While Emilia was out hanging out with her new friends, Friedrich, as usual, stayed in the Academy.
Though three years had passed since Friedrich first arrived in Hiemalis City, he still hadn't seen the entire campus, which covered nearly a quarter of the Capital. Not that he had any intention of doing so. Today, like most afternoons, he had an appointment with Mr. Weinberg.
Friedrich had known Mr. Weinberg long before both he and Emilia had come to the Academy. It was Mr. Weinberg who had provided shelter and guidance when Friedrich first arrived in the city.
Every afternoon, without fail, Friedrich would make his way to Mr. Weinberg's office, a secluded building nestled among woods and a pond, separated from the rest of the campus. It was a rare privilege, earned through the professor's seventy years of teaching at the Academy.
Playing chess had become a habit for both of them. They would chat about history and current politics until nightfall. The topic of the conversation would span from the Great Migration to the Second Civil War, from the reunification of the Divinus Empire to the revolution that turned the Borealis Kingdom to a Republic, from the author of the "Holy Book" to the special festivals of the Eous State.
Mr. Weinberg seemed to know everything. Friedrich often found himself bringing up new topics, which Mr. Weinberg would answer with unparalleled insight. Though the professor claimed to have been born during the Civil War 300 years ago, Friedrich, like many others, found it difficult to believe. Even for a Link holder, living beyond 200 years was unheard of.
Friedrich had asked about Mr. Weinberg's cryptic past before, but the old man always deflected the question. Friedrich didn't mind; he knew well enough that everyone carried their own secrets, himself included.
"So, what's the subject of discussion today?" Mr. Weinberg asked with a smile, moving his first piece on the chessboard. "If I had to guess… it's about your sister, Emilia, isn't it?"
"Yeah, she shouldn't be here," Friedrich muttered.
"Well, as the next in line for the throne of Divinus, she certainly should avoid the capital city of its rival nation," Mr. Weinberg replied, his tone contemplative.
"I've warned her repeatedly, through letters though, but she doesn't listen…"
"I wasn't finished," Mr. Weinberg interrupted gently. "But as her brother, surely you understand her desire to see you after three years apart."
"That may be true, but it doesn't change the fact that her actions are reckless. My uncle is not a man of reason."
"That's surprising. When I met him ten years ago, he struck me as quite an intelligent man," Mr. Weinberg mused. "Although intelligence isn't the equivalent to good temper."
"No, you are right. He's the most discerning person I know."
"Then perhaps there's another reason behind his behavior. Is it related to your father's death?" Mr. Weinberg speculated.
"Probably. I'm not entirely sure," Friedrich admitted. "But what I do know is that he's not the right person to lead the Divine Empire right now."
"That's undeniable. The Borealis Republic and the Divine Empire have been on the brink of war since the conflict ten years ago." Mr. Weinberg nodded.
"Yes, anything could trigger a new war," Friedrich added darkly. "Including Emilia."
"There's little you or I can do about it," Mr. Weinberg said, nodding solemnly. "All we can do is hope for the best and prepare for the worst."
A heavy silence fell over the room as Friedrich contemplated his words.
...
"Shall we continue our unfinished game?" Friedrich finally conceded, though his frustration lingered. "I just hate that my sister never listens to me."
"Ah, well, that's something we all share. My sister never listened to me either," Mr. Weinberg remarked, moving another piece on the board.
"Wait, I didn't know you had a sister."
She passed away a long time ago," Mr. Weinberg said softly, glancing at his watch.
"I'm sorry to bring it up," Friedrich said, a bit embarrassed. "I forget that not many live as long as you…"
"She died young," Mr. Weinberg added, though his sorrow was brief. "But she died in contentment."
Friedrich found the old professor unusually open today. It was rare for Mr. Weinberg to speak of his past.
Then, the old man continued, "Memories fade as I age, but her beauty remains clear in my mind. She was a remarkable person, born at the wrong time. If I recall correctly, the average lifespan back then was only around thirty."
"Was she a Link holder?" Friedrich asked cautiously.
"In a manner of speaking…" Mr. Weinberg responded cryptically, before quickly steering the conversation back on track. "But enough of that. How about Emilia? I've heard she's quite gifted."
"She is," Friedrich answered proudly. "Unlike most of us in the Von Licht family, she can control the wind—one of the strongest forces of nature."
"When did she first discover her abilities?" Mr.Weinberg kept asking.
"About two years ago," Friedrich recalled. "She wrote to me about it, and I could sense her excitement even through the words on the letter."
"Has she kept it a secret?"
"I hope so," Friedrich said, unease creeping into his voice. "My uncle wouldn't tolerate someone like her in the family. He's not just unreasonable; he's incredibly stubborn."
"People are often reluctant to adapt to change," Mr. Weinberg sighed, glancing at his watch once more. "Myself included, perhaps."
"Actually, Mr. Weinberg, I disagree," Friedrich countered. "I've never met anyone more perceptive about the world than you."
"The longer you live, the less you truly understand," Mr. Weinberg replied with a wry smile.
"I think that's a misconception," Friedrich argued. "The more you live, the more unknowns you encounter. It's not that you know less; you just realize how vast and cruel the world is."
Friedrich paused, leaning back in his chair as his gaze wandered toward the large window. The late afternoon light filtered through the trees outside, casting long shadows across the chessboard. Everything seems so calm and normal.
"I sometimes wonder," Friedrich began slowly, "if the Devinis Empire, my uncle, is just waiting for an excuse. If all of this tension is just a prelude to something inevitable."
Friedrich went and opened the window as he was speaking, hoping that the cold wind would help calm himself from all that mess.
Mr. Weinberg moved another piece, his fingers nimble despite their age. "Nations often teeter on the edge of conflict, Friedrich. But wars aren't started by inevitability. They're started by choices. Small ones, often made in private rooms, away from the battlefield. Their small decisions can influence the future of millions; This is the saddest thing of the society we are living in." His eyes glinted, as if recalling a distant memory. "Emilia's presence here could be one of those choices."
Friedrich frowned. "I've told her, countless times, how dangerous it is. She doesn't see the risks."
"She sees them," Mr. Weinberg said, his voice soft but firm. "But sometimes the heart speaks louder than the mind. She's here because of you. Because she wants to understand why you left her behind."
"I didn't leave her," Friedrich retorted, frustration creeping into his voice. "I was protecting her."
"And perhaps she's here to protect you now," Mr. Weinberg replied, moving his knight forward. The chess piece landed with a soft thud, but the gesture carried weight. "Have you considered that possibility?"
The question hung in the air, leaving Friedrich momentarily speechless. He hadn't thought of it that way. Was Emilia's presence more than just reckless defiance? Could she sense something he was blind to?
Friedrich's fingers hovered over the chessboard, indecision weighing on him more than the next move. He shifted his pawn, but his mind was far from the game. "Protect me?" he muttered, as if tasting the absurdity of it. "Emilia has always been… impulsive, reckless. She's never seen the consequences of her actions."
Mr. Weinberg smiled faintly, the kind that concealed more than it revealed. "Impulsiveness often runs in youth. But you know, Friedrich, sometimes what we perceive as recklessness is simply another's bravery. It's possible Emilia understands the stakes far better than you think."
"She doesn't know what it's like out there," Friedrich said, his voice sharp with frustration. "She doesn't see the blood, the bodies, the horror. She only reads about it in books. She thinks power is something to be controlled, something you can just summon and direct. But power… real power... it consumes you."
"And yet," Mr. Weinberg countered softly, his eyes meeting Friedrich's, "it seems she's already tapped into a power that even you, with all your training, do not possess. Wind... it's a rare gift. Dangerous, too. You're worried that she's not ready for what comes next, but perhaps you're not ready for what she's becoming."
Friedrich felt a knot tighten in his chest. He had spent years honing his own abilities, training relentlessly to protect those he loved, to be worthy of his title and the responsibilities that came with it. And yet, here was his younger sister, surpassing him in ways he hadn't expected. Worse, she seemed oblivious to the risks that came with such gifts.
"You think she's stronger than me," Friedrich stated flatly, though it wasn't a question.
"I think strength comes in many forms," Mr. Weinberg replied, moving his queen with the precision of someone who had played the game for centuries. "It's not about raw power. It's about wisdom. Control. Knowing when to wait, when to act."
"And you believe she knows that?" Friedrich asked, skepticism dripping from his tone, "she's just 15."
"I believe she's learning. The real question, Friedrich, is whether you're willing to let her. Remember, she will be the next ruler of a large empire."
Friedrich stared at the board, his mind a whirl of conflicting thoughts. Emilia—his little sister, the girl he had watched grow from a child—was not the same person he remembered three years ago. She had changed in ways he hadn't anticipated, and it unsettled him. How could he protect her from the dangers she was rushing toward when she was becoming a danger herself?
Mr. Weinberg watched Friedrich's silence with the patience of someone who had seen countless wars, countless rulers rise and fall. "You've always carried the weight of responsibility on your shoulders," he said softly. "You've always tried to shield those you care about. But you're not alone in this, Friedrich. And you may find that Emilia has more to offer in this invisible fight than you realize."
Friedrich frowned, his fingers absently tracing the edge of a knight. "I'm not sure I like where this is going. If she gets involved—if she becomes a target—"
"She already is a target," Mr. Weinberg interrupted, his voice suddenly sharp, cutting through Friedrich's thoughts. "You know that. You've known that for a long time. The question isn't when it will happen; It's how prepared she'll be when the storm finally breaks."
Friedrich swallowed, a cold realization settling over him. He had spent so long trying to keep Emilia safe, but in doing so, he had ignored the simple truth: she was already in danger, just by virtue of who she was – as the successor of his Uncle, the Emperor of the Divinis Empire. Perhaps keeping her sheltered had only delayed the inevitable. And perhaps, just perhaps, she was more ready than he wanted to admit.
Mr. Weinberg moved another piece, and Friedrich instinctively mirrored him. The game continued, though their minds were elsewhere, locked in silent contemplation. The professor's gaze flickered once again to his pocket watch, but he said nothing of it.
It was 5pm, and the bell struck five times.
"Do you think there's a way to stop it?" Friedrich asked quietly after a long pause, his voice almost drowned out by the rustling of leaves outside.
"Stop what?" Mr. Weinberg asked, though Friedrich knew the old man understood perfectly well.
"The war. The destruction. Everything that's coming."
Mr. Weinberg's eyes darkened, a shadow passing over his usually calm demeanor. "There's always a way, Friedrich. But it's never easy. And sometimes, the cost is too high for anyone, any city, nor even any country to bear alone."
Friedrich nodded slowly, the weight of those words sinking into him. He looked at the chessboard again, the pieces arrayed like soldiers on a battlefield, each one representing a decision, a sacrifice. He had lost his knight - his father, the previous king. And his sister had made her move, coming to the capital of the enemy state despite the risks. Perhaps it was time for him to make his.
"I don't know what my next move is," Friedrich admitted, his voice quiet, but steady.
"You don't have to know yet," Mr. Weinberg replied, his eyes softening. "Just trust your heart when the time comes."
Silence settled between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was the kind of silence that comes with understanding, with unspoken thoughts shared between two people who had seen too much, yet still knew there was more to come.
The chess game continued, but the pieces in Friedrich's mind had already started to shift. The future was uncertain, the storm on the horizon darker than ever. But perhaps, with Emilia by his side, they could weather it together.
...
A loud crack shattered the silence, cutting through their conversation. Friedrich turned to the window, his eyes widening in disbelief. There was a huge crack in the invisible barrier that had kept the Judgment at bay for over three hundred years.
Another crack followed, then another. The gap grew larger and larger, until it was big enough for a battleship to sail through.
The peace between humans and the Judgment was officially over.