Corryn ducked under the slash of a bayonet, slashing away the barrel of the gun, before kicking the soldier back and aiming the Aegis at him, shooting a ball of fire.

Nia flipped over a soldier herself and slashed his back, throwing Dromarch a disk so he could slash his chest, knocking him out.

Corryn leapt back from a bullet aimed at his leg, using all his might to throw Pyra the Aegis in midair.

Pyra caught it, blocking three more bullets from the last remaining three, before watching their bodies glow green.

Corryn's eyes brimmed with energy as he flung them towards Pyra, who took the opportunity to reel back the Aegis, and slash horizontally.

The crashed into the dirt road and groaned, almost defeated mentally. "How are they so strong...? Such strength from a measly two Drivers!" The captain marveled, still not giving up.

"Time to go!" Nia said pointing to the way behind them. Corryn and Pyra ran after them, and as soon as they reached the slope to get back up, a wall of blue fire erupted and stopped their escape.

"What the hell?!" Corryn said in disbelief.

The group looked back and saw a woman in a violet dress, a translucent part up her midriff and to her cleavage. She held two incredibly intimidating spiraled-rapiers, but beyond that, her legs and purple hair had the same hue of fire, flowing majestically.

"Such a commotion. Just when I thought I could enjoy a little peace and quiet." The woman said with squinted eyes.

"Lady Brighid?!" The captain said in shock.

"A Blade without her Driver, and she's doing this?! Just when my confidence was rising..." Corryn sighed, getting back into stance.

"My Driver is otherwise engaged at present. I am here alone." She answered politely, noticing that they were fighting a child.

"Lady Brighid is the 'Jewel of Mor Ardain!' The strongest Blade in the Empire! Even alone she's more than a match for you!" The captain boasted proudly.

"Lady Brighid, these miscreants are terrorists working for Torna." The captain exclaimed.

"...This, child on the right here... is a terrorist?" Brighid asked calmly.

"It's my first day on any continent after getting a Blade. I'm unregistered, and being accused of being a terrorist." Corryn said with a glare.

"Hmm... I do believe I've never seen your wanted poster." Brighid looked down in thought, and made her decision.

"Child. If you wish to leave this fight, I'll allow—..." Brighid looked at the sword he held... and then at Pyra behind him.

"I retract that statement. Men, take them in alive." Brighid said reeling both rapiers across her body.

"Roger! Men, bring the you-know-what!" The captain ordered, making the only other two soldiers nod and march away.

With swiftness, Corryn flew from his initial spot, just as Brighid did, the two clashing blades.

Corryn flipped away, blocking a stab and slash, quickly getting overwhelmed by her speed and range.

Leaning his body back just as she thrust a rapier, Corryn threw the Aegis back to Pyra as she rushed Brighid down.

Doing his best to help, Corryn grabbed the rapier above him and held it with all his might.

Brighid hummed as Pyra closed in, and Corryn restricted one of her blades.

Suddenly, the rapier Corryn held loss form and turned into a whip. She lashed it around at Pyra, making Corryn fly with it.

"Pyra, duck and toss me the Aegis!" Corryn shouted as he closed in on her.

Pyra slid and threw up the Aegis, dodging Corryn as he flew by. Corryn slammed his foot into Brighid's other rapier, and gained footing on it as well.

"Prominence Revolt!" Corryn yelled, plunging his sword down on her's, before a massive pillar of flames erupted from under her.

Corryn leapt away, but was caught in midair by the whip she still had. She slammed him down into the dirt, before slinging him towards a wall.

Pyra caught him before he could hit it and slid beside Nia and Dromarch.

"First attempt didn't go so bad..." Corryn said with a smile. "Our teamwork's getting better." Pyra agreed, both ever the optimists despite the battle ahead.

Brighid looked at the charred ground around her, impressed by the damage she took even though she resisted fire. It was commendable for such a newbie.

"At this rate, I think we have a cha—AAAAAAH!" Corryn was cut off as he was grabbed by his leg, and flung forward, losing grip of the Aegis.

Corryn was tossed into the air, and Brighid rose both whips into the air.

"Don't underestimate us!" Corryn said with glowing eyes.

Now part Blade himself, it wouldn't be so wrong of him to use Arts without the actual Blade.

Aiming his brimming green hand at Brighid, pellets of fire rained down at her before she could attack. Pushing through it, and the smoke that followed, she thrust both rapiers at him, extending farther than natural.

As the smoke blew away, Corryn spun, and Pyra was there in two, reeling the blade across her chest.

"Blazing End!" She yelled, throwing the Aegis at Brighid. Bursting into flames the sword spun and parried each lash and swing from the rapiers, the sword almost running through them and closing in on her.

Before it could connect with her, she retracted the whips and blocked with both of her rapiers, the grinding of metal creating a wheel of sparks, before the Aegis flew back to Pyra.

Corryn staggered as he landed on his feet, and Pyra landed beside him.

Unrelenting, Brighid slashed her swords again in a cross, sending a flaming blue projectile. Corryn took the Aegis, aiming it and firing a similar projectile.

The two clashed and exploded, nearly sending Pyra and Corryn flying.

"It's time we help out!" Nia shouted, leaping into the air with Dromarch.

Brighid stood unfazed, because soon after two golden nets were fired at the two, making them fly back and crash into the ground with restricted movement.

"Dromarch..." Nia whimpered in pain, feeling that she and Dromarch lost connection to the ether in the air.

"This an ether net!" The captain shouted, having sat back from the heat of battle, pun intended. He laughed and pointed at the two fallen criminals.

"Let's see you use your precious Arts when you can't draw ether from the atmosphere!" He bragged.

"Even Blades have weaknesses. This is one such weakness. Without the flow of ether, Blades are quite useless." Brighid informed.

Corryn was about to rush in again, but Nia's cry stopped him.

"Get out of here, Corryn! Save yourself!" Nia shouted.

"Why would I do that?" Corryn asked in annoyance. "You've got your own mission! You're not involved with us!" She argued.

"This is beyond that. I just don't want to leave you behind." Corryn said with gritted teeth.

"Just go! You don't have to do this." Nia continued.

"She's right. Withdrawing is our best option in this scenario!" Azurda agreed. "If they have more of those nets, it's over for us." Pyra added.

"Damnit." Corryn said with a glare.

"You won't escape." Brighid claimed, swiping her swords out and summoning a wall of fire even closer to the two.

Corryn tossed Pyra the Aegis, and threw out his hands, combatting the flames that were closing in. A green force field began to expand from Corryn as he pushed his mind to the limit condensing the ether around him, and used even more to expand it away from the two.

"Can't hold this..." Corryn said as the shield began to waver, closing back in on them.

"What element is that...? He's really using ether without a Blade?" Brighid whispered.

Suddenly, a missile flew past the flames and right under the overpass, crashing into a pipeline. The small explosion made it burst, dousing the captain and Brighid with water, and weakening her power, noted by the less vibrant flames on her body.

Pyra and Corryn were already on the move, raising the Aegis in their hands, brimming with green and red power.

"Burning Sword!" The two yelled.

The thruster of the Aegis blazed forth and shot a stream of fire hotter than they could imagine with the now misty terrain.

With direct hit, the captain was sent flying, but Brighid tanked it, holding her ground as even more steam set in.

"Let's go." Corryn said taking off the opposition direction, Pyra at his side.

The soldiers the captain sent away made their move, along side himself, and began to chase after the two, but their speed was unmatched.

"That's right, Corryn... Run, and never look back." Nia whispered, watching him sprint away.

"...To pull that off despite all this water... to use ether without his Blade... The Aegis... and a Celestite. They do exist..." Brighid mumbled.

•

Corryn made a swift right into the more mechanical port of Torigoth, Pyra having to slow down just to make the turn.

"How are you so agile?" She asked between pants.

"Uh, I wasn't before I met you. I feel so light on my feet." Corryn said backpedaling to talk to her, shocking her even more.

Pyra noticed a cart being pushed out of a shop he was running towards, and held out her hand.

"Look o—"

Corryn didn't turn around, rolling on his back and leaping into the air off his hands, and over the cart, using his power to keep Pyra in stride and carry her over it himself.

With quick thinking, he thrust his palm forward as he landed on his feet, making the boxes lightly topple over, just as the Mor Ardain soldiers were about to run by, tripping them.

Corryn gave Pyra a cheeky grin and kept running, making her shake her head and follow.

Just as the two were about to reach a dead end, since a cable car was already gone, a Nopon suddenly whispered to the two.

"Hey!" A hidden door slid open, and he peeled out from inside. "This way, friends, come this way! Tora help you escape!" Tora, the Nopon in goggles and overalls, called.

Corryn was quick to accept, rushing towards the door and grabbing Pyra's hand to guide her over.

He pushed her in and slid the door shut, leaning against it in exhaustion as the footsteps of the soldiers grew closer.

Their confused and muffled voices could barely be heard through the wooden wall, and Tora cheered.

In the dark of the corridor, Pyra's core crystal, green accents on her clothes, and Corryn's own core crystal, dimmed through his clothing, illuminated the hallway, until Tora turned on a lamp.

"Thanks for the save." Pyra said with gratitude.

"You're the one that shot the missile?" Corryn asked. "Yep! Boom Biter gave good results, no?" Tora asked.

"Sure thing. Helped us immensely. My name's Corryn." Corryn said with a wave. "I'm Pyra. It's lovely to meet you." Pyra added.

"Good to meeting," he replied with a small laugh.

•

Entering a homey, yet worn down housing space in the walls of Torigoth's pier, it was surprisingly comfy. The lack of rust, yet aged wood made it look nice.

"Woah... the Cloud Sea is so far down. I've never been this high before." Corryn said in awe.

"Nice view, eh? Tora likes to just sit and watch Cloud Sea sometimes." Tora commented.

"You have a wonderful home." Pyra complimented.

"...Anyway. Rin-Rin. Tora explain reason he helped you."

"That is so cute," Pyra said looking slyly at Corryn, who was obviously unamused.

"You see, Tora always wanted to make Driver friends. Tora think it amazing how Driver and Blade join spirits together to make big power!" Tora said with admiration.

"Tora really want to be sidekick of Rin-Rin!" He exclaimed, making him raise an eyebrow.

"You mean friends? Sure. You did save us back there." Corryn said with a smile.

"Really?! Tora can be friend of Rin-Rin?! Hooray!" Tora said with a spin, hopping up and down.

"Hey, would you happen to know where they place prisoners in this town?" Corryn asked, making Pyra and Azurda frown.

"Corryn, don't tell me you're planning on freeing them?" Pyra asked.

"That's exactly what I'm gonna do." Corryn said with a nod, shrugging his shoulders, letting her know he made up his mind.

"I thought you'd say that." Azurda sighed.

"Tora would have to ask around town for info like that. But! Before we do anything, time for food!" Tora suggested, making Corryn sigh.

"All of today's running around make Tora hungry. Need food to help Rin-Rin!" Tora urged, making Pyra and Azurda smile.

"I'm a little peckish, too." Azurda agreed.

"You can eat without me. For all I know they'll be shipped off on that huge ass shi... huge ship. They're terrorists, so of course that's where they'd be!" Corryn said with a smile.

He was about to walk back to the back door, but Pyra grabbed him by the cloak and lifted him up.

"Come on, Rin-Rin, I'm gonna cook something if that's alright with you." Pyra teased with a smirk.

"...as clever as I am, I have no rebuttal." Corryn muttered with a glare, only met with Pyra sticking out her tongue.