Missy's mind raced back to her earlier conversation with Rinale, the former goddess's words echoing in her thoughts. As she gazed upon the otherworldly being before them, its skeletal form both haunting and mesmerizing, she couldn't shake the conviction that this was indeed Qil, the qilin lich. The streets around Missy and Jezel felt alive with danger. The rattling of bones filled the air. The swarms that had been dispersing throughout the city suddenly shifted direction. Missy’s sharp senses caught it immediately—the skeletal creatures were converging on them, drawn like moths to flame.

Jezel’s eyes widened as she realized what was happening. “They’re coming for us,” she whispered, her voice tight with fear.

Ahead of them, through the mass of rattling bones, a skeletal qilin stood tall and proud, its body a sinister reflection of the graceful creature it once was. Its glowing eyes locked onto them, a malevolent intelligence swirling within its empty sockets. Missy could feel the pulse of magic radiating from the creature.

As the swarms of skeletal rodents and birds grew thicker, pressing in from all sides, Missy and Jezel began to retreat, their initial confidence faltering under the sheer weight of the numbers. Jezel unleashed bursts of the magic Missy had given her, scattering groups of skeletal rats, but for every one that fell, two more seemed to take its place.

“We can’t hold them off forever,” Jezel panted, her face strained with effort.

Missy’s mind raced. She could feel the qilin’s magic pulsating like a drumbeat, each thrum driving the skeletal swarm to surround them. It was commanding the creatures. The two of them couldn’t fight the sheer numbers alone. They needed to fall back—regroup.

They steadily moved backward, scattering the remains of the skeletal swarm they had already dealt with and dodging the skeletal birds that swooped down from above. Every movement was a test of endurance, every second a battle to stay ahead of the converging horde.

Suddenly, without warning, the pressing swarm began to slow. The rattling of bones grew softer until it disappeared altogether, as the creatures melted away into the shadows. Missy stopped, watching the skeletal rodents scurrying into the cracks and crevices of the buildings, while the skeletal birds dispersed into the night sky.

Jezel slowed, breathing heavily, her chest rising and falling with the exertion. “What just happened?” she asked, bewildered.

Missy’s gaze shifted toward the power station in the distance, where the lich had been directing its forces. The once-bustling area was now eerily quiet, the only sound being the faint crackle and spark of electricity breaking the silence. It was clear to Missy now—the qilin had accomplished its goal. It had retreated, leaving behind only the faint traces of its magic.

“It did what they came here to do,” Missy said, her voice low. “And now it’s gone.”

Jezel swallowed hard, wiping sweat from her brow. the sound of footsteps caught their attention. Others were beginning to flood the scene—city law enforcement. It was clear they had also been fighting the skeletal swarms in other parts of the city, and now they had finally made it to the power station. Missy and Jezel had been pushed far enough back that they weren’t immediately noticed.

Jezel grabbed Missy’s hand, pulling her away from the growing crowd. Missy flinched slightly at the contact, but didn’t resist.

“Let’s get out of here before they notice us,” Jezel muttered, her voice weary. “I don’t have any desire to end up at the police station trying to explain this.”

Missy allowed Jezel to drag her through the winding streets, neither of them speaking as they put distance between themselves and the power station. Only when they were far enough away did Jezel finally release Missy’s hand, letting out a tired sigh.

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“I know it’s late, but can we talk?” Jezel asked, her voice small, still facing away from Missy.

Missy felt a pang of guilt as she watched the tension in Jezel’s shoulders. The bright, lively woman she had grown so fond of now seemed so small and scared. Missy hated seeing her like this. She wanted to make it better, to see Jezel smile again.

“Yes,” Missy said softly. “I want to talk.”

Jezel let out a shaky breath, clearly relieved by Missy’s answer. “Come on,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s find somewhere quiet.”

They walked in silence, the distance between them feeling like a great chasm, despite how physically close they were. Missy followed Jezel, unsure where they were headed, until they finally stopped in front of a building that was unfamiliar to her.

Jezel produced a key and unlocked a side door, gesturing for Missy to follow her inside. The building was quiet, filled with half-finished sculptures, paintings, and other works of art. Missy looked around in awe as they passed through the various rooms, until Jezel finally led them into a small studio space. The walls were lined with canvases and art supplies, and a few unfinished pieces sat on easels, waiting for their final touches.

“Welcome to my unofficial studio,” Jezel said, her voice tinged with nervousness. “Most of the stuff in this room is mine.”

Missy looked around, taking in the personal nature of the space. It was a reflection of Jezel’s creativity, of her passion. But as they stood there, an awkward silence fell between them. Neither of them knew how to start.

Finally, Jezel broke the silence, her voice trembling. “It doesn’t fix things, but I’m so sorry. I really wanted you to have a good time, but I clearly didn’t consider your feelings enough.”

Even in the dim moonlight filtering through the windows, Missy could clearly see the tears streaming down Jezel’s face. The sight of Jezel, usually so confident and vibrant, now reduced to this vulnerable state, tore at Missy’s heart.

Missy gazed at Jezel with a melancholic smile, her eyes reflecting a mix of regret and understanding. "You feel like you failed me, but honestly, I feel like I'm the one who failed you," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I ran off and ruined our date because I couldn't handle the situation. I wasn't strong enough to face my fears and communicate properly. We both fell short of our own expectations, didn't we? But maybe that's okay. We can learn from this experience and do better. Jezel smiled warmly at Missy's words, her eyes softening with understanding and hope. "To do that, I need to explain what happened," Missy continued, her voice tinged with a mix of nervousness and determination. "I'm not a demi-human, and I am the only one of my species. I don't need to eat or drink to survive, and since there are no others like me, my body and instincts view all forms of physical contact as a potential threat."

She paused, gathering her thoughts before pressing on. "I was able to change my body to allow myself to eat and drink, but that was different. My body didn't have a built-in aversion to those activities. With physical touch, though, I find it incredibly difficult to want to make that change. Just thinking about it makes me anxious." Missy's gaze dropped momentarily, then lifted to meet Jezel's eyes again. "I might decide to do it eventually, but I need more time to adjust to the idea. To process it all and work through these instinctive reactions. Is that okay? Can you be patient with me while I figure this out?"

Jezel swallowed hard and blinked back more tears before a radiant grin spread across her face. "Of course I'll give you all the time you need, Missy. Thank you for trusting me enough to share this. I have so many questions, but I promise I'll be patient and wait until you're ready to open up more." Jezel made a little sound of frustration, her hands fidgeting at her sides. "I really, really want to hug you right now."

A mischievous smile suddenly lit up her face, her eyes twinkling with newfound determination. "I guess I'll just have to show you how amazing touch can be in other ways. I have some fantastic books and movies that I'm sure will convince you of its wonders."

Missy tilted her head, a hint of concern creeping into her expression. "I really hope they aren't dirty ones. I accidentally stumbled upon some of that stuff while looking for educational information and was horrified by just how messy and gross that whole process seemed to be."

Jezel's face fell comically, as if someone had suddenly popped her balloon of enthusiasm. Her lips curved into an exaggerated pout, drawing a laugh from Missy. Still chuckling, Missy turned and started heading for the exit, her steps lighter and her heart filled with a newfound sense of hope.