[OMGS!! 2K VIEWS THANK YOU!!

holy crap i sound like those really sappy authors 💀]

At the Lost Cities—

Edaline looked around uneasily, scratching Iggy on the cheek. "Where's Sophie?"

"Went to a funeral of a friend. Remember Percy Jackson, the human?" Grady reminded her. "He died in one of the battles. Sophie even planted a Wanderling for him." He looked out of the window, seeing the tan-colored trunk and sea-green leaves that were just like the colors of Percy's eyes. There were even ocean-blue berries peppered among the leaves along with raven-black seeds everywhere.

"Children shouldn't be fighting for their lives every day." Edaline said sadly, tears pricking her eyes. "We barely knew him. What would happen if Sophie..." She didn't finish the sentence. Grady got up from his work and wrapped an arm around her comfortingly.

"Don't think like that, Eda." He pecked her on the cheek. "Sophie's the master of almost-dying, she'll be fine. But I can't bear to think what would happen..." A buzz sounded from his pocket. He pulled out his Imparter, Edaline looking curiously over his shoulder.

"Hello, Alden." He greeted. Alden waved.

"Grady, the Councillors want a meeting with the highest members of the nobility." Alden said, worry lines creasing his forehead. "We need team Valiant, but Sophie won't answer her Imparter. Is she there with you?"

"She's at a funeral for a friend." Grady said grimly. Alden paled.

"Who died? Was it an elf? No, it couldn't be. Was it one of the humans?" Alden's teal eyes looked broken. Edaline wiped a tear from her rosy cheeks, and Grady had some tears of his own form.

"It was Percy, the one who came here with his girlfriend." Alden looked away.

"Must be harsh on his girlfriend." He said sadly. "And Sophie was getting along with him so well. I'm sorry." Grady shook his head.

"I know you're blaming yourself for the fate of these children. Don't think like that. It'll break you, and what will Sophie do without you?" He reminded him.

"You're right. I shouldn't think about all that." Alden quickly wiped his eyes with his sleeve and straightened himself.

"Did the Council say why we're meeting?" Grady asked. Alden shook his head, fiddling with his family crest.

"It's classified. Only me, the Councillors, and Team Valiant are allowed to know." He gave him an apologetic glance.

"I can call her." Edaline offered, pulling out her own Imparter, but Grady stopped her.

"She's at a funeral. Don't disturb her, she's in mourning." He told her gently. She hesitated, but put the small metal square back. "Tell the Council that she's busy with an assignment from the Black Swan." Alden nodded dutifully and his image flickered away from the screen. Edaline sighed.

"I wish—" A thunderous crack drowned out the rest of her sentence. Grady rushed outside, identifying the noise as Sophie's teleporting.

"Sophie!" Edaline cried as a head of blonde hair poked through the bushes dotting the hills.

"Ow. Tough landing, Foster." Keefe grumbled as Biana, Tam, and Linh scrambled to get off of him. Sophie stuck her tongue out at him playfully, but her eyes were slightly red and puffy.

"Mom! Dad!" Her voice cracked a tiny bit at the second syllable, barely noticeable.

"We're sorry about Percy, Sophie." Edaline whispered into her ear. Sophie teared up a little but otherwise didn't react.

"Yeah...about that." Keefe looked at Grady and Edaline sheepishly. Grady gave him a hard stare.

"What happened?" He asked, his voice deadly calm.

"Well, Percy may or may not have interrupted his own funeral—"

"WHAT?!"