Chapter 6: Ever Onward
Elsewhere from the events of Gormott, far and away and deep within the cloud sea, away from prying eyes of any kind, the Monoceros drifted beneath the clouds, the massive ship approaching a structure that quickly opened to it, the grand ship lifting up into a harbor within. Jin and Malos exited when the ship docked, and near immediately were approached by a young man with dark hair and glasses, trussed up in armor akin to theirs and carrying twin, slender swords at his hips.
"Welcome home Jin." The young man greeted. "I hear the Aegis was awakened. Nasty shock for you? Or was it? Of course, my script showed how everything would play out from the start!"
"Sure, you say that once it's all over and done with." Another, female voice bearing a particularly grating tone to it spoke, a Blade of humanoid shape drifting down from above and floating around. "It's easy to act smug when you have hindsight on your side!"
"Shut your mouth Obrona!" The young man, Akhos, snapped, brushing aside the Blade as she snickered.
"Where are the other two?" Malos asked.
"Mikhail is out inspecting the Ardainian 'factory', and my beloved sister is out hunting, as always." Akhos replied, scoffing a bit. "I'm sure she's found plenty of Drivers to chew up and spit out right now."
"She likes to hunt alright. Not sure we can use all of those Core Crystals though." Malos remarked.
"Do we know where the Aegis is right now?" Jin said, veering things to the main topic. "Let's just say we want to be quick. Her Driver is someone we can't fool around with."
"Have no fear Jin, of course we know her whereabouts." Akhos said, not a shred of doubt in his voice. "Obrona?"
"Yeah yeah."
With a gesture as she flited out, the Blade produced multiple flecks of light that rapidly increased and spread out, creating a projection of the area around the World Tree and the Titans that circled it.
"Hm, it seems they're currently traveling away from the urban area in Gormott." Akhos said.
"Leaving the town? But there's nothing out that way." Malos murmured.
"Perhaps they're on their way out of Gormott itself." Akhos suggested. "Oh, and…"
"What?" Jin asked.
"It seems a certain 'shipment' has set out." Akhos noted, looking to a rather large blue light near a different Titan.
"The Core Crystals headed to Indol for 'cleansing' huh? How pious of them." Malos scoffed, looking at Jin. "Shall we handle them?"
"I can deal with that myself. You focus on the Aegis. Let me restate it, we cannot be leisurely with her Driver in the slightest." Jin's words got Malos to scoff, folding his arms as an amused look came to his face.
"The relic? Heh, oh don't I remember how he used to be. If he's even more dangerous as an Aegis Driver, no wonder you're antsy." Malos said, Jin nodding.
"I know him well enough. It's why I don't want to take chances. He was dangerous without a Blade and becoming the Driver of the Aegis only means he'll be even moreso. If given the time to grow, it won't be long before it'll be difficult to stop them." Jin stated, Akhos giving a scoff.
"Coming from you that sounds like rather high praise. This has only made me even more interested then. I'm looking forward to clapping eyes on the Aegis, and if her Driver is as formidable as you say, even moreso." Akhos chuckled a bit, then turned. "By the way, what of Nia?"
"You know where she is?" Malos asked, Akhos nodding, pointing to a dot on Gormott, which was gathered around several others of different colors.
"Yes, this dot here. That is without a doubt Dromarch's wavelength. It seems they're traveling with the Aegis." Akhos said, then giving a hum as he looked at the dots. "Huh, that one there is odd. It's definitely an ether wavelength, but it's not a Blade. That's interesting. What could be giving that off?"
"It's nothing to worry about." Jin said, his eyes focused on the emerald-colored dot. "Do as you see fit."
"Understood, you don't need to ask me twice." Said Akhos, adjusting his glasses as he smirked.
"Right then, we're gonna take the Monoceros." Malos said, turning to Jin. "And I'll tell your old friend you said hello for you when we see him."
"As you wish." Jin said, walking off, stopping when Malos called out to him.
"Hey, don't do anything too reckless." Jin just nodded to that and kept going, Malos and Akhos turning to enter the Monoceros again.
"Alright so… now to calibrate this damned thing." With the fresh light of morning now on the party's camp, Vaios was fiddling with something in his hands, and Tora leaned over to see what he was doing.
"What is that?" Tora asked, Vaios angling the item so the Nopon could see.
"A cloud sea compass. Salvager's kit essential, basically a map of the cloud sea." Vaios said, turning some of the dials on the item. "Hmm… hey Pyra, what's the date?"
"Um… October 5th, 4064." Pyra answered.
"Thank you! So just put that in annnd… there we go." With a few clicks and winds, the compass whirled as things placed themselves, the others raising their brows a bit as it all slid into place.
"Very clever!" Tora said.
"Looks like Gormott is the closest country to the World Tree right now." Azurda noted, Vaios nodding as he pocketed the compass in his satchel.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean a whole lot… well, there is one thing. It's kind of stupid, but before we go to Argentum, I kind of want to survey the area around the Great Void." Vaios said, Nia lifting a brow at him. "I know, I know. Like I said, stupid."
"Of course it's ruddy stupid! The Great Void is just that, a bloody void! There's nothing there to survey." Nia said.
"I know. But I think it's at least worth looking at. Someone made it up the Tree before, right? Well, there's gotta be a way to do it."
"Yeah but that was 500 years ago before the Void appeared."
"I'm not saying I'm gonna try anything… yet." Vaios saying that got Nia to sigh again. "I just want to take a look and see what's really there. Of course, for that, we need a ship."
"If something bad happens 'cause of this you owe me a night on the bar." Nia muttered. "Also, why not just go to Argentum first? You've got a crew, I'm sure they'd be happy to lend us a hand in this stupid venture of yours."
"Rakham's quite proud of the Inquestor." Vaios said. "He wouldn't risk that thing for the world even if I begged. We'll need our own."
"Still think we should get to Argentum first if that's the case." Nai muttered.
"The army has every ship in town in its grip, so our options would be rather low there." Dromarch said, Vaios folding his arms. "And taking a ferry may not be the easiest thing to do. I wouldn't be surprised if there are wanted posters already."
"Peh. Hope this one's better than the last at the least." Nia bitterly remarked, glaring at Vaios when he snickered. "But… we're kinda stuck."
"Seems that way." Pyra said.
"Well, there has to be some way, right?" Haze said, putting a hand to her chin, in somewhat the same manner Vaios did the same gesture at that. "Does anyone have an idea?"
"If ship what we need, Tora have good idea!" Tora immediately put one of his wings up, the group looking to him. "There is ship builder living at Gormott Titan's bum-bum! Old friend of Tora's Grampypon. He called Umon! Maybe he help if we tell him what's what!"
"I don't see why not. Let's go pay this guy a visit then." Vaios said, turning off, then giving a bit of a chuckle. "So I guess we can say this is probably where things really start now huh? Full party, a goal ahead… yeah something's gonna go wrong eventually I can just feel it."
"Here we are!"
Tora stopped the party as the trekking finally brought them to a small dock this far down the gorge that formed Gormott's rear area, next to the dock being a sizable building, likely a boathouse plus actual home fitted to it.
"Well lead the way in Tora." Vaios said, the Nopon nodding before heading off, leading the party into the ship house.
"Helloooo? Umon! Umon?! Where is Umon?" Tora hummed as he called out, and dominating the yard was, though suspending, the body of a ship. It wasn't quite large, but it was definitely big enough to be worth traveling on with the amount of people they had, plus room to spare. Shortly after Tora's call, another Nopon appeared from up on the rigging, hopping down and looking over the party.
"Who is that? Who is noisy while I do my work?" The Nopon said, but a moment later he let out a laugh. "Oh, Tora! This is big surprise!"
"Long time no see Unclepon!"
"Yes! Long time! About one whole year?"
"Yes, about that."
"You became very big in one year Tora!"
"Yes, Tora not littlepon anymore!"
"And Tora have lots of sidekicks."
At that Vaios cleared his throat rather loudly, Tora giving a sigh of his own.
"Vai-Vai and friends not Tora's sidekicks! They are real friends Umon!" Tora said, the others nodding all together. "Vai-Vai, meet Unclepon Umon! He did great research with Grampypon! He is great builder of ships!"
"Good to know, nice to meet you." Vaios said, the other party members giving their own greetings in turn.
"I see! Tora's friends! Tora has lot of friends. Very good!" Umon said, giving a laugh. "Tora has become fine biggipon." At that Tora gave an embarrassed laugh. "Well Tora, did you need Umon's help for something?"
"Well, we wanted to borrow a ship, from Unclepon Umon." Tora said, Umon giving a confused look.
"A ship? But there are lots of ships in Torigoth!" Umon gave the answer that was about expected, the party looking sideways. "Why hike all the way to bum-bum to see me."
"Well… it's kind of a complicated situation." Vaios said, stepping up as Tora stammered a bit. "And the place we're trying to go check out isn't really one most ships will go to if you ask them so, well now we're here hoping you could help us out."
"Y'sure fibbin' like that's smart?" Nia said, whispering into Vaios's ear.
"Not like we've got much of an option." Vaios's voice was more like a hiss at that moment. "I can't just say we got into a tussle with the Ardanian military, now can I?"
"I guess you're right." Nia muttered.
"We also flat broke, like penniless pancake!" Tora said. "Tora spent all money on Artificial Blade, hehehe."
"Artificial Blade?" Umon said, giving a hum, the Nopon's eyes glancing towards Poppi. "Was this what Tora's Grampypon was working on?"
"My name is Poppi. Pleased to meet Unclepon." Poppi greeted, nodding her head down.
"Yes! This it!" Umon said, his voice growing excited. "This very mighty! Tora take after Grampypon indeed! Ohh well… how can I refuse Tora now? Tora and friends may use Umon's ship, but there problem."
"I detect a fetching errand incoming…" Vaois muttered, his teeth grating a bit.
"What is problem?" Tora dared ask, Umon drawing the party's attention to the ship.
"You see, ship not quite ready just yet." Umon replied, one wing(?) scratching his chin(?) as he looked the ship over. "Not much left to do! But work stop because no building parts!"
"That's it?" Vaios asked, his face showing he seriously hoped there wouldn't be anything else. Please just let this be simple!
"Correct, but that is big problem! Big like sea or mountain!" Umon said, Vaios sighing.
"All you need is parts to finish it, right?" Vaios said.
"It just as you say friend." Umon answered.
"I can tell where this is going… you need us to find the parts you need yeah?"
"Will be big help if you can! If you do, then Umon finish ship, and you borrow."
"Haaagh… alright, whatever we have to do. Let's go and make this quick!" Despite saying that though, Vaios definitely didn't seem amused at where this had gone, not one little bit.
"And we're freaking back!"
Umon turned as the party came back through the door lugging various items with them, the Nopon bouncing as Vaios laid down some of what he had on the floor.
"Meh-meh?! Friends really brought all materials requested?" Umon looked through the sacks of things, and he nodded rapidly. "This indeed Puzzletree Oak and Diamond Wood. Very impressive! This should be enough to make strong boat frame. But, too soon to celebrate. Please don't be angry…"
"No, no, it's fine. We have time… hopefully." Vaios muttered, folding his arms. But the twitch in his eye was betraying his irritation.
"Maybe we have all bits we need but… Titan escaped."
And with that Vaios slapped a hand to his face.
"Now this I have to hear." Nia said, snickering as Vaios groaned.
"Umon unfortunately forgot to feed poor Titan. So it swam off with rumbly tummy." Umon said, Vaios letting out an even louder groan behind his hand, Pyra patting him on the shoulder. "So friends must go find Titan. Naughty Titan was heading for Nasmah Spring, surely you find it there. Once you find Titan, feed it Green Pollen Orbs I provide you. That form contract between you and Titan. As long as you feed Pollen Orbs, it gladly serve as your boat. Of course if you run out of…"
"Just give us the dang Orbs so we can get this thing and be done!" Vaios snapped.
"Architect be damned this was too much trouble." Vaios sighed as he leaned heavily on the wheel of the ship, the party now quite a ways from Gormott after the utter hassle it was to so much as get to this point.
"I thought you'd be more excited about this." Pyra said, Vaios sighing.
"I would… if we didn't spend half the freaking day running around Gormott to get here." Vaios grumbled, looking out past the glass of the steering area, pulling up his goggles to help filter out the sunlight, the World Tree tall and imposing before their ship. "Never been this close to the Tree before. Thing's gigantic." Though yet again, a flash went through his mind of something even more imposing, that tower of metal stretching even further than this. Though… maybe I really have seen something bigger than this.
"Well, I will admit it's quite a sight grander from here than when you're lookin' at it from far away." Nia said, looking over to where the sea suddenly dropped off. "Careful around here Vaios, the currents really strong. We get pulled in and we'll go right over the edge of the Void, and who ruddy knows what's down there."
"I'll stop us around here." Vaios cranked the wheel so that that the ship would turn so they could view the area better, and with a pull of a lever, the Titan came to a stop. "Now as for if there is any way across that thing…"
"Hmm… I can't see anything but the sea for miles. There may not be a way. But… why is there even a void to begin with? Wouldn't the clouds be right up to the Tree?" Haze said, leaning on the side rail. "Nia, didn't you mention something about it not being there before?"
"Yep. Some 500 years ago or another, apparently the Void didn't exist." Nia said, leaning on a hand. "Nobody really knows why it showed up though. Religious coots suspect the Architect made it to punish people after the Aegis War or… somethin', I dunno. Don't have much for faith personally."
"Then there's gotta be some reason for it." Vaios said, pulling down his goggles. "Pyra, what do you… Pyra? You look kinda tense, something wrong?"
"We…" Pyra murmured, Vaios raising a brow as she suddenly looked panicked. "Vaios, we can't stay, here! We need to turn and go now!"
"Wait what? What's going… shit." Vaios immediately got it when something made the ship rock, and something burst from the clouds. A giant structure, some kind of machine that towered over the ship with no telling how long it was due to the expanse of its body descending deep into the clouds, the thing's "head" turning to the ship, a mechanical roar sounding from it.
"Ophion!" Pyra shouted, Vaios already getting to turning the ship around.
"An Artifice?! Alright, ship's turning, we're getting out of here!" Vaios felt that moment of confusion again as he spat that word out, though he didn't care much at the moment as the ship began pulling around.
"Ophion, stop this! What's wrong, can't you hear me?" Pyra's eyes went wide as she looked at the machine, like something just clicked into place in her head, her eyes showing she'd come to a realization that was not at all pleasant to have come to find out. "It can't be!"
Ophion raised the end of its tail and slammed it down, though the ship was narrowly missed, but it was knocked away. Ophion though, didn't pursue them, instead coiling back and heading back towards the World Tree.
"What the hell?! Since when did the World Tree have that guarding it?!" Vaios yelled, and then he immediately yelled when he turned around. "Aww shit… Titan in front of us… it's Uraya!? What is it doing around here at this time of year?!"
The Titan that was looming before the ship and opening its jaws was suitably massive. It's body was whale like in shape, and Vaios cranked the wheel to try and veer the ship off, but, the current was too strong, and the ship was getting pulled right into the Titan's maw as it rumbled open.
"Shit shit shit shit! This isn't gonna end well! Brace for it, grab onto something!" Vaios shouted, the ship being pulled in and veering off, everybody screaming as the ship plunged into the mouth of Uraya.
"Owww… everyone alive?" Vaios groaned as he got up, looking around to see that, aside from being able to clearly see the sparse opening of Uraya's mouth quite a ways off, the ship was in complete ruins around him. From his belt, he pulled out a flashlight and clicked it on, flashing it around. "Pyra, Haze? Anyone else?"
"Uh… I'm here! I'm fine!" Pyra called out, pushing aside some wreckage, Haze popping out with Azurda on her head.
"I'm good too!" Haze said, Azurda weakly putting a hand up as well.
"Uch… that hurt." Nia muttered, the girl slumped over on some of the wreckage, Dromarch shaking his head. "Hey Vaios, remember what I said earlier? Yeah… next town we get to, you're paying for me to drink myself under the damn table."
"Hehe… good to know you're fine Nia." Vaios said, shaking his head a bit, some flecks of water flying off his hair.
"Meeehhh… Tora and Poppi in one piece." Tora said, he and Poppi getting off of some crates.
"Alright, so nobody's dead and injured too badly." Vaios murmured, looking around as he flashed the light around the cavern. "And now we're in Uraya… great. Out of the fire and into the frying pan, right?"
"Somewhat I suppose." Azurda said. "Though I suppose shipwrecking in the belly of the beast and living is better than what could have awaited us with that Ophion thing."
"Tora think this not nice place." Tora said, looking off to the things that weren't so lucky around here.
"We'll be fine." Vaios said, flashing his light towards a not too far-off cavern. "There's a way out at least. It'll be one hell of a trek from here, but it shouldn't be too hard to reach Fonsa Myma. Once we get there, we'll get on a ship to Argentum, and… well let's just focus on not becoming Titan chow right now."
"If I recall, Fonsa Myma is towards the beast's back." Dromarch said. "It will definitely be quite a ways as you said Master Vaios, but there has to be a way up there without a doubt."
"Well then let's get moving." Vaios said.
With nods all around, and some time to sift through the strewn about crates and barrels for supplies they could likely use, the party gathered up and headed through the path forward. While they were in what was pretty much the Titan's throat, grass was all around beneath their feet, though the path branched downwards into a cave that had a particularly foul scent to it, so they stuck to the upper path through the cavern that was this location of the Titan. It did thankfully open up rather quickly for them, Vaios able to shut off his light and hook it back to his belt.
"What's with that dim light?" Nia asked, looking upwards to where it was filtering down.
"If I remember, Uraya has a translucent hide." Azurda said. "I bet that'll be the light filtering through it."
"Well at least we know Uraya's above the clouds now." Vaios said, suddenly putting a hand to the Aegis Blade, the others noticing how quickly he went tense. "Someone's here."
"Well well, you're a sharp one aren't ya' boy? Goody for you, that's admirable!" The one who spoke jumped down from a ledge above, the person being a downright wall of a man dressed in military gear, his complexion dark and his hair a bright blue, with a face that was strong and showed some age. Two hand scythes sat on his back, and accompanying him was what was no doubt a Blade. Humanoid yes, but also birdlike in every way. A couple of other Drivers and Blades accompanied the pair, and the large man gave a chuckle as he looked over the party. "Looks like a bunch of mushes I ain't seen yet. You gotta have pretty damn bad luck, ending up in a Titan's guts like this."
"I'm beginning to think so myself honestly." Vaios muttered, not removing his hand from his weapon at all.
"Huh? That Blade… an emerald Core Crystal!" The man looked to Pyra, and Vaios stepped in front of her as he nearly drew his weapon out. "Bwahahaha! So the rumors are true!"
"Words gotten around that fast huh?" Vaios muttered.
"'Course they 'ave! News travels fast between Drivers. Words been that the Legendary Aegis just woke up from a 500-year nap. Wouldn't have thought she'd show up with a baby-faced Driver like you though."
"Say what?!" Vaios snapped.
"I'd say pretty rather than that." Pyra said so under her breath, Nia tapping the Blade on her back.
"Focus Pyra." Nia said.
"I mean hey at least ya' don't look like some total greenhorn." The man said. "But handling a beaut like the Aegis? Maybe that's a bit past you."
"Lemme guess your next line: Hand her over, right? Hehehe… hell no!" Vaios pulled out the Aegis Blade and ignited it, aiming it at the man. "Sorry but we don't have time for this. But, if it's a fight you want, then fine!"
"Hehehe, you've got heart kid. I like that." The wall of a man said, pulling out his own weapons, the two shafts producing scythe blades from them. "Yew, Zuo, you take care of the others. I wanna squash the lad."
"Vaios, I can just restrain their Blades and we can go." Haze said, Vaios shaking their head.
"No. Again, I don't want to rely on that ability. Focus on keeping us in good shape. Besides, I don't have a bad feeling about this guy for some reason. So let me fight him, I'll get why he started this once we do."
"Alright." Haze said, twirling her staff into her grip.
Vaios nodded to Tora and Nia, who had readied their own weapons too. The large man took the charge, Vaios shooting forward and meeting the scythes with the Aegis Blade, the weapons sparking as they slammed against each other, the man surprisingly fast despite his massive build, though Vaios's smaller size and quick footwork meant he didn't have trouble parrying and deflecting the powerful hits from his opponent, but, neither was really gaining or losing ground as their weapons clashed in a series of blows.
Nia and Tora's opponents were by contrast due to their foes having Common Blades, a bit simpler to deal with. But, even if the Blades weren't that special their Drivers clearly knew what they were doing, and while Nia didn't have a difficult time keeping up thanks to her fast movements and how quick she could move her rings compared to her foe's axe, Tora's inexperience was keeping him on the defensive as he blocked the strikes and stabs from his foe's spear.
That left the fight between Vaios and the large man as the main source of it. After finding a chance to move back, like usual Vaios handed the Aegis Blade off to Pyra and struck out with his own sword. The combined attack seemed to catch their foe off guard for a moment, but thanks to his twin weapons he was able to avoid anything direct from the two attacking him. I knew it… something's different. Vaios thought, a small grin showing on his face, and a glance at Pyra told him she was seeing something else in this two.
"Haze, swap in!" Vaios shouted.
"Right!" Haze lobbed her staff to Vaios as he slammed his sword back into its sheath. The moment he grabbed the staff, he swung it wide, bolts of air ether flying out, the large man dodging them but moving back with each one. He almost looked disappointed as Vaios kept it up. But when one swing looked like he was going to launch more bolts, instead he tossed the staff back to Haze, and Pyra passed her blade back to Vaios, who grabbed it and immediately brought it down, a wave of fire shooting forward. The man's blade came in and blocked the wave, but his Driver was smiling despite it.
"Well well, you seem to know what you're doing kid." The man said, flipping one of his scythes around. "But playtime's over!"
As the man charged right at Vaios by launching off the wall, Vaios saw what was coming. With a quick move, Vaios brought his blade up and blocked, and when the blow was stopped dead, the man chuckled, not even trying to push against the blade lock he and Vaios were in.
"Well well kid, you seem to be a fast learner." The man said. "Switching your Blade out after using that many attacks in a row eh? You actually get you can wear your Blade out too quickly by doing that."
"Drivers use their weapons to channel ether from their Blade into Arts. You use them too fast, and your Blade will never keep up with what you're doing. Even an Aegis like Pyra can't keep steady if I just rush every attack out." Vaios lowered his sword and the large man stood straight as he lowered his scythe in turn, Vaios setting the Aegis Blade across his shoulder as it deactivated. "So, you done testing us now?"
"Hahahaa! You could tell eh? Sharp senses, good intuition, and a natural talent for being a Driver. Seems calling you unfit was wrong 'o me." The man said, setting one of his scythes over his shoulder, and as he relaxed, so did the other two Drivers with him, to the confused looks of Nia and Tora. "The name's Vandham. I run a little firm out of the nearby village."
"Vaios. Nice to meet you." Vaios put out a hand, and Vandham clapped it to his, the two giving a firm shake.
"Hehe, a pleasure! That fightin' style of yours is interestin' too. Ain't never seen a Blade and Driver fight with each other. May have to try it myself later! Seems mighty useful!" Vandham clapped a hand to Vaios's back, the boy lurching from it. "Now come on! I'll treat the lot of you to some grub as thanks for letting me take a whack at the legendary Aegis! Bwahahahaha!"
"Hehe, I like this guy already." Vaios mused.
"You could tell he was just trying to test us?" Haze asked, Vaios nodding as he put the Aegis Blade back to his belt.
"Azurda and Rakham always said I've got a fighter's intuition. You can understand a lot about a person if you slug it out with 'em." Vaios said, Pyra stepping up as Vandham and his men led them off.
"I felt it while we were fighting to. From the very start, he never meant us any real harm." Pyra said, then chuckling. "I think it's a good thing you impressed him like that too Vaios."
"Hehehe, ya' think?" Vaios laughed, Nia walking up and whacking him on the back.
"Don't go gettin' a big head now, else ya' might not be able to hold it up." Nia remarked, Vaios mugging at her.
"Funny Nia."
"Well, what's taking you lot eh? C'mon, it's not too far! Also, mind telling me how you lot wound up here?" Vandham called out to the bunch, the party quickly moving to catch up with the man, Vaios giving a sigh as they did.
"Well, it's definitely a story." Vaios said. As the now larger group hiked along the trail, Vaios recounted the events up until then to Vandham. From the dive on the derelict ship, their fight with Mórag in Gormott, and the encounter with Ophion at the World Tree. By the time they had reached a gate that led into another cavern, Vaios had finished the quick summary of things.
"Helluva story! Trying to reach the World Tree to get to Elysium, and ya' get swallowed up whole instead." Vandham said, Vaios sighing as he put an arm behind his head, the group passing the gate. "You got some crazy luck!"
"It feels like it fluctuates." Vaios said, the group stopping. "I gotta ask, what were you doing around the mouth eh?"
"This Titan's not too picky about what it eats." Vandham replied. "I went down there to see if there was anything the village could use that was washed up. Though going from the satchels you lot have, seems there wasn't much with ya to begin with."
"Hehehe, yeah we did kind of just get the ship. And now we don't have it… man we are gonna owe Umon big time." Vaios muttered, Tora giving a hop.
"Tora believe will be fine! If we tell Unclepon Umon circumstances, he understand. Not much you can do when Titan suddenly swallow whole." Tora said, Vandham giving a hearty laugh.
"You're little friends right about that. Sometimes Lady Luck just ain't in your favor. Either way, here we are. Welcome to Garfont. It ain't much, but it's home." With a gesture of his arm, Vandham drew the party's attention out. The village was just big enough to fit inside the admittedly rather spacious cavern. Enough buildings that one could guess there was a decent population living here. And plenty of natural formations provided more, from water paddies to small patches of farmland. As they went further in, one lower area had been cleared out into a training zone, where they could see some Drivers training and even some kids practicing with mock weapons alongside them. Small, sure, but bustling with people from all over. They looked around and saw a mixture of Ardainians, Gormottis, Nopons, the works, and Blades wandering around as well.
"Wow, you don't see a place like this often." Vaios said, and he felt something oddly nostalgic as he looked around the place, like the sight of people living alongside Blades in such a way just… meant something. Torna… this place is like Torna… he thought.
"There's a lot of children here." Pyra noted.
"It's small but so lively." Haze noted, stepping to the side and waving as some kids ran past her.
"Lots of Drivers and Blades too!" Tora said, fluttering around a bit.
"We're in the business of deploying Drivers and Blades all across the world." Vandham said. "Most of the kids are war orphans. Took 'em in while on the job."
"So you're saying that you take them under your wing." Dromarch said.
"Just until they're able to make it by themselves." One of the Drivers with the group said.
"Some of them might grow up to be Drivers, like ourselves." The other man said. "But then others might become tailors."
"Doesn't matter what they wanna do with their lives. We leave that up to them to decide." Vandham added, Vaios giving a hum as he swept over the village.
"Hehe, well, a place like this definitely makes one feel a bit better about the world." Vaios added, Nia punching him on the arm, but she had her own amused smile.
"Lookit you, gettin' all sentimental and the like. A buncha good eggs though." Nia remarked, Vandham laughing again.
"You said it. I've been called worse things. Now come on, let's eat. All this egg-talk is making me hungry." Vandham led the group off, and Vaios took a moment to look around the village again. A place where Drivers and Blades live side by side and work together. It's pretty common but… this place makes it feel nostalgic. Almost.
A short while after, the party was gathered around a table at the village's small, under-a-canopy tavern, Vandham with them. The table was absolutely loaded, and probably most notable of all was the sheer number of empty beer mugs in front of Vandham. Vaios for one, was sitting at his spot dead quiet, eating but doing so slowly.
"I'm going to get some water, Vaios, Vandham?" Pyra spoke up, Vaios just shaking his head.
"Cheers love! Gimme a beer!" Vandham said, Vaios just shaking his head as he looked amused at the fact the man was calling for another. Pyra nodded and stepped off to do that, Vandham looking at Vaios. "What's up? Grub not to your liking?"
"Huh? No just... sorry, I was just thinking about something." Vaios said, giving another sigh.
"Well, spit it out. It's clearly weighing on you. I don't mind lendin' an ear." Vandham said, Vaios sighing.
"Well… the thing is, I can't remember a thing from before when I was thirteen. Or at least, that's what it seemed like to me." Vaios said, leaning on a hand. "I get these flashes all the time. Usually, they're too short and fuzzy to really mean anything. Sometimes I remember words without any real context to them, and just say them, even though I have no idea what they really mean. But then sometimes, I get stronger ones… and I get full memories. But… they hardly feel like they make sense. I see people, ones I feel familiar with… but who, every time I look up anything about them, are either long dead or people have no clue what I'm talking about. It's… weird…"
"Really? How weird?"
"Like, I-might-somehow-be-from-500-years-ago-or-more, weird." Vaios said, Vandham raising a brow.
"So what, you some kinda time traveler?" Vandham had an amused look, Vaios shaking his head as he laughed.
"Architect no!" Vaios said, his laughter dying out quickly. "But, Azurda and Pyra, they know more about me than I know about myself. And like you said, Pyra just woke up from being sealed for 500 years. But she said it herself, she, or, I guess the other her-Mythra-knew me… but that doesn't tell me a whole lot. And I know it sounds crazy, but apparently, I knew freaking Addam."
"Bwahahaha! You're saying you're not only somehow from 500 years ago, but still looking like you're barely gettin' into manhood, but that you knew the Hero of Torna himself?"
"… yeah I know, I sound like a crazy person."
"Crazy sure, but maybe with a lick 'a truth to it." Vandham now was the one being looked at weird by Vaios, the man chuckling. "I consider myself a fairly good judge of people, the quality of their character and the kind of person they are. You're not somebody who'd lie, I can see that much without you even needing to say a word. And there's somethin' special about you kid. I don't really know what it is, but you've got this quality about you. You're different than others but in a good way. If it somehow means you're able to, well, be in the position you are, I don't see a reason to feel like you're crazy for it. You're huntin' for the answer ain't ya?"
"Yeah, but it just feels like every time I find one, a dozen new questions come up."
"Well sometimes life just throws things at ya' like that. All you can do sometimes is roll with the punches. You're at least on the right path ain't ya?"
"Yeah, I definitely feel that way, at the least." Vaios murmured, looking over at Pyra. "It's not something I can really say I'm overly worried about, honestly speaking. I like my life how it is… but when things like this happen, it makes you want to know."
"I get that. I guess if you didn't have these things happen to ya', you could just happily carry on with your life without worrying about it. But it seems you yourself won't allow for that. Heh, I guess you've got some promises to keep don't you?"
"Hehehe… probably."
"Hmm… hey, Vaios, what're your thoughts on war?" Vandham's tone got serious when he said that, and Vaios gave a hum as he set down the fork in his hand.
"Well… I guess I can say that like most people I dislike it. But it's not something we can really avoid. I guess you can tell I'm a salvager, right? I've pulled up my fair share of things to sell to the military. I want to say I'm neutral, but hey, money's money right? And besides, it's not like all the military needs are weapons." Vaios said, Vandham nodding, the man looking satisfied with that answer.
"Exactly. In the end, it's all the same. Compasses, valves for ether stoves… Armies need all these things. That bread you and your friends are eating is made from ruska flour, straight from the Ardainian government's supplies." Vandham looked around the village himself, giving a long breath, Vaios remaining quiet, clearly intent to listen to the man. "This world's full of war. Don't matter if you're a soldier or not. As long as you're alive, you're in the war, some way or another. Don't ya think?"
"I guess so." Vaios murmured. "You can't stay neutral forever, sometimes you have to pick a side… even if you think the reason behind everything is stupid and cruel. But… that's life sometimes. Fate isn't always kind to people. Sometimes it's horribly unfair."
"Exactly. It's why I set up this little band, so I could protect the people I care about." Vandham said, folding his arms. "Vaios, you're the Driver of the Aegis. And if what you said about knowing Addam is true, that means you're carrying on your friend's will by having that girl with you. And for it, the whole world's gonna try and scalp you. Nobody really remembers the truth about the Aegis War nowadays. Some people say there were two Aegises who fought against each other, some say there was only one, and her wild power is what destroyed those Titans. It's been so long nobody knows the real truth, so they make an answer based on what they do know. With that in mind, how you gonna live with everyone gunning for you?"
"Well… I don't know. But, I do know I'm not gonna run or leave Pyra behind. I keep the promises I make, even if they seem outright impossible." Vaios said, Vandham nodding again.
"Good words. Alright then. I'll let you lot rest up, since I think you need it after the kind of day you've had. I've got a job I want your help on tomorrow, so be up bright and early alright? Bawahaha, though I guess bright and early here means it varies!" Vandham laughed, getting up and waving as he went off towards the training area, his Blade following suit, Pyra just getting back to the table and tilting her head.
"Oi, Vaios! Now that we're here, start paying up! You owe me drinks remember?" Nia called out, Vaios sighing as he tapped his still-lightening coin purse.
"Yeah yeah! Just don't get too crazy with it all right?"
"Oi ya brought this on yerself, now come on!"
"And she drank herself until she passed out… I did not think she was that serious about it." Vaios sighed as he, Pyra, and Haze went to another room at the inn they were staying at in Garfont for the time, and Pyra laughed a bit as they stopped at the door, since they'd all decided to stay in separate rooms based on Driver and Blades.
"She did seem to have fun at the least. Didn't take Nia for the happy drunk, but hey, you never know." Pyra said, and Haze chuckled as well.
"It was rather amusing. Well, I think I'll watch over Nia with Dromarch. I should be able to help her keep off the hangover she'll have to deal with in the morning. Good night you two!" Haze waved as she went off the other way, Vaios and Pyra returning the gesture and entering the room, Vaios immediately flopping onto the bed and giving a satisfied sigh.
"Ahh! Nothing like being able to sleep in a bed after a few days of camping on hard ground!" Vaios chuckled as he spread his arms out, Pyra sitting down on the other bed. "Hey, Pyra… this place… it reminds of somewhere. Torna…"
"Oh. Did you remember anything else?"
"Not really." Vaios rolled over with a sigh. "Just that it was a place where humans and Drivers lived side by side with each other. That's pretty normal nowadays but… back then it meant something to the world, didn't it?"
"Yes." Pyra confirmed. "Back then, it was far more common to treat Blades as tools and weapons, nothing more. Regardless of personality or character… Blades weren't considered their own people back then. It made Addam and his group… unique." Vaios rolled over with a curious look on his face. "To them, the Blades with them were as much part of the group as anyone would be. Of course, it helped that Jin and Lora were Tornan, so it came naturally to them. You… well, you didn't care that much. Blades, people… you never made a difference between them."
"Hmm… damn, now I wish I could remember more." Vaios sighed and tugged at his bangs. "But, tell me, am I different to how I was back then, or am I the same?"
"I would say… about the same. Though maybe a little less… grouchy? From what I know, you always had a bit of a somber look. Especially when you looked at the world tree." Pyra brought a hand to her chest, Vaios feeling a bit of guilt at the idea his old self had possibly worried her. "It was a look of loss, sadness. Like every time you looked at it, you were reminded of something terrible."
"Loss and sadness, huh?" Vaios thought about the emotions that came with some of his other flashes of memory. Melancholy, pain, nostalgia. What was so deep in his memories that it elicited those feelings? What was it he'd forgotten about the world itself? And were those flashes even anything real? "Y'know, now I'm just curious: With this whole deal, what was it like back then? Between you and me… or, I guess Mythra… well, agh man it's kind of confusing trying to sort it out." Vaios sat up and put a hand to his head, Pyra chuckling and sitting next to him.
"No, it's fine. I was wondering when you were going to ask honestly." Pyra said, Vaios giving a hum. "In short, well, you two were close. Amusingly, you were closer to Mythra than Addam was even though he was her Driver… though that's also likely the reason he wanted you to take up being the Aegis Driver. Though it wasn't the easiest thing at the start. Mythra didn't really like you that much at first."
"A lot of people don't like me when they first meet me." Vaios said, giving a smirk. "I'm a brutally honest, scathingly sarcastic and stubborn ass. That tends to rub a lot of people the wrong way. Rakham likes to give me hell for it whenever I meet someone new."
"Hehe, yeah that's true. But you're also friendly and well meaning, so you're easy for people to warm up to." Pyra said, and her leaning on Vaios's back made him flinch. "There was a lot of things Mythra had a hard time expressing too. But she cares about you a lot. From her memories, I know that much… you got onto her about a lot of things, but you always did it to try and help her. Even when she was perhaps taking it a bit too far. It devasted her back then… when it seemed like you'd died… even being here right now part of me still can't believe it."
"I promise to come back alive, even if I have to fight 100 Artifices." Vaios muttered. "I remembered something like that coming to mind… a promise I made to her. Guess I kept it after all, didn't I?"
"Yes, yes you did."
"So… how do you feel about me Pyra? I know it's cynical but… you're not just projecting off of your memories from Mythra? I doubt I'm the same as I was back then. I won't be the same person, even if I end up somehow remembering everything."
"I… I think it's more like you just growing." Pyra wrapped her arms tightly around Vaios's chest, and the boy blushed a bit. "At your core you're still the same. And you still act like how you would've at that time. And… maybe at first it felt like that's what it was. But now I know it's not that. I trust you completely Vaios. Seeing that you're what she remembers, even now… I feel like as long as I stick with you, I don't have to worry about losing hope."
"Well now I'm just embarrassed." Vaios laughed as he turned around, him and Pyra both freezing when they ended up with their faces too close for comfort. A few silent moments passed, and the two started inching their faces closer to the other. When the gap was almost gone, Pyra froze for a moment, then pulled back.
"Vaios… I'm sorry, but… right now, I don't feel like…"
"Uh, s-sorry… I kind of moved on impulse so… my bad." Vaios looked away with a red face, and Pyra shook her head.
"No… I did too. Again, I'm sorry. But, for now… let's hold off on anything. At least… at least until Mythra wakes up. You two… there's a lot I feel you two need to sort out. So, until then, let's not take anything further." Vaios couldn't stop the feeling of slight guilt in him, but a touch to his arm from Pyra made it ebb away. "Don't feel bad about it. I just want things to be right before anything… I don't want to be rash. But… it's not like I would mind. Just… there's a time for these things."
"Of course, of course." Vaios coughed into a hand, and a yelp escaped him when Pyra hugged him. "D-Didn't you just say…?"
"At the least… just let me hold you like this for a bit." Pyra said, Vaios nodding and rolling so that they were on their sides. "Hehe… you feel warmer than usual."
"Well we were just sitting around a campfire until recently."
"But you still smell like the ocean does."
"Heh… yeah, a consequence of being a salvager, I guess. Scent won't leave no matter what I do."
"It's fine, I like it." Pyra mused, putting her forehead to Vaios's chest to hide her face. "When the time's right… I want to talk with you about all those wonderful things. Would you mind that? When you remember, would you mind telling me what that world was like?"
"That world… the one that isn't covered in clouds?" When he didn't get an immediate answer, Vaios checked, and then chuckled when he realized Pyra had already fallen asleep. "Well you're a quick sleeper huh? Well then, sweet dreams… mine are usually pretty lame."
What kind of dream he was expecting, he wasn't quite clear. But, as usual, when it came, he felt just the slightest bit aware of what it was as it happened. As usual, a memory, not a dream…
The faint sound of a blade moving through the air, along with rhythmic steps across the wooden floor. Vaios's arms moved steadily as the slender longsowrd he was swinging repeatedly moved through the air, practiced moves of different strikes, both two handed and one handed, all rapidly in succession. With a few more swings, the repetitions finished and Vaios ended with one strong swing, strong enough the candles in the room nearly flickered out.
With a spin of the blade, Vaios placed the tip to the sheathe and slid it down into the wooden item, a good clack sounding as he forced it in tight. He turned when he heard the door creak open.
"You really never do stop practicing, do you?" Golden hair swayed before eyes of the same shade, the girl's white garb accented by pieces of gold and green, with black filling in certain bits and covering her legs. "Can't you just become a Driver like Addam keeps suggesting to you?"
"I've said it plenty of times Mythra, just not gonna risk it." Vaios said, taking off the belt holding his sword on it, placing it on the table of the room. "I consider it best to play it safe. Besides, if I remember the last training session, I beat you without a lot of trouble."
"Oh don't get cocky! Not like I've had lessons from the best swordsman in Torna. You're also just crazy. Who spars against someone like Jin without a Blade and keeps up?" Mythra said, then smirking. "Though I do remember your shoulder got knocked out of place."
"That was an unlucky shot!" Vaios sat down on the bed as he folded his arms, Mythra still smirking as she stepped over and looked down at him. "Drop the smirk."
"What smirk? This is just my face." Mythra mugged at Vaios, who laid down and rolled over. "What, admitting defeat?"
"No, just tired. And there's a cat making too much noise. So, shoo." Vaios waved a hand at Mythra, who's brow twitched as her lips shuddered.
"Oh I'll show you who's making too much noise!"
"HEY! Don't hit me dammit!"
"You earned it jerk!"
"Tch, fine then, try me!"
And perhaps unfortunately for the bed, it became a slugging match between the two within mere moments…