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Chapter Text

Salvaging missions could be hit or miss. On a good day, Rex could comfortably turn a profit and ship off a good chunk of G to Fonsett Village. Probably afford a nice dinner at the Guild too. On a bad day, he’d make up the costs himself and skip a meal. It was kind of a crapshoot. All and all, he usually had currency to spare for his hometown. He rarely went hungry either. So, he never lost heart when he came up with a load of guff.

He thought today would be the former. There was a good reason for his hunch. He came upon a genuine bounty! While exploring the Cloud Sea, he uncovered a heavy chest. While he recalled Rule 4 of the Salvager’s Code, he couldn’t stop himself from preemptively celebrating. It was every salvager’s dream to uncover a bonafide treasure trove. He promptly hooked onto it and plucked right from the ocean onto his guardian. “Heads up, Gramps! Looks like I got lucky today.”

The Titan craned his neck and looked down at his adoptive son. “How about you warn me first? I have a sensitive back, remember?” He said in jest. Indeed, it was a big haul, but he wasn’t a fragile creature. Gramps dealt with all sorts of ordeals. Raising a human was tough work and could be quite thankless sometimes. Still, Rex always meant well and pulled his weight.

“Oh, lay off it. You’ll be fine, ‘specially after we sell this lot.” He grinned as he inspected the chest. Even if most of it was duds, there were bound to be a few trinkets worth a pretty penny. His eyes widened as he pried open the treasure and took a gander at its contents. Sure enough, he could confidently boast that he did more than break even for the day. There would be plenty left over after sending money back to the village.

Gramps chuckled at the young man’s enthusiasm and smile. “I take it you’ll be able to afford a visit to Rumbletum Canteen and have a few drinks while you’re at it.” He knew the other all too well. That was probably the first thing he’d do after finishing up at the Central Exchange. A warm meal, something to wet his whistle, and a soft bed sounded brilliant.

Rather than deny it, he laughed along with the Titan. “Ya got me there. It’s been a while since I got to indulge myself.” While he owed it to Auntie Corinne and all his neighbors, he was encouraged to spend his money however he liked. The older woman often insisted he have some fun from time to time. She couldn’t afford to ship him any care packages, so she had to twist his arm and guilt him into pocketing a portion of his profits.

As he perused the wares, the young man came upon a peculiar thing. He noticed a promising glint and went about fishing whatever it was out. At first, he thought it was a massive gem. That would fetch him a thousand gold at least! Upon a closer look, he had a new hunch. “Say, Gramps, any clue on what this is?”

The Titan leaned forward and squinted at the object. Rex sometimes thought Gramps liked to act older than he really was. His guardian wasn’t some doddering old coot. “Ah, a core crystal. Have you never seen one before?”

Rex scratched the back of his head. So, he was right. “I mean, I have. Just, uh, can’t say I’ve ever got my hands on one ‘till now. It looks valuable.” He had heard word that both Mor Ardain and Uraya would pay a king’s ransom for the things. And if they couldn’t agree upon a number, they’d make you sell at market price.

“That is because it is,” Gramps affirmed Rex’s suspicion. Blades were a luxury. They made any ol’ grunt into a super soldier. For those without any G, becoming a driver could do wonders. The demand for blades and drivers was at an all-time high. Everyone across Alrest knew that tensions between the two superpowers were burgeoning. The Praetorium and Tantal did little to mitigate the impending crisis.

Rex himself was tempted, but he refrained since he had zero interest in war. He found the whole thing abhorrent. He actively avoided salvaging military equipment despite it being quite a lucrative business. This had him in a real conundrum now... The core crystal was bound to fetch him more than the rest of the haul. It’d go a long way for the people of Leftheria.

Gramps recognized his ward’s reservations. He always supported Rex’s conscientiousness, even when it meant turning down an easy job. He sometimes chided the human for being obstinate with the soldiers and mercenaries that arrived at Argentum. “It might be wise to hold onto it for now. You’re bound to attract trouble if you try to sell it.”

“Why’s that exactly? Reckon someone might steal it from me?” Rex reasoned it might be better to exchange it as soon as possible. While he didn’t feel great about it, the core crystal could get him in hot water with the imperial forces. The last thing he wanted was to be arrested or worse.

“I don’t think it right to return it to the Cloud Sea, but... I can tell it will be trouble if it falls into the wrong hands. That’s no common core crystal,” the Titan calmly explained. He seemed to be lost in thought. That’s the impression Rex got from him. How strange.

The young man knew a thing or three about his guardian. He was no good-for-nothing brat. He had long since grown out of his foolhardiness. Or so he claimed. Despite being an adult, he was slow on the uptake at times and mouthed off to people with no regard for status. Nevertheless, he had been with the Titan for long enough to know when something was wrong. “Alright, alright. I’ll hang onto it. It’s a real beauty, innit?”

The Titan smiled at the other’s words. “Of course. Just don’t go flaunting it. It’s hardly a common variety. Going off of appearances... I have reason to believe it might be considered rare, perhaps legendary.” As he spoke, Gramps directed his gaze from the human and to the massive creature in the distance. The Goldmouth Titan carried almost all of the Argentum Trade Guild on its back. Many merchants, craftsmen, mercenaries, and salvagers resided there. It was a great spot to accumulate wealth or find talent.

Rex continued to glance over the core crystal. Legendary, huh? It could get him tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands in gold if he found the right buyer. That would be no measly amount. He could even afford to return home for a bit. He longed for Auntie’s cooking. Still, he heeded his guardian’s words. This thing was no joke. “I promise I will do no such thing. It’ll be our secret.”

Satisfied with Rex’s words, Gramps let out a sigh of relief. “Keep it safe too. You’ve misplaced things before.”

That comment earned a pout. Rex rolled his eyes at the other, even if Gramps wasn’t looking his way. Sure, he might be a little irresponsible, but he never made any costly mistakes- Not many recently. He held back a grimace as he remembered almost misplacing his quarry and letting another salvager cash it in. That would’ve sent him back. “I got it. Don’t have to be a prat about it.”

“I am only doing what I can to keep you safe. Don’t take my advice as an insult. I might be going senile, but I have a feeling that things will only get more troublesome,” the Titan muttered, sounding uneasy despite Rex’s assurances. Though, he wasn’t alone in those sentiments.

Rex felt it too. He had a gut feeling that he was just asking for trouble now. Whatever the case, he wouldn’t let it put a damper on his mood. Even without pawning off the core crystal, he had plenty to offer the Central Exchange. Most of the possessions were real fancy things, probably discarded by someone super-rich.

When he reached the shop, Melolo shared the exact observation. This was no mere crate. She congratulated Rex on his small fortune and all the money he allocated to his home. The Nopon thought very highly of the young man, but... she tended to be very chatty. He snuck away as she started to grumble about her littlepon. Poor Bipopo. The kid probably didn’t deserve her gripes.

He didn’t linger at the shops, instead making his way to the second level of the guild. While he initially thought to spend some extra gold on good food and alcohol, he ultimately settled for a snack and went right to the inn. That gut feeling of his did not go away. He felt eyes on him since he left the docks. He had to fix his pack at one point, noticing that the core crystal stuck out a bit. A part of him fretted over if someone noticed.

Such a blunder would really disappoint Gramps, but he did enough to obfuscate it. At a glance, there was no way of knowing if it was common or rare. Gramps struggled to distinguish its value. So, he was probably fine, right? Alas, he didn’t feel any better. So much for sleeping easy tonight...

Come morning, Rex felt a smidge better. He glanced at his pack and confirmed that the core crystal was present. He had tried to sleep with one eye open, but... He kinda nodded off. He’d be fine. Just had to get back to Gramps and continue salvaging. He didn’t feel like enjoying his respite any further.

As he was about to leave his room, he heard a knock at the door. That was curious. The innkeeper rarely bothered guests, only ever knocking around midday. Considering the sun was barely past the horizon line, it was still morning. He let out a long yawn before answering the call. Not much he could do about it. He didn’t suspect anything malicious.

Upon opening, it was Pupunin who greeted him. Pupunin was another salvager that Rex once collaborated with before, but the Nopon worked closely with the Chairman. He often served as a liaison between the guild and any contractors. Sure enough, he was ordered by Chairman Bana to retrieve him.

Rex rarely interacted with Bana. The merchant was purely self-interested and lacked any strong morals outside of turning a profit, which meant they’d probably butt heads. Knowing himself well enough... he might call Bana an arsehole to his face. That would not go over well.

However, Pupunin wouldn’t give him a choice in the matter. The Nopon couldn’t exactly physically drag him, but he herded him right to the Chairman’s door. By then, Rex didn’t have much of a choice. With some reluctance, he stepped into the office. He did his best to keep his pack secured and out of sight. This couldn’t be about the core crystal, right?

“Thank you for accepting prompt summons! I Bana need no introduction. As Chairman of Argentum Trade Guild, I heard word of most curious rumor of Rex. Me thinks you found something really, really valuable.”

Damn it.

Rex did his best to look composed. There was no way Bana could’ve found out about the core crystal that quickly. That’d be just about impossible. He had kept the gem hidden and only barely revealed it when he left Gramps. No chance that exposed him. If it did... that was some real shit luck. “O-oh, right. Of course... found a big treasure chest a ways away from the guild.”

The large Nopon stared him down. His frown said plenty. This wasn’t going to be good. “Meh, Rex know that not what I meant. Bana very aware of what Rex found. Treasure was no ordinary treasure. Chest from Torigoth.”

“Torigoth?” Rex recalled the city being located in Gormott Province. That was far from Argentum or even the waters around Goldmouth. That couldn’t be right. “I really didn’t go that far. Just about... a bit east I guess. Can’t say for certain since it’s all sea out there.” There weren’t any visible landmarks. He picked his salvaging spot based on a rumor. He couldn’t quite believe his luck when it turned out to be true.

Bana scoffed at the excuse. He didn’t buy Rex’s words one bit. “It no matter. Treasure was lost at sea. That where it should be and where Rex found it.” He huffed, reminding the salvager exactly why he bent over backward to avoid the merchant. “Treasure special for reason. Supposedly, contains very rare Blade. Blade that fetch much gold. However,” his eyes narrowed on the human, “no core crystal reported at Central Exchange. Very curious.”

So, this core crystal was a big deal. Gramps should’ve done more to emphasize the fact. He did say it could be legendary, but Bana made it sound like it was worth even more than that. “Didn’t see no crystal, just all the nice rubbish and stuff.” Rex clarified wearily. He felt even more nervous about his pack now. It seemed like Bana might have an idea of the Blade he discovered.

“Likely story. Rex claiming he didn’t find core crystal. Is that right?” The Nopon remained skeptical, but... he did not seem as certain as he should’ve been.

Maybe Rex was grasping at straws, but he suspected that Bana only knew about the rumor and hadn’t confirmed whether or not he had it. He had to hope that Pupunin or someone hadn’t spotted it earlier. Okay. He could work with this. Just don’t screw this up. Though... A part of him wanted to know what Bana’s intentions really were. “If ya don’t mind me askin’, how much is this crystal worth exactly?”

“One million gold,” Bana did not miss a beat when it came to anything related to money. That amount was nothing to scoff at... Rex understood why the merchant cared about it. That much gold could keep Fonsett Village fed for years. It was extremely tempting to fess up and broker a deal. However, that price... It made Rex all the more uneasy. He couldn’t afford to hand it over. “Rex certain he not have it?”

Rex wasn’t much of an actor. He absolutely sucked at lying. He could never hide a thing from Gramps, Auntie, or even Melolo. But, he had to talk his way out of this. Here goes nothing. “Not too sure... Oh! Um, about that, I think I recall somethin’ now that ya mention it. I had it, yeah? But, well, I kinda dropped it. Like back into the Cloud Sea.”

The Nopon stared at him for a long while. Rex held his breath and tried to keep his heart from popping out of his chest. And then... Bana exploded. “YOU DROPPED IT?! MEH-MEH-MEH! HOW- HOW COULD YOU BE SO STUPID?!”

Holy shit. He fooled him. Rex did well to hide his grin. He wasn’t about to out himself. It looks like Bana did not know any better about the core crystal. He was going off what he learned from the Central Exchange. Since the salvager kept quiet about it, there were no records of it arriving at Argentum. Considering Bana already thought badly of him, this lie was quite believable. It paid off to be on the merchant’s bad side for once. “Hey, hey, didn’t know its worth till now. Just thought it was some rock. ‘Sides, I didn’t have enough supplies to make another trip down.”

Bana looked about ready to explode again, but he was able to regain some composure. “You. Rex. You will go back to that spot immediately. Find it. You will receive one million plus usual commission. No extra negotiation, just go.” The Nopon readily forced the job onto the salvager, believing that the price was sufficient reason. If Gramps hadn’t warned him, he might’ve been all too eager to oblige. There was once a time when Rex would take jobs without asking for the pertinent details.

Fortunately, Rex knew better now. That being said... it would be awfully suspicious if he didn’t comply. “I’ll be right on it, Chairman Bana.”

“On the double!” Bana shouted, shooing the salvager right out of his office. He fully expected the salvager to do as he demanded. With that kind of payout, who would refuse?

Rex would. Considering he already had the very core crystal, he wasn’t about to go back to where he found it. He sighed to himself as he returned to the docks. He couldn’t stay at Argentum. With the Chairman wary of him, he’d have to find somewhere else to do business. Following Gramps’ suggestion came with unforeseen consequences. If he sold the core crystal outright, he could receive a literal fortune and stay at the trade guild. In fact, he’d be in Bana’s good graces for once- Wait. That didn’t sound like much of a positive.

Regardless, he made his choice. He’d trick Bana and make a run for it somewhere else. The Nopon mentioned that the Blade was from Torigoth. He could try to return it. Maybe the original owner lost it at sea? That seemed sensible. And... He’d have to omit that he sold the rest of the guy’s stuff. The remaining funds would help him get there, yeah? So, in a roundabout way, he was using the money to help the bloke.

He held onto his pack tightly. His gut was right. This thing was more trouble than it was worth. No matter, he’d see this through. His golden eyes met the Titan’s. “Gramps, we need to hurry.”

“Rex... Please don’t tell me you ignored my advice,” the Titan frowned at the thought. He took no joy in telling his ward ‘I told you so.’ He could tease Rex from time to time, but it was never anything mean-spirited.

Rex shook his head. Like he was that dumb! “It’s not that. Well, kinda. But, it’s really not my fault. Bana knew of the treasure and thought I had it.” He explained only after hopping aboard his guardian. He couldn’t blab about the subject around the Chairman’s agents.

Catching the young man’s urgency, Gramps left the docks and glided across the clouds. Once at a comfortable distance from the Goldmouth Titan, Rex felt willing to get into the specifics. “Here’s the thing, I got Bana to believe I lost it. I told him I’d go back and get it. We’ve got ‘bout a day or so to ‘retrieve’ it. Seeing as he offered over a mil, we’ll need to get a move on it.”

Gramps looked pleased with his decision. “You did the right thing. We should have more than enough time to get away. I don’t know much about the Blade, but a million gold is no small amount I suppose. So, it must be a Legendary core crystal after all.” He looked to contemplate the thought before shaking his head.

“What makes it all that special? What does legendary actually mean?” Rex asked, genuinely curious about the Blade. He couldn’t imagine this crystal being worth such a large quantity of gold. There was also a very real chance that Bana gave him a much lower offer than the actual market price.

“I cannot speak to the identity of the Blade, but I have met legendary blades before. They are more powerful than you could ever imagine. Just possessing one could have massive implications for any war. The one I knew was capable of moving faster than anyone. He could defeat armies alone. If this Blade is half as capable... this core crystal could be wanted by more than just Mor Ardain and Uraya. Perhaps the Praetorium too. Our best course might be to hide it.”

Rex’s eyes went to the Cloud Sea. He didn’t know a lot about Blades, but he could imagine it cruel to toss one away. Wasn’t hiding it just the same thing? “Let’s go to Gormott Province. I know it’s dangerous to hold onto it, but... We could try to give it back.”

The Titan didn’t seem pleased with the idea, but he did not take it out on Rex. If anything, he looked relieved. “I am glad to see you show such compassion, even at the expense of your own well-being. Still, we might cause even more trouble if we did so. And besides... Since the Blade no longer has a physical form, then its master either died or gave it up willingly. There’s no telling if we’d even find the former Driver or any of their kin.”

Gramps made sense. Rex understood the risks and that they may not even get the answers they seek. However, what else was there? Handing over the core crystal to the Praetorium? Hiding it in some corner of the world? Keeping it and never looking back? None of it sounded right.

“I just want to do the right thing. Call me a kid or anythin’, but I don’t care. There has to be somethin’ we can do. Least of all just letting Bana have it. Let’s start with Torigoth. If we don’t find any clues, we’ll find somewhere to keep the crystal safe.” Rex decided, choosing to walk the difficult path.

As much trouble as it was, Gramps still looked relieved with the young man’s decision. The Titan didn’t hold back his grin. “I expected nothing less from you. I can’t argue when your mind is already made up. We’ll do things your way.” The Titan always respected Rex’s opinion. It was the same when he left Fonsett and moved to Argentum. He was barely a teenager, but Gramps approved of the boy’s earnest desire to support the village.

Still, the Titan looked bemused by Rex’s rationale. “You should know that most people wouldn’t go this far for a core crystal. You haven’t even met the Blade nor do you understand any of the circumstances.”

Rex shrugged. Admittedly, he didn’t understand it all himself. His experience with Blades was extremely limited. He did not know the expectations that came with possessing something so powerful. “Just feels like my responsibility since I went and found it. It’s kinda sad to me. Bein’ lost in the Cloud Sea and all. Can’t imagine how the Blade would feel knowin’ that it was down there.” He felt a strong sense of empathy for the personality within the crystal. That much was certain. From what he knew, they were living beings too.

“I understand,” Gramps nodded. “Then, let’s be off to Torigoth. We can chart a course elsewhere if we run into a dead end.” As he said so, the Titan directed himself eastward. He quickened his pace, knowing well that they might alert the attention of Bana soon. In doing so, they did show their hand. Still, the headstart was necessary to outrun the Nopon’s parties.

The ride was fairly smooth, with no sign of anyone for thousands of peds. Rex probably spent most of the trip glancing over the core crystal. He wanted to see if he could discern why Bana valued it so much. The rough exterior offered little to no hints. “Say, what would happen if I accidentally awakened it?”

Gramps hummed at the question. Though, his attention was primarily on finding the Titan, Gormott. “You’ll either meet the Blade or die trying,” he answered simply.

The mention of death had Rex nearly drop the thing. While he bobbled it, the crystal never left his hands. His eyes widened at the notion. “You’re kiddin’ me, right?”

“Not entirely. Not everyone can summon one. You already know that the demand for Drivers is high in Mor Ardain. This is not only because the Empire needs many more soldiers, but also because most people lack the capacity. To even attempt to awaken one can lead to loss of consciousness, injury, or worse if unsuccessful. However, sometimes the reward is seen as far greater than the risk. It’s often the case for the very core crystal you possess.” Gramps exposited, ever so knowledgeable on the subject. Being as old as he was, Rex assumed the Titan knew just about everything about Alrest.

Rex held it more carefully now. He had a vague idea about how to summon the Blade, but... he felt pretty reluctant to do so. Besides, if he planned on returning it, he probably shouldn’t try to use it. Since Gormott Province was under Imperial rule, he’d attract unwanted attention. What a pain. “Ya think I could just awaken the Blade ask it about stuff then return it back?”

Gramps shook his head at the idea. “There’s no point. Blades cannot retain their memories after returning to the core crystal. While you can relinquish ownership, you’d effectively be erasing the Blade’s new memories. That could be seen as rather unethical.”

So, there was even more reason to keep it hidden. The last thing he wanted was to upset the very thing he wanted to protect. This was bound to be a lot of trouble. He wished he picked Bana’s brain about the treasure. He hadn’t a clue about it aside from the city. Gramps probably knew this. Still, he agreed to Rex’s half-baked plan.

Rex took it upon himself to continue to think about things as the Titan continued to move along. It had been hours since they left the trade guild. By now, Bana had to suspect something was afoot-

And there was his gut again. Rex felt uneasy. He had a bad feeling that things weren’t so hunky-dory.

The sound of cannons all but confirmed it.

Rex’s eyes widened as he took in their surroundings. What were once empty seas as far as the eye could see, Ardainian Battleships loomed in the distance. Gramps groaned as he felt a salvo nearly collide with his bow. “This might get bumpy,” the Titan mumbled.

The battleships moved to encircle them. This was no small private army. This was the genuine, bloody military! But how? Were they working with Bana? Rex gritted his teeth and held on tightly to the Titan. “What’s goin’ on, Gramps?”

“Give me a moment,” the Titan answered. He couldn’t outmaneuver their pursuers amongst the clouds. So, he needed to take to the sky. His wings stretched and started to flap roughly, creating waves while doing so. His efforts, however, left them vulnerable. While he avoided the main artillery, a few blasts struck roughly against his side. The damage only accumulated as he started his ascent. “Urgh, Bana must’ve known... and no doubt he involved the Empire in this too.”

“Y-you’re hurt,” Rex felt his guardian tremble underneath him. He couldn’t get a good look at any of the hits, but he could hear the pain in the other’s voice. “I- I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t blame yourself. I was the one who asked you to keep it safe,” Gramps assured him softly. Whether they had hidden it or not, neither expected the Chairman to enlist the soldiers within hours of escaping Argentum. This reaction was extreme for a mere salvager and a smaller Titan.

Gramps did what he could to evade fire and speed past the blockade. The battleships did well to ensnare them, but they couldn’t follow the duo back to Gormott as hastily. Their only course of action was to continue to direct gunfire toward their target. Rex visibly winced as another round punctured his guardian.

How could everything go so wrong so fast?

The Titan struggled to maintain altitude. He was able to leave the firing range, but he couldn’t keep up the same pace. Be it dumb luck or just Gramps being Gramps, they neared a massive creature before they started to descend. That had to be Gormott! Considering where the battleships probably came from, they were already so close. If only they had another hour or more...

Rex sighed as he realized how they nearly got away. Still, they managed to escape the soldiers. That’s gotta mean something, right? Gramps could bounce back from a few bruises. He braced for impact as the Titan made a crash landing into a thicket. And then- he was out like a light.

It could’ve been minutes, hours, or even a day when Rex finally stirred. He had no sense of time nor did he have any clue on where he was. He recalled... This was Gormott Province. They’d made it. But, Gramps. He took a lotta fire.

The golden-eyed man scanned the nearby foliage, all in an effort to find the dragon. He was surrounded on all sides by trees. He landed right amid a thicket. Instinctually, his hand went to his pack. He had to be sure that he retained the core crystal. Once he clutched the gem, he felt a little better. Slowly, he made his way down an unnatural path and right to a crater. Gramps was unconscious, and he did not look good at all.

Without the Titan’s assurances, he couldn’t discern if the injuries were superficial or fatal. He held back a cry. He nudged the Titan, all in a vain attempt to wake him. “Gramps...? You there?”

A pained grunt was all the Titan could muster. He wasn’t dead, but he didn’t have any intelligible response to Rex’s plea. The young man was relieved that his guardian wasn’t gone. Still, the other was in a state. Rex was too busy fretting over him to recognize his own injuries. He had likely broken his arm and maybe cracked a few ribs.

It was only after he stepped away and glanced around for herbs had the pain caught up to him. This was bad. Real bad. They both made it and got a good distance from the battleships before plummeting, but they were sitting ducks. Injuries would only hamper their escape.

Rex’s eyes went to the core crystal. This thing was supposedly legendary. Could he...? He chided himself for entertaining the thought. He didn’t like the thought of using the Blade when he planned to return it to its rightful owner. But... With its power, he could save himself and Gramps. The old Titan didn’t deserve to die. He loved him like a real grandfather, maybe even closer to an actual father figure.

So what if it could kill him? He was as good as dead if he gave up. He figured Bana was more than willing to steal the core crystal. The involvement of the Empire was also pretty fishy. They’d never let him off with a pat on the back. No amount of pleading would save Gramps either.

Without any other recourse, Rex made his decision. He withdrew the core crystal and held it tightly. “Here goes nothin’,” he murmured. And thus, he began to resonate with it. The process itself just... came naturally to him. It was as if the Blade told him herself. And so, it happened.

It all started with a brilliant light. His immediate response was to shield his eyes, but he couldn’t let himself look away. He was in awe at the sight. In the place of the core crystal, a woman emerged. She possessed long, silver hair tied into twin tails. And- Were those fox ears? She was a thing of beauty. Though, he found her leotard to be a bit immodest. Did Blades get to pick how they dressed?

“Name’s Nia. I guess that makes you my driver then, yeah? Hmm... Can’t say I’m all that impressed. You look about ready to wet yourself,” the Blade introduced herself. Rex had heard all Blades possessed their own unique personalities. Still, he hadn’t expected her to insult him right out of the gate. It didn’t bother him, not when he was left in awe at her.

It was just... surreal. Absolutely crazy. Downright absurd.

Never in a million years did he think he’d be a real Driver. He didn’t think himself capable, and he had every reason to believe so. Sure, he had a deadly hook shot. He could also put up a fight against any monsters hidden beneath the clouds. However, he was no soldier. “I’m, uh, Rex. And I guess so? I hadn’t really planned on it if I’m bein’ honest. All this Driver stuff is kinda beyond me.”

“You cannot be serious,” Nia frowned at his admission. She didn’t know what to make of the man. Rex recognized that he probably should’ve acted a little more confident, maybe trying to appear a bit tougher. The woman was judging him purely off on first impressions. However, his injuries made it tough to stand tall. It hurt just to breathe.

“So, here’s the thing. I’m kinda bein’ chased by someone and uh... I’m out of options.” He motioned to his arm and then to the unconscious Titan. The Legendary Blade was the only way he could fight back or better yet slip away.

Nia’s frown only deepened. She let out an exasperated sigh and approached Rex without any explanation. He flinched as she entered his personal space and placed a hand on his injury. They were both surrounded by some sort of blue barrier. “Ya got lucky. I know a few things about healin’.” As soon as he felt her touch, the pain simply went away. Not only in his arm... but also his ribs too! All the soreness he had was gone. It was nothing short of magical!

“You’re- you healed me?” Rex asked, unsure of if he was even injured in the first place. It all happened so fast. Her abilities had him second-guessing whether or not he was hurt in the first place.

The Blade rolled her eyes at him. “’Course I did. See any other healer around?” She gave him a brief moment to glance at his surroundings. Sure enough, it was only the three of them. “Don’t be an idiot.” She glowered, knowing full well he didn’t have to check.

She went ahead and offered the same treatment to the Titan. Though, it took a bit more ether to heal him than the human. “There. All better,” she announced unenthusiastically. Once again, all the visible injuries vanished. The only proof that either of the men was injured was the dried blood and debris. Rex could start to see why Bana was so obsessed. This was incredible!

“You saved him. I... can’t thank you enough,” Rex was grinning ear to ear. Just moments before, he thought he might lose Gramps. Now, he looked just about new. Her powers more than warranted her reputation.

“No need for that. Just doin’ my job. Can’t go and let the both of you die on me,” Nia huffed. However, she did not dislike the gratitude. He could tell she was pleased with her handiwork, especially with how her ears flickered.

The healing also looked to rouse the Titan. Cautiously, the dragon got himself upright. He let out a grumble. Even if the pain and soreness were gone, the spot he landed did not look comfortable. He turned an untouched corner of a forest into a spacious clearing. His head turned to his ward and the strange woman at his side. “I suppose congratulations are in order. You’ve become a Driver, haven’t you?”

Rex was relieved to hear him alive and well. “That obvious, huh?” His eyes went to his Blade. She could be rude all she liked, but she was a lifesaver. “This here is Nia. She’s that Legendary Blade. Apparently, she’s super duper good at healin’. Like really good at it.”

“Oi, quit it with the flattery. You’re gonna make me blush,” Nia cut in. She didn’t sound all that genuine. Rex could swear she was enjoying all the praise. The way her ears flickered... Was she really that obvious about it?

“Nothin’ bad about tellin’ the truth,” he answered with a cheeky grin.

“I said quit it, ya arsehole!” Nia practically hissed at him. If not for the fox-like ears, he might have assumed her a cat.

Gramps looked down at the two curiously. He looked more than a little pleased at the bickering. He was always like that, laughing to himself and never explaining a thing. Rex sometimes had no clue what went through that thick of his head. “You two seem to get along well. Good. Nia was it? I have a small favor to ask of you.”

Nia met the Titan’s gaze. She didn’t quite understand much about the two men. Having just been awakened, she had a lot of catching up to do. “Don’t think I have much of a choice. So, go on.”

“Rex and I got ourselves into a real mess with a particularly nasty merchant. He wanted to steal an extremely rare Core Crystal, but we managed to escape with it. However, he also involved the Empire of Mor Ardain. We are outnumbered and on the run. While we could escape to another Titan, Rex chose to uncover the whereabouts of your former Driver. This brings me to my favor. I am going to draw the bulk of their forces away from Gormott. Since I will serve as a distraction, I’ll need you to watch over Rex in the meantime. The boy tends to invite trouble,” Gramps spelled it out clearly. He needed to assign a babysitter while he was keeping the battleships busy. Rex wanted to protest at the other’s words, but he chose to keep his mouth shut.

“Keep an eye on the blighter? That all?” Nia looked grateful for the rundown, but she didn’t understand what the Titan was getting at. “I mean, it’s what I’m supposed to do. Hardly much of a favor. I’d prefer Rex alive than dead.” She didn’t have any strong attachment to her Driver yet. But, his demise was tantamount to her own.

Gramps chuckled at her naivety. “You’ll see what I mean soon enough. Rex is a handful, but he means well.” His attention returned to Rex right after. The young man wasn’t all that excited about being on his own in a new land. He’d grown kinda dependent on having the Titan. “Treat her well. Remember Rule Three of your code.”

Of course, Rex knew it verbatim. He loved to quote them whenever they applied to any given scenario. He followed the rules as if they were gospel, despite some salvagers thinking him childish for it. “Make a girl cry, that’s not going to fly. Make a girl smile, you pass the trial.”

“Good lad,” Gramps was pleased with both of their answers. “I’ll keep them busy for as long as I can. Once they lose interest, I’ll return to this exact spot.” The Forgotten Waste was hardly much of a landmark, but it would have to suffice. The location was easy enough for them to pinpoint with the dragon-shaped crater.

“Come back safe!” Rex shouted as he watched the Titan take flight again. Nia’s healing did wonders for his mobility. He was already gliding away from the province before the young man could get in another word. Now, it was just him and the Blade.

Once more, Rex couldn’t help but stare. He hadn’t expected someone like her to appear from the crystal. He expected the Legendary Blade to be all... scary-looking, probably big and imposing. What's more, she ended up being a healer too. That was awfully convenient, not that Rex was complaining.

His staring did not go unnoticed. Nia narrowed her eyes at him. “Got somethin’ ya want to say? Out with it.” She was far more prickly than Gramps. That much was certain. But, she earned her haughtiness after saving his life.

“I’m just hopin’ we can get along. I don’t think myself much of a Driver, but I’d like to do what I can.” Rex answered with complete earnestness. There was a twinkle to his gaze as he spoke. He wasn’t the most eloquent, but he was honest to a fault. Bana was the rare exception.

“Is this about my former Drive, yeah? That Titan said somethin’ about you wantin’ to find ‘em.” Nia scratched her chin, recalling Gramps’ earlier request.

Rex did not bat an eye and nodded to her words. “Well yeah, I guess since I only found you... I didn’t think the core crystal really belonged to me. I didn’t want to discard you either or sell you to Bana, so I settled on this.” Sure, he considered most things he salvaged his goods. But a core crystal... He didn’t think it was right for him to claim it. It was a person inside, right? What if Nia’s previous owner was something like family? Even if she couldn’t remember them, she could be happier with people who cared for her. Not that to say he didn’t! He just... barely knew a thing about the Blade.

Instead of being thankful, Nia frowned at the idea. “I don’t see why you’re going through all the trouble. You did awaken me. Whether you think it or not, you’re my Driver.”

Being her Driver? Rex didn’t see himself as being the right fit. He was a salvager at this core. His livelihood was tied to what he dredged up from the bottom of the Cloud Sea. He didn’t need a Blade to accompany him, nor did he think he could give her what she wanted. She possessed her own personality and desires. There was little overlap between what she wanted and what he did to survive. “Even still, you must be curious ‘bout the person. You could be missing out on a real family.”

Nia looked skeptical, but she was attempting to understand things from his perspective. “Fine. Have it your way. Any clues on where we’ll go?”

“We’ll head to Torigoth and look around till someone recognizes you,” Rex replied a bit too optimistically. His idea was, admittedly, harebrained. He hadn’t thought this all the way through. He tended to rely on Gramps to think things through for the both of them. Without him... Nia needed to step up.

The silver-haired woman gave her Driver an incredulous look. She started to see what the Titan meant about Rex being troublesome. “You- You idiot! Ugh, I’m already feelin’ pretty knackered... Look, you’re bein’ followed by the Empire, yeah? What if, I dunno, there’s soldiers all around the blasted place?” She readily tore into him, crossing her arms and giving him a disapproving glare.

Her reaction had him visibly flinch. She had a point. A very good one at that. He scratched the back of his head, unsure of how to excuse himself. “I guess we’d need to be a bit more careful. How about... We can find some disguises and ask around. I’m sure the locals might be of help too.”

Nia remained unimpressed, but she refrained from lashing out any further. They needed to cover ground and fast. “Better. Now, get a move on. This plan of yours kinda sucks, but we can’t sit around.” ... Maybe, she had a little more bite in her. Was it wrong that Rex found her attitude almost endearing? Despite acting all grouchy, she did care a little.

“You’re right,” Rex agreed and took the lead... despite not really knowing his way around the Titan. There wasn’t much else they could do about it. They had to go somewhere. Even with Gramps diverting attention from them, there were bound to be soldiers heading in their direction. “Sooo... Nia, do you really not remember anythin’? No memories at all?”

His innocuous question earned an icy glare. She didn’t look too pleased with him. That’s to be expected. He kinda had shit luck with women. “A bit of a sore subject, huh,” he chuckled awkwardly.

“It’s how blades are, yeah? Sure, we don’t really die, but we may as well. Didn’t exactly keep a journal or anythin’ about my old life either. So, this is what you got.” Nia answered, willing to at least entertain a little conversation. It’d make the long walk a bit easier on them.

“Didn’t mean to upset you. Just, I don’t know what’s what when it comes to all this stuff. I was kinda desperate when I called on ya,” Rex wasn’t daft. He knew that he probably should’ve kept that all to himself. He just... wanted to be completely fair with her. She did heal him and Gramps instantly.

Nia’s eyes remained narrowed. She ultimately relented and let out a weary sigh. “There’s not much you really need to get. You have an aptitude for this. Actin’ like you don’t is silly. The rest comes with time I guess.”

“You think so?” He perked up at her words. “It’s just weird is all. I’ve heard bein’ a Driver is a huge deal. But now that I am one, I feel kinda undeserving. I only found you on a lucky salvage run.”

His words gave her a momentary pause. She looked like she wanted to ask him something, but she opted to keep her mouth shut. Her attention was directed toward the path ahead. They managed to uncover a dirt trail, which probably would get them to Torigoth. Maybe. Considering his luck until now, it could be the right way or lead them to certain danger. “You’re pretty powerful yourself. Can’t say how much good I can do for you. I don’t know much outside of salvagin’.”

His words earned another frown. Tough crowd. “I am gettin’ real tired of all the deprecation. You’re right. You don’t look the part of a Driver. Why exactly should that matter? We Blades don’t have to save the world or do great things. It’s all about livin’, innit? So what if I can summon a sword or make any wounds go right away? I’m doin’ it for you.”

“Are you happy being stuck with me? I mean, it’s not like I’m a bad guy. I kinda expected you to be pickier about your Driver.” He couldn’t quite wrap his head around the thought. Even if subconsciously, she let him be her Driver. But, that was while she was within her core crystal. Had he done her a disservice by summoning her?

Nia seemed to catch onto his meaning. Her frustrations became more subdued. She looked more weary than upset now. That’s a start! “As long as ya treat me right, I don’t have any complaints. From the sounds of it, you’re overthinkin’ things.”

Rex mulled over her words. Maybe, he was putting too much thought into everything. Still, he didn’t think that there was a right answer to this. He couldn’t sell her to Bana or throw her away. He had no connection to her until he fished her out of the Cloud Sea. A Blade was much different than the usual junk he collected. She was a living being. “Till we get this all sorted, I’ll be the best Driver I can be. I’ll do whatever you like.”

His offer earned a smile this time, which had him grinning right back at her. He passed the trial! He had to admit she had a cute smile. She was unlike any human lady he met before. Her beauty was almost... ethereal. That was the best way to describe it. Her clothes were ornate while her hair and eyes were somehow just as elegant. Golden eyes were something of a rarity in Alrest. Rex possessed them too, but he never knew anyone with a matching pair.

“Big talk,” Nia harped on him, “but it’s a start. You can start by tellin’ me more about yourself.” If they were going to be together for a while, they may as well get to know one another. Since she didn’t have any memories... He’d do most of the talking then.

Rex did not mind. He was sociable and got along well with others. He just had a bad habit of putting his foot in his mouth. He was bound to embarrass himself a few times before they arrived at the city proper. “What’s there to say?” He asked himself. “I’m a salvager. I’m really good at finding stuff within the Cloud Sea. I’m... Oh! I’m also from Fonsett Village. It’s out in the Leftherian Archipelago. Real beautiful place, but can’t exactly make a livin’ there. So, I left with Gramps to Argentum years back and been sendin’ some money home after every job.”

The woman looked somewhat impressed with his story. No one could chide him for caring for others. “I’m surprised. You don’t look all that old to have been livin’ without anyone else. When did ya leave the village?”

“I was about thirteen I think. Gramps promised Auntie that he’d make sure I stayed out of trouble. It’s been ‘bout five or more years. Never really felt alone when Gramps was around,” Rex confessed happily. He vividly recalled how he decided to leave and support his people. Despite being a child himself, he managed to convince Auntie. It was all thanks to Gramps. The Titan assured everyone that he’d be looked after. Even while apart, Gramps continued to keep his promise.

“What about yer parents?” Nia asked, unaware of why he omitted them. If he were only a teenager, they had to be around somewhere, right?

“Lost ‘em before I could remember,” he answered simply. He mourned them, of course. They were his parents. They just... didn’t really get to raise him through his formative years. That was largely Auntie then Gramps.

Nia frowned. Even if her question did not upset him, she probably should’ve known better. In her defense, she had only just been awakened. “Sorry. I…- Never mind. “Let’s keep movin’.” She kept quiet after that. The winding path eventually guided them from the dense foliage and to a vast plain. They could spot the sprawling city from their vantage point now. Gormott Province was downright massive. It would be a long hike before they reached civilization. No doubt their pursuers were already waiting for them. Even still, they pressed forward.

Chapter Text

Rex blinked. He blinked again. Before him now was an iron door, locked from the outside. The walls around him were made from the same material—his attention to the tray at his feet. The lukewarm morsels did not hold his interest. Instead, he looked to his newfound companion, Nia. She glowered at him.

Just how did they end up in this spot?

It was simple. They were captured almost immediately. As it turns out, Rex forgot ether nets were a thing.

The Ardainian military was more than equipped to capture a lone Driver and his Blade. Not to mention, there was also that fire lady. Lady Brighid, right? That was probably her name. It sure sounded correct. The soldier next to her said she was the strongest in the Empire. Another legendary Blade, huh? Well, bullocks.

They barely had time to explore Torigoth or ask about Nia’s former master. The Ardanians were everywhere. Gramps’s distraction didn’t mean much. Word had spread to the troops already stationed in Gormott Province. One moment, they were minding their own business, wandering the marketplace. The next, a whole platoon was upon them. They messed up. “Say, Nia. Any ideas on how we’ll escape? This can’t be it, right?”

“Shut it. Don’t want to talk right now,” the Blade growled back at him. She was none too pleased at how quickly his plan unraveled. How was he supposed to know there were so many enemies? They couldn’t all be working with Bana. He frowned, thinking that he might be in over his head. Again.

Still, Rex understood he couldn’t cry over spilled milk—no point in whinging about it. “Guess I really botched it? Sorry ‘bout that.” His apology did not sound all that earnest. He tried to keep an upbeat attitude. After all, they were trapped within a solitary cell aboard the Titan Battleship. The situation was pretty bleak. It would take nothing short of a miracle to escape. His plucky attitude was all they had.

Nia groaned at him, but she did not look all that frustrated. Hey, that’s a start! “We were unprepared. We didn’t stand a chance against ‘em. Let’s just hope they don’t go and off ya.” That seemed... probable. The Empire wasn’t that cruel, but apparently, they were colluding with that ratbag Bana. The Chairman could be ruthless. He prioritized riches above all else. Cash was king to him. It begged the question of how could a Nopon turn out like that?

“I’ll figure something out. We were locked in together. All we gotta do is overwhelm the guard and make a run for it. Then, uh... Guess we wait for Gramps.” That seemed the most sensible. Right now, they couldn’t wander around Gormott Province looking for answers. They needed to wait for things to cool down. Only... How would Gramps even find them? Shit.

His companion did not look impressed. She gave him a disapproving look. “That’ll definitely get ya killed,” she stated flatly. Their captors probably anticipated such resistance. The Empire was more than equipped to handle rogue drivers.

Rex conceded that they couldn’t force their way out. They were better off pleading their case. So, they needed to bide their time. Without much else to do in an empty cell, he opted to spark conversation. “Sooo, can you tell me a bit more ‘bout yourself?”

“What’s there to tell? I have no memories before ya awakened me.” Nia grumbled. She did not seem as eager to chat. Instead of facing him, she turned her back and stared at the blank wall. Admittedly, her pout was cute. Rex couldn’t complain about the cold shoulder he received. He kinda deserved it.

“Oh, right. My bad. Sorry. I’m not great with small talk, ‘specially with a pretty lass like yourself.” Rex was hardly a flirt, but he had an interest in the fairer sex. He rarely was around female company, aside from Melolo and Auntie Corinne. Salvagers were typically men.

Nia scowled at him. “Oi! None of that! Be serious.” She hissed, taking exception at his chatter. “Tell me ya have an actual plan or keep quiet.”

The salvager hummed, contemplating his options again. He couldn’t exactly act all nonchalant about his circumstances. Considering Nia’s consciousness and memories were tied to his existence, she relied on him. “Guess... I don’t think any real plan will do the trick. Figure I’ll, uh, talk my way out or somethin’. I’m sure someone’ll understand.”

“That’ll surely work,” she muttered sardonically. He probably should’ve done a better job explaining himself. It was tough with her. Nia was a prickly one. She was more than willing to give a guy some flack. Admittedly, he liked that. A lot.

“I know it sounds bad, but hear me out. The Empire can’t all be in Bana’s pocket. We got harassed by a bunch of ‘em earlier. A whole lot were still tailing Gramps too. And this ship here, I don’t think it was one of the ones that attacked us. Can’t we just find someone who’ll listen, yeh?” There was bound to be corruption or collaboration with Argentum. Still, not all of these soldiers were part of the conspiracy. If nothing else, Bana was a cheap bastard. He couldn’t bribe every officer, let alone the Emperor himself.

He had a point, but Nia couldn’t let herself agree. She remained skeptical. Only, her expression softened some. “Why exactly would they listen to us? We are prisoners, remember? Bloody hell, those soldiers didn’t hesitate to lock us up and throw away the key.” Her voice was more even. She didn’t outright sneer at the idea, at least. That’s progress!

It was true. They didn’t exactly receive a warm reception. Well, kinda? That Brighid lady did summon a bunch of flames… Regardless, they were quick to resort to violence. However, they did not stoop to lethal force. If it were Bana, wouldn’t he have wanted him dead by now? “Maybe I’m wrong, but they brought us aboard the ship and gave us grub.” The provisions hardly looked like food. Rex probably ate worse, but he left the morsels untouched. “Shouldn’t they be tryin’ to kill me?”

His logic gave Nia some pause. Alas, she remained obstinate. Waiting this out and pleading their case did not sound wise to her. “Someone’ll give the order to execute ya. Whoever is in charge is probably in cahoots with Bana. It’s only a matter of- Wait...” Something clicked for her. Her eyes widened as she had an epiphany. “Those soldiers answered to the lady- Brighid, yeah?”

“Yep. What’s that about, exactly? She came alone and all. They all treated her like a big deal.” Rex remembered the enemy Blade mentioning that her Driver was away on business. Even without a Driver, she gave them a real walloping before deploying the nets. When she first arrived, she didn’t immediately attack them. Instead, she deferred to the sergeant’s judgment.

Wait a sec- the soldier asked her for help. He asked. She wasn’t given any orders to go after them? So, her Driver wasn’t gunning for them, maybe? Nia and Rex quickly shared a look, both realizing the same thing. “Nia, you don’t think-”

“How the hell should I know?” She cut him off rudely. “But she or her Driver could be our best bet. We need someone who’ll stand up for us.” Otherwise, they were at the mercy of whoever Bana paid off. This would be a gamble, alright.

“I’ll do my best to make ‘em listen,” Rex replied confidently. He flashed her a grin. One that made her audibly groan. His enthusiasm worked a little. She wasn’t sulking anymore. His can-do attitude had that effect on people.

And so, they agreed to await their sentence. It took maybe an hour or more before someone came to transport them. The restraints on both the Driver and Blade kept them from using any arts. Had Rex tried to fight back, he’d only make a fool of himself. So much for that plan. Nia was right.

The ship was massive. The halls were winding, seemingly never-ending. Even aboard a vessel, it would be all too easy to get lost. Rex complied with the men. He tried to glance at Nia and gauge her thoughts, but the soldier did not like that and shoved him onward. It was a minute or two before they arrived in a more homely room, probably the captain’s quarters? Natural light poured in from a nearby window. Three figures awaited them: Brighid, a portly man dressed in flamboyant attire, and a regal-looking lady.

At a glance, Rex could tell the man looked uneasy. He was visibly sweating, his beady eyes flickered between the prisoners and the unnamed woman. Considering Brighid was here... Oh! Was she the Driver? Incredible! He wanted to speak up, but Nia gave him a look. Not quite yet. He kept his mouth shut.

“So, you’re the criminals that Brighid apprehended earlier. I must say I expected more,” the unnamed woman spoke evenly. She did not show any outward hostility. Her words and tone, however, made the rotund man nervous. “I had heard you two were ruffians, aligned with Torna no less. Or rather, that was what Consul Dughall told me.”

Dughall flinched at his name. He corrected his posture and tried to hide his nerves. He forced an uncanny smile. Rex got the impression that he was a complete knob. Of course, he didn’t say that aloud. “Your Grace, I can assure you that’s what I was told. I received correspondence of this miscreant’s wrongdoings.” He stammered, gesturing to the Driver as he spoke. “There is no doubt in the world that he was up to no good coming here to Torigoth.”

The woman looked unconvinced. “Is that so?” She muttered thoughtlessly. Her gaze went from her subordinate to Rex. “Care to explain yourself? You caused quite a stir. I had to see for myself just who caused this mess.” She almost sounded whimsical, like she didn’t seriously believe her ally, but... Rex could tell that he shouldn’t act all casual. The consul and the soldiers showed her nothing but reverence. If he offended her, then it was off with his head.

“Err, thanks, Your Graceliness,” Rex started. He briefly paused as he thought he heard his Blade facepalm. “I, uh, didn’t plan on doing anythin’ not good. I was leavin’ Argentum and got attacked along the way. I’m... Sorry ‘bout all the hassle. It wasn’t our fault.” Admittedly, he felt a bit tongue-tied. Normally, Rex was pretty frank and to the point. He used to mouth off to just about anyone. Right now, he needed to be careful, for both his sake and Nia’s.

While Rex wanted nothing more than to plead his case, Dughall spoke out of turn. “Your Grace, if you will allow me to explain, he’s caused the Empire a great deal of trouble already. His association with Torna warrants any such measures taken. It was quite fortunate that we received a tip on his location. We cannot squander this valuable opportunity. Don’t let his act deceive you.”

“Lady Mòrag,” Brighid addressed her master, “she is the Blade that I mentioned.” Their collective attention was on Nia now. Instinctually, the woman grimaced at all the stares. Rex caught himself looking her way too.

“Oi, what’s this all about?” Nia huffed, unsure of what prompted the attention. There weren't very many context clues. Brighid was quiet and unassuming. Her closed eyes made it hard to guess how she was feeling. Meanwhile, Mòrag was hardly expressive, remaining poised and principled. She could be called beautiful, but it was more fitting to think of her as imposing. She inspired either respect or fear. It was no wonder why Dughall was tripping over himself in her company.

The consul felt compelled to explain himself and refused to let Rex give his testimony. Of course, it was pretty obvious why he felt that way. What was all this about Torna anyway? Rex knew of them a bit, but he had zero connections to the group. “Yes- Yes! That Blade,” he waved emphatically in Nia’s direction, “this criminal stole her! That’s merely the tip of the iceberg! If you let your guard down, he’ll steal Lady Brighid too!”

“Dughall. Be quiet.” Mòrag did not bat an eye at his words, not even humoring his crazed accusations. “You there,” she honed in on Nia, “answer me honestly. On your Driver’s life, what do you know of this situation?” The implicit threat didn’t feel all that hostile, but it certainly wasn’t hollow. She could kill Rex handily and swiftly, restraints or not. They didn’t want to find out if she would.

Nia blinked at the question, but she did not dawdle. “Right. So, I was awoken right outside the city. When I first saw him, he had some serious injuries. From the sounds of it, he only turned to me when he was shit out of luck. Bein’ chased by your goons and all. I don’t really know why. The twit is harmless. Could barely use my Scimitar if he tried. He’s certainly never been a Driver before.” She explained, describing mostly what she saw firsthand. Her testimony should be based on her firsthand experience. Hearsay wouldn’t cut it.

Mòrag listened intently, ruminating on what she had learned before nodding. “Is there anything more you wish to add? Should your Driver be in league with Torna, execution may be warranted. For his sake and yours, answer truthfully. How did he come into possession of your core crystal?” It was hard to discern her feelings. She seemed willing to believe them, but her words did not inspire much confidence. Her posture and gaze did not give any hints either. Brighid kept an even keel, too. Only Dughall looked uncomfortable.

“He told me he found the thing. Not much more to it. He got into trouble because he didn’t think to toss me. Don’t know why, but that’s how we got here. I guess he’s just daft like that.” Nia could’ve lied, but she wasn’t about to test Mòrag. With their lives intertwined, it wasn’t worth the added risk. And besides, she could tell that their arbiter believed her words more than the Consul’s.

Dughall pounced on the opportunity to twist her words. “Don’t you see, your Grace? She hasn’t a clue about how he acquired her. He’s kept her in the dark about his nefarious deeds. I will gladly explain how he came into possession of the legendary Blade.” Rex held back a groan. He was already sick of this bloke. Nia looked to feel the same way. He was unpleasant to be around. But... That could explain why he and Bana got along well. He was the exact sort that would collude with the Chairman. As the Consul, he had access to all the ships around the Gormott Titan.

“Did I ask for your speculation?” Mòrag asked icily. Her glare had the man tense up. He tried to open his mouth, but he couldn’t will himself to utter another word. He chose to keep quiet. However, he struggled to hide his indignation toward the prisoners. “You there. Rex, right?”

“Yes, ma’am?” Rex bleated nervously. He had hoped that she’d continue to speak with Nia, but oh well. The “plan” was always for him to convince her.

“How exactly did you come upon a legendary core crystal? You can understand my skepticism. It would take significant means to get your hands on a rare core crystal, let alone one of such importance. What’s more, the Empire has been on your tail since discovering the core crystal. That seems curious to me.” She presented him with an opportunity to put his neck on the line and speak truthfully. It wasn’t just a chance to save his skin but to expose the whole operation. Dughall’s pale complexion said plenty.

Seizing on the chance, Rex found the courage to say his piece. “Here’s the thing. I did find her. I’m a salvager, y’see. Findin’ things is kinda my job. I found a whole heap o’ treasure when I was in the Cloud Sea. Don’t know how long it’d been there, but it looked pretty valuable. I was more than a little surprised to see a core crystal. And I... Uh, to be honest...” He hesitated briefly, not entirely sure if he should say this all in front of Nia. He glanced at her again. His companion couldn’t do much to reassure him, but she offered him a solemn nod. Just say it.

“I had thought of sellin’ her and gettin’ a whole lot of dough. But Gramps warned me. She’s special and all. Can’t let her fall into the wrong hands. There’s also... Well, she’s not really mine either. Sure, I found her. That’s how it’s always been with the loot I’ve come upon. Blades are different. They are people, too. It just feels wrong to pawn her off.”

Mòrag hummed at his answer. She maintained a poker face. “Go on. What happened after you chose to hold onto her?” Her tone sounded almost encouraging now, like she was fishing for an answer. Was she pleased with his honesty? He couldn’t say for sure. Nia was much the same way. She did not react strongly to his words either.

“Well, that’s when things went sideways.” Rex sighed, thinking back on how much easier it’d been if he hadn’t returned to Argentum. “Chairman Bana caught wind somehow. Next thing I know, he’s demandin’ I sell her over to him. I lied and said I lost her, but, uh... Sadly, I’m not a good liar. I’m pretty shit at it. As soon as I made a break for it, bam! All these ships attacked us, even hit ol’ Gramps. Looks like Bana was workin’ with someone in the Empire. I got really lucky and survived. It was a pretty gnarly fall; probably cracked a rib or two.”

“It was three ribs and yer arm,” Nia corrected him softly. Her words added a bit more credence to his testimony and garnered some sympathy from Mòrag and Brighid. Maybe.

That was the long and short of it. He had glossed over a few details, but he didn’t wish to ramble. “That about sums it up. I could’ve left and evaded the Empire, but I came to Gormott lookin’ for any info on her old Driver. I thought maybe I could return her or somethin’. Admittedly, I didn’t think it all the way through.” Saying it aloud, he could understand where he erred. Nia’s existence was now tied to him. By awakening her, his whole plan was turned upside down.

Dughall balked at the idea. Brighid remained taciturn. Mòrag continued to ruminate on his words. She had the final say. “That is certainly a foolish plan,” she stated sternly, “but it sounds like your heart was in the right place. I need to think about it more. One last question. Have you ever worked for or with Torna? Answer me honestly.”

“Never,” Rex answered promptly. “I haven’t even met the guys. They aren’t my kinda crowd.”

“Duly noted. You may return them to their cell,” Mòrag ordered the soldiers beside Rex and Nia. “Try not to be too rough with them.” She added as they all left.

Her words gave them a reason to feel optimistic. It seemed like Mòrag was on their side... not that they knew her identity. However, she made the Consul visibly nervous. She was definitely a big deal! Hopefully, they’d be set free soon. Their escorts did as they were asked and got them safely to confinement. The door was locked once more. They did at least have the decency to clear away the rations.

“So, you were gonna sell me, huh?” Nia asked once inside their cell. Ah. He did confess that to Mòrag and everyone. Her included.

Rex brought this on himself. He owed her some answers. “Not quite. I mean, the thought crossed my mind, but I never seriously considered it. Gramps warned me right away, but... When Bana offered over a million, I kinda thought about it a bit. Still, I stand by what I said. You’re a person, yeah? Can’t go treating ya like property. Goes against my code.” He answered truthfully. He was suspicious of Bana’s deal from the very beginning. And... He wanted to do her right.

Nia barely reacted to his explanation. “And what was that ‘bout findin’ me in the Cloud Sea?”

Ah. That too. He hadn’t wanted to admit that part to her. However, she ought to know. “Oh yeah. I found this chest full of trinkets and things. I thought you were some big gem at first. Gramps corrected me on that,” the salvager admitted awkwardly.

“If that’s the case, then why?” He flinched at the question and the emotion in her voice. When he looked at her, she was trembling. “Why did you go out of your way to look for my old Driver? Were you tryin’ to get rid of me?” Nia sounded upset. Her arms were crossed. Her ears were twisted as well. Not a good sign.

“Just because I found you doesn’t mean I can claim you. Your Driver could’ve misplaced you or-” He was cut off before he could finish his explanation.

Nia looked displeased at the idea. Her eyes narrowed on him. “Shut it. Oh, don’t play the fool with me. You know as well as I do that I wasn’t lost. I was abandoned.” She was really upset. Crap, he messed up badly.

Rex understood that. He really did. It was why he did not mention how he found her. But... He was inexperienced with Blades. Even without their memories, they had to have families out there, right? He was already attached to her. He only had her for less than a day. What if she had people looking for her? What if someone hid her for a reason? Well, what if he was wrong? What if she had been cast away? “We don’t know that. Couldn’t someone be lookin’ for ya?”

“Sure! There’s plenty of people lookin’ for me! Like that bloody bastard Bana.” She clapped back, which got Rex to shut up. “Face it, Rex. I was thrown away like a piece of rubbish. And once you found me, you got a target on yer back.”

If he had thrown her back into the clouds, he probably could’ve avoided this whole mess. Had he sold her, he could’ve made well over a million, too. Instead, he chose to run away with her. And not because he needed her, he did so because he felt it was the right thing to do. “You’re not rubbish. I’m sure someone must miss you. You’re a nice lass.”

His compliment barely registered with her. Nia glowered and clicked her tongue at him. “Why are you goin’ through all this trouble for me? I’m only a Blade. One that got tossed away before.”

Rex frowned. He did not see her as dross. Not at all! He couldn’t believe she’d be abandoned. She healed him and Gramps! Sure, she was prickly, unsociable, and loud. But she saved them. Her healing was something beyond extraordinary. Why would anyone discard her into the Cloud Sea? It made zero sense. “I’m doin’ this because I care. Plus, I can’t go and break rule three of the salvager’s code. Make a girl cry? That’s not gonna-”

Again, Nia cut him off. “Enough with the bloody rules! Rex, why are you puttin’ yer life on the line for me? You’ve got no obligation. All ya did was fish me up. And that got you thrown into prison!”

Her question gave him pause. He could reiterate the same point. Call it chauvinistic, but he did have a soft spot for ladies. Would he go this far for an innocent girl? Probably. But... Nia was more than that. She was his Blade now. Whether or not he wanted to keep her, she was his partner. “Because I made this decision when I found you. You’re my responsibility, and I won’t have it any other way. Look, I can’t give ya a good answer. Just know that I mean it.”

Nia lowered her head. She did not let him see her expression. “Then why are you trying to get rid of me? Do you want me to forget about you and go back to whoever threw me away?”

So, that was the heart of it. Truthfully, he hadn’t considered how she might feel about being returned or how she could’ve felt about her old Driver. She suggested he keep her and embrace being a Driver. All the while, he thought it selfish to hold onto her. He couldn’t be a good Driver. He was a salvager through and through. He couldn’t make the most of her gifts.

Hesitantly, Rex placed his hand on hers. He offered her a small smile, hoping to comfort her. “I didn’t think this all the way through. That’s my fault. I was tryin’ to figure out what’s best for you without thinkin’ about your opinion. That’s where I messed up. I’m sorry.”

Nia looked up, staring intently at him now. She struggled to respond, instead just clenching his hand. She didn’t know what to make of his apology. Of course, she wanted to be mad. She was a firecracker after all. But... he could see that his words got through to her. His smile grew.

“I’m out of my element here. Can’t say I’ve ever been in a situation like this. It’d probably be easier to give you up and go back to Fonsett. But I don’t like that. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. And ‘sides, things should be easier now. Can’t go back to Argentum, and maybe it's a bad idea to stay in Gormott. But we can go somewhere new once this is all sorted. I’ll have your back. I’ll think more ‘bout your feelin’s.” Rex could promise her that much. He had only known her for a short time, but they were partners. And if Mòrag puts in a good word for them, they won’t get harassed by Dughall or Bana. Things were looking up.

The Blade shared his smile. Oh, he passed the trial! Brilliant. “I’d like that. I’ll make sure you behave. I promised yer Gramps that I’d take care of you I guess.”

“That’s the spirit!” Rex beamed, almost pulling her into a hug. He had to stop himself; he couldn’t go and get too affectionate with the lady. He was a gentleman! “I’ll think on where we’ll go. It might take a bit before Mòrag or someone else gets back to us.”

Only moments later, their cell door unlocked. Well, that was fast. Rex hesitantly pushed it open and peered into the hall. Wait... Where were their escorts? He scanned their surroundings, only finding the keys to their restraints. That’s weird. No matter, he unlocked his cuffs and Nia’s. “What do you make of this?” He asked, recognizing something amiss.

Nia’s ears perked up, but she continued to glance around. She looked equally uneasy. “No sign of anyone. This isn’t right.”

“How should we proceed? Try and escape? Or find our way back to Mòrag and Brighid? We could just stay here, but...” Something was off. If they stuck around, they’d be sitting ducks. But if they tried to escape, that might cause bigger problems.

There wasn’t a correct answer. Both of them were certain of that much. Still, they had their ether and arts. They could fend off any aggressors. “Let’s look for someone first, then figure out our next step after.”

The duo wandered the massive vessel. There weren’t any soldiers around. No one came to check on them. How curious. And then, it happened. Nia thought she heard movements in another room. Only, they weren’t met with a friendly face. They bumped into one of the soldiers. Only, it was the very officer that captured them in Torigoth. His uniform was identical, at least.

Before either Rex or Nia had a chance to explain themselves, he smashed an alarm, which alerted the whole battleship to their ‘escape.’ Shit. As the siren blared, doors started to close around them. They needed to book it and fast. Rex took the lead, dragging Nia along as they went in the opposite direction of the unfriendly company.

This was a trap, alright. They were damned if they do and damned if they don’t, either wait in the cell and get attacked or try and run then be wanted fugitives. Their enemy probably wanted them to try and escape, all to prove their guilt. So now, they had no choice in the matter. They couldn’t find Mòrag as the ship went into lockdown. They barely knew their way around.

Their mad dash led to what looked to be a hangar. The big doors before them looked like a clear exit. Not much further then.

“Not so fast, my dear prisoners.” He and Nia watched as the two metal doors opened. Lo and behold, it was Dughall and... a massive Blade? “It’d be a really bad look if I let a terrorist from Torna go free. Oh, and let him make off with a legendary Blade, too! The Blade renowned for healing any injury, even staving off death itself! Only a fool would let you keep such a power! And I am no fool!”

So, he had let them escape so that he could capture them? Wait... No. He did not want to catch them again. He needed ample reason to kill Rex, and before Mòrag could interfere. That had to be it. “Shit. Looks like we’re in for a fight, eh?”

Nia frowned and summoned her Scimitar for Rex. “Aye, give it your all, and don’t hold back. He’s out to kill ya. I’ll assist the best I can.”

Truth be told, they were outmatched. The Driver had no experience with his new weapon and fighting alongside a Blade. The Consul had zero reason to let them live, either. He had prepared a stage for them too. This was going to get rough.

Attacking Dughall seemed like the best bet, but the Consul had hidden himself behind the hulking automaton. They needed to defeat the Blade if they wanted a shot at him, which kinda defeated the purpose of targeting him. Still, they needed a plan.

Not that they had much time to formulate one! The enemy Blade let loose a roar and swung his hammer at them. Rex was able to dodge, but the strike dented the metal floor beneath them and created a resounding vibration. As he and Nia evaded the assault, Dughall readied a rifle at them. The flurry of ether bullets only made it harder to avoid the giant. “Give it up, lad. Dolmes will end you in a single blow.”

Immediately, Rex was struggling to withstand the onslaught. He hadn’t the time to react as the Consul fired another volley. One of the bullets managed to penetrate and hit him right in the side. Only, Rex found no injury. It had healed almost immediately. “Don’t lose focus,” Nia hissed, “I’ll keep ya from bleedin’ out.”

Dughall kept them on their toes. Despite appearances, the Consul was a competent driver and was more than a match for Rex. His coordination with his Blade, Dolmes, proved surprisingly deadly. The bureaucrat mostly cowered behind the thing but made ample opportunity to fire after he and Nia dodged the hammer. His aim wasn’t bad either.

Rex needed to time things right to where he could lunge at Dughall while he readied or aimed his weapon. Timing was key. The problem was that he had no knack for battle. He could handle himself in a brawl, but this was something else entirely. Nia allowed him to shrug off hits. Still, he couldn’t afford to let Dolmes hit him. He had no clue if he could win in a war of attrition, either. What to do... He barely had time to think about it as he dodged again. The automaton had some real power, but it couldn’t match his speed and dexterity. It had yet to land a hit.

Rex tried to use a Hydro Blast against the giant in a vain attempt to knock the Blade back. Alas, he was struck with another bullet. Even if the damage was quickly mitigated, this was unsustainable. Eventually, Nia's ether would run dry. He’d be without healing. That was the only thing that kept him in this death battle.

And yet, Dughall didn’t look pleased. His cockiness disappeared as Rex managed to evade the hammer time and time again. Was his Blade running low on ether? No... That wasn’t it. It was something else.

Wait. Oh! Rex had an idea. Dughall could simply chip away at him or have Dolmes eventually get a lucky hit. In either scenario, the Consul needed only to wait for the inevitable. However, he seemed to grow increasingly impatient. His fusillades became more frequent and more sloppy, going from either grazing him or barely missing to being completely off the mark. Ether wasn’t the problem.

It was time. Dughall wanted to kill him quickly. Once the alarm went off, he had a brief window of opportunity to snuff the “terrorist.” If he couldn’t get the job done, then Mòrag or someone would intervene. Then, he’d have no choice but to turn him and Nia over to the Empire itself.

Sure, Rex could stall until the cavalry arrived, but... It might get pretty messy. If Mòrag came along, it was probably bad news for them too. The prisoners had escaped and were attacking the Consul. That would be a really bad look. Their best bet was to fight back and then escape through the hangar door. In that case, he needed to be aggressive while making the most of Dughall’s buffoonery.

“Say, Nia, I think I got a plan or something.” He spoke softly to her, not wanting their enemies to overhear. She was still holding on, but the prolonged fight was starting to take a toll.

“Oh yeah?” Nia asked, less than amused. “If it’s talkin’ our way out, I can guarantee that’ll fail miserably.”

Rex shook his head. Like he’d suggest that now! “Nah, he’s lookin’ to merk me. I got a better idea.”

Nia looked unimpressed, but she didn’t have any witty retorts. She understood it was do or die. She had to trust his judgment. It was not like she had any ideas herself. She was too busy feeding him ether and patching up any wounds. “Out with it.”

His smile grew. As they narrowly dodged another wild swing, he whispered it to her. “When he goes to shoot, I’ll run at him. You focus all you can on healin’ me. I’ll get right in his face. That Blade of his won’t be able to do anythin’ then.”

Before Nia had a chance to protest, he booked it to Dughall. As expected, the portly man reacted on instinct. He capitalized on the golden opportunity to pepper his opponent with bullets. Rex gritted his teeth and took the brunt of the damage. None of the shots were fatal. The man didn’t try to aim for anywhere vital. It hurt like hell, but Rex closed the gap between him and the Consul. Nia’s healing quickly offset the injuries he sustained. The drawback was that she spent much of her ether with that stunt.

However, Rex had Dughall right where he wanted him. Dolmes hesitated as both Drivers were right beside one another. If he swung at the enemy, he was bound to hit his master too. Meanwhile, Dughall could barely raise his rifle. At close range, the scimitar had the advantage. Rex swung at him immediately.

“How... did I lose to a whelp...” He uttered in horror. He watched helplessly as his opponent knocked the Ardainian steam rifle out of his hands, then readied a follow-up attack.

Without further ado, the salvager used Water Flower and delivered a decisive blow, which sent the villain to the ground. Dughall wasn’t dead or fatally wounded (even if he deserved worse), but he wouldn’t be getting up any time soon. The fool planted face-first onto the cold metal floor.

With him out of the way, they needed to run. Rex took Nia by the hand, practically dragging her to the nearest exit. Once they were off the ship, it was back to dodging the soldiers and searching for Gramps.

Only problem? They were suddenly surrounded by a ring of fire. “Care to explain yourselves now? I had expected you to be smarter about this,” Mòrag approached them with Brighid walking in lockstep. Imperial soldiers flanked her on both sides. No shot of escaping now. “You better have a reason for trying to flee and putting the Consul in such a sorry state.” She looked none too pleased as she stood across from them.

“Funny thing, we were-” Rex tried to explain, but Nia’s hand quickly slapped his mouth. He let out a muffled noise, unable to dig his own grave with her covering his trap.

“Let me do the talkin’,” Nia hissed at him. She quickly turned back to their captors. “We were set up by this bloody arse. The bastard wanted to get rid of us. So, he led us into a shoddy trap. As you can see, we beat him senseless. Not much else we could do but fight back. He did all this to get his grubby hands on me.”

Mòrag frowned, but mulled over her prisoner’s testimony. It was mostly hearsay. Dughall would probably make up something once he came to. Whose word mattered more? “So, let me get this straight; you walked right into his trap, knocked him out, then tried to run after causing a huge mess? You do realize we would’ve put out orders to detain you both, right? You’d both be classified as fugitives. It is one matter to be accused of colluding with Torna, but it is another matter to attack an Ardanian official and resist authorities.”

Rex sheepishly scratched the back of his head. When she put it like that, trying to flee for Torigoth seemed a bit short-sighted. “There’s not much else we can do. That guy is in cahoots with Bana and all. He’d set us up.”

Mòrag barely flinched at his response. “Are you suggesting that the Consul was the one colluding with Chairman Bana of the Argentum Trade Guild? On what grounds do you make this accusation?” There was iciness in her words. The soldiers and Brighid had yet to lower their guards, all prepared to rain hell on the hapless salvager.

“Well, who else could send a bunch of ships after us? Don’t suppose you were the one that sent them?” He tried to reason, not realizing the implications behind his words.

Nia gawked at Rex for saying something so... braindead. Brighid looked almost ready to barbecue him on the spot. None of the soldiers took kindly to his words either. They looked eager to make him pay for his insolence. Rather than apologize, he instead doubled down. “He was the one callin’ me a terrorist. All I did was find Nia and take her away. Don’t think I did anythin’ to the Empire, either. Barely stepped foot in Torigoth before I got arrested. Isn’t it suspicious how it all happened so fast?”

Mòrag let him finish his thought before replying. Her arms were crossed. Her eyes were closed. She carefully considered his words and the evidence presented to her. “You’re right. It is suspicious,” she conceded. “I should properly introduce myself to you. I am Mòrag Ladair, Special Inquisitor of the Empire of Mor Ardain. It is my duty to deal with threats to the Empire, both external and internal. I came to Gormott Province once I received word of a sudden incursion in the Cloud Sea. I came to investigate the cause of the incident.”

So, that was her deal! So, she came to figure out what’s what. Her target was probably Dughall! That’d explain it. “I, uh... apologize for complicatin’ things. It’s been one hell of a day. So, uh, about us-”

“I am sympathetic to your situation, but I cannot overlook your actions thus far or your testimony. You have proposed serious allegations, one that calls into question the Empire’s very security. You both will accompany me back to Mor Ardain. We will set out in three days. You may make the necessary preparations. However, should you fail to report back to me within that time, you will be labeled as a dangerous criminal and be given an appropriate bounty. Am I understood?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Rex replied with gusto.

“Good. I will not tolerate tardiness or insubordination. I am extending you this courtesy because you have been unfairly treated thus far. I understand you had your reasons for coming to Gormott Province. I will respect that much. Still, you must adhere to our laws. Am I clear?” She stated calmly, motioning for everyone to lower their weapons. The flames around them vanished into thin air.

Rex and Nia both nodded fervently, unwilling to anger the Special Inquisitor. The last thing they needed was to have her on their tail. She was far scarier than Dughall or his army.

“That’s good, really good. I don’t mean to be rude, but, uh, I was wonderin’ if I could ask you a question maybe,” the young man bleated. He was intimidated by Mòrag, but she didn’t seem unreasonable. Just very lawful. As long as he didn’t disobey, she would treat him fairly.

Sure enough, Mòrag did not look offended. “Ask away.”

He perked up at her curt response. Things were working out, after all. “I wanted to see if you knew anythin’ on Nia here. I don’t really plan on returnin’ her now, but I’d want to figure out why I found her while salvagin’.”

Nia shot a glance his way. She looked surprised but relieved by his words. After their talk earlier, Rex knew better than to let her go. Still, he wanted to get to the bottom of her origins. It was nagging at him.

“I cannot offer you much. I myself know very little on the subject, only that the Empire had investigated the matter many years before. We believe her core crystal was purchased by a noble in Gormott Province, likely the former lord of Echell. Only, he has been dead for some time.” She explained, giving Rex a significant clue. “If you are dead set on the matter, I can have Brighid lead you to his last known whereabouts. Though, we will need time to dig up the file.”

“Oh, you don’t have to go that far-” Rex tried to assure, only to get shot down promptly.

Mòrag cut him off quickly. “I insist.” Ah, right. She probably didn’t want them running away. Smart. “She will lead you both to the guest quarters. Come morning, she will take you there.”

“I appreciate all the help! Can’t say I’d have done any better on my own.”

“Don’t thank me yet,” Mòrag coolly answered. “The road ahead won’t be easy, especially since you’re at the heart of a major scandal. I’m not doing this to be magnanimous. I merely require you to tie up any loose ends. The matter of Nia’s ownership requires some deliberation too.”

“Well, alright then. Take care now,” Rex lowered his gaze. He had a feeling that the Special Inquisitor had big plans for them. So be it. He couldn’t exactly return to Argentum now. He could always return to Fonsett Village, but he’d need Gramps. Hell, he needed to figure out how to find the Titan. No matter, that was a problem for tomorrow.

He and Nia followed Brighid to the lavish chambers. They were fashioned to accommodate dignitaries. Like the office earlier, the room looked far more cozy than the rest of the ship. It’d be much easier to sleep here than in the cell. He plopped down on the nearest bed, unconcerned with what tomorrow entailed. He needed some rest after getting shot a bunch of times. His whole body ached in a way he couldn’t describe. He’d have dozed off if not for the Blade watching over him hawkishly.

“Looks like you’re stuck with me, yeah?” He smiled at her playfully, trying to break the ice between them. Their relationship seemed rather turbulent. Nia had been quiet since he and Mòrag talked things out. The Special Inquisitor gave them an idea of her forgotten past too.

Nia frowned at him like she always seemed to do. She didn’t care much for his humor. “Please tell me why you almost jeopardized things and asked about me. I am this close to smacking you silly. Thought we were putting all this business behind us.”

She made a great point. A shame she had him for a Driver. “The opportunity presented itself. Why not do a little diggin’ while we can? I’m sure you’re curious, yeah?”

“Just quit stickin’ your neck out for me. I don’t really care. I’d prefer it if you kept your head low,” Nia huffed. She wanted to pout, but she did not seem especially peeved. It was adorable how she tried to act all gruff.

“We’ve got some time, so why not? Don’t plan on givin’ you up now. You’re mine.” He felt a little more confident in asserting that. He couldn’t quite picture himself as a Driver. That couldn’t change reality. They were partners now. Wherever he went, she’d go. Vice versa. Her circumstances wouldn’t change that, either.

His words earned a bright blush and an eye roll. “I’m goin’ to get some shut-eye. Don’t disturb me.”

It was only as she lay down in the bed beside his own that it occurred to him that they’d be sleeping in the same bedroom. Rex wanted to be gentlemanly and try to be a bit more considerate of their circumstances. Alas, he was spent. It had been a long, tenuous day. He earned this.