"That's as far as I understand the benefits going" Rift started, relaxing back down again. He turned the question over in his head a couple times before coming to some kind of conclusion. But it wasn't an answer he really expected to be satisfactory. "To ask why I fight: You're trying to pick me apart now." The reptile sighed, crossing his arms once more and shifting his weight back to one knee. "I fight... For the thrill of a strong opponent. Excitement. A life I could end in an instant isn't worth the effort." The striker turned a hand over, an empty gesture of 'that's all I've got' without any words to add to that.

He could see something distance, almost like a cloud, only the cloud was very low, and was marred by pops and explosive flashes. "Out that way for example--" The striker pointed off in the direction of Clarkstown. "There's certainly a fight going on. However..." The striker sneered and gave a disapproving grunt. "The odds of getting a decent fight out of something like a swarm is... Depressingly Low."

Izzy can't help but chuckle as Sarah arrives, waving the couple off as she saunters off to practice her intimidating glare. Sarah proceeds to lead Sam to the Phoenix Statue within the Plaza, their favorite spot for lunch. Taking a moment to relax as she sits upon a bench, she takes a moment to smile to Sam as she smiles towards him.

"I hope Izzy didn't give you the third degree? And how does Phoenix Burger sound?"

"Nah, only the second degree. Has she been taking death glare lessons from you or is she just naturally talented? Actually, I had someplace a little more private in mind." Sam said, smiling.

Through patient exploration of the Phoenix statue, Sam had discovered a section of the tail that had a hollow in it between two layers of the fire-feathers. The ceiling formed by the next layer of feathers was a bit low, but the design of the statue allowed the little hollow to stay airy so that it didn't feel cramped or stifling.

Sam led Sarah back towards the tail, then took a quick look around. Seeing no one, he snugged an arm around her waist and leaped towards the hollow. Throwing out a strand, he swung them into the hollow and they slid into it. Sam had stuck up some white LED press lights to the "ceiling" and then laid out a picnic blanket and basket. "What do ya think?"

Shepherd who was relaxing in one of the benches by the statue waved at Sarah while enjoying a slice of pizza.

Shepherd smile ashe put down the pizza and gave Sarah a hug.

"I have just been very busy with the recent portals opening up through out the city in recent weeks, the TCPD and Titan's Legacy has had me investigating them."

Shepherd chuckles to himself.

"I know I can count on you for help. You did get me the job with the TCPD after all as per Lady Nova's reccomendation."

Shepherd smiled at her.

Shepherd smiled a his friend.

"Luna and Samson are doing very well. And we are working on a baby Shepherd. It will take time."

Shepherd chuckled.

Shepherd chuckled.

" Yes you were right. We've had it planned for a while."

Shepherd smirked at the question.

"Maybe, but I'm sure you can handle it."

Shepherd winked at her.

Sarah chuckled as she turned back to Sam,offering wryly.

"Well now that you mention it he does have some divine charm." She teases, before walking back to Sam to lay against him on the picnic blanket, exhaling tiredly.

"Ugh, I'm done for the day...oh wait, that's right, have hours of patrol later." Deadpans humorously.

Sarah chuckles as she replies rather gleefully.

"I can have my co-counsel take over for the rest of the day, Izzy will help, so no, I won't be." Inhaling the scent of the scrumptious mac and cheese and potato salad, she takes a plate happily and begins to respectfully fill it, smirking at the wine as she recounts fond memory months past.

"The same wine on our Date Night...remember how smoothly that went?" She grins.

Rose smiled to herself in the passenger seat as she set her bag within the backseat, eyeing the Library before them curiously before turning to Toni with a smile, recognizing his cautiousness.

"Hey, you did fine, you didn't run over any stopsigns, and only hit one ghost...don't worry she's fine. I will be driving soon enough, and you did fine Toni. Now, ready for old fashioned investigation?"

Rose regards the woman with the peculiar aura with a curious look, offering a friendly smile to her as they stepped aside to enter, thankful for Toni's gentlemenly nature as they entered. Once they had passed through the scanners, Rose regarded the picture of the three women thoughtfully as well when Toni's gaze swept over it, commenting.

"Their beautiful. A adoption, perhaps?" She can't help but smile at the happiness emanated from the photo, before turning to the nametag of 'Hypathia Argyros', inquiring softly so that only he may hear.

"Is this our friend? And where is Setzer...wait, do you have the Calling spell?"

Setzer came out of the shadow of a nearby study table and leapt up onto the counter. Looking at the nametag, he nodded.

Toni, however, replied, "no, Setzer knows of it, but he's never learned it... Hi, Connor."

That was when he noticed movement out of the corner of his eye, a gold and silver aura in his Spirit Sight. It was attached to the woman from the photograph, the one holding the certificate. Except that her hair was not the dark brown, but a reddish gold, concealed by an illusion of being dark brown...

Hypatia Argyros Looked at the three unusual young people - and a most unusual cat - as she approached the counter. In a voice with a touch of a Greek accent she asked, "May I help you?"

Toni shook hands with Hypatia, and said, "HI, I'm Toni Mercer, this is Connor, and this is Sir Sings Loudly. An old friend of his said you might be able to help us out..."

Hypatia laughed, but quietly. "Old enemy was the way I heard it. But Rhythiel is on the side of the angels now, so that counts for less than you might think. Let's have a seat." She indicated a table with several chairs around it...

Rose smiled to Pat as she sat down at the table directed, turning to Connor as she explain.

"Rhythiel I believe is a demon, a former servant of Lilith before switching sides?" She looks to Toni for confirmation.

"Ah, this is about that mess last night in Clarkstown? I'm afraid you'd be looking at several books, at least if you wanted more than generalities. Most books only cover only one culture, or at most a group of related cultures. But there are exceptions, such as some notebooks of mages of various sorts and professional monster hunters. Hold on..."

Those sensitive to magic would notice a flare of energy as Hypatia reached under the table and brought her hands back up with a large leather bound book. "I found this in Chicago a few years ago. Reportedly it was owned by one of two fire mages who lived there in 1871. This is mostly not fire magic, though, it's other magics and lore the mage collected. Spells of various traditions, and a bestiary of sorts. That last part is where you'll find the information about a fairly large number of possessing monsters, including a surprising amount from Asia and the Western Pacific. I'm only lending this to you; if you can, copy out the information you want, then bring it back. Actually, copying the whole thing would probably be a good idea. I don't advise posting it online, though. If I need it before you're done, I'll call if I have time, and if not, well, the spell I just used is fairly reliable."

She slid the book over to Rose. Then she handed out business cards, two to each of the humans. "The goldenrod colored card is for my alter ego. The silver one is for a friend of mine, she collects books, and trades in information to pay for buying them. Information is about all she can help you with, but if I hadn't had this in my own collection, I'd have suggested you talk to the Book Wyrm."

(The cards have contact info for Goldenrod and the Book Wyrm, respectively)

Hypatia nodded. "That would be the fastest way to safely copy it, I think. And by the way, there's some onionskin with my own comments in with the spells. You'll want to copy those too, especially if you plan on casting them. There are some... glitches with a few of the spells that the mage who collected them didn't catch. Or maybe he thought the warning wouldn't be needed."

Hypatia nodded. "He may have thought that no mage could be unaware of the hazards. I, however, have been bitten by that sort of 'everyone knows' attitude. So was the mage who wrote it, though he didn't realize it. There's a Calling spell, he noted that the servants it calls are rude and insolent. Apparently he didn't know it's supposed to call an ally, a teacher or a companion. Anyway, I call it the Chicago Codex. I put a table of contents on some onionskin in front."

Rose nodded as she replied with a smile, liking the witch more and more as they conversed.

"I want a friend and mentor, not a servant or slave to belittle or mock. I want a companion in my adventures, a privilege free of will, not a pet. I believe the Calling spell is right for me, Setzer...do you have an opinion on this?" She inquires to the Knight of Summer.

Rose can't help but smile to Connor as she comments. "Hey now, no, your're Connor, your our friend. And do you want me to give you a copy of the copy of the book I plan to make?"

Setzer nodded, raised his right forepaw, turned the inner edge up, and extended the topmost claw. The equivalent, perhaps, of turning a thumb up?

Hypatia nodded to Connor. "Well, it's good to meet you, anyway."

Rose nods as she replies, first to Pat. "Because you want to sound confident in summoning whatever creature you desire, to KNOW what you would want without demanding. Thank you for this Pat, and I will, though to be honest I've already stewed over the possibilities...I believe I am ready." She then turns to Connor with a smile, offering the boy a smile.

"Good, care to tell us of this place? And thanks Connor, it means alot."

Rose blinks as the portal is created, before smiling to him as she offers him a friendly kiss on the cheek, affection lacing her voice. "Thank You Connor, for that privilege...are you ready to go Toni, Setzer?" She inquires to the pair.

Toni conjured up five candles, emerald green, and handed them to Rose. Then he stepped back, away from the pentacle she was drawing.

As the spell finishes, nothing happens at first, with the Chicago Codex before Rose simply shutting. Just as Rose is about to curse and give up, she remembers the words of Pat, and begins to try again, this time more power felt, tendrils of her aura wafting about. This time, her emotions are expanded into the smell, her desire for a friend and mentor pouring through the words of arcane power..as a rift of cobalt, smoky power appears before them.

As ethereal wisps of bluish fog correlates on the ground before them, the relatively small profile of a Setzer sized creature is seen, as wispy, felinian legs form before extending into a hazy, smoky body. It's head lowered,the spectral female cat raises it's face to stare at a awed Rose, it's features distinctly that of silver tabby. Taking more of a definite volume, it's revealed not to be entirely ethereal, but it's fur is a mystifying, almost pulsing constellation like pattern, with lines of pulsing white and hypnotic black.

Opening it's eyes to reveal a pair of glowing cobalt irises, the she-cat lets out a tentative meow, scratching briefly at the wisps of fog near her before sitting placidly, allowing them to take in her appearance for a moment longer as she speaks, her tone echoy and soothing, like a lullaby.

*Greetings mortals, I am Morgaine. It is an honor to meet a Knight of Summer such as yourself, Sir Sings Loudly, a Squire like yourself, a fellow witch...and interesting, a bridge to the dead.* She remarks over each of them with a Cheshire and cordial grin, though she hold's Setzer's gaze the longest, curiously.

Clearing her throat and getting over her awe, Rose states quietly. "Morgaine, so that means you are-" Morgaine purrs in acknowledgement at the question, as she states. *Yes, I was formerly known as Morgan Le Fay.* She allows them to take this in.

Morgaine pricks her ears towards Connor as she hears, eyeing him calmly. "And what is wrong with cats, my dear?"

Morgaine gives off what could be a feline chuckle, purring happily. *I see. Well I assure you I will make an effort not to be an intelligent bosom. So what may I call you?"

Morgaine lets out what could be considered a sigh, as she locks eyes with Connor, with Rose looking on curiously. *My name was Elia, when I was Morgan's familiar...after Mordred was defeated, she passed her magic to me to offer me a long life and sentience, and a unlikely chance to better her name in history. I took on her name after she passed, and have been trying to make amends for her crimes, by bringing a good light to her identity."

Rose blinks as this, as she inquires. "For how long, Elia." The cat shifts her paws uncomfortably, as she states. "For the last roughly thousand years."

Elia purrs in assent, eyeing up cutely to Connor. *No, I don't suppose it wasn't, and the Wicket Door? You are not a myth, a rumor?"

Elia takes a moment to approach a still sitting Rose, prancing within her lap before laying there contently. "I believe so, once or twice in passing murmurs from mages."

Elia purrs back in response. *Maybe, but I believes Wickets work best when not heard of, without notoriety, then again it's up to you ro decide how you want to act, it's your responsibility.*

Elia nods, as best she could try to convey being a cat, anyway. *But I trust you also know when to call on others for aid, or not shut others out?"

Elia remarks back amidst swishing her tail and still chasing the wisps of fog with her paws swatting. *Maybe so, but you do look like you don't get out often enough, Connor. Wicket Door or not you still have your responsibilities as a teenager to have fun.*

Elia purred in response the the compliment and bounded over to Toni, rubbing against his leg affectionately before turning to eye Setzer, her whiskers pricking up happily. *Why that you for the compliment, Squire. And hello, Sir Sings Loudly.* She then adds for his ears only to hear with a meow, not knowing Toni can interpret their speech.

*Come to calling rituals often?*

*Oh, he can? Well, I assume he has heard much worse attempts to get your attention, I imagine?* Elia purred, before adding after a moment of thought. "So, may I ask what brought you to him being your charge, and friend? A ritual like this?*

Setzer settled back and cast his communication spell, and included both Rose and Connor so they could understand as he told the story to Elia.

*It all started when King Oberon asked me to investigate a troll that had reportedly taken over a town just into the No-Elfs-Land between the Seilidhe and Un-Seilidhe courts. When I got there, I poked around, and found that they had started giving tribute to this troll in the form of their children. To eat, for those of you who may be unfamiliar with the habits of trolls. It seemed, however, that a local wizard there had had second thoughts about whether or not this was a just course of action, possibly because his daughter had been selected to be the next victim. He had decided to summon a substitute, to distract the troll and townsfolk alike while he and his daughter escaped.*