I leaned back, bending my neck to gaze upward towards the ceiling. I wanted desperately to fall asleep, but alas this party had yet to hit a climax.

"And then she drank the potion and I crawled into bed with her?"

"Why?" Quaza asked bluntly.

"She looked cute, and I wanted a nap."

"You are quite bold for someone who was worried about asking her out."

"I'm good at planning to do something, but I tend to freeze when it's time."

"Well, try and fix that. Would do no good to have one of my servants unable to do her job."

"And what is that?"

"Depends on the ranking. If it's what I was told a few months ago, not much. If not I will be relying on you both for more than just company."

“How much longer?” I asked

“Should be sooner rather than later.” Quaza replied.

“I wish it would hurry the fuck up. Terra and I have business after this.” Hayli stated peeling a grape with one of her fingernails.

From across the room came Nox, “Good evening, your highness. How are you?”

“Excellent. How are you, Nox?”

“Fine. The siblings aren’t much in the way of company.”

“And where is Olli.”

“Refreshing herself.”

“I see. Well, you can join me and the lovers here if you are in want of company.”

Nox bowed. She pulled a chair out and sat between Hayli and me. “And you two, how goes your evening?”

Hayli smiled, “It will be better the faster the party is over.”

“I can still taste blood.”

“It shouldn’t take too long, and gross.” She replied.

The music played on, the dancers spinning each other around as the chandeliers reflected lights onto them. It was exhausting to watch, the nonstop movement of the guests. Bodies next to each other, barely enough space to walk but never colliding. 

I looked in the crowd, trying see anyone that stood out, someone who wasn’t in sync, but no one appeared. It was almost eerie. Eventual I saw a slight stumble as Caela pushed her way past the crowd, and over to us, a drink sloshing in her hand.

“*hic* Heeey~, that kiss was kind of h- *hic* kind of hot.”

“How many have you had, Caela?” Asked Nox.

“Seven or twelve?”

“Those are five drinks apart, Caela.”

“I stopped tracking after threesies.”

Quaza coughed, “Caela, I am aware being out like that is making you nervous but this is behavior unfitting of a lady.” She walked over whispered into Hayli’s ears. 

She sighed and walked over to Caela, placing her head to hers. Her antenna appeared and began to softly glow. Caela constant swaying ceased and she blinked slowly, rubbing her head. 

“Shit… I feel hungover.”

Quaza tsked her, “Better than being drunk, on the Day of Finalization.”

I leaned over Nox to Hayli, “What you do?”

“Hypnosis. She’s still wasted it’s just she has a mental block in the way. For an hour or so.”

“How the hell does that even work?”

She shrugged. Calea sat besides Quaza, head in her hands.

I laid my head down on the table and rested my eyes.

(Vern laid back on the couch while the others were outside working. By some stroke of luck the Thornell Siblings had won a drawing for getting a day off on one of the hottest days on the island.

“I saw Olli in the capital.” I said for no particular reason, doodling on a crossed out sheet of paper that had once been a page that Hayli had tried to write while I wasn’t paying attention.

He rolled over to look at me. “Are you being serious or are you trying to pull a very unfunny joke.”

“No, dead serious.”

“And you are bringing it up now?”

“Just kind of popped into my brain.”

“When?”

“When Hayli and I hung out in Hana. She was getting out of  the carriage we were getting in to.”

Vern made a face that mixed anger, joy and sadness. “I take it she didn’t say why she was there?”

“No. I assumed it was for trade.”

“Yes but, she is a Candidate. Seems rather odd to let her in. I’d get your ex Quaza being allowed in since royalty, but Olli was about the same level of status as we used to be.”

“Money opens doors, you know that.”

“Yes. It’s just worrying. She’s a bad omen.”

“What, are you worried she might convince the king to remove that fake Title of yours?”

“Can… she do that?”

I shrugged.

“N-Never mind all that. You seriously didn’t tell me earlier that the reason why we have these curses was in town.”

“Vern, when we went to Honiville you nearly agreed to stay as payment for her helping with our escape, and when you thought you saw her during the attack you got me injured saving your single track ass. Perhaps there’s a reason I refrained for divulging such information, brother.”

“Point received, pot. Any other demons from our past you met recently?”

“Pinja.”

“Nathers?”

“Nathers-ly.”

Vern groaned and rolled his eyes. I smirked and return to my doodling.)

(“No offense, Olli but a demon being Chosen as a Hero is a bit… too much of a stretch.” Vern said reading the pitch for a book Olli was planning to write and sell. The printing industry was going through a boom and her aunt needed bait for her hook and left it all on the young shoulders of Olli.

Avery shook her head, “It’s a fantasy novel, Vern. It doesn’t need to be realistic, just compelling.”

“Yeah, if I wanted realistic I wouldn’t have made the character you’re based on smarter than you.” 

“Why such an idea anyways?”

“I think I’d enjoy walking beside you two.” She smiled.)

I excused myself to the bathroom. As i was exiting I heard a cough. I turned to it and saw Olli leaning against the wall.

“Are you enjoying being the servant to the woman who killed your family?”

“Killed my parents.”

“Right, Avery was on you.”

I furrowed my brow, “Olli, do you need something?”

“No. Just curious how you can stand to be around her after what she allowed to happen?”

“How can you so calmly talk to me, even though I should kill you for your part in the massacre.”

“I am but a merchant, not my fault my aunt saw an opportunity. It is war.”

“Then my answer for Quaza is the same.”

“Then you feel no rage?”

“I feel plenty. And other things. But that isn’t going to help me stay alive, help Hayli stay alive.”

“I wouldn’t worry about your girlfriend that much Terra. She’s under no real risk of death.”

“I am not taking your word when it comes to the safety of my loved ones.”

Olli smiled, laughing a little. “Fair. Fair. But one more question. When push comes to shove, which side are you on?”

“The one that will keep me alive in the now and the after.”

“We shall see about that.” She said disappearing back out into the ballroom.

I made my way back to the table, and downed the rest of my drink. 

“Terr-Terr, five minutes.” Hayli said leaning towards me, nearly in Nox’s lap.

“To the list reading?”

“What else?”

Caela coughed, “So, what’s your guesses on the final order, girls?”

Quaza rolled her eyes, “Me, Olli, The polycule, Lili and your deadname. That’s the only order that makes sense.”

Nox nodded, “It’s pretty set in stone. The order the polycule is in is the only thing that is up in the air.”

“Why am I last?”

“When have you ever applied yourself in any way to help the kingdom?” Nox replied.

“Why would I do anything if I had to call myself Lyre?”

“So that Lady Caela would have her name be held in higher regard when she did come out to all.” Quaza replied.

“Couldn’t Olli surpass Quaza?” I ask,

“Maybe. But unlikely. We’ve been this order for an entire year. Be quite a shake up to switch us right at the end.” Quaza replied.

“Then what’s the point of this?” Hayli asked motioning around.

“The spectacle, of course.”

I leaned back and took a bite of room temperature cheese. I looked over as Malo climbed upon the stage from earlier and clapped her hands as loud as she could in a triplet. Everyone turned to look at her.

“Good evening ladies, gentlemen and the cool ones. It is now time for the rankings to be revealed.”

The crowd  cheered. She smiled and continued, “Now, usually I’d go bottom to top, but let’s be honest number one is no surprise- and I think we all need to properly thank her. That’s right, let’s give a hand to the number one Lord Candidate herself; my princess, your princess, our princess: Quaza Honi Iralisvilsa!”

The crowd erupted in applause as Quaza stood up and face red waved to the crowd.

“Now, shall I announce the bottoms?”

The crowd roared in reply. Malo opened her mouth to speak but Olli leaped on to stage.

“My apologies, but this homunculus is going soon. I am here to announce this: I am not a candidate. I am a Hero.”

Malo shook her head, “Lady Olli this is no time for jokes.”

“I am being quite serious. This is no simple Prophecy cycle. I am merely going to the winning side. As is Lili. In fact my actual self is at this moment going to the island. Besides, I know I’m not on that list.”

Malo was enraged, ripping open the envelope and reading it over as Olli melted beside her. “What the hell.”

Quaza made her way to the stage and asked, “What is it?”

“This order is…”

“Yes?”

“First is you, then Hayli. Then Nox, then Dryalia, Vea, Astai, and Caela.”

Hayli’s eyes grew wide and Nox seemed to be baffled by this. Quaza was in agreement, asking simply: “A human and a Humon?”

The melting Olli laughed, “I’m registered as a Hero, and I’m a demon. This is simply a different thing from the rest of the cycles.”

“What are you on about?”

“Nothing to worry about. Though do keep Nox on your side or I’ll win too easily,”

Quaza kicked the rest of the homunculus away and yelled, “Guards! Knight! Loyal subjects! Find and arrest Olli and Lili!”

Nox dragged the rest of us over to the stage as everyone else rushed out to try and stop whatever the fuck Olli was trying. The polycule joined us as well.

“You three, go over to her laboratory and take anything she left into evidence.” They nodded and went off. 

“Hey… where’s Shera and the siblings?” I ask looking around.

“Fuck me. Nox, were you aware of this?”

“No, no. I knew she had plans on the island but I thought it was to fuck with the spell.”

The spell… fuck. “Nox, what day is it?”

“Fourteenth.”

“The spell… Hayli, how far off is the island?”

“Six hours.”

“Ahead or behind.”

“Ahead. The spell is probably close to being cast.”

Quaza coughed, “Speaking of the island, how did you two arrive again?”

“A corridor.” Hayli replied.

“And where did this corridor lay?”

“The old jailhouse.” Nox replied.

“Malo, can you get us to the jail.”

“Yes. But first, congrats on being Candidates, Hayli and Nox.” She turned to them. “Can you?”

“Can she stop me off by my hotel room first?”

“Is it important?”

“To me.”

Quaza nodded and in a couple of seconds we returned, my papers under my arm and an annoyed looking Malo beside me.

Impatient now, she pulled the five of us into a huddle and then in a vertigo inducing sort of event deposited us just outside of the place where I had awoken in the city. A sweating Malo then vanished herself as we ran inside.

Nox lead the way past the cells, including the room where I had been not that long ago. She broke down a door and lead us down a long flight of carved stone stairs. At the bottom she broke down another door just in time to see the rune circle that made up the corridor cease glowing and the vague shapes of one of the humons and Lili vanished.

Nox motioned to the key stone box, one left in the basket. (Key stones activate corridors, allow them to connect two gates. They can also be used without a gate for a quick teleport within one’s line of sight- though it breaks after one use regardless. Of course there are ways to use a corridor without it.) Quaza grabbed two and ordered us into the circle. As she  hit the stone to the floor a single thought passed into my thoughts and out my lips: “Hey, what’s the time loss factor on this corridor?” And then in that same vertigo as Malo we were gone.

(“A corridor? To where?” Avery asked looking over the rune circle.

“To your capitol.”

“I don’t really see any stones.”

“Oh, actually I wanted to see if that Black Surface of Earth could activate it and cut down the Time Loss.”

“And why is my Shield in the circle as well?”

“Moral support.”

Vern grinned as I sat crosslegged, trying not to doze off.

“Okay, Earth. As little as possible. Don’t want to have Avery knock you out.”

I nodded, and on my pink produced the smallest ball I could. It hurt a lot to maintain but it wasn’t making me lose it. 

“Are you sure this will work?”

“So far all it’s done is absorb magic and make it stronger but frailer.”

“Wouldn’t mirror magic have worked as well?” Avery asked.

“No, that would have just made you teleport right back here immediately. Now, Earth, remember to send a letter from the capitol as proof.”

I nodded and pushed the ball into the center of the floor. The circle flew, much brighter than it should have and then in a flash a screaming Vern and I vanished.

I landed with a thud onto a wooden floor. I rubbed my little body and looked around. It was a nearly empty room save for a table in the center where a girl was drinking tea. A girl who I had just seen the week prior. A girl who was supposed to be across a entire other country.

“Quaza?” I ask head still spinning.

She looked at me for a moment, “Earth?”

“Weird question, but where am I?”

“Capitol. Demon capitol.”

I held in a scream. “You wouldn’t perhaps help me and my brother get back to my home, would you?”

“How’d you get here?”

“Olli with an experiment on a Corridor Circle.”

She nodded, “I can. I think you’ll need to disguise yourself. Earth Thornell could be a nice bargaining chip towards the future Hero Avery if he’s captured.”

“A fake name?”

“Make it easier on me.”

I though for a moment, the name coming easily. It wasn’t exactly a guys name but I liked the sound of it. “Well, I guess I’m Terra now for now.”)

We landed with a soft thud, in the pitch black cave where I had nearly died. Caela lit her sword ablaze and the corridor came to be completely visible. The headless corpse of the Demon who attacked me lay on the floor, bloated and fat. I kicked it out of spite.

“That’s what nearly killed you?”

I nodded. 

“Well, it’s dead now thankfully. We didn't  have time to mess with an ancient anyways.”

Caela lead the way with her light, making our way briskly out of the bell corridor and back into the main room and then out the happy and sunny lit area I had decided was a trap before. Once out Hayli and I lead the way running back towards what we knew was the house- our at least out of the woods. The others followed our path as we bolted across the island, trying to reach the mansion and perhaps lessen the chaos Olli was definitely planning.

It was a good couple of hours or so, even at that pace and we arrived just as the sun was starting to set. The mansion was before us, just as we had left it the morning we set out. My girlfriend and I slammed open the door to reveal a completely empty house. I yelled but no response came. The others followed cautiously behind us.

 Quaza ordered us to search the house as she went into the section where all the unused rooms were. Caela went into the kitchen while I suggest Nox to check the guest house. Hayli and I made our way upstairs, checking every bedroom. They were empty of occupants and their supplies- except ours which still had our clothes and my notebooks now covered in a healthy layer of dust. Our comforter was still on a heap on the floor from where I had kicked it off getting up.

“It’s nice they didn’t take our room over when we vanished.” Hayli said checking our bathroom. 

“Seriously, even with our boat, it would still take a few hours post spell to even collect their wits enough to leave.”

Hayli nodded, “Yeah. And everything is dusty as well. It’s like it’s been a few days since anyone was inside.”

We made our way back down as Nox was re-entering. 

“Nothing in that shed. You?”

“Upstairs is empty and dusty.”

Caela shook her head as she emerged from the kitchen. “Nothing.”

Quaza came out of the storage hallway and sighed, “We seem to be late to the party.” And threw herself onto the couch. Nox sat down next to her and Caela in the couch opposite. I walked into the room and noticed a single opened letter on the counter. The prophecy probably. I picked it up and read it.

“To the Heroes: Layla, Olli, Vern, Ilyah, Morganna, Vern, Amber, 

Congrats on your arrival to the island. The prophecy is thus:

Awaken the twins from slumber

The mirrors reflecting toward infinity 

Hunt the cursed surface they left over

Or the blessing of the twins shall not be.

More information: Capture Avery Thornell. Kill Quaza Honi Iralivilsa. Kill Hayli Reiland von Orache Summer.

Highest priority is the non-lethal removal of Terra Thornell. 

Until then, report to the western border of Duke Alsoe’s territory to begin an expedition into the northern range. There are ruins in the valley. There the prophecy will become clearer to you,

Yours in the Twins’ Grace,

The Kingdom of Humanity and the High Mother Bianca.”

I finished reading it aloud. “Okay, great. I go from Shield to a priority target.”

“Why am I being marked for death?” Hayli asked?

“Why is Ilyah listed as a Hero?” Caela asked.

“Why is m- Avery your dead sister listed as someone to capture?” Nox asked.

“We can figure it out together later. For now, we have an issue. We have no way off the island. Unless, is there a boat?”

Nox shook her head, “None, just some loose broken boards on the beach.”

“I could always use DS.”

“Perhaps you didn’t notice but one, we didn’t land in a circle and two- I don’t want us to end up in Magala.”

“I don’t think it’d send us across the ocean.”

“Yeah, but it could send us into the human mainland, and four of us are wanted and the fifth is just a regular demon and that’s usually bad enough.”

I conceded the argument to my mistress. “Then what?”

“Nox and Caela will build a couple boats out of the trees around here and what not. But first, a week off. As is customary after a ceremony.”

“Can we afford a week?”

“Would you rather get onto the tiny boat surrounded by the ocean sooner?”

I vigorously shook my head. “I’d rather not.”

“Very well. It is late and I am corridor-lagged. Shall we retire?” She asked standing up and moving towards the stairs. Hayli and I via the Sea Dragon yanking me along passed her and slammed on top of our bed. Caela and Nox took over the other two rooms and Quaza entered ours.

“Get out.” Hayli said.

“Why? I am your princess now, and I think the nicest room should be mine.”

“It was ours first.”

“I said nothing about you leaving it. And before you ask, I will leave you for a while if you say you want to fuck Terra. It’s simply just a mistress sleeping with her servants. The bed is big enough.”

Hayli looked at me and I shrugged, “Fine but stay on your side and hands off her. And me.”

Quaza nodded wandering to my little writing desk. “Oh, what’s all this?”

“Her brother asked her to write down what happened on their journey.”

Quaza grinned and sat down to read. “I suggest you bathe together. I will be a while.”

Hayli pulled me into the bathroom and started the tub. She nearly tore off both of our dresses and jewelry and tossed them aside as we slid into the tub, no space between our bodies. 

We actually washed off ourselves early but we were occupied in other affairs for a while that meant we had to wash off again at the end and Hayli had to magic the water off the floor as well. Quaza gave us a knowing look as she entered.

 I placed my new writings on the desk and laid down in the bed, Hayli and I close as we could have been. It was cold and Hayli’s scales only made it worse. But I didn’t really care. I laid with her in silence for a while, just enjoying Hayli’s presence before our bed had a third.

“I love you.” I whispered softly.

“I love you to.” Hayli replied.

“I love you two.” Quaza said yawning as she slid into bed next to me.

Hayli scooted us over, head slightly raised to glare at Quaza. Quaza only shook her head and laughed to herself. Hayli quickly put out the lights, all of our faces fading into the murk. I closed my eyes and tried to keep myself from sliding over and choking Quaza before she could order me not to. It wasn’t like it have a grasp firm enough to even bruise her before she could have me happy and obedient with that magic of hers. Besides, right now staying with her and the others was my and Hayli’s safest option. I placed my head on top of Hayli’s pulling her in towards my chest and fell into a very exhausted sleep.