Warfare Augmented Intelligent Frame Unit

Chapter 31 - Swan Boat

Chapter 31 - Swan Boat

I find myself strolling alongside Myrrh through a park nestled just a couple of blocks from the café. The air is tinged with a mix of fresh greenery and faint sweetness drifting over from nearby stalls. The first thing that catches my eye is an enormous monument—an imposing, one-to-one scale statue of a Frame Unit, sculpted from pure ivory with intricate gold plating glistening in the light. It stands as if frozen mid-strike, one massive fist extended in a perfect karate punch. The likeness to Myrrh's own Frame Unit Mode is uncanny, making the statue seem almost like a reflection of her, its unmoving gaze focused forward in silent vigilance.

Around us, the park is alive with color and motion. Vendors line the pathways, hawking bright balloons that sway in the gentle breeze, fluffy clouds of cotton candy, and sizzling hotdogs. A series of fountains flank the monument, sending glowing water arcing gracefully into the air, casting a soft shimmer over the scene. Children's laughter rings out as they dart around, dodging the gentle spray, while couples stroll hand-in-hand and dog-walkers move at a leisurely pace.

"Welcome to Mirana Plaza," Myrrh says, her voice swelling with pride as she gestures toward the towering monument. "This is where Earth's mightiest heroine, Mirana Alicent, made her final stand against the Cosmic Beasts during the Christmas Raid. WAIFUs fought relentlessly here, holding the line as endless waves of beasts crashed against them. It was this battle that sealed my mother's legacy as the most renowned WAIFU of all."

I shoot her a playful smirk. "Too bad her daughter's a sham."

Myrrh's lips twitch, her smile tight and restrained, her eyes narrowing slightly. "I'd usually kick your mouth shut for saying that, but I'm in too good a mood to ruin it." Despite her attempt to hold her composure, I can practically see her mind strangling me in imaginary retribution.

I can't help but chuckle. "Just teasing."

I take a moment to admire the monument of Mirana Alicent, feeling a sense of awe well up as I look at the impressive sculpture. The monument is encircled by dense bushes brimming with peculiar silvery flowers, their metallic sheen glinting in the light. The blooms look as though they were crafted from pure silver rather than grown from the earth, catching and reflecting the sunlight in a way that gives them an otherworldly glow. While other flowers add bursts of color throughout the park, these silver blossoms stand out—strange, almost alien. I doubt anything like them exists naturally on Earth.

"Those are Cyberflowers," Myrrh explains, following my gaze. "They're genetically engineered plants infused with mystical nanomachines, just like us WAIFUs. I read somewhere that these flowers were actually the first test subjects for these nanomachines. It was a bit of a happy accident—they turned out to be stunningly beautiful, so now they're used as ornamental plants all around Xyraxis."

I nod, fascinated, the futuristic flora making the place feel even more like a sanctuary to heroes and legends. "So they're like WAIFUs in a way," I remark, pulling out my phone to snap a picture of the monument against the backdrop of Cyberflowers.

"Exactly. And just like the Cyberflowers, we WAIFUs are the epitome of cyber mystic beauty," Myrrh adds, striking a dramatic pose and placing a hand against her chest with a sassy confidence, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Be sure to take a picture of me too."

I roll my eyes but can't help a faint smile. "Fiiiiine."

I line up the shot, framing the monument, the metallic flowers, and Myrrh posing beside them, her expression a blend of playfulness and pride. I snap the picture, admiring it as it captures the glint of the flowers, the powerful statue, and Myrrh's graceful stance—a perfect composition, my own little masterpiece. Maybe it's because Myrrh's natural beauty elevates the shot, or maybe it's because I'm just that good with a camera. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's the latter.