Chapter 36: People of the Other World
The return trip from the Tower of Aura brought the group to another wing of the main temple grounds. Rather than the residential bloc where they would most likely be staying, Salamandinay took them to a segment she'd said was dedicated to research and medical care. The mood of the group still wasn't entirely settled, but it wasn't quite the same as when they had left. As little as it was, progress had been made among them with their long discussion.
"Ah, there they are! Big Bro, Ange!" No sooner had they landed then they were greeted by an ever energetic Vivian running down the hall, back in her human form and wearing a yellow tunic and matching loin cloth.
"Vivian!" Alain cried as Vivian jumped at him, making him stumble a bit from the flying hug. "Thank God you're okay."
"How did they get you back to normal?" Ange asked, ruffling the younger girl's hair.
"Quiz time! How did Vivian get back to her normal self?" Vivian chuckled as she raised a finger,. "Bzz! Times up! It was… uhm, what was it that doctor said again?"
"It would be a correction in your D-Type gene regulatory factor." Ikuchi stated, waving the Brig off as it carried Salamandinay back to the main temple. "I'm surprised Dr. Gecko let you loose."
"Trying to keep Vivian contained is impossible." Naomi said as she rounded the corner. "She's got too much energy for her own good."
"I would blame the way you people raised her." Someone said. Walking out of the temple was another DRAGON woman. Tall and with a pair of goggles atop a bob cut of orange hair, she wore a lab coat and unlike the white long stockings of the others, hers were striped black and green. "In any case, she'll now be able to maintain her human form without that medication she'd been using."
"There we go!" Vivian cheered.
"Good work as always, Dr. Gecko." Ikuchi nodded as the scientist turned her attention to Alain.
"And I would presume this is the other male, yes? The one Lady Salamandinay wanted us to take a look at?" As Dr. Gecko began looking Alain over, he started getting an unnervingly familiar feeling as she started moving his arms and feeling around his body. "Hmm… he's quite different from the other man. Muscles are a bit thinner but no less strong. His aura is also a bit different… perhaps an aftereffect of his long-term ND Particle exposure? He almost feels like one of us…"
"Please stop touching me like that!" Alain demanded as he bolted away with a shudder while Naomi shot the doctor a look.
"Ahaha, sorry. It's just the only man I've had the pleasure to study has been Captain Ikuchi, and even then, the Freyr are quite tight lipped about their own research." The woman said. "You and your companion are the first of your kind we've ever seen. So do forgive us for being… curious." Alain did not like the way she licked her lips as she said that. Reminds me way too much of Maggy. He thought.
"Speaking of Tusk, where is he?" Ange asked. Naomi then took on a stilted look. "Did he get lost somewhere?"
"Lost may not be the… appropriate word." Naomi replied.
"HELP MEEEEEE!" Tusk's scream echoed from inside the temple.
"Tusk?!" Without a second thought, Ange bolted inside as Alain sighed and followed after her with the others. Tusk's screaming led them down the hall until finally, Ange threw the door open to find Tusk surrounded by several rather excited looking DRAGON girls, some using their wings to hover in the air for a better view. As for Tusk himself, he was strapped to an observation table and desperately struggling to get away.
"Come on stop it!" Tusk screamed. "Stop prodding around like tha-HEY! Where do you think you're grabbing?!"
"What the hell?" Alain wondered as Naomi gave an awkward chuckle.
"They kind of just mobbed him after we checked on Vivian. He didn't have a chance to get away."
"Oh, so like how you lot mobbed me after the Festa?" Alain snarked.
"That was Chris claiming her prize. We just joined in to share."
"Will you two stop talking about your weird sex life and help me out?!" Ange yelled as she started shoving her way through the crowd. One of them stumbled back and hit a cart with medical supplies on it, spilling its contents onto the floor. "Tusk! Let's get… WHOAAA!" Ange's foot wound up stepping on one of the bottles that had hit the floor and in quite the change of pace, went falling face first onto Tusk's crotch.
"Oh!" Tusk barely held in a gasp as his face went red. By now, Alain and the others had made their way through and when he saw what was laid out before him, he bit his lip to hold back laughter while Naomi covered her mouth in a similar lack of restraint.
"W-What the heck did I fall on?" Ange grumbled as she rose up. "What… why are you naked?! Did I just…?! What's going on?!"
"Hey, not bad!" Vivian said as she gave Tusk a thumbs up.
"I swear this isn't what it looks like!" Tusk gasped.
"Alright that is enough!" Ikuchi ordered with a loud clap of his hands, the crowd of girls looking up in disappointment. "I know you're all curious but these people are Lady Salamandinay's guests. Please refrain from such uncouth behaviors towards them." The girls pouted but a stern look from their escort was enough to make them back away. As they filed out,Ikuchi sighed and took a bow towards Ange. "I do apologize. Most of us, the girls especially, do not know much about each other until mates are chosen. Their curiosity got the better of them."
"Ah but he was also so helpful." Dr. Gecko chuckled, striding over to the table. "I have to thank Sir Tusk here for being so cooperative. Seeing fully mature humanoid males is such a rarity."
"So I see." Alain snickered through his teeth.
"Oh, was he?" Ange had a dangerous look in her eyes, Naomi swiftly grabbing her by the arms. "Don't try and stop me! He deserves some kind of punishment!"
"No Ange, no he does not." Naomi cautioned. "Uh, Dr. Gecko, could you please release Tusk and let him get dressed? He and Ange are close to being..."mates". And she's not the type to share."
"W-We're not…" Ange stopped her denial partway, her face burning red. "I just… look just let him go will you?!"
"Dr. Gecko, please." Ikuchi insisted. The doctor gave a sigh and with a quick wave of her hand, released Tusk who quickly jumped up and began dressing himself. "While we're here, Sir Alain, would you be alright with giving Dr. Gecko a blood sample to analyze?."
"If you do, I can promise that by tomorrow I'll have the results in." Dr. Gecko stated, already pulling out a syringe. "That is, if you're as curious about how your body could have changed as we are."
"I don't see a reason to refuse at this point."
"Good good. Just sit down here and pull your sleeve up for me."
"While they're doing that…" Ikuchi turned to the others as Alain did as directed. "Once this is done, you can all retire to your lodgings. Tomorrow, we'll take you to our engineering facilities so you can see the state of your machines. Alain, if you can get D… Wyvern, to help them, it would speed along the repairs."
"Once we see what you're working with, we'll figure it out then." Alain winced ever so slightly as Dr. Gecko inserted the needle and began to drain off multiple vials. "Is that much necessary?"
"A sizable sample is needed for this kind of analysis." Dr. Gecko said as she placed a bandage over the prick. "Ikuchi, I'll message you when I'm done with this tomorrow."
"Excellent." Ikuchi nodded. "If you want to wash up a bit, the plaza outside has a fountain."
"I'm telling you, they mobbed me before I knew what was going on!"
"Oh really? I guess just about anyone is good if you're pent up isn't it?"
"Gods will you two stop?" Alain sighed as Ange continued her ragging on Tusk for the earlier incident, splashing her face with water and gargling from the fountain Ikuchi had led them to.
"They're trying." Vivian snicked. "Should we make bets?"
"If we had money, maybe." Naomi chuckled.
"It seems you're all doing fine." The group turned to see Salamandinay approach with Naga and Kaname. And with them was a woman who, to the surprise of the group, bore a striking resemblance to Vivian but aged up by a few decades. Is she… Alain thought, his eyes widening as the pieces fell into place. "Lamia, this is her. We confirmed it through genetic testing. She is your daughter."
"Huh? Me?" Vivian pointed to herself, obviously confused.
"She's the Daughter of Sylphis who went missing. Your daughter, Mii."
"Mii, is it really you?!" No sooner did Salamandinay confirm it then the woman rushed over to Vivian and hugged the girl, joyful tears streaming down her face.
"Hold on lady. My name's Vivian and..." Vivian attempted to wiggle out of Lamia's grip but paused and gave her a sniff. "Hey. I know this smell. It's kind of like how Ersha smells. Who are you?"
"I'm your mother." Lamia said.
"Mother? What's that?" Alain couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest at the way Vivian was totally oblivious to the concept of a parent.
"She's the person that gave birth to you." Salamandinay said.
"Wait, is she really Vivian's mother?" Ange asked.
"I mean… I can believe it." Naomi said. "She definitely looks it."
"It's likely that Vivian ended up in your world while following after her mother. Due to being so young she wouldn't have known to return with the others." Salamandinay explained. "Everyone, prepare a festival. Let us celebrate the return of one of our own."
As night fell, a crowd had gathered at the base of the Tower of Aura. Along with several large DRAGONs, a sizable crowd of women and children, each carrying paper lanterns. Alain, Naomi, Ange and Tusk mingled with the crowd, looking to the platform where Salamandinay stood along with Vivian and Lamia.
"Hey, what are we even doing?" Vivian asked, continuing to steal glances towards Alain and Naomi as she leaned in towards Lamia.
"Just follow what Lady Salamandinay does."
"Tonight, everyone, for the first time in ages we have reason to give thanks." Salamandinay said. "A lost child of our people has returned home. We thank you for returning this child unto us! Despite the massacre and tribulations we have faced, we thank you!" With a swift move, Salamandinay cast her lantern up, setting it free to drift upwards. The rest of the crowd followed and the air soon filled with the lanterns that painted the night sky with dots of orange light. "To Aura!"
"To Aura!" The crowd repeated.
"It's a bit of a strange scene, huh?" Tusk asked, glancing at Alain. "Hey, you okay? Your eyes are welling up?"
"Eh? They are?" Alain asked. He reached up and to his own surprise, found his fingers a bit wet when he dabbed at his eyes. This feeling again… like at Arzenal. All around me, I can feel things, thoughts, that aren't mine. The joy, the gratitude of all these people… why can I feel all of that? "Sorry… I'm just kind of tired."
"I guess it has been kind of a long day?" Tusk agreed, though Naomi lingered her gaze on Alain for a few moments more. "Y'know… the moon is the same."
"Really?" Ange followed Tusk's gaze to where the full moon was now surrounded by the rising lanterns. "I guess it is."
"Guess the other Earth theory is panning out." Naomi commented.
"Whether it is, or if this is some kind of dream…" Ange felt a smile come to her face as she looked over to Vivian, the girl smiling widely as her mother spoke to her. "I'm just happy that Vivian's back to normal."
"She's luckier than all of us combined." Alain chuckled. "The only other Norma I know who's met their mother again was Hilda. And we all know how that ended. If Vivian can have a chance the rest of us can't… I guess that makes this trip worth it."
"Yeah, but…" and Naomi paused as she rubbed her upper arm. "Is this… really okay for us to be here? After everything that's happened… the way we all feel. What's even going to happen to us? I'm happy for Vivian but… we're not them."
"Good question." Ange sighed. "Why the heck did she want us to see this?"
"If you're taking this long to figure it out, then the chat we had earlier must not have stuck." The group turned and who should they see by Ikuchi approaching with Naga and Kaname. "Wasn't it you and Alain who suggested we put this war to an end? To actually communicate with each other and make peace?"
"Lady Salamandinay showed you this so you could learn from us." Kaname said. "And in turn, so that we could learn from you. That is her wish."
"Learn about us and then what?" Ange asked. "We've all acknowledged it. You've killed our people; we've killed your people. Isn't that all there is?"
"It's thoughts like that which keep cycles like this going." Alain said, looking up towards the moon. "If we're going to end it then it has to start with us."
"Anger, sadness, revenge… all that comes from feelings like that is destruction." Kaname stated. "But humans are able to accept and forgive so they can move beyond them. Of course, this is all the princess's words."
"The hope is that by learning about you, we can convince the Priestesses that your stance is correct." Naga stated. "If we bridge the gap between our people, acknowledge together that in the end we are all human, then maybe, we can do what both of our sides wish. Liberate Aura, and free your people from Embryo's chains."
"At least that's what Salamandinay hopes will happen." Ikuchi added. "For now, rest. Tomorrow, I'll show you around the city as she suggested, and then to where your machines are being held. For now, as Lady Salamandinay requested, enjoy your stay." The three guards bowed and took their leave, though as they left, Alain picked up Naga comment under her breath.
"So what should we do about the Princess's friendly attitude with them?"
"If she heard you say that, Naga, you don't want to know the outcome." Ikuchi said, Naga flinching a bit as he prodded her with his tail to which Kaname gave a scolding nudge to his arm.
"Is it just me or do those three have… a thing going on?" Tusk asked.
"Oh good, you picked up on it too." Alain hummed. "Still, enjoy our stay?"
"Do you two trust them?" Ange asked, both boys growing looks of uncertainty.
"I can't say I do." Tusk admitted. "Even after everything they told us, but…" and Tusk paused as he turned back to the tower. "Vivian seems to be happy. I think for now, we should at least let her have that."
"In the end, we still need to go back." Alain said. "I'm not going to deny this from Vivian but our fight isn't done. I don't trust them yet but maybe we can, eventually."
"Alain…" Naomi reached a hand out and took Alain's into it, their fingers threading through each other. "If that's what you think, then I'll do the same. It's hard to try and put aside what happened to me, to others. But I guess some of them could feel the same way."
"We can only hope that somehow, we can end this damned war we were forced into." Alain added, leaning into Naomi a bit. "I'm tired of it. Especially knowing all of us were just pawns. It just makes me wanna stick it to that bastard even more."
While the festival was just reaching its end, back at the fortress the High Priestess and the others below here were still conducting business. There was little time to celebrate as a long awaited message from Lizardia had finally come in.
"Is it true then, Lizardia?" The High Priestess asked, gazing down to the holographic image of the woman. "Have you really found her?"
"Yes, High Priestess." Lizardia said with a bow. "I believe her to be located underground in the Misurugi Empire, within their Pillar of Dawn. The Aura signal certainly came from there." The other priestesses let out shocked gasps. This was news they had waited ages to hear.
"You have done well, Lizardia." The High Priestess praised. "Children of Aura, the time has come! We will hereby retake the Great Mother Aura from the hands of Embryo. Lizardia, open the Singularity as scheduled. And if Salamandinay's plan works as well, we may be able to gain the power of the Wyvern we lost so long ago to aid us in this."
"As you wish." Lizardia confirmed before the hologram vanished.
"This battle is for the fate of the Earth! May Aura and the Earth have victory!"
"Victory!"
Outside of the hall, Salamandinay and Ikuchi stood with their ears against the outer walls of the chamber. Salamandinay's face was a troubled one, and Ikuchi clicked his tongue as he stepped away from the wall.
"Even as we celebrate the return of a lost daughter, they're still making plans for more war." Ikuchi's words were dripping venom as he and Salamandinay retreated from the chamber to avoid being caught. "The High Priestess simply refuses to listen to us. Have our people truly fallen so far that we would so easily declare a battle to save Aura?"
"As noble a goal we may have, you are correct." Salamandinay said. "I also do not doubt our guests would appreciate the idea that our superiors have plans to drag them into our side of the war. They already tried getting someone to force Wyvern open and that did not end well for them."
"It was quite the commotion from what I heard." Ikuchi stated. "Convincing Alain to help us is a necessity if we wish to learn more about Wyvern. I don't doubt Embryo has his eyes set on that machine. He was involved in its creation after all. And from what we witnessed during that invasion; it's entirely possible Alain has awakened more of its capabilities than we realize."
"Ah, look at us Ikuchi." Salamandinay sighed. "Trying to entreaty peace and still speaking of war. We need some way to take our minds off this nonsense for at least a few days, even if in the end we must continue the fight."
"As you said, tomorrow we need to at least show them we're in the process of fixing their machines." Ikuchi added. "What about that facility you had repaired some months ago? The one located at that cliffside? That could be a good way to take our minds off of things." Salamandinay gave a thoughtful hum.
"That would make for a good idea, actually. Lady Ange seems to be one who may need more convincing of our intentions. Perhaps she would respond better to a challenge than words alone. Hopefully, it will also keep Alain distracted until Dr. Gecko has the results of his blood test. Especially regarding his rather unique aura. You noticed it too, did you not?"
"Yes. He doesn't feel like one of our own yet at the same time he does." Ikuchi said. "I imagine it's why Vivian grew so attached to him. On some level she recognized him as one of us and stuck with him due to finding his presence familiar. Plus, during the festival something in him seemed… stirred. Almost as if the people around him had some effect on him."
"There are many things we need answers for." Salamandinay. "It reminds me of that old theory we read about when searching the archives, the one founded by a man who would have been a progenitor like Aura."
"The Newtype Theory," Itsuki mused. "Who would have thought that it might actually be possible."
With the festival over, they had all retired to the rooms that had been provided for them. Vivian had elected to remain with Lamia, and Alain was sure she was yammering the woman's ear off with all of her stories about Arzenal and her experiences as a pilot. And now part of me is regretting knowing the woman has to hear about that. Though considering Vivian's ever chipper attitude and seeming lack of ability to be traumatized, maybe there wasn't that much to worry about.
As he stood out over the balcony they shared with Ange and Tusk's room, Alain looked up just in time for some DRAGONs to fly by overhead. He recognized a few Sloops, and a couple other kinds he didn't recognize as having fought before. Looks like there's a lot more kinds of male DRAGONs than we've ever seen. I guess some are just better suited to fighting than others. Behind him, the door to the overlook of the room slid open and Naomi appeared, rubbing some sleep out of her eyes and the robe she'd been provided slipping on her frame a bit.
"You're not going to sleep yet?" She yawned as Alain turned back to gazing up at the moon.
"I don't feel that tired right now." Alain admitted, glancing back as Naomi leaned against his back. "… the stars are the same as in our world. We may be in a different part of the world, in a different world completely… but the sky is the same."
"Does it bother you?"
"Weirdly, no." Alain sighed and leaned back into Naomi, earning a chuckle from his partner. "We can't stay here for long. But there's also a part of me that wants to let Vivian spend more time here, time to be with her mother and catch up on years she's missed out on. Though I'm sure even she doesn't want to leave our friends behind."
"You sound like a concerned parent,." Naomi giggled, Alain rolling his eyes. "Before we rush on back to save our friends however, we need Wyvern and Villkiss fixed up. But, tell me… what do you think the DRAGONs have planned? Why let us stay here and learn about them? I can't imagine those Priestesses are entirely keen on letting Salamandinay just have her way."
"That's up to them to decide." Alain said. "Ange and I told them what our thoughts were. If they want to save Aura, it doesn't make much of a difference to us. Hell it helps us if they do… but even those two admitted their side is stubborn. Though… ours can be too. I'm sure the guys in CROSS would gladly welcome the DRAGON's help if they decided to end this war and offer it. It's Jill who I'm worried about. With the way she can be, I'm not sure she'd accept a proper alliance."
"Well we can't know until we get back." Naomi said, turning around and wrapping her arms across Alain's shoulders. "So, for now, we can take it easy. At least for a little while. I hope we can. I'm… still not sure about this. Being around the DRAGONs… a part of me still doesn't know how to feel knowing that entire time, we've been fighting and killing people who could have talked to us. Not when they fight us like that."
"Ange pointed that one out too." Alain mused. "Should've seen the faces those two gave us when we told them how young Riders start out." Alain went from an amused smirk to a more downcast look. "I wonder how much either side knew about the other until now? They looked genuinely shocked to hear Norma are all basically kids so I guess they must have thought they were fighting adults, even if we didn't have a choice. They probably assumed even their enemy wouldn't be that cruel."
"Well… I guess we might as well take the chance to learn from them… and to teach them about us." Naomi said. "Now c'mon, let's go to bed. You look like you need to sleep."
"Yeah… yeah I do." As Naomi pulled him back to enter the room, Alain stole one more look at the sky. Wherever you all are… please be alright. Ersha, Salia, Hilda, Chris, Rosalie… everyone else… we'll be back soon. Just be patient. And don't die.
