Aether awoke in a strange place.
The sky was blue, yet there was no sun.
The ground resembled the surface of a perfectly clear sea, and yet... he did not sink.
Everything was still.
Silent.
So strangely peaceful that it felt as though the entire world had stopped.
Suddenly, a small blue light appeared, floating before him.
Then, in a soft voice, it spoke:
"Oh... you're awake. How do you feel, Aether?"
Aether stared at it, still bewildered.
"Fine... I think. But... who are you?"
The light slowly took the shape of a small girl.
She smiled calmly.
"I... am Lyra."
Aether hesitated for a moment before asking:
"What is this place? Where am I? And where is Sirvan? What about the girl who was fighting alongside him?"
Lyra answered calmly:
"This... is the world of your consciousness."
She paused.
"As for Sirvan and Eyria... I transported all of you to the kingdom before Dark King III could turn you into corpses."
She fell silent for a moment, then looked toward his head.
"If I had been even a moment late... your ashes would be floating through the air right now."
Aether bit his lip and stared at her.
"But... why does he want to kill me? Why did they attack our village? And why did they kill my mother and my brother?"
Lyra sighed.
Her expression became more serious.
"That's... a lot of questions."
She looked directly into his eyes.
"And you will discover the answers yourself. Just... not now."
She moved slightly closer.
"It is time for you to awaken in the real world."
Aether reached his hand toward her.
"Wait... You still haven't told me why you're... inside my mind."
Lyra answered in a calm voice:
"When the time comes... I will introduce myself to you properly."
She paused.
"Until then, don't tell anyone my name."
The Real World
Aether suddenly opened his eyes.
He was lying against Sirvan's chest, his face covered with small scratches and dust.
Sirvan let out a tired laugh.
"Kid... you're really heavy."
Aether slowly raised his head and looked around.
The capital's courtyard was filled with wounded soldiers.
The cries of injured villagers echoed throughout the area.
Some were crying.
Others were bleeding in silence.
The entire place was saturated with the smell of smoke...
And pain.
Sirvan struggled to stand, then turned toward Aether.
"Come on... let's get you somewhere you can rest."
He gave him a faint smile.
"You fought like a real little warrior."
Sirvan led Aether toward the treatment room.
And there...
Nero was sitting beside Kartithia.
She looked exhausted, but she was alive.
When she saw Aether, her eyes filled with tears...
And hope.
In the corner of the room...
Mark, their father, lay on a bed made of layered wooden boards.
His body was covered in countless bandages.
His breathing was weak.
But...
He was still alive.