Siran chats away with Holly, describing Endoindustria to her as the rest of the group listens with the exception of Rose who is having a hard time pretending to be interested.
"So as you know, Endoindustria is a type of energy that comes from that alternate realm" Siran explains, "that alternate dimension that collided with reality at the start of The Naris Catastrophe".
"Right" Holly says, "it's an energy not from this world that when wielded correctly by humans, grants control to certain senses and elements around them".
"Good" Siran replies, "then for those who don't already know, the alternate realm, commonly known as the Endo realm after the name of the energy that comes from it is also known as The Theist Gate".
"Yeah" Zia responds, "I remember that, because in the stories of The Naris Catastrophe, there was that hero that came from that realm with Naris who taught humans how to wield the power with charms to channel the energy. He claimed that gods resided in the other realm".
"I was never a big fan of that story" Siran says.
"I liked it" Zia says, "but the ending was always so sad. That nameless hero was declared a war criminal after killing Naris, and was unable to go back to his home realm and then he just kinda... disappeared".
"As the story goes" Siran replies.
"Anyways" Holly says, "I want to know why the plant growth here has been halted for over a century. Why can't new plant life grow? I think it's linked to the same reasons as to why the climates all around the world were shifted. During the catastrophe, some deserts have become wetlands, half of the Rainforest dried up, and so on and so forth".
"It's because of the radiation" Siran explains. "The Endoindustria can be life itself, but in high concentrations can block and prevent life. It's basically choking the plant life out. It's like why the grass that's grows on most land can't grow on the bottom of the sea. Too much water. An excess of anything is bad for the balance that sustains life, and that's why the plants can't grow here".
"Then next question" Holly says, "how were you able to survive here?"
"That's a tough question" Siran says. "I don't like bringing up the past".
"You're barking up the wrong tree" Alex explains. "We've been trying to get that out of him too".
"Maybe one day" Siran says quietly as he begins to stand up. Siran walks over to the edge of the abyss known as Dead Crater and sits with his legs dangling into the abyss. The whole crew is watching him as he grabs two handfuls of dirt and holds it in his hands.
"Endoindustria is both a curse and a blessing" Siran says while still holding the dirt. "It can give life; it can take life. It can save friends; it can take away enemies. But with the right mind, it gives us the most important thing".
"And what's that?" Finn asks.
"You know that feeling you get when life just feels wrong?" Siran asks as he looks at everyone. "That feeling you have when nothing seems to go anyone's way but for some reason everyone else seems to think it's okay just because 'that's just how life is'? How horrible it feels to be alive during those times. I know you all do. There's a reason each of you are with me here today. Even if your reason for specifically being with me is a different reason for feeling that emotion, I know that each of you have felt it like me. Whether you're feeling bad for yourself for not being able to make it in life or feeling bad for everyone else for pretending they're fine during all the chaos, it weighs on you until you find a way to change life to make it better. Well, Endoindustria can give you the ability to change life in an infinite number of ways. It'll give you the power to stop people from doing wrong, to save someone from dying, or even give you the power to give other people power so they can grow and change life. It may seem like an empty effort at first-". Suddenly a plant starts growing rapidly from the dirt in Siran's hands as he continues to talk, "but when you see the world is able to change, suddenly your life seems to have a meaning and that can be the best feeling in the world".
"And that's why you try to gather people and give them more magic?" Alex asks.
"Precisely" Siran responds as he transplants the dirt, with the plant now growing a blue iris flower, back into the ground at the edge of the abyss. "I don't want people in this world to give up their dreams and determination to change. Humanity's power to change the world is invaluable. If anyone should save this world from being stripped of further change and freedom, it should be people like you guys".
"What about you?" Zia asked Siran. "Why do you exclude yourself, and say we should do it?"
"I'm not fit to be a hero" Siran says.
"Well I'm not going to fight the world if you're not coming" Finn says. "It's kinda like we're a crew now and you're our captain! If you think we're not sticking with you after all of this, then you're either lying to yourself, or you're stupid".
"He's right" Zia says with a blushing red face, "you may not want to be the world's hero, but you're already my hero"
"Yeah!" Rose cheers on.
"Oh my god!" Alex says to the rest of the crew, "you all sound so cheesy".
"Well" Holly says, "if this is going to be a fad for everyone else, I guess I'll continue to tag along".
"You will?" Siran asks.
"Yeah" Holly replies. "I can't let Rose wander around and just expect her to be fine. She always finds trouble, so someone has to take care of her. Besides, I'm not done with you yet Siran. You still have to help me learn more about Endoindustria".
"Alright, alright" Siran says, "you have a deal". Siran lays down on the dead dirt next to his flower that he planted, his legs still dangling off the edge into the abyss and says "This place always makes me feel uncomfortable. But being around you guys and actually having friends for a change helps me feel like time is running out, or like I have something that I still need to do before it's too late".
"I'm... sorry?" Finn says.
Siran shakes his head and says "Don't be. It feels good to feel like I actually have something to do. It reminds me that there's a meaning in me being here".
"What do you mean?" Alex asks.
"Well" Siran tries to think of the right words for a moment, "... even though this place is where I came from, I'd say my friends that I have now are my real home. Or, home is where the heart is I guess?"
"Stop before you make me vomit" Alex says.
Everyone shares a short laugh and the team decides to camp here at Dead Crater again for the night. They began discussing where else they could go to avoid running into The Ly'Lum so they could remain off of their radar and not stir up too much trouble.
"You know" Siran begins to say, "at this point, I think it's time we actually make a move".
"You mean against The Ly'Lum?" Holly asks.
"Yeah" Siran says. "Maybe it's finally time we shake up The Ly'Lum, but before we do this, we have to make sure we're well equipped to defend ourselves because it'll be a bumpy ride as soon as we start".
"How're we gonna do that?" Rose asks.
"Well, we need the right tools to fight back" Siran says, "and I know just the person for that".
"Who?" Holly asks.
"My friend, Vivi" Siran says. "We can get weapons from her, custom made, and with that we can fight back. I've worked with her long enough to know just the kind of customizations we would need to make an efficient weapon for us too".
"So, back to Seeira?" Alex asks.
"Yep" Siran says. "We can plot a course to Mexico tomorrow. From there, we can ride a plane to Balphor, Northwest of Seeira, and then find transport to Seeira from there. There won't be any direct transport to Seeira by air because it's not a well developed country yet, but it's at least quiet there so we can spend all the time we need there while waiting for our weapons to be made".
"Sounds like a plan" Finn says.
"I do kinda miss Vivi" Zia says.
"I'm looking forward to how you're going try to avoid getting hit by Vivi this time" Alex says.
"That's... probably unavoidable" Siran says.
Rose and Holly simply look at each other and shrug, sharing in the confusion due to the lack of knowing who this Vivi character is. After nearly a week and a half, the crew arrives at Seeira. When they get there, they immediately make their way to Vivi's shop, Valentine Shoppe. Vivi was surprised, yet disappointed and relieved all at the same time when she saw Siran's face.
"It's at least good to see you're safe" Vivi says, "but why are you back? Do you actually need something this time or are you just here to introduce those two new faces?"
"Can't it be both?" Siran says in a joking manner. "Although, we really do need something this time. This time I'm here as a customer".
"What?" Vivi says, very surprised, "all that time you spent with me and you never asked for a weapon or anything, so why do you need one all of the sudden?"
"It's time for us to shake up The Ly'Lum, you with us?" Siran asks.
A grim looking smile stretches across Vivi's face as she says "I thought you'd never ask!"
"Not just any weapon though" Siran says. "We'll need the best we can get, and that's why we came to you".
"Got anything specific in mind?" Vivi asks.
"Yes, actually" Siran says as he draws something on a piece of paper. "We need guns, one for each of us, and we can have customizations to fit each person's needs. They can choose their own attachments and stuff, but we'll need this to go with it".
Siran hands over the piece of paper with a weird symbol drawn on it to Vivi. Vivi, Zia, Rose and Finn all gather to stare at the paper for a few long seconds.
"What is it?" Finn asks.
"It's a charm" Zia says.
"A charm for what?" Vivi asks as she looks up at Siran.
"It's not just a regular old charm" Siran explains. "That's an amplifier charm. Of course there are other specifications for the gun to go with this. For instance, for my gun, I don't need a channeling charm since I won't need it. For theirs, put the heavy channeling charm inside the handle".
"What do you want, a gun or a freakin' canon!?" Vivi asks.
"Trust me" Siran says. "They'll be perfectly capable of handling this".
"If you say so" Vivi responds.
"Now currently" Siran explains, "all of us have enough magic to overload your usual guns, so with the amplifier charm, it'll likely be fine but it will overheat if we use it in succession. So for that, make a revolving chamber that has that amplifier charm on each section of the revolving chamber. Design it as to where whenever the trigger is pulled, it'll revolve and change which amplifier charm is being used to fire. That way each charm has the opportunity to cool off before being fired again. Now for the gun types-"
"I want a machine gun!" Finn shouts.
"That'll defeat the purpose of designing the charms to be able to cool off before being fired again" Siran says. "Pick a different one".
Finn begins to pout as Alex says "In that case, I'll take something in the design of a shotgun. Firing a spread of magic, or a ray rather than a beam could be handy".
"An impact type... I like it" Vivi says.
"In that case" Holly says, "I'll be taking a sniper rifle. Something to pierce their defenses".
"I want something small and easy to carry" Rose says. "Something that won't weigh me down, but also with a quick trigger".
"I can design a handgun with the body shape of a sub machine gun" Vivi says. "If it makes you feel more confident, I can make it double barreled".
Rose's eyes light up with interest and she says "ooh, yeah I wanna do that!"
"How about a nice big-" Finn begins to say before he's interrupted.
"No, keep thinking" Vivi says.
"I want two hand guns" Zia says. "Can we do that?"
"Yeah, that works out fine. A bit of extra work though" Vivi replies.
"Then I just want a rifle" Finn says.
"And I'll just take a handgun" Siran says.
"It'll be a long time before any of this is finished, so you'll have to wait a long time" Vivi says.
"How long?" Finn asks.
"About six months" Vivi replies.
"That's a long time!" Rose complains.
"Oh, I'm sorry" Vivi says in an annoyed tone, "did you have another weapons developer who will do this for you on speed dial? No? Then suck it up".
"That's fine" Siran says to Vivi, "I kinda missed this place. Plus I was thinking of sticking around and keeping you company anyways. I don't want to just disappear on you and leave you worrying all the time".
"Well, it's nice that you at least consider other people , Siran, but" Vivi says then head-butts Siran and says, "DO NOT GET INTO TROUBLE WHILE YOU ARE HERE".
"Geez, okay... ow" Siran says, while rubbing his forehead. Siran turns to Holly and says "almost forgot! If you're to be able to use these guns correctly, you'll need a big boost in magic". Siran then holds out his hand again with that same blackish smoke coming out of his hand.
Holly stares at his hand for a few seconds and says "this is pure Endoindustria, isn't it?"
"Yeah" Siran says. "The reason people can survive in high Endo radiation areas for long periods of time is because our bodies can absorb the Endoindustria as an alternate source of energy. However, I've converted this Endoindustria in specific to regenerate itself at a rapid rate, but regulate its maximum growth to a healthy level so it can't kill you".
"I see" Holly says, "Then this is a source of magic that keeps replenishing itself, effectively increasing other people's maximum magic capabilities".
"Exactly" Siran says.
"She catches on fast" Finn says.
"Is that what it was?" Rose asks, confused.
Holly grabs onto Siran's hand, and the smoke envelopes her then vanishes.
"Interesting" Holly says.
The crew leaves the shop to let Vivi get to work and explore the town. As they leave, Siran goes back to Vivi and hands her one more piece of paper with another symbol on it.
"I need one more thing" Siran says.
"What is it this time?" Vivi asks.
"I'll need this charm placed inside my gun" Siran tells her. "It's a bomb charm. Combined with the amplifier, it'll cause an explosion large enough to destroy a large building. It'll be a last resort".
"I'm not going to let you destroy one of my specially made weapons" Vivi says to Siran. "However, I can make a second gun with little purpose. A very unimportant model, something I can easily half ass, and then make that one with the bomb charm".
"Whatever works" Siran says. "But just know that if the time ever comes for me to have to set this off to save the rest, I will not be able to escape the explosion and I won't be able to walk away from it after it goes off".
"If you end up dying on us, I'll kick your ass" Vivi says.
"Don't worry" Siran says, "I don't plan on it. That's why it's a last resort".