(Meanwhile Ixtal, Near Soron's Castle, Amanda's POV)
The shuttle's engines hummed softly beneath her feet as the clouds parted, revealing the familiar yet distant sight of Ixtal spread out below, its scarred lands slowly healing beneath a pale sky, as Amanda held her sons a little closer and let out a breath she had not realised she had been holding until now.
"We are here, boys, the real universe" she murmured, as Caleb pressed his face to the viewport with serious eyes, while little Mairon clung to her sleeve, wide eyed and curious.
Behind them, Su Pei stood with his arms crossed, posture relaxed yet alert, as Dumpy loomed in the rear compartment in his fifteen foot frog form, golden eyes half lidded as if he were bored with the journey, yet Amanda had known him long enough to know that the beast was paying attention to everything.
*Hiss*
