The gates of EIAA groaned open with a sound like grinding steel, and a faint wind brushed against Toreth's long green hair as he stepped forward. The crisp scent of polished marble and faint mana currents filled the air. Toreth closed his eyes for a brief second, inhaling deeply, then smirked.
"Ahh… the sweet fragrance of a school that breeds geniuses," he muttered, his voice dripping with amusement. "Now then… where's my supplier?"
He strolled leisurely inside, his stride confident, as though the entire Academy existed for him. His long coat—tailored to perfection, deep emerald with silver linings—fluttered behind him. Students who passed by in the corridor stiffened, whispering in hushed tones. Some bowed respectfully, others kept their eyes down, avoiding his sharp gaze.
Toreth didn't pay them any mind. He was already heading toward the principal's hall.
With a push of both hands, he swung the massive doors open and hopped inside with a grin.
"What's up, Seraphina?" he called out, voice echoing lightly across the chamber.
Behind the massive oak desk, Principal Seraphina sat, papers neatly stacked on one side, a quill darting across parchment in precise strokes. Her dark hair framed her face, her eyes narrowed in concentration. She didn't even glance up.
"I detected the vana of an animal entering the gates," she said flatly. "Turns out it was you."
Her tone was nonchalant, uninterested, yet sharp enough to cut.
Toreth chuckled, tapping his chest with mock hurt. "Ouch. I must be a cute cat in your mind then."
"A bitch dog," she replied, still writing, not sparing him a glance.
Toreth sighed dramatically, dropping himself onto the sofa in her office with casual elegance, one leg crossing the other. "Do you have something against me?"
"Everything," she replied instantly. "Your face, your way of talking, your presence, your—"
"Wait, wait, wait," Toreth interrupted, wagging his finger playfully. "I didn't come here to listen to your list of insults. I'm here to ask something."
"That much is a given," Seraphina said, finally stacking one paper aside and pulling another into place. Still, her eyes never left the documents. "I doubt the Supreme Commander and Legendary Engineer has time to visit me for fun."
"True," Toreth smirked, leaning back lazily, "but your case is different. If you asked, I would make time."
"Get to the point, Toreth." Her tone carried authority that didn't need to be raised.
He leaned forward now, his playful grin twisting into something more deliberate. "I want that kid you have."
Her quill paused mid-stroke. "Be more specific."
"Minos," Toreth said with no hesitation. "The kid from that… other place."
At this, Seraphina finally looked up. Her sharp eyes locked on him, unblinking. "Why would you want him?"
Toreth raised his hands with mock surrender. "Oh come on. You care about your students more than me. You'll fight tooth and nail for them, but you'd let me rot, wouldn't you?"
"All students are like my own children," she said firmly. "If you're asking to take one of them, I want the reason."
Toreth chuckled, waving his hand. "Fine, fine. I never refuse to tell you. I want him to create Deltes."
At that word, Seraphina's expression shifted. Her fingers tightened around her quill. "Deltes?"
"Yes," Toreth said smoothly. "His power is matter manipulation, right? With proper guidance, he can be used to mass-produce it."
Her voice was wary now. "If that's true, we'd gain a great advantage… but can he create Deltes with its original properties?"
Toreth tilted his head, his long hair swaying as he smiled knowingly. "Theoretically, yes. It's plausible."
Seraphina leaned back, crossing her fingers. "How long will you need him?"
"Two months. Minimum." Toreth shrugged. "After the attack on Uroun, most of our teams are tied up rebuilding homes and stabilizing settlements. Mining has slowed. And you know it takes multiple crews to find a single Yuron ore."
"What do you intend to do after two months?" she pressed.
"Send the kid back for his last year," Toreth replied breezily. "Oh, don't worry. I'll take care of him."
"Just don't kill him from overwork," Seraphina muttered.
"Don't worry," he said with a mischievous glint.
Suddenly, a knock came. The doors opened, and Minos stepped in.
Seraphina gestured at the sofa in front of Toreth. "Take a seat."
Minos hesitated but obeyed, glancing between the two adults.
Toreth's eyes scanned him carefully. "So… you're the one, huh?"
Minos tilted his head in confusion.
---
The scene shifted.
Zazm walked through a realm of utter darkness. No walls, no light—just the endless void stretching in all directions. His footsteps made no sound.
In front of him stood a shadowy figure. Its body shifted like smoke, but its presence pressed down heavily, thick as iron.
"The preparations are complete," the figure said, its voice like a whisper laced with eternity.
"What do you want me to do?" Zazm asked coldly, his eyes narrowed.
"You don't need to interfere."
Zazm's expression didn't change. "You came all the way here just to tell me that?"
The figure shook its head. "I have other work."
Zazm turned away, his voice flat. "Got it."
The void swallowed his steps.
---
Back in the principal's office.
"So in short, Principal Seraphina, you want me to go with Supreme Commander Toreth because he needs my help creating Deltes ore?" Minos asked nervously.
Seraphina nodded. "Deltes is rare, and a key component in developing AMI Marks."
Toreth leaned forward. "Deltes resonates with the human body. It's the only reason we can gain powers without the crystalline organ in our brains."
"So… Deltes works like that crystalline organ?" Minos asked.
"Not exactly. Much more complicated," Toreth replied, waving it off. "No need to bore you with technicals."
"But…" Minos hesitated. "Final exams are coming soon. If I go for two months, I'll miss them."
"Don't worry about exams," Seraphina said. "This takes priority."
Toreth's grin faded into something darker, more grounded. "Your concern is valid, but listen. After Uroun's destruction, we're vulnerable. Most of our resources are gone. We already have reserves, yes… but I want more." His voice dropped lower. "Because something's coming."
"What exactly are you preparing for?" Minos asked, his voice trembling slightly.
Toreth snapped his fingers casually. "Don't worry, kid. You'll manage." Then, his eyes sharpened, and his voice turned heavy. "As for what I'm preparing for…"
He leaned forward, his presence suddenly crushing. "It's an attack. On Earth."
Minos's eyes widened. "An… attack on Earth?"
"Bingo," Toreth said, smiling again. "Earth is the second biggest technological hub in existence. Uroun was important just like any other planet, but Earth? Earth is irreplaceable. We need to protect it, absolutely. At all costs."
Minos swallowed. "So that's why… you want more reserves?"
"Exactly," Toreth said, pointing finger-guns at him. "Sharp kid." His grin widened. "But… after two months, we're taking all our reserves back."
The words hung heavy in the room.
Minos clenched his fists. He hesitated, then nodded. "...Alright. I'll do it."
He stood and left the room, closing the door behind him. Outside, he leaned against the wall, exhaling shakily. " Man… this sucks. I have to leave everyone now?"
---
The space shifted.
Walls bled into darkness until only a cavernous throne room remained. Black stone stretched infinitely upward, cracked with faint white veins of light that pulsed like dying stars. At its center, raised high upon jagged steps, loomed the throne.
The False King sat upon it.
His body flickered, constantly glitching as though reality itself struggled to contain him. White hair cascaded in broken strands, flowing in a wind that wasn't there, stark against his forehead of absolute black—a void that devoured the light around it.
He leaned back lazily, one leg crossed over the other, his chin resting against a fist. Yet there was no ease in him—only a terrifying composure. The room itself seemed to bow to his presence.
On his right rested a chessboard.
His pale, glitching fingers plucked the black queen from her square. The board was arranged for checkmate—the white king cornered, doomed, with no path to escape.
His voice echoed, cold and hollow, resonating through the chamber like the tolling of a funeral bell.
> "This is checkmate."
But instead of finishing the play, he pulled the queen back. The sharp clack of wood on marble echoed as he set it down.
His other hand drifted to the white king. He lifted it, turning the piece slowly between his fingers. The light caught the crown carved into its head, but in his grip, it looked small. Fragile.
The False King's glitching face tilted slightly, his empty voice continuing with the weight of inevitability.
"By now, they are certain we'll take on Earth next. That'll be the best move and the simplest and easiest way."
He let the king spin once more, the motion hypnotic, then placed it gently back on the board.
His hand moved again, this time plucking the bishop from its place. He held it aloft, studying it with unreadable detachment.
"But what use is a swift game? Even a king grows dull when victory is assured."
A pause.
The bishop's base tapped once against the arm of his throne, the sound reverberating like a hammer striking bone.
"I will let them have it."
The bishop slid back into place on the board.
The False King's glitching gaze lowered, as though he were staring not at the chessboard but through the fabric of reality itself. His voice, though toneless, carried a weight that pressed down like iron.
"After all… a knight is more valuable than a pawn. But still less than a king."
The air thickened, heavy, as though the walls themselves strained beneath his words.
"And it would not be any fun… to end the game so early."
The chessboard rattled faintly, as if trembling at his presence.
The False King leaned back once more, his glitching form settling into the throne like a shadow cemented into the world, his voice finally falling into silence.
But the echo of his authority lingered—like a prophecy carved into stone.
---
The sound of footsteps echoed faintly in the academy's quiet halls. Zazm walked at his usual unhurried pace, hands tucked loosely into his pockets, his expression unreadable. Ahead of him, from the far end of the corridor, Minos appeared—head slightly lowered, hands brushing against the strap of his satchel as if weighed down by thought. Neither slowed.
Their paths converged until they stood just a few steps away. Minos finally looked up, meeting Zazm's cold gaze.
"Do you have time?" Minos asked, his voice steady but carrying a hidden weight.
Zazm gave a small nod. "What is it?"
"I went to the principal's office earlier." Minos's tone was quiet but deliberate. "And… there was Supreme Commander Toreth."
Zazm's eyes sharpened ever so slightly. "The legendary engineer," he said, voice flat but acknowledging.
Minos nodded. "Apparently… they want me."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. The air seemed to grow heavier.
"It's some material or something," Minos continued, his words tumbling out with controlled resolve. "They want my help to produce it."
Zazm gave the faintest nod. "Makes sense."
The bluntness of the reply caught Minos off guard. His eyes widened slightly. "So… I'm going to go there."
Zazm's gaze darkened, his voice dropping colder. "Are you sure you want to go?"
Minos drew in a small breath, then nodded firmly. "It's my decision. I want to be able to do something."
"I see," Zazm replied, his tone still emotionless as he stepped past Minos, leaving him behind.
But Minos turned sharply, his voice rising. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
Zazm didn't turn. He only stopped mid-step, his back still facing Minos.
"We should all stay together," Minos shouted, frustration in his voice. "And yet I'm going off alone…."
Zazm finally turned his head slightly, his expression unchanging. "Minos," he said, calm and flat, "I never held any authority over your life, or anyone else's. You're free to choose the path you take." He paused, letting his words cut through the tension. "However… I believe you would be much better suited with the legendary engineer."
Shock flickered across Minos's face. "Why do you think that?"
Zazm turned away again, walking down the hall without slowing. His answer trailed behind him, simple and cryptic. "You'll see."
"Thanks," Minos called out, his voice stronger now. "I'll go and meet everyone. I have to leave in a day or two."
But Zazm didn't answer. He just kept walking, quiet and steady, as Minos turned on his heel in the opposite direction.
From above, a soft giggle slipped into the air. Zephyra hung upside down like a bat, her violet hair cascading toward the ground, nearly brushing the floor.
Her hands clung playfully to Zazm's shoulders, her upside-down gaze following Minos until he disappeared.
Leaning back, she tilted her head. "Minos is leaving, huh?"
Zazm sighed. "Zephyra, explain to me."
She pulled herself forward, resting her chin and neck lazily on top of Zazm's head, almost draping herself over him like a shawl. "Mmm," she hummed, her voice sly.
"Why," Zazm asked with dry irritation, "are you using me as a ride?"
Zephyra only smiled against his hair. "Mmm." Then, as if changing the topic entirely, she spoke with sudden clarity. "Minos is leaving, huh."
"It's best for him," Zazm answered.
Zephyra gave a very small nod, her tone shifting to something more thoughtful. "True. He isn't as strong in fighting as the others. But if he went into the engineering department, they might actually put him to real use." She leaned back again, hanging in her upside-down posture, voice soft. "And he knows it too."
—
The scene shifted.
"What?!" Nova's voice rang with disbelief.
Inside the dorm room, Minos sat on the edge of his bed, looking calm despite the heavy news he carried. He nodded once. "Yes. That's the plan."
Kiyomasa leaned forward, his usual warm smile faltering. "This is such a big thing… but are you really leaving?"
"Wait—wait—wait." Nova threw his hands into the air. "Who exactly decided all this?"
"I did," Minos replied, steady and unwavering. "And it makes sense for me to do it."
Nova's frustration boiled over. "You'd be gone for minimum three months! Maybe more! And you'd miss the final exam!"
"It's fine," Minos said.
"No, it's not fine!" Nova snapped. "This is no wa—"
"Nova." Minos's voice cut in, sharper than usual. He met Nova's eyes. "Listen. I'm not as strong in combat as all of you. I can't throw boulders like Miwa. I can't burn forests like Kiyomasa. But I can create things. Not big enough for the battlefield… not yet. But I can."
Nova fell silent. The tension eased just a little as he dropped down onto his own bed, burying his face in his hands. "…If that's what you want."
Kiyomasa, however, smiled again, this time reassuring. "No need to fret. It's only three months. Then he'll be back."
Minos nodded quickly. "Yes. Exactly."
Nova sighed heavily. "Well… then tell the others too. They deserve to hear it from you."
"I will," Minos promised. "Tomorrow. I've already told Zazm."
"What did he say?" Kiyomasa asked, his smile tinged with curiosity.
"Not much," Minos admitted. "Just that I'd be best there."
Nova leaned back, resigned. "Then that's decided. Tomorrow, you tell everyone."
Minos nodded firmly.
—
Elsewhere in the academy, two other students walked side by side.
"Tch." Lisa clicked her tongue in annoyance. "Why does that guy have to go back to his hometown suddenly…?"
Nirin shook her head lightly. "I've heard the situation there was bad. That's why he was excused from exams, too."
"The academy wouldn't allow something like that unless it was serious," Lisa replied, her tone low and thoughtful.
"Let's hope everything is fine," Nirin said quietly. "That's all we can do."
Lisa nodded, though her eyes were still clouded with unease. "The exam is in three weeks. We should start preparing harder."
"Good idea," Nirin agreed.
The two fell into silence, each carrying the weight of Minos's departure in their own way.
---
The two days passed faster than anyone had expected.
The academy grounds were shrouded in silence when Zazm stepped out of his dorm. It was deep night—no footsteps, no voices, not a single soul in sight. The lamps along the path glowed faintly, their light drowned beneath the vast silver of the moon.
Zazm adjusted the collar of his coat and began walking. But as his eyes drifted to the side, he noticed a figure leaning against the wall, arms crossed behind her back, waiting in stillness.
Miwa.
He walked over, stopping a few steps away. "What are you doing here?"
Miwa tilted her head slightly, a soft smile tugging at her lips though her eyes looked down at the ground. "I was just waiting for you."
"For me?" Zazm questioned, his tone flat as ever.
Miwa nodded. "Yeah."
They began walking together, side by side. The gravel crunched faintly beneath their steps.
"Minos is going," Miwa said, her voice carrying both sadness and a smile. "He'll be back after a while."
"I know," Zazm replied simply.
Miwa glanced at him, hesitating. "I was wondering if you have…"
"No," Zazm cut in, not breaking his stride. "I haven't forgotten. I remember what you asked of me."
Miwa's smile deepened, faint relief breaking through her sorrow. "Of course you remember." She gave a soft laugh, but it faded quickly. "It was really hard for me to accept it at first, when Minos told us."
Zazm said nothing, letting her words linger in the air.
Miwa's voice softened. "After all, we've all been together every day… for so long now."
"True," Zazm nodded.
Miwa swallowed back a tremor in her throat. "And he always… reminds me of home." Her voice cracked, thin and fragile.
Zazm stayed quiet, though his eyes shifted toward her. She was on the edge of tears.
"I wonder when we'll meet again…." she whispered.
Finally, Zazm spoke, his voice low. "Sometimes."
Miwa blinked, looking up at him from the corner of her eye.
"Sometimes," Zazm continued, "it's good to let people go. That way we can finally understand what they were worth to us."
Miwa gave a small, broken laugh, her lips trembling into a smile. "Makes sense. They say you don't know the importance of something until it's lost."
"Perhaps," Zazm said, "your days will feel plain without him. Or perhaps everyone will feel unsettled by his absence. But—"
"But?" Miwa pressed.
Zazm looked ahead. "It's an opportunity for us all. Today it's Minos. Tomorrow it'll be all of us."
Her eyes softened. She smiled, the weight lifting slightly. "That's true. After all… we're grown-ups now, aren't we?"
Zazm turned his head toward her. "How old are you now?"
Miwa tilted her head, puzzled. "I'm twenty-one."
Zazm nodded faintly. "So that makes me twenty-three, huh…?"
Miwa smiled again. "Yes. You and Nova are twenty-three, while Jennie is twenty-four." She lifted her eyes to the starry night, her voice soft. "…I can't believe it's been four years. It feels way longer. Perhaps thirty."
"It feels like that," Zazm said quietly.
"Right?" Miwa laughed lightly. "Feels like yesterday when we met. Isn't it strange? We're aging… but I don't think we're changing much."
Zazm looked at her directly. Miwa rubbed her neck nervously. "If that makes sense."
"It does," Zazm said. "Because we age differently from normal humans."
Miwa stopped mid-step, eyes wide. "What?"
"You didn't read this in the books?" Zazm asked.
"I did," she admitted, stammering, "but I… I didn't think…"
"The stronger the flow of vana is in one's body, the slower they age, and the longer they live." Zazm pointed at her calmly. "Considering you're a zero-star threat, you would only be about eight years old in normal human years."
Miwa gasped. "That young?!"
Zazm gave a small nod. "If you were Omega, you'd only be considered eight days old."
"It's that huge of a difference?" Miwa asked, completely shocked.
"Yes," Zazm replied.
"Wait, does that mean… we'll live for hundreds of years?" she asked in awe.
"Naturally, yes."
"Wow…" Miwa whispered, almost giddy despite her sadness.
"Both Captain Neo and Asher," Zazm continued, "even Commander Rhyes—they're all over a hundred years old."
"They're that old?!" Miwa blurted, eyes as round as the moon above.
"They are."
Miwa suddenly burst into laughter, almost childlike. "Now isn't that absolutely shocking! I'll have to talk to them about it."
Zazm's voice cut steady. "For now… bid Minos farewell."
Her smile faltered. The sadness crept back into her features.
They turned a corner—and Zazm suddenly stopped. Miwa looked up and froze.
There stood Minos, suitcase in hand. Next to him, Supreme Commander Toreth, Asher at his side. Behind them gathered Nova, Kiyomasa, Ai, Jennie, and the others.
Zazm gave Miwa a gentle pat on the back, urging her forward. Then he stepped back to join the group, leaving her trembling on the spot.
Miwa walked forward nervously. "So… um… uhh… I suppose you're going?"
Minos smiled warmly. "Yes. But I'll be back."
"Be back as soon as possible!" Miwa said quickly, her voice tight but hopeful.
Minos nodded firmly. "I will. Take care, now."
Toreth placed a steady hand on Minos's shoulder. "Now that you've bid everyone farewell, let's get going."
Minos looked around at them all one last time and nodded. "Let's go."
Asher gave a reassuring smile. "I'll escort you to the gates."
Miwa stood rooted in place, forcing a smile while fighting back her tears as she watched Minos walk away. Jennie stepped beside her, gently hugging her shoulders. "Don't worry. He'll be back," she said softly.
Kiyomasa approached, his usual brightness dimmed. "Our room's going to feel empty now," he admitted.
"I'll miss the drama," Ai said, almost teasing, though her eyes betrayed sincerity.
Nova crossed his arms, watching Miwa carefully. Then he glanced at Zazm. "Miwa's taking this rather easy. Not what I expected."
Zazm didn't answer.
"I assume you had a hand in this?" Nova pressed.
"I didn't do anything," Zazm said flatly. "She's just growing more mature."
Nova smirked knowingly. "Sure, sure. But I was worried yesterday—everyone was in a commotion after the announcement. Yet somehow, things settled quickly."
Zazm turned his cold eyes toward him. "You've become quite good at masking your emotions."
Nova chuckled. "Nowhere near your level, emotionless bastard." He walked back to the others, blending into the chatter.
Zazm stayed behind. His steps slowed until he stopped altogether. Lifting his gaze, he stared at the moon, its light silvering the dark world. For a moment, he stood as though it was the only thing that existed.
"Why are you standing here?" Nova's voice came from behind. "Go sleep."
Jennie walked past too, pausing with a small smile. "You should rest as well, Zazm."
But Zazm didn't move, his eyes fixed on the glowing sphere. His voice was quiet, almost reverent. "The moon looks really beautiful tonight."
Jennie and Nova followed his gaze.
"It looks like this every day," Nova muttered in confusion.
"It does look beautiful though," Jennie said with a smile.
Ai strolled over with Miwa and Kiyomasa in tow. "Has Zazm become a philosopher now?" she asked dryly.
Kiyomasa grinned. "Zazm would look good as one."
"Are you kidding?" Ai mocked. "The only thing he'd suit is a robot impression."
That broke the tension. A round of laughter escaped from the group, faint but real, carried beneath the pale moonlight.
Miwa also smiled while looking at the moon.
_________________________