The Fawn adjusted her gloves with quick, precise movements, tying off the last of the sutures along Virno's ribs. The young man lay pale and unconscious on the operating table, his breathing shallow but steady.

  The Fawn: "There... that should do it."

  She said softly, stepping back to inspect her work. The Leopard, standing nearby with arms crossed, nodded.

  The Fawn: "Thank you, Fawn. Apologies for springing this on you on such short notice... wasn't sure the boy would make it."

  The Fawn: "It's fine."

  The Fawn replied briskly, pulling off her gloves.

  The Fawn: "But, we need to get him out of here... If we're quick, maybe he won't notice."

  She glanced toward the heavy, reinforced door at the far end of the lab, her unease flickering across her face. The Leopard let out a slow breath.

  The Leopard: "Don't worry. I'm getting him home as soon as we're finished."

  As he reached for the bandages to wrap Virno's wounds, the door creaked open, and a tall figure stepped inside. The Fawn froze, her hands stiffening at her sides.

  The Fawn: "Lion...!"

  She whispered, her voice tight.

  The Leopard turned sharply, exhaling a silent curse before facing the newcomer. The Lion strode in, his presence commanding the room like a blade drawn in silence. His gaze swept across the lab, lingering on the unconscious boy.

  The Lion: "LEOPARD!"

  He roared, his voice cold and cutting.

  The Lion: "Explain yourself this instant...!"

  Behind him, several masked figures peeked through the doorway, their curiosity barely concealed. With a sharp flick of his wrist, the Lion sent them scattering like shadows in sunlight, slamming the door shut behind him.

  The Leopard straightened, keeping his tone measured.

  The Leopard: "Von Virtus was injured -- critically. If I hadn't brought him here, he most likely would have perished."

  The Lion approached the table, his boots clicking against the floor, and looked down at Virno with a disdainful sneer.

  The Lion: "So... *this* is the future bearer of the sword?"

  He leaned closer, studying the young man's face with an expression of open disgust underneath his mask.

  The Lion: "Pathetic."

  He muttered.

  The Lion: "Unable to defend even himself."

  The Leopard's jaw tightened.

  The Leopard: "In his defense, I haven't started his training. As he stands, he's no more than a swordsman without a sword, Lion. What chance did he have?"

  The Lion: "Hmph... A shoddy excuse."

  The Lion snapped, straightening to his full height. His right hand clenched into a fist, and from between his fingers, a gray energy began to pulse, crackling faintly in the dim light. When he opened his hand, an ornate amulet rested in his palm, glowing faintly.

  The Lion: "Make sure he wears this."

  The Lion said, tossing the amulet toward the Leopard, who caught it instinctively.

  The Leopard: "But --"

  The Lion: "Put your mind at ease."

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  The Lion interrupted, his tone sharp.

  The Lion: "It's not dangerous enough to draw unwanted attention. Much like the ring you gave your slum lord 'friend,' this will only activate in times of real danger."

  The Leopard frowned, tightening his grip on the amulet.

  The Leopard: "I wouldn't go so far as to call Cabdan a friend..."

  The Lion ignored the remark, stepping closer until his presence loomed over the Leopard like a storm cloud.

  The Lion: "Listen carefully. There will be no more excuses. The next time he gets himself injured, it's your responsibility. Eclipse cannot afford to bring outsiders into our sanctum. No exceptions. You know the risks -- both for us, and for them."

  The Leopard: "... I do."

  The Leopard replied stiffly.

  The Leopard: "It won't happen again."

  The Lion: "Good."

  The Lion said, his tone final. He turned and made for the door, pausing only to glance back over his shoulder.

  The Lion: "Begin his training at once. Nox is growing restless, and your city won't remain peaceful for long."

  The Leopard swallowed dryly.

  The Leopard: "U-understood...!"

  The door swung open, revealing a cluster of masked onlookers hovering nearby. The Lion glared at them, his voice thundering.

  The Lion: "AND WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING HERE? GET BACK TO WORK!"

  The masked figures scattered like leaves in a gale, leaving the Fawn and the Leopard alone in the lab once more.

  She exhaled slowly, her tension easing as the door closed behind the Lion.

  The Fawn: "Nox are stirring? After all these years...?"

  She asked, crossing her arms. The Leopard nodded, his gaze dropping to the amulet in his hand.

  The Leopard: "Apparently. First I'm hearing of it, too. Time truly is against us. "

  The Fawn tilted her head, studying the situation.

  The Leopard: "Our plan is well underway. Mortmundus will fall, with or without the Puma's cooperation. But thanks to him... they know. It makes sense that they've started moving -- taking smaller settlements, even ours. They must be gearing up for war."

  The Leopard stared at the floor, his thoughts swirling.

  The Leopard: "A war with Nox..."

  His eyes flicked to Virno.

  The Leopard: "We aren't ready. Not yet."

  The Fawn stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder.

  The Fawn: "You'll need to visit her, won't you? His mother."

  The Leopard sighed, his voice tinged with regret.

  The Leopard: "After all these years, yes. I'll have to face Anya von Virtus myself."

  The Fawn: "She won't be happy to see you..."

  The Fawn said, with a small shake of her head.

  The Leopard: "I'm not exactly thrilled about it, either."

  The Leopard muttered.

  The Leopard: "But, desperate times..."

  The Fawn gave him a faint smile, though her eyes remained grim.

  The Fawn: "Desperate times indeed."

  Together, they wrapped Virno's torso in clean bandages. When the Leopard opened a portal, its swirling energy framed the slums on the other side. He stepped through with Virno in his arms, the portal vanishing behind him as he arrived at a small, weathered house.

  The Leopard stood at the door, breathing deeply to steady himself. The faint smell of damp wood and cooking spices drifted through the air. With Virno's weight heavy in his arms, he pushed the door open.

  Inside, Anya rushed out of the bathroom at the sound of the door. The moment her eyes landed on the Leopard, her face twisted with shock and rage.

  Anya: "You...!"

  She hissed, darting to the kitchen and pulling a knife from a drawer.

  The Leopard: "Please, Miss Anya --"

  Anya: "FIRST YOU TOOK MY HUSBAND. NOW MY CHILD, TOO?"

  She shouted, advancing with trembling hands. The Leopard remained perfectly still, his voice calm.

  The Leopard: "Let me put him down first. He needs rest."

  Anya stopped, her knuckles white as she gripped the blade. Her chest rose and fell with uneven breaths, her fury battling with fear.

  Anya: "What have you done to him?!"

  The Leopard: "Your son tried to save a young girl."

  The Leopard explained, his tone measured.

  The Leopard: "But the assailant was stronger. I found him unconscious and brought him here for treatment. He's stable now -- he just needs time to recover."

  Her grip on the knife loosened slightly, though the fire in her eyes remained.

  Anya: "If you're lying to me..."

  The Leopard: "I may be many things..."

  The Leopard said softly.

  The Leopard: "... but I am no liar."

  Anya's lips tightened into a thin line.

  Anya: "No... Your ilk may be murderous magic casters who risk the lives of innocents to further their goals, but I suppose you are no liars...!"

  Anya spit her accusations like venom, as she stepped back and opened the door to one of the bedrooms.

  Anya: "Put him in there."

  She said curtly. The Leopard placed Virno on the bed, his motions careful. As he stepped back into the main room, Anya slammed the door shut behind her son.

  Anya: "Leave."

  She spat, her voice trembling with fury.

  Anya: "And if you ever come near my family again..."

  Her gaze flicked to the knife on the table.

  Anya:"I swear, I'll kill you."

  The Leopard could see it in her eyes... She was not making that threat lightly.

  The Leopard: "Miss Anya... I understand how things may seem from your perspective, but you have the wrong idea. We aren't to blame for Charles' death."

  Anya widens her eyes. She stepped closer, her voice breaking.

  Anya: "You say that, and yet every time you appeared, he changed. He grew distant. Angry. You stole him from me piece by piece. Do you think I didn't notice...?"

  The Leopard: "You must unders-"

  Anya: "I DON'T WANT TO! I WANT YOU OUT OF OUR LIVES!"

  In the bedroom, Virno stirred, his body weak but his mind sharp. Waking up to his mother's shouts, he listened silently to her accusations, the weight of her words pressing down on him like the heavy curse from his dreams.