Location: Planet Downstream
Lazard stood near the entrance of The Mourning.
The elderly smith remained behind the counter, examining the damaged weapon Lazard had left behind.
"You said you'd tell me tomorrow."
The Mourning nodded.
"I've had time to think."
He reached beneath the counter and pulled out an old metal case.
He placed it on the table.
Lazard looked at it.
"What is that?"
"The beginning of your sword."
The Mourning opened the case.
Inside were several small fragments of strange materials.
Lazard leaned closer.
None of them looked familiar.
"What are they?"
"Components."
The Mourning pointed toward the first fragment.
"That one can withstand extreme pressure."
Then another.
"That one can hold an edge without degrading."
He pointed toward the final piece.
"And that one..."
He paused.
"...is the difficult part."
Lazard frowned.
"Why?"
"Because you can't buy it."
The Mourning closed the case.
"It doesn't exist anywhere on Downstream."
"Where is it?"
The smith looked directly at him.
"In a dimension."
Lazard's expression hardened.
"Which one?"
"Thylaris."
Silence.
Lazard had heard of countless dimensions.
But Thylaris was unfamiliar.
"What is Thylaris?"
"A place separated from the normal routes."
The Mourning leaned against the counter.
"Different rules. Different environment. Different dangers."
"And the material?"
"You'll find it there."
Lazard crossed his arms.
"Where?"
The Mourning gave him a faint smile.
"That's the part you'll have to discover yourself."
Lazard stared at him for several seconds.
Then he nodded.
"Fine."
He turned toward the exit.
A voice came from behind him.
"You won't even make it out of there by yourself."
Lazard stopped.
Someone was sitting at a small table near the wall.
A cup of tea rested in his hand.
He calmly took another sip.
Then smiled.
Lazard slowly turned around.
His eyes widened.
The man raised his gaze.
Dark hair was pulled into a messy high topknot.
Short golden earrings hung from his ears.
White battle bandages wrapped tightly around his torso beneath an open robe.
A dark moss-green haori rested underneath a long charcoal-black trench coat.
The lower edge of the coat was heavily frayed.
Black leather bracers covered his forearms.
A large ornate katana was strapped across his back.
Another black-shrouded katana rested at his left hip.
He looked completely relaxed.
But Lazard knew that posture.
That face.
That presence.
"..."
Lazard's eyes widened further.
"Sakai?!"
The scene cut.
---
Outside The Mourning...
Lazard and Jin walked through the streets of Downstream.
For several moments, neither spoke.
Eventually Lazard broke the silence.
"Where have you been?"
Jin continued walking.
"That's a long story."
"I've got time."
Jin glanced toward him.
"You always were impatient."
Lazard almost smiled.
"You disappear for years and expect me to be patient?"
Jin chuckled quietly.
"I didn't exactly plan on disappearing."
Lazard looked at him.
"What happened?"
Jin's expression became more serious.
"I'll explain."
"But not here."
They continued walking toward the outskirts of the trade district.
The Chrono Slice Drive was waiting nearby.
Lazard looked toward it.
"You heard what The Mourning said?"
"Enough."
"Thylaris."
Jin nodded.
"I've heard of it."
"You know what's there?"
"Some of it."
Lazard stopped walking.
"Then you're coming."
Jin looked at him.
"You've already decided?"
"You just told me I wouldn't make it out alone."
Jin smiled.
"I did."
Lazard continued walking.
"Then you're coming."
Jin followed.
---
They reached the Chrono Slice Drive.
Lazard opened the door.
Jin stopped beside the vehicle and looked at it.
"Still using this thing?"
"It's reliable."
Jin raised an eyebrow.
"That's debatable."
Lazard ignored him.
They entered.
The doors closed.
The engine activated.
VMMMMMMMMMMMM.
Blue energy flowed through the machine.
Lazard sat at the controls.
Jin took the seat beside him.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Lazard looked at him.
"So..."
"Where have you actually been?"
Jin stared through the windshield.
"Everywhere."
"That's not an answer."
"I know."
Lazard sighed.
"You're still the same."
Jin smiled faintly.
"So are you."
The Chrono Slice Drive lifted from the ground.
Downstream slowly disappeared beneath them.
The vehicle entered the upper atmosphere.
Stars began filling the windshield.
Jin looked toward the endless darkness.
"Thylaris isn't connected to the normal planetary routes."
Lazard adjusted the navigation system.
"Then how do we reach it?"
"We need to leave the route network."
Lazard frowned.
"That's dangerous."
"I know."
"And you know how?"
Jin looked at him.
"I've been there before."
Lazard immediately turned toward him.
"You've been to Thylaris?"
"Once."
"When?"
"A long time ago."
Lazard waited.
Jin didn't continue.
Lazard shook his head.
"You're going to tell me everything eventually."
Jin took another sip from his tea.
"Probably."
Lazard stared at him.
"You brought tea into my vehicle?"
Jin looked at the cup.
"Yes."
"..."
Jin smiled.
"Don't worry."
"I won't spill it."
The Chrono Slice Drive accelerated.
The stars stretched across the windshield as the vehicle moved farther away from Downstream.
Lazard entered a series of coordinates into the navigation system.
The normal planetary routes began disappearing from the display.
One by one.
Until nothing remained.
Only empty space.
Jin looked at the screen.
"That's where we leave the route."
Lazard placed his hand over the controls.
"Ready?"
Jin rested his hand near the hilt of his katana.
"Always."
The Chrono Slice Drive accelerated into the darkness.
Behind them...
Downstream became nothing more than a distant point of light.
Ahead...
There was no route.
No marked destination.
Only the unknown dimension of Thylaris.
And somewhere beyond it...
The material needed to create Lazard's new sword was waiting.
To be continued.