Becoming Monsters: One Shot Story 7

This is a short tale of the Becoming Monsters Universe by AiLovesToGrow.

The idea for this one comes from all of my patrons. I asked if they wanted to see me follow up on any of the one-shot or short appearance teams, and overwhelmingly Simha and Felix got the vote. You will see others pop up.

—

Story 7: Make (More Of) Your Own Luck

Late November, 5 years after the Change

“Simha, mail for you!” Felix’s life had taken a few steps up in the last month or so. Which only made sense, all things considered. After hooking up with Simha, his now-VERY-steady girlfriend, she’d insisted that he move into her home instead of his own run down apartment. So, once he’d paid off his part of the rent for a while and said goodbye to his roommate (who he still saw occasionally, game night being game night), he did just that. Simha didn’t exactly live in a mansion, but given that it was Palm Springs and solidly four times the old apartment’s size (and that she lived in it), it certainly felt like one.

“Physical mail? That’s odd, bills aren’t due.” Simha came down the stairs, unconsciously bouncing as she did. Felix, as usual for when he got home from work and saw her for the first time, popped an instant raging erection. He had seen her in all states of dress and undress over the past month, many times, and that helped him resist some of the more overwhelming effects… but she was still Simha, and in her own home she didn’t have to hide what she was. He was considered attractive. Tall, blonde, with rugged looks and good muscles from his time as a Delver. She was so far out of his league on that front that he wasn’t even playing the same game. Perfectly smooth onyx-black skin, bright amber eyes, an athletic build of her own that sported both invitingly wide hips and mouth-watering boobs… heck, even her horns and wings just added to it. She was a Greater Succubus, and more than looked the part. She was wearing a plain white camisole, panties, and nothing else.

Still, he snapped out of it. Long practice. Hard practice. “Yeah, it’s actually from Las Vegas. One of the hotels on the Strip.”

She smiled, an expression that always made his heart skip a beat or two. “Oh, if that’s what I think it is, then we have some work to do. Speaking of, how was work?”

“Oh, you know. Same train of foul-tempered customers magnetically attracted to my desk, but it’s easier to endure it these days for some odd reason.” Felix had kept his old customer service job, one which allowed him to curse himself with bad luck to charge his Class Abilities. He was also determined to contribute to the home despite Simha both not needing it and insisting that his help with her streaming and cam work did plenty. “Now what do you mean by work to do?”

Simha opened up the letter, and held up the paper inside. “I did a sponsorship week with FBB a while back. Not my game, but fun. Looks like they saw enough numbers that they want to make me a character. This is an invitation for me and my plus one… that’s definitely you, by the way… to come to WinterCon in mid-December to help introduce myself.”

“FBB? Which one’s that?” Felix walked over to look at the paper, and saw what exactly she meant by them making her a character. The picture was obviously in-game graphics, and the art team had done a good job of giving the character her look. The black skin, amber eyes, and amazing figure were her 100%, including the shape of her horns and wings. She was even wearing armor that resembled Simha's favorite outfit. That this was gold lingerie with a few added armor plates around the shoulders and thighs was irrelevant. The character was almost as hot as who it was based on.

Simha thought for a moment to gather her thoughts. “Fantasy Build and Brawl. Really popular game for those who aren’t in the Fighting Game circuit, nationals were a couple of months ago. It’s a MOBA, lane control, and the characters kind of grow organically like people do these days. Not normally my game, but I had fun and did decently while I was sponsored. Apparently, they want more.”

“Don’t blame them.” Felix wrapped his arms around his girlfriend from behind. “I assume by work you meant we need to assemble some cosplay to match the picture?”

She leaned back into his hug, her hands on his. “And make arrangements to be back in Vegas for the convention. Hotel’s already booked up, probably the same up and down the strip. I checked that last week when I was thinking of going to the convention for fun and streaming.”

Felix grinned. “You just got lucky. I’ll make some calls, my old Guild is there and at least one of them should be willing to let us crash for a few days.”

She smiled, both at the feel of his arms and the stroke of luck he so often brought with him. “Perfect. Thankfully, the lingerie this is based on is one of my real ones, so we can use that as the base of the costume and craft the armored bits.”

The calls took a matter of moments, Felix’s old friends missing him and wanting to meet back up. And meet Simha, who was both a famous streamer and his girlfriend. They weren’t sure which was less believable.

***

“I will say that this is the first time I’ve ever cosplayed as myself. It’s not as easy as it sounds”

Felix was admiring Simha appreciatively. In all technicality and by all legal definitions, what she was wearing didn’t break any public indecency laws. Not a single observer would doubt for a single nanosecond, though, that indecency was the explicit goal. This had taken three days to plan and arrange, the crafting only a couple of hours. Really, the hard part was making sure that nothing would slip as she moved around. Their first attempt had resulted in a severe wardrobe malfunction that would have both mesmerized three fourths of the audience and gotten her sponsorship cancelled. “I’ll make sure the sponsors know you’re ready, love. You make sure we have the adhesive spray packed in bulk. The game character doesn’t have to worry about her bra getting out of position when it’s literally painted on.”

She didn’t respond for a moment, other than to look at Felix with a look that was half astonished and half like she was melting into a gooey puddle on the inside.

“Simha? You okay?”

Her head tilted a bit, her horns emphasizing the movement. “That’s… the first time you called me that. Do you mean it?”

Felix looked puzzled for a moment, then it clicked. “Oh. I guess I did call you ‘love,’ didn’t I? Well, yeah, I do. Have for a bit, I was just a bit scared to say it. You’re intimidating even when I know you like I do.” The nervousness from before was in FULL force once again.

“Then it’s a good thing I love you, too.” In a flash, she was pressed up against him, hugging him close. Then she looked up with an impish smile on her face. “I thought my profile said you shouldn’t be easily intimidated when you swiped on me?”

“I’ve stared down monsters from the depths that can be described with such adjectives as ‘venomous,’ ‘murderous,’ and ‘chitinous.’ Trust me, love, it wasn’t easy.”

***

December 14th, 5AC

“FELIX! How’s Lady Luck’s favorite chew toy doing these days?” The man who was speaking, a Human wearing lightweight blue robes and matching wide-brimmed wizard hat, didn’t bother waiting for an answer before walking right up and grabbing the taller man in a huge hug. Simha looked on as her boyfriend hugged the man back, feeling something new. It wasn’t good, it wasn’t bad, but she was most certainly not used to being anything other than the absolute center of attention of any room she was in. Being ignored was a new one.

Felix was grinning wildly, though. “Doing a lot better this last month, sir. Finished up that task I told you about before I left.”

“Oh, don’t go calling me that. You’re not one of my Delvers anymore. Call me Rob like the rest of my buddies.” The man finally looked over at his other guest. “And who’s this lovely lady? Hope you don’t mind, ma’am, and I’ll do my best to not be a creep, but that hoodie isn’t hiding anything on you and I can appreciate that.”

Simha grinned a bit, and Felix spoke up. “Sir… I mean, Rob… this is Simha. My girlfriend. It’s working out well, she’s going to be on stage during Winter Games Con. Thanks for letting us crash at your place. It’s nicer than I would have expected.”

Rob held out his hand and Simha shook it. As an Ice Magus and the leader of a Delving Guild, one that operated out of Las Vegas, he had a long time to develop self-control, willpower, and the ability to take correct action under all kinds of distractions. Shaking her hand seemed to strain the limits of even his ability to do so. Simha noticed, but then again she had more than one advantage in doing so. “I’ve heard a lot about how you ran things from Felix’s stories. The pleasure is all mine.”

His expression was one of strained focus at even hearing her say the word “pleasure” while touching her hand, but he pulled through. “Welcome to the house, then. You two’re in the guest room to the right if you want to drop your stuff off. Not the largest bed ever, but I figure you two won’t mind. I like it here, paid off and everything. Might as well use those Coins for something good, right?”

The words were a bit of an understatement. The man technically lived alone, but had a three bedroom house not far from one end of the Strip that had a pool in the back. It was comfortable and homey, and the spare bedroom was plenty for Felix and Simha to settle into easily. The house really did feel permanent, it was a home. Much like Felix had taken his treasure and his skills and left to go find love (successfully), the Ice Magus who used to be his Guild leader had been investing in his future. He’d have a life when he eventually decided to stop Delving, whether that was of his own free will or for more medical reasons.

“Felix?”

“Yes, Simha?”

She sat on the bed, still holding herself carefully. “Are you… okay with me being out here? Showing off?”

Felix set down the clothing he was sorting through. “Of course I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

She looked at the door. “You know I don’t go out much, but even for someone who spends so much time broadcasting there’s a difference. You saw the effect I was having on him. He almost came from shaking my hand and hearing me say something slightly suggestive. What am I going to do at a convention? Last time I came to Vegas they had to put a black box around my gaming station to keep the crowd from swarming the stage mid-match.”

Felix walked over and put his arm around her shoulder, loving the feeling of her leaning into him. “I’ve been calling the convention staff about that, actually. They said they have a solution that will blunt the impact past the stage.”

She lightly smacked his shoulder. “You know what I mean. Am I just going to be stuck here while the convention is going on, then snuck in to go onstage for a couple of minutes and sneak out? How are you feeling about all of those people ogling and probably touching me?”

“Okay, first off, they can look as long as YOU don’t mind. Touching, it had better be random. If someone gropes you I’m using a Luck charge to make sure they regret it.” It was obvious Felix was being serious about that too, and given what he had to do to build that charge that was saying something. “As for the other bit, this was going to be tomorrow morning but the opening’s too good. I overheard you mention your birthday’s in January, right?” She nodded, curious where this was going. “Bit early, but happy birthday.”

He reached under the bed and pulled out a plain white cardboard box with a gold bow on it, which he then handed over. Simha, curious look on her face, opened it up and pulled out the cloth item inside. It unfolded into a loose and billowing white cloak, one that would secure around someone like a poncho if needed. It had a deep hood and was trimmed in gold. “Is this… a healer robe cosplay?”

“Yep, that’s what it’s designed to look like. Convention staff’s Enchanter worked with the old Guild Enchanter to figure out the formula once I gave them the idea, but this should dampen the force of your stronger unconscious aura. You get to stress test it, but if it works like they say it will then you get to enjoy the convention all week as an RPG character. Couldn’t get the staff done in time, but I don’t think you mind.” Felix was nervous, it was the first big gift he’d ever given her and he could only hope he’d gotten it right.

With one smooth motion she clasped it across her shoulders, the white and gold swishing as she did. It took her four steps to press up against him. “Like it? I love it, and I’m going to wear it and nothing else as I ride you into this little bed tonight. Twice.”

***

The next day

The venue for this convention was one of the largest hotels on the entire Vegas Strip. Halls, rooms, displays, smaller competitions, and more were everywhere. Sponsors were doing their best to remind people that they were still around, tournaments and cosplay contests with prizes ranging from “bragging rights” to “some people would sell body parts for this” were frequent attractions, and the entire thing was wrapped in an air of exuberant indulgence.

And there were people. People everywhere. Gamers, spectators, fans, and costumers. Young and old, people in all of their myriad shapes and sizes. People watching the tournaments, people admiring the costumes, people buying merch and art and signatures. People bumping into Felix and Simha, but thankfully nobody doing anything that deserved direct ire from the former Delver.

“Dad, look at her! She’s dressed as a healer!” The speaker was a Beastkin girl, her Whale Shark heritage giving her size well beyond what her voice indicated her age actually was. Her father was an Otter Beastkin, much smaller than his daughter in terms of real bulk, and was wearing glasses and a lab coat. Felix couldn’t tell if that was a costume or just what he liked to wear. Standing behind him were more Beastkin, two that also seemed to be younger girls and three adult women that were noticeably alert to the crowd.

“Exactly, Liz! I used to play that game when I was your age, maybe when we get home I’ll see if I can dig it out…” Even the guy’s voice sounded like he should be teaching a class somewhere as they meandered elsewhere.

Felix and Simha wandered off as well. They didn’t have any specific thing in mind other than one panel about how video game development had changed since the Change, but that was later. For now? They could just be people. They could enjoy the food (and the convention being hosted in a Vegas mega hotel upped the quality of that significantly). They could pick up some hard to find cosplay bits and bobs. They could go watch as a moderately short and stout but rugged-looking man summoned some kind of construct in a form appropriate to the place, tall and lean, dressed in red, with a large hat and wicked-looking spear. There were cheers in the crowd at THAT one.

“Felix? You know the conventions better than I do, mind if I ask something?” Simha’s eyes were everywhere, taking it all in while not being swarmed under by admirers. This was the kind of place where a lot of people would normally recognize her even if she wasn’t as distinctive a figure as she was.

“Go for it.”

“What’s up with all the weapons? Don’t conventions usually ban them?”

Felix thought for a moment. Unlike his girlfriend, Felix’s costume was a hundred percent genuine, from the chain mail to the dagger. “That was changing around when I left Vegas. Half of that was that you really just can’t separate people from the ability to hurt people anymore. Not with Classes and Races being a thing and more people getting used to using their Abilities. So they just set rules about which can be brought and displayed, then all the Delvers with real ones get to show off and still be ready if there’s trouble. Heck, a couple of these conventions are held where there are still monster threats, so having the real stuff on hand can save lives.”

“I guess that makes sense.” She shook her head a bit. “I love it here, but holding onto self-control is really starting to get to me. So much strong emotion around, and so much of it is lust.”

“Blame marketing departments for that. And animators who love boobs.” He looked around to make sure nobody was close enough to hear them over the background noise of the crowd. “You gonna be okay, or do we need to dip? Those passes you got are good all week, so there’s always tomorrow.”

“I think I will be… just need to do one thing. Let’s get off to the side a bit. You said there were quiet rooms around?”

“Kind of. They’re meant for people to take off costume pieces and get a breather without breaking the magic, or something. You need a break, that’s easy enough.”

Simha nodded. “Get us to one of them? Quickly, if you can?”

Something about her tone made her urgency quite clear, and Felix looked around. Luckily (as if luck were anything but his plaything when he wasn’t deliberately charging up), one was very close by and vacant. They were inside and alone with the door locked inside of thirty seconds. “Safe. What do you need, love?”

“This.” In one smooth motion she whipped off the protective cloak, and under it she was wearing her golden lingerie armor. Her wings flared as she held her hands out towards Felix, and just as he realized what she was about to do he was seized by her powers. Normally, when they had sex, she preferred for it to go long. Wasn’t always possible for him to hold out, given who and what she was, but still. Not this time. Her Aura of Lust took hold and his body instantly reacted, going rock-hard in seconds and straight to orgasm from there. It was deep, it was powerful, and it was huge. It just wasn’t in her, since he hadn’t had time to get his pants off. Her face softened from the edge it held as the power of his lust entered her and Fed her. “Oh, that’s better. Just couldn’t do that in front of kids.”

Felix took a few deeply shuddering breaths to get himself back under control. “Understandable. Just… uh, give me a minute to clean up. This is why I brought a towel in the backpack. Well, that, and in case I met certain book fans, but if that happens today I think I’m leaving the towel out of the conversation.”

***

December 19th, 5AC

“Ladies, gentlemen, and everything else: welcome to the Fantasy Build and Brawl presentation!” The announcer was an enthusiastic man who Simha had once had on her stream, their lead developer. Felix was impressed, both by his position and by the fact that the Gnome was able to command so much of the stage presence despite being two and a half feet tall. “The tournaments are done, the PvP season is officially closed, so it’s time for some announcements. I’m sure that if you’re sitting in this audience, you’ve been curious about the teaser we dropped two weeks ago.”

The noises coming from the audience were significant and definitely affirmative. While the developer kept on talking, Felix was helping Simha keep steady offstage. “Okay, we’ve been over this one, you have your script and they told you that you’re free to improvise a lot as long as you don’t talk about raw stats.”

Simha was dressed in the golden lingerie armor they’d created, with the white mage robe over it. “I know, I know, still nervous. Kind of used to being alone in a room with the crowds being on the other side of a screen. You sure that whatever damper they have set up will hold? When they see me in this getup it’s going to be a lot to handle.”

Felix nodded. “One, it’s based on the same stuff they put on the robe you’ve been wearing all week. That’s worked, so the concept’s proven… and the Guild Enchanter said it satisfied his First Masterwork. Second, I’m going to be pushing a trickle charge of Luck into it the entire time you’re out there until we get away from the crowds and parking lot. That should keep random chance in line, so any freak accidents should break in our favor.”

“Oh, is that why you kept slipping on puddles yesterday?”

“Yep, Gathering mode once I knew the important stuff wouldn’t be ruined by chance. I needed to build up a buffer.” Felix cocked his head to the side. “Okay, sounds like he’s almost done with introductions. If you want to be able to sneak out of here, you can’t wear the cloak out there.”

Simha stuck her tongue out at Felix cutely. “You’re just saying that because you want to be the one to see me dramatically whip it off.”

“I do, in fact, enjoy seeing you strip, yes.”

As promised, she dramatically whipped off the cloak. It was a move she did often on stream to reveal new cosplay, it was one he’d seen her do a dozen times. Heck, he helped make this suit. It never became any less of a spectacle, and he could not have torn his eyes off of her if he tried. It helped that she bounced just a little bit extra, just for him. She grinned wickedly, excited, allowing herself to become the person she was on stream. Both heard the developer speaking after their moment of distraction. “And now, the moment you’ve all been waiting for, here to introduce our newest playable character, it’s The Sexiest Slayer!”

As the audience roared, she walked out onto the stage. Fully visible to all, fully in her power as a Greater Succubus before the crowd, fully in her newest outfit. The audience, understandably, roared even more loudly. The developer handed off the mic to Simha, and she turned to face the crowd. As always, her holding a microphone gave all kinds of images about other things she frequently did with those kissable lips of hers. “Good evening Las Vegas, make some noise for the awesome team behind FBB!”

She could have told them to make some noise for the cockroach crawling on the outside of the building, and they would have done it.

She gave them a moment to get it out of their system. “I’ve been walking around this convention all week and I’ve seen some amazing costumes. You know what? I’m in one, too. You might be asking yourself, ‘who is she cosplaying as?’ Well, that’s what I’m here to talk to you about. I’m cosplaying as…”

The giant screens in the room lit up to show everyone the new character model for the first time.

“... myself!”

The roars of applause were absolutely deafening. The presentation of her new Greater Succubus support character went smoothly from there, and after about ten minutes it was over. “That’s all I have for you today, everyone. Don’t forget that there will be a Q&A with the creative team after this. Have fun, and brawl on!” The crowd cheered again as she turned and swished off the stage, her tail tracing the line of motion her hips were drawing in the air as she did. As she got to the side of the stage where she was anticipating falling into her boyfriend’s arms, she found his unconscious body. Arms emerged from the darkness and seized her.

***

“Did you see that?”

“She’s in trouble, girls. Love, I need you to watch the kids for a moment or two.”

“On it. Be careful.”

“Excuse me, couldn’t help but overhear that I wasn’t the only one to see that. Need a hand?”

***

The spell that knocked Felix out lost its hold fairly quickly, the magic of his enchanted mail and dagger interfering with the quickly-cast effect. He jerked awake, scrambling to his feet. On stage, the Q&A was only just starting. His watch told him he’d been out for less than 30 seconds. Simha was not here, and she would not have left him.

His eyes narrowed. Someone just made a deadly mistake.

A quick glance at his Status screen showed what he was afraid of. His Karma meter was only at 7%. It hadn’t exactly had much chance to refill in the month and a half since he blew the entire thing to find Simha and he’d used up a chunk of it making sure the shields didn’t fail. If his mental math was right, that would last him for about ten minutes of invincible Luck if he let it rip full bore with Uncapped Blast. Or he could make it stretch twice as far at standard rates then go wild when he found her. Not if, when. That was the play.

“I’m coming, Simha.” They couldn’t be far, and as he turned on the flow of Luck he found his first several clues. She was pretty strong, in addition to her more obvious abilities, so there was a struggle. Claw marks on the floor, shallow but clearly there if you looked in just the right place. A tear in the cloth to the side of the path as he ran to follow it. An overturned cart that he hopped over, only to find the first of his enemies. Two Human goons with guns, wearing cosplay that would make it look like those weapons belonged here. “I’m guessing there’s no chance of us talking this out? Kind of in a hurry.”

Their only response was to point the weapons directly at his face. Felix couldn’t be sure if they were trained well enough to fight him… but given the amount of planning that seemed to go into this, they were probably trained enough. He was just starting to consider going nuts with the full force of his Class when he saw something. It took several agonizing seconds of him fighting to keep a straight face before a golden-blonde Fox in a black long-sleeved shirt and cargo pants grabbed the two by the sides of their heads and bashed them together. She looked at him. “Looks like you got lucky we’re here. Who are you and why are you backstage?”

“I’m Felix. Simha’s my girlfriend and I’m getting her back. They stunned me to get her.”

“VERY lucky, then. Did you see which way they went?”

Felix pointed with the hand that wasn’t holding a dagger and the two took off running. There were still subtle clues that they passed as they ran, but those weren’t the only goons. The others seemed occupied by an Otter doing martial arts and a Corgi who seemed to be out-shooting three of them with pistols silenced to a whisper. They didn’t stop going as the Fox yelled brief acknowledgement to them. They DID stop when three more of the goons cornered them, swords out and glowing menacingly. The Fox took a ready stance, but needn’t have bothered.

“Freya, no quarter!” It was a man’s voice calling it out, and the tall spear-wielding construct from the other day charged in. The first lost an arm before he could react. The others were batted aside and covered in flames as flaming demons came out of the shadows to cast their deadly magic on the assailants. The man ran up to them. “Name’s Saul. Looks like that’s the last of them, but I’ll cover your back.”

A sudden commotion from behind them drew both the Fox and Saul’s attention. She replied to him “I think your assessment’s a bit off. Felix, last bit forward is up to you, we can’t let the fighting get to a public area.” Both of them ran back towards where the other two were fighting, but if Felix wanted to rescue his girlfriend he couldn’t stop here.

He ran, feeling certain that he was close, and before he got another dozen strides he felt it. The edge of her Aura. Simha was not suppressing it, that was being pushed actively. Three more strides and he found a door. It was locked, but as he uncapped his burst of Luck and delivered a swift kick to the knob the lock’s tumblers fell into place and granted him access. Simha was standing there, her golden lingerie half-torn off of her lush figure. There was nothing sexy about the expression on her face, though, contorted as it was into a mask of rage and hatred. Her arms were held out, hands clawed forward towards two figures laying moaning and twitching on the ground of the otherwise-barren room. “Simha! What’s going on?”

Her voice was icy cold, biting like arctic winds as she spoke. “They grabbed me, Felix. They grabbed me and dragged me off that stage, then that one,” she nodded at one, noticeably burlier than his companion, “said that as long as they had me, why waste the opportunity. Pulled me in here and tore off my outfit, but they forgot what it is a Greater Succubus does with unreasoning lust.”

That’s when the look snapped into recognition. Felix had an incredibly deep well of Hunger energy within him, owing to an incredibly rare Racial trait. One day she’d pushed herself almost to starving, and he’d told her to drink as deeply as she could. That look on their faces, those twitches? Those were the same ones he’d had on the video she made. Right as she hit the maximum capacity she could hold. Right as he was drained so badly he’d been bedridden for a day and a half. He didn’t know if either of them had Deep Feeding, but given that Simha had only met two people with it (himself being the second) in years of searching meant that the chances weren’t on their side.

“Simha, let go of them! They’re down and disabled, they can’t hurt you anymore.”

She glared at him. “They were about to rape me. Use me for my Race and drag me off for whatever they wanted to kidnap me for. Why should I?” She hadn’t let go. Their twitches were stilling, their moans quieting. If Felix didn’t act fast, they had seconds to live.

“Because you’re not them. You’re better than that, Simha, and you will suffer knowing that their blood is on your hands if you finish it that way.” He breathed once before continuing. “I couldn’t care less about them, the police will deal with that and they won’t be kind. I care about you. I love you.”

As the door swung open, people suddenly streaming into the room, Simha released her grasp on their souls. Then she collapsed into Felix’s arms, sobbing uncontrollably.

***

December 20th, 5AC

Felix and Simha were packing their things back up the next morning. In the end, The Las Vegas SWAT team had collected up the assailants and their goons in record time. So fast that most of the convention-goers hadn’t realized anything amiss even happened. One of the attackers broke down under the pressure of interrogation and admitted that they were planning on both an expensive ransom and an extensive manifesto, given a huge stage thanks to her fame. It had not worked out.

Simha had recovered quickly from the shock once the adrenaline wore off, and had calmly informed Felix that she just needed to burn off the energy that she’d taken from them so that she didn’t have to feel it sitting there. They’d snuggled together on the small bed that night, and though she’d sobbed a bit as the memories attacked her he knew she’d be alright. It would just take time. And cuddles. But now the event was over. It was time to go home. Take a break, let the excitement calm down, and keep on with their life together.

Simha spotted her boyfriend struggling for a bit with the zipper of his luggage as it got caught on a stray fold of clothing. “Felix? You’re back in gathering mode?”

He nodded, carefully extracting things and closing it properly. “Yeah. Between a few random things at the convention, the barrier spell I was making sure didn’t fall, and the… uh, event at the end? I’m down at one percent. Can’t have that, really, so I’m getting some charge before we get in the car so I don’t accidentally cause a breakdown halfway home.”

“Makes sense.” She folded up the last of her own pajamas, then pulled her loose hoodie over her camisole to get her looks under control. A new one from the convention, part of the free swag she’d gotten as a guest of honor. “How are you doing with the rest of the Class, actually? I haven’t asked in a while, and you’ve been using it hard while you’ve been with me.”

Felix’s eyes got the unfocused look of someone checking their Status screen. “Thanks for reminding me to check, and it’s chugging along. I’m at 72% progress to level 7, and…” his eyes suddenly widened. “Simha… stop packing. Now. We got trouble incoming.”

“Wait, what? How?”

“I don’t know. My ability to charge is conditional on a lot of things. One of them is that the worse that misfortune can hurt me and mine, the sharper the gains are. While I was gathering the power I used to find you, it took a week to gather one percent charge. My meter just hit 3%, and I was at one when we started packing. Whatever’s coming, it’s going to be enormous, and it’s both close and inevitable.