<1> Athilis barely had time to react when Rainier lurched out of the doorway, fist cocked and ready to strike… … until the human felt something razor sharp press against his neck. “You touch one [i]cell[/i] of my son, and you won’t see another sunrise,” Vivine hissed angrily in his ear. The blood elf rogue had leapt behind him from the shadows in an almost impossible feat of stealth, though she was fully clinging to the large man’s back in order to do it, unable to touch the ground with her feet. Rainier, still seeing red, began to tremble and gasped, “Where the [i]fuck[/i] is my daughter!? Give her [i]back[/i]!” Vivine desperately wanted to scream ’[i]YOUR[/i] daughter!?’ back at him, but their fleeting pause gave her enough time to register what he was actually saying. “What the hell are you talking about?” The enraged human’s tensed muscles relaxed slightly. He took a moment to get a proper look at the pair of elves in front of him. The young monk with dark hair had fallen into a defensive stance, and the blood elf mage with crimson boar tails and spectacles next to him had a wand at the ready. Rainier stared at Gianna for a few moments, then said, “Take off your glasses.” Gianna flinched and exchanged a shocked look with her brother, then slowly reached up with her free hand and pulled down her spectacles. Even with different hair, she looked like a much chubbier version of Summer. “Who are you three? Talk, [i]now[/i].” ”You’re in no position to-“ Vivine started, then cut herself off with a snarl and drew her dagger away from his throat. The void elf lowered his guard just a little. “I’m Athilis Leythorne. The woman behind you is Vivine Leythorne, and this is my sister, Gianna Leythorne. Pardon our interruption, but we’ve come in search of… of a family member we thought lost.” Rainier stared at Athilis long and hard, debating on how truthful the monk appeared to be. “Well… she appears to still be lost as is. All of her things are here at her [i]home[/i], but [i]she[/i] isn’t.” Athilis arched his brow. “Where could she be?” ”Fuck if I know or I’d be there by now!” Rainier snapped angrily. “Think,” Vivine said matter-of-factly, causing him to turn and face her inside his apartment as she sheathed her daggers. “Where would she go at this time of day? Who would she be with?” Rainier studied her similarly as he did Athilis and sighed. He lumbered out of the doorway and gestured for Athilis and Gianna to enter. “She’d be at home. She doesn’t get along well with too many of her peers in her training. She’s got a mage friend, Lysia, and I already tried to get a hold of my brother. No sign of her.” ”Doesn’t get along?” Athilis prodded. “Would any of them-“ ”Not unless they want a dishonorable discharge,” Rainier cut him off. “I’ve never had to do it, but I have pull in the military and Summer’s peers know it.” ”So she hasn’t had any specific issues with any of them?” Gianna insisted. Rainier hesitated. “There was a boy… some dipshit named Landon who’s been giving her a hard time. She’s too sharp for him to get the best of her though. He’s a coward.” “Cowards go low and aim high,” Athilis reasoned. “Maybe he had help?” Something about the monk’s words sparked something in Rainier. “One second.” The warrior strode upstairs for a few moments, then returned with an empty, blue-wrapped box with a crystal clear gem inside of it, which he laid on the table. “Know anything about this?” Vivine shook her head, Gianna scratched her chin… and Athilis visibly flinched. “It’s a voidstone,” he said, gaining everyone’s attention. “Ren’dorei can use the void to travel short distances, and with a properly-cut gem…” he paused and exchanged a saddened look with his mother. “… a void spell can be stored and used by anyone. Sometimes it can even activate by just being exposed to light.” ”So she’s been abducted,” Rainier stated more than asked. Everyone went quiet. The warrior’s face scrunched up. “GodsDAMMIT!” He roared and slammed his fists into his kitchen table, hitting it with enough force to cave the flimsy furniture in two. “So what the fuck do we do!?” Vivine and Gianna exchanged a raised eyebrow, with the latter adding, “I-If there’s arcane magic involved, I [i]might[/i] be able to trace it.” ”Not void magic,” Athilis countered gravely. “The void is inherently nothingness, so there’s nothing to trace, in a sense.” The monk closed his eyes, then beckoned toward the door. “C’mon, I think I know where we can find her.” Rainier’s hand clapped down firmly on Athilis’ shoulder before he could take more than three steps toward the door. “You aren’t going fucking anywhere without me, kid. I’ll be damned if-” “Oh cut the tough guy shit,” Vivine chirped suddenly and marched over. “We’re wasting time talking. Armor up and let’s move.” She set her sights on her son, and her expression softened. “I think I know what you’re thinking….” Athilis frowned. “Maybe they can point us in the right direction at least. It’s a longshot.” Rainier looked between them both, then scoffed and turned toward his stairs. “Godsdammit,” he swore as he thundered upstairs once again. The trio of elves exchanged glances. “M-maybe we should just… go,” Gianna whispered nervously. “I… I agree,” Athilis added. “He seems well-intentioned, but he’s volatile. He could get us into trouble. The siblings started toward the door… and Vivine stepped in front of them. “He’s coming.” Athilis and Gianna looked shocked. “You sure, Mom?” Athilis added. Vivine didn’t budge, and instead she leaned back against the door and crossed her arms. “As far as he’s concerned, he’s lost his only daughter, whether that’s the truth or not.” She paused and looked down at the floor before adding, “I saw the look in his eyes. He’d jump straight into the void if it meant saving her. It’s a feeling one only understands as a parent.”