A Turn of Fate

by Seiker Hikaru

Sometimes all it takes for one's fate to change is the smallest of turns. The right person, in the right place, and at the right time. A small variance, someone else finding themselves taking on a fateful job, and another hand comes to grasp the sword of the Aegis. The past is also a tricky thing... and as it catches up, many an answer is given to the one who grasps it.

1. Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Boy with Eyes like the Sky

This world is an endless expanse of white. As far as the eyes can see, white like the clouds, rolling and shifting like waves. Stretching so far that the horizon of the sea and sky blend into one at their edges. As far as one could go in this world, this is the sight they would see, those rolling waves of clouds known to the people as the Cloudsea. But one thing did stand out. No matter where you could be amid this expanse of clouds, one object stood prominently on display from all sides. A massive tree that stretched skywards, up and up into the clouds, it's cast branches reaching far through the sky, and even in the brightness of noon, one could see the glittering lights at the top of this tree, the World Tree, the grandest sight in this world known as Alrest.

Amid these drifting clouds of white, a sizable ship rocked, anchored amid the expanse. Attached to this ship was a crane, it's lift sent down, the line heading to the depths of the sea, beneath the rolling white and into the water-like depths. Further down past that line was a figure sinking lower.

Their body was covered from head to toe in a light diving suit, as opposed to the often heavier suits employed by others like them, even lacking in a domed helmet, instead opting for tight fit hood that covered all on their head except for the diving goggles and covering rebreather on their face.

Below them was a long since sunk shipping vessel. The light shining from their hood spot onto an old, rusted crate still intact on the overturned deck of the ship. The size was meant for shipping, and no doubt From the belt on their waist, the diver pulled out a hook device bearing the shape of a handgun, using that to reel close to the crate, small spikes popping from their boots and digging into the stone so they could close the small gap. They attached a floater device to the side of the crate, a turn of the latch on it causing the device to pop open into a balloon.

Jumping from the aged surface to use the crate as a quick lift, the diver looked up to the hook above as they neared it, then grasping it and attaching the cargo to it once the gap was cleared. Raising to the mesh platform of the crane, the diver flipped the switch attached to the line. A light pinged a moment later, and they turned the lights on their hood off while taking a tight hold on the line. A brief burst of bubbles from their rebreather gave way to the sigh they gave.

Once the crane had lifted back above the waves, the diver waved as he was pulled over the deck of the ship, jumping down once the cargo was safely abord. The diver shook a bit to get the flecks of water free from their jacket as a press to its side had it go from tightly fit on their slender frame to loose and free. The sweeping back of the hood revealed the diver's hair to be a bright shade of emerald green, the long, loose strands falling down to his waist at the longest before being pulled back into a thin tail, while the previously held back fringe fell forward as he removed his goggles and rebreather, the goggles being pulled down to hang around his neck.

The diver's features were thin, and his skin pale as snow, no doubt helped by all the time spent under the waves. Brushing his bangs back as he opened his eyes revealed the orbs to be as bright a blue as the sky. If one were to guess his age, he couldn't have been any older than nineteen.

"Told you it was a good find!" The diver's voice was light and carefree as he tapped the container. Multiple other men in much heavier looking equipment began gathering around the salvage. "What'd I tell ya? The Cyclus Sea has plenty of good hauls!"

"Well then, if you're so sure of it, ya' know the drill!" A man in attire that made it clear he was the vessel's captain strode through the crowd, tossing Vaios a crowbar. "Salvager's Code after all! You pull it up…

"You open it up!" Vaios and the crew repeated as the captain crowed with laughter. The teenager turned to the container and rammed the crowbar into a gap in the door. With a hard pull, the aging metal screamed as it flew open. And no sooner had the doors crashed open that something came snapping out at Vaios. His quick reflexes saved him from getting caught by the irate creature that came roaring out of the container. A crustip, a rather common crustacean found across the Cloud Sea. It was quadrupedal with two large claws at the ends of its arms, and in a foul enough mood they were plenty dangerous.

And this one certainly was not happy it had been disturbed.

"How the heck did you get in there-Whoa!" Vaios jumped back as the crustip snapped at him again. And when his dodge brought him to the edge his crewmates had made, the excited men shoved him right back into the fray. "Hey!"

"You know the rules Vaios!" The captain shouted above the clamor. "If it pops outta your haul, you're the one that's gotta deal with it!"

"Would be easier to do that if…" Vaios had to pause to dodge again. "If someone would hand me my sword!" He smacked the crustip's claw away with the crowbar still in hand, but that would hardly be serviceable against it.

"Here ya go lad!" One of the crew members gave a hearty heave as Vaios moved away from the crustip, the air glinting as a sheathed sword was tossed in an arc to the teenager, who swiftly caught it and drew the weapon in quick response. The cool steel of the single edged blade bounced sunlight from it as it met the crustip's claw. Vaios gripped the blade two handed and pulling it through, taking the crustip's claw with it, the air carrying the sharp schwing of the blade slicing through chitin. The crew roared in excitement as the crustip bellowed in anger. Vaios quickly moved as the creature reared up at him, his sword driving through its soft underbelly and smashing out of the other end.

"Yeahhh!" The crew cheered again as the crustip stopped moving, Vaios sliding his blade free and clearing it of the sticky green blood of the creature with a quick pull across the sleeve of his diving gear, then giving the blade a spin and returning it to the sheathe. He then turned to the crew with a toothy smile, flashing a v-sign as they whooped and hollered.

"Quick and clean, as usual!" Vaios spun on his heel to face the captain, thumbing off towards the haul remaining in the container. "And a payout for it to boot! How's that for a day Captain?"

"As good a day as ever!" The Captain hollered. "Alright you sea welps, get sifting through it! Also hope you like crustip for lunch, cause the boy's kill is what we're eatin!" The Captain snickered at the collective groans that came from the crew. "Hey now don't look so glum. Cause we're makin' course for Argentum first thing! And once we're there, drinks on Vaios!"

"I am NOT paying for you guys to drink out the bar again!" Vaios hollered in protest as the crew members hefted him up, but there was no getting rid of the smile on his face.

---

A short while later, with the haul sorted and cleared and lunch in their bellies, the salvaging ship called the Inquestor gently made its way across the Cloud Sea. As with most vessels of its time, the ship was of course linked to a Titan, creatures endemic to the Cloud Sea that served key roles in the lives of the people of Alrest. Be it as modes of transportation, or in the cases of those Titans that were truly gigantic, the lands which they called home. The Inquestor's Titan was one such smaller breed, its fishlike, long body having made it perfect for the intricate procedures that produced a ship such as it due to the make which it followed, the style easily identified as that of Mor Ardain, a nation known for more, some would say, intrusive means of Titan usage.

And as the Inquestor crested across the clouds, Vaios kept his eye to the vast World Tree stretching up into the sky from the ship's forward deck. Having changed from his diving gear to lighter clothing consisting of a blue jacket with a red cloth wrapped around one arm, pocketed trousers, two belts with various pouches askew across his waist, and light gloves that left his fingers bare, and travel boots well-worn from use, while his goggles remained atop his head. As his sky-blue eyes remained on the World Tree, images flashed to mind.

Images of a world of lands vaster than even the largest Titan, of a sea not of clouds but of endless blue water. An image of a tower that stretched into the clouds beyond vision, surrounded by a city of towering buildings and roads that weaved through it like a planned web. And none of these images made any clear sense to the young man as he idly played with a blue crystalline pendant around his neck, his thumb gliding over the intricate sigil engraved into it, a crest styled like a pair of leaves wrapping around more ornate designs.

"Rhadamanthus…" and a word that made equally little sense passed his lips.

"Lost in thought again?" The Captain's voice pulled Vaios from his idle thoughts and to reality. His crew almost only called him Captain, but the man of Mor Ardain was named Rakham. "More of those flashes? You remember something?"

"Nothing that makes sense." Vaios sighed, Rakham leaning against the railing next to him. "Just the same senseless images and words as usual." As it was, this line of thinking was because Vaios lacked memories. To be precise, a lack of memories prior to seemingly the age of thirteen when he'd been found at the shores of a village far, far away from where they currently were in the Cloud Sea. Anything before that time had been lost to the void, and due to circumstances, in his hunt for those lost memories and attempting to make sense of what he saw, Vaios had found himself becoming a Salvager a year after he'd been found.

But even after five years of delving into the remains of what they found beneath the clouds, not a clue had been found nor did he feel like he could tell many people about what he saw. He could in fact count the number of people who knew on a single hand while missing three of its fingers. Rakham and one other. Because who could he tell? Who could make sense of images of a world so different from their own, not trod by Titans and not covered in endless clouds? Vaios himself found the idea laughable when he thought about it.

Yet he could never shake off the feeling what he saw was not some delusion made of a damaged mind. There has to be some sense to it, doesn't there? Was a thought that pervaded him each time he thought it over.

"So in short, the same as every other time we catch ya' starin' off at the World Tree." Rakham hummed, Vaios hanging his head with a sigh. "Ah it ain't nothin' to get your head in a knot over kid. I know it's been… what an odd five years since the old geezer introduced ya to me, and yeah that can be discouraging, but you'll find something one of these days."

"I appreciate the optimism you feel Captain." Vaios sighed, the older man ruffling his hair. Of note was their differences in accent. Rakham spoke in the usual low, thick accent of an Ardainian, while Vaios's was far more neutral in sound. It wasn't an accent anybody they knew spoke in normally. At least, people of a certain kind. "Hard not to feel a bit discouraged about it though. Now, if I could get to the World Tree, then maybe."

"Hah, good luck with that!" Rakham crowed, Vaios rolling his eyes. "Nobody's gotten near that hulkin' shrub in 500 years, not since the Great Void appeared around it. You still not one to take stock in the old legends though, I assume."

"How did it go again… Ah, right: Long ago, people lived up in the World Tree, in the paradise called Elysium with the Architect. But then one day, for reasons nobody knows or can explain, mankind was cast down from Elysium and to Alrest below, be it ticking off the Architect or something else."

"Sounds about right so far."

"And of all things, not knowing how mankind lived in Alrest before then, the deity that cast them out took pity on them, and sent down his servants, the Titans, to help them. The survivors settled on the Titans, and there's been harmony ever since." Vaios took on a rather snide tone with the last line. "That sound right to you, or am I the only one in Alrest convinced it's blather Indol's been shouting?"

"Well, it is certainly hard to say there's been harmony when Mor Ardain and Uraya look raring to go any day now." Rakham said, Vaios nodding in agreement. "Also, I'd be careful talkin' like that around certain folks. Especially Idolines."

"Please, like they ever show up where ruffians like us go." Vaios snickered. "Most of them prefer to stay up on Indol, looking down at everyone from on high."

"My my young lad, how blasphemous ye be!" Rakham's faux posh tone got a laugh out of Vaios. The merry mood was interrupted when a bellow echoed across the clouds, the two bracing against the rails of the ship as it was suddenly rocked by a wave. "Oi, Meld! The bloody hell was that?!" Rakham shouted as he looked up to the crow's nest.

"From what we could see…" the man in the crow's nest shouted. "looks like a Titan just went under some peds off!"

"Another one?" Vaios murmured, looking off in the direction of the bellow. "That's been happening a lot lately. And it had to be a big one if we heard it this far away."

"Let's hope the people on it got away someplace safe." Rakham mulled. "Too many refugees passin' through Argentum because of it. The tensions between Mor Ardain and Uraya wouldn't be half as bad if they weren't constantly takin' in folks who've lost their homes every other week."

The issue now plaguing Alrest was a simple but harsh one: They were running out of room. Titans were beings of extensive life spans, the oldest of them being millenia old, enough to have seen the rise and fall of entire societies across their backs. But even beings of such long life had a time when they would end. And for reasons unknown to anyone, more and more Titans were dying off. The largest, longest lived Titans routinely saw the people of neighboring Titans fleeing their dying homes and coming to theirs. And many feared it was only a matter of time until even the oldest of the Titans began to finally die as well. The news of a Titan dying never bode well and hearing of it always felt like a tragedy. Salvagers like the crew were perhaps more adjusted to it, if only because the salvage they pulled from the sea was regularly found in the remains of long dead Titans.

But that wasn't nearly enough to numb such emotions.

"That might happen to Leftheria one of these days." Vaios murmured, Rakham turning to him. "Haven't been there in years but I still remember Fonsett well enough."

"Well, ya' can at least rest easy we can be sure most of the big ones have still got plenty of years left." Rakham stated. "Though Mor Ardain is sure on its last legs. Who the 'ell knows how much longer it'll last? Only good thing coming out of it is the steamworks those eggheads work on."

"Yeah. But I still can't shake the feeling something about this is also… off. Like this isn't how it should be, you know?" Vaios shook his head as a fuzzy image flashed in his mind. He didn't know what it was, he could hardly parse it out. But he couldn't shake the feeling what was in it was important. "I don't know why but… doesn't it feel off? Architect or no, Titans have their life cycle… so why does it feel like something is going wrong?"

"And here he goes, gettin' off into the philosophy again." Rakham sighed. "I swear Azurda, ya' spend too much time lettin' this boy read."

"I heard that." Vaios grumbled. "But just think about it. Something might be going wrong with whatever process should be naturally occurring. Besides, I only believe in evidence and hard data. I don't like listening to those people who say it's some reckoning from the Architect meant to punish us." Rakham sighed, knowing there was no way to stop Vaios now. "I just… there has to be a reason behind it all. And there must be a way to stop it. If we don't, we're going to have bigger problems than running out of room to live."

"I mean if the legends are true, perhaps there's Elysium." Rakham said. "A land o' plenty with room for everybody. If a place like that was real, we regular folk wouldn't have to worry at all, now would we?"

"If." Vaios stressed the word, Rakham laughing as he sauntered off to the lower deck. Vaios looked back to the World Tree. This time, he saw the image of a gentle green hill topped by a singular tree, from it giving an overlook of a small town just past it. And further than that small town, as the bell of a church rang, a city like what he saw in his other flashes, its buildings cresting up to the rolling sky above it, "Elysium, huh? If the legends are real… hoping in it is better than nothing."

---

The Argentum Trade Guild, the Nopon run center of commerce in Alrest, its main Titan with which the city-ship that made up the center of the, like a massive balloon with the ship it pulled attached by heavy lines, this singular Titan known as Goldmouth. Not just a trade center, but also a travel hub. Smaller, similar looking Titans carried ferry ships that took travelers to and from the other Titans of Alrest, while other structures like salvager ships docked at the city-ship's port. If one was in the search of business and ventures, Argentum was the one stop-shop for everything one could need.

The Inquestor drifted to a stop at one of the open docks, multiple crew members hopping from the ship and getting to mooring it down while Vaios and Rakham descended the gangplank. And what caught Vaios's attention first thing was a ship a few docks away. A sterling black hull that didn't look like anything he'd seen before – and he was quite familiar with ship designs – which only intrigued him more. And by the looks of it, it didn't appear to have a Titan built around or into it at all.

"Oh ho ho I have got to look at that!" But he was stopped from dashing over by Rakham. "Captain!"

"Not 'till we're done with business. Remember the other rule?"

"Ugh… Your haul, your call. You pull it up, you're the one who gets the price of the loot for everybody else." Vaios repeated, his arms sagging in defeat.

"Well if it ain't ol' Rakham!" A dockhand approached the two with a hearty manner. "That venture into the Cyclus Sea work out for you lot?"

"Ah plenty!" Rakham said, clapping Vaios on the back, the young man still transfixed on the black ship. "Kid's intuition is as sharp as ever! We've got one hell of a haul with us. Should fetch a pretty fair price if I say so myself. Even had a couple o' Core Crystals in it."

"Sounds nice! Mooring's 15 gold every half-day, as usual."

"We'll probably be here a few days, so I'll hand ya' some advanced pay." Rakham kept his hold on Vaios as he handed the dockhand a stack of coins, stopping the attempt to escape.

"Thank you kindly, Captain. And hey, Vaios." A light smack from Rakham got Vaios to pay attention. "If Rex comes on in mind grilling him about managing his money again? Last time he and Azurda were in, kid didn't pay for docking till after he'd sorted things out. Lad's a great Salvager but eh… managing money really isn't his thing y'know?"

"If I do, I'll yank his ear if that's what it takes. Not that Rex listens to me or Azurda much for that matter." Vaios waved the dock hand off as he and Rakham set off, and the second he was free of the Captain's hold, he dashed down the dock to get a better look at the black ship. Now that he was closer, he was able to take in the extra detailing, from the gold highlighting to the ornate prow. And it was even more apparent close up there wasn't a hint of Titan based technology used for its construction, that he could see at least. "Damn, it's even more impressive this close up. Who was able to make a ship like this?"

"Definitely ain't Ardanian that's for sure." Rakham gave a firm hold onto Vaios's shoulder as he approached. "Ya' can admire the pretty ship later kid. Business first, remember?"

"Yeah yeah." Groaning to himself due to the gearhead he was begging to look at such a wonder of engineering, Vaios sucked it down and headed into the Goldmouth ship with Rakham.

Goldmouth was simultaneously the name of the massive balloon like Titan that hovered over the entire thing, along with the massive ship that served as the location's primary settlement, of a sort. Argentum was a mercantile nation by trade thanks to being run by Nopons, a race of – usually – small, furry creatures with a knack for trade and wonders of engineering. Though the folk never seemed to be able to work out their somewhat unusual, stilted accent when speaking anything other than Noponic, though to Vaios there was something endearing about the contrasting traits.

Greeting Vaios and Rakham was the familiarly bustling bazaar that was ever so familiar to Salvagers such as them. The various stalls were mainly run by the Nopon staff, chattering with the various customers both trading with them and perusing their coin on supplies. There were also a number of people wandering about in hardsuits who Vaios greeted and was greeted by as he approached a central desk at the bazaar, other salvagers like him, likely on down time from their own ventures out.

"Oi, Melolo, how's business treatin' ya and your lad today?" Rakham greeted the Nopon teller, Vaios shaking his head as the man was clearly laying on his business tone.

"Ah, Friend Rakham and Friend Vaios. What can Melolo do today?"

"We've got ourselves a pretty fine haul from Cyclus. Vaios?" At Rakham's signal, Vaios pulled up the pack he'd brought with them, removing from it a pair of gleaming blue, hexagonal gems. Core Crystals, a rare commodity in Alrest with a particularly valuable place in the world. "And there's more than just those two beauties to boot. The boys are looking over the rest of the haul, but we've got the list ready."

"Core Crystal value been on the rise as of late." Melolo noted, taking the papers Vaios handed her as well with the Crystals. "Hmm… give second, will get price for salvage in a moment… hmm hmm… take away cost of maintenance… other such tallies… haul can get you a good 50,000G! Will admit most of it from Core Crystals."

"They're really going big on the things, aren't they?" Vaios noted, rolling another Crystal in his hand before tossing it over to the Nopon.

"Hey, we'll take the price we can get. Vaios can use his share to pay for the feast we're havin' later." Rakham elbowed the teenager and was then jabbed in the ribs in return. "What else is hot on the list now eh?"

"Weaponry for most part." Melolo guided the two's attention to the side to a group of soldiers in dark armor, soldiers of Mor Ardain, one of the largest and more prominent Titans in Alrest. Also, Rakham's homeland, though he wasn't much for visitations. To say there was peace between them and Uraya, another prominent Titan kingdom, was to take one massive stretch, only kept in check because the Ardainian emperor had more of a mind for peace than his advisors and generals, at least from what Vaios had heard about him. "Methinks ceasefire between Mor Ardain and Uraya not last much longer. So, anything that military can use, it go for good prices. What both say? Melolo can get you good deal!"

"Anything huh? Not like it's that bad of an idea." Vaios hummed, the gears in his head clearly turning. "But the other thing is how much of it would actually work out. Core Crystals are one thing, and those are hard to find users for. If we're talking things like weapons, that's way up in the air. If it's salvage, there's no real guarantee of it working without serious repairs half of the time either. A lot of it's been down there for who knows how long."

"If we find anything useful on the next go, we'll let ya know." Rakham added. "You gonna do anything else, Vaios?"

"Hmm? Oh yeah. Can you send part of my share off? I'd say about… a good half of it, to Corinne in Fonsett Village, in Leftheria."

"Okie-doodles! You know, is nice thing, sending money off to family at your age. Wish my own dum-dum littlepon would do same thing!"

"I kinda owe Corinne a lot. Sending her some of the money I make is the least I can do even if it's been ages."

"Ah I'm sure the old lady appreciates it." Rakham clapped Vaios on the back. "She's got you and Rex chippin in the help that old town out. Anyway, thanks as usual Melolo, seeya 'round!"

"See friends next time!"

As the two turned to head off back to the Inquestor, Vaios came to a stop and tapped Rakham on the arm twice. A signal in their crew that someone was coming up on them. Approaching the two now was a Nopon decked out in black followed by two men in suits. And it was the Nopon that Vaios recognized more. Pupunin, a direct official for the Argentum Guild, and a person in it one definitely made sure to take note of.

"Hello, Vaios, Rakham! It been some time since Inquestor in port." Pupunin had quite the deep, smooth voice for a Nopon, something Rakham liked to joke about due to his size being a bit on the smaller end for Nopon's. It made for quite the clash. "Both of you looking quite in high spirits! Or, what was the phrase? Peppy! Anyway, how was business in Cyclus Sea?"

"We got ourselves a good haul." Rakham said. "A good 50,000, so 5,000 for everybody. Course the kid here sent half of it off to Leftheria as always."

"Well, it's not like you make me pay rent. I can afford to." Vaios joked, lightly elbowing the Captain. "Anyway, what's on the up Pupunin? Got a new job for us now that we're done with the survey?"

"Well… something like that. Not task for entire crew, however. Need to confirm something first." The Salvagers raised a brow each at the odd request. "Vaios, you are Leftherian, correct?"

"Well, we just kind of assume I am." Vaios replied. "I'm from the Archipelago at the least, if that's what you're asking about."

"Ah, great! Should be fine then!"

"Why you askin' the kid about where he's from?" Rakham's tone seemed a bit more skeptical.

"I promise it fine! But if such is case, Vaois should go straight to boardroom of chairman."

"Wait a second, Bana wants to see me?" Vaois pointed at himself, Pupunin nodding. "What kinda job is this?"

"Chairman will give you details when you arrive. To be precise, Chairman Bana ask for Vaios by name… well, also Rex, but have not seen him yet. He said whichever I met first, to send to office first thing. Will see around!"

"Vaios, somethin' about this don't sound right." Rakham stopped Vaios as Pupunin left, the grizzled man bearing a troubled look. "A job from Bana is a big deal sure, but I don't like that it comes with askin' you about where you're from. Seems a bit too specific if you ask me."

"Lemme go to the office and see what the deal is anyway. I'll meet you and the rest of the crew in the inn once it's wrapped up. If it's really as fishy as you think, I'll turn it down." Vaois tapped the man's arm, but he had quite the confident smile on his face. "But hey, something gives me a good feeling about this. And you know my good feelings are never wrong!"

"And I fret about the day one of them turns out to be wrong!" Rakham tightened his grip a bit. "Look kid, just be on your toes alright? Frankly I don't trust the Chairman far as I can throw him, and you've seen how fat that Nopon is before!"

"Relax old man, I'll be fine." Vaios tapped Rakham's arm again and trotted off and to the next level up. Past the stalls and up a few flights of stairs, the Chairman's office was right there and open to him. At the desk located at the end of the room was a truly massive Nopon, who in what was truly uncommon for his kind, was larger than most humans ever got. Richly decorated and elevated by the desk, the large Nopon looked down to Vaios, one of his wings curling a slender mustache.

"Thank you for accepting summons! I Bana, Chairman of Argentum Trade Guild." Greeted the Nopon, Vaios nodding, awkwardly putting an arm behind his head, still rather taken aback by all of this.

"Pleased to meet you." Vaios said, looking around the room. It was about as lavish as he'd expect it to be for the chairman of the entire Guild.

"Me hear from Pupunin that friend is salvager of some renown. That being case, I have teensy weensy thing to ask of Vaios!"

"So it is a job. Alright, what's the deal here?"

"Reward is 100,000 gold!"

"What."

"Friend hear right! Actually, that just the advanced. Another 100,000 provided upon completing job." Bana stretched his wings out as he spoke, Vaios looking like he was processing all of this.

"Advanced? So then… 200,000 gold in total. This sounds too good to be true!" Vaios felt like he'd just had an anvil drop down on his head from hearing that. Who could be providing this job for it to come through the chairman and come with a 100 grand advanced payment? "Who uh… ahem, who's the client? Some Ardanian noble? Though uh… ahem, what are the details of the job anyway? It sounds great and all, but I don't want to jump feet first into shallow water ya' know?"

"Understandable." Bana said. "But first off, you really have skills for this kind of job?"

"I'm pretty confident in my salvaging skills. I'm not the Inquestor's ace for nothing." Vaios chuckled as he folded his arms. Bana nodded while stroking his mustache.

"Meh, if you say. Here, crew will explain. Bring them in." Bana turned to a woman near a large pair of doors, who nodded and threw them open, entering the room beyond it. Vaios' eyes widened a bit as five individuals came out, two of them though, inhuman in the easiest of terms.

The first of the group was a short, grey-haired, cat-looking girl Vaios could easily recognize as someone from Gormott, dressed in yellow and white clothing, a pair of chakrams at her hips. Following after her a large feline even bigger than she was, who moved with a surprising deal of grace despite his bulk. After her was a tall man in dark armor, with spiked up black hair and dark eyes that made something in Vios think. It almost felt like he somehow knew the man's face. Following that man was an even taller creature he couldn't put any actual words too besides being lizardlike.

And then there was one more. A man in white, with long silver hair and wearing a horned mask, icy blue eyes peering out from it and right at him. Vaios didn't know why or how but looking at the man made him see things. Flashes in his mind like those other times, and to his confusion, these flashes had that man in white in them. And they felt awfully familiar to him.

"Tch, that's weird." Vaios muttered to himself, but he also definitely knew what the other two people were. "Drivers and Blades? Then this job has got to be a big one."

Blades. Beings Vaios knew plenty about but had never dared attempt to get one of his own. Beings who were as much weapon as they were a sentient partner, and the people who could use their powers were called Drivers. He knew that the feline creature and the lizard-man were Blades not just from their abnormal shapes, but also from the parts of their bodies, be it clothing or natural, that glowed a shade of bright blue, shifting brightness by the moment.

Blades were an interesting subject to Vaios. Born of Core Crystals, being able to resonate with one was a rare thing. People who couldn't were either left horribly injured, or at the worst killed by the attempt at doing so. Reasons like that are why, despite the regularity the Inquestor crew fished up Core Crystals, he had never taken the chance to actually try his hand at it. He'd rather not take the risk involved, considering he had something of a streak for bad luck at times. Though for as much as he knew about the basics of Blades, there was as much about them he was totally clueless of. But he'd have to have been living under a rock not to know those basics.

"So… there's something we want you to haul up." The masked man spoke, Vaios turning to him. Odd, he's got the same accent I do. Where are they from? He wondered. "There were some current shifts in the Cyclus Sea. It showed up in an uncharted area. But it's a long down."

"I just got back from a survey in Cyclus in fact. Must be another quadrant. Sounds like a good challenge." Vaois replied, folding his arms. But he still couldn't shake off that weird feeling. Had he met this man somewhere before, or was he just thinking of something weird? Could they have come from the same place considering their shared accent?

"Bana offered to assemble team of veterans for this job." Said Bana, drawing the attention back to him. "But this crew very picky. They want small, elite team, and only from Leftheria. That when Bana have stroke of genius! Should hire Vaios or Rex! Depending on who available. And you first to arrive."

"Well, I can't say you made a bad choice, Chairman." Vaios said, a chuckle to his voice that immediately turned into a flat expression when he heard the Gormotti girl laughing, the girl downright in stitches as Vaios looked at her with a raised brow.

"Aren't you a bit young though?" She said. "How do we know all your yammer isn't just bravado hmm? Jin, you sure we're not hiring some braggart of a salvager?"

"Ohh hoo? Catty one, aren't you?" Vaios's pun clearly wasn't appreciated by the Gormotti. "If we're going to bring up age, compared to me looks wise you're basically a kid."

"Well at least I don't nearly wet myself over a mere 'undred grand like I am some kid." She countered, Vaios' left eye twitching.

"Are you trying to start something? Because I'll oblige!" As Vaios took a step forward, the girl's Blade got between the two as they glared each other down.

"Vaois, was it?" The Blade asked, Vaios nodding. "I implore you to excuse my lady's discourtesy." The Blade bowed his head at that, Vaios blinking a few times as he looked shocked by this development. This was all moving way too fast for him.

"Dromarch! What have I told you about speaking for me?!" The Gormotti snapped, "Shut your-"

"Drop it, Nia." The dark-haired man spoke, looking at Vaios as he folded his arms. "Though I do see your point. In that case… it should be easy enough to make sure."

Vaios leapt back as the man suddenly charged him while drawing the weapon at his side. He weaved back from the rapid slashes from the energy blade, one dodge coming with Vaios drawing his sword and slamming it into the other weapon, deflecting the slash while the following exchange ended with the two locking weapons. Something about the man's expression was irking something in him. It sent a chill up Vaios' back when those dark eyes looked down at him.

"The hell is this about?!" Vaios snapped as he jumped back when the man broke the lock, keeping his stance even when his opponent was standing casually.

"Well well… that's familiar." The man hummed as he looked Vaios over while the blade of his weapon vanished, and Nia looked aghast at what had just happened.

"Malos! What good is it, beating someone up?" Nia shouted, Malos scoffing.

"You said it yourself, didn't you? What if the guy's not up to it?" Malos stated, Nia gritting her teeth.

"I said nothing of the sort!"

"You did think it though, right?" Malos replied, looking from Nia then back at Vaios, who'd only relaxed his stance ever so slightly. "And besides, now we know. You'll do right enough. Though you don't look like a Driver. Where'd you learn those Arts?"

"When you're in my line of work you pick up a thing or two." Vaois said.

"Well, you've got skills, I'll give you that. I'd go so far as to say you're a natural." Malos said, a hand on a hip. "Guts too. You better work hard. Though, you don't talk like someone from Leftheria. Bana, you sure this kid is from there?"

"He'll do fine." The man in the mask, Jin, said. His gaze lingered on Vaios for a moment, and Malos shrugged.

"Whatever you say, Jin. Don't let us down." As Malos passed, Vaios could just make out something else he said. "Seems like he doesn't remember a thing… a shame."

What the hell does he mean by that? Do I really know him from somewhere? Vaios relaxed a bit once the group started leaving, putting his sword across his shoulders. He looked at Nia as she lingered for a moment and sighed before leaving herself. He had to wonder what that was all about, and he still couldn't shake that bad feeling he'd gotten from Malos. Something in him just didn't feel right about the man.

"Meh-meh-meh! Friends are such rowdy bunch!" Bana said, Vaios turning around to look at the large Nopon as he slid his sword back into its sheathe. The Nopon then reached behind him and slapped a large sack onto the desk, Vaios hearing the coins jingling in it. "Here is advance."

"Thanks for that." Vaios caught the purse when Bana then tossed it at him, the weight of it causing his hand to lurch.

"Use to buy what gear you need, then go to dock on starboard." Bana said, pointing off to the mentioned side. "Bana has arranged excellent vessel for you there! Job begin tomorrow morning."

"Got it." Vaios tied the purse to his belt as he turned to leave, and once he was out of the office, he leaned on the railing and overlooked the bazaar, putting a hand on his chin as he hummed. I should go find Rakham and tell him what's going on before heading out. Though he'll probably give me hell for accepting this job.

"Heyyy! Vaios!" Looking down when he heard the call, a grin came to Vaios's face as from below, a familiar face greeted him. A young teenager with brown hair and golden eyes, decked out in a blue colored salvaging suit currently worn light.

"Rex! You're back from your own expedition huh?" Vaios called out as he started moving down, Rex chuckling as his elder teenager met him below, the two exchanging a high five as a greeting. "So how've you and the old coot been?"

"Find and dandy. Had a mostly decent haul this time. How's things with Rakham and his crew on your end?"

"My hunch about Cyclus having some good hauls came up golden." One could almost see Vaios's nose grow a point as he huffed in pride. "Though we're probably gonna have some big crew discussion. Tensions are ramping up between Mor Ardain and Uraya, so military goods are going for extra if they can be brought up in good condition."

"Really? You're not thinking about actually dealing in some of that now are you?" Rex's question got Vaios to stop, the light-green haired young man sighing.

"Money's money. Besides, Rakham's the one who makes calls on our sales. I'm not against it. It's more the logistics."

"Well I suppose whatever floats your boat. Speaking of, did you see that black ship on the port docks? Marvelous thing ain't it?" Rex looked about as excited as Vaios had been when he saw the thing, Vaios chuckling as the two young salvagers took a seat at a bench.

"Of course I did. Saw it not long after we got here. Man I wanna take a closer look! It's a non-Titan ship so I wonder what makes it tick." Vaios said, Rex chuckling at how anxious Vaios looked about the idea. "Well, before then, I need to go find Rakham. Believe this one Rex, but I just got a job from the chairman!"

"Say what now? Are you serious?" Rex shot to his feet as Vaios chuckled, the boy giving a whistle. "Damn impressive. Does it have to do with the people who have that black ship? Garram told me it was owned by some associates of the Chairman's."

"Likely. I met a crew with a couple of Drivers when I got the job. Wouldn't be surprising if that ship is theirs." Vaios said, "But as for the job, guess how much the advance payment was!"

"A grand?"

"Try a hundred."

"A hun-you're bloody kidding me!"

"Nope! Got it all right here!" Vaios tapped the new coin purse he had, Rex's mouth agape. "And even better, once the job is done, that'll be another 100,000 to go with it."

"For real? This has gotta be some big deal then! How big is the crew for this job?" Rex asked, Vaios folding his arms, the two now making it out to the portside docks.

"Not that big apparently. Furthermore, they asked specifically for Leftherians. Kind of a strange request if you ask me."

"A small salvaging crew that's exclusively Leftherian? Hmm… man with such a good reward you really do have to wonder why they'd make such a specific request if it's that big."

"I'm also wondering who the heck is funding this bunch." Vaios added. "Considering they hired Drivers and all that."

"Speaking of, what kind of Blades did those Drivers even have?"

"Hmm… well there was only two but, one of them was a Gormotti girl with some kind of big cat, and the other was a man who's Blade was some lizard-man-thing. Gotta be Rare types." Vaios added, Rex giving a whistle.

"Ah man, now I want in on this. But, guess you got here first, so the job's all yours. Try to bring me back something from it will ya?"

"Ahahaha, I'll see if there's any keepers on whatever we find."

"Choice! Anyway, if you're lookin' for Rakham, I saw him at the docks as me and Gramps showed up. Considering how long those two tend to chat for, he should still be there. You should tell Gramps about this job too!"

"He's gonna rake me over the coals for it even more than Rakham will." Vaios groaned. Rex chuckled as they headed off to the same port the Inquestor had arrived at. Past that very ship, the two boys found Rakham chatting with somebody. But not an ordinary person. A Titan. While not an utter giant like others, the Titan still rose well above the clouds he floated over, a long neck craning up to a horned head. Furled wings slightly shifted across his torso, back covered in patches of green fur, while across his stony back was a metallic hut and salvaging crane. The Titan who was both Rex's guardian and effective home, and old friend to Rakham and Vaios, Azurda. "Hey Gramps! Take a look who I found getting back from the Chairman's office."

"Vaios." Azurda said, his voice a gravelly rumble, sounding as old as his nickname. "Rakham here was just telling me about your ventures in the Cyclus Sea. Also about some summons from the Chairman."

"How did that go anyway?" Rakham asked.

"Well, for one, there was one pretty nice advanced payment." Vaois flashed the near bursting coin purse, Rakham and Azura glancing at each other. Vaios sighed. Their looks said they didn't quite care about that detail. "Alright, so, here's the details…"

---

"… so that's about the gist of it. I should be back in a couple of days."

"Gist?" Rakham muttered. "Vaios that ain't a 'gist', that's an Architect-damned lack of information! You're tellin me these folks have an idea of what they want pulled up from Cyclus, but wouldn't bother to tell ya what the thing is!? Plus, the specifics of the crew is just… mate, that ain't normal."

"I have to agree with Rakham." Azurda said. "You're a smart lad Vaios, you yourself should be plenty aware this job offer is covered in suspicion."

"I'm planning to ask for more details once we're actually headed out there. Just knowing it's big and in a quadrant at Cyclus is enough to get my gears turning. I know it's sketchy as hell but c'mon, a hundred grand in advanced and another after! I'd be insane to turn something like that down even if it is sketchy!"

"He's got a point, don't ya think?" Rex said. "If it's a request from the Chairman, why turn it down? From the looks of it, this is something those folks've been looking for for a while now. No wonder they're paying good for it."

"I dunno Rex." Rakham sighed. "I've had a bad sense of things since Pupunin brought it up. I understand requesting a crew, but the fact they're askin for Leftherians in particular? Something about that just doesn't sit right with me."

"C'mon old man, I'll be splitting the pay with the crew once I'm back anyway." Vaios said.

"Don't whinge about it to me ya brat!" Rakham scolded, whacking Vaios on top of the head, then turning it into ruffling his hair. "But you are old enough by now so not like I can keep tellin you what to and to not do. But, if this goes south, just know I told you so."

"There's another reason too." Vaios said. "Two of the Drivers I met for this job, they talked the same way I do. And, one of them said something. I think… I think I might have met them, from before I lost my memories."

"Say what now?" Rakham gasped.

"Vaios, what were their names?" Azurda asked. Vaios had to wonder what the sudden bout of urgency in the old Titan's voice was for.

"Malos, and Jin." Vaios's answer notably made Azurda flinch. "The first one bothered me a lot. Something about that guy… it just rubbed me the wrong way. Like I knew something was just, wrong. The other one, Jin, he didn't say much. But something about him was familiar too. Rakham, Azurda, I know this job is sketchy, and while part of it is definitely the pay, I took it because if I know those guys, then maybe I can finally get some answers about who I was. I know it's risky, but…"

"Well damn, shoulda mentioned that first." Rakham said. "Can't fault you for taking a risk in pursuit of that. But look, like I said, play it safe alright? If it goes wrong, I told you so. But do what you feel like you need to do to find what you're looking for."

"Right!"

"Now you two skedaddle onto the bar! Vaios, you better pay up for that feast we planned with that advanced pay!" As Vaios and Rex dashed off back into the main ship, Rakham's jovial expression dropped. "Hey, Azurda, remember what you told me years ago, 'bout how Vaios ain't a normal kid?"

"Indeed, I do." The Titan said. "I know I have not given you all the answers about him, but he certainly isn't what you would call ordinary."

"These Malos and Jin fellas, they wouldn't really have anything to do with him, would they?" Rakham turned, looking Azurda up and over. "Cause ya' froze up like you heard the name of a ghost soon as he mentioned them."

"If I told you they were, and that I was planning to do something, what would be your response?"

"Hagh… askin' a lot of me old timer." Rakham shook his head. "I'll look after Rex for ya' while you're gone. Make sure the kid makes it home safe, alright? It ain't just me who'd go looking for him if this new job goes south. Rest of the crew treats him like their little brother. And people know not to mess with the Inquestor."

"Haha, you have little to worry about, Rakham." Azurda chuckled. "Even if it takes a bit of time, I'll be sure he finds his way back here. Vaios is a resourceful one after all. Even if something goes awry, you know he'll find a way out of it."

"Make sure of it." Rakham chuckled. "Cause this old merc may just go back into the business if ya' take too long."

---

That next day, Vaios was out on the portside dock, munching on some food he'd picked up from one of the stalls. Last night had been rowdy, but that's how the crew of the Inquestor was. Though the fact a fight or two had started certainly made his send off for the new job an interesting one. They may be idiots sometimes, but they're lovable for it. He thought as he he looked around for the ship that had to be the one Bana had set up for this. And he knew which ship it was the second his eyes fell to it.

"Ni-ice! Bana pulled out the Maelstrom for this job eh? He's got deep pockets that's for sure. Now I know this job has gotta be serious." The ship was even larger than the Inquestor, which was itself a well known and sizable ship within the trade Guild. It was enough that even if whatever salvage they pulled up was large, there wasn't any doubt in Vaios's mind they could haul it back. Whatever it was.

"Gawking at a boat? What are you, twelve?"

"Ahahahaa, funny." Vaios turned around when he heard Nia, the Gormotti girl giving him a smug smirk. "Laugh all ya' want, I happen to be the type who appreciates fine works of engineering."

"Ya' don't close your mouth soon you're gonna swallow a fly." Nia replied, Vaios shaking his head. He smirked when he saw Nia standing right between some mooring lines. Oh this is gonna be great. He thought.

"Might wanna watch where you're standing there, kid. Don't move, and when we take off those lines are gonna take your legs with it." Vaios's playful tone earned him Nia jumping back in surprise with a yelp. "Haha! Fell for it!"

"Why you little-"

"Ohh? Whose mouth is hanging open now?" Vaios sniped, his smug look falling a bit when he looked off and saw Jin and Malos staring from a bit off. That uneasy feeling came back to him. Why couldn't he shake it off? That subsided though, for now, when another salvager approached him.

"Vaios, we're heading out. No one is seeing you off?" The man asked, Vaios shaking his head.

"We took care of that last night. Most of the crew is still passed out drunk at the inn." He replied.

"You got night watch then. Till then, rest up inside."

"Aye aye. See ya later." Vaios have a wave as he sauntered off and boarded the ship, going to find a spot to watch things as everyone else boarded, leaning back on the railing of the overlook as the ship pulled off into the expanses of the cloudsea. As the Maelstrom was pulling out, he caught Rakham and Rex hurrying out to the deck, and he waved at the two as they started waving him off. Once the ship was a good way off from port and drifting over open clouds, Vaios went down from the deck and into the hold, which was bustling with activity as the hand-picked crew were setting up. Now that we're out further, I wonder if I can learn a bit more about this job from that crew. And, maybe those two guys will tell me something about where they're from.

As he descended to the lower section, he spotted Nia and Dromarch amid the crowd. Might as well start there. He took the quick route down and hopped over the stair's railing, landing on a barrel right next to Nia.

"You're being pretty quiet. Not seasick are you?" Vaios teased, Nia's ears going flat as she glared at him.

"I'm not seasick! I'm just… not used to ships with this many salvagers on it." Nia said, Vaios chuckling. "What? What's so funny?"

"If you're not okay with it now then you're gonna hate what comes at night. Ain't no party like a salvager party." Vaios remarked, Nia shoving him off of the barrel he was sitting on, "WAGH!"

"Oh shove off. I can handle myself just fine." Nia snapped, Vaios snickering as he put a hand behind his head.

"Sure sure. So… what's the deal with you Dromarch?" Vaios turned to the Blade, his Driver huffing as she walked off.

"I'm simply milady's loyal aid. What of you Master Vaios? Are you ready to begin salvaging?" Dromach asked, Vaios nodding as he stood up straight.

"Course I am. I do this for a living after all. Ain't a member of one of the best crews in the Guild for nothing!" He replied, the Blade nodding.

"Good. Let us all work together to make this mission a success."

"Of course… so hey, do you know any of the finer details about this, or is that some trade secret in your group? Like, I dunno, do you know what it is we're pulling up? That's kinda the big detail here" Vaios's question got Dromarch to hum, the Blade giving a short breath.

"I don't know much myself honestly. I do know however, that the object they want this crew to pull up is a derelict ship. Apparently, it's also rather large." Dromarch said, Vaios folding his arms as he started thinking about that. "Which is why I assume we need such a sizable crew. I can't tell you why the specified a need for Leftherians."

"Yeah that's the thing about this that kinda stinks." Vaios admitted. "But… I've got some of my own reasons for taking the job."

"I was personally curious about that." Dromarch said. "Jin said you will do fine, but considering your accent, are you truly Leftherian?"

"I guess on a technicality I am." Vaios said. "It's kind of a complicated explanation, but for all intents and purposes, I am."

"Well, you passed Jin's judgment, so I can only presume we will be fine. Rest well." Dromarch nodded and Vaios headed off. As he made way to the upper deck again, at one of the view areas, on his lonesome was Jin. Vaios was slow in his approach of the masked man.

"Uhm… hi there." He greeted.

"…" The silent gaze from Jin made Vaios shudder a bit, and again that weird feeling he was getting came back. Why did this man seem familiar to him? "That pendant you have, do you know where it's from?"

"Hm? This? I uh… have been trying to find that out actually." Vaios palmed at the blue item around his neck, turning it and viewing the crest engraved into it. "I've had it with me since I washed up at Leftheria. I'm hoping I can find out where it's actually from by salvaging. The Captain of my usual crew says the crest is from some old kingdom."

"So, you're not Leftherian?" Jin asked.

"What? No, I'm pretty sure I am. It's just… I don't what happened but, well… hehe, you probably don't wanna be bothered with my little sob story do you?" Vaios only got a shake of the head in response. "Though I guess my accent is kind of a good reason to ask huh? It's, well… not exactly common. Kinda surprised you and that Malos guy have it too. Uhm… where're you from, by any chance?"

"Not anything you need to know. Just do the job we hired you too, that's all." Jin turned away from Vaios with that, the salvager edging back and getting away. Freaky… guy's eyes looked like freaking ice. He thought, feeling a shudder go up his back. As he headed to the top deck again, he saw Malos and his Blade watching the sea pass from one side. But his instincts told him he should just avoid the dark man. He felt he wouldn't get a thing out of it anyway. So instead, he headed up to the crow's nest, giving a whistle to get the attention of the man currently on watch.

"Ah, there ya' are. So, you here to start the watch shift or not?" The man asked.

"Course I am Monell. You can head on down; I've got it from here."

"Good to know. Keep a sharp eye watching. It's not looking to good out there, so keep an eye out for the worst."

"Will do. I'll give a warning if a storm starts rolling in." Vaios leaned against the railing as the man left, pulling out a pair of binoculars of his own, "Okay, let's get watching."

---

Hours later, now that night had fallen, and the ship was drifting over the motionless waves of the sea in the dead of night lit only be the moon and stars. Vaios was scanning the horizon as clouds were also rolling up, and as he panned over, he brought his gaze back. It was the black ship from the harbor.

"What the? What's that black ship doing here? Is it following us?" Vaios lowered the binoculars as the thought came around, giving a sigh and leaning heavily on the rail, causing his pendant to also jingle a bit on its slender chain.

"Ugh, it's way too cold up here." Nia's voice came from behind him, and Vaios couldn't help but crack a grin as he turned to face the Gormotti girl.

"You-"

"I'll have you know I've got a name. It's Nia."

"I picked that one up." Vaios replied.

"Hm… they started boozin' below decks. You should join them." Nia suggested, Vaios giving a hum.

"If you're suggesting that then why aren't you there? For me personally, I actually don't drink. Besides, I don't need a headache before a job, especially not a deep dive." Vaios said, Nia nodding.

"I feel the same. I don't hate it, I just don't need a headache right now myself."

"Heh, funny things is, part of the Salvager's Code is 'swim like a fish and drink like one to.' You'd have to get used to it." Vaios stretched a bit as he leaned on the railing again, Nia giving a scoff.

"Ugh, sounds terrible. I don't think I'll change careers if that's the case." Nia's remark got Vaios to snicker.

"I'm sure you Drivers make way more than us Salvagers could ever hope too anyway. Don't see why you'd wanna." Vaios looked off and to the World Tree off in the distance, and in the dark of night, the lights around the titanic tree were even clearer than during the day, lighting it up brilliantly.

"So, you…"

"My name's Vaios. I'd appreciate if you called me that, Nia."

"Alright, Vaios. Why did you become a salvager in the first place?"

"There's a few reasons." Vaios said, pulling off his pendant and letting it dangle in Nia's view. "The first is kinda personal. You don't mind a bit of a long story, do you?"

"Go ahead."

"Alright." Vaios turned around and placed the pendant back on, folding his arms. "The thing is, when I was thirteen years old, I was found on the shores of Fonsett Village in Leftheria. I don't have a memory to my name, the only thing I could remember. Aside from the ill fit, wrecked clothes I washed up in, the only thing I had on me was this pendant. I have no idea who made it, and according to someone I know, it's engraving is the emblem of some long gone kingdom. Even weirder, certain things I see or hear keep making me see these flashes, and I remember words I shouldn't know… I kinda hope that this salvaging job'll help me find something about who I am, give me answers to all these things I see and can't make sense of."

"Wow, quite the story you've got there. Sounds like the kind of thing that kicks off some grand adventure." Nia said, Vaios laughing at the remark. "So, what else? You said you've got a few reasons."

"The other reason… would be that." Vaios turned again and pointed off to the World Tree, Nia lifting a brow. "Yeah, kinda silly I know. I'm not even the kind of person who puts a lot of stock in the legends surrounding that thing but… I feel weirdly drawn to it all the same. I mean, you find a lot things in this line of works. Most of it's junk, some it's treasure. But the thing is, they're all left from people from a long time ago. And the thing, we lose more Titans every day. Soon enough we're gonna run out of places to live, and who knows how much fighting will start over the bits that are left. I may not put a lot of stock in it, but if something like Elyisum really does exist up there, then maybe there's a way to find out how to get up the World Tree to reach it."

"Pffff… bwahahahaha!" Nia's open laughter at the melodramatic way Vaios was talking earned a bit of a chuckle from the young man in turn. "'May not put a lot of stock in it' eh? For that kind of remark, you certainly seem sure of yourself. And what's with this 'drawn to it' bit as well? Geez you're talking like the protagonist of some novel!"

"Ehehehehe… yeah I kinda caught that one. Still, I'm honest about it. It's either that, or we find out how to keep the Titans from dying out. Whichever happens first I suppose."

"Besides, that's all just stories for children. And that there is just an overgrown shrub."

"Maybe. I still think there's a way up there. Someone's done it before." Vaios replied, looking back to the tree. "Chances are, it's just hidden by the clouds. I can't shake the feeling there's more to the World Tree than we know. Rhadamanthus. Every time I look at that tree, that word pops into my mind. It has to mean something, doesn't it?"

"Hm. Can't give you much advice about that. I've never delt with memory loss, so can't help with that either." Nia said, Vaios chuckling.

"But… I mean think about it. If something like Elysium does exist, doesn't that mean everyone in Alrest can settle down and we can have some honest peace, and not this stupid stalemate that'll snap like a rubber band the more we pull it? It's something to believe in as far as I think. And believing in the hope things can get better is, to me, far better than accepting things as they are, better than just going along with the status quo."

"Well, not like anyone can tell you what to believe in. But… everyone, huh? Y'know, I always thought people were selfish by nature. But you, well, even if part of the reason you're doing this is to search for your own answers…"

"Huh?"

"Well… so, if you're some kid who washed up on the shores of a Titan one day, who raised you then?"

"My crew, pretty much. There's the Captain, Rakham, who might as well be my dad. Though there's also another one, a old as hell fellow named Azurda. He's the one who taught me the Arts I use."

"Sounds like a hell of a guy if he taught you to use a sword like that."

"Well… it's kind of a bit more complicated than that." Vaios said, Nia raising a brow. "First off, Azurda's a Titan, so teaching me how to use a sword isn't exactly natural. But also, somehow, just holding one felt natural to me. Like I knew the way to do it by instinct. Of course with that in mind it doesn't paint a pretty idea for me of just who I could've been before."

"Heh, who knows, maybe you were some talented army conscript with a knack for fighting despite not being a Driver." Nia and Vaios both started laughing at that one, the Gormotti slowing down and then giving a hum. "But raised by a Titan and a Salvager crew eh? Makes for an interesting story at the least. You're not so bad, Vaios."

"Hm. I'll take that as a compliment." Vaios said, blinking when he saw dark clouds starting to roll in. "Ugh, that storms here now. Come on, let's get below deck so we don't get caught in it."

"Heh, I can handle a bit of rain I'll have you know. I'm not some common house cat." Nia got a chuckle out of Vaios again but turned to follow him down either way. "But I agree with you. Better to be in top form once the real business begins."

"Couldn't agree more." Vaios stopped for a moment and looked back to the World Tree, his hand tightening a bit on the railing he was gripping. I just feel it though. The answers I'm looking for, they're at that tree, they have to be. I don't know why, but that's the feeling I've got about all of this.