"Tell me again why we're in this godforsaken place," said Inaho as he watched his companion crouch on the floor of the cave they had taken refuge in and gently breathe embers to life. It was the twelfth of September, and a rather ferocious summer storm had taken them by surprise while they were setting up camp on the beach.
Troyard carefully added tinder to the growing fire. "This will benefit both nations, as well as those of us in between, Kaizuka. You must be aware of that," Troyard replied, eyes still fixed on his task. He added some larger twigs and pulled back as they popped and crackled from the dampness.
"If this so-called power has any real value, you mean." Only a few months after his time as a captive aboard the Tharsis, Troyard had approached him - or rather, accosted him in the middle of the ocean, having somehow learnt of his current whereabouts and pursuing as relentlessly as ever - and after helping himself to a particularly expensive bottle of wine, announced he wished to investigate something supposedly of utmost importance. Throughout their unfortunately long dinner, during which Inaho more than once despaired of ever getting rid of his unwelcome guest, Troyard had spilled forth his glorious plan to find and claim the legendary Aldnoah. Skeptical as he was, Inaho had somehow been conned into agreeing to accompany Troyard on this fool's errand, and thus here he was, very wet and uncomfortable, with only the pack on his back and the clothes on his body to provide comfort and security in the dreaded coming days.
Having coaxed the fire to a steady flame, Troyard stood up and brushed the soil from his hands. "You still doubt it? My father spent his life searching for Aldnoah-"
"And his death..." Inaho added under his breath.
"According to him, it has the power to help thousands. It could end hunger, bring prosperity and safety to all. The information he gathered is substantial," Troyard explained once more, as he had a dozen times over every time Inaho expressed misgivings, "He was the only one to keep looking for it, when all of Vers gave up."
"Vers was a mistake from the beginning. Colonizing a desert is inadvisable no matter how you look at it, whether some mystical power exists there or not. Which, given your father's data and our current location, it does not." They had anchored in the small cove of an uninhabited island, quite distant from either nation, or any civilization for that matter.
"You may be right," admitted Troyard, "but there's no going back now. The mistake's been made, and someone's got to mend it. The way this world is headed, everything will collapse eventually."
Troyard had a point, but that point still had little to do with him. 'Eventually' was the key word that let him off the hook, in his opinion. "It's not really my responsibility…" he muttered, crouching by the fire to toast his clammy fingers. The air was cooling a little too quickly, perhaps because it was nearly nightfall. "Someone else can play hero. We've done our best and worst already, it's time we stepped aside and let some other fools drive themselves to ruin. Why is it so cold here? It's only September..."
Troyard pressed a hand to his forehead and gave a long, deliberate sigh. "If you're only going to complain, why did you come, Kaizuka?" he asked, as if he hadn't been a tremendous pest about this for weeks until Inaho had finally given in.
"I'm curious. This Aldnoah - I'm sure it exists. There is evidence of it all over the globe. What I want to know, however, is what exactly it is. Is it science? Is it god? Is it an elaborate hoax? A joke? I'll endure trekking through the jungle with you if it means finding an answer."
That was only part of his reason for coming. Aside from having been practically forced into it, the most important motivation for his eventual acquiescence was the realization that if Troyard's information and instincts proved correct, and he succeeded in finding what it was he was looking for, the man would come in direct contact with an overwhelming amount of power. Troyard was undeniably dangerous, and if the past said anything about the current, unrestricted version of him, extremely susceptible to the allure of strength, influence, and authority. And while his intentions were perhaps, usually, commendable, his methods were historically far less so. Thus, Inaho had agreed to come primarily to prevent anything catastrophic from happening should this Aldnoah have the ability to truly make drastic changes in the world. If they uncovered the legend, he would either seize it before Troyard could lay a finger on it, destroy it, or otherwise seal it away forever if possible.
Troyard looked at him with wry amusement. "That's it? Curiosity?" he was obviously not buying it, but Inaho hardly assumed he would. In fact, he was fairly certain Troyard had already guessed his true purpose, but in the end it mattered little whether he knew or not. It would likely come down to some kind of conflict in the end regardless. Troyard took a draught from his canteen, wiped his mouth, and stuffed it back in his pack. "None of that bothersome philanthropy for you, I see. Well, as long as you're dedicated, I don't particularly care what you're here for."
Inaho watched the other wander off a little ways to examine the walls of the cavern. "In any case," said Inaho, "there was absolutely no reason for us to come alone. Even a few extra hands could prove very helpful, we don't know what kinds of trouble we'll be facing, or if there are potentially hostile inhabitants on this island." He certainly hoped there were none. Melee combat was not his forte, and one encounter with captivity in his lifetime was more than enough.
He heard Troyard laugh somewhere at the back of the cave, obscured by the darkness. "That's precisely why we came alone. You've still only got a skeleton crew, what would you do if they died here?"
"There's no one particularly outstanding among them, they can be replaced."
"Oh? Chilling words from the man who once accused me of treating my men with cruelty. Anyhow, you won't recruit anyone worthwhile with a piece of driftwood like that for a ship."
Inaho jabbed the already fading fire with a stick. "Sleipnir is practical."
"Sleipnir is an atrocity. That's why you need a more interesting reputation, or at least a less unpopular one, or you'll only ever gain the desperate bottom feeders whose greatest ambition is to obtain enough coins to afford pleasurable company at the next port. Honestly, with your charm it's a wonder you have any crew at all."
"I don't recall asking your advice on this matter," Inaho muttered. This discussion was getting a little too personal, and Troyard's ever nebulous intentions still consistently unsettled him. It was easy to get comfortable with that spirited chatter, but Inaho knew better than to unquestioningly accept it as harmless.
"When we return, I'll take you to some places," Troyard offered, "You're bound to find someone of value if you're with me."
This was likely true. Troyard was as much an idol in some circles as he was a villain in others. It was extraordinary the way people rallied around him, even now in his infamy. Yet accepting aid from Troyard, aside from being immensely disagreeable even in theory, would certainly come with some kind of hefty price. He would like to avoid owing Troyard if at all possible. Ever. "Troyard, I have no interest in your disreputable haunts," he declined strategically, playing a very flimsy propriety card.
"Nothing in this line of work is reputable, Kaizuka. May as well embrace it. Ah!" he exclaimed, "Look at this!"
Filing away the response just forming on his tongue for later discussion, Inaho hauled himself to his feet, took a branch from the fire, and followed after Troyard's voice. "What is it? A clue?" He moved the simple torch slowly to guide his way.
Troyard was standing at the back of the cavern looking intently at something on the wall. "I'm not sure. See this writing?" he pointed to series of engraved markings. They were surprisingly clear and free from the wear of time.
Inaho held the flame closer and contemplatively traced the lines and curves with his fingertips. "This here was in a page you saved from your father's notebook, right?"
"Yes, and this one, too," Troyard tapped another section, and immediately the entire passage of writing illuminated in a white flash.
Inaho retracted his own hand instantly, but the floor beneath them had already vanished, and the light became a distant vision as they tumbled into darkness.