Night had fallen over the campsite. The fire crackled softly, sending flickering shadows across the clearing. The air was cool, scented faintly with pine and smoke. The four—Aerith, Zack, Noctis, and Galuf—sat around the fire, while Reks meticulously cleaned his sword and polished his shield.
After a long pause, Reks looked up, his youthful face tense with hesitation. "I… I hope it's not rude, but… could you tell me… about your lives before this? I mean… before this world, before… everything."
Silence fell over the group. Each of them stared into the fire, memories pressing down like an invisible weight. Reks, sensing their pause, quickly bowed his head. "Ah… ah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."
Galuf, voice soft but warm, shook his head. "No, Reks… it's alright. You want to know us. That's natural."
Zack exhaled slowly, brushing a hand through his hair. "I guess… I can start."
He leaned back, gazing at the flames. "I came from a world full of strife, full of people who needed protecting. I was in the military… a soldier. I fought alongside friends I trusted with my life. And then… I died. Not gloriously, not in a heroic last stand. Just… caught in the chaos of war. But before that… before all of that… there was Aerith. My friend, my anchor."
Aerith's eyes softened, her gaze meeting his. "I… I come from a world where life could be simple, even if it was fleeting. I grew up with friends I cherished, moments I thought would last. And yet… I died too, in the same world as Zack. My death wasn't the end of my story—just a pause I didn't understand at the time."
Reks's expression darkened, and he could feel the heavy weight of loss settle over him, even as he tried to remain composed.
Galuf, leaning on his staff, spoke next, his voice carrying the weight of years and sorrow. "I… I've lived a long life, though not all of it was good. I had a granddaughter… bright, full of energy. She was my world, my joy. I had friends I fought with against a tyrant named Exdeath. And in the end… I died in battle, protecting the people I cared about. But every memory… every loss… it matters. I wouldn't trade it for anything, though the pain… it lingers."
Reks's shoulders sagged slightly. The stories of loss, bravery, and fleeting life pressed upon him like a cold wind.
Finally, Noctis's voice broke the silence. Quiet, steady, tinged with sorrow. "I… I was a prince. A king in training, though I didn't live long enough to truly be a king. I had friends… three friends who stood by me, fought alongside me. And I… I defeated the darkness… Ardyn. But in the end, I died sitting on my throne, knowing I had fulfilled my duty. That's… all I can say."
Reks felt a lump rise in his throat. His hand tightened around his sword. "I… I'm sorry… I didn't realize… I…"
He paused, glancing down at his shield. "I had a little brother. We grew up together… and I joined the army to protect him, to protect others. But… I lost him. And then I died… fighting for what I believed was right."
The four of them—Zack, Aerith, Noctis, and Galuf—looked at Reks. Their expressions softened, some sadness mirrored in their eyes, some quiet understanding.
Galuf placed a comforting hand on Reks's shoulder. "We all know loss. Every one of us. That's why… we're here now. Alive again. A second chance. It's rare… and we need to cherish it."
Zack's voice, still carrying the weight of his past, broke into a faint smile. "A second chance… yeah. I never thought I'd get one. And here we are. Together."
Aerith nodded. "It's more than a second chance—it's an opportunity. To protect, to fight, to live fully. To make new memories, without forgetting the old ones."
Noctis, his expression calm, looked at each of them in turn. "We all carry the weight of our pasts… but here, now, we decide what comes next. And I… I choose to fight, to protect, to live with all of you."
Reks looked around the group, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I… I don't know if I can ever repay this. But I'll try. I'll train, I'll fight, and I'll protect… all of you."
Galuf chuckled softly, his voice filled with warmth. "You already are, Reks. You already are."
For a long moment, the fire crackled in silence, each of them lost in their thoughts. The shared stories, the revelations of loss, and the acknowledgment of a second chance created a bond deeper than anything they had experienced before.
Aerith, breaking the silence, reached out and gently touched Reks's arm. "We're all in this together. No matter what comes, we face it as a team."
Zack nodded, raising a hand as if to mark the agreement. "Together."
Noctis's calm smile was the final seal. "Together."
Galuf's rumbling laugh echoed through the camp. "Then let's rest tonight. Tomorrow… the journey continues, and we have a lot of training ahead."
Before they lay down, Zack leaned closer to Noctis, smirking. "Wait… you said you were a prince. Now you're a king? That's… confusing. How does that work?"
Noctis raised an eyebrow, deadpan. "Well… technically, I was a prince before I died, and… I guess I was a king while sitting on the throne before I, you know… died again. It's complicated."
Aerith blinked, her hand flying to her mouth in surprise. Reks, still holding his sword, tilted his head in shock.
Galuf chuckled loudly, shaking his head. "Heh… a king, you say? Well, I'm a king too, you know. In my world, anyway. Don't underestimate the elders."
Zack and Noctis stared at him for a moment, then Noctis muttered under his breath, "Of course you are…" with a faint smirk.
Aerith giggled, covering her mouth. "Honestly… Sirius said you were serious, but you all have stories—and now this? A prince-king and elder kings? I can't…"
Reks laughed nervously, shaking his head. "This… is something else. Definitely something else."
Noctis leaned back, arms crossed, smirking slightly. "We survived death. A little humor is harmless, isn't it?"
Zack nudged Noctis. "Fair enough… but I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."
Galuf muttered with a grin, "Ahh… youth and kingship… it never gets old."
The group laughed softly, the warmth of camaraderie pushing aside the lingering weight of their past sorrows. And as the fire burned low, each of them felt the comfort of being together, alive, and ready for whatever the next day might bring.