Seven glass-domed pods stood in a row. They each contained a slightly angled bed that allowed for a comfortable rest, but nothing else could be seen inside. It was immediately clear that these pods were not meant to be used for anything but rest. Of the seven, only the last two were currently occupied.
Zeke stopped before the second-to-last and peered through the glass. Inside lay a motionless figure. Their skin was the color of charcoal, broken only by fiery lines that crisscrossed their body like veins on a leaf.
Vulcanos was still asleep, his evolution showing no sign of ending.
Though not particularly noticeable from day to day, the transformation would be immediately obvious to anyone who had not seen the Chimeroi for some time.
His facial features and overall bone structure had sharpened, his skin had begun to display a faint metallic sheen, and most notably, the lines across his entire body had changed. Where they had once appeared random, they now formed a clear, symmetrical pattern, almost like a painting or a tattoo. There was an unmistakable order to them, a deliberate intent behind their placement.
What that meant, however, Zeke could not say.
After a few more moments, Zeke finally tore his gaze away and moved to the other pod in use.
Inside was a sleeping young man. His eyes were closed, his expression peaceful. It was Leo, whom Zeke had placed inside the Mana Purifying Device after he had been injured during the battle at Strattlehold.
Months had passed since then, and the time had come to wake his adoptive brother from his long slumber. It was time for Leo to face the world again and... his upcoming advancement.
Akasha had already begun weaning Leo off the purified Mana over the past few days. This ensured he would not suffer most of the physical side effects of withdrawal. As for the mental addiction, that was even less of a concern. They had kept him unconscious for that very reason, preventing him from forming any strong dependency in the first place.
This was the same method Zeke had used on the twins, and it had proven highly effective. Still, they had never spent a full month inside the chamber the way he and Leo had, so Zeke remained slightly uneasy.
Even so, he did not hesitate to initiate the awakening sequence. No matter the outcome, delaying it would help no one.
A series of whirring clicks echoed as the machinery came to life. The mechanical lock of the pod disengaged, and the upper half of the dome slowly rose, opening like a clam.
Leo’s face remained as peaceful as before, his sleep undisturbed. Zeke watched in silence, in no hurry to interfere. Then, after several seconds, Leo’s eyelids began to flutter. At the same time, a faint furrow returned to his brow. It was a curious sight, as if the burdens of the world were settling back onto him along with his returning consciousness.
Finally, Leo’s eyes opened fully, and his body jerked upright. He braced himself on his arms, his gaze darting left and right. Only when he spotted Zeke standing before him did he begin to relax.
"...We lost?"
Zeke nodded, his thoughts drifting back to that day. "Quite badly. I had to use the Alexandria as a bargaining chip to secure our retreat."
Leo grimaced. His eyes began to wander again, his restlessness growing more apparent. "Where are we? Is everyone okay?"
Zeke raised his hands, palms open in a calming gesture. "The retreat was successful. Your people are safe."
Before Leo could ask anything else, Zeke took the initiative. "Before anything else, tell me how you feel."
Leo hesitated for a moment. He raised one hand, clenched it into a fist a few times, then relaxed. "Well enough. I should be able to fight effectively."
Zeke shook his head. "You did not notice?"
Leo’s expression shifted to confusion. Instead of asking, he closed his eyes and began inspecting his condition more carefully.
"My body... feels off. My limbs feel weak, and I seem to have lost some muscle..." His eyes snapped open. "How long have I been asleep?"
Zeke did not hide it. "It has been months."
Leo’s expression hardened. "Was I that badly injured?"
Zeke shook his head. There was no need to explain with words. "Have you felt your Core yet?"
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Leo’s brows furrowed, but in the next moment, his eyes widened in shock. "I have reached the threshold? H-How?"
Zeke grinned. "That is just how awesome your brother is."
Leo nodded slowly, somehow accepting the explanation. A moment of silence followed as he processed his condition. "I did not think you could even do something like this... My efforts over the years feel a little foolish now."
Zeke’s expression grew serious. "How about we take a walk?"
Leo nodded and slowly climbed out of the pod. His movements were uncertain at first, but after only a few steps, he regained his usual gait, his stride steady once more.
Zeke observed the quick adjustment without comment. They walked in silence for a while. Leo’s gaze wandered curiously across their surroundings. The interior of the World Anchor had taken the form of a vast, structured facility, with sections for storage, cultivation, and processing.
Zeke was certain Leo noticed how unusual it all was. Their surroundings rivaled even the most advanced facilities in the upper layers of Tradespire. Leo was likely wondering how they had ended up here after last seeing each other on the battlefield. Yet, once again, he did not ask. He trusted that Zeke would explain when the time was right. It was one of the qualities Zeke appreciated most.
"Do you know," Zeke said after a while, "back in school, I was quite jealous of you."
Leo turned to him with a questioning look.
"Everything seemed to come easily to you," Zeke explained. "Magic, combat, instinct. You were always one step ahead of me."
Leo smiled faintly, though there was bitterness in it. "Is that how you saw it? For me, it was the opposite. No matter how hard I tried, I could never measure up to you."
Zeke frowned. "No need to be modest. You won every spar we ever had."
Leo shook his head. "I lost in everything that mattered. When Maximilian chose a successor, it was you. And when we faced each other in the tournament, I lost as well."
Zeke remained silent for a while. "I have wondered about that for a long time as well," he said at last. "Why Maximilian chose me. In every regard, you would have been the better choice, the better successor. It was only recently that I understood the true reason behind his decision."
Leo stopped, his gaze fixed on Zeke.
Zeke halted as well, meeting his brother’s eyes.
"He chose me not because we were similar, but because we were not."
Leo’s expression remained flat. "That does not make much sense."
Zeke shook his head. "It seems strange, does it not? But I believe he chose me over you precisely because he did not want to create a successor in his own image. To achieve his goal, he needed someone who could do what he could not."
"Do what?" Leo asked.
"To carry humanity forward."
Leo fell silent, doubt flickering in his eyes. "Do you think you can do it?"
Zeke did not answer immediately. Instead, he let his gaze wander, observing the dozens of Chimeroi workers moving through the facility.
"Do you know where we are?" he asked suddenly.
Leo shook his head.
"This is a spatial fragment, completely separate from the world you know. Everything here follows my will." As he spoke, the ground before them shifted, turning from mud to grass, then to bare stone, before returning to the smooth surface.
"Within this space, I have the means to turn commoners into Mages. To advance them through the ranks as I see fit."
Zeke paused, allowing his words to settle. "Meanwhile, outside this space lies the Alexandria, a flying fortress filled to the brim with elite Mages, which has already infiltrated deep into enemy territory and is waging war against one of the most elite forces known to mankind..."
Despite the grand scope of his words, Zeke did not smile. This was not boasting, but a simple statement of fact. In his eighteen years of life, this was what he had built.
"To me," Zeke said at last, "the question is not whether I can do it, but whether I will die before I succeed."
Leo studied him for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Zeke did not rush him. What his brother said next would shape their future relationship.
"...Why are you telling me all of this now?"
"Because I need your help."
Leo’s expression did not change. "How could I help you, when even Maximilian could not?"
"I do not need you to change the world," Zeke said, a faint smile returning. "I have that part covered. But I need someone who can lead my forces, someone who can recruit in secret, and most importantly, someone I can trust without hesitation."
A flicker passed through Leo’s eyes. "You want that to be me? Not David, or one of the other Archmages under you?"
Zeke nodded without hesitation.
"I am not much of a leader," Leo said.
"No?" Zeke asked, a knowing smile forming. "Then it must have been pure luck that allowed you and your people to survive deep in enemy territory while earning the trust of the locals."
Leo shook his head. "There were just as many I could not save. And even if I had some talent for leadership, I am completely unsuited for recruitment. I am no great speaker, nor do I have a reputation that could impress anyone."
Zeke nodded. "That is true. You lack both eloquence and a name that can rival mine. But that might not be a bad thing. Because you are not widely known, you can move in secrecy. And instead of relying on words, you possess something far more valuable..."
Leo looked at him expectantly.
"Genuine skill." Before Leo could respond, Zeke continued, "You have already reached the threshold of Grandmage." He paused, letting the weight of that settle. "If I am number one on the continent, then you are now number two. There is no one else of our generation who can match us. And I intend to keep it that way."
Leo lowered his head, his dirty blond hair falling over his face. Zeke did not rush him. He had already said everything that needed to be said. The rest was up to his brother.
"...If I refuse," Leo said after a while, "will you kill me to keep your secrets?"
Zeke smiled. "No."
Leo shook his head. "Wrong answer. If you are serious about this, you cannot afford to take such risks."
Zeke’s smile remained. "Is that a yes?"
Leo raised his head. A fire burned in his eyes that had been absent for a long time. "Number two in the world... that does have a nice ring to it. But I will not tolerate anyone else above me."
"You should not even tolerate me," Zeke said with a grin. "If you believe you have the skill, the crown is yours for the taking."
The glint in Leo’s eyes sharpened, but in the end, he shook his head. "Not yet."
Zeke nodded, his expression calm. Even so, the mere thought of Leo chasing after him again already stirred an urge to train. There was no telling what might happen otherwise.
"So..." Leo said after a moment, "what is next?"
Zeke’s grin widened. "How do you feel about finally becoming a Grand Mage?"