—

He'd need to act quickly, Loqi realized. Given that last meeting, he might very well have overstayed his welcome in the city already. The Oracle might still like him, but the city's two primary leaders and the… whatever positions the others were clearly did not share that sentiment.

It was probably best he send Petra or Fita in the future if they were to be having regular contact.

But for now… Well, it appeared it was going to be up to him to get the ball rolling on this trading matter. And he was going to get access to the resources he needed before someone thought to keep them from him.

The girl with Evan had said they used that training room almost every day. Here was to hoping that proved accurate.

It did.

The moment Loqi opened the door to the training room, he could hear the sounds of sparring. He closed the door quietly, not wanting the fight to break just yet.

They were both good. Very good. Although… the match was more of a dance than a true fight. There was no rivalry. Just smiles.

Loqi cleared his throat, causing the two teens – were they even teens? – to break apart.

"Oh, hey," the girl greeted, catching her breath and casually placing her hands on her hips. "You're back."

"Yes…" Loqi chose his words carefully. "I'd been hoping to speak with the potential archer here again."

"Oh, sure," she said cheerfully. "I'll grab us some water. Be right back!"

She scampered off, and Loqi resisted a smirk. He couldn't have planned that better if he'd tried.

"You both fight well," he commented.

Evan looked as though he was very uncomfortable being the center of attention. "…Thank you."

"Do you have much field experience?"

"…No."

"Ah. Just sparring, then?"

"…Mostly."

…Well this was a fully enticing conversation. Had the boy literally been talking to walls in that lab? He supposed it was possible. And sad. Even people growing up today had friends, despite the worlds' problems.

Perhaps this would get a reaction. "Would you care for a change in opponent?"

The boy's eyes brighten for a moment before his shoulders slumped. "People don't… really like it when I fight."

Loqi cocked his head. "That didn't seem to be a problem a moment ago."

The boy was mentally squirming, he could tell. "I…"

Oh, but Loqi understood. He chuckled. "The dear marshal doesn't know, does he?" Now that was odd. Evan and the girl hadn't seemed too alarmed about him walking in on their fight yesterday. Not a hint of worry about being discovered.

The boy shrugged faintly. "He... used to care more. Had me watched. Lately he seems to care less. Even let me go on my first mission to retrieve food."

First?

"Would you like another mission?"

His gaze flickered up, expression eager. "Yes, of course. I wish to help."

"As well everyone should." Loqi smoothly slid one foot back into a fighting stance. He was glad he'd left his bow in his temporary room. It would have been in the way. Martial arts were nowhere near his strength, but it didn't need to be. Not for testing these waters. "But first, one must prove themselves not to be a liability. I trust you are not?"

That did it. Determination set in on that face, and the boy mirrored his stance.

Loqi attempted the first blow, getting easily deflected. Good.

And so they fought. Like before, the boy clearly wasn't one that felt the need to compete. He matched Loqi's efforts, but never pushed back with too much force. It was clear most of his fighting had been from sparing. Very formulaic. Proper. None of the tell-tale signs of experience gathered when fighting true threats.

Loqi hated to make the comparison, but it was very… robotic.

"I know where you're from."

Evan faltered slightly, but still managed to block Loqi's next attack.

"A very unique background," Loqi commented. "Or perhaps not, considering Prompto. I do wonder what the others would have been like had they been rescued as well, do you?"

Evan broke off, stepped out of his range, stopping. His eyes were narrowed. "What do you want?"

"The base you were found within," Loqi panted, catching his breath, "haven't you ever wondered about the others? Your brothers?"

…He hadn't, Loqi realized as he took in Evan's expression. That hadn't been on the boy's radar at all.

"…There's more of us there?" Evan asked cautiously.

"I don't know for certain." He had to be honest if he wanted to win the boy's trust. "But there's a high possibility there's others still sealed within those tubes." Ah… the tubes that Highwind mentioned. That explained the bathtub. "And I am willing to take the chance of going there to check."

Evan shook his head, looking baffled. "Why? I've caused such trouble, and they've always forbidden me from doing much to help. Why would you want more?"

"I'm not them."

Evan scowled. "Cor wouldn't allow this."

"I'm not Cor."

"Everyone answers to Cor."

Loqi smirked. "Everyone from Lestallum, perhaps."

Evan looked as though he was getting frustrated. "Everyone is from Lestallum."

"I'm not." Loqi moved around the edge of the room slowly, heading for some chairs that were on the far side. "It appears he leads this city with a firm hand, and that the people obey his commands. But I do not answer to him."

The boy didn't look like he was capable of grasping that idea. "But… everyone answers to Cor…"

Six, how narrow a view of the world he had, and it probably wasn't even an intentional method of control. The city was merely the only life the boy had known. Cor and Fleuret were the only leaders in the world and always had been to him.

"For almost as long as the darkness has reigned, it had been assumed that Lestallum was the last true city." Loqi took a seat, resting his elbows on his knees. "That was an incorrect assumption. There is another – one that myself and two others lead." Loqi kept his gaze firm. "Cor Leonis has no say over what I can and cannot do."

The boy was quiet for a moment, and Loqi could see him processing the information.

"Would you let me fight?"

Jackpot. It was almost too easy to get the boy on his side with how he'd been treated here.

"I would."

Evan's posture straightened.

"But first…" Loqi held up a finger. "How would you feel about trying to rescue your siblings?"

Evan nodded frantically. "Yes! Absolutely!"

"Good." This was going very well indeed. "Then there's a few details we need to discuss–"

"Location and transportation."

Brighter than he seemed at first, this one. "Precisely. And for the latter we need the former. Do you know where it was they found you?"

Evan shook his head. "No. And Ignis and Dino…" He trailed off for a moment, looking down. "Aranea and Coctura would know."

Well, Highwind was out of the question. She'd instantly know what they were up to. "Who's Coctura? Would she tell you?"

"…I can maybe get her to."

Loqi's eyebrows shot up. "Not by forceful means, I would hope."

"No!" Evan looked appalled.

Loqi hummed. "Are they schooling you?"

"Yes."

"Good. Tell her it's an assignment for that." Evan still didn't look comfortable, but Loqi pressed on. "Once we have that information, then we can focus on obtaining transportation. Prior to then, I don't know what we'll need."

"Oh!" The boy perked up again. "It's not as far as Tenebrae, if that helps. Lots of snow."

Loqi smirked. "Oh, yes, that definitely helps. In that case, you work on obtaining the exact location while I get us transportation." And supplies, he added mentally.

Yes, there was much to do in very little time if they were going to succeed.

"I do appreciate your assistance with this, Sikozu." Ravus settled into his chair as Coctura fiddled with the dials on her radio.

"Of course!" Sikozu twiddled her thumbs. "If I can help feed the city just by talking to a friend, why on Eos would I say no?"

"Here – I think we've got contact," Coctura said, passing the microphone over to Sikozu.

Sikozu accepted it, beaming as she spoke. "Sania?"

Ravus nearly reared back at the burst out of the speaker.

"Sikozu, my dear! My goodness, you caused us all some worry! Why, when we got word from Lestallum–"

Ravus tuned out the rambling as she went on and on and on. By the Astrals… Sikozu had lived with that? No wonder she was attracted to him – he at least allowed her a chance to speak without interrupting or yelling to be heard.

"Yes, yes, Sania, I know. This is all fascinating and some of it horrible, but I actually have a scientific topic for you."

"Oh? Well, do ask away!"

"Right." Sikozu cleared her throat. "So, Lestallum got a tip about food growing outside of the city–"

"On its own with no artificial lights? Pah! Pure drivel! You can tell them to just ignore it, dear!"

Sikozu rolled her eyes. "Okay, but that's actually the thing – they sent someone to check it out, and it was true. There's an orchard out there, growing all on its own."

Silence.

"…What kind of fruit?"

Sikozu gave Ravus a questioning look.

Ravus hesitated before leaning in to speak into the microphone itself. "It's not truly any fruit that's been seen before, but it closest resembles an apple. We were rather hoping to establish how they grow so we can replicate the process."

More silence.

"…Sania?" Sikozu prompted.

"…Dear, we're all coming to see you in Lestallum."

—