Come to the morning Lexy woke up before the sun. She plopped out of her bed, got dressed, grabbed her bag of equipment and mech and walked over to Varikin, and started to shake his shoulder. Varikin sits up and gives a sleepy glare “ya, ya I know the mission is tomorrow, but I want to practice more with my magic. “

Varikin sighed and stood up. Lexy walked out of her room with Varikin by her side. The duo stop by the dining room. She walked up to one of the butlers, “is it ok if I can get a snack on the road?”

The butler nodded, “yes we actually already have something prepared for you” another butler came in with a paper bag.

Lexy gave a smile, “thank you” she gave the butler a quick hug and rushed for the door with Varikin by her side. Lexy and Varikin entered the lush greenery, the heat of the sun being blocked by the canopy of leaves creating a cooler area, “before I go and practice I want to see how the city is doing” Varikin merely nods he does not have anything to add on.

Lexy and Varikin get to the clearing, the blond put her hand on Varikin’s scruff. She breathed in the stale air and was happy the smell of smoke and blood doesn’t quite linger like the day before. Varikin turned into his ferret form and hopped onto her shoulder. The two entered the base and walked into the cafeteria.

People were organizing supplies, some were packing supplies. Lexy spotted Magi helping Jackson and a few other kids put things away. Lexy walked up to the group, “Hey Cody, Jackson what’s going on here?”

Magi was the first to respond, “hi Lexy as far as you’re question goes the rebellion was basically making the whole city into a fortress but yet a city it is complicated”

Jackson continued putting supplies in storage containers, “what he said, also if you have the time, I think Leo has a quick upgrade for your mech.”

Lexy gave a smile and waved “thank you!” Lexy rushed off to the Lab.

Magi watched her go and sighed “so how did Lexy join the rebellion?”

Jackson chuckled, “eh define join.”

Magi tilted his head, “do you know how she ended up here? Working with you guys?”

Jackson chuckled, “well I'll tell you. It all started with us on the run from one of the higher-up generals. Oh, what did she call herself? oh yes! The mistress of monsters? It's close enough. We have these devices that let us temporarily go to where all the humans are. Do you know what a human is?”

Magi nodded, “yea I’ve heard of them, and one time when Lexy and I were running from some specialists she took me to a place with self-moving carriages. It was strange and then we quickly went back here. Back to this realm”

Jackson nodded, “yes we have devices that can open gaps in that world and this and let us pass into them. Lexy however does not need this to pass into and out of that and our realm.

But not the point back to the story. We were all running because we had too many injured and sick with us. Alcore told us to hide and he would divert their attention. Well to get away himself he had to use one of those machines to go through a tear.”

Magi nodded, “continue.”

Jackson chuckled, “well from here is what he told me. He said right before he got through is when a drake under the mistress control took a chunk out of his side. But since he has the whole super heal ability he knew he would be fine. So, he went through anyway. This is when he met Lexy. He said she freaked out when she saw him not because he came out of nowhere but because he had the hole in his side.”

Magi chuckled, “I can see it now”

Jackson grinned, “oh just wait it gets better. He said he had to shove her out of the way so she wouldn’t get attacked. And then…then...”

Magi tilted his head, “what? What happened afterward?”

Jackson shrugged, “I don’t know he stopped there and said he had to go check on something”

***

Lexy entered the lab and was not surprised to find Leo packing as well, “hi Leo”

Leo sat up, “oh yes I was wondering if you would come in today It is over here” He took out a few vials of blue swirling energy and set them down on the table. Leo then grabbed what looked like a small square plate with a bunch of engravings on it.

Leo turned to Lexy, “you have your mech?”

Lexy nodded and Varikin hopped off her shoulder and Lexy pulled out her mech and handed it to Leo.

Varikin eyed Leo, “so what will this upgrade do?”

Leo smiled, “oh well it's simple with this you can go longer and not use as much of your magic.”

Lexy and Varikin then watched when Leo put in the rune plate first and then began to put in the vials of magic.

Lexy tilted her head while Leo’s eyes brightened when he finished, “oh I will gladly tell you. You see since I can double a material I can do the same to magic. What I do is I take a little bit of the magic ora around a person and put it inside of the container and then I double the amount of magic until it's full. Then ta-da! magic in a bottle” Lexy had to admit that sounds really cool to her “That's cool."

Leo stops “Uhm me cool no I only make random stuff for the others to use. I used to have some cool inventions but they disappeared with the fall”

Lexy shook her head, “no think about it you are important you make machines that let anyone touch the sky my people have this yes but they can’t do magic they can’t make wings in milliseconds let alone use them to just make one it would take twenty years or more to make just think on that for a bit”

Leo huffed, “well in any case here you go” Lexy took the mech into her hands and smiled, “thank you, Leo!”

Lexy exited the room and Leo cannot help but smile. “you know there really is something special about that kid”

Meko, having his head covered by his hood nodded and then brought up his hologram, “so I managed to get the results from the testing you sent me. Which I painfully did and it was strange. As you said she absorbs magic to keep herself stable, but her body is doing this constantly. This has caused a buildup of magic in her and that build-up is what she’s using for magic attacks from her blade.”

Meko pauses and then resumes “Her using her magic and never having before is going to cause her body to up the rate of magic intake. That could lead to a higher build-up and if her body reaches its max, she would at best give off a magic burst that could blow up a building. Let alone if that blast used all her magic. Did you give any of this info to Salveris?”

Leo pauses “eh not yet, why?”

Meko hit his forehead then typed “they’re going to be going on a mission to escort a ship with supplies”

Leo blinked “ya I know if I record any medical info, I am supposed to give it to Salveris head of the health department of the rebellion so we can make a better judgment on who goes on what kind of mission. I know but why are you bringing this up now?”

Meko from under his hood was giving a ‘are you serious’ Meko then typed “there sailing up the river of shadows that thing is filled with strange magic I don’t know that doesn’t sound like a good place for a kid to be”

Leo sighed “well you know as well as I that’s Alcore’s and their captain’s choice and I don’t know why if you want to know more, I think you should talk to Alcore maybe he knows why? I don’t nor is it my place.”

Meko’s curiosity only increased and he exited the lab. He entered the cafeteria to see Alcore talking to Jennie and walked up to the two. Alcore and Jennie notice him and stop their conversation. Alcore was the first to speak “hi Meko do you need something”

Meko noded and brought out his holographic device. “Do you guys know why Lexy is going on this recent mission? I really don't recommend it, because if she continues like she is going her magic could get out of control” He typed up on the device the letters glowing in the air before Alcore and Jennie. Jennie held a puzzled expression.

Alcore piped up a dark glimmer in his eyes before he let Jennie speak, “I could throw around a few guesses, but I think maybe the best person to ask would be Lexy herself. She volunteered.”

Jennie shook her head, “no she -” Jennie stopped when Alcore gave her a quick glare.

“You might be able to catch her tomorrow though,” Alcore said, while he put a hand on Miko’s shoulder. Meko nodded and then an idea came to mind. Meko typed into his device “could I come with you on the escort mission?” Alcore raised a brow, “uh why?”

Miko typed back a response, “The mech Lexy has is a new version I don’t know if it might need agistments or not in the field an engineer could come in handy with that.”

Alcore nodded, “very well.”

****

Lexy struggled when she tried her tenth time at opening a portal above her and one in front of her. Until after a yell of frustration finally got the portal stable. Her marking on her wrists glows softly. She readies her bow with a set of normal arrows. “Finally alright three! Two! one!” with that she charges through the portal and is sent into the air by the other. Her focus on her energy towards an attack.

Lexy within a split second. Watched when purple energy seeps from her fingers and the energy spreads over the arrow as she releases it. The arrow whistled through the air and instead of hitting her homemade target hit a tree.

Lexy looked at what she’s done to her target and the poor tree that looked ready to topple any second. Shock filled her expressions as she looked at the damage that had accrued. The tree with a loud groan falls away from Lexy creating a loud crash startling birds to fly off.

Varikin was surprised, “uh are normal arrows supposed to do THAT? How about not using magic so that you know we don’t set the whole forest a flame?” Lexy nodded and began thinking about this a bit better. She hums, “I have an idea we need a stopwatch, rope, and more targets.”

Varikin nodded, “Ok but what is a stopwatch?”

Lexy gives a confident smirk, “it is a tool that allows me to figure out. For example, how many targets I can take out in a second.”

Varikin now understanding, “oh”

Lexy and Varikin first got sticks for the targets and then headed to the mansion for a stopwatch and rope. The duo entered through the fancy but familiar doors. She headed up to her room and brought out her other backpack. Lexy pulled out some twine and a stopwatch. She and Varikin walked downstairs while Thokath strolled into the room at the same time and spotted Lexy with Varikin.

Thokath put on a happy smile, “hi Lexy would you like to join me and the others for lunch?”

Lexy stopped and looked at Varikin. Varikin shrugged, Lexy smiled and looked back to Thokath, “sure I would love to. What’s for lunch?”

Thokath gave a small smile, “Lobster soup and for dessert apple cobbler.”

Lexy raised a brow and wrinkled her nose, “What is a lobster?”

Thokath blinked, “oh have you never had shellfish? Well the I think you will quite like it”

Lexy smiled and followed Thokath into the dining room to see. Mina and Misa snickering meaning a prank was likely brewing. Axle talking to Varin about a new race game. Varic talking about a special spider that lives in the tropics to Carin. Leslie reading a book on Law history.

Lexy sat down by Thokath to find a hot bowl of lobster soup waiting for her. She took a spoon and scooped up some of the soup. Lexy while eating listened to Carin and Varic’s conversation about a spider.

Varic brings out his phone and shows a picture to Carin of a black and gold-colored spider, “They're called Golden Orb Weavers. They create golden-colored silk plus, correct me if I am wrong. The Golden Orb Weaver catches birds and bees. It's also about the size of your hand!”

Carin’s eyes practically have sparkles in them as she gazes at this, “oh my gosh that is cool I would love to research this creature, not harm it of course but to test the strength of its thread.”

Lexy about halfway through her soup stopped listening to her relative’s conversations and just focused on her soup. she finished her food and stood up, “I and Varikin are heading back outside I’ll be back before dinner though”

Thokath noded, “alright, stay safe.”

Lexy gave a smile, “will do”

She and Varikin headed back to the clearing they were using beforehand and began working on the target dummies. Lexy used string to tie together the sticks and used her knife to sharpen the bottom so the targets will be easier to set up.

Lexy tied the last one and looked at the sky only an hour after they left the mansion. She shrugged and started setting the targets up. Lexy set the targets up in a circular formation. She stands back to admire her work “All alright looking good but... How am I going to time myself?”

Varikin smirked, “I think I can help with that” with that he turned into his human form and Lexy shook her head and handed Varikin the stopwatch, “you press this button to start and this one to stop” Varikin noded.

Lexy got reedy and closed her eyes feeling when the magic rushed to her veins. Varikin straightened his posture, “3” Lexy took a breath, “2” she tightened her grip, “1! Go!”

Lexy bolted to jump in the air, created a portal above her and under her. She let herself fall and jumped out of the upper portal and closed both. She readied, aimed, and fired in a blur of attacks. Lexy shots at the targets as she saw them. The target collapsed as purple fire lingered on whatever was left. She gets as many as she can and lands on the ground panting, sweat forming on her face “what’s my time?”

Varikin looked at the watch. “seven-point fifty-six, that's pretty good.” Varikin then looked to Lexy, “actually are you ok?” Lexy laid on the grass taking big breaths feeling desperate for air. Lexy got a better hold on her breathing and calmed down.

Varikin came up to her and looked down, “so what are we going to do now you destroyed all the targets and a few bird nests?”

Lexy closed her eyes, “well I don’t want to head inside yet so how about” Lexy sits up “we go and explore the forest”

Varikin shrugged “eh why not” Varikin transformed back to his wolf form while Lexy stood up and stretched. Lexy took out her chalk and as the duo explored, she marked the path on her map. Lexy listened to the birds sing and the soft sound of her feet against the grass and then she heard it. Water, the sound of moving water.

Lexy turned to Varikin, “do you hear that?”

Varikin’s ears twitch, “yes actually I think there might be a river nearby”

Lexy smiled, “oh we could make a net with some of the string and catch a fish for food!”

Lexy and Varikin follow the sound of running water. Until it leads out to a riverside. The river was about nine feet wide and crystal clear to where the duo can see all the fish under the water. Lexy smiled and took off her shoes. Varikin tilted his head, “what are you doing?”

Lexy sat down and dipped her toes in the river, the cool water helping her relax. “I am relaxing maybe you should try it sometime”

Lexy said, bopping Varikin’s nose. Varikin gave a playful snarl, “well you can relax knowing I am your mighty protector because you clearly hold no threat, you’re just too adorable that’s why you totally have lasted so long it’s because you’re adorable.” Varikin said with a smirk, sarcasm filled his voice.

Lexy huffed and puffed her cheeks, “I am not adorable” she said with frustration.

Varikin merle chuckled, “but what I will give you is that determination to help others.” Lexy smiled and laid down keeping her feet in the cool water. The warm summer wind gently tugged on her blond hair. Varikin laid down but stayed alert as an hour passed by and she fell asleep. Varikin looked up at the sky for an hour till sunset. Varikin turned into his human form and picked Lexy up, “Lexy! Wake up!”

Lexy rubbed her eyes, “huh what? No need to yell.” She said groggily.

Varikin rolled his eyes and set Lexy down on her feet, “common we don’t need Thokath in another crying session like last time”

Lexy sighed, “fine but after tomorrow I want to come here and catch a fish” Varikin shook his head at Lexy’s silly behavior. The walk was quiet and the duo had seen some deer again. They didn’t make any stops due to a storm rolling in and not wanting to get caught in the rain.

Lexy and Varikin got inside right before it started pouring the sound of thunder crashing through the air. Lexy flinched at the sound, “that was close.” Varikin agreed with a yip. The two go through the empty ballroom and then into the dining hall.

Everyone was already seated and eating, leaving an open seat by Mina and Misa. Lexy headed over and sat down by the duo. A slice of apple pie was already on her plate along with mashed potatoes and sausage. Lexy decided not to question this and just ate quietly. Lexy wanders to the mission tomorrow and if it is going to be anything like her last endeavor with the blood king.

Lexy shudders at that, she is also eager to see the Doves progress with the city. She also is slightly wondering how well the king’s hearing is doing. Lexy finished dinner and helped clean up. Lexy and Varikin head up to her room. She opens her equipment bag to see her mech spare knives, arrows, her bow, her uniform, and utility belt.

Varikin raised a brow, “what are you doing?”

Lexy smiled and turned to her friend, “I’m seeing if I’m ready for tomorrow.”

Varikin noded “makes sense.”

With that the two head to bed.