"They saved the centaur village," Penelo exclaims excitedly, perched beside Pip as her legs swing beneath the table. "Ten, no,twelve! Twelve warriors conquered in a single night! Pip was a golden blur! A pleasure hurricane!"
Maribelle blinks. "A what?"
Morning sunlight pours in through the wide windows, catching on Pip's polished frame and Penelo's bouncing ears as the team gathers around a large round table.
Maribelle Blackthorn, resplendent in polished pauldrons, thick leather spellplate, and a red sash that screams 'I could end you politely', sits sipping her tea with the serene poise of a noblewoman and the silent, simmering presence of a battlefield general.
"So," Vuvi says, tearing into a buttered croissant, "we're basically legends now."
Maribelle raises a brow, but says nothing.
"And we took out Lady Syraleth," Veena adds casually, flipping through her notebook and tapping numbers with a proud smirk. "Demon Baroness. She turned into a carriage-sized sex-powered lust-dragon. Vuvi handled her. Sort of. I punched her through a wall."
"I blew her face off with my trusty Boombuster." Vuvi snickers with a smug smirk.
"We've made so much gold too," Penelo adds after a pause. "Like. So much!"
At the center of it all, Pip gives a modest little chime and shrugs.
Maribelle gently sets her teacup down. "Mm." The girls quiet down, facing Vuvi's mother with curious faces, "I know," Maribelle says evenly.
Vuvi's head snaps up. "How?"
"I've had eyes on you since the day you left." Maribelle says easily as she folds her arms. " You really thought I was going to let my only daughter gallivant around a cursed continent with a glowing pleasure construct?"
"You used animals, didn't you?" Vuvi scowls.
Maribelle gives a helpless shrug. "A couple. All trained, I assure you."
Veena narrows her eyes. "Was a hawk with the monocle one of them?"
"I'm proud of you," Maribelle continues. "Of your construct. Of your team. You've grown, Vuvela. You've left the lab. You've met people. And somehow, despite it all, you've built something. Something good." She looks at Pip. "Consider my doubts lifted. He's not just another construct. He's a miracle. Which is why, if you'll have me, I would like to join you on your journey."
The table falls silent instantly and Pip beeps twice with excited approval.
"You're hiding something." Vuvi mutters, narrowing her eyes on her mother.
"I'm always hiding something," Maribelle replies with a slight shrug. "But this one's not a secret. Syraleth's defeat will soon reach the Demon Queen. Her minions will come looking. I fear for your safety."
"They'll send more Baronesses?" Penelo whimpers.
"Or worse," Maribelle replies grimly.
Only Veena looks unfazed. She sips her tea slowly, eyes on Vuvi. "Told you so," she mouths wordlessly.
"We were leaving tomorrow anyway." Vuvi grunts, trying to appear unmoved. " Just one more thing to do first."
Maribelle raises a brow. "The Alchemist Showcase?"
"Yup." Vuvi's replies as grin turns sharp and dangerous.
"Will the Mystberns be there?" Maribelle sighs.
"Oh, yes!"
She takes another slow sip. "Well, best of luck then."
Later that day, The Alchemist Guild's campus buzzes with excitement. Ivory towers, blooming gardens, and mechanical contraptions litter the campus grounds like half-finished dreams. Students rush through the entry gates, robes fluttering and vials clinking.
Vuvi strides confidently through the crowd, clipboard in hand. "Registration complete. Booth three. Let's break some cat-kin hearts."
Penelo trails behind her, carrying Pip's polish kit and a basket of stamina snacks. "Are we gonna win something?"
"Recognition," Vuvi mutters. "And a broken ego. Raenly's ego!"
They made their way past ornate archways to the exhibition plaza. And there, like an oily shadow emerging from a perfume cloud, stands Raenly Mystbern, cat-kin prodigy, wearing an embroidered waistcoat and a smirk that screamed punch me.
Beside him stands Mysa, his older sister, tall, curvaceous, long auburn hair framing a perpetual expression of someone bored with your existence.
"Well, well," Raenly says with exaggerated cheer. "Vuvela Blackthorn. I see you brought your... tin can."
"He has a name," Vuvi replies flatly. "The Prince of—"
"Oh, I'm sure it does," he chuckles. "You always had such a fondness for naming your underwhelming prototypes."
Mysa gives a long, disinterested stretch. "Honestly, I'm impressed you had the guts to show up after what happened at the last showcase."
"That was seven years ago," Vuvi snaps.
"Oh, we remember," Mysa purrs.
Before Vuvi can retort, a cold wind passes through the plaza. The Mystberns freeze in place as Maribelle steps up behind Vuvi, one hand resting lazily on the hilt of her enchanted sword. "Raenly. Mysa."
They spin on their heels and bow low. "Lady Blackthorn!"
"Good to see you still have all your limbs," Maribelle says sweetly.
Raenly's tail curls around his ankle. "You look radiant as ever."
"I know."
They nod again before quickly scurrying away. Vuvi snorts. "Still terrified of you."
"I should hope so." Maribelle chuckles.
They move through the various displays of the showcase. As they reach their booth, Vuvi rolls up her sleeves with glee while Penelo mimics her exactly, fists on hips, proud smirk in place.
"I'm gonna make that smug kitten cry," Vuvi declares.
"We're gonna make him pee his pants!" Penelo adds.
Maribelle watches the pair, sips her tea from a travel flask, and mutters, "My child has joined a daycare of spite gremlins. Lovely."
Meanwhile, Pip stands nearby, surrounded by a growing ring of cooing women, including a few instructors and judges.
Veena sits beside him, eyes narrowed, notebook in hand. Every time someone reaches a little too close to Pip's golden thighs, she whaps their appendage with the spine of her book.
One tries to sneak a kiss and Veena hisses them away.
By the time the opening bell rings, Vuvi's eyes are burning with anticipation.
The stage is set. The invention is perfect. The rivals are rattled.
And the Pleasure Prince: Polished. Primed. And ready to shine.