Outside, the wind carried the faint smell of ash and salt, but inside, there was warmth.
A pot simmered low over the flame, its contents filling the room with the scent of slow-cooked beans and fish.
At the small table, Naggi and Levy sat together. No armor. No battle. Just mother and son.
Levy took a bite of food and smiled faintly. "How did you make this?"
Naggi smiled back, tired but soft. "Miss Mary taught me," she said. "Those beans, she showed me how to boil them right. Though the first time, she forgot to season them." Naggi chuckled lightly. "So she had to make them all over again."
She pointed at the white mound on his plate. "That's rice, and this," she said, nudging the golden fillet, "is catfish."
Levy's eyes widened. "Surface food is really, really good."
Naggi nodded. "It took me all day to make, so I'm glad you like it."
He frowned slightly, guilt flickering behind his eyes. "Next time, let me help, Mom. After all, that's what Artimancers are for, we do things with our hands."
Naggi's heart swelled at that, though she kept her face calm. "You're kind," she said. "But I wanted to make this one myself."
Later, Levy lay under the thin covers. Naggi sat on the edge of the bed, brushing stray strands of hair from his face.
"Do you think Brax will be okay?" Levy asked quietly.
Naggi paused, then smiled with practiced assurance. "Brax will be fine. He's protected by Joy."
Levy's brow furrowed. "But if the royals are gone... what happens next? What if Joy doesn't help?"
"As long as we call on Angelica," Naggi said softly, "we'll always have a chance. That's how we had this food tonight, because of Joy's blessing."
Levy smiled faintly. "I hope so." His voice faded into a yawn.
Naggi stood and began to walk toward the door. Then his voice came again, quiet, drowsy, but clear.
"Thanks, Mom."
Nagi froze. Mom.
It was the first time he had ever said it, not "Mother," not "Ma'am," but Mom.
Her eyes burned. She bit her lip and slipped out of the room before the tears could fall.
Outside, she pressed a hand to her mouth as they streamed down freely. The war, the loss, the weight, for one brief second, none of it mattered. Her son had finally seen her.
Inside, Levy lay awake, staring at the cracked ceiling.
Brax... I'm not letting you die. I'm not letting you fight this alone.
He slipped from bed, crept to the window, and climbed out into the night.
The far side of town was quiet, devoured by bacteria growth that spread like moss across stone.
Levy walked forward slowly, training his breathing. His electric-blue Abi flickered around his hands like faint static.
"I have to be stronger," he whispered. "Or else Braxill wont survive it by himself."
Then, a sound. A soft rustle in the darkness.
He turned sharply. "Who's there?"
Two figures emerged from the shadows, Ladybug and Dace.
LADYBUG
Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
DACE
"Levy," Ladybug said with an easy grin. "Out here all alone?"
Levy blinked. "Ladybug? Dace? What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Ladybug teased. "You should be in bed."
Levy shrugged. "I come out here sometimes to train. Mom doesn't know I snuck out."
Ladybug's grin thinned. "A shame, having to sneak around. A young Artimancer like you should train whenever you wish. You shouldn't have to answer to anyone."
Levy frowned. "She only says no because she cares. Because she wants me safe."
Ladybug gave a small chuckle. "That doesn't sound like something a strong artimancer like yourself shoudl worry about. She's just a dellusional woman."
Levy "Well, umm"
Ladybug "You know, I know how much you hate zoners." Her tone turned sly. "You always said you hated her. Is she not just a weak woman?"
Levy's hands tightened into fists. "No," he said firmly. "She's not weak. I saw her powers. She's strong, maybe not as strong as an Artimancer."
For a moment, Ladybug said nothing. Dace looked at her; she looked at him. Something uneasy passed between them.
Then her tone shifted, colder now. "Listen. This isn't a question. Your father said you have to leave. Starting tomorrow, there'll be a mass selection across the Zoner district. Two thousand five hundred will be taken to the island's edge to be tossed to their death. Anyone who resists... dies."
Ladybug "We have also been ordered to eleiminate the Zoner Knights, they will be executed."
Levy's eyes widened. "Executed? You mean all of them?"
Dace stepped forward. "Yes. Every last one."
Levy took a step back, his voice breaking. "Even my mother!"
Ladybug smiled thinly. "Yes, your father gave the order, not me. You're coming with us, whether you like it or not."
Levy shook his head, backing away. "No. I'm not going anywhere."
Ladybug grabbed his arm again, harder this time. "This isn't a choice. Your father wants you safe. There's going to be carnage tomorrow."
Levy pulled free, his Abi beginning to flare, blue electricity crawling up his arms. "I don't care what Father said. Nobody touches my mother." He summoned his mancer staff.
Dace's expression turned grim. "Levy, listen, if you stay, you'll die in the crossfire or be. You're an Artimancer. That means something. You can't throw it away for sentiment."
Levy's energy surged brighter. "Then I'll die with her."
Ladybug sighed. "He's stubborn. Just like his father."
Dace's voice came from behind them. "Enough."
Dace eyes were unreadable.
"Levy," he said, his tone heavy with authority. "You're coming with us. Your father commands it."
"No," Levy said. "I'm staying."
Dace tilted his head slightly. "You inherited his pride. I hoped you'd inherited his sense."
The ground beneath Levy cracked open, a sudden burst of Abi.
From it, a hand of green dark energy erupted, seizing his ankle. Levy gasped as the venom surged through him.
He looked up in shock. "What did you—"
Dace folded his arms. "A precaution. Poison Fingernails. Paralyzing toxin. I expected this reaction."
Levy's vision blurred. He fell to his knees. The electricity around him faded like dying stars.
Ladybug ran to him. "You poisoned him? Are you insane? That's Levin's child!"
Dace didn't flinch. "It's temporary. He'll wake soon." He lifted the boy easily, slinging him over his shoulder.
Ladybug exhaled sharply, frustration etched in her face. "Fine. But tie him up, he's not the cooperative type."
Dace gave a faint nod. "I'm aware. He's just like his father, overly confident."
The three of them walked into the night, their silhouettes fading between the broken buildings.
Levy's eyes fluttered open for just a second, hazy, weak, but burning. His last thought before blacking out:
I won't let you hurt her.