Another day began in the Underworld of Universe 7, Level 1.
Anita sat at her study desk in the corner of our small bunker, tapping her PQC stylus nervously on her notes. Her head was pounding as she tried to focus on the academic quiz in front of her.
"Ugh. First Law of Thermodynamics," she groaned, pressing her fingers against her temples. "Energy cannot be created or destroyed, so internal energy equals heat added minus work done. But what if the pressure is constant?!"
She scribbled down equations, clearly stressed. "Now onto trigonometry. Cosine of theta for inclined planes. Seriously, why do I need this in the Underworld?!"
Meanwhile, I was relaxing again, sprawled on the couch with a fizzy drink in hand. My PQC floated in front of me, playing my favorite anime. On my lap sat another of my cosmic roosters, the proud and shiny-feathered Number 7. I gently stroked his feathers as he cooed softly.
Every time Anita glanced my way, she let out a heavy sigh and rolled her eyes.
"Try to kill my Number 7, Anita, and we are all dead," I said with a smirk, planting a kiss on the rooster's beak.
"Tsk. Whatever," she grumbled, turning back to her quiz.
An hour passed.
"What?! Zero points?!" Anita shouted, checking her scores. "This cannot be right!"
She opened her PQC's AI Chatbot app and double-checked her answers. "This one is correct! And this too! I knew it!"
Her anger boiled over. Without warning, she entered Blitz Mode 1. In a flash of light blue aura, she snatched Rooster Number 7 from my lap and held a sharp Kali blade to his neck.
"Bring Lord Elai here now, or the chicken dies!"
"Please! Do not hurt him! We cannot bring Elai to this Underworld. It is classified and confidential!" I dropped to my knees instantly.
Anita's aura glowed brighter. Her eyes turned green with fury. She plucked a few feathers from Number 7, and the rooster flapped in pain.
"You treat this chicken like your own child! Maybe you need a real one!"
Just then, the scent of jasmine filled the air.
Lord Elai appeared at the doorway. He had a graceful, almost feminine presence. Long blue dreadlocks, an imperial cape, and sharp, elf-like ears. His eyes scanned the bunker with curiosity, his fingers brushing the surfaces as he took everything in.
"So this is where you have been hiding," he said softly.
Anita rushed to him. "Please, Lord Elai! We need to give Patricia a real child so she will stop treating cosmic chickens like her babies and train me properly!"
"Her body cannot handle pregnancy," Elai frowned.
"We will use Solana's Heal Smart Contract Ability!" Anita insisted. "You and I will take turns healing her! Nameikians only take 9 days to conceive and reach adult form in 9 months. This could work!"
"I do not want any link to Solana. I have not forgiven her for what she did. If I activate Celestial Mode 1, she will sense it and think everything is fine," Elai looked away.
"How would she know if she is frozen in time at Daggerdale?" Anita snapped.
Elai turned to me. "Is that true?"
"Yes. That is how my Stasis Field Smart Contract Ability works," I nodded.
His eyes widened. Without another word, he took my hand and led me to my private room. Anita, understanding what was happening, slipped away quietly to my poultry farm to give us privacy.
Two Earth weeks later, I stared at the pregnancy test.
"Positive," I whispered.
Anita and Elai entered the room. "Really?!" Anita beamed.
I nodded, stunned and excited. From then on, all training and study sessions were paused. For nine Earth days, they focused entirely on my health and comfort.
Then, the big day arrived. With Elai and Anita by my side, I gave birth to a baby boy.
"We will name him Arthur," I said softly. "After Arthur Britto."
Elai held our son in his arms. "Prince Arthur. He will lead Lyria into a new age."
He kissed my forehead and looked me in the eyes. "I am taking him to Lyria to celebrate. Patricia, you must stay focused on Anita's training."
"I will. No more slacking."
"Good. I will see you both in Lyria once Anita finishes the Quantum Knights Academy."
And with that, he stepped through a glowing portal, cradling our son.