The hum of the hover truck faded as Ethan pulled up outside the guild, his jaw set, his gaze hard. Lyra lay in the back, her body carefully wrapped, each movement in lifting her a vow of respect for what she had given. Inside the guild lobby, a hush fell over the crowd as he carried her, their eyes following the solemn journey toward the medics, who had prepared a quiet place for her. Her sacrifice felt heavy, not only to him but to everyone in that hall who knew what it was to lose one of their own.
Kael was waiting by the main console, his usually composed expression softened by a sorrowful understanding. When Ethan set Lyra down, covering her with a final gesture of respect, Kael stepped forward, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"Ethan," he said, his voice a low murmur, "I'm sorry. Lyra was one of our best, and she chose to stand by you. Her loss… it's not something we take lightly."
Ethan nodded, the words tight in his throat, but his gaze was hard, unwavering. "She trusted me, Kael. She chose to be there, to fight with me. And now… she's gone because of them. Because of the syndicate."
Kael guided him away from the crowd, leading him into a quieter corner of the guild hall where they could speak freely. They sat down, Kael's hand still on his shoulder, his presence a silent but grounding support.
Ethan's fists clenched as he spoke, his voice low and filled with a simmering rage. "I've known loss, Kael, but this… it's different. Lyra was an ally and it was my responsibility to watch her back. She was brave, ready to take on the worst of it to see a mission through. And now she's gone. All because of those syndicate bastards."
Kael nodded, his expression shadowed with empathy. "I know the pain you're feeling, Ethan. Loss in this world, it hits harder, especially when it's someone like her. Out here, we're more than just allies. We're family, whether we admit it or not. And that connection… it makes the loss even harder to bear."
Ethan took a steadying breath, the flicker of grief in his chest stoking the flames of his resolve. "I won't let them get away with this. The Black Sun Syndicate took her from us, and I swear, they'll pay. Every single one of them."
Kael watched him carefully, recognizing the fierce glint in Ethan's eyes. "I understand your anger, Ethan. I feel it too. But vengeance… it's a powerful force, and it can drive you forward or burn you up from the inside." He paused, letting the words sink in. "Don't let it consume you. Channel it. Use it to honor Lyra's memory, not as a weight pulling you down."
Ethan's gaze remained steady, his voice unyielding. "I know the cost, Kael. I know the risks. But they won't get away with this. I won't let them keep doing this to others, to more innocent people who just want Kynara to have peace."
Kael's face softened, and he gave a small nod. "That's the resolve that will keep you going. But remember, vengeance alone isn't enough. It has to mean something. Make every move count, don't waste your life on recklessness. Lyra didn't give her life so you could throw yours away in a blaze of anger."
The words hit him like a cold reminder, cutting through the edge of his fury and grounding him. He felt the heat of his anger, but he also felt the strength behind Kael's words, the reminder that Lyra's sacrifice was something to carry forward, not simply something to avenge blindly.
"She believed in you, Ethan," Kael continued, his voice gentle but firm. "And she knew the risks. Her choice wasn't for nothing. Let her trust, her strength, be what drives you forward. She gave everything, and she'd want you to do the same but with purpose, with honor."
Ethan felt the weight of the words settle within him, solidifying his resolve into something sharper, clearer. Lyra's death and the atrocities he saw in that compound had hurt, but he wouldn't let it break him. He would carry their memory, not as a burden, but as a banner. Each step he took would be for them, each mission he completed a testament to her sacrifice and their lives.
"Thank you, Kael," he said quietly, his voice still tight but steadier than before. "You're right. I won't let my anger be the only thing that drives me. I'll make it mean something."
Kael gave him a small nod, his hand resting on Ethan's shoulder one last time. "We're here for you, Ethan. You don't have to face this alone. And remember, you're not just fighting for yourself. The guild, every mercenary here....we stand with you."
Ethan nodded, absorbing Kael's words. The weight in his chest felt no lighter, but the burning drive in his heart felt sharper, more focused. He wouldn't let Lyra's death become another forgotten casualty. Every mission, every step, would bring him closer to dismantling the syndicate, to taking down each and every one of those responsible.
As he rose to leave, he cast one final look at the stretcher where Lyra lay. The grief was still there, a dull ache that pulsed with every beat of his heart, but beside it burned the fire of purpose, a promise to see this through.
He left the guild hall with a clear mind, his vow echoing in his thoughts. He would carry Lyra's memory forward, not with rage alone, but with a determination that was unbreakable. For her, for the people they had fought to protect, he would become the force that finally brought justice to the syndicate.
And as he stepped into the morning light, he knew his path was set. He would honor these lives lost not just in memory, but in action, every single step of the way.