Morning came slowly to the desert.
Golden sunlight spilled across the dunes as wind carried the lingering scent of crystal dust and burned Aether.
The canyon where the Devourer died looked like a warzone.
Half the cliffs were gone.
A crater stretched across the canyon floor.
And in the middle of it...
Clare Drake sat cross-legged in the sand.
Her combat suit lay beside her in pieces.
"...this is stupid."
Ryū sat on a rock nearby smoking.
"You're the one who asked to get stronger."
Clare glared at him.
"I meant train with my sword."
Ryū shook his head.
"No."
He flicked ash into the sand.
"You're training your Aether."
Clare crossed her arms.
"I already use Aether."
Ryū snorted.
"No you don't."
He pointed at her armor.
"That piece of junk does."
Clare looked down at the dismantled suit.
Her Aether Knight Frame was one of the most advanced pieces of military tech in the Vantaris Empire.
But without proper control...
It was just metal.
"The suit pulls Aether from the environment," Ryū said.
"Then amplifies it through your core."
Clare frowned.
"Yeah. That's how all Knight Frames work."
Ryū nodded.
"And that's why the Vantaris military plateau's so easily."
Clare's eyes narrowed.
"What's that supposed to mean?!"
Ryū stood.
He walked over and tapped her chest.
"Your Aether Core is weak as hell."
Clare slapped his hand away.
"Thanks for the compliment dad!"
She said sarcastically.
Ryū shrugged.
"But that doesn't mean it can't grow."
Clare paused.
"...what?"
Ryū smirked.
"I'll show you what I mean."
He walked a few meters away and turned toward her.
"Stand up."
Clare groaned but obeyed.
Ryū crouched and drew a circle in the sand.
"First rule of Aether control."
He tapped the ground.
"You don't actually control it."
Clare frowned.
"That doesn't make any sense."
Ryū looked up.
"You let it flow through you."
The wind shifted.
The air felt different.
Clare suddenly became aware of something she had never noticed before.
A faint energy in the atmosphere.
Like static.
Like the world itself was breathing.
"That's Aether," Ryū said.
"It's everywhere."
Clare slowly raised her hand.
"...I can feel it."
Ryū smiled slightly.
"Good."
Then he kicked her legs out.
Clare hit the ground.
"HEY!"
Ryū shrugged.
"Second rule."
He pointed at the sky.
"Aether doesn't care about you."
Clare stood up angrily.
"You're doing this on purpose!"
Ryū grinned.
"Yep."
He turned and started walking.
Clare blinked.
"...where are you going?"
Ryū stretched.
"To town."
Clare grabbed her suit pieces.
"Wait!"
Three hours later
The desert road led toward a massive port city carved into the cliffs of the coast.
Ships filled the harbor.
Airships floated overhead.
Clare stared.
"...this place is huge."
Ryū yawned.
"Welcome to Dusthaven."
One of the largest neutral cities in the Aethra world.
Merchants.
Adventurers.
Mercenaries.
All mixed together under towering stone walls.
Clare pulled her hood up.
"I shouldn't be seen here."
Ryū glanced at her.
"Because you're technically AWOL now?"
Clare stopped walking.
"...huh?"
Ryū grinned.
"You didn't think the army was cool with you disappearing, did you?"
Clare groaned.
"Whoops."
Ryū stretched his arms.
"Relax. Governments have been trying to arrest me for three hundred years, and it only worked once."
Clare sighed.
"Somehow that doesn't make me feel better."
They entered the city gates.
The streets were packed.
Food vendors.
Armor shops.
Magic traders.
Clare stared at everything.
"Wow..."
Ryū was already gone.
Clare blinked.
"...what!? How?!"
She looked around.
Ryū stood across the street talking to two women.
Flirting.
Clare marched over.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
The women laughed.
Ryū shrugged.
"What?"
Clare grabbed his coat.
"We are not here for this!"
Ryū smirked.
"You're so jealous."
Clare drew her sword halfway.
"I will stab you."
Ryū laughed.
"Good grief, relax a bit."
Then he looked toward the harbor.
His expression changed.
Serious now.
"...we're here for information."
Clare frowned.
"About what?"
Ryū looked out at the ocean.
"Something I'm looking into."
Clare blinked.
"...the Devourer?"
Ryū shook his head.
"No."
His golden eyes darkened slightly.
"Something that's tied to my past."
Clare froze.
"...oh."
Ryū started walking toward an inn.
"You don't have to worry about it."
Clare followed him nervously.
"Why?"
Ryū opened the door.
"Because it involves one of your sisters."
Clare stopped.
"...which one?"
Ryū smirked.
"You'll see."
Inside the inn, the world of Aethra continued moving.
Unaware.
That the Demon King had returned.
END OF CHAPTER 3