"I…did it," the relief in Aether's voice was profound.
He was both surprised and proud of his own work. And that pride shone from his still glowing face.
Below, the water began to boil. The scent of blood had drawn the other river monsters, and now they were fighting for their chance at the feast.
Soon the Dragon would be merely a pile of bones on the bottom of the lake…or would they float through to the other side?
Noble didn't bother wondering just now. She floated toward the younger Master with a genuine smile.
"Well done, Aether!"
"I couldn't have done it without all of you." The polite Master was quick to share the credit.
"Don't be so modest, that feat was worthy of special recognition." Roan watched the water as it continued to froth.
"You aren't alone in your thinking, it seems." Aether allowed a small smile.
"We can celebrate later. We aren't done yet." Roan patted the young man on the shoulder as he came near.
Noble nodded. They needed to check on the soldiers, but first, they needed to let Helie know the outcome of the battle and tend to Syrce.
Silently, Noble pulled on the connection she had with the energetic Saint. It led far into the distance.
"This way."
Leaving behind the crimson lake, Noble brought the men to the woods until they reached a clearing tucked behind the treeline. She lowered her companions to the ground before taking her usual position a couple of millimeters above the earth.
Helie welcomed them with warmth. "It is good to see all of you in one piece!"
"The cannot be said for the dragon," Roan tilted his head toward the young man beside him. "Your arrow gave Aether the opening he needed. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I am not sure I would have believed it."
"My scout took down the Remnant?" Syrce sat up from the tree she was leaning against. "Now that is an accomplishment worthy of a royal consort!"
Aether blushed. Rather than correct her that he had no intention of marrying a princess, he took the compliment for what it was. "Thank you, My Lady."
Noble looked at the Saint's pale lips as she leaned back again lazily against the tree.
Still clutching the hand mirror, the commander was in bad shape. Her usual energy was lacking as she smiled at the Masters. Her tunic was more crimson than peach now. That much blood loss would have killed a mundane human twice over, and Noble wasn't even sure she could have survived.
Looking at the lack of color in Syrce's cheeks, Noble wasn't sure that the Saint would survive either.
The Other Maelys had done considerable damage to the one she claimed as a sister. The cracks to the orbs of Syrce's Transcendent form had translated to injuries on her human body. That wasn't even taking into account that the crazy Saint had essentially blown herself up in a sudden discharge of energy and then tried to tango with a Remnant.
"Syrce…" Noble's voice broke as she knelt beside her friend.
"Dearest Bel. Look at you! What happened to your helmet?" Syrce lifted her free hand to touch Noble's blonde locks.
"The Other packed a bit of a punch." Child of Promise tucked her hair behind her ear, brushing against a cut on her cheek.
Syrce's expression darkened. "She hit you? I'll kill her!"
"That's been taken care of," Noble refused to let the Saint sit up.
"I knew you could do it." Syrce nodded, letting her hand slide back to the ground. "Now, we need to get that mirror back to the maze…"
"Rest first." Noble couldn't bear to see the Saint struggling.
"How much time do we have?" Syrce's question was addressed to Roan.
"Before moonset?" Roan sighed. The cohort leader gazed above the trees. "An hour at best."
"Then there is no time to rest. A soldier cannot stop until the job is complete." Syrce shook her head.
"A soldier cannot fight at all if she is dead, my lady," Helie countered.
"My men are dying!" The commander's eyes lit with a new fire. Pushing against the tree, she sat up, bringing a new belt of fresh crimson around her middle.
"We will go!" Noble caught the Saint as she struggled to stand. "We will handle the mirror."
Syrce moved her arm so that Noble could not take the mirror from her grasp.
"You cannot go without me! I will not let you leave me here alone!"
A quick glance at Helie told Noble that she had no intention of staying behind another time.
"You cannot go anywhere until you are healed!" Noble insisted.
If only Flint had been there, he would have been able to help in the predicament! Noble felt tears sting her eyes, but she wasn't sure if it was for her fallen friend, her fading friend, or more likely a combination of the two. It was just too much!
Aether coughed lightly, bringing the heated conversation to an abrupt halt.
"Did you have something you would like to say, Aether?" Roan's coaxing freed the young man's tongue.
"I think I may be able to help. If I may, My Lady?" He offered his hand to the swaying woman.
"You are a gentleman, I will give you that," Syrce began weakly. "But…"
Child of Promise felt Aether's emotions. A flicker of hope ignited in her.
"Give him your hand," Noble told her friend more forcefully.
When Syrce did not immediately respond, Noble lifted her hand and forced it into Aether's waiting palm.
"I can walk on my…oh!" Syrce's eyes opened wide.
The starlight overhead burned a little brighter, bathing the ancient Saint in its subtle radiance.
Syrce's grey eyes shut, and she swayed, releasing the mirror. Noble caught the looking glass while Aether took the Saint's other hand to steady her. Together, the pair rocked back and forth, moving to a melody only they could hear. Noble felt the gentle rise and fall of their emotions. She remained silent, desperate not to break their trance.
Syrce suddenly pulled away, her face aghast. "What did you…ah!"
Unable to contain the energy inside her, she spontaneously transformed and did a lap around the clearing. When she landed, her eyes continued to crackle with unspent power.
"Aether! You have been holding out on me!" Syrce flexed her fingers.
"Holding out on all of us!" Helie could barely believe her eyes.
Hadn't Aether said more than once how much he envied Flint's healing ability? And here he was doing it like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Indeed, I have not," Aether touched the brunette's arm, repeating the process that he had on Syrce.
As Helie was less injured, the healing took barely a breath.
"Then when did you…" Roan paused as he received his turn.
"You witnessed it yourself." Aether shrugged.
"The Dragon Prince?" Noble watched a smile bloom on the young man's face as he nodded.
"I unlocked my Legacy."
"Unlocked?" Syrce tilted her head in confusion.
"I think he means he acquired a new skill," Noble answered.
Aether nodded. "It is as Lady Bel said. As a part of that, I have found a new way to use the starlight."
The man had gotten his Aspect Legacy, and his Legacy Relic had a healing component. What a stroke of luck! And Noble was about to be the beneficiary of that boon.
Aether touched her shoulder, and she felt the spotlight fall on her from above. She couldn't explain the transformation that went on as the warmth filled her body.
The anguish of the day melted from her worn-out body, and even some of her soul damage dissipated. Noble took a deep cleansing breath.
"Thank you."
Aether's smile grew wide, rivaling even the brightest star. "You are welcome."
Noble knew what this would mean for the young man. An Aspect Legacy was priceless. It would do so much not only for him but for the Nightwalker Clan.
And for that relic to have included healing?
Perhaps he was a golden child after all.
Noble didn't mind. The young man deserved every good thing he got.
And thanks to him, the cohort had new life breathed into them.
That was good. They had a job to finish.
Soon enough, the warriors had regrouped and prepared to return to Bastion.
It was time to face an Advisor.