Alarm seared through Theo's nerves. Gripping Zenith tight with his left hand, he snaked his right hand toward his staff holster.
He had no idea what the hell was happening, where Mirage and Victor had come from, but one thing was clear – this person was another homunculus knight. Despite her slight build, even shorter than Darian, he knew better than to underestimate her.
And the others felt the same. Darian lifted her saber, and Mirage maneuvered in front of Victor.
"Hold on," the silver-haired knight said, holding up her hands. Her voice was quiet, but carried inside the silent chamber. "I don't want to fight."
"Like we can believe that," Darian snarled. Though the saber trembled in her grip, she pointed it at the knight's face.
The knight gazed steadily back. "I mean it. I am Sir Meridian of the Knights of the Firmament. If you'll allow me, I'll help you escape."
"What?" Darian inhaled sharply, and she wasn't the only one. Numb surprise reverberated through Theo's head, wiping away his thoughts.
"No way. Why the hell would you?" Mirage demanded. "We're intruders, aren't we? Your enemy."
Sir Meridian said nothing. With a quiet clank of armor, she took a step. Darian and Mirage tensed, and Theo's hand landed on his holster. Undeterred, Meridian kept walking. She maneuvered around the table until she was facing the group directly, no obstacles between them.
When her gaze landed on Zenith, Theo's heart stuttered. Her midnight blue eyes were stern and serious, but they didn't hold a trace of malice. No, she surveyed Zenith with more an air of contemplation than anything.
Then she lifted her arm and pressed her hand to his forehead.
Instantly Darian's saber snapped toward her throat. Meridian did not budge an inch. Instead, she kept gazing at Zenith as if nothing else existed. With a jolt, Theo realized her serene concentration reminded him of the way Nevy got when she was tinkering with her devices.
Then Levia bloomed in the room – soft and gentle, but with an unmistakable crystalline edge. The breath caught in Theo's throat.
With wide eyes, he watched as pale light began to glow beneath Meridian's hand, casting rippling highlights across her gauntlet. It trickled over Zenith's skin, flowing at a gentle but steady pace. Though Theo knew he ought to be alarmed, the Levia felt so calm and peaceful he couldn't help but relax a little.
It wasn't exactly like Zenith's – nowhere near as bright – but it felt strikingly similar. She wasn't trying to overwhelm Zenith like Cyrias had, destroy his sense of self. The power she was giving him instead resonated with his own core, drawing out the light slumbering deep within.
When it flared into life, almost as strong as if Theo was feeling it across their contract, Zenith's entire body twitched. "What are you doing?" Darian demanded, though she had lowered the saber.
Slowly, carefully, Meridian drew her hand back. "Helping him wake up," she said, though she never tore her gaze from Zenith's face.
Barely a moment later, his chest shuddered. A sharp breath burst from his lips. Just like that, Theo felt the strength return to his limp muscles. He pushed against Theo's shoulder, and understanding the signal, Theo stepped back and let go.
To his other side, Darian did the same. For a wild moment, Theo feared Zenith might collapse, but though the knight stumbled forward a few steps, he quickly caught himself. Blinking, brushing the hair out of his face, he lifted his head.
"Sir Meridian?" His voice was low and hoarse, but the confusion in it was impossible to miss. "What are you...?"
"Good. You're awake." Meridian nodded briskly. "We don't have much time. If you'll follow me, I can take you to a transport."
"No, seriously." Mirage's shrill shout cracked across the room. "Before we go anywhere with you, tell us what the hell your game is. Were you the one who led us through those hidden passages? What for? Why are you helping us?"
Meridian blinked. For the first time, an emotion flickered across her face – the faintest hint of surprise. "Yes, I opened those passages. I know the workshop's systems better than anyone. Even Master Cyrias."
"Okay, now do the more important question, if you please."
More blinking. Then Meridian drew in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. Though she still barely cleared Darian's head, her presence somehow seemed to overwhelm the entire room.
"I saw everything that happened."
"What? How?" Theo blurted.
Meridian's eyes flicked toward him. "Communication mirrors," she said as if the answer was obvious.
"So you saw everything," Darian said, taut and strained. "Including...Astraeon's true identity?"
Meridian gave a sharp shake of her head. "I didn't see that. But I saw you tell Master Cyrias that you believe he is the Infernal Lord. And I saw...what Master Cyrias did. To you, Sir Zenith."
"Ah." Zenith stiffened. "You mean...."
"And I saw what you did in turn, Sir Zenith. I saw, and I weighed the evidence before me. And I decided on this course of action. I believe it is the correct one."
"How can it be that easy?" Darian demanded. "You're his creation, right? You're loyal to him!"
Meridian gazed back at her, cool and unaffected. "So is Sir Zenith. But he defied Master Cyrias, didn't he?"
"I – well – "
"He's the prototype, so he's special. I don't know if I can do what he did." When Meridian's hand wandered over to her cape, giving it a thoughtless tug, Theo realized she must be thinking about the wings Zenith had grown. "But all the same, I have a mind of my own. I am a Knight of the Firmament, that is true. Created by Master Cyrias, sworn to the service of Miria Fortress and Emperor Astraeon. Before all that, though, I consider myself a scientist."
She lifted her chin, eyes hard with a resolve that took Theo's breath away. Until now, he had never seen anything like it from someone who wasn't Zenith.
"As a scientist, I can only go where the evidence leads me. The highest value I hold myself to is the truth alone. Not unthinking loyalty to a liege or master. Maybe that's not very knightly of me, but I don't care. I followed the evidence, and I came to the conclusion that Master Cyrias is wrong."
"Sir Meridian," Zenith said, quiet and stricken. Then he swallowed, his throat convulsing, before straightening his back and pressing his fist to his chest in a firm salute.
"Your actions are the very essence of knightly. Never doubt it."
"Sir Zenith." Meridian's eyes widened. All traces of calm composure fled, replaced by a wonder so innocent Theo couldn't help but feel a warm flood of affection toward her. Though he barely knew Meridian, he already felt certain that Zenith's assessment of her was a hundred percent correct.
It wasn't long before a smile settled across Meridian's face. She returned Zenith's salute with one just as proud. "Thank you."
Zenith nodded at her, smiling as well. Stupidly enough, witnessing their camaraderie made Theo's heart ache. So far, the Knights of the Firmament had mostly been obstacles in his way, but now Theo understood that in the time Zenith had spent as their leader, he had forged a genuine bond with them.
Meridian cleared her throat before spinning on her heel, cape swirling behind her. "We haven't much time," she said, brisk again. "I'll take you to the transport. It's in the hangar bay, which shouldn't be far from here. I can access it through this tunnel."
With three long strides, she crossed the room and rapped on the opposite wall. Stone rumbled and scraped as a doorway slid open beneath her fist. "There are proper skycraft in the hangar as well, but they'll be much too conspicuous. This transport is meant for brief trips at best, as it's rather small in size and the medusid lacks a symbiont. All the same, it should serve the purpose of getting you away from the workshop."
Just as Meridian stepped inside the doorway, Zenith held out his hand. "Wait. Sir Meridian, please. Come with us."
Without looking back, Meridian shook her head. "I can't."
"You have proven yourself the truest of knights. I believe I speak for us all when I say we would be honored to have you fight by our side. And no matter what, I can't leave you here to face Cyrias's wrath alone."
"Sir Zenith." Slowly, Meridian turned around. The sad smile on her face sent ice prickling down Theo's spine. "I...this is still my home. And the knights are still my family. I can't abandon them."
"Sir Meridian," Zenith said quietly, taking a step forward.
"You have your own family to go back to, don't you?" Meridian's smile widened, though it didn't become any less sad. "They're all waiting for you, so please hurry. Best of luck in your future journeys."
Hands clenched into fists, Zenith drew in a shuddering breath. Then he relaxed, all the tension drowning out of his body, and lowered his head in a solemn nod.
"Best of luck to you as well. One day, I promise – I will come back for you. All of you. You...deserve better."
Meridian returned his nod, then turned back around and started marching down the tunnel. Even without sharing a contract, Theo could sense the emotions warring inside Zenith. He turned toward the knight, resting a gentle hand on his arm, and Zenith blinked as if noticing Theo for the first time.
"Come on," Theo said. "Let's get going, okay?"
Zenith blinked, pale eyelashes fluttering. Then a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth, sending a jolt through Theo's heart.
"By your will."