The clearing still smoldered, acrid smoke rising from charred earth. The dragon's storm had passed, but the echoes lingered: cracked trees, scorched soil, and the scent of ozone heavy in the air. The battlefield looked less like part of the living world and more like a scar carved into it—a warning that the creature they had fought was no mere beast but a force of nature unleashed.
The five lay scattered, exhausted, their bodies bruised and burned, but alive. Their breaths were shallow, ragged, but each inhale carried relief. They had fought a nightmare and endured. The silence that followed was heavy, filled only by the creak of broken branches and the occasional hiss of embers refusing to die out.
Zack lay flat on his back, his sword planted upright in the ground beside him like a grave marker. He chuckled weakly, though every movement sent jolts of pain through his battered muscles. "Next time," he muttered, "let's pick a fight with something that doesn't throw thunderstorms at us."
Aerith lay nearby, one hand resting over her heart as she listened to the rhythm of her breath. She managed a faint smile despite the soot streaking her face. "You'd be bored in ten minutes if we did."
Galuf groaned as he rolled onto his side, clutching his ribs. "Bored or not, I'd rather keep my bones unbroken. I swear half me skeleton is rattlin' loose." His laughter turned into a cough, but he waved off Aerith's concerned glance with a grin.
Noctis pushed himself upright, one hand pressed against his side where the dragon's claws had nearly torn him open. His eyes, dark and intent, never left the sky where the beast had vanished. "It wasn't fighting us seriously," he said at last, his voice low, troubled. "That was a warm-up."
The words carried a chill heavier than the storm's aftermath. Reks, shield still strapped to his arm though the edge was blackened and warped, staggered to his feet. His hair was plastered with sweat, his face smeared with ash, but his eyes burned with quiet resolve. "Then we'll get stronger," he said simply. "But first—" He lifted the ruined shield for them all to see. "—I'd rather not die from my own burns."
The bluntness broke the tension, drawing weak laughter from the others. Together, leaning on one another when needed, they began to move.
A shadow passed overhead.
The gentle hum of engines followed, and a veil shimmered as Aetherveil descended slowly through the clouds. Her crystalline sails glinted faintly, wings of light dimmed to a soft glow. She hovered just above the treetops, a mother bird returning for her weary children.
The voice came through their synchronizers, warm and steady.
"Masters," Aether said, her tone tinged with concern. "I have been monitoring your life signs. Your condition is… troubling. Please, come aboard. I have a recovery bay prepared."
Zack tilted his head back, squinting up at the descending vessel. "She sounds more worried than Sirius ever does."
Aerith chuckled faintly, brushing a soot-smeared strand of hair from her cheek. "That's because she actually says it. Sirius just broods in silence."
Galuf's laughter was hoarse but genuine. "Broodin', aye… but he watches. Always watches."
Noctis said nothing. He only tightened his grip on his pain and the memory of the dragon's gaze, then started forward. "Let's move."
The hatch lowered, extending a crystalline ramp that shimmered faintly with aetheric light. One by one they climbed aboard, their steps heavy but resolute. The ship's interior greeted them with warmth, soft blue light pulsing along the walls as though the vessel itself exhaled in relief at their return.
"Welcome back, masters," Aether said, her voice surrounding them like a gentle breeze. "Please, this way."
Panels slid open, revealing a corridor etched with flowing runes. At the end, doors parted to reveal the recovery bay—a chamber lined with softly glowing pods, each shaped like half-open cocoons of crystal and steel. Transparent surfaces shimmered, aether currents weaving like gentle streams within.
Aerith gasped softly. "This is… beautiful. Like a healing spring made into a machine."
"It uses both," Aether replied. "A fusion of aetheric flow and medical augmentation. Step inside, and the pod will accelerate natural recovery, mend tissue, restore energy, and soothe fatigue. I strongly recommend it."
Zack grinned faintly, leaning heavily on his sword as he shuffled forward. "First-class service, huh? Careful, Aether, I could get spoiled."
"Don't get too comfortable," Galuf muttered, though his eyes gleamed with relief. "This isn't a tavern's feather bed."
Noctis said nothing. His silence spoke more than words. He stepped into one of the pods without hesitation.
One by one, they followed. The pods sealed with a soft hiss, bathing each of them in warm light.
Reks exhaled, a long, shuddering breath as soothing energy flowed through his body. "Feels like… I'm floating in light."
Zack leaned back, letting the hum of the pod wash over him. "Better than any cure spell I've had. Aerith, you could retire now."
Her laughter came faintly from the pod beside him. "Not a chance. Even ships can't replace human care."
Galuf's voice rumbled across the chamber. "Aye. But I'll admit… this feels like the gods themselves took pity on us."
For a while, silence reigned, broken only by the hum of aether weaving through crystal. Muscles loosened, bruises faded, burns cooled, and the burden of exhaustion slowly lifted.
Far away, Sirius felt the change through the trinkets he had given them. He sat quietly against the stone wall of a hut in Conde Petie, the dwarves bustling around him with their familiar cries of "Rally-ho!" He closed his eyes, focusing on the subtle threads that tied him to his chosen. Their pain dulled, their fatigue eased, their hearts steadied.
"They're recovering," he murmured, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Good. They'll need it."
Hours passed. The pods opened with soft sighs, releasing their occupants renewed.
Zack stretched, his joints popping loudly. He whistled long and low. "Now that was incredible. Aether, you're a lifesaver."
"Your survival ensures my purpose," Aether replied. "I am glad you approve."
Aerith touched her chest, marveling at the warmth that lingered in her veins. "It feels like I've slept for days. Thank you, Aether."
Reks flexed his arm, gripping his shield tightly. The burns and bruises were gone. "Back to full strength. I won't waste this chance."
Galuf rolled his shoulder, testing the freedom of his movement. He chuckled. "Bah, I feel thirty years younger. Almost dangerous."
Noctis, though healed, stood apart, staring out a viewing port where the forest stretched to the horizon. His reflection looked back at him, eyes dark and steady. "…That dragon didn't see us as equals," he said at last. "It saw us as prey. That needs to change."
The words hung heavy in the chamber. The others joined him at the viewport, each with their own expression—sobering, firm, resolved.
Aerith placed her hand gently on his arm. "We survived. That's what matters. We'll grow. Together."
Zack clapped Noctis on the back, his grin crooked but fierce. "And next time, we'll be the scary ones."
Galuf threw his head back and laughed, booming. "Aye, lad! That beast will regret lettin' us live."
Reks nodded, his tone steady and unyielding. "One battle doesn't define us. We'll be ready."
Aether's voice filled the chamber once more, calm but resolute. "Masters, I will continue monitoring for threats. But know this: your determination resonates within me. You are not alone. As long as you wear the synchronizers, I will protect and guide you to the best of my ability."
The five exchanged glances, a silent bond forged anew in that moment. They had faced lightning and fury. They had bled and nearly broken. But in the wake of that storm, they were stronger—not only in body, but in spirit.
The road ahead promised greater dangers. Yet within the heart of Aetherveil, surrounded by light and one another, they allowed themselves—for just a moment—to breathe.