Pomni was starting to feel a little more grounded in the Digital Circus—or at least less on the verge of total emotional collapse. But she kept her walls high, thick, and fortified with sarcasm. Ragatha, undeterred, had made it her mission to breach those walls with relentless cheer: hugs, pep talks, and a constant stream of aggressively "helpful" advice.

It was exhausting.

In contrast, Jax—snide, smug, and emotionally allergic—was unexpectedly... tolerable. When Pomni vented to him in private, he didn’t laugh. He didn’t even make it weird. He just listened. His replies were blunt and dry, but honest. Refreshingly so. And slowly, Pomni found herself drifting closer to him.

Ragatha noticed. And she did not like it. Watching Pomni spend more time with Jax made her stomach twist. She was convinced this was the start of a slippery slope into darkness—and that it was her job to stop it. To save Pomni before it was “too late.”

The group was currently on a side quest Zooble had requested—something oddly nostalgic. They were in a digital recreation of a bar, modeled after the one Zooble used to work at before ending up in the Circus. Zooble manned the counter like an old pro, mixing strange, reality-bending drinks while the others sat at the bar, trading bits of their past lives.

In the middle of a conversation, Jax suddenly turned to Pomni.

Jax: "Hey, so... remember when I threw you out of that moving truck on our first adventure?"

Pomni blinked. "...How could I possibly forget?"

Jax shrugged, leaning back with his usual smug grin. "Yeah. My bad. I guess."

Pomni stared at him, unsure whether to be irritated or impressed. "Apology accepted... I think." Her tone was wary, but just a little amused.

Jax’s grin widened as he threw an arm around her shoulders—far too casually.

Jax: "Wow. Look at us. First steps of a beautiful friendship, huh, Ragatha?" He didn’t even look at Ragatha when he said it—but the dig was aimed razor-sharp and deliberate. Jealousy? Mischief? Malice? Probably all three.