The sun shone gently the next day over the recovery area at Azure Tide. In the infirmary, Zane lay in a bed, his breathing steady but still unconscious. The nurse was calm and reassuring as she finished her examination.
"Zane just needs to rest," she said with an affable smile. "He is recuperating well. He just needs to sleep and be taken care of, and he will be perfectly fine."
Lynsithea nodded gratefully, her eyes red from a night of worry. "Thank you," she whispered.
The weight of what had happened the day before still rested heavy on her shoulders, but those words from the nurse gave her some hope.
Lynsithea moved closer to the bedside, taking his hand gently in hers. She sat beside him, her heart full of concern but also relief that he was safe. The touch of his hand was warm and reassuring, a small but significant sign that he was still with her.
"I'm here," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "Just sleep, Zane. You're safe now. I'll be here when you wake up."
Lynsithea sat quietly by the bedside of Zane, gently holding his hand in her own. The soft light of the infirmary cast serenity through the room, though her mind was not at peace while reflecting on the events that had taken them to this point. With a deep sigh, she began to speak, her voice just above a whisper, as if sharing her thoughts with him.
"You know, Zane, your Nova Watch has been quite a mystery. It blinks during Sasha's and Parveen's training sessions, and then it blinks when you battle against the Leviathan. I'm not quite sure exactly what that means, but it apparently has a life of its own, perceiving danger of one sort or another. It does have some sort of connection with you, that much is obvious."
Her gaze softened as she continued, "I remember the first time I met you. You were so brave, fighting against Sentinel despite everything. And during the training sessions with Sasha and Parveen, you pushed yourself so hard-even when it was highly apparent you were exhausted. I have never seen any one person with that kind of determination."
She had paused, her fingers tracing the outline of Zane's hand as she spoke.
"I couldn't help but admire you. You faced every challenge with such courage and resilience. Even amidst all the chaos, you were to show me a side of strength I hadn't seen before. It's not just your bravery but your heart, too. It's what drew me to you."
Her voice fell, turned contemplative. "I often wonder what would have happened if we hadn't met that day. Would we ever have crossed paths? Would I have found someone who did make me feel this way? There's just this.connection between us, something I cannot explain. But I'm glad we did."
She took a deep breath, an almost tender expression on her face. "You have shown me so much of what it is to fight for what you believe in, to face your fears head-on. It's more than just admiration now; I think. I think I'm starting to feel something deeper. Something I hadn't expected."
A tear escaped her eye as she went on, "I don't know what the future holds for us, but I want to be there when whatever happens. I want to see you open your eyes one day and tell you how much you mean to me. You've become so important in my life, and I really cannot imagine it in any other way."
She was little more than whispering now, her voice hoarse with emotion. "So, please, wake up soon, Zane. I need to say these things to your face. I need to be with you when we face whatever comes next."
She held his hand tightly, hoping that somehow, her presence, her words, would get to him and bring him back to her.
As Lynsithea sat by Zane's bedside, lost in her heart-felt reflection, the door to the infirmary groaned open. Sasha stepped into the room, with a smirk playing upon her lips. Her entrance was hardly noticeable at first, but the moment she had view of Lynsithea's flustered expression, the smirk grew.
"Hey, Lynsithea," Sasha greeted, sounding light and teasing. "Looks like I came in at just the right time."
Lynsithea's head whipped around, beet red. "Don't tell me you heard that!" she exclaimed in embarrassment and surprise.
Sasha leaned casually against the doorframe, enjoying immensely the discomfort of Lynsithea. "Heard what? Oh, you mean the part where you were pouring your heart out to Zane?"
Lynsithea's face turned an even darker shade of red. "Sasha, that's unfair. I was just… talking to him. It's not like I meant for anyone to overhear."
Sasha's smirk developed into a knowing grin. "So, did you, uh, kiss him to wake him up, then?"
Lynsithea's eyes widened, and she rapidly shook her head. "Why would I do that? It's not—"
"Actually, that's not a bad idea," Sasha cut in with a wink. "Classic move. Sometimes it just takes a little smooch to wake someone up."
Lynsithea's face fell as she looked utterly flustered. "No, no, I didn't do that. I… I didn't even think of it. I just… wanted him to wake up by himself."
Sasha chuckled softly. "Well, if it helps, I'm sure he will wake up soon enough. On another note, I brought something for both of you."
She reached into her satchel and pulled out two Quantum Link bracelets, shimmering with a soft, otherworldly light. "Jade had prepared these replicas of the Quantum Link-one for you, one for Zane. By the time he comes out, we'll be ready to shift to any other world."
Lynsithea took the bracelets, curious yet thankful. "Thanks, Sasha. This will come in so handy."
Sasha nodded, her expression growing heavier. "We shall ready ourselves for what lies ahead. With these, we are able to cross over and whatever dangers that come with it, face them. For now, let's get Zane back on his feet."
Lynsithea looked down at the bracelets, then back up at Zane, her determination hardened. "I'll be here with him until he wakes up. Thanks for everything."
Sasha nodded reassuringly. "No problem. And Lynsithea, about what you just said: don't worry, sometimes it is good to let out your feelings, though it may be a tad embarrassing. Zane will definitely appreciate it."
With that, Sasha left the room, and Lynsithea was left alone with only her thoughts and the Quantum Link bracelets for company. She took a deep breath as her heart was still fresh with hope, upon the watch of Zane while waiting for the moment he would wake up on the journey ahead.
As Sasha exited the room, the smirk still upon her lips, Lynsithea sat in silence, her mind racing with thoughts of the future and Zane's condition. She sat for a moment, then turned her gaze once more to Zane and his peaceful form, her fingers lightly touching upon the bracelet Sasha had given her.
A thought struck her, and she turned to Sasha just before she exited. "Sasha, wait! Was Jade able to look into Zane's Nova Watch? Is it indeed hooked up with the Ether Link, as we suspected?"
Sasha paused at the door, her face changing into one of reflection. She turned back toward Lynsithea.
"Jade did inquire into it, yes. She did find something interesting. It seems the Nova Watch does have something to do with the Ether Link, but it's not- Hurts my head just to think about it, but it's not like the Ether Links we understand."
Lynsithea's eyes heightened with interest. "What do you mean?"
Sasha stepped back into the room, leaning against the doorframe. "The watch seems to have its own unique link to the Ether. It reacts with Zane's emotional and physical states, so it's more than just a device. It might be attuned with his personal Ether Link in a way that's specific to him."
Lynsithea furrowed her brow, processing the information. "So, it's not only no ordinary Ether Link device, but somehow it involves a personal or unique connection with Zane?"
Sasha nodded. "Exactly. Jade said something about how the watch has a bond with Zane's own Ether Link, but nobody's really sure either how or why that works with him this way. It could have to do with his past or his connection to other worlds."
Lynsithea was getting some ideas. "That would explain it showing such an extreme reaction during the storm and the battle. It does appear to sense danger, and might even be linked with his survival instincts."
Sasha smiled wryly, her eyes saying volumes about reassurance and mystery. "That's a good theory. And probably is the reason we do need to monitor it. Might give us at least some insight as regards Zane's ties with the Ether Link and how we could use that advantage."
Thank you for the information," Lynsithea said, her tone full of appreciation. "I will keep the bracelet close and be prepared for whatever is to come."
As Sasha finally left, the room fell silent once more. Lynsithea sat beside Zane, her mind racing with all that she'd just learned. She found herself staring down at the Nova Watch on his wrist, entranced by the soft flash of lights that seemed to ripple in time with his breathing.
Her finger traced around the edge of the watch delicately as she spoke, lost in her thoughts.
"What if it was Ethan, and this watch was made to simply protect you?" she whispered, barely audible in the quiet of the room.
"He must have loved you so much, even up to the end…"
Her eyes welled up with emotion as she thought about Ethan, the android who taught Zane to survive, who was there for him when nobody else would be.
"He must have known how hard it would be for you. Maybe this watch is his way of watching over you, even when he's not here anymore."
Lynsithea squeezed Zane's hand softly, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her fingers.
"You've been through so much, Zane. Alone in that world, left behind during the Quantum Exodus… I can only imagine what that would have been like for you. But Ethan was there, wasn't he? He stayed with you when everyone else was gone. I think. maybe that's why he made this watch."
She leaned forward, placing her head light upon the bed beside him, her grip still tight upon his hand. "He must have cared about you more than you know. Maybe he saw something in you-something worth protecting. You're stronger than you think, Zane. You always have been."
A soft smile pulled at her lips while her eyes glimmered with unshed tears.
"I just wish you didn't have to carry so much weight on your shoulders. But… I'm here now. You're not alone anymore." The words paused as her heart went out in tenderness, looking upon his face now so peaceful.
"And I will not let that happen ever again."
Lynsithea sat next to him, her mind consumed with all the secret ties and links which had served to bring them there. She felt a quiet resolve grow within her. Whatever would come next, she would face it with Zane. Together.
---
I looked around, trying to make some sense of my surroundings.
"Where am I?" I said aloud, but it seemed like the darkness swallowed my words. I felt a strange feeling, as if standing still yet moving at the same time. The shadows seemed to stretch and twist, pulling me further into the void.
I tried to focus, peering hard to make out anything from the advancing darkness.
"Hello? Is anybody there?" My voice echoed, yet it was consumed by the heavy silence. The more I stared into the darkness, the more it appeared to shut in, making everything blacker by the minute.
One step forward that felt as though my feet were sinking into some cold, unforgiving material; every step I took working only to bring me no closer to some type of clarity. I reached out to feel something, anything that could help guide me.
I saw glimpses of shapes fleetingly, but they were just shades that broke the moment one tried to set focus on them. My heart was racing in my chest, and a feeling of unease befallen me. I couldn't remember how I got here or why. It was like being in some kind of bad dream where the rules of reality no longer apply.
I shouted again, my voice shaking. "Is anyone here? Lynsithea? Sasha?" The names were anchors, but even they were lost in the immense nothingness.
The darkness began to thicken, overwhelming me with dread. I tried to ease my racing thoughts with the reminder that fear wasn't going to help. "Think, Zane. Think!" I urged myself. I needed to figure out where I was and how to get out.
Focusing my gaze, I began to take notice of tiny pinpricks of light in the distance-even imperceptible ones. They flickered, like stars far away, but not to be denied. I started trudging in their direction with a new sense of determination, knowing they might serve as a pathway to something familiar, something that would bring me back to the reality with which I was accustomed.
Every step felt as if I'd waded deeper into a thick fog, but I made myself forge ahead. Lights pulsed with each step, growing a little brighter still. I hoped that whatever was waiting on the other side of this darkness might be able to provide some answers-or at the very least, a way out.
I heard the footsteps echoing through the dark. I spun around, trying to make something out through the dark outlines. A figure emerged, and the closer it came, the clearer its outline was. It was a girl, but she was shrouded in darkness; her features were not distinct. I squinted, trying to see her face.
"Lynsithea?" I called out, but something told me it wasn't her.
"Who are you?" I asked, trying to keep my voice from trembling.
The girl said nothing for a moment, just stood there, almost ethereally in the dark. Then she spoke in this soft, yet clear voice: "You're somewhere inside of yourself."
I furrowed my brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"This place is some sort of mirror of your inner self," she expounded. "It's where your fears and doubts come to the surface. This is a place of introspection."
I tried to make some sense of her words. "Why am I here?"
The girl took a step closer; her body now more defined from shadowy. "You shouldn't look to the past for reasons. The answers you find may only hurt you further."
I was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
She spoke softly, "You're looking to your past for answers-why you were left behind, who your parents are. But these memories, if dug too deep, will hurt you more than they help you."
I stared at her, trying my head around what she meant. "But I need to know why I was left behind! I need to understand what happened to my parents!"
The girl's face had still been inscrutable then. "You are in search of answers which might be too painful to bear. Sometimes, knowing more than enough may be a kind of burden."
In the midst of her words, the darkness around me seemed to shift, drawing me inexorably toward a mysterious black hole that opened up behind the girl. My heart panicked. "Are you Ether?" I shouted, caught by the tug of the void.
Something flickered through the girl's eyes. It was probably recognition, but it could have been anything. "Am I? Or am I not?" was her cryptic reply. "It depends upon what you believe."
I flailed out, desperate to grasp on to anything solid, but the pull was too strong. "Please, tell me! What's going on? Why am I being pulled away?"
The girl's voice was drowned out as the darkness began to wholly engulf me. "It's not your time yet. There are still paths you need to walk and truths you need to discover."
As the dark deepened and the abyss swallowed up the girl, she became merely an outline standing at the rim of this pit. Her final utterance was heard with the finality in it.
"Just a Mə§èņğəř," she whispered, as quiet as the essence of silence itself.
Her words resounded in my mind as the void closed over me, siphoning whatever little was left of me. "A what!?" I echoed, the final vestiges of the darkness closing in around me.
The girl's outline smudged into the darkening, and her voice was a whisper of words from afar.
"You have your own path to follow. The answers you're searching for aren't here."
In those final words, everything went into the tunnel of shadow and light, and the tugging from the black hole reached a new height-but then in one instant, I shot back out of the darkness into the world.
I awoke abruptly, my breathing in quick gasps, as I came out of the dark abyss of my dream. The room was somewhat in the dark, save for the soft glowing of a lamp placed somewhere in the room, casting a soft light over everything. I blinked, trying to clear out my eyes that were still somewhat hazy with my sleep.
With my eyes finally accustomed, Lynsithea sat beside me. She was sleeping; her head rested on the edge of the bed, her hand clasped onto mine. Her presence was reassuring-a comforting figure set against the shadowy figures of my dream and other offensive feelings.
I shifted slightly, being careful not to wake her. Her hand felt warm and reassuring in mine, anchoring me in the here and now. Yet, even as she comforted me with her presence, my mind was still racing with the dream.
The girl, the black hole, the words-all just so impossible to define or explain.
I looked down at Lynsithea, her face serene in sleep, her breathing soft and rhythmic. Her presence was a beacon of calm, a stark contrast to the chaos I had just endured in my dream. I couldn't help feeling a deep sense of gratitude and affection for her. She had been there through so much for me, and here she was now, watching over me even while I was unconscious.
I carefully brushed one strand of hair out of her face, not wanting to wake her, and whispered softly into the room, "Thanks. For being here." I knew she couldn't hear me.
Warm was the touch of the palm of her hand; soft was the manner with which she did touch me, and that is how it came to my mind how much she meant in my life. In a moment, my thoughts reflected back into that dream, the message enshrouded in mystery, the darkness, the girl who said she was the one to carry the message.
All that seemed to me a warning or some sort of puzzle that was laid for me to unravel.
I glanced around the room, comforted by the familiarity of it all and the quiet of the moment. I was safe here, and in that lay the surety that was Lynsithea's presence. The dream had given me more questions than answers, but one thing I was definitely sure of was that I wasn't alone.
I shut my eyes for a moment and let the weight of the dream settle. By the time I opened them again, Lynsithea was stirring slightly, her hold on my hand tightening as she stirred into wakefulness. Her eyes flickered open, and she peered up at me with a mix of relief and concern in their depths.
"Zane?" she whispered, the word bare of volume, husky with remnants of sleep.
"Yeah, it's me," I returned softly, giving her hand a light squeeze. "I'm okay."
A fatigued smile oozed across her face as she sat up slowly, her eyes heavy with remnants of sleep. "You're awake. I was so worried."
I managed to reassure her with a smile despite the residual unease from the dream. "I'm sorry for causing you to worry. Thank you for staying by my side."
Lynsithea's smile grew warm, and with a gentle stroke, her thumb moved over my hand. "Of course. I wouldn't be anywhere else."
It was a moment as if the world outside simply did not exist. The dream and its unsaid message meant less beside the care and being there of Lynsithea. For now, it would do that we were here together.
---
Weeks passed and I stood in the grand meeting room of the palace. The air was full of tension in anticipation as we grouped around a large table readying for what was to come. Jade was at the center of it all, articulating the final details of our upcoming departure. Lynsithea, Alektos, Sasha, Parveen, and I stood close, listening intently.
She had been working nonstop to have everything ready, and it certainly showed in the focused way she spoke.
"First off, the Quantum Link bracelets are complete," she started, holding one up for us to view. "These will be pretty important when we go off to other worlds."
She handed each of us a bracelet. It felt light but sturdy as I turned it over in my hand. Sleek, with just the tiniest hint of a cyan glow tracing the edges, almost like it hummed with energy.
"Now, let me explain the key features"
"First, the bracelets have automatic translation. The people on the other side hear it in their native language when you speak, and you'll hear their speech in yours. This way, there will be perfect communication across worlds, even in languages we've never heard before."
I nodded, impressed. That would be useful, considering we were about to dive into worlds we didn't fully understand.
"They also have an energy conversion feature," Jade went on.
"If you're in a world with different energy systems—whether it's magic, tech, or something else—the bracelet will adapt to it and keep you charged. It'll shield you, too, from harmful environmental effects such as extreme temperatures or radiation."
That got my attention. "So it could protect us from forms of danger, too?" I asked, already thinking of hostile environments we were likely to face.
Precisely, Jade said, nodding. It won't make you invincible, but it will give you a survival chance and adapt. It is also fitted out with tracking tech: whatever world we are in, we can find each other, and in bad cases, there's an emergency recall feature. Just press the central crystal, and it will teleport you back to the designated safe point-this palace.
I looked over to Lynsithea, really attentive. Serious face and all, but I knew a load of everything that we were going to do sat on her shoulders. This wasn't just some training or exploration; this was a mission.
"Lastly, the bracelets can store small objects, tools, weapons, whatever you might need. Think of it as a personal inventory," Jade added. "But keep in mind, it's limited in capacity.
As Jade finished explaining, the Queen spoke for the first time from where she had sat in quiet observation on her throne. Her voice was soft but laced with an authoritative quality, "Your mission is critical. You are to find out what Iris' plans are. The future of many worlds hangs in the balance."
She halted, her gaze piercing mine. "To that end, you'll have to seek out and obtain intelligence from the ones in close proximity to her-the IRIS Corps, preferably dukes and leaders from other worlds. They are the ones most apt to know Iris's movements and plans. But be prepared; they aren't moved that easily, and Iris probably had measures set against just this sort of interference.
Her words struck home, and I felt the weight of what we were about to do settle in. It wasn't just a question of survival anymore; unraveling Iris's plans, whatever apocalypse she worked toward.
Alektos, who'd stood beside me all that time, folded his arms across his chest. "Alright, all this will take more than raw force. We're going to need either leverage or win their trust-whichever comes."
"Precisely," the Queen said. "Diplomacy will be as important as combat. Do not underestimate these leaders; they are powerful in their own right."
I felt a knot tighten in my chest. Everything was riding on this. My mind flashed momentarily to the Nova Watch upon my wrist, still a mystery.
Was it connected with all of this?
Was I being led down a path I didn't yet fully understand?
I turned back to Lynsithea once more as we prepared to leave. Being near her was reassuring, and part of my mind couldn't help but ponder how very different my life would have been if I had never met her that day in Æsir City.
I pushed the thought away, focusing on the task at hand. Whatever Iris had concocted, we were going to find out—and we were going to stop her.
Sasha raised an eyebrow, leaning against the edge of the table. "So, where are we headed first?"
Jade's eyes floated around the room for a moment, and her face went serious. "My first stop is going to be my homeland, Aerathis" she quietly said, despite her voice being filled with determination.
"I want to see it before the IRIS Corp tightens its grip fully. Aerathis was once a booming, strong world, but with Iris' influence spreading, it's been occupied and crippled."
I could see the heartache in her eyes. Jade had never been the soft type, but whatever she was saying about her homeland plainly hit something deep inside her. I knew the feeling well; Æsir City hadn't been the same since the Quantum Exodus.
"And the leader we're targeting there, is Wei Xhuzang. It's one of the board members of IRIS Corp and one of the ones responsible for the occupation of Aerathis. Any intelligence on his operations or possible disruptions of his control would be a major breakthrough in the mission."
Alektos crosses his arms. "So, we're entering occupied territory from the beginning. Brave move. What's this Wei Xhuzang like?"
Jade's eyes went cold as stone.
"Wei Xhuzang is ruthless and calculating. Few strongmen rise to power on strength alone. He manipulates the political and economic machinery of any world he comes into contact with, controlling people through fear and withholding resources. But more than that-he was no bureaucrat. He was a master manipulator of Ether, one of the few who could stand toe to toe against Iris."
She'd looked worried but equally determined. "If he is that powerful, how do we even approach him?"
Jade had nodded. "That's the rough part. He rules through connections and influence, but he's also proud. And if we play our cards just right, we can use that-challenge him where it kills him. It won't be easy, though. We'll be going into a world that's already mostly under his thumb."
Sasha whistled softly. "Sounds fun. Always liked a good challenge."
I let the magnitude of Jade's words settle upon us. This was so much more than a stop for her; this was personal, after all, and dealing with someone like Wei Xhuzang was no joking matter.
We were in too deep. "Great," I said, turning to the group, "we're off to Aerathis, we find Wei Xhuzang, and have him tell us what he knows about Iris' plans. This is just the tip of the iceberg."
Jade nodded resolute, and silence greeted me from the rest of the group. It was time to embark on a journey that would lead us deep within the jaws of IRIS Corp's territory.
Aerathis waited.
---
Jade strode up to me the rest of the group ready to embark on the journey, her face a lot more somber compared to earlier. I knew something was on her mind. She looked at my wrist, where the Nova Watch lay.
"Zane," she started off with a serious tone, "I've been hearing a lot about that watch of yours."
I glanced down at the Nova Watch. Since Azure Tides, it had grown into so much more than a contraption, It had reacted during the battle with Leviathan, flickering almost as if to protect me.
Jade nodded and continued with, "I know I wasn't there when everything went down with the Leviathan, but Lynsithea and Sasha filled me in. It is strange, isn't it? The watch acts as if it reacts to you being in danger, as if it has a mind of its own."
I nodded. "Yeah… it's been doing that for a while now. Even during the training with Parveen and Sasha, it blinked right before something serious happened. I don't understand why."
Jade's eyes narrowed in thoughtfulness.
"That's the thing, I have been thinking about it, and I know someone who can help you with that. There is an old artificer in Aerathis, expert in Ether-linked technology; he is among a select few, the ones able to understand how Ether and technology come into play with one another, especially in devices like your Nova Watch."
I raise an eyebrow. "Ether-linked technology? I thought the Nova Watch was just… well, normal tech. I don't have any magic or Ether."
Jade shook her head, an increasingly fierce expression on her face.
"That's where you are wrong, Zane. I believe this watch could be more than what you think it is. While you may not have magic essence, there is something about your connection to Ether. The way the watch reacts; it's as if it channels something deeper inside you. It might be an artificial Ether Link."
I stared at her, dumbfounded. "Artificial Ether Link? But I've never had anything like that."
Jade crossed her arms, a steady voice. "I know you didn't ask for this, but think about it. You've survived against things that no ordinary person should-Sentinel, Sasha's training, even that Leviathan. The Nova Watch has been reacting to your emotions, to your very life force. Someone must have designed it with Ether in mind.". It's likely that whoever made this watch-perhaps even Ethan-managed to tie it to something deeper within you, a link with Ether not dependent upon the magic essence, like Lynsithea's powers, but something else."
I breathed hard, trying to assimilate her words. If Jade spoke the truth, then the Nova Watch was more than just a piece of tech; it had something to do with Ether-something I had always thought was beyond me.
Jade set a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in, but I think this artificer in Aerathis can help you understand what's going on. He can fix the watch-maybe even unlock its true potential. If you're going to face people like Iris and the leaders of IRIS Corp, you'll need every advantage you can get."
I nodded slowly, still trying to get my head around it. "Alright… if this artificer can help, then I'm in."
Jade gave me a reassuring smile. "Good. You've got more power in you than you realize, Zane. The Ether Link might not work like it does for others, but that doesn't mean you can't use it. We'll find the answers, together."
And so I turned and walked away, but I couldn't help but notice that there was more to the Nova Watch, and quite possibly more to me.