A lack of enemies to fight, and an inability to fight any ones that popped up, made the day crawl by for Illya. The prospect of ending up at Ronan's house while Daniel was over was better, cause they'd get cookies while they worked for sure. Ronan was the person who did all the math tutoring in their friend group, while Metron pretty much handled everything else.

As she was exiting her last class, theatre, she spotted the new kid, Loreley, surrounded by the most popular kids in school. "What's that all about?"

Kella shrugged, and Illya realized she was glowing slightly. "Don't know, she appeared, and now she's the talk of the school, everyone loves her."

"Kella, you're glowing," Illya muttered, elbowing her.

"Yeah, it started during my first class with her in it." Kella snorted, her glow strengthening for a moment, then going back down.

"One with Fieldsmith in it?"

"Yeah, he didn't seem affected though." Kella shrugged, frowning at Loreley.

"You're saying affected like she has a contagious disease." Daniel volunteered.

"I'm not entirely sure she's human, remember those Empousi we fought?" Kella said, cocking her head.

"Weren't you glowing around them too?"

"Yeah, she may be an Empousa," Kella agreed.

"Then why aren't the boys affected, you said Fieldsmith remained unaffected, right?" Illya asked, watching Metron and Ronan approach.

"Yeah, he didn't seem to care about her."

"Cause he's got a crush on a certain somebody," Illya hinted, grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Oh really?" Kella asked, seemingly unconcerned.

Illya just smirked at her friend, wincing when Kella nudged her. "Ouch, I literally just got stitches there."

"Hey guys, where's Elyse?" Ronan asked as the two boys drew near.

"Don't know, she hasn't appeared yet." Kella replied. "Daniel, Ronan, Illya, why don't you go ahead to Ronan's house."

"Sure, see you guys later." Ronan headed towards the door, only glancing back once to make sure Illya and Daniel were following.

Halfway to Ronan's house, his ears twitched, rotating. "Ugh, we've got incoming."

"What is it?" Daniel asked, ducking behind Ronan.

"An earthborn," Ronan replied, sighing. "Be right back." There wasn't anyone around, so Ronan simply melted into a nearby shadow, reappearing in his suit a few meters away.

The battle was short, though Ronan got a nasty blow to his arm, probably breaking it. When he shadow traveled back to them, he was clutching his arm, a grimace on his face.

"We may have to suspend tutoring," Illya said, wincing as he drew closer.

"Yeah, I'll have to get Kella to set this." Ronan agreed.

"I'll call her," Illya said, pulling out her phone. She quickly dialed Kella, being answered almost immediately.

"Yeah, what is it?" Kella asked, sounding slightly out of breath.

"Uh, Ronan had a fight with some Earthborn, and his arm is a little messed up."

"Okay, I'll be there as soon as I can, until then, sit tight. I am on my way." Kella hung up, and Illya put her phone away.

"She's coming, she'll be here shortly." Illya gently patted Ronan on his good shoulder, and he nodded.

"Okay, I'll just sit down here and wait." Ronan sat down gingerly, trying to avoid jostling his arm.

"Are you okay?" Daniel asked, looking very worried.

"Yeah, I'll be okay, just give me a moment," Ronan grunted as his arm moved too much.

"Should I go get some of your shadow stuff?" Daniel asked, realizing he was the most physically capable of the group.

"Yes please, that would help immensely," Ronan admitted, smiling a little. "Thanks."

"No problem, do you just want me to tell the truth?"

"Yes, that's the best option." Ronan groaned. "Mom's so going to kill me for this."

"You think? My mom is going to freak when she finds out I needed stitches." Illya sat down next to Ronan as Daniel gave them a sympathetic look, then dashed away.

"Yeah, she is," Ronan agreed. "Our moms can freak out together."

"Oh joy," Illya commented, just as Kella ran up, slightly out of breath.

"You guys mostly okay?" She asked, then looked around. "Where's Daniel?"

"He's grabbing the shadow salve," Ronan said, standing up so Kella could get a better look at his arm.

"People will be coming through here soon," Kella commented. "If you can walk, we should get to your house."

"I can walk, it's just my arm," Ronan said, wincing in pain.

"I can walk too," Illya volunteered.

"I know that, but as soon as I finish with Ronan, I'm checking your stitches." Kella pointed at Illya, staring her down.

"Okay, okay, got it." Illya held her hands up in the air, inching away from Kella, who was still glowing slightly.

__Time skip!_____(A/N) Woah, I'm actually using one of these! I guess there's a first time for everything!

Back at Ronan's house, the four teens escaped into Ronan's room. Kella quickly bandaged Ronan, smearing the shadow salve all over the part of his arm that was broken. The salve allowed creatures of shadows like, for example, shadow nekos, to heal faster. It would hopefully allow Ronan's arm to be healed enough for him to use it by the next day. In the meantime, he helped Illya catch up on her homework while Kella checked on her friend's stitches.

"Done, if you're done with homework, we can all go home, and take a nap. I am exhausted, I took an early morning patrol in your place, and I am wiped out." Kella straightened up, stretching.

"I'm done, even got the next few days finished." Illya stood up too, but with more caution. Daniel sat up from his position lying down on the top bunk of the bunkbed in Ronan's room.

"Finally, I thought you'd never finish," he said, hopping down.

"Sorry, Illya's scratches require attention to make sure they don't get infected," Kella said, nudging the other teen.

"Sorry, next time I get hurt I'll try and make sure you don't have to check to see if it's infected," Illya said, a mock apologetic tone in her voice.

"Hey, cool it," Ronan interrupted.

Illya glanced at him, the gathered her homework, stuffing it into her backpack. "See you guys tomorrow."

"See you," Ronan said, watching her walk out the door.

"Yeah, see you tomorrow," Kella agreed, leaving as well.

"So, cookies?" Ronan asked after a moment.

"Yeah," Daniel agreed, leading the way downstairs.