“Love is war. And we’ve got enchantments, elixirs, and emotionally stunted teens with battle trauma. Let’s go.” – Reille, tactician of love

  There are few moments in life when time freezes.

  For Squad 7, it happened the moment Gram walked into their shared war room—also known as the living room of Lucien’s townhouse—cleared his throat like a bureaucrat about to ruin someone’s day, and said:

  “...I got invited to a second date.”

  Silence.

  Reille was mid-bite on her cinnamon bun.

  Eli dropped a potion beled ‘Temporary Charm Enhancement – Not FDA Approved’.

  Lucien blinked like someone just told him dragons now did stand-up comedy.

  “You… got… a second date?” Reille said slowly.

  “Yeah,” Gram nodded. “Princess Celestia said she enjoyed the bookstore walk, and now she wants to visit the Sky Garden.”

  Lucien leaned back like a war veteran who had just heard artillery shells in the distance. “You sweet dumb potion mixer… you have no idea what you’ve done.”

  Eli crossed his arms. “We trained you once, but this is the second arc. That’s when the stakes get raised.”

  “Wait,” Reille said suddenly, smirking. “This makes me think… Lucien.” She turned. “We should go on a date too.”

  Lucien, ever the chaos gremlin and sarcastic genius, grinned. “Why not make it a double date? You, me, Gram, Celestia. Squad 7 chaos, romantic edition.”

  Gram’s face went pale. “Wait, no, I thought—”

  “You thought wrong,” Eli interjected. “You brought this on yourself.”

  Then she stood up and dusted her coat.

  “I’m finding a man. Right now.”

  Phase I: Romance Boot Camp – Squad 7 EditionEli, having surprisingly returned fifteen minutes ter with a very confused alchemy intern named Thorne, cimed him as her date like a bear ciming a cave.

  “Don’t talk. Don’t blink. Just show up,” she said, handing him a clipboard of acceptable responses.

  Lucien had Ember wrap a red ribbon around Gram’s wrist and decred him “Target: VIP Lovebird – Must Not Crash or Burn.”

  Reille, naturally, took command of wardrobe.

  She shoved Lucien into a bck silk shirt she insisted brought out his “I set fire to noble expectations” aura, and herself into a floral combat dress—half armor, half summer bloom.

  Gram was given cologne beled “Confidence Extract – Probably Illegal”.

  Thorne was just handed a comb and silently threatened with fire if he backed out.

  Phase II: The Double Date BeginsThey arrived at Sky Garden, a royal botanical observatory suspended on mana-crystal bridges overlooking the sunlit valley, with flowers glowing under arcane sun-lights and artificial waterfalls singing lulbies across the wind.

  Celestia stood near the garden gate, radiant as ever, dressed in a flowing sapphire dress with her long white hair tied into a braid that practically said, I’m a perfect imperial date and also above you peasants.

  She raised a brow as she spotted the incoming disaster caravan.

  “Lucien. Reille. Gram. And… Eli?”

  “Surprise third-wheel,” Eli deadpanned, tugging Thorne forward. “This is my romantic support dog.”

  Thorne just waved nervously.

  Celestia blinked. “This was meant to be a quiet, two-person affair.”

  Lucien bowed dramatically. “And yet fate has offered you four extra blessings.”

  Celestia pinched the bridge of her nose. “I take back everything I said about you being clever.”

  Phase III: Chaos Blooms EternalThe first half of the date was… surprisingly peaceful.

  Gram and Celestia walked near the enchanted lilies, discussing potion compositions and elven botany. Celestia’s ugh was quiet, controlled, but real.

  Lucien and Reille held hands—but Reille clung to Lucien like a possessive cat afraid someone would steal her favorite bnket.

  “Do you have to grip my arm like it’s wartime?” Lucien muttered.

  “Yes,” she whispered sweetly. “Just letting our foreign guest know who you belong to.”

  Celestia, hearing this, tilted her head slightly. “I didn’t realize we were in kindergarten.”

  Reille smiled. “Sorry. Instincts. You know how it is with cats and territory.”

  Lucien muttered, “Please stop comparing me to a house pet.”

  Meanwhile, Eli had cornered Thorne by the koi pond and was expining the military applications of enchanted fish oil.

  He looked like he was reconsidering all his life choices.

  Phase IV: The Spiral of MadnessThings truly unraveled at the moonflower field.

  Celestia brushed back a strand of hair and said to Gram, “You’re very attentive. Most people forget what I say between sentences.”

  Gram blushed. “I memorize everything you say.”

  Lucien nearly choked on his juice. “This boy’s going to get himself a wedding invitation before the midterm exams.”

  Reille leaned in. “Don’t worry. I’m pnning ours for after graduation.”

  Lucien blinked. “Wait, what—”

  Before he could finish, Celestia smoothly turned to Reille and asked, “So, what’s it like dating the most insufferable prodigy on campus?”

  Reille grinned like a fox. “Like riding a magical storm. Wild, destructive, sometimes stupid, but always fun.”

  Lucien, offended but not really, sipped his juice and muttered, “I feel so loved.”

  Thorne fell into a flowerbed.

  Eli didn’t help him up.

  Final Phase: DebriefingAs the sun set and the crystal lights began glowing across the floating garden, the double date officially ended with Celestia giving Gram a very subtle kiss on the cheek—and Lucien giving Gram a not-so-subtle sp on the back that knocked him into a bush.

  Reille giggled. Eli dragged Thorne home.

  Lucien stretched, looked up at the stars, and said, “So… that went better than expected.”

  Reille leaned on his shoulder. “We should do this again.”

  Lucien smirked. “Another double date?”

  “No,” she said. “A solo one. Next time… you and me. No Celestia. No Eli. No Gram.”

  Lucien paused.

  Then nodded. “...Deal.”

  Behind them, Gram was picking flowers from his hair and smiling like the happiest alchemist in the empire.