11:00 PM, 3rd of April.
In the privacy of her Ebott Town workshop, Lucidia read through the checklist of tasks queued on her computer tablet.
She breathed a long, tired sigh. “A whole day has passed, and I’m only halfway done…”
The defensive Arcanagram on the door shone. It didn’t fade, which meant that the visitor remained waiting outside. Other than Sans or Alphys, no one else could enter without permission.
“Please state your identity,” said Lucidia.
“Lucy, it’s me, Noelle.”
Hearing the voice of a dear friend made Lucidia reconsider. She lowered the defences and opened the door herself.
It was indeed her Noelle, and not the local doppel.
Lucidia checked the corridors to make sure there were no eavesdroppers. “Have you received clearance from my husband?”
“Yup,” Noelle unfolded the letter and presented it to Lucidia. “I’m officially assigned to you. See?”
Reading, Lucidia confirmed that The Supreme Judge had approved of Delta Lab’s involvement, which included Noelle. “Clearance, recognised. Please come in.”
After she welcomed the deer lady, the Seer firmly locked the door and reactivated the defences.
However, when she turned back to Noelle, she found her friend standing with her arms crossed. “Lucy, I heard Mister Sans was puking all over town! And I still can’t believe you allowed Mister Papyrus to delve straight into combat without at least 24 hours of rest! We’ve talked about discharging patients too soon.”
“I apologise,” said Lucidia. “But circumstances did not permit any recovery time. They were Condition Green after three scans, expressed normal mobility, and showed no complications that required extended warding. I had faith they’d be fine.”
“If it’s a regular surgery, I could accept your reasoning. But you used an untested implant based on the DTPR! Did you forget what happened to my dad?!”
Lucidia stared at the ground, lost in the sudden crushing weight of guilt.
Seeing that, Noelle folded her ears back. “…I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought that up. That incident was never your fault, Lucy. You took all the required steps. It’s just, none of us could have anticipated Berdly making the most birdbrain move in existence. He thought it was a great idea to go all the way to Dad’s shop just to tell him that he’s not going to try to court me anymore. And, you know how much Dad treasures me. He misunderstood the situation completely.”
“I could have simulated an incident where your worth as a person was questioned.”
“Dad would have mentally prepared himself to ace that test. Accidents happen, Lucy. That window-throwing incident was just one of those moments.”
Noelle went to get the two chairs and wheeled them towards the far end of the table. “C’mon, let’s have a chat like the old times.”
The two ladies settled down.
“So,” said Lucidia. “What brings you here? I presume Prince Ralsei came to Ebott to answer my call for medical aid for the skeleton brothers. Initially, that is. Obviously the circumstances have changed.”
Noelle sighed. “Yeah… A-about that… Lord Hua insisted on taking that job away from us. He’s going to babysit The Six as well.”
“I saw Mount Ebott erupt into a pillar of lava. Query: Was Prince Ralsei the target of Lord Hua’s ire?”
The subsequent nervous chuckle was a dead giveaway. Lucidia didn’t need to be a Yellow Seer to perceive the unspoken truth.
Worried, she held her friend’s hands. “Are you in danger?”
Noelle was unable to reply, shivering in her grip.
“Say no more. My husband or I will reprimand Lord Hua for his outburst when the opportunity arises. Nonetheless, I believe that the patients are in good hands. Despite his sometimes rough demeanour, Lord Hua is a gardener at heart.”
“A-amazing…” Noelle muttered under her breath.
“Pardon?”
“You’re amazing, Lucy. You speak devoid of fear, as though Lord Hua is a regular person.”
“It only appears that way because I know there’s a sense of mutual respect between us. However…” Lucidia stared down at her own hands, gently rubbing the deer’s warm fur. “I fear different things. I’m afraid that I'd fail Ebott and Lemuria like how I had failed Atlantis and Mu.”
“That makes both of us two scared little ladies, huh?”
What an appropriate description. There were times where Lucidia would feel the world’s darkness threaten to swallow her whole, yet she had also witnessed miracles that ignited a small flame of hope in her otherwise despairing tendencies.
“Noelle, did you know that The Almighty had a hand in the survival of those two brothers? Would you care to listen?”
“Of course, Lucy. A story shared is always better than an impersonal report.”
And so, she told her friend about what happened on the night of the surgery: the stakes at hand, the Psychia’s immaculate purity amidst vast corruption, and the holy words embedded within.
By the end of it, Noelle had her jaw slack from astonishment. “That. Was. Crazy! Like a Christmas miracle on April Fools. Were it anyone but you telling this tale, I would have thought they tried to prank me!”
But after the initial cheer, the deer became thoughtful. “Um, Lucy? If miracles exist… Does that mean Ralsei really could be a reincarnation of Prince Asriel? At first I thought he was trying to play a bit of trickery but… Flowey does exist. And, we also met our own curiously younger doppelgängers in town.”
Lucidia pondered over the question. “Hmmm… The Scriptures made it clear that The Almighty does not permit the cyclical reincarnation of souls commonly found in many folk mythos. Therefore, even though Frisk would disagree with me, I personally considered Flowey as a genetic clone of Asriel inheriting his memories.”
She continued, “But, regarding Prince Ralsei, I’m afraid I won’t have any means to prove or disprove his claims unless I attempt to Chronograph every facet of his private life. Doing so without his permission would be considered a breach in trust and confidentiality, and thus put the professionalism of my position in jeopardy.”
“I… I see…” Noelle rubbed her chin. “Well, I guess even if Prince Ralsei is another memory clone of Asriel, he would have had no reason to disclose this to us until now. He has been and always will be ‘Ralsei’ to me.”
“Indeed. The bond of friendship you share is much more important than his identity. Please excuse me, Noelle, I must return to my work.”
Lucidia tried to stand up from her chair… but she was struck by a sudden vertigo. The imbalance caused her to fall backwards into her seat. Seers with the Blue aspect usually bear impeccable steadiness, so having her head spin like this was a cause of concern.
“Lucy! Are you okay?!” Noelle placed her hand on the skeleton’s smooth forehead. “You’re starting to get a slight fever. Come to think of it, you look super duper tired too. At this rate you’re going to fall extra sick. When was the last time you took a break?”
Lucidia answered in a plain and straightforward manner. “During the holidays… I believe.”
“That’s a whole season ago! Did you even take Sundays off?”
“…Actually, no. Not since the new year. I’ll take my next break during Easter.”
“Lucy, Easter was on the 30th of March. It has already come and gone.”
Hearing that shocked her. Widening her skelly sockets, she muttered: “R-really?! I thought it would be later this month. Come to think of it, I had completely forgotten about Lent. Did my father even participate this year?”
“See? You’ve missed not one but two whole holidays! Even humans can’t keep going without breaks forever. You must rest today. I insist!”
“I want to, but it may not be so simple. Here, take a look at this.”
She showed the list to Noelle, knowing that more than half the work involved reports required from a Chronographer. Lucidia had sorted the list of tasks into two categories: ‘Chronography’ and ‘Other’. Those with an asterisk had a footnote saying ‘Treaty required’.
“As you can see, the final fitting and tuning of the magitek armours require a treaty from The Dreemurr Nation. It’s not fair for Delta Labs to proceed without the certainty that their services will be paid. Until now, we still don’t have an agreement signed.”
“Why not?” asked Noelle.
“Queen Toriel believes the conditions favour the Magus Association at the expense of her citizens.”
“I see…” Smiling with confidence, Noelle proclaimed: “Don’t worry! Prince Ralsei is here, which means that no matter the outcome of tomorrow’s election, he will make sure you get the treaty you require!”
“And what if he can’t get an agreement in time?”
“No matter what happens, Delta Labs will go ahead on schedule. As the owner, I’ll take any liability.”
“W-what?!” Lucidia gasped, “I can’t make you do that! The damage to your reputation would be far beyond the material and labour costs. We’re talking about the possibility that you could be branded as a traitor. You could lose everything. Your livelihood, your status, your home, even your citizenship. You could end up like Gaelic, who’s unable to even sit in the city streets in a cardboard box.”
Noelle replied: “None of that matters if the world ends. Becoming a so-called ‘traitor’ is a small price to pay to keep reality intact, don’t you think?”
Concerned, Lucidia said: “Noelle, please let me know if anything is wrong. The Heart of Ice protects you from the eyes of Seers, myself included. Were something to happen to you, I… I won’t be able to investigate.”
“I’m aware. I did promise to be strong for everyone’s sake. But to tell you the truth, King Skavvigorza broke ties with Delta Labs. Government funding has run dry.”
“When did this happen?”
“Last month.”
That would be March, right when the drama in Ebott kicked into high gear.
“How is your Lab still operating?”
“The Twin Princes took us under their wing. Remember that toy company Prince Kris started long ago? It’s been making big bucks. And those profits have kept us afloat for the time being.”
Thinking back, Lucidia remembered that the human prince had a fondness for merchandise, games, and toys. Their kingly monster father used to fret about their apparent inability to mature out of childhood fantasies. But, all worries vanished when their passions became profitable.
“I see…” she sighed in relief. “You… really do trust The Twin Princes.”
Nodding, Noelle said, “Yep! We’ve been through thick and thin together.”
“I’m glad.”
“Anyway!” Stretching her back and her shoulders, Noelle said: “Since we’ve got everything sorted out, I can do my part tonight. What is the big plan? Where do we begin?”
Lucidia asked, “Let us start with Sans Serif’s prosthetic arm. Its attachment should be the simplest task and he might still be awake at this hour.”
Noelle began reading the report, staying silent for a while. “Hmmm… I see… Determination destroyed his Psychia’s recognition of his right arm, causing his Perseverance-based immune system to attack it. No wonder you ordered an external rig. As it is, without further enhancements to the Pulse Regulator, an integrated system would be doomed to fail. That’s a shame. It’s always better to have the implant become a part of their own body, like Captain Undyne’s future eye.”
“I certainly agree. External rigs require strict maintenance and are prone to chafes and pinches. However, both Doctor Alphys and Sans Serif are cunning inventors; they might be able to improve the design later on.”
“Y’know… As a scientist myself, I can’t wait to see how they’ll adapt. What’s next?”
“Magitek Armours for Captain Undyne and Sir Grillenn. My main concern will be the calibration of their magical potential. They have grown considerably since my previous analysis, therefore I need to update the data with the latest developments.”
Noelle’s ears stood up straight as she blazed through the texts about Undyne and Sir Grillenn. She grabbed a nearby scrap paper and pen to write down some quick notes. “The quality of Champions from the Dreemurr Nation is indeed astounding! I would rank these two among the top ten in the world! Susie would enjoy rumbling with them.”
“Speaking of Champions,” asked Lucidia, “Mister Mettaton is a Champion-level Hermit Ghost. Doctor Alphys reassured me that she already has his new body in the works, but I’m unsure about certain aspects of his build. For example, his old ocular colour detection systems were subpar, unable to perceive specific shades of blue. The mayhem caused by that DEMON virus also hints at some massive security issues here and there.”
“Hmmm, I get why you’re concerned. Other than her local tech, the only other source of parts would come from the human world. Which means that the body Mister Mettaton inhibits doesn’t make full use of his magical abilities. What if it’s a hardware-Psychia integration problem?”
“I think so too. Could you assist Doctor Alphys with improving whatever needs improving?”
“Sure can do!”
“Hold on,” Lucidia furrowed her brows. “Do you even have all the required materials to work on aforementioned projects? From what I understood from your border-crossing stunt, you weren’t able to bring very much. I heard the five of you occupied most of the trolley space…”
Noelle snickered mischievously. Whenever she made that face, she proved that she’s her father’s daughter. “Heh. Heh. Heh. Heh! That’s because the cardboard box is only a disguise. We smuggled a Mega Sized Dimensional Box together with the rest of us. Crammed a whole mini-factory’s worth of stuff in there!”
“Excuse me?!” Lucidia couldn’t help but to chuckle at the thought.
Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
“It’s exactly what you heard, Lucy. In fact, I’m gonna call Berdly right now and ask him to deliver it here.”
And so, Noelle took out her phone, dialled his number, then put it on speaker. “Berdly, I’ll be needing your help tonight. Can you deliver the Dimensional Box to Lucy’s workshop?”
“Of course I can, my fair and brilliant Noelle! I’ll be right there before you blink an eye!”
“Are you sure you won’t get lost?”
“Me? Lost? In this tiny office block? I’ve already memorised the twists and turns like the back of my hand! Worry not about me!”
In a rush to complete his quest, Berdly ended the call. With the delivery confirmed, Lucidia messaged Sans Serif, requesting him to come over to the workshop for the fitting of his prosthetic arm.
Noelle pocketed her phone. “There’s that. Well Lucy? What else can I take off your tired skelly hands?”
“Nothing, thank you.” Lucidia replied, “Unfortunately, Rosemary’s problem is beyond the scope of your expertise. She’s a victim of an aborted Lich Conversion spell on a living person: a rare occurrence upon a rare occurrence. I don’t know what to do either.”
“Lich Conversion spells… that’s deep into Demontology. You had one of the big names of Pashowar’s era as your teacher, right? Is she still alive?”
“She is, and I’ve called her for consultation. But she doesn’t want to make a diagnosis without inspecting Rosemary’s condition in person. I’ve put the girl in a magical stasis for the time being. I hope my teacher will arrive sooner than later, as I don’t want to extend the spell more than I have to.”
“…Yeah, I get it.” Noelle patted her friend on the shoulder. “Human biological processes are too complex to maintain suspension for long. The best you can do now is rest well and get healthy again. You can’t help that poor girl if you fall sick.”
“I suppose…” Lucidia sighed.
Attempting to steer the atmosphere to a more positive tone, Noelle cleared her throat and said, “Time to burn the midnight oil. I have a secret weapon prepared for moments like these.”
The deer dug into her pocket and pulled out a packet of ground coffee. The bright red packaging had the image of coffee beans, ginseng, a mountain island, and labels in two languages.
Recognising the drink, Lucidia commented: “Oh… that’s from Lord Hua’s island.”
“That’s right! And you know that anything from Momojima grants bonus points to magic users. This coffee is gonna turn me into a dynamo deer, filled with energy! I’ve already taken a nap in preparation for tonight too.”
The Seer playfully asked, “Could I borrow one?”
“Nope,” Noelle stuck out her tongue. “I only have enough for myself and Berdly. Sorry! You need to go to bed, madam.”
The two ladies giggled together, having a moment of brevity before their serious work began.
“Sweet, you two rebuilding the Seraph System any time soon? ‘Cause I’m gonna need it.”
Out of nowhere, Sans Serif appeared in the middle of the workshop. The sudden intrusion caused Noelle to freeze uptight in her seat. On the other hand, Lucidia breathed out a tired sigh.
So, she asked, “What do you need it for?”
“Stuff,” he winked. “Don’t worry, I have your hubby’s approval.”
From the way he behaved, it didn’t appear to be a lie. “The parts shipment won’t arrive at my Manor until tomorrow morning. I apologise for the inconvenience.”
“Inconvenience?” Sans chuckled. “Nah man, that’s awesome news actually. I thought you’re gonna tell me that it would take a week. Either way, I guess that means I’ll focus on my other project instead.”
Still a little shaken, the deer commented, “I-I think we’re supposed to fit your prosthetic arm before we attach any additional devices.”
“Oh, I see. That’s cool. I was getting sick of doing everything with one hand. C’mon, fix me up so I can get cracking.”
“What?!? You shouldn’t be up and about!”
“That’s for me to decide.”
Noelle became so frustrated, she looked like she was going to pop a fuse. Lucidia placed her hand on her friend’s shoulder and shook her head.
“And that is why I couldn’t stop him,” said the Seer. “Mind you, his brother is exactly the same in this regard.”
“If he insists on overexerting himself…” Noelle rolled up her sleeves, preparing to pounce. “Then I’ll have to employ the Susie Method!”
What followed after was a futile chase. No matter how swift or cunning Noelle tried to be, Sans always teleported out of her grip at the very last moment.
“Stop! Teleporting! Away!”
“Nope.”
Huffing and puffing, magical tension rose within Noelle. She began muttering her strategies, trying to formulate the best way to catch that slippery man.
The room chilled. A cold mist appeared. Faint snowflakes sparkled around the caster, fading in and out.
“Hup!” Noelle threw her hand at Sans’ feet, conjuring a rough crust of ice from the ground. Alas, it was to no avail.
Anxious about the escalation, Lucidia politely reminded: “Please don’t wreck anything. I don’t want to spend the next hour repairing the damages.”
“Don’t worry, Lucy. I’m making sure that I’m doing the least collateral damage.”
Sans instead shot back: “Give it up, ice queen. You’re telegraphing way too much. The lack of combat experience is really showing there.”
“He… He’s so cocky!”
Lucidia replied, “Unfortunately, he has the skills to back his words. It’s better to let him be.”
“What about Sleep Mist?”
“He’ll just teleport out of the cloud. Furthermore, should you fill the entire room with Sleep Mist, all of us will fall asleep.”
Sans shook his head. “Lil’ Miss Lucy’s right. Besides, that ain’t gonna work on me. I had a great power nap earlier. Courtesy of my new pal.”
“P-pal? That means--”
It was then the security Arcanagram shattered, followed by someone barging into the room without so much of a knock. At first, Lucidia was ready to tie up the potential intruder, but she stopped when she saw the person’s face.
Hajikami Hua had changed into a white silk kimono and let his hair down, a more casual attire than his more elaborate garbs. On his right shoulder, he carried a large box painted in a wooden pattern. That should be the Mega Sized Dimensional Box. Meanwhile, tucked under his left arm was Sir Berdly himself. The glass on his visor was cracked, devoid of its once green sheen.
Eyes glazed over, the bird muttered in a delirious stream of words: “…His power level… It’s… it’s over 9000… How can this be?…”
Sans snorted. “Seer’s Eye inspired visors, huh? Looks like birdie here gazed too deep and fried his brain.”
Hajikami placed the bird on the floor, letting him rest uninterrupted, “I found him wandering with this strange container, lost. He said it’s supposed to be delivered to Lady Lucidia. I offered to help, but he insisted on assessing my identity first. A prudent yet unfortunate fool.”
“Welp. That’s what I call a ‘whoopsie doopsie’. He’ll be okay after a while. Anyways, how are my parents and Papyrus? Are they asleep yet?”
“Yes. That ‘Fluffy Bunny’ tale drives away dread. I can see why it’s your brother’s favourite. I have read it out loud with the melodies of the Lute of Souls to the newborns, your parents, and your brother. They will sleep soundly.”
“The same instrument that gave me that power nap, right?”
“Indeed. Although, the newborns would stir from hunger in a couple of hours. I will handle their nursing, as I do not require sleep.”
“Thanks a bunch. I really owe ya, and I’m not joking around.”
Hajikami glowed in content happiness. “Little wonder why you’re the Seraph. No matter your choice of words, you’re capable of singing sweet songs of praise. ”
But… his temperament soured the moment he noticed Noelle. “Why is that woman here?”
Lucidia’s friend yelped and stood completely still, terrified beyond words. Lord Hua’s unexpected appearance tossed some of her plans upside down. Without Mezil, she couldn’t count on their peculiar friendship to smoothen things out.
To the best of her ability, she explained: “My friend is here to help with magitek matters. Is there an issue?”
“A friend?” Hajimaki lifted his head, not shy to show his disdain. “How can you be so sure? That foolish deer turned the Heart of Ice against me for the sake of her Prince. Do you not worry that she would sabotage you instead?”
So that was what transpired on the mountain, and the reason why Noelle feared his presence.
How should she answer? Lucidia didn’t want to degrade Noelle in any way, but she didn’t want to downplay the attack on Hajikami either. The response had to satisfy both parties. Or else, there won’t be peace in this building.
With a slight bow, she said: “Thank you for looking out for me, Lord Hua. However, we’re severely understaffed. I won’t be able to finish my tasks without her help.”
Hajikami narrowed his burning glare at the deer. If he wished, he could set her on fire on the spot.
But, he didn’t. Turning aside, he said, “Since you’ve deemed that woman’s involvement a necessity, I will overlook her past transgression.”
Relieved, Lucidia smiled and bowed again. “Thank you very much. Could you pass me that box? I will take it off your shoulders.”
He loosened his grip, allowing Lucidia to pull the box to her side with her telekinesis. After putting it down, she lifted the lid. A holographic interface of its inventory appeared.
She selected ‘Prosthetic Arm Components’ and reached inside. One by one, she took out the parts for Sans’ arm. It was a humanoid external prosthetic arm, measured to the size and length of its recipient.
“Lord Hua,” she said, “Since you’re here, would you want to watch the fitting process?”
The offer caught Hajikami’s fullest attention. “Certainly. Proceed however you wish.”
Whispering to Lucidia, Noelle asked, “I-i-i-is this a good idea?”
Lucidia whispered back. “This is your chance to improve his perception of you. He appreciates technology, especially when it’s used to aid people.”
Hearing that gave her friend a hint of hope. The deer took a deep breath to calm herself down. Soon, she was back to her professional self. “Okay, I’m fine now. Let’s start.”
They settled Sans down on a stool and got to work. Meanwhile, Hajikami watched in silence, evaluating every little detail.
Midway through the fitting, Sans winced from the pain. “Ow. That stings.”
Noelle said: “Sorry about that. The first attachment always hurts a bit.”
“Is it gonna be like this every time I put the arm on?”
“Unfortunately, yes. It’s one of the main drawbacks of an external rig.”
“Eh, no problem. I’ve suffered worse.”
They proceeded to the fine-tuning, making sure every part was not too loose or too tight. They also taught Sans on how to maintain his device. He was a quick learner, and he had no trouble absorbing the information.
Fifteen minutes later, they were ready. The patient tried to move his fingers. However, the movements were still stiff and clumsy.
Lucidia asked: “Have you already found inspiration on how to improve it?”
“I do…” said Sans. “But I gotta test this out first. Don’t wanna break the gadget on day one, y’know.”
Sir Berdly had finally recovered. Sitting up, he blinked a few times and sprung back on his feet as if nothing ever happened. “Aha! I see that I have managed to deliver the goods as promised. Didn’t I tell you my fair Noelle? I knew the place like the back of my hand! In fact… I could do it with my eyes closed!”
Looking around, he noticed Hua and said: “Oh? We have a visitor from the Far East? That exquisite kimono and the fine embroidery certainly embodies the exoticness of the Orient in its entirety!”
Noelle shuffled over to Sir Berdly’s side with a forced, uncomfortable grin. “Yes, yes you’re the Best Number 2. Let’s go get some coffee. We have tons of work to do and we’re not sleeping tonight.”
“Is that so?” said Sir Berdly.
“Yup. Oh, please take the Dimensional Box. We’re gonna need that again.”
“So soon? What about Lady Lucidia and her request?”
“It’s already done.” She pointed towards Sans, who waved back with his new arm.
“I see! The job was done at lightning speeds, just as I’d expected from the owner of Delta Labs.”
Sir Berdly picked up the Dimensional Box and went on his merry way. “Onwards, to profit!”
“Okay I gotta go byeeee~” Noelle hurried out of the workshop before her assistant remembered anything about his accidental traumatic experience. Without doubt, she wanted to be out of Lord Hua’s sight as soon as possible.
Shrugging, Sans Serif said: “Time for me to go too. See you guys later.”
And so, only Lucidia and Hajikami remained. There was nothing else to do here.
“Excuse me, Lord Hua,” Lucidia bowed. “As part of my agreement with my friend, it’s time for me to retreat to my bedchambers. Once again, thank you for the help.”
He said. “I’ll go with you. It’s been a while since we’ve talked in person.”
“Ah, that is true indeed. This way, please.”
She thus walked alongside the Oriental lord down the darkened hallways. Faint rigorous typing echoed in the distance. It was no surprise that Doctor Alphys was working overtime once again, attempting to build a feasible voting system by morning.
“Lord Hua,” said Lucidia, “Perchance, did you threaten to destroy Lemuria in a spectacular fashion?”
Hajikami answered with a straight face: “Yes, I did. Commanding the earth to swallow them whole conveys my wrath succinctly.”
“Then, is it not obvious why my friend used the Heart of Ice? That level of threat will put anyone on edge. Cataclysmic shows of power will only villainize you. We’ve talked about this.”
“A person’s true character surfaces under the heat of danger. The greater the terror, the clearer it will be.” Hajikami then said, “Your Lemurian friend… her answer to my question was too narrow. Disappointing. She shares a similar philosophy to the so-called hero who entombed me.”
“Oh?” Lucidia tilted her head a little. “Query: was the question regarding the morality of a volcano?”
“Of course.”
From the way he responded, she had a rough idea about the answer. “I see… Perhaps it was my fault that she began perceiving nature in that way. A long time ago, I showed her the possibility of breaking terminal diseases through the knowledge of science. Those are a part of nature too, however cruel they may be.”
“Do not carry that burden, Lady Lucidia. You two had studied the same discipline, and yet you had made a wiser conclusion.”
She reminisced about the time she first met Lord Hua many years ago. Though back then his anger was still simmering from his clash with Mezil, he was calm enough to admire the moonlight.
“When a volcano erupts, is it evil?”
To which Lucidia answered:
“A volcanic eruption is a part of the geological activity of the planet, which makes it a force of nature. Nature itself is never evil, nor is it good. It’s neutral like any other aspect of physics.”
Her response should have ended there, yet her own heart was unsatisfied by her response.
“However… There’s a difference between the garden and the wilderness. The garden is a state of harmony with love and care, where the goodness of life thrives. The wilderness is a state of chaotic neglect, where the sole constant is the brutal struggle for survival. I wish for everyone to live in the garden and not in the wilderness. The same goes for you, Lord Hua.”
His eyes lit up with interest and joy, as though he had found a like-minded soul.
“I commend your understanding, woman! Disease, drought, famine… as much as they’re part of the natural order, I work against such barrenness. Indeed, I exist to temper the earth so that it may grow great gardens, be as life or as crystal. What may your name be?”
“Lady Lucidia of House Berendin.”
“I shall remember that. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this pleased.”
Although unintentional, she had found his favour. They had been on good terms ever since.
“Have you enjoyed your travels, Lord Hua?” she asked. It was a simple and mundane question to strike up a more pleasant conversation.
“I did,” replied Hajikami. “I had visited the deepest jungle caves to the most productive of factories. There are still more places that I want to visit before I settle down.”
Lucidia smiled. “I remember the childlike wonder in your eyes when we first presented a combine harvester to you.”
“Indeed, to think that machine was made almost entirely from ores and crystals of the earth. I don’t think I’d come up with such mechanisms even in a million years. It’s always a marvel to see how ingenious minds use the earth’s resources. They exhibit a thought process beyond my scope, as I am more of an artist than a scientist.”
Then, he asked: “Will you visit my island someday?”
“I’m… not sure if I could.” Lucidia lowered her head. “Forgive me, but Momojima is considered human territory. I can’t openly show my face there, and that complicates matters.”
“I see.” He gazed into the air, deep in thought. Moments of silence passed. After that, he muttered: “I hope one day all of Magickind could walk freely on this planet, showing our true selves without fear of persecution.”
They arrived at the designated bedchambers. Coincidentally, the door was open, with Mezil already sitting by the bedside, changed into his nightwear in preparation for sleep.
Hajikami immediately turned around, attempting to dodge any chiding from The Supreme Judge. “I shall attend to the newborns. They’re less of a headache. Goodnight.”
“Goodnight as well, Lord Hua.”
They parted ways. Lucidia closed the door and approached her husband. He seemed more grim than usual.
“Is there something wrong, my dear?” she asked. “You’ve prepared for bed much earlier than expected.”
“…I should have protected Rosemary better,” he replied, fatigue ringing in his voice. “Jacob is a civilian. Lucas is inexperienced. Out of everyone, I should have been the one to organise the rescue operation… someway, somehow. And yet I chose to satisfy my foolish pride…”
“Mezzy… You cannot prevent every evil deed.”
“I know… but…” His words petered out and he fell into silence.
She reached out to hug him: knowing full well about the weight of guilt, and how difficult it was to cleanse his soul.
After a while they let go of their embrace. Looking up to his wife, Mezil said: “…I want to spend more time with my family. Starting with you.”
Her husband reached out for her hand, interlocking his fingers within her grasp: an intimate and romantic gesture.
Blushing, Lucidia squinted in disbelief. “Are you serious? We’re in the middle of a crisis, we’re not in our own home, and Doctor Alphys installed cameras everywhere.”
“Don’t worry. I’m not so brazen. We’ll just hold hands.”
“Oh… if that’s the case, then it’s fine.”
Mezil asked, “Do you still remember our first Valentine?”
“Of course,” she replied, “You invited me to a dinner of Jungle Curry and whatever else I desired from the menu. I couldn’t eat at the restaurant itself, but you made sure we could take our order to a private room in Jacob’s Bar.”
“Even as a child,” said the husband. “I prefered their selection over the kid’s menu. That’s why I was so eager to let you try their cuisine.”
The wife teased with a cheeky tone: “To this day, I’m amazed that you took the risk in the middle of The War of the Red Victory, especially with the toilet suffering that followed soon after.”
“Hmph. I wouldn’t be a proper suitor if I didn’t try my best for you. Besides… that could also have been our first and last date.”
“I know I’ve said this many times over the years, but you definitely have a knack for squeezing in dates during long-lasting chaos.”
“Everything to maintain our marriage into perpetuity,” he said, “From our perception, time moves at a much slower rate. To us, that date happened longer ago than anyone will ever know. Despite crisis after crisis, we’ve been blessed with years beyond counting. A marriage that most could only dream of. So…”
While still holding hands, Mezil stood up from the bedside and… gave a sweet, swift kiss on Lucidia’s threaded lips.
“…I’m determined to stay together with you for an eternity to come, my dearest.”
Lucidia’s heart fluttered with bashful joy, her face glowing in a magenta blush. She couldn’t form any words to compliment that unabashedly romantic phrase, but she didn’t need to. Her smile and a tiny squeal expressed everything from within her.
While continuing her glee, she excused herself and said: “I-it’s getting late. I should get ready for bed.”
“And I will be there, waiting.”
She washed up, changed into her nightgown, and laid herself beside him. Was it a crime to be so happy? Though she wanted to savour her husband’s presence for a little while longer, she soon drifted into dreamless sleep.
But… a strange disturbance woke her up in the dead of night. Checking the clock on her phone, it was now 4:40 AM on the 4th of April. Touching the sheets on her husband's side of the bed, her hand felt the warmth of his body heat, yet not the man himself.
Activity stirred in the hallway beyond the door. Another of her security Arcanagrams had been activated as well.
Concerned, she sat up and slipped into her room slippers. Rosemary’s vulnerable state was on the top of her mind. She reached for the doorknob at first, but backed away upon facing the unknown. Who stood outside: friend or foe?
To her surprise, Mezil re-entered the room. Closing the door behind him, he said: “Lucidia. Everyone is safe. Go back to sleep, dear.”
Wrapping his arm around her shoulder, he guided his wife back to bed.
“Who’s monitoring the situation?” She asked.
“Crimson Keeper Fennel,” Mezil replied. “He told me to return to sleep too. You’ll feel safer with me by your side, right?”
“I can’t quite argue against that.”
The couple returned to bed. Mezil said: “Everything will be alright, as long as we’re together.”
Their heads hit the pillow once more, falling asleep side by side. They took what little morsels of respite they had in the middle of this whirlwind of a timeline.