He assumed Zero was someone from that side.
Someone who had touched essence.
And so… he chose to retreat.
Then, during the two weeks that followed, he happened — by chance — to begin working under one of the ancient families.
And with their power behind him, he began preparing to finish what he had started with Miles.
Like that, he began gathering information.
Not just on Miles — but on those around him.
And the problem?
He started having doubts.
Doubts about Zero.
That maybe… he wasn't just someone who trained in essence.
Maybe he was something else entirely.
With the plan to attack set for tomorrow, Christian had finally come to clean up the mess that both Zero and Miles had unknowingly created.
Why hadn't Zero known any of this?
One might wonder.
But the answer was simple.
He just wasn't capable enough.
At least, not compared to Iris and Christian.
Zero was an android — not an AI specialized in hacking and data control.
