Celea's POV
"Who's running…?"
She looked up just in time to see her three idiots charging toward her, with an enraged director behind them.
"I'm not even surprised."
"CELEA!" they shouted, crashing into her arms.
She giggled. "I didn't know I was missed this much."
The director stopped in front of them, bent over and gasping for air.
"You look horrible," Celea commented casually.
"And whose fault is that?!" he snapped, glaring at the boys.
"Take them away. I don't want to see them for another second."
"Alright, alright," Celea laughed. "Have a nice day, Director."
As he walked away, she knocked each of them lightly on the head.
"Let's go home, you troublemakers."
"AUH! What was that for?"
"For making me come all this way."
They were halfway down the hallway when Celea suddenly stopped.
She turned sharply.
"Celea?" Draco asked, his expression serious. "What's wrong?"
"Take your brothers and go home," she said calmly. "I'll be back by dinner."
"Don't let anyone follow you."
Meaning: shift into dragons and fly.
Draco nodded. "Alright. If you're not back by dinner, I'll come after you."
Celea smiled warmly. "I'll be back. I promise. If anything happens, you know how to call me."
"Be careful."
"I will. Now go."
Elsewhere
"AAAAAAHHHH! YOU DEVIL!"
"Wow," Celea replied, tilting her head. "Being called a devil by a demon—how hurtful."
She smiled sadly—fake, cold.
"Now, you know how this goes. You tell me what I want, or you die."
She stepped closer.
"Why were you following us?"
"IT WAS THE LYCANS!" he screamed. "THEY TOLD ME TO BRING YOU AND THE DRAGONS TO THEM!"
"Oh?" she said calmly.
"YES! IT WAS THE LYCANS!"
"And who exactly was this lycan?"
"It was—the king! YES, THE KING HIMSELF!"
Celea laughed.
"Oh… it's been a while since I laughed like this."
The intruder trembled.
She looked dangerous.
Unstable.
Deadly.
"I see you chose the hard way," she said flatly, stepping closer.
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?! I TOLD YOU EVERYTHING!"
She sighed. "Oh, you poor thing. You really thought I was stupid?"
"You CRAZY BITCH—!"
"How pathetic."
She placed her hands on either side of his head, pressing her thumbs against his forehead.
"Do you really think I don't know what's happening in the mythical realm just because I don't live there?" she whispered. "A king who despises demons suddenly working with them? You could've done better."
"WHAT—HOW—"
Pain exploded through his head.
"AAAAAAHHHH!"
Then—silence.
His body collapsed.
Celea calmly pulled out a bottle of hand sanitizer and cleaned her hands, her face expressionless.
"I see," she murmured. "So that's your plan."
She looked toward the sky.
"…Looks like I'll have to join the war after all."
"I'm home. Hm… smells good."
"Cel, you're home."
"What? Did you expect me to die? You wish, moron."
"Haha—sadly. Well, nothing I can do about it now, is there?"
"You could always kill me."
"As if I have nothing better to do than kill you for no reason and take responsibility for the other two idiots as well. Do you know how hard it is to take care of them?"
"Yes. Yes, I do. I raised not two, but three morons—and that was since before you even hatched. You're welcome, by the way. You're breathing and having this conversation because of me."
"Hey, don't lump me in with them. I'm not a moron."
"Now give me food, moron. I'm starving."
They headed to the kitchen.
"Big sis, you're back!" Kai exclaimed.
"What took you so long?" Azar added.
"I missed you too," Celea replied dryly. "You couldn't survive one day without me, could you?"
"Now give me that pizza. I'm starving."
They laughed and ate together.
On the Villa Rooftop
"I know you're watching," Celea said calmly. "Come out. I'm joining the war."
Light shimmered, and the same beautiful woman from fifteen years ago appeared before her.
"You're translucent this time," Celea noted. "Afraid I might hurt you?"
She laughed softly. "That's not it, my child. I can only leave my realm in this form."
"Really? Why's that?"
"The price of being born a goddess. I cannot personally descend to Earth."
"So you live alone in the Moon Realm?" Celea tilted her head. "That sounds miserable."
"Yes," the goddess admitted. "Responsibility isn't very fun."
"Wow, now you're just bragging."
"Maybe just a little."
"You sneaky goddess."
The atmosphere shifted, growing serious.
"You know why I called you here,"
"Yes. And what made you change your mind?"
The goddess smiled knowingly.
"Aren't you the sneaky one?"
Celea sighed. "You already know why I'm joining."
"You care deeply for your dragons."
Celea's expression softened. "Yes. I do."
"I'm glad you allowed yourself to love again."