After getting the Strahl back, Balthier and Fran leaves Dalmasca for a while, to travel as free sky pirates again.
Few days of traveling and they found themselves at the Phon Coast. While looking at the hunt board, Balthier heard bounty hunters talking, "Have you seen the bill for the Legendary Monster Behemoth? It says in the bill that the mark is somewhere in Cerobi Steppe, and has a very high bounty." said the tall bounty hunter. "If only it wasn't a Behemoth, I would've taken that bill now."
After hearing that talk, he looks around the board for the bill. He grabbed the bill and showed it to Fran. "So, what do you think?" Balthier asked. "A Behemoth? Just don't get yourself killed." Fran answered. "Well then, time to play the leading man, yes?" Balthier says as he walks out of Phon Coast.
*Skipped the part where you have to talk to the petitioner about the mark*
Balthier and Fran arrived at Cerobi Steppe. Looks around for about half an hour and they have finally seen their mark…only to see it fall on the ground, slain. "Wha-! ", he looks around to see who killed his marks right before his very eyes. And there just beside the dead Behemoth, he saw a lady. Tall and slender body has a fair complexion and straight long black hair, wearing black fit clothes that ended mid-thigh, black high boots and a cloak. He was shocked to see a lady kill such vile beast.
"Is something wrong?" the lady asked noticing him staring at her.
Fran practically stares back and Balthier snapped out of his reverie and answers back, "There's nothing wrong, my fine lady"
"M-my fine lady?" lady says on her mind. "I-is that so? Well then, if you'll excuse me". The lady then starts to walk away when Balthier speaks.
"Perhaps, are you a bounty hunter?" he asked.
"Oh no, I'm not" *realizes* "Is this monster perhaps your mark?" the lady panics a bit. "Oh no! What have I done?"
"It would seems so", Balthier answered back with a poker face.
"I-I'm really really sorry about this. It's just that it suddenly came attacking so I kinda had to…" the lady hangs her head low.
"Hmm, that's fine. I'm not exactly interested in it that much." he answered back thinking, "wasted bounty".
"Can I pay you back somehow? Uhm, like food, money o-or the bounty! Yes, you can take the bounty." *mentally slaps herself in the face* "What am I saying?" "I-I'm so sorry", feeling quite depressed.
"Hm" *smirks for a while then back to poker face* *walks closer to the lady* "Then, perhaps you can tell me your name?" he asked.
"M-my name? Oh it's Aerenn." she answered thinking "what does he need my name for?"
"Aerenn? it suits you." *smiles a bit* "If I may ask, are you heading to Balfonheim?" he randomly asked.
"It suits me, he said. Was that supposed to be a compliment?" thinking to herself then answers "Ah, yes. I am."
"Then, you wouldn't mind companions, would you?" he said.
"Of course, I wouldn't… uhm"
"It's Balthier and this is Fran", he said as he walks towards Balfonheim with Fran following after him.
"I-It's nice meeting you" "I guess?" she answered as she followed them to Balfonheim.
Balthier and Fran was walking so fast that Aerenn is barely catching up.
"Sheeesh, they walk too fast" she thought while trying to catch her breath as they stopped walking a moment ago.
"We're here." Balthier said.
"Huh, we are nowhere near-" she stopped as she glanced up. There she saw one of the most beautiful airships she has ever seen. "Whoa!" her jaw slightly dropped at the sight.
"You were sky pirates? I mean only sky pirates could have this kind of airship" she asked.
"Mm-mmm" Balthier nodded as he got in the airship followed by Fran. "Aren't you coming? I have to dock her at the aerodome in Balfonheim, so get in."
"Ah, yes. Coming" she said as she runs after the two.
Inside the airship. Aerenn looked around. "Very neat for sky pirates."
She walked around some more and saw some incredibly complicated set of switches and buttons. "I better just sit or I might break something."
"Fran, our course." Balthier said as he sat down the pilot's seat.
"All set" Fran answered.
"Ah, right. Aerenn, keep your tongue to yourself. You wouldn't wanna bite that, would you?" Balthier said as he flicked switches and pressed buttons.
"R-right.." she answered quite nervously. "He really knows how to scare someone" she thought as she positioned herself to sit behind Balthier.
As the strahl took off, Aerenn closes her eyes.
"Don't close your eyes, my lady. Try looking out the window instead" Balthier said as he noticed her close her eyes.
She opened her eyes, looked out the window. Her jaw almost dropped again. The scenery was indeed one-of-a-kind. She couldn't take her eyes off the scenery. The sun was already setting so the horizon looks even more beautiful.
It didn't last long though. Balfonheim was not that far, after all. Aerenn was quite disappointed as the ride was too short. "I wish I could ride this airship again" she thought as she unfastened her seat belt and headed out of strahl.
"How was the ride, my lady?" Balthier asked as he helped her get off the airship.
"He still calls me that?" she thought as she answered him "It was really nice. Considering that it was my first time riding an airship like that." she said. Then, they started walking out of the aerodome.
"So what was your business here in Balfonheim Port?" he asked the moment they got out of the aerodome.
"Nothing in particular. I just thought I'd spend the night here. After all, this place was the closest to Cerobi Steppe." She said as she gazes to the horizon then looks back at Balthier. "How about the two of you?"
"Hmm, what about it Fran? What do you suppose we do?" he asked his partner.
Fran stares then answers "First, we grab a bite then find a place where we can spend the night."
"Pretty much the most obvious thing to do. Care to dine with us, Aerenn? I'm sure Fran wouldn't mind." Balthier asked as he held out his hand to Aerenn.
"Uhm, thank you for inviting me but I'm a little too tired to eat. I'm sorry" Aerenn bows slightly then Balthier puts his hand in his pocket.
Fran stares. Her eyes saying "Got turned down by a lady?"
Balthier stares back. His eyes saying "That's not what happened."
"So uhm, I think I should get going now. Thank you for the company." Aerenn bows again.
"The pleasure is ours" Balthier bows like a gentleman.
"Oh, and about the payback, can we leave that for tomorrow?" she asks.
"Payback? Hmm…" Balthier thought as he answered "You have already paid me back"
"Huh, when? I mean, I haven't done anything yet" she thinks hard, not noticing Balthier walking towards her.
"Accompanying us is more than enough" he said as he uses his fingers to raise her chin up to face him. He smiled slightly.
"O-oh.. uhm.." she turns a bit red then she took a few steps back. "I-I still think it's unfair s-so I'll find a way to pay you back." Her voice trembles. After saying that she bows then walks away, fast.
Balthier smirks. Amusement is evident to his face.
"You scared her." Fran spoke up.
"A leading man couldn't possibly do such a thing." Balthier said as he walks down the road. "I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
Fran sighed then follows him shortly.
As Aerenn was walking, she whispers to herself "What the hell does he think he's doing" her face still a bit red.
*remembers what happened*
"No-no-no-no" she shakes her head. "Sheeesh, get yourself together, Aerenn" speaking to herself as she turned to her left to see an inn.
"Hmmm, I hope they have a vacant room." She enters to see a lady who seems to be running the inn.
"Welcome!" the lady says with a smile. "Spending the night?"
"Yes" Aerenn answers back with a smile.
"Hmm, a single bedroom, yes? We have one and it has a great view of the sea. Would you like to take it?" The lady asks politely.
Aerenn simply nodded with a smile and with that, the lady gets the keys from the drawer then says "This way, please"
As they walk through the corridor, Aerenn inspects the inn. It was clean although one look and anybody could tell it was an old inn. Antiques are displayed in the corners and valuable old paintings decorate the wall.
"We're here." The lady said as she opens the door for Aerenn then hands her the keys.
"Thank you." Aerenn said then she enters the room.
She walks around the room. It is not too big but not too small either. Just enough for her. She then walks to the other side of the room. There she saw a sight she have never seen before. It was very beautiful. The moonlight shines upon the sea as the waves strikes the shores. The moon looks magnificent as it is a full moon that night.
She takes in every detail of that scenery. "This scene is too beautiful to just simply ignore" she smiles. Then a few minutes later, she decided to sleep.
People in Balfonheim port are early risers, so it was quite noisy out even though it is still so early.
Aerenn is quite sensitive to noise especially when sleeping. With that, she woke up.
"What? It is still so early, geez." She frowns then tries to go back to sleep. She failed but she didn't give up. She tried a few more times but in the end, she failed.
*sighs* "Oh well, it's ot like I have a choice." She stood up then she decided to walk around by the shore to feel some fresh air. Maybe it will neutralize her mood a little.
She then goes out absent-mindedly. *yawns* She walks then she suddenly bumped into someone.
*bows* "I'm really sorry." She looks up to see a very familiar face. A face she has seen the whole afternoon yesterday. "B-balthier?!"
Aerenn noticed how Balthier's eyes smiled a bit.
"Bed hair, puffy face, sleepy eyes. Not exactly a morning person, are you?" Balthier speaks.
"W-what?" Aerenn panics to fix her hair.
Balthier chuckled at the sight.
"What's so funny?" Aerenn speaks a little louder and angrier than usual.
"Nothing." Balthier pats her head then "Meet me at the aerodome, I have decided on how you should pay me back."
Balthier walks on then Fran smiled softly at Aerenn then follows her fellow skypirate.
"I guess she does smile." Aerenn said that then she hurries back to her room to fix herself. "That Balthier, he is seriously dead." *murderous intent floods the atmosphere but was suppressed thereafter* "Calm down, he's not worth getting worked up at."
She checks out and pays after a few minutes, then heads to the aerodome.
At the Aerodome.
"Finally here, eh? Balthier said as she entered the hangar of the Strahl.
Aerenn nodded " So, the payback? You said you have decided on it."
"Ah yes, you see we could use another hand to help us claim some bounty" Balthier walks towards her.
"What do you-" she unconsciously stepped back at the sight of Balthier walking towards her.
"He means to say, join us on our journey." Fran speaks standing beside her.
"What? Me? A skypirate? Is that what they're saying" Aerenn's mind wonders for a while.
"I guess it is not so bad but is this really fine? Well it's not like I got anything better to do at the moment. Might as well join them."
"Well?" Balthier interrupts her thoughts.
"I-I guess it's fine." Aerenn simply answers.
"Then, that's settled." Balthier walks towards the Strahl. "Come on, we're leaving."
Fran and Aerenn follow him in the airship.