After leaving the crusible, Rex and co try to figure out where Pyra/Mythra are being held. Fortunately for them Morag had requested that the Ardainian military seek out their location while they were looking for the third Aegis.

"According to our reports the Aegis was last spotted at the Cliffs of Morytha which is on the far right side of Alrest. The trip will take us three days to get there so everyone prepare yourselves, we leave for Mor Ardain immediately and from there take my special cruiser straight to the cliffs."

"Thank you Morag. This helps us a considerable amount and I appreciate you going through all of this just for us."

"We are comra- No, we are friends Rex. No need to thank me."

"As chivalrous as ever Morag."

"Why thank you. Like I said we must head out immediately or our cruiser may be delayed for a day and I'd say we're on a tight schedule as it is."

"Alright, let's get going."

With that the group travels back to the beginning of the chain of islands and begin the trip back to Mor Ardain. The trip takes 8 hours but they return.

"My personal cruiser is at the palace on the second floor. We should head there at once."

"Agreed."

Once the group arrives at the palace, they immediately head for the second floor where they see the cruiser waiting for them.

"Special Inquisitor Morag, your cruiser is ready. You may take off at any time."

"Excellent. We shall head out at once."

"Yes Ma'am!"

The soldier salutes Morag and everyone gets on.

"Everyone make yourselves comfortable, we'll be stuck on this vessel for about 3 days."

"As much as it pains me to here such a long trip, I also gotta admit it feels nice to take a break every once and a while. By the way what does this cruiser come with anyways?"

"Why don't I show you?"

"Alright! A showcase from Morag. I wish I had one of these. I am the Prince of Tantal and the represenator of Indol."

"My prince you were kicked out of Tantal and Indol doesn't like using Titans."

"I know." Zeke glumly replies to his blade.

"Anyways everyone follow me. I'll try to keep it brief."

Everyone follows Morag as she shows off the numerous rooms within the cruiser. Rex is surprised at the sheer size of the interior.

"Eh Morag, so how are meals going to work on this ship?"

"There will be three meals a day. One at 8:00, at 13:00, and at 19:00. Each meal will be open for one hour."

"What about yourself?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well your the Special Inquisitor, don't you get your own seperate cook?"

"I could if I so chose, but why should I get better eating compared to my subordinates? The way I see it is whatever they eat I can eat to."

"That's actually quite admirable of you."

"Why thank you Zeke. Anymore questions?"

"How will sleep arrangements work?"

"We all get our own beds, except for two people. You see we can accommodate with twin sized beds in each room except one of our rooms has a queen sized bed in it so two of us will have to sleep together."

Zeke internally gets what Morag is doing and is trying very hard not to show it externally.

Rex gets the idea in his head of 'why don't me and Nia share that bed.' Unfortunately for him he notices he accidentally said that out loud.

"Oi wh-what did y-you just say?!"

"I-I mean we don't have to if you don't want to." Rex throws up his arms in self defense.

"I'm not saying no but it was just a bit sudden is all."

'Wait. Does that mean she just said yes?'

"Then it's settled. Rex and Nia will share the larger room."

Morag then gives everyone the keys to their rooms and as Morag is leaving Zeke follows up behind her.

"Morag chum I didn't think you had it in you! Oh I'm so proud of you!"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

Morag knew exactly what he was talking about but she wouldn't give him what he wanted. Unfortunately for her a small smile crept at the corner of her lips and Zeke noticed immediately.

"That smile tells me otherwise." Zeke contorts in a harmonious voice.

Before Zeke could say anymore Morag gets to her room and closes the door on Zeke without even looking back.

Back to Rex and Nia the two of them find there room and open the door. Rex decides to act like a gentleman and let Nia in first.

"My my that's a first, Rex being formal."

"Hey now I gotta treat you with more respect, you deserve it after all."

"Oh Rex you already treated me kindly before just act the way you do. No need to change yourself to impress me. I will still love you all the same."

"Oh Nia. I got a question for you."

"And what would that be?"

"What did you see in me that you love so much?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Well I mean I think I have a rough idea why but I'd like to hear it directly from you."

"Rex the reason I love you so much is because you were the only one who has shown me any kind of compassion in a very long time. Combined with the fact that you accept me for who I am which is the first time a human other than da has accepted that I'm a flesh eater. Before you people would see me as an undesirable for being a flesh eater. Just some cannibal who eats flesh. I am not like that at all and eating flesh to become a flesh eater is still one of the most traumatic moments of my life."

"I see."

After that there is a small silence and Nia decides to break the silence with a question of her own.

"I've got a question for you."

"Yeah?"

"What do you see in me? To me it's more mind boggling that you've accepted me."

Rex thinks about this for a moment then gives a response.

"Nia, you were the first friend I've had in a long time. Back when I was a salvager I really didn't have time to make friends because I would never really stay in one spot. But then I met you. You were different from me yet had quite a few similarities. You always knew how to say a whitty one liner or a wise crack that always got me to laugh. Your pessimistic attitude always kept me level headed. Ever since I met you, you've always been there for me. I trust you as much as I trust Gramps and I've known him my whole life. You're also a very beautiful and attractive woman."

Nia can feel her heart melt at hearing these words and in that instant thinks of a sly question to ask.

"So Rex I gotta know do you prefer me in my human form or in my blade form?"

"If I had to choose I'd say your beauty shines even brighter in your blade form."

Nia feels overjoyed at that response.

"I'm so glad to hear that. So you wouldn't mind if I stayed in this form?"

"Nia that choice is entirely up to you. But if I were to give me opinion then I'd say yeah, I wouldn't mind at all. If anything I would encourage it."

"Glad to hear. Anyways it's a bit late and I think we should go to bed. Remember breakfast is at eight in the mornin so we gotta go to sleep."

"Alright if you say so. So uuhhh... which side do you want?"

"I'll take the left side."

"Alright."

With that the two of them slip into bed but Nia is caught off guard by Rex pulling her into an embrace.

"Wh-what are you doing?"

"Just a little payback."

"For what?"

"Remember Uraya?"

"Back then you did the same thing to me. This is payback for back then."

"Fine with me. Goodnight Rex."

"Goodnight Nia."

The next day was uneventful for the most part with Rex and Nia mainly just enjoying each others company. The day after that Rex asks Nia one of the most important questions of their lives.

"Hey Nia after all this reaching Elysium is achieved where are you gonna go?"

"What do ya mean?"

"Well, didn't you have a home before you went out on this adventure?"

"Rex, please don't tell me you already forgot like half of my life story."

"Oh don't you worry I remember quite fine. I just asked because I think I may have an idea."

"What would that be?"

"Nia... I'd like you to move in with me."

Nia's mouth just hangs agape for a moment and Rex says in a mocking tone:

"Oi! Keep you mouth open like that and you'll be catchin flys."

Nia begins to softly cry.

"Nia! Are you alright?"

"Y-yes. Yes I am. I'm just so overwhelmed by that question because I haven't had a h-home in such a long time. I would love to live with you. But D-Dromarch has to come with us."

"That's fine. That's fine."

"So where will the place be?"

"Well I was thinking of buying a house but I don't exactly have the money for a house right now. So we'll have to stay at Aunt Corrine's for a little bit if that's fine with you."

"Anywhere is fine as long as we're together under the same roof."

"That's great. After our adventure is over I'll get a job and make enough money to buy us our very own house."

"I'll pitch in too to speed up the process."

"Thanks. I don't know how long it would've taken on my own." Rex replies in an exhausted tone.

"Don't mention it."

On the third day the day went by pretty slowly but the anticipation for what was coming later that day loomed over the heads of everyone. This feeling of fear of what's to come. Later on that same day one of the crew members informed Morag that they were twenty minutes away from land. With that Morag rounds up everyone and informs them that they will be getting off very soon. As everyone gathers up at the front of the vessel the captain informs them that they will be landing in less than a minute.

"I see, If we are not back within the next two hours you have the orders to leave us here."

"Special Inquisitor you can't be serious."

"Did I stutter?"

"Y-yes Ma'am! If you are not back within the next two hours we shall leave at once under your order."

"Good."

"What was that for?"

"If we do fall in this fight I don't want Torna slaughtering my men. They did not sign up for this, they don't deserve to die in a place like this."

"I see."

At that the crusier lands on the Cliffs of Morytha.

"Well Pyra... we're here."

to be continued...