Lyra dragged Elias's body through the grime of the exhaust pipes and back to the stolen Sky-Interceptor. She set the autopilot for a safe, high-altitude neutral orbit—they needed absolute silence and stability to survive the next few hours.
In the solitude of the cockpit, Lyra unwrapped his shoulder and chest. The disruptor blast had caused severe internal burning and external trauma. He needed immediate, high-grade medical care, which she didn't possess.
Lyra took the Nullifier Blade and, following the Sky-Weavers' faint mental blueprint she had gleaned from the shared vision, began to use its power. She did not aim to sever the Binding, but to use its Aether-negating field to perform surgical healing.
She passed the Blade over his chest, gently directing the energy nullification field. The Blade didn't sever the tissues, but it neutralised the residual Aether energy from the disruptor blast, stabilising the internal damage and staunching the bleeding.
As she worked, the blue sigils on their wrists pulsed strongly. The act of healing the partner through the object of their potential separation was a profound act of love.
Elias's consciousness, barely holding on, responded. The intense pain in Lyra's chest began to subside, replaced by a deep, mutual exhaustion.
Lyra... His mental voice was stronger now, a faint but steady whisper. You risked everything...
We are a single unit, Elias, Lyra projected, tears streaming down her face as she worked. Your life is the mission. Without you, I am just a scholar with a piece of evidence.
As Elias stabilised, their psychic bond underwent a profound shift. The shared trauma, the sacrifice, and the use of the Nullifier Blade had awakened a new power within the Binding.
Elias began to channel his healing, pain-free Aether energy through the link and into Lyra, replenishing her own depleted strength. Lyra felt a rush of pure, focused energy—a sensation she hadn't felt since her life in the Spire.
The Binding isn't just a conduit of pain, Lyra realised, the thought clear and ringing. It's a conduit of life. We can transfer vital energy.
"We are stronger together than we ever were apart," Lyra whispered, finishing the rough bandage.
Elias managed to open his eyes, his gaze locking onto her. "The Syndicate Exchange... three days," he rasped, his voice weak. "We have to move."
"We will," Lyra promised. "But first, we use the Memory-Crystal."
Lyra took the Memory-Crystal and connected it to the Interceptor's main holoprojector. She had only three days to deliver the truth.
"The Arcane Council will not listen to a fugitive," Lyra stated, her mind racing. "And we can't physically fight our way through the entire Sky-Guard."
"The Nullifier Blade," Elias managed, his voice barely audible. "It is the only weapon capable of neutralizing the Arcane Council's Aether-defenses. And the Memory-Crystal must be presented live to the entire Spire."
Lyra finalized the plan, using her knowledge of the Spire's arcane infrastructure and Elias's tactical ruthlessness.
Broadcast the Truth: Use the Memory-Crystal and the Interceptor's broadcast array to hijack the Spire's central communication hub—the Ascendant's Eye—and broadcast the Syndicate contract to every screen in the High City. The Silent Breach: Use the Nullifier Blade to create a temporary, silent breach in the Grand Obsidian Atrium's primary shield, allowing Elias and Lyra to infiltrate the exchange ceremony. The Final Confrontation: Present the evidence to the Arcane Council and force the arrest of Patriarch Solstus before the Syndicate transfer can be completed.
Lyra looked at the Nullifier Blade, then at Elias, who was resting against the console, his eyes closed but his mind alert.
"The plan is set, Elias," Lyra whispered. "We are going home. We are going to save Aerthos. And then we will face the Blade's final choice, together."