/Time: During Chapter 3, right before encountering Valdi/

/Elsie's Spout, Ribbi Flats, Fornis Region/

Sometimes, the state of technological development in Aionios confused Taion something fierce.

"Probably shouldn't be climbing up this one, huh...?" murmured Sena with a frown, gazing up at the harrowing cliffside.

"But, this is the route Ethel told us to take, no question," he mused aloud. It was almost as if things were being kept in a stasis...because surely a solution to the problem of Bunnit's Bane would have been devised by now.

"Well, I guess that means...we'll just, uh...have to keep going then," relented Mio with a defeated sigh.

The violet vines, stretching up the cliffside in almost bizarrely perfect lines, would have been simple enough to climb...

(In the background, Lanz asked, "Maybe we can Interlink and just jump all the way up there? We'd be done in a flash!")

...but alas, Bunnit's Bane was a surprisingly toxic flora, with leaves that secreted a caustic substance which could burn skin and even dissolve most types of clothing with enough contact.

("I'd rather not use our Interlink powers unless we're in battle," cautioned Noah. "We still don't quite understand them in full...better to save it for when we truly need it.")

It was a wonder that no one had figured out a method of countering it, given that it seemed to be common enough in both Keves and Agnus. (Just one look had been enough for their group to write off this particular cliffside as a means of ascension. What other commonalities did their warring nations share? You've already been puzzling over why we have a common language and a common currency...)

(Eunie's audible scoff echoed in the background. "Ugh, why do you have to be so snuffin' sensible, Noah? Rae-Bel Tableland is just up there.")

Then again, for excursions such as theirs, they would have flown on a Levnis to get to their destination...an option they sadly lacked, at this point in time. The wonders of being traitors to the Castles, mused Taion with a grimace. I suppose in the grand scheme of things...when we were bound to the Flame Clock, and focused on devouring the lives of our foes...something like Bunnit's Bane would have been a mere annoyance not worth bothering with...

Noah spoke more audibly, bringing Taion back to the present. "Let's look for a place we can climb from. I'll take a look around here."

"Okay, I'll check out over here..." said Eunie with a defeated tone.

Then they were suddenly ambushed by a youthful Kevesi — looking akin to a miniature Lanz — and two Levnises, and Taion had no more time to continue his pondering.

xx

A matter of hours later, after befriending Valdi, thwarting Consul Q, and freeing Colony 30...a solution would be unexpectedly gift-wrapped to them.

xx

/Colony 30 Canteen, Ribbi Flats, Fornis Region/

An off-handed comment from Eunie about 'purple vines being a snuffing eyesore' was all it had taken. "Oh, you mean Bunnit's Bane?" remarked Valdi. "That stuff's no big deal."

As one, their party of eight (save Manana, who was too busy whipping up her take on the local recipe) turned towards the tiny commander. "Eh?" blurted Sena.

"Well, I felt bad using the hover-type Levnises to get to the top of the cliffs around our colony," he explained, with an almost ashamed tone. "It just seemed like I was abusing their talents, using them for something that we could do ourselves...then when Yuzet told me that 'our salvagers still need to get places', I went and made these." With no aplomb, he pulled out a pair of gloves made from a strange synthetic material, with numerous grooves and what looked like some sort of pale dust etched into the tiny seams. "It neutralizes the acidic compounds secreted by the leaves. Even made some boot covers as well. Made it real easy for me to get to more places!" Briefly frowning, he added (almost as an aside!), "Of course, our salvagers complained about how they now had to climb a lot more, but Yuzet said they needed the upper-body workouts anyhow...so it was all good! 'Course, I made sure my gauntlet and mechanic's wardrobe are protected from the stuff just in case, but it's always good to have backup tools."

Taion stared unblinkingly at the sixth-termer who had oh-so-casually admitted to inventing a practical counter to the toxicity of Bunnit's Bane without any ceremony whatsoever.

"Suh-weet," said Lanz with a grin. "Good thing you have room for more things other than Levnises in that head of yours!"

"What do you mean?" asked Valdi with genuine confusion.

"Excuse me," said Noah, leaning forward with intent. "Do you think you could have pairs of gloves and boot covers made for each of us?"

Valdi scratched at the back of his head. "I mean, I'd need to get more materials, but I don't see why not."

"We can help get anything you're missing," offered Mio with a smile. "Better than trying to spend time finding another way up to Rae-Bel Tableland..."

Enough of this. "Excuse me Valdi," interrupted Taion with a tone that some might call strained. "But this invention of yours...did you ever think about submitting it to Keves Castle? To ensure your fellow Colonies would have access to this" incredibly useful and convenient "bit of tech?"

The eccentric boy blinked, leaning back with a thoughtful expression. "Huh...you think I should have?" he replied, as though the idea had just occurred to him.

"..." Taion simply sighed, rubbing at the bridge of his nose. Who wouldn't think of providing such a helpful tool to their comrades?!

(At the far end of the canteen, their culinary specialist suddenly cried out "Manana has come up with new recipe!")

"You look like you're overheating, Taion," said Eunie with a joking tone. "Everything all right up there?"

(Riku shook his head with a huff. "Manana not read mood of room...")

"It's nothing," he muttered, not even bothering to stop Eunie as she condescendingly (or sincerely...or perhaps both at once; Eunie seemed like the type of person to somehow pull off both at once) patted his back. I miss when the world made sense...

xx

It was a short while later that they finally made their first climb; with Valdi's handy little gloves and covers, their hands and shoes were protected from Bunnit's Bane.

Granted, Riku and Manana had to cling to Lanz and Sena respectively during the ascension, but the duo had lightheartedly treated them as a simple handicap.

Thus their adventure continued.

xxxx

Author's Note: I'm probably thinking way too hard about this for something that's clearly an example of "Gameplay and Story Segregation" (because seriously, why wouldn't they be able to climb those vines by themselves? They're soldiers! Or heck, why not use their Ouroboros forms to ascend the unclimbable cliffs?), but I wanted to give it a shot anyway.

Anyhow Taion, don't be too harsh on Valdi; he's just a precious little gearhead.

Also, Manana and Ignis would get along like a house on fire.