VIP Box Area
The captains were STILL arguing. Voices overlapping. Hands gesturing. Complete CHAOS.
"BEACH PARTY!"
"NON! ELEGANT GATHERING!"
"WARRIOR'S FEAST WITH HONOR!"
"ARIES STYLE WITH PASSION!"
Juli's eye twitched. This was getting OUT OF HAND. He needed to stop this. NOW.
He looked up at Aether. The massive eagle Titan standing nearby. Observing the chaos with barely contained exasperation.
Juli tugged on Aether's golden armor. "Hey, Gramps?"
Aether looked down. "Ja?"
"Can you say 'silence' really LOUD? Like, super loud?"
Aether blinked. Those golden eyes showing surprise. Then... amusement. This boy. This ADORABLE boy.
"Of course, young Julian."
Aether's wings SPREAD. Fully. Blocking out the light. His chest expanded.
"SILENCE!"
The word BOOMED. Echoed. THUNDERED across the entire area.
Every captain FROZE. Mid-sentence. Mid-gesture. Completely STILL.
The sheer AUTHORITY. The POWER. Undeniable.
Juli gave a thumbs up. "Thanks, Gramps!"
Aether's beak curved into a smile. Adorable. Absolutely adorable.
Juli stepped forward. Addressed the captains. "Look, guys. I appreciate the enthusiasm. Really. But..."
He scratched his head. Sheepish. "A cake and some well wishes is enough. That's all I need. Nothing crazy. Just... simple. Y'know?"
The captains looked at each other. Processing. Then nodded. Reluctantly. But ACCEPTING.
"If zat is what you wish," Olivier said.
"Aye, simple can be good," Sparta agreed.
Goldberg sighed. All three arms dropping. "Fine. FINE. But it'll be the BEST cake!"
Seraphina stepped forward. Her face still slightly red. But composed. "I shall bake the cake myself. 'Twill be delicious. I promise thee this."
Juli's face LIT UP. That bright, genuine smile. "Really?! That's awesome! Thanks, pretty lady captain!"
Seraphina's face went CRIMSON again. "He... he called me... pretty lady captain..."
She looked ready to faint. AGAIN.
Saya steadied her. "Control thyself, Seraphina."
But Saya's own face was RED too. Jealous. ENVIOUS.
Aether cleared his throat. Drawing attention. "Now zen. Ve haff another matter to address."
Everyone looked at him.
"Young Julian is... inexperienced. As a captain. As a leader." His golden eyes swept across the group. "He vill need guidance. Orientation. Someone to accompany him temporarily. To show him ze vays of ARMADA. Ze responsibilities. Ze DUTIES."
INSTANT REACTION.
The female captains' eyes CHANGED. Became SHARP. Predatory. BLOODTHIRSTY.
Seraphina's ethereal grace VANISHED. Replaced by pure, hunting INSTINCT. "I volunteer."
Saya's hand went to her sword. "NAY. I shall accompany him. 'Tis my honor."
Bianca stepped forward. "He's my NEPHEW. I should be the one."
The three locked eyes. Tension THICK. Dangerous. One wrong move and they'd START FIGHTING.
The male captains backed away. Slowly. Carefully.
"Oh no," Goldberg whispered. "They're gonna KILL each other."
"Should we intervene?" Andre asked.
"Absolutely NOT," Sparta rumbled. "Let Lord Aether handle this."
Aether saw the looks. The INTENSITY. The barely contained VIOLENCE.
Zese vomen vill tear each other apart if I don't act QUICKLY.
He made a decision. FAST.
"Samuel Barragan vill accompany Julian."
SILENCE.
The female captains turned. SLOWLY. Staring at Aether. Betrayal in their eyes.
"WHAT?!" Seraphina's voice cracked.
"BUT..." Saya couldn't finish. Too shocked.
Bianca's eye twitched. "Aether. Are you CERTAIN?"
"Ja. I am certain." Aether's tone was FINAL. "Samuel is intellectual. Experienced despite his youth. And CALM. He vill provide proper guidance vithout... complications."
The female captains looked DEVASTATED. Heartbroken. FURIOUS.
But they couldn't argue. Not with a TITAN. Not with Aether's authority.
Samuel stepped forward. That unsettling smile on his serpentine face. His green eyes gleaming. "I am honored, Lord Aether. I shall give my utmost best for my new comrade."
His voice was smooth. Calm. CALCULATED. Like every word was planned. Precise.
Juli looked at Samuel. REALLY looked at him.
His arms went behind his head. Casual. But his red eyes were SHARP. Analytical. SUSPICIOUS.
Something about this guy. This snake captain. Felt... off. Dangerous. Not in a bad way. Just... INTENSE.
This guy's gonna be interesting. Or annoying. Probably both.
Samuel and Juli's eyes LOCKED.
Green serpent eyes versus bright red.
Intelligence versus instinct.
Calculation versus chaos.
The tension was PALPABLE. Not hostile. Just... CHARGED. Two completely different energies meeting for the first time.
Samuel's smile never wavered. "I look forward to working with you, Captain Weiper. We shall accomplish great things together."
Juli's expression stayed neutral. Arms behind his head. "Yeah. Sure. Let's see how this goes."
Neither looked away. Neither blinked. Just... STARING.
The other captains watched. Curious. Intrigued. NERVOUS.
This pairing. The youngest captain and the calculating serpent. The chaos and the control.
It would either be BRILLIANT.
Or a complete DISASTER.
Only time would tell.