Chapter 26

Lily Mizuyari leans against the rail, sipping on a Marshmallow Milkshake, her hair tied up messily. The lights of the Universal Highway dance in her glasses.

Kalt XVIII approaches, hands behind his back, clearly out of place but trying to be polite.

Kalt XVIII
Lady Lily.

Lily
(dryly)
It’s just Lily.

Kalt XVIII
My apologies.
(pause)
May I... ask you something personal?

Lily
(sips milkshake)
Shoot.

Kalt XVIII
You are the daughter of Emperor Shizuku Mizuyari... and Captain Alto Mezzanine, yes?

Lily
(grinning)
Yeah. Two dads. Legendary weapon-wielding, universe-protecting, glasses-wearing dads.

Kalt XVIII
(tilts head)
How... does it feel? To be the biological daughter of two males?

Lily
(stretching, a bit more serious now)
Well, Alto wasn’t always my “dad.”
He transitioned when I was about five.
Before that, I called him “mom.” But he’s always been... Alto.
Strong. Kind. Way too serious. He didn’t change—he just became more him.

Kalt XVIII
I see...
That is... rare, among the elven bloodlines. But not unheard of.

Lily
(glances at him)
You’re curious.

Kalt XVIII
Perhaps. Perhaps I envy such clarity in identity.
(pause)
And how old are you now?

Lily
Sixteen.
Junior in high school. I just passed my driver’s test with an 80.5.
Barely made the cut.

Kalt XVIII
(stifling a laugh)
So the Universal Princess cruises through battlefields and traffic exams.

Lily
You bet I do. I even got a new ride waiting back home.
Papa Alto powers it with compressed stars.

Kalt XVIII
...Stars?

Lily
Yup. Star-fueled Skyshade Aqua. You should see it—sleek as hell.

Kalt XVIII
(turns slightly)
May I ask one more thing?

Lily
Go for it.

Kalt XVIII
What is the name of the Floral Prince’s consort?
I’m told she is exceptional.

Lily
You mean his girlfriend?
Her name’s Nalea. Ancient human. Wind and light specialist.
She’s really cool. Has a wind staff that floats behind her and everything.

Kalt XVIII
Ancient human.
(ponders)
Your cultures have certainly blurred the lines of myth and strength.

Lily
Kinda the whole point of the Universal Guard.

(pause)

Lily
So... you ever been outside Raureif?

Kalt XVIII
(stares up through the skylight)
Only twice. Once to Valefar, to meet with the southern ambassadors.
And once to the lower moons of Gletscher, for training.
I’ve seen fragments of the universe...
But never walked its gardens freely.

Lily
(grins)
Well, you’re about to.
Just don’t lose your mind when we pass by the planet of Bloomfall. It’s chaos.

I think I’ll manage.