Lydia didn't even feel the dizziness coming and last she checked that morning she was perfectly fine few moments ago. It slammed into her like someone cranked the heat under her skin to "inferno." One second she was trudging down the corridor after Advanced Rune Theory, the next her over worn hoodie was sticking to her back , her fox ears were ringing she couldn't hear anything, and the hallway lights were suddenly way too bright. The air felt thick enough to chew.
"I need air…" she mumbled, half to herself, half to the universe that clearly hated her today.
Her legs took over on autopilot. She shoved open the nearest door without reading the plaque, without knocking, without a single brain cell left to care. Just escape. Cool air hit her face like a blessing.
Relief. Sweet, sweet relief.
She staggered forward two steps.
Then five heads snapped toward her like she'd walked into a lion's den wearing a steak necklace.
The Seven-Star guys. All of them. Seated around a fancy oval table like they were plotting world domination or maybe just next week's exam curve. Parchments everywhere, serious faces, the whole vibe screaming "important meeting, do not disturb."
Ash's eyes widened. "Hey, isn't that—"
"Not her again," Sorren muttered, scales rippling along his arms like he was already annoyed.
"It's the Fox," Neleus said, soft and curious, water energy flickering faintly at his fingertips.
"Mmm… hi, cutie," Ignis added, voice dropping low and warm like he couldn't help it. His red eyes locked on her and that same stupid chest-tug from the cafeteria hit him twice as hard. She looked wrecked—flushed cheeks, ears drooping just a little—and all he could think was how badly he wanted to pull her into his lap and make whatever was wrong disappear. The longing had been simmering since yesterday. Now it was boiling.
Steep frowned, arms crossed. "What is she doing here? Can't she see we're having an important meeting?"
Lydia heard exactly zero of it.
Her head was a drum solo. Her chest felt stuffed full of something electric and urgent, like she had to release it or explode. Not in a gross way. Just… everywhere. Lungs, skin, veins, the whole damn package. She leaned hard against the nearest desk, ears twitching.
And exhaled.
Nothing visible happened. No sparks, no glow, no dramatic wind. Just a wave. Invisible. Sweet. Slipping into the air like the best perfume you've never smelled before, dissolving straight into their bloodstreams.
The guys felt it before they could name it.
Ash swallowed hard, throat working.
Sorren's fingers dug into the table edge, knuckles white.
Neleus's breathing hitched, his water magic flickering brighter like it wanted to reach for her.
Ignis's pupils blew wide, that longing in his chest flaring into something sharp and needy—he could suddenly picture exactly how soft her ears would feel between his fingers, how her laugh might taste if he ever got close enough to steal it.
Steep went statue-still, jaw tight.
It wasn't straight-up lust. Not yet. It was worse. It was awareness dialed up to a thousand. Like the room had been fine two seconds ago and now it felt empty without her in the center of it. Like she was brand new, fresh, and suddenly the most important thing in their entire monster-filled world.
None of them realized they'd just been sublimated. Hard.
Lydia swayed.
Then her knees buckled and she dropped like a sack of very cute potatoes.
"Oh shit!"
Chairs screeched across the floor in a five-way pile-up.
They moved at the exact same time and crashed into each other like a bad comedy sketch.
"Give her here! I can sprint her to the infirmary faster than you idiots!" Ash barked, wolf ears pinned back.
"Don't worry, I've got wings—fiery express delivery to the clinic!" Ignis said, actual flames licking off his shoulders as phoenix wings burst out.
"Let me hit her with healing water first!" Neleus was already glowing blue, hands hovering like he was about to baptize her on the spot.
"Oh, because you magically know what's wrong with her?" Sorren shot back, fangs flashing.
"Enough!" Steep's voice cracked through the chaos like a whip.
They all froze mid-lunge.
His glare swept the room. "We're all taking her. Together. No arguments."
A beat of reluctant silence.
"Fine," they muttered in grumpy unison.
And just like that, five of the most powerful beast boys on campus gently scooped up the tiny purple fox like she was made of glass and carried her out the door in a protective knot of muscle, wings, scales, and barely-contained obsession.
Infirmary
Lydia woke up to the smell of flowers and the sound of Phantasia freaking out in whisper-shout.
"Are you okay?! Like, actually okay? Blink twice if you're being held hostage by hot guys!"
Lydia blinked slowly, head fuzzy. "Why are you yelling…"
She turned her head and—holy crap. Flowers. Everywhere. Bouquets exploding across the bedside table, the window ledge, the spare chair, even stacked on the floor like a heartbroken florist had had a breakdown and emptied their entire truck. Roses, lilies, weird glowing monster-world blossoms she didn't even have names for. The room looked like Valentine's Day had thrown up.
"Flowers?" she croaked.
Phantasia floated in frantic circles. "They've been showing up nonstop since you got here. Delivery sprites just keep popping in and vanishing. No cards. No names. Just… flowers."
Lydia pushed herself up on her elbows. Her body still felt like wet noodles, but that weird pressure in her chest was gone. Thank the gods.
"What happened?"
Phantasia winced. "You kinda… fainted."
"In class?"
"Nope."
A dramatic pause.
"In the middle of the Seven-Star guys' super-secret meeting room."
Lydia's eyes went wide as dinner plates. "I did what?!"
She flopped back against the pillows, ears flat against her head, face burning hotter than Ignis's fire. "Oh my gods. Kill me now. I walked in on the elite table like a total disaster and then passed out on them? They're never gonna let me live this down."
Phantasia grinned, floating closer. "Babe. From the way they were fighting over who got to carry you? I don't think 'living it down' is even on the menu anymore. Those beast boys are obsessed. Like, full-on sublimated. Whatever you did in there… it worked a little too well."
Lydia groaned, but a tiny, traitorous smile tugged at her lips anyway