The school courtyard was louder than usual. A group of students was crowded around a girl with long auburn hair.
She was telling a story about her supposed friendship with Ladybug. My Apex Instinct immediately picked up a strange vibration in the air. It was not the threat of an Akuma, but a constant, irritating hum.
I stood by the lockers and watched her. Her heart rate was steady, but it did not match the excitement in her voice. My nose caught a scent that was too sharp and artificial to be real.
"That's Lila Rossi," Nino said, leaning against the wall. "She says she's traveled the world. She even claims to have met the Fox Miraculous holder."
I did not say anything. I just watched as she led Adrien toward the park. I noticed Marinette nearby, looking like she was about to snap. Her frustration was pouring off her in waves. I decided to follow them to see what Lila was actually up to.
At the park, Lila showed Adrien a necklace that looked like a fox tail. My Sixth Sense gave a sharp tug. The necklace was plastic. It had no magical signature at all.
When Ladybug arrived and called out the lie, the air changed.
The embarrassment coming from Lila was so thick I could almost taste it. As Ladybug swung away, Lila's face shifted into something cold. The static hum in my ears grew louder.
A dark butterfly descended and merged with her necklace. Orange smoke flooded the park. A new figure appeared, looking exactly like a hero from the ancient books. Volpina had arrived.
"Axel, this is going to be a mess of illusions," I whispered. I stepped behind a large tree. "Axel, Let's Hunt!"
The silver light covered me. As White Fang, the orange smoke became transparent.
My Apex Instinct allowed me to see the "glitch" in the air where the illusions were being projected. While Ladybug and Cat Noir were distracted by a giant meteor in the sky, I stayed focused on the ground.
I did not waste time with words. I leaped across the rooftops, tracking the specific scent of the plastic necklace and the bitter anger Lila was putting out. I found her on top of the Eiffel Tower, playing a flute to maintain the fake meteor.
I landed on the metal girder behind her. She turned, startled by the sound of my boots on the steel. Before she could play another note, I lunged. I did not give her a chance to create more copies. I was faster than her illusions.
Ladybug and Cat Noir arrived a second later. They were still looking at the fake meteor until I pointed at the flute.
"The meteor is a projection," I told them. My voice was calm and steady. "The flute is the source."
Ladybug used her Lucky Charm to create a bag of flour. She tossed it, and the white powder coated the real Volpina, making it impossible for her to hide among her copies. I stepped in and grabbed the necklace, snapping the chain.
The Akuma flew out, and Ladybug purified it. Lila turned back to normal, but her scent was still bitter. She was not sorry; she was just waiting for her next chance.
Later that afternoon, I sat in the classroom. Lila was already back to her stories, telling Alya about how the "Wolf Hero" was actually her cousin. I did not bother correcting her. I just looked at Marinette and gave her a small nod.
"You were right about her," I said quietly.
Marinette looked relieved. "I'm just glad I'm not the only one who sees it."
I leaned back in my chair and closed my eyes.