Aether plummeted toward the stadium, the rush of wind tearing past him, an exhilarating roar in his ears. Unlike the controlled flights with the Rasvian-powered tubes, this was something entirely different. No tether, no guiding force, no weight dragging him down—just the unfiltered, raw sensation of freefall. Genuine freedom, he thought, though perhaps not quite genuine flight.
Mid-descent, he twisted his body, adjusting to the air currents like a bird instinctively riding thermals. His hand shot out, grabbing Mirakos by the collar with practiced precision, halting his fall abruptly. The sudden jolt barely fazed him as he steadied himself, suspended mid-air.
His attention shifted, drawn to the figure perched on the metal walls lining the edge of the arena. Ryuji. Aether's eyes narrowed as he observed him.
"Ryuji-" aether tries to say but suddenly kept quiet,
