"Well, I'm glad to see that no payments need to be made. Though I'm starting to question whether you just like to use my name for every inconvenience you go through."

Alissa said with a forlorn tone, nursing her head with her hand on top of sipping a good cup of coffee Mikella made. It was a fairly good one, if she were to say so herself.

She did feel really bad for constantly using Alissa's reputation to get away from any troublesome predicament, but she really had no other way to deal with that situation. When they returned home from the gym back at her house, they introduced the otherworlders to her before learning just how distraught she was to hear that they almost destroyed a very expensive hall of the gym.

She was also thankful that Zeke took the time to heal the damage done and give extra rune arrays for free in return for the trouble, hence why Alissa didn't seem all too wound up. Still, the cutting look in her eyes reminded her too much of Valorie's death stare when she was going through Class Madness so long ago, and even now, she still felt chills running through her veins.

Once Alissa made it known to them (mostly to Mikella) how she didn't like her name to be used in vain, she turned to the new otherworlders with an appraising eye. Lyle looked rather comfortable despite receiving the heavy stare while Janet looked much like Mikella did, wanting to hide behind something–anything–to avoid that stare.

"To think that all this time, you were an otherworlder. I always knew you were from some exotic place, but I never expected it would be from another world," Alissa spoke to Lyle, using a familiar tone to the alchemist.

"Sorry for hiding this from ya," Lyle said with an easy smile. "But I hope you understand why I had to go that far."

"I would've done the same, so no love lost there," Alissa shrugged. "Though I should've expected that an alchemist that gave me the least amount of trouble would've come from a different world than the ones in our guild."

"Haha, how can you say that, considering how many times you come to my shop for migraine medication?" Lyle chuckled, and for once, Alissa gave a smirk herself.

"It's not my fault you make them so delicious while also treating my headaches," Alissa said, shaking her head. "And… Janet, correct? I see you working sometimes in the store, but not often. I see now why you often go out."

Janet remained quiet, but she at least nodded to her words with a guilty look on her face. After a moment, she spoke up again. "...Umm, I don't know what you think of me, but I know that what I do is not right."

"Oh, don't worry. I know you mostly go after the real freaks. We always knew about the existence of the Assassin's guild, and I sometimes use them for my own ends. You don't have to worry about any legal repercussions because of me."

Janet looked relieved to hear Alissa say that, getting Mikella to smile. Zeke also did the same, showing a positive look to their otherworlder comrades before Alissa continued.

"On that note, Cronus also knows about you two, and we're now ready to make official registrations to make you citizens. Obviously, we'll let the Assassin's guild know to make sure no miscommunication is created, and there shouldn't be any issues regarding your contracts. If I know my guys, Maver was the one that got you in, right? He's the only one who's smart enough to bring in people worthy of the guild."

"You know Maver?" Janet said in surprise.

"Honey, I know everyone," Alissa said, a smile unlike anything else Mikella had seen before. Janet just clammed up, knowing full well the depths of her words.

"So, we're not getting arrested for being otherworlders, or taken in for questioning? Just making sure we're covering all our bases here," Lyle spoke up. Alissa only shook her head ruefully.

"We got bigger problems than making enemies out of otherworlders with specific abilities capable of getting rid of specific issues. Right now, all we want is to work together so that we can get rid of the towers. And since we're on that subject now, Zoan really wants to talk to the two of you."

"The… The angel?"

That got everyone's attention, especially Lyle and Janet who never met an angel before. Hearing that, Mikella turned to find Zeke showing a pensive frown.

If Zoan is interested in talking to them, then that means it had something to do with a possibility of having an angel on hand. However, Lyle and Janet didn't have any kids on their side. Was it some kind of warning, or perhaps to do the same to them as she did with Mikella and Zeke?

Once that was said, Alissa called out to the two girls living in the home. One girl's footsteps rapidly echoed down the stairs, immediately landing in the living room to find the otherworlders staring at her in surprise.

Clara gasped in delight, and then shouted. "Hiya guys! So you're really like us? You came from earth?!"

"Ho damn, look at this little spark," Lyle chuckled. "I'm guessing this is your little sister, Mikky?"

"That's right," Mikella beamed. "This is Clara. Clara, this guy is Lyle, an alchemist. And this is Janet–she's an assassin."

"H-Hey, is it really okay to say–"

"Ooh my god, oh my god! An assassin?! Really? So can you like go invisible and stuff? Do you really kill bad people for justice? How does that work? Do you get levels and skills from that? Wait–I heard you can transform into monsters. Can you do that?"

Janet's eyes widened the moment Clara's torrent of questions hit her like a wrecking ball. It was clear she misunderstood some things, but the fact was that Clara was indeed totally okay with her being an assassin.

They made sure that the one who attacked them before were safe and forgiven by the siblings, so despite her young age, Clara knew just how difficult things could get, and had no other choice. If anything, it taught her that understanding people can sometimes be the best thing for everyone. Mikella made sure to tweak the story a little bit, because it was a bit too much to put her through after almost seeing Zeke get assassinated like in the movies.

But she knew Clara was smart enough to understand the entire thing. Now she was worried if Clara was too much for Janet as she tried, and failed, to downplay her role as this 'super awesome assassin that fights for justice'. But it was totally worth it to see Janet's face reddened up like a tomato from the praise Clara was throwing left and right. Lyle seemed perfectly fine not helping out either, just enjoying the vibes Clara was emitting despite the situation that they were in.

"Clara, that's enough. You're starting to overwhelm the poor girl before I can find my own answers."

Clara clammed up before turning around shame-faced as her silver twin showed herself to everyone.

Lyle and Janet's eyes widened, and Mikella can tell in an instant that they weren't shocked at Clara's supposed twin, but at the presence Zoan made for herself.

Apparently, Zoan decided to show up with what little power she carried throughout the year to make an aura that proved that she was indeed the angel looking after them. Lyle frowned while Janet looked tense enough to bring out her dagger.

"Sorry Zoan," Clara said, her fingers twiddling with each other sheepishly. "I got a little excited…"

"I can't blame you, it's been a while since you have seen people from your world outside of your family. But I need to ask them something important before you can go ahead and take all the time you need. Would that be alright?"

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"Yeah, of course!" Clara nodded eagerly, then ran over to Mikella and Zeke and leaving the three behind for themselves.

Zoan turned her attention to the new otherworlders in her sight, narrowing her eyes. Lyle, despite looking rather mystified at her appearance, smiled lightly.

"Well now. So you're the angel we keep hearing so much about. Gotta say–you really look the part."

"Lyle, correct?" Zoan answered, nodding. "I am glad that you turned out well. That also includes you, Janet–though I wish you also didn't carry such a troublesome attunement like a certain Runist here."

Janet's eyes widened, her hand over her chest as if something that shouldn't be shown was showing. "How did you know?"

"How else? When Zeke activated his attunement, I felt a connection even from here. Even if that location is warded beyond compare that even Cronus can't sense it–it doesn't mean I can't. Even in my diminutive form, I am still the one charged with looking over my charges."

Zeke's lips pursed from hearing that, and Mikella should've figured that Zoan had some trick up her sleeve even without her power. What she didn't like was making the new guys nervous just to keep up appearances.

"Zoan, can you just drop the 'holier than thou' act? We don't want to scare them off. It's hard enough finding otherworlders as it is."

Zoan narrowed her eyes at Mikella instead. "You stay quiet. I don't want anyone interrupting right now. If Clara can do it, then surely you can as well."

"Did you just–"

"See, Clara?" Zoan interrupted Mikella's outburst, turning to the surprised Clara. "I told you Sissy can't follow rules like you can. That's where you beat her."

"I know that already," Clara responded, shaking her head. Mikella had never been so betrayed before in her life. "But she has a point. You really need to treat them a little better, Zoan. You just make other people nervous all the time. Be chill, like Ana said!"

Zoan, for once, grimaced at her words. And suddenly, Zoan looked as though she slumped spiritually as her eyes relaxed, turning to the otherworlders with a defeated sense around her.

"Hah… I know you have a lot of questions. But just like I said to these two, I can't share information so easily. As of this moment, I have no way to explain the current circumstances. It is not within my jurisdiction to say. However, there is one thing I need to say."

Zoan's eyes hardened, which carried more pressure than Mikella had ever seen. There was a hint of hostility behind them as Zoan spoke the next words.

"Hyralc, show yourself. Stop hiding behind some disguise and reveal yourself already."

For a moment, the entire house turned silent. Everyone stayed perfectly quiet, unable to comprehend what Zoan was saying for a moment.

Then something strange happened.

"Aaaww, you gotta go and ruin the fun yet again, eh, Zoan? Can't you at least give me some time to reveal myself at a dramatic moment?"

"I need answers, Hyralc. And these otherworlders are not yet ready for what lies ahead. Surely you know the situation has changed drastically."

Mikella panicked, not knowing exactly where this new voice came in which Zoan just casually talked to. At this point, she knew it was another angel, something that should've been with Lyle and Janet from the tower. But where exactly was this male voice coming from?

"Uuh… Lyle… your hand."

Zeke suddenly said, his voice sounding a little shaky. Mikella turned to Lyle, mostly to his hand, and her eyes almost popped out of her skull.

Clara gasped, her hands covering her mouth while Janet also showed the same shock. Lyle, the poor guy, looked around everyone, including Alissa who stayed silent but just as mesmorized, slowly turning pale at their responses.

"W-What about my hand?"

Lyle lifted his hand, the one Zeke was pointing at, and the same shock spread across his face just as everyone else's. Perhaps even worse than their faces.

Because what was on Lyle's palm was just a large mouth smiling, teeth and all, showing a satisfied smirk.

"Situation has gone so bad that even you are quivering in your boots?" The mouth on the hand spoke up, forming perfect words despite not connecting to anything even remotely sensical. "I suppose I can't blame you there. Look at me–I'm just some guy's hand! Hahahaha!"

Contrary to the absolute lunacy of what she was seeing, Mikella had to respect Lyle's tenacity to stay completely silent after seeing his hand talk out of nowhere.

Not even Alissa shared that, her eyes widening and even taking a step back in shock. Janet, however, could've responded a bit better.

"Holy shit, your hand!" Janet practically screamed, actually scaring Clara a little before tugging at Zeke's arm, to which the recipient was wide-eyed and staring slack-jawed.

Zoan, out of everyone here, shook her head as though seeing a disappointing prank. "Hyralc, out of all the places, why there? Why must you be so… you?"

"If anything, that is a compliment, dear sister."

Hyralc, the talking hand that was apparently an angel in disguise, made a surprising statement that took Mikella off her guard. However, it was clear the term sister is treated differently, Zoan's eyes showing no love towards to her fellow angel.

"As for why, it's pretty simple. These two didn't have a child for me to possess, so I had no other choice but to take… an alternative approach."

"By an alternative approach, you mean disrupting the nature of the System and inputting your core into the skill Beast Soul, creating a Unique Skill that shouldn't exist nor should be anywhere near an otherworlder?"

The angel hand stayed silent, the accusation damning to everyone's ears. Lyle, for his part, looked horrified at the words despite being completely ignored by this Hyralc guy.

However, a nasty chuckled escaped from the hand's mouth as he spoke.

"Damn, you figured it out? I even got the other guys fooled. How'd you know?"

"Anyone who knows you knows that you don't like to follow rules. What shocks me is that you're willing to go beyond a system's jurisdiction. I'm certain you didn't know the situation well enough to force you through these drastic measures, and sure enough, you chose the correct otherworlders to possess when they didn't have a child on hand. Somehow, I knew this was a great opportunity for you to be an absolute disgrace for all of us angels."

Zoan's words were cutthroat and cold. Now Mikella knew for sure that rather than a close-knit family, they were comrades under a banner. Lyle's hand lifted itself up, ignoring Lyle completely, shaking itself as if trying to shake his head.

"Alright, alright, no need to be all prissy. At least I didn't get sucked into some little brat's attunement and turned into a cute little girl that can't do anything. You gotta give me credit where credit's due, at the very least."

"You…" Zoan's eyes sharpened dangerously, but Hyralc just laughed again.

"If you knew Zeke's attunement was that dangerous, why screw with it at all? You've sown the field, Zoan. Now you gotta reap it. Pretty sure that's in plenty of your books you like to read so much."

Zoan stayed quiet on the matter. Hearing the words from Hyralc sounded just as scalding as her own, so it looked like they were at an impasse. Letting out a deep breath, Zoan spoke up in a milder tone.

"We don't have a lot of time for nonsense. Tell me what is going on. What do you know?"

"What else is there to know?" Hyralc answered, sounding as if energy has been drained from him. "The gods are scheming and planning as usual, and the system is going ahead with the plan regardless of the many issues cropping up with the towers. I'm pretty damn certain someone is messing with the trials, which are getting the towers to be as messed up as they were. Hearing Zeke and Mikella's stories, it's pretty clear that something went wrong, and the angels are paying for it."

"Who is this someone? Do you know?" Zoan asked, finally getting into the meat of the topic.

"Who else?" Hyralc said simply. "The god of Spirit. You know how that guy just loves to spout his superiority. He even got the other gods part of his pantheon to go along with it. I'm pretty certain those gods have also asked for some aid from some folks that they really shouldn't have asked, but I'm just guessing at this point."

"You don't mean…" Zoan's face, for once, paled at the information. Rather than continue, she switched direction. "Is there any news of what orders to follow?"

"I'm surprised you didn't know. It looks like it's true that the less time you spend in the tower and the more time you spend outside, the more disconnected you are from the Divine Realm. I'm just starting to lose contact with the realm on my end. That's about all I know."

"Is… that so?"

Zoan remained strangely quiet, her tone soudning more and more defeated. Hearing all this, Mikella was certain.

Zoan really was at the end of her rope. They knew it, deep down, but even an angel is unaware of what was going on in the world.

"I got no more time left," Hyralc, his earlier cheerful demeanor disappearing, spoke one last time. "The energy I'm consuming is way worse than dealing with a child. I won't be able to talk again in a long while. Try not to bury your head in books while the world is crumbling all around you, alright?"

In an instant, the mouth on Lyle's hand disappeared, leaving the palm completely empty. Lyle instantly took control of his hand back, grasping at the wrist while Zeke went ahead to see if there was anything he could heal.

All the while, Mikella looked back at Zoan who remained stoic at the news. However, rather than looking disappointed, she stared at her, her eyes beginning to glint.

If Mikella knew her instincts, Zoan wasn't at the end of the rope. She was using this situation to finally tell them what was going on without going against the contract. In other words–Zoan just did them a huge favor.

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