The journey back to the surface was a quiet one, save for the occasional skirmish with the misshapen humanoid aetherbeasts that still wahe byrinth beh the fortress. The creatures, remnants of the twisted rituals that had takehin the depths, posed little challeo Vivienne and Renzia. With a fe strikes from Vivienne's cws and a flurry of precise movements from Renzia, eater was swiftly resolved. The beasts, made of unstable, aether-infused flesh, were no match for the pair’s raw power, and their mangled forms ended up feeding Vivienne’s already insatiable hunger.

  The deeper they veoward the surface, the more Vivienne could feel the oppressive weight of the fortress’s aura lifting, the air growing fresher, the murkiness of the underworld reg. It wasn’t long before they reached the surface—the faint, fading light of early evening breaking through the cracks of the abandoned bakery’s once-secure walls. The town outside was settling into the quiet of dusk, the sound of distant chatter and the king of metal as the final few workers ed up their day’s toil. The breeze carried with it the faint st of distant smoke and the bitter tang of salt from the o, an air that felt both familiar and fn to her in this state.

  Vivienne grimaced, her bare skin exposed to the growing chill, though her bck scales glistened uhe dim light. Clothes, she thought with a sharp flick of her tail, That would be nice right about now. But for the moment, discretion was the better part of valor. She kept close to the shadows, stig to the alleyways that wove between the crumbling buildings. Her body, though stunning in its curvaceous prime form, was unfortably exposed, and she cursed the invenience of it.

  Twice, she otted. The first time, it was a group of children pying too close to the alley, their eyes wide as they gasped at her form before running off to whisper behind a wall. Vivienne barely gave it a thought. The sed time, a disheveled mert caught sight of her as he hurried home, his face going pale when he realized just who—or what—he was seeing. Vivienne fshed him a sharp smile, her many eyes narrowing in pyful amusement, and the mert, frozen in fear, turned and hurried away without a word. She had to admit, the sheer power of her presence was amusing.

  The trio slipped into the hall grounds unnoticed, entering through one of the side servants' entrances. It was a quiet, unassuming route, but it led them directly into the heart of the building. The air inside was thick with the familiar sts of oil, wax, and the faint trace of inse. But their return wasn’t as smooth as they’d hoped. As they passed through a shadowy corridor, they suddenly bumped into one of the servants—a middle aged lekine woman who had previously delivered Vivienne’s st dress trior. The servant’s eyes widened in surprise as she reized Vivienne, her gaze lingering just a bit too long on her exposed form.

  “Oh! Lady Vivienne! What are you doing here?” The servant stammered, her eyes flig between Viviehe mannequin, and the goblin, clearly fused and a little nervous.

  Vivienne’s expression remained nont, her lips curling into a casual smile. “Oh, just out for a stroll,” she replied with an air of effortless charm, as though her nudity was the least iing thing about the moment.

  The servant’s face flushed as she nervously shifted her weight. “But… you’re naked. Again.”

  Vivienne gnced down at her curvaceous form with a mock expression of shock. She clicked her tongue in exaggerated frustration. “Gosh darn it! You’re right. I swear, I left with clothing. Why does this keep happening?” She let out a dramatic sigh, making a show of feeling inveniehough her eyes gleamed with amusement.

  Kivvy, who had been silently the exge, stifled a small giggle. Meanwhile, Renzia stood still, her wooden frame creaking slightly as she turned her head to look at the servant, unbothered by the awkward tension.

  The servant fidgeted, clearly unsure whether to ugh or apologize for her obvious disfort. “Well, um, would you like me to fetething for you, Lady Vivienne?” she asked hesitantly.

  Vivienne paused thoughtfully, before a grin spread across her face. “No, I’ll figure something out. You may leave.” Vivienne said with a dismissive wave, the servant more than eager to leave. “Well, I better go report to Narek.” She huffed.

  Vivienne’s steps were light but purposeful as she made her way through the twisting hallways of the hall, ign the startled gnces from the occasional passing servant. She was aware of the stares, the whispers, but it hardly mattered. What was a few eyes on her body pared to the tasks she had at hand? No, the only thing that truly mattered now was finding Narek’s office, and she was growing impatient with the search.

  The tall, looming doors of his office came into view at the end of the hallway, and with a wicked smile, Vivienne picked up her pace. She strode fidently toward them, her sharp nails clig against the stone floor with each step. The guards statio the door barely had time to react before she shoved her way inside, not b to knock or wait for permission.

  Narek’s bedroom was exactly as Vivienne had remembered it—dark wood furniture, shelves den with books and scrolls, the ever-present st of dried herbs and ink. Narek himself was standing near his desk, gng up in shock as the door flew open.

  “Lady Vivienne!” he stammered, visibly startled by her sudderance. His eyes quickly flicked downward, realiziate of undress. “What—what are you doing here? And… you’re…” His words trailed off as he shifted unfortably, clearly not expeg the se before him.

  Vivienne grinned, her eyes glittering with mischief. “I’m here to see you, Narek. Now, we skip the formalities, or should I tinue enjoying your stunned silence?” She closed the gap between them, her form both alluring and imposing. She leaned in slightly, f him to look directly at her. “I have an important matter to discuss, but first—”

  She paused dramatically, eyes narrowing as she gestured at herself. “—I seem to be g in attire. You wouldn’t happen to have something to spare, would you?”

  Narek’s face flushed crimson, and he sputtered, clearly at a loss for words. “I—uh—I ’t believe this—there must be—er… I find something for you to wear! Just give me a moment!” His voice cracked slightly as he stumbled around the room, opening drawers and rifling through his wardrobe, searg for something to cover Vivieh.

  Vivienne, unmoved and thhly eained by his flustered state, leaned casually against the desk. She folded her arms, her expression a mix of amusement and silent and. "Take your time, Narek. It’s not like I have anywhere else to be.” Her eyes sed the room, pretending to be nont, though her gaze flickered to the window, watg the fading light of dusk.

  Narek returned a few moments ter with a thick, heavy sheet in his hands, his face still red from embarrassment. “This is all I could find!” he blurted, holding it out toward her with an almost pleading expression.

  Vivienne raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. “A sheet?” she repeated, her voice low and dangerously amused. “This is the best you could do?” She gnced down at the sheet, then back at him, her smile curving into something darker. “Well, I suppose it’ll have to do, won’t it?”

  Without waiting for his response, Vivieook the sheet and ed it around herself, the fabric barely c her in the most improper and disheveled way. She let the ers of the sheet fall loosely, almost teasingly, as she tio look at him.

  “That’s better,” Vivienne purred, her tone dripping with satisfa as she settled the sheet over herself in an almost theatrical manner. “Now, I’m here to give my final report.”

  Narek colpsed bato his chair, rubbing his temples with an audible groan. “So, is Lyssandro guilty or not?”

  Vivieapped her thoughtfully, tilting her head as if the name didn’t quite register. “Who?” she asked ily. Then her expression shifted as realization dawned. “ht. Him. Holy? I don’t know. Seemed to be against the traitors.”

  ared at her, his exasperation palpable. “You’ve been gone for two days, and you don’t know? What have you been doing?”

  Vivienne offered a nont shrug, her cws clig softly against the desk as she leaned in. “Well, the person Lyssandro seer? He was tied to some human called Laiken. Turns out she was w for Rathik. And Rathik, oh, you’ll love this—he was holed up in the uy, in a massive fortress carved into a cavern. Inside? A very troublesome orb of Dawher. Nasty thing burned me. Basically a sed sun”

  Narek’s brows knit together, his deepening. “A sed sun? That sounds dangerous. And Rathik? In the uy? With a fortress? What else?”

  Vivienne smirked, sav his rea as she tinued. “Oh, it gets better. The pce was swarming with an alliance of forces—Snty of Aegis and Rathik’s owhey were using portals to move in and out, sneaky bastards. The whole setup stinks of something big.”

  “And the fortress now?” Narek pressed. “The soldiers?”

  Her grin widened, sharp and predatory. “I killed and ate most of them. They attacked me, and sihey’re enemies of the state, I figured it was only polite to cull the herd. The fortress is still standing, but most of the survivors escaped through the portal. I left one priest alive—well, mostly. Took his . He’s probably still crawling around down there.”

  She gestured toward the goblin who had been standing quietly by the door, her sharp grin softening into something resembling amusement. “Oh, and I freed a prisoner. Isn’t that right, Kivvy?”

  The goblin, who had been trying very hard to blend into the background, fli the sudden attention. “Uh, y-yes,” Kivvy stammered, her voice squeaky. “Very free. Definitely not in s anymore.”

  Narek gnced between them, his expression a mix of disbelief and weariness. “A fortress hidden under our noses, portals, Rathik, and Snty forces. This just keeps getting worse. And now you’ve brought back a goblin.” He sighed heavily, ping the bridge of his nose. “Vivienne, what exactly am I supposed to do with all of this?”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Vivienne replied breezily. “Tell the high fang. Summon the cil. Start another war. I’ve done my part, he rest is above my pay grade.”

  “You don’t have a pay grade,” Narek muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with weary irritation.

  “And that’s why I’m so good at what I do,” Vivienne replied, fshing a mischievous wink. As she shifted her stahe sheet slipped just enough to make Narek hastily avert his eyes, a flush creeping into his cheeks.

  “Now that that little diversion is over,” she tinued, her tone breezy, “shall I tio ingratiate myself with Lyssandro? You know, get all cozy and figure out just how much dirt is uhose perfectly manicured nails?”

  Narek looked as though he might keel over from sheer exasperation. With a long-suffering sigh, he waved her off dismissively. “Do as you please, Vivienne. Just… just don’t make it worse.”

  Vivienne ccked her cws together with giddy enthusiasm, her grin widening. “Very good! I shall leave unturned, no traitor uen, and… uh… a third thing! Something impressive, I’m sure. Not important.”

  Narek pihe bridge of his nose, muttering something unintelligible under his breath. Finally, he gestured toward the door, his tone clipped. “Please. Just get out of my bedroom.”

  “Gdly,” Vivienne quipped, spinning on her heel with dramatic fir. The sheet swirled around her like a makeshift toga as she sashayed toward the door. “Don’t wait up!”

  She disappeared into the hallway, leaving o sink into his chair, muttering darkly about what he’d doo deserve this particur brand of chaos.

  The trio gathered in the room that had been assigo Vivienne upon her arrival ih. It arsely decorated, funal rather than luxurious, though clearly meant to aodate someone of importance. A rge bed with dark, heavy linens domihe ter, fnked by matg nightstands, while a wardrobe and a simple writing desk lihe far wall. Dust g to the ers of the room, betraying its ck of use.

  Vivienne perched herself on the edge of the bed, the sheet she still wore draped zily over her form. Her cws idly traced patterns on the bedspread as she surveyed her unusual pany. She hadn’t spent much time in this room since arriving. She didn’t o sleep, after all, and her days (and nights) had been… occupied.

  Her gaze flickered to Renzia, who stood he door like a sileihe mannequin’s head tilted slightly, almost expetly, as if awaiting some unspoken and. Poor dear, Vivienne mused. Renzia seemed utterly adrift without guidance, ging to Vivienne as her anchor. The thought stirred an odd mixture of amusement and protectiveness in her.

  Then there was Kivvy, perched awkwardly on a chair by the desk. The goblin fidgeted, her sharp eyes darting around the room as though expeg some hidden trap t. Vivieudied her for a moment, sidering her options. Kivvy had proven resourceful aertaining, but she wasn’t sure how long that would st. With some , Kivvy could likely get by on her own. Perhaps she should have looted more from the fortress; a few valuables might have made things easier.

  She sighed, leaning ba her hands. “Well, this is cozy,” she drawled, breaking the silence. “I suppose I should figure out what to do with you.”

  Kivvy’s rge ears twitched, and she gave Vivienne a wary look. “Uh, do with me?”

  “Don’t sound so nervous, darling,” Vivienne replied, fshing a toothy grin. “I do everyone I meet. Just the ones who deserve it.”

  “That’s… reassuring?” Kivvy muttered, though her tone suggested otherwise.

  “Of course.” Hummed Vivienne. “Well I suppose I should find Rava. She will know what to do.”

  Vivienne rose to her feet, the sheet draped over her like some makeshift gown. Her cws clicked softly against the floor as she made her way toward the door. “You two behave while I’m gone,” she said over her shoulder, a teasing lilt in her voice. “And Renzia, keep an eye on our little guest, won’t you?”

  Renzia ined her head in a smooth, almost reverent motion, while Kivvy muttered something under her breath about not needing to be babysat. Vivienne smirked but didn’t linger, slipping out into the corridor with an air of purpose.

  The hall was bustling with activity, though Vivienne moved through it like a shadow, her sharp eyes sing for any sign of Lady Ravanyr. Servants and warriors alike gave her a wide berth, their gazes lingering uneasily on the disheveled figure iole. She paid them little mind, her focus singur.

  After wandering through several wings of the hall, Vivienne finally spotted Rava in a quiet er of the training grounds. The t lupine figure stood with her back to Vivienne, speaking in low too a group of younger warriors. Her presence was anding, her every movement purposeful.

  Vivien a strange flutter in her chest as she approached, her steps quiing. Without warning, she darted forward and threw her arms around Rava from behind, squeezing tightly.

  “Rava!” she excimed, her voice tinged with genuine warmth. “I missed you so much!”

  The warriors standing nearby froze, their expressions a mixture of shod fusion. Rava stiffened for a moment before turning her head slightly, one brow arg as she gnced down at Vivienne’s unorthodox attire.

  “Vivienne,” she said, her tone wry but not unkind. “You’re… underdressed.”

  Vivienne grinned up at her, unbothered. “Oh, this? It’s a fashion statement. Very avant-garde.”

  Rava sighed, gently prying Vivienne’s arms loose so she could turn and face her properly. “What have you been up to? You look like you’ve been through a war.”

  “Close enough,” Vivienne said with a dramatic flourish. “I’ve been iigatiing traitors, fightiher beasts, and unraveling spiracies. You know, the usual.”

  Rava shot her a frown but didn’t press further. Instead, she pced a cwed hand on Vivienne’s shoulder, her grip firm yet f. “Let’s go somewhere more private. I think we have much to discuss.”

  “Lead the way, my dy,” Vivienne said with a pyful bow, though there was genuine respe her voice.

  As they walked, Vivien a sense of relief wash over her. She was ba familiar pany, with someone she trusted. For the first time in days, she felt a little less like a monster and a little more like herself.

  SupernovaSymphony