The morning sun was barely over the horizon when Ami found him.
Aurelion was on the eastern wall again—his usual spot, the one he always gravitated toward when he needed to think. The city was waking below him, its streets filling with people, its markets coming to life. Normal. Peaceful.
He heard her footsteps before she spoke.
"You're up early," she said.
"I didn't sleep."
"Liar."
"I rested."
"That's not the same thing."
He turned. She was standing a few feet away, her arms crossed, her expression a mix of exasperation and amusement. She was wearing practical clothes—nothing fancy, nothing that would mark her as a hunter. Just durable pants, a sturdy jacket, and boots that had seen a lot of miles.
"You look ready for a journey," he observed.
She smiled. "That's because I am."
She walked up beside him, looking out over the city. The sun was rising higher now, casting long shadows across the streets. Children were playing in a square below. A vendor was setting up his cart. Life was continuing.
"I talked to Valeris," she said. "She gave us permission."
Aurelion's heart rate quickened. "The door?"
"The door. We can excavate it. But there's a catch."
"There's always a catch."
She nodded. "Resources are tight. The rebuilding effort is taking everything we have. Valeris can't spare a full team." She paused. "It's going to be just us. You, me, Corrin, and Kael."
Aurelion absorbed this. Four people. Against whatever was behind that door.
"That's not a lot," he said.
"It's enough."
"You're sure?"
She met his eyes. "We've faced worse with less."
He couldn't argue with that.
"When do we leave?" he asked.
"Tomorrow. Dawn." She paused. "Valeris wants us to get ready today. Supplies, equipment, anything we might need."
Aurelion nodded slowly.
"Okay," he said. "Tomorrow."
The rest of the day was a blur of preparation.
Aurelion spent it gathering supplies, checking equipment, making sure everything was in order. It felt strange—preparing for a mission after months of peace. His body remembered the motions, but his mind was slower, rusty.
He found Corrin in the armory, inspecting a new spear. The weapon was simple, functional, its blade gleaming in the dim light.
"You're actually coming?" Aurelion asked.
Corrin looked up. "Someone has to watch your back."
"I thought that was Ami's job."
"She can share." He hefted the spear, testing its weight. "Besides, I've been going stir-crazy. Sitting around, rebuilding, pretending everything is fine." He shook his head. "I need to do something."
Aurelion understood.
Kael was in the training yard, running through forms with his pistols. He moved with the fluid grace of someone who had spent years perfecting his craft. His shots were precise, his movements efficient.
"You're getting better," Aurelion observed.
Kael didn't stop. "I've had time to practice."
"Time we all had."
Kael finally lowered his pistols. "What do you think is behind that door?"
"I don't know."
"Then why are we going?"
Aurelion was quiet for a moment.
"Because I need to know," he said. "Because if there's something out there, I need to understand it. And because I can't just sit around and wait for it to find us."
Kael nodded slowly.
"That's a good enough reason," he said.
The evening came quickly.
Aurelion stood on the eastern wall one last time, looking out at the city. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. The streets were quieter now, the people settling in for the night.
Ami joined him.
"You're brooding again," she said.
"I'm thinking."
"Same thing."
He almost smiled. "You keep saying that."
"Because it keeps being true."
They stood in silence, watching the sunset.
"What do you think we'll find?" she asked.
"I don't know."
"Liar."
He looked at her. "I honestly don't know. It could be anything. Records. Weapons. Answers." He paused. "Or it could be nothing."
"Would you be okay with that?"
"No." He shook his head. "But I'd rather know for sure than spend the rest of my life wondering."
She nodded slowly.
"That's fair," she said.
They walked back through the city together.
The streets were quiet, the buildings dark. A few lights still burned in windows, but most of the city was asleep. It was peaceful.
Aurelion felt the weight of the day pressing down on him. The preparation, the waiting, the uncertainty. It was exhausting.
But it was also invigorating.
For the first time in months, he had a purpose. A direction. Something to do besides sit around and think about everything he had lost.
"You know," Ami said, breaking the silence, "you could have said no. You could have stayed here. Let someone else handle it."
"I know."
"Then why didn't you?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"Because I'm tired of running," he said. "I've spent years reacting. Fighting. Surviving. Now I have a chance to actually understand what's happening." He paused. "I'm not going to waste it."
She looked at him.
"Okay," she said. "Then let's go understand."
They reached his quarters.
Ami stopped at the door, her hand on the frame. She looked tired, but there was a spark in her eyes—the same spark that had been there when they first met.
"Get some sleep," she said. "We have a long day tomorrow."
"I will."
"You're lying."
"I'll try."
She smiled. "That's all I ask."
She turned and walked away.
Aurelion watched her go, then stepped into his room. The bed was waiting, soft and warm. He lay down, staring at the ceiling.
Tomorrow, they would leave.
Tomorrow, they would find answers.
Tomorrow, everything might change.
He closed his eyes.
He slept.