I stared at the so-called Mystical Beverage of Happiness section on the list like it had personally insulted my ancestors.
"What even qualifies as mystical happiness? Is it some rare tea? An energy drink? Unicorn milk?!"
The cashier—a teenager who looked like he'd already given up on life—glanced at me over his phone.
"You good, bro?" he asked in a monotone voice that suggested he definitely did not care.
I grabbed a random pink-colored soda off the shelf, the label reading "Bliss Sparkle—Guaranteed Happiness in Every Sip!"
Close enough.
Armed with my tragic assortment of midnight snacks, I made my way back through the pouring rain, only to find—
The apartment door was wide open.
And standing in my living room, completely dry despite the storm, was her.
The Shadow Queen.
She held out her hand expectantly.
"Tribute acquired?"
I shoved the soggy plastic bag at her.
She gracefully pulled out each item like she was unveiling national treasures.
Spicy noodles. Accepted.
Potato chips. Approved.
Chocolate Pocky. A faint, almost dangerous smirk curled her lips.
Then she pulled out the soda.
Her glowing crimson eyes narrowed as she read the label aloud:
"Bliss Sparkle… 'Guaranteed Happiness in Every Sip.'"
She turned that look on me, the kind that made my soul consider evacuating my body.
"This… is your interpretation of mystical happiness?"
I shrugged, too cold and too done with life to care.
"It had sparkles," I muttered.
For a long, terrifying moment, I thought she was going to smite me right there with divine judgment.
And then…
She laughed.
A soft, melodic sound that made the air feel warmer.
"Acceptable," she declared at last, taking a sip of the soda like it was the finest ambrosia.
As the storm raged on outside, she curled up on the couch, my hoodie almost swallowing her whole, happily munching Pocky and sipping from her glittering soda like a satisfied cat.
I sat beside her, watching the chaos personified sitting there like a perfectly normal girl.
And for the briefest moment…
I wondered if this insane, upside-down life wasn't exactly where I was supposed to be.
Author's Thought
Legends! What should Liam's next "Royal Trial" be?