Open Show of the Ancient Aegis Past
Rex and Rana's group make their way with Iona to go see the old friend of Vandham and Risty as they approach a big building with a few posters on the wall.
"This place seems a performing type." Cattleya commented.
"Is this some kind of theater?" Dromarch asked.
"Yup, it's a theater, all right." Vandham answered as he walks up to the door.
"Our friend took theater director some time ago and has been performing and directing actors here based on some true story in the past and such." Risty explained.
"Based on true stories?" Rana interested in seeing what kind of plays do they.
"And right now, they're in the middle of a show. Well? Wanna take a quick peek?" Vandham gestured to the poster of the show that is currently being shown.
"The Heroic Adventures of Addam." Is this about the Aegis War 500 years ago?" Ymir asked.
"Yeah, the guy is a real fan of the time." Risty nodded.
"Wow, I always loved hero stories, but I never heard about this Addam guy nor about this Aegis War. Can we go in, Rex?" Rana asked, looking excited.
"Sure, might be interesting to go into our first theater." Rex smiled. Pyra looked surprise to see this play is about Addam and the war.
"This will be Tora's first time too!" Tora excited bouncing.
"Let's do it! Nice and quiet though, looks like it's pretty packed today." Vandham said.
"OK." Everyone promised and they all walked into the theater.
Vandham wasn't kidding when he said the place would be seriously packed with lots of people sitting in their chairs and watching the play, and it looks like the play is getting to a center part of the history from the Aegis War too. Good thing there were still some empty seats for some of the group while the others stand.
"And I saw at that time the powers of darkness had engulfed almost everything!" The narrator actor said, telling the tale.
"People and Titans alike were drawn into the abyssal vortex! The apocalypse was upon us! The end was nigh!" The narrator exclaimed of the past's tragedy.
"But then, despite the wounds all over his body, the great Addam stood…" The narrator said and on cue, the actor playing Addam step forth on the ship and look up.
"O Architect! Grant me power! Power to banish the dark! Power to illuminate the world!" The Addam actor shouted.
The monster actors appeared on the stage ready to strike and the Addam actor came down from the ship ready to defend himself and the world, then came down a woman in white with wings and a golden mask with the buckle looking like a crescent moon.
"Lo! Loyal servant of the Architect! The Aegis! O Aegis! Bless me with your power! Bring light upon the world!" The Addam actor requested.
The Aegis actress spread orange sparkling glitters and the fire came up with the monsters shaking of being burned for a moment and they fell, defeated.
"Thus, they defeated the darkness… But at a terrible price! Three great continents sank beneath the sea of the clouds forever." The narrator informed.
Now the Addam actor is standing in front of a bright light like the Aegis actress is lying on the floor as she has been put in a deep slumber.
"Servant of the Architect! By the power, the world is saved! For the gift you have granted us, we are eternally grateful. I shall spread thy legend far and wide! May your name live on for eternity!" The Addam actor promised as he picks up the Aegis and carried her into the light.
And the curtain comes down, thus ending the play.
Everyone clapped for the great performance of the play and how the actors were good too, but Rex notices that Pyra wasn't clapping and saw some sadness in her eyes.
After the play, Vandham lead the group to meet the director in his office.
"That play was the best for my first time!" Rana smiled.
"Yes, the story was quite enchanting to watch." Cattleya nodded.
"Hey." Nia said, getting Rex to stop and turn his attention towards her.
"Kind of awkward, right?" Nia asked.
"What was awkward?" Rex asked, not getting the question.
"I mean, that play… it was about Pyra. Must have been kinda bizarre for her, eh?" Nia pointed out how this play might make Pyra feel down about her ancient past.
"I dunno… I guess?" Rex confused.
"Maybe you should go and make it right." Nia suggested before walking past him.
"Make it right? How?" Rex asked.
"Idiot. Figure it out yourself." Nia advised, leaving Rex alone at the corner.
"Huh? What am I supposed to—" Rex turned around seeing Pyra coming and now felt awkward himself.
"Err, umm… so the theater…" Rex had no idea on what to talk with Pyra about.
"Wasn't it incredible? They had the cloth moving just like rea clouds! How do you think they did that?" Pyra asked, seeing how the play was good with the probs.
"Huh? Ah… Yeah! The clouds were pretty cool… They were so… cloudy?" Rex said nervously and got smacked in the head by his Titan grandfather.
"What are you saying, bonehead?" Azurda asked whispering.
"There's no need for that! I don't know what to say in a situation like this!" Rex said, looking at Pyra who is in deep of her thoughts at the moment.
"Anyway, we should catch up with the others and meet this friend." Rex said.
"Yeah, best not to keep him waiting." Pyra nodded and they walk together.
The group made their way to the office of the director, and they walk inside seeing a lone figure wearing a coat with a hood over his head.
"Comin' in, old fella!" Vandham announced.
"Crikey! Still collecting the junk, are ya?" Vandham surprised.
"Watch it, you bruiser! Don't make fun of a man's hobbies!" The director angered as he turns around.
"Apologies for not having the same eyes of seeing junk as valuables as you do." Risty chuckled.
"Yeah, at least try to do a little more greeting to your old comrade." Vandham stated.
"This is your friend?" Rana asked the large man.
"Yeah, I was a freelancer before the firm got going. Believe it or not, me and this old fella tore up a good few battlefields in our day." Vandham explained.
"We sure did. And thanks to that bleeding heart of yours, we almost never got paid!" The director complained with a friendly smile.
"Says the guy in the theater troupe! You can't be raking in much dough either." Vandham laughed.
"Hmph. Well, what can I do you for, friend?" The director asked, seeing Vandham and Risty here together must mean something is going on.
"Cole, you're old, ain't ya? Old enough to know how you cross over to the World Tree… Get to Elysium, I mean." Vandham asked which surprises the old man revealed to be named Cole.
"Elysium? But why? Why would you want to go there?" Cole asked.
But he got his answer when he turns his sights on Pyra and saw the Core Crystal and he instantly recognize it.
"That Core Crystal… You… You're…" Cole could not believe his eyes. He did not expect to have lived this long to see something like this of all things and Blade.
"So, the Aegis is back amongst us… Who is your Driver?" Cole asked.
"I am." Rex revealed himself.
"You? But you're so young…" Cole shocked that the Aegis' Driver is a boy.
"Rex maybe young, but he has worked hard like any man would when he was a Salvager, and his fighting skills are good to impress even Vandham." Cattleya explained.
"And he even taught me and Rex how to do that hook trick thing." Rana added.
"Hey now, no need to go on telling him that." Vandham said, felt a little embarrassed but didn't show it.
"Oh my, the great Vandham being embarrassed from a couple of compliments." Risty teased.
"Shut it, you." Vandham glared before getting back to the topic.
"How about it, old man? Do you know the way or not?" Vandham asked.
"Hmm… I dare say if you're trekked all the way here to ask me, you've already tried going yourselves?" Cole guessed.
"Yeah, but we couldn't make it because of that Ophion thing that Pyra called it. She tried to get it to stop, but it wouldn't listen to her." Rex explained.
"No can get to the three while that thing's guarding the way there. It won't let anyone pass but I'm surprised that it attacked the Aegis since you can command such advanced tech." Cole looked over at Pyra.
"I'm not sure why it wouldn't listen to me. It shouldn't behave like that." Pyra puzzled of that mystery.
"I see, then perhaps you might find another way. A long time ago, there was a man who went up the tree, met the Architect too." Cole mentioned.
"For real? Is he still around?" Rana asked shock.
"Yeah, still breathing and all. I'll wager anything he's got an idea how to get there again. You should try asking him." Cole suggested to speak to this man.
"Who was it?" Rex asked.
But Cole seems to hesitate in answering that question, still a bit unsure of the boy being the Driver of the Aegis and carrying the burden that comes with it.
"Please, tell us! I've got to get to Elysium, no matter the cost!" Rex begged.
"That's right, this family made a promise to help Pyra get there!" Rana determined and Cattleya nods.
"(A family, huh?)" Cole thought looked at the Aegis Driver, the younger and the woman who seems to be his Blade. He can tell they share a family bond together.
"Well, I can tell you. But first I'd like to have a word with her, if I may. With the Aegis, I mean." Cole requested to speak with Pyra alone.
"Alone with Pyra, I hope you're not thinking any funny ideas." Cattleya gave off her motherly glare.
"Think nothing of it." Cole assured.
"Through here, please." Cole gestured to a door that leads to his bedroom.
Pyra follows Cole into his bedroom that has lots of books and other things, and the two are alone for a private talk.
"Mister Cole, right? You wrote that play, didn't you?" Pyra asked.
"I hope it didn't stir up any painful memories…" Cole said, feeling a bit guilty.
"No, some of them are… good memories." Pyra proclaimed.
"Heh. You know, you're not very convincing. I'm sorry, I really am." Cole apologized, seeing through Prya's words.
"I just wanted people to know about that time. Show people how we were back in those days… Really get it across to them." Cole explained.
"Will you be using it again? That power…" Cole asked.
"I don't know yet." Pyra looked down, looking sad again.
"I just don't know if this world can take it a second time." Cole sighed.
"I know that. I'd never use it if there was another way. This is what I hope for… But…" Pyra promised but fear it could happen again like what happened to the three Great Titans 500 years ago.
"That man's the only one who knows how to get to where you're going. Do you think you can make it to him? I just wanted to be sure." Cole asked.
"We can, I mean, it's my destiny." Pyra determined to see this through.
"Yeah. That boy who's with you…" Cole wanted to know a little more about that boy.
"His name's Rex. He's a good person with a kind heart, along with a kind family." Pyra explained about her Driver.
"He reminds me of a certain someone." Cole smiled and Pyra nods, agreeing with him.
"OK then, I'll help you out." Cole decided to trust the future to that boy and his family.
"Thank you, Minoth!" Pyra thanked smiling.
"Minoth. I almost forgotten that name." Cole smiled.
"You go wait with the others; I need to get something that'll help you with your journey." Cole said.
Pyra nods before turning around and leaving the room while Cole goes looking around at his room.
"Now then, where did it get to?" Cole asked himself, but then he started coughing hard as everyone heard this.
"Grandpa!" Iona worried as she hurries over to Cole.
"Oh dear, that doesn't sound good!" Swan worried.
"You better not be kicking the bucket right now." Risty clutched her fists.
"I'm fine… I'll be fine in a second. Seriously, don't mind me." Cole said while still coughing.
"No, no, this cannot do. We can't have you helping us while you're in such a condition, best to rest up for the night and try again tomorrow." Swan advised.
"She's right, we'd better call it a day, old timer." Vandham agreed with the kicking Blade.
"I hope you feel well, my mom can even make some soup for you too." Rana offered.
"Yes, it wouldn't be right if we didn't help you in return." Cattleya nodded.
"Yeah, okay. We'll pick this up tomorrow, there's something I want to give you." Cole said, before coughing hard again.
"Come on, I know a place where we can rest." Vandham said.
"Hope you feel better, sir." Rana said before everyone left the room.
Cole is now left alone in the room getting his bearings together, but then senses the two strong presences and one of them is very powerful almost like Pyra's presence which there can only be one person with this level of strength.
"Well, I'll be… It's just one blast from the past after another today." Cole turned around to see both Malos and Akhos right in his office.
"Your probably guessed, but we're not here for a reunion." Malos said.
"Just as well. The Aegis's gone already. How disappointing for you, "comrade"." Cole commented.
"Still an asshole." Malos chuckled, glad to see he hasn't lost that fighting spirit.
"Despite the years taking their toll. I'll wager all the doctors in this town are quacks, and all the Blades are blunt." Akhos looked at the old fool seeing his condition.
"Obrona and I… We could fix that stagnant ether flow with minimum of bother. What do you say? You could still have a lot of good years ahead of you!" Akhos offered.
Unknown to the three men in the room, Iona came back to see if Cole is still coughing but saw two other men in there and hid away overhearing the guy in blue armor offering the old man some help to make him live longer.
"I mean, I won't deny there'd be a certain quid pro quo involved. But old man, just think of the benefits! Come, can't you lend us your expertise here? Do so, and you could live for a long, long time." Akhos grinned.
"You know, friend, I'm not as attached to my life as I used to be. Maybe I've had enough!" Cole turned down the "kind" offer and turned around.
"Your little lost souls will be simply inconsolable." Akhos pointed out.
"The kids? No, they're strong." Cole believed in the younger ones will grow up strong without him with looking after them for years.
"This is becoming a farce. A horrendously cliched one at that!" Akhos mocked.
Malos and Akhos started to leave the old man to his fate, but Akhos stop for a second to say something to Cole.
"Break a leg." Akhos said before leaving for good this time.
Malos and Akhos leave the theater building, but they stop when Malos notices something.
"What's that?" Malos asked, and it would seem Akhos notice this too.
"Hey, don't be shy. You heard everything we said, didn't you?" Akhos said.
Iona comes out of hiding and walks up nervously to the two men even though she should've known better then to talk to those two men.
"Can you… Can you really help Grandpa?" Iona asked.
"Why, of course." Akhos answered, walking up to the girl.
"We can help. That is if you can help us. Can you do that, for your grandfather?" Akhos asked.
Malos smirks with a new plan popping in his head, all thanks to this little girl who wants to help her grandfather.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The group meets the theater director who seems to have close ties with Pyra more than he appears to be, but the bad guys have showed up and already setting a plan in motion to get the Aegis Blade without making a fuss.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!