March 3, 2019, 5:23 am. And then morning.

It's still dark outside as I carefully ease myself free of Rufka and Smoulder, dodging Rufka's unconscious attempt to draw me back. Swatting her hand away, I make my way outside as the clouds drift apart revealing that Ukila is full. It's low enough that it appears to be touching its reflection on the water below.

I spend half an hour simply sitting on the edge, watching Ukila rise higher into the sky while contemplating what we're going to do once we've reconnected with the others.

Somehow, I thought all the real challenges were behind us. After Ivicka everything's been… Well, not exactly easy.

Atun did a number on us, and what Pelogg did to Beth was... But nothing’s had me afraid we might die forever. If this interference is preventing us from something as simple as sending a message…

Will it stop us from resurrecting?

My musings are interrupted when Rose makes a quiet "ahem," offering me a cup of tea. Freshly brewed.

"Thanks," I mumble while accepting the cup from him, gesturing for him to take a seat beside me.

Rose uses two hands to slowly lower himself beside me, before taking a long sip of his own tea. "Ahhh. So much better."

Taking a tentative sip, I'm surprised to discover I don't recognize the flavour. "What's this?"

"I got it from Bem last time I visited. Munea tea. We used to drink it when I was younger. This is the same set he used for years. He wanted me to have something to remind me of home."

"That's sweet. Wait... Munea… doesn't that just mean tea in Eastern Vausian? So, it's tea tea?"

"Ahaha. Yeah. It's like Chai tea, isn't it?" Rose shakes his head before taking another sip of his tea before tilting his head back. "It's crazy to think that there could be a whole other civilization right there."

"Could be? You think the Hidden Depths lied? Genitha thinks it’s there."

"Yeah, but she’s never been, right?"

"Well, no."

"So, how does she know?" he asks with a shrug. "Besides, you know what Rufka says…”

"My mum lies a lot!" we exclaim together before chuckling.

"I like this," Rose admits.

"Yeah. It's an amazing view," I agree, nodding along.

"Not quite what I meant, but yeah."

"What did you mean?"

"Just that… it's nice being able to talk to you, one on one, you know."

"Uh, really?" I can't help but feel a little flustered. Is he like… interested in me? I know he knows I'm with Rufka, so… how do I let him know I'm not interested in him? Damnit…

"No one else really gets the whole Akilo and Earth all mixed together thing. I mean, you have… well, you and Uthica rattling around up there."

"While you have Kallim and Josh," I add quickly with a small sigh of relief.

"Exactly." Rose nods emphatically. "Add on that part of us has known the other for years… it's nice."

"Achievement unlocked: Messy backstory," I say, with a quick bop to his shoulder.

"Do you ever miss your mom?" Rose asks, his head still tilted back.

"Honestly? Not even a little," I pause as I lean back beside him, staring up at the sky. Whatever stars might have been there once are now hidden by the invisible barrier that's cutting Akilo off from the universe, leaving an empty scene other than a few distant planets. "I think… No. I know... Whatever happens, even if I don't make it home, I'm glad I'm here."

Before Rose can respond, a familiar tawny face pops into my view, looking down at me and cutting off the sky. "I am pretty great, aren't I!" Rufka states as she strikes a pose, both right arms held up into the sky. The effect is slightly ruined by her missing upper right hand.

"Eh, I guess you're a plus. Barely," I say, earning myself a tickle attack from Rufka as she pounces on me. Which knocks us off the edge of the outcropping we were just laying on. I almost drop my cup but struggle to hold onto it as our direction changes and we're arcing over the water.

Rufka is laughing like a maniac as I arrest our fall before hauling us back up to where Rose is packing away his tea set. When I land, he plucks the tea cup out of my hand with enough force that the handle snaps off.

"Rose, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…"

"It's fine," he snaps. It's pretty clear it's not fine, but I don't know how to… what to… Ugh.

"Now that we're all up, let's just go," Rose adds, refusing to face us.

Nodding, we pack our beds while I slip Smoulder into my pocket. She remains none the wiser as we set off across the sea in silence. Even Rufka realizes that Rose is upset and holds off on her usual banter. It makes the first hour more tedious than our excursions usually are. I mean, there's a reason the three of us went off together. We’ve been getting along well.

At least we were.

Eventually, Rose starts asking Rufka what she knows about the mountains we're going to be crossing on our way to the others. There's still some awkwardness, but it's put to the side as Rufka describes the different mana-borne we might encounter. Her mum might not have taken her inside many dungeons, but there are few regions of the eastern continent she hasn't travelled. I only half listen, Rufka having told me several of these stories already. Still, it helps pass the time.

"...And, of course, there's Aethop's Daughters. But we shouldn't encounter them unless we end up in the deep South."

Rose twitches at the mention, but otherwise just nods. I'm pretty sure he's heard all this before too. Rufka enjoys sharing her stories.

The crazy thing isn't how outlandish her childhood stories sound. It's that the details are always the same. She never changes anything.

Somehow, it makes them seem more real.

As we fly through a low-hanging cloud, Rufka gets Rose to start telling his own story of when he was younger and Celthi first came along. Normally we'd take the opportunity for a quick game of sky-tag, Smoulder's favourite since she chose her class. But between the interference and Rose's demeanour… not really the time.

"I was really excited at first. A new sister? But then mom was always busy, and Celthi was… well, you know how cubs are."

Rufka raises her eyebrows, "Not really. How are cubs?"

"Needy. And messy. And rude. It was a chore. I was jealous of her for the first year," Rose says, grabbing a handful of cloud-stuff then turning it to dew on his paw.

"And then?" Rufka prompts him.

Rose smiles before disappearing into a cloud bank, his voice echoing from within, "Then mom left her with me for a few days. Stuff happened and I realized how hard it must be for mom to handle it all on her own all the time. Stopped being jealous and helped more. Well, I tried to. Looking back, I probably got in the way more often than not. But mom appreciated it."

Even though he's out of sight, I can hear the pride in his voice. It'd be hard not to agree with it. I tried babysitting once. Was not able to handle it. At all. Nice clean, boring, paperwork, thank you.

The next couple hours are spent listening to Rose tell stories about his younger siblings… which gets kind of confusing when he starts talking about his and Josh's sister Ariane. He stops talking at the end of a story where she hid his guitar as revenge, his voice trailing off for a few seconds before he adds, "I might not see her again."

"Or maybe you will. Reality is flexible once mana's involved," Rufka points ahead at a wondrous display of water shooting up in vast arcs.

These aren't giant waves, but small bursts of scintillating beauty dotting the air with splashes of rainbow-hued colour dancing in the air. Even on closer inspection with my Twilight-enhanced vision, I don't see anything within or below.

But I've seen something similar before. "Elementals?" I ask while creating small arcs over my hand, mimicking their actions.

Rufka shields her eyes as she focuses. "Probably. Might be a mana-borne hiding beneath the surface."

Rose gestures away from them. "Either way, we should go around. Best not to disturb them."

We fly around, but the arcs of water accompany us for the next half hour until the far shore comes into view. They continue their display behind us but are soon lost in the distance.

We set down for a late lunch, my eyes fixed on the horizon as we eat. I'm pretty sure it's an illusion, but I swear I can make out the mountains to the East.

Then I see the 'mountains' move.

"Uhh peeps? You seeing this?"

"Whatsat?" Rose asks around his mouthful of sausage.

Rufka's eyes narrow, an almost invisible spark the only sign of her ability. Similar to my twilight 'binoculars' but quicker and easier to use. "Dragon. Big one too. Chasing something."

"Is it getting closer?"

"Yeah. It's flying almost straight at us. I'd guess… twenty minutes at their current speed?"

Rose squints, but he doesn't even have the basic enhancement of my twilight-enhanced vision, so I doubt he can make much out. "Go around?"

"Hmmm. I think it's mana-warped. And it appears to be chasing K'tharn."

"Nevermind. Standard behemoth-flier tactics?" Rose asks as his armor 'fwips' into place, the much darker petals more burgundy than rose.

Rufka and I nod as we move to intercept the mana-warped dragon.

As we get closer, I make out the familiar shape of gliders used by the Aetherium's Flights, but they're getting close to the ground. Considering the area is nothing but gentle hills with sparse trees, there's not much for them to use for cover, so unless they have some incredible earth-shapers, something must be wrong.

Then again, they are fighting a mana-warped dragon, so that's not exactly a great starting point.

I'm able to count four gliders. Normally there are twelve soldiers and one officer in each flight, though those numbers might’ve changed since they started using Fallen. But that should’ve been an increase in numbers. Maybe some of them were Fallen and accepted the quest to come to Glimmering Sands to be Cleansed? That there are only four still flying implies they've already lost two-thirds of their squad.

I almost don't bother scanning the dragon, but their decimated squad has me worried. A quick scan doesn't reveal anything that surprises me, though I skip over its description going straight for its stats. It's definitely mana-warped, but the fact its wings are tattered wrecks and the fang sticking out of where it's right eye should be, both hinted at that anyway.

The scan does inform me the dragon is weak against metal attacks, specifically copper, so at least scanning it was slightly useful. I don't think we've fought anything weak against metals before. Too bad Rufka is basically a one-element girl, so far as her class is concerned.

Still, I pass the information along, combined with the fact it's immune to fire. Luckily, that won't stop Smoulder. She's been working on using her flames to turn her into a flaming bullet. After Atun, she’s started figuring out how to apply her heat more creatively. So, I give her a copper helmet, and send her on her way.

While the others start engaging the dragon, drawing its attention, I begin creating several reusable copper discuses… disci? Multiple round disks that I can tear it apart with.

I'm expecting another drawn-out fight, but as the disks pierce its hide, its flesh sloughs away like soft butter left out in the sun. We all stare in shock for a second until the dragon roars in pain, turning towards me, its mouth open to breathe elemental fury on me.

It never gets the chance.

Smoulder smashes straight through its head. The shower of viscera is so large I can't pick her out of the mess until she smashes against one of her flaming platforms before leaping towards me.

"Wow. When you said it was weak to copper…" Rose trails off as we watch the body fall towards the ground.

"Vaus-above, that was great."

"Easier than… oof," Smoulder lands on my shoulder at full speed. Once I've recovered, I continue, "Easier than I expected, that's for sure."

"Should we check on them?" Rose waves at the gliders below, who are congregating on a nearby hill now that the dragon has been defeated.

When I glance at Rufka, she just shrugs. Now that they're out of danger, I'm not certain I want to talk to them. I’d rather not be put in a position where the Aetherium is trying to arrest me again. But since Rose has clearly been feeling left out, I decide to put it to him. "I don't know. Do you think we should?"

Rose only glances at them for a second before nodding, "For sure. They could be hurt."

"Okay then. Lead the way." I wave him forward, not sure if this is helping. At least I'm trying, right? "We're right behind you."

Even as we land, three of the four K'tharn draw themselves up, hands straying to weapons. Two step forwards, the other staying behind them. Of the two who came forward, one with grey fur spattered with occasional black patches whispers, "Mothey, it's her. It’s the-."

"Shut up, Curthy," the one in the lead snarls back. Her fur is similar to Rose's golden colour. But instead of his tiger-like stripes, her golden fur is covered in small black dots. She's also holding a staff, like the one Tipan uses. While Curthy is ducking her head, her ears laid flat, the one referred to as Mothey yells, "That's close enough strangers."

Rose holds his upper two hands up with his lower arms crossed in the Eastern Vausian sign for surrender. "We're just here to see if you need help. We can provide limited healing. Maybe fix up your gliders so you can get home."

Curthy grabs at Mothey's arm, "We can't trust them Mothey! I think that one's male! They'll turn Cinther into a doll and eat her."

"I told you to shut it, Curthy," she hisses, shaking her arm free of Curthy's grip. "Apologies strangers, Curthy doesn't get out of Aethire much. She hasn’t taken the recent… changes well."

"That's fine," Rose reassures her, not changing his posture. I consider copying him, but should I go for crossed arms or arms in the air? Despite having the occasional Outlander cross her path, this surrender etiquette didn't come up that often in Uthica’s memories. Glancing to the side, I notice Rufka's not taking the stance, her hands behind her instead. I'll just copy her then.

"Look, I appreciate the assistance with our poor Obelix, but…" Her eyes wander over Rufka and I, "I'm not sure accepting help from the daughter of Crimson Death or one of the Voidborne would go over well."

Uhh, Voidborne?

Wait, is she talking about me?

"You don't have to tell anyone. We're not looking for credit. We just want to help," Rose offers, his voice pitched higher than usual.

Mothey shuffles in place, glancing over her shoulder, "Look, like I said. We appreciate the offer, but I don't-"

Suddenly, the third K'tharn who'd stood storms up, grabbing Mothey's arm, "What in Vaus' name are you saying? You'd let Cinther die rather than let these people help her?"

"It's not that simple, Lathry. We have to-"

"Vaus's left testicle. We can't let her die. We've already lost… And she's our thiani. Or does that mean nothing to you?"

"Of course it does!" Mothey shouts in Lathry's face. "It's just… just…"

In a gentler voice, barely at the edge of my hearing, Lathry says, "Let's just see if they can help Cinther first. We can worry about the rest after, okay?"

"Okay," Mothey concedes, her voice cracking a bit. Then she nods again, stating clearly, "Okay. Please heal our… heal Cinther."

"Are you crazy Mothey, what if-" Curthy starts but flinches back when Mothey whirls on her, roaring out, "I SAID SHUT IT CURTHY!"

"Good lungs on that one," Rufka notes as Rose flags me forward. For a moment I wonder why he's flagging me forward, but then I realize I'm the only one with a healing item that doesn't have charges. Instead, out comes the wooden circle, a symbol of Vaus etched into its ring. It has a much steeper mana cost coupled with a less pleasant experience.

As I step past the cowering Curthy, I take in the busted body of their fourth member.

She looks up at me with one good lower eye, her upper eyes squeezed shut and her other eye missing. Her beautiful tawny fur is matted with enough blood that if we were on Earth, I'd never imagine we'd be able to save her.

Luckily, we're not on Earth.

And I may not be a healer, but thanks to artifacts like this one, I can do amazing things.

So I lay the circle on her chest then begin to channel as I take her hand and whisper, "This will hurt. Probably a lot. I'm sorry."

She just nods, giving me a weary smile. Even her teeth are cracked and coated in blood, "All the best healing does."

"Ain't that the truth," I mutter in English.

Then the artifact reaches its saturation point and the screaming begins.

I should probably have given her something to bite down on.