Morning sunlight crept through the windows of Miriam Dealer's house, casting warm patterns across her living room floor. The TV droned quietly in the background, its blue light competing with the natural glow. All around Novaria, the sounds of reconstruction echoed – hammers pounding, saws buzzing, the city slowly healing its wounds.

  Red sprawled across Miriam's couch, his gray-tinted copy of Angelo's form radiating restless energy as he watched the news. The anchor's professional voice filled the room: "Good morning, Luminia. Today marks the deadline President Barak gave Infernia to hand over the Sundering Flames' leaders."

  The screen cut to footage of a man in an expensive suit, his perfect posture radiating nobility. "Infernia condemns the attack on Luminia," the man declared, "However, we will not allow Luminia to act freely within our borders."

  "That was Ignatius Ember, member of Infernia's royal family, speaking four days ago," the anchor explained. "Infernia has yet to clarify whether they'll comply with President Barak's demands..."

  "Oh, give me a break!" Red shot up from the couch, his hands clenched into fists. "Everyone knows they're working together!"

  "Red!" Miriam's gentle scolding made him sink back down. She sat in her armchair, worry lines creasing her face. "Please keep your voice down. Angelo's still sleeping."

  Red crossed his arms, slouching deeper into the cushions. "Sorry," he muttered. "But we're supposed to meet Sol in two hours..."

  Miriam's eyes grew distant. "Yes, I know what day it is." The sadness in her voice made Red shift uncomfortably, suddenly very interested in a loose thread on his sleeve.

  The TV screen changed to show five reporters sitting around a polished wooden table, their faces serious under the studio lights. "Next up: The Enlightened Society – friends or ghosts? That's today's hot topic."

  Red groaned and reached for the remote. "Not this again." But Miriam was quicker, snatching it away before he could change the channel.

  A reporter with graying temples leaned forward. "The Enlightened Society – each member has enough power to move mountains. Regular people look up to them as humanity's guardians. But when trouble hits? They do absolutely nothing."

  "Exactly, James," another reporter jumped in. "Remember the footage from last week's attack?"

  The screen showed a tall man walking through broken streets. His eyes were the most striking thing about him – they literally looked like windows into space, complete with swirling galaxies and distant stars. But those cosmic eyes barely glanced at the people around him. Injured civilians reached out, begging for help, while he just kept walking.

  "After that footage went public," James continued, "their popularity took a nosedive all across Luminia."

  A sharp-featured woman at the table adjusted her glasses. "It all comes down to NIL – their Non-Intervention Law. But let's be honest, it's ridiculous. The Enlightened Society needs to get off their high horses. They're human like the rest of us. We have plenty of normal Aurons just as powerful who aren't bound by some made-up rule or forced to join their exclusive club."

  "Exactly!" A younger reporter slammed his hand on the table. "There are what, six or seven Legendary Rank Aurons alive right now? None of them joined the Society. And I bet if they tried to force those Legendaries to join, they'd get laughed right out of the room."

  The sharp-featured woman cut in. "Seven Legendaries, yes. But most work for governments that never deploy them. Using just one could spark a world war."

  Red pushed himself off the couch, unable to watch anymore. "That's it – I'm waking Angelo up. We need to get ready anyway."

  "But you already packed your bag yesterday!" Miriam called after him as he stalked toward the hallway.

  "Double-checking!" Red's voice floated back, clearly just wanting an excuse to escape the TV discussion.

  He found Angelo sprawled across his bed, snoring softly. A mischievous grin spread across Red's face as he put his palms together.

  Through their mental link, Blue's scholarly voice carried a note of resignation: "Must you?"

  "Oh, I must." Red's internal voice dripped satisfaction before he started clapping and shouting: "Hello! Hello! Hello! Hello!"

  Angelo bolted upright, his eyes wild. "RED! What is WRONG with you?!"

  "Just borrowing Mrs. D's wake-up technique!" Red's predatory grin somehow grew wider. "Pretty effective, right?"

  "Good morning," Blue's measured tones cut through their shared consciousness. "We're meeting Sol at ten, if you recall."

  Angelo rubbed his face. "What are you, my phone's calendar app?"

  Blue's dignified huff echoed through their mind as Angelo stumbled out to the living room. "Morning, Miriam," he managed through a yawn. "Sleep okay?"

  She twisted her hands in her lap. "Not really... You're leaving today, and I don't even know where you're going or for how long..."

  "I know you're worried." Angelo's voice softened. "But I need to do this. We're just investigating some old cases. I'll come home between them, I promise."

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  "Is finding out what happened to your real parents that important, that you're willing to go to such lengths?" Her tone carried forced through guilt.

  "Come on Miriam... Don't go there, we went over this..."

  "I can't help it." Her voice wavered. "After losing Bill... I can't bear the thought of losing you too."

  Something in her raw honesty made Angelo's throat tight. "Miriam, I—"

  "I'll let you go," she cut him off quietly, "on one condition."

  Angelo tensed. "Which is?"

  "Blue mentioned you see me as your step-mother..."

  "Oh no," Red's mental voice carried horror. "I don't like where this is going."

  She took a deep breath. "I want you to call me mom."

  "But- but-" Angelo's hands flailed uselessly. "That's so embarrassing!"

  Miriam just crossed her arms, waiting.

  "Wouldn't it be harder for you?" Angelo tried desperately. "If I'm out there in danger?"

  "Maybe so." Her eyes held his. "But at least you'll have a good reason to stay safe."

  The words hit Angelo like a physical blow. He straightened, taking a deep breath before meeting her gaze. "Okay... mom." His face burned, but his voice stayed steady. "I promise I'll be careful and come back."

  She stepped forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his forehead. "Have a safe trip. And please, just one message a day so I know you're alright."

  "I will." His voice carried absolute certainty. Then, through their mental link: "Well, Red? No smart comments?"

  "Nah," Red's response carried surprising wisdom. "I'd just be giving you ammo for when she makes me do it too."

  The morning sun warmed Angelo's back as he soared through the sky, his giant travel bag dangling below him on ropes made of glowing orange energy. Leaving Miriam had been harder than expected – funny how quickly someone could start feeling like real family. At least he knew there'd be a home waiting when he got back.

  He touched down in front of Neiva's apartment building, the concrete still cool in the morning shade. "Blue, mind watching the bag? Really don't want to lug this thing up the stairs."

  Blue appeared beside the bag with his usual perfect posture, shooing Angelo toward the building with a precise gesture.

  As Angelo climbed the stairs, familiar grunting sounds echoed down the hallway. He had to smile – there was Neiva, wrestling with an enormous bag stuck in her doorway, just like last time. "Need a hand with that?"

  Neiva let go of the bag with a huff, blowing hair out of her face. "Please," she said, not even trying to hide her annoyance at the situation.

  Angelo's orange energy went to work on the bag while Neiva caught her breath. "You know," she said, leaning against the wall, "exploring Luminia and solving mysteries sounds amazing."

  "But?" Angelo could hear the 'but' coming.

  "But did it have to involve camping?" She wrinkled her nose, clearly remembering their rough night in Ashford the week before.

  "Hey, it'll be better this time," Angelo said, carefully working the bag through the doorframe. "Got us proper tents – the easy setup kind. And those fancy sleeping bags that actually keep you warm."

  Neiva crossed her arms, looking unconvinced. "We're going to be out there for ages..."

  "We'll get used to it. Probably." Even Angelo didn't sound like he believed that one.

  They carried her bag down to where Blue waited, standing guard like a very proper statue. "Good morning, Neiva. I trust you're well?"

  Neiva couldn't help giggling. "Blue, you always sound like you stepped out of an old movie."

  "Manners maketh the man, my dear." His scholarly tone made her giggle again.

  "Look who's been watching too many dramas," Red's voice snickered in their shared mind.

  "Quiet," Blue responded with glacial dignity.

  "Alright, enough you two," Angelo said out loud, making Neiva smile – she'd gotten used to catching only half of their conversations. "Sol's waiting, lets move."

  They took off toward the park, nearly colliding with another flying Auron who clearly hadn't mastered the whole not-crashing thing yet. Their quick dodge earned them some creative cursing from the other flyer.

  "This'll be fun," Neiva said as they flew. "Meeting the guy who tricked you and everything." Angelo just grumbled in response.

  They found Sol in the park, wrestling with his own massive travel bag like he was trying to stuff an angry bear into a suitcase.

  "We're here," Angelo called as they landed.

  Sol straightened up with a dramatic stretch. "Ahhh!" Then he turned and spotted them, grinning. "Ready for the adventure of a lifetime?" His eyes landed on Neiva. "Well hello there! Angelo didn't tell me his girlfriend was such a cutie."

  Neiva suddenly found her shoes absolutely fascinating, going quiet as a mouse.

  Angelo waited for her usual quick correction, but she just stood there getting redder by the second. "She's my student, not my girlfriend. Like I already told you."

  "Then why's she acting all shy?" Sol's grin could have lit up a room.

  "How should I know?" Angelo turned to Neiva. "What's gotten into you?"

  "Nothing," she mumbled to her shoes.

  "Then why aren't you talking?"

  "Just... don't have anything to say..."

  "First-time shyness," Sol said, his smile reminding Angelo way too much of Sleeser. "Let's fix that with some proper introductions. Break the ice a bit."

  He gestured to himself like a game show host. "I'm Solomon Thron, eighteen years young, and my favorite food is a proper burger with a fried egg on top."

  "What kind of introduction is that?" Angelo stared at him like he'd grown a second head.

  "The fun kind! Come on, your turn."

  "... Do I have to?"

  "YES!"

  "Fine," Angelo muttered, his face getting warm. "I'm Angelo Ashworth, also eighteen, and I like... ugh, mac and cheese."

  "The terrifying Angel of Death's favorite food is mac and cheese!" Sol burst out laughing. "That's amazing! Your turn, Neiva. If Mr. Grumpy can do it, you can too."

  A tiny smile crept onto her face. "I'm Neiva Wines... seventeen... and I like sushi—" She stopped suddenly. "No wait, maybe avocado sandwiches more? Oh, this is hard..."

  Sol's chuckle got cut off as red smoke poured from Angelo, forming into Red's familiar shape. His usual wild grin was cranked up to eleven.

  "I'm Red Ashworth, same age as grumpy-pants over there, and pizza is the food of the gods!" He finished with an exaggerated moan of pleasure.

  Sol blinked rapidly, memories clicking into place. "You... that's right... There were three of you that night, chasing me. And they were talking too..."

  Angelo rolled his eyes. "Took you long enough to mention that."

  "Hey, I was trying to look cool while quietly panicking!" Sol's smooth attitude cracked just a bit. "So what's the deal here?" He gestured at Red, who was still grinning like a kid in a candy store.

  "We're nature's greatest mistake," Red announced cheerfully.

  "That explains exactly nothing." Sol crossed his arms. "How come you can talk?"

  "He's not wrong about the nature's mistake part." Angelo sighed. "It's complicated – Blue can give you the scientific breakdown later. Short version? We're somehow split into three parts of the same person. Think of it like... one pizza cut into weird slices."

  "Did someone say pizza?" Red's grin somehow got even bigger.

  Neiva's hand rose hesitantly. "Could you maybe go over what we're actually doing on this case-cracking adventure?"

  A knowing smile spread across Sol's face. "Look who finally decided to speak up."

  "You said something about the first case being in a mining town?" Angelo leaned forward, interest clear in his voice. "Way out in the middle of nowhere?"

  Red bounced with excitement. "Come on, pretty boy – give us all those juicy details!"

  Sol's expression shifted to something more serious as he settled onto the grass. "Get comfortable, everyone." His voice dropped lower, drawing them in. "This case? It's the kind that breaks your brain just thinking about it."