Rachel inhaled the crisp night air before releasing it in a visible cloud, shaking out her arms as the chill left and the snow drifted around them. The rush of the fight lingered in her muscles, tension slowly unwinding from her shoulders upon landing beside Nia.
She turned to survey the field, the roaring crowd muffled by the adrenaline still coursing through her veins and barrier cast by one of the Atlanta PMC members. Green was currently engaged in talking with the senator as the next showcase started up.
Not bad, Green. Not bad at all.
She glanced at the bun soldiers as they lurched forward to tackle her, a smile tugging at her lips while catching them in her arms. Nia, of course, led the charge, her tiny fists clenched in frustration as she playfully jabbed her tight stomach, cheeks puffy.
“You didn't use the new earrings, Major! I spent time polishing them, ya know! They’d have made you sparkle even more, and you know how good I am at accessorizing! You would have been all zip-zap, super speed—dodge!”
Rachel chuckled as the buns dropped down around her feet, allowing her to ruffle the top of the child’s head. “It may sound mean, but I didn’t need ‘em, Captain Bun. That was all about the basics and a little fun. Besides, we don’t always need to show off every toy in the kit.”
The rest of the bun soldiers giggled and jostled each other, unusually friendly with one another. Aurelia clung to her left leg, Coral instantly moving to her right to latch on and grin at her golden sister. White sat between them, one ear rubbing his face as if his two sisters were hopeless.
“Well, I guess some things can change,” she mused, looking up to see Nam, Alexa, and Grace approaching her through the curtain of snow, Aella shyly hovering in the background. “What’d you think?”
“Confused for a bit,” her brother mumbled while glancing at the hologram displays Astra generated, no doubt gathering a ton of information on everyone present. “You were moving a lot slower than you usually do. It kind of felt like I was watching one of your old muay Thai competitions. Green sped up at times, too.”
Alexa seemed surprisingly cheery considering it was a fight. “Yeah, Grace figured it out—time manipulation, right? That’s an insane power!”
The cowgirl tipped her hat, winked with her twinkling blue eyes, and puffed out her chest. “More than that, sugar. The turtle lady was sappin’ your girl’s [Resistances] by the shivers. Probably boostin’ her own. A real troublemaker, that one.”
“Sharp eyes,” Rachel whispered, her grin widening and truly impressed. “And what about you, Aella?” she asked, directing their attention to the skittish harpy girl, who tightened up at the prompt.
“Me?” she gulped, wings pulling into her body while avoiding eye contact. “Umm. You had a broader awareness and reaction time but she was more precise… I noticed in our, umm… Yeah, you can probably slow down time too or something like that.”
“Really?” Alexa asked, shining star-like pupils going wide. “Time-based powers are so cool! Maybe you could reverse time.”
Nia snorted, pulling their focus. The child held her hands behind her head, a smirk on her mouth as she looked off to the side. “Yeah, I don’t think so. Moon-Mom told me that it’s impossible to do timey-wimey stuff in the squiggly walls whats-it after the squishy worlds thing.”
Rachel’s ears tilted to the side. Interesting. Translation: Chang’e said reversing time or time travel is impossible within the Red Sea. Scarlet’s barriers and restrictions stop it. That makes a bit more sense. Time manipulation is possible, as the Crystals and Legend Quests do, but it’s limited.
Everyone’s faces blanked at the smug bunny’s statement, the look on her face practically shining with her own perceived sage-like wisdom.
“Translation?” Nam asked.
Rachel glanced toward the airfield as the airship flew higher into the sky and began heading their way. “Essentially, time travel isn’t going to happen but slowing or speeding up pockets of space, more than possible.”
“Ahh,” Alexa nodded, her wings fluttering a little as the wind picked up. “Okay, that makes it less crazy, but still super powerful. Cool powers.”
“Rachel—”
Before Rachel could respond, Scarlet’s voice sliced through the chatter like her scythe. Her sudden appearance through shadows made Aella half-shriek before clamping her feathered arms over her mouth.
They all winced at the high-pitched sonic wave hit them, the young woman somehow making herself even smaller as several others below cried out at the vocal attack.
“Sorry! Sorry…”
To Rachel’s surprise, Scarlet was the first one to move forward and put a comforting hand on her shoulder. Her deep frown upon showing up was replaced by a soft, understanding smile.
“Hey, it’s okay, Aella… You know you’re not a prisoner. Are you okay? You don’t feel okay.”
Tears welled up in the Italian woman’s eyes as she slowly shook her head, and Scarlet moved forward to pull her into a hug. She shot a sideward glance her way, Aella trembling in her arms. It earned a similar look from Alexa, who went to support the bird lady.
Cheer dampened, Rachel let a puff of air stream out of her nose, glancing toward her brother, who looked sympathetic for the woman that ‘asked’ if she could kill her earlier that night.
Grace crossed her arms and scooted closer to her. “Damn, boss, what rodeo did you take feather butt to? Kind of makes me sweat about our future date.”
Geez. I beat the shit out of some snot-nosed brat who had a fixation on murder, and now she’s the victim? People are so soft. Sure, I’m heartless most of the time, but I’m the one everyone goes to to get shit done…and then I’m blamed for going too far. She had a bite at the start. Where did that bird of prey go?
Ignoring the cowgirl, she turned her head skyward as the airship positioned over them, invisible behind the blanket of white falling from the heavens. Oh… Maria’s fed-up with the Mexican crew. Wow. Is that their plan?
Rachel shook her head and shifted sideward on the roof to look off toward the supercenter parking lot, where the Crystal and immediate communications bunker were: Tom had said her name while talking to an officer.
“Where’s Rachel Park right now, Captain?”
“Sir. From reports, she’s finished her talk… Although, it wasn’t much of a talk from what I heard. She and Green got into a show fight.”
“Why am I not surprised… When you get time, Rachel, I’d like a word. There are a few more details I want to discuss after compiling everything we talked about and new information.”
When I get the time… So, it’s not urgent.
Her focus returned to Scarlet as the fanged girl left the weeping harpy in Alexa’s arms, still unable to get her words out. The wrinkle between her brows showed a slight edge the timid girl typically didn’t show, ,but she was dealing with a lot inside with unresolved issues with her mother.
“I’ve been following a few people in Astra’s report,” she whispered, arms crossed when reaching her while looking out at the fight happening in the field. “Astra’s data flagged a couple of US soldiers. One in particular stood out.”
“I’ll take the bait.” Her brother moved to join them, silently listening. “Stood out how? Wait, when could you do this?”
Scarlet’s blood pooled out of her wrist, creating a mirror that showed a rather limited view of a tall man holding a bulky, old fashioned polaroid camera.
“It’s just a Blood Portal, only I limited the blood on the opposite side. I can’t move it,” she said with a slight smile at the praise, “but I can get a limited view of things on the other side… See it?”
Rachel’s ears twitched, interest piqued as she rubbed her chin. “Oh? A fan? He’s taking pictures of all the Legends and Myths, huh. Did you get a look at the photos? I’m guessing the camera is the problem.”
Scarlet flipped her hair over her shoulder before pointing at the photo. “It vanishes once out. See? They weren’t exactly inconspicuous, either. Right now they’re focusing on the Native American fighting the Atlanta representative—a spirit warrior—but they were really intent on taking photos of you before this fight.”
Rachel’s eyes narrowed, ears tilted to the crowd below to hear each click the camera made. Photos that vanish into thin air? We can store things inside our Soul Expanse if converted properly. Could they be a flux… No, I do not like that name. Demi sounds better to me. And what if they’re teleporting those photos to a 3rd party?
Her brother shivered beside her, hugging himself in the chilly snow storm, speaking up as she thought. “This new world is insane… Rachel, it’s getting pretty late. Alexa may not look it, but she’s actually pretty exhausted, and I think Aella is generally in the same boat. She’s mainly confused right now. You showed up like a whirlwind and just swept her along… Really?”
Lips twitching at the ironic statement, considering the harpy was the one who controlled wind, Rachel puffed out a long breath as the airship overhead descended. It stole the entire field’s attention, the heavy creak of its frame groaning under the pressure as it appeared. The cameras snapped upward, instantly drawn to the spectacle as the Mexican airship dipped low into view, gleaming under the stadium lights.
Rachel caught the flicker of emotion across Scarlet’s face—annoyance, maybe even a hint of disdain—as the crew of Mexican legends made their grand entrance. Draped in magical symbols and magitech items, they waved to the spectators below, basking in the limelight.
“A love for the flair, huh?”
Scarlet’s black lips bunched to the side as Alexa stared at it in awe, the harpy girl in her arms now hiccuping. “It’s impressive, sure…but they broke into the middle of a fight. Oh, great, and now they’re jumping down onto the stage.”
Rachel laughed softly, putting a hand on her hip as her buns jumped up to get a better look to observe the theatrics. “They’re challenging the Crow Spirit Warrior and Atlanta girl to a tag-team… And they’re boasting about Maria and how she can heal them up.”
Scarlet’s brow creased. “I mean, I guess that could boost our reputation more, right?”
Shaking her head, Rachel smirked. “Naaa. They’d still be dead in the water if it wasn’t for Maria patching them up. Half of their magitech engineers were on their last legs before she stepped in. You should go check on her—she’s probably exhausted from all that healing. Looks like she could use a break. Let them handle it on their own.”
Scarlet’s frown shifted, softening ever so slightly at the mention of Maria. “Yeah, probably best to get her out now since she’s not the type to say no when it comes to healing people.”
Rachel glanced at her, catching the small crack in her otherwise hardened expression. Astra was a thorn in her side, but really it was her mother that had the vamp girl so cold and bothered. She needed to know she was doing something to confront her mom or let her feelings be known.
“Hmm.” Flipping around to stare between each person on the roof, she said, “Take Maria, Alexa, feather butt, and my brother back to the house and let them rest. Like you said, the gangster is probably too polite to ask for a rest herself and the engineers are sort of taking advantage of that, despite being cursed out.”
She saw relief pass over her sister-in-law as the 13-year-old tightened her hug around Aella, wings fluttering. “Let’s get ready for bed and talk a bit. Like Scarlet said, you’re not a prisoner. So tell me how you feel.”
The harpy bit her bottom lip, still unable to look up from the rooftop but she gave a slight nod. Nia had a bored expression, tapping her foot and waiting for her orders with the bunny squad, but Rachel let her stew while turning to the curious cowgirl.
“Grace, you’re with me tonight! And Scarlet…”
“You want me to come back after and keep investigating?”
Rachel’s head tilted to the side for a moment, weighing the options. “Yeah…sure. Keep doing your investigation. You’re doing a good job. But also keep an eye out on Mexico.”
Scarlet’s cheeks colored with a happy smile at the praise. “I won’t let you down, Big Sis!”
Nia grinned, her ears rising with her hand. “Oh! Oh! Wait! Wait! Major Fangs! Major Fangs! Let me do that! We’ll find out all their dirty secrets! Choose me!”
Left eyebrow creasing, she gave her outfit a dubious stare. “Hmm?”
The kid started to fidget a little, her smile twitching. “Eh-hehe. I’m a good spy! Right, squad!”
“Fifififi.”
“Ririri!”
“Lili…”
Nia’s ears flew up at the white bun’s mumbled comment. “No! Silly White! Pfft! No… I don’t give a tail about any magical clothes they may have…lying around…like a buffet. Not at all! Never…”
Scarlet giggled. “I can delegate that to you and the bun troup but try not to cause too much trouble. Can I count on you soldiers?”
The three buns jumped onto the snowy wall of the flat roof, using their ears to salute her as Nia jumped to attention next to them. “Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”
With that, Scarlet gave her a proud thumbs up, having made a decision on her own, which was a big deal for her new little sis.
Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
Rachel gave her a casual salute. “Go get ‘em, Major Fangs.”
It got a smile from her brother and sister-in-law as Alexa led the bird woman toward her husband. Scarlet vanished to collect Maria first before the Mexican Legends and Myths got to her, and not long after that, she was back to snatch the other three to return to the house.
Nia stuck her tongue out the side of her mouth, summoned their hammer, which looked quite big compared to the small bunny child. Shifting it to its side, she momentarily aimed it at the ship, shook her little tail, wiggled her toes in the snowy roof, and took a batter’s stance.
“Whitey’s up first!” The bun hopped onto her head, folding down the girl’s ears before leaping to the side of the hammer. “And…he’s outta here!”
Rachel and Grace clapped as she swung, launching the bun onto the shiny sails of the magical ship. Aurelia went next as Coral simply floated over to it to phase into the wood, sticking his tongue out at Nia and making her balk.
“Fifififi!”
“Loser! I was being nice. Don’t you go getting me in trouble.”
“Fifi…”
“Yeah, well I have a big hammer that says otherwise! Humph. Major?”
Her ears pulled back with a brilliant, cute grin as she presented the item.
Accepting it, Rachel shook her head; her outfit certainly had a personality. Pulling back the hammer, she strengthened her stance as the child hopped onto the side.
“Get results…but also have a little fun annoying the Mexican crew.”
“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”
Launching her skyward, she lost sight of her in the blizzard, leaving her with the milk girl as the brunette brushed snow off her outfit.
“And what adventures await us, boss?” she asked, slipping her fingers into her tight pants pockets and leaving out her thumbs. “I gotta say, you’ve got a lot of eggs in the basket. You seem to juggle them well, though!”
Rachel’s ears flicked to the left as the Atlanta crew and Crow representative joined forces, with the Atlanta girl facing a Mexican wrestling legend. “Oh, I generally don’t know where I’m going and let misfortune guide me. Let’s move.”
Putting her foot on the edge of the building, she hopped down behind the crowd, taken in by the airship and battle. A silent laugh shook her frame upon hearing Maria grumbling about being left out in all the plans. She got a lot of favors to cash in on with the Mexicans, though, which could come in handy later.
Grace’s smile grew as she joined her, the smaller woman giving off a lazy vibe, yet her sharp eyes were always scanning for action. Her hands were also positioned to summon her gun belt and snatch her revolvers.
Guiding the way toward General Dallas and the Crystal, she opened up the dialogue, keeping her voice low as the heavy flakes fell around them. “You’re a lot more independent than the vibes you give, Grace… A dairy farm girl who grew up on ranches, drank under age, and was a rebel back home, looking for adventure. How old are you and what are you really looking for?”
The cowgirl’s cheery expression fell with her shoulders, her gaze drifting from potential dangers to the snow-stomped street. They fell into a silence while strolling through the snowy streets, her boots crunching against the powdery ground. The lightheartedness of her presence dimmed.
She was quiet for a time, her hands shoved deep into her pockets, her cowgirl hat tipped slightly forward to shield her face from the cold wind and thick flakes.
“You’re quiet,” Rachel remarked, her tone casual but with a probing edge while allowing the snow to melt against her hot skin, unbothered by the chill.
Grace chuckled softly, her breath forming a puff of steam in the air. “Ain’t much of a chatterbox when it comes to myself, y’know. Ain’t a girl who, umm, who blabbers on ‘bout her personal life, if ya catch my drift.”
Rachel arched an eyebrow, her tail twitching. Grace wasn’t a simple woman—none of the people who were drawn into this world of powers and chaos were. Her legend had a few people talking who knew about her and she’d followed a few of their conversations.
“C’mon, Grace,” she pushed. “You’ve been around long enough now to know I don’t ask just for fun… I don’t have the luxury to let people in without testing them, which I have been testing you since we first met. We’re all here because of something. A reason. I need to know what yours is, and it’s more than just an adventure.”
Grace’s boots scuffed the ground, and she slowed, glancing toward her out of the corner of her sharp eye. “Shoot, Rach. Y’real paranoid, ain’t ya?”
Rachel let out a small, wry smile. “You’re damn right I am. Can you blame me after everything you’ve seen so far? I can’t afford not to be.”
“Fair enough…”
The silence stretched between them for a beat before Grace exhaled deeply with a shiver, but not from the chilly wind. “Alright… I’ll bite.” She took off her hat and ran a hand through her tousled brown hair, then replaced it, her gaze drifting toward the distant horizon. “Ya do have what a girl wants…
“I grew up on a dairy farm, as I said. True to my word. Middle of nowhere in a small place called Texas… Flat land, cows everywhere, milkin’ day in, day out. You’d think it was simple, peaceful even, right? Nothin’ but grass ‘n cows as far as the eye could see,” she mumbled, kicking a pile of snow as they started forward again.
Rachel nodded, keeping her expression neutral but her curiosity was piqued; she’d lived a totally different lifestyle than the brunette. She wasn’t about to interrupt and break her flow.
Grace’s lips quirked up slightly in a sad smile. “But that’s the thing, isn’t it? A simple life’s only simple if you ain’t lookin’ at the cracks.” She plucked at her shirt front to shake off the snowflakes. “I guess I always wanted more than milkin’ cows. I wanted my life to mean somethin’. Somethin’ bigger. To matter. ‘Cause what’s the point of all the muckin’ around if you don’t leave a mark?”
Rachel felt the weight of Grace’s honesty, and it was honesty…more than she could muster to talk about herself or desires, which pricked something inside her. She recognized that desire… To leave a mark. It was similar to something driving her through the blood and the battles, the transformations and the chaos.
“To matter,” Rachel echoed quietly. “Yeah…I get that.”
Grace looked at her, likely searching her face for a sign of judgment, but there was none. Rachel had no room to judge. There was something within her that pushed her to achieve, to defy, and defy what? She wasn’t exactly sure. Fate? Something, at least.
“Guess that’s why I joined up with all this craziness,” Grace admitted, waving her hand vaguely in the air and sidestepping a group of soldiers that ran toward the field to watch the fight. “Didn’t expect to be herdin’ more than cows, but hey, rabbits aren’t as fast as they think, huh?”
Rachel smirked at the attempt at humor by referencing her wrangling Nia, but her mind remained focused. “So, you’re looking to make a difference?”
“Somethin’ like that,” Grace muttered, her voice a bit more raw than usual. “I reckon I’ve seen enough of the world to know that sometimes…ya just need to make a stand somewhere. Omen seems like a well enough place to do it. Stop movin’, y’know? It’s too easy to drift.” She gave a small, dry laugh. “Even if I got the milk jokes and the damn cows followin’ me everywhere I go… It’s just, a part of me I couldn’t escape, I guess.”
“…You haven’t told me your age or much about your background, Legend of Calamity Jane,” Rachel interrupted.
“Yeah… workin’ up to it, y’know,” Grace murmured with a soft chuckle. “Don’t mean to be all mysterious-like, but there’s not much to say, really.” Her voice tried to hold onto that familiar humor, but Rachel could feel the weight behind the words.
Rachel kept her expression neutral but offered a sidelong glance. “That’s fine. We’ve got time.”
The cowgirl took a long breath before exhaling a puff of mist. “Ain’t much to tell, really,” she mumbled, rubbing the back of her neck. “Grew up on a dairy farm… Third time I’ve started there, haven’t I?” she sighed with a melancholy hiss. “It was peaceful… I had a decent life. But peace…that ain’t all it’s cracked up to be for a girl yearning for somethin’ more. I ran away when I was sixteen,” Grace admitted, her voice quiet, almost too quiet for a normal person to hear.
Rachel raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
“Yeah, I know,” Grace added quickly, as if sensing her thoughts. “But, uh…not that I’m sixteen now—Lord, no. I’m nineteen… Still not able to ‘legally’ drink in most places,” she muttered, lips pulling into a crooked smile. “But, y’know, the way things are now, booze kind of becomes a necessity after The Oscillation, if ya catch my drift.”
She gave a little laugh, but it was thin, barely enough to cover the shame that tinged her words. There was something far deeper there, and it told Rachel that her opening up like this showed how much she wanted to join Omen. It certainly went a long way with her.
Rachel hummed softly, the corner of her lips lifting. “Guess that makes sense. I know a certain woman who takes needing water to a whole new level.”
“Not something I’m exactly proud of, but…but I left my mom behind, left my boyfriend, too.” Her voice dropped, and Rachel caught the slight hitch in her breath. “I betrayed them, stole cash… I wanted adventure, excitement. I thought I could take on the world… Turns out, the world’s a lot harder than I gave it credit for…but I made it work the last three years in my own way.”
Stealing, lying, telling stories, and scamming people, I assume. A girl does what she has to when on the road. From the milk farms of Texas to roaming the west for adventure, huh? It shows guts, resourcefulness, and resilience.
Rachel’s gaze softened, her steps slowing as Grace’s words spilled out, the confession held back for so long now unraveling between them.
“I’ve never gone back.” Grace cleared her throat, voice low. “Can’t. Not after what I did. And now…there’s a warrant out for my arrest for more than a few things.”
Rachel let that sit for a moment, watching the way Grace’s hand clenched at her side. She could tell there was a lot more behind those words, but pushing too hard could break whatever fragile honesty was being laid bare.
Grace sighed, a bitter smile twisting her lips. “I traveled around after that… Found myself wanderin’ through abandoned towns in the west, mines, places no one really goes. All I had was whatever I could carry and my faithful ol’ Jim… The desert, Jim, and explorin’ paradise.”
Rachel’s ears perked at the name. “Jim?”
Grace chuckled, more genuine this time. “Yeah, Jim’s my horse. Ol’ reliable, faster than a locomotive and stubborn as all hell. Carried me through some tight spots…and one of the few souls who didn’t mind that I was a bit of a screw-up.”
Rachel nodded, giving Grace a moment with her memories before gently shifting the conversation. “Sounds like Jim kept you grounded when nothing else could.”
Grace’s grin widened, though her eyes glistened with something more than just amusement. “He sure did… Still does, y’know. Guess in a world gone crazy, a horse that can outrun just about anything’s worth more than gold. Fair warning, I kind of bring trouble with me.”
They walked in silence for a bit, the weight of Grace’s words settling in the cold air. Rachel didn’t pry further. She knew when to let someone carry their own burdens. It was enough, and told her more about her character.
She wants to go home…but needs to find her own way back to reconcile with her family. She’s bounced between places, looking for something she can’t describe. The guilt at betraying her boyfriend and mom shows she’s got a conscience and is trying to find her way in the world. She’s survived on her own and had to make tough decisions that affect her life… Even if she’s nineteen, so am I. She’ll do.
Eventually, they entered the storm of activity in the parking lot, the snow now falling softly around them, casting a quiet blanket over the chaos of moving soldiers and trucks.
Grace glanced at her, sky-blue eyes more vulnerable now. “Did I pass the real interview, boss?”
Rachel held up a fist, and she hesitantly bumped it. “You bring trouble with you, huh? Well, that’s kind of a requirement to join Omen, so I think you’d fit in well. Part one passed,” she winked. “Part two… We’ll see. C’mon. Let’s go inside.”
Grace paused for just a second, her hand brushing against the brim of her hat before her vision hardened with the challenge. “My Quests, huh? Fair enough. Thanks, Rach,” she muttered. “For listenin’. Eh…can I call ya Rach?”
“Sure,” Rachel snickered, offering a small smile while approaching the bunker. “And anytime.”
The cool air nipped at Rachel’s cheeks as they approached the bunker, the quiet and contemplative cowgirl beside her. The magitech wand the guards used hummed, its glow faintly visible as it passed over her body, checking for any unauthorized devices.
She barely noticed it, her mind already ticking with a dozen thoughts while following all the strings of interested parties around Billings.
Astra was still making a spectacle at the field with what was turning into an unofficial tournament of sorts. Black, Red, and Gray had disappeared into the nearby mountains. Nia was creeping around the airship, somehow not getting caught, which was probably something to do with her lucky feet.
Nam and those at the house were getting ready for bed, her brother being the last one to go to his room after having a talk with his wife in the kitchen. Her ears tilted left and right while trying to follow Scarlet’s teleports, which wasn’t easy due to her constant shifts through shadows. Barbara was still with Green, discussing a more formal recruitment event tomorrow morning and night for those who required a more nocturnal schedule, like her.
All in all, she hadn’t discovered many threads to pluck at to uncover any plots. Misfortune’s guiding strings had settled down and left her in somewhat of a lul. Yet, in her gut, she felt like something big was about to happen.
Something’s off.
The wand finished its pass and Rachel sighed, moving forward as the soldier opened the door for her to go through the second checkpoint. Yet, before she could step inside, an ear-splitting boom erupted in the distance.
Her body froze, eyes widening, mind blanking for a second as her heart stopped. The cold air seemed to thicken, the heavy snowflakes sticking to her tingling neck, a sharp, biting pressure wrapping around her chest.
No…
“Is that the airship?!” Grace asked, spinning around, her hand flying to the brim of her hat as everyone in the area came to a halt and looked toward the field area…but the explosion was further beyond the field and airship. “What the hell?!”
Tail and ears stiff, the girl’s voice barely registered. The weight of the explosion rolled through her bones as if she were there. Rachel’s eyes zoned out, staring at nothing as her senses honed in on the source. That pressure. That sharp scent.
Her heart jumped back to life, pounding. Goosebumps crawled up her arms, cold sweat prickling at the back of her neck. Her ears fell flat against her skull. No, no, no…
Nam!
Her body reacted before her mind caught up, muscles tensing as her legs sprang into motion. She bolted toward the explosion. Grace called after her, but she was already sprinting, heart hammering in her chest, the cold air burning her lungs. Her mind raced just as fast as her feet pounded against the snow.
Nia!
Nia’s more mature voice responded. “Done. I’m on my way.”
[Lunar Spike: Greater Moon of Abundance - Activated]
[Lunar Spike - Advanced to S-tier]
[45 Seconds Remaining]
[Emanator of Abundance VI - resonating with a sphere of Greater Abundance, every facet of the user’s growth is magnified in its light, emanating it to those around the user.]
[Life in Abundance VI - so long as the user remains within the light of the Greater Abundance, they can regenerate their soul—mind, body, and spirit—even if almost entirely eradicated]
[Knowledge of Abundance VI - the user may pull from the wealth of knowledge within The Abundance to grasp the universe in which the user resides.]
[The Abundance of Fortune VI - Luck is in the user’s favor, so long as they remain within its light. When one slips, they land on their feet; when one misses, they strike a fatal blow. Life is a joy!]
Rachel’s cold blood ran hot as her white hair dyed gold, the color spreading out to the rest of her body and filling her with the reassurance of the Abundance. [Mental Acceleration III] brought the falling snow to a crawl, yet still a sickening sensation twisted in her gut as her instincts screamed and [Strategic Mind III] ran through every possibility with the wealth of information from the Greater Harvest Moon.
How did I not see this? The house. Nam, Alexa, Maria… Why didn’t I feel the misfortune warning me?! Unless…it’s in my favor? Her vision blurred, fury and fear mixing together in a toxic storm inside her head, knowledge filling her expanding mind. How can this be in my favor?! Or… It was fated and impossible to stop? Fate can interfere with misfortune…
Leaping over houses and businesses to reach the house, her gut cramped as all she saw was flames, Green was already there. The houses next to it were ablaze and collapsing in on themselves. Yet, her heart soon swelled, a confused feeling of joy filled her from the Greater Moon of Abundance.
“Nam!”
She tripped on the roof as the flames expanded into an inferno, roaring into a tornado of fire before snuffing out in a whimper. Tumbling down the shingles, she found her balance and leaped across the street to land next to Green.
Breathing heavily, her shoulders sagged while studying the blackened building, pieces collapsing in on themselves. Silence soon took them as Nia and Scarlet appeared beside her in a flash of dazzling light and shadows. Then…movement came from inside.
“Rachel!”
Lurching forward, the others beside her, she broke through the totally charred walls and debris, only to find a cluster of unconscious and unburned people surrounding one figure—her brother, skin charred, blackened, and glowing with flecks of embers.
Voice weak, she whispered, “Nam?”
Orange fire ignited in his eyes, flaking away as his head tilted up to look at her. Then, relief passed over his face, and he fell to the side, collapsing against his unharmed wife.