The chamber was quiet, too quiet for Sirius's liking. Only the faint hum of the charm in his hand gave the air any texture, its glow pulsing softly like the heartbeat of another world. He had been listening—watching—through its threads of connection. The five anomalies, now bound together, had opened up to one another. Stories of their past lives had spilled out: laughter, tears, confessions. Deaths relived. Hopes rekindled.
Sirius closed his hand around the charm, shutting the glow into a fist.
So… those are their truths. Their burdens. Their scars.
Reks, the young soldier whose loyalty had led him to die before he had truly lived. Aerith, the flower girl who carried hope in her smile even as a sword pierced her back. Zack, the SOLDIER who defied his fate and fell with a grin. Galuf, the elder warrior who gave everything to protect his granddaughter and his world. And Noctis, the king who embraced death upon his throne so his kingdom could see dawn again.
Each one of them had tasted the bitter end. Yet here they were, alive once more, standing at his side whether they knew the full truth or not.
Sirius exhaled slowly, lowering his hand.
I hate it. Depending on others. Relying on them when I should be able to handle everything myself. But this… this invasion, this storm of chaos that's coming… it isn't something I can bear alone. If I try, I'll fail. And failure isn't an option.
The thought scraped against his pride like a whetstone, but he accepted it nonetheless. Pride had to be sharpened into resolve, not dulled into arrogance.
For now, though, his gaze was drawn elsewhere. A flick of his wrist shifted the view, and the image of Burmecia formed before him—a city drowning in rain. Stone streets glistened, thunder growled like a hungry beast, and lightning illuminated the broken towers. There, in the midst of the storm, small figures moved through the shadows.
Vivi.
The little black mage pressed forward, his hat drooping under the endless rain, his steps steady despite the weight he carried. Freya was with him, her spear gleaming as droplets ran down its length. Zidane, dagger ready, moved at the front, scanning every ruined alley. Quina waddled along behind them, tongue flicking out as if tasting the rain itself.
---
Inside Burmecia's Ruins
Lightning cracked, bathing the broken square in pale light. The group paused, rain dripping down their armor and clothes.
Zidane shook the water from his tail with an exaggerated groan.
"Man, this weather's terrible. I don't mind a little drizzle, but this is like walking through a waterfall with a backpack full of rocks."
Quina's eyes bulged as they scooped up rain in their hands and slurped it. "Mmmm! Rain taste different here. Salty, like sadness soup."
Zidane pinched the bridge of his nose. "That's… not helping, Quina."
Vivi looked around, small shoulders trembling beneath his oversized hat. "The people here… are they really all gone? Did—did the Black Mages do this?" His voice cracked, heavy with dread.
Freya set a steady hand on his shoulder, her long fingers resting lightly on the cloth of his sleeve. "Courage, young one. Do not let despair cloud your heart. Burmecia's spirit is not broken, even if its stones lie in ruin."
Zidane gave a soft smirk, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah. And besides, if the enemy thinks they've won, they're in for a surprise. We've got you, Freya. And Vivi. And even Quina." He shot the gourmand a half-teasing glance.
Quina chewed noisily on their tongue. "Mmm! I help too! If enemy made of frog, enemy already finished."
For a brief second, the heavy silence cracked, and even Vivi let out a nervous laugh. The rain still fell, thunder still rolled, but there was warmth in the way the four stood together—close, united, ready to keep moving forward no matter what.
---
Sirius's Reaction
Sirius's lips pressed into a thin line. "Still walking, aren't you, Vivi? Even when your whole existence is called into question… you still keep going."
The rain pounded against stone, and the vision seemed to echo in his chest. Soon, they would leave Burmecia and head for Cleyra, the hidden settlement in the sandstorm. A fragile refuge suspended above the world. And beyond that…
Sirius's expression hardened. "Queen Brahne. You gluttonous fool."
He remembered her from the histories—her descent into greed, the way Kuja played her like a puppet. She would summon Eidolons, tearing their power from Garnet, and she would bring Bahamut forth as her weapon of destruction.
Sirius touched his own chest unconsciously.
Bahamut…
The name carried weight. Not just a title, but a presence that lingered in his blood. He was of Bahamut's line, bound to that draconic force of will and majesty. If Brahne truly summoned him… could Sirius meet him? Would Bahamut recognize him as kin?
For a long moment, Sirius entertained the thought. Facing Bahamut directly, declaring himself, maybe even demanding recognition. His heart itched with the temptation.
But then he scoffed aloud and waved the thought away. "Meh. Not now. Timing matters more than pride. I don't need a show of strength. I need results."
He turned away from the vision, letting the image of Burmecia fade back into darkness. His mind spun toward another issue—one far more practical, far more immediate.
The five.
Soon, they would have to travel across Gaia. To other towns, other lands, other islands. The threats waiting for them would not be kind enough to remain in one place. But transportation… that was a problem.
How do I move them quickly, safely, unseen?
His thoughts played through options.
A boat? No. Too slow, too vulnerable. Anyone could see them coming, and enemies would trap them at sea. A ship won't do.
An airship? Now that… that's possible. Fast, maneuverable, able to bypass armies and terrain alike. But who among them knows how to pilot one? Not Zack, not Aerith, not Galuf, not Noctis, and certainly not Reks. They're warriors, not navigators.
He stopped pacing, a hand lifting to his chin. "Unless there's an AI. A pilot without a body. A machine mind that could handle the airship itself."
The idea lingered in his mind, blooming with possibilities. Autonomous flight, silent operation, a vessel invisible to those who might pursue. Yes, it was possible. But where would such technology exist?
Not here. Not in Gaia. This world's airships were clunky, mechanical, dependent on engineers and navigators. No… he'd have to look elsewhere.
His thoughts drifted first to Noctis's world—Lucis. There, magitek intertwined with crystal, cities glowing with modern marvels, and vehicles that bent reality to their will. An AI could exist there, hidden in the empire's archives or whispered in the old texts of Insomnia's royal labs.
Then to Ivalice, Reks's world. The Archadian Empire was famed for its airships, vessels of war that dominated the skies. Their fusion of magicite and machinery bordered on genius, and somewhere in their vaults, Sirius imagined, a mind could be forged from spell and steel alike.
He smiled faintly, sharp as a blade. "Yes. I'll need to survey them myself. Pull at the right threads. Claim what's necessary."
The air shifted around him as he stood still, mind racing faster than any ship could fly.
His gaze returned to the charm, its glow pulsing gently, like the breaths of those bound to it. The five were together now. Laughing, sharing, slowly binding their wounds through one another. He could still hear the echoes of their voices—Noctis's quiet humor, Zack's teasing tone, Aerith's warmth, Galuf's steady wisdom, Reks's uncertain but eager resolve.
They were alive. They were healing. And despite all they had confessed, despite the darkness of their deaths, they had smiled at the thought of a second chance.
"For now," Sirius whispered, "you'll be fine on your own. Train. Rest. Learn to laugh without the weight of destiny crushing you. Because when the time comes… I will call. And you will answer."
The shadows bent around him as though they recognized his authority, folding close until he was swallowed entirely. The charm dimmed, leaving the chamber in silence.
Outside, the storm over Burmecia raged on. Lightning split the skies, rain beat the earth, and in the distance, the unseen gears of destiny turned, pulling all threads tighter toward the inevitable clash.