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 Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:48 am
Takes place after: Ad Astra
Goodbyes were brief, but not rushed, not fearful, just weighted with the quiet understanding that everyone would be moving in different directions until they came back together to follow through with their plans. Ephesus listened, nodded when he needed to, squeezed a few hands before letting go. It felt strange, in a way, to depart without urgency twisting his stomach into knots.
Then, with Amarynthos ready at his side, he turned to look out of the large windows of the Ad Astra headquarters over whatever sea of the moon spread out before them.
The transition settled over him like he finally let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. Soft light washed over the estate as Ephesus stepped forward alone, the familiar geometry of his Wonder there in front of him. The white stone seemed to glow faintly, domed towers collecting starlight in gold and blues. Gardens sprawled out around him, fully alive now. Flowers open and thriving, bees drifting lazily between them. Birds shifted in the trees singing songs to each other. Somewhere nearby, the soft padding of his tiger followed, her presence a comfort.
He slowed without meaning to. But the tightness in his chest eased just a little.
Ephesus crossed the courtyard and reached for the Code. The orb lifted easily into his palms, warm and peaceful, light pulsing gently like a heartbeat. He held it there for a moment, letting himself be grounded in its familiar weight before turning back toward the gardens.
He carried the Code through the paths that were reclaimed from time, past fountains now clear and running, until the flowers grew taller and the grass softened. To the place where his Wonder brushed up against Amarynthos’s.
He sat down among the blooms.
The Code rested comfortably against his chest, fingers loosely curled around it. He breathed in the scent of flowers and warm stone, listening to the quiet life around him. There was no urgency, no fear, just the sense that things were quietly moving towards resolution.
“I know,” he whispered, more thoughtful than strained, although unsure if the words were meant for the Code, his tiger who lingered close, or himself. “We’ll figure it out.”
Because hope didn’t always have to be loud. Sometimes it was just quietly waiting for the right moment.
He remained there, calm and patient, knowing Amarynthos would meet him soon.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:49 am
Amarynthos wasted little time collecting the Code piece on his Wonder. Excursions weren’t really uncommon, and it was with semi-regular frequency that he packed it up into a hard-shelled backpack with a large, transparent window and carried it around the Wonder while he and Ephesus worked on things.
Tonight was the same.
He arrived only a few feet away from the Code, and greeted it warmly before producing the should-be cat carrier from the trunk he kept it in. Amarynthos tucked it in more than packed it in, and though the Code here wasn’t much for conversation, it didn’t mean he wasn’t.
Amarynthos talked enough for the both of them.
Ephesus was waiting, worried, so he hurried past the enthusiastic cubs that toddled after him. They didn’t understand English, but he liked to think they understood that he’d make it up to him the next time he was here.
There was just a lot going on right now.
If they’d had more time, he’d have brought Ephesus here, and he’d have gone to Ephesus in turn.
But they never had enough time.
So instead, they were meeting in the middle–literally.
Amarynthos hurried, and would have run to their rendezvous point if not for the need to protect the Code piece.
Ephesus arrived before he did, beautiful amongst the blooms. The light of the Code in his hands made his eyes shine. Amarynthos didn’t even bother not to stare.
The marking between Ephesus and Amarynthos was clear, so he sat down aligned to it, pressing his shoulder into Ephesus’. He shrugged his backpack into his lap and freed the Code. His orb, and Ephesus’, glowed brighter when in each others’ presence.
“Sorry, I should have gone faster,” Amarynthos said, leaning over and kissing Ephesus’ temple. “You okay?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:49 am
Ephesus’s shoulders eased the moment Amarynthos sat beside him. He leaned into the touch without thinking, temple tipping just slightly toward the kiss, a small smile tugging at his lips almost as if it had been waiting there all along.
“I’m okay,” he said quietly, and he meant it. He let his head rest against Amarynthos’s shoulder for a second, breathing him in, letting his presence help ground him. “Better now. Are you okay?”
His gaze drifted past the tall flowers, letting his thoughts wander a little. “That place,” he said after a moment, still a little awed. “Ad Astra— or… no, that’s a name isn’t it? Um, I guess it would be… Headquarters?” He thought that was what the others said, but he was still not too sure about everything.
“It’s kind of incredible, isn’t it? A kitchen, rooms to rest, space to train… even somewhere we could patch each other up if we need to,” he said with a soft breath that was almost a laugh. “It’s like it was built knowing we’d need all of it eventually.”
He glanced down at the Code in his hands, watching how its glow responded now that Amarynthos’s was free too, brighter together than apart. “Do you think that was the Code’s doing?” he asked gently. “Or at least… part of it?” His fingers curled a little more securely around the orb. “I can’t wait to go back and really explore. Figure out what else is hidden there. Or figure out what we can bring up there.”
The thought seemed to shift his thoughts just a little, his smile fading. “We still have to deal with Cahir,” he said softly. “But… tracking the youma might work. It’s better than guessing, maybe.” He glanced over at Amarynthos, trying to study his expression. “And maybe it’ll be nice not getting harassed about the USB anymore.”
The attempted joke wasn’t funny at all, and guilt flickered across his face. He shifted closer instead, voice quieter. “I’m really sorry. About… everything.”
He knew Amarynthos didn’t blame him. He knew he’d talked him out of his horrible guilt already, but as much as Ephesus tried to keep moving forward, there was a voice whispering in the back of his mind that he should be doing better.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:49 am
“I’m okay,” Amarynthos promised quickly, making himself comfortable against Atticus. It wasn’t hard, not when their bodies so easily melted against one another. Everything always felt like it just fit right into place.
Despite Ephesus’ claim to be the same, Amarynthos found himself doubting.
He watched closely, monitoring every worried line that flickered across Ephesus’ face, no matter how fleeting. He’d nodded along while he listened–yes, that was probably Headquarters; yes, it was incredible; yes, the Code probably had something to do with it; yes, he wanted to explore it; yes, Cahir, tracking the youma, getting rid of the USB…
Ephesus did not open up easily, so once he started talking, Amarynthos was glad to keep his mouth closed and nod supportively to encourage him as much as agree with him.
Until he couldn’t help himself.
“What are you apologizing for?” he asked, hooking his arm around Ephesus’ while cradling the Code in his lap.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:50 am
Ephesus hesitated at the question, his fingers tightening around the Code in his lap just a little.
“I—...” he started, but stopped to let out a small, embarrassed breath, and glanced down at the glow instead of meeting Amarynthos’s eyes right away. He knew if he looked into them, he’d be swept up in their deep blue, warm embrace. But he needed to make sure his emotions were settled before that.
“I know,” he tried again, voice soft like it usually was. “I know you didn’t ask for an apology. And I know you don’t blame me.”
He shifted slightly, leaning more fully into Amarynthos’s side, because being closer to Amarynthos made everything easier. “Um… It’s not that I think you’re mad at me. Or that you think I did something wrong. It’s just… hard to shake the feeling that I should’ve done something differently. Or faster. Or better.”
He swallowed, then looked up at Amarynthos again, letting himself be taken in by the deep blue he loved so much, his own expression both earnest and a little sheepish.
“I am listening to you,” he added quickly before he could get too comfortable, and almost like he was afraid it wasn’t clear that he was actually trying. “When you say it’s not my fault, or when you tell me to stop carrying all of it alone. I believe you. I really do. I’m trying—”
The Code’s light pulsed softly between each of them, undoubtedly patient.
Ephesus watched it for a moment, thoughtful. “It’s strange,” he breathed. “Um… I mean with how much has changed so quickly. The headquarters. Trying to figure things out about the General. But… it also feels like things are slowly being nudged into place. Or… maybe that doesn’t make sense.”
He sighed, deflating a little and tilting his head to rest briefly against Amarynthos’s shoulder again. “I don’t want to pretend like I’m fine if I’m still sorting through things. Especially with you. Even though we’ve figured some things out, there’s so much more we don’t know. I know we talked about asking for help, and I want to. I just…”
He trailed off, pausing to brush his fingers gently over the orb in his lap. Reverent. Fond. “I don’t even know what we’re allowed to ask for.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:50 am
“We’re allowed to ask for anything,” Amarynthos reassured. “It’s okay to be told ‘no’. I’m not afraid of rejection. If the Code can help us, it will. And if it can’t, we’ll just brainstorm. But this is Plan A. The best plan,” he said.
His weight was equal to Ephesus’ as they rested against each other, but he raised the Code with both hands, settling only when it was eye level. He was buttering it up, sure, but he was sincere.
“Code,” he said, with a reverent friendliness, “I know you’re pretty filled in already.” He’d chattered an update to it not so long ago, so he skipped the refresher. “We’re a Brigade now, did you know? It’s me and Effie, and a bunch of other Knights. We wound up at Headquarters. That General’s still after us, only he’s getting way more dangerous.”
The situation was serious, but Amarynthos refused to let that make him sombre.
Ephesus was already grappling with too many emotions. Amarynthos wouldn’t add his own.
“He thinks I’m dead,” Amarynthos explained. “He thinks he starseeded me, so he’s pretty confident that he took a few of us out. Jokes on him, though, we’re still here. But–he’s serious about all of this.” Amarynthos sounded a little more serious, too. “He’s dangerous. Really dangerous. And he’s already seen what me and Effie can do. We’re planning something, but no matter what we do, he always seems to have the advantage. So,” Amarynthos exhaled.
He hoped his voice didn’t sound as desperate as he felt. He stared into the glowing orb despite the way it made his eyes sting.
“We need all the help we can get. Is there anything we can do to get stronger? Fast, preferably.”
For a moment, the Code didn’t answer. Not because it didn’t want to, but because it seemed like it had to muster the strength to speak.
Both Amarynthos’s and Ephesus’s Code pieces swirled faster. And then, in, sync, they spoke:
“What does ‘stronger’ mean to you?” they asked. “What power do you hope to find here?”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:50 am
Ephesus didn’t answer right away. The question lingered, warm and patient. He leaned closer to Amarynthos without thinking, fingers tightening briefly around the Code when the General was mentioned. Amarynthos’s starseed… the thought of him being dead…
“Stronger…” he repeated softly. “I don’t think that means the same thing for me as it might for others.”
He glanced up at Amarynthos, then back to the swirling light. “I’m not really a fighter, but… you know that already. I get in the way when I try to be, or I go through my magic too fast. I have my tiger, and she helps — but if I rely on her too much, I’m afraid I won’t have enough left when someone needs healing.”
He let out a soft breath, thumb smoothing across the surface of the orb. “It feels like I only become useful after someone’s already hurt. And even then there are often better options for healing. I don’t want my friends worrying about protecting me, or waiting until they have no other choice before asking for my help.”
He didn’t blame them. He knew they were just trying to keep him safe, and he appreciated that about all of them. But what was the use of protecting him if he was just going to take up space? Rejection was hard, so he did his best to steady himself.
“So when I think about being stronger,” he said quietly, lifting his eyes to the Code at last. “I think about prevention. Support. About helping things not break in the first place. If there’s a way for me to do that — without becoming someone I’m not — that’s what I’d hope to find.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Amarynthos squeezed Ephesus’s arm in gentle reassurance. He tore his gaze from the orb briefly, studying his boyfriend’s face, before his attention returned to the Code.
“I want more tools.” He hadn’t needed long to think about it. “I think I’m pretty resourceful, but there are some things you just can’t fight without having the means to do so. Stronger for me is–just making sure I have what I need to get the job done.”
He could fight. He had magic to help. A fearless summon.
But Cahir knew these things, and there were only so many ways Amarynthos could shake it up. Cahir had seen too much, could predict too much.
He held his breath, not tense, but bristling with energy, and leaned against Ephesus.
Once more, the Code pieces fell quiet. They pulsed in sync, perfect mirrors of each other.
When they spoke, it was as if carrying out conversation with a single entity–but which Code piece alternated every sentence.
Between the two of them, they said: “Worthy goals, for the both of you. As expected, as well. You have always done your best to protect your Wonder. And each other.”
In sync: “Present your weapon. Offer it to me, and I will see what I can do.”
Then, alternating again: “Hold those wants in your heart. I cannot promise anything, but I will try.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Ephesus listened while Amarynthos spoke, his expression softening as he did. It wasn’t hard to see how strong, brave, clever, and adaptable Amarynthos was. How confident he sounded, how naturally he voiced problems and listed out potential solutions. Everything a Knight was supposed to be. Everything Ephesus admired about him.
When the Code spoke again, Ephesus drew in a slow breath and nodded, more to himself than anyone else. Carefully, reverently, he reached into subspace and withdrew his scepter, the familiar weight settling into his hands. He held it for a moment, fingers tracing the lines he knew by heart, grounding himself in what it had already helped him accomplish.
Then he lowered it, offering it to the Code resting in his lap.
“I trust you,” he said quietly, his voice didn’t waver. “And… I trust him.” His thumb brushed Amarynthos’s arm in a small, unconscious gesture. “If there’s a way for this to help me protect people sooner… or keep them from getting hurt at all… then I want to try.”
He bowed his head slightly, leaning it against Amarynthos’s shoulder for a moment before lifting it again. He held the scepter steady, open handed, then stayed very still after that. He leaned gently into Amarynthos’s side, letting the glow wash over them both, hopeful and ready for whatever answer came next.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Only after Ephesus moved did Amarynthos do the same. Unwilling to separate from Ephesus, he had to balance himself to keep their arms linked and hold the cold while simultaneously withdrawing his very large weapon. It wasn’t easy to maneuver but difficulty did not deter him, and he presented it to the Code.
Neither Ephesus’s nor Amarynthos’s Code piece responded until both weapons had been presented. And then, as before, everything happened in sync.
Amarynthos took the pause as a chance to kiss Ephesus’s cheek reassuringly, but his attention was drawn to the sudden illumination of their weapons. Light stretched from the orbs, across their weapons–swallowing them up slowly, but completely.
The Code’s silence was a testament to its focus. White light pulsed vibrantly–and then, slowly, receded. Their weapons had shifted–deconstructed, reformed.
Returned.
Amarynthos blinked, taking the hilt of a sword as the weight pressed into his lap. He didn’t want to leave it half-skewered within the Code on the offchange that it might get hurt, but as soon as he touched the blade, a familiarity settled.
It was his weapon, but different.
“Oh,” he said, testing the weight–and then immediately leaning closer to Ephesus to see what had become of his weapon.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Ephesus was appreciative of the kiss to his cheek, but startled slightly when the light began to move. Instinctively, his hands lifted, like he was about to shield his eyes from the light, but the glow wasn’t harsh. It was warm and familiar. Like a friendly embrace.
When the light faded, he blinked.
The scepter was gone.
In its place rested something lighter than he expected, broad and curved, its surface formed of delicate hexagons that softly caught the light. It was translucent, like honey, or golden glass. He could see his hands through it, but it felt strong.
“Oh,” he echoed Amarynthos, barely more than a wonder filled breath.
He lifted the shield carefully, surprised by how little it weighed, how naturally it settled against his arm. The shape felt good — protective without being heavy, but it didn’t demand strength he didn’t have.
A smile crept across his lips before he realized it was there, and if he actually took a moment to look at himself, he’d notice that his freckles seemed to glow slightly.
“It’s… a shield,” he said softly, almost reverently. He turned it in his hands, watching the honeycomb pattern catch the light reflecting from Earth.
He glanced over to Amarynthos then, drawn immediately to the sword in his lap. His eyes widened just a little. “That’s perfect for you,” he said without hesitation.
Ephesus shifted closer, shoulder brushing Amarynthos’s as he held the shield between them, still a bit awed. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I think… I can do a lot with this.”
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Amarynthos looked at the shield with a fond smile. It was perfect for Ephesus, too.
The sword had a familiar weight, and Amarynthos tested it out as much as he could without putting much strength into it. He wanted to swing it like a bat, wanted to see if it moved the same way.
It felt like it should.
“I know you can,” the Codes said, softer now, and slightly dimmed. “I told you, long ago. If you take care of your Wonders, they will take care of you.” they paused, and without moving, somehow still seemed to survey their respective Wonders–and all the life surrounding them.
"And, you have."
These were no longer forgotten, abandoned ruins.
"Look at all you have accomplished here."
Of course this effort should be rewarded.
"You have earned this strength. I trust you will use it wisely." Of that, it had no doubt. "Keep yourselves safe and alive. Practice with those before you need to use them. I don't want you to go into battle unprepared."
Unspoken, but heard: I don't want to lose you.
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Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2026 7:51 am
Ephesus stayed silent for a few moments. He let the Code’s words linger, warm and steady, and finally lifted his eyes to take in everything around them. The gardens stretched out around them in soft light. The flowers were heavy with blooms, paths worn smooth by care instead of neglect. His tiger lounged nearby in the grass, completely at ease. From farther off came the sound of cubs — Amarynthos’s bears, no doubt — causing trouble somewhere in the orchard.
Life. Everywhere.
He drew in a slow breath, grounding himself in it.
“We did,” he said quietly, more to himself than to anyone else. Then he looked at Amarynthos, really looked at him, and felt something loosen in his chest. Where there had been doubt before, he could see confidence now. Purpose. Hope, steady and unforced.
Ephesus smiled, small but sure.
“I’ll practice,” he promised, glancing down at the shield resting against his arm. “I don’t want to be unprepared. And… I don’t want anyone else getting hurt if I can help it.”
He leaned into Amarynthos’s side again, the future no longer pressing quite so hard against his ribs.
“Thank you,” he said at last. To the Code, to the Moon, to the life they’d built. “For trusting us.”
The night remained calm around them, their Wonders breathing softly as if agreeing: this was enough for now.
Fin!
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