Nyxian dismissed Echo the moment Solmere's outer lanterns came into view.
The shadow ferret dissolved into purple mist, slipping back into her like ink returning to a well. She didn't even slow her stride.
"Necromancy-adjacent skills don't exactly scream approachable," she muttered. "Last thing I need is a mob with torches because someone saw my adorable murder-shadow."
Jax chuckled as they passed through the gates. "You say that like Echo isn't terrifying."
"He is terrifying," Nyxian agreed proudly. "But he's my terrifying."
They reached the inn just as the evening crowd was forming—voices rising, the scent of food drifting through the open windows. The suite door swung open before Jax could knock.
All three Vixens were waiting.
Bunny was perched on the arm of a chair, tail flicking. Zee sat cross-legged on the couch, book forgotten in her lap. Llandra leaned against the window, arms folded, expression carefully neutral.
"Well?" Bunny demanded. "Did you die?"
Nyxian grinned.
"Everyone out."
Silence.
"…What?" Bunny blinked.
"My turn," Nyxian said, already unfastening her cloak and armor. "Jax and I are having alone time."
Bunny's ears flattened. "That's not fair! Zee and Lan had their turns, but we all had to do it outside. In the open."
Nyxian paused, considering. "We were fighting beasts in the forest. Doing that while doing that would've been—"
She stopped, eyes unfocusing for half a second.
"…Actually, that sounds kind of hot."
She shook herself. "But very impractical."
Zee sighed, calm as ever. "This is still our room."
"Yes," Nyxian agreed cheerfully. "And I'm still kicking you out."
Llandra stepped closer to Jax, clearly choosing diplomacy. "What did you two actually accomplish today?"
Jax answered easily. "Collected a few B-rank bodies. Gryphon. Giant snake. Enough materials to sell for a good amount of material."
Nyxian turned slowly, eyes glowing with mischief.
"Oh, you want to know what I learned?"
Before anyone could answer—
"SUMMON."
Purple light flared.
Echo appeared at their feet in a swirl of shadow, fur bristling, eyes glowing faintly as it hissed.
Chaos erupted.
"WHY IS THERE A RAT—"
"THAT'S A SHADOW THING—"
"IT LOOKS ANGRY—"
Echo charged.
Not at Jax.
At the Vixens.
The tiny creature skittered across the floor, hissing with all the menace of something that had watched horrors beyond mortal comprehension.
Bunny shrieked and leapt onto the table.
Zee scrambled backward, clutching her book like a shield.
Even Llandra took a cautious step back.
"NYXIAN," Bunny shouted. "CONTROL YOUR—WHATEVER THAT IS!"
Nyxian beamed. "Echo, behave."
Echo stopped instantly, then hissed one last time for emphasis.
Llandra sighed, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door. "Fine. You can have the room. A few hours."
Bunny glared as she followed. "Good luck handling Jax by yourself."
Nyxian crossed her arms, indignant. "I am a succubus. I can handle Jax on my own, thank you!"
The door slammed.
Silence.
Nyxian turned.
Jax didn't have time to say a word.
She launched herself at him.
Clothes came off in a blur. Clothes hit the floor. A chair tipped over. A lamp rattled dangerously.
Echo froze.
The shadow ferret had seen battles. Death. Sacrifice.
It had not been prepared for this.
For two hours, Echo existed in a state of profound existential crisis.
At one point, it hid behind an overturned chair.
At another, it pressed itself flat against the wall, covering its eyes with its tail.
It could sense no danger.
Only… sounds.
And motion.
And enthusiasm.
Eventually, exhaustion won.
When the Vixens returned, the suite looked like it had been lightly invaded by a hurricane.
Jax stood in the center of the room, shirtless, lifting a chair upright and setting a table back where it belonged.
Bunny peeked into the bedroom.
Then froze.
Nyxian lay sprawled across the bed, blissfully naked, smiling in her sleep.
Echo was curled under her chin like a fuzzy pillow.
Also asleep.
Bunny snorted. "I can handle Jax by myself."
Zee tilted her head. "It appears she could not."
Llandra crossed her arms, thoughtful. "Could any of us?"
The three stood there for a moment, memories flickering behind their eyes.
Then they all looked at Jax.
Still cleaning.
Still breathing calmly.
Still very much awake.
"…Nope," they said in unison.
Jax sighed, setting the last chair upright.
Nyxian stirred, smiling wider.
Echo chirped in its sleep.
And somewhere in Solmere, the festival finally ended—
not with fireworks, but with laughter.