Chapter Text
Darkness pressed in from every direction—thick and absolute.
There was no ground beneath her, no sky above. Just floating, weightless in a vast, endless void. Faint pinpricks of green light drifted slowly through the dark, scattered like distant fireflies. They flickered in and out of sight with no discernible rhythm.
She floated aimlessly, watching the green lights as they hovered just out of reach—their glow clung to her skin in soft glimmers as if dusted in starlight.
Then, all at once, her feet touched something solid; firm beneath her bare soles—smooth and cold like polished stone. She staggered slightly, adjusting to the sudden stillness.
The air hung heavy, dense and unmoving, like the world itself was holding its breath.
“...The thread unravels…”
Aeris turned her head, searching for the source of the sound, but it echoed from everywhere and nowhere at once. It wasn’t a voice. More like a murmur carried on the current of the air itself, a vibration she felt in her bones more than in her ears. It was soft, melodic, and ancient. The way roots speak to the soil; they whispered to her in a secret language only she could understand.
“... One cut, and all is undone…”
The green glow brightened briefly, just enough to illuminate what lay beneath her feet. Aeris froze when she saw it.
Wilted, lifeless flowers stretched across the ground in every direction; petals curled and brittle. Stems drooping as if bent beneath the weight of the air. She felt the press of them beneath her toes, soft and crumbling. For a second, she forgot to breathe, the sight made her heart twist sharply, though she didn’t know why.
"...From one, many; from many, none..."
She dropped to her knees, her hands hovering just above the flowers—or rather, what was left of them. She didn’t want to touch them. The haunting wrongness of the scene seeped into her skin like cold water, and yet, she couldn’t tear her eyes away.
The green lights stirred, moving forward in unison like a silent procession. They pulsed as though calling to her, urging her to follow. Aeris hesitated but rose to her feet, her heart now hammering in her chest. As if pulled by invisible strings, she stepped forward, her gaze locked on the floating lights.
Out of the void, large stone pillars emerged—ancient and weathered, towering in solemn silence. A single circular platform lay ahead, bathed in a soft light from above. The light poured down like a heavenly spotlight, breaking through the shadows and illuminating the figure in its center.
She froze when she recognized Aeris .
Aeris knelt on the platform, hands clasped in prayer, head slightly bowed. The soft light caught on her hair, making it shimmer like gold, and her presence radiated a quiet serenity. Aeris’ chest ached, her hands curling into fists at her sides as an overwhelming blend of awe, despair, and confusion washed over her.
She tried to step forward, but her feet wouldn’t move. She glanced down, panic surging as she saw black water rising around her ankles, but it wasn’t water; it was thick and solid, holding her in place like iron shackles.
“Aeris!” she cried out, her voice trembling, but the woman on the platform didn’t react.
And then she saw it.
Sephiroth descended from above, his blade gleaming in the light. Aeris merely watched the familiar scene unfold.
Much to her bewilderment, Cloud leapt into view—his sword raised in defense. He stood between Sephiroth and Aeris, the force of their clash sending sparks flying.
Aeris held her breath, frozen in place as she just watched in silence.
Then all of it vanished like smoke.
To her right, another light appeared. She turned her head slowly, her heart hammering painfully in her chest as she glimpsed a second platform—a mirror image of the first.
Cloud was there again. But his face was different this time—cold, empty, and void of humanity. He moved like a marionette with severed strings, his motions sharp and unnatural. His sword wasn’t raised to protect Aeris.
In one terrible motion, his blade slashed through her, and she collapsed to the ground, dead.
“Cloud, no!” Aeris cried, distraught, tears welling in her eyes. She struggled against the black water anchoring her in place, but it refused to yield.
“...Aeris…”
Her name drifted through the void like a breath, soft and distinct.
She gasped, and she spun toward the sound. It was closer this time, no longer a vibration in the air but a whisper she could almost touch.
Her eyes darted toward the edge of the dark. She squinted, searching desperately for something—anything—that could reveal its source.
Nothing. Just the green glow of the Lifestream, threading softly through the black.
But she wasn’t alone.
The air shifted behind her, a change so subtle—but she felt it. A presence. Close. Too close. Her whole body went rigid as cold fingers of dread crept slowly down her spine. She didn’t turn right away.
A breath touched her ear—slow, cold, and deliberate.
“Rise and shine, little doll,” came the voice, low and silken, the syllables stretched out in a way that sent a jolt of ice down her back. Her breath left her in a quiet, shuddering gasp.
“Time to wake up. Wake up from that pretty little dream you’ve built for yourself.”
She knew that voice—she knew it all too well. It wasn’t like the ancient hum of the Planet. This was sharp, serpentine, and laced with malice. Her heart pounded hard, breath shallow as her muscles locked into place.
A chill swept over her shoulder as icy fingers clamped down.
Her heart seized, and she spun around with a wild jerk of her arms, frantic for something to push away—
Nothing.
Only darkness and faint green lights. Her chest heaved, her breath shuddered through her lips, ragged and uneven. Eyes darted around, wild and searching, but there was no one there.
But she felt him.
Her fingers hovered over her shoulder, right where she’d felt his hand. Her mind screamed in alarm; every fiber of her being blazing with the instinct to flee. If only she could move.
He’s here. He’s close.
“You don’t belong here,” she forced out, her voice trembling despite the composure in her words, as though she were challenging the darkness itself.
The green glow pulsed softly, almost in rhythm with her heartbeat.
“It’s you who doesn’t belong here,” answered the voice, cold and deliberate, the words striking like a blade in the silence. “None of this does.”
It felt like he had become one with the void, closing in tighter around her. The green glow flickered as though it, too, was about to be consumed.
“This place isn’t real,” he whispered, closer now, brushing against her ear like smoke. “And neither are you.”
In an instant, thick black tendrils erupted from the waters below, coiling around her legs as she struggled against them. They slithered upward, tightening their grip, binding her arms until she was completely immobilized. Slowly, inexorably, they crept toward her throat, coiling around her neck like a noose. Her voice faltered, strangled into silence, as the tendrils constricted, cutting off her breath...
“Aeris. Wake up.”
Her eyes shot open.
Aeris jolted upright, gasping for breath, heart hammering hard in her chest, as if she'd run for miles. Her body was damp with sweat.
Her gaze landed on Vincent. He sat beside her on the edge of the bed, his crimson eyes locked on her with quiet intensity. He watched her like she was something fragile — or something on the verge of shattering. His hand hovered a few inches from her shoulder, as if he’d been about to shake her awake but had stopped himself at the last second.
She looked around anxiously, expecting darkness, searching for him. The cabin greeted her instead, bathed in the soft golden light streaming through the porthole—a stark contrast to the weightless void of the nightmare.
“Vincent,” she breathed, almost inaudibly, if only to anchor herself back in waking life. “What’s wrong?”
“You were gone. I tried to wake you,” he said, his voice calm but edged with something sharper. Something she recognized. It wasn’t fear, but it had its shape. “You wouldn’t respond. It was like…you weren’t here.” His gaze didn’t waver, his brows drawn into a faint line of concern. He lowered his hand slowly to his knee. “I called your name several times before you woke up.”
Her stomach twisted at his words. They echoed through her mind like the whispers had, like his words had. She could still feel it — the grip on her shoulder, the brush of breath against her ear, too close and too real. Her gaze flicked behind her, almost as if expecting to find him there.
Her hands pressed into her lap, fingers curling tightly against the fabric of her dress to still the faint tremor in her hands.
“Are you alright?” Vincent’s low voice cut through the silence, steady and calm as always, yet he frowned, his red eyes trained on her, holding a flicker of concern. He rested his hand gently on her shoulder, but Aeris tensed up involuntarily for a fraction of a second.
“Yeah, I’m okay,” she said, her voice steadier than she felt. Lowering her gaze, she pressed a hand to her chest, focusing on the steady thud of her heartbeat as she exhaled slowly. “It was just a nightmare, that’s all.”
His hand and his keen eyes lingered on her longer than she liked. He didn’t need to speak for her to know that he saw right through her fib.
“I won’t pry,” he stated softly, squeezing her shoulder slightly for emphasis, “but I can tell—there’s something you’re holding back. Whatever it is, whenever you’re ready to share, I’ll listen.”
Aeris nodded slowly, but avoided his eyes. In truth, she felt torn; her shoulders tensed, and she tried to hide her feelings. He already had so much to carry—how could she add to that? No, she told herself firmly. He didn’t need to know. She could handle it. This was her burden to bear.
…But was it really?
Guilt gnawed at her. She couldn’t get the two scenes with Aeris and Cloud out of her head. And the dead flowers, those strange, enigmatic words, but mostly...Sephiroth’s suffocating presence, which grew all the more oppressive as time passed.
Her gaze flicked toward him. His steady presence was a comfort to her even as her heart raced. ‘Maybe I should just tell him.’
She inhaled, her lips parting to speak—but the words caught in her throat, tangled with the weight of what they carried.
The ship’s intercom buzzed suddenly, breaking the silence with a crackle of static.
The sound startled her more than it should have. Her head snapped toward the speaker mounted on the wall.
A moment later, a voice came through — bright, loud, and brimming with the kind of false cheer that belonged only to ship captains, tour guides, and radio DJs:
“Alright, folks, this is your captain. We’re about to dock in Costa del Sol, so get ready to step off this boat and into a wall of heat. It’s currently 33 degrees Celsius, but we’re expecting a blazing 38 degrees later in the day, so stay hydrated and don’t forget the sunscreen. Make sure you’ve got your bags, your hats, and whatever else you brought, ‘cause once you’re off, we’re not turning back.”
There was a short pause, then the captain's voice returned, his tone light but pointed.
“On behalf of myself and the crew, thanks for sailing with us. Enjoy the beaches, watch your wallets, and try not to end up with a tab you can’t pay.”
Silence returned to the cabin, but this time it wasn’t calm. It wasn’t peace. It was the kind of silence that settles after something important has happened. The kind that presses into you, making you feel it twice as hard.
Aeris leaned forward, her elbows on her knees, her hands clasped together and head bowed. She let out a slow breath through her nose, steadying herself.
‘"The thread unravels. One cut, and all is undone. From one, many; from many, none"? What on earth is that supposed to mean?’
The blast of the ship’s horn jolted her from her thoughts. She blinked and turned toward the window, where Vincent stood, watching the coastline of Costa del Sol come into view—bright, vibrant, and teeming with life. The kaleidoscope of color and movement beyond the glass stood in stark contrast to the heavy shadows lingering in her mind.
“It looks like we’ve arrived,” Vincent said quietly, gaze still fixed on the view.
Aeris nodded, promptly standing up, brushing a hand over her dress to smooth the wrinkles. “Let’s go,” she said, perhaps a bit too eager to get out of there.
The ferry approached the dock, the calls of seagulls could be heard clearly now. The salty air was thick and warm, as opposed to the cool ocean breeze they’d enjoyed during the ride. As Aeris stepped off the ship and onto the bustling docks, she wiped the sweat already forming on her brow. She let out a soft, breathy sigh as her eyes drifted over the scene before her, quickly forgetting her previous thoughts.
The beach stretched in a wide, white curve, the waves glittering like jewels under the sun. Bright umbrellas lined the shore, shading sunbathers, while children splashed in the surf. Vendors called out from the boardwalk, their stalls overflowing with colorful towels, drinks in coconuts, and necklaces made from polished shells and coral. The air was thick with the mingled scents of sunscreen and grilled seafood.
Aeris turned slowly in place, like she needed to see every part of it at once. Her gaze lingered on the scene—on the tourists dancing to blaring music, on the cry of seagulls circling lazily overhead. She couldn't contain her smile. It was like the world had momentarily let her forget its burdens.
“It’s so lively here,” she said, turning to Vincent, her eyes sparkling with joy. “It feels like a whole different world.”
Standing a step behind her, Vincent looked out over the chaotic scene with his usual impassive expression. His gaze lingered on a particularly rowdy group of tourists struggling to build a sandcastle, hurling obscenities at one another between collapsing towers of wet sand. “Lively,” he repeated, his tone dry as the sand. “Or…loud, crowded, and overpriced—depending on your perspective.”
Aeris couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking her head. “Well, aren’t you just full of optimism today?”
He adjusted his bandana, pulling it lower over his eyes to shield them from the glare of the sun. His lips twitched faintly, though the expression barely qualified as a smile. “Optimism,” he said evenly, “would be finding shade.”
As the two of them left the ferry and stepped onto the sun-bleached docks of Costa del Sol, they were immediately greeted by the blare of ukulele music and a small, brightly dressed troupe of dancers. The women, decked out in colorful floral skirts and adorned with leis, moved gracefully to the music, their laughter and singing rising above the sounds of the bustling port. One of the dancers approached Aeris with a flower necklace in hand, her smile warm and inviting.
“Oh!” Aeris exclaimed softly, blinking in surprise as the woman slipped the garland over her head. She smiled in return, reaching up to touch the delicate flowers. “Thank you.”
The dancer turned to Vincent next, holding out another flower lei. She hesitated for a moment, her bright smile faltering slightly as her eyes locked onto his imposing figure. Vincent’s piercing crimson gaze peering out from under his bandana, and the stark contrast of his dark cloak and sharp claw glinting in the sunlight against the lively surroundings were enough to give her pause. After a moment of awkward hesitation, she stepped back with an apologetic smile, quickly turning to greet someone else.
Aeris bit her lip to suppress a laugh, glancing sideways at Vincent. “You know,” she teased, “it wouldn’t hurt to look a little less…intimidating. It’s a garland, not a weapon.”
He adjusted his cloak without a word, the barest flicker of exasperation crossing his face. “I’m not wearing flowers,” he said simply, his tone curt but even.
Before Aeris could respond, her laughter faded. Her expression grew distant.
A faint hum filled her ears, low and melodic, as though the very air around her was vibrating. The edges of her vision blurred slightly, and for a moment, the cheerful bustle of Costa del Sol faded away.
The whispers began again—soft, fragmented, and hauntingly familiar. She struggled to piece them together.
“...watching…waiting… …something forgotten… …stirring again…”
She inhaled sharply, her hand gripping the flower garland around her neck as her knees wavered slightly beneath her.
Vincent, who had already begun walking, turned abruptly at her change in demeanor. “Aeris?”
“I’m okay,” she said quickly, though her voice was faint. She blinked rapidly, as the vivid sounds of Costa del Sol came rushing back—the ukulele music, the murmur of the crowd, the cry of seagulls. She forced a smile as she met Vincent’s gaze. “It’s just the heat.”
His sharp eyes lingered on her for a long moment, studying her face, his brow faintly furrowed, but he didn’t press the matter. Instead, he turned his attention back to the crowded streets ahead. But unease still curled in her chest.
The sun beat down mercilessly as they moved through the narrow streets. The pastel buildings lining the town were cheery and bright, but they offered little relief from the blazing heat. The stone paths radiated warmth, amplifying the already stifling atmosphere and making every step feel heavier.
Vendors called out to passersby from vibrant stalls draped in brightly colored fabrics, their wares catching the sunlight like treasure pulled from the ocean. They jingled bracelets strung with glass beads and seashells, held up wide-brimmed sun hats that fluttered in the breeze, and offered cones of ice cream swirled high in soft, rippling peaks, their pastel hues gleaming like polished seashells in the sun. The air was thick with the mingled scents of tropical fruit and saltwater, underscored by the faint, metallic tang of freshly grilled seafood.
Aeris fanned herself with one hand, her cheeks flushed from the heat but her eyes alight with wonder. Everything around her was buzzing with life—the laughter of children darting between the stalls, the clinking of coins exchanging hands, the brilliant flashes of varicolored birds flitting overhead in bursts of red, green and gold, the rhythmic crash of the waves in the background. Her gaze darted from one stall to the next, drinking in every detail as if she might miss something magical if she looked away.
“It’s all so…alive ,” she murmured, her voice soft but threaded with awe. She spun in a slow circle, her gaze lingering on a display of tiny chocobo figurines carved from driftwood, then on a bard perched atop an overturned crate, his voice rising over the hum of the crowd as he told a tale of distant lands and forgotten heroes. “It almost makes you forget how hot it is,” Aeris said with a smile, though she barely seemed to notice the sweat clinging to her brow.
Vincent glanced sideways at her, pulling his bandana a fraction lower as sunlight bounced off a nearby window and caught his eyes, momentarily blinding him. “I haven’t forgotten,” he said dryly, further burying his face in his tall collar.
Aeris smiled faintly, though her steps were beginning to falter. He was right; the heat was actually becoming unbearable, and she could feel her earlier vision gnawing at the edges of her mind. It wasn’t just the heat making her uneasy; the whispers from the Planet had left a small but lingering tension in her chest.
Yet, she glanced at Vincent, her gaze sweeping over his dark cloak and high collar, so out of place in Costa del Sol’s sun-soaked streets. She then spotted a nearby stand selling colorful shirts and shorts with various patterns of hibiscus flowers and palm trees. Her lips quirked into a mischievous smile, a flicker of light breaking through her disquiet.
“Hmmmmm,” she mused aloud, tapping her chin with a finger, her tone light and teasing. “Maybe we should find you some proper beachwear—shorts, a floral shirt, and a big sun hat. I think you’d look great in tropical patterns.”
Vincent stopped walking. Slowly, deliberately, he turned to look at her, his red eyes sharp and unblinking. The silence stretched just long enough for Aeris to wonder if she’d gone too far.
A low sound rumbled in his chest—somewhere between a sigh and a growl. “Don’t,” he said, his voice steady but edged with faint hesitation, as though debating whether to respond at all. Though his tone held no threat, there was an almost imperceptible crack in his composure—a flicker of discomfort, or maybe embarrassment.
Aeris couldn’t help herself; laughter spilled out, bright and unrestrained. “Relax, I’m kidding,” she said warmly, brushing a bead of sweat from her brow. She grinned at him, her expression softening into something more tender. “I don’t need tropical patterns to know how handsome you are.”
His gaze lingered on her, narrowing slightly as though trying to read her sincerity. Finally, a quiet breath escaped him, low and deliberate. “You’re relentless,” he murmured, his tone hushed, but with the smallest trace of tenderness.
Her smile didn’t waver. “Of course I am,” she said brightly, brushing her hand against his arm as she fell into step beside him. Her fingers lingered for a moment before falling away, her teasing slipping into something gentler. "It’s the only way I’ll see that tiny smile."
He tilted his head slightly, his brow lifting a fraction. “What smile?” he asked, his tone cool and detached enough that anyone else might’ve believed him. But Aeris knew better.
“Oh, you know,” she said, her grin widening as she gestured vaguely toward his face. “The one right there. The one you think I don’t notice.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line and shook his head faintly. “You’re seeing things,” he muttered, though his voice was gentler than normal.
“Hmm. Sure I am,” Aeris said, chuckling softly. She leaned in just slightly, her voice playful but hushed. “Don’t worry—I won’t tell anyone. Your secret’s safe with me.”
A twitch of his lips betrayed him, barely noticeable to anyone else, but Aeris saw it. His shoulders eased just slightly, and for a fleeting moment, she saw the unguarded affection in his gaze. “Sometimes I wonder what I’ve gotten myself into,” he said, a small huff of amusement slipping through his words.
Aeris still smiled, her voice warm and teasing. “You’re stuck with me now, and you know you love it.” She stroked his arm fondly, her tone softening as she added, “You got the deal of a lifetime, love.”
He was silent for a moment, then glanced down at her, and she saw it again—the quiet, unspoken warmth in his eyes. “I suppose I can’t argue with that,” he replied at last, his voice low but unmistakably earnest.
She faltered, not expecting his candid reply, before a radiant smile spread across her face. She said nothing more, letting the moment settle as they continued down the crowded street.
As they walked, Vincent turned slightly and offered her his arm—a gesture so understated it could have gone unnoticed. She blinked, momentarily caught off guard, and the silent man watched her from the corner of his eye, waiting. She smiled up at him warmly, slipping her arm around his without hesitation, and leaned into his shoulder.
The small act of closeness grounded her, even as the oppressive heat mirrored the tension of her earlier visions, lingering at the edges of her mind. His quiet, steady presence kept all of that at bay—if only for now. It wasn’t much, but it lifted her spirits as they wove through the crowd.
They sat together in the patchy shade of a swaying palm tree, its long fronds rustling softly in the warm breeze. Nearby, a vendor of cold beverages lounged beneath the striped canopy of his stand, lazily fanning himself with a bent piece of cardboard, his eyes half-lidded with boredom. The distant hum of Costa del Sol's lively crowds mingled with the steady crash of waves along the shore.
Aeris uncapped the cold bottle of water she’d bought and took a small sip before offering it to Vincent. He accepted it with a nod, tilting it back for a brief drink before handing it back to her without a word.
The soft crinkle of paper sounded louder than it should as Aeris pulled a folded map from her satchel, shaking it open across her lap. Her finger traced one of the marked paths, following it absently, but her gaze shifted toward Vincent instead, her brow furrowing slightly in quiet thought.
“By the way, I forgot to ask,” she said, her tone easy but her eyes sharp with quiet curiosity. “What did Rufus say to you yesterday?”
Vincent’s keen gaze shifted to her, as if the question took him by surprise. His eyes lingered on her for a moment longer than necessary before he turned his attention to the horizon. He leaned back against the tree, his posture as still as ever, but there was a quiet weight to his movements now—like something unseen had settled over him.
“He asked about Davoren,” he admitted at length, his voice low but even, as if the words had been carefully chosen.
Aeris blinked at the unexpected revelation, looking up at him, her fingers going still on the map. “Davoren?” she repeated, the name hitting with quiet weight. Her brow furrowed. “Why?"
His gaze stayed on the horizon. “Let’s just say, they have history,” he said, his voice low and even, each word deliberate. After a pause, he added, “And he’s the reason Rufus is still alive.”
Aeris didn’t press him. Her eyes stayed on him for a moment longer, watching the steady line of his profile before she quietly returned her attention to the map. But her focus had slipped elsewhere. Her fingers hovered just above its surface, tracing invisible paths that led nowhere. Her brow knitted in quiet thought, her gaze distant, as though she were fitting puzzle pieces together in her mind.
Her voice, when it came, was softer—more to herself than to him. “Like us,” she murmured, her fingers pausing on the edge of the paper. Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet Vincent’s, her eyes clear but steady with quiet realization. “It’s strange, isn’t it? That if it weren’t for him, we…”
Her words trailed off, unfinished but her meaning was clear.
Davoren. Ex-Turk. A name that once filled her with dread. Once Vincent’s friend, later his relentless pursuer. Hojo’s pawn, bound by twisted loyalty, tasked with hunting them both—her and Vincent—like prey to be dragged back into the professor’s clutches. But in the end, when the fight for freedom had reached its bleakest moment, when the world around them was quite literally falling apart, it was Davoren who had pulled them out. It was because of him that the two of them survived.
Vincent glanced at her, his gaze sharp but steady, his expression as impassive as ever. His answer came quietly but firmly. “We’re still here,” he said simply. “That’s what matters.”
Aeris watched him for a moment, her gaze searching his face. Then, slowly, her lips curved into a small but genuine smile. “Yeah,” she said softly. “That’s what matters.” Her fingers brushed the edge of the map, tracing one of the routes absently. "Funny, isn't it? How we're all connected in ways we don't know. How you never know who's going to end up saving you."
Vincent regarded her for a long moment as if contemplating her words, but said nothing.
After a pause, Aeris took a breath and straightened the map on her lap, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Okay,” she murmured, her tone lighter but purposeful. She traced a finger along one of the paths marked on the map. “If we head south here past the desert, we should be able to save a lot of time.” She glanced at Vincent, showing him the map. “That looks quicker, right?”
“Yeah, that’s not happening,” interrupted the vendor manning the small stand next to them. He waved his cardboard ‘fan’ in front of his face, trying to ward off the oppressive heat. His shirt was damp, clinging to his chest. “That road’s been blocked for days,” he said plainly. “Sinkholes swallowed half the trail.”
Aeris frowned, pointing at her map. “What about the chocobo paths? Could we go around?”
He shook his head. “No dice. Wranglers’ve already tried it. Too dangerous—unstable ground, falling trees. No one’s getting through there anytime soon.” He leaned back on his stool and nodded toward the distant hills. “If you’re set on traveling, your best bet’s heading up toward Corel. It’s a ways out, but it’s the only real route left open. Lotta folks’ve been rerouting that way—merchants, travelers, you name it.”
Aeris let out a quiet sigh, folding the map to her chest as she looked at Vincent. “Corel, then,” she murmured, the words heavy with resignation. The detour would add time to their journey, but they didn’t have much of a choice.
Vincent gave a small, measured nod, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “If the trails are unstable, it’s safer this way.”
And yet, even with the decision made, Aeris couldn’t shake the strange, creeping unease curling in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t the heat or the frustration of being rerouted—but something deeper. Something she couldn’t name. Her fingers tightened slightly on the map, the coarse paper crinkling under her touch. The vendor’s description of the instability played back in her mind—sinkholes, unstable ground, collapsing trees. She tried to brush it off as nerves or fatigue, but the feeling remained, heavy and insistent, like a shadow just out of sight.
“Okay…” she said quietly, shaking herself from her thoughts. “And how do we get there?”
The vendor tilted his head, squinting as though gauging their endurance. “You’re gonna have to hike it,” he said, gesturing toward the distant mountains that loomed beyond Costa del Sol’s shimmering coastline. “The road toward Corel starts off decent enough—flat trails, easy walking—but once you hit the foothills, it gets steeper. You’ll need to follow the old mining paths up and through the pass. It’s not a short trip, but it’s manageable if you’re used to traveling on foot. But that heat’ll drain you faster than you think. You’ll need water, and plenty of it.”
Aeris exchanged another glance with Vincent. His eyes remained distant, however, as though he were already mentally preparing for the climb. She tucked the map carefully into her satchel, and they stood. “I guess we’d better get started,” she said, forcing a small, determined smile.
Vincent’s gaze lingered on the mountains in the distance. “Be ready for rough terrain,” he said quietly. “And stay close. That place has a way of testing anyone who enters it.”
The vendor gave them a halfhearted wave as they started off. “Good luck,” he called after them. “You’ll need it.”
Aeris turned her eyes to the hills ahead, the foreboding feeling in her chest refusing to dissipate. She let out an exhale. The oppressive heat pressed down on her like a weight.
She then glanced over her shoulder when she heard the rapid thwap-thwap-thwap of sandals on pavement. Before she could turn fully, a loud, triumphant voice cut through the noise.
“I KNEW IT! I KNEW IT WAS YOU, YOU EDGY SON OF A GUN!”
Aeris spun just as a girl in sun-faded shorts and a loose sash slid to a sudden halt in front of them, panting like she’d just sprinted across town. Her short black hair was messy with sweat, and her skin was tinged pink from too much sun. The large, circular weapon on her back gleamed in the sunlight, sharp and ready for chaos.
Her wide eyes locked onto Vincent like a hawk spotting prey, her expression a mix of triumph and disbelief.
"No. Freakin’. Way! It really is you!" the girl announced, grinning wildly. “Vincent Valentine, brooding in broad daylight! Someone mark it on the calendar—this is HISTORIC,” she quipped, beaming like she’d just stumbled onto buried treasure.