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---The Stratosphere - Above the Atlantic---
The world below was a quilt of blues and whites, a distant abstraction of ocean and cloud. Up here, in the thin, icy air of the upper atmosphere, silence reigned supreme.
They were moving too fast for sound to keep up.
Alaric had allowed Emberis to unseal a fraction of his celestial power… a microscopic release of the constraints that bound the Phoenix to the mortal plane. The result was a velocity that defied the physics of the era. Mach 2. They were tearing through the sky faster than a cannonball, faster than a scream, faster than the shockwaves they left trailing miles behind them.
The heat generated by friction against the air at this speed should have incinerated flesh and bone. But Alaric, in his Phoenix Sage Mode, acted as a living heat sink. He manipulated the thermal energy, bending it around them like a protective cocoon, ensuring that Kassandra felt nothing but a gentle, warm breeze amidst the impossible velocity.
They stood on Emberis's back, the massive bird a streak of living flame against the dark blue of the zenith. Alaric held Kassandra by the waist, his feet rooted to the burning feathers by chakra.
"It's been fun, Emberis," Alaric said, his voice carried directly to the summon's mind via their bond, bypassing the roaring silence. "You want to stay in this dimension for a while? The place here is... different. Less crowded."
Emberis turned his massive head slightly, a golden eye fixing on Alaric, then flickering to Kassandra.
"Yes. It has been... agreeable," the Phoenix's voice resonated, deep and ancient like the cracking of the earth's crust. "The energy here is thin, but pure. And I enjoy stretching my wings in a world that is not perpetually filled fire."
Alaric chuckled. "Fair enough. Go roost in the sun or something. Just don't burn down any cities unless I ask you to."
"Hmph. I make no promises to ants."
Alaric nodded, accepting the terms. He turned his attention to the woman in his arms.
Kassandra looked exhilarating. Her hair was a dark halo whipped by the wind, her eyes shining with the thrill of a height no eagle could ever reach.
"Let's go?" Alaric asked, loosening his grip.
"Let's..." Kassandra nodded her head, a wicked, competitive grin spreading across her face. "Let's see who's faster!"
Alaric raised a brow as Kassandra shoved his chest playfully and stepped backward… right off the bird.
"Oh?"
She fell. She didn't flail; she dove, streamlining her body like a spear thrown by a god.
Alaric shook his head, amused. "Show off."
He cancelled his flight technique. Gravity, which he had held at bay, reclaimed him instantly. He dropped like a stone, chasing her down through the clouds.
They plummeted through the layers of the atmosphere. The clouds whipped past them in wet, gray blurs. Below, the sprawling grid of Philadelphia rushed up to meet them with terrifying speed.
Kassandra laughed, the sound snatched away by the wind. She adjusted her angle, aiming for the massive green expanse behind the Kenway Mansion.
BOOM.
She landed.
It wasn't a soft landing. It was a statement. She hit the earth in a crouch, one hand planted on the ground to absorb the impact. The shockwave blew the grass flat for twenty meters. A small crater formed beneath her boots, dust billowing up in a cloud.
A second later, Alaric arrived.
He didn't crash. He decelerated sharply in the last ten feet, his coat fluttering as he touched down with the lightness of a feather. He landed next to her crater, not even disturbing a blade of grass.
"Show off," Kassandra teased, straightening up and dusting dirt from her travel clothes.
"You're the show off," Alaric corrected, offering her a handkerchief.
They stood there for a moment, the adrenaline of the drop fading into the familiar comfort of home.
Kassandra's gaze drifted past Alaric, toward the mansion. Her eyes locked onto the large bay window of the living room.
Linette Kenway was standing there, rocking gently back and forth. In her arms was the small toddler.
Hunter.
Kassandra's eyes widened. The warrior vanished; the mother emerged.
"Hunter!"
She didn't walk; she skipped, practically running toward the back entrance, her heart pulling her faster than gravity ever could.
"I'm coming, little lion!"
Alaric watched her go, a soft smile playing on his lips. He took a moment to look at the mansion… his fortress, his home… before following her at a leisurely pace.
---The Office - That Night---
Dinner had been a lively affair, filled with stories of their travels, censored for polite company, and the family fawning over the reunited parents. Edward and Caroline had opted for a date night in the city, leaving the main house relatively quiet as Edward was usually one to live up the crowd, like Bernard.
Alaric sat behind the massive mahogany desk in his office. His crimson coat hung on the back of his chair, and he was in his shirtsleeves, reviewing the final reports. The memories from the Wood Clone he had dispelled earlier had integrated seamlessly… business was booming, economy was surging upwards, and the King was happy.
Kassandra was lounging on the leather sofa near the fireplace, sipping a cup of Celestial Tea. She had Hunter asleep on her chest, his small hand gripping her shirt.
Knock. Knock.
The rhythmic rap on the heavy oak door broke the silence.
Kassandra turned her head carefully so as not to wake the baby.
"Come in," Alaric commanded, setting down his pen.
The door opened.
Three figures stepped inside. They brought with them the scent of the wilderness and the aura of recently spilled blood, though they had clearly scrubbed up.
Reuben, the Shadow Raven. Thulani, the Titan. Shakoka, the Scout.
They walked in formation, passing Kassandra with respectful bows and hushed greetings of "Good evening, Kassandra/Lady Kassandra", before stopping exactly three meters from Alaric's desk.
They stood shoulder to shoulder. Then, in perfect unison, they snapped to attention.
They balled their right fists and slammed them over their hearts.
"Salute!"
The sound of leather gloves hitting chests echoed in the room. Their expressions were stone cold, the picture of disciplined, elite soldiers reporting to their Commander.
Alaric stared at them.
For two seconds, the silence held.
Then, they dropped the act.
Thulani let out a long breath, placing his hands on his hips and rolling his massive shoulders. Shakoka immediately reached into his pocket and pulled out a Celestial Cigar, looking relieved. Reuben yawned, stretching his arms above his head until his back cracked.
"So stiff," Reuben complained. "Why did we agree to do that again?"
"It builds character," Thulani grunted.
Alaric sighed, rubbing his temples. It was their idea. They claimed Vanguard needed a 'signature greeting' for the inner circle.
"So..." Alaric leaned back, a grin spreading across his face. He watched Shakoka fumble for a light and simply snapped his fingers, sending a tiny spark of fire flying across the room to light the cigar tip. "You guys are the talk of the Kingdom."
Shakoka nodded in thanks, taking a puff.
"Major contributors to the war against the Iroquois," Alaric listed off, picking up a document. "Thulani's strength broke the lines. Shakoka's scouting prevented three major ambushes. And Reuben... your title as 'Shadow Raven' has become popular again. The soldiers are telling ghost stories about you."
Reuben raised a brow, seemingly interested. "I know, right? But how? It's not like I did anything crazy this time... no Templars, no Isu artifacts. Just good old-fashioned guerilla warfare."
"Yep," Alaric nodded. He took a drag from his own cigar. He placed a finger on a thick, wax-sealed envelope on his desk and slid it across the polished wood toward Reuben. "But the soldiers of Pennmere know. They saw you. Rumors spread, and praises spread faster. And eventually, they spread across the ocean."
Reuben moved forward and grabbed the envelope. He broke the seal and unfolded the parchment. His eyes scanned the contents.
"Ambassadors from Andorra, the Duchy of Savoy, the Most Serene Republic of San Marino, the Republic of Venice, the Papal States, the Kingdom of Naples, Sicily..."
Reuben stopped. He looked up at Alaric, his expression flat.
"Wait... the hell? They want Pennmere to turn me in?"
Thulani and Shakoka stiffened, their relaxed postures vanishing instantly. That wasn't good news. That was a diplomatic incident.
Kassandra raised a brow from the sofa. She wasn't surprised… Reuben had been a terror in the Mediterranean before going back to Bristol two years ago… but the scale of the coalition against him was impressive.
She sipped her tea calmly. "Agápi mou... is Pennmere put in a tight spot?"
"You don't have to make a move, love. No worries," Alaric winked at her.
He turned back to the trio, specifically focusing on Reuben.
"It's only a matter of time, right?" Alaric shrugged. "The Templar Order in those countries suffered a ton because of your activities with the Auditore Assassins. They're using diplomatic channels to try and get you because they can't kill you."
Reuben stared at the letter, thinking. "Sure. I mean... I'm surprised Spain didn't send an ambassador after me. I sank three of seven their galleons by their docks."
"Because of our trade alliance with their colonies," Alaric replied smoothly. "Money talks louder than vengeance. Not to matter. I just told you this now because I'm proud of you... even if you're a wanted international criminal."
Reuben didn't reply, but his eye twitched a little. "Thanks. I feel so loved."
"Anyways," Alaric stood up. He opened the top drawer of his desk and pulled out three slips of heavy, watermarked paper.
He smirked, turning the papers around so they could see.
They were cheques. The Celestial Bank's logo, the phoenix and the infinity loop, was imprinted in gold foil at the top. Alaric's personal signature was scrawled at the bottom.
"My reward for you guys. For a job well done."
Reuben and Thulani stepped forward to take theirs. They were used to Alaric's generosity; he believed in paying his people well.
Shakoka hesitated. He had never received a direct bonus like this before. He stepped forward and took the paper.
He read the numbers.
$50,000.00
Shakoka's eyes widened in genuine shock. His hand trembled slightly. "Fifty... Thousand... Dollars!?"
Reuben and Thulani looked at theirs. Same amount. Even for them, this was a staggering sum.
"That's a lot," Reuben murmured, whistling low.
Kassandra, who was just listening, tilted her head. "How much is... fifty thousand dollars? Now that I think about it… how much did you spend on our vacation, Agápi Mou?"
"Just three thousand," Alaric shrugged, answering her first. "Don't worry about it."
"Hey, 'Laric!" Reuben shouted, forgetting protocol entirely. "Who the hell spends three thousand dollars on a vacation!? That's a king's ransom!"
"I agree," Thulani nodded gravely. "That's a lot of money for... sightseeing."
Shakoka nodded vigorously.
Kassandra blinked. She never really thought about money. She had a bank account, yes, but to her, Alaric's wealth was just a natural force, like the tide. Infinite and always there. Now, she was actually curious.
"Hmmm... that amount of money... what's that worth in... things?"
Reuben sighed, looking at the cheque. "I don't know how to explain it... Kassandra, fifty thousand dollars is enough to buy you a large estate here in Pennmere. Land, house, servants, horses. Everything."
Kassandra widened her eyes. She gestured around the office. "Really? As large as this one?"
Reuben thought about it and shook his head. "No. This mansion... this place is different. The underground spaces, the automatic water, the seals for lighting... it's hard to put a price on a building like this. It's unique."
"How about you, 'Laric?" Reuben turned to the blonde. "How much would you sell a house like this for?"
It was Alaric's turn to think. He looked at the office walls, thinking about the adamant seals, the Wood Release foundation, the sheer magical engineering involved.
"Hmm... about ten million," Alaric estimated.
Everyone's eyes, save for Kassandra, widened.
Reuben blinked rapidly. "Ten million? Who could even afford that? That's more than the GDP of some colonies!"
"Well... first of all, it's not for sale," Alaric chuckled. "Second, the seals I applied on this mansion make this place an impenetrable fortress. No cannon on earth can scratch these walls. And it's basically impossible to find unless I want you to find it."
"And before you guys say anything," Alaric added, pointing a finger. "The only reason why Solomon and Helena were able to sneak in here two years ago was because I allowed it. I turned the sensors off."
Reuben threw his hands up. "Fair. You win."
"So, is the Pennmerian Dollar really that high in value?" Kassandra asked, trying to grasp the economics. "How much is One Dollar worth?"
"… Well, it depends on the country," Thulani answered, his voice deep and knowledgeable. "So far, it's worth more than any currency there is. Here in Pennmere, because food is so cheap thanks to the Kenway Farm, you can feed your family for a year on a very small budget. But rent is high because everyone wants to live here."
"However," Thulani continued, "in places like Britain... one Dollar exchanges for roughly four Pounds. And four Pounds in London? That would get a family two months' worth of food or four days' worth of rent in a high-end Inn. The purchasing power is still unmatched, but there are caveats to it since food prices in Britain is too high."
Alaric nodded. "That's exactly why people are coming here. Countries are investing in the Pennmerian Dollar, putting it in their reserves instead of gold. We are becoming the standard."
"..." Everyone nodded, absorbing the magnitude of what they had built.
Kassandra nodded slowly, sipping her tea. "Oh. So... we are very rich."
"Yes, dear," Alaric laughed. "Very… very very."
---Morning---
The sun had risen, piercing the morning chill of late October.
Alaric stood on the balcony of the master bedroom, overlooking the city of Philadelphia. It was cold… frost clung to the railings… but Alaric was shirtless. He wore only his black trousers and boots, revealing his toned muscles and the intricate sealing tattoos that ran down his arm and forearm.
He didn't feel the cold. The Phoenix fire inside him burned eternal.
'Whenever I look at it, it's always busy,' Alaric thought, his blue eyes scanning the smoke rising from the chimneys and the ships moving in the harbor. 'Penn and I created a powerful Kingdom. Not built through slavery or conquest, but through commerce, innovation, and sheer will. It's quite amazing… Penn will certainly be recognized in the history books.'
Click.
The sound of the balcony door opening interrupted his thoughts.
Alaric remained angled toward the city, but he turned his head.
Kassandra stood there. She was wearing a simple, short white linen gown that left her legs bare. She looked sleepy and incredibly sexy.
"Good morning, beautiful."
"Hey handsome," Kassandra murmured. She hugged herself, rubbing her arms against the chill. She walked over to Alaric and leaned against the railing beside him. "Not cold?"
"Not really," Alaric shook his head. "I don't get cold."
Kassandra smiled. She leaned into him, stealing some of his unnatural warmth.
Minutes went by in comfortable silence. They watched the city wake up.
"It's today, isn't it?" Kassandra broke the silence softly.
The blonde looked at her for a moment, then nodded. "Yeah. The time is up. I also have a student to look after."
"Yuki Haku, right?" Kassandra asked, resting her head on Alaric's bare shoulder. "I'd like to meet him one day."
They had talked about it during their nights together. Alaric had shared his experiences in the Elemental Nations… the chakra, the wars, the boy he had saved from being a tool.
"It's still surprising to me that there are other people like you," Kassandra mused. "People who control the elements... create ice from nothing. It's terrifying yet exciting at the same time. Like the Isu, but... mortal."
"Yeah," Alaric nodded, his gaze returning to the horizon. "It's a chaotic world. Dangerous. That's why... before I take you and Hunter there... I have to do something first. I have to make sure it's safe."
Kassandra's single brow rose in question. Then, realization dawned, and both brows shot up in surprise.
"Ah, I remember... the promise," she said, a spark lighting in her eyes. "Yeah. I want to go there."
"I shouldn't have reminded you," Alaric chuckled.
"Ha? How dare you," Kassandra pinched Alaric's arm hard, making his eye twitch. She then hugged his arm tighter. "But seriously... I'm interested. To see what it looks like. To travel to another world. You know I'm an adventurous type of person."
"Yeah, I know," Alaric replied, smiling softly. He leaned his head against hers, smelling the lavender in her hair.
"I'll take you there... soon. I promise."
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