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CALY

Yes, now see that beautiful cluster of glowing glitter? That’s the collection of certain Hasanabi powers in solid form; now watch.” I struggled to conceal my excitement as I leaned over the glass plate with Ten on my lap. “Now touch it and see what happens.”

Ten, now three years old going on twenty, reached her tiny hand out and held it above the plate of sparkling stars and looked at me, unsure.

“It’s safe, I promise,” I reassured her, giving the small embodiment of my universe a squeeze.

Her bright blue eyes twinkled as she poked the tiny mass of gold with her finger. Instantly the sparkling magic climbed up her finger and proceeded to cover her tiny body in shimmering gold as she kicked her legs joyously and let out a peal of laughter as she sat on my lap.

“Momma! Look!” she cackled with laughter as the glitter flowed up and into her black hair.

It was completely harmless, a laboratory party trick we had discovered months ago, but it made her smile and that was all that mattered.

“Beautiful!” I laughed.

“Daddy!” Ten shrieked with excitement when Mendax entered the large doors of the lab. A few of the techs in the room coincidentally made themselves scarce at the sight of the darkly clothed king.

Mendax ignored Ten completely. “Caly, have you seen Ten at all?”

Ten giggled as she stared at her father adoringly. “I’m right here, Daddy!”

“I could have sworn you brought her to the lab.” He placed his hands on his hips and looked around. “Shame, I was about to whip our horrid excuse for an army into shape with some training exercises, and I was going to see if the little commander wanted to help me.”

“I’m here, Daddy! It’s me!” Ten shouted at Mendax as she grinned ear to ear.

“What is this?” Mendax scooped up Ten and flipped her glittering body upside down as he held her up by her little ankles. “This oversized star sounds like my daughter! It is my daughter!” he said with a serious tone.

“Daddy, I want to go wif you!” she said through upside down giggles.

Mendax leaned over with mischievous eyes and kissed me. “You heard the commander; we are off to boss some men around. See you tonight for dinner?”

I nodded. “See you both tonight. We have to go to the Elven realm for dinner though.”

Mendax flipped Ten around and brushed the wavy hair out of her face. “To battle!” he shouted with the arm not carrying her raised into the air as he walked toward the door.

“To battle!” Ten copied as they walked out of the room.

I giggled to myself as I cleaned up my area and prepared to pull out the more dangerous experiments now that Ten was out of the room. My heart was so full it was hard to believe it bore scars from a time when it was cut in half.