Chapter 27

The shimmering teleport pad inside HQ hums with energy as Shizuku, Alto, Berwick, Asche, and Eris return from the Deep Sea District. Shizuku still carries the satchel containing the Sigil Fragment of the Waves. They step into the main atrium... only to immediately hear the crash of energy blades colliding and the whoosh of spells echoing from the central meeting room.

ALTO:
…What the hell is that sound?

ERIS (already facepalming):
No… no, no, no, no…

They rush toward the chamber. The massive doors slide open—

Inside, three teens whirl around in mid-air. Astera spins with his Mythical Twin Swords, Chrysanthemum and Empire, carving elegant fiery arcs through the air. Chrysanthemum glows with golden-orange blossoms that explode in bursts with every swing, while Empire trails behind in wide, disciplined, flaming sweeps.

Lily is airborne too, scythe Dramatic Play in hand, the stage-like weapon constantly shifting its weight with theatrical flair. Her eyes burn with chaotic elegance, her ponytail flowing like a banner behind her.

Sanguinella, with surprising ferocity, dances below with her icy-blooded blade, Chiketsu. Unlike her father’s star-fueled Enketsu, this sword pulses with pale blue mist and crimson edges, pulsing with every heartbeat. Frost trails behind her, and every parry releases a soft crackle of red-and-blue vapor.

SHIZUKU (staring):
Are they… dueling? In the war room?

ASCHE:
They're using named weapons…!

BERWICK (stepping forward):
That’s Chiketsu.
She must've unlocked it last month—Sanguinella, what the hell?!

ALTO (horrified):
ASTERA! YOU’RE USING MYTHICAL BLADES INDOORS!

ASTERA (parrying Lily with a backflip):
Technically this is a training exercise!

LILY (swinging the scythe with a flourish):
You wanted to test your technique. I’m just making it dramatic!

SANGUINELLA (through clenched teeth):
I only joined because you both dragged me in!!

ERIS:
You three are going to crack the ceiling, rupture the stabilizers, and probably vaporize someone's budget!

SHIZUKU (calmly):
...Ten seconds.
Then I'm vaporizing all of you myself.

The three freeze mid-air. Astera floats down guiltily, swords fading into motes of flame. Lily slowly lowers Dramatic Play, the scythe giving a little huff like it’s disappointed. Sanguinella sheathes Chiketsu, the blade melting into red-ice mist.

ASTERA:
In our defense, the room was empty when we started.

LILY:
And we cleaned up… most of the scorch marks?

SANGUINELLA (quietly):
I'm never trusting either of you again.

BERWICK (walking over to his daughter):
You. Me. Talk. Now.

SANGUINELLA (whispering):
…Hi, Dad.

ALTO (to Lily):
You were grounded three days ago for staying up until 2am.

LILY:
Technically you just told me to get off my phone.

SHIZUKU (smirking):
She’s not wrong.

ALTO (groaning):
Why do I even try?

ASCHE (muttering):
The universe’s strongest family dynamic…

ERIS (half-laughing, half-defeated):
Just get to the debrief already before they start another “sparring session.”

Shizuku sighs, hoisting the satchel containing the glowing Sigil Fragment of the Waves. All eyes shift to him, the air quickly shifting from comedic chaos to silent awe.

SHIZUKU: Let’s talk business. The sigil’s here. And it… remembers things.