Ardyn walked through a dim, silent room, the walls rough like stone and slick with moisture. A faint mist clung to the floor, curling around his boots as he moved. The ceiling stretched high above, lost in shadow, and the only light came from a dull, pulsing glow along the edges of the walls—cold and colorless.
A chill crept down his spine as footsteps echoed behind him.
He froze.
"Who's in there?" Ardyn called out, turning quickly.
From the far end of the room, a figure stepped forward. Slow, steady. Its face stayed hidden, swallowed by the dark.
Ardyn took a step back.
The figure moved closer, until it passed through the pale glow—and then stopped.
His breath caught.
It was him.
Same height. Same face. But the eyes—blank, glowing white—and a smile twisted with something wrong.
Ardyn's heart pounded. He couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
Then he woke up.
He sat upright in bed, chest heaving. Cold sweat clung to his skin. Morning light was already peering through the glass wall of the Aerohall, casting faint golden lines across the floor.
It had been three days since the semi-finals. Ardyn had already been released from the Medic Hall, his wounds fully healed.
He got up, changed into fresh clothes, and stepped out of the room. Just outside, by the lift, Mirae was already waiting.
She didn't say much, just gave a small nod before turning. Ardyn followed as she led him through the plaza, down a narrow alley, and up toward the rooftop—the same one where she had once spoken with Elari.
"So this is the new meeting place," Ardyn said, stretching his arms. He winced as a dull ache tugged at his shoulder.
"Still sore?" Mirae asked, glancing at him. "Maybe you strained it climbing the ladder."
"Maybe," Ardyn muttered. "Might need to loosen it up more."
A clang sounded behind them.
Elari appeared, climbing up the rooftop ladder. He swung himself over the edge with ease, brushing dust from his hands.
Mirae glanced at her watch. "We're late—but you're more late."
"Got a little distracted," Elari said as he stepped forward. "Have you heard the news?"
Ardyn and Mirae both shook their heads.
"There was an explosion at the Vireos team Aetherlab," Elari said. "The Vireos head Aerolith engineer and…"
He paused. "Zairik Vaelthar was found dead."
Ardyn's brows drew together. "Isn't he…"
"The one Elari fought in the semi-finals," Mirae finished.
Elari gave a quiet nod.
"What caused the explosion?" Mirae asked.
Elari shook his head. "Didn't have time to read through the full report. Just caught the headline before I came here."
Then he turned to Ardyn, eyes scanning him briefly. "How are you feeling?"
"Better now," Ardyn replied, then hesitated. "Though I'm more worried if we'll survive facing you in the finals."
Elari gave a faint smile. "I won't kill you."
"That's a relief," Ardyn said with a grin.
"So you already trust Mirae?" Elari asked.
Ardyn glanced at her, then gave a small nod.
"Yes, I told him," Mirae said before he could speak.
She turned to Elari. "It's confirmed. The Council might already know something about us. Ardyn found a Whisperseed planted in his bag."
"Be careful," Ardyn added. "They could be tracking you too."
"Or worse," Mirae said. "They might've planted someone in your team."
Elari's expression darkened. "So my intuition was right."
He crossed his arms. "There was a new Aerolith engineer assigned to us. Right after the assassination attempt on Ardyn. I think he's a Council spy."
Ardyn exhaled slowly. "It seems like the Council's holding back—for now."
"What makes you say that?" Elari asked.
"If they had solid proof that we're learning about the Breathers, they could've arrested us already."
"The Skytest," Elari muttered. "They're waiting for it to end."
"Which means," Mirae said quietly, "after the Skytest… we need to disappear."
"So what's our plan?" Mirae asked.
Elari reached into his jacket and pulled something out. He tossed it toward Ardyn.
Ardyn caught it cleanly, his eyes narrowing as he turned it in his hand. "Whisperrelay."
Elari nodded. "I have the other. We can communicate through them, off-grid."
"We'll be heading back to Cindralune tonight," he added. "What about you?"
"We're leaving tomorrow morning," Ardyn said.
Elari glanced at him. "Three days from now, I'll travel to Windmere. We'll take the next step there."
He paused. "Anything else?"
"I think we're good," Mirae said.
Without another word, Elari turned and started walking back toward the ladder.
* * *
It had been a week since Windmere's airship, The Loria, departed from Vireos.
Now, under the glow of a clear morning sky, the entire Cirran team stood on the ship's deck, the wind gentle, the skies wide and blue.
Their hearts swelled with anticipation and joy as the scattered cluster of Windmere's isles came into view—familiar, floating shapes rising through the mist like soft silhouettes in the morning light.
Ardyn was flooded with emotion. He had left Windmere a nobody—now the entire isle waited to honor him.
But his thoughts drifted to his grandfather, Maren. He must've seen the last match. Would he try to stop him from continuing as a Cirran?
And the Aerolith he had taken… Had Maren already found out?
He pushed the thought aside for now. As The Loria passed the smaller isles and Windmere Proper loomed into view, he straightened his coat and prepared himself.
The airship began to slow. From the deck, Ardyn could already see the people of Windmere gathered below. Dozens—maybe hundreds—lined the landing platform and nearby rooftops, their hands raised high, waving eagerly at The Loria as it descended.
Colorful banners waved in the breeze, bearing Windmere's insignia and hand-painted cheers. Children ran ahead of the crowd, pointing excitedly. A few even held paper gliders shaped like Cirran gear, tossing them into the wind.
The airship settled, a folding stair stretching down to meet the isle's dock, where cheers already echoed in the air.
The Windmere team began to descend as applause and cheers rose from the gathered crowd. A group of musicians struck up a rhythm, drums and wind instruments echoing across the open air.
"Is this your first time in Windmere?" Ardyn heard Ava ask Mirae as the two walked just ahead of him down the stairway.
"Yes," Mirae replied, her gaze sweeping across the crowd below. "Already starting to like it. Honestly, it feels like home. The vibe reminds me of Orriven."
As they descended, locals stepped forward with bright smiles, looping garlands of windblossoms and featherfern around their necks—Windmere's own way of saying welcome. The air was filled with the scent of sweetleaf and wildflowers.
Fans of the Skytest pressed in next, holding out Windmere badge cards and bits of parchment, asking excitedly for autographs. A few even handed over their sketchbooks and homemade trinkets, eager just for a word or smile.
But it was the children—dozens of them—who clustered most tightly around Ardyn. Many held paper-made Galegears strapped to their arms or shoulders, some crudely folded, others surprisingly detailed, complete with drawn-on Aeroliths and painted wind trails. One boy wore gauntlets made from cardboard tubes, and struck a pose like a Striker mid-flight.
"Ardyn! Ardyn! Can you sign mine?"
"Did you really beat the Dravons with one shot?"
"Can you show us how you fly?"
Ardyn blinked, half in awe, half flustered. He crouched to the level of one of the kids and took the offered paper gauntlet gently in his hands, signing it with a crooked grin.
"You made this?" he asked.
The boy nodded furiously, eyes wide. "I'm gonna join the Skytest one day too!"
Ardyn ruffled the kid's hair. "Then I'll see you on the Windmere Skyrink someday."
Ardyn caught Mirae's gaze. She was watching him with that quiet, approving smile of hers, gentle and proud.
More cheers erupted. Laughter. A girl tugged at his sleeve to show off her shoulder-mounted Galegear made from a polished tin can. For a brief moment, the weight of the finals, the council, and all the dangers ahead slipped from his shoulders—replaced by something lighter, something warmer.