"There's solid reasoning behind that assumption. Naturally, someone who devotes their heart entirely to a single craft would gain the most from forming a covenant through it. But that only holds so long as no thorn interferes."
"Thorn?"
"For example, say I was someone who only wanted to fight with my fists. It wouldn't help me if, deep down, I felt that this preference was something that held me back. A covenant works because the world supports the path you genuinely believe leads you forward."
"I get it. So narrowing myself down to just being a 'Swordsman,' without any personal conviction behind it, wouldn't do me any good."
"That's one way to put it."
Cosmo and Yon sat atop the frame of an enormous portal. One that stretched nearly five hundred meters across. Below them, and through its shimmering mouth, a steady stream of people crossed into Hortusole.
Joy radiated from many faces as they stepped toward a new horizon, yet despair clung to others like a lingering scar. Their current task wasn't anything worth complaining about.
It was simply overseeing the transfer while officers and management teams handled the direct procedures.
Still, the noise of the crowd was suffocating, and worse, the constant prickling sensation from the electrical field shielding the portal's entrance gnawed at their nerves.
It was designed to eradicate parasites and pests without the average human noticing more than a faint vibration. But for officers as sensitive as the two of them, it was maddening.
"What Sauer meant," Cosmo continued, "is that you haven't developed your own map yet."
"My… map?"
"Your natural parameter. Think of it as your personal martial art." Cosmo clarified. "Take me, for instance. I can manipulate all kinds of substances. But relying on versatility alone would make me a conditional fighter, someone who falls short in a straightforward battle against opponents at my level. I had to develop a specialty that integrates naturally with my abilities."
"Oh, so it's like what you do on instinct. The same way you'd throw or block a punch, but instead of just your arms or body, you're using other extensions?"
"A clever way to see it, for sure. Funny thing is, one of you already developed a map before even realizing it. Can you guess who?"
"Hmmm…" Yon tilted his head, thinking. Then it clicked. "Right. Tyson."
"Bingo."
During the final training evaluation in Hortusole, Cosmo had praised Tyson for seamlessly weaving his flames into every movement. It gave him a decisive edge in close combat.
"So that's why you were so impressed."
"Well, it is impressive. Finding the map that defines you can be just as effective as reinforcing your style with a covenant. Whether through hidden weapons, relics, or even a fusion of every martial art you've learned."
"I'm guessing that means you have your own?"
"Of course. You've seen it." Cosmo replied. "I reinforce my movements and defense with whatever resource is most available to me. In most cases, it'd be the wind. And for lethal or long‑range attacks, I rely on plasma-based attacks. It's the optimal high-damage option I can create on the fly."
"Oh, that explains all the lightning‑strikes when you fought Artoria, and that thing. Hard to ignore even from far away." Yon said. "Speaking of things that are hard to ignore…"
Both of their gazes drifted toward Rita, sitting quietly a short distance away.
"...Why is she everywhere you are lately?"
Cosmo sighed.
"I'm pretty sure she's just being a smartass."
"That… yeah, I can see that."
'...for the foreseeable future, your whereabouts, choices, and identity security shall be overseen and regulated by me.'
The first punishment Cosmo had decided on for Rita was her loss of freedom and identity beyond his control, yet it started to feel less like a punishment as she had recently and inexplicably gotten glued to his every movement. Presumably out of mischief.
When he questioned her, she simply insisted she wanted to make things easier for him.
"If she's trying to make me regret phrasing it like that…I have to admit it's working."
Yon laughed at the Captain's misfortune.
"It might just be a harmless misunderstanding, so try to hang in there. I'm rooting for ya."
"Gee, thanks. But I ruled that out the day she tried to follow me into my room. That's when I realized Rita might have a twisted sense of humor we never noticed until she got comfortable."
Cosmo frowned as Yon laughed even harder. It almost made him want to shove Yon off the frame.
"Have you figured out what to do about her arm?"
Cosmo raised an eyebrow at Yon's inquiry.
"Oh, so you knew?"
"Yeah, it was obvious. That injury didn't look normal. And you kept staring at it, so I figured it wasn't recoverable."
"Well, keep quiet about it. I had Oliver help me with a solution."
"And he agreed?" Yon asked, genuinely doubtful Oliver would help Cosmo so easily.
"Of course not. But all I had to do was rat him out to Mama Maria, and it was done. I don't play that card often, but when I do, it's guaranteed."
"Ugh…"
"Before you judge me, I'm not proud of it."
"Don't worry, I'd do the same. I'm just imagining being on the opposite end. I think I'd want you murdered too."
Cosmo's A.D.A drone floated beside his ear.
Cosmo scanned the crowd until he spotted an officer waving up at him.
Beside him stood a small group of children, clearly from different boundaries, yet oddly comfortable together. One girl held an A.D.A watch that seemed to belong to Saku, while the others leaned in.
"Patch it through," Cosmo ordered.
A whisper came first.
"One… two… three!"
Then their voices burst out.
"""Mr. Cosmo, and everybody in the Nebula. Thank you for finding us a new home!!!"""
It was sloppy, broken English.
Their timing was uneven, and even the countdown had been through a Ra'Pertian language.
It was very obvious that this was a rehearsed line they were able to recite after asking Saku to teach them how to say it.
But their Sincerity reached him all the same.
Cosmo decided how to best respond.
It was through a simple, visible gesture.
A peace sign.
Watching them celebrate their successful attempt at communication was more than worth the moment.
"Pfft!"
"Shut up, Yon."
"What? I didn't say anything!" Yon protested. "Still… a peace sign? Really?"
"It's the most universal message there is. And I'm sure they understood."
"Yeah, I bet. They're not as lucky as we are to have one of em' automatic translators, but they still get along fine. Kids always have that over adults, in my opinion."
"You might be right," Cosmo said as the children waved goodbye and were escorted back on the path towards their new colony. "They have no complexities to justify malice that could hinder their ability to enjoy life. They like what feels right, and dislike what feels wrong, until they learn otherwise."
"That natural wish to advance and learn together is very important, ain't it?" Yon added.
Cosmo smiled, nostalgia flickering in his eyes.
"That reminds me. There are friends I haven't seen in a while. I should visit them soon."
"Really? Are they otherworldly like these kids?"
"I suppose so."
"Well, color me jealous." Yon grumbled. "It's weird that this is my first time seeing actual aliens. But we're acting like it's all just normal."
"What are you talking about? Don't Argenta or Oliver count?"
"Well, I guess that's… eh?"
Yon froze, slowly turning his head as the realization hit.
"Wait, what?!"