The Morning We Called Ours

The Prismic Gathering mansion, usually alive with alarms and commands, had settled into a rare, peaceful silence over the past few weeks. Outside, cities were slowly rising from their wounds, but inside these walls, a calm had taken root.

In the long dining hall, morning sunlight spilled through tall windows, catching the steam rising from sizzling pots and fresh plates. Around the oval table, the elite team gathered—Jessie, Neve, Kamaki, Felicia, Raijin, Gendai, and even Kazimir. For once, no one nursed wounds, and no crises beckoned. It was just them.

Jessie, biting into her breakfast sandwich, scanned the room. Her eyes landed on an absence.

"So… where's Lihanna?" she asked.

Just then, Tyrone and Riah entered together. Tyrone moved with an easy confidence, a sly grin playing on his lips.

"She's probably still sleeping," he said.

Eyebrows rose around the table.

Riah smirked. "I actually saw him coming out of her room. Looked like… something happened."

Raijin nearly choked on his noodles. "Wait—this bitch boy actually cracked Lihanna? Damn, I gotta give you some points for that!"

Tyrone shrugged. "Well… we're dating now."

"WHAT?!" The room went silent. Felicia dropped her cup. Kamaki blinked, stunned. Gendai froze mid-thought. Jessie and Neve were speechless.

Only Kazimir remained unfazed, calmly devouring his sixth plate like the apocalypse wasn't on the menu.

Neve leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "Oh wow. Love's in the air! I wish you both the best. But Tyrone, if I don't get an invite to your wedding—prepare to become a beautiful chunk of ice."

Tyrone rolled his eyes. "Sheesh. That's harsh! I might die of frostbite before the honeymoon."

Neve smiled sweetly. "Then the solution's simple."

Tyrone raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

"Don't die."

"…Such a profound and philosophical answer."

Jessie laughed. "She's bluffing. If you didn't invite her, she'd be outside the venue crying in a winter coat, eating ice cream, holding a sign that says 'Betrayed.'"

"Hey! You're ruining my image."

"What image? You're a glorified freezer with fashion sense."

"Maybe I'm just too beautiful to be taken seriously. Unlike someone whose aura screams 'stab first, ask never.'"

"You wanna test that theory, mini-fridge?"

"I AM NOT FAT!"

"Not saying you are, but those two snowballs on your chest? Definitely packing some insulation."

"Oh, you're just mad yours are on low settings. Mine are Ultra HD."

Raijin sighed. "This conversation is… oddly engaging."

Tyrone chuckled. "You're such a gooner, bro."

Raijin smirked. "Don't think just 'cause you got laid you're the top dog now, Tyrone. One body count and he thinks he's the main character."

"Says the guy who's been passed around like a baton at a relay race."

"Oh nah—run. The. Fade."

Gendai slammed her fork down. "Can you two shut up for once? You're like arguing children—except children don't try to uppercut each other over breakfast!"

Riah laughed. "There's so much going on, I can't even keep track."

Gendai's eyes flicked to the corner. "And then there's him—too busy devouring food like a wild pig to care."

Kazimir didn't look up. "Oink."

Silence fell.

Then Jessie, Neve, Kamaki, Gendai, and even Tyrone burst out laughing. Kazimir simply refilled his plate.

"Maybe with all that power he burns, he just needs more calories," Tyrone joked.

"No," Riah said with a smile. "Kazimir just really loves food. If there's a way to win him over, it's through his stomach."

"Now I get why he picked the portable kitchen over the succubus," Raijin muttered.

CLINK!

A fork flew through the air and nailed Raijin square in the forehead. He yelped and toppled from his chair.

Tyrone stood over him. "Damn, you just got knocked out by a fork."

"F*** you, man."

Kamaki chuckled. "You dodged blades in war… but not a fork. Impressive."

Raijin grumbled. "I swear I'm throwing hands after breakfast."

Suddenly, footsteps echoed in the hall.

Everyone turned.

Lihanna entered. Hair tied back, face fresh, but her steps a little unsteady. Smiles flickered across every face.

"Well, well, well…" Neve said with a grin. "If it isn't the sleeping beauty herself. How'd you sleep?"

Jessie added, "You're walking funny. I guess the rumors are true."

"I'm walking just fine," Lihanna said.

"Mmhmm," Riah said with a teasing glance. "Little wobble there. Looks like Tyrone really had you last night."

"Are you guys seriously going to keep teasing me?"

Raijin smirked. "Let's be real. Tyrone had you down bad. You usually train at sunrise. Today? Just birds chirping."

Lihanna sighed.

"Come on, sit down and eat," Jessie said. "Moments like this don't come often."

"Yeah, but one thing's weird," Neve added. "Ingress still hasn't come back. Since the Blood Moon, he went to the Astral Legion and vanished."

Raijin shook his head. "Knowing him, he's brooding on a cliff somewhere. Shirtless. Rain pouring down. Whispering Kazimir's name to the void."

Riah shrugged. "Honestly, who cares? He barely joins us anyway."

Jessie nodded. "That's true. And today—it's different. Seeing us all together like this, laughing… it feels like a real family."

"Yeah," Neve said softly. "I want more moments like this."

"That's why we stay united," Gendai said.

"Watch each other's backs," Kamaki added.

"Wipe out all our threats," Raijin said.

"Grow together," Tyrone said.

"Hunt in unity," Felicia added.

"Race through the chaos," Jessie said.

"Fight with love," Neve whispered.

"To protect the beauty of this world," Riah said.

Kazimir finally looked up. His eyes sharp but calm.

"And fight with glory."

Lihanna smiled, voice steady.

"And honor. Because we are… the Prismic Gathering."

The table fell quiet—not from awkwardness or tension, but from a shared understanding. They were more than warriors. They were family.