"Have you contacted the commissary department regarding this month's provisions?" Ezio's authoritative voice echoed in his office as he reads the paper in hand.

Tumango naman ang opisyal na nakatayo ilang metro lamang mula sa kaniyang lamesa, "Yes, your highness. There are no issues to report. We have sufficient food supplies and medical necessities as well."

Ezio tapped his finger on his table as he reads every line, "How about our medical team? Are there enough staffs? We can't rely on Northernium with this one. They've also received a lot of damage."

Tiningnan ng opisyal ang papeles na kaniyang hawak at siya'y sumagot dito, "Medical students from the academy has volunteered to help, your highness. Ero Tenzou is also a great help, they reported. It seems that he's skilled and very knowledgeable in the medical field."

A small grin appeared on Ezio's lips. That woman really knows who she needs. Her intuitions are very terrifying.

He lifted his gaze to the soldier, "Are there any problems in our shelters? Any discomfort? The citizens are our priority. Their mental health is probably not stable at this moment."

The soldier sadly nodded, "Yes. Some has been reported to be depressed, especially the children. What should we do, your highness?"

Saglit na nag-isip ang hari bago nito ibinalik ang tingin sa lalaki, "Alright. I'll go visit them later after I think of an idea," he nodded his head and picked up his cup of coffee from the side, "You can go."

Yumuko ang kawal at siya'y naglakad na patungo sa pinto ng opisina. He opened the door and went out. Tumango ito kay Levine upang bumati noong makita niyang papasok ito ng silid. The door closed behind Levine after he entered. He bowed his head, "Your highness."

Ezio glanced at him, "Hm? Aren't you busy for the academy's renovation? What brought you here, Levine?" he casually asked. Not minding if he's older or not.

Levine walked to him as four scrolls appear on his palms. "General Horus has asked me to give these to you, your highness," he put the scrolls down on the table and Ezio's eyes widen with the sight. Levine continued, "We were forbidden to open it before you do, your highness. The contents are still a mystery and we can't inspect if it has enchantments. I doubt that the other kingdoms will do such treacherous things at a time like this but please still be careful."

Ibinaba ni Ezio ang hawak niyang tasa sa gilid at kinuha niya ang isang scroll na may simbolo ng Westernia. Tinanggal niya ito sa lalagyanan at kaniyang niluwagan ang tali. He opened the scroll and read its contents. His eyes widen as he continue to read every line.

Pagkatapos niya itong basahin ay nagtaka na lamang si Levine noong tumawa ito ng marahan. Ezio put his forehead on his hand as he put the scroll down on the table. He smiled at Levine, "You had a great student, headmaster."

Ezio gave Levine the scroll as he continue to chuckle while bringing his cup near his lips. Binasa ni Levine ang nakasulat sa papel at kumabog ng malakas ang kaniyang puso. "N-No way!" glee appeared on Levine's face as he look back at Ezio who also has a smiling expression on his face, "A permanent alliance, your highness! The kingdoms want to form a permanent alliance with us?! For real?!"

Ezio chuckled, "They can't fake a letter like that, Levine," he grinned, "It's real."

Happiness glistened on Levine's face. He happily looked back at the paper and his smile turned soft as he stare at the handwritten signature at the bottom, beside the king's signature and crest. If it wasn't for her, this wouldn't happen.

He looked up to Ezio again as he put the scroll down. Excitement showed on his face again, "I have to go, your highness! The students need to know! This is a huge news that everyone needs to hear!"

"Levine," akmang aalis na si Levine ngunit siya'y lumingon ulit dito noong tinawag siya ng hari. A meaningful smile appeared on Ezio's lips as his chair slightly face the window behind him. He put his index finger in front of his lips, "No name. Understood?"

Mabilis naman itong naintindihan ni Levine at siya'y umalis na ng kaniyang opisina. Ezio even heard how Levine is causing trouble in the hallways because of glee. Tumingin siya sa labas ng bintana kung saan nakikita niya ang kapitolyo na kasalukuyang inaayos.

All citizens hate Zai's name. Walang nagbabanggit nito sa kung saan dahil lalo lamang bumabalik sa kanila ang kaganapan na nangyari noong dalawang linggo lamang.

It was truly hellish for the citizens to even hear her name. Many died because of what she did and she became more villainous than Shaera, for them. They don't know anything about the alliance that she has formed. They did not know that the people who destroyed the structures were her subordinates. And that's what Zai wanted.

She acted as a true demon for the people to know that this world should change. For them to know that terror can always occur unexpectedly, just like what she did. She gave them hope by killing the woman in their nightmares but she gave them worse. Without mercy and without hesitation, she taught them what this world really is.

Ezio smirked, "A devilish hero indeed."

--

"Here, eat.."

"I don't want to! I want my mom!"

"Shh.. quiet down, okay? We need to be tough."

Rui and Claysen just stared at them as they sit on one corner of the shelter. Their eyes has no emotions whatsoever. Nakatulala lamang ang dalawa habang pinagmamasdan ang mga batang umiiyak dahil sa pangungulila.

Claysen is sitting while his elbows are on his knees. Ibinaba ni Claysen ang kaniyang tingin sa hairclip na kaniyang hawak. Ito ang clip na ginamit ni Zai para sa kaniyang buhok noon. His eyes winced when she came back in his memory. He closed his palm and he grabbed his closed hand with the other one. He brought his hands near his lips as he close his eyes.

"Clay." muli niyang ibinukas ang kaniyang mga mata ngunit hindi siya tumingin sa kaniyang katabi kahit na tinawag siya nito.

"What?"

"Are we bad too?" he glanced at Rui and saw his eyes squinting because of sympathy as he stare at the children that lost their parents. He heard about Rui's story and how Zai found him. He can understand that he can sympathize with the other children. But he's also not certain about the thing he's asking.

Claysen looked away and he looked down on his feet. "I don't know," he then pursed his lips, "Instead of worrying about that," he looked at Rui back again, "You should think about your decision. Zai asked Easternia's king before, that if all of these are over, he should take us back to Easternia."

Rui clenched his kimono, "I don't want to. I want to stay here."

Claysen leaned his back habang nakatungkod ang kaniyang mga braso upang siya'y suportahan. He looked up to the ceiling, "How are we gonna survive though? We just can't come along with Ero and the others, we're burdens. There's also our education, food, and other necessities." he then sighed.

Rui clenched his kimono tighter and he pursed his lips, "I want to see Zai.." Claysen's eyes also narrowed in longing. I want to see her.

"Clay! Rui!" they turned their heads at one direction when someone called them while panting. Nakita naman nila ang heneral na hinihingal habang ito'y may hawak na mga papel.

"General Yan." they both said.

Yan stabilize his breathing first before he straightened his back and softly smiled at them. His eyes smiled along with his lips, "I'm sorry it took me a long time to approach you two," his eyes showed glee, "I know this is sudden but from now on, you'll be living with me."

Rui and Claysen was surprised but they averted their gaze na ipinagtaka naman ng heneral. Claysen answered as his brows slightly furrow, "As if we can agree with that. You barely know us. You don't have to feel responsible just because Zai picked us up."

Ang nagtatakang ekspresyon ni Yan ay napalitan ng isang ngiti. He walked to them and crouched in front of them, still wearing his signature soft and kind smile. "I couldn't see you earlier because Zai wrote me a letter before the war could start, I had to fulfill her request. So I forced the council to handle this papers even if we're in the middle of rebuilding," he awkwardly chuckled, "Of course it wasn't easy but thanks to king Ezio, I managed to have these."

Naguluhan naman ang dalawa noong inabot nito ang mga papel sa kanila. Binasa nila ito and their eyes narrowed with what they saw as their eyes becomes watery. Claysen wiped his tears away with his long sleeves while Rui continued sniffing and sobbing while staring at the paper he's holding.

Yan kindly smiled as he touch their heads, "Zai gave you her surname."

--

Pumamewang si Ermo sa harap ni Shane na kasalukuyang nakatingin sa kaniya ng determinado, "Gusto mo talagang manatili rito? The academy in Westernia is great too, y'know"

Shane shook his head, "Gusto kong mag-aral dito. Sige na Uncle!"

Ermo sighed, "Hindi biro ang exam dito, Shane--"

"Kakayanin ko!" Ermo was surprised with Shane's determined yell. Maski ang ibang mga estudyante na nag-aayos ay napatingin dito. Shane continued, "I faced many near-death situations already. Exam lang 'yan! Zai taught me--"

Tumigil ito noong biglang tinakpan ng guro ang kaniyang bibig. Ang ibang nakarinig sa pangalang binanggit nito ay tumingin sa kanilang direksyon ngunit ibinalik rin ang atensyon sa gawain. Ermo sighed, "Sige na, sige na. Pero bakit ba parang determinado ka ha? Dati nga, ngumangawa ka pa 'pag tinuturuan kitang magbasa!"

"Money," Ermo paused when Shane answered his question with a low voice. Shane clenched his hands as he stare at Ermo's eyes, "If I graduate here as a top pharmacologist, I'll earn many money in the future right?"

Ermo laughed with what he said, "Top pharmacologist?" ngunit noong makitang seryoso ang binata ay hindi siya makapaniwalang tumingin dito, "You're serious? W-What do you need a large amount of money for?"

Shane glanced at the sword in the middle of the field before looking back at him, "To complete a task that was given to me."

The sound his wooden flipflops are making resonated in the hallways. He's wearing some casual clothes but the knights recognized him anyway. Since the king strictly ordered that he's free to walk in and out of the facility.

He opened a sliding door and he immediately saw the scientists doing their job like usual. May mga kawal sa bawat gilid upang pagmasdan ang bawat kilos ng mga ito. If they do one suspicious move, they're dead.

Ang mga kawal na nagbabantay sa buong pasilidad ay mga kawal na may posisyong second lieutenant pataas. Tanging ang mga kawal na may mataas na posisyon ang nakakaalam sa kaganapan o sikretong hindi alam ng publiko na kasalukuyang nasa loob ng silid na ito. The king strictly ordered that if one of them speaks about it outside the facility, not only they'll lose their rank, they'll also receive extreme punishment.

Ero walked to a scientist, "How is it?"

The scientist were startled because of his sudden appearance but he eventually answered, "A-All normal, Sir. No complications."

Ero nodded, "Good."

He then looked at the incubator chamber in front of him. It was announced to the public that she has been executed for her crime. Her body was burnt and her ashes were thrown away but that wasn't what exactly happened. The soldiers that were present in the scene forgot what happened because of Fobia's excelium. The king ordered her to alter their memories and also told her to keep quiet regarding the matter.

All thought she was sentenced to death. Because that's the right thing to do for now.

Her hair is floating because of the water. There are small bubbles surrounding her naked body and there are some small tubes connected to her neck, arms, back, legs, head, abdomen, and chest. Zaivrin Hevrion is alive and being hidden by the government.

They're curing the slumbering monster.

--

"Hah.." a sinister smile eventually followed the sigh which escaped his lips. The click of the locked door behind him came first before the soft chuckle he emitted. He loosened up his tie as he walk to his desk with light stamps tapping against the carpeted floor. "Maybe that was too exaggerated? Hmm... did he see through me?" his playful tone didn't match the concern in his words. He dropped his rear on his comfortable seat and lifted the side of his lips higher. "Ezio isn't a dumb brat after all."

"If you know that much then be more careful, idiot." a woman stepped away from the shadows of the room's corner. Ang natural na matatalim na mga mata nito ay nakapirmi sa mukha ng lalaki. Her eyes then squinted, "Stop fooling around. You still need your position."

He sighed in defeat, "Yes, yes. Understood." he leaned on the table and then sighed once again. "It's just boring, y'know. Spending my whole time smiling at those pathetic brats," his lips protruded. "I, at least, want to hype the whole thing up by making Ezio more on the edge."

"Stop it. Know your priorities.." tumalikod na ang babae ngunit lumingon muli ito sa kaniya upang bigyan siya ng isang masamang tingin. "... as the 1st Commander of the dark legion, Commander Levine Cross."

A grin didn't hide itself on his lips, "Yes, yes.." the dark playful gaze in his violet orbs exhibited the thirst he has been keeping at bay for more than 30 years. "... understood."