Alexandra sat between Nyx and Calypso with a little tender smile on her lips. She’d failed to do what she wanted today, but it seed her self-loathing had ended for now. She was visibly replaying the conversation with Kaiden in her head over and over again, judging by the way her expression softened every few seconds, and that small, timid but genuine smile refused to leave her face.
Lux looked around the artifact vehicle with wide eyes, taking in the sleek interior and the magical displays built into the walls. "So cool!" she breathed with sparkly eyes.
She turned to Aria with amazed excitent practically radiating from her. "You’re so amazing, sis!"
Aria smiled gently and shook her head. "I don’t own this vehicle, Lux."
Lux pouted imdiately and crossed her arms. "You’re such a dummy! Being taxied around in one by governnt agents is much better than owning a vehicle!"
Aria raised an eyebrow, and her smile widened slightly. "Maybe you’re right."
Then she looked at Kaiden with eyes full of love and warmth. "It’s all thanks to Kai..."
"All thanks to ?" Kaiden put a hand over her shoulder and pulled her a bit closer. "We would not be where we are without you. I would not be where I am without you, Aria."
"..." Aria leaned against him, full of adoration. Her hand ca up to rest on his thigh, and she closed her eyes for just a mont as if savoring the simple comfort of being close to him. The tenderness between them was palpable, a quiet reassurance that spoke louder than words ever could.
Kaiden’s attention then shifted when he noticed Luna and Bastet bickering in the corner. Both had handhelds in their hands, and Bastet’s expression was one of pure indignation.
"You’re cheating!" Bastet accused, pointing at Luna’s screen.
Luna just grinned and leaned back with smug satisfaction written all over her face. "You’re just a noob, kitty. You thought you were so good at human technology, but all you can do is watch funny cat videos and be proud of it. Guess what? That’s the level of a three-year-old child."
The tanned pharaoh’s eyes flashed with competitive fire. She couldn’t take that disrespect, and she leaned forward with renewed determination. "Rematch. Right now."
Kaiden raised an amused eyebrow, and as if sensing his attention, Luna looked his way and grinned even more smugly.
Kaiden didn’t need an explanation. Luna had been complaining that she couldn’t find proper opponents because she was too much of a superhuman with reflexes like lightning.
She easily defeated normal human enemies, even if they were top players in their respective gas. It appeared the gar girl had decided to create an opponent of her own and build her up from the ground up. Bastet was a competitive woman, and more than that, if taunted right, Luna might just be able to get the tanned kitty to take the competition seriously enough to improve on her own. In ti, she could give Luna a run for her money.
’She’s training her own opponent... Building up the hero who might one day defeat the villain...’ Kaiden chuckled inwardly. ’That’s so evil mastermind behavior if I’ve ever seen one.’
Then he chuckled aloud, shaking his head with amusent. ’That fits Luna far too well.’ The gar girl had always had that streak in her, the desire to engineer her own fun when the world couldn’t provide it naturally.
"So where are you taking us, Darling?" Calypso asked with curiosity in her voice.
Kaiden grinned. "It’ll be a surprise."
"So secretive~" Nyx purred.
The vehicle slowed to a stop in an empty location away from the main crowds. One of the Association mbers approached with a large bag and began distributing items to the group.
"These masks will shield your faces from being noticed," the guard explained as he handed them out. "They transform your facial features instead of hiding them like a traditional mask, so you’ll blend in naturally."
However, the guard’s expression turned dry as he looked toward Calypso and Bastet. The red-skinned demoness with her curved horns and the tanned cat-woman with her feline ears and tail weren’t going to be hidden by any mask. Their exotic features were far too distinctive.
Kaiden waved off the concern. "It’s okay. We’re not here to walk around in crowds. And besides, they could just be cosplayers."
The guard looked at them for a second ti, with his expression turning even more wry as his gaze took in the horns, tails, ears, and other distinctly non-human features. "A very professional cosplay..."
Kaiden just shrugged. "We’ll have backup, too."
The guard suddenly shuddered at that statent, knowing exactly what Kaiden ant.
Vespera Ashborn.
Kaiden and the others donned their masks. The mont they settled into place, their facial features shifted subtly. Not enough to make them unrecognizable to each other, but enough that an observer who didn’t know what to look for wouldn’t connect them to their public identities.
Alexandra hesitated for a mont before putting hers on, and when the transformation settled, she took a shaky breath as if the small disguise gave her a bit more courage.
They stepped out into the evening air and rged with the crowd moving through the city streets.
The night was alive with energy. Streetlights cast warm glows across the pavent, and the hum of conversation mixed with distant music from nearby establishnts. People moved in every direction, so rushing ho after work while others were just beginning their night out.
Luna stretched her arms overhead and let out a satisfied breath. "Man, how long has it been since we had a normal night out like this?"
"Too long," Nyx agreed, walking beside her with a happy smile. "Just walking with friends and loved ones. No monsters. No dungeons. No life-or-death situations. Not even a stream to keep entertained."
Aria glanced at the crowd around them and nodded. "It’s great! I forgot what this felt like."
The three Valkyries exchanged looks, and there was an unspoken understanding between them.
They’d been fighting for so long that simple normalcy had beco a luxury.
Walking through a city street without the weight of responsibility pressing down on them was freeing in a way they hadn’t experienced in what felt like many months, even if in reality it was a shorter ti.
Lux bounced ahead of them, pointing at shop windows and marveling at the displays. Alice walked quietly beside Kaiden with her hand still holding his, and even she seed more relaxed and content than usual.
Alexandra stayed close to Nyx, visibly anxious to be recognized. However, the disguise gave her just enough distance from her fears that she could breathe a little easier.
They turned a corner, and the crowd thinned as they approached a quieter district. The buildings here were taller, more refined, with elegant architecture that spoke of old money and established prestige.
Then they arrived.
The establishnt stood before them like a monunt to luxury. The exterior was polished marble and glass with golden accents that glead under carefully placed lighting. A long red carpet led to the entrance, where well-dressed attendants stood at attention.
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