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Chapter 160: Neasa Withholds Judgment

Neasa perched on the loveseat beside her husband and watched the young children over the brim of her teacup. Nathanial didn't look nearly as jittery as he did outside a few minutes ago, but she could feel the tiny tremors in the air as he continued to shiver. Geoff kept one arm over the Mage's shoulder, a highly inappropriate gesture of affection, rather than holding his saucer beneath his cup whenever he took a drink. The young O'Conall didn't stand behind their couch and instead sat beside his ward; Neasa had long since given up trying to enforce that point of protocol. The O'Conalls took far too many liberties with their position when they thought they could get away with it. Even now, Ciaran O'Conall had abandoned his duty in order to show that fake Spirit some papers he drew on downstairs. Ofuda: Monk spell-scrolls. What business did Ciaran have learning that rubbish?

Neasa took another sip of the tisane. She couldn't find fault with it, even if it wasn't a traditional blend. It tasted very nice, with a pleasant warmth after stepping out into the chill, and it might be her imagination, but that warmth seemed to seep through her muscles, causing her to relax despite her best intentions.

Geoff shifted uncomfortably in the silence, but he still kept Nathanial close. Mocking her with his disdain for the traditions of his people. Those traditions were the only thing left to them; everything else had long since been taken away. It was an old argument, one that began before she was born, blossoming when Ruarc was a new alpha. Tradition versus assimilation. The assimilationists preferred the term 'progress,' but they could never answer 'progress to what?' Modernity? What did that even mean? Whose modernity? The Furs -- their enemies? The ones destroying everything the Spirits stood for?

Looking at those two, Neasa regretted stamping out Lauren's pursuit of Geoff. Better a weak lady Spirit for the Dark Elemental than a male Mage. Even Faelen would have been preferable; he at least, was part Spirit. A mutt over a disease. She sighed in her head, sipping some more. That wasn't fair. It may be the true state of the world, but she overheard Luke talking to Aedan on the phone, and...Nathanial knew far too much about 'unfair.' Neasa couldn't blame him for falling in love with Geoff, if he had to be like...that. She couldn't really blame Geoff, either. Nathanial was sweet, for the most part, with a core -- a shaky core -- of strength underneath that, and an incredibly sharp mind. If only he was a she and a Spirit, even a weak Spirit. That intelligence and personality would more than make up for his...ah, her, weakness. That was a key part of why Neasa nixed Lauren; nice but not endearing, friendly but not charming, smart but not insightful or brilliant. She wouldn't have been of any use diplomatically, and the Dark Elemental needed more in a spouse than any other alpha did. Neasa would veto herself for a Light or Dark Elemental; she had no illusions about her worth.

Luke broke the silence. "Are you done training? You said you had kung fu soon."

Neasa shook her head before either pup could answer. "No, I was told they would leave in fifteen minutes, and I planned on taking a look at the results of today's lesson. I have my doubts, but I'll give them a chance."

Neasa felt rather than heard a rumble deep in Luke's chest; he was getting ridiculously involved in this farce. Ruarc had been a huge fan of that so-called Ancient One, most of the clan was, even though they were ignorant of the truth, and Luke carried that tradition on. Tanai O'Conall was his biggest critic, but there were many others who objected to a clanless Spirit suddenly appearing, marrying into the second most powerful family, and becoming the alpha's closest advisor. The wealth that suddenly showered the clan silenced most of the early critics, from what she heard, but there were still opponents to the initiatives he put into action even now. She was one of them.

Nathanial smiled timidly at her. "Okay, I'd be happy to." If she didn't know better, she would say he was sincere. He must know she was looking for a reason to scuttle his relationship with Geoff. "We uncovered some very interesting, no, incredible stuff he can do! We were in the middle of an exercise when you came out, but I think we need to analyse some information on his abilities before we continue that. There's another one I want to run, one with many levels to build up to as he gets stronger, that we can try."

Geoff and Faelen both looked at the pup curiously. "Oh? What sort of exercise?" Faelen, appropriately, kept quiet to let his master talk.

A mischievous grin blossomed on Nathanial's face. It really did make him look even cuter; the soft fluff on his cheeks just begged to be pinched. "Wait and see! Level one is pretty simple, and only involves us three--" That sweet smile took on a darker tone. "--but I have plans for many more levels involving far more people."

That sounded like a game, not training. Was that good or bad? Pups were supposed to play and spar, that being the primary way of self-teaching, but Nathanial was training Faelen. Luke shifted in muted anticipation. He always became so involved in Geoff's matches when watching them -- Neasa found them too confusing to enjoy -- and it appeared this pup's play promised to do the same. Gods, was Luke the alpha or some overgrown child?

Neasa's husband placed his cup and saucer on the coffee table before standing up. The way he loomed over her always made her feel a touch nervous. "Let's get to it, then."

Neasa sipped her tisane, masking those nerves. "We haven't finished our tea yet, Luke. Don't be rude."

Geoff bounced to his hindpaws. That boy could never control his energy, but at least he wasn't molesting the Mage this way. "I'm done, and I don't want to be late for kung fu."

Nathanial held his saucer beneath his teacup and took a drink. "We won't be running a full exercise, so a few more minutes to finish up won't hurt." Another careful sip apparently designed to irk Luke and Geoff; Neasa found herself almost liking this Mage. "While we're out there, Mrs. McDougal, you may have trouble seeing through the fog. Faelen found that he was able to get a feel of everything around him through the fog, as well as seeing from any point he wanted in it. It's no longer calm outside, so there is enough wind that you should be able to do the same. Phasing into the breeze should let you get as close as you want without interfering with the action, too."

Neasa had vast amounts of experience observing from within the breezes; there were never any truly 'calm' days so close to the ocean. She knew what Nathanial meant in each case, and was adept at using her abilities to her advantage. Nothing went on within clan lands that she couldn't suss out, not even within the tunnels. "I know. I was planning on doing just that." It's what she had done when she watched Geoff lead him around the clan; Nathanial dealt with Rolph surprisingly well... Too well, in some ways. Her plans backfired that night, but if Rolph became a bit more compliant, then he might take over instead of Conor. Lose the battle yet win the war. Unfortunately, Rolph still seemed hung up on Ainfean; even dead, that woman caused no end of trouble. Why did he have to fall in love with a Fur? At least the Hunters dealt with her promptly after an anonymous tip pointed out her crimes, though a clanless Spirit had to take the fall for Rolph. Better that than tarnishing the McDougal name and the clan's honour.

The Mage pup's ears twitched toward the backyard. "Hmm, we may wish to leave our tea unfinished. Gwen just challenged Micah to a match."

Neasa arched an eyebrow and gently set her mostly finished tisane on the ornate coffee table -- such a masterful job in decorating across this house -- and held a paw up to her husband. He took the hint and helped her stand. "But of course. I find it very peculiar how outgoing Gwen appears here; she never spars at home or even seeks company of any age."

Faelen spoke up. "She has no peers at home. Gwen overpowers everyone else up to our age, she's far more studious than any other pup, and she has trouble understanding subtle social cues. Micah is just as learned, is on par with her magically, and there really isn't anything subtle about him. Gwen knows what to expect from him now, and she finds that comforting."

The O'Conall may need more training on propriety, but Faelen was very astute at reading people. He'd serve Geoff well. "Summon the other O'Conall to watch Luke, and we may go."

Nathanial smiled and gestured to the patio door. "Ciaran is just outside with Liam. Shall we?" At her nod, the tea service began to float toward the kitchen. Such a handy ability.

Geoff...disappointed? pleased? Neasa by extending his paw to his 'girl' to help Nathanial stand. The pup's ears became touched by coral, and he took the offered paw demurely. Surprisingly, Geoff finished the gesture by kissing Nathanial's paw. The Akita's ears pinned back, his tail curled downward, and he ducked his head to look up at his beau through his lashes. It would've been such a sweet scene if only Nathanial were a girl. At this point, Neasa could almost accept this romance between Mage and Spirit if only... If only.

She didn't need to look -- though she did anyway -- to see Luke's chest puffed up with pride. The fool had a romantic streak underneath his tough exterior. She was here to steer the clan back on the correct path, not to idle hours away in candlelit baths. Neasa would reward him when he did something worth rewarding. Breaking Geoff and Nathanial up would be a good start; keeping that Ancient One out of Ireland altogether would be a start and a waypoint. Lowell had pulled so many Spirits away from their traditions, and those closest to him were moving into the highest positions in the clan, that it was imperative he be kept from regaining direct influence ever again.

Avery and Conor walked by the patio door outside, Avery opening it for Neasa as she did so, and continued on through the backyard. Neasa stifled any feelings of betrayal -- both Faelen and Conor were far too observant for slip-ups -- as her currents thoughts evoked those feelings at the sight of Avery. Avery McDougal nee Mulchinock had been one of the clan's traditionalists, but she changed right after meeting Nathanial. Avery now fully supported Luke and Conor in every way that mattered, despite claiming she only did in areas affecting her 'sons' -- as if the O'Conall could be the brother of the Dark Elemental, or worth talking about in comparison to Geoff's value.

Neasa followed her husband out of the house onto the patio deck; it would likely be a very nice space in summer. Luke nodded to Liam -- it was almost a short bow -- and asked, "Your work is done?"

The tiny Rottweiler twitched his shoulders up. "That task? Yes, perhaps. We shall see how they perform. Regardless, the 'work' is not done, and I cannot foresee its completion for a long time yet." What work? What were these scrolls for? It wouldn't be seemly to ask at this point, however.

The crowd strolled through the fog toward the back wall; at least the three O'Conalls kept to their places at their charges' shoulders. Neasa walked at her husband's right side. "Is this match like the last one? It seems a peculiar way of testing strength, even if Gwen enjoys those Pokémon show and games." Luke purchased a telly for the alpha's home shortly after taking office, and had satellite installed during a sale a decade ago. Neasa had seen portions of Pokémon episodes while watching over her granddaughter.

Nathanial stopped staring up at Geoff's face to look over at her; the sparkle of adoration still shone in his eyes. "Y-Yes, it's another duel. A two-on-two with Bear and Grassy on Gwen's team and Goomba Dragoon and Aquashroom on Micah's. I've never seen Aquashroom before; I think Gwen isn't the only one that had been planning for a rematch."

"Hmm."

Nicholas stepped out of the fog coming from the direction of the pups. What had that Demon Mage been doing around Gwen unchaperoned?! It shrugged nonchalantly. "Enh. Partly to duel, partly to fight Demons. Most Demons from that plane of hell are weak to water and light magic, and he found it easier to make a water homunculus. He's still working on a light-aligned one."

Luke and Conor appeared to study Nicholas for a second, time Liam used to comment in. "Indeed, that is most accurate, and is a safe choice as no Demon from there will have resistance or immunity to those magics. The degree of vulnerability may vary, but both will have great efficacy." A bit verbose; he could have summarized all that into a single, shorter sentence.

Luke grunted, too, before opining, "Good. It's important to have weapons to use against Demons, and just as important to practice using them."

Oddly, the Demon Mage looked like it was the one being praised. "Yeah, I know, that's why I learnt that lightning spell, amongst others. Too many Demons are immune to fire, so even if I'm much stronger with that element, I thought it best to learn a variety."

Dirk spoke up; it was peculiar for him to step out of place like this. Canada was a bad influence on all of them, it appeared. "Smart, Nick."

Luke chimed in, again. "It seemed very strong, too, even when you were trying to weaken it. I'd like to see how many Imps a single bolt could fry."

The smaller Akita looked jubilant. "Twenty-two! Micah and I c--" Terror filled his eyes and he slowly turned to look at his older brother.

Even Neasa felt afraid when she saw Nathanial's expression. "What. Did. You. Just. Say? Twenty-two? Imps? Where did you and Micah find twenty-two Imps? Why am I just hearing about this now!?"

Luke put his meaty paw on Nathanial's shoulder. "Calm down." Like he had any room to talk about someone losing their temper. "I'm s--"

The giant Wolf stepped away when Nathanial exploded. "Calm down!? Like hells! Stay out of this, Luke!" He rounded on his younger brother. "You had best start talking."

A deep drone zoomed towards them, with Micah soon appearing from the gloom. "Nats! Nats! Are you going to--"

A strange shimmer appeared in the air between Neasa and Nathanial, and the Mage hauled Nicholas into it. The shimmer and the two vanished; she must have been looking at the back end of a portal. Micah fiddled with a small pin on his shirt and appeared worried. Liam fixed Micah with a firm stare. "I am still curious. Where did you two go to slay Demons, Micah?"

The Changeling squirmed in mid-air. "Umm..." Liam kept staring at him, and the crowd remained silent. Eventually, Micah squeaked, "Hell. The, um, plane of hell that Beriatana is from, specifically."

The ground shivered under Neasa's hindpaws as Luke roared, "What!?" Didn't he just tell Nathanial to calm down? Not that she could blame him. In fact, she yelled the exact same thing at the same time along with Avery, Conor, Dirk, and Ciaran.

Geoff blanched under his fur. "Gods, Micah. Are you mad? You went to one of the hells?!"

Only Liam and Faelen seemed calm, almost as if they expected Micah's answer. Faelen even asked, "So Nick opened the...rift or portal in the basement, and you closed it on the other side? Who got you two home?"

Liam queried, "I could see Nick remaining unharmed by the environment, such as it is, there, but what about you?"

Neasa wasn't sure who said what, and couldn't actually make out what anyone said anyway, including herself. It didn't matter though, since it was all variations of going over the dangers, the foolishness of the venture, and what they would do to Nick and Micah if they were their children.

Micah, Liam, and Faelen stayed quiet until Luke stomped his hindpaw to shake the earth and held up his paws. "Quiet! I can't even hear myself lecture!"

Conor took a deep breath in the silence. "You're right, Da. This isn't helping."

Luke snorted and crossed his arms. "Too right. Now, it was dangerous, but they survived, and it sounds like they killed lots of Demons to boot." He nodded. "Well done."

Neasa felt her jaw drop. "Luke!"

Conor exclaimed, "Da!" at the same time.

The idiot blinked as if he didn't understand them. "What? Killing Demons is a good thing. I would've thought they were too young to do it, but they did and lived. So... Well done."

Liam shook his head. "I partially agree with you, Luke." How dare that...not child, that...that person continue to refer to an alpha so casually! A side-long glance toward her made Neasa wonder if she'd given herself away. "It is a good thing to kill Demons, but a trip to the hells to do so is...too hazardous. The risk outweighs the benefit. However, if that is merely a side note, such as setting up for some greater task..." Liam trailed off and stared piercingly at Micah.

Dirk and Faelen glanced at each other. Dirk spoke for the pair. "Beriatana is here, meaning her home is unguarded, or virtually unguarded. Is there something there Nick wants? To use, trade, or destroy?"

Ciaran nodded musingly. "It would present a great opportunity, but the hells are huge. No one mapped any of them, of course. How could anyone find a single...'home' in such a vast area? She's probably hidden it well for her own protection."

Faelen quietly asked, "That may be what Nick is thinking, but what about you, Micah? Are you participating in case something happens to Nick? So you're ready to go looking for him?"

The child's face looked so despondent that Neasa's heart ached. He landed, with his wings folding away, slumped to the ground, and his clothes changed to a...mushroom costume? Micah may well have teleported away to leave an oversized mushroom behind. Neasa knelt beside him and put a paw on the red-spotted dome. "Micah, I can't fault you for your bravery, loyalty, and strength, but this is just too dangerous." The mushroom didn't react.

Conor crouched down beside them, too. "Mom is right. I understand where you're coming from; I'd probably do much the same if Dirk was in danger--" Dirk? Dirk? He wasn't Conor's brother. He was just a servant! Shouldn't Conor be talking about Rolph? "--but I'm an adult, still growing in strength, sure, but an adult nonetheless."

The other adults verbally agreed, except for Luke. The teens added their two cents. Geoff knelt by his father. "Da is right. At the very least, you should have told someone. Nathanial or your father, first off, Liam or Da if you felt you couldn't talk to them."

Faelen quietly sighed. "I sometimes hate guessing right, but it speaks to how worried you actually are. Talk to us, Micah. We're here for you."

Neasa glared up at the silent form looming over everyone. "Say something, Luke. Tell him he's not allowed to go to the hells anymore."

The stupid lummox looked surprised. "This is a Mage problem, not a Spirit one; it's not my place to interfere. I think it's a great training opportunity."

"It's dangerous, Luke! You allowed Geoff and Nathanial to date, and that means these Mages are part of the clan! It certainly is your place to stop a pup from doing something so dangerous!"

He frowned down at her before twitching an ear to one side; Gwen stood there with her mildly confused expression peeking out from under her hood. "Hey, sweetie, we'll be there shortly--" Luke kept his eyes on Neasa. "--but you mightn't be allowed to spar with Micah. It's too dangerous. Pups aren't allowed to do anything that might risk injury. I'll be delighted to introduce a law to the council forbidding any duels in the clan, and ensure your Granny Neasa is credited as the author."

"Wh-What!?" Duels were an extremely important tradition! She'd never allow someone to end them! "How dare you! This is completely different! We've built up millennia of custom to make our duels as safe as possible while maintaining their function."

Avery came to her support. "Luke, that's just -- just ridiculous! There's a huge difference in a duel between pups and going to hell!"

"You can't have combat without risk; it's an immutable fact which applies in clan-lands or the hells." Luke crossed his arms and glared at Neasa. "You're forgetting an extremely important point here, Neasa, and it's that these pups are strong enough to break through the Veils to get there and get back. That's no small feat." His tone moved to the implacable one almost never directed at her. "I won't interfere."

Child or not, sweet or not, a Mageling wasn't worth expending any political capital on. Neasa rose to her hindpaws. "Very well, Luke; just make sure your pet project knows your position before he gets too attached to Geoff. He should know what's in store for him."

Gwen wandered over to the Micah-shroom. "Micah, what's wrong? Are we duelling? I'd like to go with you to beat up the Demons hurting everyone, but I need more practice before I can go."

Neasa's heart felt like it was about to leap out of her chest and Avery looked no better. "Gwen, no!" Neasa wasn't sure who said that; it might have even been her.

Gwen tilted her head to one side like...whoever-it-was said something completely idiotic. "We're Spirits. We fight Demons. Isn't that the most important duty every Spirit is charged with? Don't our traditions say we're supposed to help every Mage and Fey fighting a Demon no matter what? If Micah is fighting Demons, I'm oblita...obligated to help. I'm just not strong enough to be much help right now, so I need to train just like Geoff did for football."

Luke puffed up enough to almost blow away. "That's my sweet granddaughter. You're absolutely right." He nudged Micah with a hindpaw. "And you, pup, have a challenge to meet. As a temporary member of the Cork Clan, you can't back down once the duel has been accepted."

Micah slowly uncurled, stood up, and changed his costume into a tattered flour sack. Liam leant in to whisper quietly -- the wind carried the words to Neasa. "If there is more to tell, I need to know. I cannot help Nicholas if I do not know what is wrong."

Micah looked forlorn, almost at the point of tears. Gwen surprised everyone by hesitating just a moment before hugging Micah. "There, there." She petted him on the head. "I'll practice extra hard so we can fight the Demons hurting you." Neasa hated to hear those words, but at the same time, the scene was just so adorable.

"Thanks." The tiny whisper drifted on the breeze. How could Lily have shunned such a sweet child? She truly was a monster. Suddenly, Micah's whole demeanour changed. He bounced and grabbed Gwen's paw. "Right, right! We gots a match!" Gwen blinked up at Micah a few times. She nodded and allowed her friend to pull her back into the fog; Neasa couldn't deny he was her friend, perhaps only friend, and she hoped they could spend more time together.

Neasa hooked her paw back around Luke's arm and followed Gwen and Micah. She listened to the wind to see if it could bring her news from inside the Markses' house. The sound of fans from the ventilation system made it difficult, but it seemed Garret spoke to Nicholas, alone, while Nathanial fumed a distance away. She didn't expect to hear any words, not without fully manifesting, but this was the best she could get at the moment. The air felt strange in there. It... It trembled, but Neasa couldn't figure out why. She staggered, her sense of balance thrown off, and would've fallen if Luke hadn't pulled her close.

"Dear?" His light blue eyes stared down at her, his brow wrinkled in concern. Those arms, so strong yet gentle, supported her. "Are you feeling faint? Do you need to lie down?" Without waiting for an answer, he scooped her up as easily as he could Gwen.

Her heart fluttered in her chest, as if she were a foolish girl. Gallantry was nonsense. "Don't be such an idiot, Luke. Put me down." Neasa lightly punched his shoulder. Normally, she would've hit harder if he took such liberties, but he was looking genuinely worried. "I just lost my balance for a moment. I'm fine."

He still held her for a moment longer, enough that she prepared to give him a full taste of her fist along with a piece of her mind, before gently lowering her hindpaws to the ground. "If you aren't well, don't push yourself."

"I said I'm fine." Neasa strode on. 'Hera help me. How can a wife be expected to put up with such stupidity?'

Conor sounded reproachful. "He was just asking, Mom. Avery wouldn't snap at me for showing that much care."

Avery sniffed at her husband with a small smile to show she was joking. "I'd probably fall over if he did, just from the shock."

"Hmm, should I sweep you up more often?" Conor suited action to words before Avery could react. He was answered with a startled shriek that melted into laughter. Children.

"Eek! Unhand me, you cad!" Avery wrapped her arms around Conor's neck, laughing as they exchanged playful kisses.

Neasa turned away. "That behaviour is very inappropriate, Conor. I expected better from you. Mind your position."

Neasa felt Liam's eyes boring into the back of her skull. "It is inappropriate in certain situations, yet I have seen such play in the more stifled climate of Victorian England within small groups of close friends. It is not untoward here."

Geoff sounded like he was holding back some laughter. "I certainly don't have room to scold them." Gods, that image was disgusting.

Conor drily responded. "No. No, you don't. Not even close." Glancing back, Neasa saw Avery had rested her head on Conor's shoulder, smiling lovingly at her husband as she tried to catch her breath. Dirk and Faelen had tiny smiles lurking at the corners of their mouths as they followed Conor and Geoff. Liam openly frowned at Neasa, and at the back, Luke plodded after the others with hunched shoulders like some scolded pup. Ciaran was nowhere to be seen.

"Where has that O'Conall gotten himself to, now?"

Dirk blinked and looked about. "Which? We're all here." The mist shifted by Luke and Ciaran appeared in the lummox's shadow. There wasn't any change in the breeze to say he stepped forward or anything, but she was sure he hadn't been there a second ago. The gruesome black coat he wore made it hard to focus, though. Each time her eyes flicked away, she felt like they struggled to light on him again.

"Hmph, so he is, for a change."

The pressure of Liam's gaze felt heavy on her shoulders. "And, once again, it is not your concern as to our locations."

Micah's voice skipped across the distance. "Hurry, hurry! We're about to start!"

If not for the breeze, Neasa wouldn't have heard Gwen query, "Why are we waiting? This is training, not a show."

"'Cause they wanna see."

"'Because' and 'want to,' Micah." Gwen sounded like her mother, and apparently, based on Micah's laugh and response, Nathanial.

"You sound like Nats!" The tone of his voice abruptly changed. "I hope he's not too mad. We have...reasons. We're not being stupid." Those reasons would have to be damn good if she were in Nathanial's place. Even then, that mightn't be enough to excuse sneaking off like those pups did. "And Nick is already angry at Nats for being too protective." 'Protect' was precisely what a parent or older sibling was supposed to do, not haul them off to the hells for a bit of sport hunting.

Neasa manifested, and the two pups took shape in the cloud; the other Spirits also manifested to help them see the action. The feeling of these much stronger people around her created a very oppressive air; it took a lot of willpower to hide just how heavy their magic felt. The children stood on opposite sides of a large ring formed out of faintly glowing mushrooms: one half of the circle was red, the other white. In the centre of each semi-circle stood two shapes. The red side had Bear and another squat shape -- it looked almost like a mud and grass turtle. Micah had a...no, two...mushrooms? Maybe? One stood roughly half a metre tall, with wings growing off the back of its cap, and arms and legs off of the stem. The cap had a pattern reminiscent of a helmet, and the stem had a bark-like material forming armour. It also held a spear in one...'hand' and a shield strapped to the other arm. The second creature was even more difficult to figure out. It stood almost two-thirds of a metre and was shaped more like a Fur -- the cap only took up the space of a Fur's shoulders and head, if broader. Where the mushroom knight creature appeared to be a mushroom, this one's flesh was primarily made from lily pads with water sluggishly flowing underneath and visible in the gaps between pads. It held no weapons.

Avery studied Micah's homunculi. "Goomba Dragoon levelled up. I don't know the other one." She looked over the ground itself. "It seems to be the same spot they fought last time." It was torn up, with piles of sand scattered around, mixed with some larger rocks.

Micah bowed, twirling a top hat in his paws. Neasa noticed the child wore a ringmaster's suit: a red, tailed coat; gold vest; white shirt; black pants; and he carried a whip. "Ladies and gentlemen! Boys and girls of all ages! Welcome to the event of the century!" He sprang into the air and flew to the centre of the ring. Four spotlights -- or rather just the lights -- shone up at him from the ground. Donning his hat, Micah gestured expansively. "We have a match extraordinaire between Gwendolyn McDougal and, yours truly, Micah Joel Marks. Now, let's introduce the combatants. On the red side, we have the reigning champion, Bear!" Geoff, Luke, and Dirk began clapping before the others, all those taken by surprise like Neasa, joined in. Micah beamed broadly; apparently this was the response he was hoping for. Gwen looked perplexed. "Joining him today is a rookie in the battle arena, Grassy!" The creature lowered itself to its front knees in a semblance of a bow in face of the renewed cheers. "On the white side, we have a veteran looking for revenge, Goomba Dragoon. He's all armoured up and looking for sand!" Since Bear wouldn't have blood, perhaps? "To help him find it, he's enlisted the aid of another newcomer, Aquashroom." So it was supposed to be a mushroom creature. Micah was a creative child; that was expected of a young Fey. The Fey must be proud. The pup took off his top hat, bounced it off his arm, and it vanished with a puff of smoke. "Now, without further ado, let the match begin!" Micah zipped over to his side while the spotlights zoomed up from the ground to shine down over the whole ring.

Neasa couldn't stop smiling. "What a young showman."

Geoff chuckled. "Nathanial is, too, when the mood strikes him." The chuckles faded out weakly. "Unfortunately, those theatrics aren't pleasant for the subject of his 'shows.' I think I prefer Micah's, after all."

Neasa looked at her claws. "Oh, I don't know. The recording Avery took of those Knights at the airport was very entertaining. Wonderful job, by the way, Dirk."

Dirk nodded curtly. "Thank you, ma'am." He didn't seem too pleased over the praise. It was strange, given how much glory the deaths gave him in the clan and beyond. That many Hunters or Knights killed so quickly -- there could be no doubting Dirk's strength after that.

They fell silent as Micah called out, "Goomba Dragoon, flower shield!" The winged mushroom jumped into the air, its cap compressed, and then a geyser of brightly coloured flower petals shot up and out. The petals stayed airborne as they drifted around Micah's half of the ring. Neasa knew these weren't natural petals, and not just by the way they appeared, but by the feeling they created as they moved through the air. She bet they'd be very difficult to get rid of, even with fire.

Gwen tapped her muzzle. "That's a Fairy move, not Grass or Flying...buuuut, I guess that's fine. Just don't expect a same-attribute bonus from it."

Micah shrugged. "It's a defence move; there aren't attribute bonuses on those."

Gwen nodded. "You're right. Okay. Grassy should be faster, so he'd go before Bear."

"Umm...Aquashroom is Plant and Water, don't you think he'd be faster than a Rock and Grass turtle?" Neasa understood a little of what they were talking about, but as the two debated, rather politely if technically, she quickly got lost. It ended up that Micah's Aquashroom would be faster than either of Gwen's constructs. "Aquashroom, use Hydro Pump!"

Gwen flinched. "Already!? That's not fair!"

The lilypad water mushroom held its hands together out in front of it, and the pads folded around into a cannon shape. A second later, a huge gush of water shot toward Bear. The statue tumbled backwards under the force of the spray, but it got up, shaking itself off, as the water shrank to a trickle and stopped. There were many cracks all along its surface, now.

"Great, Bear! You're still in this!" Gwen moved her left hindpaw forward and pointed dramatically toward Goomba Dragoon; Neasa had never seen the pup so worked up about anything before. "Grassy, flatten that plant with Smack Down!"

The turtle-thing shoved its forepaws into the ground and flipped a large rock at the flying mushroom. The floating petals slowed the rock down significantly, but it still struck Goomba Dragoon just below the cap with a large 'thud.' That wasn't all that happened, though. The rock wrapped around the target, with much of the rock forming an anchor, and pulled it down. Neasa felt a faint vibration beneath her hindpaws from the impact.

"Owie." Micah peered at his toy with concern. "The armour stopped most of the damage, but that was still impressive."

Gwen frowned at her rocky companion. "Bear, Recover!" It silently roared, and then stood with its head lowered. Neasa saw most of the cracks repair themselves.

Micah hopped into the air. "Hyaa! My turn!" He cracked the whip over Goomba Dragoon. "Free yourself and heal up! Giga Drain the turtle!" Dragoon pushed itself up, cracking the stone ring from its, er, neck. It then thrust its spear toward Grassy. A ball of greenish light surrounded the target before zipping back to Goomba Dragoon. It healed the mushroom fully. "Huh." Did he expect it to do more?

Gwen actually smiled, even if it was a small one. "Grassy is Grass-type, Micah, well, Grass and Rock. You should've hit Bear."

Micah shrugged. "Yeah, but I whacked him good, already, and I think I can take Grassy out quicker, anyway. His defence isn't as high." Micah flexed the coiled whip in his paws. "Aquashroom, keep the pressure on! Leech Seed!" Roots shot down into the soil and up into Grassy's and Bear's bellies.

Gwen's muzzle crinkled up. "Ugh; that's annoying, but it doesn't do much damage." From the state of Gwen's pokémon, that was true, but would it do more on an Imp? Were a number of these attacks derived from his trips to the hells, and did Micah need to develop healing abilities based on his experiences there? He'd used two already. Neasa looked at the other observers; the slightly pensive expression on Faelen's face led her to believe he might be wondering something similar. The rest, excluding the impassive Ancient One and older O'Conall, seemed to be quietly enjoying the fight.

Quietly, except for her husband. "Come on, Gwen! Don't let him bully your poké-stones! Show him how strong you are!"

Gwen held her left paw out, pads up, toward Micah. "Grassy, drop that shield. Sandstorm!" She clenched her paw into a fist. The sand rose up from the piles around the ring and began spinning about like a tornado. In seconds, the hard-to-see combat became almost entirely invisible.

Neasa had to fully rely on the breeze to tell what happened. The flower petals twinkled in the storm, but they weren't damaged by the sand, proving Neasa's suspicions. "Clever boy."

Geoff looked over. "What? I can't make out what's happened." Dirk shook his head, too.

Conor didn't move his eyes away from the ring. "The petals aren't being damaged by the sand. They don't look like fragments of the Mage's Shield spell, but they're magical in some fashion."

Gwen seemed to notice that, too. "Hmm. Right, Flower Shield isn't a weather effect." The roots buried in Grassy pulsed, and the energy was pulled into Aquashroom. The tears caused by the sand healed. Gwen's ears twitched outward.

Faelen murmured, "They're talking telepathically. I don't think they'd be able to hear each other over the sandstorm, so Micah cast the spell. He's gotten better at it."

Gwen nodded to some silent question. "Bear, last move before we go real-time." What did that mean? "Slow the flying fungus down. Rock Tomb!" Bear turned around and began shoveling stones out of the ground. The landscaping bill next spring would be atrocious. The stones flew unerringly at Goomba Dragoon and affixed themselves to its body.

Micah sat on the ground cross legged, pulled four acorns out of a pouch and began to sing. The weight of all the magic began to press more intensely on Neasa. Gwen intoned, "Three." The nuts began to glow. "Two." A leafy dome appeared over Micah. "One." The eyes of Goomba Dragoon and Aquashroom turned silver. Between Gwen and Micah preparing to go all-out, Neasa couldn't remain standing anymore. She calmly lowered herself to the grass and sat. It took all she had to maintain appearances. "Go!"

Suddenly, all heck broke loose in the ring. The flower petals of the Flower Shield spread to cover the whole ring and all four creatures sprang into action at the same time. Gwen frowned in deep concentration as she moved her paws around to guide the action of both Bear and Grassy, as well as their attacks. Bear leapt at Goomba Dragoon, slightly hindered by clinging, burrowing roots, while the mushroom readied its spear and shield. Grassy sank into the soil. Lastly, the aquatic construct began to dance.

Dragoon caught Bear on its shield, but Bear scratched large holes in the plant matter. Gwen's toy didn't manage to destroy the shield before a green-lit spear impaled it. Bear twisted its head and bit through the spear, falling to the ground. The air shivered as more moisture flowed into the ring and began to rain, drawing all the sand and dust to the ground.

Grassy reformed beneath Goomba Dragoon. The mushroom sprang into the air, but the stones fastened to it slowed it down. Grassy, plus a lot of extra earth, slammed into it and crushed one of its legs. Aquashroom crouched for a split second and launched itself at Grassy, knocking it away with a water-jet propelled tackle. Bear leapt repeatedly at Goomba Dragoon who kept dodging in the air as its spear regrew.

Before Gwen could regain control of Grassy, Aquashroom shot a bunch of bubbles at it. Half of these bubbles burst explosively, while the others clung to Grassy and further held it back. Neasa noted Micah's magic attacks, while damaging, seemed mostly geared around 'extras': slowing the foe, healing the user, speeding the user up, and so on. Hydro Pump, if she remembered the name correctly, was the only one that hadn't fit that mould.

With Grassy struggling to return to the melee, Aquashroom helped Goomba Dragoon. Large lilies bloomed all over its body and sprayed sticky nectar over Bear. Neasa wasn't sure what it was supposed to do until Bear went to leap again but couldn't move. If Neasa related this fight so far to what she suspected Micah and Nick had been doing...it seemed Micah worked at controlling the battlefield itself, so Nick could clear the foes from it.

At this point, Neasa was confident how this battle would play out -- Micah's extra experience let him control the flow of combat, and Gwen couldn't match it. Goomba Dragoon's spear had reformed, and the two moved away from Bear and toward Grassy. Grassy sank into the earth and tried to dig under the flying mushroom, but Micah expected that, and it dodged aside too quickly to hit. The lilies on Aquashroom fell away to join the ones buzzing around in the rain, and they all felt sharper, somehow. A new attack?

It wasn't the only reason Neasa felt something...odd in the area. There was more magic. Mage magic. Neasa whispered to Faelen, "I sense some magery here. What is it?"

Faelen blinked and looked over at the dome holding Micah. "We're at a Mage family's home. It shouldn't be much of a surprise. Besides, I can't detect magic."

"I thought that pup was training you. I guess he failed to accomplish anything, after all."

Conor frowned down at her. "It's probably the Agents or Investigators. This much magic probably set off their sensors." His frown deepened. "Are you okay, Mom?" Neasa knew Conor suspected something was wrong since she was on the ground; she hated dirtying her clothes.

Goomba Dragoon shot two green balls, one at each of Gwen's creatures. Before Grassy could merge back with the earth, the light enveloped it and flew back to the mushroom. Gwen clutched her chest and grunted; it coincided with a very noticeable drop in her power. "Dodge, Bear!" Bear went to leap aside, but the rain around it swirled violently creating a watery tornado, trapping the statue in its aqueous clutches. That green light also drained Bear and Gwen. Goomba Dragoon was back to full health.

Gwen dropped to her knees. She dug her fingers into the cold, wet earth, growling. Raising her head, Gwen's eyes grew deeper in colour; the pale pink quartz had a lot more red in it, like rhodonite. [] She growled, a rather cute sound, but one Neasa could never recall hearing Gwen make; she must be getting very serious. Neasa felt waves of power moving from the soil beneath her granddaughter up into the child. Grassy sank partway into the dirt and began climbing out soon after, but at three times the size as before. Bear didn't look any different, but began moving far faster. Gwen had entered the Spirit's war state. Intriguing, and very promising. She was extremely young to accomplish this, even if it was always involuntary.

Faelen suddenly whirled to look in the direction of that magery Neasa sensed. At that moment, she felt the air get shunted aside by two Fur-sized masses. Some Mages had come to visit.