This morning, Zeke woke up with a bittersweet feeling churning in his stomach. Three days had passed since his conversation with Snow, marking the promised date. Today, they would leave the treehouse and continue their journey.

On one hand, he was excited to get moving. On the other, the idea of spending the foreseeable future inside a dark, hostile jungle, constantly alert and on edge, wasn't appealing, especially after the peace he had enjoyed the past week.

Yet, all reluctance vanished from his mind when Zeke recalled one simple fact: War had broken out, and the Empire was moving.

They were already encroaching on his allies: Equinox and Invocatia, presumably making progress with every day he wasted. Was the Emperor resting? Was he taking it easy? Zeke highly doubted it. And, if he was being honest with himself, Cassius' story had affected him more than he had let on.

Zeke didn't think of himself as a prodigy, but he still took a lot of pride in his achievements. Among his generation, he had never met anyone who could match him overall. Sure, some could surpass him in certain aspects—Leo, for example, was a better fighter. However, when considering all aspects, Zeke still believed he surpassed his peers.

But what about Augustus Geistreich?

The young Emperor didn't have the privilege of attending an academy, classes, teachers, or a mentor like Maximilian. Yet, he had pioneered his school of Magic, united the Empire, and created the strongest military power on the continent.

Ever since Zeke had heard the story, a single question had plagued his mind:

Could he have done the same?

The question never failed to bring a frown to his face. The Emperor already had a thousand-year lead. If Zeke couldn’t even match the man’s starting position, what was the point in trying to catch up?

[Notice]

I have heard that comparison Is the greatest thief of joy.