⟢───── Ashes × Aether ─────⟣
Kit climbed the final step.
The applause followed him.
Ra’Kil met him at the center of the platform.
To one side stood Imani.
Kofi followed and took his place on the other side.
Beyond them stretched Sol’Rahn Plaza, packed from terrace to terrace.
Ra’Kil rested a hand over his chest.
“Nardox honors two explorers today.”
“The first is known to every city in this nation.”
A ripple of agreement moved through the audience.
“The Last Saint of Fire.”
Kofi stepped forward on Kyro’s behalf.
No one seemed surprised.
Kyro missing ceremonies had become its own tradition.
Ra’Kil inclined his head respectfully.
“Though absent, his service remains present in every trail he blazes.”
The crowd answered again.
Then Ra’Kil turned toward Kit.
The plaza settled.
“History remembers firsts.”
Kit felt thousands of eyes find him again.
“Today, Nardox recognizes one.”
”Kit Asher became the youngest citizen in recorded history to legally participate in a sanctioned Wilds expedition.”
A murmur spread through the crowd.
Fifteen.
Not much older than the students filling the parade route.
“At an age when most are still discovering who they wish to become, he crossed beyond the frontier that has challenged generations before him.”
Kit felt small on that stage.
The attention felt heavier than any pack he had carried in the Wilds.
Ra’Kil smiled.
“Your nation is very proud of you, Kit.”
The applause arrived immediately.
Longer this time.
Kit glanced toward the terraces.
Toward people he recognized and countless others he didn’t.
Then the arena lights dimmed around it.
The crowd reacted instantly.
Heads turned.
Conversations paused.
Even Kit looked up.
The Solar-Glass face of Sol’Rahn Arena brightened.
Amber light rolled across the dome.
A recording began.
A baker appeared first.
Flour covered half his apron.
“Bring back a good story, kid.”
The screen changed.
A forge worker.
Then an academy teacher.
Then a farmer from Dorion standing in a field beneath the twin suns.
One after another.
Citizens from across Nardox.
Short messages.
Simple messages.
Warm messages.
“Come home safe.”
“We’ll be watching.”
“Good luck, Ashers”
Kit’s expression softened.
The screen shifted again.
Ren appeared.
The crowd immediately cheered.
“Kit, if you’re watching this, you’re probably still alive.”
Laughter rolled through the plaza.
Ren pointed directly at the camera.
“If you somehow died and are still watching this, that’s honestly more impressive.”
The crowd laughed harder.
The recording jumped.
Mina appeared.
“Ignore Ren.”
More laughter.
“Please.”
Then Zakiah.
Trying very hard to look serious.
Failing completely.
“Don’t get eaten.”
The audience couldn’t handle themselves now.
Taro appeared next.
Already looking uncomfortable.
Kit grinned immediately.
Taro glanced off camera.
Then back.
Then away again.
Then finally spoke.
“Everybody keeps asking how the team is doing.”
A pause.
“We’re fine.”
Another pause.
Longer.
“Just come back already man.”
The crowd melted.
Even from the stage Kit could see Taro covering his face somewhere below.
The recording cut again.
Kariah appeared.
The plaza quieted almost instantly.
She sat on a terrace wall overlooking Sol.
The Halo Clock stood behind her.
Twin suns painted the city gold.
She smiled.
“Hey, Moose.”
Kit froze.
The nickname hit harder than Ra’Kil’s speech.
“Everybody’s pretending they’re doing great.”
She glanced off camera.
“They’re not.”
Immediately Taro’s voice erupted somewhere behind the recording.
“I am doing great.”
The crowd exploded.
Kariah laughed.
“Taro misses you the most.”
“I do not.”
“You absolutely do.”
“I don’t.”
“You cried.”
“I didn’t cry.”
The audience was fully invested now.
Even Ra’Kil was smiling.
Kariah looked back toward the camera.
The laughter faded.
“Have your adventure.”
Her voice softened.
“Just come home when you’re done. Don’t be like Unc.”
A beat.
“We’ll be here.”
The recording ended.
The Solar-Glass dome returned to its natural shine.
For a moment, the plaza held still.
Then applause rose again.
Kit stood at the center of the platform, eyes still on the arena glass.
Below him, Taro had both hands over his face.
Ren was laughing.
Mina was pointing at the screen like the video might come back if she stared hard enough.
Zakiah looked away, smiling.
Kariah stood near the front rail with her arms folded, watching him like she had known this would happen.
Kit looked at them.
Then he smiled.
The Halo Clock burned bright above Sol.
The applause carried through the terraces as Ra’Kil stepped beside him and waited for the city to settle.
Then he spoke.
“Kit Asher.”
The plaza quieted once more.
“You left this city as a student.”
Ra’Kil looked across the terraces.
“You return as a first-class explorer.”
The drums struck once.
Ra’Kil raised a ceremonial medallion engraved with the half-sun crest of Nardox. Then one of the delegates came forward and handed him a garment.
“On behalf of the Seven Crowns.”
“On behalf of the people of Nardox.”
“We present you the Explorers cloak.”
Ra’Kil held the cloak between both hands.
The fabric unfolded in a single motion.
Black.
Pure black from collar to hem.
A murmur passed through the plaza.
The Nardoxian half-sun crest rested over the right chest in embroidered gold.
Opposite it, stitched cleanly into the fabric, were two words.
Kit Asher.
The crowd saw it immediately.
More voices joined the applause.
Ra’Kil turned the cloak.
A golden compass filled the back.
Its points stretched outward like living flame, the symbol gleaming beneath the light of the twin suns.
The reaction spread terrace by terrace.
Students recognized it first.
Then the adults.
A few older summoners exchanged looks as soon as the compass appeared.
The symbol carried real weight.
Taro’s voice cut through the noise.
“PUT IT ON!”
Laughter followed.
Then more voices joined him.
“Put it on!”
“Put it on!”
“Put it on!”
Within seconds the entire plaza had taken up the chant.
Even members of the Chamber were smiling.
Kofi shook his head.
Imani covered her mouth, laughing.
Ra’Kil handed over the cloak.
“Well,” he said.
The faintest smile touched his face.
“It appears the people have spoken.”
The chant grew louder.
Kit looked down at the cloak.
Then toward Team Heart.
Ren was yelling.
Mina was yelling.
Zakiah was yelling.
Kariah was laughing so hard she could barely participate.
The chant rolled across Sol’Rahn Plaza.
Thousands of voices.
One demand.
Kit sighed.
Then slipped the cloak over his shoulders.
The black fabric settled against him.
The golden compass caught the light.
Sol erupted into a roar.
⟢───── Ashes × Aether ─────⟣