The Trial of the Ghost

Chapter 11: Keep a Secret and Take Some Advice

“I need to talk to you,” Zrayt said to Kra the moment she came down the hallway, shoulder to shoulder with Allelosin, on their way back from work. She’d deliberately come early to catch Kra. Speaking of the other reporter, she glanced at Allelosin and added, “Alone.”

“Of course,” Kra replied easily, her keys slipping into the door and turning to their mutual friend. “You don’t mind, right Los?”

“Nope, I can isolate.” He grinned at Zrayt, trying to be reassuring. It came off as slightly unnerving. “Love noise canceling headphones and 1530s music.”

Zrayt nodded, her hands fidgeting with her shirt, unable to return the grin. What was wrong with her? She had so much pent up energy. Her need to talk to Kra felt like a mosquito bite between her shoulder blades, almost impossible to scratch and incapable of going away any time soon.

Los went to his room and Kra escorted her to the balcony. “You okay talking out here?” she asked, so genuine Zrayt’s nerve shot up. What was wrong with her?

“It’s cold,” Kra continued, pretending to be oblivious to the pounding of Zraytena’s heart, “but the most private place in the apartment.” It was loud, so loud for a Troan. Her own began racing, nerves and worry building with each passing minute. What was Zrayt going to say? “Despite the weather getting nicer, we’re high up and the wind isn’t forgiving up here.”

“As long as it’s private,” Zraytena replied. Kra slid open the door for her and the moment she stepped outside, she shivered. “You… were not kidding.”

Kra closed the door. “Never do.” She leaned against the railing and held her head to the wind. She took a moment to feel it, to feel like she was flying. Soon, she’d make some time to fly for herself. Soon.

She ignored how many times she’s already made herself that promise. How many times soon has never come.

“I’ll take that under advisement,” Zrayt quipped into the silence.

Kra turned to her friend. “So, what’s up?”

“I…” Zrayt leaned against the rail with her and looked slightly queasy. “I… I-have-a-crush!” she finally forced herself to blurt out.

“Okay, and?” Kra asked. Is this it? That’s not so bad.

“It’s on a girl.”

“And?”

“This has never happened to me!” Zrayt exclaimed, her words coming out with the speed of a car and throwing her hands wildly in the air. “At least, I don’t think it has.” She groaned, her hands running through her hair. “I don’t know.”

“Hey,” Kra said, putting a hand on her friend’s shoulder, and turned her so she could look in her eyes. “Look at me.” Zrayt’s eyes met hers. “Breathe, Zrayt, breathe. In and out. In and out.” Zrayt did exactly that. “This is nothing to panic about.” Zrayt scoffed. “I mean that!”

“Oh I know.”

“Then why are you panicking?”

“Lots of reasons. I just… this is all so new. I don’t know what it means. And the crush is on my brother’s girlfriend.”

Kra blinked. “Okay, we’re going to come back that last bit,” she decided. “Zraytena, it’s okay to like girls.”

“I know. I just… It’s my brother’s girlfriend and why couldn’t this happen with anyone else? Literally anyone else!”

“We don’t get a say in that,” Kra replied. “Trust me. I've had some uncomfortable crushes on girls before. Especially on friends.”

“You’re a lesiban?”

Kra smiled and shook her head. “Nah, bi.”

“I….” Zrayt took a deep breath. The words were new, but not necessarily scary. “I think I might be bi too.”

“You don’t have to put a label on it while you’re still figuring things out,” Kra reminded her. “No one will ask that of you. No one should.”

Zrayt shook her head. “No, I… I’ve definitely liked guys before. Definitely. I just… I just think I’m only starting to notice I also like girls.”

Kra grinned wide, “Then welcome.” She threw her arms around Zrayt’s shoulder and pulled her into a one armed hug. “On behalf of the bi community, we’re happy to have you.”

Zrayt smiled and leaned her head on Kra’s shoulder. “Thanks. I wish I had a better start. My brother’s girlfriend, Astrakael, why her?”

“Probably because you think she’s hot,” Kra teased, squeezing her shoulder.

Zrayt groaned. “She is. She’s so hot and kind and smart and talented and-” Kra laughed. Loud. Zraytena lifted her head and detangled herself from Kra so she could look at her friend better as she said, “What?”

“Nothing, you just remind me of how I got about my first girlfriend.” Kra smiled to herself. Crushing on Ana hadn’t been easy. “It was hard being her friend before we got together. Constantly thinking about how amazing she was and all that.”

“Any tips? I… don’t even know if she likes girls because, you know, she’s dating my brother, and I’d like to stay her friend. I don’t want to lose her.”

“Zrayt,” Kra informed her seriously, “crushing on a girl is the same as anyone else. How have you gotten over this in the past?”

“Distance and time,” she said with a miserable moan.

Kra’s brows furrowed. “Well, that won’t work. Especially if you want to remain her friend.”

“I know,” Zrayt complained.

“My friend, I think you might be doomed.”

“Great.” Zraytena rolled her eyes. “How do I unsubscribe from all feelings ever?”

Kra elbowed her, teasing mischief in her eyes. “Now don’t talk like that. All feelings? Even what you feel when you eat a good meal? Or hang out with friends?”

The blonde girl glared at her. “...fine. Those can stay.”

“For what it’s worth, if you ever want to vent to me about her, I am here.”

“Thanks Kra.”

“Anytime.” Kra pointed to the door. “Want to go inside?”

“Yes please!” she replied, sprinting toward the door. “I’m freezing. How are you not even shivering?”

Kra laughed as she opened the door and they both slipped inside. She could tell that wasn’t enough of an answer so she shrugged. “Thick skin.”

Provided by magic, but that wasn’t exactly something Zrayt needed to know. Just Kra.

If Rox was surprised to see his twin had arrived before him, he made no comment on it. He just greeted Kra, Los, and Corla, who yawned, having only been awake for an hour, and muttered something about not enough sleep.

Over dinner, Corla tapped her glass, getting their attention.

“There’s, well, something in the gang’s emails,” she explained. “It’s in code, I’m running a breaker on it now, so with any luck we’ll have an answer-” Her phone buzzed. “One sec.” A minute and some frantic tapping later, she snorted. “Well, that’s convenient.”

“Care to share?” Rox asked, his grin strained and impatiently wide.

“Codebreaker went through for Pale Knives,” she said. “It’s meeting information. This Witday. 23:00. A warehouse just outside Little Zarn.”

“We have to go,” Rox said.

Corla snorted again. Louder. “Excuse me? Who among us are professional spies?” She glared at the table. Allelosin pressed his lips tightly together, his eyes fixed on the food in front of him. “That’s right. No one. Going would be stupid and dangerous,” she said sternly, “especially since none of us have the magic to make this easier.” Her eyes landed on Kra. Kra didn’t dare nod, but she understood. “We’ll wait for more actionable information. I’ve got a code now. I’m sure I’ll find something.”

She shoved her phone back into her pocket and returned to the salmon Kra had prepared for them.

She didn’t look up, but she hoped Rox looked properly chastised. What a stupid idea. She scoffed in her head. Rich kids.

Zrayt and Rox left together, bickering on the ideal starter for a cocktail party, something the rest of them had tried to weigh in on initially until the one percenter language and the nuances between different kinds of forks started coming into the debate.

Kra, Los, and Corla waited ten minutes before Los finally said, “So, we’re going?”

Corla shot him an ‘are you stupid’ look. “Was that even a question? I mean, come on.”

Los nodded. “Right. The Ghost and I will go.”

“I’m sorry?” Kra blurted out, her M’sav accent slipping slightly.

The moment the words left her mouth, she heard her mistake and slipped into superspeed.

She closed her eyes and sighed. “Breathe, Kra,” she told herself, staying in her island accent. “This will be fine. You’ll deal with this.”

She repositioned herself exactly how she’d been before and slipped back out. Her accent perfect, she asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I’m going with the Ghost,” Allelosin replied simply.

“She won’t let you,” Corla subbed in, catching how much Kra wanted to argue. She shot her friend a very quick ‘I’ve got this’ look.

“What? Why not?”

Corla gave him another look, unclear how this was a debate. “Umm, you’re not a spy, for one,” she pointed out. “And it’ll be dangerous.”

“She let me go with her to get the pictures,” Losin countered.

“This is more dangerous. More of a chance getting caught and Losin,” Los grimaced, preparing to hear whatever Corla said next, “you’re a lot more breakable than she is.”

Los’ hands curled into fists. They had no idea. None. “I can handle myself.”

“But-”

“I. Can. Handle. Myself,” Allelosin spat out, carefully enunciating each word, some of his control slipping.

Corla was about to call bullshit when she noticed Kra’s expression, like she was watching something invisible right in front of Allelosin.

No thoughts passed through Kra’s brain as she observed and took in the sight. As a Troan, she was the only one in the room who could see the magic field over Kyp and she watched it quiver and fluctuate more and more with each word Los spat out. She could see it coming from Los, even if she recognized it as an instinctive action rather than a controlled one, it was still impressive for someone who wasn’t even conscious of it.

A human manipulating the magic field in a way that was not just bringing it into themselves to be used? Like a Troan? That meant powerful magic. Or a specific power. She normally avoided doing it, but she looked at his soul again. Yes, that was a massive magic aspect she was seeing. One she’d never seen an equal to on another human.

She pulled herself out before her senses started picking up on his emotions. She wouldn’t invade his privacy like that.

“We’re sure you can,” Kra said carefully. “I’ve seen you fight before. You’re very good.” And if he knew how to use all that magic, then he would be more than capable of looking out for himself. “But you’re going to have to convince the Ghost, not us, if you want to go on this mission.”

“I do,” Allelosin affirmed, straightening his back and nodding.

And the next thing Los knew, he was standing on the roof, the Ghost opposite from him. She said stoically, “Then convince me.”

Typical, he thought with a mental eye roll before launching into his qualifications. “I know the shady characters of Emlytos. I’ve been researching them for a long time. You won’t have to look up a name if they use code names and I’m there. I’ll know who they are with facial recognition and can tell you later.”

He could feel a stony gaze upon him from under the hood. “This will be different than the photos,” the Ghost reminded him evenly, “where you could stay on the sidelines and step in once the danger was over.” Shit, that wasn’t enough. “You will be in the thick of it with me. If we get caught, we will need to fight our way out and I need to know that you will be safe.” Her head turned slightly to her right. “And while your hand-to-hand skills are formidable, they won’t do anything against those guns. So, Mr. La’dyliap, convince me.”

Los grimaced. She knows, he thought. He hated…. He didn’t want to say it. He… “He could be listening,” Allelosin whispered. Do you know what I’m trying to say?

The Ghost simply slid her gloved hand into his and pulled him into superspeed. “And now he won’t know. We are between seconds, Mr. La’dyliap, and I doubt he can record our conversation now.”

She doesn’t know who I’m talking about. Same as he knew instinctively she knew about his magic, he knew this too. Still, she’d known what he needed. The only way he could talk.

“You’re safe,” she assured him.

It helped. Somewhat. It put him at ease. Somewhat. Los took a deep breath. He was safe here. He would never find out.

“I have magic,” he confessed, the words quiet. When was the last time he’d said that out loud? He couldn’t remember.

“Can you use it?” she asked. “Reliably?”

“Yes,” he breathed out. “Please, never tell anyone about this. Repeat it, ever. I know your ears are better than his, but he still has ears everywhere. He can’t know.”

He watched her still for a moment, but then she nodded. “I will not repeat it. You have my word.”

She hadn’t asked. She had just trusted him. He felt like sobbing in relief.

If it came to it, he’d tell her, of course he would, but he kept those memories tucked away for a reason. Tucked away in a well. Locked in a truck. The key thrown into a separate well.

“Thank you, Ghost,” he murmured.

“Anytime, Mr. La’dyliap.” He could hear a smile. “I do need a promise, however.” Fuck. “I need you to promise me that if everything goes wrong during the mission, you will not hesitate to use your magic to save yourself.”

No, no, no, no. “I can’t. He can’t know I-”

“I can’t let you come if I do not have this promise, Mr. La’dyliap. I am sorry.”

Los’ teeth ground together. The mission or making sure his secret stayed secret? “Fine. I promise.”

It was a choice, but not the hardest one he’d ever made.

“Thank you. I’m going to take us out of superspeed, okay?”

He nodded and felt her hand leave his. The shift was instantaneous. Back to the world where the night wind bit into his exposed neck and sent shivers down his spin, shivers like when….

No. He was not going there. Not now. He took a breath and curled his toes, feeling his shoes and socks. They were nothing like what he’d worn back then. This wasn’t back then. He was out.

Allelosin turned to the Ghost.

Under the hood, he imagined she was grinning. Smiling almost as wide as Kra. If that was even possible. “Mr. La’dyliap, I would be honored if you would do me the honor of accompanying me on Witday.”

“Why thank you, Ghost,” Los replied, a smile of his own forming, the past slipping away and staying exactly where it belonged, “I’d be delighted.”

The next thing he knew, he was standing back in the apartment, Kra cleaning up dishes and Corla reading something on her phone.

“Well?” Corla asked, not even looking up.

“I’m going.”

Corla sighed and sunk further into the couch. “Of course you are.”

“You aren’t going to argue?” Los asked, astonished.

“I’m sure if the Ghost thinks I need to know, she’ll just tell me.” Corla raised her voice and temper on those last words, as if she was trying to get the Ghost to pay attention to her.

That was ridiculous. The Ghost would have heard her at a whisper.

Corla looked up from her phone. “You two have a plan?”

“Umm…. No?”

Corla groaned and her eyes found the ceiling. “Go to bed, Losin. I’m sure she’ll leave you instructions when she feels like it.” She sounded even more bitter, if that was possible.

Los scampered out of the living room. His door shut. One. Two. Three-

Corla felt a hand on her wrist and the familiar sensation of being between a moment. She looked down and met Kra’s eyes.

“Why?” she demanded.

“He can look after himself,” Kra replied, “and before you insist hand-to-hand isn’t enough, there is more, I just promised I wouldn’t say.”

Corla’s intake was quick and sharp. “Magic?” Kra said nothing, still as a statue, but Corla hadn't become her best friend by not paying attention. “Powerful magic?” More silence and stillness. Sometimes, the lack of a denial rang as loudly as a confirmation. Corla let out a small laugh. “Why doesn’t he use it?”

“I didn’t ask,” Kra admitted. “And you shouldn’t either. You shouldn’t tell him you even know.”

“Kra,” Corla reassured her. “I do have a little tack.”

“I’m serious,” Kra insisted. “It didn’t seem to be a good subject and it’s none of our business. If he wants to tell, he will. The point is that he will be fine if I am not fast enough, so he’s coming.”

“Still not the best idea you’ve ever had, but whatever.” She shrugged causally. “I hate my life.”

“Corla,” Kra said and the artificer recognized her serious tone, “I’m supposed to train Golden Eagle on Witday.”

“You can’t,” she said. “You don’t have time.”

Kra sighed. “I know. I… I just needed to hear that. I will ask the others tomorrow if anyone can substitute.” Her countenance turned thoughtful. “Maybe I’ll ask Anaid.” They would be good for Lyru, Kra realized. They could help her work with her illegal power given that they had one too.

“Anaid?” Corla asked, skeptical. “They are the judgiest person I know. Are you sure they’d be a good pick as a teacher?”

“They know that there’s a time for judgement and a time for understanding,” Kra defended. “They wouldn’t be mean to a student. They have more tact than that.”

Corla scoffed and murmured, “Do they?”

“Corla.”

“What?” She shrugged again with a smirk. “It’s true.”

“I think you might be the judgiest person I know.”

“Oh Kra,” Corla replied, playfully swatting her friend’s arm. “You flatter me.”

Kra grinned. “Anything else?”

Corla shook her head and they both slipped back into the normal flow of time. Kra had dishes and Corla had to scour for blueprints so they could plan.

They both had a long night ahead.

Anaid blinked at Kra’s request. Once. Twice. “I’m sorry, what do you want me to do?”

“Can you train Golden Eagle for me tomorrow night?” Kra repeated simply.

Anaid couldn’t decide if their friend genuinely didn’t understand what their tone had actually been asking or if Kra was just messing with them. It could honestly be either.

“Maybe I should rephrase,” Anaid muttered, mostly to themself before clearing their throat. “Why me? I have no experience training anyone!”

“But of everyone here, you are the most qualified to help her with her power,” Kra insisted. “She….” Anaid watched the gears turning in Kra’s brain. “She has an illegal power. Like you. Not yours, obviously, but Cebrua and Oth don’t understand hiding like that. Not like you do. You can help better than they can.”

“And you think my personality is suited to teach?” Anaid countered, raising an eyebrow.

“I think when you need to be kind, you are one of the most caring persons I know.”

“I think that’s a load of horseshit,” Oth subbed in, scrolling on her phone. To Anaid’s surprise, Kra didn’t jump in to defend them. “Anaid is an old bitch. They wouldn’t be any good as a teacher.”

“Oh, you think I can’t do it?” Anaid asked. Maybe Kra didn’t feel the need to get in between yet another friendly Oth and Anaid spat. They wouldn’t in her place.

“I don’t need to think it,” Oth shot back, and Kra wondered how Anaid didn’t see it. “I’ll just say it. You’d be a crappy teacher. The worst. Even Mirus agrees.”

They all waited a second for him to deny it. The second passed, then another did as well with nothing. He agreed.

Traitor, Anaid thought.

“Just you wait,” Anaid swore, glaring at Oth, “I’m going to do such a good job, the kid won’t ever want to go back to Kra. And you know, Othnurarih Rycurnaltanso, just because you’ve got a girlfriend now doesn’t mean you’re superior to us. If I ever meet her, I’m telling her about your sadistic streak!”

“Mention my manipulative one,” Oth said blandly, a small smile spreading across her face and she finally looked up from the news article she’d been reading. “You know, you’re five years older than me. I thought you wouldn’t be this gullible. I bet I could poison your soda and convince you it was a new flavor.” Anaid paled, starting to put the pieces together. “Anyways, that promise is exactly why, even if we get far enough for me to tell her about my other job, you’ll never meet my girlfriend."

“Can I meet her?” Kra asked.

“Absolutely.” Oth looked up from her phone and grinned wickedly at Anaid. “Have fun with Golden Eagle tomorrow.”

Anaid sighed, finally having put the pieces together. “I hate you.”

Oth turned back to her phone. “That’s fair.”

“Thank you, Anaid,” Kra interjected. “Really, this means a lot. I am grateful.”

“Kra?” Cebrua piped in. “What are you doing tomorrow?”

“Oh, that.” Kra made a face. “I just need to spy on a gangster meeting. They might reveal some information about how they got all those magical weapons.”

“What?” Anaid asked. “Your gangs have magical weapons?”

“Oh, this is a new development,” Kra said, her tone slightly dismissive. “Two gangs on opposite sides of the New City somehow got their hands on them and if their territory expansion continues, the cultural districts will become a warzone.” A bloodbath actually. She didn’t have to say it for them all to understand what would really happen. “You know, ethnic tensions and all that. It’s quite a mess. Corla, Los, and I are trying to stop it, but,” She shrugged, “we haven’t gotten far. And we still need to figure out what Pakeldan Thuelar is up to. He had Los’ apartment burned down on New Years, you know? So yeah, I’m trying to listen to him and the gangs at all times. But hey, whatever the job needs, right?”

She grinned and her friends came to the appalling realization that she didn’t think she was doing too much. That this was just expected of her, because she could.

Cebrua blinked. “You’re… you’re trying to do all that at once?”

“With your job?” Anaid added.

“Do you sleep?” Mirus asked.

“Seriously, do you?” Oth echoed.

“Not really,” Kra admitted, but catching their horrified faces, she hastily added, “but I don’t need to. I’m Troan, remember? My magic means I don’t need to sleep.”

“Still,” Cebrua said. Her sleep schedule was atrocious and Feyd was pestering her to sleep more, but she at least got three hours a night. Maybe not consecutively, but she did. “When did you last sleep, Kra?”

Kra thought on it. “Hmmm. Last Ersoday probably,” she recalled causally, “not this past week, but the one before that.”

Fifteen days ago. Cebrua, Oth, and Anaid glanced at each other. They didn’t need words to know what they promised to each other in that moment; they would help Kra if they could in any way possible.

Because, they all thought simultaneously, apparently this girl won’t help herself.

She’d take care of all of them, always be there if they needed backup, and could any of them actually recall the last time she’d asked for something in return?

“Hey Kra,” Oth said, “do you want me to take over patrol in Emlytos tomorrow night?”

“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Kra began.

Oth waved her off. “Please, it would be no imposition. I’m the one offering after all. You’re busy and it’s important. Focus on your mission. I’ll make sure your city doesn’t burn down while you do.”

“I…” Kra shut off the excuses in her head. Oth was going to insist until she gave in. “Thanks. I’ll talk to Corla and my parents. They should be able to help you. Corla monitors police scanners, so she can tell you if there’s anything really important and Orjel and Ralehal can operate portals for you. You shouldn’t navigate a new city on your own. I’ll let you know when I’m back so I can take over aga-”

“Absolutely not. You do what you need to do with the spy mission and then sleep Kra. We know you’re Troan, so you can probably handle it, but that doesn’t mean you should.”

“I….” Kra wanted to object, to relieve her friend the moment she could, but she’d known Oth for years now. She had no chances of budging. So, instead, she smiled softly and said, “Thank you, Oth. Really.”

“Anytime, Kra,” Oth replied. “And I know, I won’t kill anyone.”

Kra laughed, bright and hard and loud.

It was a debt they all owed the young Troan. She always came when they needed her, whenever they needed her, and she’d never asked anything in return.

It was time to repay the favor. Even if Kra didn’t think there was anything to repay her for. Especially if Kra didn’t think she needed anything in the first place.

It really was time.

Kra took Anaid to the island the next evening. She flew in superspeed, but used her imbuing power to pull Anaid into it with her. They had never been flown before and were curious to experience it.

“That was nice,” they commented after Kra pulled them out to land.

“Yeah,” Kra replied, setting them down. She was dressed in her Ghost garb as Anaid wore their Paranormal Peacock gear–a black jumpsuit and mask with tiger stripes in peacock colors–but they could see how her gaze surely fell somewhere far off and distant. “It was.”

“You okay?” Anaid asked, hearing how lost in the clouds their friend sounded.

Kra’s head turned to them and they imagined that her face sported a smile. “I’m fine. I just… I haven’t had time to myself in a while, you know. I… I’ve kept telling myself I’m going to go and just… fly for myself. I love it so much and it seems sometimes that I only ever use it when I need to get somewhere quickly.”

Her head turned back to the horizon, to the sea merging with the sky. “Flight was the last of my powers to manifest, but I knew it was coming.”

Her eyes weren’t set to see M’sav, but she could picture the shape of her island on that line and the tiny dot she’s been, whooping and diving and twirling in the air simply because she could against a sky of stars and cutting through the cool breezes off the ocean. Breezes that never chilled her, no matter the time of year.

Kra chuckled to herself. “I’d always wanted to fly,” she admitted softly. “When it came to me in my senior year of high school, I would go flying every night. Sometimes, I would just go up and up and up to see how far I could go before I needed to be up for school.”

“Well?” Anaid prompted. “How far did you get?”

“Oh, I never actually tested the limit.” She smiled, remembering the way she just went, cutting through space until Kyp was a small dot behind her. “I always needed to go back before I ran out of energy. I also used to explore some of the planets. Walk around and enjoy the scenery.”

“Wait,” Anaid interrupted, “you were the cause of those fake photo rumors?”

Kra laughed. “Yeah, my bad.”

What a time that had been. She’d forgotten about the lack of wind and while she’d made sure to avoid the government probes exploring the nearer planets, she’d forgotten about leaving footprints.

When the pictures had gotten on the internet, there’d been multiple conspiracy theories about aliens, but the most popular ones were about how they weren’t actually in space and faking the photographs.

Mar had scolded her for half an hour before she’d been instructed to go erase her footprints and be more careful next time.

And when next time came, she’d remembered to hover an inch above the ground and not to really touch it.

Anaid snorted. “Yeah, sure. Your bad.”

“I think I could fly to the other side of the galaxy if I tried,” Kra confessed. “Not that I would. I could never leave this planet for too long. Maybe some day I’ll go to the moon to relax, but that’s probably as far as I'd dare for any serious length of time. Now, at least.”

“How long could your magic sustain you in the vacuum of space?”

“As long as I got near some light every so often, probably forever.” She chuckled. “I just need sunlight to live. Not oxygen, not food, not water, no sleep, just sunlight. In space, Anaid, it wouldn’t be that hard to aim for a star or two.”

“Aim for a star? Do you do that here?”

“Absolutely.” Despite being in a hood, Kra held her head up to the sky, angling towards the sun she couldn’t feel. “If I ever feel too drained after patrol, I just go to the sun and stay in its core for a minute. It’s invigorating.”

Anaid shook their head. “You know for literally anyone else, that statement would be completely insane.”

Anaid heard the sparkle in Kra’s eye as she replied, “Good thing I’m not everyone else then.”

Anaid snorted but before they could reply, they heard someone stumble on rocks behind them. They turned with Kra to see a young woman, dressed in a superhero suit standing where she had definitely not been a second before.

Kra stepped forward, “Golden Eagle,” she said politely. “I am very sorry, but I am not going to be able to work with you today. However, I did bring a replacement.”

She gestured to Anaid, who stepped forward to Kra’s side with a grin and said, “Hey! I’m Anaid.” Kra lightly hit them. “What?”

“We haven’t started using real names yet,” she explained. Anaid’s eyes went wide. “Why do you think I insisted on the suit?”

“Really? You?”

She sighed. She’d started using real names with the others by the end of the first month. “It’s complicated.”

Anaid leaned in and whispered so Golden Eagle wouldn’t hear. “But you trust her, right?” Kra nodded. “Good enough.” Louder, they turned back to the girl and said, “Anyway, as I was saying, I’m Anaid. Also known as Paranormal Peacock.” They dragged a hand across one of the stripes on their left arm. Their suit turned back into their normal clothes, a sweatshirt and a hoodie fraying at the edges. “But please, just call me Anaid. They/them.”

Golden Eagle brought the black tips of their gloves together and pressed them in a specific order. They turned back to street clothes too. She smiled hesitantly. “I’m Lyrusiba. She/her.”

Anaid took a moment. What? Leeru-, Laizi-, L something. “Do you happen to go by a nickname?”

“Lyru works,” she replied.

“Lyru,” Anaid echoed. They could remember that.

Lyru had light brown skin, dark brown eyes, and brown hair braided in many separate little braids and then done up in two buns. She seemed young, so young. If Anaid had to guess, eighteen? Had they ever been as well rested as Lyru? They didn’t think so. Maybe her major wasn’t as taxing as Anaid’s had been.

Anaid glanced at Kra, who simply sighed and muttered, “Might as well.”

A moment later, she too stood there in her street clothes, a blouse and long pants, watching Lyru’s reaction. Anaid watched as Lyru studied Kra, clearly recognizing her but unable to place a name to the face.

Kra smiled softly in a resigned way. “I’m Kra,” she added in that helpful tone that Anaid knew from years of knowing her meant she was trying to speed along a realization.

Like clockwork, Lyru’s eyes went comically large and she covered her mouth with her hand.

“Kra? Kra N-”

“Yes,” Kra replied gently. “Exactly. He doesn’t know. I haven’t told him yet. Please, can you keep this a secret until I do?”

At least Kra knew what this was about. Anaid was a little lost. Oh well. Kra would tell them if it was important.

“You will?”

“I think so,” Kra replied, a timidness in her voice Anaid wasn’t accustomed to hearing. “Someday. At least… I’d like to.”

Lyru nodded quickly. “I’ll say nothing.”

The relief in Kra’s eyes took Anaid by surprise. “Thank you.”

“Okay,” they interjected. Screw Kra telling them if it was important. They were curious right now. “What are you talking about? What did I miss?”

“May I?” Kra asked Lyru, who nodded again without hesitation. Kra turned to them. “Anaid, Lyru is Los’ little sister.”

It was Anaid’s turn to have eyes going comically large. “Oh.” They looked at Lyru again, now spotting the similarity between her and the pictures Kra had shown the group. That made sense. “Well, I wasn’t expecting that.”

“It’s a night for surprises,” Kra said. She turned to Lyru. “Anyway, Lyru, I’m too busy tonight to teach you, but don’t worry, Anaid will make sure you still get training. I don’t know if they’re planning to continue with your hand-to-hand, but you will be working on your magic today.

“As a superhero, you will use it nearly every moment you are in that suit, more than any combat abilities, so it is necessary you master it before you go out on the streets. Especially so you don’t hurt someone. Now, I don’t have a lot of experience masking my power as something else, at least, not in the context you need, but Anaid does and will be able to help you.”

“Really?” Lyru asked, sounding impressed.

Anaid didn’t get it. They weren’t that impressive. They shrugged. “Yep. The strength and flying? Bullshit, wait, you are a legal adult, right? I can say that?”

“Yes?”

“Oh good, cause Ce-Crow doesn’t like it when I curse around her minor sidekicks.”

Kra chuckled. “Please, Anaid, did you think I’d train a minor?”

“No, that’s fair.” Anaid fixed Lyru with a look. “Anyway, as I was saying before I sidetracked myself, the super strength and flying are all fabricated. I’m actually a telekinetic.” They jerked their head at Kra. “My good friend, Kra, here tells me you’re a teleporter pretending to be a speedster so that’s what we’ll focus on, how to use your power to look like it’s superspeed. I, and some of our other superhero friends, will also be taking over more of your training from here on out so if you hate me,” They winked, “tough shit. You’re stuck with me on a somewhat permanent basis. More motivation to practice I guess.” Luckily for them, Lyru giggled a little bit. They turned to Kra. “Now, get lost.”

“But-”

“I mean it, Kra.” They gestured at her and their telekinesis magically pushed her a few paces away. They were the only one of the group who could. “I’ve got this. Go, enjoy yourself.” Their voice softened, “Go fly.”

“I…” Kra smiled softly back and Anaid didn’t know if she realized it or not, but she started hovering a few inches in the air. “Thank you.”

“Anytime. Now go!”

Kra’s grin widened. She shot up a few feet, laughing, before stopping and waving down at them.

Then she was off again, zooming higher and faster than any human ever would, her laughter echoing in their ears and the memory of pure, ecstatic bliss on her face warming the island in a way the sun never could hope to achieve.

Anaid turned to their new trainee and hoped to Ferihjen that they hadn’t made a mistake agreeing. “So.” They planted their feet firmly on the rocks. “Let’s start with some review. Some me what you’ve got, then I can figure out where to start with your magic. Okay?”

Lyru nodded and shifted into a ready stance. “Okay.”

“Then begin.”