3rd POV:
Nox wasn't too far off with his statement. To an outsider it really did look, as if he knew things he shouldn't. How will always remain a mystery to them, but it was sort of his specialty.
A keeper of non-existent memories.
In his previous rounds where he questioned and threatened Shalua to get her to talk in order to find what could move her to his side he found out about her life story.
Their family was not rich. But they did not have any money troubles either. Or debts for that matter. She lived with her parents and with her sister Shelke and all around their lives were peaceful, more or less.
Then one day her sister Shelke disappeared. And soon afterwards her parents died to a sickness. The village enjoyed some prosperity, because a lot of people traveled through it but they didn't have proper doctors, still they still tried everything they could.
Then a few years later she met AVALANCHE by chance and they gave her the idea to use Shinra's resources for her goal. She was smart, they would pay her tuition fees and all she needed to do was , for the time being, focus on her lessons to become a Shinra scientist with the ultimate goal to become a spy for them in the end.
Of course,Shalua who already was looking for her sister under every rock, took that idea and the opportunity and decided to play and use both sides in an attempt to have even more resources that would help her look for her sister Shelke.
All in all, Nox was certain that if Shalua wasn't as smart as she was, she would have already been caught.
While it was somewhat useful, it would be hard to find Shelke with only knowing the date she disappeared.
Going back to the village was almost certainly useless. He already asked Shalua about it and she revealed that she questioned the villagers and that they saw nothing.
Essentially speaking, the show he put on there in Shaluas home? All posturing, which sometimes is important to do, but it did not change the fact that he was shit out of luck or had any indication with where to start his investigation from.
Sooo...
Well, he had a few months till Shalua graduated so he had some time to think about this matter.
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''What's up?,'' Nox responded, the moment he picked up a call from Aerith.
''Hey, could you come to the church? I want to talk with you about something. It's important,'' Aerith asked him.
Nox swung his sword and cut of the head of a Sahagin.
''I'm making my way there right now,'' Nox turned around in the sewers and began making his way out. He was almost at the entrance anyway.
''Not that urgent. If you are busy, then it can wait,'' Aerith told him, a little self-conscious.
Nox just hang up, not wanting to have this back and forth theatrics with her.
He said he was gonna be there, so he was gonna be there.
Simple.
---
''Stop pouting,'' Nox crossed his arms and ordered her after he came in.
''Of course I'm pouting. I need to express my displeasure with you. Nox, I thought you were harmed or jumped and that is why the call got cut off,'' Aerith explained to him.
Nox rolled his eyes.
''You said it's urgent and so I urgently came. There was nothing more to discuss. So?,'' Nox took a seat on the long bench and looked at her carefully.
Aerith smiled and turned around to look at her flowers, her back to him.
What a dork, she decided.
''So... you are good at using Materia. No?,'' Aerith began.
''Maybe? It is a result of years of training, but you have more potential, I'm sure,'' Nox replied back. Probably a Cetra thing, certainly she was better now then he was in the early stages of his adventures.
''Don't put yourself down. Sure, I may have more potential, but you can use Materia in pretty creative ways. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses,'' Aerith chastised him.
...Yes, he knew that. Did she thing he was putting himself down and not giving himself the credit he deserved?
''Right. But if you would please come back to the topic at hand? Why open up the subject about Materia?,'' Nox moved on from the matter earning himself a disappointed look from her.
She sighed, letting the matter drop for now. Then she began undoing her hair, removed her ribbon and pulled out a white, almost translucent Materia and let her hair fall loosely around her back.
''The reason why I wanted to talk about Materia is because of this. This is the White Materia. It does nothing, in fact, it is useless. But it is the last memento from my mother. My biological one,'' Aerith turned back around to hold the Materia out to him and was surprised by the near reverent look in his eyes.
Holy.
The Materia that was said to stop Meteor, but was never used, because the Calamity from the Sky was sealed in time by the Cetras. The Temple of Ancients talked about it.
He...only wanted to ask her what 'communing with the planet' meant and to use her as a lure for the Big Bad. This, this is almost better then he ever imagined. He almost didn't dare hope of ever finding Holy by himself.
Nox blinked.
''I doubt that. Every Materia has it's uses. Maybe this one is very hyper specific, usable only under very specific conditions?,'' Nox denied her statement.
Should he take it? No. She protected it for so long, she could protect it longer still. Besides for her it was a memento of her mother, as she stated, so he would feel like a scumbag to take it from her.
''No. It really is useless,'' she insisted and began to tie her hair again, hiding the Materia in it.
Either she was lying or she wasn't THAT good with communing with the planet, Nox determined. Either way, he wasn't going to call her out on it.
Yet.
''Alright then. Please continue,'' Nox replied.
''She gave it to me when she died. It was right here, in the Sector 5 slums, specifically the train station. It was also the moment my other mom, found me. Elmyra Gainsborough. My mother, Ifalna gave me that Materia and with her dying breath pleaded with Mom to take me away to somewhere safe.
You see... the reasons she died was because we were fugitives. Shinra used to hold us captive...,'' Aerith looked briefly at Nox who was listening attentively, reserving judgement... or pity for now. In a way she was glad for that. She didn't want to be treated like some sort of porcelain doll, just because of her past.
She still wanted to be the normal Aerith with him and not be treated differently by him.
But if she did confess, he should know what he was getting himself into.
''And we were captives, because we were both Cetras. Or as the people more commonly know us, Ancients. Shinra hoped to use us to find the Promised Land. A place where Mako is said to be abundant and infinite...,'' she trailed off not knowing what else to say, ending her story with a little uncertainty. In the end she didn't decide to tell him about Hojo and the experiments he conducted on her biological mother.
''...Nox?,'' she asked him when he closed his eyes and didn't respond for a while.
''We all suffer in our own way. Oftentimes quietly.
I hope you didn't feel obligated to tell me that and told me of your own volition. Do you feel better now? Now that you shared your burdens with someone?,'' he asked her kindly and stood up from the bench, stepping towards her a bit.
She made a mixture between a giggle and a huff.
''It certainly made me feel lighter, that's for sure,'' she turned around back to her flowers and began praying.
''Nox, I don't want to be treated differently-''
''I won't treat you differently. You're still Aerith, I just know more about you now then I did before,'' Nox assured her.
''-...Thank you. But, it also serves a different purpose to tell you about my past. I don't think it will happen, but... maybe one day Shinra will come back for me. To pick me up.
...I want to live out my life and I will cherish the memories I make and will make with all of you, but when that day comes I want you to stay put. I don't want you all to die. I don't think I could have that on my consciousness,'' Aerith pleaded with him.
''...So you are abandoning m- us?,'' Nox asked her, now that he knew her thoughts. The sound of water began rushing through his ears and his mouth felt strangely parched. His chest felt hollow.
She caught his slip up.
''You will just lay down and let them walk all over you? Then why even bother to accompany me into the sewers to get stronger, if you always planned on giving yourself up?,'' Nox accused calmly, hollowly.
''That's not the case at all! Of course I want to fight to avoid that fate, but I know Shinra. They won't shy away from any means to get me under their thumb, to get me compliant. Maybe they will even threaten you all. ...Like I said, I don't want your deaths on my consciousness, I don't think I could ever forgive myself in this case.
In that case, please forget me and move on. Just... until then, let us make as many happy memories as we can. Alright?,'' Aerith elaborated quickly.
Oh. Nox calmed himself down, clarity returning. So, she wasn't just giving up, but was just being a self sacrificing idiot with too big a heart for those she loved. Still bad, but at least not the same as just giving up.
''No, I don't think I will,'' Nox shot her down.
''Nox!,'' Aerith exclaimed.
''And how is that fair to us? Are we not your friends? Sure, you only befriended Tifa recently and with the others you only exchanged a few talks, but I know you. You will turn them into your friends easily,'' she certainly wormed her way stubbornly in his circle,'' You just need some time.
What sort of friends would we be if we just up and left you? How is your demand fair to us, when you basically request that we treat our memories and our connection as if it holds no value at all?
Besides, even if the others comply with your request, I won't. We already talked about this. Remember? I said I will come for you, if you are in need.''
''I thought you said you are not a hero?,'' she teased him. That was the whole reason she assumed it was a nice gesture, instead of a genuine promise. In a way she even hoped that it was just that, a nice gesture and nothing more.
''I'm not and I stand by that. Besides, I always felt icky about people calling themselves heroes,'' Nox shuddered a little,'' It is a title that can only be granted to one by others.
And even then, it depends on what definition of hero you follow. Nowadays, people describe a hero as someone who saves lives and is honorable or at the very least likable and trustworthy.
But that was not always the case. In ancient (*he almost said greece but corrected himself*) times 'hero' was a title granted onto adventurers who set forth and conquered impossible odds, who showed bravery and wits. Saving others was a nice touch, but not necessarily a prerequisite. Remember Perseus? He was such a hero.
If I save people then so be it. But it is always done as a side effect or a second thought. I left my village when I was 11 and have been fighting monsters ever since. I traveled all over the place and survived in terrain most other children would have perished. I'm no stranger to taking on impossible odds or adversaries and coming out on top.
And I always cared about the people closest to me. You have wormed your way into my inner circle. (*He narrowed his eyes as he turned a little to look her in the eye*)
I will come for you, Aerith. Nothing you say will dissuade me,'' Nox promised her with conviction. Unless she gave up completely, then he would consider that act an act of abandonment, but better not give her ideas.
Aerith stared at him with her mouth slightly open and her face reddening. She turned around and moved a hair behind her ear to hide her giddiness.
''Alright! Then I will hold you to that promise,'' Aerith declared.
Nox nodded.
''Since we're already revealing things about ourselves, come with me to the sewers. I want some privacy for our conversation,'' Nox requested.
''You're not obligated to share with me your own secrets,'' Aerith assured him thinking he was operating under the rule 'show me yours if I show you mine'.
''I know. I want to. Come,'' Nox gestured with his head.
Aerith quickly caught up to him when he began walking out of the church.
---
''To be fair, it is not like I had a terrible past. Nothing of the sort, but I was always, myself, different from others,'' Nox began, leaning against a wall. They were in a long corridor and speaking quietly to not be overheard.
''Were you also ostracized by the other children?,'' Aerith asked him, remembering what he said. They all suffer in their own way, quietly.
''No. I was always smart enough to know what to reveal and what not to. But, yes, I was ostracized more or less anyway. Not by everyone to be fair. But my appearance was very different from my parents and it adultery was frowned upon in my village and some believed in that more than others... That is unimportant anyway.
I'm talking about this,'' Nox decided to just show her and created a flower of Mako with his Mako Strands in his hand. Then it turned into a small dragon and then into a sword before finally back into a flower. He had gotten better and so decided to give it to Aerith and break of contact with the Mako. No longer would simple objects crumble unless he recalled it, but more complex structures would last a few minutes outside of his contact.
''That...,'' Aerith took the flower feeling light weighted.
This... this is what the planet talked about. Clearly. Of course.
Should she...should she tell him?
''I don't know why or how, but I could always use these Mako Strands to achieve various things. They saved my ass quite a few times in my adventures,'' Nox reminisced.
''Nox, you can't tell anyone. Especially not Shinra,'' Aerith told him, almost desperately.
''Wha-? Of course I know that, you don't need to tell me,'' Nox assured her.
''Good. Good,'' Aerith sighed in relief and then returned her attention to the flower. She gently caressed it and frowned when it began dissolving in particles and began returning to Nox.
''Yeah, sorry. More complex structures disappear after a while, it used to be the same with simple objects too, but now they can stay almost indefinitely away from me without any contact till I recall them,'' Nox shrugged. As far as he was concerned, if her kept training at it, sooner or later he will overcome that hurdle too.
''I see,'' Aerith commented trying to sound unsure, but understanding.
If... he just thought they were Mako Strands and didn't realize the greater implications then the planet probably didn't talk to him.
She doubted the planet was vindictive or something, so it must be Nox who was at fault. He did push her away a lot and did the same with the others too and until he let people in and lowered his walls he won't hear the planet's voice. There was no point in telling him her conclusion or else him letting the voices in would be forced and she knew it needed to occur naturally.
'Is that why you wanted me to interact with him?,' Aerith asked, not really expecting an answer.
'Yes...ally,' came the reply.
Aerith swallowed. Be that as it may, it was she who decided what kind of relationship she wanted with him and if he would...
Actually now that she thought about it, perhaps that was another reason not to tell him. Yet. Or else he thought she just wanted to get together with him because he was like her.
'Unless, you want me to tell him?,' Aerith asked the planet. Maybe it had a plan and wanted it to have her act it out. It would complicate things, but she knew there was... something coming in the future. A threat.
'No...Not yet...one day. Besides you two have ...different strengths,' came the voices reply.
In that case, Aerith felt comfortable proceeding with her initial plan.
''Forget that. I doubt that ability is as cool as yours. I mean... can I ask some questions? Not much is known about Cetras and I have to admit I'm curious about some of the things you were said to be able to do,'' Nox diverted her attention back to himself.
''Sure. But I want to be able to ask questions too,'' Aerith told him.
''Deal,'' Nox easily agreed.
''Then I will start. Ladies first,'' she declared,''How do you use the Mako Strands? Mostly, I mean.''
''Internally more then anything. I... enhance what I already have on top of the Mako residue that I absorb from slaying monsters enhancing me in any way. Sure I can make objects outside my body, but ultimately it doesn't really benefit me in any way. It mostly has utility purposes outside my body.
What does 'communing with the planet' mean? Is it like talking with people normally or is it like some sort of ethereal voice layered atop of each other or something?,'' Nox replied and then asked his own question.
Aerith put her finger on her lips and looked thoughtful.
''Well... it depends. I used to only hear voices clearly that were really close to me or wanted really strongly to communicate with me. For example, I told Mom that Clay, her husband, died as he wanted her to know that so she could find closure long before Shinra sent a letter informing her of his death.
But usually I have to coax the voices to talk with me. I also have gotten better at hearing the voices since I started frequenting the sewers and have gotten stronger.
Most just like to rest in peace. There are however voices that are more dominant then others. Like the Planets voice itself, not to be mistaken with other peoples voices. But, either way, yes, no matter to whom I talk the voices are more or less layered. The Planets voice being the most layered.
Do you draw the Mako from the Planet? Can you control the Mako of the planet I mean?,'' Aerith asked him.
Nox huffed amused.
''No, absolutely not. I already tried that and I can't grow my Mako pool by taking more from the planet. I also don't know what to think about taking dead people's souls and making them fight past death. It... just grows over time, I guess.
...Does the Planet tell you about your Cetra culture? Like, an entire civilization gone, surely there must have been different aspects of it to them. Were there warriors or where they all nomads or ...(*he couldn't call them hippies*) nature oriented?,'' Nox asked her. The Temple of Ancients wasn't that clear about that.
''I don't know, since I didn't ask. My mother always said that Cetras were peaceful, but then died out because they fought the Calamity from the Sky. So I guess, they could have been warriors too,'' Aerith replied.
''You don't want to know?,'' Nox asked her.
''No,'' Aerith replied. She already had to deal with being the last Cetra, she didn't want to have the burden of bringing her culture back on top of it. And the Planet was always kind enough not to tell her.
''Hmm. I don't know what else to ask you about your powers,'' she told him after a while.
''That is fine. I can reserve my questions for later, when you have more questions. It is only fair to you,'' Nox agreed reluctantly.
''Oh wait, I know! Mako isn't just energy, as you probably know, it is also the people's souls. So, have you ever heard or had a feeling about something that you felt wasn't quite your own?,'' Aerith asked him.
''I...well. Once. I admit that was weird, but I never narrowed down the source of where that feeling came from. I admit I ignored it and almost paid a price for that, but I survived. Can the Planet talk to people who are not Cetra?,'' Nox asked her curious.
'Wrong...never was urgent enough...to force connection,' the Planet told her, sounding confused.
''Under very special circumstances, yes. But the Planet is unclear about what those circumstances are. I guess she just picks and chooses as she wants,'' Aerith replied.
Nox hummed, clueless about her conclusions.
''Say... you care about the Planet surviving? I mean... Shinra essentially powers light bulbs with dead people and that can't be good as all the evidence shows, so...?,'' Nox let the sentence hang.
''Oh, are you talking about you taking over Sector 4 and 8? I find it sad what Shinra does and even sadder that people don't care about the harm they are doing, but I don't know what to do about it. Do you have an idea? Is that why you took control over Sector 4 and 8?,'' Aerith asked him.
''How do you- Nevermind. Cetra and talking with the Planet,'' Nox muttered after getting over his surprise.
''Bingo!,'' she cheerfully replied,'' So? What's the plan? I want in on it.''
Well, at least she didn't seem to mind all the people he killed...or at least she chose not to address it, Not observed.
''I seek to create a new Reactor. One that is heaps superior to a Mako Reactor. But for that I need a scientist and while I know a bargaining chip that is a way to get her on my side, I don't know where to acquire that bargaining chip. So... could you...ask the planet and do your Cetra thing?,'' Nox explained the situation to her.
''Sure... Zero. Leave it to me,'' Aerith saluted him playfully,'' But what exactly do you want me to ask the Planet?''
Just how much did the Planet tell her? Nox was envious of the power a Cetra had or could have. All those people, all those voices, ready to contribute their intellectual might to a cause...
He was a little envious.
''Where can I find Shelke Rui? Shalua Rui's sister,'' Nox asked her.
Aerith nodded and put her hands in a prayer.
''What kind of reactor will it be?,'' she asked him.
''Don't you need to focus?,'' Nox asked instead.
''I'm the expert here. Let me do my thing. So? My answer, if you would,'' Aerith reminded him.
''A Fusion Reactor. It is the principle by which the sun operates. The biggest problem is creating a big enough source of energy that will trigger the exothermic reaction safely. Because as things stand, we'd need to constantly supply the sun energy to upkeep the reaction and we would waste more energy then we create,'' Nox explained to her.
''The power of the sun... in the palm of our hands. You dream big,'' Aerith commented.
''If humanity wishes not only to survive, but thrive, we can't think small. As things stand currently, it is not sustainable. Sooner or later it will lead to a civilizational collapse,'' Nox reasoned.
''That is true, I suppose. Can I help?,'' she asked him.
''Of course. I would be honored to have you on my side,'' Nox easily agreed.
''But no more indiscriminately killing people. I understand that sometimes there is no other way... but... you simply killed too many,'' Aerith chastised him.
''They were all adults. People can't go through life thinking their actions won't have consequences. And they were just unlucky enough to stumble in my way. I won't make any promises I may not be able to keep,'' Nox denied her.
''Yeah, I guessed, but it was worth a try. I guess I will just have to be the voice of reason and hope to try and convince people of a better alternative. Oh! Should I also dress up like you do. I admit the Planet did describe it, but she probably didn't do it justice,'' Aerith remakred.
''I'm surprised you are so noisy about my matters,'' Nox grumbled.
''Well, It's not like I asked about you specifically. I asked 'who was it that killed all those people?' and she replied 'Oh, it was Nox' and then I couldn't stop myself from asking more questions. Sue me for my curiosity,'' Aerith defended herself.
''There is nothing wrong with being curious... I just need to wrap my head around that you know FAR more then you let on. As for dressing yourself up, no, you shouldn't do that. I only use that disguise a few times anyway. It wouldn't make sense for you to dress up to, especially because then we narrow down the search criterias for the Turks. Sooner or later I will be seen and they will have my height and my gender, maybe my boot size as well, though I do wear one a size too large. And if they know I'm accompanied by someone with your size and your gender and your shoe size it will just narrow the search down,'' Nox explained.
She pouted.
''Fine, spoilsport. I just wanted to play at being a spy too,'' she grumbled.
''It is not a game,'' Nox reminded her.
''I know. Doesn't mean I can't take fun from it anyway,'' Aerith replied. Nox threw his hands up in exasperation.
''Aaaaand, Bingo! I found a trail,'' Aerith told him.
''A trail? Not an answer?,'' Nox asked her.
''Well, no. Just because I can talk to the Planet doesn't make me omnipotent. And then, like I said, some people are more eager to talk to me...while others are not. In this case I tried talking to the parents, but they were stubbornly silent. Then I asked the Planet, but I don't always hear her and sometimes she has her own plans. In this case, I did hear her and she thinks you should follow the trail yourself,'' Aerith told him.
''...Alright, then give me that intel,'' Nox requested.
''Not so fast. Sure, we may be partners in crime now, but I demand payment. Payment!,'' Aerith playfully pointed her finger at him.
''Uh...Ok? But you are one greedy girl. Shouldn't you consider the planet surviving as payment enough?,'' Nox asked her confused.
''I AM a greedy girl,'' she told him. Greedy for life experiences, that is.
''Alright, I guess. There is nothing wrong with being greedy so long as it is not in excess. What do you want?,'' Nox asked her and crossed his arms.
Aerith put her finger on her lips and began humming.
''How about... a favor. One that I can cash in, in any way that I want,'' Aerith finally decided.
''...Within reason,'' Nox acquiesced.
''Of course. You have every right to refuse, but then I will cash in the favor in another way. Deal?,'' she held out her hand like a businesswoman.
''Deal,'' he shook her hand.
(A.N.: 4660 words. . Only a few more chapters and then we will arrive at the start of the canon story. Hope you enjoyed reading that. Cheers and stay safe out there.)