The following morning, Macaria awoke to a screen filled with chaos.

  Her phone buzzed repeatedly with missed calls, unanswered texts, and panicked voice messages. At the top of the list—Natsuki. Her name appeared over and over again, each entry timestamped with growing concern. Hey, are you okay?, Where did you go?, Please respond—I'm seriously freaking out.

  Macaria groaned and pulled her bnkets over her head. “One night,” she mumbled, “one night of fighting wind demons and rogue unknowns, and now I’m the unreliable friend.”

  She didn’t call back. Instead, she typed a quick reassurance:Macaria: Sorry, I’m okay. Just really tired. Needed to crash hard. Everything’s fine.

  Her thumb hovered over the send button, then added:I’ll expin ter.

  She hit send, hoping it would buy her some time.

  But something else on her screen caught her attention.

  Simon.

  His name was now stored in her contacts, pin as day. She hadn’t added it. In fact, she didn’t remember ever exchanging numbers with him.

  Her heart skipped as she opened the conversation. A message waited.

  Simon: Hey, I hope you’re doing alright. Your phone was unlocked when I found you, so I contacted Natsuki and added my number in case you ran into more trouble. If those people show up again, text me. Doesn’t matter if I’m working. I’ll be there.

  Her brow furrowed. Okay… helpful, but also mildly intrusive?

  She scrolled to the second message.

  Simon: Also, refrain from involving yourself in unknown conflicts again. You may have powers now, but you're still new to them. Leave fights to people who know what they’re doing.

  Macaria rolled her eyes so hard they almost stuck. “Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence,” she muttered. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, ready to snap back with something sarcastic—but she thought better of it and shut the app.

  Instead, she composed a new message ter in the day, describing Renley again and asking if anything jogged his memory. His reply came hours ter.

  Simon: Maybe? I’ve heard of an unknown with fox-like features, but I don’t know any specifics. It’s vague. Sorry.

  That wasn’t helpful. But as if on cue, Hoshiko’s voice gently echoed in her mind:

  Hmm… an unknown with fox features? That sounds oddly familiar. I can't pce the name, but something’s tugging at me...

  By nine that night, Macaria sat curled up on her bed, the room dark except for the soft amber glow of her bedside mp. She’d spent the day recovering, sorting her thoughts, and occasionally asking Hoshiko more about his broken past—not that he had many answers.

  Eventually, she flicked the mp off and allowed herself to drift into the silence.

  WAKE UP!

  Macaria jerked upright, heart hammering.

  “What? What now?” she groaned, squinting into the dark. The faint silver light from a streetmp snted through her blinds.

  I have an idea! Hoshiko’s voice rang with enthusiasm.

  She squinted at her arm clock. 4:00 a.m.

  “You woke me up at four in the morning for an idea?”

  Retrace your steps from st night! Go back to where everything happened. Maybe they left something behind. We might’ve missed a clue!

  Macaria flopped back into bed with a long groan. “No. No, I refuse. This is absurd.”

  It’s the perfect time! No one’s around to interfere.

  “Why don’t you go?”

  Because I’m a voice in your head. Come on—just for a bit.

  She started to fall asleep again when suddenly her bnket flew off the bed and nded across the room.

  She shot upright. “HEY!”

  Morning sunshine, Hoshiko said smugly.

  Macaria gred at the air as if it could see her rage. “You are so lucky I can’t throw a pillow at your face.”

  You’ll thank me ter!

  With a dramatic sigh, she pulled on a pale pink and vender sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. She ran a brush through her golden hair, leaving it slightly tousled. She grabbed her phone, slipped on her shoes, and stepped out into the chill of the pre-dawn streets.

  The sleepy streets of Maple Run were empty, except for the soft hum of distant streetlights. Hoshiko mumbled something incoherent to himself as they walked, but she ignored him. Her breath formed small clouds in the cool air, and the quiet wrapped around her like a second skin.

  Eventually, she reached the alley.

  It was just as she remembered it: narrow, damp, and strangely silent. She stood in the same pce she had hidden that night. “This is it,” she whispered. “I saw Renley right there. She used these star-shaped bsts… and that orb of fire.”

  Hoshiko didn’t respond. She continued, gesturing toward the bricks.

  “She touched this wall and opened a portal. It glowed pink—like light spun into gss.”

  She pressed her hands to the wall, mimicking Renley’s motion.

  Still no response.

  “Hoshiko?” she called again.

  Hmm? Oh! Sorry, I was listening. Nothing’s ringing a bell... except… why am I thinking about a bell?

  She frowned, waiting in silence while he pondered. Then—

  “Macaria?”

  The voice startled her so badly she nearly tripped over her own feet. She spun around.

  “Natsuki?!”

  Natsuki stood at the alley’s entrance with a coffee cup in hand, her brow furrowed in concern. “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “You scared me half to death!” Macaria gasped, clutching her chest.

  “Sorry!” Natsuki walked closer, eyeing her suspiciously. “Seriously though—what are you doing out here at this hour?”

  “I could ask you the same thing.”

  “I got coffee. But this?” She pointed around. “This is sketchy. Dark alley. You. Alone. At 4:30 in the morning.”

  Macaria hesitated. “I wanted to see if those guys left any clues behind.”

  Natsuki crossed her arms. “Macaria, I get it. Really. But this is dangerous. You barely made it through the st fight.”

  “I just thought—without anyone around—it’d be easier to look.”

  “That’s exactly what makes it suspicious,” Natsuki replied. “Are you sure you’re not hiding something?”

  Macaria bit her lip, searching for words. “I swear I’m not doing anything reckless. I just need answers.”

  After a moment, Natsuki relented. “Fine. But you’re not doing this alone.”

  Macaria exhaled, grateful. “Okay. Thanks.”

  They crossed the nearby walking bridge and retraced the route to the alley where the confrontation had taken pce. Macaria pointed out where she’d seen the attackers, where Renley had fought, where her own powers had awakened.

  Natsuki stayed silent, absorbing it all.

  “Why her?” Natsuki finally asked. “Why were they after her specifically? And why did your powers show up then?”

  Macaria didn’t have an answer. Instead, she reached into her pocket—and froze.

  Something sharp pressed against her fingers.

  She pulled it out.

  A crystal memory flower.

  “I didn’t grab this,” she said slowly.

  Oh, that? It snagged on your nyard when you left earlier, Hoshiko chimed. I figured you’d find it eventually.

  Macaria’s grip tightened around it.

  “Hoshiko,” she whispered internally. “Can I tell her about you? I don’t want to keep lying.”

  If you trust her, then yes. She seems like the reliable type.

  Macaria turned to Natsuki. “There’s something I need to show you. But you have to promise to keep an open mind.”

  Natsuki blinked, confused. “Uh, sure?”

  Macaria hesitated, then slipped the flower back into her pocket. “Not here. Let’s go back to my pce. It’s safer.”

  “Good idea,” Natsuki said.

  “Agreed,” a new voice added from the shadows.

  Both girls jumped as Simon stepped into view, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

  “I’d like to see this too,” he said. “You’re still a mystery to me, Macaria.”

  Macaria sighed.

  Of course he showed up.

  And of course… things were only just beginning.