Arrival at Ember's Place
Edward and the receptionist insisted on following Ember and Nyxar home, claiming they needed to "see for themselves."
When they arrived, Ember nervously opened the door. The two guests stepped inside… and froze.
The living room looked like a battlefield. Cushions exploded everywhere, feathers in the rafters, claw marks on the table legs, a half-broken chair tipped sideways, and something that looked suspiciously like scorch marks on the ceiling.
Edward raised his brows. "So… when you said 'a bit of a mess,' I didn't realize you meant ravaged by wild animals."
Bug, buzzing smugly: "Technically accurate."
The receptionist pinched the bridge of her nose. "This place looks like it survived a hurricane. Twice."
Nyxar's Knife Moment
Meanwhile, Nyxar wordlessly walked past them, went straight to the kitchen, and grabbed a knife.
Bug froze midair.
"…Oh no."
Edward whispered: "Uh… should we be worried about that?"
Bug (sweating): "Depends if he really forgave your friend's threat earlier…"
But Nyxar didn't attack anyone. Instead, he sat down with the recipe book, knife resting beside him, carefully staring at the pages like he was deciphering forbidden scriptures.
Spirit Appears
The Spirit suddenly zipped into the room, glowing bright.
"Ember, I have a question to ask yo—"
Then the Spirit spotted the strangers.
"…And who are these guests?"
The receptionist nearly jumped out of her seat. "YOU HAVE A SPIRIT?!"
Ember scratched her cheek. "Uh… yeah?"
Bug waved a leg. "Sup, portable flashlight."
The Spirit didn't miss a beat. "Sup, flying cave moss."
Receptionist nearly choked. "Wait—how can this insect talk to a spirit like that?!"
The Spirit narrowed its glow. "Yeah, who allowed you to sass me, huh, insect?"
Bug shrugged coolly. "Simple. If you even think about touching me, Nyxar would tear you to shreds."
The Spirit blinked, considered, then nodded. "Fair."
Receptionist: "…What the hell is this household."
Heavy Footsteps
Suddenly, loud thuds shook the floor.
Edward and the receptionist turned pale as a hulking steel bear lumbered into the room. Gleaming metallic hide, eyes glowing faintly, it stomped right up to them.
The receptionist shrieked and grabbed Ember's arm. "WE NEED TO RUN—"
"Relax!" Ember soothed. "This is Steel. He's… uh… one of Nyxar's bears."
To prove her point, she calmly walked up and petted the monster's plated head.
Edward and the receptionist stared like she was hugging a live dragon.
Receptionist: "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT IS???"
Ember: "Uh… Nyxar called it a 'steel bear.'"
Receptionist: "A high-ranked party nearly got wiped fighting one of those things! And you're just—just—scratching it behind the ear?!"
Steel rumbled happily, leaning into Ember's hand like a giant dog.
Summoning Demo
Bug lazily floated past. "Technically, no. They can't roam around on their own. Only when Nyxar summons them."
Edward blinked. "Summons? …Wait. What do you mean, 'summon'?"
Ember brightened. "Oh! Let me show you. HEY, NYXAR!"
From the kitchen: "YA?"
"Can you call out Iron?"
Nyxar shrugged and snapped his fingers. Shadows stretched across the floor, and with a rumble, a second steel bear emerged—Iron—who lumbered over and promptly sat beside Ember like a well-trained guard dog.
The room fell silent.
Edward's glass nearly fell out of his hand.
The receptionist's jaw dropped so far it might have hit the floor.
"…There are TWO. TWO steel bears. In this house."
Bug smirked. "Yep. And that's not even the scary part."
Spirit, smug as always: "Welcome to life with Nyxar."
Ember, happily hugging Iron's giant paw: "See? Perfectly safe!"
Edward whispered to the receptionist, voice trembling:
"…This girl is either the luckiest soul alive… or she's already doomed."