Chapter 60: Welcome to Aethelgard

The day of the 'Aethelgard Ascendant' launch exhibition arrives. The event hall is not just an exhibition; it is a holy pilgrimage site. Nexus Games has transformed a massive convention center into a living, breathing piece of their game world. Giant screens display breathtaking in-game vistas. Life-sized statues of monsters and heroes loom over the crowds. Booths are set up for game demos, merchandise, and concept art galleries. The air buzzes with hype, the sound of an orchestral soundtrack, and the excited chatter of thousands of fans.

Our team- me, Rina, Miki, Hana, and Kenji (now officially designated as "Chief of Luggage")- navigates the backstage chaos. Rina gets into her Seraphina costume, and the transformation is, as always, breathtaking. She is not just wearing a costume; she is radiating a gentle, divine light.

Then, Haruka arrives, already in her Morwen costume. She is a vision of darkness and power, all sharp angles and cruel beauty. The two of them, standing in the same room, are a perfect embodiment of light and shadow. They completely ignore each other.

Our first task is the main promotional photoshoot. They are led to a massive, custom-built set designed to look like a ruined temple from the game. The photographer, a high-energy man with a creative soul patch, is ecstatic.

"Yes! This is it! The fire and the ice! The sun and the moon!" he yells, practically bouncing off the walls. "Okay, ladies, I want dynamic opposition! I want passion! I want rivalry! Give me the feeling that you are seconds away from trying to kill each other!"

Rina and Haruka look at each other. For the first time all day, a shared, predatory smile touches both their lips. "We can do that," Rina says.

The photoshoot begins, and it is electric. They are not just posing; they are performing. Haruka's staff, a gnarled piece of prop dark magic, jabs dangerously close to Rina's face. Rina counters, her own elegant staff of light a blur as she parries the invisible blow. They circle each other like two warring queens, their expressions a perfect mixture of professional focus and genuine personal animosity. The camera shutter clicks like a machine gun, capturing every moment.

My job is to be the human fire extinguisher.

"Cut!" the photographer yells. "Rui-kun, the strap on Ectiqa-sama's pauldron is a millimeter out of place! Fix it!"

I have to run onto the set. The two of them are frozen in a dramatic pose, glaring at each other. I approach Rina, my hands trembling slightly as I adjust the intricate piece of her armor. I can feel Haruka's eyes boring into my back. I can feel Rina's smug satisfaction as I attend to her.

"And Hime-Hime-sama's cape!" the photographer shouts. "It is not flowing with enough 'evil majesty'! Rui-kun, give it a little toss before the next shot!"

I have to walk over to Haruka. As I reach for her cape, she turns to me, her voice a low whisper only I can hear. "See? I told you we would be working together."

I toss the cape, which billows out behind her perfectly, and retreat, my face burning. I am not a handler. I am a prop. A human accessory in their high-stakes diva war. This is going to be the longest day of my life.