Upon arrival to Fonsa Myma, they headed for the theater to check up on Cole. Upon entering they saw him with Iona on a bench outside.
"Well! This is a surprise!" Cole said as they got up.
"It's been so long. What brings you here?" Iona asked.
"A few reasons. First off, we're gonna need a place to stay for the night. Secondly, Cole, did you know a woman named Lora?" Rex asked.
Cole closed his eyes and sighed a bit.
"I haven't heard that name in a long time. Heard she died though after…well…" He was saying but stopped himself.
"The Jin you knew became a Flesh Eater because of their powerful bond…what can you remember about her? I think one of my new Blade partners needs to learn more about her." Lilika said.
"Oh yeah, and who's that?" Cole asked. Jin stepped closer and looked down at him, who gasped in fright. "You!?" He yelled.
"My name is Jin. I was told that you knew my previous Driver." Jin said.
Cole was taken aback a bit. When he regained himself, he looked back at him.
"We best go inside. We've got a lot to talk about." He said.
"Thank you. Jin, Cole is not only a playwright…like Akhos, but he's also a Flesh Eater named Minoth." Lilika explained.
"I see." He said before he went inside the theater with him and Iona.
Just then, multiple stomachs growled loudly.
"I'LL COOK SOMETHING!" Robyn, Pyra, and Akhos shouted out, causing an awkward moment of silence.
"Well, doesn't this cause a dilemma?" Brighid said while thinking.
"Just leave it to me. I can cook. I did it for Addam and Milton, a Gormotti boy who traveled with us." Mythra said with confidence.
"Oh? What do you specialize in?" Robyn asked while they were heading for the inn.
"I'll show you!" Mythra yelled as her smile grew.
"Very well…Pyra, are you okay?" Rex asked a rather pale-faced Pyra.
"Let's just say that I am a much better cook than my sister is." She said.
"Surely she would've learned a thing or two if you shared memories with her. How bad can it be?" Robyn asked.
Later that day at the inn, dinner was served. Robyn regretted asking while they saw a monstrosity of a cuisine.
"Oh…" Lilika said with a disgusted look.
"Eat up! I made plenty." Mythra said with her hands on her hips and her eyes closed.
"Well…at least she gets points for originality." Robyn said.
They took a bite of her 'cuisine' and looked at one another. It took sheer willpower, but that all took a bite. It was a disgusting taste and they keeled over as their bodies twitched.
"AHH! Ugh...it's certainly…different. Come to think of it, a competition of cooking with Robyn, Pyra, and Akhos would be nice!" Lilika yelled before drinking some liquid to wash out the taste.
"Bri-ghid! Hellfire!" Mòrag ordered her.
"Of course!" She said before taking the swords. She channeled fire and incinerated the atrocity.
"AW! Finch liked it!" Finch yelled with anime tears pouring out of her eyes.
"At least someone appreciates my cooking!" Mythra yelled with anger.
"Tell you what Mythra, how about I make your cuisines so much better with some lessons?" Robyn offered her.
"Sure…if you'd like." Mythra said.
"Or…let Akhos cook. He took care of me and Robyn while we stayed with his team. And he's quite artful." Lilika said.
"Just keep me away from the Argentum Monkfish." He said.
"Monkfish?" Lilika asked.
"A hideous fish! Eurk!" He said with a squinted face.
"It can't be that bad." Lilika said.
"A single look from it makes me queasy." Akhos said before describing it.
"There's a term for people like that…drama queen." Lilika said.
"Excuse me!?" Akhos yelled.
"If you can't bring yourself to touch it without going overdramatic about it, I bet Pyra can make something good with it." Lilika said while thinking about it.
"Wha-?" He yelled with a shock.
"Yeah…I bet Pyra can make a tasty meal out of it." Patroka said while mocking him.
"Alright then! Perhaps I will take on the challenge!" Akhos yelled.
"It's all in the motivation." Praxis yelled.
"Agree sister." Theory said.
"MONKFISH!" Someone shouted while delivering said fish.
"EURK!" Akhos and Brighid yelled in disgust.
"Oh…now I get it." Lilika said.
"Told you so." He said.
That night, everyone was getting ready for bed. They were in dire need of sleep after all that had gone down. Robyn and Lilika were at a railing nearby the inn.
"Can you believe it? After so long, our world and their world are being restored." Robyn said.
"Yeah…hard to believe, isn't it? But…in a short amount of time, we encountered so many things." Lilika said.
"And see the world. Our families can finally be at peace." Robyn said while taking her hand.
"True…they can." She said while smiling at him.
"Well, I'm going to bed. Oh…one more thing." He said before kissing her forehead, catching her off guard.
"EH!?" She yelled while looking at him with wide eyes.
"That's for…everything since we started this whole adventure." He answered.
"I understand." She said.
"Well, let's get some sleep." He said before they went off to the inn.
Before they went to their quarters, she decided to kiss his cheek as a way to return the favor to him. Even though they were with others, deep down, she really did like him. If he was like that during their time in school, she wouldn't have relinquished her feelings for him, but for a moment, it returned.
As she went to sleep, she began to dream.
(Initiating dreaming sequence)
She was at a nearby campsite with her boyfriend Akhos. She was in her usual attire, but this time, something seemed different.
"My dearest Lilika?" Akhos called for her.
"Yes, Akhos?" She asked.
"Master Addam is waiting for us to spar with him." He said with a hand out for her.
'Addam!? Mythra's original Driver!? Wait…this is my dream….and I appear to be a Blade for some reason. Meh, better play along.' Lilika's subconscious thought.
They approached Mythra and a tall man standing out in a field. He had silver hair, golden eyes, peach-tan skin, and had special armor around, minus on his right arm. He had a sword in a sheath while holding Mythra's sword.
"Ah! You made it! Akhos, how is your new friend faring with that special gem of hers?" Addam asked.
"Shall we show you?" Akhos asked.
'Gem?' Lilika thought again. "Ready! Got your back, Akhos!" She yelled before taking an amethyst gem and merging it with her chest, creating a Core Crystal in its place.
Her body and clothing glowed as she went through a transformation. Her skin gained a bit more tan on her ears became long and pointier, resembling that of an elven's ears. Her dress transformed into a pink dress with a golden belt with a ruby as the buckle with short stocking and golden flat heels. She had yellow glittering butterfly wings, and a golden headdress formed under her hair, which became dusty blue. She then raised her hand upwards and summoned a Megalance The lance was long and featured a pink double-edge blade that was similar to the gem on her chest.
"Mythra! At the ready!" Addam said with a big smile.
"You got it." Mythra said.
As Akhos took the lance, they began to spar. Lilika began to channel her ether to her lover and Driver while smiling. Seeing her beloved partner and Driver going out against Addam and the Aegis. Akhos was giving his all and showed next to no mercy against Addam.
After about an hour, they came to a stop.
"Master Addam." Jin's voice called from behind Lilika. "Your afternoon meal is ready." He said.
'I must be 500 years in the past…when Lora was Jin's Driver, and Akhos is mine.' Lilika thought in her mind once again. "I can't wait to eat. Well done, both of you." She said to them.
"I must admit Lilika…the way you go from human to Blade is astonishing! How does it feel!?" Addam yelled with a massive goofy smile.
Lilika chuckled as she looked at that face.
"Well…it takes time to get used to. It's quite the role reversal. It's unusual, but it also feels nice." She answered.
"Sounds…scary." He said while getting emotional and losing his smile.
'THIS is the real Addam!? Great…why did I expect anything different?' She asked herself.
"Imagine being the Blade and backing up your partner." She said to him.
"This is what I have to put up with every day." Mythra said while they all began to sit down.
"How did you and Akhos come across that? It seems very dangerous." Jin asked when they began to eat.
Lilika approaches Akhos and they placed a hand on each other's cores, reverting her back to her original self and her amethyst was removed from her chest.
"I…had it with me while I was sealed away. Who knows if more exist?" She asked while looking at it.
"They might. You never know unless you look." Lora said while joining them.
"Right! I keep forgetting you and Robyn came from 1500 years in the past. Too bad he had to stay behind at Auresco due to his view with Quaestor Amalthus." Addam said while recalling what had happened to him.
"Yeah. The Quaestor is Malos's Driver, right? Is he someone we can really trust?" Lilika asked everyone.
"No, but my father, the king, does." Addam said.
"I personally don't." A female Common Blade said as she approached the campsite."
"Kazumi! Welcome!" Addam yelled as she sat down.
'Robyn's partner? That's actually fitting.' Lilika thought. "Welcome back Kazumi." She said to her.
"How did things go? And where is Robyn?" Haze asked.
"Better than I thought. Robyn is coming, but he had to be held back a moment. Fortunately, my words were taken into consideration by the members of the council. Including Emperor Hugo. As you know, Lady Haze, we take after our Driver's heart. Malos is pure evil, so he must be getting it from Amalthus." Kazumi answered.
"That is unsurprising. I couldn't imagine having to be the Blade of a man like him." Haze said.
"In my time, certain forms of media depicted people of religion as corrupt; even some people before my time were that way, such as a man called Pope Alexander VI. So, if Malos is destructive, I can't imagine how twisted his Driver is inside." Lilika explained.
Suddenly, a roar echoed from a distance.
"Huh!?" Addam yelled as they stood up.
"Where did that come from!?" Lora asked while readying a battle braid.
"Over there!" Kazumi yelled as she pointed.
They saw a large Volff heading their way. However, they saw someone riding on its back.
"Is that…!?" Addam yelled when he began to see who was riding it.
"Robyn!?" Lilika yelled as her eyes shrank.
"Whoa, Lupus! Whoa!" Robyn yelled while using a rope that latched around its mouth. It snarled as it came to a halt, and he dismounted it. He took a large chunk of meat and shoved it into the mouth after removing the rope. "Good boy! Now get out of here!" He yelled to it.
It took the meat and ran off to the wilds.
"You tamed that thing!?" Mythra yelled while putting her sword away.
"How did your meeting go, Robyn?" Lora asked.
"First question, no. No, I did not, but I did get some Adurn meat before I left to help. Second question, my god! They really like to ask complicated questions!" He yelled while sitting by Akhos.
"Least you got here safely." Kazumi said before sitting by him and leaning on him.
"Robyn, I don't think that man is to be easily trusted. Remember, he's the man who awakened Malos! He's evil…and corrupted inside." Lilika said.
"Exactly my point!" He yelled.
"Easy Robyn! Come and eat." A young Gormotti boy named Milton called to him.
"You must be hungry. Jin cooked today." Lora said while looking at her Blade.
"Neat!" He yelled.
"He, Mikhail, and I worked on it. Better than Mythra's atrocities of cooking." Milton said.
"Excuse me!? Watch it! I'm not that bad! My cooking is just fine." Mythra said with a bit of venom.
"I'm pretty bad myself, so I'm thankful that they worked together." Lora said.
"I can cook. Maybe I'll join forces with you next time." Robyn said.
"Perhaps you and I can work on my personal favorite dessert later. Wingberry Cake." Jin suggested.
"Heh! You're on!" Robyn said with a sneer.
"A very handsome man that's strong, intelligent and can cook!? You keep this up, we're gonna be more than Driver and Blade." Kazumi said with a loving smile.
Lilika laughed a bit from that.
"Careful, Robyn!" Lilika said while still chuckling.
"Wha-?" He asked before Kazumi kissed his cheek.
"Beautiful…!" Addam yelled as he sniffed and fought back a tear.
"You two…actually look pretty cute together." Lilika said while thinking about the chemistry.
"Well Lilika, Robyn, I do hope you enjoyed your stay here. When you wake up, give everyone my regards." Addam said while facing the both of them.
'Time to wake up already!? Aawwww…I was enjoying this!' Lilika complained to herself. Lilika nodded to him before finishing her meal.
Suddenly, when she looked up, a brick was thrown at her. Just before it collided with her face, she immediately woke up.
(Ending dream sequence)
"AHH!" Lilika shouted as she shot up from the shock of the dream's ending.
"About time you woke up." Mòrag said while looking down at her.
"Well, that's one way to end a dream…good morning, Mòrag." Lilika said while rubbing her eyes.
"Well, you missed some action a moment ago. Apparently, Mythra is a sleepwalker." Mòrag said.
"Must have been quite a show. What happened?" Lilika asked while getting changed.
"Apparently, she ended up in Robyn, Dromarch, and Rex's sleeping quarters…I'll let you decipher the rest." She said.
"I bet it was funny." Lilika said.
"She threw several metal objects at them. Pyra had to get involved to get her to come to her senses." The inquisitor explained.
"Is it bad that I want to laugh?" Lilika asked while holding in a laugh.
"Hmm…nah." She said while smiling. Lilika busted out laughing from the permission from the inquisitor. "Well, best be ready. We're leaving for Mor Ardain soon. His Majesty summoned us." She said.
"OH! Got it!" Lilika yelled as she finished up and made sure she was presentable.
The two of them left and joined the others, who were eating breakfast, or tending to the wounded. Lilika saw bruises on Rex and Robyn's faces. Theory was tending to Robyn while Pyra tended to Rex. All the while, Mythra sat by herself, and she was angered at herself that she caused such harm.
"Whoa! Mythra must've woken up frantic when she found herself with you two and Dromarch!" Lilika yelled while going to them.
"This wasn't the first time…happened once when Mythra woke up in Rex's room." Pyra said while recalling a memory back at Argentum not long after Mythra woke up during the fight at Uraya.
"Yeah…I remember that." Lilika said while recalling said memory.
"Yeah…owowowowow!" Rex yelled while Pyra continued to help him with his wounds.
"This was quite situational! Even Vale woke up for this! OW!" Robyn shouted as Theory placed a block of ice on his bruised forehead.
"Sorry!" Theory yelled with worry.
"Talk about a wake-up call." Jacu said.
"Do you both need Healers?" Mayonaka asked.
"We'll manage." Robyn said.
"Mistress, how'd you sleep?" Jin asked.
"I slept really well. I got so immersed in my dream! By the way, good morning, everyone." Lilika said to everyone.
"Err…morning." Rex said.
"Milady, Jin was telling us about some of his cooking skills. I think his best is…Wingberry cake!" Midori yelled.
"Of course. Jin is a cook, like Akhos, Pyra, and Robyn! But…no need to yell." Lilika said while gesturing for her to keep it down.
"Sorry. Just excited to try it someday…wait a minute. How do you know he cooks and about the cake?" Midori asked.
"I agree, mistress." Takiba said while joining her.
"Lora's Jin was in my dream, along with Lora, Haze, Addam, and Mythra…and Robyn with a female Blade of his own…and Cole's play about Addam might be an inaccurate portrayal of who he was." Lilika explained.
"Surely you jest." Jin said.
"Trust me, Jin. She doesn't lie about that." Robyn said.
"Ah…very well." He said while thinking.
"The amethyst Klaus gave me also fits in…Akhos was there in the dream, too. I think…I might know what it's for." Lilika said while holding said gem on her neck.
"Oh?" Akhos asked.
"Dreamy boy, I presume?" Patroka asked.
"Actually Patroka…he was my partner. Ah! There were two other young boys involved I forgot to mention! Milton, from Gormott…and Mikhail! But…he seemed shy back then." Lilika explained more of her dream.
"Milton started traveling with us before we met Jin, Haze, and Lora. Mikhail happened to be with them at the time but was very quiet. But in my battle against Malos…he didn't survive it, and in my grief of losing a little brother to me, I created Pyra. The two boys were friends." Mythra explained more about the boys.
"I see." Akhos said.
"Well everyone, we'll be leaving shortly." Mòrag announced.
"I'm coming with you." Cole's voice spoke out as he and Iona joined them.
"Cole!" Lilika yelled with happiness as they joined them.
"Figured I could make amends with Lora myself, assuming if what I heard is true." Cole said.
"What do you prefer to?" Mayonaka asked.
"I'll explain along the way. It's a long story." He answered.
On a ship to Mor Ardain, Cole explained how they went their separate ways after they supposedly defeated Malos. It was a sad tale, but they understood. On a brighter note, they saw the World Tree continuing to unleash waves of aura to Alrest.
Upon arriving at Mor Ardain, they were escorted to the palace where Niall and Aegaeon were waiting for them.
"Welcome back everyone." Niall said happily.
"Brighid, good to see you again." Aegaeon said while looking at the jewel.
"Likewise, Aegaeon." Brighid said while bowing to him a bit.
"All of you, Mor Ardain owes you a debt of gratitude. Lilika and Robyn most of all." Niall said.
"We are grateful for those words, Majesty." Robyn said.
"It wasn't just us…our Blades helped a lot. I hope you were safe the whole time, your Majesty?" Lilika wondered.
"We managed…Flesh Eaters!?" Niall yelled at the sight of Akhos, Cole, and Patroka.
"Don't worry about them! They're okay! They aided us." Robyn said while he got by Patroka.
"I owed Lady Lilika my life for saving me." Akhos said while taking her hand.
"Plus, I refused to let someone I can tolerate die by that monster." Patroka said.
"Amalthus tried to kill them, but we couldn't let him do that, could we?" Lilika asked.
"He attacked both Drivers with tentacles, and the two came into contact with their blood to heal them." Mayonaka said.
"I see…so about that man, Mikhail, and that woman he brought here. The woman, named Lora according to him, had a successful procedure. However, Mikhail wasn't needed, but the Legendary Core Crystal did the trick. She will be available soon as she is regaining consciousness." Niall explained.
"How wonderful! She and a different Jin seemed to be so close!" Lilika said with a bit of a raised voice.
"And I thought I was rid of him for good." Patroka said in a frustrated voice.
"Mikhail traveled with Addam and his group, including Lora and both of her beloved partners. Ask Mik if you don't believe me." Lilika said.
"Very well. And Mòrag." Niall said while turning to her. "Your suspension has lifted. Expect new orders very soon." He said.
Mòrag gasped happily and her heart grew warm.
"Thank you, Majesty!" She cried happily.
"This means more to Lady Mòrag than you know, your Majesty." Brighid said.
"I can tell. Fetch her uniform." He said to Aegaeon.
"At once, Majesty." He said before leaving.
"Mòrag, this is amazing! You must be so happy to dress as a man again! I'm so happy for you!" Praxis yelled as she even jumped a couple of times.
"What!?" Mòrag asked while facing her when she said she was gonna dress like a man.
"Actually…Praxis has a point." Niall said while thinking.
"Oh no…!" Mòrag yelled with worry.
"What do you mean? Mòrag couldn't wait to get back into her uniform!" Praxis asked him.
"I think an appearance like that is better." He answered.
"What do you think, Mòrag?" Praxis asked her.
"I have a bad feeling about this." She answered while thinking about what her adopted brother had in mind, and she might not like it.
"Anyway, Lora awaits." Niall said.
"Jin…are you ready to meet her?" Lilika asked while thinking about the dream.
"I'm ready." Jin answered.
They left the palace and they were escorted to the medical canter where Lora was at. They were excited, although some were nervous to see the results of what they'll expect.
"Lora is here. She's still recovering." The doctor said before showing them in.
They saw her completely thawed out in an I.V, and a Core Crystal barely popping out of her chest that had a crown around it.
"Whoa…" Robyn whispered before gently stroking her forehead to get the hair out of her eyes.
From that touch, she slowly opened her eyes.
"Mmm…huh…? Didn't I…die…?" Lora asked while shaking her head a bit from being in a daze.
'I'm not looking forward to her 'reunion' with Jin…in fact, I am dreading it.' Lilika thought as worry grew in her heart.
"Welcome back to the land of the living!" Rex said while going to her.
She looked at him and her eyes widen as she saw what appeared to be a descendant of Addam looking at her. There was a lot of resemblance to the former hero with him.
"You…are you…descended from Addam Origo?" Lora asked.
"Huh? I…don't know. I never asked." Rex said.
"Hello, Lora…it has been 500 years." Cole said while approaching her with Iona by him.
"That voice…and the crystal…no it can't be…! Minoth, is that you?" Lora asked while adjusting herself.
"Yeah…time has not been kind to me." Cole said.
As she sat up, she felt weird in her chest. She looked down and gasped at the sight of the crystal in her chest.
"Ugh…what…!?" Lora asked while placing a finger on said Core Crystal.
"Fear not. The Core Crystal helped with your new Heart. You're a Blade Eater now, like me. The name's Zeke Von Genbu, Zeke is fine." Zeke said.
Everyone followed up with their introduction to Lora. Lora got very well acquainted with everyone, even taking a major liking to Poppi due to her being an artificial Blade and acting like a Nopon.
"Nice to meet you all." Lora said happily.
"Also, someone wants to get reacquainted with you." Robyn said while everyone stepped aside.
Jin entered the room and squatted down to her.
"My heart…here we go…" Lilika said while holding her heart as nerves grew even more to the point she felt sick.
"Jin…I'm so happy to see you again!" Lora yelled while taking a wrist.
"Oh boy…" Lilika whispered and looked away.
"Lora…you…are just as Minoth described." Jin said while cupping her cheek.
"Jin…" Lora whispered as tears began to form in her eyes. She began to cry as she hugged him, despite the pain she was going through. Jin slowly hugged her.
"Oh…one more thing. Lilika? You have it?" Robyn asked her.
"I do. Lora, Haze was driven by Amalthus…a lot happened, and now we have her Core Crystal." Lilika said while giving her the crystal.
Lora did not hesitate to activate the crystal and to get reacquainted with her previous Blade. Haze materialized after the crystal glowed. She looked down at her and smiled.
"Haze…I was one of your previous Drivers long ago. My name is Lora." Lora said.
"I am honored to meet you, Lady Lora." Haze said while giving her a bow.
"You know…now that I'm thinking about it, you two look like long-lost sisters." Rex said while looking at both of them.
"People have told me that from time to time, and I had told you in the past that we're even the same dress size!" Lora said happily while looking at Haze.
"That's very convenient." Agate said.
"If it is true, I am honored if I resemble you, my lady." Haze said while cuddling her a bit.
Just then, a distant roar from a Titan sounded outside. Lora quickly held Haze from the sound.
"That must be Torna again." Mòrag said while looking outside a window.
"Torna!? Not…the Torna that sunk at the end of the Aegis War!? It has returned?! How can this be!?" Lora demanded as questions piled up in her brain.
"For the first time in 500 years…the Titan is in the world. There's no other way to say it." Lilika said while trying to find a way to tell her.
"It's better if we showed you." Robyn said while taking her bed so she can look outside. Her answers became clear as she saw the World Tree giving off the energy to the Cloud Sea, and Torna was also visible. "Lilika and I are connected to the World Tree, and we are giving the energy back to Alrest. As a result, many Titans were resurrected by the effects. You're welcome." Robyn explained more about what was happening.
"Oh!" Lora yelled with happiness. She then looked over at Robyn, who smiled down at her. Her face blushed as hearts formed around him in her mind. She gasped a bit and held her crystal. "My heart is pounding!" Lora said happily while looking deep into his eyes.
"You have attracted someone else, Robyn!" Floren yelled.
"You better settle on someone! Mòrag, Patroka…or Lora?" Praxis asked in a teasing voice.
"I agree with her. Who's is gonna be?" Vale asked with a teasing voice like Praxis.
"Oh, brother…" Robyn said while shaking his head. 'I give up!' He thought to himself.
Just then, everyone started laughing at him from his humiliation.
"Talk about a humorous playwright…hmmmm." Akhos said with thinking with a sinister smile.
"What are you thinking about, Akhos?" Lilika asked with a smirk.
"A script of this very scenario. I call it, 'Triangular Pyramid Love Tragedy.'" He answered.
"Now this I can get into." Patroka said seductively.
"Why me!?" Robyn yelled while turning red like a tomato.
They laughed at him more from that. Even Mòrag and Brighid busted out laughing at him.
"I don't know if anything can be more humorous than this scenario. Akhos, you should write that play out. Have Robyn sing a song that talks about his struggle to choose." Brighid suggested.
"With pleasure." Akhos said.
"OH FOR THE LOVE OF MAMA LUIGI ON A FRIGGEN TOTEM POLE! WILL YOU STOP NOW!? Robyn can't handle it…oh god I'm turning into Finch! Someone! Get me a sedative!" Robyn demanded. Jacu approached him and jabbed a vital point in his neck. "GYAGH! Thank…you…" Robyn said before losing consciousness.
"Well…there's a piece of comedy for your script, Akhos." Lilika said.
"Agreed. It will be so much for him to handle that his character will pass out from the headache." Akhos said.
"Perhaps it's best to allow Lady Lora to rest up." Mayonaka suggested.
"Yeah. Come on Mr. Sleepy Boy." Jacu said before picking up her Driver.
"Rest well, Lady Lora." Haze said.
"Mistress, I'll stay here if that's OK." Jin said.
"Of course. You don't need my permission to be with Lora." Lilika said while giving him a warm, gentle smile.
"Ah…perhaps. Just confirming with you, mistress." Jin said while pulling up a chair.
After they left, Lora thought of something that might help with their past connections with her.
"Jin. Haze. If you want, I could tell you about our adventures together." Lora said.
As the evening grew nearer, everyone was having dinner by the palace. Lilika and Mòrag were starring out in the distance.
"Mistress." Jin's voice called from behind.
"What is it, Jin?" Lilika asked when she and Mòrag turned and faced him.
"If it isn't too much…I was wondering if I can go back to being Lora's Blade. After all that she told us, I think she needs me more." Jin answered.
"You…" Lilika started until she closed her eyes and smiled a bit. After she opens her eyes, she looked deep into his eyes. "If there is a way for a Blade to bond with a different Driver, then…never mind; regardless of whether or not there's a way for a Blade to bond to a different Driver, who would I ever refuse? Of course! You're more than welcome to since you originally bonded to her." She said with pure honesty in her voice.
"There is one way." Mòrag said, gaining their attention.
"How?" Lilika asked her.
She pulled out a strange device from her back pocket and showed them.
"This is an Overdrive Protocol. It will allow a Blade to transfer from one Driver to another." She said.
"Oh wow! That's perfect! Thank you so much, Mòrag!" Lilika yelled while looking at it.
"Best do it after she leaves. Lora should be out of the hospital tomorrow afternoon." Jin said.
"Okay. You and Lora really looked like a stronger older brother and his precious little sis together in those days." Lilika said.
"That's what she said to me. Anyway, she insisted that I return to you for now. How about I-" But Jin was cut off from a large flame that ignited by where the others were at.
Robyn and Pyra were trying to help Mythra with her cooking skills, but it ended up backfiring on them literally. Mythra ended up going a bit overboard with cooking wine.
"On no…I remember hearing that Mythra's cooking is horrible, oh wait! It's horrible today because of that dish she made yesterday! Even Prince Addam Origo suffered from it!" Lilika yelled a bit.
"Perhaps I can lend a hand. I may not like fighting, but I do love cooking. Perhaps some Wingberry Cake ought to handle the situation." Jin suggested.
"I remember learning that you dislike fighting! Thank you, Jin." Lilika said while smiling at him.
"Of course." Jin said before heading to the group and gathering up some ingredients.
After dinner, Jin and even Robyn arrived with Wingberry Cake or everyone.
"Thanks a lot, you two!" Lilika yelled while the cake was placed in the center of the table.
"Not bad with the whipped cream on the edge if I do say so myself." Robyn said with a bit of pride in his voice.
"It looks yummy!" Adenine said before taking a bite out of a slice. "Taste even better!" Adenine yelled louder.
"This is so good!" Praxis yelled happily.
"Everyone, I have an announcement you might expect: Jin wants to bond with Lora once more! Luckily, Mòrag has an Overdrive Protocol to allow this to happen." Lilika explained to everyone.
"That's great!" Rex said.
"It does make sense." Mayonaka said.
"So…is it just me, or does anyone think Jin, Robyn, Pyra, and myself take part in a cooking competition?" Akhos asked all around.
"I'd love to see…and taste that!" Lilika said with interest.
"AHEM! You're forgetting someone!" Mythra said while standing up and had her hands on her hips.
"Well…" Robyn was saying while trying to keep his cool in front of the intimidating Aegis who glared at him.
Surely it can't be that bad, could it Nia?" Jin asked the Gormotti.
"You really have no idea. But…you could always try it out." Nia suggested with an uncertain look on her face.
He looked at both of them as they recalled the horrible cuisine she made yesterday. Then it slowly hit him.
"Ah…perhaps you're right." Jin said.
"ANYWAY! When will this cook-off/bake-off be?" Lilika asked while changing the subject.
"Another time. We still need ingredients and the recipe to decide on." Robyn answered her.
"Does it have to be the same thing?" She asked.
"Of course not. Where's the fun in that?" Akhos asked before kissing her cheek.
"Yeah…I guess you're right." Lilika said while smiling at her boyfriend.
As night fell, everyone was heading back to the inn. Before they went their separate ways, Rex grabbed Pyra's wrist, stopping her.
"Pyra…can you promise me something?" Rex asked her.
"What is it, Rex?" She asked.
"Don't ever lie to me to that extreme again. The thought of losing you forever is unbearable, so much so that it'll hurt severely. It's like I told Nia at the Spirit Crucible Elpys and I quote, 'I love you, and all you guys!'" Rex told her.
"Don't worry. I pro-" "I'm serious!" Rex said interrupting her with a louder voice, startling her.
"Ah! I-I promise! No more of that! Please!" Pyra begged as she saw the look in her Driver's eyes.
Rex loosened his grip on her and looked down.
"I…I'm sorry Pyra. I didn't mean to…" Rex tried to say, but his shame got the best of him. Pyra smiled before pulling him into a hug. "Pyra…" He whispered while returning it.
"It's okay, Rex. Just please…don't be like that again." Pyra whispered.
"I just don't want to lose you again." Rex said.
They slowly broke apart, only for Pyra to kiss him, this time on the lips. Rex's eyes shot open, only for him to return it and closed his eyes.
From a distance, Robyn, Nia, and Lilika saw them. Nia was stunned a bit when she saw them.
"That's so sweet! They look so cute together." Lilika said with a big smile on her face.
"Yeah…they're lucky. I'm happy for them." Nia said while still starring at them.
Robyn took notice of her behavior.
"Nia…you gonna be okay?" Robyn asked her.
"Of course." She said without taking her eyes off of Rex.
"Well…since you two are Blades that are connected to Rex…maybe you could both love him equally?" Robyn asked while thinking about it.
Nia blinked a few times and thought about what Robyn said. She then felt her heartbeat and slowly smiled.
"I never thought of that." Nia said as she gripped her chest.
"Go get him." He whispered to her.
She nodded and ran off towards them. They watched as she jumped onto Rex and hugged him, startling Pyra. Pyra began to laugh at Rex from Nia's impact.
"NAWW!" Lilika squealed from the performance.
"Nothing to it. Come on Lilika, let's go. Time for bed." Robyn said while heading inside.
"Yeah." She said while following him.
