Dawn crept through the ash trees, painting strange shadows across their campsite as Neiva crawled out of her tent. Her muscles protested after a night on the hard ground - definitely not the comfort she was used to.

Finding a fallen log that looked relatively clean, she settled down with her water bottle and toothbrush, trying to make the best of their rustic situation.

"GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE!" Red's voice exploded behind her like a firecracker. Neiva shrieked, toothpaste foam spraying everywhere as she nearly fell off her perch.

She spun around to find Red's gray-tinted duplicate of Angelo standing there shirtless, wearing that infuriating predatory grin she was starting to recognize.

"'Ot 'unnny!" she sputtered through the foam, she grabbed the nearest pinecone and hurled it at him. The fact he could not feel pain, only made his grin widen.

Blue's shirtless form coalesced from azure smoke nearby, his scholarly presence a stark contrast to Red's chaos.

"Good morning, Neiva. Please accept my apologies for Red's complete inability to behave like a civilized being." His cultured tones carried enough frost to start a small ice age.

Neiva rinsed and spat behind the log, shooting Red a glare that could have melted steel. "Don't apologize for him, Blue. We both know he's physically incapable of acting normal."

"Oh, you know me so well already!" Red snickered, clearly taking her insult as a compliment.

"And why are you two shirtless?" Neiva demanded. Red, she could sort of understand, but Blue?

"Our physical forms mimic Angelo's." Blue explained "His sleeping bag proved a bit too effective it seems."

Blue's perfect posture somehow managed to radiate concern. "And you? How did you fare during the night?"

"Horrible," Neiva groaned, running fingers through her tangled hair. "Though I guess I should be grateful nothing tried to eat us."

Red's grin turned positively wicked. "You mean you didn't hear our furry visitor?"

"What?" Her hands froze mid-detangle.

"Oh yes," Red's satisfaction dripped like honey. "Had myself a lovely chat with a bear. Made myself a nice glowing crimson bear suit out of forged energy - you should have seen it! Fight fire with fire, as they say."

"He speaks truth, for once," Blue confirmed with scholarly resignation. "Though his methods were... questionable at best."

The color drained from Neiva's face. "But- but Angelo said bears would be hibernating!"

Her voice cracked with betrayal as she stormed toward Angelo's tent, leaving Red and Blue to exchange knowing looks.

"ANGELO!" She shook the tent like she was trying to wake the dead. "Get out here right now!"

Red lounged against a tree, thoroughly enjoying the show. "What is she, his mother?"

"We could do without your commentary," Blue's disapproval could have frozen helium.

Inside the tent, Angelo groaned as Red's mental voice exploded through their shared consciousness: "WAAAAKKKKEE UPPPPP!"

Angelo burst out, bare-chested and disoriented, revealing a physique carved by countless battles. "What has gotten into you lot?!"

Neiva's righteous anger evaporated at the sight, her cheeks flushing pink. "I... I mean..."

"Heh," Red's voice dripped satisfaction. "If you could feel those butterflies in her stomach, Angie. I'm telling you she's into you."

"Red!" Neiva's mortification transformed instantly back to fury.

But Angelo just stood there, unimpressed, hands in his pockets and expression hard as granite. His unexpected calm drew startled looks from both Neiva and Red. "So," he said with exhausted patience, "why exactly am I being yelled at?"

As morning light filtered through the branches, Neiva gathered her scattered thoughts. "You told me bears weren't a threat this time of year! But Red just chased one away last night!"

Angelo released a soul-deep sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Look, I set up that forged energy barrier around camp for a reason. I knew Red and Blue could handle any threats - I just wanted you to sleep without worrying."

He gestured toward the barely visible threads of energy stretching between trees. "Would you have gotten any rest if I'd told you bears might wander by?"

"Hmph." Neiva crossed her arms, but the fight seemed to drain from her. "No one likes being lied to, Angelo."

Her eyes carried genuine hurt that made him look away, discomfort evident in the set of his shoulders. Then her gaze locked onto Blue with laser focus. "But I expected better from you!"

"Me?" Blue's scholarly composure cracked like thin ice, making Red's jaw drop in shock. "What possible reason-"

"From Red, I didn't expect anything different," she cut him off, while Red nodded with theatrical innocence. "But you? Taking part in this deception?"

Blue stared at her like she'd just questioned the laws of physics. His hand dragged down his face as he visibly gathered his dignity around him like a cloak. When he opened his eyes, his usual analytical detachment had returned.

"It is not my place to interfere in others' decisions," he stated with careful precision. "While I may express opinions in the spirit of intellectual discourse, I do not enforce my views upon others.Though I share your disapproval, intervention would have overstepped my role as an observer."

Without another word, his form dissolved into azure smoke that streamed back into Angelo, leaving both him and Neiva frozen in surprise.

Red whistled low, leaning against a nearby tree. "Damn, what a charged morning! Everyone's got their panties in a twist." His predatory grin somehow managed to widen further. "You all need to learn to chill."

Angelo sighed, the morning dew still clinging to the grass around their campsite. "Good idea for once, Red."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

His words drew a confused look from Neiva before his piercing gaze locked onto her with sudden intensity, making her physically jump.

"Wha- what?" She kept meeting his eyes before glancing away, like someone trying to stare at the sun.

"We've got time before meeting Bob." He said, his voice carrying the weight of a teacher's authority. "You wanted help resuming your Auron training, right? No time like the present."

"R-right now?" Neiva's voice cracked with surprise. She tugged self-consciously at her rumpled clothes, clearly unprepared for training.

Angelo's expression hardened like cooling metal. "If you're tagging along with me, you need two things: usefulness and self-protection. Infernia isn't exactly tourist-friendly - things can go sideways fast. You need to be ready."

"No pressure," Red added with his trademark predatory grin, lounging against a nearby tree like a cat watching mice at play.

"I... wow, okay but..." Neiva fumbled with her words like dropped marbles. "Maybe I should change into something more comfortable first?"

"Don't worry about it," Angelo's voice softened slightly. "We're just doing meditation today."

Relief washed over her face like a cool breeze. "Oh! Okay, yeah. I can handle that."

"Here's what you need to do," Angelo's voice took on the measured tones of instruction.

"Focus inward first - try to feel your own energy flow. Every few minutes, shift that focus outward to the energy around you. The goal is sensing both."

Neiva closed her eyes, years of rust falling away from old training habits. "O-okay..."

"Nerves will just get in your way, girly," Red offered with a theatrical wink. "Can't feel energy flow if you're too busy feeling butterflies."

"R-right, thanks." Neiva took a deep breath, trying to center herself as Angelo's aura ignited. Orange energy writhed around him like living flame, transforming into the smoky patterns of his evolved state.

Red bounced on his heels, already looking bored. "So what am I supposed to do while you two commune with the universe?"

"Take a walk or something," Angelo muttered without opening his eyes.

Through their shared consciousness, Red's voice carried mischievous intent: "Hey blueberry, fancy a few rounds?"

There was a pause before Blue's unexpected reply: "Very well... I could use the distraction."

His response caught both Red and Angelo off guard. His azure form streamed out of Angelo like morning mist, drifting toward their old training ground near the pond.

Red's excitement was practically tangible as he dissolved into crimson smoke, briefly reconnecting with Angelo before racing after Blue's retreating form.

Neiva tried to ignore their departure, focusing inward as years of neglected training rushed back.

But after twenty minutes, she exploded to her feet. "Ahhh, I can't take this! How do you stand it?!"

"I acted like that when I was eight," Angelo replied without moving or opening his eyes. His voice carried centuries of patience wrapped around steel. "Surely you have better self-control than a child?"

Shame colored her cheeks as she sank back down. "Fine... you're right. Sorry."

The morning deepened around them as they resumed their meditation, broken only by distant sounds of Red and Blue's sparring match filtering through their shared consciousness.

Hours passed like water through cupped hands until Red's inevitable defeat signaled time to return to town.

The walk back to Ashford felt lighter today - no mysteries to chase, no looming shadows of old rivals.

Even Angelo's usual tension had eased slightly as autumn leaves crunched beneath their feet. The peaceful moment shattered when Neiva's cry cut through the morning air:

"No! My phone's dead!" She stared at the black screen in horror. "That's why I haven't gotten any notifications!"

"You had plenty of time to check it," Angelo replied dryly as they entered town. Festival preparations dominated the main square, workers rushing to finish up what looked like the centerpiece of the celebration today.

Bob practically yanked them inside when they reached his door. "I've got good news," he announced, rubbing his hands together.

"While we can't return the property or the full sale amount, we might be able to get you some compensation."

"How much is 'some'?" Neiva leaned forward intently.

"About fifty percent," Bob's satisfaction radiated like warmth from a fireplace.

Red materialized in a swirl of crimson smoke, his face twisted with outrage. "Fifty percent?! It was supposed to be ours!"

Angelo caught his duplicate in a swift headlock. "Shut it, hothead!"

He turned to Bob, somehow managing to look professional while wrestling himself. "That would be amazing. Thank you."

"Haha, not at all, lad!" Bob seemed more amused than alarmed by their antics. "Quite the fiery one, isn't he?"

He pulled out his phone, fingers dancing across the keypad. "Just need confirmation from the property office in Lumecent - they told me to call around now."

Blue emerged like morning mist, his scholarly presence a stark contrast to Red's barely contained fury.

"Perhaps they're experiencing technical difficulties. Even government agencies aren't immune to such problems."

The conversation died as a siren's wail cut through the air like a knife, making them all jump. Jenette burst into the room, her face pale with fear. "What's happening?!"

Angelo's expression transformed into something terrible as recognition hit. "That siren..." His orange aura erupted around him like contained lightning as he bolted outside, Red, Blue and Bob hurried after him.

The street had transformed into chaos. People rushed toward shelters in blind panic, their fear as tangible as the autumn wind.

A megaphone's crackling voice cut through the mayhem: "Everyone to the shelters! The Sundering Flames has launched coordinated attacks on every major city in Luminia! We don't know if they'll target towns like Ashford - everyone to safety!"

Angelo felt his heart plummet as Neiva joined them, her voice shaking. "What's going to happen? What are we going to do?"

"BOB!" Angelo's command made the older man jump. "Take Neiva to the shelter!"

Bob nodded, understanding flooding his weathered features. "And you, lad?"

"Back to Novaria - they'll need reinforcements." Angelo's evolved aura pulsed with barely contained energy. "Let me charge my phone first. Red, call the chief while Blue and I figure out the fastest route."

"But it took three hours by train!" Fear made Neiva's voice crack. "You can't possibly run that fast!"

"That's right," Blue chimed in, his scholarly mind visibly racing. "However, the shortest path is always a straight line."

"Through mountains!" Neiva's earlier research surfaced. "That terrain will slow you down even more!"

Angelo raked fingers through his hair, frustration evident in every movement. "Yeah, not ideal. No buildings to swing between like in the city. But we don't have a choice."

Meanwhile inside Bob's house Angelo's phone came to life, Red connected with Chief Ramirez, whose panic carried clearly through the speaker: "Angelo?! Are you alright? Where are you?!"

"It's Red. We're fine. What's the situation?" The absence of Red's usual mischief spoke volumes.

"Get back immediately! Sleeper cells have activated in every major city - mix of regular and Evolved Aurons throughout Novaria. We need you here now!"

"Working on it, chief!"

"And Red?" Ramirez's voice turned grim. "Tell Angelo - when you engage these Infernian sons of bitches, shoot to kill. Too many to take prisoners."

After the call, Red noticed Miriam's increasingly desperate messages:

> 10:31 AM - "Angelo, where are you?! Are you ok?!"

> 10:40 AM - "??????"

> 11:05 AM - "Please answer me Angelo, I'm worried sick!"

His fingers moved with uncharacteristic care as he typed: "In Ashford, heading back. Get to safety and don't worry!"

Angelo and Blue's tactical discussion grew more heated as Red rejoined them.

"Circling the mountains is a sure bet!" Angelo insisted.

"As I've explained repeatedly," Blue's scholarly patience cracked slightly, "that approach would be slower than the train. Even without knowing the exact heights, climbing might be faster. We must take calculated risks!"

"Maybe we should tunnel under-" Red's suggestion died as they both stared at him. Neiva and Bob watched their bizarre three-way argument like spectators at a very strange tennis match.

Blue sighed and waved his hand. "Red, aerial routes are most efficient for obvious reasons," Blue's dismissal could have frozen helium.

"Ground-based travel only increases time expenditure. Even you should comprehend that."

The word 'aerial' seemed to echo through Angelo's mind, his expression going blank as memory crashed over him like a wave. Bill's final words resurfaced with crystal clarity:

> "Promise me something... you're not bound by your limits... You can reach the top..."

"I'm not bound by my limits..." The whispered words drew confused looks from everyone. "I can reach the top...?" His head slowly tilted upwards, his gaze settled on the clouds up high.

"What are you-" Blue began.

"I got it." Angelo's eyes blazed with sudden purpose as he cut off his counterpart. "I know how we're getting to Novaria." His gaze swept over them all, carrying absolute conviction.

"Right here, right now, I'm going to learn how to fly."