As Livius went to prepare for the journey, Cian remained in the library, his mind already spinning with the logistical nightmare of a diplomatic summit. He knew that the Federation would try to use "Logic" to trap Livius. They would demand treaties, trade concessions, and "Joint-Mana Surveys" that were really just excuses to spy on the empire's internal magic.
He sat at his desk and pulled out a hidden ledger—one that even Livius hadn't seen. This was the "Ledger of the Future." It contained Cian's personal projections for the empire's recovery.
"If we can secure a five-year peace treaty with the West," Cian whispered to the empty room, "we can revitalize the Northern Mines and establish the 'Ghost Schools.' We can teach the commoners how to use mana without relying on a King. We can make the empire self-sustaining."
He looked at the map again, his eyes narrowing. He saw a detail he had missed before—a series of small, red dots along the Western border. These were "Aetheric Towers," the Federation's long-range sensors.
"They were watching the whole time," Cian realized, his blood running cold. "They didn't just feel the Mana-Leak. They measured it. They know exactly how much power Livius has left. They know he's exhausted."
Cian grabbed a fresh quill and began to write a series of coded messages to the Nexus agents in the West. He needed to know Sophia van Held's favorite drink, her most trusted advisor, and her greatest fear. He needed to ensure that by the time Livius stepped off that carriage at the border, the "Ghost" knew everything about the woman who wanted to judge him.
"You handle the gods, Livius," Cian murmured, his pen scratching furiously against the parchment. "I'll handle the humans."
In the distance, the first sounds of construction began to echo through the capital. The people were tearing down the statues of the old emperors, replacing them with empty pedestals. They were waiting for their new King to tell them what to build next. But Livius wasn't interested in statues. He was interested in the stars, and the dark space between them that was finally starting to look like home.