"I hope nothing's wrong," Pyra muttered as they walked to the HQ after getting back from their mission. Pyra was more than a bit upset that Mythra had not been there to greet them when they got back. She was always there to greet them no matter how busy things got.
"Ah, you worry too much," Rex waved off her worrying, "She probably just got busy. That storm must have caused problems with at least one team. It was huge."
"That's true," Pyra calmed down slightly, "I hope everyone's okay. It looked to be headed right in the direction of team nine."
"They're tough. I'm sure they're fine. Rescheduling is a pain though."
Pyra giggled at his comment causing Rex to get a bit curious, "What's so funny?"
"Nothing. It's just hearing you complain about something as mundane as rescheduling. I like it, and you've really become a great leader."
"Don't know about all that," Rex deflected humbly, "You and Mythra do most of the hard work."
"No," Pyra shook her head, "We just keep things running smoothly. You decide our course, and I think you've plotted a good one."
"Well, I was always good at navigation," Rex smiled as they walked up on the HQ.
"Oh good, you're back," One of the guards sighed in relief as Rex and Pyra walked into view.
"Something wrong?" Rex asked with a raised brow.
"Things are a mess," He confessed, "Ever since Lady Mythra just up and left we've–"
"Wait," Pyra interrupted, "Mythra left?"
"Yeah, about two days ago," The other guard answered, "Just up and left without so much as a word about where she was going."
"She had been acting kind of off lately too," The other chimed in, "Very grumpy. Moreso than usual."
"Are you sure she didn't leave a note or anything?"
"No, no note. Though, I think I heard someone say the transport she got on was headed for Mor Ardain. Not sure where exactly though. Sorry."
"Rex," Pyra turned to her driver in dread, "I have a bad feeling about this."
"I can't believe she just up and left without leaving so much as a note," Rex scratched his head as he walked into their house, "It doesn't make sense." Rex quickly realized that Pyra was distracted though, "Pyra?"
"Huh?" Pyra looked up, "Sorry. I don't know. Maybe she's just planning a surprise, but with how she's apparently been acting…I'm worried, Rex."
"Then let's go after her!" Rex suggested without a moment's hesitation.
"I want to, but…what if she just needs her space?"
"Well, you'd know her better than anyone. Just give me enough time to pack."
Pyra giggled, "That's sweet, but someone has to stay and iron out the mess Mythra left."
"Oh, right," Rex rubbed his neck, "Forgot about that."
"Forgot, or conveniently blocked out?"
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind," Pyra shook her head returning to her somber state, "Still, I want to be the one that goes. She's my sister, and if something's wrong, I want to help her."
"Alright," Rex folded his arms relenting, "Can't say I'm happy about you going alone though."
Pyra giggled lightly in response, "Don't worry. I'm the Aegis, remember? I can take care of myself."
"True enough!" Rex proceeded to yawn, "Phew. Long day. We can get you a ride in the morning. For now, I'm beat."
"You go on to bed. I'll go to sleep soon too. Promise."
"Alright. Just don't stay up too late worrying," Rex told her as he left for his room adjacent to the one Pyra and Mythra shared.
"I won't," Pyra smiled at him. However, as soon as he was far enough away, the Aegis' smile fell, and she looked back to the trap door. Opening it as quietly as possible, she descended down into the secret room. Once there, she opened the door to the large safe that Tora had modified himself. What she saw did not surprise her, but it did not allay her fears.
It was empty. She had noticed something was off almost as soon as she entered the house, but she had hoped that she had been wrong. It seemed that was not the case. There were no signs of a break in, and only three people had the code to the safe, let alone how few knew there even was a secret room. She and Rex were two of them.
Mythra was the third.
"You sure you don't want me to tag along?" Rex asked as they walked to the station where Pyra was scheduled to take a transport to Mor Ardain. Land travel was forced to improve now that they had a lot more of it to deal with. Fortunately, Pyra had offered some designs she kept from the station to help them along on that front. For now, ether power could sustain them, but ether levels were slowly but surely dropping suggesting that it was not a naturally occurring substance on their planet.
"Don't try to get out of your job," Pyra reprimanded, but she struggled to hide her grin. Rex did loathe paperwork.
Her driver sighed in response, "It's not that. Well, not entirely. If something's up, I don't want you facing it alone."
"That's sweet," Pyra leaned into him, "But I'm headed to the capitol, not some wilderness. Don't worry so much."
"Fine, fine, but you'd at least better bring me back a trinket. I love Ardainian machines."
"I'll see what I can do," Pyra smiled as they stopped in front of her transport, "Well, this is it."
Neither were really looking forward to this. They did not like being separated for long periods of time, but Pyra was determined to do this. She leaned down and gave Rex a chaste kiss on his cheek. Rex, feeling emboldened pulled her back down for a far more passionate kiss on the lips.
"Good luck," Rex told her with red cheeks.
"T-thanks," Pyra was potentially faring even worse than her driver in the blush department as she got onto the transport. She waved at her driver as they pulled away, and both of them looked to the other until they could not see each other any longer.