Ace of Capes [Superhero LitRPG] [Isekai] [Card Crafting]

The more Darina spoke, the clearer it became in Lexie's mind.

The shadow realm existed as the inverse of the human realm, and the only access point was through its essence reflected here …a shadow. A shadow was also near the end of the string that connected 'something' to 'nothing'. It was near 'nothing' because a shadow lacked all the things that the human had…it lacked life, a voice, expressions. It was the final point before the end, and to access the end, one must strip the shadow of the one thing it did have.

What that thing was, Lexie didn't know, but apparently, the Shadowbringers did. Their powers could strip the shadow automatically, and they could seize the end. Once they did that, they could manipulate that end to create a void and use that for whatever they wanted.

Which was what Zakhar Shadowsbane did.

"You."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear…

Lexie turned and saw Zakhar Shadowsbane striding up to them, in a suit with a luxurious black coat and a red and blue trim.

His eyes glittered as he looked down at Lexie, disgust in his gaze.

Despite that, Lexie smiled at him. "Hello, Zakhar. How have you been?"

His frown only deepened, his gaze turning more suspicious. Then it turned mocking.

"I've been good," he said. He gave her a pointed look, clearly ordering her to leave, but Lexie stood her ground, still grinning at him.

She found a sick pleasure in antagonizing him, maybe because he clearly looked down on her.

Lexie knew she was supposed to be trying to make friends with him, but she really did not like the way he acted like she was dirt at the bottom of his shoes. And it wasn't just her. He'd treated Jett like that, too.

What was his problem?

"Well, it has been delightful to talk to you, Lexie," Darina said, interrupting the tense stand-off. "But it seems my nephew would like to have a conversation with me as well."

"Sure," Lexie said. "Thanks so much for the talk."

"Likewise. I truly enjoyed our discussion." Lexie held out her hand, and Darina wrapped her cooler palm around it. Lexie had tried to surreptitiously get a feel for the other woman's pathways when they talked, but Darina's pathways did not feel unique. Even now, it didn't feel different, at least not from that brief contact. Her insides did not feel darker or emptier like Lexie expected. Did she not have Shadowsbane powers? She was married to a Shadowsbane, and she knew that Darina and Nikola were like third cousins or something, but perhaps her powers were not strong enough to be readily sensed.

"If you're done fondling my aunt's hand, you can let go now," Zakhar said.

"Right. Sorry." She instantly let go and backed up. She gave Zakhar one more polite nod as she drifted away back to the rest of the party.

That was when she realized that, while she'd been talking to Darina, Dewie, Xena, and Emma had arrived.

Dewie and Xena were talking, and Emma was a few inches away talking to Mane. A few more people were also milling about, but there was no sign of Aiden.

Did he plan on skipping the get-together and only coming for the dinner portion?

Lexie walked over to find out, and Dewie was the first one to notice her approach.

"Lexie!" he smiled.

"Hey, Dewster."

"Hey," Xena said. "How come you were talking to Mrs. Shadowsbane back there?"

"She has research I was interested in."

"Is that also why you were smiling at Zakhar?"

"No. That's for another thing." She glanced at Emma and called out a greeting.

"You look pretty, Emma," Lexie said.

Emma was wearing a silk number that reminded Lexie of a 19th-century flapper dress with a low waist, pearly lining of the bodice, and jewels glittering on the hem.

"Thank you," Emma beamed and leaned over to whisper to Lexie. "My Xen-Xen bought it for me."

Xena caught the whisper and blushed. "Mom, we talked about not calling me that in public."

"Yes, sweetie, but it's just Lexie. She won't tell anyone."

"Of course not, Xen Xen." Lexie gave Xena an evil smile. "Did my dad not come with you?"

"No. He had some work to finish, and the Azures couldn't wait." Emma nudged her chin to where the rest of the Azures were talking to someone who looked and acted like a politician. "Aiden said he had a teleportation orb and he would use it to get here on his own. Though I don't know how he has so many. This is like the second time I've seen him use one."

Lexie tensed up. Damn, Dad, you have to be more careful. She knew the teleportation orb thing was just a cover, but orbs were usually reserved for heroes and were so expensive that Aiden would need a good reason to have them.

"I'm sure he'll be here soon," Emma said, mistaking Lexie's frown for something else.

Lexie nodded. "Sure."

Mane and Emma continued their conversation with Mane taking her over to get some oeurs d'ouvres. Lexie, Dewie, and Xena were also joined by Kai and Torin, and Kai told Lexie that Cara's mom got sick and her dad got called out to a mission, so they probably wouldn't be able to make it. After Lexie texted Cara to make sure she was okay, the group spoke for a while about school, with Kai and Xena carrying the bulk of the conversation.

Later, Theo came rushing by with an urgent request.

"Hey, can you guys watch Thor for me?" he asked. "I have to leave, so you all make sure he stays distracted and happy."

Thor currently looked distracted and happy, kicking around a ball with another kid Lexie didn't recognize.

"Sure," Kai said. "But where are you going?"

"Need to do something." He met Lexie's gaze for a brief moment, and Lexie instantly knew whatever he had to do was concerning Lucy Frank. He couldn't say that, though, as he hurried away back into the house. Mane watched him go, but shook his head without saying anything.

Lexie was tempted to follow Theo inside, but it would look too suspicious. She would give him some space and ask later.

Suddenly, Lexie heard Kai call out, "What's up, Zakhar?" as a hard hand landed on her shoulder.

Lexie turned around to meet the pale, dark-haired boy's arched brow and sneering mouth.

"It's not going to work."

Lexie was stunned. "Huh?"

"I know what you're doing. Did you think I wouldn't find out why you were talking to my aunt?"

Lexie still had no clue what he was talking about, but she got distracted by the feeling of his palm on he shoulder.

She was touching a Shadowsbane, one with known void powers. This was her chance.

She immediately began to reach out with her mana for a feel of his pathway.

But before she could establish that contact, his hand was brushed off by Torin.

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"What's your problem?" Torin instantly demanded, glowering at Zakhar. Lexie was disappointed by the loss of physical contact. She also noticed that beyond Zakhar's frame, Weiss Wavelost stood with her arms crossed over her chest, watching the scene.

"My problem is that your mentee is trying to use my aunt to access the creatures of the Shadow realm."

"Huh?" Both Lexie and Xena said.

Zakhar glared at Lexie. "Was consorting with the Eldritch not good enough for you? You want to strike deals with Shadow creatures, too?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Zakhar," Torin said.

"Yeah, you guys are taking the joke way too far now," Kai said. "I can't believe you're taking Rufina seriously. You really think a twelve-year-old is out there raising an army of the dead or something?"

"Of course not," Zakhar said. "But she just might be stupid enough to try, and she'll get herself hurt, and the blame will fall squarely on my aunt. Next thing we know, it's an international incident, and the Emperor is detaining Aunt Darina for an inquiry. That's the last thing we need."

"Lexie's not stupid," Xena said heatedly, her voice carrying to the crowd around them. "And she wasn't trying to do anything wrong."

"Then why was she asking her all those questions?" Zakhar switched his heated gaze to Xena.

"Because she likes to ask questions." Xena rolled her eyes. "It's kind of her thing. Once she starts, she never stops yapping."

"Thanks, Zee," Lexie said wryly.

"Tell your friend that next time she yaps at my family, I'm going to take her voice away for good," Zakhar told Xena.

"Is that a threat?"

"Try it and we'll find out."

"Touch her and I'll blast my light so far up your huge nostrils that they'll scorch your brain."

"Oh, I'd love to see you try, fumble fingers."

Xena's face flamed.

"You're both making a scene," Torin said quietly, and in truth, a few of the adults standing around them had stopped their conversation to listen in. How mortifying.

Although, truly, Lexie didn't care much. She just wanted to feel his pathways again.

"I don't care," Zakhar said. "Just stay away from us."

As he turned to walk away, Lexie saw her opportunity escaping and said, "Hey, wait."

She reached out and grabbed his wrist, and instantly reached out to his pathways.

He turned, frowning at her. "What do you want?"

Her distracted brain scrambled for something to say while also exploring his pathways. "I'm sorry," she said. "I think…we got off on the wrong foot she said. "With the whole Jett thing…I'm sorry I accused the two of you of bullying him without getting the full story first." She glanced at Weiss, including her in the apology. "Sometimes I like to jump to conclusions without thinking, and it gets me in trouble. So, I apologize."

Lexie spoke slowly as she felt around. She only managed to get a hint of the soul component before he ripped his hand away.

"Nice sucking up," he said. "But if you're really sorry, the best thing you can do is stay away from me and my family." He turned, and Weiss looked smug as they walked away together.

"Oh, he's such an ass," Xena said.

"Yes," Dewie said, and Lexie glanced at Dewie. It was so rare for him to speak badly about anyone, but Lexie realized that Dewie was scowling at Zakhar's back, too, in defense of her.

Lexie instantly felt bad because Zakhar was partially right. She did have ulterior motives for talking to Darina. While they weren't as bad as what Zakhar was imagining, they were certainly or probably illegal.

Lexie was fooling everyone.

But she couldn't help it. She needed to know.

"Thanks, guys," Lexie said, pushing down her guilt.

"Of course," Kai said. "Ignore Zakhar. He's had it pretty rough, and he's very protective of his family. To be fair, he has a reason to be."

"What do you mean?"

"The Shadowsbanes were close with the previous Emperor of District 8, and they'd helped him launch several attacks on District 9, in the great District War. After the association helped depose that Emperor, all the Shadowsbanes involved were punished and exiled from the clan.

Nikola Shadowsbane, the new head of the clan, had nothing to do with it, but the new Emperor, Rufus, still likes to give them a hard time as punishment for what the previous clan leader did. A few years ago, he accused the clan of planning another uprising and brought out manufactured evidence to support it. The Association tried to fight back, but ultimately, Zakhar's dad decided to take the fall for it." Kai sighed. "I guess his dad's death really messed him up, and that's what makes him extra cautious now."

"Oh, damn," Lexie said, and she felt even worse. Even Xena looked horrified and uncomfortable with the words she'd said. She looked in Zakhar and Weiss' direction with a conflicted expression.

No one made the move to apologize, though. It would probably be unwelcome.

Later, the group split. Kai took Dewie off to show him some tricks, Torin followed, and Lexie and Xena went to get snacks.

As they wandered off, Xena finally asked Lexie, "Hey, you're not really trying to raise an undead army, are you?"

"Of course not," Lexie said, staring wide-eyed at her friend.

Xena looked relieved and chagrined. "Great. Sorry."

Lexie wanted to be offended, but she realized that she couldn't blame Xena for her suspicion. Despite her public defense of Lexie, she had to have wondered. After all, Xena had only just recently found out a lot of worrisome secrets about her best friend.

Lexie decided she should give her some honesty. "I was just trying to see if I could create a void card."

"Oh," Xena said. "Why would you want to do that?"

"Because it's powerful." Lexie debated for a second, then whispered gleefully. "I also made a card that can create fire."

"Seriously?"

"Yup, but I can't show you now. I haven't yet gotten permission to use it, because, well, I don't know how to turn it off. But I'm sure by the time we get back on campus, I'll get the hang of it."

"Oh. Nice." Xena said, but her voice was funny.

"What?

"I don't know. It's just…you feel different."

Lexie raised an eyebrow. "I do?"

"Yeah. Like you're suddenly obsessed with making these strangely powerful cards that technically shouldn't be possible."

"I mean, yeah," Lexie said. "That was my goal all along, wasn't it?"

"Your goal was to make healing cards. Have you even met with Dee yet?"

"No, but that's not my fault. Something came up, but she's free sometime this week."

Xena nodded. "You barely hung out with us, and the break is almost over."

Oh, shoot. Lexie didn't even realize how much time had passed. She was usually super busy every day and even answered texts late. "I'm sorry, Zee. It's just that coming home is a long trip, and I don't wanna waste the orbs."

"I can get you more."

"I don't want you to have to. We'll see each other at school anyway."

"It's not the same." Xena sighed. "And it's just...your powers are very unusual, and they're constantly breaking every single rule we know. Doesn't that worry you? Does it affect the...you know... at all?"

Yes. It accelerates the growth of the Eldritch part of me.

"Not really," Lexie lied, and she looked away quickly.

Lexie's dad finally showed up towards the end of the gathering, looking harried. A few people, including the Shadowsbanes, had already left by that point.

Lexie spotted him first as he climbed the grassy hillside, and she met him in the middle. "You're late."

"I know, sweetie, I'm sorry." He dropped a kiss on her head. "Let me go say hello to the hosts and we'll catch up, alright?"

"Okay."

Aiden went to greet Mane, and most of their conversation was trading compliments about their suits, their ties, and the food at the party itself.

While they did, Lexie saw people staring at Aiden, but Aiden ignored them.

They clearly found his presence strange, and a few people glared at him, but no one said anything, probably out of respect for Stella.

Speaking of Stella, as the sunset orange began to turn to blue, she finally made her appearance.

She zapped into being, in her hero costume, right in the middle of the party, leading to several shouts.

"Mom!"

"Stella!"

"I'm here!" Stella grinned, opening her arms with an elaborate flourish as the twins ran to her. "Happy Ansing! Let the party begin."

***

After the party was over, Lexie went looking for Theo to ask him why he'd left the party so early. He wasn't at home, and when she asked Mane, he said Theo was out on patrols. Lexie tried to call him on the system, but he didn't answer. Huh. He must be really busy.

Stella stayed for the Ansing dinner, and she took the twins upstairs, promising to read them a bedtime story and not leave until they were asleep.

Aiden seemed distracted the entire dinner, but whenever Lexie asked, he told her it was nothing. She didn't push.

Lexie had her own thoughts to deal with, too.

She went to bed, compartmentalizing everything she'd discovered today. She knew that she needed access to the Shadow realm, but she would need a Shadowsbane's help for that. They were the only humans with exclusive access to the Shadow realm, and Lexie didn't know why.

She couldn't detect much from the brief touch with Zakhar, but she probably hadn't gone deep enough into his soul. Or maybe she was looking for the wrong thing.

Either way, she probably wouldn't be touching his pathways anytime soon.

She had to figure out another way.

It came to her late at night. Right before she fell asleep, a lightbulb went off in her head.

If she couldn't access the Shadowrealm the human way...what if she could do it another way?

After all, she knew another creature who could probably get in.

In her dreams, after their session with Ganor, Lexie asked Naem, "Can we make another stop after this?"

"Where?"

"To visit an old friend."

When she told Naem the plan, he hesitated for a second, then nodded.

"I suppose we have time."

A flash later, they were in a familiar dark forest again, with whispering winds around them.

This time, Lexie wasn't terrified of being here. In fact, she was mostly trembling with eagerness and excitement.

As the creature flew out of hiding and into Naem's chokehold again, Lexie only smiled pleasantly at the snarling V'Sala.

"Hello," she said. "Old friend."