ZOOM
SUBTITLES
She turned up the volume.
"—about three miles ahead," Edwin was saying. "Scouts report multiple clusters converging near the canyon."
"How many?" Caspian's voice came through perfectly clear.
"At least two hundred. Could be more. They're organizing, Your Grace."
"We'll handle it." Carol's heart clenched. Two hundred monsters. An organized attack.
But she kept watching.
"I'm getting snacks," Missy announced. "Lumi, what do you want?"
"Popcorn," Lumi said, already settling in with her tiny 3D glasses. "And maybe some candy."
Carol found herself moving to the concession stand as well. She filled a large container with buttered popcorn, grabbed a basket of nachos with cheese, and—feeling slightly guilty about all the junk food—selected a healthy green smoothie.
She also grabbed some dried meat treats and fresh berries, bringing them to Shadow and Mochi.
"Here," she said, feeding Shadow a piece of dried meat. "Healthy snacks for my good boys."
Shadow's tail wagged enthusiastically. Mochi meowed and delicately accepted a berry.
Carol settled back onto her cushioned seat, arranging her snacks around her. Lumi and Missy joined her, both equipped with their own popcorn and—in Missy's case—a comically large soda.
"This is the best thing the game system has ever done," Missy declared.
"Agreed," Lumi said, munching popcorn.
On screen, Caspian and his troops had reached the canyon. The Blightspawn were visible now—twisted, corrupted creatures that barely resembled their original forms.
Carol watched as Caspian dismounted smoothly, drawing both Wintersbane and Frostreaver.
"Here we go," Carol murmured, leaning forward.
The battle began.
And Carol couldn't look away.
Caspian moved like liquid death. His dual swords flashed in the sunlight, and his Matter Manipulation activated—rocks and earth responding to his will, forming barriers and weapons.
"Oooh!" Carol exclaimed as Caspian executed a particularly impressive spinning strike that sent several Blightspawn flying.
A corrupted wolf-like creature lunged at him. Caspian didn't even flinch—he sidestepped smoothly and brought Frostreaver down in a devastating arc.
"Ahhh!" Carol breathed. "Did you see that?"
"He's very good at violence," Missy observed, eating nachos.
"He's incredible," Carol corrected, her hand moving to her belly. "See, Caelan? Your daddy is so strong and brave. Look how easily he handles those monsters."
Caspian used his Matter Manipulation to pull stone from the canyon walls, forming them into dozens of sharp projectiles that he launched at the Blightspawn with lethal precision.
"That's my husband," Carol said proudly, sighing dreamily.