"Zeke, are you coming?" Leo yelled from in front of the door. "We want to go down to the city." Upon receiving no response, Leo entered the room. He found Zeke sitting behind his desk with his eyes closed. One might assume that he was sleeping, but over the past weeks, Leo had learned that was not the case.
He walked over and slightly shook his friend's shoulder. Zeke's eyes immediately snapped open. He looked around and found an exasperated Leo looking back at him.
"Sorry, I was reading," Zeke said sheepishly. "Did you need something?"
"You need to find a way to keep track of time," Leo chide. "I bet you have no idea what time it is?"
"What time is it?" Zeke asked innocently.
"It's already evening," Leo said. "The others want to go out to eat since, you know, this is going to be the last day."
Zeke grimaced. He really wanted to continue reading, but he had not spent a lot of time with his family on this trip. The thousands of books he had managed to collect into his Mind's Library had been too much of a temptation. He spent almost every waking minute of the day immersed there.
Over the past weeks, the journey had led them to every important academy in the empire. Maximilian seemed to know all the important people in charge as they were led straight to the library every time. The old man always claimed that he was 'teaching the brats how to stay humble' by showing them the vast amount of knowledge out there. As their journey continued, Zeke spent more and more time in his Mind's library. From the use of Nature magic in agriculture to the use of Fire Magic in blacksmithing, he had a vast repertoire of knowledge at his fingertips. There just weren't enough hours in the day for him to go through it all.
"Fine, let's go," Zeke said with a sigh.
"You don't have to act like this is some form of punishment!" Leo exclaimed while punching Zeke's shoulder.
"Alright, alright, I get it," Zeke said while rubbing his arm. The punch had actually hurt. Leo had gained a lot of muscle over the past weeks.
His friend and now adopted brother had begun to eat the same meals as Zeke. At first, Zeke had offered the monster meat to Leo as a dare; most people really disliked the taste. Leo turned out to love the food instead. The two of them had been hard at work demolishing all the meat reserves they had brought on this trip.
"It's not like I don't want to go," Zeke defended himself. "It's just that I was getting to the good part."
"That's what you say every damn time. There would only be good parts in any book if we left it to your judgment," Leo said while rolling his eyes.
The two of them made their way up the stairway. The Alexandria was a military-grade airship, but Maximilian had remodeled the interior for maximum comfort. The corridors and stairways would not have been out of place in a high-end inn. Zeke's room on the ship was a lot more luxurious than the one at the mansion as well. He had not been sure what to pack for the journey, but upon seeing his room, he had brought everything he owned.
He had even brought his resistance suit. Daily physical training was one of the aspects he did not neglect during his reading craze. He also had begun to spar in a purely physical fight against Leo every morning. He had not managed to win a single round so far, but he was not disheartened by this result. He could feel his skill in hand-to-hand combat improving with every match.
"How long until we are back home?" Zeke asked.
"It's a couple of hour's flight to the capital from here," Leo replied. "I heard that we are going to fly through the night. Should be arriving in the morning."
Zeke merely nodded in reply. He was looking forward to their return. Even though he had enjoyed their journey over the winter break, he was excited to go home again. After spending a pleasant evening at a high-class restaurant in town, Zeke returned to his room. He had been planning to spend the night reading again, but a wave of exhaustion hit him the instant he saw his comfy bed. He was out the moment he touched the mattress. It seemed to be only a moment later that he was awoken by somebody banging at his door.
"Zeke, wake up! The city is in sight," Maya's excited voice called from outside his room.
"Coming!" he yelled back as he quickly got dressed.
The two of them had started a ritual where they would stand on deck and watch as the cities came into view. He enjoyed the time he was able to spend with his sister. Only now that the cheerful girl was back in his life did he realize how much he had missed her.
When he finally arrived on deck, he found his parents waiting for him together with Maya. He gave his mother a kiss on the cheek as he wordlessly joined them at the railing. The sun was in the process of cresting the horizon, bathing the world in a reddish-golden hue.
The first thing one always noticed when approaching the capital were the two structures that towered over everything else: The Elementium and the Imperial Palace. The four of them wordlessly enjoyed the breathtaking view as the airship silently crept closer to the city. Their final destination was in sight.
Upon getting close to the air docks of the Elementium, Zeke spotted a familiar figure. Victor Windtänzer was waiting for them with his arms behind his back. Zeke was just about to wave when he noticed the people behind him. Richard Feuerkranz and Rolf Steiner were there. He also saw another woman standing there that he didn't recognize, but with her blue hair and imposing demeanor, he was pretty certain that he could guess who this was. Zeke took in the stern expression on all of their faces. This was not a good sign.
"Bring Maya and Mom inside, Dad," Zeke instructed his father.
Geralt took one look at the people waiting for them before wordlessly retreating with his family. Maximilian emerged from the ship at the same time. His own face was more serious than Zeke had ever seen it before. He stepped up beside Zeke and looked at the three men that were clearly waiting for them.
"What does this mean?" Zeke asked.
"I fear I've put my trust in somebody I shouldn't have," Maximilian said as the ship finally docked.
"Don't tie the ship down," Maximilian instructed quietly, "we might have to leave in a hurry."
David nodded and relayed the instructions. Maximilian and Zeke shared a meaningful glance before they both stepped on the dock. Zeke could feel the sweat running down his back as the four opposing Arch Mages came closer and closer with every step. His heartbeat sped up as he met eyes with the Feuerkranz Patriarch. The cruel glint in the man's gaze did not inspire much hope in Zeke.
"Hello, old friend," Victor said as the two parties came to a halt with only a few steps between them. The old men were silently gazing at each other for a couple of moments before Maximilian finally spoke.
"What about Gretchen?" Maximilian asked.
"Dead," Victor replied.
"Why did you do this?" Maximilian asked in an emotionless tone. "Even after I saved your life, you would still betray me?"
"This matter is not as black and white as you make it out to be," Victor said with a sigh. "The research you were planning to release would not only impact me personally but my family as well. I have not forgotten the life debt I owe you, but it is far from enough to have me betray my family and the empire!"
"So that's how you justify this? By calling what I was doing 'Betraying the empire'?" Maximilian scoffed. "I thought that after all those years, you would have at least started to understand. The empire you chose to protect consists solely of a couple of thousands. That's who you betrayed millions for!"
"No," Victor replied in a calm voice. "I did it for my family. I have no right to endanger a legacy spanning thousands of years on a whim."
"That's enough," Richard interjected from the side. "We have not come here to bicker over who is in the right. That decision has already been made."
He then proceeded to unfurl a scroll that he had taken out from his robe. With a serious voice, he began to read from the document. "Maximilian Bombastus von Hohenheim, In light of your recent action against the empire and its people, his imperial majesty finds you guilty of the crime of treason. You are to surrender immediately and come with us without resisting."
An oppressive silence hung over the area as everyone waited for Maximilian's response. Zeke's heart was hammering in his chest. He looked over at his mentor, he still had hope that the old man had foreseen this eventuality and would now reveal his brilliant plan.
For a long time, Maximilian remained silent. Then finally he began to chuckle. His voice built until his deafening laughter was all that could be heard. As abruptly as the laughter had started it immediately stopped. With a face carved from stone, Maximilian repeated the words from the document in a hard voice.
"… against the empire and its people," he repeated in a disdainful tone. "Don't make me laugh! The only time any of you interact with the people of the empire is when you spit on them from your ivory towers. None of you have the right to speak on behalf of the people, least of all that disgusting piece of shit that sits on the throne playing puppet master."
At the next moment, the document in Richard's hand caught on fire and was quickly burned to a crisp.
"You think the decree of that old freak holds any sway over me? I lost any semblance of respect for the Geistreich family hundreds of years ago. Today you have shown me once again that your four great families are no better. I spit on your decree, I spit on your emperor and I spit on your four great families. The only way you'll get me to go anywhere is by dragging my limp corpse behind you," Maximilian roared.
"That can be arranged," Richard shot back, but despite his aggressive tone, nobody moved. Maximilian then turned to Zeke. His lips moved but there was no sound coming out. Only by using his [Perfect Spatial Awareness] did he pick up the words of the old man.
"Zeke, I will not win this fight," the old man whispered. "But their document only gives them the right to arrest me; you are not mentioned at all. This is a disaster of my own making, so please don't blame yourself. The von Hohenheim house is going to be in your hands after today. I have given you all I could. The rest is up to you…."
Tears were streaming down Zeke's face as he met eyes with the old man for the last time. His mentor was looking back at him was sad eyes. It was not sadness over his own fate, but a deep regret that he would not be able to do more.
"No…" Zeke whispered, but it was too late to stop anything now. Their eye contact was broken as Maximilian's face was obstructed by a layer of stone as he encased himself in preparation for the impending fight. Zeke found himself flying backward. Maximilian had shoved him back with such speed that Zeke wasn't even able to follow the movement with his eyes.
His four opponents didn't waste any time either. The moment Maximilian began his charge, they sprang into action as well. Zeke was not able to follow the fight in the slightest. All he could see were torrents of water and fire, boulders, and storms. It looked like a natural disaster of unmatched ferocity taking place a hundred feet away from him.
In the center of the chaos was what could only be described as an erupting volcano. Red glowing hot liquid stone was flying everywhere. It looked like a slumbering titan had emerged from deep beneath the earth. Bringing his wrath upon the foolish mortals that had dared to disrupt his peace. Zeke could barely believe his eyes. He had never seen anything comparable to what he was seeing now. For the longest time, it appeared as if Maximilian was winning this fight.
The only real opposition he faced was from Victor. It appeared as if the old man was teleporting around the battlefield. Slicing pieces of molten stone off of Maximilian's humongous form. The attacks didn't seem to have any impact on the volcanic giant. But Zeke noticed that the old man's regeneration speed was slowing down with every new piece that was chopped off.
Finally, Maximilian's once imposing form was down to his regular size. He was only covered in a thin layer of stone at this point. His opponents were not in a much better state, however.
The Water Mage that Zeke suspected to be the Wellenrufer Matriarch was lying passed out to the side. Rolf Steiner's [Stone Form] was half melted by the magma that was still dripping down his body. And Richard Feuerkranz was on all four, dry heaving. He had severely overtaxed his core. Only Victor Windtänzer didn't seem to have been affected by the fight at all.
He was still dancing around the exhausted Maximilian, attacking with precise strikes from blind spots. Zeke clenched his fists. He couldn't stand this any longer. He had to do something, had to help. But before he could even take a single step, he could feel a vice-like grip on his shoulder. He looked over and saw the face of David.
"There is a difference between bravery and stupidity," was all he said.
Zeke's first instinct was to lash out. However, before he could even open his mouth, he noticed the pained expression and tense posture of the man. David had been by Maximilian side for his entire life. The pain he felt at this very moment was certainly not inferior to Zeke's own. Zeke nodded at the man and wordlessly focused back on the fight.
He was just in time to see Victor delivering one last chop to Maximilian's neck. Zeke saw his mentor fall to the ground limply. The rising and falling of his chest let Zeke know that he was only passed out and not dead, at least.
Richard Feuerkranz finally managed to get up. He walked over to Maximilian's limp body and kicked at his head.
"Told you it could be arranged," he spat. Then his eyes fell on Zeke and his group. A cruel expression formed on his face as he strode toward them. Before he could even make it halfway, however, a figure blocked his path.
"What are you doing, Windänzer?" Richard growled. "I'm taking the boy, as well!"
"No, you are not," Victor replied evenly. "He is still a student of the academy and we are on school grounds. You have no right to do anything. Furthermore, we both heard the reports, and our… 'source' was clear that he has no involvement with any of his mentor's research."
"Are you really going to fight with me over this?" Richard snarled.
The other man merely raised an eyebrow in response. Victor seemed to have not a single hair out of place while Richard was barely able to walk straight. The Feuerkranz Patriarch seemed to realize as well how ridiculous his statement was as he finally relented.
"Fine," he said through clenched teeth before glancing at Zeke one more time.
"You better be ready, boy!" he yelled wildly. "You can't hide forever!"
Zeke watched with clenched teeth as the patriarch stormed off, gracelessly dragging Maximilian's body behind him.
"Fucking bastard," Zeke cursed.
"It's not how I would have preferred things to go either," said a voice from right beside him.
Zeke started at the words. His head snapped to the side, where he found Victor Windtänzer standing right beside him on the deck of the ship.
"The fuck do you want?" Zeke spat. "I hope you don't expect any gratitude for your help."
"I don't expect you to understand why I did what I did," Victor said patiently, "but I'm not ashamed of my action. I did what I had to."
"Yeah, I bet," Zeke said in a sarcastic tone. "That's why you sent Viola off to who-knows-where because you were so proud of yourself."
The old man remained silent. Zeke also elected to use this time to bring his own feelings under control.
"She won't ever forgive you for this, you know?" Zeke said after a few moments.
Victor gave a curt nod. "I know," he said quietly, "but I am not going to live too much longer anyway. I'd rather leave her in the arms of a strong family than alone in a world of chaos."
Zeke didn't respond. He didn't agree with the old man, but he at least understood his thought process. "Why are you here?" he asked.
"A warning, and an opportunity," Victor said. "You can not stay here. You have too many enemies, and without Maximilian, you won't be able to fight back. I can't protect you either."
Zeke merely nodded, waiting to hear the rest of what the old man had to say.
"There isn't much I can do to help you here," Victor explained. "The only thing I can do is give you a chance to get away."
"Meaning?"
"I can promise you a week," the headmaster said. "For a week, no Windtänzer will stop your airship. That should be time enough to get you to Tradespire if you hurry."
Zeke thought about his options for a moment. Dozens of possible futures and scenarios went through his head in an instant. After doing his calculation, he rubbed the tears out of his eyes and addressed the old man for the last time.
"Why would you help us?"
Victor's eyes grew distant. "I still owe the old man my life," he said. "There is nothing I can do for Maximilian anymore, but I can repay him in this way instead."
Zeke held Victor's gaze for a moment before nodding.
He turned to David and ordered, "Get everything from the mansion, we are leaving for Tradespire within the hour."
David hesitated for a moment. Only the head of the house could make this decision. Following those orders was as good as recognizing Zeke as such. Their eyes met, and for a tense moment, Zeke feared David would refuse to obey.
"As you command, young Lord," David said with a slight bow before leaving promptly.
Victor watched the display impassively. "Good luck," was all he said before turning to leave as well.
Zeke didn't respond and merely watched as the man departed. He didn't utter a single word as his gaze bore holes into the old man's retreating back. The flames dancing in his eyes were the only outward sign hitting at his thoughts.