An elda is competing for the throne. How droll. Louis didn't think any elda had the backbone to venture outside the sanctum, let alone the audacity to present their self before the country as a suitable candidate for King.

Foolish. The boy isn't even protected by the royal magic, and Louis doubts he ever will be. Too low in the rankings, too soft to claw up them, what with his campaign slogan being nonsense about helping all in need. If fate is kind, he'll be frightened back to his hole of a home soon enough.

Louis knows fate's cruelties well.

Zorba lives. Or, more accurately, he persists. Louis knew with the missing body he had not simply died, but whoever had defeated him also slew a human. A formidable foe, to be sure, and he is glad to receive word from Zorba that he is recuperating and grants the resources he requests for healing. The man is one of his most loyal and useful followers. Along with his survival, Zorba informs Louis of a most extraordinary thing:

The elda and his followers--a clemar and roussainte--were the ones to fell him and the human.

The charity campaign sheathes a surprising strength.

Will brings a sanctoress' head to the exhibit; Louis draws his enemy closer. There's no doubt this alliance is a sham. The question is what use Louis can get out of Will and his followers, and what the younger elda's true aim is.

Does Will know his true tribe? He would have been very young when Louis left the Sanctum, so the possibility's soon discarded. Will shouldn't be able to recognize him. More disquieting is that Louis cannot place him. Has it truly been so long that he's forgotten a child with such unique coloring?

(How much the flames consume--)

After the other surprises Will has presented, his very existence and candidacy, the strength to slay humans and the daring to confront the church publicly, the false Drakodios is disappointing. Whoever crafted the replica has an eye for detail but is no mage. Louis would have Will killed for such witless deception if not for the royal magic, and, admittedly, curiosity about what trick is at play. Is he really going to try and curry church favor now with his own relic? Spineless--

A primal scream. Blinding light. Pain radiating in his chest. Louis staggers back, falls.

Then, he laughs.

The manner of Will's betrayal was unexpected, but all the same, treachery was expected.

The Magnus brothers' betrayal, less so. They try to tell him he is wrong, as though morality has any use. Even they are faltering, and so--

And so. Fidelio is dead. And to Basilio, he is a "cold-blooded bastard".

An accurate description. Hurled as an insult by nearly any other, it would not even register.

No. It's not the words. It's how Basilio says them, looks at him. Louis remembers it, from when his own family--

He miscalculated in sending the Magnus brothers to Virga Island.

Louis is not responsible for all the humans in Euchronia: the kingdom's social ills produce anxiety without end, proof that no trifling change or even reformation of the system will save it. But he has crafted thirteen humans, Will being the most recent. The boys' eyes go wide with shock as the magla overtakes him, he bellows and rampages--

And then Louis' eyes widen as Will's giant form sinks on hands and knees and collapses, reverting back to the boy.

...Perfect. If even that much anxiety can be overcome, then only the strong will remain after it floods the kingdom.

Will is the prince. The son of a weak king who could not realize his ideals. The son of a queen who did not see through sweet words before flames engulfed her people's home. The child who let Louis' life be nearly ruined a second time because he could not dodge a curse.

...But that is too petty. It seems they were meant to be nemeses all along, yet, when Will is standing before him yet again, having overcome even death--

Will offers bloodless resolution. Louis reciprocates the overture. Of all people, Will should understand.

Yet he does not agree.

And Louis does not understand how even with the power of the royal scepter-- even with Will ripping out his heart and dying again-- even as Louis takes more magla upon himself, transforming further as a human, unleashing the full power of the kingdom's anxiety and his own because Will and his allies want to rebuild Euchronia on a foundation of lies, a fantasy with a foundation as solid as sand that will be swept out with the tide--

Somehow, they are beating him. Somehow, they are stronger.

The people choose Will.

And Will's first act as King is--