Two years after the resolution of Final Days – using the opportunity of a massive party celebrating Senri's thirty birthday – Raha announced his decision to officially rejoin the Students of Baldesion. While Krile made it clear that her offer for it was open whenever he was ready, it took him – them – that long to finally admit that their idea of recalibration of Crystal Tower was a doomed endeavor. While the adjustments were made a year into that 'break,' another year of fruitless attempts proved that their idea had one massive flaw.

The meticulously crafted gate refused to open – and none of them could figure out why.

So, while Damon – petulant and stubborn – stayed silent for days, running countless calculations of what they were possibly missing, Raha decided to use Krile's offer to distract himself from inevitable frustration.

Their first 'big' case – involving none other than the Twelve – made the endeavor actually extremely interesting. No matter how messy it turned out in the end.

Admittedly, Raha was pretty stumped when they figured out that the mythical gods of Eorzea were actually the Ancients who helped Venat prepare for the Sundering. Senri, on the other hand, was not impressed with the reason behind the Twelve approaching the Students.

The whole deception of it set aside, once it became clear that the so-called deities' idea could be summed up as self-sacrifice… Well, his husband had the issue with that notion for a reason. And so did Ares, Azem of the Convocation of Fourteen – an ancient ruling body once presiding over Eitherys – and he was not shy about expressing his opinion. Being a witness of that, Raha was ready to honestly admit that he wasn't that familiar with that particular facet of Senri's Ancient – and as hilarious as it was to see Ares berate the Twelve for good two bells – he understood that better once Damon – his ever-present companion, badly amused by the whole thing – calmed enough to explain that one of those towering figures once used to be Ares's 'apprentice.'

It wasn't that surprising to learn it was Azeyma – famously a goddess worshipped by the Seeker tribes – once he thought of that. Similar name aside, she seemed honestly most disturbed by the realization of whom hid in his Warrior's skin. In the end, sent off to 'rethink their ideas' by infuriated Ares, the Twelve scampered off like a bunch of scolded children, and about two months ago, it was only Azeyma – hilariously sheepish – who dared to again approach Senri in a much more 'Hyur-like' version to reconnect with her mentor.

This led Raha to discover another curious trivia about their immortal passengers. While Damon didn't seem surprised at all by her reappearance, there was one of the living with them Ancients, who had a real issue with Azeyma. Frankly, from a name she claimed to 'stealing' his mentor's attention, predictably almost, Themis wasn't a fan.

Or – to put it in Hythlodaeus's words – former Elidibus was pouting whenever the redheaded 'goddess' came by on Ares's days and did her best to regain former Azem's favor.

Enough said, Wuk Lamat's offer of 'vacation' couldn't arrive at a better time! If Raha was honestly adoring of their extended family – mortal and Ancient – with how hilarious Hyth and Alisaie found the situation, he thought Senri's could definitely use a break away from Three Great Continents – areas holding the Twelve in high esteem that powered them up.

He personally planned to stay behind in Old Sharlayan once Krile expressed her wish to travel to Tural to find out more about her grandfather's journey there. With Alisaie and Alphinaud deciding to join, too, Raha believed it prudent to stay and continue to help the efforts of rebuilding the Students while trusting their friends to keep Senri out of trouble.

Of course, that didn't work out. His husband, refusing the idea, whined—and was so adorable about it—until Raha inevitably caved. With Krile's approval, they left the Students in Ojika's capable hands. With no burning commissions at hand, it didn't look like a bad idea.

A notion he was very honestly grateful for when an unnaturally strong storm turned the massive ship into a toy bouncing on the turbulent waves. In the darkness of boiling dark clouds overhead and among the panicked sailors scrambling to save the ship from sinking, he was distracted by trying his best to offer help wherever he could… until someone shouted over the roar of thunder, and Raha turned toward the sound just in time to see Senri activate the aetheric shield.

In the chaos on board, he was still probably the first one who saw the former Warrior of Light do so, then collapse like a sack of popotoes right where he stood. And more likely the only one who felt the way Senri's own aether distorted momentarily, making Raha rush over the swaying deck in a mad rush toward his lover's position. And what he saw… and felt in that moment would probably end up haunting his nightmares in days and weeks to come.

When he arrived at the raised front of the ship, even Damon – his infinity eloquent Ancient – was struck mute into stupor at the sight they found, so Raha felt marginally better a day later – when the sun slowly rose over the much calmer waves – and found him wholly dumbfounded.

Their cabin – though hellishly expensive – was small. With the single bed mounted into the wall of it, normally it was dedicated – as he heard from the captain when they boarded – for any high-profile dignitaries determined to travel between the Three Great Continents and New World. In reality, since it never happened, it was relegated as spare storage and rapidly cleared once the former Warrior used his undeniable fame to claim it. With the little space available, the floor was nearly entirely covered by their makeshift nest – a necessity considering the fact his Senri was literally unable to sleep on a normal bed. Piled with blankets and pillows, they stacked before travel for that very reason, now their 'nest' contained his unconscious husband, and Raha kneeled right outside of it, with hands fisted tightly atop his thighs, when the door of the cabin opened behind him.

He ignored the sound, and only his red tail flicked with annoyance when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

It's not his fault, you know that, Damon whispered in the back of their shared head, and Raha ground his teeth in reflex.

I don't care, he hissed back, harder clenching his fingers until his nails dug into his palms. Without the right outlet for his anger, it felt like anything – anyone – would do right now. Plainly, it felt like until his lover would wake the fuck up, he couldn't bring himself to even look at his current company.

"Couldn't find anything better than bread and some fruits, boy," a steady and calm voice that sounded nearly identical to the one he loved made Raha lay his ears flat and send a dark glare over his shoulder toward the unnaturally bright eyes. Bright and blue like the perfect sky once ruling over Eitherys, now flicked with amusement fitting the weak smile on the unearthly beautiful face once the male that could be easily confused for a Hyur kneeled beside him on one knee. Putting a small packet in Raha's lap, he – that man that by all intents and purposes was an impossibility-made-flesh – ignored Raha's glare and warning hiss and leaned forward. When his hand landed on Senri's pale forehead, redheaded Seeker snarled and slapped it away, glaring daggers when Ares chuckled and obediently pulled his hands back. He sat beside Raha fully, even leaning against his side when his arm wrapped around Seeker's shoulders.

"You should eat," he said sternly, nudging with his free hand the packet in Raha's lap. "You were up the whole night. And I have a feeling that you are going to need all the energy you can get, Raha."

"I will when he wakes up," he replied testily, setting the package on the floor, but despite how much that unnerved him, he didn't even try to move away. Not only was the space scarce, but the intended comfort of the gesture wasn't exactly lost on him. "How do others fare?"

"Shocked, to say the least," the man chuckled, then sighed deeply, and his tone with the following words grew much more serious. "I barely managed to convince them to leave you be… for the time being. Predictably, Alisaie threatened me a bodily harm, so I called in Themis to distract her. How long it's going to work, I don't know. I left to Alphinaud explaining to our traveling companions who I am, if first asking him to make up a fitting story about that. Frankly, if even Demon can't tell if this is temporary… or not… Worst case scenario, I'll wipe their minds before we arrive."

"He… Damon, I mean. He wants to wait and see if Senri is… really okay – like you said – when he wakes up," he whispered numbly, lowering his gaze to his hands and smiling weakly. "I think it gave him an idea."

"I'm not surprised about that," Ares replied, delicately tightening his arm around Seeker's shoulders. "And as far as I can tell, he is fine, Raha. I still have no idea how he did this, to be precise, but whatever was that surge, it passed when he expelled me."

"He protected you," Raha breathed, then closed his eyes and groaned loudly. "He can't help himself, does he? Why he wouldn't tell me he's feeling off? Don't," he cut off, hearing Senri's Ancient take a breath to answer. "It's stupid, I know. He lives to protect. I understand that, Ares. But why does he always put others ahead of himself? I thought… I believed it's behind us."

"You're his world, Raha," Ares chuckled when he felt his face grow warmer at the statement. "It's foolish – as I've been telling him, mind you – but he really wanted this trip to the thing to help you relax. A real adventure for the two of you to enjoy, for once, without the world at stake. He couldn't know it'd blow up… like this," A slight shrug made Raha open his eyes and send the Ancient a deadpan stare. But seeing that face – nearly identical to the one he loved – made him deflate instantly. He sighed, then leaned in and repeated Ares's gesture, resting his hand over Senri's forehead.

He couldn't help a slight grimace, when next he ran his fingers through Senri's matted hair. Whatever was that 'surge' that made his lover expel his Ancient left behind noticeable marks. The ends of Senri's inky hair turned white as if their color was bleached away. Earlier, when he raised one of his husband's eyelids to check the pupils' reaction, Senri's pale ice-blue eyes seemed even brighter, nearly white. His skin, already naturally pale, was reminiscent of a sheet of paper. But worse of all, neither of them had any idea what exactly caused all of it. During the storm, when Raha rushed to his lover and found him and his Ancient split, after getting over initial shock Damon suggested to have Ares use his unique sight to examine unconscious Senri. With no idea what they were dealing with – this time – it seemed like a sensible route.

The Surge – as after the examination Ares dubbed it – was apparently his host's unnaturally high level of lightning aether. He compared it to the days in the First Reflection, after his Warrior soaked up an aether from three Lightwardens – and before an accident with stopping time took care of it. And even Senri's current state was reminiscent of the way he fell unconscious afterward. Then Damon used Raha's connection to the Crystal Tower to restore their – Senri's and Ares's – aether reserves, but now they couldn't repeat that feat.

Frankly, he could do nothing but wait and pray… to what god, Raha had no idea. After their interaction, he had issues with prayers toward the Twelve for a few reasons. And the Crystal Tower in the Source was far too far to offer help the same way its counterpart in the First did…

He flinched when Senri signed and turned his head into his palm. Naked since Raha got rid of his lover's soaked clothes after Ares carried his host into their cabin, Senri shifted sideways with a slurred mumble and signed again, weakly nuzzling into Raha's palm. He exhaled deeply the air he didn't know he was holding, then completely ignoring Ares, crawled into the nest behind his husband. Plastering himself against Senri's back, he wasn't that surprised to see a distinctively relieved expression on Ares's face. Far more shocking was how translucent it became – as did the whole of Ares's form.

"I can feel him pull me back in," the Ancient announced with a crooked grin, then touched his host's forehead, and this time Raha didn't protest. Involuntarily fascinated, he silently watched Ares wink at him, then melt away into surrounding them aether.

Fascinating, Damon commented after a moment when Raha closed his eyes. You two never fail to keep me on my toes… so to speak.

Glad to offer you amusement, Damon, he replied wryly, resting his cheek against his lover's shoulder blade. With an arm wrapped around Senri's waist, he pressed closer, honestly relieved to feel the way his husband's body heat gradually returned to its normally high level. As it did, Senri's familiar deep snore-purrs put a much brighter smile on Raha's face. He rubbed his cheek against his lover's back and sighed. He seems to be just sleeping now. Comforting as it is… what exactly caused it in the first place?

I… don't know, Damon definitely wasn't pleased about that. Once he's awake, we'll grill him for answers, yes?

Definitely, he agreed easily, still cuddling deeper into his lover's heat. Feeling the exhaustion set in, he sighed again and let his body relax. Wake me up when he does?

Certainly. Sleep well, Raha.

That soothing whisper was the last he heard before oblivion claimed him.