The golden desert sun blazed overhead as the five stepped through the towering gates of Ul'dah. Heat shimmered off the sandstone, the air alive with noise and motion.
Zack whistled low, one hand shielding his eyes. "Well, damn. If this doesn't scream alive, I don't know what does."
The streets stretched wide and teeming, filled with merchants crying out their wares, adventurers polishing weapons, chocobos clucking as handlers led them through the crowd. Jewelers sparkled in their stalls, spices filled the air with sharp scents, and banners of guilds swayed in the warm wind.
Aerith paused in the middle of it all, a faint smile on her lips. She closed her eyes for a moment, listening not to the bustle but to something beneath it. "The planet here… it sings differently. Softer. Clearer. It isn't crying like Midgar, or broken like Alexandria."
Her words made the group fall quiet, if only for a heartbeat. Even in a crowd of strangers, Aerith's voice had a way of grounding them.
Galuf broke the silence with a booming laugh. "And yet it still smells like sweat and chocobo droppings! A fine place to train, aye?" He clapped Noctis and Reks on the shoulders.
Noctis smirked faintly. "Smells better than Niflheim."
Reks wrinkled his nose but forced a smile. "I've smelled worse… like Limsa's docks."
Zack grinned, slapping Reks on the back. "Look at you! Already sounding like a local."
Reks chuckled nervously, though his grip tightened on his shield as the crowd pressed around them. It was overwhelming—the noise, the people, the sheer size of it all. But he held his head high, determined not to falter.
---
They moved deeper into the city, the streets growing narrower yet more crowded. Ul'dah was a place of contradictions: wealth glittered in jewels and silks on one street, while beggars huddled in alleys just beyond the corner.
Aerith's brow furrowed at the sight. "So much life, and yet… so much imbalance."
Zack crossed his arms, frowning. "Yeah. Some things don't change, no matter the world."
Galuf hummed thoughtfully. "Which means some lessons stay the same too. Protect those who can't protect themselves."
Noctis said nothing, but his eyes lingered on the children darting through the crowd, weaving between legs and wagons, their laughter mingling with the clang of blacksmith hammers. He thought of his own lost youth, and for the first time in days, the heaviness in his chest eased slightly.
---
Aether's voice whispered into their tools, clear and calm.
"Observation: This city hosts multiple guilds. Gladiator, Pugilist, Thaumaturge, Miners, and others. Gridania and Limsa Lominsa host additional guilds for Conjurers, Lancers, and Marauders. Recommendation: Explore together before making choices."
Zack blinked, tapping his trinket. "Thanks for the reminder, Aether. Though I already know where I'm headed." He pointed toward the central coliseum where the Gladiator's Guild banner fluttered. "That way. Swords, shields, and plenty of action."
Aerith tugged lightly at his sleeve. "Don't charge in yet. We should see what else this world has to offer."
"Yeah, yeah," Zack said, grinning. "Fine. I'll behave."
Galuf chuckled, stroking his beard. "I'd say tavern first, guild later. A man learns a lot about a city by how it drinks."
Reks looked horrified. "We just got here and you want to drink already?"
Galuf winked. "Relax, lad. Just a jest. Mostly."
Noctis shook his head, smirking faintly. "Figures."
---
They wandered toward the markets, the heart of Ul'dah's chaos. Here the voices were loudest, overlapping cries of merchants and customers, clattering metal, ringing bells. A Lalafell waved gemstones high over his head, shouting about fortune. A Miqo'te purred promises of rare fabrics. A Roegadyn bellowed about blades that could cleave a behemoth in two.
Zack leaned over to Aerith. "You think that blade's legit?"
Aerith raised a brow. "Probably not. Don't waste your gil."
Reks blinked. "What's gil?"
Galuf grinned. "Money, lad. Whatever you call it, the world always runs on coin."
Noctis muttered under his breath. "And politics."
---
At one corner, a troupe of performers spun fire and danced, their movements hypnotic. Children laughed, clapping their hands. Aerith watched them with a soft smile, her eyes reflecting the flames.
"This place… it's full of stories. Not all happy, but not hopeless either."
Zack grinned, watching her. "You always know how to find the bright side, huh?"
She tilted her head. "Someone has to."
Galuf laughed. "Blessed are we, then, for having her. Without Aerith, this lot would brood themselves to death."
Noctis rolled his eyes, though his lips curved faintly upward.
---
The group eventually found themselves at the steps of the Adventurers' Guild. The great hall buzzed with voices, adventurers boasting of victories, bickering over rewards, scribbling names onto request boards.
Reks' eyes widened, his voice hushed. "So many… all chasing their own battles."
Zack clapped his shoulder. "Welcome to the life, kid. This is where people prove themselves."
Aerith smiled warmly. "Or where they find where they belong."
Galuf chuckled. "Or where they lose their coin on a bad bet."
Noctis sighed. "And where we're supposed to blend in."
Sirius' voice, faint in their trinkets, echoed through their minds.
"Blend in, yes. But remember—observe. Learn. Grow. This world will test you differently than Gaia. Let it shape you."
The five glanced at each other, and for the first time since Alexandria, they smiled together.
---
They spent the rest of the day wandering the city:
Watching chocobos thunder past as caravans departed.
Listening to the clash of steel in the coliseum.
Sampling skewers of spiced meat from street vendors (Zack buying too many, Aerith laughing at the mess he made).
Watching Galuf haggle fiercely with a merchant, only to end up paying more for the sake of pride.
Seeing Noctis pause at the steps of the coliseum, his hand brushing the hilt of his blade, eyes thoughtful.
Hearing Reks murmur that he'd never seen so many people united in one place.
As night fell, the city didn't sleep. Lanterns lit the streets, music drifted from taverns, and the desert stars spread across the sky.
The five stood at the balcony of the inn they had chosen, looking out across Ul'dah.
Zack leaned on the railing, grinning. "I'll say this—if we're training here, it's gonna be wild."
Aerith gazed at the stars. "And healing too. This world feels… hopeful."
Galuf stretched, groaning. "Hopeful or not, tomorrow we start. Our fists, blades, and hearts will get tested."
Noctis smirked faintly. "Sounds familiar."
Reks nodded, eyes firm. "We'll be ready."
Above, unseen, Sirius watched from the Aetherveil. His eyes softened, his voice a quiet murmur only Aether heard.
"They've smiled again. This world is already doing what I hoped."
Aether replied in her calm, resonant tone. "Acknowledged, Master. Shall I log their first day as successful integration?"
Sirius allowed himself the faintest smile. "Yes."