As Missy navigated through the bustling crowds, an idea struck her. It was an idea that would undoubtedly help Aspen, but the cost to Missy would be great. She could gift Aspen a portion of her essence, bestowing upon her the magic she so desperately craved. However, Missy's own reserves were perilously low since her escape from her prison. Such a sacrifice would render her unable to assume a mortal form, and worse still, it would further diminish her already fragile mind, reducing her to little more than a feral creature.
She wanted to help Aspen, but the prospect of completely losing herself in the process was troubling. Missy's mind raced, searching for alternatives. There were indeed a couple of other options that flickered through her thoughts, but they all came with their own set of problems. There were alternative sources of magic she could tap into, but they were frustratingly out of reach. She could channel magic into Aspen as she had done for Jezel, but deep down, Missy yearned for Aspen to recognize the inherent beauty of her music, untainted by magical influence.
After some internal debate, Missy resolved to exhaust every possible avenue to assist Aspen without resorting to magical means. However, she steeled herself with the grim determination that, should all else fail, She would help her friend, despite the consequences.
As this weighty decision solidified in her mind, the park materialized before her. With renewed purpose, Missy quickened her pace, her resolve to succeed burning brightly within her. She approached the food truck, carefully skirting the crowd gathered at the front to avoid any unwanted social interactions. Brimming with enthusiasm and determination, she bounded into the truck, greeting Arc and Jezel with infectious cheer.
Arc's warm smile greeted her. "Good morning, Missy." Jezel swiveled to give Missy her undivided attention, her eyes twinkling as they swept appreciatively over Missy's form. "I sure hope your good mood is because you're getting to spend time with me," Jezel teased with a playful wink before turning back to attend to her current customer.
Arc's face split into a mischievous grin. "Well, since that can't possibly be the reason, why don't you fill us in on what's got you so chipper?" Jezel shot him a look of mock outrage, punctuating it with a hand gesture whose meaning eluded Missy. Arc simply chuckled at his sister's antics, clearly enjoying the banter.
Missy seamlessly integrated herself into their well-oiled routine, working in harmony with the siblings. As they worked, she recounted her conversation with Aspen from the previous night, her ears and tails drooping slightly as she spoke. "Wow, I had no idea," Arc mused, shaking his head as he processed the information. "She always seemed so content running her shop the few times I've dropped by to pick something up."
"Couldn't you have waited to tell us after the lunch rush?" Jezel asked, struggling to maintain her composure while interacting with customers. Missy tilted her head, puzzled. "Why?" she inquired. Jezel sniffled, discreetly wiping away a stray tear. "Because I don't want to cry in front of the customers," she explained, her voice thick with emotion.
After clearing her throat and regaining her composure, Jezel asked, "What are we going to do?" Missy felt a warm glow in her chest at Jezel's words, knowing she could count on her friend's support. "There are a couple of options I could use to give her magic," Missy admitted without much enthusiasm.
"Really? Like permanently or like when you did with me?" Jezel asked, intrigued. Missy nodded. "Both, but each option comes with its own risks. And if I'm being honest, I prefer Aspen's music without magic," she confessed defiantly. "I want her to see how incredible she already is, even if that's selfish of me." Missy felt her emotions swirling within her, a tempest of conflicting desires and fears.
As the crowd began to thin, Jezel pressed further. "So, what's the plan to help her see that?" Missy looked at Jezel hopefully. "I don't know. I was hoping you might have an idea." Jezel's face lit up with a grin. "You have quite the confidence in me, and why shouldn't you? I'm pretty great." Missy nodded earnestly. "The best. I know I can count on you."
Jezel tried to maintain her cocky demeanor, but a telltale blush crept up her neck, reaching her ears. Arc couldn't resist teasing his sister. "Are you blushing? That's so cute." Jezel responded with the same enigmatic hand gesture from earlier, her cheeks burning brighter.
"Alright, I'll think about it and come up with a plan. I promise," Jezel vowed, meeting Missy's eyes with sincere determination. As the lunch rush subsided and they began cleaning up, Arc prepared Missy's food, making sure to include extra portions after hearing about Aspen's request for comfort food.
Missy set off for home, her mind buzzing with possibilities. Suddenly, she felt a powerful surge of magic pulse through the air, more potent than anything she had sensed since her escape. She instantly recognized the direction and distinctive aura of the magic. Someone at the capital building was wielding the Ortus. A creeping sense of dread washed over Missy. Whatever was unfolding was undoubtedly not for the benefit of the city or its inhabitants. Her earlier optimism now tinged with a growing sense of foreboding. Missy hesitated for only a brief moment before decisively making her way towards the capital building. As she drew closer, the scene unfolding before her became clearer. The city's enforcers had established a tight perimeter around the area, their stern faces and authoritative voices attempting to disperse the growing crowd of curious onlookers back to the safety of their homes.
Her eyes were immediately drawn to the imposing structure of the capital building. Thick plumes of smoke billowed from its upper floors, curling ominously against the darkening sky. Curiously, Missy couldn't discern any visible structural damage from her vantage point, leaving her to wonder about the source of the smoke and the nature of the disturbance within.
Extending her senses, Missy probed the area, seeking to unravel the complexities of the situation. Several familiar auras pulsed in her awareness, each distinct and charged with tension. She detected Rinale and the rest of the council members, their collective presence a knot of anxiety and determination, positioned a couple of streets over at the edge of the perimeter.
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Further away, in the opposite direction from the council, Missy sensed the unmistakable aura of Qil the lich. The ancient being was perched atop a nearby rooftop, a silent observer to the unfolding drama below. In one of the adjacent buildings, Missy registered another familiar presence – the individual she presumed to be Seara, watching intently from a shadowed window.
Most alarmingly, she felt the powerful aura of Razuroc emanating from within the capital building itself, intertwined with the potent energy of the Ortus. The combination sent a shiver of apprehension down Missy's spine.
Deciding that more information was crucial before taking action, Missy chose to investigate further. With fluid grace, she leapt to a nearby building, her form barely visible as she bounded across several rooftops. Her movements were swift and purposeful as she made her way towards Qil's position.
Within moments, Missy touched down silently on the rooftop where Qil stood. The lich's skeletal form was motionless, its hollow eye sockets fixed intently on the chaos unfolding in the streets below. The eerie, pale light within those sockets pulsed faintly, a ghostly reflection of the turmoil that gripped the city. Qil turned to face Missy, its skeletal form moving with an otherworldly grace. The lich began to circle her cautiously, its ghostly mane rippling in a non-existent breeze, creating an eerie, shimmering effect in the dim light. The pale glow from its hollow eye sockets seemed to intensify as it studied her.
"To what do I owe the honor of your presence, ancient one?" Qil spoke, its voice a chilling whisper that seemed to creep up from the very ground beneath them. The words hung in the air, carrying a weight that belied the lich's curiosity and perhaps a hint of wariness. As it continued its slow, deliberate circuit around Missy, the bones of its structure clinked softly, a macabre accompaniment to the tense atmosphere that had settled over the rooftop. Although Qil could clearly sense a bit of her nature, she was glad it appeared not to know who she truly was. The lich's hollow gaze seemed to search her, seeking answers that weren't forthcoming.
"I decided to see what you were planning before jumping in to help against Razuroc," Missy said, watching Qil with undisguised curiosity. Her eyes roamed over the lich's skeletal form, taking in every intricate detail of its otherworldly appearance. "I do not understand why you would help these parasites, but if it will prevent a confrontation between us, I'm willing to answer."
She paused, considering her next words carefully. "I can tell you I only plan to watch. I see no reason to get involved when I can sit back and observe my enemies weaken each other." Qil continued to circle in the air, the tension palpable as the skeletal lich's ethereal form cast eerie shadows on the rooftop. Its hollow eye sockets gleamed with an otherworldly light as it regarded Missy.
"Does this satisfy your curiosity?" Qil's voice echoed, a haunting whisper that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere at once. Missy couldn't discern if the creature was lying, its skeletal features impossible to read, but she decided to take it at its word for now. There were more pressing matters at hand.
"I guess, but I will be watching you," Missy declared, her eyes narrowing as she studied the lich one last time. She turned abruptly, her form silhouetted against the city lights below. Without hesitation, she leapt from the building, her body gracefully arcing through the air as she made her way across the rooftops..
As the wind rushed past her, Missy's mind raced. She had a couple of urgent visits to make, and she doubted she had much time before Razuroc finished whatever plan he was undertaking. Missy swiftly made her way to her next destination, her footsteps barely making a sound as she approached the building. Upon reaching the rooftop entrance, she found the door firmly locked. Rather than resorting to brute force, she decided on a different approach. With graceful agility, she leapt down from her perch, landing softly in a nearby alley to avoid the bustling streets.
Scanning her surroundings, Missy noticed a door with a damaged handle. She surmised this must have been Seara's point of entry. Without hesitation, she slipped inside the seemingly deserted building, its interior shrouded in darkness. Relying on her heightened senses, Missy navigated the shadowy corridors with ease, her footsteps echoing softly in the emptiness.
As she approached the room where she sensed Seara's presence, Missy found the door slightly ajar. With utmost caution, she gently pushed it open, her eyes immediately drawn to a figure silhouetted against the window. The mysterious individual seemed lost in thought, gazing out at the city below, oblivious to Missy's entrance.
Recalling human behavior she had observed, Missy attempted to clear her throat to announce her presence. The sound, though soft, had an immediate effect. The figure whirled around, instantly assuming a defensive stance. As they faced each other, Missy studied the figure who was a near identical reflection of herself although it was probably more accurate to say Missy was the reflection. Missy was indeed correct - Seara was the kitsune she had encountered shortly after escaping her prison. Missy had been so captivated by Seara's appearance that she decided to model her mortal form after it, albeit with a few carefully chosen modifications. If you asked Missy, she would confidently assert that she now looked even more striking than the original.
The differences between them, though subtle at first glance, were truly striking. Where Missy's hair shimmered like burnished copper in the light, cascading down her back in soft waves, Seara's was as dark as a moonless night, absorbing rather than reflecting the ambient glow. Missy's tails were a pristine, luminous white, each one tipped with the same rich copper as her hair, creating a mesmerizing effect as they swayed. In contrast, Seara's tails were midnight black, fading to deep crimson at the ends, like embers in the darkness. Most notably, Seara's eyes glowed a fierce, almost hypnotic crimson, a stark contrast to Missy's serene blue that seemed to hold depths.
As recognition slowly dawned on Seara, her posture underwent a dramatic transformation. The initial defensive stance melted away, replaced by one of abject terror that seemed to radiate from every fiber of her being. The sudden realization of who had just entered the room appeared to freeze her in place, rooting her to the spot as if she had been turned to stone. Her eyes widened to an almost impossible degree, filled with a potent mixture of fear, disbelief, and a hint of resignation, as if she were facing an inescapable fate. Reflected in depths of her eyes was recognition, not just of the creature who had stolen her appearance deep within the city's underbelly, but of Missy's true nature. As Seara stumbled back, desperately trying to create distance between them, her movements jerky and panicked, Missy's heart sank like a stone in turbulent waters. She had hoped, perhaps foolishly, that this day wouldn't come, clinging to the fragile peace she had built for herself. But now, she found herself face to face with someone who possessed the knowledge to bring Missy's new life crashing down around her. The weight of the moment pressed heavily on Missy's shoulders, a suffocating reminder of the secrets she had tried so hard to bury.