Chapter Text
Do you know the Founder’s story?
Some of the tales about him are told with mistakes at best, and with falsehoods at worst. Some things are better left unsaid. And some details get lost to time.
Regardless, each version of the story starts like this: The boy who will someday become Scala ad Caelum’s everything arrives with nothing but a book, a key, the clothes off his back, and a heart filled with sorrow deep enough to fill the Genesis Sea.
With help from kind and humble hearts, he lives to see another day. And another. And another. Until eventually, he’s on his feet again, strong enough to lift the land and all those who live on it up towards the heavens. But that was only the beginning.
This is the story of how he learns to keep living. Even when it’s hard to choose between what’s easy and what’s right. Even when hope slips through his fingers more than once, the fickle thing that it is. Sometimes, it takes the form of a million little pieces, much like a shattered bowl. Or like a scattered sea of stardust, slowly dying and being reborn in endless bursts of fire as time inevitably marches on.
Regardless…hope always remains, even when it’s out of sight.
♡
-Act I-
♡
Ephemer awakens with a start when he hears a wailing in the distance—a loud, sharp noise that never fails to pierce his ears no matter how deep asleep he is.
The first few times were jolting enough for Master’s Defender to instinctively appear in his hand, its sudden weight leading to a handful of less than graceful landings on the floor in the middle of the night.
But Ephemer’s used to this now, not even having to think twice as he swings to his feet, lighting the candlestick next to him with one hand and rubbing the sleep from his eyes with the other as he hobbles towards the door.
“Got it…?” Charis mumbles, still nestled somewhere underneath the blankets.
“Yeah, I’ll go.”
“Mm, thanks…”
Sluggishly making his way into the room next door (and making a mental note to fix one of the floorboards that he swears wasn’t that creaky yesterday), Ephemer lets out a big yawn, before picking up the source of the alarming noise.
His and Charis’ little girl, just a little under a year old, wriggles in his arms, sucking in quick gasps before wailing straight into his face once more.
“Shh, shh, shh…you’re upset, I know…” Ephemer gently rocks her, holding her against his chest as he fights off a wave of exhaustion, a result of another long, yet satisfying day, filled with the usual tasks and responsibilities. “You woke me from such a strange dream…it was dark, and I was walking on water, all by myself. Not very fun. I’ll take a weird dream over a bad dream, though. Did you have a bad dream, Aeon…?”
Aeon keeps sobbing, so he slowly paces across the room with her under the moonlight, a softness in his every step. “I get those a lot. Sometimes, I can’t even get back to sleep after seeing all those sad and scary things. It’s okay, it’s over now...”
Surely she can’t understand what he’s saying yet. But she seems to listen when he hums an old Daybreakian lullaby under his breath, her loud wails turning into hiccups and soft grunts as she becomes distracted by the melody once shared between wielders, between frightened children and their Chirithys.
If Ephemer were to let his mind linger on all the difficult things he’s been through in the past twenty-four years of his life so far, he’d say without a doubt that learning how to be a parent has been the most frightening experience of them all. He and Charis weren’t even sure if they could have children at first. But they were proven wrong quite fast, with Aeon coming into their lives not even a year after their wedding, their first little starling born from their love.
Parenting isn’t actually that much different from looking after Daybreak Town’s remaining population on the fly, or nurturing Scala’s land and community. There’s much overlap between being a leader and a father—the need for a watchful eye, a tender hand, and an open heart. But Ephemer can’t deny that he’d been terrified throughout the months leading up to Aeon’s birth. He can’t deny that he’s still terrified up to now, and will probably never stop feeling that way about his precious bundle of joy.
Being a leader comes with a margin of error he can accept, leave be, and find ways to work through later. Even with Daybreak Town in disarray after the war, he’d trusted himself and the other union leaders to make the best choices they could at the time, aware that though they weren’t always going to be perfect, they’d do at least some good and be able to weather through the storms as a team.
Conversely, raising his first child feels like a responsibility so important and so delicate that if he makes even just one wrong choice, he’ll end up ruining this little life before she can even talk.
But deep in his heart, he knows that his daughter isn’t as fragile as he fears. Aeon is the newest link in his and Charis’ unbreakable family chain—a most special child with both Daybreakian and Scalan blood in her veins, and so much happiness in her heart and soul. When she’s not fussing in the middle of the night, she adorns a toothless smile so bright it rivals the sun itself. If Ava could have faith in children to preserve the light even after such a devastating catastrophe, he too can believe that one day, this little one will be able to carry on his work and live a life of peace and prosperity.
Ephemer has dealt with a lot of new fears these past few months, to say the least. But if there’s anything he can be certain of, it’s that he’d do anything for Aeon. He’d move mountains and even Caelum above if it guaranteed her happiness. She’s a Dandelion, in every sense of the word—always looking for new ways to grow, and ever so radiant. He often wonders if his friends would have agreed with the description, and if they would have held her up to the stars and spoiled her rotten just like he does. He knows without a doubt that they would love her all the same. Rest assured, they won’t be absent from his daughter’s life, not if he has anything to say about it.
“Ow, ow.” He winces as she yanks on his hair harder than he ever thought a baby could muster. Definitely not as fragile as he fears.
That seems to make her feel a bit better though. He lets her get a few more playful tugs in before he has to gently wrestle his long locks out of her hand.
“See? Papa’s here. Nothing’s gonna hurt you.”
Aeon gurgles and Ephemer wipes her tear-stained face with her purple blanket adorned in diamond-like patterns similar to the Committee’s emblem—a part of him and Charis he hopes she’ll wear proudly one day. She’s much more docile now, her tiny fist clinging to his shirt as she stares up at him with her big green eyes.
“Hey, love. Feeling better?”
“As better as I can be on three hours of sleep.”
He turns, confused when he sees Charis leaning on the door frame, looking worse for wear. But smiling nevertheless. “Finder, you didn’t have to get up.”
“Couldn’t drift back.”
Ephemer goes over to him, wrapping an arm around her waist. Charis tiredly leans a bit against him, but supports Aeon with one hand.
“We should put her back in her crib soon.”
“Yeah, in a few minutes.” Ephemer’s eyes are all on their daughter. “…Isn’t she beautiful?”
“Absolutely. You ask me that every day.”
“And you always say ‘absolutely.’”
“You look just like your Papa,” Charis coos as she touches a thin silver curl. “Don’t you, Minimer?”
“Don’t call her that,” Ephemer laughs, softly, careful not to startle her as her eyelids begin to droop, “I want her to be her own person. Besides, she’s got your eyes.”
“Does she? I swear she had your eye colour yesterday.”
“Must be the light.”
“Maybe.”
Aeon yawns cutely, relaxing in the security of both her parents’ arms. Ephemer gently caresses her soft cheek with the back of his index finger, feeling his heart grow three sizes when she lets out a tiny squeak.
“Hey...” Charis notices the tears welling up in his eyes. “You okay?”
“I just—I love her so much.” Ephemer’s voice breaks. “And I can’t believe that if I’d made a different choice back then…she might not have ever existed.”
He holds her up higher. “We made her. Isn’t that crazy? We made something filled with so much light…something worth living for.”
“I guess that’s what it’s like.” Charis repositions so she can hold Ephemer’s back. “Being a parent, I mean. Mom and Gramps used to tell me that I’d understand the world differently once I had kids of my own…I used to think it was just some silly old saying to get me to listen to ‘em more, but…they’re right. Now I see the world through Aeon’s eyes…and it sure is beautiful.”
“And we’ll keep it that way for her.” Ephemer’s smile shines through the darkness as he carefully places her back in her crib, right next to her Chirithy doll. The back of his head bumps the baby mobile hanging above her, sending golden leaves and purple stars into a gentle rotation.
Coyly, he turns to his partner. “Let’s have more. Can we have more?”
“Whoa, slow down there. Let’s give it a year or two first.”
“That long?”
“That’s not long.”
“Okay…” he concedes, leaning on the crib, “But I want Aeon to have siblings for sure.”
“We can agree on that, at least.” Charis pecks his cheek. “We’ll get there when we get there, alright? Let’s head back to bed. We’ve got another long day ahead of us.”
“I’ll be right there. I’m just gonna wait ‘til she’s fully asleep.”
Charis knows how much he adores watching over their little one and lets them have their quiet time together, leaving the room with a soft smile.
Completely spellbound, Ephemer keeps his voice low, “Sweet dreams, Aeon… forever and always.”
The next time Ephemer awakens, it’s to another loud noise, much to his dismay.
There’s an incessant knocking at the door, ringing through the entire room, straight into his eardrums. He can tell without having to open his eyes that it’s already light out.
Groaning, he stuffs his head underneath his pillow. “Too early, Iapyx…”
“Ephemer?”
He stiffens, removing the pillow. “Hestia?”
It’s not unusual for her to be at the house. But it is unusual for her to be there so early, before he and Charis have even gotten out of bed.
He turns to his right, about to ask his spouse about it…only to see that she isn’t there.
Alarmed, Ephemer sits up. “Hestia, what time is it?”
“It’s nearly ten. The ceremony’s starting soon, isn’t it?”
“Nearly ten?!” He leaps out of bed, rushing across the room to grab his brush and change of clothes.
“Are you alright? Is there anything I can do for you, sonny?”
“No, no, it’s okay! I’m coming! Ack!” He trips over his pants as he’s changing, but hops back up to his feet in an instant, zipping his vest up.
“I’ll get the sandwich Charis left for you!”
“Thank you!”
He gets two and a half brushes into his hair before giving up and throwing it onto the bed. Instead, he grabs a scrunchie from the vanity, tucking his long curls into it in one swift motion.
He manages to get his feet into his boots properly, about to run out the door, but he rushes back to grab his scarf from the nightstand. Tying it around his neck as he makes haste down the hall, he throws the door to the nursery open, and takes a moment to catch his breath before stepping in.
A soft hiccupping noise falls on his ears and the whole world slows down the second he locks eyes with Aeon peeking through the bars of her crib. She looks to be in a much better mood than she was just a few hours ago, if her fluffy bed head has anything to say about it.
“Good morning, Starbright!”
Ephemer gently tosses her over his head a few times, grinning as she shrieks with joy. He then plants a big kiss on her forehead and is met with a more subdued giggle, her teal eyes wide and bright under the morning sun as she baps his nose.
“Be good for Hestia today, okay?”
“She’s always good,” the artisan reassures, hurrying into the room with the sandwich in hand, “Go, go, you’ll be late! The two of us will be just fine.”
He gives Hestia a quick side hug, trades his little girl for the sandwich, and then he’s out the door, white robes and scarf tails flowing behind him as he rushes through the house, careful not to knock any of his and Charis’ keepsakes over. He passes under Daybreak Town’s flag hung up in the foyer. With a single glance, he’s reminded of what he’s been working towards these past few years, and smiles with his whole heart.
He steps out the front doors decorated with stained glass, taking a moment to bask in the glow of the morning sun between quick bites of his sandwich. Only then does he notice that Charis slipped some extra bologna in. Warmed by her thoughtfulness, he finishes the rest of it with gusto.
At the same time, his free hand moves on its own, gently tapping Master’s Defender on the ground to activate his lock spell, much like the one that fortifies the Academy grounds. The runes quickly sprawl across the ground and walls of their home, shining a brilliant golden hue before disappearing.
“Good morning, Master Ephemer!”
While anyone else would’ve jumped at the shrill tone, Ephemer nods calmly, just as he’s done nearly every day. “Good morning, Iapyx!”
“Good to see you up! You’ve got a full schedule today, it seems!” They pronounce, holding up a small notebook. “Master Charis wanted me to inform you not to be late to the unveiling ceremony—"
“Already am!” He side steps them, casually moving across the lawn. “Though if she didn’t want me to be late, why’d she let me sleep in…?”
“She knew you needed it after last night,” Iapyx answers, pushing up their glasses, “Raising children certainly sounds exhausting…I mean, rewarding! Little Aeon’s quite a gem, the spitting image of you, and already so precocious, I’d say. It’ll only be a matter of time once she starts crawling all over the house, which we’ll have to babyproof—"
Ephemer inches across the lawn, towards the hedges. Is this how some people feel when they’re talking to him? “Iapyx, can I ask you something?”
“Oh, please, by all means! I’m here for anything you could possibly need.”
“Well, I was wondering…” Ephemer scratches his cheek, his lips twitching as he holds back a grin. “Could you tell me about that old fable you like again? ‘The Bundle of Sticks’?”
“Ah, of course, Master! You’ve always been fascinated by that tale. That one and ‘The Astrologer’. Those two old stories aren’t very popular with most people I meet, but I find that they’re applicable to most, if not all…”
With a few quick and soundless steps, the Keyblade Master disappears behind the outer wall as Iapyx prattles on, exiting the courtyard onto the public street.
Peak Alpha is busy at this time of morning, with merchants pushing their carts of wares, several workers manning the lifts to retrieve large batches of shipments from the districts below, and other townspeople going about their daily tasks.
Ephemer rushes past them, seamlessly leaping over a moving fruit cart before the vendor even notices him. He ducks and weaves around some other vendors, heeled boots clacking against the smooth cobblestones. The mosaic mural near his and Chairs' favourite café gleams vibrantly in the sunshine, depicting several people holding hands. The uppermost district of Scala has come a long way from its days of being an inaccessible wasteland, and he couldn’t be more enthused to see it flourishing.
“Morning, Vito!” he greets, intending to run past, but the burly baker stops him.
“Ephemer! Just the guy I wanted to see,” Vito says, rummaging through his cart, “Here, the usual. Some lobster tails for Charis too.”
“Oh, thank you!” He’d forgotten all about his order of strawberry tarts. “Lots of deliveries today?”
The baker leans in. Ephemer can hear his old prosthetic leg squeak a bit as he does. “It’s my mother’s birthday. I’m surprising her with tiramisu!”
“Right! Can’t believe Ms. Etna’s eighty-three already.”
“You should pass by if you’ve got the time! A visit from you’s bound to put her in good spirits.”
“I dunno, your tiramisu’s pretty tough competition.” Ephemer takes some hasty steps backwards, holding the box of pastries under his arm. “I’ll see if I can make it later after class! I’ve gotta get to Fountain Plaza.”
“Of course, how could I have forgotten?” Vito exclaims, “Congrats! Well, see ya around, then!”
Ephemer continues on, moving a bit faster. Without a moment’s hesitation, he kicks a ball that flies towards him back to some children playing in one of the back alleyways, waving when their eyes sparkle.
Usually, he’d take one of the shorter cable car lines to get to Fountain Plaza in the 5th District, but being so late already, he simply leaps from the cliffside, clutching the box of pastries to his chest in one hand and summoning Master’s Defender in the other.
He shoots out a long, golden chain, wrapping it around a spire to propel himself eastbound, over several residences. Some passerbys yelp in shock, instinctively ducking, but with a wave of his Keyblade, the cobblestones stretch upwards like water, meeting the soles of his feet in a gentle catch, before reverting to their flattened state.
As Ephemer passes through the bustling street, he hears parts of conversations around him and tunes in briefly, curious as to what’s going on today aside from his own busy schedule:
“Wow, thank you for the flowers! These are beautiful this time of year.”
“All thanks to the farmers!”
“Do you think there’ll be another city expansion soon?”
“A ship from Hedge Town should be coming in today, and it’ll have all the ginger root we need!”
“My son’s out on Heartless patrol in 4th! He just summoned his Keyblade last week.”
“Bring this to Barry, will you?”
“The funicular seems to be broken today.”
Ephemer pauses at that last one and quickly backtracks. “Which one, Ms. Rina?”
She and the other woman she’s talking to look taken aback. “Oh! Master Ephemer, I didn’t see you there!”
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop! But you said one of the lifts was broken?”
“Yes, from 1st to the eastern beach.”
He takes a brief moment, envisioning the layout of that section of the city in the forefront of his mind. A missing gear, a severed cable… “The North one, got it. Thank you! I’ll see what I can do about it.”
“Thank you!” Rina waves as he hurries off. “Such a thoughtful guy. Isn’t Master Charis so lucky?”
“Wish my husband took initiative like that…” the other woman grumbles. “But how’d he know it was the North one…?”
Ephemer hastily jots down some notes in his pocket notebook, and sticks it between his teeth and puts his pencil behind his ear as he fumbles to return one of Aeon’s empty bottles to its place in his waist satchel. He didn’t have the time to remove it earlier, but hopefully, it’ll still be in there by the time he gets to where he needs to be.
At last, he arrives at Fountain Plaza, only slightly out of breath when he notices everyone staring at him. He straightens, stuffing his pencil and notebook into his bag in one quick motion.
“Thank you so much for finally joining us, Master!” Pallas projects their voice. Ephemer winces, catching a hint of prickliness in their tone. “We’re only moments away now from the unveiling, so everybody give it up for the man of the hour, Master Ephemer!”
He waves sheepishly and makes his way to the front of the crowd, smoothing down his coat and trying not to get flustered as everyone applauds.
Petra pats his back, moving to the next empty chair. “Right in the nick of time. Pallas almost had to start improvising.”
“I’m really sorry, I slept in.” he whispers. Sitting in the chair she left, he allows his shoulders to ease at the sight of his favourite person in the entire city.
Charis presses a kiss to his temple and smiles when she gets a kiss on the cheek in return. “Aeon’s with Hestia?”
“Yeah. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“You were up pretty late last night.”
“So were you.”
“Trust me, you needed the extra sleep.”
“I would’ve given it to you instead—"
“Hush, lovebirds!” Petra says, “This is the best part.”
With a forceful heave, the townsfolk pull a large black sheet down from the centre of the plaza, and it billows in the air.
It’s a grand statue of none other than Ephemer himself, sculpted from a mix of limestone, marble and other minerals. He has Master’s Defender raised triumphantly above his head, the eastern sun illuminating his indomitable expression. The fountain below him is much more embellished now, with numerous ornate patterns carved into its facades.
The crowd of townspeople cheer and whistle loudly as they stare up at the new statue in awe.
“Wow!” Charis excitedly slaps his shoulder. “Ephemer, you seeing this?”
He himself can’t stop staring either, nose scrunching in discomfort. “Yeah, it’s…really something.”
Petra seems to notice, her proud smile falling. “Is it not what you expected?”
“No, no, it’s great!” Ephemer waves his hands, not wanting her to get the wrong impression. “Thank you, Petra! You did an awesome job. It’s just…strange to see myself like this.”
“But I didn’t make any huge changes from the first time you saw it in my workshop.”
“I know, it’s just…a lot weirder to look at myself all the way up there. My younger self, no less. In public.”
Charis leans in. “Well, if you ask me, I think you look handsome.”
“Didn’t ask.”
“Aw, no need to be bashful.” Petra pats his shoulder. “I made sure you were accurate. You said you wanted it to look exactly the way you did before you arrived here, didn’t you?”
Charis strokes her chin. “I dunno if I’d call it ‘accurate’. He’s way too tall, for one thing.”
“Nice.” Petra high fives her, much to Ephemer’s exasperation.
Pallas beams as the crowd’s mirth begins to die down. “Let’s have the artist, my dear friend Master Petra, say a few words about her magnificent piece.”
Petra straightens her cloak and excitedly makes her way towards the podium.
Ephemer leans in, “So is this what you two’ve been doing all morning? Making fun of me?”
“Hey, I’ll have you know that we had our own tasks to attend to before coming here, sleeping beauty,” Charis informs him, “I did my morning run and beach comb. Took care of a Heartless outbreak in 2nd. And then we sorted out the forms for the next Mark of Mastery.”
“Told you you should’ve finished it yesterday.”
“I finished it today, what’s the difference? Besides, that’s not for another while.” Charis takes the box of pastries still under her husband’s arm and quietly chews on one of the lobster tails, her expression melting with delight.
Ephemer delicately wipes some chocolate from her cheek with his thumb, and focuses back on Petra.
“This statue projects strength! And the water represents the overflowing prosperity of our great city thanks to Master Ephemer’s hard work these past few years!”
Petra looks right at him, each of her words coated with sincerity. “You commissioned me to make this statue for you. But I also consider this my personal way of thanking you, Master. You believed in me, even when I struggled in your classes, and didn’t really believe in myself. You were the first to ever see my potential for greatness, and that changed everything for me…so I hope other people will feel just as inspired whenever they look at you. Thank you for letting me showcase my craft, my pride and joy!”
She gestures grandly to the statue. “May your visage of truth and justice bring us security and wonder. And may this new landmark of our beautiful city act as a beacon to guide all those who are lost—on stormy seas, or in spirit.”
The plaza is filled with whistles and applause, and Petra soaks it all up, radiating nothing but joy. Ephemer knows it’s well-deserved, clapping the loudest out of everybody.
Pallas raises their palms. “And now, a word from Master Ephemer himself.”
Charis taps his shoulder as the crowd gradually simmers down once more. “Deep breath.”
Ephemer smiles, joining her in a deep inhale through the nose, and a long exhale through the mouth before heading towards the podium.
He carries himself with bravado. “Good morning, everyone! Thank you so much for being here. This is such an amazing thing Petra’s managed to do, and I’m really honoured that you’ve all let me have a place in this city, in every way possible.”
He pauses to take in the faces all around him, most of them familiar and tied to some form of experience he's had in Scala so far. They fill nearly the entire plaza, and there are even some heads poking out of windows from the surrounding apartment complexes. It’s astonishing to see just how many people cared to be present for this occasion, and Ephemer is absolutely warmed by it, from head to toe.
“Originally, this was supposed to be a monument—something simple and unassuming. But while talking to Master Charis and some friends…we came up with this little idea.” He laughs lightly. “As beautifully crafted as it is, it’s a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? I mean…of all the things that we could’ve put here… me? I understand if there’s some confusion about that. So let me explain…”
Leaning against the podium, he holds himself steady. “It might be just me up there. But I’m a symbol of something more. I’m a reflection of Scala’s ongoing journey of healing and growth. And something you need to remember is that I couldn’t have done any of the things I’ve accomplished here in Scala by myself.”
Ephemer lets out a quiet sigh as he remembers what this is all for. Who this is all for.
“I built this fountain during the Transfiguration, long before the idea of the statue was ever conceived. It's made from the fragments of a fountain I once knew, and raw materials found all over the island. It represents every single good thing that every single good person has done for me…it’s a tribute to the people I love.”
From the crowd, Charis beams at him.
“You’re the ones who hold me up. You’re my inspiration for why I choose to make this city better and better each day,” he explains, “I might be a pretty good-looking statue—something people can look to when they need hope…but I’d be nothing without you all as my perch.”
He looks past the top of his own head, even past Master’s Defender’s teeth, to the heavens above.
“…I hope whenever you see it, you’ll know that you’re home. That you’re going to be okay here, no matter what.
“You broke…your promise.”
“You’re late.”
“And…I hope I can be there to meet you, right on time.”
If this statue can someday bring reprieve to the people closest to him, and make them feel that they’ve arrived in a safe haven thriving under his watchful eye…then it’s worth having a look at himself every once in a while.
“As long I’m here as I am… so are you. ” Ephemer rests his hand over his heart. “Thank you, Scala ad Caelum!”
He’s met with an uproar of emboldened cheers, the entire plaza lit up in conviviality. It’s its own kind of magic, a communal healing that keeps Ephemer from falling apart at the seams as he makes his way back to Charis, who threads the needle, taking him into a tight embrace.
The plaza clears out not long after Pallas gives the closing remarks, leaving just a few handfuls of townsfolk milling about before getting back to work. As their friends and some volunteers clean up the area, Ephemer and Charis stand still at the heart of it all, continuing to gaze up at the statue together. The sound of the water flowing from the fountain brings them both a sense of serenity, a moment of timelessness as they hold each other close.
“I should be getting to the Academy,” Ephemer tells her.
Charis hugs him from behind, resting her chin on his shoulder. “Five more minutes.”
“Okay.” He can’t resist leaning into her touch.
“Honestly, I think it really finishes off the fountain. It looks so much more alive with you there…I’m sure your friends’ll love it.”
That puts a relieved smile on his face. “They’d probably make fun of me for it.”
“A reasonable response.”
“I just hope it won’t take them too long to get here…I want them to see this, and the rest of Scala too.”
“They’ll come home soon enough. And as an added bonus, maybe with you watching over the city, crime rates will be nonexistent by the time they arrive!”
Ephemer laughs. “If only it were that easy. If I really wanted the crime rates to go down, I would’ve asked Petra to make a statue of you.”
“Absolutely not.” Charis cringes at the thought. “I’m more than happy keeping you up there by yourself, thank you very much.”
“Aw, you sure? I have some cool design ideas in mind.”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“No promises.”
Jovially shaking her head, Charis captures him in a mellow kiss. Ephemer wraps his arms around her, basking in her warmth.
“Master Ephemer! Master Charis!”
“Oh, Iapyx!” Ephemer brightens as they come running. “I’m really sorry about leaving you hanging earlier. I was just in a rush to get to the ceremony. You know how it is.”
“Admittedly, yes, I do—"
“Have you seen the statue?” Charis asks, jabbing her thumb at it.
“I haven’t had the chance to admire its glory yet, but…but...” They’re winded, resting a hand against their chest. They take a few quick breaths before standing up straight.
And that’s when Charis notices how pale the brunette is, as though they’ve just seen a ghost. “Hey, easy now. Everything okay?”
“…It’s your grandfather.”
Charis’ blood runs cold.
“Your mother sent me, she said to come immediately—Master, wait!”
“Class is cancelled, thank you, Iapyx!” Ephemer rushes past them, hot on his partner’s heels. “You don’t think—?”
“No,” Charis’ voice quivers, “Please, don’t say it.”
He nods curtly. “Turn here, it’s faster to go down the ridge.”
The two masters disappear down an alleyway, leaping onto some rooftops below, towards the northeast, in the direction of the Scala ad Caelum Conservation Committee base.