"Hahahaha...I'm a strange being from another planet, who's stronger than the Elder Dragons and wields unknown incantation-less magic, and I've been rescuing elven slaves and giving you all trains and MMCs. As soon as people like your mother, Tessa, and Darak learn the truth about me and where I come from...I'll be the spitting image of the Nephilim. They won't be able to help but wonder if I'm truly some benevolent myth brought here by fate to help the elves." (Mizuki)
I continue laughing maniacally, and Ilina rolls her eyes at me.
"Well, you sound deranged when you laugh about it like some evil mastermind, but....yes. That's pretty much what I think will happen. That's why I was so excited when Alara reminded me about them. Even if you just tell the truth – that you don't know yourself as a 'Nephilim' – the similarities are too compelling. They'll involuntarily hope that it's true." (Ilina)
Alara starts giving me a strange look.
"I agree. Honestly, the more that I think about it...are we sure that Mizuki isn't a Nephilim? Seriously. What if they were real, and they just all moved to their own planet eons ago? They were powerful enough. Hasn't Mizuki said that his people are the only sentient race on their planet? Plus, based on what he's told me about their knowledge, they certainly seem special." (Alara)
I'm about to shut her down, but Alto quickly shakes her head and interjects.
"No, Lady Alara, I don't think that's possible. There are other things about Mizuki's people which make it clear that they're not these Nephilim. For one, the Nephilim were supposedly ageless, but Mizuki's people have natural lifespans. Plus, Mizuki would probably be aware of this story already if he was a Nephilim, but he wasn't. I think any similarities are coincidences." (Alto)
Well, if these Nephilim really existed, and the elven fables accurately describe them, I think coincidence is a bit of a stretch. I'm clearly not an actual Nephilim, nor are the people of Earth, but it's very hard for me to ignore the similarities. I think it's plausible there's some commonality between us that I'm missing, but I don't know what that could be.
"Wait, but I thought Mizuki is ageless? Also, Alto, has anyone ever told you that you're overly formal? Please just use my name from now on when we're in settings like this, with people Mizuki trusts. I insist." (Alara)
"That goes for me, too, Alto. Please stop calling me Princess unless we're in a formal setting. I view you more as my fiancé's best friend than a subject, so the formality is...uncomfortable." (Ilina)
Alto nods her approval, but her lips are pursed, as though the concession is difficult for her. I have to stifle laughter at her persisting deference toward the royal family. Her, Ilina, and Alara are friends now, so I agree with the idea that she should be less stiff with them.
"Very well. In that case...Alara...the answer to your question is yes. Mizuki is ageless, as you've been told. However, that's because of his relationship with Nina. Nina calling him her mate isn't just a characterization of their intimacy. They performed a ritual that's typical for mated Elder Dragon pairs. The result was them both growing stronger, closer, and gaining abilities from one another. This seems to have included agelessness for Mizuki." (Alto)
Alara's eyes widen in surprise, and she turns to Nina, as though waiting for confirmation. Nina smiles smugly.
"Fufufu...Alto speaks the truth. It also worked out quite well for me. I went from being the weakest Elder Dragon to crushing Veyron easily, and I'm now the only Elder Dragon I know of with magic abilities from both elemental and dark class. Plus, I have Mizuki..." (Nina)
Nina gives me a flirtatious smile, but...that last part seemed almost like an afterthought. Before I can think on it further, though, Zara interrupts the conversation with a loud yawn. I glance over to see her stretching lazily on the couch, and her eyes are starting to look sleepy. I'm really trying not to draw parallels to a puppy, but...it's a pretty adorable sight.
"I'd hate to be pushy, but...how much do we have left to discuss? We have a big day tomorrow, and the days after won't be easy either, so we should get some sleep. Yet, this conversation is starting to wander again. It sounds like Mizuki isn't actually one of these Nephilim, but he's close enough. So, can we just ask him if he's okay being called one, tell him what he needs to know for Ilina's plan, then go to sleep?" (Zara)
She's as tactful as ever, I see, but she's right. Ilina seems to agree, and she nods apologetically towards Zara. Nina just looks amused at Zara's bluntness.
"Yes, Zara's correct. We should wrap up this discussion if possible. It's already quite late. Mizuki, what do you say? I won't ask you to outright claim so yourself, but are you at least okay with abandoning the characterization of 'human', and letting the elves believe you're a Nephilim?" (Ilina)
Quit calling myself a human, huh...not something I would've imagined myself ever doing until today. It honestly still sounds ludicrous, but...
I look up at the others seriously, studying each of their faces in turn.
"Just to confirm...you all seriously think I'm not human? More importantly, you all think that me taking on the identity of a non-human race is what's best?" (Mizuki)
One-by-one, all my friends nod their assent firmly. Nina smiles in amusement.
"Mizuki, dear, this seems to be hard for you, but that's just the way things are. Whatever you may have called 'human' on your own planet, I've now met 'humans' from four other planets. I can assure you...you stick out from all of them. At least as much as you can't see yourself as non-human, we can't see you as anything else." (Nina)
I sigh deeply and nod to the group, then put on my most confident smile.
"Well, then...I guess I'm okay with this part of Ilina's plan. And if I'm going to assume a non-human identity, being known as one of these Nephilim sounds as good as anything else. So, Ilina, tell me what I need to know for tomorrow." (Mizuki)
Ilina smiles gratefully and nods.
"Of course. It's best if you don't know too much, but there are some basic things I want you to keep in mind..." (Ilina)
She proceeds to outline parts of her plan tomorrow at the nobles' meeting. First, she's going to arrange it so that the discussions happen in specific stages. To begin, we'll let the nobles air any grievances about the train and Eden's rapid growth due to our special treatment. She said to handle it however I see fit, but that she guesses I'll adamantly deny their requests for their own trains. At least for now, and given the stakes, she's right.
She wants me to specifically avoid revealing my abilities or discussing the MMCs during this phase of the meeting. She says that she'll take care of letting Elira and Dargo know to avoid revealing the MMCs, and that we should let Cara know the same. However, she doesn't think that we should tell them anything else about our plans before the meeting.
Meanwhile, I reiterate to everyone that the spell rings are never to be revealed without my express permission. Thankfully, everyone seems to already be under that impression, and Alto assures me that she made sure to put Cara under the same impression after she recently learned about the spell rings. Ilina makes similar assurances about her own family. Genuinely, I appreciate their foresight on the matter. That's one thing I plan to never reveal to the elves.
In the next phase of discussion, we'll inform the nobles about Belmod and the situation with the Empire. Since that will obviously raise questions we can't fully address without the truth, Ilina thinks it's best for me to reveal my abilities then. However, she wants me to delay revealing that I'm an alien, non-human, or ageless. Eventually, she plans to declare that we are romantically involved and intend to get married.
At this point, all hell will break loose, and the discussions will enter their final phase. Ilina is most secretive about this part, and expects to do most of the talking herself. She just says that she's going to secure the nobles' support, that my extraterrestrial origins will be revealed, and that things might get 'a bit abrasive'.
She also puts a strong emphasis on the fact that, as long as I trust her fully, everything will work out as she promised. Honestly, that in particular gives me a sense of foreboding about tomorrow. It's almost like she expects that something she does will drastically undermine my faith in her...I'm not thrilled about what that could mean.
After she accomplishes what she wants, she expects that there will be residual discussion. Especially about the situation with the Empire, but also about the MMCs, my history, specifics of our engagement, and who knows what else.
"So, do you have any questions for me? Any concerns?" (Ilina)
She's kidding, right?
"Well, yeah....I have tons of concerns. Like, I'm concerned about everything we'll be doing tomorrow. I don't think talking about them anymore will fix those concerns, though. As for questions..." (Mizuki)
I look around the room at everyone, and most of them are just watching me intently.
"We're about to turn our entire dynamic with the Elven Kingdom upside down tomorrow, and I won't be the only one affected. So...I just need to hear it one more time. Is everyone on board with what we've discussed?" (Mizuki)
I stare at each person in sequence, and they all smile and agree. I don't sense hesitation from any of them. I sigh deeply...I guess that's that.
"Well, I think that settles it, then. If there's nothing else, let's all go get some sleep. After all..." (Mizuki)
I smirk at Ilina, and she stares back at me suspiciously.
"...it seems that this will be my last night as a human." (Mizuki)