Now, a far larger crisis began to unfold. Levi's abrupt departure from his work within the government had thrown the nation's democratic efforts into precarious limbo. According to a frantic Finn, Levi was not merely an asset; he was the linchpin, single-handedly accomplishing the work of a hundred individuals. Finn's calls were bordering on hysteria, his pleas for me to somehow persuade Levi to return to the office ringing with national urgency.

But the reality was that Levi had reached his limit.

“Raphael,” Levi stated, his voice flat and devoid of any room for argument, “I believe I have more than fulfilled my obligations to this nation. I dismantled the monarchy, eradicated the nobility, and established the foundations of democracy, all with minimal assistance. You are aware of my former wealth, and you know that every single penny was donated to Ascaria. The thought of returning to that office… it holds no appeal for me anymore.”

“No appeal…” I echoed. “You said it yourself, the work at the office was… tedious.”

“Yes. It was,” Levi confirmed, his voice gaining an edge of something sharp. “And bear in mind, that tediousness was bearable when my mind was shrouded in a chemical haze. If I were to step back into that office now, Raphael, with this clarity, this… unfiltered awareness… the very foundations of democracy might crumble. I might very well dismantle everything I built and impose something far more… volatile. I have poured everything I had into Ascaria, ensuring the well-being of every single citizen. And where has it left me? Utterly hollow. My life has always been a careful exercise in restraint, a battle the drugs subtly aided. Now, there is only clarity. The probability of me enacting something… unacceptable, in a sudden surge of fury, is alarmingly high. Trust me, Raphael. Me here, baking a simple cake, is the most prudent course of action for everyone involved.”

"Clarity... and fury. I see. So, this isn't just about being tired or bored. This is about... control. And you feel safer, and you think everyone else is safer, if you're here. Okay, I understand. That... that puts things in a very different perspective. So, Finn's desperation... he doesn't realize the potential danger. You're serious about this, aren't you? That you could actually...?"

"It's not mere weariness, Raphael. It's about a precarious control. And yes, you understand correctly. Everyone is safer with me here, occupied with something as innocuous as baking. Because to be perfectly frank, if I were to step into that office right now, with this clarity and this… enhanced physicality, courtesy of the Conqueror genetics and a system finally purged of toxins, I might very well crush the skull of every single officer, every administrator within those walls. My sense of justice drove the establishment of democracy. That remains. But now, Raphael… now there is nothing left to tether the raw power of my urges."

This level of honesty from Levi was a revelation. It wasn't the external explosions of anger I have expected. Instead, it was far more chilling: the clenching of his fists, the conscious deep breaths – deliberate acts of restraint that were entirely new to his repertoire. It was as if I were finally witnessing the immense effort required for him to simply remain still.

“Levi…” I began, my voice soft but firm, “I understand that you are making a difficult choice, trying your best to prevent harm. But this self-imposed isolation… it can’t continue indefinitely. This isn't just about the country anymore, it's about you. We need to find sustainable ways to manage this anger, to help you navigate this new clarity. And you're right,” I added gently, “you have never been this brutally honest with me before.”

“I was honest, but it was diluted with a forced pleasantness, Raphael,” Levi countered, his tone matter-of-fact. “And yes, I am aware of the need to find a more permanent conduit for this… energy. Baking provides a temporary distraction. But the crux of the matter, Raphael, is sobriety itself. Drugs briefly rendered other humans… tolerable. It even allowed for fleeting moments of… niceness. But that fragile tolerance has shattered. Now, they are not tolerable. They are insignificant. They are insects, buzzing annoyances. And the niceness? That was an illusion, now completely extinguished.”

"Levi," I insisted, my voice trembling slightly, "that's a horrifying way to see the world. What happened to you in rehab?"

“They were always insects, swine, nothing more than fragile flesh and bone, Raphael,” Levi countered, his tone utterly devoid of emotion. “The drugs merely provided a convenient detachment, a reason not to exert the effort of… extermination. My perception has always been thus. Rehab simply stripped away the pleasant delusion, confirming the utter insignificance and ephemeral nature of their existence. I am making a conscious effort here, Raphael, a genuine attempt at… civility through avoidance. This isolation is a public service

. The last thing I desire is incarceration for the regrettable act of crushing a particularly irritating insect.”

"Levi," I whispered, "you're terrifying me. The drugs masked something, but sobriety shouldn't unleash... this. What will you do, Levi? If that urge to 'exterminate' overwhelms you?"

“Then, Raphael,” Levi stated, his gaze unwavering, “every single citizen in Ascaria should offer fervent prayers to whatever deity happens to capture their devotion. And rest assured, my intention was not to elicit fear, merely to convey the unvarnished truth. And no,” he added, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, “I do not categorize you as an insect.”

“T-Thank you…?” A brittle laugh escaped my lips, the sound sharp with underlying panic. “Levi… before your ‘clarity and fury’ translate into a national bloodbath… we need to do something drastic. And… a thought just occurred to me. You mentioned your previous therapist, how he simply didn’t get you, right? You felt misunderstood, unheard. The problem wasn’t a lack of qualifications, Levi… it was his fundamental wiring. He was neurotypical. You need someone who understands you on a deeper level. You need a neurodivergent therapist.”

“That is… remarkably astute, Raphael. A neurodivergent therapist… the thought had not occurred to me. A genuinely novel approach.” A flicker of something akin to surprise crossed his features. “However,” he continued, “we encounter two immediate impediments. Firstly, as you are acutely aware, I am utterly and completely penniless, Raphael. My philanthropic endeavors have left my coffers… bare. And secondly, locating and securing an appointment with a therapist who specializes in neurodivergence will undoubtedly consume a significant amount of time. Nevertheless,” he conceded, a hint of approval in his tone, “your suggestion was… surprisingly insightful.”

“Levi, you utter idiot,” I exclaimed, a mix of exasperation and affection in my voice. “Penniless? You bequeathed me the entire mountain range of Ascaria! I’m practically printing money now. Which… which just made me realize… just how much money, in actual figures, did you donate?”

Levi moved closer, and murmured the number directly into my ear, his breath warm against my skin.

“Oh my god…” I gasped, my eyes widening in disbelief. “You… you donated that much? You actually had that kind of fortune? What the absolute fuck, Levi?”

“Raphael,” Levi explained, his voice a low murmur, “consider the confluence of factors: five centuries of unbroken bloodline, a rather lucrative pharmaceutical empire, the… redistribution of assets from the recently dispossessed nobility, and a basic understanding of economic principles all contributed to a rather substantial accumulation of capital. My philanthropic endeavors began partly out of necessity – the sheer volume of wealth became… unwieldy. But also,” a predatory smile touched his lips, “because of the exquisite irony. Utilizing the confiscated fortunes of those nobles to aid the very ‘commoners’ they so disdainfully ignored? The look on their aristocratic faces, Raphael… it was a delicacy.”

“Right…” I chuckled softly. “Your pharmaceutical empire is keeping me in the lap of luxury. And that little flash of wicked satisfaction that just danced in your eyes? Honestly, Levi, it was… almost cute. In a terrifyingly charming kind of way.”

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"Ah, Raphael. Always finding the silver lining in potential tyranny."

"But I'm genuinely curious about something, Levi." I leaned forward, my gaze intent. "You offered me a place by your side, a partnership in... villainy, you called it. Hand in hand. Why me? What was the reasoning behind that offer?"

"The irony, Raphael, is rather exquisite, wouldn't you agree?" Levi's eyes gleamed with a dark amusement. "Your celestial features, that perpetually comforting countenance, juxtaposed with the sheer chaos we could orchestrate? The discord, the beautiful dissonance... it would be a symphony of delightful destruction."

“That… was…” My moral compass spun wildly, north suddenly south, east veering west. “Wait… so the inherent goodness people project onto me, twisted into a tool for chaos… that’s your vision? But… I think…” I paused, a strange mix of unease and something akin to reluctant flattery swirling within me. “I think that was a rather… dramatically delivered compliment. In a very, very unsettling way.”

"Embrace the dissonance, Raphael. The most exquisite symphonies are often born from the most jarring of contrasts. Think of the delicious chaos we could unleash, framed by your... innocent facade. It has a certain theatrical flair, wouldn't you agree?"

There he goes again. The charming, dramatic devil, trying to lure me down his darkly alluring path.

“It certainly has a flair, Levi. The aesthetic of it all? Undeniably striking. However,” I added, my voice firm, drawing a clear line, “my moral compass remains stubbornly, perhaps even annoyingly, fixed on a completely different point of view.”

"More delightful chaos for me, then. Perhaps your 'annoyingly fixed' compass will simply provide a more dramatic contrast to the glorious mayhem we could otherwise achieve together."

"Stop it, Levi. Just stop trying to recruit me to the dark side." Despite the words, a small smile touched my lips. "But... thanks, I guess. This is probably the first real bickering we've had since... everything. And honestly? Seeing that little spark of your old villainy again is... strangely comforting. Almost endearing, even."

“Ah,” Levi observed, a knowing glint in his eyes, “it appears that Raphael has perhaps missed the invigorating thrill of fear, the delightful rush of adrenaline that my more… enthusiastic endeavors tend to elicit.”

Damn him. He saw right through my thinly veiled fondness. And with the chemical fog lifted, his honesty was a laser beam, dissecting my every subtle nuance. Brutally honest, indeed.

“Shut up,” I muttered, trying to ignore the tell-tale warmth spreading across the back of my neck. “And… while you were, you know… indisposed, your mother contacted me. Apparently, your abrupt departure disrupted her usual supply chain to that island. So…” I took a deep breath, a touch of nervousness in my voice, “I… I relocated her. To the capital. She now has a perfectly normal home, a modest apartment, and is likely orchestrating the lives of every single unfortunate soul within a five-block radius.”

“Is that so?” Levi mused, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “My mother does possess a certain… indomitable spirit. Had circumstances been different, her talent for manipulation might indeed have found a home in government administration. But I am curious, Raphael, what prompted this act of… unprecedented kindness?”

“She… Okay…” I hesitated, another deep breath escaping me. “I felt sorry for her. Living on that island, all alone in that decaying mansion, her backyard is an ancient noble cemetery. She was isolated on that island. And… She is not a noble anymore and she doesn’t have wealth or any way to you know… order chaos and such. I thought it was time to… close that chapter of abuse, torment, isolation for her. And she was still a little bitchy, yes. But, yeah. I think it was time to move on, Levi.”

“Ah, Raphael…” Levi mused, his gaze intense, “your boundless empathy continues to astound. It seems the capital’s social circles have indeed gained a formidable new… influencer, thanks to your kindness. But a question lingers, one that has plagued me. My mother… she shot you. My grandfather… he choked you, hurled you like a ragdoll. Yet, you extend this same empathy, this unwavering kindness, towards them. Why?”

“I’ve… thought about it, too, Levi,” I choked out, tears beginning to well in my eyes, blurring my vision. “Too much…” My throat tightened with emotion. “I felt this… this ache. For you. For your family… I think… the reason… the only reason… is that I wanted to cry for you. Because you can not cry for yourself.”

His sharp gaze had softened, a clench in his jaw the only outward sign of… what? Pain? Understanding? It was rare to see him so utterly still, so seemingly at a loss for words. My own throat still burned with the effort of admitting that. It felt foolish, almost embarrassing, to lay bare such a vulnerable part of myself. But the image of Levi, carrying all that weight without the release of tears… it had become a constant ache within me.

“I have another question. Which plagued my days. You felt this empathy and even profound sadness to those monsters. You did everything you could for my family. But why don’t you do the same for your own family, Raphael?”

My eyes flickered down to the worn wooden countertop, finding an intense fascination with its grain.

My own family. The thought was a tangled knot of… what? Resentment? Apathy? A dull ache that felt more like a phantom limb than a living connection.

"That's…" My voice was raspy, the emotion still raw in my throat. I cleared it, trying again. "That's different, Levi."

“Different how? I do not understand at all. I don’t think I need to tell the tales of the Conqueror, who murdered my father, or my mother, who stole my sperm as a minor. You somehow made me reconcile with them. You saw humanity in them, but you can’t do the same to your estranged family?”

Levi's voice held a sharp edge. He was right, of course. I, who had somehow managed to unearth flickers of humanity within the monstrous legacies of his bloodline, remained stubbornly resistant to extending that same grace to my own kin.

My gaze remained fixed on the countertop, tracing the same worn lines again and again. "It's..." I began again, the word catching in my throat. "It's not the same, Levi. Not the same kind of..." Pain? Betrayal? The words felt inadequate, too dramatic for the muted ache that defined my relationship with my family.

“I don’t know either, Levi,” I admitted, the resentment simmering beneath the surface of my voice. “I didn’t like how they tried to mold me into something I wasn’t, how they relentlessly pushed their beliefs onto me. Or how they… simply erased me. Denied the very core of who I am.”

Shit. That was… exactly what I had done to Levi, wasn’t it? Tried to force him into my neat little boxes, denied the validity of his own experiences, his own way of being. How in the hell was that any different from the suffocating denial I had endured from my own family? How could I have been so blind? So self-righteous? Fuck.

Levi didn't say anything, and for that, I was almost grateful. What could he possibly say? "I told you so"? The silence was more potent, more damning, than any verbal reprimand. It allowed the full weight of my hypocrisy to settle, a cold stone in the pit of my stomach.

The urge to apologize, to beg for Levi's forgiveness, rose in my throat, but the words felt inadequate, too small to encompass the enormity of my failing.

“On the brighter side, Raphael,” Levi observed, a hint of his old sardonic amusement returning, “your rebellion against familial expectations manifested as a rather pedestrian act of geographical relocation. I, on the other hand, found the entire archaic structure of nobility… inconvenient and opted for complete eradication. Different scales, perhaps, but the underlying impulse to dismantle unwanted obligations seems… remarkably similar.”

"Oh, you would frame it that way, Levi. Leave it to you to equate running away from a stifling family dinner with dismantling centuries of societal hierarchy. But yes, in its most basic form, I suppose we were both… seeking a bit more breathing room."

"Effective, were they not? You achieved your personal autonomy; I achieved a functional -if currently precarious- democracy. End results are what truly matter, regardless of the initial impetus."

“Speaking of that democracy…” I interjected. “You’re serious about not returning to the office, then? That’s not just weariness talking?”

“Ah, Raphael…” Levi sighed, the amusement fading, replaced by a firm resolve. “My reluctance to return is not born of fatigue, but of a rather compelling desire to remain outside the confines of a prison cell, courtesy of a sudden, ill-advised outburst. However,” a slight shift in his tone, “call Finn for dinner.”

“Finn? O-okay. I will call him.”