They were making good time to the capital to see Cole. That was not what bothered Rex. Yes, he had yet to get an answer from Mythra as to whether or not she would fight with him, but that was not it either. No, what was bothering him was a bit more…personal.
Rex had taken up the rear letting Nia and Tora get in some experience. Tora especially could hardly learn if Rex kept doing all the work. That gave him plenty of time to think about what was really troubling him. Or rather who.
Pyra seemed…off today. He had not noticed it at first since he was still a bit drowsy from staying up so late convincing Zeke and Pandoria to help him out, but he started to pick up on it as time went on.
The most obvious issue was how quiet she was being. Not that she was normally loud or made her presence strongly known – unlike someone – but she was clearly all business now. Any attempt he made to strike up a conversation was met with a polite yet curt response that left little room for further conversation.
It was all around pretty disturbing to him. She had never brushed him off like that. Something was bothering her. Was it him? He ran through what had happened yesterday looking for something he might have done wrong. It seemed like things had gone decently until she got hurt.
Was that it? Did she blame him? Surely not. She never reacted that way before. So what was it? He kept thinking until he got to their late-night walk where he had asked for Mythra's help. Her help. Not Pyra's because he needed Mythra to better ensure their victory. After she could not help him beat Ahkos.
Rex suddenly smacked his forehead in exasperated realization. He had been so focused on making sure that they could stop Malos that he did not think about how his words might be interpreted by someone clearly suffering from an inferiority complex. To be fair, she used to hide it so well, or perhaps he got better at seeing it.
The salvager was suddenly brought out of his reverie by a massive hand on his shoulder, "I know that look. You done right messed up, haven't ya?"
"I…yeah, I think so," Rex sighed in defeat, "I didn't mean to, but I think I said something that hurt her." Rex eyed the Aegis as she and Roc helped the others with some Igna. Nothing they could not handle, and Azurda had been helping out giving advice at times. That left just him and Vandham taking up the rear.
"I see. Well, in my experience, it's best just to apologize. You didn't mean it, and she doesn't strike me as the type to hold a mistake against someone. Least of all you."
"I don't know. I may have really hurt her. She feels she's not good enough, and I may have accidently made her feel even worse. I wonder if I'm even good for her. She seems to just get hurt around me."
"Bah, that's just part of relationships."
"What?" Rex looked up at the large man almost desperate for answers.
"Sure. Whether you be comrades, friends, or lovers, there's a good chance that if you stick around long enough, someone's gonna get hurt, but the key to a good relationship is in how you deal with it. Sometimes, it's worth the pain. I'd say there are usually more good times than bad."
Rex thought about what the mercenary was saying. There was a wisdom to his words.
"Just apologize. I'm sure you two can work it out."
Just apologize, huh? Rex looked up as the group started moving again, he eyed Pyra walking in front of him. Yes, it was so simple. Maybe it would work. He would just have to prove to her how much she meant to him. He hoped that they would have more time for that soon.
With their admittedly leisurely pace, the group made it to the capital around late afternoon. Just in time for supper. Perfect. With any luck they should run into Iona again. Fonsa Myma was also looking just how Rex remembered it. Not that it would have changed much since his memories were only a few months ahead at most.
Unfortunately, that meant it was still really tense too. War with Mor Ardain was seemingly inevitable, and this time, Rex was not sure how he could stop them now. Elysium would not save them, and with Torna's titan long dead with no replacement, they could not exactly revive the titans either. No thanks to Amalthus.
Maybe he did not kill the titan himself, but his hands were far from clean. That man would get his dues, but for now, Rex had more immediate concerns. Hopefully, he could shift his focus to that soon, but for now, Malos took priority.
They actually got there a little early, but Vandham was able to pick Iona out in the line, so with them standing guard, no one dared bother her. With that taken care of, Iona gladly led Vandham and his friends to the theater where, once again, a show was going on.
As they all filed in, Rex eyed Pyra carefully. As it got to the parts with the Aegis, Rex was not sure what to do even after all these months. Should he try to comfort her? Really Mythra might be the one to need the comfort more, and Pyra might believe any attempts to do so were ignoring her or treating them as the same person, so he kept his thoughts to himself.
With that done and dusted, Vandham arranged for them to meet Cole. Like before, the flesh eater wanted to talk to Pyra in private, or perhaps more accurately, to Mythra. It made Rex further realize just how much that people just wanted Mythra thinking that one was the same as the other.
Well, not him. He would set that straight. After they stopped Malos he would need to set her down and make his feelings clear. Maybe…not all of his feeling right away, but enough. He did not want her living in Mythra's shadow, and he knew that at least future Mythra did not either. Something he believed the present Mythra wanted as well, or at least would.
Meanwhile, Pyra was uncomfortably answering questions meant for Mythra. At times it could seem almost like she was her sister's maid cleaning up her messes. Either way, she answered the questions as best she could, and it seemed that he was satisfied. Afterwards he agreed to help them after he rested.
However, it seemed that rest would not come so easily for her as Rex not so subtly hinted that he wanted to talk. The others mostly grinned as they went to their rooms hardly expecting the gravitas of the situation. As the others all left, Rex and Pyra did not say a word until everyone was gone. With one look, they knew it was time for business.
Malos awaited.
"The Aegis is taking her time," Ahkos adjusted his glasses as he spared a sidelong glance at the other Aegis.
"She'll come," Malos did not uncross his arms as he stared at the archway, "Don't you worry. She won't leave the kid behind."
"Still, not even a finger?"
"You have problems, you know that?"
"Hmph, like you're one to talk."
"Wait," Malos raised his arm, "She's here."
Both of them assumed battle stances even as neither of them could actually hear anything yet. What came next was more than they were expecting, but exactly what Malos had been hoping for. All they saw was a blinding flash before Malos just barely put up his guard in time for a lightning quick slash.
Malos laughed as he met familiar golden eyes glaring back at him, "I see you finally forsook that pathetic form," Mythra merely grimaced in response, "It's good to see you again, Mythra."
"Finally," Akhos swiped Obrona's knives at the Aegis who easily evaded, "The Aegis in her former glory. This should be fun."
Mythra glared at the flesh eater before holding her sword up high and bringing it down letting loose a beam of plasma directly at her opponent. Ahkos rolled out of the way, but he was still smirking despite the burn marks on the stone he had previously been standing on.
"Careful now. Don't overextend yourself."
Malos meanwhile jumped right back into the fray clashing swords with Mythra, "Brings back memories, doesn't it? Doesn't it just make you feel alive?"
"Still though," Akhos adjusted his glasses again, "Do you really think that even the mighty Aegis take us alone?"
For the first time since she showed up, Mythra's lips curled slightly upward as she pushed back from her sword lock with Malos and tossed her sword upward, "Who said I was alone?"
Rex grabbed the sword midair and came crashing down with a yell. Malos was taken aback by how bright Mythra's sword glowed in his hands. Just who was this kid? Unfortunately, as much as Malos wanted to lop that smirking head off of his tiny shoulders, he was proving infuriatingly hard to actually hit.
It had been a while, but Rex instantly got into the groove of using Mythra's foresight again. Of course, that did not mean he was immune to wearing out, and Jin had proven that it was not unbeatable. Still, with Mythra here from the start, he was confident about their odds.
Rex did spare a glance back to see Zeke picking Iona up. He gave the driver a salute and hurried off as part of the plan. Good. Then he and Mythra should be free to let loose a little more.
The crystal on Mythra's sword glowed as driver and blade shared a glance. It was a look that made Akhos slightly concerned but it enraged Malos. It reminded him far too much of him. No. This was worse somehow. Either way, it filled him with rage.
In that rage, he flung himself at Rex while Obrona got to work trying to block the ether flow again, but it did not work this time. Rex and Mythra did not so much as slow down amid Obrona's efforts. The barrage of swings and slashes continued with the driver seemingly dodging with little effort only intensifying Malos' rage.
"Why won't you just die!"
However, Rex did not flinch as he caught Malos' sword with Mythra's, "I won't let you get away with what you're planning! I won't let you have Pyra or Mythra! I won't let you kill any of them!"
Malos was forced to cover his eyes as Mythra's sword glowed bright, and by the time he recovered, Rex had fallen back no longer holding the weapon. Malos barely had time to jump out of the way as Mythra came hurling past slashing with the sword, and even then he was not fast enough to avoid a cut across his shoulder. It was shallow, but it was not meant to be.
She darted around almost faster than the eye could track save for when she made a turn. It was all Malos and Akhos could do just to keep all their limbs attached. The members of Torna were knocked to and fro by the attacks as their guards were quickly whittled down by the stunningly fast strikes. Malos was doing a little bit better, but still not great.
Akhos was especially struggling to keep up until he fell behind. In an instant Mythra was behind him, "Too slow." It was all the flesh eater could do to register the words before Mythra plunged her sword through his gut.
"Mythra!" Rex cried out when she did that and their bond weakened a bit. He had been hoping to keep them alive if possible. If they could get to Jin…
"What?" Mythra came to a halt only for Malos to immediately charge her forcing her to jump back. She glared at him in turn, and as much as Malos wanted to keep fighting, he knew the jig was up.
"Come on," Malos growled at Akhos as Obrona helped him over to Malos, "It's time to go."
Rex grabbed the sword as Malos reared back for his punch. Not this time. Rex ran forward as fast as he could and dove just as Malos' fist came down. His fist hit the weapon in its crystal, cracking it, but it failed to provide the distraction he had hoped it would. Unfortunately, the stunt also left Rex highly vulnerable. Something he realized when he looked up to see Malos' enraged face.
However, the violent backhand never came as Malos was instead forced to defend as a swarm of feathers rained down on him from above. Feathers. Rex's eyes shot wide in dread as he turned his head. No! No, no, no, no, no! They were supposed to be back with Zeke.
"Why doncha pick on someone your own size?" Vandham bellowed, however Rex was breathing heavily as Mythra's sword began to shine brighter despite the sparks while both Rex and Mythra's crystals glowed with an emerald light.
Malos snarled as Vandham charged forward, but it all seemed to be happening slow motion for Rex who was on the verge of hyperventilating. No, not again. Not this time. Mythra's blade shone even brighter as he held it aloft causing Mythra to pause for a moment. The scene continued to play out, and Rex's cry echoed throughout the theater before a bright light shown from the sky.
"Vandham!"
A/N: Well, Rex may be about as ready as he's going to be for the challenge run I've considered. Just him and the Aegis girls. Not sure if or when I'll do it.