The Return to Burden
The return from the frozen silence of The Repository of Azmar was marked by a chilling determination. They carried a terrible secret: the only way to save Consort Neshuda's consciousness was for King Hayate to allow his body to die and initiate the soul transfer at the final, fatal moment. The weight of this knowledge settled heavily over the Eternal Imprint.
They re-entered the Aurekawa Citadel to find the political environment tense. Their long absence, combined with the earlier brief chaos caused by the Angelic Flaw on Yurieshima Island, had led to unrest. The vassal houses and the newly installed envoy, Shen Lang, were awaiting decisive, permanent leadership.
That evening, Hayate sat with Neshuda in their study, preparing for the final council meeting. Neshuda looked perfectly composed, but Hayate could feel the warrior's deep, spiritual exhaustion—a profound weariness that no rest could cure.
We must be absolute, Anchor, Hayate projected, his mind focused, his Angelic aura stable and strong, yet desperately protective. We must establish a final, undeniable line of authority now, so when the time comes, there can be no question of your purpose.
I am prepared, my King, Neshuda projected back, his mind calm and absolute. The people must understand that the Anchor is not just a shield; he is the permanent structure of the kingdom itself.
The Decree of the Anchor
The next morning, King Hayate and Consort Neshuda stood before the full Royal Council. Vassal leaders, military commanders, Queen Leona's envoy, and the newly appointed Shen Lang were all present, their eyes seeking weakness.
Hayate, standing tall and radiating controlled power, spoke first, his voice echoing with the clarity of the Resonance Key.
"The trials are over. The realm is secured. But our long absences have revealed a flaw, not in our defense, but in your understanding of the Eternal Imprint."
Hayate turned to Neshuda, his gaze filled with profound love and absolute authority.
"Before this council and before the realm, I now issue a final, permanent decree that defines the nature of the Consort and the Anchor."
Hayate placed his hand over Neshuda's heart, a gesture so intimate it silenced the entire hall.
"By the power vested in me and the binding of the Imprint, I declare: Consort Neshuda is the Eternal Core of Aurekawa. His authority is not derived from the King's light, but is the Foundation upon which the King's light rests."
Hayate then issued the two, final, unprecedented points of the decree:
The Law of the Foundation: In all matters concerning the spiritual defense and stability of the Citadel, the Consort's judgment is final, superseding even the King's authority. The military and spiritual guard must follow the Anchor's command without question, recognizing that his Resolve is the spiritual law.
The Line of Succession: I declare that the Eternal Imprint itself is the sole line of succession. No blood heir or political maneuver can separate the Crown from the Anchor. Should the King perish, the Consort shall be the Regent of the Imprint, wielding the full power of the Crown until a new, destined King appears and is accepted by the Anchor.
The decree cemented Neshuda's position not just as a trusted partner, but as the unassailable, permanent core of the kingdom, protecting his purpose—even his planned death—from political sabotage.
The council erupted in debate, but Neshuda silenced them with a single, cold glance. His aura of Resolve was so absolute, so pure, that it crushed all dissent.
Shen Lang, the former separatist, stepped forward and bowed low. "We have witnessed the ultimate surrender of power, my King. The logic is now clear. The Anchor is the only truth."
The Final Weeks
With the political theater concluded, they retreated into the painful, sweet sanctuary of their remaining time. They searched for more knowledge, desperately seeking a loophole—a way to transfer Neshuda's soul without the catastrophic final condition.
But there were no other answers. The Repository of Azmar held the only solution, and the condition was fixed: the spiritual transfer had to occur during the moment the Life Anchor failed.
Neshuda's spiritual core was now visibly failing. The warrior would suffer brief, intense spiritual seizures—moments of crushing internal fatigue that made him collapse.
During one such collapse in their chamber, Neshuda fell, his body trembling, the spiritual connection dimming to a faint pulse. Hayate rushed to him, cradling him fiercely.
I am losing the light, Hayate. I am sorry, Neshuda projected, the thought weak and fleeting.
Hayate poured his entire Angelic aura into Neshuda—a desperate act of love. He didn't care about exhausting himself; he just needed to sustain the life.
You will not apologize! You will not yield! Hayate commanded, his love a ferocious shield. I will sustain you. We have more time!
Neshuda recovered, but the moment was a terrible preview of the inevitable.
The Vow of Absolute Trust
Knowing time was running out, Neshuda spent their final weeks teaching Hayate the final, necessary lesson: how to perform the final act of love.
They returned to the quiet intimacy of their chamber, the place where their souls had been forged and tested. Neshuda led Hayate through the terrifying ritual—the practice of letting go.
Neshuda lay on their bed, pulling Hayate close. "The transfer requires the receiving soul—your consciousness—to be in a state of Absolute Acceptance of the loss, my King. If you hesitate for even a breath, the consciousness is lost forever."
Neshuda initiated a deep, physical union—a final, sacred, intimate bonding designed to create the perfect blueprint of his soul for the transfer.
He used their final acts of lovemaking to prepare Hayate, dominating the King entirely, demanding Absolute Submission one last time.
Feel this, Hayate. Memorize this, Neshuda projected, his movements slow, deep, and consuming. Memorize my touch. Memorize the weight of my body. This is the truth that will guide your hand at the end. The physical truth of our love must be the only thing you trust, not your pain.
Hayate submitted completely, his mind searing the moment into his memory. He focused on the beautiful, undeniable ecstasy and the profound love flowing from Neshuda, burying the terror of the imminent future beneath the sweet reality of the present.
As they reached a shared, desperate climax—a final, perfect fusion of their souls—Neshuda whispered a crucial instruction, his voice raw with love.
"When the time comes, my King, use the pain of the loss to initiate the transfer. Let the pain be the trigger. Let go. That is the final act of love."
The Final Journey
The spiritual seizures grew more frequent, the intervals between them shrinking. There were no more delays.
Neshuda, fully aware and accepting of his destiny, gave the final command.
"We go now, my King. Before the collapse happens here."
They left the Citadel in secret, accompanied only by Winter, heading north once more toward the glacial depths of The Repository of Azmar.
Hayate walked beside his Consort, his hand gripping Neshuda's fiercely. He knew he was leading the love of his eternal life to his death. The political battles, the great wars, the psychic attacks—none of them compared to the unbearable burden of the final choice he had to make.
I will not fail the final test, Anchor. I will not fail you, Hayate vowed, his tears freezing on his cheeks.
You already won, my King, Neshuda projected, his mind faint but filled with overwhelming, serene love. Now, let me win ours.
They disappeared into the blinding snow and ice—two figures bound together by a love so absolute it defied time and demanded final, tragic sacrifice.