Saya ran diagnostics and repairs on Black Scorpion, Resilient Knight, and Alpha-02.
Madoka sat on a chair and drank her suppressant.
Finn stood to her left, arms crossed, as Sasha explained the investigation reports.
"The East-Wing Containment Facility's security systems were hacked. Whoever they were, they unlocked all the digital cells at once. Even the large and heavy metal doors swung open for some prisoners to escape before it was manually put on safe mode and shut down."
"Zen mentioned seeing Zero of the Rebellion near the facility," Saya said while typing at her console. "He's most likely the culprit, given he infiltrated the academy's system the same night."
She finally stopped typing and turned towards the others.
"The only question I have is how he infiltrated both times without triggering alarms."
Sasha was scrolling through the digital document on her tablet. "The investigation suggests that they obtained access points from an insider. Commanding Officer Stelle Amarinth has already issued arrest warrants against the heads of the CID, the Security department—and the mayor."
Finn raised an eyebrow.
"The mayor?"
"Yes," Sasha nodded. "There's sufficient evidence against him for fostering corruption in the system. He was one of the primary reasons why others were able to get away with it for so long."
"So that's what led to The Rebellion gaining insider credentials…" Finn murmured to himself—then looked at Saya. "Have we been able to uncover anything so far about what they stole?"
"No…" she replied. "They left malware in the system before I flushed them out of the network. It destroyed all the possible backups beyond recovery. The entire digital framework of the academy is going through cleanup."
Madoka's expression turned thoughtful, and soon she was lost in it.
Finn observed her for a minute.
"Something bothering you?"
Madoka's expression shifted too smoothly. She stood up.
"I need some rest. I'll be heading back to my dorm."
Without giving anyone the chance to speak further, she walked out of the room with her drink.
Everyone remained silent until the door slid closed.
Finn turned to Saya and Sasha.
"I'll be heading back as well. Let me know when I can pick up my gear."
"Sure thing," Saya replied.
Finn also turned and walked away. The door slid open, letting him pass, and closed again.
They watched him leave–then Sasha turned her attention to the combat gears in the hangers. "Are you certain you don't need help with repairing these?"
Her eyes lingered on Zen's gear in particular. "Alpha has taken severe damage. It will be very difficult and time-consuming to make it operational again all by yourself."
Saya waved away the concern.
"Don't worry. I've dealt with worse."
But it didn't leave Sasha's face. "Please, feel free to call me if you need any sort of help, Miss Krylova. Do not overwork yourself," she said firmly.
Saya's eyes widened briefly, and then her face broke out into a small, nervous smile.
"Sure. I will."
Madoka took the last remaining sips of her drink without breaking stride. She emptied the can and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her eyes landed on the aluminum container in her hand, and the next second she was staring at it blankly.
"If you need Null to defeat me, then what are you without it?"
Those words surfaced every damn time she remembered that she was an Infused Null. Her fingers tightened around the can, ready to crush it at any moment.
That's when footsteps from behind caught her attention. Finn had caught up.
"Feeling okay?"
Her eyes were still on the can.
"A little angry—at myself."
He matched her relaxing pace.
"Figured it wasn't something you would say in front of everyone. What's up?"
Her hands fell to her sides. They were soon approaching the elevator.
"My physical capabilities are falling behind the other aspects of my combat identity. I need to strengthen my swordsman skills."
"Even though a suppressant dampens Null's influence by more than half and hides its traces, that doesn't change the fact that Null's gripping my element like a parasite, making me rely on it whether I intend to use it or not. Even my elemental output might lose independence and become reliant on Null's active influence, turning it into nothing but the corrupted, unstable version of its former self. So, I've made a choice."
Finn held his breath, waiting.
Madoka's eyes narrowed. The can in her hand finally succumbed to the pressure.
"Unless I'm up against Julia, I won't be using any elemental powers. I don't want to fully rely on a power that could potentially backfire in the future."
He remained silent as his gaze shifted to the elevator at the end of the corridor.
"Knowing you, I believe every word. But I can't help asking, why the exception for President Marcevelle?"
Madoka tossed the can into a trash bin while passing by.
"She once requested not to hold back if I faced her in the tournament. I'll honor her request."
"She wants to fight me at my strongest. I will."
"It's not as effective as before," Zen said, sitting at the study table in his room. His tone was softer than usual—almost like a child speaking with uncertainty, slowly gaining confidence in their speech.
"In that case, renewing it is no longer a permanent fix," Lady Harukaze replied from the other end of the call. "I didn't expect 'the power of friendship' to reach your heart of all things."
"Me neither. As if the affection of four little quadruplet monsters I call my younger sisters wasn't already enough to break in—well, at least Kirin is disciplined—now suddenly there are people who care so much about me that it's getting too hard to resist."
That earned a chuckle from her. "That is just human nature for you. But I suppose it isn't the ideal scenario to justify the dangers lingering underneath it."
"I recommend you ask her for another possible solution. Though I already know the obvious advice she'll give you, I prefer you speak to her directly and… hopefully come out with something better. No promises, unfortunately."
Zen propped his chin on one hand.
"Sure. I'm running out of options anyway. There's one more thing I want to ask about."
"I'm listening."
"Have you… received any kind of proposal from the Tachibana family?"
"Oh, so you know about it. I did receive a proposal for an alliance. Naturally, I've asked for time to consider the terms."
Zen's eyes shifted to the table's clean surface.
"...And what is your opinion on it?"
"Well, if I'm being honest, Shiori is the perfect daughter-in-law by my standards. But I also understand the dangers her proximity brings to you. So, it's your opinion that matters more than mine at this moment."
"I don't think I'm in a position to have an opinion, honestly. I don't…" he paused, as if air had gotten stuck in his throat. So, he took a deep breath. His voice became heavier. "I don't want someone to risk their life for me. I've… I've had enough of that. I don't think I can stay by her side. I don't want her to end up alone. Nor do I want her to follow me into a warzone. And I don't want someone to make me care enough to burn the world down."
Lady Harukaze remained silent for a moment. When she spoke again, her voice was gentler, carrying a warmth that never failed to soothe him. "You don't have to make that choice right now. Take your time and figure things out. You're old enough to do it. I've always trusted your judgement. Besides, the political marriage is just one clause of the many in the proposal. You're not putting the clan's future on the line if you say no. There's no pressure."
Zen let out a long exhale. "Thank you, mother."
"Anytime, sweetie," she replied cheerfully.
"It's almost bedtime. Sleep well. Momma loves you!"
"Love you too. Goodnight…"
The call ended.
Zen sat there in silence for a while. His gaze drifted onto the small digital clock on the table.
9:52 P.M.
He finally got up and walked out of his room towards the kitchen. A cold glass of water followed.
As he was passing through the living room, the door to Shiori's room opened with a click. She stood at the doorway, changed into her pajamas.
Zen paused.
"Oh, hey. Just grabbing a glass of water. Sorry if I woke you up."
"Don't worry. I was only reading a book. I had a feeling I should check in if you needed anything before I went to sleep."
"Nothing at the moment. Thanks for your concern."
"Well, if you do, don't hesitate to ask."
Zen gave a nod.
She stepped back and closed the door with a soft click.
Zen started towards his room again. As he took a few steps forward, before he was even close to the door to his room, pain hit his head like a sonic boom again, making his ears ring.
He groaned, swaying, before falling to his knees with a dull thud.
"Damnit! Not again!"
His vision blurred and his eyes became too heavy to stay open. All he could hear were muffled footsteps rushing towards him and Shiori's voice calling out.
"Zen-kun! Zen…! Are you okay…"
And his vision went dark.
His eyes snapped open, and he found himself back in his mind realm.
The dreamscape.
This time he was on the opposite side of the river. Behind him was the green forest. On the other side was the garden. And sure enough, his eyes couldn't resist the night sky above, showing the vastness beyond, even though he had seen it many times before.
A star-filled sky with a continuous stream of shooting stars. His body froze as his gaze lingered, as if a child were discovering beauty in a meteor shower for the first time. "...It's like a dream."
Then it shifted to the river water reflecting the sky.
"Well, it is a dream."
"I meant to visit, but not like this… And I collapsed on the floor on top of that."
He checked the lines on his left arm. The faint purple glow was still there.
"I must admit I did not expect it to be this painful."
Behind him, grass cracked beneath footsteps, calm and unhurried. He looked over his shoulder. A pair of white eyes appeared from the darkness beneath the trees.
She stepped out—a body made of Null, a queen by title, yet wearing the armor of a soldier and the figure of a warrior. On her head wasn't a crown, but a helmet with wing-tipped designs on the sides. Scabbards clung to her back, crossed in an X shape, holding her twin swords.
"Little One…" she called with a soft voice that echoed throughout their surroundings.
He turned back to the flowing water.
"Hey, Alina. I was about to come find you."
She walked forward until she was standing beside him.
"I sensed your presence. So, I had the urge to find you first this time."
She looked up at the sky, quietly admiring the beauty. He stared at the water, not lifting his head.
"You seem sad today," she said without looking.
"Just… worried." He finally looked up again.
"There's something I need to discuss regarding my… inner demons."
A few moments later, both were sitting on the grass by the river.
"I don't want to be consumed by all the trauma I've acquired over my years of service. Or I'll be no different from a Rogue Null," Zen said, arms wrapped around his knees.
"The best advice I can give you is for you to embrace your Null form," Alina replied.
"It will keep responding to your emotions. That is its nature."
"But even with my best efforts, I don't know how long the process will take." He frowned.
"I fear the possibility of losing control over my emotions and overclocking into a being capable of causing destruction ten times worse than I've seen. And I've seen a city collapse as if it got hit by a magnitude nine earthquake."
He buried his face between his arms, his voice breaking a little. "I hate the fact that something like me is freely breathing and walking on this planet. I hate the fact that people trust something like me."
Her eyes softened as his words hit her. She reached out and placed a hand on his head.
"Seeing you like this, I can already understand how much the seal was weakened."
"Little One, I know you are wise enough that I have no need to explain this. But given that your emotions are clouding your judgement, I shall remind you what you once said to me."
"It is not your fault that circumstances were out of your control. You are not a bad person because you hold something that could hurt others, and you certainly don't deserve to be treated poorly. What you consider a curse…"
"...can also be a blessing in disguise," he chimed in as her fingers threaded through his hair. "Find a way to use it for the good and make this world a better place."
He let out a long sigh. His eyes peeked out just enough to gaze at the flowing water.
"I remember what I said."
She smiled. "Then you know that those words apply to you as well. It is not your fault that you were born as a Null. And you are not in an impossible situation. You may be uncertain about how long it could take to embrace the nature of your soul, but it is still a solution waiting to be explored. And you can't ignore the benefits it brings. Not only can you rest easy knowing you are in control, but it may cure the infection on your left arm."
He inhaled deeply, letting the cold air calm him down.
"You're right. I am letting my emotions cloud my judgement."
Her face turned serious and confident.
"And don't forget the most important part. Fully embracing Null can potentially extend your natural lifespan by nearly two centuries. You weren't the one who paid the price for our contract of preventing your death when you were a child. You retain the lifespan you would've lost in a standard scenario. That is an opportunity only a few of those who took on his legacy were lucky to have. It may not ensure victory, but it increases your chances of succeeding where others failed. And if you succeed, you could live well over one to two centuries."
Zen brought up his left arm in front of him.
"It's difficult to grasp living more than seventy or eighty years."
As he stared at his arm, his eyes slowly narrowed with a realization.
"Now that I think about it, what am I even going to do for that long? If I can extend my natural lifespan by another two centuries…," he murmured. "Then I get to burn my powers equivalent to two or three lifetimes. I don't have to choose between people…"
Alina blinked before her eyes widened as she understood the implications.
"Little One, that is not what I meant."
His left hand clenched into a fist.
"I don't need a long life, Alina. Living that long only means watching all your loved ones pass away one by one. But with a lot of spare time, I get to heal the pain of millions of people I wouldn't otherwise. Even if I were down to the final moments of my life, I wouldn't hold back if the situation called for it. Even if it meant letting them live one more day."
He looked up at the sky again.
"It is a soldier's duty to protect the defenseless. I know which path to take now."
Her sight lingered on him a second longer before she mirrored him and looked up.
"Little One… You truly are a scary person."
Both sat in silence, giving the flowing wind, water, and the waterfall just within earshot a chance to speak.
After a long moment of quiet, Zen finally stood up.
"I should get going now, even though I wish I didn't have to."
She got up as well.
"I understand why."
He turned to face her.
"Haven't seen Mustafa in a while. Where's he now?"
She looked at the cozy wooden cabin across the river.
"Sound asleep."
He smiled.
"Best days of my life."
Before he could say bye, she turned to him and stepped closer.
"After hearing all your words, there's one thing I would like to say before you leave."
She reached out and placed a hand over her heart.
"I've lived for centuries, and existed as a spirit for longer. Even I trust you. So don't hate that others do too. And of course, trust yourself, please."
"As for the seal, I will renew it for now, and I will keep doing so over and over, so it helps you endure until you succeed."
He didn't pull away. Nor did his smile falter.
"Thank you."
The first rays of morning sunlight seeped through the curtains as Zen's eyes slowly parted. The first thing he saw was a familiar ceiling. Shortly after, he felt a warm softness beneath his head.
He was not on his bed. The surface underneath him was hard and flat. He was exactly where he had collapsed. And as his eyes rolled up just enough to land on Shiori's sleeping face, he realized the only difference was that his head was on her lap.
Shiori was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall, asleep.
"I'm feeling energized. Did she heal me through the entire night?"
He lifted his head carefully, not to wake her yet. But the tiniest movement couldn't slip past her. The moment he moved to sit up, her eyes, burning for sleep, snapped open.
"You're awake," she said, rubbing an eye.
"How are you feeling?"
He got on his feet.
"I'm feeling normal. You don't look okay, though."
She pushed herself up as a yawn escaped her.
"I'm okay. Don't worry…"
She swayed before she could finish speaking, and before she could fall face-first on the floor, he quickly caught her.
"Jeez, how much energy did you spend on me?" he muttered.
She was already asleep again.
He carefully carried her to her room, laid her down on the bed, and put the blanket on her.
"Her breathing is very uneven…"
The thought prompted him to check his left arm, and sure enough, the purple glow had dimmed. "This is exactly what I didn't want her to do. She'll keep pushing beyond the safe line if I don't do something about it."
A long sigh escaped him. He walked out of her room and closed the door as quietly as possible. He paused and stretched his arms lightly. "I don't know how long the seal will hold, but it seems to be working for now."
He looked at the kitchen entrance, then began walking towards it.
"For all the trouble I've caused, a nice meal is the least I can do."