Chapter 3: And now Girl Meets Girl
We catch up to Serena and her Salvager crew, before Serena visited the ship again to see for herself she changed out of her Salvager Gear and into her "Adventurer's Outfit" which consisted of a Black Dress with Black leggings, A Blue Zipper Jacket, and Blue knee high boots. She looked like she was ready for battle and she looked beautiful according to some people.
Nia: Nicely done, you're not half bad you know?
Serena: I hope so, I've been doing it for a while.
Malos: Alright, time to move on.
Jin: You, come with us.
Serena: Me?
Nia: Why? She's already done her job here.
Malos: I guess he thinks you need all the help you can get.
Nia: Oi, watch it!
Malos just simply laughs and walks away.
Serena: That guy is an asshole.
Nia: Tell me about it, well let's just go.
A monster appears and now the "team" fights together for the first time.
Nia: Hey Serena! Let me show you what a driver can do!
Serena gives Nia a confident look as if she said "Looking forward to it". With that the team of 6 defeated the monster, earning the awed comments from the salvagers.
Serena: I'm impressed, you guys sure are tough.
Nia: I hope so, I've been doing this for a while.
Serena: Ha Nice.
Malos: Hey you two, quit with your little girl talk and let's move already!
Nia: Hmph, self-important much?
Serena: Eh, I think we need to respect the elderly.
Nia: Elderly?
Both Nia and Serena both burst out in laughter from the comment before going in the ship. The ship was very old and infested with monsters. Serena couldn't help but wonder when and where the ship was made in the first place. Eventually Serena opens a door to a room, but what shocked her was what was inside the room. As she walked closer and closer to what looked to be a girl, he heart started racing.
Serena: A sword, and a girl?
Serena notices the glowing core on the sword and she attempts to reach for the crystal. To her it felt so right to do so, especially considering she thought she sensed life in it. Because of her transfixed state she couldn't hear Malos shouting at her at all. And thus Serena made contact with the crystal. Serena's hand was on the Core for about 5 seconds in real time, that is until out of seemingly nowhere, Jin stabs Serena through the heart. All Serena can do is look back at Jin in immense pain and horror as she asked…
Serena: Wh-Why?
Jin: It's nothing personal, if anything it's an act of mercy. At least you won't be alive to witness what happens next.
With that Serena just falls to the ground on her back and Jin destroys the sword. All Serena could hear before she completely blacked out was Nia in complete distraught screaming at Jin. Nia and Dromarch were equally distraught seeing Serena's lifeless eyes staring right back at them. Dromarch was keeping it all in but Nia was barely keeping it together. Quietly she whispers…
Nia: … Serena. I'm … I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that.
Dromarch quietly consoles his driver and the two exit the room. Nia had a lot of thinking to do later. On the flip side, Serena suddenly found herself waking up in an unknown location.
Serena: Mmm, what just happened? Where am I? And … Who is that? Well, only one way to find that out.
As she was walking towards the woman near the tree, Serena couldn't help but notice how beautiful her surroundings were. The clear blue skies, the wind brushing past her hair, and the grass was perfect. She had to resist the urge to explore for now.
Serena: Umm, excuse me miss?
Pyra: It's such a mournful sound. It hasn't stopped you know, not in all these years.
Serena: Hasn't stopped? Are you talking about the bell? Are we close to the Praetorium? Excuse me, but do you know where we are?
Pyra: This is Elysium, the land where long ago mankind lived alongside the Architect. It's where we were born.
Serena: Y-You're serious?! This is Elysium?!
You wouldn't believe how badly Serena wanted to scream in amazement but she couldn't find her voice for it. So instead she looked at the person next to her. Causing Pyra to turn and face Serena as well with a smile.
Serena: A core crystal. Are you a blade?
Pyra: Yes, and my name is Pyra.
Serena: Alright then Pyra, I'm…
Pyra: Don't worry I know you. Serena is your name right?
Serena: Yeah, but how did you know that?
Pyra: Just now when we came into contact, you relayed information to me.
Serena: Hold on, … just now? I'm sorry, I can't seem to remember how I got here.
Pyra: *Deep breath* You were killed. Stabbed through the heart and chest by Jin.
Serena: Jin? Through my …
Serena touches her chest and she doesn't feel her heart at all. This alone caused her to go pale, she placed one of her hands on her mouth looking like she was about to violently vomit.
Serena: Now I remember, that bastard stabbed me. Damn it! This is horrible! Everyone in the guild is in Danger!
She starts running but quickly stops in place.
Serena: There's nothing I can do. I … can't stop them.
She falls on her knees and punches the ground and silently she says.
Serena: I didn't even get the chance to fight. Gramps, Auntie, Xander, ... I'm such a failure.
Pyra couldn't help but feel extremely bad for the girl. Thanks to the info she got, she could tell she was a genuinely kind soul who didn't deserve what just happened to her. As she clenched her fist and her mind made up, she walked towards Serena.
Pyra: Serena, I have a request.
Serena: … I'm listening.
Pyra: Can you take me to Elysium?
Serena: Elysium? *wipes eyes* But, aren't we already here?
Pyra: This is just a memory and an ancient one at that. The real Elysium is located in your world and at the top of the World Tree.
Serena: So this is like a glorified illusion. But Pyra that's impossible, I'm dead remember? Even if I wanted to, I can't.
Pyra: Then I will give you half of my life force. This way you can be revived, as my driver. As the Driver of the Aegis.
Serena: The Driver of … the Aegis. Are you…
Pyra: The decision is yours Serena. But I will not force you.
Serena: Is this place really your home?
Pyra simply nods.
Serena: And it truly exists?
Pyra: I know what you're thinking Serena, and you are correct. By coming here you can save Alrest, save the world from it's own fate.
Serena: No more killing for land, no more fear of the planet dying. What moron would refuse this? I'm in Pyra! Let's head to Elysium. If we work together we will make it there.
Pyra: Thank you so much, Serena.
Serena: So, how do we do this?
Pyra's core starts glowing brightly.
Pyra: All you have to do is touch my Core Crystal again.
Serena: Sounds easy. Are you ready?
Pyra: Of course, are you?
With that Serena raises two fingers, takes one more deep breath in Elysium and places her fingers on Pyra's core again. And just like that she's back in her physical body holding Pyra sword in her right hand. Before she goes up into her first fight, through her clothes (which were suddenly cleaned from all the blood), she notices a green glow. Quickly she somewhat unzips her jacket off and notices the X shaped gem right above her chest. She puts her jacket back on and it thinks and as she does the sharp glow dissipates.
Serena: Phew, that glow doesn't go through my clothes. Thank You Pyra, you really did bring me back. I guess there's only one thing to do now.
With that Serena launches a fire blast and jumps to quickly escape from the old ship.
Nia with a sound of a mix between relief and surprise shouts Serena's name.
Malos: You?! And that sword … Impossible!
Serena: It's kinda rude stabbing a lady behind her back. You two are fucking Psychopaths! Pyra!
Pyra: I'm here!
Serena: Let's do this!
Pyra: Got it!
Malos: Jin, leave them to me.
Serena ran at full speed letting out a war-cry (which was far better than her cannon counterpart), she attempts to hit Malos with a powerful strike but he parries the attack with his own sword and pushes her back.
Malos: Sorry about this woman. But I can't let the likes of you claim her power for yourself. This is where your story ends, again.
Serena: Alright then, Bring it on!
Nia: Leave the girl alone Malos! What has she done to you?!
Malos: What has she done to me?! What a stupid thing to ask. This bitch, MADE HERSELF THE AEGIS' DRIVER!
The battle between Malos and Serena was getting more and more intense by the second. Malos was finding Serena hard to hit because of how nimble and quick she was. While Serena, even when she landed a direct hit seemed to not be able to truly do some massive damage to Malos. Not to mention this was her first time fighting with a blade and the weapon itself was different to what she was used to. Needless to say, Serena was on the back-foot until Nia had enough of watching Malos hurt Serena and intervened herself.
Dromarch: Are you alright, Lady Serena?
Serena: Yes I am, thanks to you both.
Malos: The hell are you doing Nia, have you gone completely mad?!
Nia: You're the one whose off your rocker! Hurting this girl out of nowhere!
With Nia fighting alongside Serena and finally disassociating herself with Torna, the battle continues and until Azurda intervenes and helps our heroes escape. However...
Nia: QUICK DROMARCH, BARRIER!
Serena: YOU TOO PYRA!
Pyra & Dromarch: Understood!
The two blades did they're best to shield Azurda, but the damage was done. After a while Azurda crashed in a unknown location with our heroes not on him at all. What will happen now? Only one way to find out.