“You really did read a lot of books in that library, huh?” The mage asks.

“I didn't have much else to do. I was a rather quiet child who minded his own business.” The noble pauses to reflect on his current situation. “Though, obviously, I grew up to develop the initiative to at least come here.”

“Are you really out here just to prove to your father that you have ambition?” Zyra, puzzled at her companion's motivations, steers the conversation to a more personal direction. “Would that really work?”

“What greater ambition is there than to save the world?” Erik answers with a question of his own.

“Ruling it?” The mage gives a half-serious reply.

“Well, I'm not much of a ruler.” The archer dismisses the idea with a shake of his head. “I have no interest in commanding people or being depended on by more than those who are close to me. But then again, my father probably noticed that and thought it was why I lacked ambition to begin with.”

Zyra's eyes become contemplative. “You don't worry that your reasons aren't enough to justify the risk you're putting yourself in?”

“Not at all.” Erik gives an immediate answer. “The greatest thing a person can accomplish is a reason to be remembered with fondness after they're gone. If I were to stay at home, I'd only have my archery trophies to boost the status of my name, but that's not something you would read about in books.”

“So it's for the glory, then?” Puzzled, the pyromancer seeks clarification.

Erik, unsure of how to explain, lets out a small sigh. “Somewhat. I just want to prove that I'm my own person, not just another spoiled brat with the 'Rocheford' name stamped on his head. Think of it like this: my name is Erik Rocheford. If my father had given me opportunities to expand our financial wealth, then it would add value to the 'Rocheford' part of my name. But that's not what I want. I want 'Erik Rocheford' to have value, as a whole.”

Zyra's squinted eyes show a subtle grasp on his thought process. “I think I follow your train of the thought. It seems a little abstract, though.”

“It's fine.” The noble replies with a self-deprecating smile. “It's really difficult to put such nebulous feelings into words. I guess the most simplified way I can put it is: I'd rather have an accomplishment associated with my name, specifically, than just sit in my family's estate, complacent with the silver spoon settled in my mouth.”

“Ah, okay.” The young mage nods, finally beginning to apprehend her comrade's motivations. “You want to work for something and be known for it instead of lazing about, letting people think you're just leeching off your family's old money?”

Erik smiles and huffs a sharp breath through his nose. “More or less. It probably sounds vapid and selfish, but it's my reason for being here.”

“I don't think it's selfish.” Zyra offers reassurance. “As you said, you're saving the world. Even if it were just for popularity or glory, you're still doing more than the people who are sitting around and waiting for others to take on the responsibility.” She releases a small sigh as she faces forward again with a somber expression. “Like the mages. It really hurts to know that my peers and teachers are avoiding giving any sort of assistance because they feel slighted by their arcane crystals being used for the cause.”

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“Is that your reason for continuing north with us?”

The pyromancer nods. “One of the reasons. I'd also feel really guilty if I abandoned you all just when things get tough. I feel a sense of closeness with everyone.” She unwittingly turns her head to stare at Atticus's back. Erik notices.

“You do seem more comfortable around everyone than you were on the first day.” The archer remarks. “You seemed especially eager to get to know our knight over there.”

Embarrassed, Zyra tucks her chin in and looks down reflexively. “I was only interested in him at first because he's from Threcia and I was hoping he'd help me with my casting.”

“But then?” The noble continues to tease her, pushing for further explanation.

She continues with clear hesitance in her voice. “I felt like we were becoming close, and then...” She pictures her last few personal encounters with the knight, particularly their time together at Rosemont and then Terrance. She becomes flustered. “I'm just happy to feel like I belong with everyone, that's all.”

Erik laughs again. “Fair enough.” He pauses to straighten his face and change the subject. “By the way, do your parents know you're out here?”

“Of course not.” Zyra answers quickly. “They'd go berserk if I told them, and in ways I can't even predict. I wouldn't put it past them to sign up for Mistwalker duty just to find me and drag me back out.”

“Does anyone know you're out here at all?”

“Some friends from the university. I've told them to tell my parents if I'm not back in six weeks. How about you? Did you tell any of your family?”

“Yes. All of them – my parents and brother.” Erik's expression turns somber. “My brother was the only one who put any effort into trying to convince me not to go.”

“Seriously?” The pyromancer's face twists in confusion and a touch of disgust. “Your parents didn't try to stop you?”

“It's not that they don't care.” The noble shakes his head slightly. “I saw the conflict on their faces. They weren't sure how to respond. I think that was the moment they realized I'm an adult who can make such a decision on my own.”

“What did your brother say?”

Erik lets out sigh. “He tried to offer me some of the family assets that our father promised him. I told him it wasn't really about inheritance. I came to the realization that I didn't like the idea of getting everything I own through the established wealth of my family. I want to work for something. Until now, my archery and my reading were the only things I really did for myself.” Another self-deprecating smile crosses his face. “I'm sure this probably sounds petty. The problems of a noble always seem so trivial in comparison to others.”

Zyra twists her mouth in deep consideration of her teammate's issues. “I'll admit, having everything given to you seems like a good problem to have.” She gives her honest reply. “I'm almost the exact the opposite. I had to help out a lot with my father's textiles shop. Until recently, we made okay money, but things slowed down quite a bit. So, to be honest, it's a bit hard for me to feel empathy for your situation.” She notices Erik's self-reflective expression and changes her tone to be more encouraging. “But like I said, you're using that as a reason to help people, and that's a good thing. It's also good that you're taking the steps towards getting something for yourself instead of waiting around for it to be given to you. I can respect that.”

“Thank you.” Erik flashes a grateful smile. “I appreciate your honesty, and your support.”

The young mage smiles back. “You're welcome.”

She begins to silenty ponder the trials and tribulations that nobles might encounter that are different from the world of the commonfolk. She didn't live luxuriously like her archer comrade does, but she wasn't nearly as impoverished as some others, either. After talking with Erik, the pyromancer has begun to understand that sometimes people from wealthy families don't always live complacently in gross excess of their old money, but also seek a higher sense of self-fulfillment by working for something – to earn it for the sake of earning it through merit as opposed to be handed it because of one's family name or depth of one's coin purse. Erik is someone who grew to feel that there's little dignity in living off the success of others. While she doesn't know the feeling of it first-hand, she can admire his drive to avoid such a gluttonous lifestyle.

The two return to their usual silence as they resume facing forward toward their goal and slowly riding deeper into the grey purgatory with the rest of their team.