Beyond the Horizon
White: Precious Declaration

The tip of an ivory blade found itself embedded on the ground, supporting the weight of an exhausted Mythra, who allows herself some respite after a continuous, grueling three hours of non-stop exploration.

While she has grown to wield her power with pride and has the ability to back her, as well as the knowledge of her limits (and Architect knows her beloved husband and wives had to drill that into her; pride without measure is only recklessness after all), Mythra nonetheless remains a stubborn one, and though she relents when told so, juggling combat and exploration back and forth like she does is straining, maybe inhumanly so.

Yet she does not allow herself to surrender.

While some would often claim that their new order should be left alone, "per the Architect's will", those who stood by such words had never actually set foot in the actual settlements where the locals had to deal with the unannounced, oftentimes unassuming, most definitely unwelcome guests of New Alrest, then there were those who like her current companions, were delving deeper and deeper into the innards of the world below them, damning preconceptions.

Anyone with two fingers up front knows that the "balance" is out of control. Life cycles, ecosystems, people, animals and monsters alike are all re-adjusting at a slow and arduous pace, and even after a decade or so, coming to terms with the new status quo is never easy.

From the Cloud Sea, land rose, and with the new land came new challenges, new changes… new life.

"Lady Mythra, would you like some?" One of the explorers asks respectfully while holding out a sealed flask of blissful water. She accepts with a nod and a tired smile, and is delighted to receive hydration, taking almost half of it in one go, the explorer then gives a friendly salute and scrams to help his buddies. Mythra then approaches the group of scholars who are mumbling to themselves, scanning the scene around her to grasp the state of everyone else in her passing.

She perks an ear at the recon squad first, and allows herself some respite at hearing the initial report from the beast-type Blades of the air being clear. The message is soon relayed to the rest of the party, and soon enough Blades and Drivers alike are hurriedly scurrying around, preparing tents, rations and healing equipment for the injured.

Nothing grave, thankfully, and though Mythra refuses to accept it outwardly (and even then inwardly too), all of the people present in the exploration party would with no doubt agree that it's mainly thanks to her company that they've managed to come this deep without any casualties.

After several incidents around the caves in the new Gormotti edges, where more than a few parties of explorers were sent to the hospital covered in burns, Mythra struck a golden business opportunity. It was simple in practice; across many of the new caverns, people would often come across a never seen before black tar, and through a combination of circumstance and bad luck, explorers soon found out the hard way that it was highly flammable, and that the tar wasn't their only concern, as they would often also find that where the black tar sediments lied, usually there would also be certain gases that were equally if not more dangerous, due to their invisible and equally volatile nature.

Cue a moment of brilliance, Mythra rallied the Light blades she knew (Namely Corvin and KOS-MOS) and the best Healer Blades that were up to the task to become the perfect escort for these fellows. Their control over Light ether particles allowed them to bypass the combustion of the tar and the gases, and thanks to the hostile nature of many caverns, the process of setting power grids in them was quite slow, so it came as a win-win: explorers could dive leisurely with the safety net of having an ex-Aegis or two very powerful Blades backing them should things go sour, and Mythra herself would get a good penny out of it (Corvin was into it for the thrill. and was more than happy to come along with Mòrag being swamped with legal work; meanwhile, KOS-MOS being KOS-MOS, only needed Nia to tell her to help Mythra, and she complied with no more questions asked nor a single retort). As for the Healer blades, well, those who would tag along were more than happy to be of use. Boreas and Vess were quite willing to help out, although the former's motives for coming along were a bit… sketchy to say the least. But hey, might as well bring them. Not putting Blades as Rare as them to use would be a big missed opportunity.

Mythra focuses her attention to the scholars, who are looking quite honestly, the worst for wear, or at least do so physically, but their interest and joy is by all means infectious. They are mumbling all manner of high-speed, high-end mumbo jumbo in a language she doesn't care much about to truly follow along. They are throwing words and phrases back and forth while examining practically anything they can get their hands on, be it rocks, minerals, or in the case of some, even the very air of the place they are in.

New Alrest is both a terrifying and exciting place for everyone, and of course, the upcoming erudites (and even some of the older ones) would stop at nothing to discover the secrets of the new world, which is why they are in the innards of a fissure somewhere around the new Gormott-Temperantian border, several dozens of caves down the surface.

"…this means that our initial assumptions…"

"…high concentration of ether fibers…"

"…at least two-thousand peds down…"

"…difference in particle density compared to…"

In all honesty, all of these comments fly by Mythra's head, as she's more concerned about keeping things in check over being inept to keep up with them, with most of her mind wishing that the expedition ends as soon as possible. While she does feel a modicum of interest at the possibility of discovering more of the world around her, now more than ever with relics of a time long before even her initial awakening and possibly before even the oldest Titans being right under their noses, she's still not altruistic enough to admit that she's away from her family, Architect knows how many damn peds under the earth, to study old scraps; that is the heavy lifting left to the researchers. Knowing the end of their research is good enough for her.

After all, for the ex-Aegis of Light, this is work, first and foremost. She's not putting her Foresight to use to simply avoid unnecessary deaths in these uncharted caves or her Light Mastery to illuminate the way as they move, and not even for the end result of the exploration itself; no, Mythra's greed is directed elsewhere.

Little by little even today, her bravado grows into genuine confidence, and she can thank those waiting for her at the surface, at home, for that.

"Would you look at me now, Addam?"

The thought amuses her, leaving her with a feeling of fondness, tainted a little by sorrow, the kind that surfaces when remembering times past, of beloved people that are long gone; one that does not chain down, quite the contrary. After all, she no longer grieves, she no longer wishes for time to be still. She walks onward, with –sometimes faltering- but sincere determination.

"I must say, this was quite a slog" A familiar voice takes Mythra out of her trance; the blonde ex-Aegis scurries a few inches to a side, allowing an exasperated Nia followed by a quiet but overworked Dromarch to join her in the lantern that makes for an artificial bonfire. Nia stretches her bare shoulders upwards, earning herself a heavenly crack on her tired muscles.

"Good job today" Mythra welcomes her companions, fully meaning every ounce of appreciation. "Want a massage?"

"That'd be lovely" Nia concedes, and soon enough Mythra is behind her doing the aforementioned kneading. "It really is a miracle these guys haven't gotten 'emselves killed, sheesh. I can't believe you've had the patience to deal with all these men-children goin' off on their own at every single promise of whatever junk picks 'eir fancy!"

"You tell me" Mythra chuckles. "But you're not really cut for Merc work, Nia. This is barely nothing"

"Merc work? Is this how you call all this babysitting?" Nia retorts humorously. "Architect knows Erio's easier to handle compared to these wannabe Salvagers who can't differentiate a rock from a skull!"

"You can barely keep up with Lux, Nia" Mythra chuckles as wittily as her wife.

"Keep bullying the medic, will ya?" The fox-eared Blade jokes. Dromarch cackles under his breath too, though he quickly regains his composure, earning himself an amused look from the ladies. "I do admit this 'field work' is quite a trip. Nothin' like some idiot rushin' headfirst into danger to remind me why the pain treatment is the best treatment"

"I really appreciate your and Dromarch's presence" Mythra wraps her arms around Nia's neck, lightly kissing the back of her hair. "Having you both watching my back means I can go all out"

Nia receives the affection without protesting. Dromarch then strides wordlessly behind the two of them, and with a silent look from Mythra, Dromarch lies down, and has the two humanoid Blades take rest on his furry back, Mythra sandwiched between the two.

"How many more peds are we diving today?" Nia asks solemnly.

"According to the chief, we're stopping here for the night" Dromarch supplies helpfully.

"About darn time" Nia whimpers gracelessly. "I must admit that camping in the caves is not exactly my idea of glamour. I had enough of that for a lifetime with the Spirit Crucible Elpys"

"What, the ground's too hard on your butt?" Mythra jokes

"Admittedly so" Nia confirms, earning a chuckle from the blonde. "That, and not enough privacy. Though to be fair, this place is heaven compared to that hellhole. This place doesn't murder my ether"

"Father, I hear you" Mythra concedes tiredly. She didn't like peeping toms (nor the Spirit Crucible), and though the brave (read: stupid) souls who dared impose on her confidentiality before had been swiftly dealt with, quickly learning that hell indeed hath no fury like a woman scorned, both Mythra and Nia would readily admit they far preferred their own bed room on the surface, back home.

"It is all for a good cause" Dromarch says sagely. "Besides, we cannot deny we could do well with the financial gain"

"Architectbless Rex's little soul" Nia admits. "There really is no rest for the wicked, eh?"

"Don't let Pyra hear you"

"Or Mana, for that matter"

There is a reason Mana is known as the de-facto vice-leader of the "do something worthwhile if you have dead free time!" squad, commanded of course by High Leader Pyra, followed by Secretary Soleil (although she doesn't quite put as much zeal as the others and more often than not wonders how she even ended entangled in the business in the first place), Treasurer Erio (who keeps surprising everyone with how good she is with her numbers) and Ambassador, PR Management Director and General Affairs Counselor Clark (who for his life does not understand why he has to clean after the others' messes).

In the greater scheme of things though, the power balance tips mostly between the Eternal Pancakes Battalion led by Felicia and the Good Diet Union led by Pyra (Who doubles as part of the aforementioned squad). Erio didn't appreciate flying through all those numbers for both sides regarding cost-benefit nor take the time to put together the danged nutritional value spreadsheets, and Nia supporting Felicia only causes further chaos. Mythra and Rex for their part only tend to watch (in amusement), abiding to be impartial referees. The latest bout ended with the inevitable revelation of Nia being a double agent, a seeker of turmoil and chaos, a liar, and a Pancake robber, which broke the morale of the EPB enough for a stalemate in an otherwise brutal honeyshed, in which both sides agreed to keep Pyra's Pancakes as the defacto breakfast of weekends and maybe some weekdays at the GDU High Leader's discretion.

Many brave souls were lost in that incident (Not really of course).

(Lux often thinks for his insides that he's surrounded by idiots. Idiots he loves very much, mind you, but fools nonetheless).

The seconds become minutes spent in silent, comfortable company. Nia perks her ears to listen to the explorers scurrying around to finalize their campsite, and is thankful to know that they have decided to give them space. Sooner rather than later they'll too have to make their sleeping preparations, but until then, they can enjoy a momentary peace. Nia knows they all earned it.

"What are you thinking, Myth?" She asks eventually.

"Running some numbers" Mythra replies, trying to sound casual, but the underlying tension does not go unnoticed by the aquatic Blade.

"Still worried 'bout the future?" The Water Fox asks solemnly, her long ears drooping a bit to the sides.

Mythra's silence confirms so, as she buries herself deeper into Nia's silver hair.

"Hey, we can do it" Nia says earnestly.

"I know we can" Mythra admits with a faintly strained smile, which she is thankful Nia can't see. "But I still worry sometimes. About all of us"

"Do you think… Do you think what we're doing is enough?" The blonde continues thinly, her voice faltering.

Nia takes a moment to ponder.

"Do you remember back then? Back… when I was fidgeting with the idea of gettin' pregnant?" Nia asks solemnly.

"How could I forget?" Mythra chuckles softly.

"You almost gave us a heart attack when you exploded on us, my lady" Dromarch supplies pitifully.

"Yeah… that… wasn't my finest moment, I'll be the first one t' admit" Nia snickers. Her amber eyes are then drawn to the soft cold light produced by the ether lamp in front of them. The light is by all means artificial and produces no warmth, but its pale glow makes Nia reminisce nonetheless.

"Common sense stopped meaning much to me long ago" Nia says warmly. "You Aegises are all kinds of weird"

"I resemble that remark!" Mythra chortles, then pokes Nia's hips, making the fox-eared Blade squirm and kick air. Dromarch also snorts under his breath, but nonetheless allows the two ladies to continue their bickering. They stop soon enough, and Mythra rests her chin on Nia's shoulder, who in return rests her head at the side of Mythra's.

"But I think it's precisely because of that that I love you" Nia follows. "Without your weirdness, I would've never fit in"

Nia takes a moment to gather the rest of her thoughts before proceeding.

"Back when Pyra got pregnant… I really thought I was about to be left behind. I mean, a Blade having a kid? That was beyond everything imaginable! On top of seeing the Architect blasted World Tree first row, on top of fighting against Malos, scourge of centuries, on top of saving the world, on top of everything we did on our journey… you both just kept surprising me." Her eyes drop a bit, sad feelings kicking in. "Rex was pretty surprised too"

"Understatement of the millennium" Mythra tries to alleviate the tension.

"In a way, I've always known that there are things I will never be able to compete in with ya two" Nia continues. "Comin' back from the dead? Now that's a trip no one of us signed up for"

"Nia…"

"I seriously wanted to punch ya in the face, ya know? The both of you. Punch ya in yer pretty perfect faces for making us all, Rex more than anyone, so miserable"

"We deserved it" Mythra admits. "By all means we deserved your ire. Hell, we ourselves thought we wouldn't survive. And yet…"

Nia takes Mythra's hands under her own and squeezes them tightly.

"You didn't. You all received us with smiles" Mythra tells fondly.

"When we got together, all four of us, I didn't know what t' expect in the least" Nia continues. "For years I had been a runaway, tryin' t' escape everythin' that made me, and though I knew for certain that you wouldn't push me away, I couldn't keep my bad thoughts away at all times.

And when we realized Pyra was expecting, I feared I would be pushed away again. The prospect of a pregnant Blade was disturbing enough, but until then it hadn't even really kicked in that we were forming a family, without our planning perhaps, or just maybe, just maybe, that it was already formed, only we'd be getting' new members soon."

"Back then… Thinking that you could offer Rex something I couldn't nearly broke me. On top of everything that happened, you had the gall to show me how utterly unmatched I was. A kid, Architect! A kid between a Blade and a human!"

"We knew" Mythra admits.

"Heh. And yet, look at me now! I have a child of my own and am roaring for a second!" Nia pumps her left fist victoriously, but chuckles grimly. "Although I know it's not exactly a good proposition at the moment"

Mythra keeps quiet for a second, letting Nia's words sink in, as she takes a peek at the mismatched Core Crystal shining dimly on Nia's chest. Where there once was a blue glow tainted with red, result of her "sin", now stood a dull silver-blue crystal marked with a combination of green and red, result of a "promise".

"I don't regret it, you know?" Nia speaks, almost reading Mythra's thoughts. "Even if I had almost died, I don't regret goin' through with the reconstruction"

"Even if it could mean you may leave us sooner?" Mythra queries solemnly, refusing to let Nia see her eyes. The implications of having reconstructed Nia's Core Crystal so thoroughly were tantalizing. Hell, having done it in the first place was preposterous.

Nia takes a moment to ponder.

"Not gonna lie. I'm still getting adjusted to all this… mortality thing" Nia decides. "But… I wouldn't have it any other way. We three are all the same now. Long ago, I decided to throw in my lot with you… I decided to be in this together with you"

Nia finally turns towards Mythra, smiling a toothy grin.

"Until the end, whatever it may be" Nia motions Mythra's hands towards her Core Crystal and squeezes the blonde ex-Aegis' hand, making her squeeze it lightly. "For the gift of life you and Pyra have given me, I will be forever grateful. For Rex giving me a place to call home, I will forever be grateful, and for all of us being a family, not even the end of the world will stop me from loving you.

You saved the world, beat death, mothered children being Architect damned Blades, hell, allowed me to be able to mother children of my own, and you're worried you can't beat the economy?"

"It's not only the economy I worry about nowadays, Nia" Mythra admits. "It's just that… nowadays, I feel that I should look at everything with a new perspective"

"How come?"

"Nia. I know Pyra and I are aging" Mythra comes clean. "I know that we are not immortal anymore, and it still is something very… strange to get around to.

Neither Pyra nor I have any memories of after the time we gave Rex our Core Crystal. We only have your recollection of events, which… is not that conclusive. Sometimes I wonder… what did we think at that moment before we passed away then? How did we feel at the very moment of truth, when it was time to… go?

Sometimes I wonder why Father didn't allow us to keep our very final memories of that time. I often think that maybe he didn't want us to experience that pain again, but at the same time, I feel…. incomplete not knowing exactly what went through our heads at the time. I know for certain I didn't want to leave you, but I still feel that there's this little piece missing from me.

All this time in, and I still try to come to terms with knowing that there will be a day I won't be around any longer. I guess… I always took my immortality for granted, so being faced with the looming question now, without knowing what I would have thought at that one time…"

Mythra's words fade into silence.

"Myth, if you were to ask me… and this is just me" Nia begins slowly after some time. "I think that what you felt at that time doesn't really matter now"

"Why do you say so?" Mythra asks neutrally.

"Back then, that was a do-or-die situation" Nia elaborates. "Your hand had been forced, and you found no other way but to take… that way out, and…"

"…And?" Mythra tries to prod Nia into following, but she also found herself at a loss for words.

"If I may…" Dromarch steps in. "I believe I know what my lady is talking about, or at least a good guess"

"Dromarch?" Nia's eyes widen incredulously.

"As a Blade, even more so of the Healer designation, I'm well acquainted with the balance of life, mortal life more than any other kind. It is simply in our nature" The tiger elaborates sagely. "We Healer Blades are always dealing with the composition of the life around us, down from the basest of ether to the most complicated of organs and biological systems, and as such, pardon me for sounding presumptuous, we tend to understand the world a bit better than most, or at least, we do it from a more… encompassing view.

Life is a fickle thing. The small animals are eaten by the larger ones, rain falls to enrich the soil where crops are grown, seeds are scattered by the wind to extend life. Chains strike through the natural order to keep a cycle going, further supported by the environment, be it that you live on land, air or sea, you are part of something greater.

This applies even to us Blades, immortal as we may seem. We lose our individual selves each time we return to our cores, and are reborn each time as different individuals. Be it should we turn into Titans, even then we would eventually perish and return to the ether. We come from and return to it.

Now, you, Lady Mythra… you and Lady Pyra until that fateful day had been exempt of that cycle, not quite by choice of course, but by circumstance. If my understanding of your functions as the… Processor Units, was it? Is correct, you were designed more as… supervisors rather than actual members of the world the Architect created, if it makes any sense. Having the questions you have is expected, natural even, but I believe that, as humans say, maybe it's good to just 'take it easy', perhaps maybe for this one topic"

Mythra takes a moment to let the words sink in.

"As the years have passed… I've been having this line of thought more and more" Dromarch continues after a while, having not received response from either Mythra or Nia. "Our Creator left two gifts behind: One is New Alrest, the promised Elysium for the people… the other… is a seed for his closest children, Lady Mythra and Lady Pyra; one gift they shared with you, my Lady, now that you essentially have the same capabilities as them"

"What do you mean by that, old cat?" Nia's voice quivers.

"I do not mean a literal seed, of course" Dromarch chuckles. "But I believe that everything, including New Alrest and yourselves, is the foundation of a future. One that we will not come to see ourselves, but in the end, it is fine that way. The Architect… he seemed a very ancient, old and tired man, and his gift to us is a brave new world for your children, built upon a wish to entrust said world to a better future, built upon a wish of hope, just like Master Rex pleaded him back then.

A world that lives on with the knowledge of the past, not quite chained by it, but not discarding it into oblivion either like the Alrest of old, where the ancient wisdom was buried deep beneath the Cloud Sea and the mysteries of the world held into some bizarre relic of times long past out there far away in the outer confines of space.

My Lady, Lady Mythra. Whether you live decades or centuries from now on, knowing that you have a definitive end somewhere down the line is a joy that should be embraced with pride"

"Even if I don't know what awaits me in the future?" Mythra finds it hard to voice her thoughts, but has the fortitude to let the haunting question leave her lips.

"Precisely because you don't know what awaits in the future, Lady Mythra" Dromarch responds rhetorically. "Don't you think your load is much lighter now, knowing that you have an end somewhere down the line? One that you'll be able to decide on your terms?"

"You know what, Dromarch? You're right" Nia answers confidently. "Completely right. My answer is here with you, all of you"

Nia squeezes Mythra tightly, who sheepishly reciprocates, then gives a stressed laugh.

"Ha, look at me" Mythra wallows in mock self-pity. "More than 500 years old and I'm still acting like an angsty teenager. Father, don't let Pyra hear this"

"You don't look past 400" Nia jokes.

"Your secret is safe with me, Lady Mythra" Dromarch follows supportively. "Perhaps it's for the best to keep searching for that answer tomorrow, and if not, the day after. You have at least that much time"

The beast Blade then gives a long, hearty yawn.

"And true companions to seek that answer with"

Mythra nods to herself, a small smile curling on her lips.

"If anything, I believe you already know what fills your hearts the most these days, don't you?"

That small phrase makes the ex-Aegis self-reflect.

'What is it that makes me happiest?'

She searches deep within her, and for the life of her, she cannot help but picture that house on the edges of Fonsett, filled with people she cherishes. She identifies the warm feeling that fills her chest soon enough, and is silently thankful for being more insightful than she gives herself credit for.

Gratitude is what fills Mythra's heart the most these days.

Gratitude towards her beloved husband, still ditzy and sometimes slow on the uptake, but nonetheless a wonderful man with a heart shining brighter than any Core Crystal on the earth or any star in the nocturnal sky. Gratitude for his drive that never strays him away from his way, even when that heart of gold puts him in tight spots.

Gratitude towards her sister and fellow wife, who becomes her strength and confidant in matters where she herself falls short, never opposites, not quite parallels, sometimes rivals, but always complements. Gratitude for having come to terms of being fractured reflections of each other and still remaining by each other's side after all these years.

Gratitude towards Nia, for being the voice of reason in the maelstrom that was their polygamous marriage and all its quirks, shortcomings and oftentimes strenuous mishaps. Gratitude for holding steadfast through the selfishness all of them showed in their day to day and the struggles that come with raising a family.

Gratitude towards Azurda and his wisdom and attentive ear, for putting up with a bunch of kids that became adults before they even noticed, and surviving a world they don't know together. Gratitude for being a guiding hand and the father Rex needs, and unsurprisingly, a good father-in-law and grandfather (or would it be great grandfather?), even if his snark and grouchiness would often suggest otherwise.

Gratitude towards Dromarch, for all the burnt fur, all the desperate dives, all the bullets of sweat, all bedtime stories and countless more small things he has done for the children. Gratitude for his devotion towards the kids; that even though Nia remains first and foremost on his mind, he does not shy away from the duties he uptook for himself, as the unofficial second grandfather of their family, and also as a father-in-law to Pyra and herself like in moments like these.

Gratitude towards Mòrag and Zeke, for remaining true companions through the years, even if their personal situations made the actual meetings with them scarcer as they became swamped in work and politics for the betterment of New Alrest through the years. Gratitude for their continued support (both direct and indirect) when they faced adversities they couldn't outdo even as a family (Even if her own and Rex's personal prides got in the way a few times, with Nia also being guilty of it as well).

Gratitude even for that little lazy ball of fur Tora and Poppi, who were great playmates for the kids, although the Nopon did need a steady hand to keep him away from entangling the kids in his… personal tastes. Although Tora would forever be more engrossed in whatever latest research he sparked up along with his father compared to the outside world, that didn't stop the Nopon from dropping in unannounced every once in a while when Poppi and Lila would kick him out of the lab to get some sun and humor the kids with whatever ridiculous gadget he had at hand. Poppi herself was as much of a kid as a big sister to them too as she remained a friend to the Aegises, being one of the most beloved playmates to the kids, being as pure as ever (snark for Tora notwithstanding).

Gratitude for being blessed with wonderful children, blood tying them together or not. Gratitude for being able to experience maternity with the people she loves the most.

And gratitude for countless more reasons. For being loved, for being able to love, for being able to stand proud on her own feet, on her own terms, for being able to live as she deems fit.

And in the midst of those thoughts, one particular figure stands out in Mythra's mind.

An elderly Aunt Corrine, with that characteristic easy-going smile on her serene face.

Even though she can hardly do half the stuff she could years ago these days, she embraces each new coming day with joy. Even if her bones are old and are becoming harder to move, Mythra is fascinated at the revelation of how the old woman does not give up even at the weight of her time running out. Many kids she had raised, many kids she had seen come and go, and not once to this day had Mythra seen someone so dedicated to their family. She even felt inadequate in comparison.

Gratitude once more fills her heart, and Mythra finds herself squeezing Nia a bit tighter.

"Myth?" Nia asks at the change.

"I think… I have a lead of my own answer" She beams a radiant smile. "Not quite everything, I think, but a great place to start, one better than any I hoped"

"Is that so…?"

"Yeah" Mythra grins confidently. Nia catches that smirk, and curses at the criminal adorableness that is a glad Mythra.

"Thank you, Nia".

"Always".

"Thank you too, Dromarch".

"A pleasure to be of service".

Mythra decides she's going to have Pyra teach her the recipe of Corinne's favorite stew, even if she has to beg for it. And perhaps cook for the whole family.

(Somewhere over the surface, a red haired Blade and her husband shivered at unison, feeling an unsettling combination of warmth and danger).