“I would like to hear the details of the Overdrive spell they used,” said Ginchiyo Tachibana.

“I second that,” Hatsumi Akari said. “The performance they showed with that was impressive to say the least.”

“Personally, I find it difficult to believe those two were able to fight alongside Allison against an S-Class demon beast and even restrain it long enough for her to use aether to long-cast Annihilation,” said Charles Barrett. “So a detailed explanation would be helpful.”

Allison nodded and stood up. “I have prepared a statement regarding Overdrive.” Allison described the change in the aura and eyes as well as the massive power boost. “Kye stated, ‘Overdrive is extremely dangerous and should not be used under most circumstances. It increases compression significantly. My usage of it was roughly a boost of five hundred times.’ She prefaced that as a simplified explanation, and I can attest to the boost. Together, they successfully casted multiple high-tier binding spells and restrained an S-Class beast. I assure you they did so with no outside help.”

Several nodded, accepting her explanation. Others were skeptical, but most stayed quiet. Alexandra Romanov wanted more information. “They have white mana, a lot of mana, invented spells, one of them invented aethersteel, and they can use this Overdrive ability, as costly as it is. Moreover, both of them have extraordinary combat skills, enough to earn praise from even Allison and Astarte.”

“Correct on all accounts,” Allison said.

“Yes,” Astarte added. “I’ve had the pleasure of training Alethea and I admit she has been the easiest trainee I’ve ever had. She progresses phenomenally fast in everything as if she already knew what to do.”

“There’s clearly a deeper secret here,” Alexandra said. “These two are not just abnormal, they are outright anomalies.”

“Hold on, Alexandra, we need to approach this-” Edward said.

“Do not misunderstand me. I am not suggesting they are threats or that this is bad in any way. I want to understand them properly and use that understanding for world advancement.”

“Well said,” Adalric Knight added, others echoing the sentiment.

“Layla, would it be possible to summon them here?” Ginchiyo asked. “I feel it may be best to have them speak for themselves, given their track record.”

“I agree,” Atalante said. “Alethea will be more than happy to speak for herself.”

“Kye as well,” Layla said. “They are both at the academy right now. It would be no issue to bring them here. Does anyone disagree with this course?” None spoke up in the following thirty seconds. “Very well. I will-”

“I will go retrieve them,” Astarte said before vanishing.

After lunch, Kye and company moved to Louise’s lab. Kye examined Louise’s latest enchanting failures, still unsure what to make of the metal dust, while the others discussed the primary topic.

Louise’s questions revolved around what type of mana was used for it and what it felt like to channel it. What they discovered was that it wasn’t fueled specifically by dark mana like what was originally thought when it was named “Shadow Magic,” partly because Alethea was able to use void magic with dark, light, neutral, and white mana. Aliana and Alethea described it as feeling like channeling mana when teleporting.

“It’s clearly not a subtype of dark mana,” Louise said. “Subtypes are unique to a specific mana. Teleportation has been used for a long time, but I suspect...” She paused, falling deep in thought for a moment. “Here’s what I think. Teleportation, gravity magic, and this void magic are all from a seventh elemental mana type, elemental because all the alignments work with it. I believe it would be prudent to refer to that mana as spatial mana.”

“That would explain why some people have so much difficulty learning to teleport,” Liliana said. “The people who pick it up easily must have an affinity for it.”

“Yes, and I believe it would be accurate to say that there exists a subtype under spatial mana we should refer to as void mana. Since Alethea can use it, but Aliana has certain abilities under this classification that are still unique to her, I believe she has not only an affinity for void mana but an unusually strong affinity. There have been cases where some people are - for lack of a better phrase - naturals at specific mana types.”

“Yes,” Liliana said. “She has been able to manipulate visibility and tangibility since we were very young. I think-” She stopped suddenly and turned to Kye. “You have received a summons, Princess.”

“A summons?” Kye asked. “For what?”

A knock came at the door before Liliana could respond. Louise answered the door. “I am Louise Chevalier. I am currently with guests. Would you like to schedule an appointment at a later time?”

“No need. I am only here to retrieve your guests.” That voice sent a chill up Alethea’s spine.

“Alethea?” Kye said.

Alethea looked as though the blood drained from her face. “That’s Astarte. I’m in trouble. I’m in trouble, but what did I do? What didn’t I do? I don’t know what to do!” Kye placed a hand on Alethea’s shoulders and said to Louise, “Let her in. May as well get this over with, whatever it is.”

Louise nodded, opened the door, and stepped aside.

“Kye Akari and Alethea Atlantis,” Astarte said. “The Royal Council wishes to speak with you. I have come to escort you.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised,” Kye said. “I assumed we’d be summoned before them eventually. Alethea, relax, it’s not about you... specifically. It’s both of us.”

“A-A-Asta-Astarte, wh-what are-?” Alethea stuttered so much she couldn’t finish her sentence.

“Alethea!” Astarte suddenly raised her voice and Alethea stood at attention in an instant. “You’re not in trouble.”

Kye exchanged confused glances with the Venturi sisters. She shrugged and asked Louise about returning when they were done if she would still be there. Louise was determined to over-enchant and confirmed she would be in the lab all day. Once they were set, the group departed. Astarte led the group to Layla’s lab in the basement where a magic circle was inscribed on the floor. Astarte channeled aether into the circle and the five disappeared.

“Welcome to the Royal Council,” Astarte said as they approached the large table where everyone was seated. Astarte took her seat between her sisters. The table was made of manasteel and was enlarged to allow space for Kye and Alethea. They sat between Allison and Atalante while Liliana and Aliana stood behind them.”

“Now that we have the two in question,” Ginchiyo said, “let’s continue.”

“Wait,” said Leonardo I. “Liliana, Aliana, you two should wait outside.”

“There’s no need for that,” James said.

“Everything spoken here is sensitive information!”

Kye quickly grew annoyed and started to explain, but James cut in instead. “Kye’s attendants know more of their secrets than anyone here, even the three of us.” He gestured at himself, Layla, and Allison. “Nothing she says will be new to them, and nothing we say will be held from them. Am I wrong, Kye?”

“You are correct.”

“There you have it.” James gestured at Alexandra to start.

A hologram appeared over the table that replayed the events of the battle six months prior. Once both Kye and Alethea had overdrive active, Alexandra paused the playback and zoomed in on the two where they were together. “The topic is your Overdrive ability. We would like to hear directly from the source an explanation on what this does.”

“Overdrive is an emergency technique that heavily reinforces the soul link and body to allow a massive increase in compression. I was able to increase my divine mana out-”

“Everyone here knows of aether,” Allison said.

“I see. I was able to increase my aether output by five hundred times over base. I should clarify that this does not perform the compression for you. That must be done manually. Overdrive reinforces the link, but that is very strenuous on it. Depending on the level of compression and how long Overdrive is active, the recovery time may vary. For what we did, it seems six months was needed to recover to the point of using aether again, and I expect another few months to regain full function.”

Kye’s explanation left everyone stunned, except those that had heard it directly from her before, namely Layla, James, and Allison.

“I would question how a sixteen-year-old is able to compress in the first place,” said Kanade Tachibana. “But we already know how talented you are.”

“I would question how a sixteen-year-old has knowledge of the soul link,” said Draenara Maya.

“I would question how a sixteen-year-old can do half of what you can do,” said Alexandra. “Not only were you able to perform this ability in the first place, but you understand everything involved. You can compress five-hundred-fold?”

“As you can see,” Atalante said, “we have quite a few doubts and questions. I think the most important question, more than your Overdrive ability or the involved explanation, is how do you know about aether?”

“I cannot say,” Kye answered.

“How did you learn to compress?” Astarte asked.

“I cannot say.”

“How did you learn of the soul link?” Astraia asked.

“I cannot say.”

“What can you say?” Hatsumi asked.

Kye glanced over at her mother, then to James, then to Allison. Each one gave her a nod. “Alethea, may I speak of certain things?”

“My secrets are your secrets,” she replied. “I leave everything at your discretion.”

“Very well.” Kye stood up and released her white mana. She disabled the hologram and began showing her memories. “Many eons ago, a goddess created someone to keep her company. This goddess is one you all should be aware of, Lady Eve.”

A fist suddenly hit the table with a loud thud. “You dare speak of Goddess Eve so casually?!” Kolodka Romonov said angrily.

“Be silent,” Kye replied, an unusual seriousness in her eyes. Kolodka stared at her until Allison intervened.

“Do as she says,” Allison ordered. “She is well within her rights to speak in that manner. Listen and you’ll understand.” Allison nodded to Kye and she continued.

“This first someone was named Elysia.” That was where even Layla, James, and Allison went wide-eyed. “Eve and Elysia shared much together. Worlds were created, and more companions soon followed. Another significant figure was among those companions, Maya. Eventually, Elysia wanted to visit the worlds Eve had created and Eve allowed her to do so. This marked the first reincarnation. Maya soon showed interest and many others followed later.” The memory flashed forward to her last meeting with Eve. “Eons came and went, and Elysia reincarnated countless times. Sometimes she was given missions to complete, and sometimes she entered a world at her leisure. Her most recent reincarnation,” the memory flashed forward to the room where Kye was born, “brought her here.” As the concept sunk in for everyone, Kye bowed and reintroduced herself. “As is customary in this world, a proper introduction. I am Elysia the First of the Nexus.”

Alethea stood up and reintroduced herself as well. “I am Maya the Second of the Nexus.”

The council members gasped, ooh'd and ah'd as Kye continued the explanation of their reincarnations.

“So you possess an ungodly amount of mana in your soul, but due to how young your current body is you cannot access much at a time?” Alexandra asked.

“Yes,” Kye said.

“This explains your... inappropriate behavior,” Hatsumi said, referring to the past life of Shiori and Sayaka. “I’ll admit, even I cannot fault you for wanting to stay together all the time, even if that means being allowed to share a bed in exchange for a forced platonic relationship.”

“This information is...” James Marshall began. “...nothing short of a revelation.”

“Moving back to Overdrive for a moment,” Draelana said. “What is the difference between it and Dragon Force? Our boost multiplies our output by one hundred times, yet there is no recovery time.”

“I wondered about that the first time I learned of Dragon Force,” Kye said. “I understand it some, but I have not experienced it myself. Would you mind if I examined it in depth? I can do so with a quick demonstration.”

Draenara stood up and walked around to Kye’s side of the table, volunteering for the job. “Dragon Force.” In an instant, a torrent of orange mana burst to life around her.

“Thank you,” Kye said. She activated her white mana and wrapped it around Draenara in a sphere. “This is the deepest level of appraisal. I can examine everything within to the tiniest detail.” She removed the sphere and released her mana. Draenara did the same and returned to her seat. “Give me a moment to process the information and I will present it as best I can.”