Date: Unspecified
Ti: Unspecified
Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, Teleportation Hub
"Aba, don’t make repeat myself. You need to return to the Southern Royal Family with right now," Agatha shouted at the top of her lungs at her young miss, who was hiding behind the likes of Demigod Redfall and Yin Widow. "And you too, Miss Laura. Your master will not be happy when he hears about this."
"Agatha, I’m staying here. My friends need ," Aba shot back. Aurelia gestured for her to stop wasting her breath and let her handle it, but Aba refused. She couldn’t treat Agatha that way. The woman was like a mother and an older sister to her.
"Demigod Redfall, step aside. Unless you want to make Demigod Windsor your master’s enemy. He already has enough of those," Agatha warned, her voice sharp as she turned on those enabling her ignorant young lady.
"First of all, I don’t think either of us has the authority to speak for our masters, so let’s keep them out of this," Redfall replied calmly. "Second, you’re free to take Miss Windsor with you, as long as she’s willing."
"I’m Aba Windsor’s designated guardian, chosen by Demigod Windsor himself. I will take Miss Aba from here by force if I have to. If any of you interfere, I’ll consider it an act against my master’s will," Agatha declared.
Then, without hesitation, she stepped toward Aba, shielded by the demigods of the Southern Royal Family. Her harsh tone wasn’t without reason. She knew the city would soon be under attack, and she refused to let Aba be caught in it.
Aba wasn’t the only one worried for her friends. Agatha was too. But Demigod Windsor had entrusted his daughter to her. It was her duty to keep Aba safe. The Windsor’s were like family to her, and that mattered more than anything. So she didn’t hesitate. She chose duty over friendship, believing her young lady and their mutual friend would understand her decision.
After getting past Demigod Redfall without incident, Agatha’s heart finally began to settle. But before she could even sigh in relief, a teenage girl stepped into her path.
She was wrapped in bandages from chin to toe, hidden beneath a neat black suit worn in a shabby fasion. Blocking Agatha’s way, she said, "I don’t care if you’re her guardian or even her father, Demigod Windsor. She’s one of us now, the Bright Lion Security Agency. Here’s her employnt contract. Last I checked, she’s sixteen. She doesn’t need a parent’s permission to join and move in with us. Now beat it, old hag."
Aurelia proudly held up the contract for everyone to see, even though no one seed particularly interested. It wasn’t about the contract per se but the fact that they were a legitimate security agency.
After Sky Blossom City declared its sovereignty, she had used her authority to secure one of her main goals for the Bright Lions, turning their high school street gang into a legitimate security agency. She had been working toward this ever since becoming its leader, but the Southern Region’s bureaucratic nonsense had made it nearly impossible for a high school street gang to beco a legal business.
"Aurelia, that’s my elder sister you’re talking about," Aba warned her VR-universe friend at once.
This was their first ti eting in the real world, and to Aba’s dismay, Aurelia was even rowdier than she had been in the VR universe. They had t during a martial arts event there and bonded over their admiration for a mutual friend, though Aurelia insisted on calling the mutual friend her boss.
Agatha’s lips twisted as she looked at the teenage girl blocking her path. If Demigod Redfall and Yin Widow weren’t standing right behind her, she would have slapped the girl senseless and taught her how to speak to her elders.
Still, there was one small comfort. Hearing Aba introduce her as an elder sister stirred sothing warm in her chest. It was a bittersweet mont, especially now that she could no longer use her role as guardian to simply drag Aba out of this damned city. The hateful girl was right. Aba was past sixteen now and she could decide what to do with her life.
Desperate, she turned toward the distant sky and called out aloud, "Sir Henricks, I don’t know about you, but my master has always treated you as a friend and even supported your cause when you needed it—"
"Agatha, please stop. I’m in no position to help you," Henricks said as he descended from the clouds, cutting her off before she could finish. He already knew what she was about to ask. However, like her, he now served a master, and in this matter, he couldn’t offer any help.
The demigods of the Southern Royal Family were growing impatient. Agatha had failed to persuade Aba, and their captain’s gaze swept across the gathered figures. His expression darkened at the sight. Every demigod present carried a reputation, and none of them were ordinary. Each one was stronger than a typical demigod.
Force was an option, but a dangerous one. In his judgnt, Demigod Redfall alone could wipe out his entire squad of twelve. He didn’t hesitate and quietly signaled for reinforcents. Just then, a familiar voice cut through the tension.
"Aba, long ti no see. I could hardly recognize you with blonde hair." Princess Christina of the West Region stepped forward. She knew the city was preparing for war, and it was no place for soone like Aba Windsor.
"Hi, big sister. What are you doing here?" Aba asked in confusion. Christina was the last person she expected to see in the Sky Blossom city.
"Just passing by," Christina replied lightly as she stepped beside her. "I see you’re making Agatha earn her wages." Then, more gently, she added, "You should listen to her. Just by being here, you’re causing your father a lot of unnecessary trouble."
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