Catalyst lay motionless in the healing chamber, the resonance field bathing her body in rippling waves of starlight and thermal plasma. Her systems had barely stabilized after the battle, yet she looked… peaceful. For a moment, Aqualis was quiet—too quiet. The silence wasn't comforting. It felt like the city was holding its breath.
Outside, Jaden sat slumped against the sanctum's corridor wall. His arms bore bruises, his eyes bloodshot and sunken. He hadn't slept in over thirty hours. A medic passed by and handed him a hydration pack.
"Thanks," Jaden murmured, not even looking up.
Lyra approached. She crouched beside him, brushing a loose strand of hair from his brow. "You saved her."
He shook his head. "We saved each other. But it's not over. That thing—it was just the start."
A faint vibration underfoot interrupted them. Alarms flashed. A wave of displaced air pushed through the city's lower levels.
