The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across Phenomena City's Town Square. Alice, Chie, and Shí'àn stood amidst the bustling crowds, each lost in their own thoughts as they processed everything that had just happened.

  Alice couldn't help but glance at Chie again out of curiosity despite herself while muttering under breath:

  "How does someone even look like...a shrimp ninja? That’s gotta be illegal or something..."

  Chie overheard this comment instantly, because of course she did. She turned her head slowly toward Alice with an exaggerated gasp before placing a hand dramatically over her heart.

  "Sweetheart! Are you saying my beautiful form isn’t worthy enough for human standards?"

  Shí'àn groaned beside them both loudly enough make passersby give side-eyes now too before adding flatly:

  "No one asked either way."

  Meanwhile though? Somewhere else entirely…within same city limits actually…

  …

  A cloaked figure leaned against a damp brick wall, watching the trio through narrowed eyes while fingers drummed impatiently against the hilt of a hidden blade strapped on the waist...

  Then suddenly? A new voice spoke from behind them causing entire body tense up immediately:

  "Looking for someone?"

  The witch spun around sharply, only to meet a sly gaze belonging to none other than Due himself. He stood there casually, arms crossed with a smirk. His tail swayed lazily behind him as he continued without missing a beat:

  “Because if it’s those two, plus a new shrimp girl? Trust me, they're gonna need all the help they can get.”

  "Due!" Shi’an exclaimed in surprise, her annoyance from seconds ago vanishing in an instant as she took in the sight of his familiar figure.

  Then her eyes narrowed as she suddenly realized what he was saying. "Wait...what do you mean they need our help?" she asked, crossing her arms. "They're not in some kind of trouble, are they?"

  Shi'an huffed in annoyance, folding her arms and cocking her hip. "And I suppose you intend to do nothing about it?"

  Due feigned a gasp, placing his paws on his chest in mock offense. "Me? Doing nothing? Please! I would never!"

  It took all of Shi'an's willpower not to roll her eyes…

  Then the sly smirk reappeared on Due's face as he let his paws drop from his chest again. "No," he said with a chuckle, "I'm just saying you should focus on finding Lust."

  Shi'an blinked, caught off-guard by the sudden change in topic. "Lust?" she repeated, her demeanor turning serious again. "And just...how exactly do you want us to find her?"

  "Ya see...she's already found a new vessel.”

  Shi'an froze, any annoyance from a second ago immediately forgotten as her eyes widened. "A new...vessel?" she repeated, her voice tight. "You mean...she's possessing someone?"

  Due nodded, the smirk never leaving his face. "Yep."

  Shi'an's eyes narrowed. She knew how dangerous that could be. "Do you know who it is?" she pressed.

  Due's smirk only deepened. "Of course I know!" he declared with a chuckle, as if amused by her question. Then, he leaned closer and lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret even though they were alone. "Want to know what the kicker is?"

  Shi’an exhaled sharply, her patience wearing thin. “Stop with the theatrics, Due,” she snapped. “Who is it?”

  Due grinned wider, clearly enjoying himself, and dramatically pointed a claw toward…

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  "The mayor."

  Shi'an inhaled sharply, the air catching in her throat at the revelation. "The mayor?" she repeated in disbelief. "You're telling me...Lust is possessing the mayor?!

  Due nodded solemnly, his playful demeanor finally fading into something more serious. "Unfortunately," he confirmed, the smirk gone now as his expression turned grim.

  Shi’an’s mind raced—this was bad. Very bad.

  "...So that means she has control over the entire city government?" she whispered, barely audible over the distant chatter of Phenomena City’s citizens going about their day, oblivious to what lurked beneath their streets.

  Due sighed dramatically and crossed his arms behind him like a disappointed teacher lecturing a student who just didn’t get it yet:

  "Not only that…but she's also got access to every single guard force in this town too!"

  He paused for effect before adding with an exaggerated gasp:

  "And hey, the worst part? She knows we're coming."

  Shi’an’s breath hitched. She knows.

  Her fingers curled into fists at her sides, nails digging half-moons into her palms. "Then we don't have time," she said sharply, voice low and urgent, like a blade being drawn from its sheath.

  Due nodded once, the last trace of his usual mischief gone now as he matched her intensity with quiet resolve:

  "No…we really don’t."

  Shi'an clenched her jaw, the gravity of the situation sinking in. But then...she paused, a thought striking her.

  "Hold on," she said slowly. "If…if she knows we're coming...why hasn't she done anything yet?”

  Due's smirk returned, sharp and knowing, as he tapped a claw against his chin thoughtfully.

  "Ahhh, now that’s the million-void-coin question," he mused, voice dropping into something quieter, almost conspiratorial. "Could be she’s playing with us…waiting to see what we do first."

  Then his tail flicked once behind him as an idea visibly clicked in place inside that scheming head of his:

  "...Or maybe?" He leaned closer slightly before finishing in a whisper so low only Shi’an could hear: "...She wants us to find her."

  Shi’an stiffened at those words.

  Because if Lust was expecting them? That meant one thing...

  They were already walking right into her trap.

  Shi'an's eyes widened as the realization dawned on her. Of course. That was it. It all made sense now, the sudden appearance of Lust here, the possession of the mayor, the knowledge that we were coming...it was all part of her plan.

  She inhaled sharply, tension like electricity crackling through every one of her nerves. "A trap," she hissed, the word barely leaving her lips as she clenched her fists. "She's been playing us from the start... We must head there now. But we must be on the lookout for those witches."

  "Who even are these witches anyways?" Alice asked, looking at Due for answers, and the dapper beaver was eager to oblige.

  Due chuckled heartily as he crossed his arms over his chest again, tail swishing happily. "Ah, the lovely witches of Phenomena City," he began dramatically, clearly enjoying getting to explain this part, "They're the ones who keep this place under lock and key."

  Then, his smirk turned slightly wicked as he leaned forward a little:

  "Ya see, that witch you three ran into? That wasn't just any random witch. She belongs to W.A.R. - Witches and Rebels. Back during the days of the Black Mensa regime, Pays Magique had their own thing going on. While they weren't out to wipe out humanity, they WERE adamant about stopping humans from learning and using Void Magic, as W.A.R. believed that humans only use Void Magic for evil as opposed to other races."

  Alice’s eyes widened in horror. “So… they execute people who use Void Magic?” she whispered, her voice trembling.

  Shi’an nodded grimly. “And not just any execution,” she added, the weight of her words pressing down like a physical force. "They make it slow."

  Chie shuddered at that revelation before muttering under breath:

  "That explains why this place feels so creepy..."

  Due gave an exaggerated sigh and shook his head sadly, as if mourning something lost long ago, before continuing on with more enthusiasm than necessary:

  "But here's where things get interesting! See? While W.A.R.'s main goal was always about stopping Void Magic from being used by humans...there were other factions involved too!"

  Shi'an crossed her arms, raising an eyebrow skeptically. "Other factions...?" she echoed, not sure where this was going.

  Due chuckled, as if he'd finally reached the most interesting part of the story he was spinning. "Ya see…" he began, shifting his stance slightly and lowering his voice like a storyteller about to drop a bombshell, "There was one other faction you all should take a close look at as well. Wanna know what they were called?"

  Alice and Chie exchanged a look, their curiosity piqued despite their best efforts. Shi'an, ever the pragmatist, just huffed and rolled her eyes.

  "Fine," she sighed, giving in to the suspense, "What were they called?”

  Due grinned wider, thrilled that he'd managed to capture their attention.

  "Aetheria," he answered with a dramatic flair, "the most powerful faction in all of Phenomena City. And that witch with the silver hair is a member of that faction."

  Shi'an froze, her eyes widening in shock. "Aetheria..." she repeated slowly, the name sending a chill down her spine.

  Chie nodded, recalling the silver-haired witch. "The faction she belongs to... It's very powerful?"

  Due chuckled, his tail flicking behind him in amusement. "Oh, honey... You have no idea. Now, before we get too lost in the sauce here, how 'bout we check out Lust's new vessel, eh?"

  Shi'an hesitated for a moment, still lost in thoughts about Aetheria. Then, she shook herself back to the present. He was right. They had more pressing matters to deal with first...like Lust.

  "Right," she agreed, pushing aside her concerns for now, "let's see this vessel.”