“Did you really seal him away, lil' bro?” Noelle asked as she inspected the cup. “Quite a robust seal”

  Yv gave him 4 chances, I gave him 3. Actions have consequences. This isn't a shitty novel. I also fully accept the consequences of sealing him away. If he ever asks or accuses any of you, tell him that I decided this by myself. Even you Deca, throw me under the bus if he dares to accuse you.

  I looked around to make sure everyone understood.

  With that said… I can't move, can you two let go now?

  Yv wiped her tears and separated, but Giana still clung to me. Yv faced Noelle and handed the cup over to here. “I would probably get him out whenever I can. Please return the cup when you think he has been in there long enough.”

  Noelle nodded and took the cup. “How does time flow inside of this?” She asked while tapping a tune on it.

  It's modified to be slower. 3 hours for us is 1.5 hours for him.

  “Then he will be in there for a while.”

  People were staring at us, but I didn't care. Giana showed her social skills and somehow convinced everyone that it was an event. She made some simple illusions and shattered them to suggest that everything is an illusion.

  I had to explain to the team why I was disguised as Greg.

  “This one's on me. I was too busy with Raishin to keep an eye on my troublesome brother.”

  Noelle, please. This is nobody's fault except my own.

  I forgot how serious she was about the big sister role and insisted that she also shared blame. She expressed her pride in how I stood up for Giana and Yv.

  In 1 act, I had made a wolf proud, a vixen smitten, a rabbit sad and a tiger surprised.

  Talk to me, Raishin.

  He isn't joining the Darkside after this, right?

  From being sealed? Deca didn't join the Darkside.

  “You don't know that. I don't feel anything besides attraction for you after you did all that” Giana said as she stared at the cup.

  Ok maybe Deca broke in that Edgebox…

  “Maybe…but… I didn't care about him apologizing until now…”

  My party was a mess again, and it was my fault… it was supposed to be a day of exploration, but nobody felt like it.

  We dropped off the idols at their VIP rooms and Raishin and I were sitting on the roof. It looked out over the city. It was still noon, but it felt as if the day was over already.

  Do you think I made a mistake, sealing Greg?

  Raishin thought for a bit and leaned forward to look in the distance.

  I think you made the right choice. The other option was beating him up. Yv had told me about some of her interactions with Greg and asked for tips. I couldn't give her any… This is similar to Elliana, he is hurting them by just being himself…

  Raishin paused, and I stayed silent, as this was one of Raishin's ‘mature’ moments.

  If he sealed Noelle away and didn't apologize, even after being asked so many times. I…I don't know what I would do… You guys are my friends but…

  I understood what Raishin was getting at. To me, it was more the reason why he didn't apologize. It's still possible to apologize even if you believe you're correct. I have to do that all the time. My friends know that I don't mean it, mostly but it's more about the apology instead. I think.

  I get it. He still went too far. Hey Raishin… if he is furious and wants to leave the party. Please pick his side.

  Huh, why? He was in the wrong!

  Both of us were wrong. But Greg is terrible at making friends, he needs you.

  And what about you?

  Ha noob! I don't need you! Jokes aside… I need you too, but he needs you more. I will be fine. If there ever comes a split between us, I want you to take his side.

  You're asking something very difficult…

  I know. You might act like an idiot most of the time, but I know you're not stupid. I know that you can do this.

  Raishin didn't seem happy. His characteristic jovial face seemed depressed.

  It wasn't supposed to be like this… the chicks should have joined, we all got girlfriends, slap the gods around and live happily ever after… but this…

  He dropped his head in his hands.

  Also…the way he interacts with Yv… I couldn't keep up the impersonation… I think we need to spoil her a bit…

  What was it like?

  I told him about the brief interaction I had with Yv.

  That sounds so like him… we already knew, but it hits harder if we experience it eh?

  Yeh…

  How have we let it get this far?

  I don't know…

  Silence fell and we just stared into the city.

  The fragile relationship the idols had with Greg might have completely shattered.

  I could tell, Giana sees him as a stranger now. A quick check revealed that Yv was still crying and Noelle didn't seem happy. Is there anything I could do…

  Raishin, do you think the idols would prefer a sweet lie over an ugly truth?

  No, please stop whatever you're thinking of.

  Ok…

  I cleared my mind and exhaled.

  What will you do after he gets out and causes a split?

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  His problems will be with me, so I will leave the party and make you the leader of team Hourai.

  What about the rest?

  Noelle will want to stay with you, and I'm not asking Giana to leave her friends because I made mistakes. Yv will probably stay too, so I will just leave.

  I don't think that's what will happen at all…

  I know… it's wishful thinking.

  When did life get so complicated?

  Thoughts like that plague my mind too.

  Both of us exhaled as we had no clue on how to solve this. A voice interrupted our silence. “Excuse me, am I interrupting?”

  You are, go away!

  Wow, who is that hot chick?

  My new stalker. I already declined you!

  I turned around and faced Dehlia. She seemed pleased, not sure why.

  “You know Protia right?”

  I like my proteins, yeah, Raishin, let's go.

  She split up in 3 but these 3 looked different from the 3 I met the day before. So, this is why she gave Giana so much trouble in the idol industry. She looked the same as Dehlia but she might be able to change the appearances of her splits.

  Agnis, we need to run and find Giana, there's already pink energy sticking to you.

  Huh what? This fast?

  “I see, weak to charm magic, so that's how she got you.”

  Raishin grabbed my shoulder and teleported away, and we appeared in a dark alley.

  Huh? That's strange. I wanted to teleport to our room.

  That Dehlia… she knows the primal language. I might be useless against her unless I want to tear down this city…

  Do you think she messed with my teleport?

  I looked around to find out where we were. We were behind an important looking building.

  I think your teleport got redirected. But the teleport overshot, and we are behind the building we’re supposed to be. There might be teleport pads everywhere for a reason.

  This city had made public transport redundant. Teleport pad stations were used. It was an expensive stunt and probably the only city that does this. We were behind the police office. Teleporting might be a violation here but…

  I grabbed Raishin's shoulder and teleported to the VIP section we were staying at.

  How did it work for you?

  I'm used to my teleports being redirected. I won't get caught by this trick forever.

  So you've been shit so many times that its turning you into a cheat character?

  A cheat character wouldn't get in the mess we’re in, as everything always works out for cheat characters.

  Raishin wanted to knock on the door of Yv and Giana's room, but they were having a delicate moment.

  Not now Raishin. They seem to have a moment. Let's solve our own problems.

  Raishin withheld his knock and nodded.

  Let’s hide in your room.

  Uh… bad idea…Noelle didn't get to clean it yet…

  We've been here for hardly a day… unbelievable.

  Lets get to your room!

  I opened my door and it was pink. This shit again.

  Wow, what would happen if you step in?

  You would probably have to fight me.

  Raishin pulled me back.

  Ok that was a stupid question.

  Hey Raishin, do you think I’m a magnet for charm users?

  We ran through the corridor to get off this floor. Elevators might be a bad idea.

  Didn't Giana say something about you being able to hold on to a lot of charm magic?

  Yeh.

  So that means that you suck charm magic, right?

  Not sure about that wording but… yeah?

  So, you're sucking in charm users!

  Uhh ok… but why now?

  We ran around the corner and ran down the stairs.

  Well, we all got cooler 2 years ago, right?

  Ohh our racial traits locking in… it might have started then yeah…

  Heh, I'm a genius! Oof!

  This genius almost fell down the stairs.

  Yes… a genius that can't use stairs…

  Not sure how much sense Raishin made but… my racial traits locked in 2 years ago. The year Giana decided to invite me to escort her. Shit went down with the calamity after that, and I was hiding a lot because of the fairies. I got sucked into the spirit world but encountered a charm using fairy. It did cause me to hardly meet anyone for almost a year. I also hid for months after torching Bizax, and after I got my friends back… Hisui, a charm user, appeared.

  Then Giana again. Then that charm using teenager that brainwashed the village. Then Azu returned and now Dehlia.

  It seems that I am indeed attracting charm users.

  She's close!

  How can you tell?

  You're getting pinker.

  Don't use me as a radar! Nilah help!

  Nilah got out, got pink highlights and spat out a pink cloud.

  Its gone.

  Nilah was a bit big, but I still put her on my head.

  We had reached a fancy lobby, but it was empty and there were no exits. I sensed no deception, but the Yttroz Industries wouldn't make such a rookie mistake.

  Abandon me if I get charmed.

  Absolutely no…

  Something was behind Raishin, but I couldn't warn him as my consciousness faded.

  follow if the story is interesting enough.

  Moorland Menace