By the next morning, everyone woke up and met up outside the tent. Pyra was awake and well.
"Good morning!" Pyra said happily to Rex and co.
"Pyra! Feeling better?" Rex asked.
"Yeah! I slept so much." Pyra said.
"Good. Glad to hear." Rex said.
"Same here. So what do we do now?" Robyn asked.
This made Lilika ponder for a moment, thinking more of what to do, especially since Torna was after them, and Pyra.
"Good question." Lilika said.
"Also Rex…Nia's got something to talk to you about." Pyra said.
"Yeah? Go ahead Nia." Rex said while everyone turned towards the kitty girl.
"Ah…I…Rex…I want you to come help me." Nia requested.
"Sure. If you'd like me to. I will." Rex answered with a smile.
"To Vandham. I need to tell him about my past with Akhos and all that lot." Nia explained more.
"I see where this is going. Come on guys, how about we get some breakfast?" Robyn asked the others.
"Tora love breakfast. Most important meal of the day." Tora said.
"Alright." Lilika said as she heard her stomach growl in hunger.
As the rest went for breakfast, Pyra made tea for everyone. This particular kind of tea, albeit foreign to Lilika and Robyn, was unbelievably delicious.
"I made tea for everyone. Help yourselves." Pyra said with a large smile.
"Oh! No! Pyra getting it completely wrong…" Tora said while looking at the Aegis.
"Oh, would you rather have something else Tora?" Pyra asked while losing her smile.
"Oh, no, no it not that. Tora just think if Pyra going to do maid job, Pyra should be more…maidy." Tora answered.
Robyn and Lilika cringed from that comment. Lilika began to imagine Pyra as a maid…and she was cute, but still rather cringy how Tora spoke about it.
"Maidy?" Pyra asked with cure confusion.
"Tora! This beauty was kind enough to make tea. Can't you be grateful?" Lilika asked with a bit of anger.
"Seriously, have some respects Tora." Robyn said while glaring at the Nopon.
"Oh, Tora know that, but also…strive to perfection is important. Tora feel very strongly about this. Most important thing for maid is…un…in Nopon word is…'blushy-crushy.' Pyra still lacking in that area." Tora exclaimed.
"I... I'm lacking? But what on Alrest is 'blushy-crushy?'" Pyra asked.
"It uh…what every man looking for. If Pyra master the art of blushy-crushy, then all men fall at Pyra's feet!" Tora yelled.
"What…?" Robyn asked with just as much confusion. His obliviousness was showing, and Lilika was giggling about it seeing how dumb he is about it.
"A-all men? Really?" Pyra asked while showing her shy side.
"Pyra, there's no reason to listen to this fur-ball." Lilika said to Pyra with a look of worry.
"But…" Pyra was trying to say while thinking about it more.
"Is Pyra interested in essence of maidiness?" Tora asked.
"A-am I interested? If you think Rex would like that…" Pyra answered.
"Rex-Rex is boy, so he definitely not immune to the charms of blushy-crushy." Tora answered with a grin.
"Robyn is immune though. He's got no street smarts." Lilika pointed out while looking at Robyn.
"I…WHAA…!?" Robyn yelled with shock and anger.
"Case in point." Lilika said while snickering.
"I see. Okay, I'm ready! Tora, tell me what to do." Pyra said with excitement.
"Pyra…?" Lilika said with concern that she was going to regret this.
"Tora now introduce assistant to help teach essences of maidiness." Tora said as he presented to one of the first people they could think of.
"How may I be of service, Mr. Rex sir? Tee-hee!" Poppi squeaked like a girl and bounced a bit.
"P-Poppi?" Pyra asked with her hands covering her mouth.
"What is this Tora? Some kind of malfunction?" Robyn asked while looking at the artificial Blade.
"Do not worry. This is just 'Rex-Focused Blushy-Crushy Maximization Mode!' Have a good day salvaging Mr. Rex sir! Tee-hee-hee!" Poppi yelled while still bouncing a bit.
"Mr. Rex…sir?" Lilika asked while cringing again.
"S-so this is 'blushy-crushy'…?" Pyra asked.
"Okay Pyra, copy what Poppi say." Tora said, completely ignoring her question.
"Mr. Rex sir, Poppi is blushy-crushy just for you." Poppi said while Pyra walked right by her.
"Mr. Rex…sir…Pyra is…blushy-crushy…just for you?" Pyra struggled to say while looking very bashful.
"Nonononono! Rex-Rex will never fall at Pyra's feet with such low level of blushy-crushy! Try again top!" Tora exclaimed.
"Mr. Rex! Sir! Pyra is blushy-crushy just for you!" Pyra yelled with more confidence.
"Not there yet." Tora said. And like that, Lilika and Robyn facepalmed out of annoyance.
"I can't watch this anymore." Lilika grunted.
"Me neither…let's go meet up with the others and see what their up to, and hopefully find out a plan against Torna." Robyn said after he finished eating.
"Tora think that is best plan. We'll work on Pyra's maidiness later." Tora said.
They soon enough met up with the others just outside the gates of Garfont. Their Blades were already with them.
"Right, come on you lot. We're heading out to the Urayan capital. I got a friend that may know how to get to Elysium." Vandham said with a grin.
"That's amazing!" Lilika said as she was excited to get to more civilized areas.
"Yew! Zuo! Take care of the place, yeah?" Vandham asked his colleagues.
"Nae, leave it to us boss." Yew said.
"Boss, you're in a good mood somehow." Zuo said.
"Seems like it. Take care." Vandham said as soon as they began to leave.
They began making their way towards the capital. They saw more of the innards of the Titan's guy. Many things were amazing for most of them. Little did they realized that they were being watched from a couple cloaked figures.
They soon reached the stomach, where they saw an amazing view.
"Whoa…look at that." Lilika said as they stopped to admire the view.
"I can never get tired of this view." Vandham said while crossing his arms and smiled.
"Incredible." Robyn said.
Suddenly, they heard someone laughing, echoing all around them.
"Looks like the talk of the Aegis and the ancient ones are true." A man's voice spoke.
"Who go there!?" Mayonaka yelled.
"Show yourself!" Vale demanded while pulling out her lance.
Just then, two hooded figures, a man, and a woman, stepped forward and revealed themselves. The man was tall and buffed with a long sword on his back. He had on a large black coat exposing a bit of his chest, black fingerless gloves, long dark grey pants, and long black boots with patches of armor all over his body. The woman had a grey stripped shirt with long gloves and boots. She had frilled shorts with a long cord coming from behind her with a lightbulb attached.
"That's a heavy burden you have there. Sure you're up for it pipsqueak? See sense, step aside and let the big boys take care. C'mon. Yield the merchandise." The man said.
As he spoke, they all took notice of how very well in sync they were with their movements.
"You will not lay a hand on the lovely Lady Pyra ruffian!" Mayonaka spat at them.
"Also…ancient ones?" Jacu asked.
"The ones that awoken from a 2000-year sleep. Those two, the ones from the destroyed world." The man said while he and the woman pointed at Lilika and Robyn.
"Vandham, do you know these two?" Rex asked.
"Never seen them in my life." He answered while crossing his arms.
Just then, the two cloaked figures removed their hoods and showed their faces, startling the others a bit. The man had short grey spikey hair, grey eye, and an eyepatch covering his left eye. The woman had large circular glasses that were somewhat fogged up that they couldn't see the eyes. She had a small lightbulb hat, and her shoulders were replaced with large light bulbs as well. Her chest had a Core Crystal symbol, revealing her to be a Blade.
"Are you….?" Lilika was asking as she looked like she seen him before.
"Heh." The man smirked while showing his teeth.
"Uh…" Rex was figuring out who he was.
The two hunched backwards, mirrored each other from the shock of them not knowing them. They readjusted themselves somewhat slowly.
"You really are a bunch of rinky-dink, bogus, two-bit, no-mark Drivers, aren't you?" The man asked. "Behold the mighty Zeke! Von! Genbu! Bringer of Chaos…! Mostly known as Zeke! And often addressed as…THE ZEKENATOR!" The man shouted.
'Man…this guy really is making a fool of himself.' Robyn thought to himself.
"Behold my Blade, Pandoria! And this is my sword! The Purple Lighting Dreamsmasher! If you want a taste, come and get it!" Zeke yelled as he pulled out his sword and activated it while aiming it at them.
Everyone was looking at him with sheer awkwardness.
"We're good." Rex said.
"If you'll excuse us, we have places to be." Lilika said.
"Later." Vale sneered as they begun to walk past Zeke and Pandoria.
"Good? No!?" Zeke yelled with surprise as they casually walked by them. "Hold on!" Zeke yelled while getting in front of them, stopping them. "Wait you barbarians!" He continued to yell.
"This guy…I'm tired of him already." Nia said out of annoyance.
"Gah! You think you lowlifes can lick the three of us!?" Zeke asked with a bit of anger.
"Three of you? I count two. Lost someone?" Nia asked.
This made the both of them look around a bit.
"I kinda like this guy." Robyn whispered to Lilika.
"He is quite the character." She said in agreement.
"Huh? Oh, wait till you see this. Our beloved mascot. Turters, reveal yourself…wha-Turters? Turters? Where are you boy…? TURTERS!" Zeke shouted in worry for his missing companion.
This made everyone look around as well. Robyn then spotted something while looking down in front of Pyra. He tabs her on the shoulder and gestured her to look down. There she saw a little turtle coming her way.
"Oh!" She yelled with a bit of surprise. She gently picked it up. "Hello little guy. How are you? What are you doing out here all alone?" Pyra asked while gently stroking its shell.
"It's so cute." Robyn said as he stroked it as well.
"The third was a very small turtle…? This man is quite an imbecile." Mayonaka said while rolling her eyes.
"Mayonaka…show some tact, will you? It is adorable." Lilika said to Mayonaka with a bit of sour in her voice.
Zeke was on the ground looking until he looked up and saw the turtle.
"Ah ha, ha, ha! Turters!" He yelled happily as he waddled ran towards Pyra. "Handling a man's turtle!" He growled as he snatched the turtle out of her hand and waddled ran back towards Pandoria.
Pandoria was so happy that their mascot was back that she gently snuggled it.
"Er…he could've just snatched Pyra there. Why did he go for his turtle?" Rex asked while watching them.
"Well at least he has a soft spot." Roc said.
"Ugh! What an idiot." Nia hissed.
That comment made Zeke and Pandoria looked back at them.
"Listen…whatever." Zeke said while putting his turtle away. "The three of them will be mine soon enough. Got a problem with it? Then come at me! And don't hold back!" Zeke yelled while activating his sword again and aimed it at them. He then showed off a charming smile.
"What!? Is this guy for real!?" Nia asked with shock, thinking that he really was gonna fight them.
"Prepare for real destruction." Mayonaka said while the Drivers activated their weapons.
"BRINGER OF CHAOS!" Zeke shouted and he made the first move onto Nia, causing Dromarch to intercept the attack by creating a barrier.
"Thanks Dromarch!" Nia said before she strikes.
Lilika and Robyn were firing from a distance. Robyn was thinking if the world has gone mad.
"Strange things are here in Alrest. I wonder how we are gonna keep avoiding messes like this." Lilika said to herself.
"LOOK OUT!" Jacu screamed while Zeke charged at Lilika.
Unfortunately, Lilika had no time to react as Zeke struck hard at her. This made her fall backwards onto her back.
"Going up!" Zeke yelled while using his sword to send her flying upwards and she spun.
"YAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" She screamed as she spun in the air until she hit the ground unable to move due to how dizzy and in pain.
"MISTRESS!" Mayonaka screamed in fright as she got to her and pulled her away to tend to her.
"That's it! Jacu! Give it to him!" Robyn yelled while in rage.
"RIGHT! TIDAL SURGE!" Jacu screamed as she used her ether cannon and fired a powerful burst of water and just barely missed him. "RISE!" Jacu screamed again as she used her powers and turned it into a powerful wave.
"Huh?" Zeke asked as he turned around and saw the wave. It was too late for him. The wave hit him and sent him flying, causing a knock back, and left him vulnerable.
"Mistress Lilika, now's your chance." Mayonaka said while looking at her Driver.
"Here goes." Lilika said as she took aim and fired a dark arrow at him, causing him to wince. Jus then, Mayonaka turned her crossbow into a halberd. "Going in!" Lilika yelled as she used her halberd to attack.
As Zeke was getting up, the attack forced him backwards and everyone fired a powerful special attack on him. He was sent further back closer to the edge of the cliff, and everyone was heavily breathing a bit.
"Good try. Not bad. B-b-b-b-but. Wipe your faces for my super-ultra-mega move!" Zeke yelled while gripping his sword tight.
"We're waiting with bated breath for your super-duper-whatever." Nia said out of annoyance from his childish behavior.
Zeke channeled a bit of lighting from his body.
"You asked for-""STOP!" Robyn yelled, interrupting him.
"WHAT!?" Zeke shouted out of anger.
Robyn sighed when he began to piece some things together on the guy.
"You're working for Torna aren't you?" He asked him.
"Torna!? Why would I work for scumbags like them?" Zeke asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait…you don't work for terrorists?" Jacu asked while lowering her weapon.
"Nooo! That's it! I'll make you pay for asking!" Zeke yelled as electricity began to be channeled. He then grunted as he swung his sword and electricity began exploding out of him.
Everyone grunted as this was happening and they stood away from him.
"NIA YOU FOOL!" Vale screamed.
"You had to say something my lady?" Dromarch asked with a bit of anger.
"Whoa! Me and my big mouth!" She yelled while shielding her eyes.
"BRINGER OF CHAOS!" Zeke shouted while aiming is sword in the air. He then jumped up and prepared to strike. "ULTIMATE LIGHTNING FURY SLASH!" He shouted before slamming the sword onto the ground, causing a burst of electricity to explode from the ground. He then grinned at them.
Suddenly, the ground beneath began to go.
"Huh?" Lilika asked as she looked at the ground while it was breaking.
"Um…" Pyra was trying to say as it was happening.
"Whoa!" Zeke yelled as he was losing his balance. He then saw Robyn slowly waving goodbye at him.
Finally the ground broke, causing Pandoria and Zeke to scream as they fell with the rubble.
"Ugh. What an idiot." Nia said while looking at the ground that gave way.
"I was starting to like the guy." Robyn admitted to the others.
"Either way, don't see that every day." Vandham said.
"Shall we be off?" Mayonaka asked while looking back at the others.
"Indeed." Dromarch said as they began to carry on towards the capital.
Robyn took one last look at where Zeke and Pandoria were standing before they fell. Something about them seemed uncertain.
"Robyn! Come on!" Lilika yelled for him.
"Right." He said before joining back with the others.
"Why would he be interested in you guys? If he's not with Torna, then who's he with?" Rex asked.
"The only thing I can think of is that, according to an old saying, the enemy of my enemy is our friend. Perhaps we should've heard him out. Ah well…look!" Robyn yelled as they saw a large settlement from a distance.
"That's it! The Urayan capital. Fonsa Myma." Vandham said as they were making their final approach to the capital.
"It's incredible." Lilika said.
"This is where my old friend Cole is living at, and he'll know how to get to Elysium." Vandham said.
"Sounds good." Lilika said while smiling.
When they arrived at the capital, Fonsa Myma, they saw heavily armed Titans outside a farming area. They saw lots of settlements of shops, an inn, and a ration station.
As they were walking by, a goon shoves a little girl and snatches the ration pack she had. Pyra gasped and she ran to her.
"Kid!" Robyn yelled with shock.
"The nerve…I'll handle this one." Vale said with venom in her voice.
Pyra approaches the girl and aides her.
"Are you okay?" Pyra asked as she held her a bit.
"Who do you think you are, pushing her around?" Lilika asked with anger.
"What do you think you're doing? She's just a child." Pyra snapped at him.
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" The goon asked.
"I'll tell you." Vale yelled as she snuck up from behind, jabbed his leg with her lance and grabbed an ear.
"GAAH!" The goon yelled in pain.
"You must have patience Lady Vale." Mayonaka said while looking at the goth girl with an attitude.
"Oh I beg to differ. Now listen here bully! Just because you're an adult doesn't mean you have to bark orders like a hot-headed, power-hungry, scum! You also have to help the weak. And you call yourself a Driver, unlike them." Vale hissed as she showed him the others.
The goon then took noticed of Pyra, Lilika and Robyn, who glared at him.
"Wait…that Core Crystal color…and you two…the…GYAH!" The goon yelled in fright, elbowed Vale in the ribcage, causing her to release him, and he bolted.
Vale straightened herself up and rejoined Robyn, who she high fived for the victory.
"Her return must be well known." Lilika said while watching as he went out of sight.
"Not just Pyra, but you two as well." Vandham said.
Meanwhile, Vale went back to the girl and handed her the ration pack.
"Here you go sweetie." Vale said with a kind smile.
"Th…thank you miss." The girl said with a small smile. Vale then cupped her cheek a bit and backed away.
"Sorry…I guess I should've used the cloak." Pyra said while realizing that she still had said cloak.
"But who spread rumors?" Poppi asked while thinking of the situation.
"From what I heard it was some Nopon merchant." Vandham said.
"Nopon merchant?" Rex asked while thinking on who it could be that spread those rumors.
"Excuse me Mr. Vandham?" The girl asked the bruiser.
"Huh?" Vandham asked while turning towards her. "Oh well! If it isn't Iona! You've grown quite a bit. How's Grandpa Cole doing?" He asked her while grinning, only to lose it when she looked down and looked sad. "Oh…not too good then." Vandham said with concern while seeing her expression.
"Care to introduce us?" Lilika asked.
"Ah? Oh this is Iona. My old friend takes care of her." Vandham said while presenting to the girl to them.
Pyra then walks to her and bends down to her height and smiles. Iona looks at her deep into her eyes.
"Hi Iona, great to meet you." Pyra said like she was being like a big sister to her.
Just as things were beginning to calm down, Nia then took noticed that there was a Core Crystal on the ground by the steps.
"Huh? That guy dropped a Core Crystal." Nia said as she picked it up.
"I say use it. Serves that guy right for what he did." Vandham said with a grin.
"But which one of us should use it?" Nia asked while looking back at the others.
"You should be the one to use it as you found it first." Rex said with a smile.
"Rex is right. Besides, you could use some more allies." Jacu said.
"Tora agrees with big lady." Tora said, only to be kicked in the back from Jacu, causing him to hit the steps. "Meh…meh…think before you speak Tora." Tora said while recovering.
"Right…here goes." Nia said as she began to activate the Core Crystal.
The crystal began to glow as she pressed it onto her chest. Light silhouettes shot out from behind her, ending with a humanoid.
Just then, a diamond shaped blue crystal began to glow a woman's chest. The woman had pale light skin, blue eyes with dirty blonde hair underneath a wide-brimmed hat. Her body was covered with pearl white and gold plate armor with a metal skirt and heels made of heels. She wore long armored gloves with blue energy circles on her wrist and her head.
"I'm Agate!" She yelled as she reached up high and summoned a Greataxe. She then slammed it onto the ground, causing the rubble to explode into pink petals. She then clenched her fist and blew it, opening her hand and petals flown towards them. She then swiped the ground with her axe and pink colored gems rose from the ground. "My heart is pure, and my will unbreakable." She concluded while striking a final pose.
The Blade, Agate, approached everyone and gave a curtsy and a big smile.
"Please to meet'cha." Nia said as Agate approached her new Driver.
"Likewise." Agate said with a cheerful personality.
"Come on! Let's get going before more of those goons show up." Vandham suggested.
"You don't have to tell us twice." Lilika said as they began to make their way up some stairs.
As they began to continue upwards, they got to know Agate a lot more. She showed signs of how curious she was about mineralogy, pretty much anything that involves rocks and minerals. Robyn talked to her more of how to identify rocks and minerals, what the difference were for each type of rock, and Lilika and Robyn even mentioned their favorite kind of gem.
They soon enough came across a theater.
"Whoa…" Lilika said in amazement.
"'The Heroic Adventure of Addam?' Seems interesting." Dromarch said while reading the play that is happening.
"…Adam?" Lilika asked in confusion.
"He was my previous Driver." Pyra answered.
"How'd you know that? Wouldn't your memories be wiped from your previous cycle?" Robyn asked while thinking of a contradiction from what Pyra said.
"Pyra is a special case…she's the Aegis Robyn. You and your partner were discovered in the same type of pod we found her in, but she was willingly sealed away. She has incredible powers and was in a major war before she was sealed away." Nia explained.
"Oh…right." Robyn said with a bit of a sheepish look.
"Wanna take a quick peek?" Vandham asked.
"I never been to the theater before." Rex said with excitement.
"Neither has Tora." Tora said with the same excitement.
"It'll be interesting." Mayonaka said.
"Nice and quiet though. Looks it's pretty packed today." Vandham said before they entered.
When they went inside, they took a seat while the ending of the performance was underway.
They were amazed of how it turned out and how it all centered on Pyra. It was an entertaining show.
After the show, Vandham led them down the hallway towards a backroom.
"Hey." Nia said to Rex while everyone else walked by them. "Kind of awkward, right? I mean that play…it was about Pyra. Must've been kind of bizarre for her, eh?" Nia asked him.
"I dunno…I guess?" Rex said with uncertainty.
"Maybe you should go and make it right." Nia suggested as she walks off where the others are at.
Rex wanted to say something, but he heard Pyra was coming. He turned towards her, hoping that she would look awkward, but she was pretty happy.
"Wasn't it incredible? They had the cloth moving just like real clouds! How do you think they did that?" Pyra asked.
"Huh…? Ah…yeah! They were pretty cool. They were…cloudy-OUCH!" Rex grunted in pain after Azurda slapped him hard in the head.
"What are you saying bonehead?" Azurda asked with a bit of disgust of how he was approaching what he was saying to Pyra.
"I don't know what to say in a situation like this." Rex whined a bit.
The both of them caught up with the others as they entered a small room filled with junk.
"Comin' in old fella…Crickey! Still collecting the junk, are ya?" Vandham asked while looking around at the junk in the room.
The old man looked back them. He had dark skin that look like he was deteriorating a bit. He's wearing a long brown cloak with a lanyard with gems on it.
"Watch it you bruiser! Don't make fun a man's hobbies!" The old man growled a bit.
"I take it you will be able to provide assistance on our quest?" Mayonaka asked while stepping forward a bit.
"Depends." He answered.
"Everyone, this is Cole. My old friend and comrade." Vandham said.
"It is an honor." Mayonaka said with a slight bow.
"So old friend, what can I do for you?" Cole asked while turning back towards Vandham.
"Cole…you're old ain't ya? Old enough to know…how you cross over to the World Tree…get to Elysium, I mean." Vandham answered.
Cole raised an eyebrow from the request.
"Elysium? But why? Why would you want to go there?" Cole asked. That was until he turned to Pyra. "That Core Crystal! You…you're…so the Aegis is back amongst us…who is your Driver?" Cole asked as he slowly approached her.
"I am." Rex said, confusing him even more.
"So…will you please help us?" Lilika asked.
"Well…before I do, you two must be the ancient ones that merchants talked about. What was it like…the tree?" Cole asked while turning towards Lilika, who was getting annoyed that she and Robyn were dubbed the 'ancient ones.'
"I can answer that question easier. It was much smaller but had begun to save the environment from a terrible war. Unfortunately, we were betrayed and sealed away in a chamber similar to Pyra's pod." Robyn explained.
"So the folktales are true after all. I knew it." Cole said while closing his eyes and thought about what he had learned long ago about the old world before Alrest.
"So…we request for your assistance." Lilika said.
"Very well. You probably tried getting there yourself before…and a monster stopped you. It won't let anyone pass. However…a long time ago, there was a man who went up the tree. Met the Architect, too. He's got an idea how to get there again. You should try asking him." Cole explained from what he learned.
"Who was it?" Rex asked.
"…" Cole looked down and didn't say anything at first. "I can tell you, but first I want to talk to her, if I may. With the Aegis I mean." Cole requested.
"Of course." Pyra said as she began to walk forward.
"Please…through here." Cole said as he presented a door behind him and Pyra was the first to enter. "I'll also want to talk to you two. What are your names?" Cole asked.
"I'm Robyn, and this is Lilika." Robyn answered.
"I will remember those names, just as I remembered many names for over 500 years." Cole said as he followed Pyra into the other.
As he said that, Lilika and Robyn were stunned to hear his supposed age. This made no sense at first.
"Over 500 years? How is that possible?" Lilika asked.
"He is quite the unusual kind." Robyn added.
"Once you get to know him more, you'll know soon enough. Problem is…the side effect is taking its toll on the fella." Vandham said.
"Mind clarifying Vandham?" Nia asked.
"Indeed. This is most unusual, especially since he seems like any ordinary elderly man." Dromarch said with a bit of confusion.
"Cole is a Flesh Eater, a Blade that has infused itself with human cells." Vandham answered. This answer brought up a lot of questions from the rest. "Flesh Eaters can wield their own Blades, live for a very long time, and even potentially make them stronger, but it comes at a price…their immortality. If they die…they die for good, never to be returned as a Core Crystal." Vandham continued.
"That's terrible." Robyn said with a sad look, thinking of what would happen to such Blades that want to be more human.
"To think something like that is possible…I can't imagine the pain." Rex said.
"He's sadly one of the unlucky ones." Vandham added to what he was saying earlier.
"Do you know anyone else like him?" Mayonaka asked.
"Not a the top of my head." Vandham said while thinking.
"I would honestly prefer being mortal over living forever." Lilika said out of the blue.
After a little while, Cole and Pyra emerged from the other room.
"Everything okay Pyra? What did you discuss?" Lilika asked.
"It was…nothing major, at least to your ears. We just talked about my powers, how I hold back…I won't use my full power again." Pyra said with a serious tone in her voice.
"That's good." Robyn said.
"You two…come this way." Cole said as he directed them inside the same room. After they went inside, he closed it. "Now then…I need to confirm something with you two." Cole said.
"What did you need to discuss with me and Robyn?" Lilika asked.
"About what all went down 2000 years ago. The person that climbed the Word Tree…he saw technology beyond what we ever seen. Was it your intentions that there would be a lab inside the tree?" Cole asked.
"Not to our knowledge. We've only done research, experiments, and documented many things regarding the tree's progress." Robyn explained.
"We were only a part of it for a few years until we were betrayed by a group of goons that want to use the tree for their own beneficial needs." Lilika said while remembering that painful day when they lost everything.
"I didn't think so. Forgive me for accidentally bringing up any bad memories." Cole said. They nodded at the Flesh Eater out of kindness. "Anyway, the man that climbed the tree 500 years ago is my Driver. He resides in the Kingdom of Indol. He is the one that will have the answers that you all are looking for." Cole explained more.
"Alright. Neither of us knows much about Alrest. So, we're just going along with whatever this group is doing." Lilika said while looking back at the door where they all waited.
Cole looked at her and began to put some pieces together.
"…You still haven't adjusted at all have you Lilika?" Cole asked.
"No…I don't think if we will ever find a place here in Alrest." Lilika whimpered a bit. Robyn held her shoulder, which made her look back at him, who smiled a bit.
"You will soon enough. Here…maybe 'he' can help you." Cole said as he went towards a desk and pulled out a rather peculiar Core Crystal and handed it to Lilika. "The Driver of this Blade died a few years ago. The Blade is very loyal to a T. He will help you show you the light down the right path. I'd use it myself, but I'm getting too old for this shit." Cole said while smiling back at Lilika.
"I…I'll make sure to treat this Blade well. Thank you, Cole." Lilika said while fighting back tears.
"Oh we should be thanking you two. Despite the fact that your world, which in legends states that the name is Earth, is lost, hope remains certain and will not be lost." Cole said. After they left, he went over to another desk. "Now…where did it get to?" Cole asked himself before starting to cough badly.
"Grandpa!" Iona yelled with fright and she ran to his side.
"Old man? You okay?" Vandham asked with worry.
"I'm fine…I'll be fine in a second. Seriously…don't mind me." Cole tried saying but kept coughing so much.
"Nah, we better call it a day, old timer. I'm sorry fella." Vandham said.
"Yeah, okay. But come back tomorrow, will ya? There's something I want to give you." Cole said before coughing more.
"Lord Cole…you must take all the time you need to rest so you can recover." Mayonaka insisted, especially since she plans to use her healing powers for him.
"I'm in an agreement. Come on, let's get out of here." Robyn said.
"Alright." Nia said in agreement as well.
"I know a place where we can rest." Vandham said.
After they left, they were heading down the stairs from where they came from. They were making their way towards an inn that they passed earlier while making their way towards the theater.
"By the way, where'd that Core Crystal come from?" Rex asked when he noticed the Core Crystal.
"It looks different than some of the ones we've seen." Dromarch said as he took a closer look.
"Cole gave it to me." Lilika answered.
"He said that 'he' can help us find our place in Alrest in some way." Lilika explained about it.
"Love meeting new friends." Jacu said.
"'He will show you the light down the path.' That was what he said." Lilika said while looking at the crystal.
"'The light…' I understand. This is a light Blade." Mayonaka said with a smile.
"Oh! They are extremely rare." Pyra said with excitement.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's meet him." Rex said with a grin.
"Okay…here goes." Lilika said as she pressed the core into her chest, activating the crystal. A single slight silhouette shout out from behind her.
Just then, a blue Core Crystal glowed in the form of a raven. A late teenager/young adult materialized as he flew down upon them and landed right in front of everyone. He had very light skin, blonde hair, blue eyes, has twin swords behind him, one with a red hilt and the other white, and had a long cape made of black feathers. He had on a navy-blue shirt that shows his crystal on his chest underneath an armored tunic and wore black gloves. He had on dark red jeans and wore black and blue boots.
"The name's Corvin." The Blade said as he looked back at them. He pulled out the red sword and begun swinging it around, creating light waves from each strike. He then began to run really fast while his cape was blowing behind him. He then jumped up and prepared to slash at the ground. "Your foes won't stand a chance while I'm around." Corvin said as he slashed at the ground and a light wave exploded on impact. After he touched down, he put the sword away and put it on his back. "Hey, I don't mean to brag or anything, but I really am that good. Catch you later?" Corvin said as he struck a pose with his foot resting on a rock and looked like he was about to pulled out his sword again. His cape began to wrap itself around him while striking the final pose.
At the very sight of Corvin, Lilika blushed a bit and she felt her heart skipped a beat.
'Oh my goodness! Cute Blade alert!' Lilika thought to herself when she saw Corvin and saw how cute he was. "Um…my name is Lilika. I hope we can work well together." Lilika said while collecting herself so she didn't lose it.
"Great to meet you guys. So…you're my new Driver huh?" Corvin asked with a smile and looked at Lilika.
"Y…yes I am." Lilika said while blushing a bit more.
"Here we go again." Nia said while pinching the bridge of her nose and shook her head.
"This seems very similar to your reaction to Akhos. Anyway Sir Corvin, I am lady Lilika's primary Blade, Mayonaka." Mayonaka said with a slight bow.
After introductions were finished, Corvin fit right in with the group. He then looked back at Lilika, who was still blushing.
"Uh…are you okay? Your face is all red." Corvin asked with a look of concern.
"AH!" Lilika shouted as she was pulling herself together again. "Yes, I'm fine. I was told that you were a loyal type." Lilika said while trying to change the subject.
"You bet. For tomorrow, we will help out those in need!" Corvin yelled.
"Alright…" Lilika said while starring again. 'Cutie…loyal…seems to be kind.' She thought to herself.
"Come on you two siblings in the work. Let's get ready for bed." Robyn jokingly said.
"Ugh…you really are an idiot, aren't you?" Nia asked while getting a bit mad at Robyn.
"Eh?" Robyn asked her, having no idea what she was talking about.
"Mistress Lilika's reactions to Sir Corvin gave a different impression." Mayonaka pointed out to him.
"Her feelings are obvious! How dense are you!?" Nia asked Robyn while getting in his space.
"You have no idea." Lilika answered for him while Robyn was stepping backwards.
"Not funny furry ears!" Robyn yelled at the catgirl out of anger.
"Excuse you racist!?" Nia yelled back at him with a hissing voice.
"You calling me stupid!?I have a PHD young lady!" Robyn yelled more.
"Corvin, Mayonaka…will one of you please take care of this?" Lilika requested, fearing that this was going to go too far.
"K." Corvin simply said as he went for a nerve point at both their necks, knocking them out. "There, all tuckered out!" Corvin yelled while showing a peace sign.
"Thank you Corvin." Lilika said while she was calming down.
"Although…you could've put an end to the argument some other way." Mayonaka pointed out while Jacu and Vale were getting Robyn to a bedroom and Dromarch and Agate were helping Nia to another room.
"Sorry…I guess I got a bit carried away." He said while blushing and scratching his head.
"Tora did not like this!" Tora yelled while looking up at Corvin.
"Sorry buddy." Corvin said while patting the Nopon's head.
"Meh-meh-meh! Stop that!" Tora yelled while Corvin kept patting his head. This made a majority of them giggle at the scene they were seeing.
"Night falls fast…and you all must rest." Mayonaka said while seeing it getting darker outside.
"Right." Tora said as he shrugged Corvin off and they went their separate ways so they can rest up.
Things were finally starting to calm down and with two new Blades joining the team, Lilika and Robyn are sure to find their place in Alrest a heck of a lot easier with the motivation of Corvin. Little did they know that their world and Alrest was going to collide with a bigger threat that they think.
