The next day, Damien came back to the castle looking incredibly haggard along with a plethora of red bumps all around his body. He slept for the entire day, then the next morning when Krista went to check up on him.

From outside his door, she could hear him mumbling, “So many tests, so many shots, so many…”

Krista had brought Fierce with her, and she was shaking uncontrollably, probably worried for Damien’s health. The two could plainly hear him from behind the door, and Damien just kept going on like that until Krista knocked.

The door swung open ,and Damien looked at her and Fierce. He pointed towards Fierce, “You can come in,” to which she merrily walked inside. He then looked towards Krista and continued, “I’m still cross about you two leaving me with that woman so you stay out there,” before shutting the door. Krista knocked again, but she was forced to wait an unpleasantly long time before the door opened once again, “What do you want?”

“Why is he being so difficult,” she thought, “Come on, I didn’t really want to leave you either, but something happened to you that no one was aware of, and Professor Ornate is a highly recognized life wattiez user.”

Damien raised an eyebrow before sighing, “Fair, come inside.” As she walk in, Krista saw that Fierce had already made a place on Damien’s bed, an adorable sight as he laid on top of her, “What do you need, as to bother me so early in the morning?”

Damien was barely paying attention to Krista, mostly putting all his focus on playing with Fierce, but she knew just the words to grab his attention. “It’s got to do with Shining Twilight and how my Grand Auntie found some of their members here in New Dawn.”

“You mean the ones hanging around the guilds?”

“Just like I thought, he’s completely focused on…” Krista paused, “Excuse me?”

Matilda, as it turns out, is pretty closely related to you, and all the more affluent because of it. She offered information like the location of a few Shining Twilight members, and the chance to personally meet with the person who calls himself their leader, in a private room. I’ll just… owe her a favor,” explained Damien rather sheepishly

“What kind of favor would an older woman ask a young man?”

“Whatever you’re implying, no, none of that. Rather, she wants to be my… teacher. Considering Amelia’s high praise of her, I’m sure she could teach me a lot.”

“You don’t seem too eager about it.”

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“By Iroh, Krista, you’ve met the woman, she’s a lunatic. If possible, I’d prefer if I never saw that woman ever again.”

Those were some words Krista wanted to hear, “Is that so? Then maybe just listen to me for a second. My Grand Auntie made us an offer.”

“Are you talking about the woman who wittingly got my hopes up by setting me up with an audience with your parents, only to leave me hanging when it mattered?”

“Well, yes, the very same. Now, don’t you go back to playing with Fierce! Listen, do you know why Shining Twilight members are safe in the guilds with my parents doing nothing about it?”

“Your parents don’t want to raise tensions between themselves and Shining Twilight, so they choose to ignore their presence but more than likely have spies placed to watch their every move?”

“I mean… yes, technically, but it’s also to maintain their relationship with the Guild Coalition.”

“Maintain relations? Does the state not own the guilds?”

“No, they’re an intercontinental entity and hold nearly the same amount of power as any great city, at least economically.

“Money, of course, so they have so much of it that even the state can’t touch them.”

“In a way, it seems that Shining Twilight have been working incredibly close with the guilds, and their work has been nothing if not profitable. Apparently, they even have a new product coming out soon, something meant to replace staffs as we know them. Regardless, neither my parents, nor my Grand Auntie as a Grandmagi in S.C.O.W can do anything about them.”

“That’s where we come in.”

“You got it. Shining Twilight is looking to recruit, so they’ve asked several guilds to lend them a few of their members on a provisional basis, on Guild Master recommendation. Grand Auntie can get you, me, and Amelia that recommendation from an old friend of hers, along with whatever supplies we’ll need. Within reason, of course, this will be coming out of her personal bank account.”

“You sure Amelia can come with us, doesn’t her school start-”

“We got it covered. A professor from the college owes Grand Auntie a favor, so she’ll be able to teach Amelia along the way. Only problem is that we’ll have to think of a reason why a professor would be following us as we journey with Shining Twilight.”

“Just tell them that, Amelia is bringing along a tutor,” laughed Damien as he stroked on Fierce’s tuft fur, “If they’re looking for people to bring into their organization, then I’m sure a professor would be pretty adequate.

“Kind of sounds like you’re in, I’m not misinterpreting you, right?” she asked with a smile.

“Not on your life, actually, this might be fun. Can’t wait to see the look on their faces when they learn I was hiding amongst them before ripping off their leaders head from their shoulders.”

“Cool it, tall boy, this mission is recon only, or it’ll be a no go with Grand Auntie. That way we can take them down with the full force of New Dawn and S.C.O.W. Think you can hold it in at least until then.”

“I’ve been holding it in for more than three years now, what’s a few more months? I just have one more question.”

“Shoot.”

“It’s about supplies, you wouldn’t happen to know what nitropowder is?”