Timeline - December 12th | ( 18 Days later)

Eko had finally unpacked the last few items from her bags and boxes, which had been cluttering the bedroom since Matthew asked her to move in with him permanently a few weeks ago. After burying what she could of Madison and saying goodbye to the last piece of her family, the girls had stayed with her to mourn. Then, she spent several days hunting wild youmas to calm the turmoil inside her before making her way back home.

Just days later, Matthew casually dropped the bombshell while packing for another round of meetings. Kissing her goodbye, he nonchalantly suggested she should stay, pack her things from the dormitory, and settle in while he was away. There was nowhere else she wanted to be; he loved her, and she loved him. Moving in together felt like a natural next step.

The idea had never occurred to her, but since they were practically living together already, moving her belongings seemed like the next logical step. When he asked her, she couldn't deny how happy it made her feel.

Now, as she placed the last photograph of them in its spot, Eko took a moment to survey the bedroom. The room felt more like home than ever, filled with their intertwined belongings. She smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. Moving in together was a big step, but it felt right. It felt like the beginning of something more.

On that Sunday afternoon, Eko busied herself with the remaining boxes that Matthew had never unpacked since moving into the headmaster's office. She had been rearranging items between the office and their bedroom, attempting to impose some order on the chaos.

The cramped space presented its own challenges, and finding a place for even half of their belongings was proving difficult. Still, she took pleasure in the process, finding satisfaction in each small victory of organization.

Annoyingly, the clothes in the room were still not packed away as neatly as she wanted. More than half of her wardrobe remained in her old dormitory. Matthew's wardrobe overshadowed hers, and their ensuite bathroom was crammed with her things. The hallway and office were strewn with weapons, and the office, now far from the pristine state Cid had left it in, felt impossible to clean up to his minimalistic standard.

She missed the luxury of her royal life, where space was ample and servants handled the details. Right now, she could use about five extra hands to tackle the chaos, especially her unruly wardrobe.

As she navigated through the bedroom, a grin appeared on her lips at a thought that struck her. Surely, she could find a cadet willing to take on the task. The newcomers would go to great lengths to impress their headmaster.

With a knowing smile, she recalled certain individuals who would eagerly take up the challenge. With that in mind, she left the bedroom and made her way down the corridor, where combat weapons were scattered. Stepping over one that needed cleaning, it was clear the boys had dumped their gear and run once again.

In addition to the weapons cluttering the office, tablets projected construction plans and defense strategies they had been diligently developing. The plans featured designs for weapons approved for the SIO system, focusing on the mechanics of the SIO prototype still in the office. The confidentiality of these fabrications was paramount, especially since they were linked to one of their spare crystals. Such sensitive information was too dangerous to be freely accessible.

"Now, where was that box?" Eko muttered to herself, searching for her shoes. When the box remained elusive, she began moving between the two rooms, and a new idea began to crystallize in her mind.

The topic had barely been broached since Cid's departure, but it was Mya who reignited the conversation. During a recent coffee catch-up, Mya had skillfully steered their discussion away from Eko's concerns about Matthew's chronic lack of sleep and his incessant catnapping problems, redirecting it toward Sawyer and then to Richie. It seemed that Mya had been grappling with mild panic attacks ever since the tsunami, a turmoil that stirred a whirlwind of emotions within her.

Eko had attempted to explore Mya's feelings more deeply, but somewhere along the way, the conversation took an unexpected turn. They found themselves revisiting a bold idea that felt more promising than ever: the notion of revealing to the world that they were crystal warriors.

Why was it so appealing? Perhaps it was about reclaiming control. Eko yearned to take charge of their narrative. Their enemies were already aware of who they were, so why not let the rest of the world in on the truth as well? By doing so, they could garner support from other nations and unify districts under a common cause, with the crystal warriors at the forefront of the movement.

This was an opportunity to wage a war unlike any seen before. Madison's death had crossed a line that Eko could no longer ignore, fueling her desire for decisive action.

As she returned to the office, Eko grabbed a tablet from one of the docks, her fingers flying across the screen as she jotted down notes. She began compiling recent disturbances, determined to strengthen the proposal she planned to present to Matthew.

Convincing him to reveal their true identities to both worlds was no small risk. Although they had debated this issue in the past, the conversation was far from resolved. Now felt like the perfect moment to revisit the topic, and she was ready to make her case.

It was also a strategic move to confront their enemy head-on, to eradicate the threat and make a decisive stand. Despite Matthew's stubborn resistance to escalating the war without fully grasping the nuances of their adversaries, Eko found that notion absurd. They possessed immense power, and she was eager to showcase their united strength.

This was where their perspectives diverged—Eko believed in taking bold, immediate action and adjusting as they moved forward, while Matthew favored a more calculated and tactical approach. She understood that his method was crucial for their success in this war, but she also felt that he didn't have all the answers. This plan, while audacious, was not without merit.

Now, the challenge lay in convincing him that their best chance at victory rested in seizing the upper hand through a surprise attack, bolstered by the united support of their worlds. She could already envision the moment when they would unveil their true identities, rallying allies and striking fear into the hearts of their enemies.

******* ******

Hours slipped by as Eko immersed herself in the tablet, meticulously analyzing Allegiant supervisors' reports—tracking routine attacks and noting a troubling uptick in activity from other academies—when the familiar sound of her boyfriend and the boys returning broke her concentration.

"No way! If Toni and Jesse hadn't been arguing on the field and you hadn't tripped over the Valerian, I would've beheaded that thing in half the time! Seriously, I wouldn't have had to save those two from the wraith!" Matthew exclaimed, dropping their weapons by the door as Toni and Richie followed him in, their playful bickering filling the room.

"She's been an idiot! And it was a perfect time to tell her that!" Toni shot back, his frustration palpable. "Aiden is a fucking dick and has been since the carnival!"

Eko looked up from her work, a smile creeping across her face at the sight of their animated exchange. It seemed Toni and Jesse had finally reached a boiling point in their ongoing arguments. Nothing had sat well between them since the carnival, especially with Aiden clinging to Jesse so desperately. Eko had never witnessed them argue like this during all the months she had been there, and certainly not when they were Chef and G on the field.

Richie stood drenched in bright orange blood from the Valerian they had been dealing with, adding to the chaotic energy in the room. Toni was fuming, his voice rising as he recounted the fight with Jesse. They had stepped out to train just to break up the monotony of relentless meetings that had consumed Matthew and Toni for weeks.

"Hold on, can we rewind for a moment?" Eko asked, her tone playful yet inquisitive. "Last time we spoke, you and Jesse were still in the silent treatment phase. So, what gives? Did you decide to turn the battlefield into your personal arena for screaming matches?" She pointed at Richie's blood-splattered outfit, a stark contrast to the relatively clean appearances of Matthew and Toni—though Toni looked like he was on the brink of throttling someone.

"Ek's, you don't want to know!" Richie groaned, but Toni was already deep into a tirade about Aiden's controlling behavior toward Jesse. Apparently, Aiden had been pressing Jesse to spend less time with the boys because he felt uncomfortable around them, suggesting that Toni was somehow trying to break them up.

A whirlwind of emotions swept over Eko, leaving her struggling to catch any of the thoughts racing through her mind as she watched her boyfriend approach. Despite the exhaustion etched into his features, a soft, serene smile illuminated his face. He leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead, and Eko instinctively tilted her head up, their lips meeting in a brief but sweet kiss that sent a familiar warmth fluttering through her heart.

But as she pulled back, concern tightened in her chest. The dark circles under his eyes were impossible to ignore. He still hadn't slept, and it baffled her why he continued to push himself so relentlessly. Lately, she had become painfully aware of his disrupted sleep patterns. Every time she asked him about it, he brushed it off, claiming it was the pressure from the Allegiant boards and endless meetings. But his restless tossing and turning told her otherwise—something deeper was gnawing at him.

Last night had been especially troubling. For the first time, she had heard him talking in his sleep, his voice laced with distress. Even though the specifics were lost on her, she could tell the difference between a dream and a nightmare any day of the week.

"Hey," she whispered, her voice soft but urgent as her gaze lingered on the weariness in his eyes. "You have to get some sleep. How are you even functioning like this?"

Matthew offered a small, tired smile, shaking his head as if to dismiss her worries. He leaned in for another gentle kiss, his lips lingering on hers for just a heartbeat longer this time. But before she could say more, he pulled away and made his way toward his desk, already retreating into the work that seemed to be consuming him.

As he began tapping away at the computer, the ambient noise of their conversation filled the air, but Eko couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her. The way Matthew masked his exhaustion with a smile felt all too familiar, and she knew now might be the best time to broach what had been on her mind—his defenses would be down.

Matthew continued to scroll through the mountain of emails that had accumulated over the last couple of hours, seemingly unaware of the plan brewing in Eko's mind. Meanwhile, Toni vented his frustrations about Jesse siding with Aiden and his narcissistic tendencies, and suddenly, Eko pivoted the conversation when Toni was now convinced she was an official lost cause.

"So, I was thinking," Eko began, her tone filled with determination.

"No," Richie deadpanned from across the room, "your thinking always leads us into trouble!"

Matthew chuckled, not bothering to look up from his screen. Toni, sensing Eko's intent, settled into a chair across from Matthew, an actual playful smirk dancing on his lips as Eko stood, poised and determined.

"One," Eko held up a finger, "it doesn't, and secondly," she raised a second finger, "I wanted to revisit a conversation."

"Gotta be a bit more specific on that conversation, babe," Matthew replied, brow furrowing as he scanned his screen, his focus still elsewhere.

"Your smirk tells me you're up to something," Toni chimed in, leaning closer to Richie and sharing a knowing look.

Richie narrowed his eyes at Eko. "Oohhhh, she's definitely up to something."

Eko, standing before them, leaned into her proposal with a mischievous yet resolute grin. "I propose we reveal our warrior status to the academies. We can then call a conference to inform the royal courts, advisors, and war generals. Our enemies already know who we are, and with the recent chaos from the festival, presenting a united front might be exactly what's needed."

Her confidence was met with a sudden silence from Toni and Richie.

Sky-blue eyes turned to Matthew as he lifted his gaze from the hologram of emails, the weight of exhaustion evident in the dark circles beneath his eyes. He rubbed his temples absentmindedly, trying to shake off the fatigue that had settled in. His attention honed in on Eko, resolute and unwavering as she presented her plan—a plan he had already dismissed.

"I mean it," Eko pressed, trying to assert herself under Matthew's intense scrutiny. "I know—"

Matthew interrupted before she could continue, shaking his head, the tension in his jaw tightening. "I know you're guns blazing and eager to get this over with. I get that," he said, pinching the bridge of his nose and exhaling deeply. His body felt heavy, as if each word cost him more energy than he had left.

"But under no circumstances am I showing our hand to the rest of the world that we are warriors. And even when we find out where Cid and Isis are, we're not rushing into war without knowing what we're truly up against. That's not how this works."

Eko lowered the tablet, raising an eyebrow in defiance. "The attacks are increasing, Isadora is in fear, and I think—"

"Jesus, listen to me," Matthew roared, his emotions escalating rapidly. "I don't know what else Isis or Cid has in store for us! Look at what they've done right under our noses. Half the northern coast is in a fucking panic, and they're demanding I turn this entire thing on its head. I don't need them knowing who we are on top of all this! I don't need that, Eko!"

Toni and Richie had already voiced their opinions, but Matthew remained steadfast. Revealing their hand now was, to him, a recipe for disaster.

"Right, well, that's our cue to exit," Toni said, rising from his chair and grabbing Richie's arm.

"No, no. I'm quite comfortable watching this unfold," Richie smirked, pointing between Eko and Matthew.

"I'm team Eko on this," Richie declared, leaning back in his chair.

Toni howled in amusement, shaking his head. "You're about to get your head kicked in," he muttered under his breath.

"Get the fuck out!" Matthew snapped at Richie. "Stop fucking encouraging her!"

Eko shot Richie a grateful wink. "Thank you very much."

"Just saying," Richie replied, shrugging nonchalantly.

"I SAID GET THE FUCK OUT!" Matthew bellowed, his frustration reaching a boiling point. His voice echoed through the office, slicing through the tension. Toni, still chuckling, took hold of Richie's arm and began to drag him out of the room. Richie, laughing, threw a cheeky grin over his shoulder, clearly enjoying the chaos.

As the door closed behind them, Eko stood her ground, her eyebrow raised defiantly as she continued to face Matthew. The clash of their fiery personalities was palpable, and the air crackled with intensity.

In the brief silence that followed, Eko noticed Matthew taking deep breaths, his jaw clenched as he counted to ten in his head—a habit he had picked up from Jesse.

"Finished counting?" Eko asked, her tone a mix of challenge and concern.

"I've moved from ten to fifteen with you," he muttered, his patience visibly fraying.

"Babe, we need a plan. We can't keep hiding who we are," Eko insisted, her conviction underscored by a subtle urgency. She believed that revealing their true strength could turn the tide in their favor if unveiled strategically.

"Do you understand that it isn't just us we need to consider?" Matthew shot back, his voice carrying a note of frustration, a reflection of his broader concerns. "If we show the worlds what we are, do you have any idea what could happen on top of everything else we're already dealing with?"

Eko shrugged, unfazed. "It's better than this. Hiding isn't a solution."

"Oh, you're fucking rich saying that! Jesus, Eko!" Matthew's voice rose, frustration lacing his words as he threw his hands up in exasperation, his exhaustion even more evident. "Let's just indulge in this for a moment—your grand fucking plan! The people, the civilians, the worlds—they will fear us!" He leaned forward, his gaze piercing her. "Fear breeds resentment, Eko! It festers like a wound. We can't afford that now! I am on the brink of losing control over the academies as it is with what they want, the added pressure is fucking beyond anything else and here you are encouraging the thirst for fucking war! I am fighting to keep everyone from plunging into a senseless fucking WAR!"

He gripped the edge of his desk, knuckles white as he fought to rein in his spiraling thoughts, feeling the pressure of the world pressing down on him like a vice.

"Controlled fear isn't real fear," Eko scoffed. "We're on their side. They'll see that. If anything, they'll be grateful that we're protecting them. I know that!"

Matthew deadpanned at her. "Am I seriously talking to a fucking wall?" He shifted in his seat, fixing her with a hard stare as Eko cocked her head, unimpressed, regarding him like he was the idiot in the room.

As Matthew refocused on the emails on his screen, he tried to brush aside her arguments, but it simply gnawed at him. With a sarcastic clap of his hands, he suddenly continued, his voice sharp as his eyes met her defiant gaze. "Let's break this down, Snow. What about the individuals who will come after us for the power tied to our crystals? We'd have to watch our backs even more than we already do! Did your thick skull ever consider that?"

"Snow?" Eko scoffed, shaking her head as she caught on to his attempt to distance himself, reverting to their old dynamic as Snow and Ace. His tone and sarcasm cut deep, riling her to the core. "Relax. It's hard to be afraid when we're this powerful. And we're on their side and all."

She glanced at her nails, contemplating the need for a manicure, her frustration bubbling over at his stubbornness. Exasperated, she wondered if he had always been this obstinate. He used to stand shoulder to shoulder with her, even when they were bitter enemies.

Matthew muttered under his breath, wanting to dismiss Eko and her reckless idea of revealing their warrior status to the world. In this dangerous time, her proposition felt like a recipe for disaster.

"Fuck me dead, Eko, you are—"

"—beautiful, a genius, immensely talented—"

"—fucking dangerous," he interrupted, his gaze sharpening with intensity.

"Come on, you know I'm right." She tilted her head, and he hated the way she locked eyes with him, making his chin jut up defiantly as his annoyance flared.

"I know for a fact that you're wrong. No good can come from this," he shot back.

"Maybe from your perspective," Eko replied, rolling her eyes.

Shifting in his seat, he pinched the bridge of his nose once more, fighting against the exhaustion that threatened to pull him under. He was too drained to engage in this argument, especially today—after nearly forty-nine hours without sleep. All he wanted was a hot shower, something to keep him awake for the upcoming meetings with the boards, and maybe, just maybe, a chance to catch up on rest later. But deep down, he also dreaded the unease of his dreams that awaited him if he let himself fall asleep. The thought made him push through, but he could feel the weight of his fatigue pressing down on him.

"We'll give people hope, babe. That's what they need right now—faith in something more, a belief that we can protect them. I think—"

"NO!" Matthew snapped, his voice slicing through the tension like a knife. "FUCKING STOP! NO!" His gaze locked onto hers with fierce intensity, the weight of his concern pressing down like a heavy shroud, thickening the air between them.

"This is ours to protect, Eko—not to destroy! I won't let you do that!"

"Excuse me!" Eko shot back, incredulous at his audacity. "I am not destroying anything!"

"Eko, you can't always be a storm, a hurricane in the middle of this war. I know that's what you're used to, but this time you can't. We can't."

"I am not a fucking hurricane in this war, Matthew! Have you been talking to Teddy about us again? Seriously!?"

"You are!" he countered, frustration boiling over. "And you don't seem to realize that having these crystals, being in our position, doesn't give us the power to do whatever we want. Showing Isadora, these two worlds, all the districts who and what we are won't change how they feel about this war. They'll think we want to control them. What happens when a new power comes in next year? What if a new King or Queen demands something different?"

He looked at her, attempting to gauge if she understood any of what he was explaining. "What they will ask of us, forcing our fucking hand? Partial funding comes from the royal estate to keep us afloat. If they pull that from me, if they think they can do that to me then I will be forced to shut down a lot of the academies to preserve what I can. The students, the kids, where would they go? Who's going to look after them? Who the fuck would protect them if I don't!?"

"I would never, ever allow that to happen!" Eko shot back vehemently, her determination igniting in the face of his fear.

"You are not a princess, or a queen, or anything!" Matthew roared, his patience fraying. "You have no say in the politics of it!" His exasperation was palpable, and Eko was pushing him to his limit.

"The courts, the elites, anyone who thinks they are worthy of the crystals are going to hunt us. We would be placed in a lot more dangerous situations with that knowledge. Then on top of that, we open ourselves up to vulnerability. We open our soldiers, our students, and the kids here up to a war that they never signed up for, because they would follow us into it all if I asked them and I am not asking that of them! I am trying to keep everyone out of it! I am trying to prevent another war where everyone loses what they built."

Eko opened her mouth to respond, but his anger was a tidal wave, overwhelming and suffocating. Was it directed at her? At the world? At the war itself? Did he feel as powerless as she did? She felt a pang of hurt but also a flicker of understanding, realizing they were both grappling with the same fear—losing everything they loved.

"All I'm saying is that we need to fight, Matthew! That's what we should be doing—not just playing defense! We're strong enough; we have an army of soldiers ready to stand with us. I know you don't want them involved, but they're fighting for a better future!" Her voice was sharper with intent. "I was powerless against Isis and their forces when they took Mads, but not now! So I'm asking you, what comes next? If we sit here like ducks without everyone's support in this war, then what does all this mean?"

"We have their support, Eko. A lot of support, and they're with us," he replied, his tone a touch steadier. "Everything you're saying is reckless, driven by fear. You need to take off that suicidal hat you've got on and think through the lens of a headmaster—what's best for the students and soldiers here! The ones who trust you to also protect them!"

"Matthew, they need to suffer! So that everyone we love has a reason for their pain. To serve justice in this war! That's what everyone wants from this! That's what they want from YOU!"

"Jesus fucking Christ, you sound just like the fucking Queen!" he growled, frustration boiling over as he slammed his fist into the desk, splintering the marble beneath his hand. He was losing control. "You're asking me to go on a murderous rampage, just like she wanted! To justify her fucking grief!"

"Well, maybe she was onto something, huh?" Eko shot back, her defiance flaring in response to his fury.

"Listen to yourself, Eko! Actually fucking listen!" Matthew's fists unclenched as he pointed at her, his frustration bordering on volatile. "Do you understand what will happen with this plan? What if it backfires? What if we get everyone killed? You're asking me to risk the lives of millions here! The students and soldiers down there need us to protect them! I have children in those bases—orphans built under our care! You need to really fucking think about the big picture. We are not ready for this. Have you even considered what happens if we fuck this up?"

"It's already fucked up," Eko replied, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

"No, Eko! For fuck's sake!" he roared, his eyes blazing with fury. "I can't deal with you right now! FUCK SAKE!"

"Why? Why am I so wrong?"

"WHY ARE YOU SO EAGER TO DIE FOR?" His voice erupted, the question hitting her like a physical blow, constricting her airways.

The profound pain in his tone left Eko momentarily speechless, and Matthew spiraled further into his frustration. "Why are you so eager to leave me?" The desperation in his voice echoed, adding another layer of anguish to the already tense atmosphere

It was clear that his emotions were tangled, entwined in a tempest of frustration and fear that he could no longer contain.

"I-I don't," Eko's voice wavered, but he cut her off, waving his hand in frustration. "M-Ma..."

"No! Just stop fucking talking," he pressed, the weariness in his voice unmistakable. He ran a hand through his hair, taking a deep breath as he fought to steady himself.

The intensity of the situation was wearing him thin, and he desperately needed a moment away from Allegiant and the relentless pressure from the boards. An escalated war and martial law were the last things he needed right now; he had been battling tooth and nail with the courts over the direction of the conflict.

"What I'm doing right now," he continued, locking eyes with her, "is about ensuring that people like us get more time in this world." He straightened, forcing his voice to remain steady and resolute. "That's why I'm choosing this path instead of rushing into war. I don't want to cause unnecessary damage, and I can't bear the thought of losing anyone else I love."

At the end of his tether, he shook his head, a flicker of fear crossing Eko's face. In her focus on her own grief, she had failed to see just how deeply this situation was affecting him. It was written all over his face—the exhaustion, the strain, the barely concealed dread.

In the heavy silence that followed, a realization began to stir within her. She had become too consumed by her own convictions. As she stood there, taking in his weary form, she recognized that she had lost sight of who Matthew truly was and what he had been enduring. Though he would never admit it, she now understood how terrified he must be, feeling the world spiral out of control around them. He held it together with a resilience she admired, far more than she ever could.

In the soft light of early Sunday morning, Eko realized just how close Matthew had come to breaking. She watched him, his fingers tapping furiously at the keyboard, his focus stubbornly fixed on the screen as he avoided her gaze. With a frustrated slam of his fist, he stormed past her, leaving the room steeped in silence.

Just as the door swooshed shut behind him, she heard him snapping orders at Richie and Toni, who had been on the other side of the room, their voices rising as they prepared for whatever chaos awaited them. Then, she felt the familiar surge of energy as both Matthew and Toni's powers radiated before they abruptly snapped away from Allegiant

Moments later, the door opened again, and Richie re-entered with an almost half-hearted smile, clearly trying to lighten the mood. It was then that the weight of the moment settled heavily on Eko's chest.

"He's gone to blow off some steam. Toni's with him; he'll be fine."

Annoyed, Eko sank into the closest chair, her eyes tracing the dimming holographic displays. The remnants of their argument replayed in her mind, each sentence underscoring the war within their relationship.

In the heavy silence, she began to absentmindedly trace patterns on the desk, the cool surface offering little comfort.

"You know how he gets when he's this tired," Richie said, his voice tinged with concern. "He's been on edge lately. Honestly, Ek's, he just needs a few hours to clear his head. And Toni—Toni knows how to break through when Matthew gets fixated on something. You know how those two are. Toni can always reach him when the rest of us can't."

Eko's jaw ached from clenching her teeth, her fists tightening into knotted rage as anger simmered just beneath her skin. Richie's voice became a dull hum, fading in and out as he rambled on about Matthew and Toni, about how inseparable they'd always been since childhood.

They had navigated life together—everyone knew that.

The four of them—Toni, Richie, Matthew, and Jesse—shared an unbreakable bond forged through years of trials and triumphs. Yet, as Richie reminisced about Matthew and Toni specifically, the tightness in Eko's chest intensified.

Her frustration flared, fists clenching harder with each passing second because all she wanted to do right at that moment was punch him in his stupid, exhausted face. Fucking hard.