Chapter 3 - Connection
A/N: All of you continue to amaze me with your response to this. Thank you!
[Edit: 03/11/19]: Originally there was just an implied time skip in Lora's section of this chapter. Note that the event surrounding Rex and Lora's portions of each chapter are currently happening at different times, and Lora's is more than a week ahead of Rex's. A small bit of dialogue in Lora's first section was added to try and make that clearer. This sort of timeline buggery happens when you don't have exact plans for your story yet, but so it goes. Enjoy!
Out of everything that could, in the end, after everything he'd been through, it was his leg that gave out first.
Rex cried out as it buckled out from under him, sending him pitching forward face-first on to the wooden walkway. He stayed there, sprawled out as the fierce rain from the ongoing thunderstorm pelted his already soaked form. It wasn't just his leg, though. His well…everything hurt.
A bright flash of lightning and the sharp peal of thunder afterwards brought his wits back to him. He braced his hand on a nearby building, painstakingly pulling himself back to standing.
He tried to ignore the pain of his hastily bandaged arm and his sharp headache – whether from dehydration or something else – that pounded in his skull. The pain felt like it might be being lessened by the rain lashing down in a torrent of…wetness? That was the word for it, right?
Whatever. He was soaked.
He started off again, slower now, limping slightly, but he must not have been paying enough attention. By the time he saw a figure in a dark rain cloak rush by, he couldn't react fast enough to move out of the way. He staggered as they bumped into him and made him hiss in pain. At least he caught himself this time before he fell.
"Whoops, sorry!"
He turned to where they were, catching a glimpse underneath the drawn hood. A girl with bluish hair and a wicked looking blue – glowing? – eyepatch.
"No, it's-"
But they had already rushed off.
"…fine," he finished lamely.
Probably focused on getting out of the rain. He glanced about. While there were certainly still lights on inside buildings, there wasn't anyone else in sight outside that he could see. Torigoth would normally be bustling, even at this time of night. Or at least, that's how it had been the last – and only – time he'd briefly been here.
The thunderstorm raged on and he forced himself to start walking again, trying to ignore the extent of his injuries: bruises and small cuts that still ached from his tumble in the cloud sea tide and driving off a volff, then pushing himself too hard to try and get here before dark.
He glanced up at the stormy night sky. That part had failed, but at least his destination finally came into sight.
He sent a silent prayer to the Architect. Come on, come on, please still be open.
Gormott Public Communications Terminals
His eyes moved down the sign hung in the window.
[Closed]
"Oh, come on!" He pressed his face to the window to peer inside, but it was completely dark within. No signs of anyone lingering for cleaning or anything. Ugh, he should have known better. Of course, they were already closed; it was nearing the middle of the stinkin' night. That didn't stop him from gritting his teeth in frustration, fists clenching, making the gloves squelch with the still falling rain.
Wasn't there something he could do?
Another flash of lightning illuminated a tall structure nearby to the north. If he was remembering right, that was the Mor Ardain Consulate building. They'd have something he could use to get in contact with the guild, right?
…Would they even take him seriously?
Maybe he could sneak in? His vision swam and he shook away the thought, hearing Gramps' chiding voice.
Don't be getting any funny ideas, Rex. You can stand to wait until morning.
Gah. He hated it when Gramps was right, even if he wasn't actually…
He took a deep breath. Let it out. He couldn't keep doing that.
He blinked rapidly as another flash of lightning crashed into a lightning rod built on top of a building in view in the lower residential district, lighting up its interior. The near instantaneous rumble of thunder shook his bones and made him flinch as his ears rung.
The sounds of maniacal noponic laughter that followed were clearly his part of his overacting imagination.
Whatever. There was no point hanging around in the rain anymore, especially if the lightning was striking that close. Alrest waited for no one, least of all him it seemed.
After a brief, yet seemingly endless hard walk, he stumbled up the steps to Torigoth's inn, thankfully still open at this unwieldy time of night. He pushed open the door, and called out a simple, slightly hoarse, "Hey."
The gormotti innkeeper, who was reading a book, marked her page. "Welcome to the Coedwig Inn. What can I-"
She cut off as their eyes focused in on him and widened, hand going to her mouth. He really couldn't blame her reaction, since he probably looked like a washed up Titanship. He felt like some of the slimy gunk that came up in some of the dingier crates he'd salvaged.
Jumping off her stool, she hurried around the front counter. "Are you alright there? Ah, what am I saying, 'course you aren't alright. You looked like you've picked a fight with a gogol after falling into the cloud sea or something."
"Um, yeah, something like that." A volff, actually. He tried not to think of the blood and bits of the volff he'd had to clean out of the retractable spikes on his boots after the brutal struggle.
"Here, just a moment." She disappeared further inside.
He stood awkwardly in the entryway, dripping profusely onto the carpet. Actually, come to think of it, he had run from a pack of gogols while coming to Torigoth. But that was just one of the many things he'd had to run from after making his way up the Gormotti Titan to areas not flooded by the cloud sea. One thing after another. It sort of blended together.
Thinking back on it, it was ridiculous that he was still standing at all. His head and injuries pounded in agreement.
The innkeeper reappeared around the corner and made a tsk, tossing a towel his way, which he gratefully accepted, drying off his hair and face. "Frankly, you look like you could use a healer, not just a good place to sleep. And don't try to deny it." He caught her muttering, "Honestly. Boys your age."
He stepped forward, stumbling as he protested weakly. "Hey, I work for a living, you know."
"Mmhmm." She sounded like she didn't believe him or maybe didn't care. His stumbling probably hadn't helped his case.
"Ah, whatever." Rex shook his head, and the motion made his headache pulse. He tried to blink it away. "So do you have a room? Actually, no, wait. Maybe a communication console I can use? I need to get in contact with the Argentum Trade-"
He stopped. His hand had been reaching for his pouch to get money. He patted the area again, and came up empty. It wasn't there.
"Something wrong?"
His pouch wasn't there. Along with his gold, the core crystal, and a good chunk of what he owned.
"Oh, no, no, no." He double checked, triple checked but it was definitely gone. He turned towards the door but his vision swam, more furious this time. Staggering, he clutched his throbbing head. His other hand went out to try and catch something, but the soaked glove slipped off the wall and he fell once more face-first onto wood.
…Ow.
The sounds of muffled rain and the shouting gormotti woman started to fade. Rex closed his eyes. The wooden flooring was hard, but it was comfortable enough for now. He'd just close his eyes for a moment, then he could…
Could…
He woke lying on a pillow. Blinking, Rex tried to remember how he got into a bed.
Oh.
He slowly pushed himself to a sitting position, even though his body protested. Right. He'd collapsed after pushing himself too hard.
Stupid of him.
Glancing around the simply decorated wooden interior of the room, he spotted a pair of other beds illuminated by sunlight pushing lazily through a window through shut drapes. This must be one of the inn's rooms. And the innkeeper must have put him here.
He twisted around at the creak of a door opening, admitting a gormotti woman. The innkeeper from the night before.
"Ah, finally up are you?" She smiled and hefted a tray laden with food and drink. "Thought you might be hungry."
His stomach growled in concert with her statement, and he eagerly accepted the tray of food and started digging in. He noticed the innkeeper's eyes shoot up.
"Seems like I was spot on. I'll leave you to it, then. Be back in a bit." And she left the room.
Couldn't really blame him, could she? He hadn't really had a proper meal since the events at the ancient ship. The memories stemmed his appetite, enough that he couldn't finish the whole thing. He set the tray aside, thinking.
When had he lost the pouch with Gramp's core crystal? He was pretty sure he'd still had it when he'd entered Torigoth last night, so when…?
The innkeeper came back in carrying a sack. "How long was I out?" he asked.
"It's past midday at this point."
"Midday?!"
"Seemed like you probably needed it. Once you finish there, I've half a mind to send you over to the local healer. They'll be able to fix you up proper with their healing Blade. Vess has has been a standard around here for a while after house Eschell went under and looney. Here." She hefted the bag, setting it down at the side of his bed nearest her. "I've taken the liberty of cleaning up your clothes while you were out as well."
The tips of his ears lit up as he realized he wasn't wearing anything except his underwear, and he pulled the blanket a further up. "Thanks." He averted his eyes. "But, well…how am I supposed to pay you back? I don't have any money right now."
"Don't worry about it. Everyone gets one." She locked her eyes onto his and set her hands on her hips. "But no taking advantage of this, you hear? You want to stay another night, you're paying."
He nodded furiously. "Y-yes ma'am."
She straightened, smiling. "Good. Now get going."
"What do you mean he's not available?"
The nopon on the screen of the communications terminal shook his head. "Perhaps Rex misunderstand what Niranira say. Cannot let you speak to Chairman Bana because he not here. Left soon after departure of Maelstrom on 'private business venture.'"
"I saw the Maelstrom sink beneath the cloud sea. I only escaped because someone I cared about died to bring me here."
"An attack?" His voice – deep for a nopon's – was incredulous. "Surely even salvage raiders would not dare attack Chairman's vessel?"
"No. It was the people who arranged the job in the first place."
"Truly?"
"Yeah. They…" his voice faltered he took a deep, stabilizing breath. He wasn't going to cry right now. "They killed everyone. I'm the only one left."
"Hmmm." There was a pause as Niranira crossed his stubby nopon arms, thinking. The pause was filled in by the lull of other conversations happening at other terminals in the building. "Normally would tell Rex to get in contact with Chairman's assistants, but they unavailable as well. Niranira has a feeling potentially connected."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
The yellow furred nopon frowned. "It possible that current Chairman collaborating with these people. Niranira believe organization is called 'Torna.'"
"Seriously?" That name sounded familiar, but he couldn't place where he'd heard it before. "But that's horrible!"
"Do not go spreading around. Only speculation for now. Not enough solid evidence to support theory yet. For now, Niranira part of Argentum intelligence and auditing division, so tell Niranira everything that happen. Will get information to right people."
He did. Every detail he could remember of the event of the huge salvaged ship and the members of the group he now knew as 'Torna.' Jin, Malos, Nia and the two Blades with the latter. He stopped, leaving out Gramps' death and his ordeal across Gormott to get to Torigoth.
"Hmm." The nopon closed his eyes in contemplation. "Is most troubling, especially girl with emerald core crystal. Will let families know of incident, as well as alert authorities."
Rex started tapping his foot impatiently. "Is there something I could do to help? I'm in Torigoth right now."
Niranira shook his head. "Unlikely. Truthfully, may be better for Rex to lay low in Torigoth rather than return to Argentum. Niranira will do what he can here."
"So you want me to do nothing?"
"Do not misunderstand. Rex is salvager, not fighter. Or perhaps Rex think he can take on Drivers single-handed? Or even find location when there no indication where they are?"
"Well, no, that's not what I meant, but-"
"Niranira needs time to process how best to use information Rex has given. For now, wait. Contact Niranira later."
"Hey, wait a second-"
The communication cut off.
Rex leaned back in the chair in front of the now dormant terminal with a huff. So he should just do nothing? That wouldn't fly with him. He sighed, and stood. A gormotti man took his place as he left. He closed the door to the building harder than necessary.
Sighing again, he leaned against the building letting the afternoon sun wash over him as he closed his eyes.
His wounds - freshly healed not an hour before by the healer Blade, Vess - itched slightly. A side effect she had said since her handiwork was more of a well applied patch job than a full comprehensive healing.
According to her, Blades with more experience could do way better. Unfortunately, the last one that had that kind of finesse had disappeared from Torigoth about a while ago.
What did he do now? Much as he didn't like it, Niranira was right about one thing. If he wanted to fight Torna, he needed more information and some way to fight them.
But it wasn't like he had a spare sword lying around, and if he did, it would've been on Gramps. All the savings he stored had been there too, save for the spending money in his pouch. Maybe if he asked around, he could pick up a quick local salvaging job?
Someone tapped him on his shoulder, jolting him out of his thoughts.
"Found you!"
It was the girl – Blade, he quickly realized from how she looked – from last night, smiling. Something clicked in his mind.
Had she…pickpocketed him? He opened his mouth to ask a question, but stopped when she thrust out the very item he was looking for.
"You dropped this when I accidentally bumped into you last night."
"Oh. Uh thanks, I guess." He accepted the pouch, hesitantly. So, wait. She hadn't tried to pickpocket him? Something about this didn't feel right.
"Praxis, you coming?"
His attention was directed to another Blade. While not exactly the same shade, the ice-blue hair of the other one was close enough that they almost could almost be sisters. Had they coordinated their eyepatches or something? Was that a thing Blades could do? Honestly, he was distracted by just how cool both of them looked.
The Blade in front of him, Praxis apparently, rolled her visible eye. "On my way, Theory!"
He shook off the coolness factor and watched them go carefully for a moment, before shrugging. Not everything had to be against him. Not everything had to be laced with bad intentions, right? This was just a lucky break if there ever was one.
Opening the pouch up, he took a quick inventory of everything. Emergency tools and supplies, his money stash, a trinket he'd found on the ancient ship that he might be able to sell for some pocket change. He frowned, searched again still coming up short.
Gramps' core crystal was missing.
"Hey wait a minute," He ran up to the two Blades, stopping short of them. "You sure there wasn't anything else in here, right?"
They stopped and though it was subtle, Rex caught the glance shared between them, the way their stances shifted, tensed. Praxis looked over her shoulder and shrugged. Her smile felt far less innocent all of a sudden. "Sorry, this was how I found it. Wasn't any core crystal in there."
Rex's eyes narrowed. "Hang on. I didn't say anything about a core crystal." His hand reached back for his broadsword, before he remembered its fate, down at the bottom of the cloud sea at this point. He took a careful half-step back. Titan's foot, he'd rushed in without thinking again.
The other Blade's hand met her forehead, sighing. Rex's eyes widened as a katana formed in her hand. "This is what you get for feeling sorry for him, Praxis. So much for subtlety."
"Wait, what do you-"
His adrenaline surged and he rolled aside of a column of ice that spiked upwards where he had been standing.
"Hey, are you trying to kill me?!"
But the two were already running. He growled in frustration, and after a moment of indecision, started chasing after them.
"Are you certain now is a wise time for this, majesty?"
Emperor Niall nodded to her, a small unprofessional smile gracing his face. "Yes. Officially, you'll be on obligatory leave. No one will be able to object, since as far as I am aware, you've never taken a day off anyways."
Mòrag felt her lips tug into a small frown. "Perhaps. I suppose I did mention traveling to Gormott to check a potential lead on Torna, but are you certain that this is a wise time for this? The senate will raise questions, objections at how sudden this is. Not only that, I'm especially worried about-"
She cut off as he held up a hand for silence. "You've been working yourself to the bone maintaining order around the capital in these troubling times."
"Which is exactly why Brighid and I should remain here. I cannot protect you from these internal threats if I am not present, your majesty. Torna has never made a direct move on the capital, but Brionac may become emboldened when they discover my absence."
"I am aware of the possibility. But I cannot shake the feeling that the potential threat Torna poses extends beyond our borders. Indol agrees with my concerns, and were they on more cordial terms, I'm sure Uraya would as well."
Her hands tightened in unprofessional annoyance at their parade rest behind her back. She quickly stopped when Brighid gave her a subtle nudge through their affinity link, letting out a calming breath, remembering her duty. Architect, Niall looked so small on that throne.
"I understand your worries, sister, but rest assured that Aegaeon and I can hold on our own against whatever the senate brings to bear as well as anything else that comes our way." A small smile graced Niall's lips. "And perhaps you could find time to use this as officially intended?"
Obligatory leave.
Mòrag let out a soft laugh. Was Niall gaining a sense of humor? Shifting in her seat, she adjusted her hat and turned her attention back to the report on her desk.
The missive which Dughall had sent her shortly after her arrival yesterday morning would not normally be her first choice of how to spend her time. It was exaggerative propaganda on how well he was directing Torigoth's economic prosperity. Unfortunately for him, she already knew for a fact it was the current gormotti chieftain who was primarily responsible for that. Dughall was taking undue credit.
Despite that and his pompous attitude, he was a trained Ardainian consul, with all the experience and discipline that came with that. Unfortunately, given that her time here would be relatively short, there was little she could do directly interfere.
A passing cloud momentarily blocked out the mid-afternoon sun shining in through the small window of her office, a remnant of the storm from last night. Though she itched to get outside, as Special Inquisitor, the sight of her walking around town would hinder, not help her current efforts. So, for now, she laid low, waiting.
She glanced up as a knock came on the small office she'd been given in the Ardainian Consulate building.
"Enter."
The door creaked open admitting a soldier in full armor. Her eyes flicked to the name on the plate attached to his uniform. Captain Padraig swiftly stood at attention after shutting the door behind him. "Lady Mòrag, pardon the interruption, but there's been an incident regarding the matter we discussed."
"So soon?" she muttered. Mòrag brushed aside Dughall's missive. Potentially course-correcting Dughall's pompousness could come later. "The core crystal hunters took our bait?"
"No, ma'am, not exactly."
Her eyes narrowed as she folded her hands under her chin. "Is that so? Explain."
"I received word that the two Blades in question were spotted in the area after a brief altercation with a boy exiting the public communications building. After a brief struggle in their favor they ran, with the boy giving chase."
"Possible destinations?"
"Out of town, possibly in the direction of Lascham Island."
"I see. Any information on the boy, or what his connections to them could be?"
"Nothing concrete yet, but it's likely he's from out of town, possibly Ardainian."
Interesting. Could it be infighting between thieves? Either way, this situation wasn't in their favor, and she needed to act quickly. "And Brighid?"
"The Jewel of Mor Ardain was already informed and is on route to intercept. You'll be joining in the pursuit?"
Mòrag adjusted her hat as she stood. "Yes. I will temporarily join with your regiment, captain, following the basic plan I outlined earlier. Remember, we need to capture the Blades and question them, not scare them off. The ether nets are ready, I presume?
"Of course, ma'am!"
"Then dismissed."
"Ma'am!" Padraig let off a smart salute, which she returned before both of them left.
# Initiating automatic data retrieval sequence
# working…
# Errors detected.
# Connection to Trinity Processor Core 'Ontos' failed
# Connection to Trinity Processor Core 'Logos' successful.
# Warning: Severe damage detected. Data corruption detected. Attempting recovery:
# working...
# Attempt partially successful: parsing available data for review.
# Connection to Trinity Processor Core 'Pneuma' successful. Data retrieval successful.
# Caution: Split detected in Trinity Processor Core 'Pneuma'.
# All other data collection processes: normal.
A beat too steady to be her heart thrummed around her sternum. Consciousness returned in a sudden whoomph and Lora's eyes shot open. She quickly sat up-
"Ugh!"
And promptly smacked her nose into the unyielding glass above her. She recoiled back, knees curling up as she clutched her nose. There was a muffled cry of pain from someone else nearby, followed by the muted sound of something shattering. Voices started arguing.
Pulling her hand away from her face, she gingerly prodded what felt like a nasty bruise in the making. Thankfully, her hand didn't come away with any blood, and her nose didn't feel broken, but wow that was tender. Still not the worst way she had ever woken up, but it was certainly up there.
She blinked away the pain and looked around, noting the green ether particles floating about in the enclosed space. She couldn't move much, but wasn't restrained, just confined in what was starting to remind her of a coffin.
Fortunately, before any claustrophobia could set in, the glass above her swung upwards and the green-tinged ether dispersed into the air.
Sitting up, the sounds of humming machinery mixed with the dulcet tones of people arguing filled her ears. She looked over to the source to see Pyra was talking with someone she had never seen before – a black-haired man in bright blue and black armor that looked Tornan made.
In between them, a broken plate with still steaming food spilled out over the metal floor. Was that man a remnant of Addam's militia, or maybe part of his brother's?
She frowned. What was his name?
Ah, whatever. She really couldn't be bothered to remember. Jin could probably tell her. He was always better at remembering stuff like that anyways. Oddly, she didn't spot him around.
"We can save this argument for later, Pyra. It seems the leading lady has awoken." The man in Tornan armor walked over to her, giving her an appraising look. His eyes stopping at her aching nose, before they flicked back and forth between her and Pyra, before adjusting a pair of red-rimmed glasses. "Well now, this is quite a twist now, isn't it?"
"Sorry?"
"Here, let me test a theory. Obrona, mind helping with a little bit of healing?"
A girl – a Blade, she quickly realized – flitted over near her, hovering slightly off the ground, going in lazy circles around the device she was situated in. "Only if you promise to make me the star of your next epic."
The man rolled his eyes. "As I've told you before, my muse doesn't simply bend to your whims. Now, Pyra, stop fretting over the spill and come here. I need you in sight to confirm this."
Pyra seemed to hesitate a moment before letting out a sigh and nodded. "Alright." She was tenderly rubbing her nose which looked like it was bruising. Odd for a Blade.
Doubly strange that it was in the same spot as her own injury. "Pyra, where did you get that?"
Pyra gently shook her head as she approached. "I don't know. One moment I was walking and the next, my nose felt like it had been punched." Her eyes widened when she came close enough to spot Lora's injury, and she rushed the rest the way over, fretting.
That felt weird, coming from her.
"And we get to the crux of the matter. Watch each other closely for a moment. Obrona, if you would?"
The man's Blade lifted her hand which emitted a soft greenish-yellow glow. The throbbing ache in her nose lessened, before it stopped completely, tingling with the hum of electricity. As it happened to her, the bruise on Pyra's nose disappeared as well.
She caught him muttering, "Aegises truly are a world apart."
"What do you mean?"
"It seems your fate is now inexplicably tied to hers, even more so than that of any normal Driver and Blade. If I had to guess, it works both ways. When one of you becomes injured, the other will experience a mirror image of that pain."
She turned to Pyra. "Wait, so you felt it when I banged my nose against the glass?
"That's what it was? No wonder it hurt so much. But, it's okay. I should have realized what sharing my core crystal with you would mean."
A spot near her sternum under her clothes thrummed. Lora turned to the man. "So, who are you? I don't think I caught your name."
"Ah, my mistake." The man swept into a theatrical bow. "I am the legendary Ahkos, and the Blade flitting about you is my understudy, Obrona. To answer what will undoubtedly be your next question, this," he threw his arms out in a sweeping, grand gesture to the open space about them, "is the secondary bridge of the modified Tornan warship, the Marsanes."
It certainly looked impressive, even if she couldn't even begin to guess what anything did. Her gaze stopped above her. "…Why is there a hole in the ceiling?"
She heard Pyra clear her throat, an embarrassed looking smile on her face. "Actually, that was my doing. There was some, ah…fighting when we woke up."
"Yes, blasting a hole in the ceiling, damaging intricate machinery. Our resident mechanic and his assistants want a word with you when you get a moment."
"I said I was sorry…"
"You told that to me, but don't think I've not noticed you steadfastly avoiding them. But I suppose that may be none of my business." Ahkos turned his attention back to her. "Well, no matter. By the way, Lora, indulge my medical curiosity for a moment. How are you feeling?"
"Uh, fine, I suppose." Her nose was certainly better. Lora tilted her head. "Why do you ask?"
"A few reasons. First, you've been out for nearly a week since you awakened."
"That long?" She'd taken long snoozes before after staying up too long before, but a week?
"Quite. Secondly, the device you're sitting on was designed primarily for Blades. flesh eaters to be exact, so I wondered if it had done its work correctly." He glanced at Pyra, specifically at her core crystal. "Though, perhaps in your case, it was close enough."
"I guess?" Was this device being used for Jin? That was...worrying if that was the case.
"Finally, and well," Ahkos sighed. "There's no real good way to break this to you easily, so I'll deliver it straight. You've been essentially frozen in suspended animation, situated in many places, but most recently here, for the past four hundred and ninety-four years."
An involuntary squeak escaped out her mouth. "But that's…you've...but I…" She glanced over to Pyra. "Is that really true?"
Pyra nodded, not quite meeting her eyes.
She took a breath. Well, that was certainly something. Something she could deal with later. Letting the breath out, she swung her legs and placed her boots firmly on the metal floor, stretching out her arms in front of her, earning satisfying popping noises.
"Well, whatever the case, I feel pretty good for someone who's past five hundred. I don't feel a day under five-hundred twenty-one."
Ahkos crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "You seem to be taking this in stride."
"However it happened, I'm here now, right?" She glanced down forlornly at the mess of delicious looking, meaty smelling nosh gone to waste on the floor, and her empty stomach squashed in protest. She hadn't felt this hungry since…
She frowned. Since something. The memory wouldn't fully come. Odd.
Shaking her head, she gestured to the food on the floor. "Hopefully this isn't rude, but you don't happen to have more of that, do you? I'm absolutely starving."
"But of course. That was yours before your timely awakening. Let's retire to someplace a little more suited for talking. There's more back in the kitchen if you feel you can stand."
Lora inhaled deeply, drinking in the heavenly scent. "Did Jin make this?"
"Jin?" Ahkos cocked an eyebrow, spoon hovering close to his mouth as he gave her an odd look. "What gave you that impression?"
Pyra spoke up before Lora could respond as she dished out a portion for herself. "No, that was me. I remembered that you like ruby-stew buloofo. It's not an exact replica but the ingredient substitutions turned out just fine."
"O-oh, really?" She put on a strained smile, unease forming in her empty gut as she gazed at the plate full of deliciousness in front of her, suddenly skeptical. It didn't look horrible. In fact, it looked absolutely amazing. But some of Mythra's concoctions looked well enough, but had still put Addam out of commission for the night.
Though, she supposed, Pyra wasn't exactly Mythra.
In the end, her stomach won over. She stuck the spoon in her mouth.
And positively melted in her seat at the meaty explosion of flavor. She honestly couldn't eat the rest of it fast enough. It, and seconds were gone within minutes. Finishing off the last bite, she leaned back satisfied into her chair. She glanced at Pyra, who was busy finishing off her own smaller portion.
"Where did you learn how to cook like this, Pyra?"
"U-uh. Well, you know…I just, followed a recipe."
"Really? Well I'm happy for you." Her stomach was happy too, of course. She turned to Ahkos who had turned to jotting something down in a small notebook. "So, is there some way I could get a crash course on what's been happening in the past five-hundred years or so?"
"That would take quite a while. Luckily, Jin asked me to prepare something for you."
"Oh, no need to go too deep. Just the important bits are fine."
A new voice entered the conversation. "How about I help fill you in?"
Lora felt chills go down her spine at the sound of that voice.
Her adrenaline spiked and she jumped out of the chair, knocking it up into the air with her knee before kicking it towards the source. She spun into a combat stance, Pyra already behind her, her warm, almost burning affinity link established. An unfamiliar red sword blazed to life in her hand. Lora's hand went automatically to unwind her braided whip from her wrist.
It wasn't there.
Seeming to melt out of the shadows, Malos walked into view, smirking, an unfamiliar Blade coming in behind him. The chair she'd launched at him was caught in his hand. He set it down, and didn't attack, but instead leaned against the wall near the fridge, crossing his arms.
She heard Ahkos let out an annoyed sounding groan as his palm hit his forehead.
"I'm flattered you remember me so fondly. Good to see you too, Lora."
A/N: Headcannon that Malos perfected dramatic timing to piss Ahkos off.
Mòrag also says hi.
[Edit 3/11/2019]: If you're curious, the change was a small addition of dialogue in Lora's first section was added to make the passage of time clearer, and another small bit of dialogue was added so that Ahkos transitioning to tell Lora about how she'd been frozen for 500 years feels more natural. That and the detail that Pyra had been steadfastly avoiding most of the crew during the week Lora was out of commission.