Help! My Moms Are Overpowered Tyrants, and I'm Stuck as Their Baby!-Chapter 148: Awkward Truths

Velka turned crimson. "Please don't ever say that out loud again."

I pressed my lips together, fighting the desperate urge to laugh. The blush staining Velka's porcelain cheeks deepened even further, and she averted her gaze, as though meeting my eyes might cause spontaneous combustion. At this rate, it seemed a distinct possibility.

"Noted," I finally managed, my voice carefully neutral. "But seriously what else do you remember?"

She hesitated, clearly wrestling with how much she should reveal. Her fingers nervously tapped the edge of the ancient mahogany desk beside us, rhythmic and anxious. The silence stretched, until she finally sighed, her shoulders sagging just a little in reluctant defeat.

Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.

"In the dreams," she began quietly, choosing each word with careful precision, "we were older. Closer. Fighting together, side by side, as though we'd done it a thousand times before."

She glanced at me briefly before her gaze darted away again, her voice growing softer. "You… said things to me. Things that felt impossibly familiar. Things that made no logical sense, but—"

I raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. "Things like… baby gi—?"

She shot me a look so icy and mortified that it could've frozen a fire elemental mid-flame. I swallowed down another laugh, raising my hands defensively. "Sorry, sorry, never again. Promise."

Velka shook her head, breathing out sharply. "You really have no sense of self-preservation, do you?"

"None whatsoever," I admitted cheerfully. "It's one of my many charming qualities."

She made a small, strangled sound half laughter, half exasperation—before rubbing her forehead in resignation. "You're hopeless."

"I prefer 'unconventionally hopeful,'" I said, mockingly solemn. "But we're getting off track. You mentioned fighting. Do you remember what we were fighting against?"

Velka's expression darkened thoughtfully, her earlier embarrassment temporarily forgotten. Her voice dropped low, serious now. "Fire, mostly. And shadow. A relentless enemy I couldn't quite see just the sense of urgency, of needing to survive. It felt so real. I could smell smoke, taste ash."

She hesitated again, eyes narrowing slightly. "And I felt… protective of you. Fiercely so. Like losing you was the one thing I refused to allow."

Warmth bloomed unexpectedly in my chest, and this time it was my turn to blush faintly. "Sounds intense."

"Very," Velka agreed quietly, studying me with renewed intensity. "But that's the problem. None of it should be real. I don't know you that well, Elyzara. Not really. But in the dreams, it's like I've always known you—like you're already part of me."

I tilted my head, feeling my heart speed just a little. "Soul memories, maybe?"

She grimaced slightly, clearly uncomfortable. "So my grandmother says."

"Your grandmother?" I asked, genuinely curious. "Does she know what's happening?"

Velka groaned softly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Unfortunately, yes. Her advice was both vague and utterly unhelpful. Something about 'the bonds of destiny' and 'embracing emotional suffering.'"

"Sounds comforting," I said dryly. "Can't wait to meet her."

"You'll regret that sentiment the moment you do," Velka said, a reluctant smile pulling at her lips. "She's terrifying. Imagine me, but three hundred years older, infinitely wiser, and with zero patience for nonsense."

I shuddered dramatically. "Absolutely horrifying."

"Exactly," Velka muttered, though amusement glittered in her eyes. "Yet somehow I found myself calling her for advice. Which means my situation is desperate."

"You know," I said gently, lowering my voice conspiratorially, "if you're desperate enough to call your grandmother about me, I'm clearly winning this whole mysterious rivalry thing."

Velka scoffed softly. "This isn't a rivalry. You're just insufferable."

"Only sometimes," I corrected cheerfully. "Mostly, I'm endearing."

She arched one delicate eyebrow. "If by 'endearing' you mean chronically irritating, then yes."

I leaned closer, grinning broadly. "I'll wear that as a badge of honor."

Velka shook her head, though her smile lingered a moment longer than she clearly intended. "Is it always this difficult having a serious conversation with you?"

"Oh, absolutely," I agreed promptly. "It's practically my trademark."

"Wonderful," she sighed dramatically. "The fate of the world might depend on us uncovering dangerous truths, and here you are making jokes."

I shrugged helplessly. "Someone has to."

The tension between us eased slightly, though I could still sense Velka's lingering discomfort. She studied me quietly, curiosity and hesitation battling within her scarlet gaze.

"Elyzara," she finally murmured, "do you really not feel it? The familiarity, the connection… none of it?"

I hesitated, the teasing mask falling briefly. "I do," I admitted quietly. "I felt it from the moment we first met—like recognizing someone I'd lost without realizing it."

Velka's eyes widened slightly in surprise, a faint blush creeping back onto her pale cheeks. "Why didn't you say anything before?"

"Honestly?" I shrugged sheepishly. "You intimidated the hell out of me."

Her jaw dropped in disbelief. "I intimidated you? You the wall-melting, dragon-taunting, chaos-incarnate princess?"

I laughed, genuinely amused. "Believe it or not, yes. You have this whole mysterious, elegant vampire aura going on. It's very effective."

Velka looked almost offended. "I'm not mysterious I'm reserved. There's a difference."

"You're totally mysterious," I teased gently. "All brooding silence and cryptic glances."

She crossed her arms defensively, though a reluctant smile curved her lips. "I do not brood."

"Oh, you definitely brood," I argued playfully. "You've practically mastered the art form. I'm surprised you don't have a brooding manual lying around somewhere."

"Fine," Velka said with exaggerated exasperation. "I'll accept 'mysterious,' if you accept 'hopelessly reckless.'"

"Deal," I agreed cheerfully. "So, where does that leave us?"

She paused, considering carefully. "Allies, perhaps? At least until we figure out what these dreams mean and what's coming."

"Allies," I echoed softly, smiling warmly. "I can live with that."

A comfortable silence fell between us, calm and easy for the first time in days. Yet beneath it still lurked something deeper, something powerful neither of us was quite ready to acknowledge.

Eventually, Velka cleared her throat, returning cautiously to our earlier topic. "These dreams might be warnings, you know. Memories of battles we fought once, and perhaps will fight again."

"Then we'd better be ready," I said firmly, meeting her gaze evenly. "Together."

Velka nodded slowly, eyes serious yet bright with quiet determination. "Together."

I stepped closer impulsively, offering her my hand. "Truce, then? At least until we unravel this mess?"

She hesitated, then placed her cool palm in mine, her grip strong, reassuring, and achingly familiar. "Truce."

Warmth surged through my chest at the contact. I squeezed her hand lightly before letting go, ignoring the faint blush staining her cheeks. "Glad that's settled."

She stepped back, brushing her hair behind her ear awkwardly. "I suppose I should let you get back to tormenting Riven now."

I laughed softly, feeling lighter than I had in days. "It is my sworn duty. He'd probably worry if I didn't."

"Probably," Velka agreed dryly, a hint of genuine amusement softening her features. "He does seem alarmingly accustomed to chaos."

I shrugged innocently. "I like to think it builds character."

She shook her head, eyes rolling skyward. "You would."

I smiled, watching her turn to leave. But as she reached the door, she paused, glancing back uncertainly. "Elyzara?"

"Yes?"

She hesitated, then murmured softly, "Thank you."

I tilted my head curiously. "For what?"

"For not dismissing me," she admitted quietly. "For believing me, despite everything."

I smiled warmly, sincerity softening my voice. "Always, Velka."

She nodded once, quickly stepping out and shutting the door behind her. I stared at the closed door a moment longer, feeling strangely hopeful.

[Well, that went better than expected,] the system remarked smugly. [Still embarrassing, though.]

I rolled my eyes. "Shut up."

But even the system's teasing couldn't dim the quiet, exhilarating joy blooming gently in my chest.

I had barely taken two steps out of the study when I heard it—a suspicious thump, followed by a very loud, very fake cough.

I froze mid-stride. Another rustle echoed from behind the ornate suit of armor just across the hallway.

"…Do you think they saw us?" Riven whispered loudly. Loudly enough that it didn't count as whispering anymore. "Because I feel like that thud wasn't part of the plan."

"Oh really?" Aria hissed back, clearly exasperated. "You were the one who tripped over the statue base! I told you those boots were too flashy—"

"They're not flashy! They're 'combat-inspired.'"

"You're inspired by chaos!"

I blinked slowly, staring in the direction of the obvious spy duo currently failing at stealth with all the grace of two toddlers in a candy shop. Velka, who had only walked a few paces ahead of me, turned around just in time to see the entire suit of armor sway ominously to one side.

"…Should we pretend we didn't hear that?" I asked.

Velka didn't even blink. "They'll pretend they weren't spying. So yes."

Right on cue, Riven stumbled out from behind the armor, affecting the world's least convincing yawn. "Oh hey, Elyzara! Velka! Fancy meeting you here. We were just, uh… taking a walk."

"A walk," Velka repeated flatly, her tone void of emotion.

"In this deserted corridor," I added.

"Behind the armor," Velka finished.

Aria appeared next, brushing nonexistent dust off her uniform with exaggerated innocence. "It's called 'observational patrol,' actually. Very official. Don't mind us."

I raised an eyebrow. "Observational patrol."

"Yes," she said, too brightly. "We're looking out for… forbidden books. And hallway ghosts."

Velka blinked. "Hallway ghosts?"

"Apparently that's a thing now," I deadpanned.

Riven tried for a smooth recovery, leaning against the wall with an expression that could only be described as I regret everything but refuse to admit it. "Anyway. You two were in there a while. Did someone confess a secret crush? Declare eternal loyalty? Kiss dramatically in candlelight?"

I stared at him. Velka stared at him. We both blinked.

"…Wow," I said finally. "You really are just made of audacity and zero shame."

"Thank you," Riven said proudly. "I try."

Velka stepped past him without another word, muttering something suspiciously close to "I hate this school."

I followed after her, smirking. "You're very bad at stealth, by the way."

Aria threw her hands up. "I told him not to bring the boots!"

"They're stylish!" Riven called after us. "You just have no appreciation for fashion espionage!"

I shook my head, laughing under my breath.