Victor’s gaze locked onto the live footage shimring before him.
The people were returning to their routines, moving along streets and markets with forced normalcy.
Cries still echoed in the air.
Life had to continue whether they liked it or not.
Patrols hunted down mutated monsters, soldiers pressing on tirelessly to keep civilians safe. No one was permitted to leave the barrier; their survival depended on strict control.
And with the removal of Arcane energy, the tension becos even more serious. Regardless of their previous strength, every figure — noble, warrior, or commoner — stood equal now. The security level had increased dramatically.
Trained warriors stood watch at every gate, vigilant and grim, ensuring nothing spiralled out of control.
Honestly, it looked strikingly similar to his previous world. No powers. No magic. Just ordinary people walking, working, surviving.
And speaking of work... every job tied to magic had ground to a halt.
Enchanters, charm-sellers, rune-smiths... all forced to stop.
For now, temporary rations and relief were being issued, but his generals were already straining to devise alternate paths.
Another economy had to be built... or collapse would eat them alive.
Their focus was: Create jobs, stabilise trade, distribute relief, and provide temporary funds and... return to usual!
Orders from the Supre General were clear... no corruption, no stealing, no excuses. A single mole, one sign of betrayal, one stolen coin... and those responsible would face the wrath of the Dragon Emperor.
As for the Supre General himself, he was already in the field.
He was guarding the barriers, hunting down mutated horrors, eliminating threats before they could spread.
The restriction was tighter now... daily living had beco harder, every comfort stripped away piece by piece.
Yet they didn’t have much of a choice.
If they wanted to survive, they had to cooperate, to follow the rules laid down. And... for the most part, everything was holding together.
Except on the outside of the barrier...
The Clarion energy flowed restlessly around the periter. Where it pooled, the land itself twisted in response. So areas trembled, splintering and shattering into broken pieces, while others absorbed the strange current without hesitation, reshaping themselves into sothing new.
Victor’s gaze fixed on the readings projected before him. A sharp number glowed across the screen: 62%.
That was the current percentage of Clarion energy occupying the lands beyond the barrier.
Victor exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening against the edge of the table.
Part of him wanted to create the barrier higher, to cover the entirety of the Empire in one sweeping do of protection. But Sera and the others had already warned him... doing so would be dangerous.
It might lead to instability, perhaps even tear apart the balance of the land.
One way or another... they would have to live with both Clarion and Arcane energy.
That was inevitable!!
So instead of extending the barrier to swallow everything, the decision was made to leave the outskirts exposed... to watch, to study, to observe the alterations and mutations caused by the Clarion Energy.
If they could monitor it, maybe they could understand it.
Maybe even learn to live with it.
It would take ti, yes... but it was the best option. They needed to see the functions, the advantages, and the disadvantages of Clarion energy with their own eyes.
So many technicalities, so many layers of planning. But this was the burden of rulers.
Either confine their people inside the barrier for the rest of their lives... or find the source, understand it, and adapt their environnt around it.
Adapting!!
That was how people had survived through every era!
Victor, of course, accepted the plan. He knew it was vital. Yet, seeing the outside already covered 62% by Clarion made his chest tighten.
"That’s so fast..." he muttered, eyes narrowing. "Can you show the tiline?"
Lyirrs nodded silently, her fingers dancing over the crystal interface as she projected a graph into the air.
Victor’s gaze followed the shifting lines. He humd low in his throat. At the start, the surge had been violent — within seconds, it had spread across nearly half (50%) the outer land.
But then... the pace slowed.
The expansion grew sluggish, stretching out over hours.
One percent here... Two percent there.
"So... an average of one point 5% of space being occupied by Clarion every hour," Aether muttered.
Lyirrs inclined her head. "Yes. At this rate, the estimated ti to achieve one hundred percent Clarion energy coverage outside the barrier would be... approximately twenty-five hours and twenty minutes, sir."
Victor humd softly.
So that ant they had more or less one day — twenty-four fleeting hours — to witness the true changes outside the barrier.
He nodded to himself, then asked about the other empires’ situation. Reports ca back nearly identical: they were managing the sa as his own, nothing remarkable, no breakthroughs, only endurance.
Everyone around him listened with serious faces. Their routines, perhaps, would return in a week or so.
But one thing still bugged Victor — a question pressing like a stone in his chest.
What had happened to the Origins?
Where were they hiding?
The Beginning hadn’t started yet.
So many puzzles lingered, but for now, Victor steadied his breath.
Also He needed to et his people directly. He had to show his face. In this dangerous situation, if he remained cloistered in the palace, he risked being branded a coward.
He had to show them he cared. He had to show them he stood with them. Right?
But before that, there was sothing else.. sothing more imdiate, he needed to address.
"You finally ca from the lab?" he muttered, his voice soft, not turning around.
The sound of light footsteps answered him. Xara walked into the throne room, her face holding a slightly awkward smile.
Victor’s eyes flicked toward Lyirrs. With one glance, she understood. She turned and left in silence, leaving the two of them alone.
Victor turned fully toward Xara, Xara smiled softly, "How are you?" she asked gently.
Victor didn’t smile back. His gaze sharpened as he asked,
"How do you know... Arcane energy is what we needed to remove?" The tone was slightly cold.
Xara flinched, her breath catching. "I an... it was obvious, right? The only energy there... it was kind of... you know—" Her words tumbled into nervous bluffing, her hands twisting against her clothes.
Victor stepped forward,
"And... how did Morgana know I was Aether?" His voice hardened further as he removed his mask.... His expression carried a shadow of betrayal.
Xara’s face drained of colour. "N-No! I didn’t do anything! I didn’t rat you out... please, believe !" she begged.
Aether moved toward her, his steps calm yet heavy, making her flinch. Then he smiled faintly,
"I know my Xara would never betray . And I’m not a fool to believe others before I believe my beloved. So tell ... is there sothing I need to know?"
Xara exhaled, shoulders loosening as relief washed over her. He wasn’t angry. But then... she bit her lip, hesitation choking her words.
Aether noticed the silence. His hand rose, cupping her cheek gently. His voice softened into calm reassurance.
"When I took you as my wife... I decided not to judge you. No matter what you did, what you do now, or what you may do in the future." His thumb brushed against her skin.
"Even if it’s bad... sure, I’ll be taken aback, I’ll be worried. But at the end of the day... I will still love you, no matter the cause.
Didn’t I tell you before?
I love... the woman you are, not the mask you wear."
Her lips trembled at his words. Her eyes welled with tears, shimring as if her heart were breaking and nding at the sa ti.
She had, truly, gotten an understanding husband for herself.
She was almost at the verge of tears when her expression suddenly shifted.... turning dark, wicked, her gaze gleaming with hunger.
"You really won’t hate , right?~" she whispered, her fingers sliding up to caress his cheek with a hungry look.
"...."
Aether blinked blankly.
Shit... he was getting turned on, right now!!
Fuck.
"Of course," he murmured, his lips curving. "If anything, I want to love you even deeper inside~" His words hushed, his head lowering as he leaned in and pressed his lips against hers.
Xara snapped from her wickedness, her face instantly flushing crimson. She shoved lightly against his chest, pushing him back shyly, her hands trembling.
Look at her. One mont she was dangerous, wicked, drenched in temptation.... the next she was a shy, blushing woman.
Who was this lovely creature, really?
Xara sighed... Then she nodded, her tone shifting back to seriousness. "Well, let’s go to the lab. I’ll tell you what happened exactly."
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