Akiko stood in a narrow stone corridor forged from memory. Carved from the jagged black rock of despair. Water dripped from the ceiling in slow, rhythmic beats. Torches flickered in iron sconces, their flames throwing long shadows across slick walls.

She shouldn't have been here. This place was gone. Buried. But she knew it.

The sorcerer's lair. The man who had taken Elyas.

Kaede's voice rang out ahead, taut with urgency. "We're getting him out, Akiko. No matter what."

Akiko ran forward, boots splashing through shallow puddles. Kaede crouched at the corner, her hands aglow with tight, barely-contained magic. Her face was pale with fear, but her expression hardened when she saw Akiko.

"Stay close," Kaede whispered. "We don't have time for mistakes."

Akiko nodded silently. Her daggers were already in hand. Her usual grin was gone. Replaced by something tight, fierce, terrified. This wasn't a job. This was Kaede's world falling apart.

And Akiko couldn't let her face it alone.

The memory fractured, the way dreams did, and she was staring down a magical barrier. The sorcerer loomed behind it, robed in darkness, his voice oily with cruelty.

At his feet: Elyas. Shackled. Bleeding.

Kaede's magic surged. "Let him go!"

The sorcerer laughed. "See how easy it is to break you," he sneered. "You care, and it makes you weak."

Kaede faltered. Her glow stuttered.

Akiko didn't think, she moved. A flash of foxfire. Steel in her hands. Spells arcing overhead.

The memory blurred again, into chaos, screaming, and blood, until finally she was kneeling beside Elyas. He was conscious, barely, and clinging to Kaede like she was the only thing keeping him tethered.

The dream shifted again. The dungeon vanished.

Now she stood in a void of smoke and black stone. And in the center, chained and still, was Raya.

Akiko's pulse hammered. "No—"

She ran. Or tried. Her limbs were heavy. Her feet sank into nothing.

"You never learn, do you?" said a voice.

It wasn't the sorcerer's this time. It was her own. Or close to it.

"You think you can protect her? That you won't fail again?"

Raya looked up, her expression calm. Trusting. It shattered something in Akiko's chest.

She reached for the chains. But Raya blurred, melted to smoke, and in her place stood Akiko's reflection. Cold eyes. Smirking mouth. Flames flickering from her tail like a wick burning down.

"You think you're strong enough now?" the reflection mocked. "That's rich."

It stepped forward. With every step, it grew. Monstrous, towering, all heat and teeth and memory sharpened into cruelty.

"Your adventuring party," it hissed. "Brom. Kaede. Elyas. You left them to suffer. And now the Driftknight? Her? You'll fail them too. Just like you always do."

Akiko stumbled back, but the ground twisted under her. Chains clattered somewhere in the dark.

"You can't save anyone," the thing growled. "Not then. Not now. Not ever."

It lunged.

Akiko jerked upright, gasping, the dream ripping away like paper in a storm.

The room was still. The faint whir of the resort's climate controls barely broke the silence.

She sat up slowly, dragging a hand through sweat-matted hair.

Not again.

Her hands trembled as she pressed her palms to her face, willing the nightmare to fade.

She should've been able to relax here. She'd made it back. Raya was safe. But even now, sleep clung like ash to her thoughts.

Akiko looked toward the window. Beyond the glass, Callistra's city lights shimmered like stars beneath the atmosphere dome. Somewhere in that glow, Raya was sleeping. Safe. Peaceful. Unaware of the storm Akiko had carried back with her.

The silence dragged. The walls felt close. She needed air. She left without really knowing where she was going. Just moving, following the quiet.

The corridors of the resort blurred around her as she drifted past sleeping wings and empty lounges, her thoughts louder than her footsteps. At some point, her path took her outside.

The rising steam from Callistra's geothermal pools shimmered in the pale light of dawn, casting the rocky terrain in hues of orange and gold.

Akiko sat on the edge of a secluded balcony overlooking the resort, her legs dangling over the ledge. The air was crisp, tinged with the mineral tang of heated earth, so unlike the humid forests and crowded cities of her old world.

She wasn't sure why she'd come here. Maybe it was the stillness. Or maybe it was the only place quiet enough to hear the noise in her head.

Elyas.

The name hung like a weight behind her eyes. Her tail flicked restlessly against the stone. She pulled her knees up and wrapped her arms around them, chin resting atop like she could fold into herself and vanish.

The dream had dredged it all back. The ambush, the screaming, the cold. She hadn't thought about it in so long. And now it clung to her, vivid and unrelenting.

She had buried it. She had to. What good would remembering do?

But the memories spilled in anyway. Kaede's frantic casting. Brom's roar as he charged ahead. Her own mad dash into the enemy camp, praying she could reach Elyas before it was too late. But she hadn't. Not on her own.

Kaede had been the one to reach him. Kaede had healed his wounds, spoken the words he needed to hear.

Akiko had frozen, staring at the wreckage of the room, the blood, the torn bindings still wrapped around his wrists. The marks the chains had left behind.

I thought I was the brave one. The one who ran in, got things done. But when it mattered…

She tilted her head back and stared up at the pale sky beyond the dome. The stillness pressed down on her chest, the kind of weight that only found her when she stopped running long enough to feel it.

And now there was Raya.

Akiko closed her eyes, teeth pressed to her lower lip. She could still see the way Raya had smiled at her in the transport bay. Not eager. Not starry-eyed. Just… warm. Steady. Like she knew Akiko, and trusted her anyway.

What happens if I let her in? What happens if she gets hurt because of me?

Elyas's face surfaced in her mind again. That quiet, fractured smile he'd given Kaede. Telling her he was okay. That it wasn't her fault.

Akiko knew that smile too well. It was the one people wore when they were holding themselves together for someone else's sake.

I can't let that happen again. Not with Raya.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

By the time she left the balcony behind, night had settled fully over the resort. The walk back to the ship felt longer than it was, her thoughts looping tighter with every step.

When she finally stepped aboard the Driftknight, the familiar scent of recycled air and old metal wrapped around her like a ghost.

She found Raya in the Driftknight's observation lounge, the panoramic view of Callistra's rugged terrain stretching beneath the dark void of space.

Raya sat cross-legged on one of the worn couches, a datapad balanced in her lap, quietly reading.

The hum of the ship and the muted glow of the overhead lights created a cocoon of calm, but Akiko's pulse quickened as she stepped inside.

She hesitated in the doorway, fingers tugging at the hem of her jacket.

Why is this so hard? Just tell her you're leaving. Simple.

Raya looked up, her face brightening with a warm smile. "Hey, Akiko. You're up early."

Akiko swallowed. "Yeah. Uh, can I talk to you for a sec?"

Raya set the tablet aside, brow creasing slightly. "Of course. What's up?"

Akiko perched on the edge of the opposite couch, hands braced on her knees. Her fingers dug in harder than she meant. She didn't meet Raya's eyes. Stared at the floor instead, counting the faint scuffs on the decking. Anything to avoid that warm, steady gaze.

"I'm heading out soon. Kara and I talked it over. I need to check on what's going on with Zephara. There's… stuff that needs sorting. I think it ties back to the mercenaries that tried to abduct me."

Raya's brow furrowed. "When you say 'heading out,' you mean on your own?"

Akiko nodded. "Yeah. It's dangerous. Best if I handle it myself. Less risk that way."

Liar. It wasn't about risk. Not really. It was about how her heart clenched tight at the thought of something happening to Raya. Because of her.

Raya leaned forward, her confusion folding into something sharper. "You're joking, right? After everything we've been through, you're seriously pulling the 'I'll handle it alone' card again?"

Akiko winced, ears flicking beneath her hood. "Raya—"

"No," Raya said firmly. "I get it. I do. You think you're protecting me by leaving me behind. But we've done this before. Ashara? Remember that? You didn't seem too concerned about dragging me into danger then."

"That was different," Akiko muttered, still not looking up.

Different because she hadn't cared this much yet. Different because losing Raya then wouldn't have hollowed her out the same way it would now.

"Was it?" Raya leaned back, arms crossing. "Ashara changed everything for me. I'm not just a medic anymore. I have magic now. Because of you. I can help."

Akiko flinched at that.

Because of me. That was the problem.

Everything good, everything terrible, it all traced back to her.

"I just don't want you to get hurt," she said, barely above a whisper.

Raya's expression softened, but the tension didn't leave her voice. "And you think I want you getting hurt? Akiko, you're incredible. Reckless. Stubborn. Brilliant. But not invincible. You shouldn't have to carry all of this alone."

Akiko opened her mouth. The words crowded in her chest, too many, too heavy. I'm scared. I can't lose you. It would ruin me.

Nothing made it past her tongue.

The silence stretched, cold and brittle.

Raya let it sit a beat, then leaned in. "Look. I know you're scared. I am too. But if that's what's stopping you, then I'm staying by your side. Because I'd rather be scared together than left behind again."

Akiko blinked. Her voice was small. "You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?"

Raya smiled. That same fond smile that set Akiko's heart fluttering.

"Not a chance."

Akiko exhaled, half sigh, half surrender. "Fine. But stay close. And no heroics."

Raya's grin twitched wider. "You're the one giving the no-heroics speech?"

Akiko rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. No diving headfirst into trouble."

"You mean like a certain kitsune I know," Raya said, standing, "who soloed a dragon?"

Akiko exhaled, a breath that tasted almost like a laugh. She hadn't stood her ground against the dragon. She'd done what anyone sane would do and run.

Only fools waited to be burned. Except here she was, terrified of one small promise, because losing Raya would scorch deeper than any fire.

Akiko chewed her bottom lip for a moment. "Just… promise you'll be careful?"

Raya stepped closer and touched her arm, gentle. "I promise. But same goes for you, little fox."

Before Akiko could respond, a familiar voice chimed from behind them.

"Oh, this is adorable. About time you two figured this out."

Akiko spun, already knowing.

Sifra lounged across the back of a chair, wings flickering in the dim light, grinning like she'd won a bet.

"Eavesdropping?" Akiko asked, exasperated.

Sifra shrugged. "I prefer 'staying informed.' Not my fault you mortals have loud feelings."

She floated over and booped Akiko on the nose. "But seriously. Dramatic moment's over. Time for the fun part."

Raya laughed softly and glanced at Akiko. "She's got a point."

Akiko pinched the bridge of her nose. "You're both going to drive me insane."

Sifra did a twirl midair. "Insane? Please. I'm here to make your life interesting. Huge difference."

Raya's hand brushed Akiko's shoulder. "She's right about one thing. We should get moving."

Akiko nodded, shaking off the weight in her chest. "Yeah. Let's go."

They left the lounge together. Behind them, Sifra hovered with a cheerful hum.

"Oh, this is going to be fun," the fairy sing-songed. "I love it when a plan comes together. Especially when I don't know what the plan is yet."

Raya shook her head, her exasperation tempered by a faint smile. Then she touched Akiko's arm, lingering there. "I'm going to pack up the med supplies, make sure I've got everything. Meet you at the docks?"

"Yeah," Akiko said, voice low but steady. "I won't be long."

"Don't vanish on me," Raya murmured, soft enough it was almost lost to the sounds of the ship around them.

Akiko's ears twitched. Promises were still hard, but she gave a thin smile.

Raya gave her arm a final squeeze, then slipped off down the passageway, boots ringing against the deck plating.

Akiko stood there a moment, letting the faint shipboard hum and the scattered shouts of cargo crews close around her. A convenient shield she didn't have to think too hard about.

Then she turned down a narrower corridor, the noise thinning behind her.

After a short walk, she stepped off the Driftknight's ramp and into the soft atmosphere of the resort concourse. She cut through the gentle press of travelers and staff without really seeing any of them, just following familiar turns until she reached her assigned quarters.

She ducked into her room alone. The door hissed shut behind her, cutting off the low murmur of the resort's patrons outside.

Her pack, the same battered adventurer's pack she'd carried out of the ruin so many months ago, sat slumped in the corner where she'd dropped it when they'd arrived..

It looked almost out of place against the sleek lines of Callistra's resort, canvas worn thin in places, leather straps cracked and dark with sweat and years.

She crouched down and started checking through it. Spare power cells. A coil of fine copper wire from the Driftknight's stores. A half-empty tin of balm from Ashara, its sharp herbal scent still clinging to the cloth.

All layered over older things. A coil of enchanted cord. A charm of woven straw, bent nearly flat. A tiny crystal vial that hadn't held mana in ages.

Her pack was getting full. A little heavier each time she repacked it, new world stacking over old, until she couldn't always remember what she'd brought from where.

Near the bottom, her fingers brushed something smooth, familiar.

Akiko drew out a slender wooden hairbrush, polished smooth by years of use. A few dark strands still tangled in its bristles.

Kaede's brush. Borrowed in a hurry before that ruin delve, back when everything was just another contract. Another story. Before she'd torn through the veil into this universe and lost track of what home even meant.

Her throat tightened. She shoved the brush back down, buried it under power cells and copper wire, and cinched the pack closed. Then she slung it over her shoulder, heavier than before, and left to find the others.

She spotted Raya and Sifra near the main lifts, the fairy hovering in lazy circles while Raya scrolled through something on her processor.

Raya looked up the moment Akiko approached, her eyes softening as they swept over her, checking for cracks Akiko tried to keep hidden.

Without a word, Akiko fell into step beside them.

She adjusted the strap of her pack as they walked through the corridors of the resort's docking hub. Sifra darted ahead, wings making soft, rhythmic beats in the quiet space.

"So," Raya asked, breaking the silence, "how exactly are we getting to Zephara?"

Akiko glanced over, caught off guard. "What do you mean? We'll just grab a civilian transport. Like the one Kara used to get us to Serynth."

Raya stopped mid-step. "You're joking, right?"

Akiko slowed, frowning. "No…?"

Raya laughed. Soft, but tinged with disbelief. "Akiko, Zephara isn't a tourist spot. It's not Callistra. It's not even Serynth. Nobody just hops a shuttle there for the weekend."

Akiko's ears flicked beneath her hood. "But it's important, isn't it? All that water they harvest? Surely someone's running transports."

Raya sighed and planted her hands on her hips. "Sure. Ice-haulers. Supply runners. The kind of ships that don't have seats for passengers. And if you found someone willing to make room for passengers, it'd cost a fortune."

She tilted her head. "Have you even looked at your credit balance lately?"

Akiko winced. "Not… recently."

Sifra perked up. "Ooh! Let's check! What's the tally for our fearless leader?" She tapped the air with imaginary flair, like opening a shimmering ledger in the void.

Akiko ignored her and pulled up her HUD. The figure that blinked back wasn't awful. But it wasn't take-a-freighter-to-an-ice-wasteland good, either.

"Okay," she muttered. "So maybe credits are a problem."

"Credits are always a problem," Raya said, smiling faintly. "But there's an easier option."

Akiko narrowed her eyes. "Which is?"

"We hitch a ride," Raya replied. "Zephara's only regular traffic comes from the ice-haulers. They're always short on crew. We offer labor. We work our way there."

Akiko blinked. "Work? You mean manual labor?"

"You're literally wearing powered armor and hauling a fairy around in your pocket," Raya said. "You'll live."

Sifra let out a dramatic gasp. "Manual labor? How barbaric. I thought you were better than this, fox."

Akiko gave her a sidelong look, then turned back to Raya. "Alright, fine. So we hitch a ride. Where do we find these ice-haulers?"

"The Yard," Raya said simply. "That's where everything goes through. Civilian, mercantile, smuggling. It's the hub."

Akiko groaned and leaned back against a railing. "The Yard again. Fantastic. Kara's going to love hearing about this."

Raya smirked. "Oh, absolutely. After the whole Blackreach stunt? You might want to start drafting your apology."

Sifra flopped across Akiko's shoulder like a weary bird. "Please. Kara's already yelled enough to fill a trilogy. I think I got scolded by osmosis just sitting near her."

Akiko gave her a flat look. "You deserved it."

"Maybe," Sifra said breezily. "But honestly, she could stand to have more fun. Doesn't she ever take a break?"

"She's responsible for keeping us alive," Akiko said quietly. "And keeping me out of trouble."

Sifra smirked. "Not doing a great job at either."

Raya bit back a laugh as the three of them continued toward the terminal.

Akiko sighed and let her pack settle more heavily against her shoulders, the weight a fitting echo of the choice she'd failed to make. Or the inevitable dressing-down once Kara found out what came next.

One problem at a time.

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