The Question of Immortality
The decisive victory against Zarcania had secured King Hayate's rule, but it also highlighted the profound, unsettling reality of his reign: the Eternal Imprint had bound him and Consort Neshuda's soul forever, practically granting Hayate immortality while removing any chance of a physical heir.
Hayate, sustained by the constant spiritual presence of the Eternal Anchor, would likely outlive every vassal, every general, and perhaps even the Citadel itself. This reality caused unrest, particularly among the conservative vassal houses who held to the tradition of bloodline succession.
The official question was raised by Duke Rion, the eldest and most tradition-bound of the Northern Vassals, during the Royal Council meeting.
"Your Majesty, we honor the Decree of the Anchor, but the decree dictates that the Anchor acts as Regent until a destined King appears. With all due respect, your unprecedented longevity and lack of a blood heir means the line of succession is now an eternal question mark. Who inherits the Angelic aura? Who is the next King?"
The silence in the chamber was heavy, punctuated only by the subtle, warm pulse of the Anchor's Seal on Hayate's chest.
Hayate felt the intense internal debate between his own desire for a simple, eternal reign and Neshuda's clear, tactical advice.
They are not questioning your power, Hayate; they are questioning your legacy. They need a clear definition of succession that respects both blood and spirit, Neshuda projected, his counsel flowing from the Seal with cold, perfect logic.
I want only to rule with you, Anchor. I don't want to think about what comes after 'forever', Hayate projected back, a hint of tired frustration in his thought.
We must give them a doctrine of succession that is impossible to challenge. We must define the next King not by birth, but by compatibility, Neshuda insisted.
Defining the Legacy
Hayate faced the council, his posture radiating the unified authority of two souls.
"Duke Rion, your concern is noted. But your definition of succession is obsolete. The rule of Aurekawa is no longer based on mere blood or political might; it is based on Spiritual Compatibility."
Hayate held up the Anchor's Seal. "The Eternal Imprint will not bind itself to just any vessel. The Angelic aura now requires a compatible soul—one capable of receiving and maintaining the conscious presence of the Anchor."
He issued the Doctrine of Compatible Succession:
The Test of the Core: Any future claimant to the throne must possess a spiritual core capable of sustaining the Resonance Key energy without self-destruction.
The Test of the Seal: The claimant must be able to hold the Anchor's Seal without being destroyed by the pure Resolve contained within. The Seal will accept only the soul deemed compatible by the Eternal Anchor.
The Test of the Voice: If a claimant passes the first two tests, they must submit to the Final Spiritual Binding, and the Eternal Anchor must acknowledge the new King by projecting his conscious voice into the claimant's mind.
"The Eternal Imprint itself is the guardian of the throne," Hayate concluded. "Until the Seal chooses a successor, I rule, and the question of succession is closed."
The doctrine was genius: it honored the need for a legacy while ensuring that only Neshuda, the soul within the Seal, could ultimately choose the next King.
The Haunting of the Past
The political tension eased, but the pressure on Hayate's emotional state intensified. Dealing with the abstract concept of his own eternity forced him to confront the finality of Neshuda's sacrifice.
That evening, Hayate was restless. He walked to the obsidian plinth, the resting place of Neshuda's body, and simply stood there, overwhelmed by a longing that bypassed logic.
Anchor, I feel the weight of eternity. It is cold without your heat. Tell me about the past. Tell me something I cannot know, just to feel the reality of you, Hayate pleaded silently.
Neshuda's response was a sudden, clear projection of a memory into Hayate's mind—a memory only Neshuda could possess: their first, quiet moment of intimacy, a shared secret from before the wars, before the titles.
Hayate felt the fierce, young Resolve of Neshuda, the awkward intensity of their first kiss, and the overwhelming surge of realization that they were destined. The memory was sweet, raw, and comforting.
I am the past, my King. I am the future. We are woven together in a single, unbreakable thread, Neshuda soothed, his consciousness wrapping around Hayate's mind.
Hayate needed more than memory; he needed comfort against the chill of immortality. He took the Anchor's Seal and pressed the warm crystal against his cheek.
I need the comfort, Anchor. I need the truth of our bond, physically felt, Hayate confessed, his need raw and absolute.
The Ultimate Comfort
Neshuda, understanding the depth of Hayate's loneliness, focused his boundless love through the Seal. He channeled a wave of pure, spiritual ecstasy through the crystal and into Hayate's body—a familiar, intense response to the King's needs.
But this time, Neshuda went deeper. He commanded Hayate's own body to respond, initiating a slow, sweet intimacy using the King's own hands, directed by the Consort's soul.
Feel the truth, Hayate. This is my touch. This is my body embracing yours. I am the physical proof that our love is eternal, Neshuda projected, his spiritual presence dominating the moment with overwhelming, gentle possessiveness.
Neshuda used the full potential of the Eternal Imprint to recreate the sweet, total submission they had always shared. He commanded Hayate's body to move, to respond, to feel the comfort and the love, until Hayate was utterly consumed by the spiritual-physical torrent.
The pleasure was agonizingly sweet, a profound relief from the cold weight of his new existence. Hayate collapsed onto the plinth beside Neshuda's body, his spirit renewed.
Thank you, my love. You are the only truth I need, Hayate projected, his mind filled with profound, eternal gratitude.
Rule, Hayate. And know that I am the pleasure, the truth, and the core of your eternity. We have forever, my King, Neshuda affirmed.
The New Legacy
The next morning, Hayate rose, his purpose solidified. The issue of succession was settled, and his bond with Neshuda was deeper and more comforting than ever before. He realized their legacy was not defined by blood or children, but by the Doctrine of Compatible Succession and the eternal unity of their two souls.
His first act was to commission the construction of the Pillars of Unity: twin, crystalline spires flanking the Citadel gates, dedicated to the King's Light and the Anchor's Resolve. The spires would be constantly infused with energy from the Imprint Stone and the Anchor's Seal, serving as a permanent, visible reminder to the world that Aurekawa was ruled by two eternal spirits.
He was no longer just a King; he was the keeper of an eternal soul. The shadow of succession was lifted, replaced by the light of eternal love. The next seventy chapters would be dedicated to building that eternal legacy.