Chapter Text
Alya refused to go home when Marinette offered for her and Adrien to take her there. "Mama and the twins...they're not there. Just puppets..." she had sobbed and Marinette had held her with one arm while still holding onto Adrien.
Adrien meanwhile was watching the school grounds around them for any signs of more of their friends bearing milky eyes or dark aura. Kagami didn't show up at all for anything, not even to hear that their swords would not be used that day. Whether it was from Lila's fear of Kagami hurting him or LIla fearing for herself, he didn't care. He just stood, a silent knight, beside his princess, who hadn't moved from his side at all. Neither seemed to need to eat, or rest, or use the bathroom, or anything. Madame Bustier had excused them from all activities having to do with anything that could separate them. Principal Damocles for once had not even batted an eye and agreed with the elder witch. Something about seeing them together and seeing the piercing look in Adrien's eyes should he deny her, Adrien knew it had done something to the man who prided himself a hero in his own right.
Juleka neared with Rose, who was a bubbly little mess and it made Adrien smile even when he said nothing but nodded his greetings then returned to watching the crowds. He knew she was out there somewhere watching and he needed to look after their friends but above all, his princess. He listened as Juleka gave a startled croak but his gaze turned to her sharply when she said, "Luka hasn't been home since all this started. In fact, he vanished right before Alya was put under."
Marinette began to quake and Adrien held on tight to her with his own arm while he reached out and touched Juleka's shoulder. "What can you tell us about his disappearance? What happened that day?"
"After the strangeness from the magic exploding, I went home to alert mom that something was up. She had felt the vibrations herself and had muttered about a storm coming before locking up the ship when Luka came home. He said he could hear something in the air, something that was trying to swallow the Heartsongs of Paris. Before bed, the boat began to rock and move and Luka went topside. Then it all stopped."
"Stopped?" Marinette whispered in confusion.
Juleka nodded. "Yes. Mom and I went upstairs to check on Luka and make sure he was okay, thinking maybe it was an Akuma, but there was nothing there. No signs of distortion or anything. My brother was just...gone."
Alya looked spooked while Rose kept a gentle hand on Juleka's arm, seeing as the normally calm goth girl was shaking slightly from something between fear and anger.
"We tried looking for him, Rose and I even sent word around that the Heartsoother was missing. So far, not a single person has been able to find him and his energy is just gone," she said and grit her teeth. "His very spirit is nowhere among the mortal realm. And his song...it's gone. I can't hear him anymore," she said with a sudden slump of her body as she hugged herself. "Rose..."
"His scent is gone from all of Paris," spoke the normally peppy pixie as she stroked Juleka's hair gently. "Even if he were to leave the city, there would still be a trail. We asked Alix to look for him but she just kind of paused then said 'he can only be saved by the chimera and the great goddess'. I tried to stop her from leaving the school before you could speak with her, because she said earlier when Alya began to act up that she needed to speak with you, but she...She just hurried off!"
"Easy, Pixie, easy," Adrien spoke softly, lifting his hand to pat at Rose's hair in an easy way that came to him as if he had always done it. Something was shifting inside him. "We'll find Luka and speak with Alix. Until then, just stay safe and don't wander too far from each other. Make sure you've got wards up, okay?"
Rose nodded into his hand and pressed against it while shutting her eyes tightly. "Your scent is changing, Adrien. Marinette's has changed but you smell so different now, too. It's not done, but I think it will be one of the greatest aromas in Paris soon enough."
"And your energy is morphing as well," Juleka spoke softly, grasping Rose's hand nearest her while looking Adrien in the eyes. "You once had something sort of dark but green and glowing. Now it is becoming a brighter and brighter gray mixed with the green instead of the dark. Marinette's own was once red and pink alone. Now the pink is mixing with the same gray as yours. And something about you two...it feels like you are two pieces that need to be united."
This made Adrien blink in shock and he felt Marinette grip him tighter as she seemed to have a similar realization. "Is that...possible?" he asked the question he knew Marinette wanted to ask but was scared to. At that moment, Nino walked over to pull Alya into his arms and smile at Adrien.
"Dude, I think you and Marinette are possibly the two closest people in this whole city," he said and at Adrien's surprised look, he grinned. "I'm not completely magical like these two here or you and Mari, but I have something that connects me to the magicks of the world," he said and touched his headphones which rested around his neck even now. "These things can hear for miles around. And not only that, I've felt the magick through other means. You and Marinette are not only a match made in heaven or in Alya's fantasies, but also in every sense of creation or destruction. Bridges can feel these things," he said, shrugging as Alya threw him a look. "Alya can see you two are made for each other not just because of how Marinette felt in the beginning about you, but because she is part of Marinette's bridge and can feel the things that connect her to others. When Luka came into the picture along with Kagami, Alya felt confused because Marinette's connections were bending. When she recentered, Alya felt the flow return along with all the other bridges and magick folk around her. Namely all the girls and a few of us guys."
"You knew Marinette and I would end up together?" Adrien asked, blinking in shock before turning when he heard a soft laugh.
"Nathaniel liked her for a really long time and so did I," spoke Marc as he neared with the red haired artist, who was staring at the ground instead of ahead, a blush on his cheeks as Marc had his fingers threaded through one of Nathaniel's own set. "Ladybug became a focal point for a bit, but he realized that something was off. And that something was you, Adrien," Marc spoke with finality and nudged his boyfriend.
Sighing, blue eyes lifted to look at Adrien. "Do you know what happens when a Future Diary connects with a Future Canvas?" he asked before answering it with a smile on his lip and his fingers tightening gently around Marc's fingers. "Something amazing. Paris is full of magic and that magic can become something more in the hands of those that know how to mold it. You finally found you Canvas, Adrien," Nathaniel said with such a warm look as he gazed between both Adrien and Marinette. "Diaries are able to protect their Canvases. You protect Marinette and showed it today especially even though we only saw the outside effects. Marc was only able to see it because with him being a Diary, he is able to keep an eye on me through his writing. Your battle was epic from what he told me and what I have read."
"How many people in our class know of the magick in Paris?" Adrien asked, rubbing his thumb calming over where it rested on Marinette's arm.
"Many of us are bridges, my dude," Nino answered. "Kim and Max can connect to outside forms though Kim is a bit...dim...when it comes to it and really worrying about the magic around him. But he works with Marinette as a bridge from time to time, even if these past weeks have been a wild ride."
"And Max works a lot with checking information and focusing on updating the witch and wicca database!" Rose chirped with a smile, bouncing as she leaned forward. "He's very technical about everything and he doesn't bridge nearly as much as anyone else, but if you need a circle right away? He'll throw his arms into the mix ASAP!"
"Mylene and Ivan?" Adrien continued on the conversation, tilting his head to rest it against Marinette's as she leaned into him heavily.
"Mylene and Ivan..." the group mood suddenly seemed to droop. "They like to try," Nathaniel answered, pulling Marc into a hug which the shorter dark haired writer merely returned with gusto and happiness though even in that happiness he seemed subdued. "Mylene has no magical essence, though her power seems to come more in a human form, from her careful calmness to her gentle happiness. Ivan however is another story."
Nino groaned. "Ivan was not only the first of the class to be Akumatized, but he was also the first to nearly break every friendship because of his way of dealing with things. The guy can be a big softy but he comes off too strong sometimes. We love the guy, love his drum work, but he just isn't the perfect person for bridgework. Even so, Mari tried it a few times with him. However it became very apparent that his magical aptitude was a lot like his reactions or lack-there-of."
"So that leaves Chloe and Sabrina besides Alix but I already had a thought on her," Adrien admitted. "What do you know about those two?"
"Chloe is a very hard study when it comes to witchcraft. She has a lot of magical energy and can even write Wiccan Scratches so well that before things hit the fan a few years ago, she and Sabrina were the top of their own studies. But," Juleka explained, swallowing then continuing as if pained. "Chloe has a lot of problems. Namely her father and mother. Sabrina became her lapdog and the test subject of all Chloe's spells, potions, creams, soaps...Until one day, Chloe just...stopped."
"Stopped?"
The group looked around at each other before their gazes hardened and they nodded before looking to Adrien and explained. It was too much information to truly mark every detail, but Adrien remembered that day when Lila first attacked and before Alya suddenly broke. Chloe and Sabrina had been near the head along with Aurore that day, seemingly understand what to do without being told and when told merely nodded and worked in a hive mindset.
According to their classmates, the pair worked alone or in huge groups as a whole. It was rare to see Chloe agreeing to work with anyone besides Sabrina, but it was even more strange to see her not leading or helping others when the group exceeded a number so great that it was a true group effort like a working hive. Connections between her and Queen Bee made sense to Adrien but the way they spoke, it was like Chloe had always been like that. When her mother and father did what they did, it successfully shattered a lot of Chloe's connections to everyone. She paid attention to hive mindset still, but played the diva and seemingly tried to ignore 'riffraff' and 'the poor' who she actually sometimes would do things for.
Like was said, it was hard to figure out Chloe and Sabrina because they were a set. Not only that, but Chloe seemed to be in a confused state of existence herself, which made Sabrina question everything and everyone who could hurt her friend while she tried to find herself. Lila's interference had not helped one bit.
When all of it was done and Adrien had taken the final mental notes, he turned to Alya and Nino. "We need to get going. I have to make sure Mari gets home safely," he said, not lying openly but in turn hiding the fact they lived together now. Even Alya, who had visited his home and got through the front gate somehow while under the influence of Lila, had no idea of what the living situation was. Sabine and Tom had agreed that they would lie if after school or during times Marinette was supposed to be home, and say something to the most of, 'She's working on something and asked not to be bothered', or, 'She's at a friend's house right now. She'll be home late.'
Nino nodded and hugged Alya tightly again. "C'mon babe," he whispered and turned them both just to the northwest of them that would lead away from where Adrien knew Lila usually came from. "I know a shortcut. Mom and pop already got the downlow and agree that as long as not too much is said about magic around my bro, you have nothing to worry about."
Alya looked near tears as she held onto him in turn. "Nino..." she whimpered before breaking down again. Nino took it in stride and knelt with his back to her. She took the offer immediately, practically tackling him even as he held his ground and stood straight to begin walking.
Rose smiled and looked to Juleka. "I'm staying with you. Daddy said it's fine and he wants to make sure that you're okay."
Nodding, Juleka looked to Adrien and nodded to him before turning to lead a waving Rose away from the remainder of their group. Nathaniel and Marc said their own goodbyes before Marc led the way from their little spot, saying they needed to work on their next comic before Nathaniel made a smart remark that had the dark haired writer giving a shout even Adrien heard as he and Marinette walked away that sounded like, "AND NATHANIEL KURTZBERG IS A VANILLA SHAKE STIRRED NOT SHOOK!"
Adrien smiled through it all as Marinette clung to him again, her form shaking slightly as they walked down the street. He could feel Plagg worrying again, though he didn't feel as scared. Tikki was calm and Duusu could be heard silently sobbing now that it was so quiet around them without the static of people nearby. "You doing okay, milady?" Adrien asked in a soft tone.
"Better," she admitted and peered up with a small smile as she walked beside him instead of just clinging to him helplessly. Sure, she was clinging now, but she honestly just looked tired and done with the day. Which was pretty much how he felt right then. "I don't know how you helped Alya, but the energy coming off you was amazing. I've never felt so much at once. What happened anyway?"
"Not sure," Adrien admitted with a smile as he hugged Marinette close to his side but was careful to allow her to be able to walk. The sooner they got home the better. He could see the top of the mansion and feel the wards Marinette had placed in the beginning slowly calling for them to hurry inside their protective grasp.
Tikki neared Adrien and spoke softly for both him and Marinette to hear, "You two know more now thanks to your friends than you knew before. I don't know about Luka or what to do to find him, but I'm sure as things progress, you'll find him."
Plagg shivered inside the space-bun he still refused to leave. Sure, he wasn't oozing fear and the energy that had set Adrien off before, but he still seemed worried about Marinette and refused to leave her. "May I sleep near my princess tonight?" he mumbled and Adrien blinked as even Tikki gave a small noise of confusion. "I'm just...feeling like I need her...You don't mind, right Tikki? Kid?"
Adrien looked to the side slightly toward where he knew Tikki was. "I don't mind. What about you, Tikki?"
"If it makes Plagg normal again, I'll be happy," she muttered, sounding unsure, "I just wonder what's going through that head of yours, Plagg."
"...Just..." came a small whisper before Plagg sighed. "...Marinette's Bad Luck was really strong today. I wanted to try sucking as much of it up as possible, like I do with Adrien all the time. Sure I create it, but I also know how to fix it. With everything that happened today, the balance between the two is still unclear. I just...I don't want, I NEED to make sure she is safe and balanced. Duusu is doing as much as she can but I've also swallowed a lot today. It's not easy and I'm...I'm really worried about my princess right now. I need to protect her. You get it, right, Adrien?"
The switches between names was slid through that whole speech so easily that Adrien DID understand. "Yeah. I get it more than you know, Plagg," he agreed and nudged against Marinette's head near the space bun where Plagg was hiding. "Do you need to swap Miraculous for a bit?"
"No, I just need to be near her," Plagg mumbled as they crossed into the mansion's rune circle and Adrien led Marinette to the study where a light could be seen. "But uh...Can I stay in here? It's kinda nice and warm and it smells good."
Tikki giggled as she floated up into open space once she knew they were safely away from prying eyes. "At least he still has some catlike instincts," she teased before looking worriedly to Marinette, who had yet to move from where she clung to Adrien. "Marinette? Are you really doing okay? Duusu has calmed down some since everything happened with Alya in the classroom, but both she and you seem to still be suffering. Do you need anything?"
Marinette had fallen silent, her eyes hidden behind her bangs. Adrien's eyes widened and he gave a shout the same time Plagg gave a startled cry and Duusu screamed from where she was hidden. The girl had collapsed, her legs giving out and her arms actually dropping from where they had been clinging to her student. Tikki cried out for her chosen and Marinette lay in Adrien's arms as he held onto her.
From the office came two hurried sets of running feet before Gabriel was leaning over both his son and Marinette while Nathalie knelt and helped look over the girl, who suddenly seemed out of it. Plagg was crying from where he was hidden and from the looks of it was clinging to the base of the bun. Duusu was crying and shrieking from where she refused to move from and Tikki was frozen as Adrien was, the pair staring at their partners with eyes that were filled with something familiar.
"Adrien..." Tikki spoke in a low tone, her voice actually sounding dangerous.
"Wait..." he whispered in answer, feeling the bubble in the pit of his stomach grow. "Maybe she's just having a reaction. We cannot act foolishly."
From around the whispering pair came sounds of confusion amongst the cries and sounds of torment and pain. Nooroo neared Adrien's line of sight and green eyes caught purple. Nooroo visibly shook a moment as he turned and Adrien knew he was looking at Tikki. "We have some spells that can help heal Marinette enough that Duusu herself will heal, but the obvious bad luck surrounding Marinette will need to be dealt with by Plagg. Adrien, you need to bring Marinette to the study-!"
A growl left Adrien and Nooroo froze sharply in midair as Adrien felt the bubbles within begin to boil harder. Something was telling Adrien to get Marinette to the place that was safest. The place he could look after her. Not only that, Plagg was still crying, his sobs seemingly echoing in Adrien's head as much as the emptiness brought on by not hearing Marinette make a noise beyond her staggering breaths.
"Adrien?"
"Nooroo," Tikki spoke in that same, low, dangerous tone and Adrien felt a rush of something like pleasure at the way she said her next words. "Our princess and kitten need to be in the tower. Do you really want to get in my pet's way or in my own?"
The butterfly Kwami's voice shook as he said, "No, no, you may go at any time. Please, get them to the tower," in such a way that it pleased Adrien further and he stood with the same strength as before that echoed and seemed to shove at his father and Nathalie along with Nooroo.
Tikki's tiny body suddenly felt easy on the back of Adrien's neck as before, not hidden by the collar of his shirt or hindered by anything that could hide the power coiling off her that echoed with Adrien's own. Plagg gave sobs of scared questioning and Duusu gave fearful cries of her own but Tikki and Adrien whispered soothingly to them and soon enough they fell nearly as silent as Marinette, who had still yet to move, make a sound, or even wake.
Within the safety of the bedroom with the altars nearby and the bed calling to him, Adrien walked across to his now shared bed with his princess. He laid her down and carefully began to undo the one bun to the side that did not house Plagg. Plagg didn't move as Tikkit and Adrien watched over the three, Duusu eventually quieting as Marinette slowly began to stir.
Her voice cracked and Adrien smiled when she whispered, "Minou?"
"I'm here, princess," he whispered and nuzzled at her cheek, leaning over her from the side of the bed. Plagg finally came out of hiding and Adrien felt the furious bubbling in his stomach slowly fizzle away a bit as the black cat Kwami began to undo the space bun he had been inside and smoothed out Marinette's raven lockes with a gentle touch.
Duusu moved to lay on Marinette's chest where she curled a couple inches from under her chin. Tikki lowered, no longer exuding the same energy that had burned from within Adrien, and gently stroked at Duusu as the peacock Kwami sobbed silently in place. "What happened?" the ladybug Kwami asked softly, a question that Adrien was scared to ask.
Shaking her head, Duusu looked up at her then at Adrien. "Marinette's heart nearly gave out," she answered in a weak tone between her sobs. "When we got inside, the emotions of the day and the magic within her that has been reacting to the negativity from Alya and Kagami this morning..." she took a moment to swallow and hiccup a couple times before speaking again, "...And when Alya came back the way she did and everyone was so kind, Marinette finally had some control of the feelings inside. When we reached the mansion though, she was..." another gulp and hiccup, "...She was nearly swallowed by all her relief and the sudden rush of the day finally being over and she felt safe and she didn't know, Adrien, I promise, but she just sort of collapsed and her energy flow cut because of her sudden relief and it was too much and I'm so-so-SORRY!" she cried out, burying her face in Marinette's chest as Tikki stroked at her plume. Clear blue eyes looked up into emerald green and the anger slowly bubbled then went away as both owners closed their met eyes and sighed in some form of relief.
Marinette had collapsed from relief as well as a sudden burst of pain that released from her magic suddenly seeming to realize that she was safe and within the wall of their castle.
Adrien blinked. Castle? When had he begun to think of the mansion as a castle? And this room...he thought of it...as a tower now? He frowned before looking to Plagg, who was carefully grooming Marinette's hair and seeming to try calming both her and himself. It calmed Adrien further and he shook his head as he collapsed beside the bed and kept his hands on Marinette's arm near the edge of the bed. Even Tikki seemed to droop as all of the power left them.
Safe...They were safe...
++++++
Gabriel stared at his son's back as he disappeared up to the bedroom, the bags the boy had been carrying floating right along behind him by some sort of magic he seemed unknowing of. A door slammed open before slamming shut and the man could finally draw an easy breath. "Was that the fury you spoke of before?"
"Yes," Nooroo spoke in a soft tone, seemingly relaxing as well. Nathalie looked between the pair before the Kwami seemed to realize what was wrong. "Tikki is a queen in her own right as well as being a Goddess of Creation. She is known for connecting with the knight Plagg has chosen. In essence, she has created this mansion's power to suit her and everyone she looks after's needs. It is now her castle, the room she feels safest is her tower, and her chosen is always her princess. She has never had a male chosen and Plagg has never had a female chosen because both of them connect with each other, share in essence. When one is active, the other is as well."
"The book didn't explain such details as that," Gabriel murmured and led Nathalie to the office with Nooroo floating by his opposing shoulder. "And Adrien's reaction...was it because he is Plagg's chosen and the user of the Black Cat Miraculous?"
A silence came and both humans looked to Nooroo as they sat down. Nooroo didn't look worried, rather he looked contemplative and like he was trying to find words to explain whatever was going on to them in as much detail as possible. When he found the words, they shocked both humans in such a way that they stared in horror and awe.
+++++
Adrien climbed into bed beside Marinette, who was still sleeping off the effects of her power and emotional burst, and reached out to pet Duusu's plume as the peacock Kwami wept even in her sleep atop Marinette's chest close to her chin. Tikki had moved to look after Plagg, who was sleeping with his head on her lap but his body resting pressed against Marinette's head. Both the ladybug Kwami and Adrien were tired as well but could not seem to find sleep like the three they watched over.
Both of them went into defense mode when the door opened and Gabriel poked his head in. Tikki gave a soft noise and Adrien settled back down beside Marinette and continued to stroke at Duusu's plume as Tikki stroked at Plagg's ears. Both stilled their motions again however when the man neared. Even with the anger virtually gone and the strange weirdness all but vanished from them, both the ladybug Kwami and the witchling felt oddly off and protective of the three they were watching over.
Nathalie entered as well with Nooroo, which only irritated Adrien, and in turn Tikki, but the pair merely watched the three newcomers closely. "How are they, Adrien, Tikki?" Nooroo asked, nearing to settle on the bedside table instead of the bed. Even Gabriel settled in a chair nearby with Nathalie beside instead of touching the bed. If Adrien had a tail, it would have curled with lazy irritation.
"Marinette and Duusu wore themselves out to exhaustion," Adrien spoke in a voice he didn't recognize as his own but he found he didn't care. He felt like a giant cat protecting its mate and their kittens while his residing leader stayed watch over all four of those in the protective space they were resting in.
"Plagg is calm now but he will need time to recuperate," Tikki answered in a flat tone and Adrien felt that invisible tail of his flick in worry. She sounded about as upset as he felt with the three so close by his princess and the two he needed to look after. He noted that he didn't crop Tikki in with them, instead choosing to view her as what she was: a goddess. "What did you need, Nooroo?"
Purple eyes shut before opening with a soft flick of sorts that went so fast Adrien suddenly felt empty inside. His hand dropped around Duusu and his head drooped weakly onto the pillow he was resting against. All feelings of catlike reality slipped away and he felt human again, his magic echoing back to him instead of feeling like it was ready to burst.
Tikki made a noise of confusion in similarity and Adrien looked up sleepily as she looked to him. "I'm so sorry, Adrien," she croaked and seemed to curl up with Plagg even as she watched him. "I didn't mean to pull you into something like that so soon. I didn't realize...I was just..."
"Calm yourself Tikki," Nooroo assured as he neared and now Adrien didn't care, feeling that safe feeling he was used to when all of his family was near. "You have found your chosen pet and knight in one. Marinette and Plagg have yet to awaken but it will happen and when it does, you know that the king and the princess will need as much help controlling their power as they can in similarity to Adrien."
"What sort of creature form does Adrien take in the mindscape?" Nathalie asked, nearing to gently stroke at Marinette's arm as the girl continued to sleep along with the two Kwami resting close as possible to her. Tikki looked to her with a weak smile.
"A Chimera. One of my greatest and strongest pets to ever be formed. With his being a knight as well, his energy is so strong that he is more powerful still and growing. Even if I weren't in the mindscape with him, I am sure that he could hold his own against anything like the gorgon we faced today."
This made Gabriel's eyes widen while Nathalie gasped. Nooroo frowned. "So, you faced a gorgon?"
"It was Lila in her magic's current form," Tikki assured the three and Adrien nearly sighed in relief of his own as the others calmed immediately. "It wasn't strong enough to actively harm Adrien and with his power he was able to cut her down...literally."
"Does that mean she's...?" Nathalie asked but Tikki sighed softly.
"No. Worst case on her end, she's suffering from a magical backlash so painful she is bedridden. She still isn't anywhere near as strong as Adrien or Marinette but she will return, possibly stronger than before. And we still have her puppets to worry about. Alya may be freed but there are others according to her who have been equally cursed," Tikki said and Adrien nodded at the look his father sent him. "Adrien and I will look after the three with us for the night. You three still have research to do. Any magic you use now from the book, good or healthy or anything that would normally heal, will only make the magic within them fluctuate again and it may cause them pain. I'm sorry for how Adrien and I responded downstairs."
"It's okay," Nathalie assured as Gabriel stood to help her clean up a mess that Adrien now realized was on the floor around the bed. Various knickknacks, their backpacks, the contents of said backpacks and just about anything else that had been nearby which included several books, were scattered in a clustermess around the general area of where Adrien had moved by with Marinette to the bed. "We'll look after things until then. And don't worry about your homework. We'll help you with it in the morning. For now, just rest."
Adrien's eyelids drooped at the words, as if it was some sort of trigger, and he kept his hand in place covering Duusu further as he felt himself begin to slip off. His normal spell went unheeded but he could see the black candle he had carved into flicker alive as if to show it still heard him before he watched it go out and the world fell into white.
+++++++++++++++++++ ( Somewhere Beyond the Mortal Realm ) +++++++++++++++++++
"Heartsoother?" called out a young, pink haired girl, a pair of rabbit ears on her head as she threw herself through the openness of realm she was in. She wanted to call it the mindscape, but this was different. And it wasn't like the rabbit holes. She looked around, clutching at her pocketwatch and umbrella as she searched for the one who had gone missing.
She had been promised just hours before she left school without speaking to Marinette and Adrien that the Goddess and her Pet were going to fix things and save Luka. But Juleka was still unable to sense her own brother in the mortal realm.
And Luka was still missing if what she had seen through the rabbit holes was anything to go by. Blending between realities was beginning to change Alix and she found herself able to call the powers of Fluff without a problem. Future her and herself had grown as much as one as could be but in separate bodies. One stayed in the future. One stayed in the past. And one moved as she was, in a slightly more adult but just as equally small body as her present self.
"LUKA!" she called, her ears flicking as she tried to find him within the bubbles of light and stars that glowed around her in the realm. It was a strange and oddly terrifying place. But something was warm and called to her, sending her deeper into this place to try finding the missing Couffaine.
A sudden sound filled the air and she stilled, staring into the stars as her ears twitched in thought. Another came and she turned, flying off as the sounds grew and echoed until they formed a soft tune played on a harp of sorts. Echoes grew and tune became soft and warm. She smiled when she found Sass curled around a small bubble where a harp was seemingly plucking itself. A small light pulled at the chords and played the tune with such warmth that Alix couldn't stop the grin that came to her lips when it suddenly gave a playful strum and Sass looked up, the snake god smiling up at her.
"Found you."