The desert stretched endlessly before the pyramid under the pale light of dusk. At the pyramid's summit, one figure sat cross-legged. It was Seirath Ahmose Rameses. His posture was calm.wkth his hands resting loosely on his knees. His eyes were fixed on the dunes, though he did not need to turn when another figure approached.
The gleam of her military uniform caught the dusk light as she climbed to the summit. She stopped at his side.
"Your son is an anomaly. He used his Flux openly and in doing so ignored the tradition of restraint. No Argemenes heir should wield a Concept Flux so carelessly."
Anastelle exhaled through her nose before lowering herself to sit beside him. Her legs crossed neatly, her hands resting against her knees in the same military stillness he possessed. For a moment, they sat like statues carved from opposing philosophies, watching the desert as though it were a chessboard.
"My son is… causing more problems than I can contain. Days ago, he was trapped inside a Fluve Field. Somehow, he escaped. And now, he nearly kills himself because the Xana he has hoarded for more than seven years is tearing his body apart."
Seirath's eyes flickered, though he still didn't look at her.
"The curse?"
"Not a curse as you think. When all Noble Fluxers unlock their Second Awakening through training, he failed. His body could not open the gates of Xana. It wasn't sabotage or interference. It was his weakness. The Xana kept accumulating and expanding his reserves year after year. By the time that deadlock shattered, it spread through his body without control. And because he never learned to guide it…"
She let the silence finish the sentence.
"A body that contains power but does not wield it will destroy itself. I can help."
"And what will you ask in return?"
"Nothing too much. The House of Argemenes has saved the House of Rameses countless times in the past. Consider it repayment."
Anastelle's lips pressed into a thin line. She did not trust words like nothing.
"The House of Rameses is the only Radiance House with friendly ties to mine. That kind of closeness is always transactional. What is the catch, Seirath?"
For the first time, Seirath sighed.
"There are two conditions."
"Which is?"
"A marriage contract."
Anastelle turned her body slightly, her eyes narrowing to slits.
"Explain."
"You know as well as I do. Every Fluxer in the world has a resonance to the elements, whether they realize it or not, even if they do not carry the Elemental Flux. But for most, the resonance is so weak it may as well be nothing. And then, there are rarities. These are Fluxers whose elemental resonance is so strong and precise that it manifests despite not being their Flux. Your son is one of them."
Anastelle stayed silent.
"I've seen Fluxers of every generation. I've seen Void element Fluxers rise and fall yet his sensitivity to the void element surpasses my own."
That made Anastelle shift. Even her eyes betrayed a flicker of surprise.
"And I," Seirath said pointedly, "am Rameses. For him to surpass even me, do you understand what that means? It must be secured."
Her arms crossed. "So you seek to secure it through marriage."
"Not mine. Through my daughters. One of them already kissed your son during the Spring Ceremony."
Anastelle's lips tightened in irritation, the sharp breath she drew in audible.
"They are adults. They make mistakes."
"I was there. I saw it. And for once, Anastelle, I don't think it was a mistake. My daughter may truly fall for him. So my deal is this. I will tutor your son personally. He will not leave Egypt until the spring ends and his training is complete. In return, you will extend Argemenes protection over my House. Nothing more."
"And the marriage?"
"There is no use forcing it. The Argemenes bloodline runs cold. You know this. To make him fall for one of my daughters is almost impossible. But if it happens and they choose it themselves, then let it happen. That is all I ask."
Anastelle exhaled through her nose, the closest she came to a sigh. She stared at him for a long time, then finally nodded.
"I'll speak to the University and arrange his training formally. But hear me, Seirath. Do not hold back. My son has endured hell since childhood. If you coddle him, I will personally see to it that you regret it."
"You will not be disappointed. When I am finished, the boy will stand as one worthy of Argemenes and Rameses alike."
And somewhere below, within the pyramid, the young heir who was both anomaly and heir lay unaware of how his future had just been bargained for in the politics of Houses older than empires.
°°°°°°
It's April 3rd.
I didn't even realize how early it was until I stepped into the Fast Travel Room. It always amazed me that something as mystical and ancient as instantaneous travel existed in Altera Earth. There's no use for airplanes in this world. They actually don't exist except in the military. Thales was already there. He looked up the moment he stepped in. His eyes searched me like he always did now. The door was locked but he could still hear me.
"You sure you're okay?"
I cracked a smirk because, really, what else can I do? My body still ached but I couldn't let him see that.
"I'm fine, Thales. Don't look at me like I'm about to drop dead on the floor. Unfortunately, I've got to stay behind. Training's mandatory. Orders from the big Houses. You know how it is."
Thales sighed.
"Then take care of yourself. I'll take care of Verdamona."
"You don't like her, huh?"
"I don't, but I'll try."
That was the best I was going to get out of him. I straightened and stepped forward, lowering my voice.
"Do me a favor. Keep looking for clues about the disc. I can't go with you but I'm counting on you. Don't let Erdict catch on."
"You think they're watching?"
"Think? They've been watching you since the moment you touched that clue. You finding the Azure Sword's first clue put a target on your back, and you don't even realize how big it is. So play it smart. Don't slip. Don't let them know what you know."
"You're right. And Phaser… thanks. I mean it. For stepping in back then. For—"
"Don't get sentimental, hero. Just keep breathing until summer, alright?"
He gave me one last long look, then stepped into the middle. The chamber lit up with a violent surge of light and in a blink, Thales was gone. The silence hit heavier than I expected. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck, when a voice came from behind me.
"You always play the martyr, don't you?"
I turned and nearly jumped.
She stood against the far wall, the blindfold tied neatly over her eyes. For someone who was supposed to be "out of sight," she had a talent for showing up exactly when I least wanted her to.
"You okay? That blindfold looks more dramatic than practical."
"Why did you take the blame?"
Oh, that. The kiss. I internally cursed, trying not to let it show on my face. If I told her the truth that I didn't want Thales or anyone else finding out she kissed me, I'd never hear the end of it. So instead, I put on my best mask, leaned back casually, and replied.
"Blackmail."
Her jaw dropped. "Blackmail?!"
"Yep. You sexually assaulted me. I could use that against you if I ever need leverage."
"You—"
"Relax. The kiss didn't mean anything. It didn't happen, as far as I'm concerned. Life goes on. And honestly? Thanks to you, I get to stay in the pyramid and train. So yeah… thanks for the assault, I guess."
Her outrage was delicious. I leaned in slightly.
"Really though, I should thank you properly. Because of you, I get stronger. So… thank you, Nefira."
Her fists clenched, and I swore if looks could kill, even blindfolded, she would have ended me right there. I tilted my head, pretending to think.
"Although, how did you even see me that first time we met if you're blind?"
No answer.
"Alright, fine. We've got all spring to figure it out. Don't stress too much about that kiss. We're adults. Not a big deal."
As I walked through the pyramid's long halls, my mind finally shifted away from the blindfolded headache and toward the future. I have months of training under Seirath Rameses, the man whose name still shook the African continent. In MoDS, the House of Rameses barely got mentioned but what little lore existed said one thing clearly. Their Xana training was legendary. I need to get stronger because the summer was going to be a nightmare, especially with the The Faceless Sovereign. If I went into summer half-baked, I wouldn't just die. I would doom Thales and Verdamona.
This spring, I will get stronger to survive because whether anyone else realized it or not, the story wasn't just Verdamona's anymore.
I'm involved in it.