Chapter 10: Moving Forward

The sun was high as the peak of day drew closer, bathing the battle scarred remains of the Olethro Playhouse in sunlight. Gathered there before a newly made grave was the members of the party, sans only Pyra, and Vandham's closest friends. Dromarch stood before them all, his rumbling voice giving the final eulogy or Vandham, the man's name boldly carved into the stone of the grave.

"The body may die, but never the soul, which is merely passed on. Souls flow onward, born and reborn, forever part of the great ether stream."

"Why friends make grave here?" Tora quietly asked, trying not to upset the somber mood. "Can we not take Biggipon home to village?"

"He'd want to be buried where he fell. It is traditional amongst mercenaries." Azurda said.

Dromarch moved aside from the grave, Iona approaching and setting a bundle of flowers before the grave. And the young girl's grief was clear as day, tears starting to stream from her eyes as she stayed on her knees.

"I'm sorry Vandham… If I just hadn't listened to those guys you'd still be… I'm sorry…" Iona's sobs and apologies slowed a bit as Vaios approached, gently placing a hand on her shoulder, giving her a gentle nudge as he gave a soft smile, one still showing his own pain in this situation.

"Don't blame yourself, Iona. They were after us anyway, and all you wanted to do was help your grandpa. Vandham wouldn't blame you for that. What matters is that he saved all of us. So… we have to keep living, and doing our best, to make sure we're worth that… so, don't make yourself shoulder this." He said, patting Iona on the head as she nodded, wiping her tears away, trying to show a smile of her own.

"You're right." Iona nodded, Vaios returning the gesture.

"I won't forget Vandham, I promise." Vaios stood and laid a hand on the grave, pulling out Roc's still dimmed Core Crystal, gripping it tightly. "Until I've reached the end of this, I'll fight my war… with Pyra and Mythra."

Haze then gave Vaios a tap on the shoulder. The young man turned, and his eyes widened a bit as he saw Pyra approaching. The Blade didn't say a word as she approached the grave, only folding her hands and bowing her head for a few moments. Vaios couldn't help but worry if she was putting some of the blame or this on herself as well. But, that wasn't the most concerning thing.

"You alright?" Vaios said, Pyra giving an affirming nod as she stepped to the side. Vaios, more on impulse, stepped over and grabbed her by the hand. "Good I… was worried you wouldn't wake up. Haze said you were fine but… hagh. Look, I know that what happened yesterday with you… with Mythra, probably has you uneasy right now… but it's fine, I promise. I'm just… worried, about both of you."

"I kind of want to know what that was all about myself." Nia said, her own concerned look present. "That power wasn't normal. Is that what the true power of the Aegis is? It was pretty crazy, so I at least think you owe us an explanation."

"Tora want to know too. Pyra was super strong! Why so strong huh?"

"Now now, don't pressure the girl too much." Azurda said, Pyra though, looking around the party and then to Vaios, looking to the side as his earnest look didn't really help dissuade the uneasiness she felt, even retreating from him a bit as she started to stammer.

"Well… I… uhmm…" As Pyra fumbled with her words however, a flash from her Core Crystal made her flinch. And with a quick flash of light, her form changed again, Mythra standing before the party, her eyes going to Vaios.

"Mythra?" Vaios saying her name seemed to make something in the girl snap a bit. Mythra's eyes became a glare, and she stalked up to Vaios, grabbing him by the collar.

"Why?! Why did you wake me up?" Mythra was almost growling at Vaios as he gasped in confusion, both at the outburst and the fact Mythra looked to be on the verge of tears as well. "I didn't want to wake up! I didn't want to come back! But then you… why?! Why do you always have to risk yourself for others?! You're in this situation because of it! I couldn't… I couldn't handle it without you! I left things to her so I wouldn't have to come back, because I thought you were gone! So why, Vaios, why did you wake me up?! Why did you come back?!"

"What else was I supposed to do?!" Vaios responded, even as he saw Mythra's expression break from anger to clear anguish. "I won't just sit around and allow people to die! If I hadn't fought back, who else would Malos have killed?! You know he doesn't care about how many lives he takes!"

"You're always such an idiot!" Mythra shoved Vaios, growling at him again. "Didn't you listen to that Vandham guy? He said to run, to hold yourself back! But you just had to! You just had to run off and put yourself into danger again! Last time you did that I… we lost you!"

"But I'm still alive, we're all still alive!" Vaios snapped back, grabbing Mythra by the wrist as she turned away. "I kept my promise didn't I?! I told you I would make it back alive… and somehow, I did!"

"You don't get to just come back and act like it makes things better!" Mythra snapped, the welled tears now coming down. "When I thought you were gone I… there's a reason I didn't want to use this power again! And look where you being an idiot, again, got us!"

"I know that!" Vaios yelled, his own tears welling again. "I know I messed up! But it's too late for me to go thinking how it could've gone if things had been different! But even if I was being stupid, I'm not just going to hand you over to them! Just as much as I didn't want more people to die, I wanted to keep you safe too!"

"Th-That's not fair." Mythra muttered, wiping a hand over her eyes. "I've had enough for now. If you all have questions, ask her. I need to cool off!"

"Hold on!" Vaios said, but before anything else, Mythra turned away from him and shifted back to Pyra, who, as soon as she got her bearings, gave a low sigh.

"That's not fair." Pyra said, shaking her head, turning to the others and giving a small bow. "Everyone, I'm very sorry about all of that. Let's keep talking somewhere else."

The theater, that was where Pyra had decided to go. She was seated on the edge of the stage, while Vaios and the others stood just before her in front of the seats.

"Malos and I are both Aegises." She began to explain, in some ways more to the other members of the group than Vaios, but still giving him a cursory glance. "Blades born with a terrible power, strong enough to destroy the world…"

"Malos is another Aegis?" Nia said, glancing at Vaios, "Vaios, did you know this? I mean, you two seem to have a history. What's with him callin' you "relic" anyway?"

"I… maybe at another time I did." Vaios said, closing a hand tightly. "And I have no idea why he calls me that."

"There's a reason behind it… but that isn't that clear to me either." Pyra said, Vaios sighing. "As for the other topic. A long time ago, a man, Amalthus, climbed the World Tree, hoping to make it to Elysium and meet its creator. But, when he arrived at Elysium, he found it empty. And with it, a creator who didn't hold the answers he wanted to find. So instead, as proof that he'd reached that divine realm, he brought back two Core Crystals, or at least, objects like Core Crystals, Malos, and me. One emerald, one amethyst. And once he made it back to Alrest, he awakened Malos. Why he did it, I can't say. For greed… for power… or perhaps, something else. When Malos awakened, he used his world-shaking power without restraint. To him, it was natural. He had never known anything else. I… Mythra, to be precise, was awakened by a Driver who was determined to stop Malos's rampage, Addam Origo, the man you now know as the Hero of Torna. So, us Aegises fought. And it took everything I, that Mythra, had to take down Malos… but at a great cost. Three Titans fell during the course of that war, one of them being Torna itself. Mythra… something inside of her broke during the battle as well, and I was brought into existence as a result. Afterwards, I asked Addam to seal me away, so that that kind of power could never be used on the world again."

"Which explains the ship." Vaios murmured, running a thumb over his medallion as well.

"You also said Amalthus… as in the Praetor of Indol?! He's Malos's Driver?!" Nia voiced the obvious shock, Pyra's nod causing Nia and Tora to double take. "Bloody 'ell, then he's over 500 years old?! How'd he live so long!? I know Indolines are long lived, but that long? That some bonus for being an Aegis Driver?"

"But… wait, where Vai-Vai involved in story?" Tora said, raising a wing up. "He and Mythra seem to have long relationship, by way both acted."

"That's because…" Pyra murmured, Azurda flitting up.

"Simply put, that is because, 500 years ago, during the Aegis War, Vaios was there." Azurda's statement got shocked gasps once more, Vaios grabbing his medallion again. Azurda didn't need words from any of them to see the coming questions. "Vaios, I know there is a chance some of those memories have returned, yes? I heard you talking with Vandham the other night, and what you said is the truth. You were one of Addam's close companions during the Aegis War, in fact by way of adoption, you two were brothers. That medallion you wear was given to you as proof the day the decision was made."

"But… how?! Even if it's true, that doesn't make sense!" Vaios said, a hand at his head. "These past five years, Azurda, you know! You've been with me pretty much ever since I woke up on Leftheria and when Rex and I left! How can I…"

Vaios then flinched as his words stopped dead. He started thinking about what Malos had said to him back then. Why it is the other Aegis called him "relic", the apparent well of power he had access to, the fact he had seen memories of a world not covered by the Cloud Sea…

"I'm… I'm not human, am I?"

"Maybe… maybe you're some kind of Blade?" Nia said, but, both Pyra and Azurda shaking their heads shot that idea down immediately.

"Not quite." Pyra said, getting off the stage and taking Vaios by the hand. "But I'd say it's also wrong to say you're not human… you are, but, in a different way. Vaios, what you are is something even older than the idea of a Blade… but neither Azurda or I know what that is."

"Well…" Vaios took a breath, clearly trying to calm himself down a bit. "I already said it when fighting Malos, what I am doesn't really matter that much in the end. Besides, I'm going to Elysium for answers about that anyway. Having that at least somewhat cleared up is actually more of a relief than anything."

"You astound me with your ability to take things so well." Nia hummed, Vaios putting a hand behind his head.

"And as for where we were, that ship and what happened after, is pretty much history." Pyra said, looking back to Vaios, squeezing his hand a bit. "I believe it's fate we met again… otherwise my sister never would have woken up. Vaios, Addam wanted you to succeed him as our Driver, if anything ever happened… perhaps what you are ensured that would come to pass."

"Well, I've never really been one to believe in things like fate." Vaios said, an amused little grin on his face. "But that is at least one thing I remembered… though the more I start to remember, the more questions I just find myself having about back then… and, wait, sister?"

"Well, what else would I call Mythra?" Pyra said so like it was a simple fact, Vaios giving a hum as the gears in his brain clearly got moving. "We used to talk, in that dream of Elysium where you met me. We promised that, when we were awakened again, we'd go home to the real Elysium. And then, we would fulfill our real purpose… though as things are now… well, that's for another time, I suppose."

"But right now, I guess that's beating Malos again right?" Vaios said, Pyra nodding. "Well… going by what he said, I guess he and I also have some kind of history together… guess a grudge can last even for 500 years if it's the right person."

Vaios then looked to Haze, who tilted her head with a questioning look. Vaios couldn't shake the feeling off either… about what Malos had said, about things being like 500 years ago. Vaios had that same sensation to him, as if things were coming together in a way that would seemingly try to bring history to repeat itself in some manner.

And something in him felt that wasn't something he wanted to allow to happen.

It had been decided to just let the rest of the day be one to let everybody rest up and recover from the previous days happening. Cole had already gotten to helping charter a ferry so the party could make their way to Argentum the next day. Vaios had elected to spend time on his own in one of the hotel rooms, a journal opened in his lap, his pen scratching along the paper.

He was writing down both a record of recent events, but also the things he was starting to remember as well. Why he felt the journal was necessary, he wasn't sure, but he felt if he at least did this, he'd have something more than his own recollections to refer to… perhaps a small feeling of paranoia about ever losing his memories again made him do it, so he wanted to write down whatever he could.

"Heh… wonder if there's ever been a Blade who felt the same as I do about this?" Vaios let out the chuckle as he set the pen down, closing the journal and giving a soft sigh.

Nia had went into town with her Blades and Haze to gather some supplies, while Tora was elsewhere doing maintenance on Poppi to make sure she was in top condition, though also probably a bit of the Nopon's own concerns about the matter and the pride he took in his Blade. So that just left Vaios alone in the quiet of the room since he wasn't sure what Pyra was up to.

"Vaios?" Though the girl peeking into the room answered that question immediately, Vaios giving a little wave as he leaned his chair back with a foot to the desk. "Uhm… I'm sorry about Mythra and how she acted. Things are just kind of… complicated for her right now. She didn't mean anything bad by what she said. Her head's just sort of a mess because of… well, because of you."

"Oh no it's fine… honestly it felt oddly nostalgic once the heat died down." Vaios gave a hum as Pyra stepped in, rocking himself back and forth. "It made me remember a bit… we kind of bickered all the time as it was, so snapping like that was just kind of familiar to me. Guess I was reacting to things without really thinking about them much huh?"

"Well… she came out because she wanted to protect you. We both did." Pyra said, putting her hands on Vaios's shoulders, the young man glancing up at her. "She broke her own seal for you, used her power as the Aegis… all because with you right there in front of her, she didn't want to lose that again. My flame powers are just a shadow of her strength. Droplets of excess energy, trickling through the seal."

"It's nothing to worry about." Vaios said, putting a hand to Pyra's and giving her a smile. "She was at least right about some of it. Azurda's always told me too, I'm a bit too headstrong for my own good sometimes… but when people are in trouble, I can't help but want to try and do something. If I have the power to do something, to help others when they're in danger, why shouldn't I try to use that however I can? But I also have to bear the responsibility for what I do… and besides, you've actually opened up a little, and I'm pretty glad about that."

"Really?"

"Of course." Vaios said, standing up. "And besides, you're about as reckless as I am… but even still, you went to protect everyone with your own power. Shadows or not, I think it's impressive you did all of that to try and save everybody else."

"Protect… me?" Pyra seemed a bit taken aback by the idea, Vaios nodding.

"Yeup. But next time, bring your Driver with you alright? We're a team, so we do things together, no matter how stupid or reckless it may be." Vaios put a hand on Pyra's shoulder, and the girl looked down, her face a bit red.

"I'm sorry… I…"

"Also, you apologize to much." Vaios then, to Pyra's surprise, went and flicked her on the forehead, earning a yelp from the Blade as she put her hands to the spot, Vaios chuckling as he lowered his hand. "Look… even if the power the Aegis holds is capable of destroying a lot of things, maybe even the world, feeling guilty about it all the time won't help your, or Mythra. Besides, think about it this way, if the Aegis is powerful enough to destroy the world, then by that same logic, it's powerful enough to save it."

"What do you mean?"

"Well… let's see." Vaios put a hand to his head, then snapping his fingers. "See, there's something else I remembered… what "Aegis" even means. It's another of those words I know for some reason… what I do know is this, wherever it came from, Aegis means something that protects something else. So… doesn't that mean Malos is wrong about the Aegises being meant to destroy everything? Maybe you two were meant to protect people, to protect this world?"

"Vaios… I…"

"Vandham said it himself: Power depends on the heart of it's wielder." Vaios then tapped a fist to Pyra's chest, chuckling again. "And you're too nice a person to go around destroying things without a care. As long as you want it to be that, your power and Mythra's can be a power that protect others. So, don't go around apologizing so much all the time, because I'll make sure this becomes a world where you don't have to. If you'll be the Aegis that protects people, then I'll be the Aegis Driver who protects you to make sure that can happen."

"Vaios… thank you." Pyra put her hands onto Vaios's as he chuckled again. Then the girl took a moment, shuffling a bit like she was thinking something over, Vaios tilting his head. "Also uhm… I know it may be a bit awkward to ask right now of all times but… I kind of, well… wouldn't mind if we picked up were we left off at Garfront. I… sort of want to make it up to you a bit."

"You mean…"

"Yes."

And that confirmation made Vaios feel like he'd just taken a shield hammer right to his sense of reason, the air going out of him a bit as Pyra looked at him with a mixed look of embarrassment and earnestness about her expression.

"I'll shut the door and lock it."

Vaios was quick to do just that as Pyra nodded, the girl going to the window and shutting the curtain as Vaios did the lock. Though as things in the now much more private room got under way, a certain Nopon was trotting up the stairs.

"Vai-Vai! Can you help Tora with repairing of Poppi please?" Tora called out, tilting his head when he saw that the door was shut, and a quick jiggle of the handle showed it was also locked to him. "Vai-Vai? You fall asleep in there?"

Tora made the grave decision to press his ear up to the door. And not a moment after he did, the Nopon froze in shock, his entire body starting to turn read before he let out a yelp and started skittering off.

"Tora apologize! Not mean to interrupt on special blushy-crushy time!" The Nopon's screams however pretty much went unnoticed by the occupants of the room.

And sitting on the number sign for the room, Azurda shook his head as he flitted off, chuckling as he began fluttering down the hallway.

"Ah the wiles of youth and those in love. Heh, hope they don't do too much to the room, might make the hotel charge a bit extra to clean it up."

The new day had come, and before the party's due departure, they'd met up with Cole in front of the theatre. The man had handed Vaios what he'd intended to before the mess from a couple of days before had happened. A dagger, one of an odd make, and in it, a blue crystal with a few flecks of red. The weapon of a Blade, surely, but one that showed age and years, if not decades, of merely sitting around without any hint of repair done to it.

As Vaios gripped the weapon, he felt that odd sensation of familiarity come to him. And Cole certainly didn't miss that expression when it came to the boy's face.

"What's this got to do with where we're going?" Vaios looked the weapon over, flipping it around a bit, Cole giving a long hum.

"Take this and go to Indol. That dagger's owner can tell you how to get to Elysium. You may not even need it, but, consider it an extra precaution so that he knows who sent you."

"Amalthus, right?" Vaios said, Cole looking a bit surprised. "Indol's Praetor… and Malos's Driver. Pyra told us… and I remembered, a bit anyway. It's still not much but… I knew him, didn't I?"

"Knew is a bit of a stretch." Cole said. "More like… you were acquainted with one another."

"And here we go again with findin' out he's connected to a bunch of odd people." Nia said, shaking her head, finding she was getting used to this apparent trend that was cropping up. "Next you'll tell me he knows the Architect as well, if things keep up at this rate."

"Haha, don't go jinxing it now." Cole chuckled, Nia rolling her eyes. "But not just that… Amalthus was once also my own Driver. Hence why it's more accurate to say he owns that weapon."

"Wait… what friend mean?" Tora asked, Vaios looking back to Cole, feeling a flash come to his head again as Cole moved aside part of his shirt… revealing a Core Crystal, one that like the dagger's, bore marks of red within its glowing blue coloration.

"Minoth…" Vaios murmured, Cole showing a satisfied smile as he closed his shirt. "I… remember now. You were there…"

"Yes. He fought together with us as one of Addam's companions during the Aegis War." Azurda said. "In fact, you two were quite chummy, as I recall."

"Haha, we just exchanged stories is all. Yet while I've aged like shit, you haven't changed one bit, Vaios." Cole put a hand to Vaios's shoulder, the young man giving a sigh as he shook his head. "Guess what you told me was true after all then."

"What did I tell you?" Vaios raised a curious brow, Cole pulling his extended hand to his chin.

"Well you decided to be vague about it. Mostly that you were something like a human, but born in a different way and all that. Didn't tell me more than that though, mostly cause you said it doesn't matter. I presume the same holds true in your head even now?"

"Pretty much." Vaios sighed as he put a hand to his head, muttering how it seems his actions in the past were screwing him over from more easily finding some things out from someone who turned out to be an old companion of his from that time. "Either I'll remember it myself or I'll find out when we get to Elysium, whichever happens first."

"Blades not get old though!" Tora pointed out finally. "Why Cole look so old?"

"That's a good question, actually." Vaios added. "Heck, why does your Core Crystal have those red marks in it?"

"Because I'm one of the Cursed Ones. A Flesh Eater." Cole said, Vaios and Tora tilting their heads, Haze and Poppi following suit. Nia however, bunched up a hand as she gasped, Dromarch looking to her with visible concern. "A Blade who has been fused with human cells. A long time ago, before the war, some thought to test the limits of a Blade's potential. I am a product of their experiments, one of the unlucky ones tainted by their folly."

"Why would ancient people do that?" Tora said, Vaios bunching up his hand.

That idea was dredging up images in his mind again… ones that unsettled him, and brought an unpleasant pit into his stomach as he thought of them. He couldn't help but think a single idea: That it seemed humanity was always in some ways willing to push their ideas of creation and interference with things beyond a point of reason that dives into outright madness.

"It seems to be that by combining Blade and human, it is sometimes possible to create Blades with unique powers. But only very rarely. Most experiments were a failure, and I was one of them. I gained nothing at all, and lost my immortality to boot. I probably don't have much time left."

"Grandpa…" Iona murmured, and it made things a lot clearer why she would have gone along with Akhos and Malos… people who had a Blade that could manipulate ether flows, the girl must have thought they could have definitely had a way to if not save, then at least buy Cole more time.

"Before I go, I want to see where your path ends." Cole again pat Vaios on the shoulder, the youth appearing to be mulling over something. "So take that dagger, it'll aid you. Will you do this for me?"

"Of course, Minoth." Vaios gave a nod, gripping the dagger a bit tighter. Then he turned to Haze. "Haze, the ether flow through this part of Uraya is a little thin, right?"

"Quite a bit, actually… what are you proposing?" Haze asked, Vaios chuckling and turning back to Cole.

"I was just thinking… if you want to see how this ends, then you need to stick around long enough to see things to that end, right?" Vaios said, Cole blinking at him with a surprised look. "Haze can manipulate ether flows, in fact, she's also aimed more at Blades… so, Haze, think you can do it?"

"Well, how can I say no?" Haze said, pulling out her staff, closing her eyes as she lifted it up. "I just need to concentrate on adjusting the flow… the winds that pass through here and carry the ether… I can definitely adjust them to flow far better!"

Cole stared as Vaios lifted a hand to Haze, and as the boy's eyes pulsed brightly, the golden aura of high affinity rose between them, Haze lifting her staff up, pulses of wind beginning to move through the air. What otherwise would have been a normal healing Art suddenly seemed charged up to more than just that. The air around itself began to move a bit, and one could feel the rush of the wind pass by as if something within it's very flow had changed. Cole let out a sudden breath, looking at his hands and curling his fingers in surprise. It was only slight… yet now, something suddenly felt better than it had before.

"By the Architect… I'd almost forgotten about her… that Blade you have, Haze… she was Lora's!" Cole looked to Haze as she slumped a bit, Vaios helping support her. "When did you get your hands on her Crystal? I thought that…"

"I'd been holding onto her for some time." Azurda said. "Addam wasn't the only one who asked Vaios to look after their Blade if something happened to them. After all, Vaios and Lora were quite close you know."

"That they were." Cole said, Vaios raising a brow at both old men. "Well then… you'll want to be careful out there with her, Vaios. If Jin really is there… I don't know how he'll react to seeing Haze with you as well. But… I must thank you. It's not much, but, these old bones feel a tad more spry than they were a few seconds ago."

"It was as much as I could do." Haze said. "I'm not sure just how well it will work, but I was able to at least alter enough of the ether flow in the area that, for a while, more should come through this part of Uraya. It should at least give you more time."

"And that's all I could ask for."

"I've got one more thing I want to ask, actually." Vaios said, Cole looking to him without a word. "Could you maybe… write a play about Vandham? Someone like him… I think his story could do a lot to inspire people, give them motivation to do something, to make their own way with things, you know? So, once I find Elysium, I'll come back here, and you can show it to me, deal?"

"Hehehe… how can I say no to that? It's the least I can do. In exchange for that, you better tell me about how the rest of this journey goes… and when you remember the rest of everything about yourself, how about telling me the things you were being skittish about yeah? Make sure you get back here in one piece."

"You've got a deal." Vaios clapped a hand to Cole's, and the two shook on it. With some other goodbyes to Cole, Iona, and Vandham's seconds, the group headed off, their destination being the docks. "Oh yeah, here's a bonus I should mention about the ride Cole got us: Salvagers get free rides back to Argentum!"

"Man what other benefits do you rascals get?" Nia asked with an amused huff, Vaios holding up a v-sign. "Well hey, a free ride ain't bad. So then everybody, how about we use the ride to rest up more eh?"

"No arguments about that." Vaios said, Tora cheering along with him, the others cheering along with them.

"Man it feels good to be back!" Vaios stretched his arms up as the party exited the ferry and onto the welcoming sight of the Argentum dockyard again, Vaios readily strolling ahead with a gleeful look on his face. Tora was looking around the place with a great amount of interest in everything around him, while Nia kept looking over the side of the docks with a bit of concern on her face, Pyra giving her a reassuring pat on the back, Haze looking around with an awe filled look as she stuck by Dromarch and Ursula.

And it wasn't long before a bunch of the Nopons at work took notice as Vaios waved at them, looking ecstatic to see him around.

"Vaios back!"

"Vaios come back alive!"

"Vaios have many side kicks now!"

"Quite the celebrity aren't ya?" Nia said with a wide smirk, Vaios chuckling as he rubbed his nose.

"Well I have been trading here for quite some time. Now…" Vaios turned on his heel to the others, a hand on his waist. "I'll go and find us a ride to the Empire since heading there next is our best bet. You guys head to the inn and I'll meet you there once I've figured something out."

"Sounds good, see ya' around then." Nia said, waving the others forward as she took the lead, Vaios moving off the other way as he let out a hum.

"Let's see now… ships leaving for Mor Ardain depart from the flight deck… wonder if any are open right now. The sooner we can get to the Empire the better."

As he trotted off, Vaios greeted and occasionally chattered with some of the other Nopon and Salvagers he passed by, a bunch of them expressing being glad to see he was alright after the incident with that previous job… though as he was making his way up, a suddenly shocked voice caught his attention immediately.

"Vaios!" Vaios turned as he was on the stairs, his eyes going wide as Rex was sprinting up to meet him, the young boy half out of breath by the time he got up there. "Holy… you're actually back! Thank the bloody Architect for that! What the hell happened out there? Gramps suddenly up and vanished the night you left, and then they said the Maelstrom went down with no survivors! The place is in a helluva storm now that you're back!"

"Whoa whoa, okay Rex, slow down a bit!" Vaios said, clapping Rex on the shoulder, more statements coming around as others passed by them. "Look, I'm glad to see you. As for what happened, that is a long, roughly two week or so, story… and as for Azurda, well…"

"Been a while Rex, I hope you're doing well." Azurda popped up from Vaios's hood, Rex staring at the now smaller than a housecat Titan with wide eyes that may as well have gone totally white. "Oh don't look so baleful, it's still me, even if now I'm this small."

"Is this some kind of joke?! Where's the real Gramps?! Is he outside and pulling some prank through this pet here?!"

"How rude can you be?!" Azurda hopped off and kicked Rex square on the forehead, the boy starting to fall back, Vaios catching Rex by the arm before he could go tumbling down the stairs, quickly pulling him back up to avoid an incident. "I know it's surprise, but it's honestly me! We'll explain what we can on the way up to the flight deck, alright?"

"Explain what?" Rex said, Vaios sighing as he looked to the side with a stilted expression.

"As much as we can about how hectic these past couple of weeks have been."

"That is… something wild, that's for sure. Winding up a Driver and now running all across different Titans? Talk about getting caught up in something wild."

"Yeah, and it's probably not going to be slowing down for a while, since we're heading to Mor Ardain next."

Vaios pocketed the charter papers he'd gotten as he and Rex made their way down from the flight level of Argentum, the younger teen flinching at the mention of the Empire. Vaios hadn't told Rex every detail about events, mostly things about the Aegis fiasco and Torna. Rex had definitely lamented the loss of both their home and ride with Azurda now being smaller, but had been making his way as it was without too much trouble with some of the Salvager crews, who were more than happy to employ someone with plenty of experience.

"The Empire? What's there that you've gotta head to a place on the edge of war?"

"Well not like Uraya was any different, though that was more of an accident than anything else." Vaios said, leaning on the rail of the loft area they'd stopped at. "And it's more where we're going from here… the Empire is just the next step in finding our way there more than anything. If we come across anything on the way, well, we'll just deal with it as it comes, not much else a person can do at times wouldn't ya' say?"

"Guess I can't say it's a bad way to be going about things." Rex hummed, looking across the way to the restaurant that fronted the inn, and gathered around one of the tables was the rest of the party, Rex giving a chuckle. "But hey, looks like you've got yourself a bunch of good mates to back ya'. A journey across Alrest eh? Heh, man am I jealous! And to think it was all because of one job request!"

"Heh, you could've been in my position if you'd gotten here first." Vaios mused, Rex chuckling as he waved a hand.

"Eh but I kinda like where I am now. These crew I work with have their own fun. But either way, Vasios, Gramps, take care of yourselves alright? I'll see you off tomorrow. And hey, who knows, if you find yourself in Leftheria any time soon, we may run into each other again!"

"Wait, you're heading home?" Vaios got a nod from Rex, the boy turning around.

"Might as well for a bit right? See how the others kids have been growing, all that. But, seeya tomorrow, I got some business to take care of before then!"

"Yeah, see you then." Vaios let out a hum as he waved Rex off, mulling over the thought for a moment before turning and heading to the restaurant, giving a call to the others as he approached the little gathering. "Alright everybody things are all good and set. We'll be heading out on the next ship to Mor Ardain tomorrow. So my recommendation is we use the rest of today to get some more rest in and stock up on whatever supplies we need."

"Tora want to see what other Nopon have as wares! Perhaps will find parts to improve Poppi with!"

"Poppi agree with Masterpon!"

"Well then how about I go with you? I know a lot of the folks around here, I'm sure they'll fetch us something fair." Vaios chuckled as he folded his arms, Nia giving a snicker as Tora and Poppi hopped off their seats.

"Don't go too crazy with it now. We don't need Poppi suddenly changing into something wild now." Nia said, Haze also getting up.

"I'll go with you both too. I want to see what all this place has. Oh, Pyra, do you want to go look with me?" Haze said, Pyra giving a small wave as she set down the cup of tea she had.

"I'll join up with you in a minute Haze. The tea here is quite good." Pyra gave an amused smile as she let out a satisfied breath, Azurda chuckling.

"There's things from all over Alrest to sample, and all of it of good quality. You like the place?" Azurda said, Pyra nodding. Nia, from her seat, merely went and gave a long stretch.

"Well I'm not much sure about you all, I'm just glad to be resting in a proper inn again after a long voyage. Uraya's was fine, but gotta hand it to the folks runnin' this place, they know how to let someone relax." Nia said, laying down on the table and downright purring.

"Being on familiar shores is always nice and good." Vaios said, teasingly tapping Nia's ears, the Gormotti swiping at his hand. "Now come on, let's get business done!"

The night had been nicely peaceful. The party, was the norm, split into rooms for the boys and the girls. Though, early riser he was, Vaios's clearing haze from sleep came with a bit of a surprise to him. Mainly because now he wasn't the bed's sole occupant.

For one reason or another, a sleeping Mythra was next to Vaios, with a grip on his right arm that as she shifted, nestled it right into the soft valley of her chest. Vaios let out small mutters as his face went a bit red while trying to process the situation.

Not that he got to think much before Mythra's eyes opened, half-lidded from drowsiness. She definitely looked a bit out of it, even drawing closer to Vaios during the quiet seconds… then Mythra's eyes went wide as she finally seemed to realize for herself what was going on.

"Uh… morning?" Vaios said, a small chuckle.

"AHHHHH!" Though Mythra just screamed as she sat upright and scrambled off the bed, Vaios nearly falling off himself from surprise at the sudden move. "You… how did… what are you doing in my bed?!"

"Ehhh?! You're the one in my bed!" Vaios said, pointing to the rest of the room to prove the point.

But she didn't seem to be having it, as in another quiet moment, Mythra's face went red before she let out another yell. Mythra ran to the other end of the room, and grabbed whatever that was loose she could, Vaios yelping as he started having to deflect whatever random things Mythra started flinging at him.

"I can't freaking believe… you and Pyra went and… aggghh! Get out you damn perv!" Half of what Mythra was saying died down between her angry yelling, and it didn't do much to not stop Tora, Dromarch, and Azurda from waking up. Tora quit unfortunately getting cleanly hit by a mug Vaios knocked aside.

"Whoops… sorry Tora!" Vaios then caught a book, giving a sigh as he looked at Mythra flatly. "Take stock of the room for a moment will you?!"

"Huh?" Mythra stopped her throwing long enough to actually do that, and when she saw she was indeed in the room the boys had taken, she dropped the items she was holding and brought a hand to her face. "Ughh… I can't believe it. I did it again! Ugh, I am such an idiot!"

"Is this what they call sleepwalking?" Dromarch said as Mythra opened the door in a huff, Vaios sighing as he laid back down.

"This isn't the first time this has happened with her… somehow I know that." Vaios put a hand to his forehead as other fuzzy flashes came to mind. "Yeah, definitely had this happen before."

"You were staring." Mythra accord, Vaios sitting back up with an offended look again.

"You're the one who put my arm between those things in your sleep! And maybe put more on sometimes and I won't look!"

"You just admitted you were!"

"Hard not to when it's in my face!"

"Ugh, pervert!" Mythra slapped the door and left with that, Vaios's eye twitching as his teeth started grating.

"That girl…" Vaios's fingers were just as twitchy as he hissed, Azurda giving an amused sigh.

"And that would be a lover's quarrel." Azurda noted, Dromarch and Tora chuckling, all going silent when Vaios glared at them fast enough one could worry about whiplash being induced.

"Let's not talk about it." Vaios coldly said, the others rapidly nodding, not wanting to incur any more potential wrath.

Though following that, as the group convened in the restaurant again, since the ship to Mor Ardain still had some time before setting off, Vaios was a bit cautious as he approached Pyra, who was enjoying some more of that tea she'd found a liking for the other day.

"Morning." Vaios said, coughing a bit as he sat down. "So uh… this morning…"

"I'm sorry about Mythra." Pyra said, clearly in on what had happened. "She just gets confused when she wakes up… and may or may not have also found out we uhm… did all of that before we left Uraya."

"Yeah… figured that out." Vaios coughed into a hand again, also glaring at Nia as she gave the two of them a smarmy look.

"It didn't get violent, did it?"

"Uh… a bit." Vaios held up a couple of fingers, Pyra giving a sigh. "I mean it wasn't that bad… just y'know, some random stuff got thrown around, Tora got a mug to the face… that was kind of my fault though."

"Well, it's a good thing he's tough. You're… not hurt anywhere though?" Pyra then took a moment to start looking Vaios over, and his face got red as she leaned up while checking.

"Totally fine! Not a scratch on me… please don't lean up like that." Vaios muttered, Pyra chuckling.

"It's cute you get embarrassed at times like this, you're so bold otherwise."

"Not in front of the others." Vaios said, Nia almost howling with laughter now, Haze keeping a hand over her mouth as she chuckled. "Anyway! The ship is leaving from the Goldmouth Harbor up on the fourth floor. The ship is leaving in a bit so we should get moving."

"Sounds like a plan." Nia said, swinging her legs out and stretching again.

"Ardainian Empire sound so grand! Tora cannot wait to see it!" Tora chimed in, Vaios giving a nod as they all moved to start making their way up.

"Never been there before myself, so it'll be something. Though I heard the place has become pretty arid due to how old Mor Ardain is for a Titan." Vaios pulled out a book from his belt as he spoke, one with all kinds of tabs and notes on it. "But that age produces a lot of heat, and it's how the Empire has been able to make all of their steamworks based technology."

"Huh, wonder if they could make that work without Titans." Tora said, giving a hum. "Perhaps if Mor Ardain had Ether Furnaces like Poppi does! Not that it any ordinary Ether Furnace!"

"Don't go getting too into your engineering bubble now you two. Perhaps save it for the ride." Nia said, her arms behind her head, then shading her eyes as they strolled out onto the deck of the port. "Egh, pretty darn bright today i'n it?"

"Ah but the wind also feels so nice. The voyage will be great, I'm sure of it." Haze remarked, Nia shrugging again.

"Heyy! Don't go forgettin' about me!" Vaios turned around as Rex's voice carried over, the others stopping a bit of a ways ahead as Rex caught up. "I said I'd see you off, so don't go leaving before I can!"

"Hehe, I was wondering when you'd show up." Vaios said, he and Rex clapping hands together. "Good luck with whatever crew you find for yourself, Rex."

"You too Vaios. Gramps, same to you. Keep Vaios out of trouble yeah?"

"I'll certainly try my best. Though thankfully we've got plenty of others to help out with that." Azurda looked off to the rest of the party, Rex giving a chuckle.

"Oh!" Vaios then reached into his pouch as he got an idea, Rex tilting his head, then blinking when Vaios produced a Core Crystal, particularly, the one that was Roc's, which he'd had with him since they left Uraya. "Here, I think you should take this with you."

"A Core Crystal… naw, I can't! Those things are rare, and I mean, you're already a Driver! You'd get way more use out of it than me. Heck, I don't even know if I can resonate." Rex waved his hands, Vaios rolling his eyes and putting the Crystal into Rex's hand by force.

"I'm not saying you have to resonate with it. You're free to try if you want to take the chance but… consider it a good luck charm. The Blade in here is a good one, I can tell you that much." Vaios's face as he spoke made things clear to anyone who could see it, the tinge of sadness in his eyes at thinking about Vandham.

"Alright." Rex didn't need anything else to nod in acceptance, tapping the back of Vaios's hand as he gripped the Crystal tight. "I'll be sure to keep a good eye on it. And hey if things work out, you may just be hearing stories about a fine new Driver!"

"Heheh, don't get cocky about it if you do." Vaios held out a fist, Rex tapping his too it. "Besides, a Salvager is always a Salvager. Next time, let's both show off some new treasures we're able to find."

"Hehe, bet on it!" Rex then looked to the others, giving a wave. "Hey all of you! Take good care of this lunk will ya? Guy's practically my brother, so it'd be real great!"

"Will be sure to do that!" Tora waved with his wings, the others nodding along.

"Alright then. Well then Rex, seeya next time, maybe in Leftheria if luck brings us that way."

"Yeah. Whichever way the Cloud Seas currents take us."

The two bumped fists again before turning off, Vaios giving one more wave as Rex turned while trotting off back into the inner areas of Goldmouth. The paths were separate, but a moment for two to cross again brought some hope around to Vaios again, a reminder of the potential the world had to go on.

And after a long voyage from the titan airship, Mor Ardain came into sight for the party from the cabin they'd nested up in for the trip.

The only Titan to be bipedal in nature, Mor Ardain stood tall over the Cloud Sea below it, billows of steam pouring from the cities that marked it's structure, it's height meaning most of the visible towns, and especially the capital city of Hardheigh, stood prominent across the wider structure of Mor Ardain's torso and shoulders, with vast arrays of metal and older constructions now left abandoned strewn about the body.

Dust from the arid lands of the aging Titan also drifted off due to the blowing winds, wastes that too were dotted by structures of imposing metal and the lines of transport cars and the like.

Mor Ardain was known as one of the most advanced kingdoms in Alrest for a reason, and this sight was only proof of the technological might that they held.

"Whoaaa!" Tora voiced, Vaios staring out from the window and too the path beyond.

"Hugo…" Vaios murmured the name quietly, one that came to mind all of a sudden like so many other things that did, Vaios giving a sigh, Pyra putting a hand on his shoulder as he notably tensed up. "Well, if this is where things lead, then I'm ready… whatever else I may learn, I'm ready for it."