Chapter : 688

Sayma walked over immediately. She pushed her glasses up. "How can we assist you, Princess?"

Princess Iris reached into the pocket of her silver dress. She pulled out a very strange object. She held it out for them to see. The preparation for the most dangerous mission of their lives was officially beginning.

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Princess Iris opened her hand. A small, strange piece of technology sat on her palm.

It looked like a thick metal bracelet. It was made of shiny silver steel. Small, glowing blue lights lined the edges of the metal. A tiny digital screen sat in the center. The screen displayed a steady, pulsing green line.

Ken Eliot stared at the object. He slumped his shoulders. He put on a goofy, very annoyed pout.

"What is that?" Ken complained lazily. He pointed a finger at the bracelet. "That looks like a sci-fi gadget. I thought this was a fantasy story. We use swords and magic. We do not use digital screens. The writers are mixing up their genres. This breaks my immersion."

Sayma ignored his silly complaint. She leaned forward. Her dark eyes examined the device with intense curiosity. She clicked her silver pen.

"This is highly advanced technology, Princess," Sayma noted politely. "It appears to be a specialized containment stabilizing device. The Royal Science Division develops these. They are extremely rare."

"You are correct, Sayma," Princess Iris nodded smoothly. "The Emperor granted our unit one of these devices a few months ago. It is specifically designed to manage volatile mana cores."

Princess Iris picked up the metal bracelet. She handed the device directly to Ken.

Ken took the bracelet. He held it loosely in his hand. The metal felt cold. The blue lights blinked slowly.

"Why are you giving this to me?" Ken asked lazily. He tossed the bracelet slightly in the air and caught it. "I do not wear jewelry. It clashes with my sweatpants. It ruins my entire slacker aesthetic."

"It is not for you to wear," Princess Iris explained patiently. She looked very serious. "It is for Risa."

Ken stopped tossing the bracelet. He looked down at the glowing blue lights.

"I allowed Risa to join this mission," Princess Iris continued softly. "I know it is the right choice for her mental health. She needs to feel useful. But I cannot ignore the massive danger. The toxic radiation in the Wastelands will cause immense stress. The dead, poisoned environment will upset her deeply. She is highly empathetic. Her emotions will fluctuate wildly."

Princess Iris looked at Sayma. Then she looked at Ken.

"If she panics, her magic will overload," Princess Iris stated clearly. "That device emits a localized frequency. It stabilizes erratic mana. It calms the user's nervous system. It acts as an emergency anchor."

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"I understand ," Sayma agreed. She pushed her glasses up her nose. "You want us to act as her primary caretakers. You want us to monitor her stability."

"Exactly," Princess Iris smiled a grateful smile. "Naomi, Zinia, and Laxmi will be busy fighting the mutants. They will be handling the physical threats. I need you two to handle Risa. You must closely monitor her mental state."

Princess Iris placed a gentle hand on Ken's arm.

"Keep her stable, Ken," Princess Iris requested warmly. "Make her laugh. Tell her your silly cartoon jokes. Keep her distracted from the toxic radiation. If her mana spikes, use the stabilizing device immediately. Do not let her explode."

Ken drooped his posture. He buried his free hand deep into his pocket. He let out a loud, dramatic yawn.

"So I am officially a babysitter," Ken summarized casually. "This is what I feared. It is an escort mission. I have to protect the healer. This requires a massive amount of attention. I usually take a nap during long car rides. Now I have to stay awake and watch a blue blinking light."

"It is a critical assignment, Ken," Sayma scolded politely. She adjusted her glasses. "The entire unit's survival depends on her stability. We will share the responsibility. I will monitor her physiological signs. You will manage her psychological state."

"Fine," Ken mumbled. He shoved the specialized containment device into his sweatpants pocket. "But I am definitely charging extra for babysitting services. I want a large pizza when we get back. Extra cheese."

"You can have all the pizza you want," Princess Iris promised kindly. "Now, go to the courtyard. Naomi is organizing the logistics. We deploy in ten minutes."

Ken dragged his feet out of the strategy room. Scuff. Scuff. Scuff. He walked through the quiet hallways of the estate. Sayma walked briskly beside him. They reached the large back doors. They pushed them open and stepped into the outdoor training courtyard.

The courtyard was busy.

Naomi stood in the center of the grass. The fierce vanguard leader oversaw all the logistics. Several large wooden crates sat open on the ground. She pulled items out of the crates. She checked them carefully. She moved with strict, military efficiency.

Naomi wore her dark combat pants. She wore a sturdy green shirt. She had a very serious expression on her face. She was preparing for a highly dangerous environment.

Ken shuffled over to the crates. He looked inside one of them. He saw a bunch of thick, ugly clothing.

"What is this?" Ken complained lazily. He pulled out a bulky, bright yellow suit. It was made of thick rubber. "This is a fashion disaster. I refuse to wear this. It makes me look like a giant lemon."

Naomi looked up from her clipboard. She saw Ken holding the yellow suit. Her strict expression softened just a tiny bit. She smiled a very small, warm smile at him. She liked seeing him.

"You have to wear it, Ken," Naomi instructed gently. She walked over to him. "That is our hazardous environment gear. The Upper Council issued it for the mission. The 5 Wastelands are filled with lethal radiation. The air is toxic. If you breathe the yellow mist, your lungs will melt."

Ken dropped the yellow suit back into the crate. He crossed his arms over his chest. He put on a massive pout.

"Rubber does not breathe, Naomi," Ken argued casually. "It traps body heat. I am going to sweat constantly. Sweating ruins my entire vibe. Can I just hold my breath? I am very good at holding my breath. I practice in the bathtub."

Naomi let out a soft, musical laugh. She playfully bumped his arm with her shoulder.

"You cannot hold your breath for three days, slacker," Naomi teased warmly. She reached into the crate. She pulled out a large, black gas mask. The mask had thick glass eye pieces. It had two round filters on the cheeks. She handed it to him. "You need to wear the mask too. Please take this seriously. I want you to be safe out there."

Ken took the black gas mask. He inspected the glass lenses.

"This is going to ruin my hair," Ken sighed dramatically. "My spikes take zero minutes to style in the morning. This mask will flatten them . The sacrifices I make for this unit are truly historic."