A Moment's Rest

“That … was too close for comfort.”

“Yeah…! W-way too close.”

Zaron and Veena sighed out in equal exhaustion, their hearts racing at an impossible pace. They descended a rocked-filled passageway, watching their steps carefully as their head-torches illuminated the path ahead. Due to the lack of crystal covering the surrounding walls – and, in consequence, the lack of light – their sense of caution escalated throughout their long descent.

Zaron had secured Veena's arm over his shoulder, prioritizing her safety and wellbeing over the pace of their journey through the cave system. Although Zaron had preferred to continue carrying his partner to save her grief, Veena refused to succumb to such unbearable humiliation – regardless of Zaron several attempts to convince her. After avoiding the Guardian of the Dragon’s Eye by a narrow margin, the Draiken pair were experiencing various stages of exhaustion. On the one hand, Zaron felt as though he could press on for a few hours longer, despite his mental capacity dwindling. However, on the other hand, Veena was struggling through the constant agony of her ribs. She could barely hold herself on her own feet without Zaron’s generous support, no matter how hard she tried to hide her setback.

Underneath her calm exterior, her mind was racing. She felt an overwhelming sense of frustration and embarrassment, believing she was a burden to Zaron after receiving her troublesome injury. If she had succeeded in her initial attempt to slay the Screecher, Zaron would never need to burden himself with her wellbeing. The predicament infuriated her entirely, adamant to rectify the fault as soon as possible.

Slip!

“AH?! Ergh…!”

Amid her internal dilemma, she missed a step and caught her ankle between a small fissure in the track, causing her to stumble awkwardly. Zaron held his stance, preventing her collapse entirely.

“Veena, you need to rest.” He warned her directly, his concern for her wellbeing seeping through the cracks. “You’re in no shape to keep going as you are now.”

Veena shook her head in denial.

“There’s no way we’re stopping … not until we reach the Dragon’s Eye.”

After dislodging her foot from the fissure, Veena was about to tread on. However, the silent Zaron refused to move, staring at her with a half-open gaze.

“…Okay, maybe I’ll reword that.” Veena murmured awkwardly, leaning on him as she soothed her injury. “Zaron, please keep going.”

Zaron sighed out irritably.

“Veena, we don’t know what’s ahead. For all we know, we could end up facing off against enemies far worse than those crystal beasts earlier.” He explained in consideration, reminding her of the risks set against them. “If we stop here, we’ll be able to fix you up and stand a better chance with what’s to come.”

“...And if we stop here, not only could we screw up the first-aid due to the lack of light, but we could also get flanked by that Guardian at any given moment.” Veena rebutted in an instant, struggling to retain her patience. “We have to keep going.”

“That ‘Guardian’ is three times the size of this passageway, there’s no way it’ll reach us here.” Zaron argued firmly, believing his partner was just making excuses at this point. “I expect it'll be waiting for us in the next open area of the cave system.”

“And what about the other crystal-beasts?” Veena then added, glaring at him in refusal of surrender. “We were able to slay the batch earlier, but ... they'll re-spawn through the walls just as fast. What if they come back? What if they spawn right where we stand?”

“That’s more of a reason why we need to tend to your injury right here and now.” Zaron argued back, flipping her excuse on its head in an instant. “Think about it, Vee-!”

He then froze. He gazed at her directly with widened eyes, realising the reality behind her onslaught of excuses. Veena fell silent, knowing he’s seen through her plethora of excuses and diversions.

“That’s it...! Veena … you’re neglecting your injury on purpose.” He stated in bafflement. “You’re willing to risk your life over your damn pride!”

Feeling struck with a critical hit, Veena glanced away without a word, holding back her distraught in desperation.

“Dammit...! Veena, we’re not fighting in the Battle-Sim.” He then groaned in looming frustration. “These creatures we’re fighting are unpredictable as hell. We can’t just reset whenever we screw up a perfect run.”

“That’s … not it...” Veena responded in a quiet murmur; her voice barely audible.

“Then ... ‘what’ is it, Veena?” He pursued to question; his tone harsher as his patience for her excuses dwindles. “What other reason would you risk-?”

“I DON’T WANT TO BE A BURDEN ON YOU!” She exploded at the top of her lungs. “I didn’t spend my entire life training my arse off just to be a waste of time!”

Zaron lurched back as she snapped at him, her scowl quivering as she held back the tears welling up in her eyes.

“Ever since our first fight with Mantis, all I’ve done was make mistakes-after-mistakes.” She then proceeded to admit, her body shaking with emotions. “What’s the point in me inheriting the Kurama blade and mastering the Battle-Sim if all I’m good for is becoming a burden to others? It’s pathetic.”

“...”

After the initial shock of Veena’s outburst, Zaron breathed out a quiet sigh.

“...Remind me to force a chill-pill down your throat when we finally fix you up.”

“...Eh?”

Veena stared back at him in wide-eyed bewilderment, her mind unable to process the off-toned response from Zaron. However, Zaron then eyed her with a renewed, focused expression.

“We live and learn, right?” Zaron assured her earnestly, reflecting on his own previous mistakes upon facing the notorious assassin. “We’re warriors – born and raised, so mistakes will always part of the territory whether we like it or not. Sure, it sucks to be beaten down constantly, but ... we patch ourselves up and fight on.”

Eyes locked onto him as she absorbed his optimistic words, Veena responded with a low mutter.

“Yeah, that’s all well and good … until that one mistake gets you killed. And even worse: gets your loved one killed in the process.”

Just then, an image of his mother flashed before Zaron, causing him to glance away is silence. The positivity within him dissipated, leaving an empty husk as his partner’s words stabbed into his thoughts. Veena realised her error immediately.

“Zaron, I’m ... I’m so sorry.”

Understanding the consequences of her response, Veena apologised profusely.

“I didn’t mean it like that.”

His gaze drifting to the path ahead, Zaron murmured underneath his breath.

“I know.”

Silence loomed over the Draiken pair, neither uttering a word as they stood idle in the dark tunnel. Veena stared at the blank-faced Zaron, attempting to read his thoughts after her blunder. However, the young male Draiken refused to glance back at his injured partner, locking away his troublesome emotions before they could surface.

“Can we keep going...?” Veena then asked him politely, careful not to overstep her boundaries. “... Just until we find some decent lighting?”

Without a word, Zaron gave her a single nod in response.

***

Step … step … step…!

“No way…”

“That’s … that’s impossible...!”

After a difficult descent down the dark tunnel, Zaron and Veena eventually reached a narrow area of the cave system with substantial light and flatter ground. However, they were both caught off-guard upon their immediate arrival. As though in sync, the two gazed on in shock and awe, overwhelmed by the unexpected sight before them.

Shift...!

“Wha-? Vee...?”

Just then, Zaron was caught off-guard by Veena slipping away from him abruptly, attempting to call out to her before stopping himself. Veena was entranced by the sight, stumbling away from Zaron’s support to gain a closer view. As she staggered forward, she consciously clutched the side of her chest, pacing her breaths to subdue the lingering pain. The hesitant Zaron watched on, his gaze switching between her safety and the enriching visuals further ahead. He too was awestruck by the new section of the cave, wondering how such a scenery far down into the caving system could exist. He then observed as Veena struggled to crouch and reach down, her fingertips brushing the surface of the glistening, glass-like water – causing a ripple effect. Zaron felt his heart leap as he watched her touch the water, cementing they were not standing before and illusion.

At the deepest level of the cave housed a vast silver lake, engulfed in millions of surrounding, glowing crystals of numerous cosmic colours. From the still glass-like water to the volcanic black sand beneath their feet, the entire area seemed untouched for decades. Additionally, pure black rocks dotted across the sand bed, further empathising the feeling that the two had entered an entirely new dimension – free from artificial interference and corruption. The atmosphere was perfect, allowing any conflict or concern in their minds to wisp away – albeit momentarily.

Just then, Zaron treaded over to the nearest, appropriately sized rock he could find, dropping the two rucksacks and his weapon on the sandy floor in the process. He then removed his jacket casually and spread it on the rock, allowing him to stretch out his limbs without the restrictive baggage. Finally, he glanced back over to his partner.

“Veena.”

Hearing Zaron call out to her, the dazed Veena switched to him wondrously. It that moment, Zaron patted the jacket-covered rock beside him without speaking a word, his intentions as clear as day. As though her enjoyment was snatched away, Veena nodded disheartened acceptance, limping away from the water's edge. Whilst perching herself carefully on the rock, Zaron retrieved the first-aid kit from his backpack and laid it out. Upon immediate reveal of the kit’s vast content, he found an icepack ready for use.

“Veena, I need you to lift up your shirt.” He then requested, turning to her whilst shaking the icepack.

Veena gave him a sudden bewildered glare.

“Excuse me?!”

“We need to know the extent of your injury.” Zaron explained calmly, ensuring his intentions were clear. “We’ll only regret it later if we miss anything vital.”

Veena continued to stare at him with an expression of conflict, understanding his mind-set yet also conscious of showing herself off unnecessarily.

“Why not just pass me the icepack?” She suggested as she held out her hand to him expectantly. “That way, I can handle it myself whilst you-!”

Pop!

In the middle of her excuse, Zaron squeezed the icepack – causing the pack to expand instantly. There was a moment of silence between the two, Zaron staring at her patiently yet refusing to budge in his approach.

“You were saying?”

Veena stated at him in silent disdain, struggling to find her remaining words.

“...What?”

Her eye then twitched as Zaron questioned her curiously, her cheeks blushing from ear-to-ear.

“Oh, fine! Just get it over and done with already!” Veena badgered him with a pout, lifting her top up begrudgingly.

As she continued to grumble to herself inaudibly, she raised her shirt just enough to reveal the extent of the wound. Zaron watched on intensely, inspecting the extent of the injury with caution.

“Why’re you getting all embarrassed? It’s not like I’ve never seen you in a swimsuit before.” He wondered teasingly, smirking at her. “…Oh! Is it because I can see your sport-?”

“T-THAT’S NOT IT!” Veena roared out in abrupt denial, interrupting him before he could finish the absurd suggestion. “It just ... feels weird with you doing it for me.”

“Whoa…! This is a new side of you!” Zaron then laughed out in amazement, feeling a sense of euphoria in teasing her. “Usually, it’s the other way around, but now I have the high ground!”

Wham!

“-Oof!”

“You’re getting too full of yourself, idiot!” Veena yelled as she struck her foot reactively into Zaron’s abdomen.

“I was … only joking…!” Zaron wheezed breathlessly, crumbling as he soothed the aching pain.

“…Whatever.”

Veena glanced away in disgust, feeling as though her trust in Zaron diminished. However, as Zaron recovered from the surprise jab, his amused yet pained grin simmered as he gazed at her earnestly.

“I wouldn't be doing this to make you uncomfortable.” He pointed out in honesty, shrugging off the concern. “Don’t forget, you tended to my wounds the other day. It’d be wrong for me not to do the same for you.”

“...”

As Veena sat in reluctant silence, Zaron continued with his inspection. He soon verifying the extent of her injury through careful and considerate observation, analysing from every angle to ensure nothing was missed.

“...Are you done?” Veena then questioned anxiously, fidgeting on her perch.

“There’s a significant amount of bruising on the right side of your ribcage.” He informed her, his finger hovering over the area of injury. “I wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve fractured a few of your ribs when you collided with the ceiling. The question is: how deep are the fractures?”

He was correct on his assumption. Upon inspecting her revealed injury, her right side was consumed with dark-purple bruising, spanning an entire section of her ribcage. Additionally, he listened to her breathing, he could hear regular restrictive inhales, acting as though every attempt for oxygen was agonizing. No matter how much she tried to hide it, she was in continuous pain.

Wrapping the cold icepack with a small cloth provided by the First-Aid Kit, Zaron placed it on the bruising carefully.

Jolt!

“Eep-!”

Veena jolted up in an abrupt shudder, the cold shiver breaking through her spine.

“Veena! Hold still!”

“How can I when you’re shoving that icepack on me without warning!”

The two bickered to one another immediately, Zaron yelling at her to comply with his demands, whilst Veena complained about his lack of consideration for her wellbeing. However, after several minutes of back-and-forth yapping, the two Draiken finally calmed down, both letting out irritable sighs before proceeded with the soothing the bruising. As the covered icepack touched the expansive injury, a shuddering whimper escaped the reactive Veena. And yet, she held her ground, restraining all temptation to reject the bitter cold even though it was constant torment for her. Zaron was conscious of Veena’s discomfort, considering the delicacy of his approach with the icepack whilst also thinking of topics to break the tension. He then hesitated, softening his grip on the icepack.

“…Zaron?”

Veena noticed him stop, glancing down warily as she expected another cold shock to hit her out of nowhere.

“What’s the matter?”

Hearing her call to him, Zaron decided to speak his mind.

“I still think about that night…” He murmured in a faint voice, forcing himself to reapply the icepack as he spoke. “I wonder what I should’ve done differently during the fight … how I could’ve approached it differently, so that you and mum escaped unharmed.”

Amongst her occasional winces and jolts, Veena listened to him in considerate silence.

“For the next week or so, I constantly told myself: ‘stop thinking about what happened that night and move on’. And, at one point … I almost did.” He continued to express, struggling to multitask between focusing on Veena’s injury and his wondering thoughts. “But when we fought Mantis in Ferradon, I heard her words … and its haunted me ever since.

"What you said back there about one mistake could get ‘your loved one killed in the process’ … it hit close to home.” He then admitted, pausing at times to find his words. “To be honest, I knew you had a point, but I let my emotions get the better of me and acted like a moron. I just … I just wish I knew what happened to mum that night.”

“I believe she survived.”

Zaron glanced directly at Veena, caught off-guard by her immediate, confident response.

“I mean … she was a part of Xaphire’s Ultima for a reason, right?” She proceeded to comment, speaking truthfully on the matter. “I remember the many stories my mum used to tell me of her time as an Ultima: the tales of her thwarting Dragora’s most notorious crime syndicates; facing off against a battalion of enemy assassins single-handedly; going toe-to-toe with the Crevasse Queen … and to top it off: the heated rivalry between our mothers that elevated to legendary status throughout their prime.

“Those stories were what persuaded me to inherit Kurama in the first place.” She then recalled, a faint grin breaking from her lips. “I was so inspired by Terra, I wanted to be like her and reach feats equal to hers. I committed myself to train from dawn-to-dusk all because I wanted to meet her approval. I even forgot to drink and eat on occasions because I was obsessed in reaching that goal.

“Thinking back to those very stories, I just can’t see Terra fall to Mantis so easily – even if she wasn’t at peak performance. You know her better than I do, so maybe there’s something else to it. But … I’m confident that Mantis was lying through her teeth just to rile you up.”

Zaron nodded with a wavering yet grateful smile.

“Maybe…”

As their conversation ended, Veena clocked the opened first-aid kit, noticing a small, yet familiar vial in one of the opened pouches.

“What’s that?” She murmured curiously, prompting Zaron to glance over.

Reaching out with a free hand, he pulled the vial from the pouch and inspected it with wondering eyes. There was no label, yet the liquid inside and shape of the vial was enough to determine the identity of its contents.

“…Huh. Well, how about that?” He laughed out in surprise, juggling the vial with renewed glee. “Even when he’s not here, Lucas is looking out for us.”

It was Lucas’ convenient Elixir – this time in a smaller, pocket-size vial. The clear liquid inside sloshed and sparkled radiantly, reflecting the dazzling light from the plethora of surrounding crystals. Zaron then noticed a slip of paper tucked inside the pouch that cradled the vial. After prompting Veena to take over holding the icepack, he picked up the paper and observed its content.

“‘How to Apply Elixir: if external injury – apply specific drops of Elixir on the wound depending on the size/severity of the injury; if internal injury – consume a specific portion of Elixir depending on size/severity of the wound.’” As Zaron read out the note, he noticed a list detailing specific dosages in relation to injury:

- Cuts (less than 2cm) – 1 Drop every 3cm.

- Lacerations (deeper than 2cm) – 5 Drops every 3cm (be sure the wound is closed before use!)

- Bone Fractures (small) – consume a quarter of the vial for each identified fracture.

- Bone Breaks (medium) – consume half of the vial for each identified break.

…etc.

“Well, that’s … nifty.” Zaron commented cheerfully, re-reading the instructions for memorization purposes before switching back to Veena with a dark, eerie smirk. Veena stared back at him anxiously.

“Why are you looking at me like that?”

***

The next hour was immense for the Draiken duo. Zaron convinced the increasingly apprehensive Veena to consume the elixir – as required by the instructions. Whilst he felt apologetic for the torment she would soon endure; he expressed no hint of hesitation in his approach. He was prepared mentally for the inevitable, reflecting on his own experience. On the other hand, Veena was extremely cautious as she was handed the opened vial. She stared at it momentarily, reminding herself of Zaron’s reaction to the elixir after the trouble in Ferradon. However, with the firm reassurance and optimism from Zaron, she yielded and consumed the vial’s contents in on single gulp. After that, they were forced to play a waiting game.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Any luck?”

After a moment of intense silence, Zaron decided to ask for an update.

“…No. Nothing yet.” Veena admitted in disappointment, shaking her head as she continued to pressure the icepack against her bruising.

“That’s … odd.” Zaron muttered in confusion, glancing at the instructions hoping he had not missed a step in the process. “The elixir kicked in instantly when it was used on me.”

“Well, if you think about it … that’s not surprising at all.” Veena pointed out in reassurance, restraining the lingering pain as she spoke. “We applied the elixir directly on your open wound, so there’s no doubt that it started the healing process immediately. On the other hand, I’ve had to drink mine, so it'll need time to pass through my body and into my bloodstream.”

“Yeah ... good point.” Zaron muttered with a nod. “I guess there’s also ... the itch.”

Veena fell pale in an instant, flashbacks of the dreaded ‘itch’ phase rushing through her mind.

And then, another few minutes pass.

“I’m starting to think it’s a dud...” Veena then murmured, relaxing her mental brace warily.

Zaron shook his head, “I’m sure Lucas would’ve checked the vials before adding them to our bags.”

(Wait, do elixirs have ‘sell-by dates’...?)

Zaron’s thoughts trailed off as he considered the outlandish possibility, almost snickering to himself at the concept. Meanwhile, Veena grew more restless, reinforcing her assumption that the elixir was ineffective. She retrieved the instructions from Zaron and skimmed through it relentlessly, hoping to locate a missing detail.

“Maybe it wasn’t enough.” She then muttered with a disheartened sigh, passing the notes back to her partner. “I wouldn’t be surprised if I’ve done more damage to myself than initially thought.”

Click!

As Zaron shot a blank gaze at Veena, an idea appeared in his mind abruptly. He rushed and grabbed Veena’s backpack, rummaging through the contents as he searched for the other first-aid kit. Although he knew the idea was wishful thinking, there was an inkling of hope that he could still heal his injured partner.

(If one vial isn’t enough … why not two?)

He grinned proudly as the other first-aid kit emerged from the second backpack.

However, Zaron’s plan was soon interrupted.

“*...-GASP!*”

Just as he unzipped the first-aid kit, Veena reacted with a surge of abrupt agony. She gasped out for air, acting as though her airways were blocked unexpectedly. Her grip on the icepack intensified, causing the bag to rupture from below and its contents spilled out entirely.

Clump!

“HAAH! …Nngh!!!”

The rising pain caused her to slip off her perch, falling onto the black bed of sand and wriggled around uncontrollably. With his face paled in sudden panic, Zaron returned to Veena with haste – scrounging the first-aid kits and rucksacks in the process. Noticing her squirming around the black-soot sand-bed, he threw himself into action without hesitation. As he knelt, he shifted to rest her head on his lap.

“Hn-nngh! My ribs...! My ribs hurt so much!” She cried out through the agonizing gasps, clutching onto Zaron’s hand desperately.

“Well, I have good news for you, Veena: the elixir's finally kicking in.” Zaron assured her with a confident expression. “Just endure it for a little while. Before you know, it’ll be over and you’ll be fit to fight again.”

Her jaw clenched and sweat trickling from her forehead, Veena was unable to speak a word due to the pain. She proceeded to squirm and shift restlessly, staring back at him with teary eyes as she struggled to find comfort. Zaron slipped his jacket over her for warmth and relief, his mind racing as he thought of every possible solution to relief her from the torment. Scrambling through his rucksack, he found his water bottle and placed it over her forehead to cool her down – even pouring portions of water to refresh her.

“You’re doing awesome, Veena.” He whispered soothingly, reassuring her that the end to the healing process was in sight. “Just stay awake for me.”

“...Zaron...?”

Hearing her call for him weakly, Zaron leant closer to her mouth, ensuring he could hear her crystal clear.

“...My ribs ... are itchy.” She groaned as she squirmed, rubbing her bruising vigorously. “I-I don’t .... get it. Why...? How can ribs ... be itchy?!”

Zaron stared at her in awkward silence, unable to answer her new predicament.

It was a long and excruciating hour.

***

“Haah … haah…!”

The hour ended, Veena laying amongst the black sand-bed in a dishevelled state. Zaron continued to kneel in patient silence, watching over her whilst hydrating her with fresh water. He empathized with her struggle, feeling exhausted himself even though his effort was miniscule in comparison. He then heard a faint murmur below.

“Never … again.” Veena commented bluntly in her weak state, struggling to hold her consciousness. “I’d rather die … than go through that … again!”

Zaron gazed at her blankly, baffled by the unexpected statement before assuming her status.

(...I think she's gone loopy.)

Allowing her to rest, he fiddled with his earpiece as he prayed for an eventual response from the surface.

Bzzzt! Bzz-bzzzzt...! Bzzzzzzt!

He noticed odd buzzing noises emit from the earpiece, sparks of hope lighting up his expression as he attempted to communicate. And yet, his hopes were simply dashed as hr found no success in reaching Lucas nor Tobi. Zaron then imagined his current position without Veena by his side, realising the sense of loneliness that would consume him had he entered the cave alone. The more he imagined the loneliness, the more her felt an emptiness at the pit of his stomach.

“I just had a thought...” Veena then muttered quietly, attempting – and failing – to straighten up upon her realisation. “When was ... the last time we had a bite to eat?”

Zaron’s face turned beat-red in an instant, realising that the ‘emptiness’ he was feeling was his lingering hunger. Without uttering a word in response, he reached into both rucksacks and retrieved a moderately-sized pouch – each containing a selection of snacks and nourishments to revitalise them on their journey through the cave. He grabbed a random assortment from each pouch and divided them between himself and Veena accordingly. Passing over Veena’s portion, he grabbed the nearest snack-bar and chomped down in anticipation. However, he then felt a prod in the leg mid-bite.

“Could you ... feed me?”

With his mouth full, he switched to Veena in abrupt bewilderment.

“...Hm?!”

“I'm still recovering … and I can’t move my arms.” She pointed out. “So ... could you help me out?”

Zaron proceeded to glare at her.

“No.”

“...Eh?”

Veena froze up at the immediate rejection, staring at Zaron as though her dreams were crushed.

“What do you mean, ‘no’?!” She then yelled on distraught, her voice echoing throughout the cave. “Did you forget I’m injured?!”

“You’re over-exaggerating. There injury was only your right side. You shouldn’t have an issue using your left.” He assured her bluntly, tapping her left shoulder lightly. “What’s the point in-?”

“Hmmgh-!!!”

In that moment, Veena grumbled at him inaudibly, interrupting him purposely as she glanced away in disappointment. Zaron held his tongue at her unexpected reaction, realising there was a hidden intention behind her initial request.

“You … want me to spoil you.” He deduced with a low, hesitant tone.

Veena nodded whilst refusing to return her gaze, mumbling underneath her breath.

“I spoiled you when you were recovering, it’d be wrong for you not to do the same, right?”

“Urk-!”

(Crap..! Betrayed by my own words...)

Zaron relented. Without speaking another word, he grabbed Veena’s food pouch and retrieved a snack-bar. He then broke off a piece and hovered it over her mouth, acting as though he was teasing her like a pet waiting to be rewarded. With her eyes locked on the prize, Veena opened her mouth and awaited her treat.

“Aaaaah…!”

Zaron hesitated awkwardly at the sight before him.

“Don’t do that.”

Deciding not to waste time, he dropped the piece in her mouth.

“Nyom! *Crunch...!* Mmm...!”

“Tsk...! You’re so weird.”

Zaron shook his head, feeling Veena was relishing in her teasing extensively.

“Don’t give me that. You love it.” Veena exclaimed pompously, giggling away as she chewed her tasty snack.

“...”

Rolling his eyes, Zaron scoffed his food irritably without another word. Even with the bickering between them, they continue to enjoy each other’s company as they filled up the empty pits of their stomachs with the assortment of treats. It took no time for them to ravage through the contents of their food pouches, only realising the extent of their hunger after the feast. After feeling revitalised, it dawned on them how long they had spent inside the cave so far.

“We’ve been down here for almost the entire day.” Zaron chuckled out in amused surprise, flicking a grape into his mouth as he spoke.

Veena smirked cheerfully, “I’m not surprised … after all, we’ve been having too much fun down here to notice.”

However, she then lessened her tone, hinting a sense of regret as she stared at the dazzling silver lake ahead.

“…It’s a shame we’ll leave without a photo or two.”

Zaron froze.

(This is it! This is my chance!)

If he held back any longer to gift Veena with the camera, he believed he would lose the perfect moment and all the build-up he saved would merely be wasted. As Veena was preoccupied munching at another snack-bar whilst losing herself in her own thoughts, Zaron snatched the camera’s case from his rucksack. He checked the contents hastily for any scratches or hidden damage, squinting up close in desperate plea that nothing was broken during their battle with the horde. Thankfully, the camera was safe and untainted – much to his relief.

“Heh…! It’s funny you say that.” He then expressed openly, setting the ideal tone in motion.

Gazing up at Zaron with a confused expression, Veena wondered what he was insinuating.

“What do you…?”

Her voice then trailed off; her eyes locked on the camera case in his grasp. She then sat up in abrupt haste, oblivious to her prior injury.

“Whoa! Take it easy, Veena.” Zaron fussed worriedly, afraid the frantic movement would stunt her recovery.

Although she had flinched initially, Veena showed no care in her own wellbeing as she focused solely on the camera before her eyes.

“Where did you … get that?” She asked him breathlessly, tripping over her words as she stared obsessively at the camera. “How did you get that?!”

“Back in Quintis.” Zaron then admitted earnestly, removing the device from its case. “You were so fixated on this model ever since our trip into Ferradon. So, I thought it was necessary to get you one as a gift. Lucas kindly offered to fund the purchase, and ... here we are.”

Veena stared solely at the camera in disbelief, acting as though she was sent off into her usual daze – identical to her previous encounters with the model.

“Here. Take it.”

Zaron passed the camera without a second thought, grinning excitedly as he witnessed her reaction. Unable to speak, Veena stared as the camera fell into her possession. Her eyes were entranced at sight of the long-desired device, she fiddled and inspected it vigorously. Finally, with a press of the power button, the back screen lit up – displaying its menus and settings in the process. Veena switched to Zaron with a widened gaze, her animated expression radiant as ever.

“The store clerk was kind enough to help with the setup.” He enlightened her, deciding to add necessary context. “I wanted it primed and ready for use, so I had it done from the professional.”

She returned her gaze to the camera, a few questions still floating in her mind.

“...Why now?” She questioned him. “We were on the road for days and you chose now to give this to me?”

Scratching the back of his head, Zaron answered nervously.

“That’s because ... I wanted the moment to be perfect for you.”

Glomp!

Without warning, Veena threw her arms around him in a tight embrace. The unexpected force caught Zaron off-guard entirely, his body frozen solid as he was overtaken by unexpected shock.

“…I’m so happy.”

Zaron heard Veena's trembling whisper paddles through his ear, her voice struggling to find a pitch as she was at the brink of tears.

“I-I don’t know ... how I’ll be able to repay-!”

“Don’t.” Zaron interrupted in decline, shaking his head. “Seeing you happy with it is enough for me. And besides, Lucas deserves the gratitude seeing as he was the man with the funds.”

“Hm-hmm…! Well, I’ll be sure to pay him back for his kindness once we return to the surface.” She assured him soothingly, showing no signs of releasing him from her firm bind.

“…Oh, just a simple ‘thank you’ would suffice.”

Both Zaron and Veena jolted in abrupt fright, separating from each other’s tight embrace as they were taken aback by the sudden – yet familiar – voice that pierced their right ears.

“Lucas?!” Veena gasped.

“That’s my name.” Lucas confirmed cheekily through the speaker, laughing away upon hearing their shock.

“H-how long have you been able to hear us?!” Zaron wondered frantically, scrambling to his feet.

“Oh, around about the time you were fiddling with your earpiece.” Lucas explained in a casual manner whilst small snickering broke through in the background. “It seems to me that the interference died a while ago.”

And then, another familiar voice joined the conversation.

“We didn’t want to be rude and interrupt you guys during your ‘perfect’ moment!”

(ARGH! CRAP! THEY HEARD IT ALL!!!)

Zaron was left screaming internally upon hearing Tobi’s obnoxious voice, clawing his head as the immense embarrassment overwhelmed him. He was desperate to hide in the deepest hole of the cave and curl up in anguish, hoping never to surface again at the idea of enduring the eternal torture. Watching him revel in humiliation, Veena was left giggling away in amusement.

“Eh-hehee…!”

“Sounds like you two have had quite the journey down below.” Lucas assumed playfully. “Would either of you be so kind as to fill us in?”

With Zaron preoccupied in his internal crisis, Veena took the initiative and updated them on the events that unfolded since their previous contact – from conquering the labyrinth to reaching the underground lake after battling the never-ending horde of crystal monsters. Zaron eventually joined the conversation, adding his own comments to the story where convenient.

“...In the end, I was the clear winner of our competition.” He informed haughtily, flexing his muscles.

“You cheat! That last attack doesn’t count!” Veena yelled out bitterly, denying any claim of his victory.

“See! I told you I should’ve been down there with them! I could’ve been their referee!” Tobi called out to his father through the other end of the speaker.

“…Don’t encourage it, Tobi.” Lucas muttered back in a low sigh.

Finally, the conversation concluded with mentioning Veena’s injury and the elixir vial.

“You two certainly had an eventful day.” Lucas commented coolly, sipping away at a flask of hot coffee. “And I have some good news: you two are close to the Dragon’s Eye.”

The Draiken pair reacted in disbelief at the revelation, glancing at each other in shock.

““WE ARE?!””

“Yep. The notes we have suggest the hall guarding the Eye is close to the ‘Ashen Lake’ … which I’m assuming is your current location.”

The two Draiken then nodded in heightened confidence.

“…You may want to speed things up, though.” Lucas then warned the pair, his tone growing severe. “It’s already sundown up here.”

The cast of delight on Zaron and Veena’s faces had soon dissipated, the daunting realisation of time striking them at the core. The two leapt into action, rushing to collect their belongings and prepare for the venture forth.

“Agh-!”

Veena yelped as she scrambled to pack up, feeling an abrupt twinge in the injured area of her ribcage. She breathed out carefully, reminding herself that she had not fully healed before proceeding with the task. However, as she retrieved her new camera, she halted on the spot.

“Veena, are you ready to go?” Zaron called out to her, equipped with his jacket, blade, and backpack.

Clutching the camera close to her breast, Veena shook her head as she eyed the Ashen Lake in the spanning distance.

“How can we leave such a beautiful place without a memento?” She then questioned him, expressing an anticipated smile as she held up the camera proudly.

Zaron gazed back at her with an amused smile.

***

“Okay, shift to the left ... a bit more, a little bit more...”

“...Here?”

“Hmm ... just a fraction more.”

“How about now?”

“No. Changed my mind. Go back.”

“Urgh...!”

With the camera carefully perched on a medium-sized rock, Veena directed Zaron into the ideal position in front of the Ashen Lake. For close to ten minutes, it was a constant back-and-forth with her decisions, causing the increasingly agitated Zaron to lose his patience. As with many of her pursuits, Veena strived for the perfect frame.

“Argh...! I wish I had a tripod.” She mumbled in frustration, tweaking the position and its numerous settings constantly.

Hearing her shallow complaints from a distance, Zaron stared off with a bored-like, half-open gaze.

(...I'm starting to regret giving her that damn camera.)

Finally, she set the camera to a timed-photo setting and rushed to Zaron's side immediately.

“We've only got half-a-minute.” She stated excitedly, tapping his shoulder playfully as she stood close to him. “Get ready to strike a pose!”

“After this ... we can go, right?” Zaron muttered awkwardly, feeling caught on the spot.

“Yes. Fine. Whatever. Just do it!” Veena bickered hastily; the dwindling time set in her mind.

And with that, she expressed a heartfelt smile to the camera-lens, leaning closer to Zaron whilst holding her Kurama blade in a casual position.

Stab…!

Embedding the Artoria blade’s tip into the sand, Zaron emulated his partner’s gleaming aura with a confident grin. In his mind, they were picture-perfect.

However, he then felt a hand slip around his arm subtly, causing Zaron to glance at Veena in an abrupt fluster.

...Beep-beep!

Zaron switched back to the camera-lens in a snap.

“Ah-?!”

FLASH!

***

“…”

As they pressed forward far down the crystal-glazed corridor, Zaron anxiously eyed the deadly silent Veena. She had not uttered a word since inspecting the resulting photograph shown on the camera’s screen, a menacing aura surrounding her as she blanked out her partner entirely. Zaron attempted to steal a peak of the finished product, yet was rejected by Veena immediately - hiding the screen from him on every occasion. There was no doubt in Zaron’s mind: he had botched Veena’s perfect photo.

“Hey...! Veena?” Zaron called to her anxiously, praying not to overstep his boundaries. “If you don’t like the photo, I don’t mind going back to redo it.”

Without speaking a word, Veena slipped the camera back into her backpack, hiding it from sight permanently. Zaron felt his heart drop at the wordless response.

“I get it. I screwed up the photo!” Zaron then blurted out in admittance, breaking through the unnecessary awkwardness forcefully. “I bet you’re thinking: ‘As always, Zaron just had to ruin things again!’ or ... something along those lines.”

“…I’m not thinking that.” Veena denied in a low monotone, her expression hidden from view.

“Oh, really? So, what’s your opinion about the photo?” Zaron pursued curiously.

“…None of your business.”

With that unsatisfied grumble, Zaron spoke no more on the matter. Instead, he focused on the path forward, his mind calm and jaw tense as he anticipated the Dragon’s Eye's appearance.

However, he glanced up instantly.

“Holy … crap!” He yelled out in an absurd gasp. “That’s HUGE!!!”

The two Draiken arrived at a deep section of the cave, tall and wide in design with its ceiling consumed by pitch-black darkness high above – regardless of the illumination from God surrounding crystals. Situated before them was a flat, railing-less bridge arching over a glowing bottomless pit. It was thin and long in design, yet stable enough for the Draiken pair to cross. However, the bridge was nothing compared to what emerged at the other side of the bridge.

Directly ahead from the bridge was an enormous slab for a door, indicating the entrance of the cave’s anticipated Treasure Chamber. The door's incredible height dwarfed Zaron and Veena, their size comparable to ants. Additionally, the door itself was immensely detailed, bordered with numerous patterns and sequences whist the core displayed two towering figures – one was Human, the other was Draiken. A connoisseur would weep in appreciation for the door’s artistic mastery.

Zaron and Veena recognised the pair immediately: they were Xaphire's legendary companions. The companions stood side-by-side, positioned next to one another as they crossed their short swords towards the centre. They acted as though they were guarding the Treasure Chamber, protecting the Dragon's Eye from falling into the hands of the enemy. With their opposing hands, they both held their own large, ruby-like gem, displaying their glory to the world with prideful stances. The jewel on the left was shining a therapeutic blue, whilst the other was illuminating a radiant red.

From Zaron and Veena’s observation, they recognised that the gems were a depiction of the two Dragon Eyes, both presented to the rulers of Xaphire’s two nations as an offering of peace and prosperity. The two transfixed on the artistic slab ahead, Zaron and Veena stepped across the bridge, both oblivious of the eternal drop below. However, upon closer inspection of the enormous door, the intrigued Zaron noticed a series of cracks formed over the right Dragon’s Eye – the Eye gifted to the nation of Dragora.

“How do we get through?” Veena then wondered curiously, peering around the area in search of an opening mechanism.

Zaron shrugged back, “Maybe it’s one of those sensory doors.”

Veena stared at him with a half-open, judging gaze, causing Zaron to jolt in a startle.

“W-well, you never know!” He yelled in quick defence.

The two proceeded to search high, low, far, and wide for a potential indication that could open the door – adamant to break through to their prize considering the effort they faced upon reaching their destination. They felt around, pressing against various surfaces and indents, Zaron even attempted to lift the door by hand, using every ounce of strength to force himself through. As expected, the Treasure Chamber door was immovable.

“Well, that was pointless...” Zaron groaned in a disgruntled huff, perched cross-legged in front of the door in a slump.

“If there's a will, there's a way.” Veena quoted smugly. “You just need to be a little ... creative.”

Zaron held his silence, glaring at the door deep in thought. His eyes scanned the door itself, his eyes rising and falling upon investigating the minor details. Whilst he appreciated the fine artwork, he could only feel the frustration in its lack on hints.

(‘You need to be a little creative’ she says...)

However, his eyes then perked up, noticing a small indent at the centre of the door. He scrambled to his feet and stepped closer to the slab door, brushing his fingers along the indent with curiosity. From initial inspection, it was a simple indent with no sign of an anomaly, causing Zaron to wonder if he was imagining a solution. However, as he peered closer, he noticed smaller divots separating within the indent, shaping the indent into a fist.

He grinned.

“...So, we punch it?”

“Exa-! Wait, what?”

Before Veena could question his absurd suggestion, Zaron swung forward at the door with a clenched fist.

Wham!

“Zaron! What are you-?!” Veena yelled out in bewilderment.

...Crack! Crack-crack!

“...Eh?”

Within the confines between the large door and its surrounding walls, an eerie sound of cracks and creaks escalated. Zaron and Veena shuffled back from the door warily, prepared to sprint if the door were to collapse on them.

Crack … crack! Creak … clink-clink!

The cracking echoes morphed to the twisting of mechanical trinkets and cogs, acting as though it was emerging from a long slumber.

“Zaron, why do you always do this...?” Veena muttered as she watched with a widened gaze.

“What do you mean by ‘always’?!” Zaron lashed out in exaggerated response, taken aback by her blunt comment.

Clink-clink-clink...! Vroosh! BANG!

The moment the echoes reached the top, the slab door shot up to the dark abyss above. The two Draiken jolted in a startle, expecting the slab to either rise at a gradual pace or fall and crush them where they stood. After a brief silence, Zaron broke into an abrupt laughter.

“Heh-heh...! A-hahahaa! I can’t believe that worked!” He admitted in a loud chortle.

“But ... that made no sense.” Veena murmured breathlessly, caught off-guard by the entire ordeal. “How did that work? Why was it designed that way? Surely ... surely it isn’t that easy!”

Zaron stepped forward with a beaming grin, ignorant of the needless questions as he anticipated the path forward.

“We’re here to claim the Dragon’s Eye. We’re not here to question how a cave works.” He reminded her cheekily.

“But still...!” Veena blurted back yet was unable to finish her complaint. “You know what ... never mind.”

She stepped forward with a grumbling sigh, feeling they would soon regret their ignorance on the matter. And then, the two halted.

Both Draiken gawked as they witnessed the sheer majesty of the Treasure Chamber. Usually, one would expect gold and jewels of plenty, riches beyond mortal imagination. However, the contents of the chamber were more invaluable than any coin or trinket. They were surrounded by a dome filled with crystallised carvings and walls of unique text separate from the modern language. The carvings themselves displayed an ongoing series of stories, revealing the events of various legends documented throughout history.

To the right of their position, Zaron and Veena found images of the two companions as they journeyed throughout Xaphire, claiming the set of Dragon’s Eyes and presenting them to the leaders of Humesa and Dragora respectively. Even from simply observing the stone carvings, they could easily imagine the aura of respect between the companions and the presenting rulers. As their eyes shifted, they realised that the other sets of carvings were a complete mystery to them, unable to recognise the depicted events regardless of their knowledge through their academic history studies.

One set of carvings depicted two legendary bladed-weapons, showcased fresh from the forge crossing one-another. Both blades were radiating a magnificent gold and platinum light, indicating their importance to the future of Xaphire.

Another was the depiction of a separate pair of companions, distinct from the previous. This time, a young man and a young woman were shown battling for their lives through a horde of ghostly figures. Their weapons were emitting fiery bursts of crystal-flames as they sliced into their enemies, showing no hesitation in escaping their nightmare. The set of carvings caught Veena’s attention, gazing at the two figures with an odd sense of familiarity. She observed it closer, tensing up as she focused on the female’s flaming blade – it was depicted as an unguarded katana. Veena then switched to her Kurama blade in an instant, unsettling it slightly as the cogs in her head turned.

Finally, a set of carvings positioned high above the Draiken pair portrayed a battle-born winged warrior, his posture bowing down before a young winged-woman with long, shoulder length, platinum-silver hair. Based on initial impressions, the scene implied she was a deity to the man, her appearance expressing eternal youth and grace. The carving further suggested that the proud warrior was granted a title, opting to fulfil a death-defying destiny requested by the eternal woman. Zaron stared at the etching, his stance firm as he recognised the woman by her platinum-silver hair.

(Enva…)

However, the man bowing before her was a mystery, showing no characteristics that would imply the warrior was Zaron himself nor his father Virion.

(Could he … be a previous Champion?)

That was the only conclusion he could muster from the carving, struggling to consider another possibility. Zaron had assumed there were many Champions before him – his father a notable example. And yet, the curiosity of ‘Dragora’s Champions’ never crossed him until observing the carving before them.

Click…! Snap-snap-snap-snap!

Zaron was dazzled by the unexpected flashes that illuminated the room, his hand wrapped around the hilt of the Artoria blade on his back instinctively. However, as he switched to Veena, he softened his grasp upon noticing her snapping photographs of the chamber in delight.

“Nice to see the money well spent.” He commented playfully, shifting to avoid her camera work.

“It'd be a waste not to take a few photos.” She responded with a gleeful smirk. “And besides, I have a feeling they’ll come in handy later down the line.”

After returning an amused smirk, Zaron returned his focus on the long-anticipated objective in their direct path. At the far end of the spacious Treasure Chamber, the Dragon’s Eye rested in its full glory. It sat glimmering on a raised pedestal, as though patiently awaiting the day to be claimed by a destined adventurer. The Eye was exactly as pictured in Lucas’ book: its rims bordered with platinum-metallic scales whilst the ruby itself illuminated a radiant red with unbeatable pride. Even from a distance, Zaron could feel the powerful aura engulfing the gem. The only difference was the jewels size. Although difficult to determine from a distance, the Eye was significantly larger than anticipated – comparable to a large sports-ball. From initial glance of the sketch in the book, both Zaron and Veena had assumed that the Eye was the size of their palm, no larger than a trinket.

Due to the revelation, Zaron wondered of its potential weight, his muscles tensing as he realised the daunting task he had yet to face. He proceeded ahead regardless of his concerns, stepping onto an arena-like plate as he stepped towards the pedestal on the opposite end. Veena planned to follow him, only to change her mind in the blink of an eye. Noticing the perfect opportunity, she shuffled back from her position and readied her camera, praying Zaron was oblivious to her photo opportunity. She could imagine the Cobalts examining her photos ecstatically as she watched over the excitement in accomplishment. Standing below the entrance archway, she held the camera in position and timed her ideal photograph with heightened anticipation.

Whoosh…!

“Hm?”

Wham!

From the corner of her eye, she noticed a flash of blue aura, only to be followed by immediate pitch-black darkness.