Chapter Text
~Past~
During the events of Iceborne (Shara, Safi, Alatraon, and Fatalis), the Sapphire Star is 21years old, at the start of this chapter, which takes place 6years after, and the Sapphire Star is now 27.
Astera is now a thriving settlement acting as a trade center, an extension of the Guild in the New-World. Most of the main parts haven't changed places, only gained extensions. With more ships coming, the port had to be extended, and it can now welcome 4different vessels of large size. With more resources coming, the market also had been extended, gaining a second floor and more ground on the 1st, the research sector now had its own floor, and a little further than any others due to some accident involving gunpowder and Brachidios saliva. The forge was now 3 times its previous size and 4 times for the canteen. The commandment and the gathering Hall were still the same size, only with more restrictions on access.
Doushi, current Commander of Astera and previously know as the Team Field Leader, was reviewing plans for minor settlements that could be posted near the different hunting grounds. The settlements near The Elder’s Recess and the Guiding lands were marked as research and were going to be mostly occupied by scholars. The Wildspire Waste and the Ancient Forest didn’t need any settlements since Astera was close enough to be used by both as such. The Coral Highlands and the Rotten Vale had the Third Fleet ship, the Research Base. *Sight* Doushi was wandering how is grandfather managed all the stress of leadership for 4decades.
Outside a bell rang 3 times.
“Already back? Its hasn’t been even a month…” There was a hint of anxiety and suspicion in Doushi’s voice.
During the expansion of Astera, it was decided to place a bell similar to the one used in Val Habar, on top of the Gathering Hub. 1 rang meant a new Elder’s Crossing, 2 was the arrival of the Argosy, 3 was the return of the expedition team and 4 meant an attack from monsters.
Outside the commander’s office, Astare was at his peak of activity, the Argosy arrived the day prior, meaning that materials it was transporting from the Old World had been unloaded to make place for the ones of the New World. After the bell rang 3 times some of the most experienced hunters ran to the front gate in worry.
“Its not even a month! Why are they back so soon?!” Said a female hunter in Girros β armor.
“They might have encountered an Elder. Even with the Sapphire with them if its a new species, they could still have problem.” Replied an older Hunter in Damascus α.
“Or they could have found something else. Not everything is about monsters you know?” said another in Pukei α+. “I bet 4,000 zenny that its something else.”
“Are you really going to bet on our comrades?” Asked the 1rst Hunter with an amused tone “I follow with 4,000 but I bet they ran out of supplies”
“You both are so childish…” Grunted the 2nd “They might be in trouble and you are betting on their life!”
“Sorry” They replied a bit of shame in their voice.
“I bet 5,000 zenny that Tonko ate something poisonous”
“Congrats you just lost 5,000 zenny”
“What? Why? If its any of them Tonko might be the most plossible one”
“Because she wasn’t part of this expedition” mocked the 1rst hunter “Remember? She was forced to clean the stables”
“No pull back! You just lost 5k”
As they arrived at the main gate leading to the Ancient Forest, many people already gathered around the entrance. Some asked what was happening and others stayed silent, waiting for informations coming from the first row.
Astera was still filled with activity, the moment they arrived the great bell announced them, the market which was always filled with activity was still booming and the announcement of their arrival was making the place even more active, like an anthill that had just discovered a monsters body waiting to be taken apart to nourish the colony.
“The place is more active than usual when we come back, no?” Asked Aiden.
It was understandable, they came back not even a month after they left for the new expedition beyond Elder’s Recess. The hunters from the guild will be on high alert until things have been clarified *sight* and once everything is “clarified” they wont have any time to breath for the next few days because of the amount of questions from everyone.
“Aiden… We came back not even a month after we left, 2 month before schedule, do you really think it would go unnoticed?”
“If you put it that way,” There was understanding in Aiden’s voice “but you will have explain things solo, Doushi will definitely make one of us do the mission report for the Guild and I hate mission reports. So as soon as I get the chance I’m out, just thought id give you a head start to prepare mentally.”
“Nya, you’ve been avoiding reports for the last 4 expeditions and when you hunt, you let Lea do them.” retorted a third voice.
The third voice was Raven, Seiki’s felyne companion. Her Felyne Narga α+ armor was practically melting with her black fur.
“Don’t start you useless felyne, you don’t do the reports either and Lea do them better than I could ever. Her’s are clearer than mine will ever be and that’s a fact not an excuse.” Responded Aiden with a smirk on the corner of his mouth.
As they arrived at the gate, they could see the people gathered, hunters on high alert ready to draw their weapons, researchers eager to have new sample from beyond Elder’s Recess if they had any and simple bystanders wandering from people who didn’t know what was happening to others who knew and anticipated the worst outcome possible. A ruffle of agitation came from behind them, inside the caravan, he was definitely woken up by the bell and that without taking into account the racket in front of them.
“Raven? Can you get in the back and calm our guest? I don’t think all of this noise is doing anything good for him.” Seiki asked his friend.
“You gor it, nya!” Answered Raven before going inside the caravan.
“You won’t have any time to breath for quite some time once we get in, you know that? Right?”
Seiki took a deep breath before answering this question. “I know and I regret nothing, it was either take the kid in or let him die to monsters and most likely in a horrible way or of starvation due to the lack of food source in the area… Id rather have a lack of sleep for a few weeks than the blood of a kid on my hands even that meant killing a monster without the guild authorization…”
“Hey, don’t worry about the implication, if anything I'm pretty sure the Guild will not have anything to say about it. We are hunters, our job is to protect people and the balance of ecosystems.”
“Yeah, you’re right” There wasn’t really conviction if Seiki’s voice
As they finally reach the entrance they were greeted by Astera’s people children, civilians and hunters alike. Although, the hunters were on the edge due to their sudden arrival.
“Sorry everyone, Seiki doesn’t really have time to stay with us, he has a report to make but if you want I can tell you what we saw” Called Aiden to get the attention on himself “, anyone interested?”
Seiki understood the message immediately, ‘Get the kid to Doushi while I have everyone’s attention’ and as discretely and quickly as possible got their still sleeping guest in his quarters.
“Raven, I need you to keep our guest here. Do not, in any circumstances, lose him! Understood?”
“As sharp as a Rathian’s talon!” chirped Raven
“I’m off to Doushi’s office now.” With that Seiki turned away and closed his quarters door behind him.
The sun poured through the high windows of Doushi’s quarters, illuminating the maps and reports scattered across his desk. Outside, Astera was alive with activity — hunters moving along the platforms, the clang of hammers in the forge, and the distant cries of wyverns above. The bell at the Gathering Hub had rung three times that morning, announcing the return of the expedition team. Doushi had already expected them.
Seiki entered, closing the door behind him. Doushi’s sharp eyes followed his movements.
"Two months early," Doushi said. "I heard the bell. You don’t return ahead of schedule without reason. Report."
Seiki removed his gloves, placing them carefully on the desk. "There’s a reason, Commander. We found a child in the Elder’s Recess."
Doushi’s expression tightened. "A child. Out there. That’s impossible. How did you locate him?"
Seiki’s voice was calm. "Raven caught the scent first. She smelled human blood and alerted Aiden and me. We followed the trail past the obsidian ridge, through the magma tunnels, and found him near a cluster of glowing crystals. He was unconscious, barely breathing, but alive."
Doushi’s brow furrowed. "No injuries?"
"None that explained his survival," Seiki said. "The ground was warm, but not enough to harm him. Raven stayed by his side while Aiden handled the distractions and supplies. After a few days, he regained consciousness. He remembers nothing except his name."
Doushi’s gaze sharpened. "His name?"
"Seirei," Seiki replied.
"And where is he now?"
"In my private suite," Seiki said. "He’s sleeping, under Raven’s watch. I didn’t move him through the hub — not to overwhelm the child with too many people at once."
Doushi nodded once. "Good. And Aiden?"
"Outside, keeping the Commission busy," Seiki said, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "He told them we returned early because of instability in the Recess. That sounded more believable than the truth."
Doushi exhaled quietly, amused. "That sounds like him. Loud, chaotic, but reliable."
He paced briefly, then stopped. "Tell me about the boy."
"When we found him, the crystals around him glowed, and the air vibrated faintly," Seiki said. "When Raven touched him, everything went still — the tremors, the heat waves, even the magma’s faint shimmer. It was as if the Recess itself paused for him."
Doushi’s eyes narrowed. "The land reacted to him."
"Exactly," Seiki confirmed. "Even now, there’s a faint resonance when he sleeps. You can feel it near him."
Doushi leaned against the desk, considering. "Elder energy can reshape life, distort nature. But this… a human child connected to the Recess? That’s something new."
Seiki nodded quietly. "It feels like connection rather than power. Gentle, calm, like the land recognizes him as part of it."
Doushi studied him for a long moment. "You did the right thing bringing him here quietly. Keep him under watch. I’ll speak to the Chief Ecologist privately — off record. For now, Seiki, you’re his caretaker. You found him, and between you and Aiden, you’re the one I trust to keep him safe. Make sure he adjusts at his own pace. If he truly carries a spark of the Recess, we’ll learn more through patience than pressure."
Seiki inclined his head. "Understood, Commander. Raven and I will see to him."
Doushi gave a faint, approving nod. "Keep me informed directly, nothing written. And keep him safe. That child may tell us more about the land than any map ever will."
Seiki turned and left, the sunlight of mid-afternoon spilling across the floor as he opened the door. Doushi watched him go, then looked toward the sunlit platforms outside. Astera thrummed with life — hunters, traders, researchers — unaware for the moment that in one private suite, a child slept under the watch of a vigilant Palico, carrying the spark of the Recess within him.