"I thought Maverick was the only one who could teleport across long distances?" I asked, as Sorine and I stepped away from N.

  "Royals can teleport across all of Etheria," Sorine explained.

  "Then how did you—"

  "Get to Earth? N gave me her power, similar to how Sylvis gave Rosalie her foresight."

  I crossed my arms. I couldn’t help but feel that that was a little…cheap. Maybe I should ask Sylvis to give me her stalking ability before I kill her.

  Sorine teleported us back to… wherever the Magus’ of Historia’s hideout was. Was it even a hideout? It was hiding from us, so I’m going to say yes. Surprisingly—or maybe it wasn’t that surprising—the others were still waiting for us in what I assumed was Sorine’s office. It was dimly lit by a couple of candles, and all around felt eerie.

  “So, Master, when are you going to introduce us to your friend?” Zuri smirked as she tapped her folded arms with her fingers. I couldn’t help but notice how long her red nails were. She could stab someone with those nails! Maybe it was a new weapon.

  “Feeling a little jealous, Zuri?” Sorine teased, raising her chin just a little.

  “Wait, they haven’t met—” I was quickly cut off.

  “No, they have not,” Sorine answered pointedly as she turned to me. “Unlike you, they don’t need extra convincing.”

  “Did she convince you?” Lumi looked at me with pleading eyes. If I hadn’t already made up my mind, the look on Lumi’s face may have been enough to convince me.

  “For now. I’ll work with you for now,” I said. “But why don’t we get my friends to work with us?”

  “That mind reader of yours seems quite smitten with you—I’m sure he could be convinced,” Sorine said, and I rolled my eyes. “Perhaps that boy you were with could as well. But the others? Definitely not. Besides, infiltrating that woman’s home isn’t an easy task.”

  “Can I at least send them a message—”

  “No.” She crossed her arms, her voice impatient. “They’ll know exactly where you are.”

  “Well, maybe that’s what I want,” I mumbled as I crossed my arms and huffed.

  “I had planned on briefing you all on the mission, except for…” her gaze travelled to Dimitri, “you. I don’t know what you’re doing here.”

  “Quite honestly? Neither do I. I simply followed.” Dimitri shrugged.

  “…Right,” Sorine said unamused. “As I was saying. Someone was impatient, so my plan is incomplete. I’ll summon you all later when it’s ready. Go. Do whatever. I don’t care, but just leave this room. You’re all distracting.”

  “I’m just standing here silently.” Zuri shook her head.

  “Well, you’re not silent anymore.”

  After being rudely kicked out of Sorine’s office, Zuri took me (and by extension, Lumi and Dimitri) to their version of the dining hall to grab something to eat, and then to the lounge. Apparently, it was the hangout space at the Magus’ of Historia.

  The lounge had several couches positioned in a half circle, with the curved couches on the outer ends. In the middle was a giant square table used for who knows what sort of shenanigans. On the other side was a giant stage. I was certain that an Earth equivalent of this room would have a TV instead of a stage.

  “Are there a lot of performances here?” I asked.

  “Pffft, only all the time.” Zuri waved her hand like it was a common fact. “We perform anything from magic to singing and dancing, and even skits. There should be an event in…” she glanced down at her watch, “five minutes.”

  “I’m really glad you came back to see us,” Lumi said as she scooted closer to me on the couch. “But you’re not going to stay after this, are you? Because of your friends?”

  “Yeah, I have to get back to them,” I answered, feeling slightly guilty. I didn't know if I felt guilty for leaving her, or the fact that I had left my friends, and they had zero idea where I was.. Gosh, they must be worried sick. Just like my family! No, Ella, don't go there...

  "Something wrong?" Dimitri frowned at me.

  "Huh?" I blinked before noticing Lumi pointing to my hands. Crap. Ice. "Is there a way to turn this thing off?" I shut my eyes in annoyance. "The whole showing my emotions for the world to see?"

  "Um, yeah," Zuri answered awkwardly. "Just picture your ether being still next time you feel a strong emotion."

  I thought back to my family, but this time, I pictured the energy that always seemed to be overflowing in me stagnant. Sort of like how it was when I first arrived here! Despite this being a worse problem back then! Well, something about it must have been different, because the ice disappeared. "Seriously? That was it?"

  Zuri nodded her head as Dimitri clapped for me.

  "What do you guys do here anyway when you're not planning on killing Sylvis?" I asked. "I feel like I joined the club of evil or something."

  "W-we're not evil!" Zuri sputtered. "You're the ones who are evil, following that evil lady whose evil existence threatens our entire world." She pointed a shaky finger at me, prodding it several times for effect.

  "At least Sylvis isn't obsessing over killing people." I crossed my arms and looked away.

  "Y-you make it sound like that's all the Master ever does..." Zuri's eye twitched. "M-Master has plenty of other hobbies! Like playing the vitula and reading." Vitula? Was that some kind of instrument?

  "She also collects strange maps," Lumi added. "There are rumors that some of those maps come from other worlds."

  "Why would she need maps from other worlds?" I asked. Maybe it was connected to her finding Earth.

  "I think it's a hobby more than something she actually takes seriously." Zuri shrugged.

  So, she likes collecting weird maps and playing music, along with having a bloodlust for her own mother, of course. And here I thought I was finally starting to understand her.

  “Ella asked what we do, not Master,” Lumi interrupted. “The upcoming performance is one thing we do, but we also handle chores that Master doesn’t have time to do.”

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  “Is that all…?” I raised an eyebrow.

  “What else are we supposed to do?” Zuri seemed confused in response.

  “We hang out, practice magic together, and help each other out when we need to. Is that not what happens in your manor?” Dimitri asked.

  I supposed it did, but there was something about the Magus of Historia that seemed closer-knit. There was less competition, or at least by the way these three made things sound. A far cry from Marge’s initial warning to me when I first arrived.

  Before I could answer, three people got on stage—two girls and a boy around my age. The two girls were wearing beautiful blue dresses, while the boy in the middle of them was wearing a dark blue suit, holding an instrument that kind of looked like a violin, but a little different. Could this be the instrument that Sorine played? Eh, what would the chances of that be.

  The three performers bowed as the rest of us—more people had apparently joined while we were talking—politely clapped. Instead of the loud, rowdy claps I was used to at school, especially sports games, the clapping was... quieter. It definitely felt more respectful.

  The boy took up his position with his instrument while the two girls turned, facing the opposite directions of him. He began playing a slow, somber melody, and the two girls began to dance. Their slow, effortless movements reflected the boy's bowing. Each time he reached a high note, the girls bounced on their toes, rising in the air for a brief moment.

  As the song sped up, I watched in awe as the girls' blue dresses expanded. No... They didn't just expand... Water had been summoned and became an extension of their outfits! I leaned forward at the edge of my seat, watching the reflection of the room in the dress' water. This was so cool! If I squinted hard enough, would I be able to see myself? Obviously not... Besides, they were moving much too fast for me to keep up with the reflection. I wondered what would happen if they had bumped into each other.

  Eventually, the boy raised his bow to play the final note and allowed the bow to drift up into the air, holding its position and signifying the end of the performance. I flinched as the water from the girls' dresses burst, scattering droplets of water everywhere. Hey! Was their point to soak their audience? That seemed a bit rude!

  Still... Their performance had completely captivated me. Despite being in Etheria for so long, this was one of the few times I had seen magic being used as a means of entertainment. Watching people duel to their deaths wasn't entertaining. Okay, they wouldn't have actually died thanks to Sylvis' protection, but that removes all the tension!

  "So... What did you think?" Zuri asked, a smug look on her face.

  "It was beautiful," I answered, trying not to sound overly awed. I still had the manor's reputation to uphold, after all.

  "Beautiful? Is that all?" She seemed disappointed in my answer. "The Magisteria Fantasique doesn't have anything quite like this, do they?"

  "No, they don't..." I answered with a sigh. She got me. It was just another thing to hold over me to try to convince me to join the Magus of Historia.

  "What's wrong? You seem a little down," Dimitri said.

  "Huh?" I blinked, barely processing his question. Right, I just called the performance beautiful, and now I was seemingly depressed. "Oh, I'm just a little homesick, is all."

  "Well, I'm sure you'll be back in your little manor in no time." He offered me a smile.

  Zuri nodded. "Master is almost done with her preparations, and then we'll set out. Though... Once we're done, we'll be coming for Sylvis next. Elaina... Are you sure you're all right with this?" Her expression changed from relaxed to concerned. I briefly flashed back to when she first told me she was an Ethereal... It was when she was concerned that she seemed most like herself.

  "I don't know what to think," I answered quietly. "I don't want Sylvis to die. But if she doesn't die, then everyone else does. But there has to be another way, doesn't there? Yet..." N seemed so convinced this was the only way. I didn't know that I could face Sylvis if it came down to it.

  "You don't have to decide right now, you know." It was Lumi who spoke this time. She jumped off the couch and stood in front of me. "Master hasn't even asked about it yet." Well, she certainly asked me earlier...

  "Erm, perhaps one of you will explain what it is the Master is having us do and how Sylvis' death plays a part?" Dimitri asked.

  Zuri sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "She's going to kill me for dragging you into this. It's probably not safe to discuss here. Master will brief you later. Or leave you out. I really don't know nor care." She crossed her arms. I didn't miss Dimitri's flinch. Just what had happened between these two...?

  "Are you ready or what?" An unfamiliar voice called out from directly behind the couch I was sitting on. I turned to try to see who was there, but they were gone.

  "Zetta, try not to torment our guest too much." Zuri's posture suddenly shifted, and for just a moment, I could've sworn she looked... scared? No, I must have imagined it.

  "Guest?" A dry chuckle sounded. "You're far too friendly. You know Master hates her just as much as I do. She's a means to an end—a tool."

  "H-how can you hate me when you don't even know me?!" I shouted, frantically looking around, wanting to meet this disembodied, entitled voice. I stumbled back when she appeared before me. She wore her black hair in a high ponytail—the green highlights stood out like a sore thumb. Her black jacket was reminiscent of Maverick’s, but hers had green streaks on it because why wouldn’t it?

  “Believe me, I know a lot about you. Probably more than you know about yourself.” She sat on the table in front of us. “I’ve seen your future, after all.”

  She was an Ethereal. A true Ethereal—not like Rosalie. I wondered how old she was. If her presence was enough to make Zuri flinch, I figured she had to be quite old.

  “Then you have to know if we succeed in saving the world!” I couldn’t contain my excitement and may have accidentally gotten up in her personal space… She backed away as I simultaneously backed up. “Wait… Wouldn’t that mean Rosalie would also know? And then she’d plan a counterattack! Ugh! We don’t win, do we?—”

  “Would you stop your rambling for five seconds?!” Zetta raised her hands to cover her ears and simultaneously pull her hair out… “By telling you the future, I directly change the future. So there’s no way I’m going to tell you.” She paused, and suddenly her irritated expression became smug. “That being said… I have some advice for you: Don’t fall in love. Love’s a bitch when you live forever. Your future self will thank you. Not just you.”

  Don’t fall in…? Who was she to make that decision for me? Besides, it wasn’t like I was planning on falling in love anyway!

  But if I were to fall in love… I definitely wouldn’t base my decision on something someone with only two colors in their wardrobe said.

  ——

  “You’re still tagging around, I see.” Sorine tapped her fingers along her crossed arms. Her voice was calm, like she almost expected as much.

  “What can I say? I’m invested.” Dimitri flipped his hair dramatically as he smirked.

  “You don’t even know what this is about.” Zuri elbowed him in the side, instantly wiping the smirk off his face.

  "This was initially a task meant to be carried out solely by Ethereals. And Lumi." Sorine added that last part after glancing at Lumi. There was something in her expression and tone that implied she didn't approve. Either Zuri or Lumi must have insisted on Lumi coming with; probably Lumi, given that Zuri seemed protective of her and probably wouldn't want her to risk her life.

  Sorine proceeded to explain to Dimitri everything she had already explained to me, or so I had thought. It seemed the story she was telling her members lacked any mention of Alina or her incarnations. Instead, she merely referred to them as five people who would bring about Etheria's destruction. For whatever reason, she didn't want them to know their true nature. Or her name. Part of me felt giddy having something to hold over her should I ever need to make a deal with her. Just how important was keeping her name secret?

  "Ah, well, it seems I've bitten off more than I can chew. I'll be sitting out of this one—" Dimitri walked over to the door as the sound of a lock clicking in place could be heard.

  "No, you will not. Not after hearing the details," Sorine snapped. "The last thing I need is for you to run off again while I'm away, only this time, taking my children with you." So, Sorine saw herself as a mother figure... Unlike her actual mother, who seemed to loathe every reminder of her age.

  "I came back, didn't I?" Dimitri said with a certain charm in his voice that didn't fool anyone.

  Sorine rolled her one visible eye. "Here is the plan. Once we teleport, Elaina will use her Ether Reollection to help us locate the conduit. If possible, I would rather not interact directly with this continent's overseer. She can be rather... skittish."

  "So that's why you needed me." I couldn't help but feel slightly perturbed. It was like Zetta had said, I was just a tool for Sorine to use.

  "Correct. Don't get me wrong, your power as an Ethereal is also quite useful." If that were true, she would've recruited Maverick. "Our plan is to permanently disable the conduit as swiftly as possible. Believe me, we don't want to stay longer than necessary."

  "Can we just get on with it?" Zetta rolled her eyes before glancing back at me with a disapproving stare. Just what did she see in my future that made her hate me so much? Maybe I dyed her hair or something.

  "Yes. Let's." Sorine waved her arm, and I could feel the nausea rising once again. This time, I would be traveling with Sorine, not Maverick.

  I wondered if Maverick would even come looking for me...