Chapter 7

The clouds above are lazily drifting, streaked with sunrays that illuminate the grand white manor nestled against a misty cliffside. Sanguinella, wrapped in a dark red cloak, walks up the wide stairs leading to the door, her steps deliberate. She exhales, letting a bit of her anxious energy go. She knocks.

After a pause, the door opens—and standing there in a casual white robe with loose hair and reading glasses is none other than the Universal Emperor, Shizuku 'Kurogane' Mizuyari.

He blinks once.

Shizuku:
Oh. Hello, Sanguinella.

Sanguinella (blinking):
...You're not in your uniform?

Shizuku (stepping aside):
Nope. Off-duty hours. Come in. Lily’s in the solarium. Training, of course.

Sanguinella (walking in):
Does she ever stop?

Shizuku:
Rarely. She’s a Mizuyari, after all.

They walk through the quiet, light-filled halls of the manor, sunlight cascading through stained glass windows of angels, dragons, and stars. Soft water-magic flows down a wall into an indoor pond filled with spirit koi.

Shizuku (glancing over):
Astera’s not with you?

Sanguinella (sighing):
He told me to stay behind. Said I’d die if I went into a Primordial realm. Which… fair, but still annoying.

Shizuku (mildly amused):
That’s... responsible of him. Surprising.

Sanguinella:
I know, right?

They round a corner and step into a vast glass room filled with white flowers and mana-infused ivy. At the center, Lily is standing in a wide stance, swinging her legendary scythe Dramatic Play, its golden-black chains extending like orbiting satellites.

She spots them and stops, a slow smile spreading across her face.

Lily:
Sanny~! You made it!

Sanguinella (grinning):
Of course I did. You think I’d pass up scythe-watching?

Shizuku (teasing):
You two behave. I’m going to brew tea. Yell if one of you impales the other.

He walks off, barefoot and calm, the faint shimmer of dragon aura trailing in his wake.

Lily (tilting her head):
So… how much trouble are we getting into today?

Sanguinella (flopping onto a couch):
None. I’m grounded from danger. Astera’s orders.
So I’m here to complain and be useless.

Lily (smirking):
Well, I’ve got room for one more useless friend.
Come sit. I’ll show you the new combo I’m working on.

Sanguinella:
That sounds like you’re gonna accidentally slice the roof again.

Lily (mock serious):
That was once.

Sanguinella:
It was last week.

They both laugh.

From the kitchen, Shizuku’s voice calls out:

Shizuku:
I heard that! And I’m charging both of you if she breaks anything!

The girls share a mischievous look.