(Arya's POV)
When the flower I created dissolved back into the earth, I felt the overwhelming emission of power finally fade. Even from this distance, the intense heat that had radiated through the forest began to recede—along with the towering presence of Yggvalk.
"He truly is amazing," I thought to myself. The remnants of Ezra's power reminded me of the brilliance he displayed when we were younger—the brilliance that first drew me to him all those years ago.
I wondered what it must have felt like for him… reaching that pinnacle of power, being seen as the shining hope of his nation—of the world. To always be perfect. Always composed. Always strong. My awe soon gave way to sorrow and pity for the man I once loved, as the thoughts I'd buried for so long began to ruminate again in my mind.
I hadn't seen it then… but I see it now.
He never wanted this responsibility.
That was never him.
He simply became what he was groomed to be—bound by the weight of duty bestowed upon his people by a power they revered. A power they could never oppose… nor would they want to.
It wasn't long before Ezra appeared, pulling me from my thoughts.
"Is everything alright, Arya?" he asked gently, his body still radiating traces of light, though it was slowly dimming as he approached.
"I'm fine," I answered softly. "Everything went off without a hitch. How was your battle with Yggvalk? I can understand now why you didn't want anyone near when you fought. I've never experienced that much heat and energy before. That was… your Domain, wasn't it?"
"Yes, it was," Ezra replied. "But honestly? I was hoping he'd be stronger. If I weren't in my fused form, I might've handled him without activating it. Still, he was a true adversary. I understand now why Yggvalk is considered a mythical legend."
"Oh, whatever, Ezra," I said, rolling my eyes. "I thought you would've grown out of being such a showoff."
He chuckled. "I was just telling you the truth. But it does have me wondering… why didn't the Eldertree make Yggvalk stronger? You used to tell me he was nearly impossible for any normal Starbound to defeat."
"Maybe," I offered, "it was the Eldertree's way of fighting back against Malakar's corruption."
"Maybe…" Ezra said, trailing off. "But that corruption felt different—unlike anything I've ever encountered. It had a sinister edge. Like a seed of death… beginning to take root. What's actually known about Malakar's full powers? Because that didn't feel like anything the Eldertree Sage Constellation should produce... does it or am I looking to far deep into the details."
"No, not at all," I agreed. "No matter how many times I tried to press my mother for answers, she always avoided the subject. As if even mentioning Malakar would invite despair."
There was a pause. Then I asked, "Ezra… when I finished mending the seal… Malakar spoke to me."
His head snapped toward me, alert. "He spoke to you?"
"Yes. For the first time ever. He told me his essence had been reignited—by Cyrus. He said Cyrus was… similar to him in many ways. What happened to him, Ezra?"
Ezra exhaled heavily. "He was there when it all happened. He witnessed everything. And he alone survived—thanks to his dying mother in her final moments. He had no one to lean on in that moment."
"You weren't there?"
"No," he said, shaking his head. "My father, Zaire, and I weren't present. Only my brother was left to defend our clan. So when I say I might've turned out just like Cyrus… I mean it. Whatever is happening on this continent isn't helping his growth and just being here is a constant reminder of pain and grief. That's why we're leaving."
His words hit hard. I found myself empathizing more deeply with both father and son. The very continent they were born to protect had turned its back on them. And I feared my own clan might someday suffer the same fate, given the policies my mother and the council continued to enforce over the Valador Region.
I glanced at Ezra. I knew every nuance of his expressions, every hidden tell in his gaze. And right now, I could see the depth of his concern—his singular focus on the safety and future of his son. In that moment, I resolved to help them however I could… if only as penance for the pain my family's legacy had caused.
We stood in silence for a while until I noticed his expression change—his eyes sharp and alert.
"What is it, Ezra?" I asked.
"I sense it again… that same corruption. It's coming from deeper in the forest—east of us."
I followed his gaze. "That's where one of the bases is located. Now that I'm focusing… I can sense the entire militia is there too."
"I thought all this would disappear once the seal was mended."
"I did too—until Malakar told me he hid a part of his essence in this forest before he was ever sealed."
"You're kidding me," Ezra muttered. "Come here. We need to move—now—before anything drastic happens."
Before I could respond, he swept me into his arms and took off into the sky, flying at full speed.
The feeling of being pressed against him again—feeling his warmth, his strength, his scent—brought back a flood of memories I didn't want to revisit. He was still the same: the lean, battle-scarred warrior with hands softer than one would expect, radiating gentle heat like a sun wrapped in flesh. It felt… safe.
Like something I'd lost long ago had suddenly returned.
I wanted to say something—to act on that old, buried spark. But I knew it wasn't the right time. His mind was elsewhere, consumed by the threat still looming. I had completed my mission, and felt a weight lifted off my shoulders to a degree. But Ezra's broad shoulders just seemed to pick up what I just released, as his traps tensed up as all he could be possibly thinking about is the condition of his son.
And I could only think of what my mother used to tell me when I was a girl:
"Looking after a child… is a battle without end."