Chapter 20

The Universal Guard War Room. Holograms of Raureif shimmer across the table. The captains—Shizuku, Alto, Eris, Asche, Berwick—stand in a semicircle, joined by Kalt XVIII and Astera. The air is tense but electric with purpose.

Shizuku
Alright.
Step one—secure the palace.
Step two—restore Kalt XVIII to the throne.
Step three—strip Givre of his hold on Raureif.
Sound like a plan?

Kalt
(breathing deep)
It does. But there's one thing I didn’t tell you...
I tried to speak to the people 10 months ago.
Their eyes... were glazed. Their words weren’t theirs.
They only chant his name.
He’s not just ruling.
He’s... inside them.

Asche
Mind domination?

Berwick
Or worse—spiritual anchoring. Something that bypasses the soul’s own will.

Eris
(disturbed)
That kind of grip… it’s primordial-level.
No offense to Kalt, but this isn’t a normal monarchy problem anymore.

Shizuku
(smirking darkly)
So what you’re saying is, this isn’t a coup.
It’s an exorcism.

Alto
(lightly sarcastic)
Lovely. Can’t wait to add that to the mission board.
“Universal Guard Operation #921: Cleanse a kingdom of ice-brain zombies.”

Lily, seated on the steps nearby with Dramatic Play across her back, suddenly lifts her head.

Lily
Then we need someone who can rewire minds.
Not kill.
Not burn.
But... harmonize.
Undo the frequencies that Givre’s placed in their heads.

All eyes turn to her.

Lily
Celeste. Celeste Diminuendo.
She’s Alto’s cousin.
The Captain of the Arcana Sound and Support Guard.
She can do it.

Alto
(tensing, then nodding slowly)
She could. If she’s not in the middle of conducting one of her endless universal orchestra recitals…

Shizuku
(sighs)
Send her a message. Tell her it’s important.

Alto
You think she’s gonna care just because it’s me?

Shizuku
Tell her it’s for me, too.
And that Givre’s tuning fork is out of tune with existence.

Lily
(grinning)
She’s always been dramatic. That’ll work.

Kalt
(hope flickering in his eyes)
You really think one person can free an entire kingdom’s minds?

She’s not just one person. She’s Celeste. If anyone can out-sing a monster… it’s her.