Rex leaned against the railing of the ship as it head for Leftheria. Looking out over the cloud sea was relaxing to him. Familiar. He did not used to be so tense or closed off, but, well, watching your closest friends getting killed one after another could do that to a person. If it was quiet enough, he could still see and hear it all sometimes, but the cloud sea seemed to put some of that at rest. Even if he knew its real purpose now. He may have been one of the only ones that did, and that was a strange feeling in and of itself.

However, another thought permeated his mind. Before leaving Mor Ardain, Mikhail had requested to see him. He found it a bit odd, but the blade eater had saved them in the future, so Rex obliged. He figured he owed him as much.

"So, you're the driver of the Aegis," Mikhail leaned forward in his chair, seemingly unbothered by the restraints, "Gotta say, when I saw you, I wasn't all that impressed at first."

"Neither was I," Rex shot back.

"Touche, but I admit that you're skilled. Still, you claim to know what Mythra did, but do you really?"

"I know she accidentally killed the Tornan titan, but I also know it was Amalthus that hunted them down."

"You do, huh? Guess that saves me the work of telling you. I was planning on warning you about him."

"You were?"

"Yeah. I may not be your friend, but neither is the Praetor. Honestly, I'd rather you win than him, and I definitely don't want the Aegis falling into his hands."

"They won't. I won't let them."

"'They?' Do you actually think they're different?"

"I know they are. Now. I didn't always."

"I see, well, I guess you'd know better than me." Mikhail leaned back, "It is strange though, how that Mythra could have made another self like that."

"I don't really understand it myself, but I know it's true."

"Well, kid, looks like you've got a handle on this. I won't bother asking how you know everything you know, like how we were going to be there, but I don't think you're a bad kid. Good luck out there."

"Thanks."

Unbeknownst to the salvager, Pyra was just a short ways off keeping an eye on him. She worried when he was lost in thought like this, but she did not know what she could do. Something that seemed to be a fairly common occurrence. For a moment back at the dock she thought she might have actually stopped the canon, but, no, Mythra had to bail them out and blow her cover.

While Mythra seemed to be coming to terms with her powers now, Pyra could not really bring herself to accept that she was at all important to any of this. No matter what Rex said, she had no idea why Mythra would need her to reach this level of power Rex spoke of. He insisted they needed to work together, but she wondered if he even really knew that or if he was just trying to make her feel better.

"Wow, you look really deep in thought."

"Huh?" Pyra looked at the electric blade, "S-sorry."

"Admiring your driver, huh?"

"I-I, umm, er," Pyra became a blushing mess as Pandoria grinned.

"Relax. It's fine. I won't judge. Though, there was something else I was curious about, if you don't mind."

"Oh? What did you want?"

"It's just…when you change…what is that? Is it another form or are you both separate?"

Pyra froze. She was not honestly sure how to answer that herself. Most of her life she had merely considered herself something of a shadow. She had not really thought of herself as a person, but rather an extension of Mythra. But…ever since Rex found her, she was forming her own relationships, her own bonds with others. She…she wanted to be her own self, but she did not know if she was.

"Er, sorry if that was too personal. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"Oh, um, thank you. Sorry, I just…don't have an answer for you. Not yet."

Pyra…

"Ah, it's good to be back home," Rex smiled as they walked into Fonsett. It was probably his most genuine smile he had given in a long time. Since he found out he was alone in coming back at least. There was just something about home that did him good.

"Rex!" Before he could get another word in, he was soon set upon by a small group of children who wasted no time in dragging the driver away.

"Er, make yourselves at home," Rex called back as he was drug away, "I'll, uh meet up with you later."

A couple of hours later, Rex had finally managed to free himself from his adoring fans and took up a spot in front of his old hideout. This was how Pyra found him when she rounded a corner, however, she hesitated and started to turn back after seeing him.

Ugh, just go to him. You know you want to.

Weren't you the one telling me not to get too close?

I think that ship has sailed. Besides…if he's right, and he's been pretty accurate so far, then maybe…I was…not entirely…right.

I don't know, he looks peaceful. I wouldn't want to bother him.

I promise you, he won't be bothered. Do you want your big sis to help out?

No! I–

"Pyra?"

"Ah! Uh, sorry if I bothered you. I can go."

"Wait!" Rex called out before she could leave, "I don't mind. You can…join me. If you want."

"Oh, um, okay." Pyra awkwardly came to sit next to him as they looked out to the horizon.

Have fun, you two. Mythra cackled as she left deeper into her mind to give them some semblance of privacy.

Mythra!

"It's really beautiful, isn't it?" Rex did not turn his attention from the horizon.

"It is. You come from a lovely village, Rex."

"Yeah. I really want to protect it. I know I've been kinda distant lately. I want to be friendlier with the guys, but…"

"It must be hard on you. Having lost them all once."

"Yeah," Rex looked down at the ground between his legs, "I…I want to protect them too. All of them. Someone…someone once told me that I was greedy for wanting to protect so much. That there was only so much that one man could do. I wasn't entirely sure what to do about that at first. I still care about them, but maybe he was right. I can't do everything on my own. Sometimes you have to trust people to protect themselves."

"Rex…"

"As silly as it may sound, I kinda started to focus my efforts. I decided that, if I could keep you and Mythra safe, then I thought that there was nothing you two couldn't do. You could keep them safe for me."

"I'm sorry," Pyra apologized, guilt overwhelming her.

"Huh? No! I blame myself if anything. Maybe if I had been a better driver, Malos never would have reached Elysium. We'll succeed this time though. I just know it." Pyra smiled at his determination. He was certainly strong willed.

"Though, like I said, sometimes people have to protect themselves. Maybe…maybe we should tell the others soon."

"If that's what you want," Pyra offered her support.

"I'll think about it, but…I don't want them to have to know. To know all of what I know." Rex swallowed and Pyra hesitantly put a hand on his shoulder. It had been aimed for his hand, but she had redirected it.

"Do whatever you think is right."

"Thanks, Pyra," Rex smiled and lightly blushed as he realized the contact. Pyra quickly retracted her hand after a moment, though they both missed the sensation. After a moment, Rex remembered something. He quickly stood and offered Pyra his hand, "I almost forgot something."

"What's that?" Pyra took his hand and let him help her up.

"Will you come visit my parents with me?"

A/N: Next chapter should be something.