That was the primary thought going through Nagare's head as he sat in his cell at the Conformitorum
There he had been, minding his own business and enjoying some 'him time' before returning to the Orphan Asylum by curfew. He had spied a small book vendor and giving the product a look; a soap opera with food in the place of witches and demons.
Silly in premise alone, but the artwork and unexpected dynamics and inteactions had hooked the witch. Until, next thing he knew, he was flung into a wagon and then into this cell for 'accepting propaganda.'
"Karma's never going to let me live this down." He groaned, already imaging his brother's teasing smirk and the others screaming at him for how he'd allowed this to happen to him.
Well, at least he was close to the author; a very pretty Bard Coven member named Kitya. And then see Raine Whispers and Wrath throw down, so he hadn't been bored.
"Look here convict!" One of the guards said, getting Nagare's attention as he hoisted over a sack filled with snails and slugs. "Your brother made all this through betting on the fight; easily double your bail."
"So, I'm free to go?" Nagare asked.
"Nah, I don't think you've learnt your lesson." The guard said with a chuckle as he and others went to help themselves to the money before leaving the now halved sack for their budget and returning to their posts.
"…Jerks." Nagare sighed. "Well, looks like I AM staying the night."
"At least they aren't creeping on you." Kitya added.
"LUST AND GREED SHALL BE THE INCIDENTS THAT DISMANTLE THE OPRESSION!" A tiny demon shouted but went ignored.
OWLPHIBIA
With a ride on a Slitherbeast thanks to Beast keeping magic, it took four less than five minutes to reach their destination:
"Well, here we are: The good old Conformitorium. Been here so many times, I often considered having my MAIL forwarded here." Olivier mused.
It was a single tower of skyscraper size that rested on a chained foundation connected to mountains by chains.
"Oh, this place just screams 'corrupt.'" Luz mused.
"Makes Toad Tower look like that Newtopian Hotel." Maddie mused.
"…Um, how do you know what the hotel was like, dude?" Anne asked.
(A/N: This is written on the assumption that Maddie did not join the gang on their season two adventures to Newtopia)
"Sprig and Oracle spell."
"…You did an Oracle spell already and I missed it?" Olivier smiled. "How? When?"
Maddie beamed, happy Olivier was proud of her..and the by the looks of it, Luz was intrigued and mentally adding that to the list of 'lore to be told.'
"Um, as much as I want to applaud Maddie's growth as a witch…." Anne coughed into her hand.
"Right, right…sorry." Olivier chuckled weakly, which made the trio laugh warmly at him.
"I don't mind at all." spoke Anne, smiling as she hopped along with Olivier. "I kinda feel like Juniper O'Neil from the Teenage Mutated Shinobi Turtles!"
"1987, 03 or 12?" Luz asked, making Anne pause for a second.
"eh…87 minus the damsel in distress bits."
"Fair enough and seconded." Luz beamed. "Although I feel more like the 12 version."
"…I have no idea what you're talking about. But it sounds kinda cool." spoke Olivier.
"For Turtles, anyways." Maddie noted.
"IT IS!" The two girls exclaimed, startling the poor boy.
"It was Marcy's…!" Anne started before she stopped herself, suddenly remembering Marcy...and what happened to her. "...Marcy"
Luz spied this and
"Anne?" She asked in concern, but Anne slapped and recomposed herself.
"So Ollie….HOW are we going to break into that place?" asked Anne. "Let ourselves get caught!?"
'Okay, even I know that's not normal.' Luz realized but kept to herself. 'Before I go back home? We're talking about that and I AM helping.'
"Not to worry." said Olivier, calmly. "I know ways in and out of here that even the head of the Construction Coven has forgotten about."
Before Olivier could say another word, he leapt from their hiding place. Maddie followed. With Anne, Luz and King trailing behind the duo.
"Wait…KING?!"
The four turned to see the little monster following them.
"You still owe me a crown! And with Luz here…!" The little monster started.
"Go home!" Olivier ordered.
"As the king of demons I ignore your foolhearted care and press on." King pouted. "Besides, even if I don't get a crown, there's no way I'm missing the shocked looks when people see you're back!"
Luz cooed at King's attitude and like march while Olivier found himself holding the urge to strangle his brother silly for his selective stupidity. Anne hugged him until he calmed down, but6 he shot king a dirty look that screamed:
'You are in SOOOO much trouble later.'
The group soon circled around the Conformitorium, eventually reaching the less guarded rear of the building. Olivier advanced towards a wall with the others close behind him.
"Now, let's see..." Olivier began tapping areas of the wall with his staff until he heard a 'THUNK!'. "Ah-Ha!, there it is."
With a loud click, the wall then opened up, revealing a hidden passage.
"Dude, that is SO COOL." said Anne, impressed. Luz whistled at the sight.
"Quick, before we're spotted!" said Olivier, with urgency.
The girls all rushed inside with Olivier going in last. The false wall then closed back with a click, becoming hidden once again.
Maddie conjured a light orb.
"Good work, Maddie." praised Olivier as he followed in suit, making his protégé beam. "Okay, everyone. Behind me, single file. Assuming there have been no recent renovations, I should know where to go."
"Lead the way, Dude. This is your world." Anne motioned as they proceeded to walk down the long, dark tunnel.
Eventually, the group reached yet another stone wall.
"Knats! a dead end..." scowled Anne.
"…And a new one." Olivier admitted, giving the wall a look. "These stone are…colored? Enchanted for sure…but what kind? It'd take me at least an hour to figure…"
"Maybe not…" Luz said, stepping forward as she spotted something. "May I?"
"..Be my guest." Olivier smiled.
Luz then began to touch and lightly push certain stones away from or closer together, a sturdier and fuller wall coming together as she did so. After a few minutes, the Wall opened with a click into a hallway.
"Gracias for Tetras, mama." Luz smirked.
"Okay, everyone stay quiet...If we get caught now, it's all over.* whispered Olivier
"Yahoo!" King beamed as he raced forward. "I can get a crown!"
'King! King! King, get back here!" Olivier, Maddie and Anne snapped. If King heard he paid no mind, racing towards a beam…and getting bounced back.
"…Idiot." Oliver grumbled.
"…Um?" Luz pointed to the beam. "What is a sci-fi storage unit doing here?"
"The Emperor has a tinkering habit." Olivier said, recalling the mechanical staff Belos used. "…. Also, you know what that is?"
"My mom is huge Sci-fi geek." Luz explained, her mood then downing before she set herself back up. "Dad was too…"
Anne and Oliver took note of this and became concerned when Luz pushed her feelings aside.
"I take it only someone with certain…criteria can enter?"
"Yeah, either a member of the Emperor's Coven…or a full blooded, magicless hum…KING WHERE YOU PLANNING ON?!"
King, to dazed, just whined.
"Well, what even is in there?" Luz asked.
"Contraband, including some stuff from Ear…She's already zoomed in, hasn't she?" Olivier realized when he saw Maddie and Anne smirking.
Luz returned seconds later, her arms full of contraband.
"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!" King, suddenly well enough to stand, reached for a Burger Queen crown Luz has grabbed. Luz handed it to him as she showed off more of what she'd grabbed:
Several comic books, encyclopaedias, Victorian style clothing, some VHS and what Luz considered the greatest treasure:
"AZURA AUTHOR NOTES! A. ZURA. AUTHOR! NOTES! WUITH DRAWINGS! AND DELETED CONCEPTS!" she then chanelled Gollum for a moment and held them close to her. "I'mneverpartingwiththisunlessifallinlovewithafellowAzuralover."
Elsewhere in Isles, Amity Blight felt a twinge of comradery as she read her favorite Hexates scene in Azura volume 2.
Olivier, in spite of it all, smiled, happy for his brother and new friend…and yes, Anne looked even prettier than normal in that Victorian cap…but her beautiful, bushy hair was pushed down…
"See something you like, dude?" Anne smiled coyly, then spying Olivier's attention on something:
A picture of a brunette woman who bore a startling resemblance to his mother and grandmother. A picture that had been stabbed, burnt and ripped yet still held her appearance.
For some reason, the picture…spoke to Olivier… But he shook his head and pushed it away.
"We'll come back for it another time. Nagare comes first."
Anne and Luz smiled at Olivier's loyalty to his friend and King made a note of the picture. Maddie spun a magic circle of Oracle memory and placed it in a vial she had on her.
"Lead on." Anne motioned her boyfriend as he raced towards the end of the room and motioned them into what looked like a closet.
Everyone nodded and proceeded to follow Olivier into the closet. As Olivier neared the door, he felt Maddie pull on his leg.
"I have an idea: let's send Fangora out there to scout ahead. she's really good at staying hidden.*
"That's a very good idea, maddie.* said Olivier. "…Especially sine I left Fleetwing with the Boonchuys…He is going to be so mad at me…."
Maddie's staff came alive once more, and Olivier scooped the large spider up. cracking open the closet door, he let the spider out and quickly closed the door.
Luz gasped in awe at the whole thing.
"Okay, Maddie. do your thing." said Olivier.
Maddie's uncovered yellow eye glowed bright green as she synced with her Palisman.
After awhile, her eye became yellow once again. *don't see anyone out there.*
"Good. we can keep moving." spoke Olivier, normally. "But all the same: Stay Quiet, and out of sight."
As the group finally exited the closet, and walked into the room...they froze upon seeing a disturbing sight:
The room was a long hallway, lined with stone statues standing atop platforms. Each statue depicted a different individual, some humanoid, others more non-human. But they all had either a terrified, or somber expression on their faces.
"Oh right…forgot about this part." Olivier grimaced.
"Did we break into the most depressing art museum ever?" spoke Anne, thinking aloud.
"These are not chiseled stone, Anne...they were people once." said Olivier, an edge in his voice.
It was then that Anne and Maddie suddenly remembered something Olivier once told them about his world. How Emperor Belos was a tyrant, who petrified innocent people to stone as a form of execution.
A quick look at what was written on the statue's platforms confirmed this.
"I don't like this place. It's creeping me out." said Luz, feeling uneasy. She instantly remembered 'Reality Check camp' and her biggest fears about going there.
"I'm feeling a little uneasy too...and that's no small feat." said Maddie.
"Just keep moving. And try not to look at them." said Olivier.
Despite Olivier's advice, Anne couldn't help but to look at the statues. Knowing these were all once living people made her skin crawl.
And one statue stood out: one of a human-looking girl with elven ears, who looked no older than she was and wearing a uniform like Olivier's.
Anne felt her stomach turn as she stared at the terrified girl's stone face. She was only a kid...like HER. Yet, she was practically 'put to death' like a criminal.
Anne's imagination then painted a very disturbing image in her mind. This...this could be HER. or any one of her friends! Sasha...Marcy.
And then Anne winced as a horrid thought popped in her head: \
'This could happen to OLIVIER!'
"ANNE." Anne jumped and looked back to her boyfriend. "keep moving...don't look at them."
Anne silently nodded and proceeded to follow Olivier down the hall.
Everyone tried to not look at the stone statues, but it was impossible not to cast a glance. The fact that they HAD to walk slowly and not sprint out didn't make things much easier.
"Oookay…This is clearly a dark fantasy world after all." Luz said.
She'd been hoping to avoid this: The consequences of 'being different' and being able to be herself without care. And yet here, in what she thought was her dream come true, was a cruel reminder that going out of the status quo was not encouraged of forgiven easily….
OWLPHIBIA
Once they made it past the statues, they caught their breath.
"I NEED to make Chickalisk antidote." Maddie said, leaving no room for argument. "A whole lot of Chickalisk antidote."
Eventually, the party reached a cavernous rotunda with levels of walkways and long corridors. Anne and the Frogs gaped at the hundreds of prison cells, each filled with shadowy figures of all shapes and sizes.
"Um...Oliver?" spoke Luz.
"Yeah?"
"I'm not sure about this...Now, I am sure most of these people are innocent like you said, But I don't want to release any REAL criminals that should be in here into the world."
Anne suddenly realized that her friend had a point….
"Don't worry, the really dangerous criminals aren't kept here." Olivier assured them. "they're all sent directly to Belos' castle."
That served to lessen the worries a bit, but not fully.
"Listen, we came here to save Olivier's friend. And to do that? We can't pick and choose who we release." said Maddie.
"Besides, any real criminals will be recaptured really quick since they'll stay to fight the guards. And if they do escape? Bounty money for Clawthornes to collect, baby!" Olivier smirked, already envisioning going on bounty hunting trips with his mom and possibly Aunt as well…maybe grandma too, depending on former Covens…
"Or Noceda!" Luz cut in. "….Depending on how long I stay and or come back. Just keeping options open."
Anne paused to ponder this. "I guess that makes sense."
"Trust me...What we do is for the greater good." said Olivier.
Once everyone else discarded their disguises, save for Olivier, who kept his mask on, they saw a familiar spider crawl over to them.
"Hey, Fangora!" exclaimed Maddie, grasping her Palsiman and hugging it.
"So, where is this Prisoner Release Switch?" asked Sprig.
"Just up ahead." answered Olivier.
As the group walked down the walkway, one of the prisoners spoke up.
"Hey, kids! How'd you guys get out of your cells?"
Anne looked to see a girl her own age. "Uhh...We didn't. We broke in here."
This made the girl laugh. "You broke INTO this place!?"
"Well, a friend of my boyfriend was taken by these guys." explained Anne.
The girl nodded. "I hear ya. The stupid warden took one of my books when he locked me up in here."
"Really?"
"Yeah! I like to write fanfics of food falling in love." continued the girl. "I like food, I like love. (*shouting*) JUST LET ME WRITE ABOUT IT!"
Anne grimaced. "That...is kind of weird. But, it isn't a crime."
"…Can I read it?" Luz asked. "I mean, as long as its not Menma fanfics…"
She and Anne shuddered at the notion.
(AN: yes, that was a nod to Naruto)
"If you wanna end up in here, go right ahead." The girl said, handing a copy to Luz just as another chimed in.
"It IS good!" Nagare assured them. "Kitya here's a genius at dynamics!"
"Oh…I don't know about genius…" The authoress blushed.
It took EVERYTHING Olivier had to not scream and rant at his old friend, asking him how the heck he, out of all of their gang, got caught. But now was not the time or place…nor did he have any ruight after he went silent for so long.
"So…what're you in here for?" Anne asked a tall white, ogre like creature.
"I'm here because I like eating my own eyes." He answered before doing just that,
"…Ew." Anne grimaced.
"COOL." said Maddie.
'And to think this guy was considered on the level of mom and Rapa at one point…' Olivier mused, recalling Eda's stories of the guy being at her and Raine's HECK games.
"WE ARE AGENTS OF FREE EXPRESSION!, THEY WILL NEVER SILENCE US!" SAID another prisoner; a creature that looked like a giant nose with eyes
"Just ignore her." Nagare said.
"Yeah, she's really big into conspiracy theories." Kitya added.
"THE WORLD IS A SIMULATION!" exclaimed the Nose Creature. "We are but playthings for a higher being!"
"I have no head...I have no head...I have no head..." said a three-headed creature.
"….You guys aren't criminals at all! You're weirdos! Like me!" Luz, filled with righteous indignation and a sense of comradery, raced to the release levers…which she pulled to no avial. "NOOOOO! My weak little nerd arms!"
"Lemme." Anne said, hoisting the levers up with little effort. "Varisty and Death world for the win, baby!"
…
…
"Why are none of you moving to leave?" Maddi asked.
"I know ten different ways out from here." Olivier assured
"The Warden'll just catch us." Kitya sighed.
"Best to just stay here. Sides, dinner'll be served soon." Nagare mentioned. "Can't flee on an empty stomach."
And for some reason, perhaps because of all he'd been through in Amphibia and on Earth, seeing this apathy and acceptance just rubbed Olivier the wrong way.
"Oh for the love of…WRATH IS ON A DATE WITH MY MOM AND THE PLACE IS IN SHAMBLES! GET OFF YOUR TUSHES AND LEAVE! NAGARE, YOU IKNOW THE OTHERS ARE GOING WILD WITHOIUT YOU AND BEN CAN'T HANDLE ALL OF THE…!"
He then covered his mouth, realizing what he'd just done.
"Ollie…sweetie…" Anne grimaced.
"…Wait, OLLIE?!" Nagare gasped, recognizing the voice and hearing Anne.
"….Oh, Minotaur-scat." Olivier realized.
"Ollie?...as in Olivier Clawthorne, the Owl Lad?!" Kitya gasoped.
Knowing the jig was up, Olivier stepped into view and removed his mask.
"Hi, Katya...See you got caught again."
Katya stared with wide eyes.
"YOU'RE SUPPOSE TO BE DEAD!"
"…Dead?"
"Well you've been gone for months! Raine was…IS heartbro…wait, how long have you been back because they suddenly became chipper…"
"Long story..." Olivier said. "Anyway, how is that story of yours going?"
"I'm up to Chapter 40 and writing a Prequel and Spinoff on the side." answered Katya, making Olivier whistle.
"Wow, I have been away for a long time. That's impressive."
"AHEM! AHEM-AHEM!"
Nagare coughed and then tapped his foot, waiting until he got Olivier's attention. The half witch met his gaze and felt shame…and then confusion.
"So…what um…what're you wearing? Some human world holiday attire?" Nagare asked.
Olivier, despite wishing this outfit was such, smirked as he entered his 'persona.'
"Actually…during my time on Earth? I became something of a costumed hero….BARON BARN!"
…
…
"HAHAAHAHAHAHAAHAHHAAAA!"
A mass of laughter filled room.
"Is that seriously the best you could come up with? It's WAY too obvious!" Nagare said.
"Hey! It was all we had on us!...What're YOU even in here for?" Oliver asked.
"...Reading fanfics."
"Wow, this place really is corrupt." Luz grimaced.
"You have NOOOOO idea, Luz." Olivier deadpanned. Said Deadpanning stopped when he spied Nagare smirking flirtatiously at Anne. For some reason, Kitya felt jealous.
"Um…can I help you dude?" Anne asked.
"Just wondering if I could know the name of such a lovely human." Nagare smirked.
"Um…A-Anne."
"Well, well, well! The famous Anne herself, eh?" Nagare batted his eyes at the Thai girl, who was torn between flattered and uncomfortable
"DON'T YOU FROGGIN' DARE!" Olivier roared, bursting into dark magic and shaking the Conforitorium in rage.
"HA!" Nagare laughed. "Ah, I needed to see that! Ms. Boonchuy, I do apologize. The name is Nagare, an old friend of that masked maraurder wannabe."
"I can leave you here, ya know."
"Um, you broke into HERE to save him." Luz reminded him.
Then Nagare saw the other human
And is that…?"
"Ah, hi there!" Luz beamed. "Luz Noceda; another human! I came here an hour ago when Eda tried to burn the last thing I have of my dad."
"…..Dammit, Mom…" Olivier grumbled.
"...Okay, there is a lot to unpack there..." Anne mused.
"As is there with you two." Luz noted as an uncomforatble silence filled the room.
"…So, you;'re stronger than the other human." The ogre said to Anne.
"I was on varsity." Anne smirked with pride.
"...That sounds impressive. Ollie, is that impressive?" Nagare asked.
"Lemme put it to you this way; the triclops who must never be named is the best at our school. Annie is the best in her whole city."
Nagare whistled and then smirked evilly, as did Olivier.
"So…who wants out?"
OWLPHIBIA
This wasn't the WORST date Eda had ever had, but its was definitely the most boring.
Wrath's praising of her escapes and exploits got old surprisingly fast, and while she admitted his kid was cute in his own way, it was clear to both that a relationship wouldn't be happening…
"Raine is lucky." Wrath said in a kind tone and then smirked. "You…?"
"yes, I totally know they're eavesdropping."
Raine do their credit, didn't move.
"WAAAAARDEN!" A guard called out. "BREAAAK OUT!"
The trio then turned to see Olivier, Anne, Maddie and Luz, all in 'costumes' racing out of the Conformitorium.
Wrath, despite it all, smirked as he leapt down.
"Hello…Boy." He snarled at Olivier.
"Wrath. Hope you enjoyed dinner." The half-witch smirked.
"We sure emnjoyed the contraband!" King smirked, reveling in his crown.
"We did. And now you're the entertainment." With that, Wrath's massive arms then suddenly formed into multiple tendrils that wriggled like hundreds of worms.
"Ew." said Anne, grossed out.
"Is it weird this is making me hungry?" Maddie asked.
One of Wrath's 'tendrilled' limbs then morphed into sledgehammer.
"Aaaand there goes the dinner craving" said Maddie, quickly.
Wrath shot out his sledgehammer arm at the group, only for Olivier to create a golem to take the shot and then another to punch him.
"NOW!" Luz called out, and the prisoners they'd befriended raced forward, catching Wrath off guard.
"I EAT MY OWN EYES!" The ogre declared.
"I THINK THE WORLD IS A TRIANGLE!" The tiny creature said.
"I STAND OUT IN A CROWD!" Nagare said.
"AND I PRACTICE THE ANICENT ART OF FANFICTION!" Kitya roared.
They quickly tied Wrath by the arms, but he managed to get back to his feet.
"You think this'll stop me, brats?!"
"Do NOT underestimate us, Warden Wrath!" Luz declared, having burrow Fangora. "For I am LUZ! The human! Warrior of peace!"
"And I'm MaeIngx!" Anne followed in suit. "Dragonfly girl from another world! Top tennis player on Varisty! And lover of Ollie the Owl Boy!"
"And last but certainly not least: Kauket!" Olivier declared, hoisting Maddie upwards. "SUNKEN ISLES DESCEDANT, POTION PRODIGY AND NECROMANCER!"
…
….
"NOW EAT THIS SUCKAH!" Luz roared as she tossed a firework towards Wrath.
"Oh no…" Wrath whimpered as the firework slammed into his mouth…and was set off.
"…Where did you get that?" Olivier asked.
"Oh I had it from a book report."
"…Oh we are going to get along swimmingly." Olivier beamed.
"BOOOOOY!" Wrath roared, leaping towards Olivier despite it all and untangling his arms to strike…
Only for a series of musical notes to be played and him to return the ground, start marching and then punching himself out cold.
Olivier turned and finally saw a familiar pair of glasses with a fiddle. The figure made a 'shush' motion, but the slight upwards of their glasses indicated they were smiling.
"…Thanks, Rad." Olivier smiled warmly as another note was heard and Kitya appeared by the shadowy figure's side.
"Call me, Nagare!" She managed before they disappeared in a swirl of magic.
Eda leapt down and messed with Olivier's hair
"Did you organize this to get me out of the date?" She smirked.
"…Actually it was more to save Nagare…" Olivier admitted, who then smirked at the other boy. "Nice choice, buddy."
Nagare smirked as a shadow overtook them. Down descended Lilith, a slightly warmer look than usual on her face.
"I thought you'd do such." She cooed at her nephew, patting his head as she paid Anne little mind…and seemed to miss Luz as she turned to Nagare, handing him a sack of Snails and Slugs. "Nagare, I cannot apologize enough for all you went through. Rest assyred, this ALL the money Karma made. And if you'll let me? I'll happily take you home."
"A ride with the Head of the Emperor's Coven? I'd have to be crazier than Karma to turn that down." Nagare bowed thankfully as he readied to get on Eric. "Ollie?...Its great to see you again."
Olivier smiled graciously and the two shared a brief hug before Lilith lifted off.
"YOU STILL OWE ME, KARMA, APOLLO, EDGAR, FROAST AND WILLOW AN EXPLINATION!" Nagare called out bas they flew away. "ALSO, CONGRATS ON ANNE!"
OWLPHIBIA
"You don't actually retain that well when reading with those."
Ben was too engrossed in speed reading the book Eda had gotten him via special magic glasses to initially care or realize someone was talking to him: After Karma came back and revealed his brother's bail money had been stolen, the others had started scrambling for anything to pawn.
And his Necromancer book seemed like the most valuable…A darn shame to lose it so soon.
"Maybe but I need to seel it for…Wait."
Ben then looked to see Lilith and Nagare descending downwards. Nagare leapt off the Palisman to race inside.
"CANCEL THE PAWNING, GUYS! I'M BACK AND I GOT A STORY FOR Y'ALL!"
The Orphan asylum, a shoddy building, rumbled as the other boys; Karma, Apollo, Edgar and Froast raced downwards to check on him, Karma sobbing happily as he hugged his brother.
The state of the building filled Lilith with rage; the one truly undeinably good thing about Belos was that he ensured orphans were cared as best as they could be…and it was clear this was not happening.
But she stayed her wrath focus on the bespecled witch, who was bowing at her.
"No need for that, Ben." She cooed, noting how hungry he and the other boys looked. But for him especially, it hurt.
See, while the others had lost their parents to missions gone wrong or were foundling, Ben was…Remembering their first interaction wasn't a pleasant memory for Lilith: A secret experiment Hettie had been doing without Belos' okay that was an attempt to speed up the Grimmwalker ritual…bnut instead someone dead, it created a brand new life.
Ben was the first and only one who came from that madness…that she knew of….
She pushed that aside.
"I take it you know Olivier is back."
"Yup, and your sister gave me this book…seems necormancers are kind of liked on earth." Ben smiled warmly, which made Lilith smile. Ben handed the book to her and she scanned it, seeing many intricate spells and tactics….
Another thing that made her care for this boys; none of their magics really…fit…the coven system.
"I'm happy for you, Ben." Lilith smiled. "And, after I make a call…..How would all like a nightover in a mansion?"
A zoom and some clangs later, they were raring to go with all they had.
Lilith smiled at this; it'd be interesting to have guests at her home after so long….With that she grabbed a Raven and made a call:
"Hettie? Why is it that the Orphan Aslym has no one caring for it? I don't care if they're on vacation, the boys are to get their allowance, food and rooms! Oh yes, I already messaged the Emperor about this! You'll; be lucky to get paid after he's done with you!"
She breathed out her anger before turning to the boys.
"So…breakfast for dinner?" She suggested, trying to be 'cool.'