Balthier first meets Vaan in an entirely accidental manner: they had both infiltrated the palace at Rabanatre in order to obtain the Dusk Shard, located in the treasury. By an odd chain of events, Balthier decides to recruit Vaan as an aid, but proves to be a more useful comrade throughout the journey and sees his genuine intentions to become a sky pirate. In the end, Balthier makes an unlikely decision by temporarily handing over the Strahl in the care of Vaan.

Vaan had the desire to become a sky pirate just like Balthier did, and Vaan's hold a special admiration towards him. But unlike him, Balthier's choice of occupation were made for somewhat different reasons. Both had wanted to escape a life they owned and did not want; however, where Balthier had everything, Vaan had nothing. Balthier's abandonment meant leaving a life where it would have been dicated by people who have set his destiny in front of him, and, essentially, he would lead a life imprisoned. As an orphan, Vaan's position in a far lower class left him with very little; he had lost everything and would leave nothing behind. Vaan's vision of becoming a sky pirate isn't merely an escape; he had nowhere to go, except up.