"You know, I really thought we would run into someone," Adriel says, sitting down at the edge of the lake with Julias and Vauer. "Have a huge fight, barely escape with our lives- the usual."

"That happens to you often?" Vauer looks at Adriel, upset. "I'm sorry your world is so mean to you!"

"No, not- stop laughing!" Adriel swats Julias's shoulder. The only response he gets is a slightly louder laugh.

"Why is he laughing at your stories of pain?"

Julias bends forward, trying and failing to wheeze out an explanation.

"Stop laughing you fucking shitlord!"

"Should- should I get help?" Vauer jumps to his feet when Julias stops laughing and starts coughing.

"Dammit, Julias." Adriel scootches closer to Julias and presses a hand to his chest, forcing him to sit up straight. "Don't bend over. Deep breaths."

Julias takes a deep breath, the end of it raspy. "I'm good."

"No you're not you dumbass."

"Don't call me-"

"I'm calling you a dumbass for lying to me." Adriel pulls his hand away from Julias's chest, glaring at him. "I've been sitting right here the entire time."

"So?"

"So I just watched you have what I'm pretty sure isn't an asthma attack but something similar."

"You're right, congratulations." Julias stands and brushes of the back of his cloak. "Into Yevue we go."

"How did you remember the name of it?"

"It's cool," Julias answers, watching Adriel get to his feet. "Vauer? Entrance?"

"It's over here." Vauer walks away from the duo to a grouping of stones. He grabs three and places them on top of slightly larger rocks, then knocks the left off, then the right, then the middle.

Julias grabs the back of Adriel's cloak when the ground begins to rumble.

"You alright?" Adriel asks, directing his attention to Julias, who's staring at the lake with wide eyes.

"Yeah, I'm alright." Julias swallows the lump in his throat as a hole opens up where the rocks are.

"Who're you?" A guy bounds up to the trio, hair moving in front of his face when he reaches the top of the staircase. "And how can I help?"

"I'm looking for my brother, Viret." Vauer steps forward, holding his hand out in front of it. "My name is Vauer."

"Briu." He shakes Vauer's hand. "You're a mono?"

"Yeah."

"What about your brother?"

"Fire-Light hybrid," Vauer answers. "White hair, white skin, red eyes, scars adorning his face."

"Ears?"

"Dual set."

"Okay." Briu nods and looks behind Vauer at Adriel and Julias. "What the hell are you two?"

"We're not from around here." Adriel smiles and raises a hand in greeting, smile faltering a bit when Julias's hand shoots away from his cloak. "Like, really not from around here."

"The couple that's supposed to help us." Briu nods, a scowl crossing his face. "You better be out of here in three days."

"We will," Julias says. "We don't want to be here any longer than we need to be."

"You got a problem with hybrids?" Briu shoves Vauer aside and storms up to Julias. Adriel steps in between them, right hand curled into a fist and eyes bearing into Briu's.

"We don't have a problem with anyone unless they have a problem with us first," Adriel spits.

"I can protect myself," Julias whispers, watching Briu whirl around and storm down the stairs, beckoning for them to follow him.

"You're not getting into a fight until your hand is fixed and you're not breathing sandpaper." Adriel throws Julias a glare over his shoulder before walking after Briu and Vauer. Julias quickly catches up, pulling his cloak tighter around him.

"Welcome to Yevue." Briu throws his hands into the air as the city comes into view. Julias jumps and spins around at the sound of the ground rumbling again.

"It's a safety measure." Adriel reaches out, fingers hovering just over Julias's shoulder. "Everything's alright."

"Vauer?" A girl with pure white hair jogs over to the group. "Is that you?"

"Viret?"

The girl nods, the gold earrings in her ears jingling.

Vauer takes a few steps forward and throws his arms around Viret, sighing in relief. "I missed you."

"It took you forever to visit." Viret takes a step back, smiling at Vauer. "Who're your friends?"

"Adriel and Julias. They're not a couple, no matter how many times you ask."

"You sure they're not a couple?" Viret peers over Vauer's shoulder. "They're sure giving off that vibe."

"We're not a couple!" Julias and Adriel exclaim. "Stop it. I said stop it!"

"Definitely not a couple," Vauer chuckles. "I had to travel here with them. They enjoy getting on each other's nerves and refuse to so much as look at each other when they sleep."

"Speaking of sleep, is there a store we can go to and get some sleeping bags or blankets?"

"Sleeping bags?" Viret tilts her head. "What're those?"

"Bags you sleep in," Adriel answers. "It's right there in the name."

"Don't be a dick." Julias smacks Adriel's arm. "I apologize for his attitude."

"I don't."

"I know."

"These two need something to eat." Vauer turns back to his sister, smiling. "They've only eaten some ajheds and beruvs."

"You two need something substantial," Viret declares, skipping over to Adriel and Julias. "What are you?"

"Hungry, like Vauer said," Julias responds. Viret shakes her head, frowning.

"No, what are you? You're not Petals, or Liairy, or Foxames. And you're definitely not Illusionists or Watish."

"We're human."

Viret's mouth presses into a thin line, as does Briu's.

"Are you sure?" Viret finally asks. Adriel and Julias both nod.

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd notice if I had magic blood pumping through my veins." Adriel lifts his arms for emphasis. "Red blood. Human."

"You two need to get out of sight of everyone." Viret grabs Adriel's and Julias's wrists, meaning to lead them to somewhere private when Julias swears.

"Let go." Adriel bats Viret's hand off of him and Julias, cradling Julias's wrist in his hand. "Still hurt?"

"Yeah," Julias gasps. "I was doing just fine ignoring it until it got pulled on."

"Why is this so complicated?" Viret sighs roughly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "You two need to go see an Illusionist."

"Do you know any who'll help them without expecting payment?" Vauer glances around the city. "And who actually has the power to heal? I know a lot of Dark hybrids can't do really powerful magic."

"Healing is actually pretty medium level, but Dark hybrids have diluted blood," Viret explains. "Briu?"

"Nope, I'm a heavy Earth user." Briu holds up his hand. "Need some plants grown? I'm your guy. Medicine? Gotcha. Healing? Nope."

"Well, you're useless," Adriel mutters, pulling Julias closer to him. "You stay by my side until you get healed, alright?"

"I can take care of myself."

"Once again, dorkus, you're not getting in a fight until you can use both hands." Adriel flicks Julias's forehead. "So until your hand gets better, I'm taking care of you."

"Then who's taking care of you?"

"Me."

Julias sighs and shoves Adriel away, holding his hand to his chest. "Viret, do you have an idea of who can heal me?"

"Sifsh might be able to," Viret mutters, scratching the back of her neck.

"Which Sifsh? I know at least four." Briu pokes Viret's shoulder. "You can't just say Sifsh, you gotta specify."

"Dark-Water hybrid." Viret shoves Briu away from her. "He's nearby. You three, follow me. Briu, you go back to sitting and waiting for visitors."

"I don't want to though."

"I'll have someone bring you something to eat soon, I promise." Viret pats Briu's head, smiling. "Now we're leaving."

Viret turns and walks away, not bothering to wait for Vauer, Adriel, and Julias to catch up.

"Are you sure this Sifsh guy is willing to help these two?" Vauer jogs ahead so he's in line with Viret.

"Are you sure you're okay letting me healed magically?" Julias asks quietly, looking over at Adriel. "You've been pretty adamant about telling me what I can and can't do."

"You can do whatever you want." Adriel shrugs. "Anything."

"So I can get in a fight?"

"No."

Question of the chapter: uHm... favorite type of magic so far? We've got fire, water, light, dark, and earth. 

Mine's probably currently dark. They're just super cool :D