogue. It was better not to reveal all her cards immediately.

"I apologize if I have caused you trouble," Elias said diplomatically. "Let's start over. My name is Elias. I work for an organization known as Pyramid. I am here because-"

"You want to get into her pants?" Isabella said quickly, unable to help herself.

"Uhm," Elias said, taken slightly aback. He turned to look at Isabella and changed the subject. "I do not believe we have been introduced, miss?"

"Isabella. I'm one of Jaaa--," Isabella was cut off as James quickly placed a hand over her mouth.

"Bel," James said. "Can we not."

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Isabella scowled at James for a moment before sighing. "I guess it's your secret to tell. Even if I do think it's a stupid one."

"So miss, Jah, Jay, Jane, Jade?" Elias said but stopped after James began to glare at him. "I need something to call you by."

"Pick something," James said unhelpfully. "But your explanation isn't why I decided to show up."

"Ah," Elias nodded. "I do believe I know what you wanted to discuss."

"You do?" James said, her eyes widening slightly. Did he actually know everything? Was he just playing games?

"Yes, miss... Jade?" Elias said but shrugged when she had no reaction to the name. "I believe I know why you were where you were when we met."

James' eyes widened further before she slipped a hand into her bag, fingertips on a group of cards. Shit, he did know. She was screwed, wasn't she?

"Don't worry," Elias said, noticing her agitation. "I have the item with me."

"What?" James blurted out in confusion as she looked back at Elias.

Elias reached into his longcoat and pulled out a ragged piece of cloth. The dark fabric was far too large to fit within it, but that didn't seem to have prevented him from doing so.

James' nose wrinkled as the smell from the robe hit her once again. "Oh, that. I thought I smelt something earlier."

"Yes," Elias said, setting it on the bench next to him. "You are, somehow, the Illusionist Trainee. Which is impossible, but it explains a great deal."

"But you are no simple summon," Elias went on. "My associates cast Banishment on you after you revealed yourself, but you were unaffected."

"Wait, what?" James said, looking confused. That really should have worked. Banishment sent a summoned monster to the graveyard. Still... She stood up and glared at Elias. "You tried to kill me? I fucking knew it was a trap!"

"Wait!" Elias said before James could waltz off. "That was not my idea."

"But you still went along with it," James turned and shouted. "Why can't you just leave me alone!? What did I ever do to you!?"

"Ja-Jade," Isabella said, catching James's arm as she tried to stalk out of the gazebo. "Remember why you came here."

James closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, trying to control her anger. These people were bad news but also her only real hope.

"I apologize," Elias said. "I won't allow anything to befall you. I promise you. The higher-ups overruled me on this test after they learned of our potential meeting."

"What if they overrule you again?" James asked as she sat back down roughly. Her tail got jammed against the bench, causing her to wince and forcing her to move it out of the way.

"I will, at least, inform you of the intention if it is within my ability to do so," Elias said. "Now, why did you decide to meet with me?"

James stewed for a few minutes before she finally spoke up. "I want you to call off the search for James Hawthorne and, if possible, exonerate him."

Elias seemed very surprised by this for a moment. "You're still loyal to your summoner?"

"You just said I'm not a summon," James countered.

"I said you were no simple summon. I am not sure what you are," Elias said as he patted the robe. "Does he have some other leverage over you?"

"It's not like that," James said, shaking her head. "Uhm, he didn't even know that real monsters existed until a few days ago."

"Really?" Isabella asked after she said this. James simply shook her head at her, causing Isabella to roll her eyes.

"It's not quite that simple. Even if I were inclined to believe you. He still stole several hazardous devices with the help of a few less savory individuals." Elias explained.

"It was a misunderstanding. Between that and people trying to kill him, he hasn't really been in a position to return them," James said, looking annoyed.

"That's unlikely but fair enough," Elias said, looking contemplative. "It would be a great deal of effort to roll things back, but far from impossible. But we would require the devices to be returned."

Isabella mused that he'd never see Miss Foxy again if he did that. But when the two turned to her. James had a look of disbelief on her face, whereas Elias wore a look of surprise. She realized too late that she had mumbled that under her breath, but somehow, they had heard her.

"Bel!" James yelled.

"So she is a summon," Elias said moments later and returned to James.

"I apologize. I wasn't aware of your circumstances."

James groaned. She leaned back in defeat and stared at Isabella with an annoyed expression.

"You could just explain," Isabella replied with her own annoyed expression.

"Explain what?" Elias probed.

"Nothing," James said. "Just let me think for a moment." Elias simply nodded, and the two gave her a few moments of silence.

She figured they might trap her like this if she told them she was James. She sat there and thought for a few minutes before she brightened. She had a great idea. It was actually pretty obvious.

"How about this? I'll have him give you my cards, too, and you can summon me," James said.

"That-" Elias said and paused for a moment before nodding. "Would be acceptable if you're alright with it."

"Are you sure you want to do that?" Isabella said. "What if they do something weird with your card?"

"It's fine," James said as she stood up, feeling better. She had already verified that no one else could use the cards. Paul and Isabella could not summon the Illusionist Trainee. They also could not use the fake puppeteer card on any other card. Even if they could, it wouldn't even be her. Thus, this was perfectly safe. Well, probably. If she was wrong, she would just explain the situation then.

"But if you lie about getting James completely off the hook. I'll be really annoyed," James said.

"Don't worry," Elias said. "I have some pull, and I am certain I can do that much at least. I have no intention of reneging."