A hall stretched wide and silent, vast enough that even the faintest sound would have carried endlessly, yet nothing stirred within it. Towering pillars lined either side in perfect symmetry, their shadows cast long across the polished marble floor, unmoving and absolute, as though time itself had slowed within this place.
At the far end, elevated above the rest, a figure sat upon a throne, still and unreadable, fingers resting lightly against the armrests while the rest of his form remained entirely consumed by shadow. There was no face to discern, no outline to grasp, only a presence that imposed itself upon the space without effort, something that did not need to reveal itself to be understood.
A faint creak broke through the silence, subtle yet distinct in the vastness.
"Antonius…"
The voice followed, calm and measured, yet layered with an authority that pressed quietly against the air, as though the hall itself acknowledged it.
"…you remember what we discussed."
The words were not rushed, nor repeated. They lingered with quiet certainty, carrying expectation rather than demand.
"I trust you to handle it."
For a moment, nothing answered.
Then, from the distant entrance, the sound of footsteps emerged, slow, deliberate, each step striking the marble with restrained weight. A figure entered the faint reach of light, advancing without hesitation, his pace unhurried yet assured. A long coat swayed with controlled elegance behind him, brushing lightly with each movement, while one hand rested behind his back, fingers loosely clasped in composed discipline. His posture remained upright, shoulders broad and steady, his presence cutting cleanly through the stillness without disturbing it.
He stopped just at the edge where shadow yielded to light, his face still concealed, his figure held in that delicate boundary between concealment and revelation. A brief pause followed, not of uncertainty, but of completion, as though the moment itself required it.
"I'll handle it."
His voice carried forward, calm and absolute, devoid of hesitation.
Then he stepped fully into the light.
Leonidas.
"You can count on me," he continued, his tone unwavering, the quiet resolve within it echoing across the hall as the silence received his words without resistance.
Beyond the towering walls of the city, at the threshold where order yielded to the unknown, the main gate stood partially open, its massive iron structure casting long shadows behind those who gathered before it. The world beyond stretched wide and unrestrained, carrying with it a faint wind that slipped through the opening, brushing against freshly worn uniforms and tugging lightly at loose fabric, as though testing the resolve of those about to step beyond it.
Jurgen stood at the forefront, his posture relaxed yet grounded, arms resting loosely at his sides while his gaze remained fixed ahead with quiet intensity. There was no visible hesitation in him, only a stillness that suggested something far more deliberate beneath the surface.
Beside him, Bubbles shifted restlessly, fingers tightening around his gear, his anticipation barely contained as it flickered through every subtle movement. The other two remained close, their presence steady, each carrying their own silent blend of tension and resolve.
No words were exchanged.
The weight of their first mission settled among them, heavy and unspoken, pressing into the air with quiet insistence.
Jurgen exhaled slowly.
"…Let's move."
"JURGEN!"
The voice cut through from behind, familiar and unmistakably intrusive.
Jurgen paused, his head turning just slightly as the others followed suit, their attention drawn back toward the source. From the direction of the city, Leonidas approached with an ease that contrasted sharply against the tension at the gate.
"JURUUUUGEN!"
He dragged the name out with deliberate exaggeration, arms lifting as he waved with unnecessary enthusiasm.
A vein twitched faintly at Jurgen's temple.
"Tch…"
"JUUUURUUUUGEEENNNNN!"
This time slower. More deliberate. Somehow worse.
"Oi… quit yelling my name like that. I can hear you just fine."
The irritation in Jurgen's voice was clear, unfiltered.
The others reacted instantly.
"Sir Leonidas!"
Their voices rose in unison, sharp with respect as they straightened almost instinctively.
Jurgen, however, remained unchanged.
Leonidas closed the distance at last, a smug satisfaction resting plainly across his face, as though provoking that reaction had been the goal all along.
"Yo…" he greeted casually, offering a loose wave. "I see you're already heading out on your first mission."
"Tch… as you can see," Jurgen replied, turning away so his back faced him, the motion smooth, dismissive. His coat shifted with the movement, settling neatly along his frame, the uniform fitting him with an almost deliberate precision.
"So, where are you headed?"
The question came, yet without waiting for an answer, Jurgen had already begun to move, stepping forward through the gate as the others hurried to follow.
Leonidas clicked his tongue softly, a fleeting trace of frustration crossing his expression as he watched him go.
He really does that on purpose…
With little effort, he caught up, matching Jurgen's pace as though it required nothing at all.
"I have an important mission to attend to as an emperor… mhm… mhm," he added, a quiet, self-satisfied laugh slipping through his words.
"I see… then we part ways here," Jurgen replied flatly as they passed beyond the gate, his tone carrying no interest in entertaining the remark further.
Leonidas studied him briefly, the faint edge of amusement giving way to something sharper.
"My, my… what is that expression?"
"'Emperor' isn't a word that moves me," Jurgen answered, his voice firm, unwavering. "I'll become stronger, more powerful than any title you can place above yourself."
For a moment, there was silence.
Then
Leonidas laughed.
Low.
Genuine.
"You throw that word around far too casually," he said, a grin settling across his face. "Don't get too comfortable, Jurgen. We'll see how far that confidence takes you."
A soft chuckle followed.
Jurgen did not look back.
"Same to you."
And with that, he continued forward, his stride steady and unbroken as the distance between them widened, his comrades trailing close behind while the open world stretched endlessly ahead.