A flash of irritation crossed Zeke's face, but he quickly reined it in. He had already lost his composure once and couldn't afford to behave so immaturely again. Taking a deep breath, he waited for the anger to subside.
Soon enough, the ripple in his facade smoothed, and Zeke considered their entire conversation up to this point.
Cassius had called him a child—a child who knew nothing about the world—and maybe he was right. After all, Zeke was a teenage boy who had spent most of his life in a small, inconsequential village at the edge of civilization.
However, the elf had only met him today. How could he presume to know anything about his goals or where his path would lead?
"What lies at the end of my path?" Zeke asked in a composed tone.
"Death and destruction," Cassius replied without a moment's hesitation.
Zeke waited for the man to explain the ominous statement, but it soon became apparent that Cassius had said all he would. "That's it? Death and destruction?"
Cassius nodded with a confidence that made it clear he believed his words to be self-evident.
Zeke frowned. "So, what do you suggest? That I give up on my revenge and let Maximilian's death be in vain?"
"Death is always in vain," Cassius said seriously. "No matter the circumstances, revenge will not undo what has already happened."
Zeke shook his head. "If we do nothing to stop the Emperor, he might soon rule over the entire continent, and I refuse to bend the knee to a man like that."
At that, Cassius quirked an eyebrow. "A man like that? Tell me, child: Did you ever meet the Emperor of Arkanheim?"
Zeke shook his head, his cheeks turning red at the admission. "I never got the chance. However, I can infer his character from his actions alone."
"Can you really?" Cassius questioned, a hint of mockery entering his voice. "Then what are those actions you judge him by?"
"He ordered Maximilian's—" Zeke began to say before cutting himself off. Even he noticed how petulant that argument would sound.
"…He ordered Maximilian's death," Cassius finished for him. "That's what you wanted to say, right?"
Zeke nodded.
The elf sighed deeply. "That's the problem with you young folks. You see the world in black and white. When, in reality, things are hardly ever that simple."
"Then how are things really?" Zeke asked, a hint of irritation creeping into his voice.
Unlike what Zeke had expected, Cassius didn't reply right away. Instead, he fell into deep thought, stroking his smooth chin while considering something. It was then that Rhea returned and placed a wooden mug of tea in front of them. Zeke was surprised to see that she really didn't seem to hold a grudge. She even smiled sweetly as she handed him his drink.
Just when Zeke was about to take his first sip, Cassius shot him an inquiring gaze. "It's been a while since I last visited the empire," the elf admitted. "Yet, the last time I was there, it was a good place for humans. People were fed, order was kept, cities were prosperous, and the villages peaceful. Tell me, is that still the case today?"
Zeke thought about his experiences growing up in the Empire. Life hadn't been perfect, but he had been blessed with a relatively peaceful childhood. His family never went hungry, and the people in their small town looked after each other. All in all, he had little to complain about.
"Yes…" he conceded reluctantly.
The elf glanced at the Chimeroi, his eyes moving from Ash to Gravitas to Vulcanos, one by one. Zeke noticed his lingering gaze on their necks, where the skin still bore traces of discoloration from years of wearing the Slave collar. It hadn't been long enough since they removed it for all the marks to vanish.
"You came from Korrovan, didn't you?" Cassius asked, a knowing smirk on his lips.
Zeke nodded, already knowing where this was going.
"How did you like it there?" the elf asked.
Zeke grimaced. He wanted to answer that he liked the country if only to spite the man. However, after what he had seen in Undercity, he couldn't bring himself to say the words. "There's room for improvement," he said diplomatically.
"How does it compare to Arkanheim?" Cassius asked, not letting him off that easily.
Zeke furrowed his brows, falling into deep thought. It would be disingenuous of him not to consider the question honestly, at least. He thought of his own childhood, playing in the streets of Feldstadt with Markus and Lilly, building snowmen, and pretending to be Mages….
Then he remembered Soria, the girl he had met below the Ember Scar Cartel. She had been forced to fight for her life down there, together with a hundred other unfortunate souls. How old had she been? Around that age? Younger?
Zeke's frown turned even more pronounced. However, he couldn't lie to himself. "I've not been there long enough to give a definitive answer. However, some parts are much worse," he admitted.
Cassius nodded solemnly, taking no apparent joy in forcing Zeke to concede the point. Instead, he fell silent, a faraway look in his eyes. After a moment of quiet contemplation, the man gave words to his thoughts.
"I can still remember the time before there was an Empire," he said softly. "A time before Fire, Water, Wind, and Earth stood united."
Zeke leaned forward, interested in hearing more. His history teachers had always avoided talking about that period.
"It was a living nightmare," Cassius said. "Fire consumed the land; Floods destroyed the harvest, fields turned to mountains, and storms haunted the countryside."
The man shook his head as if he could see the devastation happening before his eyes. "Do you know the worst of it? It wasn't the Mages who suffered most, but the common people. They were ground to dust by the thousands, hopeless to stand against the power of the elements."
"What happened?" Zeke asked.
Cassius glanced at him with a slight smile. "A hero was born amidst all that suffering."
Zeke's heart dropped. He didn't like the sound of that.
"Rumors have it he was a prodigy—despite his humble beginnings," Cassius explained. "Besides a sharp mind, he was said to be blessed with a strong sense of justice." Cassius looked into his eyes, a playful expression on his face. "Care to guess who that was?"
"…the Emperor," Zeke guessed.
Cassius nodded. "Augustus Geistreich von Arkanheim. However, during that time, he was only called Augustus, I suppose."
"How did he end the war?" Zeke asked. Despite his reluctance to see the Emperor as anything but a monster, this information would be very useful to him.
Unfortunately, the elf shook his head. "I have no idea—nobody does. The only thing that is known is that he ended the war and united the land with the help of just four among the dozens of families, one from each of the Elements.
"…Feuerkranz, Wellenrufer, Steiner and Windtänzer," Zeke guessed, connecting the pieces.
"Just so," Cassius said. "Those families were said to be quite unremarkable at the time. Yet, with their help, he managed to break the balance and unite the country."
Zeke sank into deep thought. Either the Emperor possessed enormous personal power, or he was a tactical genius. Perhaps even both. Frankly, either option appeared plausible. "Did you ever meet him?"
Cassius nodded. "Twice. The first time was when he was a young man, and the second time after he had already become Emperor. He even offered me a place in the Empire, despite my… circumstances."
Zeke frowned. From Cassius's tales, the Emperor seemed like an incredible individual, a beacon of justice. Yet Zeke knew that this couldn't be true. "What was he like when you met him?"
Cassius furrowed his brows in concentration as if searching for the right words. "The first time, he was charismatic, clever, and full of hope," he said after a while. "The second time, he was… more mature, more ambitious. I don't know what exactly happened during the war, but it definitely changed him in some way."
Zeke grimaced. "Do you think he is a good person?"
Cassius smiled at that. "See? That's what I've been saying. Things are hardly ever just black or white, good or evil. The Emperor might be a monster to you, but that doesn't mean he hasn't saved thousands, even millions of others."
"If he's truly such a hero, why instigate another war? Why kill Maximilian?" Zeke asked, surprised by his own curiosity.
Cassius shrugged. "Perhaps he believes the continent needs unification. Or maybe he has some other goal in mind. Who can say for sure? As for Bombastus… correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't he plan to betray the Empire?"
Zeke balled his fists. "My mentor did what he believed best for the people!"
"And who was he to make that choice?" The elf said with a sad expression on his face. Zeke glared at him but lacked the words to refute the man.
Cassius sighed. "Let me speak plainly. It's not just the Emperor who would have acted this way. No ruler would allow this Meditation technique to be distributed openly. Otherwise, they would risk a rebellion."
Zeke bit his lip, unable to refute those words. He had chosen not to publish their research for the same reasons. Who knew how long it would take for his work to be turned into a weapon for war?
"That doesn't excuse his warmongering, does it?" Zeke said stubbornly.
Cassius nodded slowly, admitting the point. "The only cause that might justify evil... is preventing a greater evil. If the Emperor can bring peace and harmony to the continent, perhaps he's right to wage this war."
Zeke furrowed his brows. "Those are bold words, easily spoken when it's not your home that's burning. Tell me, would you be able to say the same if Rukia was next to Arkanheim?"
"...The elves don't involve themselves in human conflicts," Cassius hedged.
"Unfortunately," Zeke said slowly, meeting the other man's eyes, "we don't all have that luxury."
Cassius bowed his head, "You might be right. Nevertheless, I will not change my mind on this. Neither I nor my wife will join you in your fight."
Zeke inhaled deeply, accepting that no words would change the man's mind. "Very well," he said, finishing his entire mug in one gulp. "We won't trouble you any further."
Zeke stood, followed by the Chimeroi a moment later. However, before he could take a single step, Cassius called out to him. "Please, child, stay the night," the elf said. "Just because we don't see eye to eye on this doesn't mean we have to part in anger."
Zeke paused, considering the offer. He had lost himself in the heat of the moment, but there actually was no need for such a dramatic exit. The man didn't begrudge him his words, and as much as Zeke wanted not to, he understood the elf's point of view. Also, the jungle was dangerous, especially at night. They would be much safer staying inside this fortress of a tree house.
Zeke rubbed the back of his head awkwardly as he returned to his seat, frowning at the empty cup he had drained in such a hurry. Only now did he notice the lingering taste on his lips. Whatever it had been, it left a delicious aftertaste.
"Would it be possible to get another cup?" he asked sheepishly.
Rhea beamed at him. "Of course! You can have as much as you want. It's not every day that we have guests, after all." With those words, she skipped out of the room.
Zeke smiled momentarily at the matronly behavior of the muscular woman. One should never judge a book by its cover. He then returned his attention to the elf. "Thank you for your hospitality."
Cassius waved him off. "It is the least I could do after all the news you have brought me." Suddenly, a peculiar glint entered the man's eyes. "Now, how about we talk about the spell you've used earlier?"
Zeke smirked, accepting the challenge. "I would love to discuss it with you… just after you've told me more about your own Magic. Growth, was it?"