The name slipped from Zephyr's lips before he could stop it, barely louder than a breath.
The effect was instantaneous.
Virion froze mid-brag, the emerald crown dangling precariously from his tail. His wings twitched, and for the first time in centuries, the ancient serpent looked... guilty. His emerald gaze flicked to Zephyr, then quickly away, like a child caught stealing sweets.
The bandaged figure paused, tilting his head at Virion's sudden silence before slowly turning—slowly, painfully—toward Zephyr.
Zephyr's breath caught.
His heart skipped, and for a second, the world didn't make sense.
Because beneath those wrappings—beneath the layers of gauze and healing salves—were familiar slate-gray eyes.
Familiar, exhausted, but alive.
The realization hit like a lightning strike.
Zephyr stumbled forward half a step. His knees buckled slightly as if his body finally stopped pretending to be made of stone. The years of battle-hardened calm, leadership, control—
The bandaged figure—Aman—lifted a heavily wrapped hand in a weak wave.
His voice was a bit weak and hoarse but unmistakable, muffled slightly by the bandages covering half his face.
Zephyr's hands trembled.
"Y-you... you're alive."
Aman nodded weakly, then gestured sarcastically at his mummified state with his free hand, with that same sarcastic, self-deprecating bite. "Yeah. 'Alive' as you can see."
Zephyr nodded slowly, his mouth still half open.
Then Aman's visible brow furrowed.
"...Wait." His tired eyes sharpened slightly. "You didn't know?"
Zephyr shook his head numbly. "...No."
Understanding flashed between them. As one, they turned toward Virion.
The primordial serpent had somehow managed to coil himself into an expression of pure innocence, his wings tucked behind him like a scolded child.
Aman narrowed his tired eyes. "Master," he rasped. "You didn't tell him?"
Zephyr's glare could have melted mountains.
Virion blinked. Once. Twice.
And then, as if rehearsed, he gasped dramatically. "W-What are you talking about?" he said smoothly. "Tell him what?"
Aman's bandaged lips twitched. Zephyr's eye developed a dangerous tic.
"Master," Aman said slowly, "You didn't inform Zephyr... that I was alive?"
Virion gasped—actually gasped—clutching his chest with his tail as if wounded. "Why would I keep such important information from my beloved student?" He fluttered his wings dramatically.
"Perhaps I simply... forgot."
The last word landed with all the subtlety of a collapsing treasury vault.
Zephyr's fingers twitched toward his saber. Aman sighed, the sound turning into a pained cough.
"Unbelievable," he muttered, though the fondness in his voice betrayed him.
Meanwhile, Zephyr stood motionless, his hands slightly clenched at his sides as he processed the impossible truth before him. The initial shock had faded, replaced by a slow, simmering understanding—and beneath it, a quiet, desperate relief.
For the first time in days—weeks, perhaps—Zephyr felt something dangerously close to hope flicker in his chest. The world righted itself on its axis.
And apparently, Virion, no, both of them had a great deal of explaining to do.
He exhaled sharply, then turned his full attention to Aman.
"How? How are you still... alive?" The word came out rougher than he intended. "I saw you get swallowed by that explosion. Did... Master save you?"
Aman shifted slightly, wincing as the movement tugged at his bandages. "Do you want the full story or the short one?"
Zephyr hesitated, then muttered, "Short one. For now."
"Alright." Aman nodded. "I planned to 'die'—and it worked. So, officially, I'm a dead man now."
Zephyr's jaw tightened, but he didn't press further. He could piece together the rest later. Instead, his gaze flicked to Virion, silently demanding an answer to his earlier question.
Aman followed his look and sighed. "...Well, you could say Master helped. I couldn't have pulled it off alone after all."
Zephyr nodded stiffly, swallowing back the bitter thought—Why didn't you ask me?—before it could escape. Aman had his reasons. Probably.
Besides, their master was the one who was the best with space-related matters.
Instead, he focused on the more pressing concern. "Why the bandages, then? Are you... badly injured?"
Aman offered a faint, reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Just a few scratches."
He gestured vaguely at the wrappings. "These are a resonant relic. Saved me from the explosion, but they're a pain to remove. Need about a week before I can take them off."
Zephyr studied him for a long moment, searching for any sign that he was downplaying his condition. But Aman's eyes—though weary—held steady.
A beat of silence passed.
Then, without warning, Zephyr stepped forward and pulled Aman into a tight embrace—careful of the bandages, but firm enough to convey everything words couldn't.
Aman stiffened for a second before awkwardly patting Zephyr's back with his heavily wrapped hands.
"Whoa there," he wheezed, his voice muffled by the bandages. "Didn't know you were this soft inside."
Zephyr's lips curled slightly. "Shut up." Then, he gave Aman three 'gentle' pats on the back, right over what he suspected were bruised ribs.
"Ow, OUCH—! Hey!" Aman jerked away, glaring. "What was that for?!"
Zephyr's expression darkened.
"Fool," he said coldly. "Don't do that again. Or else I'll kill you myself."
Aman raised his bandaged hands in mock surrender. "Iye, iye, boss~"
Zephyr exhaled sharply, but the tension in his shoulders eased slightly. If Aman had the energy to be this irritating, he was probably in decent shape. Then again, wasn't this their usual dynamic after one of Virion's brutal training sessions?
He showed his embarrassing side for nothing. Seems like he needs to work on more himself.
His gaze drifted past Aman to the ridiculous mountain of treasures piled behind them.
"...And this?" He gestured at the hoard. "Did you two rob someone?"
Virion let out a delighted, rumbling laugh. "Jie jie! You are sharp indeed. These are the things I stole—"
"Not stole, Master," Aman cut in smoothly, his bandaged face somehow managing to convey a smirk. "They're compensation for the damages and suffering she caused us all. Physical, emotional, etc."
Virion's laughter grew louder. "Jie jie! Good boy! You're right—these are merely what I rightfully took back from that old hag! They are the rewards for the sufferings we endured for so long. Thinks she's clever, hiding them in dimensional vaults. Doesn't know the power of this Ancient One!"
Zephyr's brain short-circuited again.
"...You stole from Luna's clan?"
Aman and Virion exchanged glances.
"Borrowed," Aman corrected, feeling a bit guilty.
"Indefinitely," Virion added cheerfully.
Zephyr pinched the bridge of his nose.
Why do I even try to stay sane around these lunatics?