The Lantern's Rest buzzed with chatter and fiddle music. Nyxar sat motionless, cloak wrapped tight, while Ember happily sipped her drink. Bug paced the air above the table like a tiny, worried bartender.
A Sudden Memory
Bug snapped his wings.
Bug: "Hey, Nyxar. We never named the Bell Beast."
Nyxar barely tilted his head.
Nyxar: "That's your job, not mine."
Bug: "Oh, come on. You could help once in a while."
Curious Company
Ember, catching the buzz of their argument, tilted her head.
Ember: "What's up?"
Bug flitted closer to her ear.
Bug: "Nyxar told me to name a giant, metal-plated digging monster, and I'm stuck. He refuses to help."
Ember: "Ooh, I love naming things! Let me see this beast."
The spirit twirled into view, glowing like a curious lantern.
Spirit: "I want to see it too!"
Bug rubbed his antennae, hesitant.
Bug: "Ehh… maybe not inside? It's… uh… about half the size of this building."
Spirit: "Half the size? Dramatic."
Bug: "Not exaggerating."
Ember's eyes widened.
Ember: "That big?!"
The Book Makes an Entrance
Nyxar, still silent, raised a hand. Dark mist swirled; the grim black book materialized with a soft thump onto the table.
Ember yelped and almost dropped her mug. The spirit zipped backward like a startled candle flame.
Ember: "What is that?!"
Bug's wings flicked.
Bug: "Relax. He's just… asking it a question."
Spirit: "Asking a… book?"
Bug: "Yeah. He wants to know if killing a human would let him summon one."
The spirit's light pulsed in alarm. Ember stiffened, cheeks paling.
Ember: "Wait—human human? As in… me?"
Bug gave a single unhelpful nod.
Bug: "Yep. Congratulations, you're the hypothetical test subject."
Ember set her mug down very carefully.
Ember: "Comforting."
The book's pages fluttered like a dark laugh. Nyxar read the glowing letters and scowled.
Bug: "Welp, looks like the book says it isn't strong enough to capture a human soul. Which, honestly, is ridiculous. If it can grab giant monster souls, what's the difference?"
The spirit drifted closer to Ember, muttering.
Spirit: "I suddenly like this boy less."
Drinks Arrive
Just then, Edward returned carrying two frothy mugs.
Edward: "Here we go—house specialty. Enjoy!"
Ember brightened.
Ember: "Thanks, Uncle Edward!" She took a sip and sighed happily. "Oh, this is delicious."
Nyxar lifted his mug and sniffed. His nose wrinkled. He nudged it toward Bug.
Nyxar: "Taste."
Bug raised tiny arms.
Bug: "Why am I the poison tester?!"
Nyxar: "Because you fly."
Bug gave a long-suffering sigh and dipped a foreleg in, tasting the foam.
Bug: "Huh. Sweet. Nutty. Not lethal. You're safe."
Nyxar took a cautious swallow—then nearly choked.
His eyes went wide, throat working like he'd swallowed fire.
Nyxar: "Too… much… taste!"
He half-coughed, half-growled, setting the mug down as though it might explode.
Bug fell onto the table laughing.
Bug: "Ha! The mighty dark overlord defeated by flavor! Someone get this man a cup of plain cave water."
The spirit wobbled with laughter.
Spirit: "You'd think he drank lava."
Ember tried not to giggle, covering her smile with both hands.
Ember: "Maybe start with water next time?"
Nyxar glared at the mug like it had insulted his ancestors.
Nyxar: "Liquid… ambush."
The Naming Continues
Bug finally straightened, still chuckling.
Bug: "Alright, focus. Beast name. Suggestions?"
The spirit twirled dramatically.
Spirit: "Bellspark! Because it chimes when it moves."
Bug: "Not bad. But we can do better."
Ember tapped her chin.
Ember: "Shadow Bell?"
Bug: "Mm. Edgy, I like it."
Nyxar crossed his arms, unimpressed.
Nyxar: "Name is noise. Beast does not care."
Bug pointed a tiny leg at him.
Bug: "Oh, it will care. Everyone likes a good name. Even a tunneling iron fortress disguised as a pet."
Edward walked by, overhearing only the last line.
Edward: "Tunneling iron fortress? …I'm not even going to ask."
Bug twirled midair like a victorious ringmaster.
Bug: "Shadow Bell it is—until something even cooler comes along!"
The spirit chimed approval, Ember laughed, and Nyxar silently contemplated the mug of flavor-ambush, clearly wondering how humans survived such violent drinks.