Chapter 1

Smoke continued to choke the skies over Meridian. There were no birds singing, or insects, and even the flow of water whispered in shock at the battle that had taken place. And yet, the silence was one of relief. The citizens of Meridian wandered through the debris, picking out familiar pieces of their past lives, occasionally crying out with joy or loss as they find a loved one. Occasionally, rocks crunched and grumbled down the mountainsides as teams of men and women levered paths clear once again, allowing building materials and supplies back into the city. It had been two days since Hades had been destroyed. Those who had not left for the Sacred Lands or otherwise returned from whence they came stayed to help with the recovery efforts.

Aloy was one of them. Since her victory, and despite the insistence of her companions, she worked tirelessly to help locate missing citizens, deliver food, and assist with medicine. Adrenaline seeped through her veins like Corruption, making her eyes too wide, her breath too shallow. The euphoria she felt in the finality of that last spear thrust still simmered in her hands. She was afraid to sleep… terrified that if she did, she'd wake to find their victory merely a dream.

Her mind was a blank as she seated the final pole supporting the canvas tent into its staked base, creating yet another shady shelter for those who came to help with the war effort. Many were not used to the heat, and there was a pile of heavy armor that had been shed nearby that Aloy recognized as Nora. She straightened, half tempted to add her own armor to the pile, but she knew the gesture would be more symbolic than anything. She couldn't abandon it just yet.

It took a few moments before she realized a voice saying her name. Lately, she was more used to responding to "Annointed One" or "Outsider", as much as it rankled her. At least "Savage" had been benched… for now.

"Oh, Blameless Marad…" She mumbled, wiping sweat from her brow. "Did you need something?"

The older man's eyes crinkled at the corners, but his expression was one of concern. "When was the last time you'd eaten?" He asked, producing a parcel wrapped in cloth from his robes. Aloy nearly gagged, but was able to keep it hidden with a soft cough into the back of her wrist. Food was farthest from her mind, though admittedly not from her stomach. It growled in objection at her initial thoughts of refusal. When had she eaten? Surely it was not as long ago as she remembered.

"Thank you." She accepted the parcel, pleased to see it wasn't heavy. A loaf of honeyed bread, from the scent of it. That wouldn't be too much after so long without, she'd hoped. Despite her intention to continue working while snacking, her body nonetheless made its own decision to flop down upon the pile of armor. Just a few minutes, she promised herself. Blameless Marad seemed to take her moment of weakness as an opportunity to chat.

"The Sun King Avad wishes to speak to you," he told her in a solemn tone. Did he have any other tone? Seeming to pick up on her expression of exasperation, he adds, "He too is worried for your wellbeing, as he has only heard tales of your victory secondhand since you returned from the Spire. He would like to thank you personally." No more errands, was his implication.

Aloy swallowed her bite of sweet, fluffy bread. She didn't reply immediately, instead helping herself to another chunk. It was so good… she'd never had anything so delicious. Yes, it must have been a while since she'd eaten. Her legs ached at the thought of climbing all those stairs to the palace. "He's in the usual place?" She asks, and her tone must have given her away, because Marad's face split into a grin.

"No. He is overseeing the removal of machine parts from the city. He will not allow their corpses to draw in the scrappers or glinthawks, or even less savory visitors while we are at our most vulnerable. You can find him on the south side of the city. He originally came looking for you, but he… gets distracted by duties so quickly."

Her snack depleted, Aloy doubted she could find another excuse to avoid the Sun King. She gave Blameless Marad a bland smile, promising she'd seek out Avad as soon as she could. The advisor swept away, she couldn't help but wonder how he stayed so cool and dry in those layered fabrics while she dripped sweat even after rest. Still, the respite was welcome, and his even-toned voice a relief among the shouting and screeching of metal in the heart of the near-ruined city.

When she got up, she found she was in much poorer shape than she'd hoped. Her legs burned, and the darkening at the edges of her vision caused her to lean heavily upon the pole she'd so recently erected for the tent. Water, just a few sips of water and she could get back to work. All of the bruises and hot metal burns she had suffered over the last few days seemed to come alive, as if triggered by the morsel of food she'd eaten. She could feel eyes on her, hopeful eyes, people waiting to ask a favor or thank her or simply to stare at her like a goddess come to life. Unbeknownst to them, however, this goddess was about to vomit.

"Whoa there!" A large, gloved hand clasped over her shoulder, a touch she'd almost gotten used to. Only one person ever really touched her since she'd last seen Rost, even if it was an occasional pat on the back or a squeeze to the shoulder. The other Nora, save perhaps Teb, seemed too intimidated, and she'd noticed the Carja weren't terribly touchy-feely folk. That left only one man.

"I figured he'd poisoned that bread. That Marad guy can't stand a moment's peace," Erend chuckled, steadying her once more. She rolled her head back to look up at him, alarm sparking in the back of her mind, until she began to realize his teasing grin. He looked almost as tired as she felt, and his usually well-shaven chin was beginning to grow back in, mingling with his moustache and jawline beard. Even his hair was beginning to come back. For some reason, she noticed there was no grey. Did she expect there to be? He must not have been as old as he seemed. His smile faltered when he saw her face. "Whoa, Aloy. When was the last time you slept?... Aloy?"

The darkness began to seep farther across her vision, like ink in water. Her last glimpse was of the relentless sun, turning red through the cover of her lashes before fading entirely to black.