“My parents disliked the ruling of Gargrim. They took off with me when I was only a couple years old. They traveled the outlands wandering about from one place to another. Perhaps in search of a safe place where they could raise me or perhaps a home . . .”

Iota thought for a moment before continuing.

“On one of their travels they met an old friend. It was a woman, she had been wandering around the outlands for a while. She had a faded bandana which held her curly hair together and she was tired and glad to see my parents. I was 11 at the time. We were traveling together one day. I was off playing, collecting seashells when I was ambushed by an anima. By the time my parents and their friend had killed it. It had already torn off my leg. There was little chance of me surviving without being able to walk so she built me a leg from the anima. I think she was hesitant at first I’m not sure why”

“What was her name?” Asked Zeno hurriedly, leaning forward.

“Hmmm . .. I don’t remember, It was a long time ago.” Iota squinted his eyes in thought.

“I think it started with Z. Zentra!”

Iota’s eyes were squinted as if he was trying to physically peer at the word in his mind.

”What was it, .. Z.. Z… Zenga -no that can’t zzz . . zzz. .”

“Zenthra!” Said Zeno abruptly.

“Yeah! That’s the one. Wait how do you know that”

“That woman you met, who was your parents' friend, was my mother. I was separated from her in Gargrim after we were brought in as slaves. We were held in different places and I haven’t seen her since. “

“Did your dad die?” Asked Iota

“my dad died a long time ago, protecting my mother and me. ”

“I’m sorry that happened.” Said iota looking down solemnly. “I don’t know where she is now, she didn’t stay with us for long.”

Zeno clenched his fist.

“Thank you for telling me this, you have reminded me once more why I must achieve my goal.”

“I seek to redeem me and my people’s history,”Zeno said. He went on to explain that he must be an example and do well so that Nemrire’s can live freely and not be condemned.

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“There’s one more thing if you don’t mind, You said the Nemrire had lots of knowledge about anima

“There is an anima I met,” Continued Iota. “It was unlike anyone I’d ever seen before, It was large and reptilian.”

“That was probably a sentry,”

Iota’s eyes widened in surprise. The ease at which it broke through walls and nearly caught him. . . He couldn’t believe it.

” There’s no way, how can something that powerful be a sentry! I’ve never seen anything as powerful as that one.”

“Don’t underestimate the people of the past, they were far more advanced than we are today, they had weapons we could only dream of. They could easily wipe cities as large as Gargrim off the map. “

A memory popped into Iota’s mind.

“Before I got away, the anima paused and beams form its eyes washed over me, do you know what was that about?”

“Beams! From its eyes!?” Zeno held his hand against his head.

“It’s following you. It's some sort of tracking scan. “

“That explains the increase in anima attacks,” Iota bursted out

“Since more intelligent anima have the ability to coordinate and control other less intelligent anima”

Siren and bells reverberate through the air. They snap their necks in the direction of the sound.

“The alarm, anima’s have breached the walls again.” Said Zeno.

Dull thuds of distant cannonfire echo through the air. Zeno fiddling with screens and a backpack. Writing went across the screen. It was completely unfamiliar to Iota. Zeno begins taking various pieces of equipment and hurriedly stuffing it into a bag to Iota’s surprise.

“Where are you going?”

“Towards the breach.”

“ That's towards the danger.”

“I know, this is my chance.” Replied Zeno nonchalantly.

“What!?”

“Why are you going in that direction?”

“I told you already, If i'm able to show people how useful i can be and defeat the anima then maybe the Nemrire family will be redeemed.”

“You’re crazy don’t fight for those people that won’t accept you, not now and probably forever as well. The grudge against the Nemrire family runs deep. “

Zeno didn’t respond

Iota thought they were the same just trying to survive regardless of the cards dealt to them but at that moment he never felt more distant from Zeno. Who was willing to cast away his life when Iota would value his own life much more if not more than anything else.

“What the hell.” said Iota before following after him.

They go onto a railway wagon the same one Iota and Sanachi had ridden to the palace earlier and when they arrive they jump off and roll when they’re there.

When they arrived there, they saw the anima. It was the lizard-like anima that he had encountered in the crater. It was in some sort of opening between a cluster of tattered dirt brown buildings.

It was scoffing up metal scraps with its enormous jaws. There were some other anima as well and the ones not lucky enough to avoid them were gobbled up as well.

It is larger than before with a shiny new metallic coat.

Several soldiers attempt to surround it.

“Where’s Sanachi, he must be in the other side of the city for him to not arrived yet. Stay strong!” Shouted one of them, most likely a captain. .”

Iota realized they don’t yet know that Sanachi isn’t here because he doesn’t work for the King Ulgath anymore and was stripped of his rank