The rest of the dorm party passed rather smoothly, more or less, and Alexis was able to accomplish most of what she set out to do. By the end of their Firezone session, she had came out victorious in every game she played, Ivan won all games except for the one he played against Alexis, Skye lost more than she won but did manage to beat Cayto a couple of times, and Cayto, who was totally new, was struggling with the controls the majority of the time. Cayto seemed to be mildly annoyed that he lost every round he played, but he maintained civility and respect towards his opponents despite his annoyance. (“Good game,” he said to Skye, Ivan, and Alexis begrudgingly) After that, Alexis decided to go to the main section of her dorm and announce group karaoke to the rest of the crowd.

  This announcement terrified Cayto, who, according to himself, had the singing voice of a dying frog, so he hid in the bathroom out of a fear of participation. Ivan and Alexis managed to scare him out of hiding by threatening to tell the rest of the group that the reason he was in the bathroom for so long was because he had explosive diarrhea, so, not wanting the other partygoers to hear such an unsavory falsehood about him, he exited the bathroom. Then as punishment for trying to hide, Alexis forced Cayto to sing the cheesiest, girliest, most ridiculously cutesy and saccharine and lovey-dovey sounding bubblegum-pop song she could find, and he complied, but not without a great deal of reluctance. (Alexis could’ve sworn she heard Cayto think something along the lines of kill me please at least three times during his performance) She probably would’ve felt bad for him if she didn’t listen to this type of music unironically and without shame, but since she did, she couldn’t help but be a bit smug.

  Pathetic, Alexis thought with a sense of superiority. All it takes is one song to make you suffer, yet I eat up this genre for breakfast. I guess not everyone can handle the power of CC9.

  By the time the song had ended, a wiped-out Cayto immediately retreated to the audience along with a few other partygoers who had joined him in his unwilling performance, transforming it from a one-man show to a beautiful cacophony of voice cracks and screaming. Most of the audience members who joined Cayto were male, though there was a girl up front with him as well. Alexis thought it was touching how these people banded together in solidarity for Cayto because they weren’t willing to let him suffer alone. Either that or they just thought it would be funny if they sang. Alexis figured that around half of the people who joined Cayto were doing it out of support for him, the other half was doing it for shits and giggles, and perhaps one or two actually liked the song. That seemed like a reasonable estimate.

  Back in the audience area, Cayto had curled up into himself again with his back hunched over, his head drooped, and his eyes on the ground. Ivan, Alexis, and Skye approached him, and the latter sat down next to him. “Are you okay?” Skye asked Cayto.

  “I don’t sound like a dying frog, do I?”

  Skye stifled a laugh. “Don’t worry, you’re not that bad.”

  Cayto gave Skye a suspicious glare. “Please, you don’t have to sugarcoat the truth around me. If you think I suck, just tell me outright.”

  Skye smiled self-consciously. “No, no! What I was saying is that there are very few people who sound like dying frogs, and you’re not one of them.”

  Cayto sighed. “There you go again, trying to tell me that I suck in a roundabout way to avoid sounding mean. I’ve already embarrassed myself by singing that song in front of everyone. You don’t have to further humiliate me by treating me like a child.”

  Ivan leaned forward. “Oh my, was it that bad?” He asked. Then he reached his hand out to touch Cayto’s cheek, only to pull it back quickly, as if he had burnt his hand on a stovetop. “Yeah, it must have been. My guy’s fully cooked.”

  Although Cayto’s face was hidden, Alexis could still tell from his body language that his reluctant karaoke performance and the subsequent teasing and physical contact from Ivan flustered him greatly. “Roasted potatoes, anyone?” She joked.

  Skye held back another laugh. “Oh my God, what sort of cruel and unusual punishment is this?” She asked. “Poor Cayto. How many times does he have to suffer for our entertainment?”

  Alexis stared off into the distance. “All the world’s a stage, and we are merely players suffering for the audience’s entertainment,” she spoke in a cryptic voice. A puzzled expression crossed Skye’s face.

  “What?”

  “Don’t mind her, she’s simply ascended to a higher plane of existence than ours,” Ivan explained to Skye. “Sometimes Alexis says things that our mere mortal brains cannot comprehend. I assume that is a consequence of being as enlightened as her.”

  Alexis nodded. “Indeed I am enlightened. Bow before my wisdom.”

  Skye gave an awkward bow, and Ivan laughed. Even Cayto cracked a bit of a smile. “Oh, hey… wise one,” she greeted her. “What sort of wisdom may I seek from you?”

  Alexis closed her eyes. Then she folded her hands in front of herself and sighed dramatically.

  “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift, so that’s why we call it the present.”

  “Okay?”

  “Oh, were you looking for something else?”

  “I guess so.”

  “What were you looking for?”

  “Well actually, I wanted to ask you a serious question. Really. I mean that,” Skye admitted. “So would you mind going to a different room with me?”

  “Of course,” Alexis agreed, leaving the main area of the dorm with Skye. Then they entered the side room together and sat down on the couch next to Alexis’s console. “So Skye, what have you been meaning to ask me?”

  ***

  “So, uh…,” Skye said as she gulped, “about the Autumn’s End Festival…”

  Alexis leaned forward. “Ooh, what is it? Do you want to join the organization crew? Are you having trouble finding someone to go with you? Need help asking out a person you like? Or did you just want to know about the food and activities?” She queried.

  Skye laughed nervously. “Yeah, yeah. Your second guess sounds about right. I just wanted to know how “uncool” it would be if I went to the festival alone, or with Ivan since I don’t know who else to go with. Y’know, since there’s a lot of discussion about dates and stuff. I was just wondering, would I be the odd one out if I didn’t have a romantic partner at that time?”

  Alexis rolled her eyes. “Oh, come on! I thought you were above these sort of fleeting social pressures. You wouldn’t ask out a person you didn’t like just because everybody else was doing it, would you?”

  “No, of course not!” Skye exclaimed. “I wasn’t even thinking about doing something like that! I just wanted to know if not having a date was considered uncool around here, just so I’d know what to expect. Do people actually care about that?”

  “Well, yes and no,” Alexis answered. “True, a lot of Avriyans use the festival as an excuse to ask out people they like. But a lot go alone as well, or with friends, family, or both. So no, you probably wouldn’t be the odd one out if you didn’t have a date, and chances are nobody will care, either. And if somebody does say something bad about it, then screw them, am I right?”

  “I guess so,” Skye agreed. “And thanks.” Then she began walking to the door.

  But just before Skye could leave the room, Alexis stopped her by putting a hand on her shoulder. “Wait, no! Even though you asked me if it was okay if you went without a date, somehow I’m getting the sense that you still like someone. Is that right, Skye?”

  Skye doubled back in her trail, facing Alexis yet again. Her eyes widened and a sudden redness came over her face. “Wh-what?! How did you know?!” She stuttered. “You did not just use your telepathy on me for that, did you?”

  “Actually, I did not,” Alexis admitted. “But thanks for confirming that you do like someone. I wonder who it could be~”

  “Hey, not so fast,” Skye told Alexis. “It’s not like I can actually invite him over to the Autumn’s End Festival.”

  Alexis looked at Skye curiously. “Why?”

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  “Because…” Skye started, but then she paused. “Okay, so the guy I like is not on good terms with the High Mage, to say the least. And since our school recently got an announcement that Kai Dalton will be patrolling the grounds on the day of the festival, I wouldn’t want any sort of conflict to arise if they do run into each other. So I’m choosing not to ask him out to avoid putting him in harm’s way, y’know? Wouldn’t want to risk him getting into another fight.”

  “Not on good terms with the High Mage, you say? Another fight?” Alexis queried. Then she smirked. “Oh, so you’re into bad boys. I see what’s going on here.”

  Skye felt her face grow hot. “Alexis!”

  Alexis laughed. “Hey, joke, joke,” she said. “But anyway, now that you brought it up, I’m genuinely curious. What happened between Kai and your crush, exactly? Why are they not on good terms?”

  Skye sighed. This is gonna be hard to explain…

  “So what if I told you that Blanche is not the righteous, generous, morally infallible deity that the scriptures claim she is?”

  Alexis nodded. “Yeah. I can see that happening,” she acknowledged. “Always found it strange how Blanche is idolized and held up as an example for humans to follow, yet if she’s supposedly as all-seeing and all-powerful as the House of Blanche claims she is, then why doesn’t she do something about… pretty much everything that’s wrong with this world? And if Blanche controls auras and Blanche is perfect, then why is aura magic as dysfunctional as it is now? Either she isn’t perfect, or the divine justice advocates are correct and Blanche is purposely messing with aura magic as a form of punishment, which is still messed up because that’s basically collective punishment for a sin that we don’t even know. The advocates claim it’s because we’ve “rejected Blanche,” but if this is how Blanche reacts to rejection, then damn, she needs to learn to handle it better.”

  “I agree,” Skye replied. “I’ve wondered that as well. But I’ve also learned quite recently that in the spirit realm, Blanche is an oppressive ruler who has abused, enslaved, and even murdered her spirits.”

  Alexis shrugged. “Yeah. I can see that happening too,” she remarked. “Having the amount of power and influence that Blanche does would corrupt just about anybody… wait. What does this have to do with your crush again?”

  “The problem is that he is a spirit who has lived under Blanche, and is now setting shrines on fire as a form of protest,” Skye explained. “And it's because of him burning the shrines that Kai is super pissed—”

  Alexis grabbed Skye by the collar of her shirt, and her eyes widened in shock. “Wait. So you’re telling me that the guy you like is the Shrine Scorcher?!” She exclaimed. “Skye, I’m begging you, run now, and don’t look back! Trust me, it’s for your own good.”

  Skye stared at Alexis blankly. “Why?” She asked. “I’ve talked with him before. He seems rather nice.”

  Alexis shook her head. “You haven’t heard of the Great Inferno of 2004, have you?”

  “I’m afraid not,” Skye admitted.

  Alexis sat on her heels. “Do you know how Avriya was formed?”

  Skye shrugged. “Like any other island, I’m assuming?”

  Alexis shook her head again. “Nope! Well most likely not, at the very least. While it’s not accepted as definitive fact because documented evidence is hard to come by, it is still widely believed that the event which caused Avriya to form was a massive-scale, supernaturally-charged fire that burnt ONE FIFTH of Cloudgate off the mainland. And do you know what caused that fire, now called the Great Inferno— or should I say, who?”

  Skye gulped. “It’s not Lucian, right?”

  “Is Lucian the name of the Shrine Scorcher?”

  “Yeah. At least that’s what he calls himself.”

  Alexis sighed. “I’m afraid it is quite possible that Lucian was behind the Great Inferno,” she imparted. “Almost a hundred thousand people died in that fire. And there are reports going around of a mysterious entity who was supposedly behind the fire, of a boy set aflame with glowing eyes, who had dragon wings, dragon horns, and a dragon’s tail. And since I’ve recently been able to get better photos and footage of the Shrine Scorcher, honestly, his physical appearance matches that description all too well.”

  Skye’s breathing grew irregular, and her eyes darted around the room. “No. It can’t be…” she exclaimed. “You’re joking, right?”

  “Nope. I’m dead serious. Trust me on this one, you should never get too involved with a supernatural entity, especially one that is highly suspected to have been behind a major historical tragedy. I’m a spirit-hunter who blogs about spirits and has read all about their realm, so I know what I’m talking about,” Alexis claimed. “So if you value your life, run fast, run far, and don’t look back. Everything about the Shrine Scorcher is a red flag, I’m telling you. He’s full of them, literally and figuratively. The color of his hair? The red cloth he wears around his neck? Those are all warnings to stay away.”

  Skye shrugged. “I’m not so sure I would discriminate against him based on that,” she responded. “But still, I’ll keep your advice in mind while I get a second opinion about Lucian.”

  “A second opinion?” Alexis repeated. “Who are you asking?”

  “Noi.”

  “You mean the guy with the bird claws?”

  “Yeah. He seems trustworthy.”

  Alexis shook her head. “I dunno about him… he does have bird claws for hands, which could be a sign of him being full or part spirit, and I don’t trust spirits because I know how powerful they can be. But Noi doesn’t seem to be too dangerous or interested in power, as far as I know, so I don’t think it’s unreasonable to give him the benefit of the doubt,” she reasoned. “And if Noi really is from the spirit realm, he might be able to give you a new perspective from a spirit’s point of view. So yeah, if you want a second opinion, he may be a good choice. Just be wary of him as well, okay?”

  Skye nodded. “Okay.”

  “Would you like me to accompany you while you talk to him?”

  Skye shook her head. “Thanks for the offer, but I can go on my own. You continue hosting your party,” she replied. After she finished speaking, Skye left the side room and made her way to the entrance of Alexis’s dorm while Alexis followed, the two of them stepping over clusters of partygoers seated on the floor on the way. Skye then picked up her umbrella, rain jacket, and rain boots by the entrance and opened the door.

  “Goodbye Alexis!” Skye called out, waving at her host.

  Alexis returned the gesture by waving back at her guest. “Goodbye Skye. I’ll see you around.”

  ***

  A few minutes after Skye had left, Cayto sat alone on the dormitory’s porch, shielded from the relentless torrent of rain by the awning. The sky was dark, the wind howled, and the trees outside swayed ominously. Puddles formed on the driveway and the stone path leading up to the steps of the porch, and much of the grassy area outside the dorm has been taken over by mud. More droplets of rain trickled down the porch’s guardrails, leaving slick, moist trails in their wake.

  Suddenly Alexis burst into the area outside, munching on a slice of pizza. “Cayto, what the heck was that?” She asked between bites.

  Cayto took a startled step back. “Why the hell are you following me here?”

  “Oh. I just wanted to know why you disappeared on us,” Alexis clarified. “You didn’t even excuse yourself. You just ran out the door and slammed it inexplicably.”

  “I just need some time to recollect myself, okay?!” Cayto shouted over the patter of the pouring rain.

  “Recollect yourself from what?”

  For what must’ve been the thousandth time that day, Cayto felt his cheeks burn yet again. “Y- you know what I’m talking about!”

  Alexis smirked. “No I don’t. Please tell me.”

  “Yes you do. You were literally involved in it.”

  “No I don't. Please enlighten me.”

  “Are you playing dumb with me right now?”

  Alexis shrugged. “Maybe I am, maybe I’m not. But if you won’t tell me, I’m gonna have to start guessing.”

  Cayto covered his ears.

  “Hmm…” Alexis started, tapping her foot. “Is this about the karaoke incident?”

  Cayto declined to reply.

  “Alright, I’ll take that as a no. Then it must be the Firezone incident.”

  Cayto turned his head away from Alexis, trying in vain to block out her words.

  “This is difficult. Is it the potato incident? The trashcan incident? The training grounds incident? God, this is so hard, I’m struggling out here!”

  “Alright, at this point you’re just trying to mess with me,” Cayto muttered. “You know very well what it is—”

  “Hey Cayto! I’ve been looking for you!” A third voice exclaimed as the door swung open. “Come on, why are you out on the porch, all alone and in the cold? Were you really that embarrassed by your own joke to the point where you had to hide?”

  Cayto threw the hood of his rain jacket over his head. First of all, Ivan, screw you…

  Alexis giggled. “Oh yeah, that reminds me! You and Ivan were just talking right now, and when you tried to compliment him, you told him that you liked his shoes, only to realize that he wasn’t wearing any! That must’ve been why you decided to run out on the porch— because you were too embarrassed to face him after that.”

  Cayto gripped the porch’s railing. It seemed like an ordinary, innocuous-enough compliment at the time, yet he had to blunder because apparently his brain fell into the garbage can again along with the flyers on that day. It didn’t help that Alexis kept sending him telepathic signals telling him to flirt while he was talking to Ivan, which frankly, Cayto did not have the social skills or the confidence for. So he had to settle for a regular, uncontroversial compliment that people gave each other in passing all the time— at least that was his reasoning— and even then, it didn’t land as it should. Perhaps Alexis was right, as much as it annoyed Cayto to admit it. Maybe he did need to get out of his head every so often and be more present.

  Ivan laughed. “Hey, don’t worry, I’ve said dumb things in front of people as well,” he admitted. “In fact, just after you left the party to go out on the porch, Alexis overheard me complaining to some other people that the pizza she was serving was a scam. Of course, that was quite awkward, but at least she forgave me.”

  “How can the pizza be a scam if it is literally free?!” Alexis shouted at Ivan over the rain.

  “Well it was one of the selling points you put on the flyer, and it wasn’t even that good…”

  “But the flyer only said there would be free pizza at my party! It never said there would be good pizza—”

  Suddenly the sky flashed, and the loud crack of thunder could be heard by all in the area. The sudden impact startled the trio, but it was Cayto who was especially spooked. He jolted back a few steps and almost felt over, his eyes wide with alarm.

  Alexis smirked yet again, reveling in the irony of it all. “Oh look,” she pointed out. “Out of all of us, it is the lightning mage who is the most afraid of thunder."