Sky took his coat off and placed it against a hook near his bed. Over the last six years Stella had helped him make his home more comfortable by asking Blitz to add windows around the front door and against the side, place hooks against the right wall for clothing and a cabinet where Sky could store clothes along with a small bedside table.
Having been focused solely on training and quests, the only thing Sky had learned to make was Miracle Tea. Due to that Stella had been cooking him meals whenever she could, and if she couldn't Sky would find himself drifting over to the bar she worked at for a bite.
Today was her day off and as such she had ditched the frilled dress she usually wore. She was now dressed in shorts and a t-shirt wearing an apron while she cooked. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a very loose bun as she wrapped up the meal.
Very quickly afterwards she set the table and the two ate while Sky explained what they had decided on.
"So you're going back tomorrow?" She asked, a nervousness in her voice.
"Yeah, should be a fun reunion." Sky said after swallowing a mouthful of stew
A silence took over the table before she asked. "Are you going to come back?"
"The plan is to come back but who knows what'll happen after defeating Porphyrion." Sky said, unsure of the future.
"But will you be back here?" She asked once again.
Sky thought for a moment, not knowing what would happen tomorrow let alone when they went to fight. "I don't know…" Sky finally said, "I don't know…"
The two ate quietly for the rest of dinner. Once they had finished Sky grabbed the plates and placed them in the sink, followed by covering the stew and putting it away in the fridge. He then began washing the dishes as Stella sat quietly, not saying a word.
Once he had finished, she got up to leave. Before leaving the doorway she turned around. "Please come back." She said.
Sky smiled and gave her a thumbs up. "Don't worry, I don't plan on dying!" He said happily.
She smiled before leaving Sky alone in the house. After a few moments he grabbed a fresh pair of clothes and a towel and headed to the bathhouse, a new building Blitz had created near Sky's home. Before it's creation Sky would walk to the arena every night where he would shower there before walking back but now the trip had become shorter and much more manageable.
In an hour he returned to find the lights in his home turned off. He quietly made his way over to his bed while tossing his dirty clothing to the side and sat down.
"Such a pretty string…" Said a feminine voice in the dark.
"Would be a shame if it were to snap!" HIssed another, deeper voice near the door.
"It will… like all things…" Whispered a third.
Suddenly the darkness started leaking out of his home from his door. Suddenly the light above started flickering again before turning back on.
"Why do all the weirdo's come to visit me?" Sky asked himself as he turned the light off and went to bed, deciding he would worry about what just happened in the morning.
As quickly as his eyes closed, they had opened. The bright morning sun leaked in through the windows, forcing Sky awake. He quickly got out of bed and changed into his normal attire, a t-shirt, blue pants, black shoes and his white coat that he threw over his shoulders. Soon after he made his way to Atlas' den where he found the others standing ready.
Lea was wearing a simple black tank top, pants and shoes covered by a bronze chestplate with matching bracers and armor that covered her legs. Her weapons were still on her but she now carried an extra sword on her other hip.
Blitz had shed his t-shirt and now stood shirtless, revealing countless tattoos on his torso in various patterns and giant muscles decorating his barrel-like body, covered by his large orange beard. On his hips sat a large pouch on both the left and right with two tightly wound bags tied to his belt on his back. He wore thick brown pants and similar shoes all held up by a belt.
Elsa and Faust were dressed similar to Lea but with their own flares. Elsa had on a dark green tank top, cargo pants and white boots while she wore a white chestplate with matching bracers and silver earrings and rings. Faust had on a deep purple tank top, cargo pants and black boots with a shiny black chestplate, and bracers with more armor covering her legs and a large warhammer strapped to her back and a war helmet with horns. She wore no rings, instead a thick piece of leather on the back of her hand.
Silk wore his usual attire, a deep purple cloak with black splotches over a long sleeve, dark gray chestplate that Blitz had remade into a t-shirt with beige pants and his black gloves and shoes. On his waist was his accessory kit, on his hips his retractable bow and on his back a quiver. He kept his face covered, despite having shown everyone his face already.
Rune now wore a short sleeve white shirt with a brown blazer over it with its sleeves rolled up, both of which were made by Blitz and both of which were open from the middle. He wore black pants and shoes, making him seem like someone who was getting ready to deliver a lecture. From where Sky stood he could make out scrolls pushed into the inner coat pockets, already knowing that was why Rune wore the coat anyway.
"Good to go?" Atlas finally said as he emerged from his room.
He had completely ditched the joker outfit and now had a body similar to that of Blitz's but on a larger frame. He wore no shirt revealing large, powerful muscles with black pants underneath and large boots. On his skin were dozens of freckles that reminded Sky of the stars above. They danced and moved, sometimes forming constellations while others watched.
"Alright then!" He signaled for the three moons to come, each of them wearing the same as usual.
They each placed a hand on Neutra's shoulder and with a bright flash the scenery shifted and they stood on the very same hill from once they left, overlooking Hero's Stronghold.