> Place : Akira Fort

>

> Realm : Ignis

>

> Time : 1039nd Rev of timestar.

>

>  

Ethan entered the lab, his focus on the broken part of armor in his hands, brow furrowed with concentration. He barely looked up as he walked through the door, already knowing Emberis would be there, as she always was. Being his guardian, selected by the council, it was her duty to be by his side at all times.

He spoke without looking up, his tone light despite his weariness. "I don't know if it's you fairies that are ancient or this technology. How is Elden still sending them to fight with these..."

But before he could finish, something caught his attention. His eyes drifted to Emberis, standing in front of a locker, hurriedly wiping away tears and stuffing a letter back inside, as if she hadn’t wanted him to see. The smile that spread across her face was forced, thin.

"What...? What happened now?" she asked, her voice too cheery.

Ethan set the broken piece of armor down on the table, his focus now completely on her. He knew when she was hiding something. Silently, he walked over and gently took one of her large hands in his, holding it as best he could. His voice softened, filled with a familiar ache.

"I miss them too, Emberis..."

Her smile wavered, but she kept it up. "What? Who do you miss……… Savior?" She tried to joke, tried to shift the mood, but Ethan wasn’t letting her dodge.

"Emberis..." His voice was low, eyes searching hers, unwilling to let her brush him off. "We talked about this. If either of us feels... like this, we promised to talk."

She waved a hand dismissively, her smile still there but strained. "What are you saying? You’ve got another piece of junk to fix, don't you?" Her attempt at deflecting the conversation was weak.

But Ethan held her hand tighter, tugging gently as he looked up at her towering figure. "Emberis... you were always there for me. You can always talk to me too..."

Before he could finish, her knees buckled. In one swift motion, she collapsed, her tall frame sinking down onto the floor, her face burying itself into his shoulder as tears streamed down. Even on her knees, she was still nearly his height. Her sobs were raw, unrestrained.

"I miss them so much... Ethan" she choked out, her voice barely audible as her tears soaked into Ethan’s shoulder.

Ethan wrapped his arms around her as much as he could, his hand rubbing her back gently, soothing her. "Emberis... it’s okay... I'm here…we're here.." His voice was soft, comforting.

For a moment, the room was filled only with her quiet sobs and the soft sounds of Ethan holding her close, the weight of their shared loss hanging between them.

Then Ethan broke the silence, his voice hoarse with guilt. "It should’ve been me who died that day. You should have saved them, not—"

Before he could finish, Emberis pulled back abruptly, her hand covering his mouth, silencing him. Her face was fierce, eyes glistening with tears. "Never say that again. Please, Ethan... never."

He gently removed her hand from his mouth, holding it softly, but his head hung low, unable to meet her eyes. "But I can't carry this grief anymore," he whispered.

Emberis’s breath hitched, and she cupped his face, forcing him to look at her, her voice breaking with emotion. "Ethan... please don’t. You’re the only family I have left. If you leave me again... if you run away from me... I’ll die." Her words were desperate, her tears falling once more as she leaned into him, burying her face in his shoulder again. "Please... don’t go away from me..."

Ethan could feel her trembling, her vulnerability wrapping around him like a wave, and he held her tighter. "I won’t. I promise... I’m not going anywhere."

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's embrace. Slowly, Emberis’s sobs quieted, her breathing calming as his presence reassured her.

After a long moment, Emberis pulled back slightly, wiping her tears, though her voice was still soft. "I know it’s hard for you, but... you’re my family, Ethan. Like them. I know you blame yourself, but..." She gently cupped his face, her gaze full of tenderness. "You don’t have to. I see them in you—our mum, Flisa, Jiya. You remind me of them. So please... don’t push yourself away from me again. I want to be with you. I want my family. I want you."

Ethan felt a warmth spread through him at her words. He smiled softly and pulled her into a tight hug, wrapping his arms around her neck. "I won’t. I promise, I’ll stay with you."

Emberis smiled through her tears, tightening her embrace, holding him as close as she could. "Please... never go."

As they stayed there, wrapped in the warmth of each other’s embrace, the sadness that had overwhelmed them moments ago seemed to fade, replaced by a gentle sense of comfort.

Ethan broke the silence, his voice soft, but uncertain. "Do you really think I deserve to be with you? I mean..."

Emberis didn't hesitate. "Yes." She squeezed his hand, her voice firm and full of love. "You’re the only one I have left now. And don’t you *dare* push yourself away from me again. This time, I’ll tie you to me." She gave a playful smile, her eyes glimmering.

Ethan raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. "That really would be the worst punishment I’ve ever had." He smirked, attempting to lighten the mood.

Emberis chuckled, the sound like a soft melody, and Ethan reached up to wipe away the last of her lingering tears. She smiled at his touch, and he leaned in to kiss her forehead, a gesture of tenderness.

"I love you," Ethan whispered, his smile small but warm.

Emberis’ heart swelled. "I love you too."

Emberis gently took his hand and brought it to her face, closing her eyes for a moment as she inhaled its familiar scent. Then, with a renewed sense of calm, she stood, her tall figure rising above him gracefully.

Ethan returned to his desk, where the broken piece of armor lay waiting. Emberis sat beside him, her presence comforting as she watched him examine the damaged part.

"This is still cold..." Ethan said with a small gasp, clearly surprised. "Even after six phls."

Emberis tilted her head, her brow furrowing. "It shouldn’t be, right?"

Ethan flipped the piece in his hands, his eyes narrowing in focus. "No. What could have hit it?"

As he looked closer, he noticed a thin layer of ice clinging stubbornly to one of the corners. "It’s ice... but why hasn’t it melted?"

Emberis leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "Maybe it’s from Nathro. There are these fairies... I don’t know their names, but I’ve heard that, unlike the other Nathris, they have a special ability—their ice melts very slowly. Like, really slowly."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Even at high temperatures?"

Emberis shrugged. "Maybe. I’m not sure. You should ask Erudite Amiraha. She’d know."

Ethan smiled at her, holding the broken part out to her with a playful glint in his eyes. "Would you do the honor?"

Emberis grinned, immediately understanding what he meant. "Of course..."

With a flick of her wrist, her finger began to glow a bright red, the tip igniting with a small, controlled flame. She pointed it toward the ice, aiming the heat directly at the stubborn corner. But, to their surprise, the ice didn’t melt.

Ethan chuckled, more intrigued than anything. "Hmmm... stubborn like you." He shot her a teasing look.

Emberis smirked, leaning in with a mischievous glint. "Oh, please, if I were the ice, your heat wouldn’t stand a chance. I’d melt the moment you touched me."

They both burst out laughing, the sound filling the room with a lightness that dispelled any lingering gloom.

Still chuckling, Ethan shook his head, marveling at the mystery before him. "But seriously, I’ve never seen something like this. You fairies amaze me every day. Every moment, to be honest."

Emberis puffed her chest out proudly, unable to resist a playful boast. "Well, we are exceptional, aren’t we? You’re lucky you get to bask in our brilliance every day!" She winked, causing another round of laughter.

Ethan grinned widely, the tension from earlier completely lifted, their laughter echoing in the lab. "Lucky doesn’t even begin to cover it."

As they sit there, a distant sound interrupted the moment. At the door of the lab stood a Yalzet. She was standing upright, her posture formal and disciplined.

“Savior Ethan,” she said, her voice echoing with respect. “Aarthel has ordered your presence in her chamber.”

Ethan groaned dramatically, throwing his head back. "Nooo... another round of walking. Why is this fort so *big*?"

Emberis chuckled at his theatrics. “Come on, don’t be lazy now.”

Reluctantly, Ethan rose from his seat, stretching a bit before walking with Emberis toward the door. The Yalzet still stood at attention, not moving an inch. Ever the humble and kind-hearted soul, Ethan gave her a soft smile.

"Easy now," he said gently. "I’ve told you a hundred times, no need for all these formalities around me. Just be yourself."

But the Yalzet kept her stance, her tone still formal despite her clear admiration. "Apologies, Savior. We are not allowed," she said, though inside she was practically bursting. After all, Ethan was the hero who had saved their realms not once, but *twice.* Meeting him was a dream for every fairy.

Ethan waved off her objection with a smile. "Well, *I* say you're allowed. Relax."

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Slowly, the Yalzet eased her posture, and she dared to glance down at Ethan, her lips curving into a small smile. "I... I really wanted to see you. To talk to you. To touch you, to hug—" She stopped mid-sentence, realizing what she was about to say, her face flushing slightly.

Ethan, seeing her hesitation, opened his arms with a welcoming smile. "Come here. I won’t mind."

The Yalzet hesitated, her duty conflicting with her emotions. "No... no, sorry, Savior. I didn’t mean to—"

Emberis said softly. "Come on. Don’t hesitate. You might not get another chance like this!"

Finally, the Yalzet gave in, bending down to his height to wrap her arms around Ethan in a gentle, almost reverent hug. Ethan hugged her back without hesitation, his warmth melting her shyness.

"Oh my stars..." Yalzet whispered, practically vibrating with excitement. "Oh my... I hugged our savior... I can’t believe it!"

Ethan chuckled softly. "Easy now, it’s really not a big deal. And please, call me Ethan. Not ‘Savior.’"

Yalzet stammered, “Right, S—Ethan... but it sounds so strange.”

Ethan gave her a knowing smile. "I know, but look at you now. You look happier, and that’s all I want. For all of you fairies to be happy."

Emberis couldn’t help but smile at his humility, her heart swelling with even more love for him. His kindness was boundless, and it never ceased to amaze her.

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for us,” Yalzet said earnestly. “Can I... can I have a Tasv with you? My Aul will never believe I hugged you if I don’t have proof.”

Ethan smiled at her request. "Why not?"

Emberis stepped back, pulling out her Bracon, a sleek device unique to every fairy, and snapped a tasv—a holographic photo—of Yalzet and Ethan standing together. "Perfect," she said, sending the photo projection to Yalzet with a flick of her fingers.

Yalzet beamed with gratitude. "Thank you, thank you so much!"

Ethan waved off her thanks with a warm smile. "Just keep smiling, and say hello to your Auls from me."

As Ethan and Emberis continued their walk toward Aarthel’s chamber, they shared knowing smiles.

Emberis playfully teased, “You’re making the Yalzets *less* like Yalzets, you know.”

Ethan shrugged, his tone sincere. "I just want them to be happy. It’s the least I can do."

Emberis raised an eyebrow at him, her expression soft but firm. "Least? Ethan, you’ve saved so many of them. You saved our realms, and you *still* call it the least? It’s far from that. And you too"

Ethan chuckled, brushing it off as he often did. "Come on, stop it. I’m just—"

Before he could finish, Emberis grinned and joined in, finishing the sentence with him in unison. "I’m just a normal human."

They both laughed together, the sound echoing through the grand halls of the fort.

Emberis shook her head, her eyes twinkling. "You always say that. But Ethan... you’re so much more than that."

After a walk through the grand halls, Ethan and Emberis finally arrived at the Aarthel’s chamber. Ethan, ever the informal savior, avoided the usual pomp and circumstance, and the fairies had long since accepted him that way. He had done so much for them that his casual demeanor was just part of who he was. They knew his heart was in the right place, and he would always stand by them, no matter what.

Emberis, however, being more accustomed to the formalities, knelt on one knee, her fist clenched to her chest in a respectful salute before the commanding officer of the fairy army, Kanthia—the Aarthel.

"Savior Guardian Emberis, reporting," she said in a disciplined tone.

Ethan, standing beside her, couldn’t resist his usual charming antics. With a playful grin, he mimicked her posture, poorly imitating her salute. “Guardian’s ward Ethan, reporting!” he said, his tone exaggeratedly formal. Emberis bit her lip to hold back a chuckle, glancing at him with amusement.

Kanthia, a seasoned officer with a deep respect for Ethan, smiled at his antics. "At ease, Guardian. And you, Ethan," she said, turning her gaze to Ethan, “maybe next time, you’ll salute from your heart.”

Ethan waved it off with a grin. "Nah. Formalities aren’t my thing."

The Aarthel and the other high-ranking officers knew Ethan well enough to accept him as he was. Despite his lack of decorum, his respect for them was unquestionable. He had earned their trust and loyalty many times over.

Kanthia’s smile lingered, but her tone shifted to one of seriousness as she gestured toward the table in the room. A projection of the terrain appeared over it, the layout of a distant realm hovering in mid-air. "Alright then, I called you both here for something important."

Ethan leaned forward slightly, curious. “Now we’re talking. Please tell me this isn’t a mission,” he said, his tone playful and excited. “ You’re sending us to Nathro Realm just to enjoy the snow and the sea? I *really* love their seafood.”

Emberis chuckled, giving him a playful scolding look. "Ethan!"

Kanthia allowed herself a small smile. “Well, you *can* enjoy Nathro... but only after you complete this mission.” She changed the projection, and now it displayed a ruined land. “This is Dvub, a Mand ( village) within the Nathro realm. A few phls ago, a Ogmis Dihodos influenced some Ljikina fairies to say Nemesis’ name. Now, they’re undergoing transformation.”

Ethan’s face fell. “That’s terrible. Where’s that Ogmis Dihodos now?”

Kanthia switched the projection again, displaying a map with a glowing beacon indicating the dihodos’ location. “She’s near to complete its full transformation. She's here in the mand.” She pointed at the blinking beacon.

Emberis studied the map, her expression grave. "We need to capture her before she reaches the more inside the Mand. If she completes the transformation, she could manipulate countless fairies."

Kanthia nodded. “Right. Ethan, take whatever resources you need to stop this. And rescue those Ljikina fairies before they’re fully transformed. I’ll assign you a troop of Yalzets to assist—”

Before she could finish, Ethan raised a hand, shaking his head firmly. "No, no." He cut her off quickly. "I can handle this. Don’t risk your Yalzets."

Kanthia’s expression hardened. “Ethan, you are more important to us than any one mission. We can’t risk *your* life.”

Ethan stepped closer, his tone soft but resolute. "Kanthia, let me do this. Trust me. If I need reinforcements, I’ll call for them. Emberis and I can handle it."

Kanthia studied him for a moment, her protective instincts warring with her belief in his abilities. She didn’t want to see him harmed, but she knew he wasn’t someone to be coddled. Finally, she nodded.

"Very well." Her gaze shifted to Emberis, her tone carrying the weight of command. "Guardian, you are responsible for his protection. At all costs."

Emberis straightened, her voice firm and unwavering. "With my last breath, Aarthel."

Kanthia’s expression softened ever so slightly as she looked at the two of them. "Go, and may the stars guide you."

After another *phl*, Ethan and Emberis made their way to the hangar, where Ethan’s creation, the Mini-Dyfost, stood waiting. The machine, capable of teleporting between realms, was humming in the soft light of the hangar.

Ethan, flipping switches and prepping the machine, turned to Emberis, his eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Alright... tell me more about that Sea of Frost. Is it really worth seeing?"

Emberis sat beside him, pulling up images of the Sea of Frost on her tablet, swiping through a series of stunning landscapes. "Oh, it's beautiful. Look." She passed the tablet to him. "It has floating icebergs in air—huge ones, just drifting across the water."

“Floating icebergs...” Ethan repeated, slightly distracted as he powered on the Mini-Dyfost, the machine humming to life under his touch.

Emberis gave him a sidelong glance, her lips curling into a playful smirk. "But there’s a problem."

Ethan didn’t even look up as he replied. "Low temperature, I assume?"

"Negative 135 degrees," she said with a shrug.

Ethan's head fell back dramatically. "Nooo... why do all these beautiful places come with such awful conditions?"

With a final grin, he pulled the lever. The Mini-Dyfost hummed and vibrated slightly before disappearing in a flash, transporting them from the Ignis realm to Dvub in Nathro realm.

---

The icy winds of Nathro realm greeted them as they materialized in Dvub. The cold bit at Ethan immediately, and he quickly pulled on his warm jacket. He shivered as the cold seeped through.

“Woo... it’s *really* cold,” Ethan muttered.

Without missing a beat, Emberis, ever the protector, raised her hand and gently warmed his tunic with her powers, making the chill more bearable.

"Better," Ethan sighed, offering her a grateful smile.

They walked toward the Dvub Mand, the cold air swirling around them. As they approached, Ljikina fairies, huddled in distress, caught sight of their arrival. Upon seeing Ethan, their savior, they bowed, their faces lighting up with a mixture of hope and relief.

Ethan, humble as ever, waved them off with a kind smile. “Please... no need for that. You don’t have to bow.”

One of the Ljikina fairies rushed forward, tears streaming down her face, desperation thick in her voice. "Please, Savior, save my Aul... she’s becoming a Dihodos," she cried, her hands trembling.

Another Ljikina fairy, barely holding back her own tears, joined in. "Savior... please save my mum. I can’t lose her..."

A third fairy’s voice echoed softly in the background, awe and hope mixed together. "He’s here... our savior is here..."

Ethan’s playful demeanor quickly shifted as he took in the tragic scene before him. The transformation of the Ljikina fairies into Dihodos was well underway, and their pained expressions were hard to witness. He remained calm, his face serious but composed, his mind already working on a solution. The fairies were manipulated to say ‘Zovrath’ and now becoming hid dihodos, were tied to keep them from causing destruction during their transformations.

Ethan turned to the distressed fairies. "I’ll save your Aul. Please, gather all the Dihodos in one place."

The first Ljikina fairy, though still crying, nodded and rushed off to inform the others. Her voice echoed across the snowy Mand, calling for everyone to bring the Dihodos to a central location, their savior had arrived to help.

As they waited, Emberis cast a glance over the gathered fairies and sighed softly. "That Ogmis Dihodos really caused chaos here..."

Ogmis Dihodos—beings from the Ogma realm, known for their powers of mind manipulation and telekinesis—had sown disaster, and now the fairies of Dvub were paying the price.

"Track her down," Ethan said, his voice sharp with purpose. "Ask how she got here and who saw her last. I’ll start working on the serum to stop the transformation."

Nodding, Emberis quickly took out her tablet and went off to gather more information from the Ljikina fairies. Meanwhile, Ethan grabbed a sleek, advanced briefcase from the Mini-Dyfost and made his way to where the Ljikina fairies had begun gathering the Dihodos. Their terrified faces pleaded silently for hope, for salvation.

As he knelt down to set up his equipment, he looked up at the fairies, offering a reassuring smile. "Don’t worry. They’ll be okay."

A Ljikina fairy, her face stained with tears, pleaded with him again. "Please... please save them."

Ethan’s eyes softened. "I will," he promised, opening the briefcase and preparing the serum that could stop the curse before it was too late.

As Ethan set up his equipment, the hum of machines and the beeping of scanners filled the air, things the Ljikina fairies had never encountered. Their world was built on faith in Phinix, their god, and anything else felt foreign and unsettling.

Ljikina Fairy 1 leaned closer to another, her brow furrowed. "What is he doing? I've never seen anything like this before..."

Ljikina Fairy 2, equally concerned, whispered, "Is he... trying to harm them? But he’s supposed to be our savior."

Ljikina Fairy 3 glanced around nervously. "They said he was sent by Phinix to save us... but he doesn’t look like them at all."

Ethan, hearing their whispers but trying to stay focused, continued his work. He was fully absorbed in preparing his instruments, mixing chemicals with precision, and drawing on what he knew. The fairies’ belief in gods and superstition meant that science had no place in their world, but Ethan needed their help if he was going to stop the transformation.

After setting up, he finally looked up at the crowd of nervous and uncertain fairies. "I need your blood sample," he said, his voice steady but soft, trying to explain. "I’ll make a serum that can stop the trans—"

Before he could finish, one of the Ljikina fairies, her eyes wide with disbelief, stepped forward. "You need what? Our blood?" Her voice was sharp, filled with suspicion.

Another fairy, now even more unsettled, echoed her. "You want to curse our Auls...?"

Ethan shook his head quickly, raising his hands in defense. "No, no, it’s not like that. I need the blood sample to—"

But his protests were drowned out by the rising voices of the other fairies.

"He’s taking our blood to curse us all!" shouted a third fairy, her voice rising in fear. "He’s not a savior!"

“No, please, listen,” Ethan pleaded, his words starting to falter as panic spread across the crowd.

"We will accept our Auls' death before we let you curse us!" another cried out, her voice trembling with defiance.

“You’re a liar!” a fifth fairy shouted. “You don’t even look like Phinixes... you’re not one of them!”

The murmurs turned into angry muttering, and the atmosphere shifted dangerously, their faith in Phinix clashing against Ethan’s logic and science. They began closing in, distrust thick in the air. The Ljikina fairies were scared, and in their fear, they were rejecting Ethan’s help.

Ethan, feeling the tension grow, held out his hands. "Please... I really want to help... I’m not here to hurt anyone! Just listen—"

Suddenly, a voice cut through the chaos.

"Stop! Stop! Everyone, stop!" A Ljikina fairy, sitting beside one of the writhing Dihodos, rose to her feet. Her voice was firm and loud, demanding attention. She looked around, her gaze landing on each of them as the crowd slowly quieted.

"Stop," she repeated, softer now. "He’s trying to help us. He saved us from Bnikos, didn’t he? Why would he curse us now? At least... listen to him."

Her words seemed to cut through the hysteria, and a silence settled over the crowd as they considered her plea.

Ethan, grateful, nodded to the fairy who had spoken for him. His voice was soft but sincere as he addressed the crowd again. "I know you don’t believe in my science, or any of this,” he said, gesturing to the equipment around him. “But I truly want to help you all. If you let me take a blood sample, I can make a serum that will stop the transformation." He paused, his gaze steady. "Believe me... I want to help."

For a moment, there was quiet, but then a fairy stepped forward, her expression hard. "No one here is ready to give you our blood," she said coldly. "You may have saved us from Bnikos, but that doesn’t mean we trust you with this."

Another fairy added, "Not me... I won’t give you my blood."

And then, one by one, every fairy murmured their rejection. No one was willing to trust him, their fears too great, their beliefs too deeply rooted. Ethan’s heart sank as he realized the depth of their distrust. They weren’t willing to believe in science—or him.