In a dimly lit room, illuminated only by the flicker of a single oil lamp, two figures sat across from one another at a wooden table. The heavy atmosphere was thick with tension.
One of them was Professor Goldilock, her posture relaxed despite the circumstances. Across from her sat a young girl, no more than sixteen, wearing the black and brown uniform of the House of Pluto. Her expression was cold and unreadable.
Outside the window, visible beyond the dark woods surrounding Mistheaven Castle, a massive creature loomed.
The monster, a Morrowghast, towered over Kuiper Town. It was a grotesque abomination, formed from a swarm of countless red flies that moved in a writhing, collective mass. The monster's rage laid waste to buildings, tearing through the town with ease.
"So, that's what you want, oh Rat King?"
Professor Goldilock broke the silence, her voice calm, unfazed by the chaos outside.
The young girl, a Rat King of Rattanfanger, leaned forward slightly.
"Simple, isn't it?" she replied.
"Hand over the Oracle to us, and we will never disturb Mistheaven again."
Professor Goldilock stared at that girl, her fingers lightly tapping the edge of the table. Despite the immense threat outside, her attention fixed entirely on the girl on the front of her.
The girl grinned, a cruel, thin smile creeping across her lips.
"The Morrowghast outside… "
She said casually, as if referring to something as trivial as a stray dog.
"Its just a demonstration. We Rattanfanger can conjure up monsters like that anytime we want. If you don't hand over the Oracle, this will keep happening. And each time, it will get worse."
The Oracle she spoke of wasn't just any collection of prophecies. It is the Stargazer's Oracle, more commonly called "The Oracle."
It contained the visions of Anastasia, the Stargazer Dark Lord, detailing future calamities, wars, disasters, and the potential end of the world.
"You're threatening me with a Morrowghast?"
Professor Goldilock finally responded.
"Do you think that I can't wipe that thing out with a flick of my wand?"
The girl's grin faded, her eyes narrowing.
"We don't doubt that," she said, her tone dropping.
"But fighting us off every time would burden you. How long before you become too exhausted to defend Mistheaven?"
Professor Goldilock didn't respond immediately. She knew the weight of her words and that this wasn't an empty threat. However, there was a smirk that tugged at the corner of her lips.
"You will not find any prophecies about Weser's Seal in the Oracle."
Goldilock said, leaning back slightly in her chair.
"You won't find anything about where the original Pied Piper was sealed."
The girl's eyes flashed briefly with anger, but she maintained her composure. She had expected this.
"We know that," she said flatly.
"Our main body's location is an Enigma. What we want is far more immediate. We need to know how to stop Y2K."
For the first time in the conversation, Goldilock's eyes widened slightly in surprise. She stared at the girl, trying to assess whether she was serious.
"Y2K?" She asked, a rare laugh escaping her.
"I didn't expect the Ensnaring Dark Lord to be concerned with saving the world."
She chuckled, placing a hand on her forehead in disbelief. The idea of the Ensnaring Dark Lord, a figure of chaos, worrying about the collapse of magical society seemed absurd to her.
The girl's expression didn't change.
"We want domination, not annihilation," she replied.
"What about you, though? Scorching Dark Lord?" She leveled a piercing gaze at Professor Goldilock.
Professor Goldilock's smirk returned.
"Me? This rotten world is better off destroyed, I think. But…" She added, her voice turning cold.
"I won't let anyone hurt my students. Consider that your warning."
She reached into the desk drawer beside her, pulling out a thick book. She slid it across the table, the book landing with a heavy thud.
*Thud*
"Take it," She said, her voice still cold.
"That's what you came for, isn't it? But remember this… If you ever disturb Mistheaven again, I won't show any mercy again."
The girl look at the book suspiciously for a moment before reaching out to grab it. She flipped it open, scanning the contents quickly. As her eyes moved over the pages, a look of shock briefly crossed her face.
"Hahaha, the second coming of the Chalice? The resurrection of the Wandering Dark Lord?"
She laughed maniacally.
"What is this book? A comedy novel? If this were the real Oracle, it would be a horror story."
Her laughter was laced with bitter sarcasm, but the historical references were no joke.
The "Wandering Dark Lord" was Saint Germain, the first Dark Lord and the progenitor of all wizards.
His legend was intertwined with the very foundation of magical civilization. He had been the one to connect humanity to the Holy Chalice of the Stars, allowing humans to wield starlight for the first time.
The Chalice marked the birth of wizard civilization. The era before it was known as Dark History or B.C.—Before Chalice.
"The progenitor of magic wanting to erase magic... it's ironic, isn't it?"
The girl mused, flipping through more of the Oracle's prophecies, which spoke of the potential end of magic and wizards, and perhaps the world itself.
With a casual shrug, she closed the book and stood.
"Well, we have what we came for. We won't let the world we intend to rule fall apart."
As she walked towards the door, she paused.
"Oh, by the way, we've lost control of Professor Glyde. Something's happened to him. We'll leave it to you to deal with the Morrowghast. Good luck."
The door creaked as it opened, and with a final smirk, she disappeared into the shadows beyond.
Professor Goldilock watched the door close behind her. She glanced out the window at the distant figure of the Morrowghast still wreaking havoc.
"They come and go as they please."
She muttered to himself. Then, with a sigh, she pushed herself to her feet, knowing the real work was just beginning.
**********
*Growl*
*Boom* *Boom*
Every time the monster made of thousands of red flies swung its massive tentacles, buildings crumbled like sandcastles, and homes were flattened in an instant.
Streets cracked open, and the ground trembled violently with each strike.
Even though the monster was still some distance away, its destructive presence was already causing havoc across the entire city.
The tremors were so intense that the candy jars inside the shop where Oz, August, Miranda, and Ophelia were hiding rattled on their shelves.
Oz looked out the window, his eyes narrowing as he watched the swarming morrowghasts that had covered the city earlier. Now they were retreating, flying toward the enormous monster as if answering its call.
"Fuck, we're still not safe!"
August's voice cracked with fear.
His knuckles were white as he gripped the edge of the counter, his eyes looking toward the sound of the beast outside getting louder.
He could feel its presence inching closer, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
Outside, people who had thought it was safer indoors were now fleeing into the streets, panicked and confused by the sudden evacuation orders.
Though some smaller morrowghasts still roamed, attacking the unfortunate few who crossed their paths, the sight of the monstrous creature towering above the city sent a wave of terror that no one could ignore.
"So, where are we going?"
Miranda asked casually, her focus glued to the TV, which was flashing evacuation orders.
On the screen, crowds of people were shown crammed into misty gates.
"I have a few ideas. I'd like to hear your thoughts."
Oz said, turning away from the window and flashing a mischievous grin.
His gaze bounced between the three of them, clearly unfazed by the chaos outside. In fact, he looked excited.
"First idea… Who's up for fighting that monster? Its a Raid boss! Anyone? Come on, raise your hand!"
Oz said, raising his own hand in exaggerated enthusiasm.
His suggestion was met with blank stares. August, Ophelia, and Miranda exchanged glances, but none of them moved. Not a single hand was raised.
"Yeah, no surprise there," Oz muttered, dropping his hand.
"Alright, how about option two? We follow the evacuation orders and head to the lower floors with the rest of the evacuees?"
The TV showed the evacuation zones, but it was clear that things were far from orderly. Crowds were packed into long lines, some panicking and pushing to get ahead, while others stood still in stunned silence. A sense of dread hung over the footage, making the option seem less and less appealing.
Again, no one raised their hand.
"Hmm, yeah, that doesn't look fun either. Alright, third option… We head to Mistheaven Castle. At least there, we'll be with the professors and guards. It's probably the safest place in the fifth floor right now."
This time, all four of them raised their hands, silently agreeing.
The Mistheaven Castle was heavily fortified, and the idea of being surrounded by powerful wizards felt reassuring.
"But... how do we get there?"
August asked, his voice still trembling.
He glanced nervously between the TV and Oz, clearly unsure if they'd even make it to the castle with the monster rampaging outside.
Oz smirked confidently.
"Of course, we're going by flying broomstick. Fast, efficient, and way cooler than running through the streets."
"But we don't have a flying broomstick."
August pointed out, his face scrunching in confusion. They definitely didn't have broomsticks on hand.
"Tada! Miranda just found the shopkeeper's broomstick. Good job, Miranda!"
Oz said, his grin widening as he pulled out an old broomstick from behind the counter.
Miranda gave a casual thumbs-up, clearly proud of her discovery.
"You're welcome," she said, though there was a slight frown on her face.
"But Oz, there's only one broomstick. How are we all supposed to fly with just one?"
"Oh, don't worry about that. I've got it covered."
Oz replied with a sly smile that sent a shiver down August's spine.
"Oh no, I don't like it when Oz smiles like that."
August muttered under his breath, dread building in the pit of his stomach.
Whenever Oz got that look on his face, it usually meant things were about to get weird, and not in a good way.
Without another word, Oz grabbed a wooden table that had been pushed against the wall, knocking over the rows of candy jars that had been carefully arranged on top of it.
*Crash* *Crack*
The jars shattered as they hit the floor, spilling hundreds of brightly colored candies across the shop.
Ophelia winced at the noise, while August just watched in stunned silence.
Oz, however, was completely focused. He flipped the table onto its side and placed the broomstick against its base, positioning it with careful precision.
"Transmutare Ultima!"
Oz whispered, pointing his hand at the broomstick and the table.
In an instant, the broomstick began to glow, and the wood of the table creaked and groaned as it merged with the broomstick.
Within seconds, the table had transformed into a crude but functional flying magic tool. The broomstick's bristles were now sticking out from the back of the table.
August's jaw dropped.
"You turned that into a flying… table?"
"Yep. A flying table," Oz said proudly.
"Perfect for our escape, right?"
"I guess that's one way to do it."
Ophelia commented dryly.
"We're not seriously flying out of here on a table, are we?"
August asked, his voice rising in panic as he stared at the strange contraption.
Oz just grinned.
"Better than staying here and getting squashed by a giant monster, don't you think?"
August sighed, realizing there wasn't much of a choice.
"Muahahaha! After the flying chair, it's time for the flying table! And this time, I didn't forget to add the barking system. Come on, everyone, hop on!"
Oz declared with a huge grin, waving his hand to encourage his friends to join him.
His eyes sparkled with excitement as he proudly showcased his latest invention.
"..."
August, Miranda, and Ophelia stood frozen, staring at the flying table in disbelief.
Only Oz could come up with the idea of a flying chair and table, and now he wanted to use it to escape a rampaging monster.
*Boom*
The roar of the monster outside snapped them out of their daze. Without wasting any more time, the three rushed to get on the table, realizing they had no better option.
Oz sat at the front, eagerly taking control. Ophelia sat directly behind him, trying to remain calm. Miranda followed, looking a bit skeptical but without complaint, and August, trembling with fear, took the rear seat, gripping the edge of the table tightly.
"Alright, everyone ready? Time to fly! Woohoo!"
Oz shouted, his excitement overflowing. While Oz was clearly enjoying his time, the others weren't so thrilled.
The table struggled to lift off, weighed down by the four of them, but after a moment, it ascended above the rooftops. Slowly but surely, they were flying.
As they rose higher, the scene below became clearer. The gigantic monster was wreaking havoc on Kuiper Town. Entire blocks of buildings were either smashed to rubble or on fire.
From the above, they could see dozens of spells flying towards the monster, but the overwhelming number of morrowghasts swarming around it made their efforts seem almost pointless.
The joint forces were scattered, trying their best to launch coordinated attacks at the beast.
*Groowl*
*Boom*
With every step, the monster crushed buildings as though they were made of paper.
People fled in all directions, trying to escape the devastation, but the beast's enormous size made it impossible to avoid. The wizards below, despite their efforts, were like ants fighting a mountain.
—Hmm, its movements seem too deliberate for a mindless beast. There's something off about the way it fights.
Oz squinted, watching the way the creature moved. Its strikes were precise, as if someone was guiding it rather than it acting on instinct. His curiosity piqued, he decided to investigate.
"Verinomus Animaviso!"
His vision blurred for a second before refocusing, now showing glowing galaxy within the people and creatures below. As he scanned the monster, he froze.
"Huh? That's unexpected."
Inside the massive creature, Oz saw the unmistakable shape of a galaxy. Someone was controlling the beast from within.
—So that's what's happening... This could be interesting.
"Vagabundus!"
Oz aimed a spell directly at the verinomus inside the monster. He intended to disrupt the controller, hoping it would make the beast easier to deal with. But instead of helping, his spell backfired spectacularly.
*Growl*
The monster roared even louder than before, and its movements became erratic.
It thrashed about wildly, smashing through several blocks at once. It wasn't just attacking… It was out of control, spinning in circles and hitting everything in its path.
—Oops. That wasn't supposed to happen.
He urged the table forward, and it shot through the air, faster this time, zooming past the collapsing buildings.
"Aaaaa!"
August screamed from the back, holding onto Miranda as the table dipped and soared through the sky.
"Kyaaa! Don't touch me, August!"
Miranda shrieked, trying to pry his hands off her.
*Splat*
A loud slap echoed as Miranda's hand connected with August's cheek, leaving a bright red mark.
August rubbed his cheek, looking more hurt by the slap than by the monstrous destruction below.
"Muahahaha!"
Oz laughed, completely unbothered by the chaos.
"Hold on, everyone! We're making great time!"
They soared above Kuiper Town, quickly leaving behind the city center where the battle was most intense.
Below them, they could still see the giant monster tearing through the streets, though from this height, they had a better view of the outskirts and the safer parts of town.
The table tilted slightly as they veered toward the edge of town. Oz's goal was clear, avoid the battle zone entirely and head toward the safer areas near Mistheaven Castle, where other wizards and guards could help handle the situation.
"Are we going to make it to Mistheaven Castle?" Miranda asked, her eyes wide as she clutched the sides of the table.
"Of course!" Oz grinned.
"This table's got enough juice to take us anywhere! Just trust me."
None of them felt reassured by Oz's words, but at this point, they had no choice but to hang on and hope for the best.
With the table flying at full speed, they zoomed toward the castle gates, but the sight of the gates being firmly shut stopped them in their tracks.
Around the castle, hastily constructed barricades of earth and stone were visible, likely summoned by the wizards in defense.
Several wizard squads were locked in a fierce battle with the remaining morrowghasts. Even a few smaller versions of the massive creature that had attacked Kuiper Town were present, relentlessly hammering at the barricades, trying to break through.
"Incendia Orbis!"
*Boom*
*Screech*
Fireball after fireball streaked through the air, striking morrowghasts and blasting them back into swarms of writhing red flies.
"Now this is what I call fireworks."
Oz said sarcastically, his voice dripping with mockery as he glanced at Miranda, poking fun at her earlier excitement over a signal flare she had mistaken for real fireworks.
"Vertical landing, everyone!"
Oz was clearly pleased with himself as the barking system he'd designed to control the table worked just as he intended.
This time, he managed to bring the table down slowly, easing it toward the ground.
*Thud*
The table landed with a gentle thump, but what really caught everyone's attention was the sight of flying table descending from the sky.
The surrounding wizards, who had been fighting for their lives against the morrowghasts, stood dumbfounded, unsure whether to be impressed or baffled by the flying furniture.
"Oz, after making flying chairs and tables, don't tell me you're planning on building a flying wardrobe next."
August remarked, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he raised an eyebrow at Oz's eccentric creations.
"Ah, good idea! Next time, I'll make a flying wardrobe, a flying sofa, and maybe even a flying bed! Thanks for the inspiration, August!"
"..."
August's sarcastic comment backfired spectacularly, and now he could only grimace as Oz eagerly took his words as genuine advice.
Before he could say anything else, a loud screech filled the air, and they all turned to see a swarm of red flies swooping in for an attack.
*Screech*
The swarm moved fast, their buzzing growing louder as they closed in on the group.
"Untransfiguro!"
Oz shouted, quickly casting a spell.
But the result wasn't what he expected. Instead of untransfigured the marrowghast into a sand, the creatures transformed into grotesque masses of flesh, bone, and blood, writhing and convulsing as they reshaped into horrific forms.
—What? Don't tell me some of these morrowghasts were transfigured from humans...
Oz's eyes widened in horror as the transformed morrowghasts now took on crude humanoid shapes.
Their twisted, malformed limbs flailed as they staggered forward, attempting to attack.
"Untransfiguro Superbia!"
With his starlight reserves running dangerously low, Oz cast the superbia version of the spell, which didn't have the reach of the maxima version but was still powerful enough to hit the surrounding morrowghasts.
The area around them was momentarily lit by a flash of blue energy.
*Screech*
"He-lp me. Ra-at Ki-."
To everyone's shock, the screeching turned into distorted human voices, crying out in broken words.
As the spell hit the morrowghasts, their monstrous forms melted into grisly piles of flesh and bone, scattering across the ground.
*Blegh*
Some of the nearby wizards, already exhausted and mentally strained from the battle, couldn't handle the sight.
Several of them doubled over, vomiting as the grotesque remains of the morrowghasts lay in front of them.
"Good job, Chair Rider… Or should I say Table Rider now? Whatever it is, thanks for the help. We were getting overwhelmed here at the gate."
A burly senior said, walking over to Oz with a look of grudging respect.
Judging by his muscular build and his commanding tone, he was likely a fifth or sixth-year student, someone with a lot of experience in a real battle.
"You're welcome, senior. How's the situation looking?"
Oz asked as he scanned the area for any remaining threats, keeping an eye on the barricades.
"Most of the professors are over in Kuiper Town dealing with the big one. That's left the senior students and academy staff to hold the line here against these smaller morrowghasts."
The senior explained, gripping his wand tightly as he readied himself for the next wave.
His current wand had lost most of its glow, indicating its starlight reserves were nearly depleted. He pulled out a backup wand, looking worn but determined to keep fighting.
Oz glanced down at his own starlight. The spell he had used earlier had drained almost everything, and it would take time for his starlight to recharge.
Unfortunately, due to the restrictions of the method he had used to steal Oliver's verinomus, Oz couldn't use celestite.
"Looks like we'll have to hold out until the professors get back."
Oz muttered, half to himself as he prepared for whatever came next.
*Screech*
Several morrowghasts in human-like silhouettes reappeared. The wizards readied themselves to strike, but what happened next caught everyone off guard.
Another group of morrowghasts attacking the morrowghasts in human-like silhouettes with wild, frenzied movements. Their speed and ferocity were unlike anything the wizards had faced earlier in the day.
Oz, ever alert, realized what was going on before anyone else.
"Run! Those are the real morrowghasts!"
He shouted, his voice urgent as he yanked Miranda and August along by their wrists.
Opheila, startled and left behind for a split second, quickly followed as they raced toward the small side door near the castle gate.
*Screech*
The real morrowghasts began tearing through the wizards who had been standing guard near the gate. Their chaotic movements, along with the screams of the injured, filled the air.
"Aaaa!"
"Heeelp!"
Every scream marked another wizard struck down by the creatures. But the morrowghasts weren't killing them.
It was almost as if some unseen rule was preventing them from doing so. Instead, they left their victim's limbs reduced to bones with the flesh completely stripped off.
"Aaaa! My flesh is not tasty! Unnatural! Hush! hush! Go away!"
Oz screamed hysterically.
Once the four managed to slip through the small door, Mistheaven Castle loomed before them, eerily silent and desolate.
Only a few senior students remained inside, visibly worn-out from the battle. Many of them had wounds that they had hastily bandaged.
"Oh, first-years, huh? You need to get back to your dorms."
A senior student barked at them, his robes tattered and bloodied. A fresh cut on his forehead oozed dark red, and he winced every time he moved his arm.
"The professors have put protection spells over the dorms, and…"
Before he could finish, the sharp, buzzing sound of the morrowghasts' wings returned. The creatures had followed them through the gate.
"Damn, they got in again. Incendia Orbis!"
The senior hurled fireballs at the approaching morrowghasts, his wand flicking with each rapid motion.
But these morrowghasts were quicker and more agile than before. Each fireball missed its mark.
"Aaagh! Help!"
The senior cried out, his voice desperate as the creatures descended on him.
They clawed at his arms and legs, leaving behind nothing but bare bones. Yet, still, they didn't finish him off, their attacks bizarrely restrained, as though they had no intent to kill.
"Run!"
Oz, Miranda, and August shouted simultaneously, their voices filled with raw panic.
In the chaos, the group split up. Fear clouded their judgment, and instead of sticking together, they scattered in different directions.
Oz found himself sprinting alone down a narrow corridor. He had no idea if the others were being chased or if it was just him, but it hardly mattered at this point. Survival was his only focus.
He ran blindly through the castle's twisting hallways, his feet pounding the stone floors as he dodged into room after room, desperately trying to shake the morrowghasts on his tail.
—Damn! Damn! Damn! Oliver's starlight reserves are nearly depleted!
Oz's mind raced as he running into a lecture hall, only to realize, with a sinking feeling, that the room had no other exits. He was trapped.
When he turned back to the door, the morrowghasts were already there, blocking his escape.
"Looks like I'll have to go all out."
Oz muttered to himself, a wild grin spreading across his face. Despite the peril, he couldn't help but feel a twisted sense of excitement rising in his chest.
*Screech*
The morrowghasts lunged at him, but Oz was quicker. He leaped back, narrowly avoiding their sharp claws.
The creatures instead crashed into the rows of desks and chairs, smashing them into splinters.
*Bam!*
The sound of the destruction echoed through the empty room. But the morrowghasts weren't done. They quickly regrouped, spreading out and circling Oz, forming a net around him.
There was no way to dodge them this time. Oz could feel the pressure closing in.
"Incendia Spherea!"
He shouted, casting a spell that ignited a swirling vortex of fire around him. The flames roared, engulfing everything in his path.
The morrowghasts screeched as the flames consumed them. Their bodies crackled and popped, black smoke rising from their charred remains.
*Screeeeech!*
But the creatures weren't easily destroyed. Even as their bodies burned, their disfigured forms still trying to claw their way toward Oz.
The flames intensified, and one by one, the morrowghasts fell. Oz stood in the center of the inferno, panting, his clothes singed from the heat.
He had bought himself some time, but his starlight reserves were almost gone. And he knew, deep down, that this wasn't over yet.
The remaining morrowghasts hovered in a tightly packed red sphere, buzzing ominously as they made their way toward Oz, who was busy chanting a spell under his breath, his hands glowing with blue aura.
"Transmutare Ultima!"
Oz slammed both hands onto the stone floor, his fingers spreading a shimmering blue light. The glowing aura expanded rapidly, and from the floor, two massive walls erupted on either side of him, boxing in the advancing morrowghasts.
*Bam!*
The morrowghasts, unable to change course in time, slammed into the walls, now trapped like insects between two giant, crushing hands.
A disgusting red liquid oozed from the cracks where the walls met, a sign that many of the creatures had been crushed.
But it wasn't over. Some of the more agile morrowghasts escaped the deadly trap and regrouped, preparing to launch another attack on Oz.
Oz noticed this immediately and readied himself. He wasn't panicked, in fact, a grin started to creep across his face.
*Bam!* *Bam!* *Bam!*
Each morrowghast that lunged at Oz met only air as he dodged their swipes with acrobatic precision, his boots barely touching the ground as he evaded their attacks.
Now standing in the center of the room, free of obstacles, Oz's mind raced.
He could feel his starlight power beginning to wane. If this went on for too long, he'd be in serious trouble.
But instead of showing concern, his eyes gleamed with excitement. Without hesitation, he once again placed his glowing hands on the floor.
This time, a different transmutation took shape. The ground rippled, and out rose an oversized fly swatter.
"Mueheheh. Come here, you dirty flies!"
Oz swung the massive swatter, taunting the morrowghasts that were already gearing up for another attack.
*Splat!* *Splat!* *Splat!*
Each time one of the creatures got close, Oz smashed them against the floor, reducing their form to a pulpy mess.
The heavy thuds echoed through the room, and soon the lecture hall looked more like a battlefield, littered with the remains of countless flattened morrowghasts.
"Muehehe! This is fun!"
Oz shouted with a crazed grin, his laughter echoing off the walls.
The morrowghasts, now reduced to only a few survivors, scattered in panic, buzzing as they flying out of the room, clearly no longer interested in fighting Oz.
"Hey, where do you think you're going!?"
Oz chased after them for a few steps, but when he saw they were truly gone, he dropped the fly swatter and collapsed onto the floor.
"If this were whack-a-mole, I'd have the high score."
Oz said, wiping the sweat from his brow.
"Don't you agree?"
Though the room seemed empty, it was clear Oz was speaking to someone. His eyes were fixed on the entrance, where faint footsteps could now be heard approaching.
*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
A figure stepped into the dimly lit lecture hall. It was a female student with long, flowing black hair, her eyes sharp as they locked onto Oz.
She wore the unmistakable black and blue robe of the House of Neptune. Her left arm was bandaged, the white cloth still stained with spots of dried blood, a sign that she hadn't yet fully recovered.
Oz grinned as he recognized her.
"Opheila, or should I call you… Rat King?"