"A Past Life of Noah and Mio" is back for a fifth arc! The previous one introduced Noah and Mio to the City, and this one will focus more on their lives therein. As a usual caution, there are spoilers ahead for Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and Future Redeemed.
Noah and Mio have been City residents for more than two months, but missions abroad kept them busy. And so, now feels like a good time to flesh out the place they call home with affairs on a more local level. While this means that there'll be a slight decrease in the action, we all know that Moebius is watching… plotting…
So, what happened last time? Noah nearly died in a disastrous mission against Moebius in Legre-Bhaja Valley. As a result, Mio tried to convince Noah that they should scale back their involvement with the military and instead focus on their precious time left together. It was a bittersweet moment, one that ended with their first true kiss. Additionally, Lanz and a few other friends joined the City. Thanks for coming back, folks! Let's read on!
Chapter 43 "Crazy Ideas"
Noah could see his breath before taking a sip from his mug of soup. The taste was passable, perhaps good, though he couldn't tell what it was. Odd, for it was hardly the first time that he'd had it. Five others around him, including the brewer and Mio, were also ingesting theirs to keep warm. Strangely, only her face was visible to him despite everyone being in the close quarters of their immobile, snowed-in Levnis cabin. Outside the frosted windows was snowy tundra in all directions, not the best terrain for the most important mission of their lives. With the Ouroboros Stone found, now was the time to finally take the fight to Moebius. Once they were ready, they stepped outside to begin their arduous trek towards the enemy.
The blizzard pulled no punches on the six youths who made up this iteration of Ouroboros. Yet, they were resilient as they endured the stinging cold and trudged up and down the hills. There was no path to be found, though a telltale pulse in Noah's Blade kept them on track. This was it, the very mission for which he'd been preparing since learning the truth of the world. The brave swordsman had brought them this far, and soon he'd lead them to victory, to change the future. Turning back was not an option.
Noah couldn't do it. In a rush of panic, the hero was suddenly and inexplicably running in the opposite direction with his significant other in tow. Whatever thoughts that'd led to this reversal of decision had already left his frazzled mind as he began searching for their Levnis. Unfortunately, it was nowhere to be found in the infernal flurry whose winds howled angrily. Despite this, he could still hear the cries of his friends and fellow Ouroboros whom he'd just abandoned. One by one, they hollered their shock and disapproval, though their exact words were indistinguishable.
The only warmth that he felt in this moment was from Mio's hand in his own, the two youths panting as they made their way up an unrelenting hill. By now, he'd all but forgotten why they were running, but soon she was faltering in her steps behind him. Up ahead was a giant rock, hardly a shelter from the storm. Out of ideas, Noah found a spot against it for them to rest their weather-worn bodies. With death circling around them, he wrapped his arm around her to bring her closer. Mio's chilled ear poked his chapped lips while their breathing slowed, their dwindling gazes too heavy to maintain.
The next time Noah opened his eyes, he saw nothing but the ceiling of their bedroom. Reality and relief slowly settled back into his consciousness upon sitting up to observe Mio's empty bed. He'd had this nightmare before, but this time there'd been a lot more to it. Both facts only served to worsen his state of perturbation.
"Ah, you're awake," the zephyr entered with a cup of tea in hand.
"Wha…?" he whipped his groggy head in her direction. "M-Mio?"
"Hmm?" she noted the shakiness in his voice. "Are you okay?"
"Oh, um, it's…" the ponytailed soldier stopped himself from dismissing the issue. "I had… the strangest dream…"
"Strange?" the older deserter tilted her head curiously.
"Bad," Noah opted for a different, simpler description, staring at the foot of his bed, "distressing."
"I'm sorry," his soul mate set her cup down before taking a seat beside him. Gingerly, Mio wrapped her arms around Noah's head for a warm, tender embrace. The comfort that she provided was undeniably effective, his eyes now closed, his breathing steady. As much as she wanted the sweet silence to persist, there was something else on her mind, too. "Does this mean we're staying home today?"
"Huh?" he looked up to her confusedly. "Did we… have plans…?"
"We're supposed to attend today's keynote address," Mio reminded him, loosening her arms slightly, "by the House leaders."
"Oh, right," the swordfighter was brought up to speed. "We haven't been to one yet."
"If you're not up to it, we can always ask someone for a recap," the moonblades-wielder offered as an alternative.
"No, I'm fine," resoluteness finally started to return to Noah's face.
"Then we'd better get ready," she released him and rose to her feet with a sense of urgency. "It starts at the top of the hour."
"Thanks for reminding me," the former pacifist rubbed his forehead, seemingly unmotivated to move yet.
"Noah?" the tenth-termer watched him with concern, having stopped at the door.
"What?" he turned to face her, not quite frowningly. "I told you, I'm fine. We can discuss it later."
"Okay," Mio ceased her pressing, though she was hardly satisfied with his response. With the bedroom to himself again, Noah proceeded to dress and mentally prepare himself for a potentially busy City outing. The calm Kevesi could hear his Agnian counterpart cleaning up in the kitchenette, household sounds which he'd become accustomed to hearing. For a moment, he forgot his plight and took comfort in the fact that they were still living together under a solid roof.
It'd been sixteen days since their disastrous mission against Moebius and Mio's subsequent plea to Noah to scale back their military involvement. Although he'd remained a little restless during this time of peace, they'd taken their relationship to exciting new heights which they never could've imagined prior to City life. A simple smile was all that it took to warm each other up, something that never went unappreciated. Once he was ready, Noah followed Mio out the door and headed westward for the government district.
Despite his rough, sluggish start to the morning, the two youths arrived at their destination a little early. The plaza wasn't quite bustling yet while the gradually growing crowd awaited the City's House leaders. Idle conversations made for a casual vibe despite the assembly's purpose.
"This must be the place," the zephyr tapped her lower lip upon observing the building in front of them.
"It's… um, normally quiet here, isn't it?" Noah attempted to immerse himself in the experience to forget about his nightmare, though it would soon prove unnecessary.
"Mio!" a familiar voice caught their attention.
"Huh?" she turned to see a surprise attendee approaching them. "Bowan, you're here."
"I wasn't expecting you either," the blue-finned defender and former lieutenant of Colony Rho rubbed his forearms as if to fight off a chill. "Er, am I in the right place?"
"I'm fairly certain," his fellow Agnian glanced at the other people in the vicinity, realizing now that most of them were older citizens. "There doesn't seem to be many of us soldiers here."
"Well, the citizens are the ones who built the City," the lone Kevesi added to their commentary. "It'd make sense that they're more invested in lawmaking than we are."
"I think it's good that we're here, though," Mio focused on her normally glum friend again. "It's our home as well."
"I'm here because Feriferi kept pestering me," Bowan confessed begrudgingly, his forehead now rumpled.
"She's still tending to you?" Noah inquired of the caretaking Nopon who'd also come from Colony Rho.
"Ugh, yes, and Docca, too, sometimes," the blue-finned Agnian referenced the chef of the furball duo. "I must be an easy mark or something…"
"Aw, they care about you," the moonblades-wielder interpreted it more positively.
"I wish they didn't," Bowan avoided Mio's cheerfulness, almost instinctively.
"Have you made any new friends in the City?" her hands came together over her gem.
"N-no…" he shook his head, still looking away. "I don't… feel like I belong anywhere, or with anyone."
"Bowan, I'm sorry," she palmed his shoulder, a small gift of warmth that he didn't reject.
"Oi! Noah!" Another familiar voice sounded from not too far away.
"Lanz?" The ponytailed soldier turned to find the muscly, two-toned defender, along with Pollux, the third-term, former Levnis pilot with the same skin pattern, both from Colony 5. "What are you doing here?"
"This is where the higher-ups are gonna lay out the latest for the City, yeah?" Lanz scratched the back of his head.
"Yes," Mio confirmed before reading the discontentment on his face. "You don't seem… all that enthusiastic about it."
"I made him come with me," Pollux interjected with an explanation which did nothing to wipe away Lanz' frown.
"Oh," Noah inspected the group, suddenly cognizant that the Colony 5 trio was only a duo. "Ashera's not with you?"
"She's on another mission," the former pilot informed them, disappointedly.
"Another?" the zephyr repeated for clarification.
"She really likes them," he slid the sole of his boot on the ground. "We hardly see her at home anymore. I miss her."
"I don't," the older two-toned boy looked away, inadvertently in Bowan's direction. "Speaking of annoyances…"
"Piss off, Kevesi," the former officer muttered, brows low and hardened.
"Tch!" Now fully moody, Lanz turned to Pollux in a huff. "I've changed my mind. We're going to military HQ."
"He has a mind," Bowan mused with heavy, insulting sarcasm. "Will wonders never cea-"
"Shut your rotten mouth!" the muscly Kevesi quickly reversed course towards him, finger pointing.
"You have some nerve, telling me what to do!" the blue-finned Agnian closed the distance between them. "As if killing my friends wasn't enough!"
"Bowan! Lanz!" Mio cut in-between the two angry defenders, her patience already strained. "Please, not here, not ever again. We've been over this."
"We're all on the same side, in the City," the former pacifist came to her assistance.
"Sure, and I'm the queen's favorite," Lanz harrumphed with sarcasm of his own.
"Yeah…" Bowan didn't take his eyes off his rival, "her favorite whippi-"
"Weren't you listening?" the moonblades-wielder faced him now with a similar countenance. Before Mio could deliver further admonishment, however, the double-doors of the government building began to creak open. At last, the City's House leaders emerged from their private meeting.
"Is that them?" Pollux pointed forward as the crowd chatter slowly subsided.
"Who put them in charge?" the older two-toned boy squinted at them, no longer focused on Bowan.
"They're the descendants of those who founded the City," Noah answered in a slightly hushed voice, the opening speech already underway.
"Right, then, we've concluded our meeting and voted on our latest proposals," one of the House leaders, a middle-aged woman with her hair in an updo style, stood at a podium. Lined up adjacently to her were the other lawmakers who were available today, their faces expressing various levels of satisfaction. "House Bevera, representing the records district, announces that we've approved the new soldier registration process that was proposed last week. Details are available to read via your Iris." Apparently finished, she stepped aside to let someone else speak.
"Thank you, madame," an overdressed young man took her spot. "House Darlus, representing the main district, and my proposal for an additional City cleaning day per week has been approved. I'll soon meet with the maintenance committee to decide on how to move forward with it." After bowing his head cordially, he got back in line and immediately adjusted his collar.
"Do they just make stuff up or what?" Lanz wondered amongst the growing whispers around them.
"I'm sure there's a process," the swordfighter speculated without much forethought. "Have you a suggestion for them?"
"House Luciana, representing the northwestern residential district, of course," the third speaker, a blonde woman with even more ostentatious clothing, recaptured their attention. "As you all know, I've been advocating for the completion of the City's latest and greatest expansion. Well, darlings, we can now move forward with the next phase!"
"What's she talking about?" the younger two-toned boy scratched his forehead.
"The apartments in the northwest corridor," Mio clarified for him whilst keeping her eyes on the extravagant woman at the podium. "They're still building more, it seems."
"Oh, we got one of those," his face suddenly lit up.
"That's where you live, then, huh?" she eventually shifted her focus onto him as another House leader prepared for their turn. "Do you like it?"
"It's too small," the muscly Kevesi griped his way into their chat.
"You're big, Lanz," Pollux looked up to him, both of them grimacing.
"Maybe so, but Ashera's a crowd," Lanz brought up their absent cohabitant again, arms crossed.
"But she's not usually in," the former pilot reminded him, lamentably.
"Are they arguing?" the zephyr watched them hash it out. "It's hard to tell."
"Must be an interesting place when all three of them are present," Noah studied Lanz in particular, well aware of the large Kevesi's dysfunctional relationships with people.
"That's probably putting it lightly," she sighed stiltedly upon returning her attention to the House leaders.
"Oh, we missed the last one," the ponytailed soldier rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's alright, we can check our Irises later," Mio briefly stood on her tippy-toes, straining to hear something coherent above the reignited chatter. "Right now, I think they're taking questions."
"That they are," her loving partner sounded listless as his own gaze drifted just past the crowd.
"Are you…?" she started to ask before remembering what he'd told her. "Right, later."
The House leaders continued to take questions from the curious public, most of which pertained to the residential expansion. When at last the discourse waned, the symposium was concluded and the crowd began to disperse.
"Right, then," the older two-toned boy dug his fist in his palm, "I reckon we don't need to be hanging around here anymore."
"Thanks for sticking it out," Pollux commended his patience, no longer bantering with him.
"Sure, though I'm not sure I learned anything," Lanz couldn't help but grumble which incited a snicker from Bowan. "What's so funny?!"
"Nothing," the former officer quickly dropped what'd barely amounted to a smirk. "Absolutely nothing."
"That's what I thought," the muscly Kevesi huffed at his rival, another glaring contest between them underway.
"Really, you two?" the moonblades-wielder wore a similar face meant for both defenders. "Again?"
"My, my, what is this noise about?" A different voice cut into the clatter, one which they'd heard earlier. Now in their presence was Lady Luciana, one of the House leaders.
"Oh," the cat-eared Agnian recoiled at the lavishness of her attire, "o-our apologies."
"Speak for yourself," Lanz removed himself from Mio's extended pardon of their group.
"A gruff one, so we have?" Lady Luciana stepped closer to him, her fluffy fur coat accidentally smothering Pollux in the process. Unafraid and unabashed, she studied Lanz' face with particular attention on his jawline.
"Can I help you?" the older two-toned boy straightened himself out, as if this were a military inspection.
"Hmm," her scanning eyes descended his body, taking note of his physique, "almost…"
"Er, almost what?" Lanz wallowed in hopeless confusion.
"This boy certainly has the virility," the brash blonde determined aloud, "in spades, no less."
"Oh, thanks," the muscly Kevesi smiled before stooping down to Pollux. "What's that mean?"
"I don't know," the younger two-toned boy shrugged his shoulders.
"But… this isn't quite the face I'm looking for," Lady Luciana judged with a gloved finger on her chin. "A shame, alas."
"Huh?" Lanz returned to her, now affronted, scowling. "What's wrong with my fa-"
"As for this one," she swiftly moved onto Pollux, "too young."
"For what, ma'am?" the lone third-termer shared in Lanz' bafflement.
"And this one," the extravagant woman ignored him and approached Noah in earnest. "Mmm, yes, very nice. Gorgeous hair, even when restrained."
"What is it you seek, Lady Luciana?" the former pacifist inquired without losing poise.
"Excuse me?" she snapped out of her obliviousness.
"It's clear you seek something from us," Noah asserted on everybody's behalf, inadvertently putting the House leader on the spot.
"Oh, yes, I suppose I have made myself rather plain on that front," Lady Luciana admitted, though she hardly acted embarrassed. "Well, if you must know, my handsome boy, I'm on a rather personal mission."
"Uh-huh," he nodded slowly, guardedly, "of what sort?"
"At present, I am the sole representative of House Luciana," the brash blonde informed the curious soldiers. "I seek a husband, if you're privy to the word."
"I am," the swordfighter tensed up, as did the others.
"But I can't very well just settle for any gentleman," she scooted closer to Noah, giving him another perusal. "He must be… exactly… what I wa-"
"He's with me," Mio interrupted the House leader in defense of her territory.
"I see," Lady Luciana alternated glances between the two deserters. "How disappointing."
"I… don't know what to say," Noah finally relaxed his stance upon slinking into Mio's shadow.
"Perhaps not all is lost amongst you lot," the extravagant woman soon spotted the last eligible male in the vicinity. "Mmm, this one's quite fetching, especially with the fins. Adorable, even."
"Um, I think I'd better be on my way…" Bowan started to retreat, regretting having not done so earlier.
"Those eyes, those… pretty eyes," she stayed in step with him. "Why must they hide from me?"
"Wha…?" he suddenly found himself paralyzed by her presence.
"Muscles aren't as prominent as that other one, but they're undeniable," Lady Luciana resumed her ruminations, making sure to not miss a detail. "Young and healthy. Most ideal, indeed."
"W-well, I'm a defender," the blue-finned Agnian revealed to her before covering his mouth.
"Are you, now?" the brash blonde stood back to give him some much-deserved breathing space. "You must have one of those… large swords."
"Y-yes, I do, ma'am," Bowan's hands fell to his sides, no longer completely terrified.
"Lady Luciana, to you," her haughtiness rose to the fore once more. "What might your name be?"
"Bowan," he formally introduced himself after a hard swallow.
"Ah, a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my dear," she extended her own hand, daintily.
"I, uh…" the former officer tentatively accepted it for the wimpiest of shakes. "N-nice to meet you…?"
"Intimidating, isn't she?" Yet another voice intervened, soon followed by its owner who'd also given a short speech earlier. Now in their company was Sir Darlus, a young man half her age wearing a navy-colored coat. "Madame, must you always shop around so openly? It's so… unbecoming."
"Your opinion was not requested," Lady Luciana looked down her nose to him.
"Still, it doesn't reflect well on a House leader," he chastised her before addressing Noah's group. "I'm sorry you've had to put up with her. Ahem, Sir Darlus, at your service."
"Hello," the zephyr was the only one who responded. "We're, er, I'm glad to meet those who've helped maintain the City, indiscretions aside."
"I'm hardly a fighter, so I try to do my best in the ways that I can," the young magnate bowed his head to Mio before locking eyes with Lanz nearby. "My word…"
"You got a problem, mate?" the older two-toned boy braced himself for more unwanted attention.
"L-Lanz…?" Sir Darlus cautiously stepped towards him. "Is that… you?"
"How do you know my name?" the largest soldier of the bunch appeared completely disarmed. "We've never met before."
"So it is you," the navy-coated man sounded equally incredulous. "Is this fate?"
"Is what fate?" Lanz tossed his arms outwards, having reoriented himself. "I don't follow."
"Ahem, y-you're right, we've not met, but… my ancestors have," Sir Darlus claimed with certainty, wobbly tone aside.
"Your what?" The muscly Kevesi had become more lost now than he'd been with Lady Luciana.
"My family, from generations ago," the young magnate briefly explained. "You know what that means, yes?"
"Uhhh…" Lanz wracked his brain for the correct definition from the City's teachings.
"Legend has it that my ancestor was saved from Moebius by a soldier named Lanz," Sir Darlus shared his story for all to hear. "And here you are, reincarnated."
"I think a pot fell on your bonce, mate," the older two-toned boy scoffed in disbelief.
"I know it sounds crazy, but…" the navy-coated man patted his pockets. "Listen, we preserved a picture of you, though, um, I don't have it on me right now."
"Don't bother," Lanz turned to leave, no longer willing to humor him. "I have better things to do."
"No, wait, please," Sir Darlus circled in front of the impatient soldier. "Won't you hear me out?"
"Haven't I already?" the muscly Kevesi fussed, his scowl now back in full force.
"Um, might you consider… meeting my family?" the young magnate offered, perhaps in desperation.
"Seriously?" Lanz' fists rested against his hips.
"Why, yes!" excitement lit up Sir Darlus' face. "My mother, my cousins, the others, they would all be ecsta-"
"You expect me to go with you on some bonkers idea?" the older two-toned boy towered over him intimidatingly. "Come off it!"
"Oh, I-I'm sorry," the navy-coated man backed away in deflation and in near defeat. "Forgive my impudence. Some other time, perhaps?"
"Mind the City, not me." Unwilling to waste another breath, Lanz marched off with Pollux not far behind.
"O-of course," Sir Darlus reluctantly let him leave before preparing to do so himself. "Er, good day, everyone." All at once, the air was calm and quiet again, if a little awkward.
"Well, that was… certainly unexpected," the ponytailed soldier attempted to fill the void.
"Awfully rude of Lanz, though," the moonblades-wielder had more critical words to say, "even if the concept is still new to him."
"Maybe we can convince him to reconsider," he wondered with more hope than confidence. "After all, it's not much different from our situation with Finn and Terelda."
"I suppose they do sound like crazy ideas to newcomers," Mio idly surveyed the plaza now that most of the people had left. "Hang on… Bowan and Lady Luciana are gone, too."
"Did… he really follow her?" the ninth-termer stared in one direction, though he didn't expect to spot them.
"It wouldn't be like him," her brows came down in worry. "He's so mistrustful, especially now."
"Should we do something?" Noah's distant gaze returned to Mio who continued to search.
"He'll call me if he's in trouble," the cat-eared Agnian eventually reasoned, mostly to herself, before switching the focus onto Noah. "Anyway, what about you?"
"Me?" An odd pause followed his short response while he took stock of himself. "I'm feeling… peckish."
"Noah, I meant…" she started to clarify before accepting his deflection. "Right, me too."
"I'm not avoiding it, I promise," the former pacifist exchanged wary looks with Mio, though he understood that hers wasn't without concern. "I'm just… not ready."
"Fair enough," Mio left it at that, remembering how she'd previously needed time to navigate through a mental maze herself. Though she couldn't help Noah see through his nightmare yet, it'd become quite clear to her how much it was affecting him. For now, however, a visit to the row of food stands in the main district was in order.