Nono Nexum

Stiria

Star of dream, bright in gleam,
Soar, and let them see.
<Starla>

~

The Mitis Town Laboratory is normally a warm place, full of humming machinery and noisy Loomians enjoying themselves inside the habitat vivarium, or enjoying food that the professors fed them.

Today, the lights are off and the machines do not hum, the Beginner Loomians pace nervously around the vivarium, Professor Archai leans over his desk forlornly with eye bags dark upon his face, and Professor Fluoroma is nowhere to be seen.

Professor Archai barely glances up at their appearance. He only stands, and mutters, "welcome. Saffi's in her room. I'll make coffee."

Starla's father immediately sits him down on the couch, and Starla's mother takes out something from the shopping bag she brought.

"Marlon, we aren't coming as guests. Any news on Lyndon?"

Professor Archai sinks further into the couch. "He hasn't contacted us for months now. I should've filed that missing person report a while ago."

Starla retreats to the vivarium. She does not want to hear the ensuing conversation - it will get too complicated.

There, the Beginner Loomians eagerly bound over to her and nuzzle her gently. They are used to her presence by now, having been friends for years.

She cuddles them all - the second-hand stress they must be getting!

She pets the Fevine, scratches Eaglit under its neck, rubs Embit's ears...she cycles through her usual drill of giving affection to the Loomians, but she can't help but periodically drift into the adults' conversation.

"But how can we be sure Lyndon will be returned alive?"

"The police seem sure that he is alive."

"Bah, the police said they didn't have evidence!"

She hears their worry in every tone of their voice. She is reasonably worried as well - her childhood friend is missing!

"What if he was taken?"

"Then my wife would probably kill herself. How can he? He's not a weak trainer himself, he can defend himself against Mutators!"

"You never know..."

The Fevine whimpers.

Starla finds herself increasingly disturbed by the direction of the conversation. Taken by Mutators! What a thought.

"Bradley called us earlier and told us he and Aubrey were already looking for him."

"But Marlon, they're still so young..."

"They've been adventuring as long as Lyndon has, they'll be fine joining the search."

"Lyndon is ranked first in the Royal Battling Guild and look what happened to him!"

"Well true..."

"Marlon, you're thinking irrationally. What happened to the adults?"