With a very loud rap sound reverberating from the clasp of Spring-Heeled Jack’s cape, there was suddenly a quiet moment where he ceased flying back away from the gaggle of girls and just floated in the air—before reaching an apex and plummeting into the dark urban canyon.  Unfortunately he had managed to take the Black Blade with him, which also tumbled down, spinning in the air as it tried to fall to its center of balance.<br/><br/>Seeing Lillin resourcefully locate the sword was a relief, but the fact that it was moving was concerning.  They’d have to hurry and catch up to catch it.  “That’s right, we’ve always done this together, and it’s definitely my turn to return the favor!”<br/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Downstairs</span></span></div><br/>While the neighborhood they had been in before was the most dense, crowded city Kleris had been in, Downstairs was taking that and removing all the city planning, building regulations, beautification, and artificial lighting that made it possible to live as a civilized society.  Kleris had become accustomed to—if not used to—their collective presence being admired on the street.  Thankfully their purposeful stride and pace forestalled any interference so far, and they found the blade accessibly—though firmly—stationary.  Watching Rachel clamber up to retrieve it, Kleris couldn’t help but speculate, “I wonder if it landed on a skiff taxi or something, then it would have had to fall again to get stuck—oh!”  His thoughts were interrupted when Rachel’s yank took off a part of the statue along with the sword stuck in it.  “Sorry!”<br/><br/>…<br/><br/>With the excitement of the mugging and subsequent recovery, it was thankfully peaceful on the way back to school.  They definitely felt the need to get back home safely, besides being too late to continue any shopping.  And the orc hugging her big evil black sword defensively helped dissuade anyone from getting in their way again, no matter how short her skirt may have been.<br/><br/>“Heh, I didn’t really think of it that way, I just knew if someone attacked you, I needed to fight them.  And besides, you guys are always sticking your necks out for me too; I couldn’t let you lose something so precious to you.  And thank you, Uncle.  It was fun while it lasted.”<br/><br/>Back at the dorms, they were able to put away their supplies and get in pajamas.  Rensha kept her sword close that night.  As Kleris drifted sleepily, imagining different spells and ways the duel with Spring-Heeled Jack may have happened, she felt her ears burning, imagining that someone was talking about him too…<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Somewhere, in a Darkened Corner of Firelight</span></span></div><br/>“Kleris” waved and blew kisses to her fans from the stage, pantomiming shyness at flattery at first, then surprised shock as the bids climbed, ending with excited hops and covering her gaping mouth and the final amount, a literal estimation of the worth of her time and attention, and the things she would then be willing to do for that time.  With a girlish giggle she hopped down the stage and jumped into her bidder’s arms, short, hiked-up skirt flashing with every move, especially her legs kicked back as she locked her elbows around his neck in an excited embrace.  Lowering herself back down, she stood well below his head, and took his hand to gently lead him through all his cheering, jealous peers to the back rooms.  Looking around, she even grinned and “shushed” him as they snuck into her “dorm room.”<br/><br/>Opening the door, it was set up not unlike the dorms, only abbreviated as a single-bed, and the cutesiness emphasized, with just a few books and scrolls on a table to remind everyone she was a “student.”  Though the selfies and group images decorating the walls were a lot racier or even explicit than Kleris’ dorm, and he didn’t have a mirror on the ceiling either.  Hopping up onto the bed—larger than standard—“Kleris” tucked her feet under herself, conveniently letting her skirt show off her entire thighs.<br/><br/>“I’ve never done anything like this before, just practicing kissing with my girlfriends.  Can you show me what to do?” she looked up sweetly, licking her glossy lips.  Though even as she asked, she pulled him over by the waist, unbuckled his belt, and started brushing his growing member across her made-up face…<br/><br/>A few minutes later, his clothes were thrown off, as well as her blouse, though her bra and panties—in Redhurst red with a golden ram—were still on, skirt hiked around her waist, as her new lover pounded her from behind to her coos and gasps of delight.  “Oh my, how can I ever get a boyfriend now, they could never compare to this!  You’re so big!  Yes, mmm, take my virgin hooha!”  She reached back to his hot, panting face to sloppily tongue-kiss and whisper half cute, half vulgar encouragements to molest and corrupt her further.<br/><br/><hr/><br/><div align="center"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 18pt;"><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: andale mono;">Day 104, Too Much Free Time Weekend!</span></span></div><br/>Without the need to copy histories and theories of magic and other homework assignments, Kleris found a lot more time to relax and take his mind off things that he had been obsessing over.  The fight in Sharn had been scary, but exciting in a way unlike other misadventures had just been perilous.  Kleris rose to the weekend feeling refreshed and ready to put bad habits behind, putting more focus on building the positive relationships supporting him.  He thought about putting in some extra hours at the café, but that could lead down a bad path as well trying to make some coin.  Instead he refocused on some personal, practical studies—Spring-Heeled Jack had shown how useful mobility could be, especially in a place like Sharn.  Levitating was helpful, but true flight might be important in an emergency.  Spending time after classes in the library, he was able to truly focus on spellcraft and not get needlessly distracted for once.<br/><br/>He couldn’t spend all his time cooped up in the library either.  Of course there were some practice outings to the gymnasium and lawns to test out some flights, but some mindless fun was in order for this week as well.  After the outing to Sharn ended on a sour note, Kleris found Rensha at their dorm one afternoon.  “Hey, I’m sorry that guy tried to steal your sword the other day.  I’m glad we were able to help you get it back though.  I was thinking we could go out sometime, just the two of us!  We could do some sparring if you want—magic or whatever, I’d be interested to learn more about sword-magic.  Then we could go get dinner at the inn, take a walk by the lake, find a quiet place in the woods…”<br/><br/>Kleris also thought he mind need to take care of his other, base needs, if only to keep himself sharp and not drifting to Marcus.  At least that’s what he tried to convince himself.  Really, there was hardly excuses needed to have a casual date with Lillin.  She was a good friend, and a friend with benefits at that, which let Kleris let loose and have some sexy, uninhibited fun without the darker temptations that Rachel/Elgazia would lead him to.  Playing “Spin the Bottle” and “Seven Minutes in Mount Celestia” with some boys and girls at a party was a lot tamer than some things the succubus could think of.<br/><br/>[Will 17+7 = 24, success<br/>Learn a 3rd level spell:<em>fly</em><br/>Spend time with friends: Rensha, Lillin]