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Ghoul King Hrashkar moves a finger as the silhouette of the figure before him puffs into dust that falls silently to the ground as the grotesque being rumbles, “You have failed."

Another figure approaches the thrown slowly, crawling prostrate, as the newcomer says, “I will succeed, Hated One."

No movement comes from the foul creature upon the throne. No attention is paid to the groveling figure on the ground.

“Mana is increasing," the figure continues, knowing that death would be preferable in the case of failure. “The previous attack did fail; but not completely. I've found the next one and they're not prepared!"

A flick of a finger sends a shockwave through the chamber, pushing all attending to tumble backwards as the Ghoul King stands and laughs ominously. “Succeed, then, and allow me to claim Earth!"

---

Kendra's eyes sting as she stumbles through the acrid smoke and the blare of alarms pierce the smoke-filled air. Exiting into the main hallway, she squints as she tries to make sense of the smoldering chaos around her as frantic people push by. Reaching down to the end of her shirt, she brings it up to her mouth to help filter some of the toxic fumes that seek to invade her lungs. The hallway, once a familiar path, has now morphed into an ominous tunnel. Each step toward possible safety is like an act of blind faith.

"Help... anyone!" A weak voice cuts through the din of alarms causing Kendra's heart to skip a beat as her concentration is broken.

"Where are you?" Kendra calls out, her own voice sounding dull amidst the cacophony of sounds around her as another fleeing individual pushes past her, sending her stumbling against the wall.

"Here! Please help!" The frail voice replies pleadingly from just ahead. Kendra inches toward the voice. Squinting as she steps forward, she watches as a figure materializes like a ghost emerging from the smoke. An old man, his face etched with lines of panic and pain, is lying on the ground with a fallen trashcan beside him.

"Sir," Kendra says firmly, with far more confidence than she felt. “Can you get up? We need to get out of here!"

"Not without help!" He says weakly as he coughs. Rasping from the toxic air he manages to add, "I hit this trash can and I can't put weight on my leg anymore!" He raises a trembling hand toward her as he pleads, “Help me!"

Without a thought, she takes his hand and strains to pull him up to a one-legged stance. Unsure what to do next, she simply drapes his arm over her shoulder and starts to move them forward. They shuffle together, an impromptu team in flight from this disaster, as Kendra's free hand skims the wall for guidance.

"Stay close to me," she instructs as her mind races for any other options or a better plan.

<What are you doing!?> her inner monologue asks furiously as she takes another step. <Now you're both going to die!>

"Thank you, dear," the old man breathes as his weight on her grows heavier by the moment.

His words give Kendra more confidence as she shuns her thoughts away. She must save this sweat man!

"Almost there," Kendra reassures them both as they emerge into the large concession area of the theater. She had hoped the smoke would be more diffuse in this larger area, but it only seems thicker here. Blinking back tears from her stinging eyes, she drives them forward with determination. The exit sign is faintly visible ahead now, its glow like a lighthouse in a hurricane. “Safety is just ahead!"

The first wisps of daylight filter through the black haze, a cruel tease of salvation just beyond reach as Kendra's lungs seize from the fumes. Ragged coughs cause her to stagger forward sending both her and the old man to the ground.

Doing her best to recover, she turns to the old man and shakes him when she doesn't see any movement. “Mister?" she barely asks as she realizes how dry her mouth and throat are.

No answer comes as she shakes him again. No, she can't let him die! Summoning any remaining strength, she buries herself beneath him and lifts him on weak legs. Each step is agonizing as she drags his uncurious body toward safety.

"Come on. We're so close!" Kendra urges herself onward. Her voice barely audible over the blaring alarms and emerging flames around. Her eyes are nearly useless now, covered in a tarry mix of soot and water but the light ahead is all she needs for direction.

Willing herself step after step, she pushes an exit door open and staggers outside. “Just." Step. “A few." Step. “More." Step. “Need." Step. “Further-"

Collapsing to the ground, Kendra fights to bring fresh air into her lungs. She can't think! The world is spinning as she closes her eyes and gasps for air. A loud crash reverberates from over her. She can't even muster a thought to look up as bits of debris rain on top of her coughing form. All she can do is try to cleanse her lungs.

As oxygen filters back to her brain, her mind and thoughts clear as she looks around and remembers where she is. She needs to get the man away from here!

Another loud snap sounds from above her as she finally looks up. Overhead, the hallmark feature of the theater is swaying ominously as sounds of wrenching metal indicate something horrible is about to happen.

For a moment, time itself seems to pause. Kendra's every nerve is alight with anticipation, her mind races with her impending doom. <Not like this! Not now!> she pleads inwardly, the taste of freedom too potent to be snatched away now! She readies herself, prepared to yank them both back into the smoky abyss if it means evading this new impending demise. That thought quickly vanishes as another terrible snap deafens her. The theater's sign, in all its grandeur, is now a glorified harbinger of death, as it begins to grow larger as it falls toward her.

In this moment, for once in her life, Kendra's mind stops as mounting dread fills her entire being. Her other-self fills her mind with a final terrible truth. <You should have saved yourself!>

Letting herself relax as she readies herself for death, watches as the sign grows larger and larger...

Bolting upright, Kendra's nearly lets out a scream as her lungs seize up in panic. Frantically she looks around the pitch-dark room but can't see anything. Did she die?

<Easy, Kendra, easy!> Comes a voice, tinged with concern, weaves through the terror that clutches Kendra's chest.

"Wha-where... Who?" Kendra's voice is horse as she tries to get her bearings. Her mind is still wrapped in the horrible dream as she blinks a few times trying to orient herself in the darkness of the room.

<You're safe,> the voice assures her. The playful lilt in the voice's tone undercut by the seriousness of the moment. Kendra feels a soft, warm, comforting, pressure of something in her mind, like a reassuring presence. <You're safe in your room. Nyot in some smoke-filled abyse.>

The words start to seep into Kendra's consciousness, causing reality to piece itself back together like a half-broken puzzle. Her racing heart begins to slow, thudding less like a drumroll toward death and more like the steady beat of survival.

“That was just a nyightmare," Kendra mutters aloud; but not of her own accord, as more memories from yesterday come back to her like light-rays from the sun at the crack of dawn. Reaching up to her neck, she feels comfort filling her body as she touches the collar there. Tears come to her eyes as she grabs the collar with both hands as if she were in a capsizing boat and the collar was a railing preventing her from falling into a whirling torrent of water. After a few moments she says with utmost sincerity, "Thank you, Zoe."

Warmth follows the comfort as Kendra's mind processes all the other memories from yesterday as they come back to her. As the last remnants of cold sweet drip away, Zoe says, <Just a nyasty dream; nyo infernos, sirens, or falling signs here.>

Taking another deep breath, Kendra reaches under the covers and into her pants' pocket to find her phone. Closing her eyes as the screen turns on, she lets her eyes slowly adjust before tapping in her pin. The time reads just past midnight.

Shifting slightly, Zoe's warmth seems to settle down comfortably like a cat in a soft bed as she says, <Go back to sleep.>

"Yeah..." Kendra whispers as she lays back down and allows her eyes to close once more. The lasting exhaustion lingering throughout her entire body, but the adrenaline is still in her blood, making sleep difficult to find. Slowly, she moves her mouth before saying just above a whisper, "it felt so real."

<Shhh,> Zoe coaxes softly as a purr caresses her mind.> Dreams can do that. They're tricksy things. Calm your mind, Kendra; you're safe.>

Closing her eyes again she feels her body relax more with Zoe's assurances; but as the excitement leaves her mind, so too does her confidence. The all-too-real images appear back into her vision, as if they were burned into her retinas - the fire, the toxic smoke, and the terrible massive symbol of death falling toward her. Tears well up in her eyes again as they trail down her cheeks. Bringing the sheets to her eyes to dry them, she blinks a few times in a feeble attempt to cleanse her mind's eye along with her own; but neither the darkness of the room nor her eyelids nor her tears offer a reprieve.

"Zoe... I'm scared! What if..." Kendra's words falter, choked by sobs that swell within her.

<Hey nyow,> Zoe's tone is firm yet gentle, <nyo what-ifs tonight. You're stronger than any stray conditionals.>

"Strong!?" Kendra questions desperately through tears that refuse to cease. "I feel anything but that!"

<Strength isn't about nyot feeling afraid, Kendra.> Zoe insists, her presence a steady, static, force of comfort as a notion of Zoe getting up from her resting spot crosses Kendra's mind. Zoe's presence seems to expand over all the different parts of Kendra's mind as she says, <It's about finding the right answers in the worst circumstances. You did that!>

Kendra's breath hitches as she considers this. She also remembers what Winter said about heroism even if she had failed to save the old man. A part of her also realizes that she's probably suffering from some form of PTSD which will only exacerbate the vulnerabilities she fights with daily.

<It's nyot easy to be strong, Kendra.> Zoe says slowly. <Carrying the weight that you do is not easy. Let me bear some of that if you will allow me. We are bound together, you and me; therefore, if you are troubled, then I will help carry your burdens.>

With tentative steadiness, Kendra draws in a lungful of air, holds it, then releases it slowly. It's a deliberate act, a reclaiming of control. Her tears subside to a quiet stream, and in their wake, she feels the faintest sense of empowerment as she feels Zoe hugging her mentally. She returns the gesture as a vision of Winter grabbing her and saving her from death comes to her mind. There is physical pain in that memory; but overpowering it all is the knowledge that she is not alone anymore. She now has Calmar, Winter, and this strange entity named Zoe.

Hearing a purring from the corner of her mind, she closes her eyes and lets the calming rumble act like a wonderful lullaby to guide her to sleep.

---

Jake's consciousness floats to the surface like a leaf on a lazy stream, unhurried and drifting. He lies there, stiff and sore. The fog of sleep clings stubbornly to the corners of his mind, muffling his thoughts, as his eyelids wish to be closed again.

"Where..." The word trails off, half-formed, lost in the darkness. He blinks more rapidly now, willing his eyes to adjust, to find some hint of light, but there's nothing. It's as if the night itself had been distilled and poured into this room, thick and absolute.

He raises a hand, lets it hover in front of his face, and realizes he can't even see the silhouette of his own fingers. A shiver that has nothing to do with the cold air snakes down his spine, sending ripples of unease through his limbs.

His body feels heavy, anchored to the mattress beneath him, yet his mind is now fully alert, as he reaches for his nightstand. Stretching his fingers outwards, Jake expects the familiar cluttered surface where he'll find his phone. Instead, his arm swings freely into the void, brushing against nothing but emptiness.

"Okay, that's not right," he mutters, his voice growing concerned as he pulls himself into a sitting position. "Think, Jake, think," he urges himself, trying to piece together the fragmented memories. But they slip through the cracks in his mind, as elusive as shadows fleeing the morning sun. The last thing he remembers is the bell above that old man's shop.

A familiar ethereal chill touches his brain as he hears a young woman's voice say, <Morning.>"

The remaining fog seems to clear as everything from yesterday floods back to him. How had he forgotten all of that!?

<An untrained mind has difficulty understanding or comprehending magic.> Winter explains trying to remedy Jake's confusion. <Your mind will try to forget about magical occurrences. Our bond will help prevent that until you are properly trained.>

Reaching up to his neck, Jake feels the collar still around his neck. Confidence comes to him as he feels Winter's presence even stronger. Realizing he never got dressed last night, he feels around on top of the bed for his clothes and finds them, then finds his pants, and then searches the pocket to find his lifeline to his previous life, his phone.

Jabbing the power button floods the room with a blinding light that forces Jake to close his eyes as they adjust; his thumb immediately goes to the right place to unlock it though. As the soft click sounds from the phone, his eyes open again and first notice that the phone is running low on power. Then he curses under his breath, seeing the time is 9:03 AM! He missed the start of his first class today!

"Classes can wait," Winter whispers to him. He didn't want to hear it, but she was right. He swipes away notifications - texts from classmates and a study session for tonight - all vestiges of a life where the most extraordinary thing was a well-crafted equation or essay. There's a part of him, a shadowed corner of his thoughts, that clings to those trivial concerns. But they feel like echoes now, faint and growing fainter, as this new reality drags him ever deeper into the proverbial rabbit hole.

"Let them wait," he murmurs, almost surprised by the resolve in his own voice. With a languid stretch, he rotates out of bed and lets his feet touch the cool wooden floor. The wood floor is cold against his bare feet but as they register the cold, the room seems to stir to life. One by one, candles flicker into existence along the walls.

"I really do need to start learning magic..." he breathes out, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

<You will,> Winter assures him. Her presence is a constant reminder of the drastic turn his life has taken while at the same time a support he couldn't think of being without. <There's much to learn, and I am here to assist and guide you.>

"Then let's not keep the day waiting," Jake responds to Winter mentally as he starts to get dressed. With a final check, he stands up, turns the door's handle, and walks out into the warm hues of an old-world dining room!

A long wooden table centers the room, laden with steaming dishes that send rich, savory, scents to his nose, with wooden chairs surrounding it. The silver-haired mage sits at the head of the table, a cup of tea cradled in his hands. The elder's eyes lift from his plate, locking onto Jake's with an unreadable expression.

"Ah, you're awake," Calmar says analytically. "Please, join me. There's much to discuss, and breakfast is a fine time for starting the day."

Jake hesitates, just for a moment, as he takes in the unexpected arrangement. His feet carry him forward on their own volition, drawn by the enticing aroma of fresh bread and something sweet -perhaps cinnamon? He sinks into the chair to the side of Calmar, noting the contrast between the man's unassuming appearance and the palpable air of authority that seems to hum beneath his robes.

"Good morning," Jake replies, finding it odd to partake in such mundane pleasantries in a setting that feels anything but ordinary. "I didn't expect to step into a dining room."

"Expectations are often the first casualties of magic," Calmar muses, pushing a plate toward Jake. "Eat. You used a lot of energy yesterday. Your body is the source of your strength, even as a mage."

Jake nods as he takes a bite out of the incredibly tasty, buttered, oat bread.

---

Kendra shifts uneasily as her eyes open with some difficulty. Stretching slightly reveals lingering soreness throughout most of her body. Groaning, she brings her hands to her eyes and scratches away the remnants of dried tears.

Stirring slowly, Zoe's form warms as she says, "Morning!" Her demeaner seems to have its playfulness back as she finishes, "the dyawn awaits!"

"But it's pitch dark!"

Somehow Kendra starts to say odd words as the room brightens from hidden candles along the walls. Before she can say anything, though, Zoe's voice comes to her purring, < Nyaa haha! Nyot anymore!>

Kendra can't help but smile, just a little. With a quiet acceptance of this artificial dawn, she can't help but find some tranquility with Zoe's energy in her mind. Standing, she slips on her shoes, as she slaps her cheeks to try to fight back any remaining wariness from the previous night. Reaching down and turning the door's knob, she pushes the door open and gasps.

Where she had expected a hallway is instead a finely decorated dining room! The room is full of the comforting scents of morning coffee and the gentle hum of conversation. Her mind stirs with curiosity as her eyes scan the space before they settle on two figures seated at the table.

"Ah, Zoe, good morning," Calmar says in greeting, his voice is a well-worn melody of welcome.

"Good morning, Calmar," Kendra replies, her voice still carrying some roughness. "I didn't expect to step into company."

"Indeed," he chuckles, motioning for her to join them.

It's then that Kendra's attention shifts as she notices a familiar young man sitting beside Calmar. He's looking at her, seemingly ordinary in many ways and probably around the same age as herself. She remembers seeing him multiple times in passing but she had never talked to him directly. She also can't help but notice the blue collar around his neck; Winter's collar.

Standing, he walks toward her as he holds out his hand in an offer of introduction. All of these motions oddly set Kendra's weary heart a flutter in a way she can't quite explain. Slowly she reaches out her hand to clasp his, sending a jolt of excitement into her skipping heart.

"I'm Jake Sullivan," he says with a smile as he moves their hands in a shake. "I am also Winter, the Snow Vixen."

Hesitating for a moment, captured by his eyes and smile, she somehow remembers to say, “Kendra Marency."

Coming to her rescue, Zoe finishes for her, “I am also Zoe, the Amber Leopard. It's nice to meet you in person."

As the shake ends, they both continue to look at each other, as if breaking their stare would end this moment.

"Sit, sit," Calmar urges, breaking the two out of their trance. "Eat! You two must be hungry!"

Taking a few steps forward, Kendra stops then takes another step. Her gait is different! Taking another step reveals that she's walking very lightly on her feet and her fluid movements make her nearly silent, like a predator!

A hissing laugh comes to her mind as she knows Zoe's behind this. She takes another step, and her walk is back to normal. Shaking her head, she looks back up and sees Calmar grinning at her as she hears from behind, "Are you ok?". Looking back, she can see Jake watching her with concern.

Smiling to dispel his worry, she responds, "I'm fine, just a little sore from yesterday and I'm trying to stretch as I walk." Realizing how dumb that excuse was, she amends it with, "I also remembered I need to buy new pants."

"I meant to mend them last night," Calmar says with disdain as he sees how disheveled both she and Jake look. “I am a horrible host! I should have let you both bathe and given you both a change of clothes!" Reaching into his robes, Calmar pulls out a long thin stick with a few roots sprouting from the base.

Jake gasps, "Is that a-"

Muttering something under his breath, energy radiates from the tip of Calmar's wand as green particles swirl around the torn fabric. Slowly and methodically, new fibers seem to grow and twist with each other as the pants seem to regenerate themselves! The swirling particles continue to congregate and move lower and lower as her pant legs are repaired like they were newly off the shelf!

In utter disbelief, Kendra can only manage to whisper, "Amazing..." As she runs her fingers over the fabric; the material feels brand new, untouched by wear and tear! "Thank you, Calmar!"

Smiling, the mage motions for them to sit as he takes another bite of a sausage as if nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

Settling into a chair across from Jake's, the aroma of food envelopes her senses, causing a tiny growl to escape from her stomach. Calmar chuckles at this, gesturing towards the array of dishes before them as he says, "Eat, my dear. After yesterday, your body needs fuel and as I told your companion, your body is the source of your strength, even as a mage."

Nodding and taking in her options, she takes some eggs, bacon, and some buttered toast that she sees Jake is enjoying a pancake.

"Now," Calmar says professorially, "Let us begin."