Straga, and Kor kidnapped.
The groups trekked across the plains and finally made it to the capital Straga.
"That's a lot of wall." Hisui stated.
"I know. I've never seen one this high. Where's Straga by the way?" Kor asked.
"Apparently you're looking at it. This IS Straga. A city surrounded by walls both natural and man-made." Ace said.
"THIS is Straga? This whole thing? I can't even see the ends of the wall!" Kor said in disbelief.
"They call it "The Endless Wall." And while it's not literally endless, the name seems to scare enemies off." Gall said.
"Y-Yeah? Well, I ain't scared! How 'bout you, Kor?" Hisui asked.
"Heck no! I'm not scared at all! Okay, yeah. Maybe a little." Kor said causing Ace and Kagura to face fault.
"Are you scared, or not? Make up your mind." Kagura said.
"Enough dilly dally. We have to get this missive to Garnet, then start asking about the despir." David said.
"And watch out for the Crystal Knights. This is their home turf, after all." Kokoro said.
"Yeah, let's go!" Ace said as he walked to the doors and pushed them open as he was breath taken by the site of the city. "Oh my. It's incredible."
"It's no Tokyo, but its got its charm." David said.
As the groups explored the city, Ace spotted someone on the upper level, He had a black and purple fedora, jacket, silver hair, bandages around his stomach, and khakis. "Hey guys, I think that might be the person we're looking for. Let's go talk to him."
"Customers, I presume? The name's Garnet. Any job I'll take when gald's at stake! So, what can I do you for?" The man known as Garnet asked.
"Actually, we've been looking for you. We have a missive from Ines that we're supposed to deliver." Petra said.
"A missive from Ines, eh?" Garnet asked as Kor handed the missive to him. "Hmm. Let's see here. "The merchandise has been delivered as promised. Particulars to follow." Good, good. And my compliments on a delivery well done. Do drop by again, now! Straga's jack-of-all-trades is at your service always!" He said.
"Now that, that job's over let's ask some of the townspeople to see if they know anything about despir." Ace said.
"Right-o!" David said.
The group noticed three Straga soldiers arguing with Chalcedony about Empress Paraiba.
"Do these soldiers have a problem with the Crystal Knights? I thought they were all on the same side." Kor said.
"You WERE born in a hole! I knew it! The Knights serve the Valentin Church; soldiers who are with the Imperial Army. They used to get along, until the world was united by the Maximus Empire." Beryl said.
Just then, Chalcedony drew his sword and wings and went to attack one of the soldiers before Kor blocked it.
"Stop! What are you doing?! You can't use your Soma in some kind of street brawl!" Kor said.
"You again?" Chalcedony asked.
"Oy! That one drew a Soma against us! The Imperial brass'll 'ear about this, they will!" Imperial Soldier A said.
"It's you and yer father what insult the Empress with yer scheme to form one'a them political marriages!" Imperial Soldier B said before he and the other two soldiers ran off.
"Begone, boy! This is not your concern." Chalcedony said.
"Kor…" Kohaku muttered.
"Well, this is going to end badly." Gall said as he noticed three Crystal Knights approach.
"Who is this miscreant, Sir Chalcedony?" Crystal Knight A asked.
"You dare draw against the Commander?!" Crystal Knight B demanded as he and the other Crystal Knights summoned swords of their own.
"They're Somatics too!" Ace said.
"This doesn't look good for Kor…" David said.
The Crystal Knights then attacked Kor knocking him unconscious as they took him to the church, with Chalcedony following.
"Welp… There's only one thing we can do now. We'll have to call up our new friend Garnet." Sectonia said.
"I like the way you think!" Hisui said.
"Yeah, he might know a way of how we can rescue Kor. Let's go!" Ace said as he and the others went to see Garnet and explained their situation.
"Meaning the poor kid's a goner if we don't bust him out of the Cathedral." Petra said.
"I'll take any job when gald's in play! Now let me think for a second." Garnet said as he took a thinking pose before widening his eyes. "Right! Here's the plan; You enter the Cathedral under the pretense of donating your Somas and weapons to the church's cause." He said.
"Are you outta your damn mind?!" Saki asked.
"Shut up and let him see where he's going with this." Maki said.
"Tch." Saki grunted as she glared at Maki.
"While I distract the knights, you, pretending to be stalwart believers, will search for your friend." Garnet said.
"Your plan is for us to walk through the front door?" Gall asked.
"Direct approach is the best approach. Trust me on this one." Garnet said.
"Even if we did agree to this, we're sitting ducks if they happen to corner us." Saki said.
"Uh… You know some of us can fight without weapons, right?" Scott asked.
"Yeah, I know. I use my hands for close combat as well." Saki said.
"Either way, this seems like the only course of action we can take right now." Lloyd said.
Garnet then led the groups to the Cathedral and talked to the Crystal Knights in front. "Sir Knights, these humble Somatics from the rural country would like to make an offering of their Somas." He said.
"I'd heard tale of Somas in the countryside that escaped our gaze. But it's a rare thing in these days to actually find one of them. The sentiment is much appreciated." Crystal Knight A said.
"If possible, we'd like proof of the donation in writing. And perhaps these simple folk could get a peek inside?" Garnet asked.
"Of course. Please, follow me." Crystal Knight A said.
"Aaaaugh! I was sooo nervous!" Beryl said as she slumped her head.
"Keep it down already!" Hisui said.
"We're not out of the woods yet. More like, we'll only be deeper in once we search for Kor." David said.
In Kor's cell…
"You're not out of the woods yet, Kor. Just gotta keep your eyes open for a chance to escape." Kor said.
"Kor… Are you...there…?" Kohaku asked.
"Hey! That's Kohaku!" Kor said.
"We made it, just in time." Ace said.
"Give me a second. I'll get that door open." Sectonia said as she megamerged with Titan and struck the door open.
"I can't believe you came for me! Thank you so much, guys. They almost had me converted." Kor said.
"That'll learn you to run off half-cocked!" Hisui said.
"Yeah! You owe us an apology! A big one! With tears and everything!" Beryl said.
"I'm sorry, guys. I really am." Kor said.
"Yeah, good enough. Now let's blow this gel stand!" Hisui said.
As the groups exited the cell, they saw Chalcedony with two Crystal Knights behind him approaching.
"Damn! This is bad!" Ace said.
"I should have foreseen that you fools would attempt a rescue." Chalcedony said.
"Rats! We're cornered! Like rats!" Hisui said.
"A-Angh…" Kohaku grunted as two beams of light popped out in two different directions.
"Look! One of the beams is pointing towards Chalcedony, that means he has another shard in his grasp!" Al said.
Well, well. If it isn't my sweet little debtors." Ines said as everyone looked down to see her with her bag. "We always seem to meet in the strangest of places."
"Your timing is perfect, Ines! Heads up!" Kor said as he and the others jumped over the railing on to Ines's bag.
"That's my livelihood you just used as a cushion!" Ines yelled.
"S-Sorry! I'll pay you back!" Kor said as he bowed.
"Stop! Stop! I ORDER you to stop!" Chalcedony yelled as he summoned his sword and wings, and flew down to the groups.
"Last I checked, I'm self-employed, so I think I'm going to pass." Ines said as she turned to Chalcedony as a blue orb appeared around her hand as she summoned an oddly shaped weapon.
"She's a Somatic too! But what kind of weapon is that?" Papelne asked as Ines blew away Chalcedony with a powerful attack.
"You better have a good explanation for this! And a whole lot of gald." Ines said dismissing her weapon and walking over to the groups.
"We'll be happy to tell you, but for now...run!" Ace said as he grabbed Ines and her bag and the groups followed him as they ran to the exit leaving behind a dust cloud.
A few minutes later
"*pant* *pant* I'm sorry about that Ines, here." Ace said exhausted as he held out three gold bars to Ines who had gald signs in her eyes as she took them. At this time, Sectonia explained the situation.
"So Garnet orchestrated your little plan? What if he gets caught and blabs my name to the church? What then?" Ines asked. "Bah. I should just turn you all in and wash my hands of the mess."
"I'm sorry. This is all my fault." Kor said.
"Apology accepted!" Ines said. "But not being able to set up shop here throws a wrench into my business, and since you already owe me-All right. New plan. From now on, you all work for me. This way you can pay me back with your bodies, and I can keep an eye on you so you don't get into trouble." Ines said.
"Ines, isn't this a bit much?" Kor asked.
"Compared to what you owe me? Ha! Welcome aboard, fellow Wanderlusters! I hope you like hard work." Ines said.
"Good luck you three." Leviathan said.
"Um, well, in that case. Boss, I hear despir cases have been cropping up in Shoalhaven. I need to go there and check it out." Kor said.
"Shoalhaven? You mean the old Imperial retreat town northeast of Straga? Yeah! First day on the job and I get vacation!" Beryl said excitedly.
"That's where Kohaku's core was pointing earlier, yeah?" Hisui asked.
"Well, as it so happens, I need to make a delivery over there anyway. Now mush, pack mules!" Ines said.
"H-hey! This isn't work! It's explodation!" Beryl said.
"That's exploitation, and I call it too much of a coincidence." Fulgore said.
"Oh man, now I feel really bad for the three of them." Ace said.
"Mules don't talk! Especially mules that owe me money. But you can bray. Or neigh. Or whatever it is mules do." Ines said.
"I don't ever recall owing you a DAMN thing! And who said I was a mule?!" Ace demanded before he realized what he said. "Excuse me… but I'll be going on ahead to Shoalhaven. My apologies Ines." He said as he walked on ahead leaving behind a trail of light.
"I wonder what's got him all rattled." David said.
"It's because of what happened to him shortly after our mother died." Spade said. "Back then, he helped me out with one of my jobs and the owner treated him horribly to an extent that Ace accidentally beat up the owner in a fit of rage. That's why he vowed to not be treated like dirt underneath someone else. Like you saw just now." He explained with a saddened look.
"I'll go after him. We'll meet you guys in Shoalhaven." Guy said before he ran off.
"Trust me. Nobody likes feeling that way." Ming said.
"Unfortunately, those kinds of people exist everywhere." Maki said.
"We saw that firsthand on multiple occasions." Vera said.
"I see… Shall we get a move on to Shoalhaven?" Harpuia asked.
"Seeing everything going on there, might as well." David said.
"Yes, and luckily be able to catch up to Ace and Guy as well." Roy said.
Skit: Troubling Past (Ace, Guy)
Ace: *sigh* Sorry you had to see me like that Guy.
Guy: It's alright. Do you mind telling me what that was all about back there?
Ace: Sure. You see, way back after my mom died, I helped Spade out at his job. But the person he worked for was a terrible human being. And there were others like him as well. They often made fun of me because of my eyes and hair, and Spade's boss whipped me whenever I made a mistake.
Guy: *gasp*
Ace: And when I couldn't take it anymore... I completely snapped and beat him to a pulp without realizing it. I'm sorry I didn't tell you this.
Guy: (Walks over and kisses Ace on the cheek) Well the important thing is that you decided to share this with me. Come on, Shoalhaven is just ahead.
Ace: Yeah. Let's go.
Skit end