The first thing I did was take a deep breath.
Then I immediately turned around and tried to leave.
Jake, however, had apparently become fast.
Too fast.
Before I could make my escape, he slipped around and blocked my path by coming to stand in front of me.
I stopped short and let out an audible groan.
Why?
Why couldn't I have one easy day?
Alexia summoned her Origin Card, no doubt trying to make sense of the situation. Then she tilted her head, leaned in close to my ear, and whispered, "Ah… isn't he your fat friend?"
I sighed and whispered back, "Fat? Yes. Friend? No."
She batted her lashes. "What happened to him?"
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
Alexia hesitated for a beat before replying, "His aura… it's dark. Darker than I remember."
My frown deepened. I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, but before I could, Jake furiously stepped forward upon seeing I wasn't paying attention to him.