"Well, look who’s done all the heavy lifting!" chuckled Dionis, stepping through a portal that had dilated open in thin air. He was shirtless, skin red and reptilian, and he sported a double row of dragon horns running from forehead to lower back. His heavy leather trousers were cut for a muscular tail, sharply spiked, that whipped the air threateningly.
"Whoops, new arrivals! Heads up!" Dionis stepped forward and threw glowing drumsticks pinwheeling overhead to bonk Scribbs and Knucks, who had arrived in the elevator, knocking them both unconscious. Behind the limp pair, guards from the basement stood rigid with fear. The drumsticks returned to Dionis with a helicopter ‘thwapping’ sound.
"You three aren't going to cause any trouble, are you?" Dionis smiled at the guards, spikes bristling. They shook their heads no. "Alright, skedaddle then." The guards pushed Scribbs’ and Knucks’ limp bodies clear of the elevator, then madly pressed the close door button.
"That... is why I trust Dionis," said Clavis, emerging from the portal.
Agrona appeared next.
"Late to the party, as always. Look at all these pesky little chaps on the floor." She wore a frilly pink tutu, glossy red rubber boots, and a transparent raincoat over everything.
"I like your Persona, Agrona," said Adora.
"What...this?" Agrona looked down at her outfit. “I gave up wearing Personas years ago. Too eccentric for me."
The youngsters gathered around the adults and hugged them. Even Dionis got a hug from Adora.
"Come now, everyone," said Clavis. "We have an opportunity to rectify some wrongdoing. Tuner says there’s a vault full of appalling contracts!"
Dionis strode to Lucas, who was attempting to shrink into invisibility. He efficiently knocked him unconscious with a quick tap of a drumstick to the head, effortlessly picked him up, and threw him over his shoulder.
"It was very wise of you to have Tuner contact us," said Clavis as they watched Agrona try different variations of Angus's birthday to open the vault. "And getting him to borrow the Persona gear was genius. I guess you knew what you wanted. Obviously, it will all have to be returned to the vendors. "
"We spent a lot of time browsing in the Market," said Adora.
Clavis appraised her choices. "You look like a warrior goddess."
Adora beamed with delight.
"Mr. Dionis," said Adora, "I like your Persona, it…."
"Not necessary," cut in Dionis, "I know how I look."
Adora frowned, a little taken aback. Clavis softened the awkward moment with a change of subject.
"You did surprisingly well together. Tuner gave me quite the update." said Clavis, "Let’s see. You were kidnapped, resisted valiantly, and rescued the desperate prisoners within these walls. You uncovered a plot to control the creation of music. Angus found a mother thought deceased, faced an unknown, hostile father, and was found by his Instrument. That is a lot for one day."
"It sure is," said Angus, "I have no idea what to think of it all right now."
"It will take time to digest," Clavis nodded sagely.
"I've got it!" exclaimed Agrona, pulling open the massive door, "It's time to burn some contracts!" She rubbed her hands with glee.
Filing cabinets stretched to the ceiling, all labeled conveniently in alphabetical order.
"Now, be careful." said Agrona, "We can't just randomly destroy all of these. There may be some, probably very few, that are fair and reasonable. We’ll leave them be. Let Johann and I do a little sorting."
"Agrona, wait," said Clavis, "do you mind summoning Tuner for me first?"
A miniature version of Johann’s keyboard appeared. Agrona played three familiar notes, and Tuner appeared. "How may I help, Clavis?'
"We’ll be sending you some composers who are in rough shape," said Clavis, "They’ll need to get to Benthos to rejuvenate as soon as possible. Could you ask Concordia to alert the infirmaries and send her Guardians to transport these poor souls directly?"
"What about my mother?" Angus inquired anxiously.
"Of course," said Clavis, "Tuner, Angus's mother will also need care. We must come up with an explanation for her long absence and reintegrate her with her family. Maybe a terrible accident and a case of amnesia?"
"Absolutely," said Tuner, "I will take care of it."
Tuner disappeared, and Agrona continued. Papers flew from the cabinets in a blizzard and sorted themselves into three piles.
"This first pile," said Agrona, "is absolute cow excrement. Excuse my language. These are the contracts with composers. The contracts state that everything they write belongs to Lucas, and the only compensation granted in return is freedom from harming their loved ones. How distasteful. Trevor, do you mind adding a little fuel?"
Trevor and Gronk squirted oil onto the stack of contracts. Dionis blew a small stream of fire from his mouth, and the papers burst into flames.
"The second pile contains contracts with the factions." said Agrona, "I am quite surprised that Lucas got six out-of-tune factions to work cooperatively. He must have been persuasive. Burning these will destroy the pact between them and ruin their insidious plan to control music ownership."
Agrona motioned Trevor to apply oil, and Dionis ignited the pile. "What are you going to do with Lucas?" asked Veronica.
"And what about Scribbs and Knucks?" added Trevor.
"The courts of Thrum will decide," said Clavis, "We are not in the business of judgment, but I do know an expert in contract law."
Agrona scowled at Clavis, "More paperwork?" said Agrona, "You know how I hate all that mumbo jumbo."
"And speaking of," Agrona motioned to a single document, "this one needs further study. Clavis, we’ll examine it in detail when we return to the city."
"Are we going to take the boat?" asked Trevor.
"No, that will take too long." said Clavis, "I can teleport people over short distances, but Agrona here has a more impressive trick."
"Meet Vino," said Agrona as twelve crystal wine goblets appeared, each filled to a different level. "It can create portals through water, even oceans."
Agrona drew sweet, ethereal tones from the delicate glasses by stroking her fingers along the rims, and a rippling disturbance in the air resolved into an old oak door.
"Youngest first," Clavis motioned to the kids.
One by one, they stepped into Clavis’s office, Agrona following last. Dionis still carried the insensate Lucas over his shoulder.
"Dionis," said Clavis, "You really shouldn't have brought Lucas here. Let the Guardians deal with him."
Dionis shook his head, "Sometimes, and I repeat, sometimes, it's important to break the rules."
"What do you intend to do with him?" asked Clavis.
"I'm not sure yet," said Dionis, "but it involves righting some wrongs."
Dionis departed, Lucas’s limp form flopping helplessly. "Adora, Trevor, Veronica, Hamish, and Angus," said Clavis," I offer my profound gratitude for all you’ve done. Go clean yourselves up and get something to eat. I need to talk to Agrona alone."
The kids left the office but lingered outside the door, ears straining to hear. Trevor relayed an interesting conversation.
"Agrona says the other contract is between Lucas and someone else," whispered Trevor.
“Then Clavis says, “Oh, how interesting,” and she says, “This contract may be at the root of the Terrible Dischord. It turns out Lucas is in cahoots with someone else.”
“What do you mean?” Veronica demanded. Her voice was decidedly louder than necessary.
“Shhhhh!” Trevor waved in annoyance. “Clavis is asking if they should destroy it, but Agrona says it’s just a copy of the original.”
"Who is the other party?" asked Clavis.
"I have no idea," said Agrona, "There's no record of this individual anywhere in my Library. They go by the name Io.”