Class ends before anyone really seems to realize it. That was going to be a benefit of being in Professor Ports class, guy talked so much - got so into his stories that time just flew by. Usually Gales wouldn't have minded hearing the kinds of stories Professor Port had to share - those tales recounting his adventures across Remnant, but he'd been too distracted to pay any real attention today. He didn't even pay much attention in his next class or the one that followed.

"Gales." Making his way to the school dining hall, Gales turned to see that Pyrrha was tugging on his sleeve, not exactly trying to pull him along but rather to get his attention.

"Hm? What is it Pyrrha?"

"Can we talk?" She asked as Gales just blinked in confusion before nodding.

"Sure." He told her. "I'm all ears." This Time Pyrrha started pulling him, away from the path to the cafeteria, and towards somewhere more private. That place turned out to be the courtyard, somewhere that seemed more empty than anything thanks to the fact that everyone was eating lunch in the dining hall. Pyrrha took a breath sitting beneath a tree as Gales took a spot next to her. "So." He said after a moment of getting comfortable. "What's up?"

"I should be asking that." Pyrrha admitted as she looked at Gales for a moment. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah." Gales raised a bandaged arm and seemed to tap it. "No pain at all."

"That's not what I meant." Pyrrha muttered. "You seem… off." She stated. "Since this morning, you've been distracted." She explained. "You never get distracted, at least not to the extent you are today." She told him. "What's going on?" Gales just blinked, actually kind of surprised that Pyrrha had noticed that before thinking back. "And back in Professor Port's class, you asked who you were." She added. "What was that about?"

"Oh… I guess that would get a few people concerned." He muttered as he looked down at his necklace and seemed to toy with it. "I saw someone earlier today." He admitted. "Someone I hadn't seen since I came to Vale." Pyrrha didn't say anything for a moment. "I didn't mention this, cause I kinda spaced on it, but when that shard of Aetheryte - when that shard of Dust sent me here, I wasn't alone." He admitted. "There was this woman who came with me, and I guess she had entrusted me in Oz and Glynda's care before she disappeared."

"And you saw her earlier today." Pyrrha got a nod sent her way. "Who was she?"

"Apparently, she was my mothers handmaiden and bodyguard."

"You're mother's handmaiden and… bodyguard?" Pyrrha repeated after a while. "Why would your mother have someone like that?"

"I never knew my real mother, so I can't say for sure, but my guess is that she was some… very important." Gales stated. "Anyway that woman, Ivory as she said her name was, told me a bit about her." Gales paused, seeming to think. "It was strange sure, but, it was nice." He admitted. "I know I have Ashe back home at Eldenwyrm, but learning about my birth mother was really nice."

"And that bothers you?" Pyrrha asked. "Thinking about another who you see as a mother figure?" Gales shook his head.

"No, that's not it." He muttered. "It's more like, some of the things she brought up are still buzzing around in my head." He admitted. "And it's making me question a few things, is all." He told her.

"Like?"

"Who I really am, what my real name is, and…" He paused for a moment. "Why the Order was really after me?"

"The Order?" Pyrrha paused as she seemed to grip the hem of her skirt. "Gales, who is the Order?"

"A cult basically attempting to establish a new world order." Gales released his necklace as he made a face. "Think, White Fang, just not after racial equality but racial superiority."

"And they're after you." Pyrrha but her lips. "Why?" All Gales did for a moment was to grab a few strands of his hair.

"This."

"You're hair?"

"From what I've seen, everyone in the Order has some shade of white hair. The more white, the more 'pure' your bloodline is and how close you are to the Ancients." He told her. "Mine is the color of snow." He muttered staring at his hair. "That means my blood is… particularly pure." He scoffed before letting go of his hair.

"If that's the case than, this Order is after you because of your blood purity?" Pyrrha wasn't to sure how to feel about that. Though something else quickly popped up in her head. "What about Weiss, her hair is white like yours."

"Yeah. I asked Ivory about that, she's not related to me or my situation, so they won't come after her." Gales stated as Pyrrha released a sigh in relief.

"That's a relief." She admitted. "But if that's the case, why are they after you to begin with. What makes your blood so special?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Gales admitted. "Ivory said that my mother had 'gifts', gifts I inherited so I guess that's why." Gales admitted."

"Gifts, like a Semblance?" Gales shrugged.

"Maybe. From what Ivory Said, my mom could awaken and lull Aetheryte - put Dust to sleep."

"What?" Pyrrha wasn't sure if she heard that right." "I'm sorry, did you say she could put Dust to sleep. How is that-"

"I have no idea." Gales admitted. "But she could do, and apparently, so can I." He stated. "The dust that sent me here all those months ago, I 'woke' it up. How, I don't know, but apparently I did." Gales grumbled as he rubbed his forehead. "And if that's the case, why do I have the ability to do that? Why did my mom, and… what else is there about me and my bloodline that I don't know?" He muttered as he stared at the sky. "Just who… am I?" For a while neither said anything, oe just stared at the sky while the other looked at their counterpart.

"Gales." Pyrrha grabbed the young man's hand as she gave it a light squeeze. "I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question for you." She admitted. "But I know this; you are a good person." Pyrrha stated as Gales looked at her. "And you are… you. You are whoever you wish to be, it doesn't matter who or what your bloodline traces back to. You are Gales Ashechild, and you are my best friend."

"Pyrrha…"

"If you want to find out about what's in your family's past, I'm more than willing to help you. But in the end it won't change who you are and who you choose to be." Gales didn't say anything for a moment as he started to smile and gave her hand a squeeze..

"Thanks Pyrrha." He muttered. "I really needed to hear that."He admitted as he got to his feet and pulled Pyrrha along. "Come on, lets get back to the others, no doubt they're wondering where we disappeared to."

"Right." Pyrrha agreed as she started walking back with Gales, never letting go of his hand as she did.

From not that far off, Ivory just smiled as she pulled herself away from her hiding spot and nodded her head. "That girl would make a great bride." She mused as she started walking off.

Elsewhere

"Oscar." The boy in question couldn't help jumping as he looked at Abel, seeing the concern that had traced itself on his face.

"Uh, yes?"

"Are you alright?" He asked. "You seem nervous."

"Sorry." Oscar muttered as he lowered his head as he and the rest of Abel's group continued on their way through this small village.. "I just… I'm not used to all of this yet."

"Leaving your village and seeing the world?" Oscar just nodded his head. "It troubles you?"

"Kinda." Oscar muttered. "I just feel out of place, is all." He admitted. "Never really been anywhere outside my village." The youth muttered as Abel put a hand on his shoulder.

"Will you be alright?"

"Yeah, just… need some time to process it all." Oscar admitted as Abel nodded his head.

"I see." Abel removed his hand as he seemed to think. "Still. If you need someone to speak with…"

"Right." Oscar gave this awkward smile as Leo looked back at them with an annoyed expression.

"Honestly…" He muttered as Lacus nudged him.

"Calm yourself." She told him. "No need to be rude."

"Whatever." Leo grumbled. "Where are we headed next." Lacus looked at the map that she was holding onto. "Given where we landed, I'd say we'd best head to the nearest major town."

"And what would that be?"

"Mistral." Lacus stated, gesturing to the map. "It seems to be one of the Four Kingdoms that inhabit this land.

"Is that where 'he' is." Leo grumbled as Lacus seemed to think.

"I can't say for sure." She admitted. "Even if he's not, a place like that will no doubt be filled with information we can use." Lacus admitted. "No doubt that, there would be rumors concerning a boy with feral eyes." Leo just crossed his arms as he made a noise.

"How long will it take us to get there?"

"On foot, roughly a week or two."

"Great." Leo grumbled. "A week or so traveling. Just what we need." He frowned. "This trip better be worth it."

"Do us a favor and stop being a stick in the mud." Atalanta asked as they continued walking through the village. Lacus just giggled slightly as Leo narrowed his eyes.

"I don't think he knows how to be anything else."