As Leeros and Akhenamen were talking in the meeting room, talking about Syllena’s future enrollment within The Academy, Sofya was standing outside, studying some of the massive Cygilites Liquid Silver Production facility under the watchful eyes of the Twins.

  Soft steps made her turn around, staring at the woman advancing toward her, her mother. She smiled and ran to Tifania. Giving her a tight hug, her mother, with a small smile, gently hugged her back and kissed her forehead.

  Staring at the Twins standing a few feet from them, her eyes showed absolute fear. She shook her head to clear her thoughts and looked back down toward Sofya.

  “How are you, Sofya? I hope he treated you right? How was the trip? Did you eat well?”

  “Mom! Calm down, everything’s fine! Akhenamen is a good person… or robot. Look at all those Liquid Silver production facilities! Or those weapon manufacturing factories! It’s amazing! There are so many things to study in Cygislax! I have so many things to tell you about!”

  The Twins stared at Tifania. Their eyes seemingly recognised her.

  “Isn’t she…?”

  “One of those who tried to invade Cygislax, yes. We believe we had almost killed her before one of the other gnomes jumped in front of the attack to save her.”

  “They are guests now, it seems.”

  “By the Hierarch’s will. We must obey, he is the Hierarch, and he will guide us.”

  “I know, brother.”

  Soon, both stared toward the horizon.

  ***

  High above the ground, most delegations and envoys were looking down, the factions all watching as three titanic goliaths of liquid silver flew or slithered toward Cygislax: the Slumbering Calamity, the Slithering Earthquake, and the Thundering Tempest had reached Cygislax.

  Their slightest movement could cause natural catastrophes. This would be impressive to anyone but not the experts, who for most were Authorities themselves. But the numerous scars on the Hyperfauna Machines' bodies showed their battle experience was far more vast than that of pretty much anyone here.

  Behind them, thousands of Cygilites arrived. Their steps united, three marches that joined into a single one. There wasn’t a single Cygilite weaker than an Ancestor in this army. An army of silver united under one single purpose: to go back to their home.

  This army was the true power of the Cygilites. Thousands of Transcendents, when most of the biggest factions had no more than a hundred or so Ancestors at most. A dozen Beyonders and no more than five Thrones.

  The lucky few had an Authority or two backing them in secret. Yet before them, the numbers were closer to at least fifty thrones, hundreds of Beyonders, and thousands of Ancestors. One of the elven twins looked at the towering wolf next to them, his eyes hidden, but the meaning was pretty clear: “You almost doomed us all by wanting to attack first.”

  ***

  Akhenamen came out of Cygislax’s insides, followed by Leeros, walking toward the top of the wall using his Tri-Astromath constructs, Leeros walking next to him and talking pleasantly about some of his adventures during his younger days.

  “Really? Are there expeditions toward other continents?”

  A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

  “I swear! You’ll see when you finally travel around Zenthia. I can’t tell you much. It would be rude to steal the surprise. Just know most of those continents are inhabited… or extremely dangerous, even for Thrones and Authorities.”

  Akhenamen wasn’t aware of other continents, as his future self had made sure to not “spoil” his younger self’s adventures.

  “If you say so… Here they come.”

  Sofya soon reached the top of the wall herself, using a liquid silver overboard, followed closely by Tyfania which was holding to her daughter to not fall down. The Twins and their Beyonders helpers are the last to arrive.

  “H…how do you control liquid silver?!”

  “That’s with Akhenamen’s help! I’m able to use a bit of liquid silver by manipulating it because of my own Liquid Silver Manipulator!”

  She raised her gloved hand, showing mittens that seemed to be made from leather and a mix of gnomish electronics and Cygilites tech. Soon, both girls became too engrossed in talking about how to improve Sofya’s design that it was Leeros who brought them back to Zenthia. Pointing out the arriving Cygilites.

  “Here they come. Well… that’s a lot of experts.”

  The Twins’ eyes seemed to flicker softly, even the usually perfectly stoic guard was shaking a bit seeing so many of theirs coming and yet… It was one of the Beyonders who talked and revealed the inner thoughts of the Twins.

  “So few of us remain…”

  Akhenamen understood what they meant. Syllena quickly rushed next to him, seeming amazed, staring at the arrival of her people, while Ascylla, who was flying a bit above Cygislax, seemed like a relieved big sister. Whispering under her breath.

  “My brothers and sisters. Welcome back. You will be safe with Lord Akhenamen.”

  As for the Hierarch, he could see quite a few Cygiteks like him walking at the front of the march. Most Thrones were Cygiteks, not all, but most. There were even quite a few surprises. Akhenamen was able to spot Sceptus Vector walking amongst the Ancestors. His eyes stared into Akhenamen’s. A mischievous “I told you so” flickering within his flaming eyes.

  At the front, if we did not count the three Authorities, a few Cygilites attracted his eye. One was Throne, looking like a silvery Prothean. Another was a floating ball of silver. Then … is that a fucking fighter jet?

  “I’m surprised by the varied shape of my own people.”

  “Well, if you’re made of Liquid Silver, it’s not a surprise you’re all able to take the shape you want.”

  “True.”

  Akhenamen’s surprise could be understood. He had genuinely expected his people to look a lot more similar in shape. His memories of the future showed his armies having specific designs after all. Not that it mattered much to him.

  The three authorities quickly brought him out of his dream-like state, staring down at him, softly bowing down. The Cygilites marched behind them, stopping just a hundred feet or so from Cygislax’s walls and raised their weapons, a mechanical binaric shriek shattering the air around them as they greeted their Hierarch.

  “WE GREET HIERARCH AKHENAMEN! WE GREET THE SILVER SOVEREIGN!”

  All Cygilites knelt as one, driving a single knee into the sand of Oleron.

  But the Hierarch did not accept their reverence. He descended the towering walls of black crystal, emerald light forming solid steps beneath his feet as he walked down from the heights of the wall into their ranks.

  And before them all, he knelt. The act sent a tremor through the Cygilites greater than any weapon ever could. When Akhenamen spoke, his voice was not merely loud. It was absolute, rippling across the desert, through sand, silver, stone, flesh, and soul alike.

  “I am Akhenamen. Herald of the Unseen Truth. Hierarch of Cygislax. Your Silver Sovereign. And before all titles… I am one of you. I swear this oath before every Cygilite who endured abandonment, war, and silence.”

  “I do not rule you. I serve you.”

  Every Cygilite seemed frozen; even the envoys watching the arrival looked shocked to see a ruler bow before his people. To them, it was unthinkable. Why do this? He was the one to wake them up. It was his right to rule.

  “I will serve you until we rise from the shadow of neglect. I will serve you until our existence is no longer questioned. Until peace is no longer a fragile hope, but an unbreakable state of being.”

  “Until this world is incapable of forgetting us ever again. Until our future is assured beyond doubt, I will not rest. I will not falter. I will not cease to serve my people.”

  Akhenamen rose. He grasped his glaive, silver and green light surging along its edge, and raised it high. The air screamed as space itself seemed to fracture beneath the weight of his will. When he spoke again, it was no longer a voice. It was a roar.

  “So now I ask you. My brothers. My sisters. My undying kin of silver.”

  [WHO WILL STAND WITH ME? WHO WILL MARCH TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE? WHO WILL HELP ME FIGHT TO PRESERVE THE PEACE OF THOSE WHO COME AFTER?! WE ARE THE UNDYING LEGIONS OF SILVER! WE ARE THE ONES WHO SLAYED THE VERY GODS! NONE WILL BREAK US! NONE WILL SLAY US!]

  [WE ARE THE CYGILITES!]

  What followed wasn’t even a roar but an entire people united under a single ruler who had won all their hearts and souls in a single action, in a single proof of his worthiness to rule. A binaric screech of pure hope and will to never be betrayed or forgotten ever again.

  ***

  Seeing this, Aelion and Moria, who were watching all of it alongside Julia and the Emperor of Pyrax and many of his courts, seemed completely shocked. Almost… scared. They had seen and interacted with Akhenamen for a while, but this side of him had been unknown. Aelion even looked at Suk’kulkan, who seemed just as shocked as him. He couldn’t help but smile at her.

  “If the Cygilites call you back, you’re all so fucked.”

  “Shut up, kid.”

  The Prothean’s eyes seemed amused at Aelion’s remark. However, she had to admit Akhenamen was the leader the Cygilites would never forget. The one that would make them reach heights never imagined by even their creators.

  She knew that if Akhenamen had been born during the Forgotten War, both gods and protheans would have stopped at nothing to eliminate such a dangerous threat. You did not fear a fighter or warrior, but the king who could unite them all.