The golden sunrise pours over the skyline of Minamo, the capital of the Central District and the universe's beating heart. The Mizuyari luxury vehicle glides through morning traffic like it owns the road. Because it quite literally does.
Inside, Shizuku is at the wheel, dressed in his signature regal coat and glasses, hair loosely tied. Alto sits shotgun, sipping a canned marshmallow milkshake and scrolling through a glowing report on his tablet.
ALTO (half awake):
You'd think being the strongest people in the universe would come with teleport privileges. Why are we driving again?
SHIZUKU (coolly):
Because it's good to remember how humans live. Besides, the car has seat warmers.
ALTO (muttering):
You only say that because you like to flex your license...
They pull up to the Universal Guard HQ tower— a spiraling monument of crystal and steel, emblazoned with the shimmering insignia of Meeresboden. The other captains are already waiting in the meeting room.
Berwick, Eris, Lily's seat left respectfully empty, and Asche Ace. They straighten as Shizuku and Alto enter.
SHIZUKU (sitting at the head):
Alright. Next up: the Deep Sea District. Our objective is the Sigil Fragment of the Waves. Eaura is... complicated, but she's easier to reason with than Hoshi.
ERIS (quietly):
Assuming she doesn't turn the sea against us.
BERWICK:
And assuming we don't drown.
ASCHE (with a wry smile):
Sounds like a party.
ALTO (looking around):
Wait— where's Astera?
SHIZUKU (without missing a beat):
He's got an AP Calculus and an AP Government test tomorrow. He's still 17 and a senior in high school, y'know.
Everyone blinks.
BERWICK (flatly):
Right. The prodigy's still stuck with pencils and exams while the rest of us fight demigods.
ERIS (adjusting her glasses):
Balancing adolescence and eldritch warfare is... impressive.
ASCHE (chuckling):
Let the boy suffer through College Board first.
SHIZUKU (leaning back):
He'll join us after. Assuming he doesn't collapse from the stress.
ALTO:
Honestly, I'd rather fight sea dragons than take those again.
They all nod in agreement.