Card Apprentice Daily Log

Chapter 2869: The Lorn Reunion

Date: Unspecified

Time: Unspecified

Location: Myriad Realms, Card World, Southern Region, Blossom District, Sky Blossom City, Headquarters

”Aurelia, what do you want?” I asked, noticing her fall in step behind us as we left the assembly room.

”Boss, you see right through me,” she said, sliding around to face me mid-stride, her most charming smile already in place. ”The kids heard about Freedom City, you know, the one on the Lil’ Red Storm realm, and how it’s a millennium ahead of any city in the five regions, and...”

”And?” I asked, with a quiet smile. I already knew where this was going.

”It’s a city, it should have businesses, and businesses need security, right? I was thinking the Bright Lions could handle it. Boss, I’ll only pick the best of the best —”

”Aurelia, sweetie,” the Field Marshal cut in smoothly, ”how about you and your friends take a trip to Freedom City first, see it for yourselves, and then decide.” She said it with the patience of someone who knew something she didn’t. And she was right. If Aurelia had any idea how Freedom City actually operated, she wouldn’t have pitched this to their Lord.

”Huh?” Aurelia blinked, clearly sensing she was missing something but not quite sure what.

”Aurelia, gather your best and visit Freedom City — all expenses paid. I’ll even ask Dalie to give you all a tour of the future. We can discuss the rest after.” I went along with the Field Marshal’s plan. I wanted the younger, hungrier members of my empire to get a real glimpse of what was coming.

”Understood — thank you, boss! You’re the best!” Aurelia was over the moon. She hadn’t gotten what she came for, but an all-expenses-paid trip to Freedom City was an even better outcome. ”Oh, and boss — no need to bother Her Highness Dalie. I’ll ask Henricks to arrange a guide from the Freedom Fighters.”

”Don’t worry about it. Dalie would love to meet you all. And if you manage to impress her —” I threw it out there without thinking, ”— who knows, maybe she’ll make you Freedom City Lord.”

”Really?!” Aurelia’s eyes lit up. Then she paused, visibly turning it over in her head, and asked, ”Can I still run the Bright Lions Security Agency while being City Lord of the Freedom Megalopolis?”

”What do you think?” I asked with a knowing smile.

Aurelia’s eyes dimmed a little as reality settled in. ”The last time I visited Freedom City, Her Highness seemed to be thoroughly enjoying running the place herself,” she said, resigned but good-humoured about it. ”I don’t think she’ll be needing a City Lord anytime soon. So — we’ll just enjoy the trip.”

”You two are dismissed. I’d like some personal time now,” I said, already moving. Neither of my girls had shown up for the assembly, and that warranted me checking on.

They’d come around to me and my vision well enough — that wasn’t the issue. The issue was with each other. I wouldn’t call it harem rivalry, exactly. It was more that they didn’t quite know how to exist in the same space. Neither wanted to concede an inch, not anymore — not when they each carried the weight of everyone beneath them. But at the same time, neither wanted to upset the balance.

”Wanna bet who the boss checks on first?” Aurelia asked the Field Marshal.

”Anna,” she answered without a second thought.

”I’ll take Susan,” Aurelia said, then immediately followed up with, ”What are we betting though?”

Before either of them could settle on terms, a familiar voice rang out behind them.

”Grandma!”

The Field Marshal froze. She’d been playing it cool — doing a convincing job of it, too — but the moment that word hit, the act was up. Luna rushed past her, and Aurelia watched the whole thing unfold with an indifferent face but amusement was clear in her eyes.

”I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she remarked.

”You think what you did is the same as what I did?” the Field Marshal snapped. ”You betrayed your people. I fought for mine.”

”You know what I hear when you say that?” Luna was unbothered. ”Two people who chose to fight for what they believed in.”

The Field Marshal’s expression shifted — just slightly. She didn’t have a comeback, because somewhere in there, she found herself agreeing with Luna.

”You were always good with words,” she said, her voice a shade softer.

”I had a good teacher,” Luna replied. ”A man who charmed a princess with nothing but his words — and ended up with three children and more grandchildren than he can keep track of.”

That drew a chuckle out of the Field Marshal. ”Call your parents,” she said. ”They’re worried sick. And Ransom —” she shook her head, ”— that boy has turned into a smelly nomad.”

”Yes, I will. Now that our whole family has been branded traitors, that call should be a lot easier to make.”

”Young lady, that is not funny.”

”Yes, it is. Come on, don’t be so uptight.”

The Field Marshal responded with a glare.

”Fine, fine — dropping it.” Luna raised her hands in surrender, then pivoted without missing a beat. ”So what are your plans, other than being Wyatt’s secretary?”

The Field Marshal opened her mouth, and Luna was already ahead of her.

”And don’t say you’re protecting him. He’s clearly one of the strongest —” she reconsidered, ”— no. The strongest I’ve ever seen.”

Listening to her granddaughter, the Field Marshal’s frown deepened. This was more than a casual reunion — she could feel it. ”What do you want?” she asked flatly.

”Grandma, you know me better than —”

”Cut the crap, Luna. Out with it.”

”Fine.” Luna didn’t flinch. ”I was wondering if you’d consider teaching. Not taking on disciples, like that Marcy chick— I mean starting a proper martial arts school, like the ones in the VR Universe. You’ve been to one of those, right?”

The Field Marshal’s eyes narrowed. ”Not until you tell me what’s in it for you?”

Before Luna could answer, a voice cut through from across the way.

”Hey, Luna!”

It was Corey — three miniature suns lazily orbiting each other above her palm. A beat later she grinned and yelled, ”Let see what you got — Bolas Supernova!”