No one had been summoned.
Yet they gathered anyway.
Four weeks had passed since the conference ended. Four weeks since Zeke had withdrawn behind the closed door of his study without explanation, without interruption. Not even David had been permitted entry.
The corridor outside had grown used to silence.
Now, at dawn, that silence felt different.
The first light of morning crept over the mountain ridge and slipped through the narrow windows of the Alexandria, stretching pale gold across the stone floor. It reached the door at the end of the hall and lingered there, as if waiting.
David stood closest. Irisen and Rayleh flanked him. A short distance behind them waited Zelkara, rigid and composed as ever. At the rear stood the two newest additions, Rhea and Cassius.
The couple had initially hesitated to fully commit to a long term alliance with Zeke, and he had not pressured them. Instead, they had spent the past weeks familiarizing themselves with his crew and the Alexandria. Now the time for deliberation had passed. And they were clearly here to give him their answer.
No one spoke.
When the handle finally turned, every gaze sharpened.
The door opened slowly.
A young man with striking crimson hair stepped into the corridor, a light smile on his face as he saw the waiting crowd. It was Zeke, who had not been seen for the past few weeks. But before anyone could greet him, a second figure emerged behind him.
She was strikingly beautiful. Pale hair fell nearly to her waist, and clear blue eyes regarded the world with cool detachment. Yet it was not her appearance that stunned the onlookers, but the simple fact that she was entirely unknown to them.
David recovered first. “Greetings, young lord,” he said politely. “I trust your research has been… fruitful.” His gaze flicked meaningfully toward the woman at Zeke’s side.
Zeke rolled his eyes. He understood the implication and intended to extinguish any such rumors immediately. They would all need to work closely with Akasha in the future. Misunderstandings could not be allowed to take root.
“Allow me to make a formal introduction,” he said. “This is Akasha. You have not met her before, but she has met all of you.”
That drew furrowed brows from everyone, and the gazes directed at Akasha grew more guarded. David, standing closest, studied her with particular intensity. His expression shifted several times as he examined her.
“Is… Miss Akasha, an Archmage?” he finally asked.
Zeke smiled. “No. Akasha is not a Mage.”
David frowned. Anyone would have found the statement unsettling. The magic radiating from her body was undeniable. She felt no different from an Archmage. If anything, the feedback from probing her presence seemed stronger than that of most.
There was a reason for that. Her current body had been formed by exhausting Zeke’s reserves to their limit. He had filled her with as much Mana as he possibly could. Over time, that impression would fade as she expended it.
But at first glance, she appeared overwhelmingly powerful.
Zeke did not allow the silence to linger. “Akasha is my Spirit companion. We have been together for years. She has witnessed every interaction I have had since then.”
David’s frown deepened. “Every interaction, young lord...?”
Zeke understood the implication without further explanation. David was asking whether he truly trusted her with everything.
He nodded without hesitation. “I trust her with my life. More importantly, I trust her with yours.”
David’s gaze toward Akasha slowly softened. He gave her a polite bow and formally introduced himself. “It is a pleasure, Miss Akasha. I am David—”
“...David Finsternis, I know. Exiled from your family after a mistake in your branch led to the extermination of your parents and…”
Akasha stopped when she noticed Zeke giving her a look. He was frantically signaling her to stop. This was information not even he knew about David, and certainly not something she should broadcast so freely.
When she finally fell silent, Zeke cleared his throat. “Do not hold it against her. She is… not used to our ways just yet.”
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For the first time, Zeke realized he was not the only one who had to adjust to living without the other. For him, his reliance on her rapid spellcasting had been a crutch he now had to abandon. For Akasha, however, human etiquette and nuance were entirely uncharted territory. While she had resided in his mind, she could share any information without restraint. Now that they were no longer connected, she would have to learn how to blend in on her own.
David’s expression shifted. He straightened from his bow and, for the first time since Zeke had known him, seemed completely at a loss.
The others also appeared unsettled by what they had heard. Zeke was no exception. The only person who seemed entirely unbothered was Akasha herself.
David’s gaze slowly shifted to Zeke, a silent question in his eyes. It was as though he were asking whether it was truly wise to trust someone like her.
Zeke sneakily dodged his gaze and brushed past the incident as if it had never happened. "...From today on, Akasha is going to take on a vital role in our operation. She will be the effective commander of the Alexandria and our overall strategist."
Not only David, but all mouths dropped open. Zeke had expected as much. The positions he had handed over to her were not just vital, they were the very heart of the entire operation.
Unexpectedly, it was Zelkara who spoke up first. "I cannot trust this stranger with my life, Progenitor. Please reconsider."
Zeke met her eyes. Despite the harsh critique to his plan, his expression remained relaxed. "Would you rather have me command the battlefield, then?" he asked.
Zelkara nodded without hesitation. "I would."
"Even if it was my first time?"
Zelkara froze. "First time... That is impossible, you—" Her words cut off abruptly as she stared at Akasha. "Her?"
Zeke nodded. "I call it a 'new assignement' but in truth, it has been Akasha all along who has done these jobs. Now, she will merely start to do them officially."
Zeke turned to Akasha next. "From now on, don't use my voice anymore when you command the troops. They need to get familiar with you."
"Understood."
A long silence followed. No one spoke. Zeke did not interrupt it.
Instead, he observed the shifting emotions playing across their faces. He had expected this reaction. The revelation carried far greater weight than it first appeared. Many of Zeke’s past miracles suddenly made sense. How he commanded troops with such precision. How he controlled multiple spells at once. How his research advanced at such an impossible speed.
Today, the truth behind many of his miraculous feats had finally been uncovered.
But truthfully, Zeke was uncertain whether revealing Akasha’s existence diminished his status or elevated him further. After all, she had always been part of his strength. The fact that she could now operate independently only reinforced his capabilities, at least in his own view.
At last, Zelkara spoke. “I retract my earlier objection.” Her sharp gaze fixed on Akasha as she stepped forward.
She stood half a head taller, and seeing them side by side, Zeke had to admit how similar they appeared. Their pale hair was nearly the same shade. Akasha’s had once been silver, similar to Viola’s, but over the years it had gradually turned whiter, closer to the hue of Snow and Zelkara.
The Pureblood extended her hand. “I will be relying on you from now on,” she said solemnly. “Please allow me to bring honor to the Progenitor.”
Zeke watched in silence, curious how Akasha would respond. He knew how much this matter meant to Zelkara, and he was half convinced Akasha would dismiss her with something like: I will execute the plan with the highest success rate, regardless of your personal benefit.
Just as he began to worry, Akasha surprised him. She took Zelkara’s hand and held it firmly.
“You are excellent,” Akasha said. “I will strive to fulfill your wish to the best of my abilities.”
Zelkara nodded solemnly, though Zeke noticed the faint smile at the corner of her lips.
He could not help but wonder whether Zelkara would be as pleased if she understood the true meaning behind Akasha’s praise. Zelkara was indeed excellent to the Spirit. An excellent tool. What Akasha valued was not her strength, but her absolute obedience. Of everyone present, Zelkara listened most closely, acted most swiftly, and never showed the slightest hesitation when carrying out orders.
If Akasha told her to leap from a cliff, Zelkara would do so without pause.
But there was no point in voicing any of that. As long as both of them were satisfied, Zeke could tolerate that small misunderstanding.
His gaze shifted to Rhea and Cassius.
It was time to hear their answer. Naturally, Zeke wanted them to stay, but if they chose to leave, he would respect that decision. They were not people he could bind against their will.
His eyes met Rhea’s, then moved to Cassius when it became clear she would not speak first.
“Can you promise me that Rhea and I will be safe?” Cassius asked, his expression grave.
Zeke did not hesitate. “No. I cannot even guarantee my own safety in the inner regions. If safety is what you seek, then you should leave this country at once. Abandon Rukia and do not look back.”
Cassius nodded and continued. “Can you promise that you will not use us as disposable pawns?”
Zeke inclined his head. “If I ever send you to your deaths, I will do so openly and with your consent. That I swear.”
A heavy weight settled in his chest as he spoke. It was something he had begun to notice recently. Ever since the Draconic Essence started to change him, lying had become increasingly difficult. In his current state, he was unsure what would happen if he broke a vow like the one he had just made, but he was certain he would not escape unscathed.
Fortunately, he had no intention of ever breaking that promise. Even so, it reminded him to choose his words with greater care in the future.
At last, Cassius’ expression softened into a genuine smile. “Then we will fight with you.”
Zeke returned the smile. He had not realized how tense he had been, but the moment Cassius agreed, a weight lifted from his shoulders. That was how highly he valued the two of them.
Under Akasha’s guidance, they would display far greater power than in their previous battles, especially Rhea. If deployed correctly, she would become an unstoppable juggernaut.
The mere thought of it stirred his excitement.
“It seems we are settled, then,” he said, pleased with how the day had begun. “Prepare yourselves as you see fit. Before the sun sets tonight, we will be wading through corpses once more.”
His declaration drew varied reactions.
Rhea remained expressionless. Cassius looked slightly uneasy. Zelkara was visibly eager, and the mages appeared cautiously optimistic. Overall, it was a favorable outcome, as no one seemed truly afraid.
Zeke’s gaze drifted to the elven brooch pinned to his chest. The moment he received confirmation that the offensive had begun, he would join the fray.