Author's Note:

I just would like to start out by saying that I just wanted to write an edgy/depressing story and I'm having a hard time incorporating it in a way that makes sense. As I mentioned in the Author's Note in my other serious story, I am not much of a fan of stories that just shove you into an AU that completely changes everything you know.

I'm sorry if a lot of things don't make sense, but I'm obviously not a professional writer and this is just for fun. I wanted to write this story because I had this idea of "What if Rex hated Pyra?" and I wanted to write something different from all of the already present Pyra/Mytha x Rex love stories on this site. So have a story about a depressed/suicidal Rex.

If you have any questions, feel free to send me a PM or mention it in a review. Thank you!

Alrest. That is the name given to this miserable world. Why should anyone bother with trying to make something out of it? At least, that is what one boy thought.

Rex was a salvager. He never really had a place that he called home. Orphaned at a young age and gone into the salvaging business sometime later, Rex found his way to the Argentum Trade Guild. The place where he spent most of his time selling his findings and buying food and water was also the place that he resided. Everyone had believed that he lived on a Titan ship, but that was not true.

He had once mentioned that he was from Leftheria, and that had somehow gotten him summoned by the Chairman of the Trade Guild. Rex was from there, but he had run away about two years after his mother died. He didn't care where he went, he just ran away. After about another year on the run, he had learned to defend himself and manage living on his own. Rex was taken in by a group of salvagers after they found him as a stowaway on their ship. They taught him about salvaging and they raised him in their ways. Over time, Rex kept hiding on different salvager ships and the crews were usually very open. He eventually took to gambling and began to drink, despite being underage. After he stopped trying to get a free ride and went to go to the Trade Guild, his will to live only hung on by a thread.

Rex entered the room to see a large, green Nopon, who was decorated with many jewels and valuable items.

"Thank you for accepting summons!" it greeted the salvager. "I Bana, Chairman of Argentum Trade Guild."

"P-Pleased to make your acquaintance…" Rex nervously responded, analyzing his surroundings to see two other girls in the room with them.

"Me hear from Pupunin that friend is salvager of some renown. That being case, I have teensy weensy thing to ask of Rex!"

"… What is it?"

"Reward is 100,000 gold."

Rex's jaw dropped and his eyes widened.

A hundred thousand?!

"Actually, that just the advance," Bana continued. "Another 100,000 provided upon completing job."

"So… 200,000 gold in total…?"

Is this guy serious?! There's no way this is real…

"What is this job, then?" Rex asked.

"… You really have skills for this?" the chairman questioned.

The salvager shrugged, "Depends."

"Meh. Crew will explain the task. Bring them in."

One of the girls then opened the doors at the side and five figures began to emerge. Three of them looked human while the other two were some sort of beasts.

They must be Drivers, that black-haired guy and the Gormotti, and the white tiger and black… whatever must be Blades. Then that guy in the mask…

"So… There's something that we want to haul up," the masked man began, interrupting Rex's thoughts. "There were some current shifts. It showed up in an uncharted area. But it's a long way down."

"Hey, the deeper the better," the salvager chuckled slightly.

"Bana offered to assemble team of veterans for this job," Bana interjected. "But this crew very picky. They want small elite team, and only from Leftheria. That when Bana have stroke of genius! Should hire Rex!"

"Heh… Surely there was someone better than me…"

Then, the Gormotti began to laugh, "A child salvager? Jin, don't tell me we're gonna have to hire some babysitters for this outing too."

Rex looked at her and raised an eyebrow. "And? You look as much like a kid as I do, missy!"

"At least I wouldn't wet myself at the promise of a measly hundred grand!"

"What're you tryin' to say?!"

Rex began to approach her, but he backed up as soon as the white tiger stepped forward towards him.

It cleared its throat and spoke politely, "Rex, was it? I implore you to excuse my lady's discourtesy."

The Gormotti huffed, "Dromarch! What have I told you about speaking for me? Shut your-"

"Drop it Nia," the black-haired man ordered. "Though, I do see your point… In any case… It should be easy enough to make sure…"

He then lunged for Rex, weapon drawn, and began to attack him. Rex dodged quickly and ran back before turning around and bringing out a metal beam, which he used to defend himself, to block the oncoming attacks. Their weapons clashed and held on for a moment as they stared each other down. The taller man then broke their weapons' hold and made the boy stumble back.

The salvager then stood in a fighting stance and yelled, "What the hell was that?!"

"Well, well, well…" the black-haired man muttered to himself.

"Malos!" the Gormotti, 'Nia', started. "What good is it, beating up a kid?"

"You said it yourself, didn't you?" 'Malos' began. "What if the kid's not up to it?"

"I said nothing of the sort!"

"You did think it though, right? And anyway, now we know. You'll do right enough. Though you don't look like a Driver… Where'd you learn those Arts?"

"As if I'd tell you!" Rex retorted.

"Easy now… Regardless, you've got some skill, I'll give you that. Guts, too. Kid, you better work hard."

Malos then sheathed his weapon and exited the room with the masked man, 'Jin', and the odd-looking Blade following him out. Nia groaned before reluctantly exiting the room with 'Dromarch' following, bowing slightly before leaving.

"Meh-meh-meh! Friends are such rowdy bunch!" Bana stated before pulling out a large sack and set it on the table. "Here is advance. Use to buy what gear you need, then go to dock on starboard! Bana has arranged excellent vessel for you there."

Rex holstered the beam and said, "Won't need to buy anything more. This suit is all I need…"

The chairman raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your rusty suit is all need?"

He half-chuckled, "Yeah… But I'll be there for the job."

Rex then left the chairman's office.

"Gawking at a boat? What are you, twelve?" Nia asked as she and Dromarch approached Rex, who was staring at the boat they would be setting off in. "Wait, maybe you are twelve."

"Whatever…" he sneered. "It doesn't matter how old I am. Besides, we're nearly the same age… And when we cast of- Uh… Actually, just stay right there."

Nia jumped back when she realized that she was standing inside a loop in a rope tied to the ship.

"Rex, we're heading out," one of the other salvagers on the job addressed him. "There's no one seeing you off, right?"

Well, there hasn't been anyone before…

"You got night watch. Till then, rest up inside," the man continued.

"Gladly. Thanks," Rex responded before entering the ship.

The Drivers, Blades and masked man just watched the boy as he entered their ship.

Nighttime. It was Rex's turn to take the night watch on the ship as they approached their destination. He was all alone up on the high deck, then again, it felt no different from his little spot in Argentum. He did notice another black ship following them, but he didn't feel like it was important enough to report.

"Ugh, it's way too cold up here," a voice said with an accent slightly familiar to Rex.

He turned around to see the Gormotti Driver. "You-"

"I'll have you know I've got a name. It's Nia," she stated. "They've started boozin' below decks. You should join 'em."

"… Well, why aren't you there?"

She turned around. "It's not that I hate it, I just really don't need a headache right now."

"Yeah… Same…"

"So, kid…"

"Rex, if you would."

"Hmph. Okay, Rex. Why did you start salvaging in the first place?"

He looked back at her. "Why do you care?"

"Ah- Um… Well-"

Rex sighed, "Look, if you came here to idly chat, then move along. I'm no good with that stuff, nor do I honestly care."

Nia gritted her teeth. "Oh really? Then let me guess… You're salvaging just for the money! Just so you can find some relic that will make you rich beyond your wildest dreams, right? So you'll go deeper than anyone else and find bigger and rarer items!"

"Ah… Well, you're not too far off…"

They just stood in silence for a bit before the Driver broke it.

She asked, "D'you have parents?"

Rex's eye twitched for a moment. "No. Listen, I know what you're trying to do, but I already know that I am unpleasant to be around. So I think it'd be in both of our best interests if we just stopped now."

The Gormotti was taken aback by this initially. She looked at him, concerned, before she just shook her head.

"Right…" Nia almost whispered as she walked away.

Sometime later, they had arrived at their destination. Some 450 peds straight down was the target of their mission. It wasn't just the ship they were to explore, but the thing sleeping in it too.