The relationship between the king and the First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation had always been recognised as an irresolvable conflict.
In almost all gatherings and parties, it was in the drunkards' best interest to boast about their understanding of the political tension between the two governing bodies of the kingdom—how they both recognized themselves as the leaders of the realm, how every time they met, their exchanges were mocking debates meant to belittle each other.
Runalond was peaceful, but conflicts never ceased to exist. To the citizens, the conflict between King Runaria and V was the representation—the foundation—of all these quarrels.
It was already quite late at night. All customers had left the small, yet spiritually calming restaurant—all but one man with a simplistic mask. His posture was straight and majestic, with long, blonde hair resting obediently on his shoulders.
There was no meal in front of him. He had remained in the same position for quite some time—perhaps busy waiting for someone.
His time wasn't wasted after all. A woman slipped into the restaurant with soundless steps. The waiter seemed to ignore her entrance and walked into the kitchen without hesitation.
Her appearance was no more than ordinary; the only unique feature was that half her face was completely concealed behind her thick, sleek black hair.
"G'night, Vivi. It's been quite some time, right?"
"Yeah, spare time is not friends with people like us. Also, if you call me 'Vivi' ever again, I'm reminding you what I did 20 years ago." The woman took a seat, the movement almost swinging her fringe to the side, revealing areas of crimson, garbled rectangles. "Have you ordered any food yet?"
One would never relate this ordinary woman to the renowned First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation.
"Steak, your favourite. And as for me, don't you prefer me with my mask on?" the man replied, with a smile visible even under the cover of his mask, "Can't teleport food through plastic."
One would also never relate this mysterious, amusing figure to the renowned king of Runalond.
"Glad you still remember. Thoughtful as you always are."
And as for a casual, even friendly exchange between these two figures? It wouldn't exist in anyone's wildest daydreams. It was a scene that simply could not even begin to exist.
Viviana pulled the chair out lazily and sat down, a smile finally appearing on her ever-serious face.u
"How's your side been? Any trouble in management?" Eric Runaria asked.
Viviana sighed. "Thanks to the problems people on your side caused me, not so well, unfortunately."
"Hey, hey, don't blame it on me! You think I can command those Pathtower Spireheads? This is a good sign, at least—it means most people are still shrouded in mystery," Eric pointed out. "Also, don't pretend like you don't have control over that mischievous 4th seat. You know what she did."
"Whatever you say. I've been busy on the Heaven's Child Project—no time to manage what my colleagues do for entertainment. Aren't you the King of Runalond? Can't even have a say against those four mortals?"
Eric shook his head and mocked, "Can you really call those four 'mortals'? Which one of them can be considered human?"
"I guess not," Viviana replied with a chuckle.
They listed the Spireheads one by one, they seemed no longer like leaders but instead comrades, childhood friends nursing the wounds of their past.
"One supernatural being caused by an accident."
"One mechanical robot with no human emotions left."
"One bloodthirsty demon who slaughters anyone she sees."
"And one… Yeah, what can even be used to describe her?"
"Gideon Runaria himself wouldn't know."
The two burst into loud, joyous laughter.
Amidst the weightless atmosphere, the butler approached silently like a shadow, his long hair gleaming in a peculiar purple shade under the lighting.
"Your steak, Mistress." He rested the plate gently on the table, with a voice that wasn't spoken, but more accurately, felt. "Medium."
"You even remembered my preference?" Viviana seemed astonished—almost concerningly so. "Did he tell you that as well?"
"Of course," Eric nodded. "He tells me everything."
"I mean, he used to tell me everything," he added, correcting himself. Dismissing the sorrow in his voice, he called out toward the butler, "Kosmos!"
Kosmos, the butle, turned around smoothly. "Your Majesty." He bowed.
"Continue to investigate the case of the Edmonds family," he commanded, his voice finally returning to its usual solemnity. "I'm afraid the circumstances are more ridiculous than we anticipated. Keep your 'eyes' open and fixed."
Kosmos nodded. "I won't disappoint."
"You never do," Eric confirmed.
Viviana tapped Eric's shoulder with her eyes after Kosmos left. "What's the deal with the Edmonds family?"
Eric shrugged, as if stating something unimportant. "Oh, they are raising a private army, it seems—at least."
Viviana's face twitched. "And you are just going to… wait? Why don't you confront them? Before it's too late?"
"I could, I should, and I probably would. But you know the strange part of this? Julius Edmonds is clueless about the whole process, and the schemer behind is a master at concealing himself."
"Who could it be?" Viviana shook her head. "Too many possibilities. Hard to determine between them."
"Anyway, let the answers reveal themselves as time passes. You know my style—I'll catch any opportunities that come by, but I won't seek them myself."
"It could be a significant threat, which shouldn't be disregarded," Viviana insisted—only to realize how Eric would have interpreted the sentence afterward. "Julius Edmonds should hold accountability for this."
It was a pain to talk to a masked face, but Viviana had quite gotten used to it.
"I'm not like my father…" Eric hoarsely stated, with hatred concealed underneath. "First law of Runalond: innocent until proven guilty. I will never, ever unfairly judge someone just because there's a possibility they might pose a threat."
"And personal emotions aside, do you remember what happened when I first acceded to the throne?"
Viviana was a quick thinker. "The Infinite Massacre… Your management of the aftermath was widely considered perfect. To some extent, the profound respect the citizens have towards you is greatly based on your wise commands during that period."
Adjusting his mask, Eric nodded lazily. "I had to prove to myself that I'm worthy, so I did. Nothing too impressive about it. But from what I remember, you weren't involved in managing that tragedy, right?"
"No, I wasn't."
"Then you won't understand the pain of dealing with the loss of an entire aristocratic family. The Pompeii clan's ruination scratched the surface of breaking the equilibrium. I couldn't have survived that drastic change without assistance from the Relfogs. Never want to experience that trouble again."
Viviana sighed in melancholy. "Relfog, Gravekin, Marshall… They are all families of nobility and decency—much better than the influential aristocratic clans now. Their only mistake was not carefully watching their children."
"Sprouting curiosity will break through the sharpest guards. That mistake wasn't avoidable, nor ignorable… Dismiss it. Let's talk about the Heaven's Child Project. Now that it is complete, what will you use it for?"
"Before anything can proceed, I must ensure that it functions and thinks like a biological human. The project can only be called successful once it fulfills that criterion."
"Yeah, right. You can lie to me, but can you manage to lie to yourself?" Eric leaned toward the table, supporting his face with his arms.
"You…" Viviana stuttered in resignation. "Next time you see through something, can you not point it out so directly?"
Eric laughed.
"Your son is a variable in the system—I hope you recognize that," he affirmed. "If things get out of control, then we must prepare for the worst. But I know, Viviana, you can be colder than a machine if you wish so."
Viviana's expression didn't change.
"From what I can tell, that day might come earlier than we expected. Let's collectively attempt to prevent it from happening. But if it does—my son or not—I vow to be indifferent."
Eric sighed. "I hope you live up to your words. But at the same time, I wish that you can extend your mercy—at least to Nathan."
"He is my son, not yours."
"A son of his is a son of mine."
"Viviana, you've lost yourself on the path of dedication toward Rune Arts. Now that your duty is close to completion, will you finally go back to what you love? He sacrificed everything he had for you," Eric's voice turned even more serious, with emotion stirred into every word. "Promise me, don't let him down, alright?"
Viviana nodded in agreement, her eyes determined and trustworthy. "I promise."
"I'm tired, and it's time for me to have some rest. But unlike others, my responsibilities don't weigh me down—they support me up. I'm Viviana Modernson, but also V, First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation."
"You understand this too—once we reach the pinnacle of sovereignty and legacy, we no longer have any say over our lives. We are at the summit, so we cannot fall. Our body, our blood, and our tears alike… All must be held up by honor and leadership. I sometimes wonder, are we the rulers of this realm, or pawns only to hold up the equilibrium?"
Eric scoffed. "Hmph, aren't we both? Puppets standing at the summit of a mountain erected by the deceived corpses to eternify this peace we collectively long for… Viviana, if you knew the truth from the beginning, would you have chosen the same path as before?"
Viviana replied without hesitation, "I have no regrets in my life—not even one. If I traveled back in time, I would follow the exact steps that took me to where I am now. And despite the pain of bearing the truth or the shame of being fooled by it, the Equilibrium System is the core pillar of our kingdom. If it falls, so will the endless possibilities of the future. And you? Do you regret your decision to become a king?"
Eric lifted his head. "Really? You need to ask me to get an answer?"
Viviana grinned.
"There are many things different about us—but also many things alike, it seems."
Eric nodded in agreement. "Perhaps the biggest difference is that you cling to the times of the past, but I only want to run as far from it as possible. This is also… the only difference between me and him."
"I cannot return to him fully yet—but his twenty years of waiting can finally halt." The smile on Viviana's face widened at the image of the handsome man in her mind, filtered by the lenses of memory. They had spent half their lives apart, but the love for each other had yet to fade. Believe it or not, distance is a perfect brush to paint proximity.
"Glad to hear… Glad to hear," Eric repeated, genuinely happy and relieved.
"As for Nathan Modernson—his actions are… unsettling. But we don't yet know his intentions or the result he wants to achieve. You can put your trust in me, Viviana. I will watch and protect him. Whatever happens, royalty will be a strong backbone to his support."
"Maybe one day, he can make a big difference in this world. But unfortunately, it is likely also a catastrophic one." Eric muttered.
Viviana smiled. "Do you want to start a bet?"
"You never win anything that's luck-based, so I wonder what you're up to." Eric noted. "What is it? I'll evaluate it."
"You think my son will destroy the peace, but I say he will liberate Runalond from this system."
After a short pause, Eric replied in a deep tone, "If you can explain why you think so, I will agree to the bet."
"You and my husband really are similar—appearance, ideologies, and even how you speak," Viviana mocked before answering.
Eric lowered his head; a sigh escaped his mouth intentionally. Viviana's words put him into silence again, but instead of fury, it was a calm, almost unimportant sorrow.
"Try only talking to one person for ten years—you'll end up mirroring everything he is as well."
Viviana's smile grew fainter. "Then what if I say I understand him more than you?"
Eric shrugged. "Don't want to argue against that. You sometimes know me better than I know myself."
"He is a good father—good enough to raise a savior," Viviana continued with a smooth voice. "I'm confident in my son, and more confident in him."
"Then… sure, I will bet with you. At least in my foolish brain, there isn't a better way to secure Runalond's eternity other than the Equilibrium System. As the only variable, he is destined to dismantle it. This time, even though I despise the past, the historical ways must be stab;lized."
"I agree—there isn't a better way, but I think that's because no one is willing to try to come up with one. There has to be someone to forge a new future."
"Fine then, the loser has to buy dinner for the winner."
"Very demanding request. Quite a legendary bet between the two rulers of Runalond. Eric, you are an impressive monarch, but also one who rarely seeks ambitious change. Though I don't blame you, if I experienced your sufferings, I would surely be satisfied with the current situation as well."
"Viviana, I acknowledge your indictment, but your idealistic beliefs will only lead to what our kingdom has avoided for 500 years. Perfection is a dangerous word, it accommodates a tomorrow consisting only of nihilistic husks, devoid of dreams, improvement, and purpose..."
The King of Runalond and the First Seat of the Rune Arts Federation resumed their reflection on the past and advice for the future.
As for their bet…
It turned out that life didn't always appear as black and white, and the outcome sometimes lies beyond anticipation. Destruction and salvation weren't polar—there was a resolution where they could potentially co-exist. That was, under a cost that no one could afford to bear.