She stood all alone in an endless sea of mystery. The Aegis was a powerful, knowledgeable being. She knew her role for this world that lay above the clouds very well, and she was determined to maintain order and information to the best of her abilities. Her creator, her father, called her Pneuma. A tall, slender, green haired woman adorned with shining armor and was blessed with the power of the wind. Sadly, it was a power that saw little to no use, as even though she was a Blade at the end of the day, she had yet to be awakened by a Driver… but even then, the thought of that sounded so foolish to her. The Aegis was a lore keeper, not a weapon…! Yes, from her very inception, Pneuma detested fighting. There were far too many other things on her mind besides drawing her sword and swinging it around so fruitlessly. She had a job to fulfill, and she was set to do it well.

…There wasn't a rule that said SHE had to be the one doing the fighting…

She bore the Aegis' core crystal, and as such, she got to work on crafting one who would follow her in the event she would be awakened. One half of herself. A strong, quick witted, fast and dangerous lady. One who bore the power of light, a perfect fit for one who would be hailed as the savior of this world "Father" had placed her in. Yes! Tales and stories of this legendary Blade would be told for years to come, remembered by many and respected by all- she would be the greatest moving myth the world had ever seen! A moving myth… what a title. As such, she would call her creation, Mythra. Simple, but effective, and invoking the gods of light all at the same time. All around her, she could hear and just faintly see the hearts of those she held within her core crystal. The animals, the cities, the people, the Blades, they all formed what made her role so important in the first place. Days passed… weeks passed… months passed… had years passed? It was hard to tell. But "Father" could certainly tell that Pneuma had a lot to deal with, nevertheless. He could see that Pneuma was working tirelessly and endlessly, perfecting this sculpture she would send in the world to fulfill one role as she focused solely on the other, as she felt it so. "Father" did love Pneuma, dearly, but her dedication and effort would also lead to exhaustion and worries. He didn't believe Pneuma COULDN'T handle this all on her own… but he also didn't want her to feel so… alone, either…

And that's when Logos was created.

Pneuma sat silently amidst the tides and waves that surrounded her environment. The sea made up such a large portion of her identity, it was all she really cared to stay in, even if it wasn't real, the setting was too ingrained for her to just leave. She had no plans to, anyway, she was too busy shifting through the information fed to her by the latest Blade and Driver separation. She sighed sadly as she whisked the memories of the Blade away and reinstated its persona all at once.

"She was a fine young lady… so much life to live… I feel for you, my friend, I do…" She smirked and scoffed jovially as she inspected the faux core crystal closer. "You're one of the lucky few, you know. It isn't every day a Blade is treated as a member of the family- your thoughts and prayers will forever be with me, don't you worry. You have a new life to look forward to, and I'll be more than happy to carry your burden."

Letting the apparition vanish from her, she turned to her own core crystal, the one that would represent her physical form while she remained in place in this vast sea of spirits.

"Oh, Mythra… don't think harshly of me, now. You and I may both be the Aegis, but we both will have our roles to play, and once you're ready, I'll see to it that you have the time of your life!" Her energetic smile softened a fair bit as she looked down at the crystal in a sisterly fashion, caressing it ever so gently as she watched her own reflection fade away to reveal the still incomplete, naked body of Mythra, sleeping soundly. "You can always rely on me… don't you forget it…"

At a more gentle place of mind, she set the core crystal aside and proceeded with her recording, meditating quietly and peacefully, her glimmering armor shone brightly as a wave of euphoria rushed throughout her, all culminating into her very core crystal, clasping her hands together and taking a deep sigh, before immediately returning her eyes to the watery horizon, peacefully listening to the banter of the people and voices of the wilderness and settlements that surrounded her.

Her peace would be interrupted soon, however…

A large, hulking being cloaked in a deep navy blue suit of armor approached her. His muscles bulged with anticipation, his sharp teeth gnashed with delight and malice as he crept up closer and closer to the green haired woman. Dark brown eyes laughed gleefully and viciously as he drew his sword, tiptoeing against the sounds of crashing waves in the distance, perfectly hiding his presence to Pneuma, he took a big deep breath, finally got as close to her as he possibly could, and with a flex of his mighty arms, raised his sword above his head and-

"Don't even think about it."

…sighed heavily and dropped his blade down to the ground, practically flopping over in disappointment.

"You're no fun at all, do you know that?" He asked in an almost whiny tone, sweeping his short, prickly earthen hair back.

"Now, that's a rather tall claim, dear Logos. Father merely gave me his keen intuition. I'm having my own bit of fun, brother." With a small smirk, she didn't even turn to face him, lightly chuckling to herself as she teased her fellow Aegis.

"Yes, yes- but when it comes to brute strength, you fall a bit shallow in the gene pool- that's what Father bestowed to me~" Logos boasted, flexing his impressive muscles as he stood up tall.

"You would enjoy the world, women seem to go nuts for boorish muscle bound aberrations like you. If I were to stare at you for too long, on the other hand, I just might heave, had I the capacity to do so."

"What now? Is that jealousy I detect in your voice, dearest sister? Big sister Pneuma admitting inferiority? HA! Father would get a field day out of this!"

Pneuma finally opened an eyelid and rolled it over Logos' way, not quite facing him, but definitely focusing on him.

"Is that a challenge?" She asked.

"If you want it to be~" Through his childish demeanor, Logos was bursting on the inside, flipping over and jumping for joy at the thought of a lavish spar with his older sister.

Shortly, his prayers were answered as Pneuma finally stood up slowly, swept her arm to her side and quickly summoned her blade. She finally turned her head to look straight at Logos with a gentle but smug smirk, her green eyes fiery with excitement.

"Mythra will need a basis to go off of- allow me to show her the superior figure~"

Logos pumped his arms up and down excitedly, child-like glee drawn on his face before drawing his own blade to his side, delivering her a sharp grin and his own battle ready glare.

"Talk big all you want! Her and I will be the ones on the battlefield! Bosom partners!"

"How garish. Show me what you can do."

Without another word, Logos charged forward with what could only be described as a mighty roar, his sword glistening amidst the light penetrating the sea. Pneuma stood back quietly, totally unnerved even as he reeled his arm back, ready to strike. Her response, rather, was to block his hit with her own. Though with her grace and agility in the swinging of her arm, the amount of force she put into her parry seemed negligible. Logos, however, flinched in surprise as the sudden movement halted him so effortlessly. His eyes widened and jaw agape, he growled in frustration as he aimed to topple her over. Another block. He aimed for her middle section. Block. Her head. Block. Underside. Block. He was getting nowhere.

He backed up only a little bit as he tried to use his pure strength to muscle his way through to attacking her. Pneuma, however, merely leapt over his charge with the grace of a breaching cetacean. Her form was immaculate, and even Logos had to admit that her flexibility was… terrifying. Even as she seemed to hover in the air, she would maintain laser focus on him, her eyes shooting dagger-like blades of grass into his ego, while his own dirty brown sunk in astonishment. With one hand, Pneuma swung her sword dizzyingly. Logos attempted to keep a close eye on wherever she could have struck, but it was fruitless. She grazed his cheek with a quick swing, punted his side with the dull end, nicked his armor dead center with a forceful drive, and as if to humiliate him, uppercut him with a swift kick, bending nearly all the way over backwards, letting her long flowing ponytail droop to the ground, her eyes shut gently in casual defiance.

Logos was angry now. So angry that he attempted to brute force his way through once more. Without any real goal in mind, he swung his limbs outward, which Pneuma had little time to react to. She tried to acrobat over the display but only ended up getting hit in the stomach, sending her back a few good paces. She still stood standing, but now her stance was a lot more defensive. She looked over herself cautiously once before glaring challengingly at Logos, who seemed satisfied with his results. A devious smirk formed as he swung his sword around proudly. Even at this state, Pneuma wasn't phased. She stood her ground and studied her opponent diligently.

"I certainly hope that Mythra of yours is watching, Pneuma, because I have only begun the fight!"

Logos drew his blade into the ground and gripped ahold of its base, drawing power from the sword itself. Gravel formed around his wrists and hands as a golden brown energy emitted from his being. Eyes tightly shut and muscles spasming in anticipation, he grit his teeth tightly as his breathing grew heavier and heavier. Pneuma's eyes widened in shock.

"Logos, don't!" She pleaded, but it was too late.

"LEVEL EARTH!" He shouted, clenching his free hand into a fist as he punched the floor beneath him in an effort to execute a powerful elemental attack…

The attack, rather than spreading towards Pneuma, surged entirely back into Logos. He hardly had time to be surprised as he was suddenly overwhelmed by the force of his own power, spasming in pain as he screamed in extreme discomfort, his aura glitching wildly.

"LOGOS!" Pneuma shrieked, instantly dropping her blade and rushing over to Logos' side, who collapsed in exhaustion and agony, panting heavily as the elder blade dropped to her knees and attempted to reach her damaged stripling. "Brother… dear brother… speak to me please…!"

At the sound of her voice, Logos' breathing slowed down. He wearily opened his eyes and turned to look at her gloomily.

"D-did I win…? I won, didn't I…?" He laughed weakly.

"YOU FOOLISH CHILD!" Logos flinched as Pneuma raised her voice. "Do you have any idea what you were doing?! You save that for when you're awakened! The powers bestowed upon you aren't a toy to be used in such an arrogant display! I shouldn't have agreed to this…!" Pneuma turned her head away in disgust, her own breathing growing harsh as she let Logos wallow by himself. The younger Blade out a heavy sigh as he too turned away.

"Pneuma… I'm sorry…" He began.

"As well you should…"

"You know… Father's a confusing one sometimes… I haven't the slightest clue what your exact plans with your Mythra are, but… it'll be difficult to not be fighting alongside you."

Pneuma sighed and turned back to her younger brother solemnly.

"We have roles to play, Logos… I can't let either one of us lose them…" She explained.

"I know… but… why am I necessary in the first place if you've got your sets down pact…? Backup? An extra layer of protection?" Despite his somber mood, Logos was able to let out an honest chuckle. "I'm excited to find out nevertheless but… I think about things, sometimes, Pneuma… don't you ever…?"

Sitting down completely now, Pneuma didn't respond right away. She wasn't necessarily caught off guard, but she certainly understood his plight. She felt Mythra's being and emotions stirring inside her even in her infancy, and all these circles flooding her mind at once settled her down quite a bit… but it wasn't much longer until she gave him her answer.

"No, Logos… I don't."

Alone on top of the high hills, Pneuma sat quietly. She wasn't in a meditative state, but she had no desire to really… think about much of anything. The wind caught her hair and blew it back so elegantly as her baited breath traveled across the sky, and her eyes remained ever shut as she listened to the sounds that surrounded her inside as well as those out. They were hard to decipher all at once in such a state but… she tried, she tried and she smiled, hearing Frankie, Pyra, and Mythra's jovial laughs. She stood up tall and looked up towards the sky, returning to her original frown.

…just how long would this world even last…?

As real as it seemed, Pneuma wasn't content with it just being an advanced apparition. She was even frustrated that it was such a basic apparition at that. Everything seemed right, the world, its creatures, the feel of the breeze… most everything. Everything but the people living within it. She sighed heavily as she sat back down in the 'sunshine', pondering over everything that lay before her… this world, she kept it for Pyra and Mythra's sakes… but only so much reached them… only so much reached her. She felt an ache in her heart, feeling guilty that any connections she could have made in the old world she just… didn't… the sun blotted out suddenly for what was really a brief second, but for Pneuma, it felt like eternity.

So many things… happening all at once… for her… for Pyra, for Mythra… what was even the purpose of even trying to hold on to all of this if her own memory was, though locked in, just so… simple? Falling on deaf ears at that… Some time ago she experienced happiness… now it was fear. Sadness? Too familiar. When Logos had become corrupted, it was all she could recognize behind the confident, powerful facade she had no choice but to uphold. At this point, it didn't even feel like an emotion, just… normal… right back to square one for her, she supposed… alone… confused… upset…

Then the sun blotted out once again. Now, she was curious. Holding her arm over her head, she glanced up above her to find nothing. For a second, she was bewildered. In the next second, the sun blotted out again- it was… some creature of some sort. Her eyes widened in shock as she got up on her feet once again as the creature who obscured the sun's harsh presence flew past again and again, drawing closer and closer by the second, flying downward in a spiral pattern. It seemed so familiar yet… completely alien. A few more seconds of awe and curiosity would pass by yet again as her suspicions were finally set to rest.

A dark golden bird perched just in front of her, carrying some sort of red object in its beak. Its dark brown eyes stared at her confidently, never showing a blink of fear as it and Pneuma stared each other down.

"Deary me… what are you…?" She asked, gingerly stepping forward, careful with her steps as to not scare it away. Upon closer inspection, it was rather large. It didn't match her height at all, but it was rising up to just above her knees, and its wingspan was absolutely massive! It was a sight to behold for sure and Pneuma couldn't help but smile the closer she approached.

"You're an oddity, for sure… mmm… I know someone who would be over the moon if he were in my position…" she said as she and the bird relaxed their postures in their respective presence. The bird, which she was unaware of, would be called an eagle… Golden to be exact.

The eagle shrieked lightly as it placed the red object down at her feet before nudging it towards her once again with his talons. With a sure blink, the eagle looked up at her expectantly. Pneuma blinked herself, in confusion more than anything.

"Y-you're giving this to me…?" She asked as she kneeled down to pick up the item. Obviously saying nothing, the eagle kept a steely glance at her, blinking slowly still. Pneuma looked down at the object again and then back to the bird. Cautiously, she did just what the bird had… erm… requested? And brought it to her face. She couldn't quite get a grasp on the smell, apart from it being incredibly strong and fresh… it seemed safe enough… and proceeded to nibble on it a bit… biting right through the slightly spiny flesh, she discovered, what was actually the fruit of a prickly pear cactus, was something a bit unripe tasting… but so very tart and sweet all at once. She eyed the fruit in surprise once more before proceeding to take bigger bites in between in each chew to finally finish the whole thing rather quickly.

The eagle's expression was hard to read, but it seemed satisfied, the way it stretched its wings to its sides, sitting down patiently. Pneuma smiled at the bird and bowed politely.

"Thank you for the gift! I enjoyed it immensely…" Her hair drooped over her shoulder in her sudden movement, springing back into place as she stood back up. The eagle mimicked her and turned to take off back into the sky. Pneuma didn't even have the chance to ask where it was going before it was airborne. It circled around her quickly, cawing at her demandingly.

"You… you want me to follow?" She surmised.

With another mighty shriek, the eagle lifted up higher into the air and took off into the horizon.

"O-oh! Wait for me, please!" Pneuma hollered, quickly and effortlessly matching the speed of the eagle as it led her on an adventure of her own… her curiosity was at an all time high, whatever this strange animal was about, she'd get to the bottom of…

Her flight with the majestic golden raptor took her far beyond the reaches of her recess. When Pneuma had looked back at one point, she felt her heart skip in fear… was she leaving it all behind…? Did she have to hurry back if she didn't want to lose what little of her world she managed to keep after all this time…? Did she… the eagle had circled over her slowly, gazing down at her with its dark eyes in stern comfort. For whatever reason, Pneuma could understand what it was trying to say… that didn't stop her from looking back once more, but taking this experience on the chin, she took a deep breath and eased her heart. She was still set on coming back… but if everything that had been happening here so far hadn't set her back yet, this wouldn't be any different, she figured.

It wasn't much longer after that did Pneuma find herself smack dab in the middle of a wide rolling field, surrounded by grasslands and fresh cool water. On first glance, it wasn't any different than her resting place… but she very quickly noticed something. It was quiet. The wilds of her world were so bustling and brimming with life in both the plains and the cities, but here? Dead silence. Nothing but the wind and rustling plants and babbling brook to keep her company. Those, and the eagle, who perched on a branch towards a nearby tree, still staring down at her.

Pneuma stared up at the bird in dismay, raising an eyebrow curiously at the creature. To try and make conversation with it would be fruitless- even when she did speak to it, it never spoke back. What it did do, however, was turn itself on its perch towards the stream. Pneuma followed its gaze and saw… something… far in the distance. Even from afar, the vibrant colors popped wildly, immediately catching her attention, and focusing still… the area became just a little less quiet. An indiscernible command echoed towards her, causing her to jump a little. She looked up at the bird again, only this time, it didn't intend to guide her forward. Rather, with one flap of its magnificent wings, it took off the branch and flew away in the exact opposite direction, leaving her alone.

This creature was so confusing… but so interesting all at the same time… without any more company, she was left to assume that she would be on her own for now… she could follow the eagle, nevertheless, maybe it was some secret test…? But her curiosity ate at her all the same. She WANTED to go investigate the distance further, but she felt like she HAD to follow the eagle regardless… she pinched her brow in annoyance, trying to wrack her thoughts all together at once…

Curiosity won out.

As Pneuma ventured closer and closer to the colorful place in the distance, she couldn't help but look around and take in her surroundings. To her side was the same quiet grasslands as she had met just previously, ahead was, of course, what motivated her to come this way at all, and far, far behind her did she notice a tall structure of some kind… it was rustic and stony… hard to make out.

'Curious… just where on earth have you taken me, creature…?' She pondered to herself, now walking backwards so she could inspect the strange construction while still continuing on her path.

'I haven't the slightest clue what you're about over there, but… there must be some reason for your existence…'

What transfixed her the most about this thing was how… primitive it was. The Cloud Sea inhabited many a Titan some time ago and carried with them such fascinating technology that only seemed to advance the further one would travel out… advance on greater the Titan… this however? It wasn't any different than what she was coming up towards… Was this a result of life after the Titans had fallen…? Or was this… below the clouds in general? What parts of this were real and what just figments she had created for the sakes of all those that came after her…?

Her thoughts would be interrupted by the sudden bump of a stranger! She jumped and whipped herself around hastily, turning to see a fair skinned man, dressed in nothing but a strange cape of a muted color and… a loincloth? Unsightly. Unphased by Pneuma's comparatively busy and exotic appearance, the man grunted in annoyance her way, as if he told her to get out of the way before marching forward with some kind of large block on his back.

"E-excuse me, sir?!" She called, walking up to him slowly, "I don't mean to be a bother, as you look quite busy, but… where are you…?" She trailed off as the man didn't appear to be listening to her in the least. What she could figure out was that he was coming where she was going.

Piquing her interest even further, she picked up the pace and continued on her path, her mind racing with all sorts of thoughts. It was at her most inquisitive, did the sun rise up over the trees, shining down in a blinding golden light. She had to shield herself momentarily, crossing an arm over her eyes and shutting them tightly, slowing down to an inching walk. A second or two passed when she finally decided to slowly open them… what she saw was awe inspiring.

Men, women, children, all out in the open, floating on top of a particularly flooded area on their canoes, rowing peacefully and dutifully, driving themselves toward masses of floating islands… the crops within them were tall, green, plentiful, varied… delectable vegetables, beautiful flowers, and succulent fruits all danced gayly in the sunshine. It was all so… simple… but so enchanting. It was a far cry from her home in the Trinity Processor… this was just… Earth.

She couldn't marvel for too long, however. As the people who covered the area were quick to notice her. They all stopped what they were doing in an instant. All eyes were on her. Some were wary, some were curious, others were outright scared… fathers and mothers held their children close by as they stood up tall in a bout of intimidation. The men all wore outfits similar to the man she had encountered not too long ago, while the women were dressed much more modestly. A long draping cloth draped over their darkened bodies and something that Pneuma could only describe as a sort of a skirt just barely peeking out at the bottom near their feet. That was another thing, none of these people donned any footwear whatsoever.

It was safe to say these feelings of unease were mutual.

Apart from Frankie and the cohorts she had encountered on her small journey not too long ago, Pneuma hadn't a chance to really… communicate with others, that only made these people's demeanor all the more intimidating. But she took it on the chin, gulped lightly, and took a deep breath, bowing politely and slowly.

"My name is M- …Pneuma- I don't mean you any harm… honest! I understand it isn't my place to be here! I was merely curious, is all… but if you want me to leave… I will…!"

Pneuma's exotic speech confused and shocked the people, who all stepped back a bit before each turning to the other… speaking their own language. It was clear that neither side would really reach the other in this state, she considered… but should she run? No, that would only make her seem even more suspicious. Still, these people were an interesting bunch, nevertheless. They were so familiar to the people she saw from her high and lonely abode, it made her wonder just how much she had really been missing… what EVERYONE had been missing… what one woman in the crowd was missing?

Pneuma diverted her attention to a panicking middle aged woman, scouring her surroundings frantically, her breathing quickening in fear as she realized her children had wandered off. Her husband just now realized what the issue was and turned to her in concern. They met each other's gaze and shouted out to the crowd, who turned to face them. Upon hearing the tragedy, most immediately dropped what they were doing and quickly fled into the overgrowth to find the missing kids. One of the larger men spoke harshly towards Pneuma. She couldn't understand his words, but his pushy body language told her everything she needed to know. Without another word spoken, Pneuma nervously obliged and left, already parting from this wonderland she had just discovered… but it was for the best, she supposed.

With a heavy sigh, Pneuma trudged along the path she was sent down. She was lucky curiosity didn't completely overtake her better judgment, but still, she had so many things on her mind and virtually nothing came out of her own little diversion. She looked up towards the sky and took another deep breath and then-

Wait, what was that…? A low rumbling sound… a chill in the air and a rustling in the bushes. Her eyes and ears perked up considerably as she swung her head down in the direction she heard the noise coming from. The foliage shook and ceased at random but sudden intervals. Was it the eagle? Pneuma followed quickly as to not lose it.

"Wait! Don't be afraid! It's only me! I'm sorry for not following you earlier! I only wanted… to-" Pneuma paused the further she followed. Not only did she find herself in a darker part of the area, but she also found the two children, she assumed, from the garden playing loudly on their own. One would throw a rubber ball towards the other, and the other would swing it back. They laughed jovially and carelessly. They didn't see or sense what Pneuma did…

A large spotted cat creeping up slowly behind them, its fangs bared, whiskers twitching, and ears pinned back. There was only one thing it had on its mind… Pneuma felt her heart skip a beat as she imagined what would happen next, but even then, she had little to no time to react. The creature was about to strike, and the kids were still ignorant to its presence. With one final growl, a sharp ting from the unsheathing of its claws, and an opening of its mouth…

"YOU LEAVE THEM BE!" She screamed wildly, catching the children, and the cat's attention. Pneuma sprung into action and held the power of the wind in the palm of her hands as she swung her blade up to the sky, glowing brilliantly in display, creating a blinding sensation from the reflection of the sun. The children huddled together in fear of her and scrambled away from the equally frightened cat, who stared up at her fearfully, completely forgetting about the children, and without a second thought, turned and ran away into the darkness, leaping from branch to branch.

It had all happened so quickly, Pneuma had to calm herself and recollect her thoughts. Her attention immediately drew to the still frightened children, whose expressions softened considerably under her gaze.

"Are you two alright…?" She asked gently.

The two children slowed their breathing down considerably, looking up at her in both confusion and awe. The sun shining through the trees and her looking above them so protectively gave her a divine appearance. The kids looked at each other knowingly and then back up to Pneuma in surprise. Pneuma smiled and kneeled down to their level.

"It's alright… you don't have to say anything… I'm just glad you're safe…"

The kids, of course, didn't and couldn't respond, but she was happy nevertheless… then through the corner of her eye, she saw the same woman from the garden, right beside her husband, both wall eyed and breathless as they took in her divinity. Pneuma, meeting their gaze, stood back up and redirected her attention to the children, who ran up to their parents excitedly, chattering about something in their own tongue. Pneuma smiled once more just for a second, as the father had collected the kids shortly after and began leading them back to where they had come from. The mother, on the other hand, had stayed put and approached Pneuma timidly, but thankfully. Her short and stocky body eyed up Pneuma's graceful and athletic one in cautious excitement. Pneuma felt her breath taken away as the woman took her hand and held it in gratitude, tears forming in her eyes. She kneeled down and bowed her head in complete servitude, surprising and flustering Pneuma.

"O-oh… n-no… that isn't really necessary- i… i just wanted to keep the children safe…"

Pneuma couldn't vouch for herself a second more before the woman placed her hands on her cheeks, saying something she couldn't understand in extreme passion and detail… the woman gave a hefty sigh and walked back a few paces, kneeling down once more and reaching her arms up forward. Pneuma followed the position to see they were directing her towards the temple she had noticed earlier.

"You… want us to go there…?" She asked. No response once again. Just pure, unadulterated humility. As Pneuma stared down quizzically at the woman, a shadow blotted the sky. It was the eagle, circling overhead and screeching attentively. When it had noticed she saw it, the bird changed direction and began flying over to the temple.

"You cheeky little thing… what are you planning…?" She asked herself quietly, turning her head to the woman once again. With an insecure gulp, she held her head high and traveled in that direction, the woman following just behind her.

In what seemed like no time at all, the duo arrived at the temple. Pneuma's mouth hung open in awe, marveling at the stoic and sturdy structure such a simple looking monument possessed. She saw the people; working, cleaning, praying, worshiping. It was a sight to behold. It was also an even further cry from her own creation at the Trinity Processor, it all left her wondering once again where all these people had been, below the clouds.

Her appearance turned heads. Her walking alongside one of the locals at the garden raised suspicion. The woman Pneuma traveled with's rushing ahead attracted undivided attention. Including Pneuma's. Ever oblivious to the language she was speaking, she was able to discern that she was excited, happy, and very specific with how she fluctuated her speech… then the people surrounding the woman all turned to face her. Pneuma froze and kept her hand close to chest, silently observing the dilemma. For seconds more, it was dead silent… for all the words Pneuma couldn't understand… one rang out, proud and true among all the others…

"Tzapotlatena…"

"Tzapotlatena…?"

"Tzapotlatena…!"

Tzapotlatena. She hadn't even had a chance to fight back before the lot of the people had bowed before her presence, chanting lowly and dutifully, at her very own servitude. It was flattering, but Pneuma certainly wasn't ready for all of this… attention.

"O-oh p-please! There's no need for that! I-I'm not who you think I am, really! Just someone who's looking around-" She was interrupted by a gentle push. The woman she was traveling with urged her to walk up the steps of the temple towards the very top.

Pneuma nearly toppled over in astonishment as she tried to see the peak of the temple. Again and again, she tried to reach out to these people and explain herself, but the darn language barrier made it impossible! She sighed heavily as her guides flanked her ascent. She blew her string of hair floating over her forehead nervously. What would come next? She didn't want to be tried for lying if anyone were to find out, but she honestly wasn't! Oh, what was this quest that strange bird of prey had sent her on? Her mind raced in discontent so much that she had finally reached the top. She hadn't even had a chance to notice she was so stuck in her own thoughts. At her turn, her flankers moved away, as respectfully as ever and maintained a confident bow as they gave her space.

"Architect's sake… Frankie, you're smart about these things- why aren't you here and why can't you tell me what's going on?!" Pneuma shouted to herself, failing to recognize her pouting face as she moved her eyes back and forth suspiciously- and then she saw a familiar face.

It was the man she had passed on her way to the garden. He looked downtrodden and guilty. In his hands, he carried a clay bowl, filled to the brim with fresh fruits and vegetables. He got down on one knee and offered it to Pneuma, who, again, had no time to react as she eyed him and the offering. It was quite the assortment. Large and ripe vegetables and fruits of mushrooms, cakes of maize, guavas, papayas, and custard apples decorated the bowl and Pneuma could only look on deliberately. What could she even say at this point? She drew a massive blank and was about to turn away… until she saw something very familiar that crowned the very top of the cornucopia… a prickly pear. Her eyes widened as she took it from the top and inspected it curiously. She let out a tiny smile as she popped it into her mouth and began to eat… oh, it was heavenly… just as delectable as before. The man smiled and set the bowl down at her feet, letting out a triumphant cry to the people down below, who whooped and chanted in wild excitement.

Pneuma wasn't… embarrassed, per sé, but any attempts to reach out were useless, and she was beginning to wonder why she was even here in the first place. There wasn't any time for that. The eagle dove out of the sky once more, swooping down and catching Pneuma's eye. Time seemed to slow down as their gazes locked. Pneuma's bright green eyes looked at the bird in wonder, as its rusty golden brown eyes stared deep into her conscience. Not a beat was missed as its wings flapped weightlessly above its head, it came to answer Pneuma's thoughts and it did so dutifully.

Time started back to normal once again as the eagle shot upwards once again, and at that moment, something wonderful happened. Pneuma's sight was now the eagle's! Down below, all her praisers could see was a woman whose eyes were tightly shut in elegance, but up above, the eagle hovered over the entire landscape, surveying it majestically, scanning each and every area devotedly, giving Pneuma a literal bird's eye view of… everything.

She saw it all. Temples as far as the eye could see, wondrous marshes of floating islands filled with vegetation of all kinds, growing tall and proud and reaching to the heavens. The earth, she could see and feel its structure… deep, soft, and rich… man made but ever so powerful, strangely enough. That was what gave the plants such a vibrant glow. People mingling cheerfully together. Training. Playing. Eating. Offering. Courting. It was pure human nature at its finest. Primitive, to be sure, but in and of itself, it was riveting. The adults worked hard and the children frolicked and romped without a care in the world… she couldn't help but smile… thinking about everything they had done to make the life she saw them enjoying so well… the most strange and wonderful animals out in the wilderness, staying cautious of human interference, high peaking mountains that touched the sun in their might, clear running rapids, carvings of gods and goddesses, woven into offerings to those they viewed similar to her, all different and detailed, each telling its own story and painting its own picture. As Pneuma let out a baited breath, she glowed in an illuminous green hue, her core crystal shining brightly as the eagle finally landed atop her head and spread its wings proudly, creating an image of awesome, life changing divinity… she smiled in pleasure… savoring each and every sight, sound, and smell she had taken in in such a short amount of time….

Then… silence. The heat of the sun vanished suddenly, and Pneuma slowly opened her eyes to see what had happened. They very quickly shot open as she looked down and discovered… a wasteland. Her viewpoint was no longer high up top the temple, rather, it was on the ground. Her worries already spiked to terrible levels, and they only increased further as she nervously turned around and felt her heart sink at the sight of the temple she once stood on….. gone. The wreckage was horrible, the world of green she had once occupied had turned grey and depressing. She backed up in horror as she recounted such familiar sights from her own experiences.

"But… what-?" She couldn't even form full thoughts as she looked over the wreckage, her breathing quickening considerably as she hurriedly searched her surroundings. None of the people she had met were present. The animals were gone, all the hard work was nonexistent, literally EVERYTHING was gone… well… not all of it… no, what Pneuma saw next froze her solid.

As she looked over everything in sadness, a very faint sound caught her ears… a bright orange glow flickered and tickled her person with heat. She looked far off into the horizon… trouble, nothing but. Her heart skipped a beat once more as she made an attempt to rush on over to the chaos. As she did so, the eagle suddenly flew in front of her and out of the way just as quick.

Pneuma was in the middle of battle, where she saw EVERYTHING. Fire flooded the battlefield, horses and dogs let out mighty cries as they trampled over their terrified enemies. Muskets fired ferociously, gunning down brave warriors who fought for the protection of their land far too swiftly. In the distance, she could make out a sickly couple thrown aside viciously as a pair of invading forces swiped many a treasure for themselves, making off proudly and short of breath, eager to present their spoils to their cohorts. Booming noise, beats of the drums of war, angry commands, and bloodcurdling screams of death echoed all over the land. It deafened her thoughts. The catatonia she was experiencing was great. Tears flooded her eyes as she watched all this… continue… and for what? She didn't even get an answer!

The longer everything persisted, the more her fear was washed away… replaced with something new entirely… anger. She felt her face grow red and her muscles tighten. Her brows furrowed slowly and her teeth clenched tightly. She knew what she had to do.

"I AM TZAPOTLATENA! UNDER THE COMMAND OF YOUR GODDESS I ORDER YOU TO STOP!"

They didn't stop.

They didn't even acknowledge she was there. Her eyes were tightly shut as she shouted. Upon opening them and seeing everything as it still was, her confidence waned and her command came out much more quivering.

"I-I demand all of you to cease! That is a direct order from your goddess!"

Still nothing.

The screams and cries of pain from all those falling on the battlefield drove Pneuma to a fever pitch. She breathed in a huff, more upset than she already was, tearing up beyond belief, and in a bout of angry excitement, glowed with a burning passion, drawing her blade to her hand and raising it above her head, surging with baleful wind storms.

"I SAID STOP!"

The zephyr and collision of her sword with the earth erupted angrily… she soon discovered… she wasn't really there. Nothing changed when she performed her attack. The people, they didn't feel anything, rather, reality only distorted as impact occurred. She didn't understand. She backed up in sheer terror as she tried to the best of her abilities to wrap her mind around… ALL of this- what happened? WHY was it happening? WHO were these people?

Not all questions would be answered… but one certainly would. She felt the presence of someone else just behind her. A short man exacerbated power and total control under his heavy armor. His dark eyes shot daggers into his enemies, his pitch black horse was peppered from all the fire and brimstone that plagued the area. He was stoic, intimidating, and eager. With a raise of his spear, he let out a mighty call.

"¡DÉJENLOS MORIR!"

At the sound of his call, the battle only intensified… Pneuma was horrified… that language… so similar to the kind Frankie would use every so often… what did that mean…? What did that mean about him? About THEM? As Pneuma was quite literally powerless to stop all this destruction, she found herself looking around in a panic like a small child lost in thick, dangerous woods. She ventured to one side and then the other in fear, head still turning and growing redder by the second… then, far off on a tree branch overlooking everything… was the eagle. Both stared at each other with furrowed brows. Pneuma clenched her teeth and fists as she stormed over to the bird, its steely gaze shining menacingly amidst the flames.

"You." She said, venom dripping from each and every letter. "I've had enough of your games… I don't care who you are or what you, but I want ALL OF THIS to stop. Do you know who I am? Do you know the place I came from? Do you exist solely to remind me of every awful thing I had to experience ON MY OWN for millennia after millennia? Answer me, NOW."

But the eagle didn't answer. Instead, it flew circles around Pneuma, and as it did so, time froze for a breath… then sped up considerably… then quickly… rapidly… breakneck… Pneuma couldn't keep up at all. Her head spun in different directions, watching so many events in history speed by her in the blink of an eye. It was almost too much to bear… what she was able to get a look at was construction. But this wasn't the same kind as the ones the people she had spent time with had done. Rather than making their own land, they were taking it for themselves, designing it to their own preferences, stripping it of the beautiful architecture that once stood in its place.

"W-wh-what- what is this? N-no! STOP! STOP! CAN'T YOU SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING?!" She called to the eagle, forfeiting the last bit of her reason to TRY and reach out to this enigma. "THERE WERE PEOPLE THERE! CHILDREN! CREATURES AND STRUCTURES OF PROVIDENCE! DON'T YOU CARE?! DO ANY OF YOU CARE?!"

Pneuma's cries of help were heard among deaf ears as the eagle continued circling around her wildly, not even giving her a passing glance. Structures rose and replaced the greenery that once stood where they were placed. People flooded into the areas in crowds, not because they had homes to return to, but because they wanted to marvel at all the brand new tacky sites that stood tall and proud above everything else. Pneuma couldn't believe her eyes. She fell to her knees and gripped her head tightly, shaking it wildly.

"YOU'VE DONE ENOUGH! I DEMAND THAT YOU TAKE ME BACK TO ELYSIUM!"

Quiet once again… everything drew to a still just as Pneuma finished shouting… as she did so…

"¿Señora…? ¿Va todo bien? ¿Tienes un aspecto horrible…?"

Pneuma's eyes flashed open as she quickly turned to see a chunky elderly woman staring down at her in concern. She was dark skinned and her hair was pure white. Dressed in various pinks and purples, she was… very different. Pneuma didn't really know what to think or say… she spoke the same language as that commander did… and why was she able to be seen again? The eagle had vanished. The old woman smiled sweetly and bent over to help her up to her feet.

"Oh, querida… has tenido una buena caída por lo que parece… ¿De dónde vienes? Por favor… time tú nombre…"

Pneuma opened her mouth to speak, still unsure how to react. All that came out were a few stunned stutters, and even those were very quickly glossed over by the older woman.

"¡Ai! ¡¿Qué estoy diciendo?! Las presentaciones pueden esperar… ven, vamos a comer algo…"

Pneuma shook her head in confusion… though the language was just the same as the man she encountered… it was more familiar here than there… it mimicked Frankie's speech patterns almost… but much more intricate and confident… and elegant as well. She would follow… but very cautiously.

"Aquí estamos... toma lo que quieras para un aperitivo ligero mientras te preparo algo un poco más sustancioso... mi casa es tu casa, querida…"

The woman spoke softly as she and Pneuma approached… wetlands… floating islands… fresh shrubbery… it was just like the garden she came across in her first venture. And she couldn't believe her eyes. Everything had become so topsy turvy from the moment she came below her resting place to right now. None of it made any sense, how did it even come to this for that matter? Yet… she felt a twinge of… something bubbling inside of her. Her breathing steadied, and her person stood tall as she was left to her own devices.

The sound of plucking and children playing caught her attention. A large and heavyset mustached man was busy harvesting grapes from the woods not far off at all from these structures. He noticed Pneuma looking in his direction, and though shocked at first, delivered a pleasant smile and waved peacefully in her direction. Pneuma, still processing all of this, waved nervously back. The man was soon accompanied by three young children, rushing out of the overgrowth, running past his legs and nearly toppling him over as two tried to tag the other. The lone child bolted toward the floating islands, but the man stomped quickly their way and picked them up with one massive hand and began chastising the child lightly for nearly hurting themselves. The child hung their head lowly guiltily, but the man put on a fond smile and hugged them close, ruffling their hair, and tickling them joyfully. The child and their siblings responded by jumping on top of him, unsuccessfully trying to bring him down to the ground. But he was so large and so top heavy, he didn't even budge. The man, instead, spun his upper body around like a wild bull, causing the children to scream and laugh joyfully… not a single care in the world…

And it made Pneuma smile. She looked back to the floating garden once again, over to a very simple but cozy little house that rested a fair walk away from the garden and woods… just like the garden, it was hardly any different from the structures beyond the temples she WAS able to glimpse at earlier… what did any of this mean? What point in time was she at? How did these people move on so… simply?

And then the eagle showed up once again. This time, perching itself on a plant bearing a familiar looking fruit… the prickly pear. In its mouth, it held a snake, freshly killed. The eagle only looked at Pneuma plainly before craning its neck down to feast on its prize, talons gripped tightly around its prey and its perch, carving out digestible pieces of flesh before letting them fall into its stomach. Pneuma frowned and marched on over to the eagle, still busy eating, placing her hands on her hips as she spoke to it.

"I have A LOT of things to say to you!" She announced, not deterring the raptor one bit. "If you want me to admit it, fine. I know who you are just as much as you know who I am, and I don't care HOW you explain yourself, bird or man or beast or whatever you are, but you ARE going to give me answers whether you like it or not!" Again, the eagle stayed entirely focused on its meal, not acknowledging Pneuma in the slightest… she sighed and hung her head in shame, blinking slowly as she looked at the ground. "I've been living such a specific and trying life… and I didn't even know that until I met him… until THEY met him… seeing and hearing all their raucous nonsense over their little games and whatnot… they've all shown me everything I've been missing out on and…" Pneuma began to quiver, holding herself protectively as tears flowed down her cheeks and onto the floor, "And I hate it… Okay…? I've lost… so many things in this trial, this journey I was thrust into… and I- ME, I've never had a chance to have a say in anything… do you think I asked to have Logos taken away from me to make a villain in my own little fantasy story that I or Mythra could play hero in… one we WEREN'T the heroes in…? All these words like father, brother, mother… do you know what they mean? Because I certainly would…! …listen to me… talking to an animal… taking charge as a blade when that isn't my decision… all because of a series of unfortunate events… still just… wandering… alone…"

Pneuma scrunched her face up in displeasure, wiping her tears away with her hand as she stewed in her emotions. Not even looking at or facing the eagle anymore. She had enough… she just wanted to rest once more…

Then the eagle dropped its snake onto the ground. The sound of the light thud caught Pneuma's attention. Now she was looking directly at the eagle and the eagle was looking directly at her. Their harsh gazes never faded, they simply just… stared at each other as time slowed to a crawl once again and the world around them became hushed. The eagle let out a loud shriek as it took to the sky on its mighty wings. Pneuma's conscience slipped for a moment as her eyes shut again. Her sight was the bird's once again. The eagle flew higher than it ever did before, beating against the hot zephyrs of the Mexican landscape, soaring high above the crowds and as close to the sun as one could possibly get… and with one snap to present its great wingspan… Pneuma finally saw… everything.

The temples were gone and the land certainly was modernized, nothing as she had seen before, but… amidst the mess she saw… monuments? Smack dab in the center of the city, she saw a wreckage of a fallen temple… was it the one she stood on? She couldn't figure it out… surrounding the area were hoards of adults and children, looking on somberly and in intrigue… between it all, she could actually hear the lead person speaking up above the crowd.

"Half a millennia ago, stood the Templo Mayor… or as the Mexica people called it, Huēyi Teōcalli… Here, they dedicated sacrifice and worship to the god of war, Huitzilopochtli, the god of rain and agriculture, Tlaloc, and in the very center of it all… the god of wind, so legendary that even beasts from prehistory would bear his name… Quetzalcoatl…"

The god of wind did she say? Pneuma chuckled lightly… she could relate to him, strangely enough… still, her main focus was on the site itself… covered by construction, charred and broken even after so many years later, and all that was left to remember it by were stories and tours… it would have rubbed her the wrong way, but… it also reminded her of her world above the Cloud Sea… Frankie didn't know what it was… but he was still so interested in the sights she showed him… it changed him, led him down a steadier path… strengthened his bond with Pyra and Mythra… what did that say?

The eagle detected another question lingering in Pneuma's mind. As such, it focused and honed in on another sight, far from where she was standing. Again, there was a group of people standing around a particular monument, this time, it was of a bronze woman with braided hair, earrings of the sun and the moon, a muscular bare build, and an almost blooming flower-like appearance as she stood atop her pedestal, which was decorated with warriors locked in… something. Combat perhaps, even with the eagle's sharp eye, it was hard to tell. The people surrounding the statue all looked up in awe and took pictures of it, some even prayed to it. There, she was able to look at the wording engraved on the bottom and top of the coat of arms decorating the base.

"Cunacultura del occidente de Mexico… Tzapotlatena."

"Tzapotlatena! …deary me, time really does change things…" She thought to herself as she looked over the commotion. The statue didn't resemble her at all, but did that matter? Perhaps where the eagle had whisked her off to wasn't actually a look into the past but rather… what the past encompassed.

As she thought all this to herself, through the eyes of the eagle, she was able to overlook the land once again… as dirty and seedy as some areas were, others were lively, celebratory, people from all over the world came to visit so many different landmarks of historic importance. The land was vast and teeming with life, some animals would even actually venture out onto the streets in the middle of broad daylight. People ate, drank, played, and roared with applause over loud and joyous music that blared triumphantly, being played by fancy looking men and women, dancing and putting on a tight performance as they indulged in the beauty of this land, so rich with history and culture…

Seeing this all, she finally understood. Pneuma's adventure, it was hers to remember. For so long, she stayed on the sidelines, only being called to action when they needed her. That didn't mean she felt nothing as she worked diligently in her core crystal, in the sea, she felt the conflict, the triumph, the memories of all that served to protect the world that they called home… just as much as the people she had met have… it ended drastically for them, and in fact, she didn't even get to see the full battle, but she knew it couldn't have ended peacefully in the least… what a familiar position… but the survivors? They grew. They changed. They adapted and maintained the parts of their culture which they could, and stood tall and proud in the face of adversity. They were all just… LIVING. Indeed, she could see all too well now that as different as the Cloud Sea and the earth below were… they were also… the same.

Maybe that's why Pyra and Mythra had taken to this future so well. It was just… starting over… starting over strong. She smiled peacefully as the wind kicked her hair up and the light shone down on her brightly, recalling her own little venture with Frankie. Just as much as her world excited him, his too, excited her… time was advancing each and every day… closer and closer to the day she would at last get to just… be… with him… It was perfect. One would uncover the past, and Pneuma… with a new lease on life, one she would at last be able to take charge of with her own experiences… she would tell the past, above… and below… she shivered with excitement. So many emotions on this one outing, and it was BEAUTIFUL.

As the laughter and noise of the world began to settle down, Pneuma heard flapping wings flutter her way. Her eyes opened quickly as she saw the eagle at her feet, looking up at her… prickly pear in its beak. It blinked slowly and expectantly at her. She sighed and shook her head, reaching down to take the fruit from it and pet its head gently.

"You are without a doubt… the strangest thing I have ever met…" She giggled lightly. "I'm honestly not sure what to make of you… but… I look forward to seeing you again all the same… if given the chance…"

She took one final bite of her fruit, reveling in the tangy and succulent sweetness it possessed and held her face in delight, gobbling up the rest in no time at all… and when she finished… she was right back where she started. In Elysium. Alone. Not even the eagle was around. She looked at her surroundings curiously and ventured further to the cliff where she and Frankie had begun their own journey. The Rampaging Sauros couple they had seen now had a child of their own. The mother and father breathed heavily and protectively over their little one, who was busy eating fresh kill. Far off in the distance? Hilbert and Dahlia, scavenging the land for their next set of materials… and poor Tokitopi, dragged along for the adventure simply because he had a means of transportation… she smiled at all of it… real or not, she still wasn't sure… but all of it was a part of her, and she promised herself she wouldn't forget that. Pyra and Mythra struggled, but she knew, she knew and she swore that wouldn't be the case forever, everything would return to the way it should… with the person they wanted it to be with… and as she looked up at the sky with determination, she was at last able to pin a name to the emotion she felt when she first met that old woman, picking her up when she was down…

Hope.