The group arrived at Uraya's capital, Fonsa Myma, with a very... questionable encounter just before.

Nothing worth mentioning... right?

"War with Mor Ardain is looking more and more likely by the day." Dromarch said seeing the imports coming in.

"Looks like they've expanded the military program. That's a lot of warships..." Vandham said solemnly.

"These ships look different to normal ships." Poppi commented. "How so?" Corryn asked, pretty oblivious to all the warfare.

"We don't muck about with our Titans much. No need for it. Urayans like things pretty natural." Vandham answered, referring to the high-grade warship that was decked out with weaponry.

"Mor Ardain's a bit on the technological side, huh. Mòrag's ship was pure metal." Corryn thought aloud.

"Cats and dogs, those two. But I must admit, all that metals a bad taste." Nia shrugged, following after Vandham again.

"Hmm. Maybe I can exploit these two qualities..." Corryn whispered. Pyra stated at him with half-lidded eyes, sighing as she began leading him after everyone else.

•

"That's a distribution center. The government tries to ration out what little resources they have. In practice, it's just first come, first served." Vandham explained, pointing at a booth where citizens of all sorts were lined up to get their hands on whatever they needed to get by.

A little girl was about to take what was the last of the day's rations, but was shoved over by a massive man in the nations armor.

Corryn stopped her fall with his powers, and walked over with Pyra.

"Come on! I'm a solider! Been busting my gut for this country!" He told the girl, who lightly fell on her butt with a green glow. "That should be going to me— Not the likes of you!" He shouted.

"What do you think you're doing?! She's just a child?" Pyra shouted as Corryn helped the girl up.

With a flick of his wrist, the packaged food flew into Corryn's hand, and he handed it to the girl.

"First come... First served." He said with a wink, making the girl awe at his abilities.

"Huh? Who the hell are you?!" The soldier asked, leering down at Corryn, who had snatched the food back.

"Corryn. This isn't our business. Leave it." Nia said as everyone else arrived.

"It's my business when I say it is. And I didn't take kindly to what he did." Corryn said with a shrug.

"Wait... the color of that crystal! You're... oh, no!" The soldier suddenly grew fearful, and even began screaming as he ran away from the group.

"Oh... forgot about that part." Corryn said with a nervous smile.

"He's bound to bring others. We should move." Azurda suggested. "The rumors about Pyra have traveled pretty far. Even grunts have heard 'em..." Vandham added.

"Sorry. I forgot about the cloak..." Pyra said with a frown.

"Don't worry. I'm the one who started it." Corryn said with a wave.

"But... who spread rumors?" Poppi asked.

"From what I hear, it's some fancy-pants Nopon merchant." Vandham answered, making Corryn's eyes widen in shock... and anger.

"What...?" He asked, everyone hearing the aggression in his tone.

"Corryn?" Nia asked.

"...Nothing." Corryn answered, going back to his calm demeanor.

•

After meeting the girl they helped, Iona, the group discovered she held relation to Vandham, and was being raised by the man he was friends with.

"Hmm... is this some kind of theater?" Dromarch asked as they arrived at their destination.

"Yup, it's a theater, alright. The guy we're here for leads the troupe here. And right now..." Vandham walked up to a schedule beside the front entrance.

"They're in the middle of a show... Well, wanna take a quick peek?" Vandham asked.

"The Heroic Adventures of Addam.' Might be interesting." Dromarch commented, looking at Corryn.

'That name... Malos and Jin talked about him.' Corryn recalled, his memory not failing him.

"You guys wanna watch?" Corryn asked, looking back at Tora, Poppi, and Nia.

"Tora has never been to theater!" He said with a nod. "Eh, why not." Nia shrugged.

"Let's do it! Nice and quiet though. Looks like it's pretty packed today." Vandham said motioning them to follow.

Everyone but Corryn and Pyra went on ahead, and just as she was about to Corryn turned to face her.

"Previous Driver, huh?" Corryn asked.

"I told you to stop reading my mind." Pyra said with a pout and a glare, serious about the matter.

"I didn't... my intuition doesn't fail me often." Corryn said with a smirk. "You're an open book at times. You wear your heart on your sleeve... unlike me." Corryn said with a sigh.

"I... know about the life force dilemma. And how you're not taking my damage," Corryn began. "I assume you know why?" Corryn asked.

Pyra looked at him, and saw green orbs looking at her with genuine concern, and only that. He truly cared about her, and was trying his best to be there.

"I am. Hope it's good enough." Corryn said with a smirk, a step closer. Pyra rolled her eyes and pushed his face away, taking his hand and walking towards the theater entrance.

Instead of entering, she took a seat, and made him sit in front of her.

"I appreciate everything you've done for me, Corryn. I truly can't thank you enough." She started. "Don't mention it. You saved my life after all." Corryn replied.

"But... am I really there for you...?" Pyra asked.

"Ye—"

"Not... as a weapon. We fight in unison. In sync. But I feel, as if I can only be used or exploited to your advantage. I feel like I'm not doing enough as your Blade other than give you power. I don't support you..." Pyra said with a frown, resting her head on his.

"Wha... Oh. I see what you mean... Is it because I'm always the one with the plan?" Corryn asked.

"... A little. You're so smart. You took care of Ahkos in a mere moment, easily finding his weakness, within his strength! And, and that time with Mòrag, when she had her whip around your leg, you asked wrapped it around again and pressured her into disarming one of her weapons..." Pyra listed.

"You're amazing... while I just feel like... the weapon you wield." Pyra said with a frown, closing her eyes.

"I... don't know what to do..." Corryn replied.

"I don't know what I'm doing. I'm more lost than you think, Pyra..." Corryn whispered, closing his eyes as well.

"I feared for my life fighting Mòrag. I didn't think we'd make it out alive... even when she was being merciful. I'm scared to even keep going at this rate." Corryn continued.

"My hands tremble when I hold the Aegis. My mind blanks when I swing it. I lose all hope after facing an enemy. I cry inside every time I'm hit. I'm human above all else, and I can't help but fear the unknown." Corryn stated.

"I'm really, really scared to let everyone down... to not get back up again and keep trying. I roped everyone into this, and I can't get them out. I'm responsible, for everyone..." he paused.

"For you. I'm scared I won't be able to protect you all, so I take charge, and make sure I'm giving you all the confidence you need... the one I don't have." Corryn explained.

"Morale plays a key role in performance..." He finished.

"We both feel helpless... don't we?" Pyra asked.

"Yeah... I don't know what to do."

"And I don't know how to do it." Pyra responded.

"Let's... try to actually be... partners." She suggested, smiling softly at his legs, since it's all she could see.

"Partners?" Corryn asked.

"Let's be one, as two. Partners." She whispered in his ear, making him shudder again.

"...Are you asking me out? Or implying we work better as a tea—"

She leant further down, planting a kiss on his cheek, before standing up, and lifting him with her.

Giving no time for him to comprehend, she took his hand, and walked into the theater.

•

Pyra found the group standing just outside of the door to the actor's rooms, and everyone noticed Corryn in deep thought.

"There they are. Let's go. We don't have long before the next show." Vandham began, pushing the door open.

"Comin' in, old fella!" He announced, everyone entering to see a man in a robe.

The room was littered with props, costumes, and other junk, but no one but Vandham payed any mind.

"Crikey! Still collecting the junk, are ya?" He asked.

"Watch it, you bruiser. Don't make fun of an old man's hobbies!" The man said clicking his tongue, turning to the group.

"Some greeting for your old comrade?" Vandham said playfully. "Comrade?" Nia asked.

"Yeah. I was a freelancer, before I got my mercenary firm got going. Believe it or not, me and this old fella tore up a good few battlefields in our day." Vandham explained.

"We sure did. And thanks to that bleeding heart of yours, we almost never got paid!" The man spat with a bitter tone.

"Ha! Says the guy in the theater troupe! You can't be raking in much dough either." Vandham clapped back.

Both began to chuckle, knowing well it was just jokes, and smiled.

"Well, what can I do for you, friend?" The man asked.

"Cole... you're old enough know... how to cross over to the World Tree... Get to Elysium, I mean." Vandham said curiously, but with a bit of certainty.

"Elysium? But why? Why would you want to go there?" Cole asked in confusion.

Everyone pointed at Pyra, and the man slapped his forehead, frustrated he didn't seem the green glow sooner.

"That core crystal... The Aegis is back... who is your Driver?" Cole asked urgently.

Everyone pointed at Corryn, who's green colored eyes matched her clothes.

He face palmed again, before looking up in shock.

"How old are you?!" Cole shouted.

"Seventeen. Sheesh." Corryn said with his hands up defense.

"So... young... just what have you done...?" Cole paled.

"We've been over this too many times..." Corryn said crossing his arms.

"How about it, old man? Do you know the way or not?" Vandham asked, implying agreement.

Cole hummed, digging through his mind for a way across the abyss between the World Tree and the Cloud Sea, and through the serpent.

"I dare say, if you trekked all the way here to ask me, you've already tried yourselves?" He questioned.

"Yeah... but we couldn't make it." Corryn answered, not actually having been awake for the attempt though.

"No one can get to the tree while that thing's guarding the way there. It won't let anyone past, but... A long time ago, there was a man who went up the tree. Met the Architect, too." Cole began.

"I'll wager anything he's got an idea how to get there again. You should try asking him..." Cole said, but Corryn felt the unease in the man's mind.

"...I'll say, but I'd like to have a word with the Aegis." Cole requested.

Pyra looked at Corryn, and saw he didn't mind, gesturing that he was okay.

"Of course." Pyra said with a nod.

Pyra followed Cole, into a room literally next door, and Corryn closed his eyes.

Everyone felt a small, very faint pulse, but it died out quickly.

"Overprotective, much?" Nia asked with a smirk. "Shut up... I'm not listening. I'm seeing. Don't want any funny moves." Corryn whispered.

"Have some faith, will ya?" Vandham said with a smile.

"...You didn't give the best first impression." Corryn retorted.

"Fair enough." Vandham said immediately.

•

Cole was rummaging around his room for what would be of their assistance, but soon found himself in a coughing fit.

"Grandpa!" Iona cried, rushing to his side.

"Old man! You okay?" Vandham asked with worry, having heard he wasn't in the best condition.

"I'm fine... I'll be fine in a second..." He wheezed out, coughing uncontrollably.

"Nah, we'd better call it a day, old timer. I'm sorry, fella." Vandham apologized, since they weren't in any rush.

"Yeah... Okay. But come back again tomorrow, will ya?" Cole asked. "There's something I want to give you." He exclaimed.

"Of course," Vandham answered, before facing the others. "Come on. I know a place we can rest."