Following hard on Pai’s reveal of her mother, Luce backpedals as quickly as she can. The goddess talk is also quickly drawn down. After running the Russian Empire for just over a hundred years, there’s no way a demi or Fusion could not know who Reina is.

But obviously having an inflated opinion of herself, Luce goes right back to poke the bear by flirting with Graf. We close with yet another mic drop about my main character.

Enjoy my content? Buy me a beer!

There was a pause as the Fusion looked back at the river.  “I am older.  And, I apologize for my earlier behavior.”

“Power does focus one’s attention, does it not!” Pai laughed at her.  “Still, the locals seem quite taken with you.  Are they aware of your plans?”

“Some of them and some of my plans, yes,” Luce admitted.  Pai spooked her.  “I have spent four months here, conditioning them to my presence and my godhead.”

A cold wind blew down the small river valley.

“You eat.  Poop.  Obviously horny if you are engaged,” Pai was conversational, not confrontational.  “You are not a god.”

“I came of age in northern Japan.  If that word makes you uncomfortable, use kamuy or kami instead,” Luce allowed.

“With such plans, you are ara-mitama?”

What did Pai just ask?

“I am,” Luce answered very ambiguously.  “Since you mentioned it, shall we take lunch?  My treat, Graf, as your wife does not eat.”

“Are you hitting on my husband?” Pai asked in a low tone.

“Yes.”

Back south, there was a small bistro just off the footbridge.  Luce, nodding at the staff who looked shocked to see her there, sat by the window, with her opposite Graf and Pai, her rifle and staff into the seat next to her.  Another too long look to Graf and she recommended the black bean burger while she ordered a Club sandwich.  She and the human got iced tea.

“Are Fusions like demis?” he asked.  “Can’t stand alcohol?”

“Yes,” she replied, not looking angry or sullen for once.  “Recall our Founder was and is also demi-human.  It seems bound to our nature.  There are no Fusions who are not.”

“Interesting new race you’ve got there,” Pai noted.

“At least we can breed.  I do feel sorry for you two.  But, your lives, your choices,” Luce allowed, looking out the window.

Into the hush, Pai said, “Go ahead and tell her, husband.  I’m not embarrassed by this at all.”

“By what?” the Fusion asked.

Graf proceeded to explain their complex relationship with Alix, and her two plus one children. 

“I understand,” she said as their plates were set down.  “Clever of all three of you.  Miss Alix must love you, too.  Not surprising, given what you are.”

“What does that – ?” he began.

“Not now,” Pai interrupted.  She stared hard at the other’s blue eyes.

Again!  What is she keeping from me?  She’s never done this before.  He ate in silence as Pai prodded Luce a bit more about the complex three-, now four-way, politics of the DMZ.