Chapter 8: A Glimpse of Alrest

A/N: The discovery of a dearth of goodies moseys on.

"So, we meet at last, Nopon."

The growing light of the sun reflected off the poof of the cloud sea as dawn got ready to break, though it was muted by the overcast sky. The noises of the city of Torigoth waking up greeted Tora's ears, and the scent of a sweet pastry baking wafted out of a nearby window, running up his still tender nose.

Even though a week had passed since his capture and quick escape from the Ardainians - done with the help of Poppi - his sense of smell still didn't quite work right.

Not that having that would really help right now

The shadow of a lean, but muscular Gormotti man towered over him. Bare chested, tattooed with viscous looking patterns, a dark cloth mask wrapped around the lower part of his face, he oozed intimidation, fear and just about every other bad thing he could think of.

"No where else to run, no more excuses you can make. Are you ready to pay up?"

Gulping, Tora looked behind him. Nothing but a cliff leading down to the cloud sea at low tide to where the Gormotti man had chased and cornered him and Poppi. Only a few steps towards an untimely fall. Further out, the gigantic Ardainian battleship loomed, and he could just barely make out workers and soldiers finishing preparations for launch.

He turned back, waving his head wings charmingly. "Uh, no worry, no worry! Tora is very close to getting funds to pay for this month's payments-"

The Gormotti crossed his arms. "And the last six months as well. Interest included."

"O-oh, really? Tora thought it was only one month behind."

"Masterpon, that was amount last set of debt collectors say you were behind in paying." Poppi shook her head. "Should keep record straight."

"Really now?" Cracking his knuckles, the Gormotti man took a menacing step towards him, leaning forward to look closer at Poppi. "I see your new Blade is keeping a Nopon such as yourself and your delightful character in check. Now normally, I might send my men to simply rough you up a little and find some compensation, but I've found out something very interesting."

Tora dared venture, "A-a way for Tora to pay off debts?"

The Gormotti man's eyes squinted, and Tora imagined that a sickening looking grin formed underneath the mask. "Good guess. Take a look at this."

From a pouch hooked at his side, the Gormotti man unfurled a paper. At the top, in large bold print read 'WANTED.'

Tora's eyes skipped down the page to a drawing of a Nopon he didn't recognize, but bugged out when he saw the reward. He almost started drooling. That was more than enough to cover his debts, maybe even enough to buy more parts for Poppi!

"Who is Nopon in bad drawing?" Tora asked, eagerly. "Tora has Poppi now, could easily take them and make bestest man here happy by giving him cut of reward!"

The Gormotti man whipped the page back, stuffing it into his pouch. "No, you idiot Nopon, that's your wanted poster."

Indignation washed over him and on reflex he took an indignant little hop. "Meh-meh?! Looks nothing like Tora! Big man just making things up; doesn't want Tora to know about this. Tora take back what he said about giving him part of reward!"

Feeling a tap on his shoulder, he wrenched his head to look at Poppi. "Masterpon, poster has your name on it." She turned to face the big Gormotti man and pointed accusingly. "Big man also clearly insert 'dead or alive' on poster with own handwriting. Original was by Ardainian consul for information for capture of Masterpon."

"Alright, I've had enough of this." The man let out a sharp piercing whistle that made Tora cover his ears.

Faster than he could complain about the noise, he felt Poppi grab his shield off his back a moment before there was a loud thunk of impact on the reinforced wood of the shield.

"There someone attempting to hurt Masterpon."

"Indeed. Well met." Tora's eyes bugged out at the sound of the deep, menacing yet almost gentleponly voice. "You failed to pay your debts, Nopon. For this you will face judgement."

Where did thing come from? He caught a glimpse of a nightmare holding a katana that seemed to radiate darkness from around the shield Poppi held. Dark almost black looking skin with armour to boot. Yellow pinpricks of eyes peered at him from a red skinned head topped with a towering flame, and with a mouth hidden behind a thick armoured mask, making so he couldn't see it.

The creature - no, the core crystal told him that was a Blade - struggled another moment in a blade lock with Poppi, before the flame on his head went out and he leapt back seeming to melt into the darkness of the morning,.

"Meh!" Tora yelped. "What was biggipon thinking? Could have killed Tora!"

The Gormotti man laughed. "That's the point. Clearly you didn't know what you were getting into, getting this behind on paying a loan from the Bloody Lobsters. I'll leave you and the heartless judge alone together to make amends. Take it away, Perceval."

The Gormotti stepped back into the shadows of a building - maybe to watch them - leaving them in horrifying silence.

"Poppi," Tora whispered, shaking slightly, fur on end. "Now would be good time to find way to escape."

"Poppi agrees." She held out the shield for him to take, and he felt her begin her artificial affinity link with him. "Beginning search."

Just the shield passed into his hand, there was a whisper of noise in the darkness, and Tora had just enough time to raise his shield before the Blade whipped out of the dimness again. The impact sent him rolling back almost over the edge of the cliff until he was stopped by Poppi.

When he got his bearings again, the Blade was nowhere to be found again when he looked around. He nearly jumped as the voice of the Blade came out of the darkness again. "If you seek mercy, you will get none here. You cannot rob justice."

"Can Tora not have one more extension?" Tora whipped around, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

"You have already made your intention clear. Your Blade searches for escape, and you intend to flee before ever paying your debt. Thus, you will be judged."

As the voice stopped, the relative silence of the morning filled its place, making his fur prickle. Every little noise made him jump, turning his shield this way and that.

There was a tiny noise, almost a whisper, and out of the darkness, a bright glow of orangish red surged, illuminating the Blade, just before it leaped at him in a flurry of slashes, each leaving him with the feeling that each moment he was a step away from death.

No, Tora is better than that. Have Poppi on side now. Can't cower like this for forever.

Toggling the release on the blades on the edges of his shield, he spun around, hoping to catch the Blade in its path. But the Blade darted out of reach, and again slipped back into the darkness of the dim morning light.

Retracting the blades on the shield he backed up towards Poppi. "Um, Tora could use help of Poppi to fend off big bully. Perhaps could take over while Tora catches breath?"

To his surprise, while she kept up the affinity link, Poppi didn't even stop her scan. "Masterpon can do it because Poppi trusts Masterpon. We have bond. Just like real Driver and Blade. Azurda say so."

Tora had no idea who 'Azurda' was, but that word, bond. As much as he wanted to have that – the innate resonance that a Driver and Blade had from awakening - he couldn't. Poppi was an artificial Blade, and by the awesomeness that was three generationpons worth of work, could channel ether - an "affinity link" - into anyone, not just Drivers.

But it still wasn't that innate bond that would come from a real core crystal, a real Blade. For a moment, it made him feel a little better at least, even if it didn't change the situation.

"Is good thing to say, but Tora not so sure-"

He was interrupted by the shrill piercing sound of a whistle and the heightened sound of an engine going into high gear. The Blade once again leapt out at him, using the distraction to try and get at him.

"Masterpon, there!" She stopped her scan and pointed upwards "Poppi will carry!"

Following her point, he saw on the side of the Ardainian battleship a few hatches open along the length of the ship and begin belching out cloud sea fluff. Ballast chutes. That meant they were readying to shove off.

Well, maybe Tora can face things head on another day.

Feeling more courageous with the prospect of an escape, he toggled the drill on his shield, thrusting it out at the Blade, who leapt back to avoid the blow. Throwing down a smoky boomer biter to cover their tracks, not bothering with a delay timer, Tora hopped into Poppi's waiting arms. She jumped down to a small grassy ledge extending out from the Titan Gormott. Looking above as he fell, the boomer biter exploded into a cloud of smoke.

Landing, she bent her legs down hard and he heard the jets in her feet start up. Bracing himself closer against her, she launched up to the ballast chute in the ship just as the last flow of the cloud sea spilled out. Heart racing, she set him down and he chanced a glance down far below.

Through the early morning glow, he spotted the Gormotti man emerging from the smoke, his eyes glaring right at him. Beside him, the Blade with no mouth looked steadfastly up to him. Tora shivered as a chill went up his spine.

"You can run, Nopon, but justice is inevitable." Even from here, the voice of the Blade was calm. Chilling.

The Gormotti shook his fist at him, yelling. "No one cheats the Bloody Lobsters and gets away with it you piece of-!"

Even though his heart pounded, definitely, Tora blew a raspberry at them as the hatch slammed closed, cutting off the rest of the sentence and plunging them into darkness.

Heart still hammering, Tora blinked owlishly at the sudden lack of light. He turned to where Poppi should be. "Uh, Poppi? Light would be much appreciated."

Lights flared on, originating from Poppi's eyes, illuminating the metal ballast shaft, coated in cloud sea sludge. "Masterpon should not have provoked bad debt collector man like that. Raspberry blowing protocol seemed to have adverse effect."

"Is fine, Poppi, Tora has escaped! Will be long while before having to worry again." Never, if he could help it.

"Poppi not so sure. This is Ardainian Titanship with course heading towards Mor Ardain. Seem likely that bad Gormotti man and Blade will follow if they know destination."

Meandering through the shaft, Tora moved slow, hoping not to make too much noise. His short legs made it difficult to trudge through the leftover cloud sea that hadn't made its way out of the ballast shaft. "No worries! Now we free to find dadapon Tatazo. Is start of new life; no more being stuck with debts in Gormott."

He heard her start following him, her metal feet clanging in the tube, though it was dampened slightly by the thin layer of squelshy cloud sea sludge. "Poppi doesn't think that how debt works. Ardainians still looking for us as well."

"No worries, no worries!." He could think about that pile of debt later. Much later. "Simply need to worry about getting to Mor Ardain undetected for now. Will be no problem for master infiltrationist Tora."

A guttural hissing sound made him freeze. Poppi's light beams shifted over to the sound, revealing a creature he'd never seen before. Those teeth were…very large. Seemed like something else infiltrated on before with them.

Lots of monstrous somethings.

Leaning on the starboard side metal railing of the Ardainian Titanship Gladio overlooking the cloud sea, Rex gazed forlornly at the little metal tag hanging from his fingers on a little chain.

It whipped in the wind - bobbing slightly with the ebb and flow of the ship as it sailed its way towards its home - making it hard to see the writing inscribed in it. That didn't matter, seeing as he already had it memorized.

Rex

Ardainian Empire Driver

Recruit

Driver Registration Number: 74539-ML

Clenching the dog tag in a fist, a large part of his mind really wanted to chuck the thing out into the churning cloud sea, but he couldn't do that. Instead, he shoved it around his neck, where it continued to flutter with the wind.

Thankfully, they hadn't made him and the other recruits change into an Ardainian uniform yet, but he dreaded that it would come later, pointy hat and all. At least he'd been able to fulfil his promise about coming back and helping the Gormotti people in Torigoth after the mess he'd unwittingly caused. He was wasn't sure how much he liked that the Empire, specifically the consul guy Dughall took credit.

Sighing, he rested his chin on his arms. Had more than a week really already passed since he'd had the encounter with Torna? It'd gone by in flurry of helping rebuild the base, a few basic drills, learning basic military procedures and conditioning. Most of what the combat instructors taught focused on stuff like basic stances and conditioning for basic fighting.

He already knew all that anyways. Besides, Gramps had taught him better and wasn't so pompous about it. The instructors hadn't even touched Driver stuff, which they assured would happen once they transferred to Mor Ardain.

It felt like forever ago that he'd stepped onto the deck on the ancient ship, just a salvager.

"This doesn't seem like you, Rex."

Rex let out another sigh. "Sorry, Gramps. It just all still seems like some kind of weird dream. I keep expecting to wake up on my way back to the guild with another load of salvage."

A deep, rumbling chuckle came from his left where his Blade - his Blade! - stood. "You must still be dreaming if you're still calling me your grandfather."

Lifting his head off of his arms, he turned and looked up to see the Blade that looked so similar to Gramps - if he'd been human - tower a few heads worth of height over him. "Oh, right. Sorry. I still can't believe that you look like that."

Azurda let out a 'hmph' shaking long green, grasslike hair that came down to between his shoulder blades. Bereft of clothing above his waist, his grey rocky skin and large muscular frame was literally hard as stone. Rex had tapped it at one point to make sure, and to his surprise, it had sounded like rock too.

Around his waist was a long dark purple cape that trailed to his ankles fluttered lightly in the wind. Held by a belt, the cloth was embroidered with an almost fiery orange pattern. Rex had been tempted to call it a skirt when they'd first talked, but that had been quickly put to rest. His feet were bare.

All throughout where his skin shown, little growths, almost like grass or vines wrapped around him like veins, concentrating on the spot where his core crystal rested near his sternum. The same symbol from the ancient ship, the one Torna had called Addam's crest.

But it was his head that really was the most dead ringer for him. Practically the same draconic face, just a smaller to fit the frame of body he was on. Uncannily, the same piercing yellow eyes that looked like Gramps bore into his. "And I still have trouble believing I came from a doddering old Titan grandpa. You were serious when you said you lived on his back, correct?"

Rex grinned. "Yeah, it was pretty great, honestly. Just the two of us, off salvaging. We could go wherever we fancied. No rent, no restrictions. Just the open cloud sea and piles of salvage."

"Time you grew up, I'd say."

Straightening up, Rex pounded his chest in protest. "Hey, fifteen is plenty old! Besides, I'm taking on Torna."

"With the help of the Ardainian military."

He kneaded his forehead. "Gah, that still sounds so wrong!"

Azurda crossed his massive arms. "It will help you to do what you want, correct?"

"I mean, yeah, I do really want to give Malos and Torna a piece of my mind for what they did to the people on the Maelstrom, but…I dunno." He folded his arms back on the railing and leaned forward, setting his chin on them again. "What'll it solve in the end? We'll all still be living in a world that's running out of room."

"If we don't, won't they just destroy more Titans, kill more innocents, causing even more war?"

Rex snorted. "You're sounding kind of like Mòrag."

"Must I remind you that she is your senior commanding officer at the moment? Even beside that, she has a point."

Rex groaned. "I know, I know. I get it." Even if he didn't have to like the source, Mòrag's reasoning and logic made sense. Didn't make it any less frustrating.

"Mmm. Perhaps you do. I am curious, however. What would you do if you hadn't joined?"

Rex paused, considering the question. "I...well, I guess I would be a salvager still. But I'd have you, so I could probably be a Driver mercenary. I've seen some of the mercenary writs they take, and they're pretty good fro gold." He rubbed under his nose. "Heh, maybe if I got enough of a reputation I could even start a group myself."

"And you'd gather a ragtag bunch of misfits and defeat the terrorist organization who recently acquired a Blade that can destroy Titans overnight, I'm sure."

"Heh. That's sounding pretty good right now, actually."

Azurda shook his head. "It'd take too long."

"Hey, you brought it up."

"So I did." A warm smile graced his face, or what passed for a warm smile on a face that looked like Azurda's. "Keep your dreams, but for now, this," he sent a meaningful look at the dog tag, "will have to suffice."

"Well, what would you want to do?"

Azurda's bushy green eyebrow rose. "Me? I suppose I'd likely stick around you. But I have to say, I'd like to explore the world someday." He crossed one arm and started stroking that piece of stone that hung down from his chin almost like a beard. "For instance, have you ever thought about searching for more Titans, going beyond the borders of the charted cloud sea, and perhaps finding something else? Another place to live, somewhere humans haven't found yet?"

Rex's eyebrows scrunched. "New Titans? Sounds like it could be fun. We haven't charted everything in the cloud sea, though honestly, it's rough getting the resources to try. Most that do don't come back, and those that do say they don't find anything but open clouds."

"Pity. And I suppose even if we found another one, assuming it was uninhabited, that it would just cause more fighting."

"Yeah. Kinda like the Empire coming into Gormott did. But you know," an excitement entered Rex's voice, "supposedly, there's a place big enough for everyone. Lots of people say it's a legend, or just a piece out of the Praetorium's teachings, but I believe it's real."

"Where's that?"

Rex grinned. "Elysium."

"Oh? And where is this Elysium?"

Glancing up towards the morning sun, Rex spotted the World Tree towering up far past the clouds in the sky in the distance and pointed to it. "There."

"The World Tree?"

"Yeah." Rex cocked his head to the side, "Wait. How do you know its name? I thought you didn't remember anything that Gramps did?"

"Oh, I don't." A grimace made him look more intimidating as he turned and faced him. "There's something I would appreciate that you get into your head. The Titan you knew as Gramps is gone. My first memory is of waking up nearly drowning in the cloud sea with you."

"But nothing from before at all?"

Azurda shook his head, sending his grass-like hair moving back and forth with the motion. "Not one thing, because I am not him, and he is not me."

Something welled up inside Rex. "You have his name, though! You even talk like him, and sort of look like him too."

"So you say. But it would be well with you to separate the two of us. I am not his replacement. I am me."

"I..." He let the emotion go and sheepishly looked at him, not quite meeting his eyes. "Sorry."

"You miss him."

"…Yeah." Gramps had been the of the constants in his life, especially after he started salvaging. A small part of him had hoped that the Blade who shared his name would remember something, but it didn't seem to be the case. "But that's not really fair of me to you is it?"

"You would do well to remember that. To answer your other question, I've noticed that there are things that I just know, things I understand innately." He pointed to the World Tree. "I know with a surety to which I can't trace the source, that that is the World Tree. I know that you are my Driver. I understand that this," he formed his Blade weapon - a greatsword with the same shaped crystal as his core in its guard - out of the ether, "is mine, and I understand how to use it."

"But you don't remember anything you told me about the legend of Elysium?"

He shook his head, and the greatsword disappeared. "No. Because I am not him."

Ugh. I did it again, didn't I?

Silence mixed with the wind, and the hum of the Titanship's engine filled the gap.

"So," Azurda rumbled, "with that out of the way, tell me more about Elysium. Is it in the World Tree? Somewhere in all those shining branches?"

Rex perked up, a smile forming on his face. "No, it's all the way at the top, and there's room for titan peds all over. Trees, grass, flowers, birdsong. Or, so you, or uh...Gramps, told me."

"It certainly sounds fascinating, but if I'm being honest, it sounds too good to be true. Like an old wives' tale, or a children's story."

"But if it is true…"

He held his hands up in a placating gesture. "I'm not saying it couldn't be. But to me it sounds too good to be true, like a dream of people who don't want to work to change the world and circumstances around them. 'The grass is greener on the other Titan,' not realizing that what they need to change most is themselves."

Rex sighed in annoyance. He really did sound like Gramps: all wisdom. This was going to be rough. "That's what most people say. Someday though, I'd like to go there to the World Tree and find out for myself if Elysium is real."

"Perhaps when this fight with Torna is over, we can go there?"

Rex perked up and nodded. "I'll hold you to it." He stuck his hand out to shake.

"Of course." Gramps...no Azurda, wrapped a grey stony hand around his own, practically swallowing Rex's own hand. To his surprise, what seemed like a fire swelled up within himself, and he could practically feel a connection forming in-between them. "Where you go, I go."

A clanging bang followed by a loud 'meh!' from below interrupted the moment. Turning towards the noise, Rex saw a flash of striped sandy brown, and then red, rocketing across the wing of the ship below.

"What in the…?"

There was a loud roar followed by the pounding feet of a small monster, a wounded and angry looking green aligo chasing after a Nopon and a young girl.

"Well, well," Azurda mused, "looks as though my first little friend found who she was looking for."

"You know them?" Rex asked.

"One of them." Azurda called again to life the greatsword from before, and, to his surprise, handed it hilt first to Rex. "Best help them before they run out of room to run."

"Uh, gotcha." Rex didn't quite understand what Gramps...no, Azurda, was talking about, but he hefted the sword anyways. As he did, something flared to life inside him, and his mind suddenly felt clearer. He aimed the sword - and even though he'd never would have thought to do it before - almost instinctively.

"Whoa!"

The end of the blade of the sword separated into two segments, revealing what looked like a rifle inside in-between them, building up a fiery charge. A moment later, a bolt of fire shot out, crossing the distance nearly instantaneously, impacting the monster dead on, searing it. Shrieking, it stopped its advance on the Nopon and whipped around to roar at him.

That was so cool!

Azurda chuckled as the ends of the greatsword retracted back into the sharp point of point the blade. "Certainly interesting, isn't it? Now that we've its attention, allow me to demonstrate my capability. To me, if you don't mind?"

"Huh?"

"The weapon."

"Oh!" The memory of Nia and Malos tossing their weapons to their Blades and the talk from the Ardainian instructors clicked in his head. He hefted the weapon towards Azurda. "Go for it!"

Snatching the weapon out of the air as he hopped up onto the railing, Azurda launched himself from it down to the aligo. Dodging around its snapping jaw, he slashed once, twice, then leapt into the air. Fiery lines glowed on his body as the sword separated again and the glow of the barrel of the weapon became blinding as it spat out a large ball of fire.

The shrieking of the monster cut off abruptly as Azurda landed on the wing of the ship, and Rex saw the remains of the monster disappear into motes of fiery ether.

Blinking at the afterimage, Rex vaulted over the railing and landed on the metal wing below. Azurda tossed the greatsword back to him, and Rex caught it, confused.

"Isn't this yours?"

"Hold on to it. You'll need it."

Rex nodded, and the weapon seemed to go inert. The energy and focus from before that he'd had trouble describing was gone. "Alright, if you're sure." He stowed it, attaching it to the magnetic holster where his broadsword had once rested. He was going to have to adjust that.

"Wow-wow!" The Nopon exclaimed. Both the Nopon and the girl – or with all the metal that was probably a Blade now that he got a closer look - meandered up to them. "That was amazing! Tora was almost exhausted after fourth monster appeared. Would have never made it if new friend hadn't come along."

Scratching the back of his head, Rex's cheeks heated up in embarrassment at the praise. "Nah, it was nothing; feels like Azurda did all the work anyways." He stuck his hand down in range where the Nopon could reach. "My name's Rex. What's yours?"

The Nopon slapped one of his head wing appendages into his. "Tora! Is amazing to meet new Driver friend Rex-rex."

"Uh, just Rex is fine."

"Is what Tora said, Rex-rex."

Rex narrowed his eyes, and a long, awkward moment of unflinching eye contact followed. "But you just said-"

"Tora has no clue what Rex-rex talking about."

Tora's Blade stepped forward, pointing excitedly to Azurda. "Masterpon, is friend Poppi was talking about! Rex's Blade, Azurda, is one who helped Poppi find Masterpon."

"Meh?" He got uncomfortably close, blinking with wide eyes at him. "That mean Tora owe you double tasty sausages for rescue!"

"Uh, it's fine. You don't have to pay us anything."

He stumbled and felt the ship lean slightly and the metal wing of the Titanship they were on dipped into the clouds as the ship adjusted its course. The move washed a ripple of cloud fluff over his boots, coating them. With his shorter stature, Tora would have been swept away if Azurda hadn't grabbed him by the straps of his overalls.

"Perhaps," Azurda rumbled, "instead of standing about, we should get off the wing of this ship before the captain accidentally runs us off."

From Azurda's hand, Tora nodded. "Tora absolutely agree! But would big nice Blade put Tora down? Is undignified."

In answer, Azurda started walking, setting Tora down in one smooth motion as Rex followed. "So what are both of you doing here, of all places?" Azurda asked. "This is the last place I would assume to see you all, considering what was going on in Torigoth."

Poppi started answering. "Masterpon was running from more than-"

"Tora is fine, here on official business, not uh, running at all."

"Masterpon, tag around Rex's neck clearly indicate he a recruit for Ardainian Empire Driver training program. Lying not helping."

Rex saw Tora freeze and his entire demeanour seemed to change, as if he were getting ready to bolt.

The girl's arm abruptly pointed past him to Azurda. "They not bad people. Azurda help Poppi find you when Ardainians capture you."

"But they part of empire."

"Hey," Rex protested, "I'll have you know I'm from Leftheria! I'm just with them...temporarily." Probably. Rex turned to the group. "I should be able to explain this no problem, as long as you don't have any bad intentions."

"None. Tora have none at all!"

Grinning, Rex smacked the shield on the Nopon's back, guiding the Nopon forward. "Should be smooth sailing then, right?"

"I can't believe this malarkey!"

"Calm down, my prince, you're causing a scene."

"Scene?" Zeke threw his arms out wide before slamming his fists down on the table in front of him in frustration. The other patrons in the open air marketplace just outside the Praetorium were giving him strange and concerned looks. He ignored them. "How could I not after hearing something like that, Pandy? Amalthus kept it under wraps and only now wants to tell me that there's-"

Pandoria cut him off by covering his mouth and shushing him in a low tone. "My prince, you know he said to keep it confidential for now." He tried to speak, and her hand pressed harder. "Not gonna uncover it until you promise not to yell."

Snorting through her hand, Zeke gave a slow deliberate nod. She gave it back, and uncovered his mouth after a moment.

"You wound me with your mistrust of my confidential prowess. Of course I wasn't about to spill the beans like that to everyone." He very much almost had.

"Of course not." She knew him too well to believe otherwise.

"Right you are. But," he shuddered with a suppressed anger that wasn't completely playacted, tone turning dangerous, "the eye of shining justice throbs with the desire to make it right. If those charlatans want to maim the name of our ancestor's heritage, then they've got another thing coming."

He swiped the odifa in front of him and chugged the rest of it down. Slamming the glass onto the table he abruptly stood, knocking his chair to the floor in the process. "In fact, I don't know why we're not already going. The sooner we sort this out the better, eh, Pandy?"

"Yup!" She jumped up as well, chair falling in tandem, and followed his lead out of the market, heading towards the ship the Praetor was letting them use. "But there's a problem."

"What?" Zeke stopped suddenly, twitched, looking around for what Pandoria was talking about. "Already? That's gotta be a new record." Then again, his luck really was that bad, sometimes.

"Well, do we even know where they are?"

He already had his mouth open to protest, but stopped and closed it, his hand going to his chin in thought instead. "You know, that's actually a great point. We don't even know who these blighters are, much less what they look like or where they are."

"Well, wasn't Amalthus saying that the info came from someone in the Empire?"

He widened his eyes - though everyone would only see one because of his amazing eyepatch - and pounded a fist into his hand. "Brilliant! I'd expect nothing less from the one and only Blade of the mighty Zeke!"

She beamed at the praise. "Of course. Someone has to listen."

Ignoring the barb, he let out a low menacing chuckle. "I've been meaning to grace the Empire with my presence for a while now anyways." Closing his eyes, he started twitching his hand, grasping at the air near his eyepatch. "Someone owes me a rematch."

He charged down the stairs, eager to begin-

The only thing he felt was his boot snagging on something someone had left on the stairs leading up to the market in Poldis Circle. The offending item slipped and blasted into the air, revealing itselft to be…!

A discarded half-eaten frosted cookie.

The bitten through image of the Goddess of the Praetorium greeted his view for one moment.

The next thing he knew, he was airborne, with a beautiful view of the stark white walls of the Praetorium upside down and the Indoline Titan. He caught a brief angelic whisper of the Praetorium's choir coming from within as the sun sparkled off the shimmering white walls.

Gravity took its course and the next moment he'd crashed through the awning of a market stall. A very concerned and possibly angry looking Indoline woman hovered over him.

Zeke grinned and gave her a mock two finger salute, spilling accessories, trinkets and price gouging souvenirs off of him as he sat up. "It's not every day you have the Zekenator drop into your shop like this, is it?"

His head whipped to the side as she smacked him. Yeah, he probably deserved that. "I hope you know you're paying for this, young man."

Quickly launching himself upright, he dusted the remaining trinkets - picking up Turters, their mascot turtle, who had fallen out in the fall and putting him back into his overcoat pocket - and gave his best smoulder. "Put it on the Praetor's tab, lady. I've got a nation's reputation to uphold!"

He dashed off without giving her another word in edgewise, and he ignored her yelling after him.

Meeting Pandoria at the bottom of the grand stairway, he grinned as she broke into a run to keep up with him heading to their vessel. "Never a dull moment, my prince?"

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Boss, take a look at this."

Vandham looked up from his dinner to see Yew walking up, holding a small stack of paper. He set down the spoon into the hearty stew and leaned back, crossing his massive arms.

"I know that look." Vandham sighed. "Out with it: who are they and what do they want?"

Yew paused, looking at the other mercenaries sitting beside him at the table underneath the canopied pavilion. "Maybe this would be better said in private."

Vandham snorted. "Have you not been with me so long Yew that you forgot that secrecy isn't the way the Garfont Mercenaries operate?" He gestured wide to the others at the table, which included Remmiq who wasn't more than nine and was studiously reading a book beside her own bowl of soup. "What's for me is for everyone here."

Yew closed his eyes and Vandham saw a wan smile creep on to his face. "How could I forget, after you told everyone Eslan and I were engaged?"

"You think I'd let a thing like that stay quiet?!" He let out a belly laugh, which everyone at the table joined in. Yew rolled his eyes at the antics and tossed the small stack beside his bowl. Picking the first one up, Vandham scanned it noting it was a widespread communication form.

"There's two major things." Yew pulled up an empty wooden crate from the side, upturned it and sat beside them. "The one you're holding is a bounty on a group of core crystal hunters. Their last known location was Gormott, escaping from on a small modified Titanvessel with a course headed this way to Uraya about a week ago. Looks like there were a couple of Blades involved as well."

Letting out a low whistle, Vandham's eyebrows shot up when he got to the reward price. "That's a pretty piece they're giving, and double if you get back the cores they stole." He passed the paper around the table for the others to see. "Who's the one who issued the reward?"

"It says some guy named 'Meleph,' but after doing some digging, turns out it's an alias that's been used before by someone high up in the Ardainian Empire. Think we should take it?"

Vandham closed his eyes in contemplation. It could be good, but did he really want to get involved in something that involved the empire? With the core crystals involved, it was more than likely Indol had a hand in it as well.

Opening his eyes, he looked over to Remmiq, who was now holding the paper as it had been passed around the table. "Remmiq, what do you think? Should we take the job?"

She looked up, surprised at his attention, but after an encouraging smile from him, she seemed to gain a little bit of courage. "Um...the money would be nice. I could get a nice book too!"

"So long as it help you in your schooling first." Vandham stroked his chin, "However, there are other less politically risky jobs out there that would eventually add up to the same pay."

Remmiq shuffled on her crate, boldness creeping into her voice. "I think those people shouldn't have stolen the cores. Dad always says that sort of stuff is wrong! Blades are nice people, too."

His heart melted. If only everyone thought that way. "You're right kid. It is wrong." Even young as they were, they could tell it, and Vandham thought so as well. He smiled. "Looks like we're decided on that one, Yew. What's the other one?"

The Ardainian hesitated, looking again at the others at the table. "Perhaps you should at least read it first."

"Alright, fine. Have it your way." He skimmed the relatively short communication.

Vandham,

Normally, would reach out in less trackable means, but big secret I was investigating seems like it will enter public eye before long.

Unfortunately, cannot fully confirm, but seems that hostile party found the Aegis: powerful Blade from war five-hundred years ago. Will be known by emerald core crystal, and, if source is accurate, Aegis is woman with shoulder length red hair. Be watchful.

More info will be given at Fonsa Myma Playhouse. Meet there soon as possible.

Friend,

Niranira

"The Aegis, eh?" Vandham muttered as his eyebrows shot up. "That'd be quite a sight especially if it's true. A real legend come to life." Standing suddenly, dinner temporarily forgotten, he called, "Roc!"

His faithful Blade looked up from the ground nearby where a gaggle of the kids of some of the mercs had pounced them to the ground, play wrestling. "Yes?"

"We're going to take a trip to visit an old friend in Fonsa Myma."

A hand clapped on his shoulder and he looked over to Yew. "You know them enough to trust something like this?"

"Niranira's an old friend of mine, a little Nopon that's gone far in the guilds since I last saw him. If there's anyone I'd trust about it, it's him."

"But Vandham, if this is true, then this could be devastating, not just to us, but all of Alrest. The Aegis-"

"I know what they say about her. But I have a gut feeling I can't ignore." He slapped his belly, all rock hard muscle. "And I always trust my gut. There's more to this than what's in the history books. I need to be sure what this will mean for all of us here in Garfont."

And if there was anyone he knew who seemed to know more then he should, it was Cole.

Time to visit an old friend.

"Look out below!"

Walking the extended boarding ramp of the Marsanes to the dry Ardainian ground, Nia's ears flattened as she flinched, ducking out of instinct. A shadow passed over her head. Launching from the deck of the ship, The woman in the icicle, Lora, landed crouched ahead of her, before she sprinted off running and laughing.

She practically had a bounce in her step.

Turning to Mikhail - who was in the middle of trying to explain to Pyra why she should wear the cloth poncho held in his hand to keep her identity secret once they got into the city - Nia asked, "Should we stop her?"

The black poncho dropped in his hand for a moment. He waved it off. "Nah. I'd be restless if I hadn't moved in five-hundred years too; just go keep an eye on her and don't lose her."

"Careful ordering me about like that."

"Nia."

"Alright, fine. Whatever. Where's Cressidus?"

"Giving the others a stern talk and making sure they don't kill each other or mess the ship up more while we're gone. He'll join us when he's done."

She winced in sympathy, imagining Cressidus telling Malos of all people something like that. "Wish him luck. He'll need it." Nia turned and started going after Lora, who had already made it pretty far away.

"She certainly has energy to spare." Dromarch rumbled, padding up beside Nia as they walked. Ahead of them, Lora jumped and climbed up to a cliff overlooking the cloud sea, currently at low tide. "I must admit, I'm somewhat jealous. I'm not sure where she's getting it all."

"You're just sluggish 'cause you were keeping Malos occupied all yesterday." She paused. "What did you do to hold him off anyways? I never really asked."

Dromarch froze. "Uh...I would rather not discuss it, milady."

Narrowing her eyes, a cheeky grin formed its way onto her face. "Oh really, now. What, did you do, let him pet you or something?"

His fur bristled indignantly. "I never! Only you have that privilege, milady."

"So what was it?"

"I've been sworn never to reveal it."

She was taken aback by his solemnity. "...Alright, I won't pry, I guess." For now.

He dipped his head, and she could practically see the relief spread over his frame. "Most appreciated." He gestured with his muzzle to Lora, and crouched down to allow her onto his back. "Shall we?"

Hopping on, she grasped his fur to steady herself on his back as he raised up off his haunches. "Always keeping me on track."

With breakneck speed, Dromarch sprinted over to the tall rock Lora had climbed. With his running start, he leapt upwards, scrambling up the last bit of the tick, kicking away loose dust. Cresting the cliff to a small plateau of rock, they found Lora, standing with her eyes closed. The little braided rope Mikhail had helped her finish looped around her wrist, the elemental gem fluttering in the wind.

She was breathing deeply, seeming to drink in the warmth of the sunlight. After a long moment of silence, Nia sat up on Dromarch and cleared her throat. "You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were a Gormotti the way you're soaking up the sun. Even Dromarch doesn't do it like that."

Opening her eyes, she saw Lora whip around to see them. "Oh, Nia." She tilted her head, looking down at Dromarch. "And I think I've seen you before, but didn't get the chance to ask who you were."

He dipped his head. "I hope we're not interrupting something. As was mentioned, I am Dromarch. Your reputation proceeds you, Lady Lora."

There was an expression almost like a wince that passed over Lora's face that was gone before Nia could tell what it was. A smile replaced it. "It's good to meet you, Dromarch."

Crouching down, she reached out and scratched Dromarch's head. Nia was about to warn her as he tensed up for a moment, before the big lunk relaxed and leaned into her touch and started purring.

Lora let out a laugh. "Someone's friendly."

Yeah, a little too friendly, if his tail twitching behind him said anything about it. "What happened to the privilege you were talking about earlier, Dromarch?"

The old codger cleared his throat as he shifted up to his front paws. "I have no idea what you're referring to, my lady."

"My lady?" Lora straightened up, curiosity sneaking into her eyes. "Are you…?"

Crossing her arms, Nia snorted, ears flattening. "If you're about to ask if I'm a noble, then no." It was more complicated than that, and not something she really wanted to talk about. "It's just something Dromarch's done for as long as I remember. At this point it's almost an inside joke."

Dromarch scoffed. "You wound me, my lady."

"See what I mean?"

Lora smiled. "Well, I think it's charming, almost like he's a butler out of a story or something."

"Careful. Praise like that will go to his head. It's already fuzzy enough as it is."

In front of them, beyond the little plateau they stood on, the cloud sea parted and a relatively small Titan burst through the clouds, letting out a horrible wailing noise before diving back in. Seconds later, the waves from the impact spread outwards towards them, but were swallowed as the Mor Ardain Titan moved. That little Titan must have been at least as large as the Monoceres.

"Whoa, that was interesting." Lora chuckled, before looking to her. "Definitely wouldn't see anything like that in a stuffy ship, right Nia?"

Wincing, she rubbed her nose as the wind from the Titan's splash kicked up dust into her face. "I guess. The air's too dry and hot for my taste, and I can already tell it's going to be a hassle to clean the dust out of Dromarch's fur later."

"I already look forward to that event."

She glanced down at him. "'Course you do, you big fur ball."

"Well, I think it's great to be out in the open air at least." Nia couldn't help but silently agree. "So, do you know where we're going? I know Ahkos said we were docking at Mor Ardain, but I've never made my way over here before. Jin and I had only done a couple of fringe merc jobs hosted by them on other Titans."

"Wait. You and Jin were…mercenaries?"

"Yeah. I loved it since we could move around and help where we wanted. Is that really that surprising?"

"Huh." She blinked and tried to imagine Jin taking mercenary writs. It didn't really fit. "Well anyways. We're going to the Ardainian capital, but the verdict's out on what that's like. I've never been there either."

"Hey!"

They all turned to down below where she saw Cressidus, Mik and Pyra - now wearing the black poncho - though there was a good six feet in between the last two. He waved at them to come down.

Nia shrugged. "Break time's over I guess. Shall we?"

"Yup." Lora, nodded and started acrobatically picking her way down from the height.

"Well come on, Dromarch. You're not going to let her show us up like that, are you?"

A sighing rumble echoed from underneath her where she sat on him. She grasped his fur tighter as she felt him tense, and then jumped as only a cat could. Whooping for the brief moment they were airborne, she ignored the dusty air before they landed, skidding slightly in front of Mikhail.

"Spectacular entrance," he deadpanned.

"You're just jealous that you don't have as cool a Blade as Dromarch. No offense."

Cressidus laughed. "Careful, Nia. We'll show you up before too long."

Mik cleared his throat, and waited for Lora to finish making her way down. "If you're done chatting, we've got a good hike ahead of us. There's a couple of shops that should have what we need in Alba Cavanich, that-a-way." He pointed to a tall metal structure built into the nearby cliffs.

Nia squinted her eyes, staring at the rickety looking metal building, and the eroded stone. "That's Mor Ardain's capital?

He rolled his eyes. "No, past that. You can't really see it from here, but trust me, we've got a ways to go."

"Hold on." Setting a hand on her hip, Nia glared at him. "Why'd we dock out all the way out here in the middle of nowhere, then?"

"Well, the Marsanes," he jutted his thumb out behind him to the massive ship now retreating under the clouds, "is an absolute beauty, but would stick out like a gogol on a Nopon dance floor, seeing as it's one of the only ships in Alrest not integrated with a Titan. We're trying not to draw attention to ourselves yet."

"Well, I think a walk is a fantastic idea." Lora clapped her hands together, and Nia did an internal double take when she saw Pyra standing next to Lora. When had she gotten there? "I've never been to Mor Ardain's capital before, but after I met Hugo, I've always wanted to see it for myself."

"Perfect!" Mik snapped is fingers. "This'll be great. Just a quick hop, skip and jump through an abandoned industrial district and we'll be on our way in no time."

A/N: Slowly but surely, the plotlines converge.

I'm just about as happy as Lora to be out of the Marsanes. Too bad she ignored Ahkos' 'point of no return' warning and skipped the sidequests.