The air shifted the moment they stepped out.
Not from the trial.
From the world itself.
Cold stone replaced shattered sky.
Noise returned slowly distant wind, creaking wood, the faint echo of life trying to exist again.
Cid stopped.
"…We're back."
Ria exhaled quietly.
"…The Greyhound base."
Ava didn't speak.
She just looked around.
Careful.
Like she expected it not to be real.
The door groaned open.
Inside—
Empty.
Not abandoned in chaos.
Abandoned in intent.
Cid's eyes narrowed immediately.
"…They stripped it."
Ria stepped in behind him.
Her voice was low.
"…No one's here."
Cid walked straight to the back.
The treasury.
Empty.
Paper left behind.
He picked it up.
Read.
Silence.
Then—
"…Compensation."
Ava didn't look surprised.
"…They took the funds."
Cid turned slightly.
"…All of it?"
Ava nodded.
"…Darius made them believe results would come."
A pause.
"…They decided to cut losses."
Ria's grip tightened.
"…So we were just tools."
Ava didn't deny it.
"…Yes."
That single word landed harder than anything else.
Cid sat at the table.
Slow.
Controlled.
"…Sit."
They did.
No argument.
He didn't look at them.
"…I want structure."
A pause.
"…Not stories. Not history."
His eyes lifted slightly.
"…Structure."
Ava nodded.
"…Eight major guilds."
but we only know a small amount about them we-
okay just tell me about the ones you know about Cid replied
"Two."
Ava stopped.
Ria finished it.
"…Iron Dominion."
A pause.
"…Verdant Crown."
Cid leaned back slightly.
"…That's enough."
Ria frowned.
"…You don't want the others?"
Cid shook his head.
"…Not yet."
His voice was calm.
"…I only care about what can kill me."
Silence.
Ava exhaled slowly.
"…Then Iron Dominion matters most."
Cid looked at her.
"…Why?"
Ava hesitated.
Then—
"…Because they're already moving."
Ria's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Towards what?"
Ava didn't answer immediately.
"…Everything."
That silence lingered longer than the words.
Cid stood.
"…My mother."
Ava responded immediately.
"…She's alive."
Cid didn't react outwardly.
But the room felt colder.
Ava continued.
"…I've been paying for her care."
"…With my own funds."
Cid turned slightly.
"…Why?"
A pause.
Ava answered honestly.
"…Because I needed you to survive."
Ria frowned.
"…That doesn't explain much."
Ava didn't argue.
"…I know."
Cid stared at her.
Long.
Then—
"…I still don't trust you."
Ava nodded.
"…You shouldn't."
That was the first honest thing she'd said.
Training Decision
Cid sat again.
"…I need control."
Ria spoke immediately.
"…Then you need training."
Cid glanced at her.
"…From you?"
Ria didn't hesitate.
"…Yes."
A beat.
Ava tilted her head.
"…You're a mage."
Ria's eyes shifted slightly.
Then—
"…And?"
Silence.
Ava blinked.
"…You know swordsmanship?"
Ria's expression didn't change.
"…If I didn't, I wouldn't offer."
Cid studied her.
"…Show me."
Training Grounds — Reveal Moment (Ria Sword Shock)
Cid raised his sword slightly.
"…I don't want to hurt you."
Ria took a blade.
Heavy.
Too heavy for her frame.
Ava frowned.
"…That's not yours."
Ria answered calmly.
"…It used to be."
Cid stepped forward slightly.
"…If you're just going to get in the way—"
Ria interrupted.
"…Try."
Cid moved.
Fast.
Clean strike—
CLANG.
Everything flipped.
Cid hit the ground.
Hard.
Dust rose.
Silence.
Ava froze.
"…What the—"
Cid blinked once.
"…Again."
Ria didn't smile.
Didn't react.
Just adjusted her stance.
"…Good."
And this time—
She moved forward.
Strike after strike.
Cid couldn't land anything.
Not even close.
Ria wasn't overpowering him.
She was dismantling him.
Efficiency.
Precision.
Control.
Ava watched quietly now.
Realizing something.
"…She's not just trained…"
Ria glanced once at Cid.
"…You rely too much on survival instinct."
A pause.
"…That's not enough anymore."
Cid stood slowly.
Breathing heavier.
But focused.
"…Then teach me what is."
Ria nodded once.
"…I will."
Somewhere far away—
The world shifted slightly.
As if acknowledging the decision.
And something unseen—
Started moving toward them again.