"Prince Maximillian, was it?" Sophia hummed and flipped through her report. As she did, a rainbow shimmer filled the room, her rainbow eyes flashing a pure white for a moment. "How odd." She murmured. "It should be apparent... but it's murky."
Elio's eyes widened. "Even to you?"
Sophia nodded and set the papers down. "I can see that Prince Maximillian was involved in this affair, yes. But it is unclear if it was intentional sabotage or if he was a victim. And considering the situation in the capital with rivalling factions..."
"It could be either. Damn." Elio clicked his tongue.
Sophia nodded. "Yes..." She sighed. "And it does not help that Prince Maximillian has always been so inscrutable."
"Tell me about it." Elio sighed. "Even with all the warring among the nobles, my dear nephew still hasn't abdicated his claim to the throne or stopped those spouting his name for their actions. Yet he still claims to love my dear niece and, at least on the surface, cares for her."
Sophia nodded. "Indeed. And the question is whether that affection is simply surface deep or sincere... one that I suppose neither of us truly know the answer to?"
Elio gave a grim nod. "If I was sure that Maximillian didn't mean any harm to Evelyn, I would be more relaxed. But he takes after his father a great deal..."
Sophia sighed and placed her hand against her forehead. "I still cannot fathom the Emperor's decision. Choosing Evelyn as his heir and going against millennia of precedents, all because of her Talent..."
Elio's silver eyes flashed an ominous gold. Then he muttered, "I can. My dear older brother still thinks that 'Eternity' can emerge. And Evelyn... as well as her mother are 'keys' to that."
Sophia shook her head. "Then he is as fool as ever. 'Eternity' rests in the domain of transcendents and gods, not mortals. Maybe one who reached Rank 9 could have a chance at acquiring it, but anyone below that..."
"I know. He's an idiot. And if the Empire wouldn't split in half the moment I tried, I would have ousted him from that damned golden throne already."
Sophia sighed.
Elio shook his head.
After a few moments, Sophia continued. "Setting the imperial intrigue aside..." She put on a serious expression and said, "Whatever the intent behind the sabotaged examination, we simply have to remain on guard."
Elio nodded. "I'll start reaching out to some of my trusted protegees and acquaintances."
Sophia smiled. "I would appreciate that." She paused and then said, "Considering how the situation was 'mysteriously' resolved, it is likely the forces behind the incident will remain in the shadows for a while. Fortunately, we will likely be free of incident until the academy doors are open to the public once more. However, the next time..."
Elio frowned. "The Winter Solstice Ball."
Sophia nodded. "Correct. And... I am not sure." She frowned. "...That fact is cause enough for concern. But setting that aside, I am not sure what will occur during that time. Only that something will, and it will be drastic."
Elio closed his eyes, rousing his mana and his own Domain. And then he muttered, "You're right. It's like a veil has been thrown... Something that should be impossible." He opened his eyes and frowned. "'Victory' isn't certain, but for there to not even be a 'path'..."
"We must be careful."
Elio nodded. "I got it. I'll make sure we have the people and resources we need to keep the students safe, Phi."
Sophia rolled her eyes. "You always call me by that pet name and the most inappropriate times, Leo."
Elio chuckled. "Sorry. It became habit..." He trailed off, guilt clear on his face.
Sophia sighed.
Elio hummed, focusing on his
"Oh?" Sophia's eyes lit up. "Your Talent always was better suited for answers than mine... Did you perceive something?"
Elio nodded. "It's not much... but whatever's happening, Alex will resolve it." He paused. "...I don't know how, but I know he'll resolve it. I've never been more sure of anything else in my life. But at the same time..."
A glimpse of darkness amidst the glittering golden path to victory.
When Elio called up his Domain to find a 'path' to the result he wanted, he saw Alexander. But he also saw his niece. And what he saw on that path, even though just in short glimpses...
"Leo?"
Elio hesitated. Then he said, "...Tell me, Phi. What do you know about Demons?"
===
In the Imperial Palace, late in the evening.
Sitting in his private study, Maximillian sat back and sipped on a glass of red wine. As he did, his cold golden eyes skimmed across a stack of papers. Reports from his spies planted in the academy and across the Empire.
Then the shadows bent and a masked figure stepped out.
Maximillian felt the urge to chuck his glass at the intruder and draw his blade. But before he did, he took a deep breath and spoke in a level tone. "You should announce your presence more often. One of these days, I might cut you down by accident, my dear collaborator."
Void Sovereign walked forward, conjuring a seat from shadows across from Maximillian. At the same time, a distorted shadowy blade sheathed at their side seemed to place an unknown pressure on the room.
Maximillian noticed and frowned. But he didn't comment. Instead, he simply waited.
Void Sovereign sat down on their shadowy chair and said, "You seem troubled."
Maximillian shifted his papers aside and said, "More than troubled. But it is manageable." He frowned. "What of you? I thought everything was well on your end. To visit so suddenly... did something come up?"
"No." Void Sovereign shook their head and said, "Everything is proceeding as intended. The preparations to purge the noble factions against you and sow chaos have already been completed. The perfect stage for you to take over even if your dear sister somehow manages to survive Demonification is set."
Hearing that last bit, Maximillian's golden eyes flashed. He narrowed them and said, "You do not doubt my success do you, dear collaborator?"
Void Sovereign chuckled. "I never doubt. But I always verify. Besides..." They trailed off and looked into the distance. "...It is never good to put all the eggs in one basket."
Maximillian paused and grudgingly nodded. "I suppose I cannot fault that. I would be fool to trust you if you did not at least consider such actions... loathe as I am to admit it. Or accept it."
Void Sovereign chuckled. "Indeed. For the moment at least, our interests align."
Maximillian nodded. Then he paused and then said, "Even so... your presence here suggests an issue, does it not, Collaborator?"
"Not an issue. More... a question." Void Sovereign looked at Maximillian and said, "Would you like to make a friendly wager?"
Maximillian raised an eyebrow. "A wager?"
"Indeed." Void Sovereign laced their hands together and said, "I wager that your dear sister will survive the demonification process."
Maximillian bristled and spoke in a cold voice. "You dare bet against my men and my plans? Against me?"
Void Sovereign chuckled. "I do not expect you to fail. After all, it is 'fate' that the princess falls into a demon and perishes. Yet recently, I have learned that 'fate' is not quite as concrete as I once believed. So I come to make a wager." An inhumanly wide grin stretched past Void Sovereign's mask, and they said, "If I lose, the Void Arbiters will grant you one favor, free of charge. And considering how secure our plans are, this is essentially a given benefit, is it not?"
Maximillian was quiet. Then he slowly said, "And if you win?"
"Why then..." Void Sovereign chuckled. "You owe ME a favor, Dear Prince."
Maximillian resisted an urge to shudder in revulsion.
Owing a favor to this eldritch and inhuman entity...
Maximillian would rather die. But even so...
There were plenty of allies in the academy. And his dear sister had already fully assimilated the Demon God's energy without her noticing. It was only a matter of time now. Even in the best case scenario, she would only have until the Winter Solstice.
And on that day, all it would take was Maximillian's command for her to turn into a Demon. Even should she somehow resist that, the process was already too far gone, and she would turn into one regardless by the end of the night.
Like Void Sovereign stated, it was a fated conclusion.
Although Maximillian still had doubts... the creature in front of him had always been incomprehensible. Perhaps this was just another of its whimsies. And so he nodded and said, "Fine. I accept."
Void Sovereign nodded in return and held out their hand.
Maximillian frowned and looked at it. "What? Are you expecting something else from me?"
Void Sovereign paused and then withdrew their hand. "No. I only expect from you what we have planned. Then." They stood up and turned on their heel. "I will leave this portion of events in your capable hands, Prince."
Maximillian watched Void Sovereign vanish and then clicked his tongue. "I will never understand that monster... But regardless." He pulled out a parchment and a black gem. "Like my dear collaborator said, it would not do to leave all the eggs in one basket." He picked up a pen and hummed. "A love stolen is the worst kind of despair and regret, is it not? Darkness ripe for the picking..."
Chuckling to himself, Maximillian began to write a letter to a certain student in the academy.
===
The empty and dark halls that served as the Void Arbiter's headquarters and the altar of the Demon God's descent.
Void Sovereign remerged there and held out their right hand, staring at it. "...Strange."
The brief encounter with Prince Maximillian had confirmed it.
"...The people of this world should have innate disdain towards us. An enmity deeper than the bone..." Void Sovereign muttered, staring at their right hand. "...So why did you not, Alexander?"
Even a man who prided himself on appearances and tact had declined a simple gesture.
Yet Alexander had not. Instead, he had initiated it. As if it was natural.
Void Sovereign continued staring at their right hand and then murmured, "I cannot understand you, Alexander. Even after all this time."
They were words and sentiment that even Void Sovereign didn't completely understand.
And because Void Sovereign didn't understand, they set them aside.
Duty called.
Now... all that was left was to see how 'fate' unfolded again.