Olivia hadn't exactly been expecting to wake up.

She squinted as the daylight stabbed her right in the eyeballs. A bright, blue, cloud-speckled sky stared back at her, pierced with that endlessly tall mountain looming over everything like it always did. There was a buzz of nearby conversation that her brain hadn't quite caught up to.

If she were honest, some small, selfish part of her had been hoping she wouldn't.

The starstone was uncomfortable under Olivia's back. Someone was squeezing her hand, and as she rolled her head towards them, she recognised Ericka's frizzy mop of hair blocking some of that accursed daylight.

Olivia tried to shake off the post-seizure daze as Ericka pulled on her hand, helping her to sit up.

"Liv!" Ericka was saying. "You are completely insane, you know that? I'm over here wanting to watch, but actually getting in the middle of it? You're crazy, but I caught the whole thing on Liaiser!"

"Delete it," mumbled Olivia, rubbing the side of her face.

"Liv, I love you," said Ericka slowly. "But I'm not deleting it."

"If my parents see that--"

"Um, Liv," said Ericka. "You just took on a Manifested. I wasn't the only one recording it. It's not gonna help. And you think we're gonna give up on the best angle of the whole thing? Think of how much--ah, well, we wouldn't want your heroics to be diminished, would we?"

Olivia caught the change in Ericka's tone and quickly realised they weren't alone.

Golem stood just behind her.

Olivia's stomach flipped as the sheer weight of everything slammed into her.

She'd intervened on a Manifested. She'd literally done the same thing a Luminary would have, and of course, they'd responded. Olivia looked around. They were here. Golem was behind Ericka. DragonFae was escorting a black-haired boy about Olivia's age and a Speaker to a Gleamer. Harpy and Wyvern were speaking with a civilian, likely the Manifested himself.

It was everything Olivia and Ericka had dreamed up in about a million different scenarios, except this time, it was actually happening.

Olivia met Ericka's eyes, seeing the excitement gleaming within them--yet she couldn't find her own. She'd imagined this, so many times, and now--now it'd happened, Olivia knew it might just have cost her that precious taste of freedom.

Olivia put a hand out to steady herself. Her stomach had stopped flipping. It was climbing her throat. She felt sick. She was never going to be allowed out on her own again. Her parents would take her rollerblades. Escorted to school. Escorted home. Locked up. Trapped.

"Miss?" said Golem, the stones of his body rumbling as they rearranged him to kneel. Ericka's gaze was transfixed on him. "Are you okay?"

"There's no way to stop this from going everywhere, is there?" said Olivia. "Like, DragonFae can't magic away any recordings or anything, can she?"

"I'm afraid not even DragonFae has that kind of power," said Golem. "Is there someone you don't want to see what you did here today?"

Olivia could barely breathe. "My parents. They'll kill me."

Golem leaned back, stones rumbling once more. "Ah. I understand that's a fairly natural response from most parents whose children are involved with Manifested situations. I'm sure that with some time and an explanation of the good you did, as long as you don't make a habit of it, they'll understand."

But Golem didn't understand. Her parents were literally going to kill her with love. She'd suffocate if she were locked in her room like before. It'd broken their family apart before, when they'd done the same thing to her sister. Heather hadn't been able to handle it, so she'd left.

A strong, firm hand grabbed Olivia's shoulder.

"Breathe," said Harpy from behind Olivia. "In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Don't work yourself into hyperventilating now. Shock is acceptable, but after what I witnessed, you can conquer that."

It wasn't shock, but Olivia followed Harpy's instructions. Olivia's stomach sank back to its regular position as her breaths evened out. The world stopped imploding, if only to settle in the acceptance of the consequence. Freaking out wasn't going to change anything. The least she could do was keep her composure around the Luminaries.

"She's worried about her parents finding out," said Golem.

"Understandable," said Harpy.

The hand on Olivia's shoulder moved as Harpy stepped in front of her, offering that same hand to Olivia. Olivia's legs still felt like jelly. Lethargy from her seizure still gripped every muscle in her body. She knew she'd wobble and shake, but one look at those royal blue feathers, at the majestic gleams of gold and those crimson irises that were daring her to rise, Olivia steeled herself, took Harpy's hand, and stood.

Olivia's legs were far from steady, but Harpy held her strong, those fierce claws which could shred through starstone surprisingly gentle on her skin.

"What you did today is nothing to be ashamed of," said Harpy, holding Olivia's gaze. "You conquered your fear, and you aided those in need. That is more than many in this City will ever be able to claim. No matter the consequences, your actions made a difference."

Olivia tried to remember the appropriate temple-response to a Luminary's praise, vaguely recalling something about inclining her head and deciding that sounded ridiculous. Instead, she held Harpy's gaze. "Thanks, Harpy."

The edge of Harpy's beak curved up. "If you need someone to explain that to your parents, you know where to find me. Leave a message with any of my High Speakers, and they'll be sure to relay it to me. You'd be around sixteen, correct?"

"Sixteen and a couple of months old," replied Olivia. "I get to choose my name in a few days."

Harpy gave a firm nod. "It takes something special to face down a Manifested. If you decide to beseech the Fury of Skypillar for your blessing, I would be proud to take you under my wing. It would be a fitting name for one with such courage."

In spite of everything, Olivia smiled. "I'll take it into consideration."

"Olivia Furysong!" said Ericka, her Liaiser pointed at the situation once more. "I can totally see it--oh my Starsong, what about Ericka Furyweave? I can totally--"

"The Fury of Skypillar is always honoured to have another choose it as their Aspect," said Harpy. She raised her head, golden feathers catching the daylight. Her gaze stopped on Wyvern, who stood off to the side, leathery wings folded over his chest with the exception of a finger tapping methodically at the centre of his chest.

"I must be going," said Harpy, passing Olivia's hand to Ericka, who leaped forward at the chance. Ericka accidentally grabbed Harpy's clawed fingers before the Luminary expertly removed her hand. "Apparently I have other business to attend to. Thank you once more for--"

"You're so welcome, Harpy!" said Ericka, bouncing on the spot. "We're huge fans!"

Harpy pressed her beak tight, inclined her head, and strode off towards Wyvern.

"That was so cool!" whispered Ericka. "Do you think, like, they can communicate psychically with their partners? I read an article online once that said they probably have some secret Luminary wavelength, and--"

"That's what you're thinking about right now?" snapped Olivia, almost falling over. Ericka frowned and lowered her Liaiser, reaching out with a second hand to help stabilise Olivia, but Olivia just shook her off. "You're thinking about secret Luminary wavelengths when I'm not going to be allowed out of the house for the next five years?"

Golem reshaped his body into his trademark wheel and rumbled off into the distance. DragonFae fluttered her wings, stirring up a swirl of violet flecks that lifted her into the air in a graceful movement. Harpy and Wyvern took off into the air in an almost perfectly synchronised, powerful flap that launched them skyward, heading towards the Starlight Hall.

"So what? They get mad," said Ericka, her eyes glued to the retreating forms of the Luminaries. "They lock you in your room for a few days, maybe a week. I'll come over and annoy you while you're grounded, maybe walk with you to school a few times. Eventually they'll let you out, and in exchange, we got to meet the Luminaries! First hand! I mean really, how many people can say that they talked with Harpy if we're not counting Offerings?"

Olivia's legs wobbled, but she refused to reach out for Ericka's help. Her legs would damn well hold her up if it was the last free thing they ever did. "I feel like you're not listening. You remember my parents, right? Overprotective nutcases who would just as soon smother me in a blanket so they knew where I was?"

"Worst comes to worst, we move out together, and then you can run around doing whatever you want all by yourself," said Ericka. She rolled her eyes. "Really, what are they going to do?"

*+*+*+*

After wiping black slime from Olivia's clothes and hair for far too long, Olivia and Ericka swung by the nearby skyshrine on their way home--both to make it believable that they'd been studying, and also because Olivia was terrified of going home.

She kept waiting for her Liaiser to ring, to see her mum or dad's names flash across the screen, for the panicked messaged to start flooding both her screen and Ericka's. It was almost worse when they remained utterly silent. At least if it began, then it was here. Until it began, Olivia's anxiety was stuck in a limbo of wondering whether maybe, there was a sliver of guilty hope that her heroics had slipped by unnoticed.

Ericka came up to the side door of Olivia's house, then promptly made some excuse about needing to be home for dinner before vanishing faster than a Skinwalker in a crowd.

Olivia's Liaiser dinged in her hand, nearly causing her to drop it.

[Ericka]: Good luck! <3 Here if you wanna vent laterrrrrr, tell me how it gooooooes!

Olivia glared at her Liaiser for a few seconds before shoving the Other-cursed thing back into her pouch without replying.

Olivia opened the door slowly, barely daring to breathe too loud. She'd timed it well, at least. It was still early, but dinner service had started at the restaurant, which meant her parents were both likely to be busy. The side hallway and the stairs leading up to the house were empty, leaving her a clear dash to her room. She could spread out her chosen name study materials over the bed and act like she hadn't been out chasing Luminaries all day.

With a quiet exhale, Olivia removed her rollerblades at the door. She was still feeling the lethargy that usually followed one of her bad seizures, but she was coping.

Footsteps at the top of the stairs startled Olivia enough that she dropped her second rollerblade, leaving it clattering to the floor in an excruciatingly loud racket. Her mother appeared a few seconds later, frantically tying her apron behind her back.

Her mum cracked a smile as she saw Olivia, an expression that Olivia took to mean 'oh my breakable daughter is still in one piece, thank the stars'. "Hey, Olive. You're back late--but I kept my word! You sent me a message telling me where you were, and I didn't mention it!"

Guilt sat right on top of Olivia's chest, leaving her breaths feeling awkward and wrong. "That still counts as mentioning it, y'no," she mumbled.

"I suppose," said her mum, pressing her lips together quickly. "Anything interesting happen today? Any seizures? We've been so busy getting ready for this event tonight. Might even kick up business a little if it goes well!"

Olivia hesitated, quickly catching herself and making a show of putting her rollerblades back on the rack. "I, um, well I had a seizure but it wasn't a big one, Ericka was there, so everything was okay."

Technically not a lie, but as her mum's smile flickered and turned genuine, Olivia found it harder to keep telling herself that.

"That's good, Olive," said her mum. "I'm glad you were able to handle it. Maybe you're right with the whole medication thing, if this new round goes well after the meeting, then we can look into reassessing some things. Sound good?"

"Sounds good," said Olivia, trying to put some energy into it.

Her mum stepped forward, kissing her on the forehead. "I've gotta get to work. If you're feeling up to it, it'd help a lot if you came down and helped out when it gets busy, but if not that's okay. We had a request for you to sing a few songs from one of the organisers, but again--"

"I'll come down in a few minutes," said Olivia quickly. "Just, um, put stuff away in my room first. Lots of study things about chosen names."

"Of course, Olive," said her mum, already halfway through the door. "Love you!"

"Love you too, mum," Olivia muttered after her.

Olivia headed up to her room. Her feet felt like lead on the stairs.

That'd been her chance to tell her mum what'd happened, to come clean, and she hadn't. Of course, it would have delayed dinner service, distracted her mum all evening, probably her dad too because there was no way that something like that would remain silent between them. So maybe... maybe it was a good thing she hadn't told them yet. She could let them get through service, then afterwards, she'd sit them down and tell them--but then again, if they made it through dinner service without finding out, then they'd never find out.

Olivia dumped her bag on her bed and headed into the bathroom. There was still a little black slime in her hair, but it was hard to notice unless you were looking for it. Her clothes however--well, she had her uniform apron to throw over those, anyway. She was presentable enough.

Humming to herself, Olivia headed back down the stairs and was instantly whisked into the thick of the restaurant's activity. She fell into her usual rhythm, weaving around the dining room, picking up whatever the other servers needed. Drink refills, clearing tables, helping take the food to the tables. Despite the fact that most of their patrons tonight spoke temple and appeared to be attending the same event, it was all a regular night at the restaurant until her dad called her over.

"How are you doing, Olive?" her dad asked, his usual cloth slung over his shoulder.

"Fine," Olivia replied quickly, tucking a piece of stray hair behind her ear. "What do you need?"

"The event host asked to speak to you when you have a moment," he said. "I think they want to ask you to sing a song or two, one of those temple ones you know back to front. No pressure, only if you--"

"I'm up for some singing," said Olivia, putting on her smile. "Been humming all night waiting for it."

Her dad cracked a smile. "Aren't you always humming anyway?" He gestured towards the corner, where the VIP table with the nice windows was located. "Over there. The lady in the pale blue dress."

Olivia looked over.

Her stomach hit the floor.

Olivia licked her lips. "That's Naomi's mum."

"Is it?" asked her dad, attempting a sneaky look towards the table. "I didn't recognise her. She was never around at the parent-teacher things they organised. If you don't feel comfortable--"

"No, it's fine," said Olivia, scanning the small crowd for the black-haired girl. "Big event. Make them happy and all that."

"Okay," said her dad, not sounding all that convinced about it. "If you're sure."

Olivia forced a grin. "Positive!"

Her dad patted her on the shoulder. "I'll leave it to you, then."

Olivia made one last trip back to the kitchen to steel her nerves before she made her way over to the VIP table in the corner.

She was all too aware of the attention on her that the other servers didn't share. The way that conversations paused, eyes that flicked towards her, a few heads that were inclined in her direction. Olivia felt more like a sacrifice than anything by the time she reached the table where Naomi's mother sat.

If nothing else, temple people always did things proper. Naomi's mother was standing, hands clasped and ready to receive Olivia by the time she stood in front of her.

"Olivia," said Naomi's mother, whose name Olivia couldn't remember for the life of her. Naomi's mother inclined her head, a gesture that Olivia awkwardly returned. "I hope Skypillar has been kind to you, my dear. You look well."

"I'm doing okay," said Olivia, floundering for an appropriate response. "It seems Skypillar has been... kind to you, too." She inclined her head a second time. "Thank you for choosing to have your event here. If there's anything I can do, just let me know."

"I believe you've met my daughter?" Naomi's mother gestured behind her, and as if from thin air, the black-haired jerk herself appeared, stepping towards her mother's waiting hand. "Naomi had a wonderful idea earlier, that perhaps you could perform a few temple pieces together. You used to sound so beautiful together. Of course, I do understand if you aren't quite feeling up to it, given earlier events in the day."

Naomi, the other-cursed spawn straight from the black pit itself, looked directly at Olivia and had the nerve to smile.

"It would be a disappointment," said Naomi in that silky-soft voice that irritated Olivia to no end. "But involvement with a Manifested is never something to be taken lightly, even for those of us without your... condition."

Olivia bit down on her tongue hard enough to flash pain through her mouth.

"You seem to have recovered well," continued Naomi. "You move so easily about the dining room, like you have DragonFae's grace. I do hope you feel well enough to sing with me, but if not, I will ensure that everyone understands why you chose to decline. I'm sure no one will blame you."

Olivia had long since stopped backing down to Naomi's dumb threats. A bluff was usually enough to scare her off, especially in front of her mother. "Most people in the restaurant are aware of what happened already. I've been asked a few times tonight if it was me, and I have no reason to lie."

Naomi's eyes narrowed the slightest amount.

Her mother didn't seem to notice the exchange, or if she did, she didn't care. "Does this mean you'll perform with Naomi, Olivia?"

Olivia gave Naomi's mother her brightest smile. "It would be my pleasure."

"I'm pleased to hear that," she replied. "I'll give you girls a few minutes to discuss what you'll be singing and inform the guests!"

Naomi fluttered her lashes at Olivia as her mother moved away. "Do you have somewhere private we could discuss?"

Olivia turned away. "Side room, let's go."

Naomi took about six years to pick her way through the tables and reach Olivia, who stood holding the door open with a polite smile stuck on her face. Naomi inclined her head as she passed through. Olivia closed the door, and counted all of four seconds before Naomi started.

"I'm taking lead," said Naomi. "You can sing the harmonies. We're singing 'Pillar of Stars', 'Hymn of the Ascended', and ending with Siren's traditional lullaby, given that I intend to select 'Voicesong' as my chosen name. Any problems with that?"

"Nope," said Olivia sweetly. "Your idea, your moment. I'll do as you wish."

Naomi glared at her, obviously expecting to have met some resistance. She huffed and flicked her hair off her shoulders. "There's no way you told your parents what happened today. They'd have you locked up in your room."

Olivia managed a deep breath instead of the scathing remark that wanted to come out. "Well, I have. I didn't go looking for it, I'm safe now, that's all they care about."

"Because I found a video," said Naomi. "You were on the sidelines with Ericka to begin with. You could have stayed out of it. How'd they feel about that?" When Olivia hesitated, Naomi clucked her tongue. "Knew it."

"Know what?" snapped Olivia. "That my parents actually care enough about whether I'm alive for more than a 'perfect family' showpiece at their next event?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?"

Olivia knew it was a bad idea, that it was just throwing fuel on the Phoenix, but she couldn't stop herself. "How many times have you asked your mother to sing at one of her events? But she agreed almost instantly when I was involved, didn't she?"

Naomi didn't reply. She just turned away, turning back to glance over her shoulder only when her hand was on the handle.

"Just remember, Olive, I'm taking lead."

Naomi left the room, leaving Olivia wishing that she hadn't said anything. One, brief moment of victory might have just cost her everything.

Olivia hurried after Naomi. Maybe if she apologised now, if she agreed to something, Naomi would be satisfied enough gloating to drop it. If she could just--

But Naomi was already stepping up onto the small, raised platform that the restaurant occasionally hosted performances on. Olivia's dad was right next to her, Naomi's mother right beside him, and as Naomi's gaze flicked up and locked onto Olivia, Olivia knew that everything was about to come crashing down.

She could run. Turn around, hide in her room and wait for the fallout to catch up to her. At least then she wouldn't have to see the moment that disappointment took root, the panic as both her parents realised that not only had she lied, but she'd been face to face with their worst nightmare and managed to hide it from them.

It'd look bad for the event, for the restaurant. Temple people liked their promises, their commitments. If Olivia backed out now, there'd be complaints--however minor--but it'd be enough to almost guarantee the restaurant was blacklisted from a significant part of the City's population. Olivia's parents would never blame her--but she'd blame herself.

Naomi would have her revenge whether Olivia stayed or ran, but at least if she stayed and faced the music, she could ensure the consequences of that revenge stopped with her.

A piece of starstone on the ceiling glimmered as Olivia walked over to the platform and stepped up, taking her place beside Naomi. Everything became little more than a numb ringing in her ears, a sick feeling in her stomach as the minutes ticked by and eventually, the ringing quietened and Naomi began speaking.

"I'd like to thank everyone who attended tonight's event," said Naomi. "As a special treat for tonight, my mother has arranged for a small performance of both myself and Olivia, who, as we know, was blessed by Skypillar earlier today."

Olivia fixed her gaze on the far wall of the room.

Not at her dad, standing by the entrance and greeting a new group.

Not at her mother, who had stepped outside the kitchen, no doubt to watch her lying brat of a daughter perform.

At the wall. Nothing but the wall while Naomi continued.

"I am honoured to perform beside someone who has the courage to step in against the Other in those few, crucial minutes before a Luminary arrives. Someone whose heroics in facing down a Manifested should inspire us all to be better citizens, to strive to be worthy of Skypillar's protection."

Olivia stopped listening. She blocked out Naomi's words that cut her down until she was two feet tall.

The music came on. Olivia sang the harmonies of the first song, then the second. The third required minimal input on her part, which was probably for the best, because by that point, Olivia's resolve had faltered and she'd looked at her parents.

They stood together, in the small alcove they went to discuss things during service. Both were a flurry of arms and pained expressions, but it was their eyes--the way they didn't stop looking back at her, like they had to make sure she was there, that cracked Olivia.

The third song ended.

The crowd applauded.

Olivia took a bow alongside Naomi and stepped down from the platform. She felt the eyes of her parents on her, only spared from the brewing argument by the crowd that gathered around her.

Beautiful! I haven't heard such a voice since the last Siren herself!

Did you truly face down the Other-touched earlier today? You are aware it is against protocol. What caused you to intervene?

With a voice like yours, you should have taken lead far more often than you did. A gift from Skypillar indeed.

When the crowd finally dissipated, her parents had split from the alcove and gone back to their respective jobs. For a moment, Olivia was tempted to retreat up to her room, but instead, she found herself picking up empty plates from the table and taking them back to the kitchen.

Her father didn't say anything to her as she passed him by. He just looked at her, slinging the cloth back over his shoulder before he walked up to a table to ask them how their meal was.

In the kitchen, her mother barely acknowledged her as she walked in. One glance, then it was back to calling times on various orders at twice the volume she usually did.

For the rest of the night, Olivia just put her head down, worked, and waited for the oncoming storm as in the corner of the ceiling, a small piece of starstone continued to twinkle back at her.

*+*+*+*