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xiang fei and shen yuan as part of lbh’s neglected harem

shen yuan reads books and xiang fei is running a spy and smuggling operation

SY: Bro you can’t keep anonymously sending Sha Hualing poison, she killed 5 girls this week

Previous Part 7

~

Danny didn’t really bother to unpack anything. The room that manifested for him had everything he could want right down to the duplicate copy of his bedroom. Everything else could stay in his bags until he found out what new human haunt he would be relocating to. 

It wasn’t like he had plans to spend much time in his living, human form while in the Infinite Realm. He wouldn’t need much of it though he was half wishing he’d brought some snacks with him. 

He had a kitchen, how did he put food into it? Did he just will it to be there or was there some kind of grocery store in the realms? Was that how this room worked? 

Was the entire Keep some kind of sentient, ever changing mood ring? Were all lairs like that?

Not for the first time, Danny felt out of his depth. There were so many instincts to being a ghost that he didn’t have and today he’d followed his gut and left his living life behind him. Temporarily? Clockwork said they’d find him a new haunt but what did that mean? 

Would he be living on his own? How would he pay for his own place? How would he go back to school? What if the GIW found him anyway? Would he just be labeled evil and be on the run again? Forced to return to the realms even if it couldn’t satisfy all of him?

Danny floated in his new bedroom, eyes staring up at the stars above him. The void of space was relaxing, but it didn’t entirely soothe the panic he was feeling. Could he still have a panic attack as a ghost? He wouldn’t hyperventilate, but he’d seen his fair share of ghosts freaking out. Panic attacks might have even been normal for beings who felt emotions so strongly. 

He’d have to ask Frostbite the next time he saw the yeti. Maybe he should even make that a priority. Frostbite still called him ‘Great One’, would that change once he learned Danny had joined Panya’s fraid? He hoped not. 

He tried to shake the thoughts away like an etch-a-sketch. He couldn’t stay in here moping and while it was nice of the others to give him some space, he didn’t want to be alone with his thoughts right now. 

Leaving his room had been a matter of floating down to his door, the challenge was working out which way to go next. Maybe he could find Clockwork. The others were nice but he was looking for something familiar and maybe a little validation that he hadn’t made a mistake with his choices today. 

The hallway to his left changed and an archway appeared in its place that hadn’t been there before. It led out of the keep and outside and since no areas were supposedly off limits, Danny headed that way. It was a castle after all, so what else did castles have? 

He thought about the games he’d played or movies he’d seen but instead found lush plants and trees of all kinds of colors that grew alongside small stone paths. The desire to see ghost bees was amusing but with his luck, they’d be more like killer hornets the size of a car.

Danny stepped into the garden, though he had some trouble reconciling it in his mind. It was like an open court yard, and the sky was still green. There weren’t clouds but distantly he could see a door or two in the distance of someone else's lair. 

The flowers were strange, but a few he recognized from his encounters with Undergrowth. They were strange looking, like fantastical versions of Earth plants. Something pulled out of fantasy books, but they grew here so effortlessly. 

Danny wasn’t sure if they were wild or if someone tended to them. He didn’t know Panya well enough to know if she was the type of woman who liked gardens. 

“So you’re our new ghostling.” 

Danny jerked back at the voice he didn’t recognize, ectoblasts coating his fists waiting to be fired. 

“I didn’t mean to scare you, little one.” 

“Where…?” Danny finally found the man sitting under a white tree that had purple and pink leaves. It was almost a relief that he didn’t seem to be a giant like everyone else he’d met in the keep so far.

“Who are you?” Danny asked, suspicious. 

The man chuckled and didn’t seem to see Danny as much of a threat. His hair was a long, dark brown but it was the enormous antlers on his head that drew Danny’s eyes. Beside him were three large white dogs with red ears. They’re tails were like wisps and they watched Danny keenly, likely to determine if he had treats or not. 

“My name is Arawn. Phobos has told me a little about you before, young Phantom.” 

“Arawn?” Danny repeated, slowly approaching. The man seemed to be at home in the Keep’s garden which likely meant he was supposed to be there. “You’re apart of Panya’s fraid?” He felt dumb now and flicked his ectoblasts away. Of course the guy belonged here or he wouldn’t be here at all. 

“I am,” He said patiently. “Have been for a long time. Panya and I becoming friends was quite the amusing story. We should get her to tell it to you sometime.” 

“I guess,” Danny muttered, eyeing one of the dogs. “Never seen ghost dogs like them before…” 

“Ah?” Arawn actually smiled at them. “They are called Cŵn Annwn. Spectral hounds. Their names are Keegan, Sloane, and Winnie.” They were just too adorable. 

“They are unique to my Otherworld.” 

“Otherworld?” Danny repeated. “Can…I pet them?” 

Arawn grinned, “Of course. They pretend they receive no affection at all.” He waited for Danny to sit down and hold his hand out to one of the hounds before continuing. “Are you familiar with the Otherworlds?” 

“Um? I don’t think so,” Danny muttered, smiling when Winnie nudged at his hands and allowed him to pet her ears. 

“That’s alright. I’m happy to answer any questions you might have on the matter,” Arawn said. “The Infinite Realms are home to many afterlife destinations. Heaven. The Underworld. The Otherworlds,” Arawn made a gesture that probably meant there were dozens just like those.

“Oh, okay,” Danny said slowly. “So they’re unique to one of the afterlives. That probably makes sense.” He smiled when Winnie tried to climb into his lap despite being bigger than a great dane. 

He could feel Arawn’s amusement, but it wasn’t the taunting kind of laughter that Danny was used to at school. His emotions weren’t so hard to grasp as some of the others but Danny also got the impression that Arawn was projecting for his benefit. Knowing that was so strange. 

“You’ve had a lot of changes tossed at you today, haven’t you?” Arawn asked and /Sympathy/ accompanied his words. 

Danny shrugged and kept his mouth shut. He didn’t want to talk about his parents or the way he’d left them. He didn’t want to think about his phone call with Jazz or the sense of belonging he felt at being presented his own space in the Keep. There were already too many emotions likely escaping his notice that the others could read. He didn’t need to open that door and spiral into a full blown panic attack. 

Winnie licked at his face and Sloane inched closer to him. They were so different from the ghosts he was used to but he could admit to enjoying how friendly they were. 

“If you would ever like some assistance, you only need to ask me,” Arawn said. 

“With what?” 

“Anything. I have a bit of experience with you lot.” 

“My lot?” Danny repeated, but something in his brain short circuited as he really looked at the man sitting across from him. He was ethereal sure, and more of an average size but it only just occurred to Danny that this man was far more than he seemed. 

“Your heart is beating. You’re alive.” 

“It is. I am,” He agreed. 

“But…” Danny frowned, feeling like he was handed only half of an equation. “Panya said… my fraid fell apart because it was too alive…” 

Arawn’s expression softened and the /Concern/ was pouring off of him. “Oh, Phantom. Do not be too hard on your fraid. Panya wasn’t wrong. Without the proper aptitude or training, it is very difficult for the living to be a part of a fraid full time. That does not mean they don’t care about you.” 

“Apptitude?” Danny asked hoarsely. 

“I am a god, Phantom. You would possibly only know me if you had knowledge of the celtic pantheon. I rule Annwn, the Otherworld here in the Infinite Realm. Being a god of the dead is a bit of a cheat, but it put my path alongside Panya’s.” 

“Death god?” Danny repeated. The only death god the mainstream media ever taught him about was Hades. “That… I guess that explains this. You just visit the Keep?” 

“That’s right. I was surprised to feel Panya wake again and I was coming to check on her after the mess that arose the last time she’d woken too early. I am… terribly sorry about that. You were left to deal with her on your own.” 

Danny sighed, feeling oddly shaky. “Yeah. It turned out okay. Here I thought I was already fighting her at full power.”

“I’d like to think Phobos would have stopped her before things got too out of hand while he was waiting for the rest of us to arrive,” Arawn made a face. “But I understand your entire town was briefly pulled into the realms. We should be thanking you for the part you played.” 

Winnie licked Danny in the face again and it calmed something in his core. She was acting oddly like a service dog… “Panya said something about it being the Observants fault. I still don’t really get it.” 

Arawn nodded, and the genuine commiseration he felt from the man was comforting. “Today has been long for you, but keep in mind that you are family now. When you’re ready for the full story, just ask. I’m sure Panya will tell you what she remembers.” 

“Family,” Danny repeated quietly. “So quickly? So easily?” 

“Quickly? Perhaps. Not easily. You already had a bond with Clockwork and he was willing to fight for you. Panya’s decision, I can not speak on, but know this. Our fraid is small. Small but each of us fit. Panya knew in her core that you belong with us. I see no reason to doubt her.” 

Danny shuddered under the weight of his /Honesty/. “Do you think I’ll ever see my fraid again? My living fraid?” 

“Of course.” 

Danny looked up at him startled at how easily he answered. “Really?” 

Arawn’s smile was so steady and Danny was briefly distracted by wondering if his antlers were heavy. “You are young, Phantom. I imagine your fraid was as well. I have no doubts you will see them again.” 

“Do… you think they could learn to have some kind of… aptitude to be around me again?” 

“If they choose it, yes. Being close to death is not easy but it can be learned. If they are prepared for it mentally, it is very possible.” 

Danny felt himself smile too, something in his chest easing. Getting to see his friends again, knowing it was possible was a weight off his shoulders. Panya had said he could stay in contact with Jazz, but this felt different. Promising. 

“When that time comes, I will help them adjust if you want.” Arawn offered. 

“Thank you,” Danny said immediately, hugging Winnie still. Sloane and Keegan had inched closer too and he couldn’t help but rub their red ears. He’d have to read up on spectral dogs or something. Glancing up at Arawn, Danny thought he might have to read up on Celtic gods too. 

Awarn wasn’t just calm, he was casual with his acceptance. It wasn’t exactly the first thing he thought of when he thought of gods of the dead, but it’s not like ghosts were inherently evil either. 

“Feel better?” Arawn asked, looking pleased already. 

“A little, yeah,” Danny muttered, taking an unnecessary deep breath. “I have a ghost dog too. Well, he’s not really mine but he shows up to play fetch. Maybe i’m just his person.” 

“Tell me about him.” 

Previous Part 6 Next

~

The Keep was maze-like, but somehow it made sense. Deimos told him it was because he belonged there. As a member of the fraid, which had clicked into place without his notice, he was welcome in the Keep. If someone else tried, they’d likely get lost and even a ghost would have trouble making their way out again. 

There were all kinds of areas, decorated from all kinds of centuries and though he couldn’t exactly tell them apart, cultures clashed and mixed cohesively enough to make this a home. For a place he had assumed had been empty, it felt lived in. Well, existed in?

The Keep ended up being a very large, castle shaped home. 

Skeletons roamed but they didn’t attack. They didn’t even glance in Danny’s direction. 

“We are not here all the time,” Phobos said, carrying one of the bags that Danny had packed. His twin had the other two. “But it is always a home we can return to. It will be the same for you.” 

“Do you have other places? Lairs of your own?” Danny asked, thinking of Clockworks citadel. 

“Right,” Deimos said, floating beside Danny as they moved down a new hallway. According to them it had formed itself once Danny had entered the Keep with Panya’s silent permission. A whole tower of the castle dedicated to him. 

“You’re welcome to visit those too. When you are older, you will likely create a secondary place of your own. Until then,” Phobos paused at a door that was made of a dark wood. They waited only a beat for Panya and Clockwork to catch up before gesturing to Danny to open it. 

“Uh?” 

“Let us see your room,” Panya said, nodding her head for Danny to be the first to step inside. He wasn’t sure what he expected from a ghost castle bedroom but when he pushed the door open, he was floored. Inside was the most bizarre combination of furniture he recognized from his house, Sam’s and Tuckers. The sofa from his house, with pictures on the walls of his friends and Jazz. Not to mention many snapshots of the ghosts he'd befriended from Amity Park. 

There were chairs from Sam’s house, antiques no one was actually allowed to sit on and the plush blue carpet from Tucker’s house. The black drapes covered windows like the ones in Sam’s bedroom and the recliner was Tucker’s. It was a cozy sitting room with good lighting but no doors. 

Danny stood there gaping at the familiar sight mixed together in odd places and realised that he missed a staircase that spiraled around the outer perimeter of the room. Stunned at what he saw, he looked up. His room didn’t expand out but instead expanded up. The staircase reached at least five different floors but what stunned Danny the most was the ceiling. A beautiful starry night sky looked down at him, the stars twinkling and…moving, Danny realized. Ever so slowly, the constellations above him changed to new ones, the dark night sky reaching down into the top floor of this castle tower. 

“This is mine?” Danny asked, voice thick with emotion he didn’t know what to do with. 

“This is yours, boy.” Panya said softly, and Danny couldn’t feel many of her own emotions beyond being pleased that she suspected Danny liked this surprise. 

He stood in the center of the room right in front of the sofa before he drifted up into the air, taking the fast way through flight instead of the stairs themselves. He got a small peek into each floor, more rooms decorated from his memories. 

The home theater from Sam’s house. The kitchen from Tucker’s house that was oddly equipped with a booth from Nasty Burger. His own workshop was on one level all by itself and though Danny didn’t stop to immediately explore, he was sure he spotted a spare thermos on the work table. 

There was a spot from a space camp he visited as a child and the corner of the public library he used to visit with Jazz when they held events for small kids. He’d forgotten about that until just this moment and all he could think of was wanting to call Jazz and ask her if she remembered those days too. 

There were movie posters and a gaming computer. Little glow in the dark stickers were everywhere, off setting the real stars shining from above. On the top floor was a bedroom with his bed and familiar comforter. His night table, his dresser, his beat up comfy chair. There was more space paraphernalia than he’d ever owned including a model rocket that was as tall as he was that he was just itching to touch. The walls weren’t the same off white, but dark and glittered with stars. It was like someone had dropped his bedroom in the middle of space and there it hovered. 

Feeling his breath caught in his throat was the oddest sensation since he didn't need to breathe right now. “Is this really…” Danny turned around only to find himself alone at the top of his tower. He floated back down and found everyone else waiting at the door. “Um?” 

“It might be my lair, but this room is for your use,” Panya said as she leaned against the hallway wall with her arms crossed. 

“Not exactly taboo, but polite,” Clockwork said. “The same way we respect other’s lairs. You are free to come and go but this room is yours unless you invite someone in yourself.”

“Our lairs are a reflection of ourselves,” Phobos added. 

Deimos picked up right after him. “It can be very personal.” 

Danny thought of the library corner he shared with Jazz. His happier memories from camp. Bits and pieces from Sam and Tucker’s homes that they’d shared with him. He could see how it would be very personal. 

“Well, um, I don’t mind as long as you knock?” He offered. He hadn’t really thought much of his parents bursting in on his personal space. It had been normal and he hadn’t even minded it until he’d had something to hide. 

“We should give you some time. Let you decompress for a while. The day has been….long,” Panya said. Danny still felt traces of her emotions. /Pleased/Care/Trepidation/

“Unpack,” Deimos mused. “Rest.” 

Phobos nodded, “We’ll come get you later, or you can explore on your own to find us.” 

“Unpack, right. Yeah.” Danny muttered, glancing down to his bags pushed just inside the door. “Yeah, I think I should.” 

He looked at Clockwork, and the Master of Time merely nodded at him. A silent message that he would be staying for a while too and would see Danny soon. It eased his nerves that he didn’t want to deal with right now. 

part 1, part 2

The Justice League meeting chamber was quiet. Too quiet.

The heroes sat around the massive conference table, some looking contemplative, others still processing the absolute chaos that had just unfolded. The Batkids had scattered to their usual perches, some smirking, others—like Damian—still scowling.

Batman, as usual, sat at the head of the table, his expression unreadable.

Superman was the first to break the silence. “Well… that was unexpected.”

Wonder Woman nodded, arms crossed. “The boy was not at all what we prepared for. He is young, brash, and clearly still learning. And yet, he succeeded.”

“Barely,” Damian muttered under his breath.

Jason grinned. “I don’t know, Demon Brat, I think he did pretty damn well. Didn’t even die or anything.”

“He’s already half-dead,” Damian shot back.

“That’s semantics,” Jason said with a shrug.

Dante moves to Gotham for a fresh start and opens a bakery called "Dante's Infer-dough" (because he's a pun-loving, quippy dork, no matter how cool or mysterious he acts). He uses his powers to do most of the work (heat core/pyrokinesis for baking & duplication to run the place single-handedly where no one can see).

He also gets ingredients from the Infinite Realms that you can't get on Earth, from Realm-exclusive ingredients to things that are extinct. Super cagey about his recipes, for obvious reasons, but tries to be accommodating to people who need to know the ingredients for health reasons.

Has a sign that says, "START SOMETHING AND I'LL END IT." He doesn't care if you're a civilian, vigilante or rogue, if you cause problems he will HAVE a problem. There's a "NO CLOWNS OR CIRCUS/CARNIVAL SHIT" rule, but he'll allow Harley in if she's not dressed up in her costume.

Red Hood decides to check out the new business, make sure it's not a cover-up for something sinister. I'm a sucker for the whole "gives ecto-infused food to liminal who doesn't know they're liminal" thing, so let's have Dante warm up to the guy and start adding ectoplasm to his orders because he clearly needs it.

Does Red Hood start to fall for the mysterious beefy baker who makes heavenly food? None of your damn business! Do you know who else should mind their business? His family! They noticed his shift in demeanor and are now "subtly" investigating Dante and the bakery out of curiosity. Dante is kinda annoyed that all these vigilantes are sniffing around, because he has to be more careful to not be caught using his powers, but holds to his rule of not starting conflicts.

Just ending them.

Things I can see happening in no particular order:

The Batfam losing it when they realize they can't identify some of the ingredients, or that the only match is a food that doesn't exist anymore. Who is this guy and where is he getting this from???

Red Hood trying to strike up a convo about books (the bakery name is literally a reference), only to be heartbroken when Dante admits to not like reading. He bounces back when Dante explains that he struggled with it in school and an asshole English teacher ruined the subject for him. Red Hood is now determined to fix Dante's relationship with literature

Maybe afterwards he installs a little bookshelf in the bakery and Red Hood falls even further

Dante getting to square the fuck up with someone who breaks his very simple rules of "be chill & no clown shit". No one's really shocked by it, this is Gotham and the guy is clearly jacked. People are still impressed by his clear fighting skill. Mostly Hood. The Batfam are adding this to the list of "BAKERY MAN ODDITIES"

Dante side-eyes Nightwing whenever he's in the bakery, because he may not be in the circus now, but Dante can practically smell it on him. If he does anything too circus-y Dante glares at him and taps the sign. The guy is on thin fucking ice.

The GIW passed an amendment to the Anti Ecto acts that protects Halfas and Liminals after they see Danny transform. A week later Danny is captured by a Meta Human Trafficking group.

Like? Is a super nova beautiful? Yes! A tiger? Absolutely! Wildfires and tsunamis, majestic in their awe inspiring power? Why of course! BUT! Do we let civilians go up and TOUCH these things?

Ha! Fuck no.

They already HAVE pretty substantial evidence that SOMETHING (probably ghostly) is going on. They investigate it. They keep IT from getting hurt or hurting innocent people. Sometimes? It's radioactive material. Sometimes gas leaks. Sometimes GHOSTS! (Very exciting)

There is so much we can learn from that! Push our understanding of the Cosmos forward! Clean energy maybe? Medicine? Who knows!? But they INVESTIGATE! Learn. And, most importantly, get ON SITE first! So they can throw up Caution tape and keep anyone from ending up in the hospital (or worse).

They're basicly the "I want to believe" crowd for ghosts. But also Nasa. But ALSO the highest paid skeptics money can buy and environmental impact specialists etc. They'd NEVER have hired the Fentons. And in fact, probably have them on a WATCH LIST right along side several cults. Solely? Because the Fentons are trying to PUNCH A HOLE into(!!?) The long theorized ghost dimension.

Like?? NO?! DO NOT DO THAT!?

WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!?

Do you BORE A HOLE into the planet to study the way magma moves?! MAKE a fucking blackhole in a populated downtown to STUDY THEM? Maybe try breeding highly venomous snakes next to a preschool, next? While you juggle kerosene?! The FUCK, Fentons!!?!?

Jason: *over the sound of a motorcycle speeding* -swear to god, this bitch looks me dead in the eyes, and i'm thinking 'man i'm about to get clocked aren't i?'

Dick, indignant: Hood, you can't- *breathy laugh* you can't tell somebody to their face that their child looks like the 'do the roar' kid from Shrek!

Jason, still speeding: i can if it's true. anyway, she didn't clock me but she did tell me she was gonna report me to the HOA, so i was like, fuck man not this shit again,

Dick: *cackling*

Tim: they're like your version of the galactic empire, huh?

Jason: at this point, yeah. anyway i told her not to, and that we should just-

*tires screeching*

Jason: wHAT THE FUCK IS THAT- OHHOLYSHITFUCK-

*large crash* *burst of static* *silence*

Dick: ...Hood? fuck- HOOD?

Tim, casually: ope, there he goes.

Dick, panicking: FUCK. Hood, status? Hood!? shit, who's closest to Crime Alley?

Damian: uh- i am, i think, but i don't think Hood is hurt.

Dick: what? DID YOU NOT HEAR-?!?

Damian: i know; but Red isn't worried so obviously he's fine.

Dick: HOW THE FUCK WOULD HE KNOW, HE'S IN DIAMOND DISTRICT TONIGHT!?

Tim, absently: oh yeah Hood's fine, he probably just broke his com or something.

Damian: see? his sense would have gone off.

Dick: ...his 'sense'?

Damian: Red Robin has a special Hood-sense that tells him when Akhi is in danger.

Tim: hm- um, yeah. i got exposed to a magical artifact and now i'm connected to Hood mentally.

*a beat*

Dick: what.

Damian: Hood has text me. 'somebody shot a firework at my bike and it scared me, i broke my com in the crash, tell everyone i'm not dead'. ...i'm gonna go see if he needs help.

*disconnecting ping*

*silence*

Dick, muttering: 'a firework scared me' it's like working with a fucking border collie.

Tim: *snort* i mean at least he's alive?

Dick: yeah- ok, you do not have a fucking magical connection to Jason.

Tim, amused: yeah, nah i don't.

Dick: so what the fuck is he on about?

Tim, without missing a beat: oh we've synched our fitbits to compete in weekly step-counts, so if his heartbeat gets too elevated or stops completely i'd get an alert.

*a beat*

Dick: so why does Damian-?

okok

so

i was going through pet bereavement, illness, and frantically beating executive dysfunction with a stick to get commissions done throughout most of april and may

so the annual spring cleaning sale this year WILL be a summer sale

For those of yall who don't know what the fuck I'm talking about, I have a shop (the link is also in pinned post in desc) where I sell prints, right?

Once a year I realize I have WAY too many designs to reasonably be selling simultaneously, so I take a bunch of the older ones, less popular ones, etc and slap a one month, 20% off sale on ALL of those to clear out my old inventory on them

I normally do this during my slow season, which is usually spring, but the holidays fucked up my commissions queue SO bad that I'm actually still working through some people who requested custom work in March atm.

OKOK so this is my promise - Old Prints Sale will run through the entire month of june,

https://www.etsy.com/ca/shop/WitchsGrove

People who knew her 20 years ago-- Klaus, the Jaegermonsters, Prince Aaronev Sturmvoraus, the newly ascendant Rat Queen, etc-- say she was always like this. They testify that they're not surprised she turned out to be the one who devestated Europa with aerial bombardments and horrific Mind-Control Wasps.

And yet.

I can't help but think, she wasn't always like this.

Once upon a time, she was one woman, with one physical body. She was a brilliantly powerful spark, and she wasn't afraid to lie, steal, copy notes, and cheat to get ahead, on top of that.

She had at least 3 powerful men wrapped around her finger-- Agatha got some of that Rizz from her Mom's side, but Lucrezia was actively trying to seduce and manipulate the boys, and play them against each other.

Let's say the Heterodyne Boys were actively doing heroics for about 25ish years, before it all went wrong. Bill would've been in his 40s when he finally got married.

Lucrezia Mongfish would've been in her 40s when she got married. She's still beautiful, still desired, still healthy-- but time marches on, relentlessly.

Pouting at her Daddy to come help his favorite daughter... It just isn't cute anymore.

Castle Heterodyne was no doubt glad that Bill finally brought a wife home, but I'm sure that it ALSO encouraged him & Barry to open the Seraglio for some younger models, if she didn't produce a healthy Heterodyne Heir or five fast enough.

Instead of cursing her to an eternal sleep or death, Maleficent declares that the princess will grow up to betray the kingdom and serve her instead. So the king sends Aurora away, but one day the young adventurous girl strays a bit too far and right into her territory.

But, crucially, the books manage all of this while having stakes. There are the relationship, personal level ones-- will these orphaned kids become friends? Will they learn to overcome the traumas of their respective backstories? Will they learn to master their magic?

And then there are Larger, life-threatening stakes... but crucially, not 'save-the-world' level. Pierce made the excellent choice for the first quartet (when the kids are like ~10-12 ish) to generally have the threats be natural. An earthquake, a forest fire, a pandemic; there's a pirate raid, but even then the framing feels more like a force of nature. As the kids age, the threats do become more human, but remain generally localized. A crime syndicate, a serial killer. The focus of the story remains what can we do to improve things, here, now, where we are?

Susan: where the bloody hell am I????

Yes that's part of why he is so polite with her, offering a hand to step up/down/over, holding chairs and doors.

But.

She's An Archer. (With at least one knife for pragmatism reasons ofc.) HE has a Sword.

Yes he is bodyguarding!

But he is also familiar with being a team with archers. He covers the Close, and keeps the enemy Back at least a bit so she has room to shoot freely.

Susan: where the bloody hell am I????

Honestly, I’m not sure which one would be better. Archery queen, or the lady whose grandfather is Death AND she saved his butt more than once.

And it would work.

Susan: where the bloody hell am I????