Behavior problems...

Formation

Leona crossed his arms, his expression grim. "If what you're saying is true, then we're dealing with something far more dangerous than just Malleus throwing a tantrum. Whatever's got its claws in him, it's using him as a weapon."

Vil nodded slowly. "Which means we need to find out what this 'something' is before it's too late."

Ace, still trying to process everything, muttered under his breath, "Great. So now we're dealing with a possessed dragon-fae? This just keeps getting better."

Grim, ever the tension-breaker, pointed a paw at the mirror. "What about that creepy glowing thing? It's the reason we're in this mess in the first place, right? Let's just smash it and be done with it!"

"No!" Yuu's voice was sharp as she stood up, surprising everyone. She placed a protective hand on the mirror's edge. "This mirror... it's connected to everything. If we destroy it, we might lose any chance of saving Malleus."

The room went quiet again, save for the faint hum of the glowing mirror.

Leona sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Fine. We won't smash it. But don't expect me to sit around while this thing decides to spit out another surprise attack."

Ruggie raised a hand, looking uncharacteristically serious. "Uh, not to be that guy, but... what if it happens again? What if 'he' comes back?"

Yuu hesitated. She didn't have an answer. She didn't know if Malleus—or whatever was controlling him—would return. But she knew one thing for certain: she couldn't give up on him.

The tension in the room was palpable, and everyone seemed lost in their own thoughts. Then, without warning, the mirror flickered, the glow intensifying for a moment before dimming again.

Everyone froze.

"What was that?" Ace whispered, his voice barely audible.

Yuu stared at the mirror, her heart pounding. She felt a strange pull, a deep, instinctual connection to whatever was happening. And in that moment, she realized something: this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

The mirror pulsed again, faint and rhythmic, like a heartbeat.

And then it spoke.

"He is waiting."

The voice was soft but chilling, echoing through the room like a ghostly whisper. Everyone's eyes widened, and Grim let out a strangled yelp.

"Okay, nope, I'm out! I'm done! This is way too creepy!" he wailed, hiding behind Ace.

Yuu didn't move. She stared at the mirror, her mind racing.

"Waiting for what?" she wanted to ask. But the words caught in her throat.

The room remained deathly silent, and for a moment, nothing happened. But the tension hung thick in the air, a promise of more to come.

And just as abruptly as it had begun, the glowing stopped. The mirror returned to its normal, reflective surface, leaving them all standing in stunned silence.

But the message was clear: This wasn't over.

The room remained eerily quiet after the mirror dimmed, and the weight of the whispered words pressed heavily on everyone.

Ace was the first to break the silence, though his voice wavered. "Did... Did anyone else hear that, or am I losing it?" His attempt at levity fell flat, his usual smirk replaced with genuine unease.

Deuce nodded solemnly. "We all heard it." He turned to Yuu, his brows furrowed in concern. "Yuu, what does it mean? 'He is waiting'—waiting for what?"