There were both of them, standing right before her, now holding out their arms in an exciting gesture to embrace, Alyssa Valor and Iona Venn. Jane let the both of them rush into her with open arms, long awaiting this reunion. "It's good to see you again!"
Iya smiled back, happy that so much of Jane's depression had faded from her voice. She seemed so stressed out the last time they met up on Route 787, even though neither of them would admit it aloud. "I've been so worried about you going to a different country."
Jane could barely believe her eyes. How long has it been since she last saw Iya and Alyssa? They don't look that much older. No, they seem more refined, like they've toughened up a bit, and the clothes they're both wearing are classier than the usual selection. Iya even cut her hair just a little shorter, packing it behind her head into a neat ponytail. Alyssa is looking better too, though she's still wearing the same reading glasses, despite not having a book in front of her to read, indicating a stigmatism.
"Danny. Taylor. Glad you two took care of her." Iya shook their hands once again, waiting on Jane's expected reaction of denial. Jane would think she took care of them, but Jane always has that complex about her.
"So," Jane pressured. "How have things been for you?"
Already down to business. Jane can never relax about certain details it seems. Iona answered calmly, to prove everything isn't all terrible here in Sprawn Valley. Yet thanks to yesterday's terrorist attack, Jane Venn and her symbol are no longer the top priority of news. "Well, we've been monitoring what we can. Outside of yesterday's attack on Gross City, and the potential shady business nearby the gate to Skar Mountain, there isn't much to report. Not sure what you wanted us to do exactly."
So the Scarlets haven't made any other moves? That could be a bit strange. Jane accepted the answer willingly anyway. "Well you've done exactly what I wanted you to do."
"I also got a few lessons from Ms. Stone."
"You mean, Claudia Darr?" Jane knew the full name of her previous instructor, but it was weird hearing someone call her Ms. Stone.
"Yes," Iya confirmed. "Her middle name is Darr, but she likes to be called Ms. Stone by people she trusts. Anyway, Claudia was happy to train me personally in physical combat. I've gotten better because of it."
"Don't worry," Alyssa reassured. "I've also been keeping up with my training too. And as it turns out, with everything going on, the schools are reopening again. Claudia is going to keep her job." Alyssa could tell quickly that all three of them were relieved to hear that.
"That's excellent news. You both have a good teacher right now." Jane glanced around, and noticed Brash Danton suddenly emerging from the opening elevator behind her in the distance. He didn't seem to be in a big hurry though. He must be stretching his legs. "So, ready to join up for more adventure?" She never considered it before, but Jane knew this would all be so much more fun if Iona could join her party and hang out with the three of them. The more the merrier!
Iya however shied back on her feet, nearly bowing in an apologetic manner. "I would love to Jane! But..." Iya froze for a moment, and so did Jane ask her what the problem was. "It's our parents." Jane gasped lightly, wondering what was up. "They're all worried about us right now after that attack on the city. Mother and father are waiting at Eldora's gate right now. They want to take us home."
Danton paused his slow footsteps, hearing the news from all the way over here. Having family trouble isn't a good thing for any of them right now. Jane of all people needs to be capable of focusing on any task available without fear for other people.
"But, but I can't just return home right now!" Jane felt her stomach turn in pain. She wanted nothing more than to get to greet her family again, but not like this. "I can't just go and argue with them about it. I have to stay here and fight the Scarlet Cult, to make sure we can all have the freedom of Leray magic."
"I don't want to go back either," Iya admitted. "I'm tagging along with you. I'll fight right beside you Jane."
"But what are we going to do about sudden panic?"
Danny gently pulled Taylor's arm to the side, dragging himself and her away from what was soon to be a little argument about house. He took a few steps before whispering to the side of her ear, "What about our parents?"
"What?" Taylor bounced her eyes around while staring into Danny's. What is he asking exactly?
Danny nodded, sorry about the confusion. He reset his hazel gaze to meet Taylor's heart. "I know we're in a messed up situation right now, but I still miss them. I want to make sure I keep everyone posted."
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"Of course." Taylor held her hands behind her back, unwilling to deny him that right. "You should talk to them. I doubt they'll be understanding of the danger you're putting yourself into though."
Danny hesitantly let out his next sentence. "I - uh, might not tell them about all that extra stuff." Almost getting lost in a separate thought, Danny snapped his attention back to Taylor, grabbing her arms set behind her and holding both of her hands into his own. "But you're allowed to talk to them too. I know it's not typical, but my parents, even Nyar is willing to take care of you should the need arise. If you ask me, they're family enough to you as well."
"I..." Taylor couldn't understand herself at the moment. She felt conflicted about this before. But this feeling is... Taylor felt her pulse rising a bit faster, and she exhaled calmly with a slight blush in her cheeks. "Thank you."
Danny knew it wasn't easy for Taylor to even try and smile. Her parents are horrible people, but there is no telling whether or not she really blames them. There is no sense however in having to feel so isolated about her family. Until Laura and Lonnagan return to their senses, assuming they have any left, she'll just have to stay in Danny's family instead.
Chapter Theme Shift:
Back over towards Jane, her little debates were bringing Danny and Taylor back to their attention, with Danton standing by like a creep. "I'm not giving them that choice, but I will still talk to them." Jane knew where her loyalties will always remain. "Besides, are you sure you are ready to fight anything?" Jane was strictly talking to Iona, questioning her very skills. "Danny and Taylor have gotten better too, but we can't afford to put you in direct danger if you can't fight really well."
"You're still wondering if I'll ever be good enough?" Iya saw this coming from Jane. She's always been the stronger one with magic, even without that mark inside of her. "I said I was joining. You already agreed to it."
"Why not stay on logistics for now?" Taylor realized her sudden intervention was now making everyone look at her for that specific solution. She was only making a suggestion. "I mean," it wouldn't be that much of a challenge if, "you could just help us out as support. I know Jane won't let you fight in front of her until you've proven yourself one on one."
"And I'm all battled out tonight." Jane held her hands on her hips, but she didn't continue arguing. Taylor's idea isn't that bad. Iya can hold onto orbs and healing supplies if they get into trouble. One thing about fighting criminals is that nobody has to worry about using healing items in the middle of battle. That stuff is only blocked out during a legal battle between two people who mean no harm to each other. "But, yeah. I like that idea."
It's better than nothing. "Someday Jane," Iya spoke, "I'll be the one who's stronger than you."
"With your work ethic, that may take you a life time."
Alyssa chimed in just as Danny and Taylor were exhaling soft laughter from Jane's teasing. "I don't know. Iya and I have been practicing a lot while you were having fun in New York."
"Yeah," Danny reminded while holding back his humorous breath. "But Jane has learned a lot too. She can stack cans of beans in an upside down pyramid. That takes some skill too."
Jane couldn't think of any good comeback from Danny's mean reminder of her little mistakes, and now everyone is laughing at her again about it. "Whatever." Jane folded her arms, and then studied Alyssa again. "I almost forgot to ask Alyssa. Did you want to tag along too?"
"I do want to..." Alyssa tried not to seem too disappointed, given her situation. "But I can't really leave home right now. Lennith City has seen better days than this."
"Huh?" Didn't Alyssa just say otherwise? Danny spoke up to Alyssa with the subject serious again. "I thought you said Claudia was fine, and the schools were reopening."
"And they are," Alyssa exclaimed. "But, even after that cloud of Alpha Zero has disappeared forever, the Scarlets have still been conducting small hit-and-run skirmishes on some of the smaller routes lately. After yesterday's attack on a city as large as Gross, everyone in Lennith is panicked that they might try an attack there next. So right now, not many people are going outside. To make matters worse, all of the stores there are surging their prices way higher than anything I've ever seen."
"They surged their prices?" Danton finally revealed that he was standing here passively listening, though much closer in distance then he was before. This right here is news to him. Why haven't the agents been reporting this? No wait, they must be busy tracking defense assessments.
"Yes," she affirmed. "Even basic food and water is seeing higher prices. I guess nobody wants to run freights anymore with the fear of being attacked on the roads."
"Well raising their prices is only going to create more mayhem." Danton pulled out a notebook from the inside of his champion robe. From there, he tore a sheet of paper out, accompanying a pen in the other hand. "I'm going to write a letter to the mayor of Lennith City. He needs to pressure these businesses into lowering their prices again to ensure the people can live and work where they are. If the world comes to an end, they can shut their stores down until everything blows over."
Jane wondered if Danton really has all final say on everything, even matters such as these. And who is he going to send to deliver that letter? "Will that work?"
"Even if I made an executive order to try and force their hand on this, it likely won't work. I may be the champion of Sprawn Valley, but I'm not in charge of every little thing. Still, he'll listen to me one way or another. Nobody will vote the city mayor back in if he steers the city to economic ruin." Danton began writing everything he needed to. It will be simple enough to send another trusted messenger to teleport over there and hand deliver this note.
"Okay then." Danny felt strange with everyone standing here, kind of aimlessly. Danton never really told them what their next mission is supposed to be, or when it starts.
"In the meantime," Danton added, "Team JDT, your mission is currently postponed until further notice."
Iya remembered that awesome moniker, and felt the need to remind him that the group is going to get bigger. "Don't forget. It's team JDTI now."
"Why is it postponed?" Taylor asked.
Danton answered their curiosity while writing more on the sheet of paper, nearly filling out the front page already. "Because... I still have not heard back yet from mage Sirus. Until I do, nothing is certain enough to risk a random deployment on a hunch."
Mage Sirus? "He's the operative you sent to check on something?" Danny knew it could be no other person. Danny never got to meet this mage Sirus in person, but he must be interesting if Danton trusts that guy so much.
Of course Danny would figure that out on his own. "In the meantime," he suggested, "I think the three of you, or four of you should freshen up on your spells tonight. Train like you've never trained before, and get some very good rest afterwards. We should expect some action tomorrow."
Danton still seems distracted by other thoughts, but Danny couldn't argue with the plan so far. He already had the training of his life a couple of hours ago, though there are still plenty of new spells he wanted to work on. Taylor must have some new things to work on as well, and it's no question that Jane Venn trains twenty four hours a day, even in her dreams. "Let's say we hit Meaj Park tonight?"
"I already kicked your butts twice now, so I'll be performing ordinary training as usual." Jane knew she wanted to rub it in. If they can't get good enough to beat her in battle, if they never desire to, then Danny and Taylor will never improve. It's the reason they desire to learn magic as quickly as she can. As for Iya, the same trick may not work on her with—
"I'll be training hard too!" Iya felt so fired up! Finally, she can train with magic right next to Jane and her new friends!
Never mind, Iya isn't immune to the behavior after all. Still, of everyone learning new spells tonight, which one of us can produce the strongest power level?
"But first," Danny reminded, "I'm going to go call Nyar and the others."