"How long have they been going at it?" Victoria asked, and Gloria turned to the staircase.
"Two hours at this point," she answered, as a joyous yell followed. Jyuzou turned his annoyed head before continuing his reading, while Victoria giggled, with a cup of Glaska near her lips.
Morio and, surprisingly, Bancho, found themselves upstairs, drawing up something on a large sheet of paper.
"Right after Wendigo, you have this long stretch of the forested road that leads to something coined by the morians as Lapida," he explained.
"Lapida, as in?!" Morio jumped.
"Just a misspelling of the words rapids, as referring to its rivers. Sometimes, though, you could hear stories of a dark deformity flying through its forests."
Morio stared in curiosity.
"It resembled this massive owl that hooted at unaware passersby when threatened. Such, in turn, created big, icy winds, since most reported that a chunk of its body was frozen."
"That's so cool!"
"In hindsight." Bancho giggled. "The morians there use the Lapida grasses to grow plants in the warmer seasons. The icy wind tends to blow the inside away or completely freeze the outer shell, turning it into a snowy cocoon. The owl became an inseparable and insufferable part of Lapida, in all honesty."
"I'd go in and get rid of the thing!"
"Sure you would," Bancho added. "There is a way to kill the owl, though, but I think the morians there are either too afraid, too kind, or they don't know much."
Morio turned with a big beam.
"All dark deformities have a weak spot after all," he inched closer, raising a curious finger. "The jest is, search for a dark red, pulsating spot somewhere in its body. The owl has one on its back."
***
A drop of sweat rolled down Morio's face as he stared blankly at the hand reaching forward.
It couldn't have been the owl. It felt strangely humanoid, yet distant. One could wonder what something like that was out for.
Blood? Lives?
Death?
Maybe it was Gloria's necklace, or the sword Morio put his hand on, ready to strike? But if it was nothing but a demon, how was one to kill it?
Morians weren't exactly known to be a brutal race, yet they had rather violent tendencies. Much like paladians, they often found joy in hunting animals and then reaping the freshly harvested meat near a fire.
Then, there were a few morians who hunted for the thrill, turning such into a hands-on experience. From a young age, Morio went out to either do the deed or watch in excitement as the others threw their weapons. On the other hand, Jyuzou refused to participate in events like these; he rarely ever ate meat.
Knowing such, the glassy-eyed clenched his fists, counting on the other morian's initiative. If things were to get ugly, he'd be reckless enough to jump into the flames to try and extinguish them. However, Morio didn't budge. One hand rested on the sword while the other held the bark as tightly as Jyuzou gripped the book.
Atomu glanced at the two, as with all the solutions he had in his head, not one seemed reasonable in this scenario. Chyuuichi sneaked glimpses at the morians, as with every second it advanced forth, its stark figure came into view.
It wasn't a demon, nor a centura or a goblin. It was something else entirely, a thing that couldn't be named or described without things making sense.
Morio moved back, startled.
What once were nothing but long, sharp, tentacle-like arms changed into bony hands, with seven climbing around the tree, looking down at the terrified Jyuzou. It was covered with a cloak, not made of any known material. Its inside, despite being practically engulfed in darkness, was full of flesh, pulsating, with blood flowing in between its massive, skin-like veins.
The shadow that covered its face seemed to be sewn into its eyes, mouth, or nose. No matter how hard Atomu squinted, the only thing he could make out was smoky murk. It seemed as if it started watching, observing.
It seemed as if, at that time, only a miracle could save them.
...and within the realm of countless possibilities, hopes, fear, and staring into the face of the unknown, such was exactly what happened.
A heavy wind picked up from the front, carrying a massive gust of snow. In every other scenario, such would be dreaded, and for a while, the paladian and mirillian looked at each other as if it were their last moments.
Atomu shook his head, Chyuuichi closed his eyes, but the two morians stared, with the white-haired quickly stepping out to the side.
"M-Mor-" Atomu reached his hand out, right after an ear-piercing scream echoed through the rivers.
Morio caught a longer breath, seeing as the shadow advanced into the depths of the night. He wiped frost off his face before turning to the others.
"The damn owl," Jyuzou sighed.
"It saved us!" Morio yelled out, raising his hands.
"What the hell was that?!" Chyuuichi yelled, completely unbothered by the cold, unlike the paladian.
"Jyuzou?" Atomu strutted forward.
"I'll find t-the answer." Jyuzou moved his frosted finger around the book's pages.
"There's no time for that!" Morio raised his voice.
"Mhm!" Chyuuichi added. "You see pesky creatures all around Errarion! They're not deterred by some winds, I tell ya! Just like me, aha!"
"Y-You brought this upon us!" Jyuzou pointed at the mirillian.
"That?" Chyuuichi pointed. "It seemed to be more interested in yer morian friend over here!"
Atomu turned, and Morio gulped before shaking his head.
"Yeah," he hid the emblem back beneath his clothes. "It couldn't have just given up. It wants something, whatever it is," he replied. "If it comes back, we'll have to find a new place to hide."
The paladian raised an eyebrow, and the white-haired looked back at the others.
"Where, Morio?" Jyuzou asked as the morian stepped forward, treading above the small river. "The owl's wind came from over there, and that's just asking for more damage!"
"I don't think an owl seems as deadly!" Chyuuichi added.
"Whatever it is, we can't fight-"
Out of the blue, the creature's scream sounded again, much louder this time.
Atomu shouted fearfully, grabbing Jyuzou by the shoulder, while Chyuuichi followed right after.
"GO! RUN!" Morio yelled, brows furrowing, as the shadow grew over the hill.
***
As the moon rose from the crowns of the trees and above the colourful and starry sky, Atomu peeked out from behind the bushes, trying to make out any shape in the distance.
The four stood in a small copse, surrounded by bushes. In the hottest of the Gorro nights, many morians would sleep above the passing river and on the few, longer, deciduous branches.
"It's not here," Atomu muttered, moving back.
The morians looked at him, visibly uneasy.
"Morio, where's the next safest spot?"
"The lake," Morio answered, blinking.
"What? The lake? Are we going for a swim?!" Jyuzou asked, pissed off.
"It's frozen tonight! We can walk and find a hut nearby! Mr Bancho said that lots of morians live by the edges. We'll be safe there." Morio nodded.
"Are you sure they'd let us in for the night?" The paladian asked, putting his shaky hands together. "It's getting damn cold here already."
Morio shook his head. Atomu sighed, clenching a branch.
"Whatever that thing was..." he closed his eyes. "I don't think it'll stop at a lake."
"It's not a demon, that's for sure," Jyuzou added.
"Y-Yeah. It didn't have horns." Morio nodded.
"Demons can conceal. R-Remember what Bruno told us?" Atomu ground his teeth.
"I'm pretty sure, though," Morio said. "Last time we encountered a demon, I had this massive headache."
Atomu gulped, looking to the side for a moment.
"If it isn't a demon, then you're just confirming Mr Atomu's words." Jyuzou continued.
"If it got scared of some cold air, then it can't be that strong!"
"It had chunks of ice in it! I even saw your stupid face reflecting in the wind. Anyone who isn't a morian would be terrified of something like that!"
"I wasn't!" Chyuuichi added.
Atomu looked out once more, breathing out. "If we decide to follow the river upstream, we're in the open."
Chyuuichi peeked out as well. "We can make a run for it!"
"Quiet!" Atomu shushed him.
"Why?" Chyuuichi asked, not moderating his tone in any way. "Whatever that was, it had no business with me! White-haired morian! It's ya that he's interested in!"
Morio's eyebrows shook.
"Yer name?" Chyuuichi stepped closer.
"Hey, hey!" Jyuzou stepped. "We're not leaving anyone behind!"
"Wouldn't that be easier? Not my fault he's cursed!"
Jyuzou punched him in the shoulder.
"Ya call that a punch?" he chortled.
"We could've avoided this in the first place if it wasn't for you, Chyuuichi," Atomu snickered. "Why shouldn't you be the one we leave behind?"
"See, that doesn't make s-," Chyuuichi put a hand on his chin. "Okay, then. We're getting out of this together, Morin!" he bumped Morio's shoulder.
"Morio." Jyuzou fixed his glasses, correcting the mirillian.
"That's exactly what I said! Now, team, we need to figure out-"
"WE'RE NOT A TEAM!" Jyuzou continued.
"Jyuzou, you're not acting any better," Morio added, after swallowing a gasp and clenching his necklace a bit tighter than before.
"I'm for once standing in your defence, and this is how you treat me." Jyuzou scoffed, and Morio rolled his eyes before turning to Chyuuichi.
"Listen, Chyuuichi." Morio moved closer, stepping up so he could reach him. "If you endanger us again, then you're out of the team!"
"Morio?!" Jyuzou crossed his hands.
"Oh no. Oh no no no no!" Chyuuichi put his hands on his head, terrified. "Not the team! NOT THE TEAM!"
"SHUT UP!" Atomu kicked Chyuuichi's leg, and he fell head-first into the snow. He bit his lip in stress and kept spying around, hoping to catch nothing.
Morio grinned before putting both hands on the mirillian's shoulder. "...and what did you mean it was after me?"
"Seemed like it!" Chyuuichi commented. "I mean, of course. Now that we're a team, I'd say it was targeting our whole, big, mutual heart!"
"Be serious for a second here!" Morio continued.
"I am serious, Morin!" Chyuuichi nodded. "Like! It latched onto yer tree like it wanted to snatch ya away!"
"Whatever it's after, we need to watch each other's backs," Atomu added, turning to the mirillian with a sigh. "As a team."
"Mhm!" Chyuuichi pointed.
"We'll figure it out later." Atomu continued.
Morio stepped back before smirking. "Told you it'd work."
"You didn't say anything." Jyuzou looked down.
"I thought my glances were enough!" Morio continued.
Chyuuichi stood up. "Told him what?"
"That you won't be part of the team!" Morio pointed.
"Ahh!"
"Shh, shh!" Atomu waved at the three, and finally, they went silent. He looked at the moon, accompanying the winds around the forest, and the long path of frozen rivers upwards, which would take them to the lake.
There was no other sound present, and nothing else to be seen.
"Quickly, after me," he squeezed through the bushes, jumping out to the snow.
Jyuzou punched the leaves around with his book, Morio leapt above, and Chyuuichi found a twig in his hair because he forced his way through.
The second they stepped out in the open, a wind picked up behind, and a heavy one in the distance, reminiscent of one that saved them earlier. Atomu started pacing forth, along the lines of the river, and the others followed.
Hush remained only for a while, however.
The screech sounded, piercing through the trees and shaking their leaves.
It stood atop a nearby hill, staring at them and extending its various limbs.
"R-RUN!" Jyuzou uttered as the four picked up the pace, splitting into four different paths.
The glassy-eyed ran around in the grass, shaking off the snow around him, ensuring he didn't fall into any of the thick lumps below. Out of the blue, however, one of the creature's limbs grabbed at his leg. He tumbled, trying to stop himself with his fingers, as the limb snatched his boot.
He breathed in, terrified, and darted again, cold on one foot, but still alive. He passed a tree before groaning loudly, feeling its piercing presence.
Atomu sprinted, covering his face, before the limbs swapped into bones, blocking his path. He rolled through the sleet before one of the limbs followed him as if it were a rabbit, chasing after one another, carrying nahi fruits atop their small heads.
The paladian quickly stood up, kicking the dark matter with his foot, as the noise of bone-shattering sounded, and the creature bellowed. He covered his ears and ground his teeth, and so did the others, turning around.
When Chyuuichi spotted its shadow, it immediately moved on from Atomu's attack and headed for the mirillian, who tried his best to slide on top of the ice, and the creature barely missed his body. From time to time, however, it struck, destroying the glacier surface. His hand slipped in, forming a small wound, but he didn't stop advancing.
Then, as if all the silence ensued, it disappeared when the river widened. Atomu stumbled into Chyuuichi, with two almost falling into a freshly created puddle. At the same time, Jyuzou stopped near the few grasses surrounding the edges, and under the branches of a tree leading towards an even bigger body of water.
"Morio," Jyuzou uttered. "W-Where's Morio?"
Atomu pushed the mirillian away and trod into the darkness. The mentioned morian ran between the trees, as a dark cloud stormed behind him, composed of thousands of sharp bones and fleshy insides.
Morio breathed heavily, closing his eyes. He kept running, each step making his legs feel weaker and heavier. His eyes were half-open, and his body seemed to lose coordination with each second that passed. The creature grew near, extending a new dark limb above him.
"Morio!" Jyuzou suddenly screamed out. "Please, don't stop!"
Morio looked down every time he sprang forth, as if his legs felt shorter. They were asking for that bit of rest and wanted him to catch a breath, but he couldn't.
He needed to keep moving; otherwise, it could all be over in a snap.
His dreams, motivations, and the adventure they all embarked on. Most importantly, he'd fail the one person he promised something to.
From the darkness slowly reaching his body, he made out the blurry shape of the three raising their hands at the edge, spelling safety.
He couldn't be worse. He couldn't be weaker. He had to be just like them.
The creature started forming back into its fleshy self, and Morio didn't stop. He wasn't fast, but he was one stubborn morian.
He heard the yells of Atomu and Jyuzou, even Chyuuichi, and when the river transitioned into the lake, he jumped, sliding on the ice.
He turned, breathing out a gasp, as the creature put one of its hands on the tree and disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
Morio gulped, grabbing Jyuzou's hand.
They were safe.
***
The edge of the lake was lined with two-story houses splattered at the sides. Unlike towns or larger settlements, its entire population consisted of morians who, much like in Mistwick, lived rather remote lives.
They scoured for food either in the lake or the nearby copses, or when time called, they ventured down the river into Magna for a day or two. Otherwise, they kept to themselves and didn't bother to spread a word to the neighbours of the half-circle they shared.
Jyuzou muttered, after calming down, that disturbing them might not be the best of ideas, but as they sought refuge with their thick injuries, the four were fortunately welcomed by two morians, an older man and his daughter.
Atomu and Jyuzou were treated to a modest supper, with the morian describing in detail what had unfolded. The daughter somewhat believed them, while the father chuckled about the adventurers making excuses as to not dampen their spirits, heeding the Demonear exam.
The two lay down on the carpet, beside the fireplace and on the upper floor. Chyuuichi and Morio rested in the other room, with the morian taking the bed of the man's daughter.
Morio had a habit of sleeping very soundly in beds that weren't his. In fact, the second he stepped in, he crashed without a word, much to the owner's dismay, though a few profuse apologies from Jyuzou later, all turned out surprisingly well and quiet.
It was only the morning that proved to be some trouble. The glassy-eyed barely pulled the other morian out of bed, while Atomu had to convince Chyuuichi to leave the couch with three riddles.
Either way, they were eventually 'kicked' out. The owners were to set out to Wendigo when the sun rose, so not much time could've been wasted.
"Maan! I didn't stretch my limbs enough!" Chyuuichi blinked twice as the whole lot stepped outside. "Five more minutes!"
Atomu glanced upwards. The mountains piled around the lake as if opposing the half of the huts resting on the edge, with only some moving further into the nearby forest. Their peaks climbed and reached the clear sky with the sun coldly casting its rays on the paladian.
"They were nice enough to let us sleep in the first place," Jyuzou said.
"I'm still half-asleep." Morio stepped around, stumbling into Jyuzou and putting his head on his shoulder.
Jyuzou slowly patted his head.
"W-Wow." Atomu turned.
"What?" Jyuzou squinted.
"No, nothing," he giggled.
"Have you ever had to run for your life, Atomu?"
"A few times."
"I'm sure there were a few people who comforted you afterwards," Jyuzou said.
"Not r-really." Atomu scratched the back of his head.
Jyuzou sighed. "Morians are different. You guys are tall and all, and if I had to run with legs as short as his-"
Morio suddenly moved back, angered.
"I am fully awake."
"I'm not lying." Jyuzou sighed.
"Hey, Jyuzou." Morio pointed to his sock that had a little plant sewn on its side. Jyuzou quickly moved his pant leg down, embarrassed. "Exactly," Morio smirked, putting his hands on his hips.
"You lost a shoe?" Atomu asked.
"It's whatever," he rolled his eyes. "I'll make myself a thicker sock in its place with the cloth I have."
"Are you also going to embroider a plant on the side?" Morio asked.
"Shut up, Morio." Jyuzou sighed.
"Back to you, glassy idiot!" he pointed.
"With or without boots, I'm still taller than you."
Morio made a strange noise. Jyuzou rolled his eyes.
"B-Boots are a first, then." Atomu put his hand over his forehead, already tired of their shenanigans. "We also need to figure out what the hell that thing was," he put his hands together, glancing at Morio.
"...and," Jyuzou muttered, wagging his finger. "What on earth are we supposed to do about him?" he waved his hand in the general direction of Chyuuichi, who slid around the ice. He waved at Jyuzou as well, and the morian ground his teeth.
"He seems harmless for now," Atomu added.
"Harmless! Really?!" Jyuzou yelled out.
"I d-did get angry back then, but he seemed to atone for his words rather quickly." Atomu continued. "We all make mistakes."
"Ah?!"
"Jyuzou, you're being a prick again." Morio squinted his eyes. "He's just carelessly skating on the ice."
"It's not about the ice~!" Jyuzou said, right as Chyuuichi bumped into someone, causing them to fall into the hole carved into the frozen lake.
The mirillian blinked, turning in confusion.
"It is, about the ice." Morio finished, and Jyuzou stormed at Chyuuichi, with the morian following right after.
However, Atomu stopped him for a moment.
"Huh?" Morio looked up.
"I wanted to ask you about what Chyuuichi said y-yesterday," Atomu uttered, still gazing at the two. "I don't mean to pry in, but d-do you know why that thing could've been after you?"
"No clue." Morio scratched his head. "I could make guesses, but that's about it."
"For a moment there, I saw you grabbing and squeezing something under your vest.
"What?" Morio looked back.
"If it's something dangerous that aggroed whatever that was," he shook his head. "It's best if we get r-rid of it."
Morio's heart skipped a bit, and Atomu's words echoed through his mind. He reached below his button-up, took out the necklace and placed it in his hands, passing it to Atomu.
The sun reflected on its metallic emblem.
"A necklace?" he asked.
"M-Mama gave it to me before a demon attacked her." he quickly snatched it away from his hands. "I didn't know if we were going to make it out of that forest with our lives intact," he beamed, tightly. "I wanted to make sure she was there with me, too, for that moment."
"Ah." Atomu blinked a couple of times. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sound like the bad guy here."
"It's okay." Morio breathed out. "It's probably anything but that, or so I hope."
The paladian nodded, sighing. "If it attacks us again, though," he added. "We'll need to figure out a way to get rid of it for good."
"Heck yeah," he smirked, before treading towards the others.
"Oop!" Chyuuichi raised his voice, sliding around, much to Jyuzou's annoyed expression.
Morio sighed. "Jyuzou, I think it was just a one-time-"
"Look closer." Jyuzou eyed him intensely.
"Sorry!" Chyuuichi helped the annoyed morian out of the water. He dried himself off with a solid shake, muttered something in Toric, and angrily glanced at Chyuuichi. Afterwards, he waddled away, a bit cold. "Sorry," he repeated.
"Maybe you shouldn't have been sliding on the ice in the first place?" Atomu suggested, folding his arms.
"I didn't see him! Besides, who looks into some stupid holes in the lake for sport?" Chyuuichi raised his fist. "Don't ya have anything better to do?! Stupid Moratians."
"They weren't looking." Jyuzou crouched. "When the lake freezes, fish swim up and rest near the ice. The morians here use that occasion to dig out these small holes."
The boy reached into the water, squinting his eyes, but didn't pull anything out. He sighed, standing up.
"They have to get food one way or another."
"You know about animals, too?" Atomu asked.
"Yeah," Jyuzou replied.
"I thought you were more of a flora guy."
"That's the whole point. I'm full of surprises." Jyuzou smirked, shaking off the water from his glove.
Morio rolled his eyes.
"You're smart!" Chyuuichi smiled.
"Late observation," Jyuzou added, pointing at him.
"Take. A. Compliment!" Morio smacked him three times.
"Okay, l-let's calm down here," Atomu muttered, scared of their future quarrels. "We have to focus on finding shelter for the night."
"Why don't we go across the lake and up the river to Magna?" Jyuzou proposed.
"The further you go, the thinner the ice. I thought you'd know that." Morio said.
"Why don't we go around?" Chyuuichi signalled as the white-haired gave him a strange look.
"We'd be late for the exam if we took the roundabout path," Atomu said, putting his hand on a bag he carried under his shoulder. "The ice should melt during the night, right? We could take the boats then," he turned to Morio.
"Yep! Bruno told us that the skies are clear for the next few days, and I suppose we can ask around as well!" Morio raised his voice. "These two were nice. I'm sure the others here would let us in, eh?"
The three looked at him.
"Eh?" Morio stepped around.
Jyuzou put his hand on his nose. "If that moron over there-" he pointed to Chyuuichi, who waved in his direction. "-already pushed a morian into the water, then the news will spread around like snow in the valleys."
"Oh." Morio stepped back.
While the morians around the lake kept to themselves, much like with all races, gossip was the one thing all could unite with. The people here were prepared for an occasional fall or two when fishing, but it was still a good enough reason for the same morian to point at the confused mirillian.
"Why don't we just sleep outside, then?" Chyuuichi asked, fixing his scarf.
Atomu turned to him. "That's... wow."
"If we survived last night, then a team like us can handle something as easy as that!"
"Again, calling us a team. Do you think-" Morio covered Jyuzou's mouth.
"I mean it!" Chyuuichi jumped up. "We can light a campfire, eat food, talk about nice stories, sleep for a bit and then set out against a shining moon!"
"...and the night lights?" Morio asked.
"AND THE NIGHT LIGHTS!" Chyuuichi yelled out, fist-bumping Morio.
Jyuzou crossed his arms.
"Still-" Atomu continued. "It might not be the wisest of ideas to sleep in the open."
"We can take turns in who's awake and who sleeps!" Morio said.
"Or even not sleep at all!" Chyuuichi pointed. "If yer that scared!"
"I'm not scared." Atomu looked to the side. "Concerned, that's the better word."
"C-concerned." Jyuzou struggled. "...and I thought I wouldn't witness anyone agreeing to the plans of someone like him." Jyuzou closed his eyes. "I guess a broken clock is right twice a day!"
Jyuzou's statement didn't consider that Chyuuichi couldn't read a clock, if he even knew what that was in the first place.
***
Stepping out from between the crowns, the White Mountains extended into the far distance, split by uneven forests, hills and valleys. Some were covered in snow, while others remained a thin grey.
...and as the sun started setting, the two morians settled on a rather neat copse, with a few bushes, not too far from the water and not too close to Lapida. As Chyuuichi mentioned earlier, they started a fire. Despite earlier shenanigans, Jyuzou was keen on making supper, offering only the pot from his backpack, waiting for the others to start brewing.
"Where'd ya get that from?" Chyuuichi asked, reaching his hand out towards the pot, sitting on a snowy log.
Jyuzou put his hands on it. "I got it from my house. It always belonged to me."
"You gotta lend it to me someday!" Chyuuichi continued.
"Lend it?" Jyuzou raised an eyebrow. "Last time you borrowed seeds, we ended up chased by some otherworldly monster!"
"Well!" Chyuuichi nodded. "But the Belfer team managed to win against the odds!"
"It's Bullion!" Jyuzou yelled out. "We'll be needing Bullion seeds for our stew!"
"Belfer's a better name." Morio smiled, clearly trying to take a jab at Jyuzou.
Atomu closed his eyes in forced peace, trying to disconnect from the others.
In turn, Chyuuichi seemed to catch on.
"Ya! What's yer name? Since it's either that I forgot, or ya haven't said a word..."
"It's A-Atomu," he replied, hesitating for a moment.
"'Kay, then!" Chyuuichi clapped his hands together. "Atam, ya'll be the leader!"
"W-What?!" Atomu looked mortified.
Jyuzou squinted. "You let this happen."
"It took me quite a while to decide if yer worthy of the title I bestowed upon myself in the first place, but yer the oldest here!" Chyuuichi continued. "I think."
"Chyuuichi said exactly what everyone's been thinking." Morio clapped.
Atomu played around with a strand of his hair. "I'm no l-leader..."
"Did you just ignore that Chyuuichi used the wrong name?" Jyuzou asked, before turning to Atomu.
"Morin!" Chyuuichi pointed.
"Hm?" Morio turned.
"Ya'll be the leader, then!"
Jyuzou growled, putting his hand near the pot. It was both hunger and Chyuuichi that aggravated him.
"Really?" Morio asked, with a gleam in his eyes.
"Yep! Or, wait... How old are ya again?"
Jyuzou stood up. "I'll go make the food myself since the rest of you seemed to be caught up!"
"N-No one talked about food." Atomu blinked.
"I did!" Jyuzou smirked, sarcastically. "A brew won't brew without a stew!" he said, turning on his heel and walking towards the other conifers, repeating the same words.
Morio sighed. "Damn that Jyuzou."
"Kids, am I right, Atam?" Chyuuichi pushed him around with his elbow.
"Oh, my..." The paladian sighed.
***
The night settled, and Jyuzou wandered around, with Morio looking back in his direction. As promised, he picked up some seeds and smashed them into the pot, but sometimes stopped, reading either book.
As for the others, Chyuuichi's shadow was cast on an old oak behind him.
"...and there I was, sitting in the middle of the biggest bar in Wendigo, squeezing between all the drunks!"
"Aren't you a bit too young to drink?" Atomu asked. "Not that I'd... reprimand you or anything."
"I wasn't drinking, just listening to stories, getting some Silver-"
"Stealing!" Morio pointed.
"It wasn't stealing, okay?" Chyuuichi explained. "Borrowing! I asked them if it was okay beforehand, and they smiled! I don't know why they even got angry at me in the first place!"
Atomu covered his face.
"Then, the stories?" Morio asked, as his eyes shone, full of curiosity.
"Stories? STORIES! Right! They all mentioned this big man, riding on his horse, covered with a white hat, outdrinking all the other paladians! As a morian! He's kind of a legend there, ya know? He steps in when every man has fainted, and then proves to everyone that no matter how many beers he chugs, he won't be stopped. No one knows his name, no one knows his face! Just his mouth and gut!"
"Have you seen him?" Morio inched closer.
Atomu opened his mouth a bit.
"No! But I'm sure he's out there, carrying the stench of this town by night!"
"I'd love to meet him one day!" Morio announced.
"You're eleven!" Atomu stated.
"I'll be old enough in the future, though!" The morian added, and the paladian sighed. "Mentioning that, aren't you a mirillian, Chyuuichi?"
"Oh, oh! I'm a mirillian, yes!" Chyuuichi said, touching his ears. "I think."
"You think?" Atomu raised his eyebrows, snickering.
Morio stepped back. "Tell me about it!"
"What's a mirillian, like, huh?" Chyuuichi scratched his non-existent beard. "Huuuh..."
At the same time, Jyuzou came back with the black pot, filled with chopped-up ingredients. After eyeing Chyuuichi for an uncomfortably long time, he placed it above the fire, on two sticks forming a small platform.
"They're-" The mirillian was interrupted.
"They're a race known for being the worst people out there." Jyuzou fixed his glasses, sat down. "They separated themselves from the world because they couldn't stand the sun. Now they just sit in those stupid caves and mine, mine, mine, like all their other purpose was lost."
"Huh." Chyuuichi looked at Jyuzou, frowning. "That's not true. We're much more than that!"
Jyuzou slowly nodded. Atomu's brows twitched.
"You're much more of an ass than usual, Jyuzou!" Morio shouted.
Atomu blinked a few times, surprised by his choice of words.
"He's as stupid as mirillians get," Jyuzou muttered. "That's what the book said, and I'm trusting a Shimori library, way more than I'd trust anything made by people like you. It answered all my questions."
Atomu clenched his fist, turning.
"Jyuzou?! Come on!" Morio yelled out.
Chyuuichi looked to the side for a moment. "Man! Then it must've been written by some glassy-eyed tributal idiot!"
"There's a reason they call most tributals royalty." Jyuzou smiled. "Glad that you're willing to admit that."
"I..." Chyuuichi gasped, looking down.
"Cut it out already!" Atomu raised his voice, followed by an unsure gasp. "Thought you were the mature one here."
"I'm just saying!" he raised both books. "Everything awful that happened since was because of him!"
"You're as much of an issue now!" Morio shook his shoulder.
"Who are you to say that, Morio?" Jyuzou turned. "Are you in on him with all that? Maybe you wanted to get us killed in the first place, huh?!"
"What's your fucking problem, Jyuzou?!" Morio lashed out, pushing the other morian into the snow.
Everyone else stared at him.
"G-Guys?" Atomu's eyes widened as stress surrounded him. "Oh, my." He played with a strand of hair, and Morio clenched both fists before sitting back down.
He pushed on his face, clearly embarrassed that something like that slipped out. Meanwhile, Jyuzou looked down, picking at the snow.
He stood up and walked away, holding the book in his hands.
***
While Morio and Chyuuichi enjoyed the stew, Atomu stepped to the side.
"I swear I've heard their words, then their drunken songs!" Chyuuichi raised his voice. "Dragons! DRAGONS!"
"DRAGONS?!" Morio leaned in.
"They kept singing about these majestical, winged creatures that created all these mountains surrounding us, with just a tip of their breath! They could fly above into the clouds, and even reach the space above!"
"Oh, Shin!" Morio clenched his fists in excitement. "You ever read The Paladin?"
"The what?" he smiled, cluelessly.
Meanwhile, Jyuzou flipped through the many pages, reading a few of the first words in each chapter, then moving on to the next. He bit his nails, as in reality, he couldn't really process many of the words.
His heart was almost racing out of his chest after something so seemingly trivial. When he tried putting the said item down, something caught his attention with the last flip.
He stopped, with a small gulp.
"Serpigo," he traced the page. "Creatures unrelated to demons, humans or any other animals. Coated in darkness, and seemingly a coat made out of their innards." he fixed his glasses and squinted. "Most of the details here are left out," he muttered to himself, as his fingertip found itself placed on some text written in red ink.
He gulped before reading out again.
"I don't know if anyone else has seen it. If so, I'm hoping there's a way to get rid of that thing."
Jyuzou breathed out before closing the book and turning to its cover. There was no title, except a few words detailing the basic knowledge of Errarion.
Furthermore, the author's name was abbreviated to R.S., and he couldn't recall any other writer who went by those same initials.
Maybe it was the lack of an explanation that bothered him there, atop everything else. Since setting out, it's been trouble after trouble, and everyone else seemed to have dismissed it.
There was no place for doubt in the Demonear world, it seemed. Jyuzou wasn't to be a Demonear, but he wasn't a bad person either.
He closed his eyes instead of letting these thoughts consume him.
He stood up, stuffing the book into his backpack, before something sounded to his right.
A branch cracked in the distance, and the morian looked up, alerted. He peeked out from behind the tree and spotted... nothing, meeting him on the other side.
He immediately turned back, covering both eyes, shaking, hearing a loud, loose and deaf groan in the distance, followed by footsteps. He was sure that it grew closer.
His eyes were still closed, however, and a heavy breath followed right after.
"Jyuzou?" Atomu asked, putting a hand on his shoulder, and Jyuzou yelled out. His eyes widened as he looked at the tall figure.
"What's wrong? You look like you've seen a g-ghost... or worse." Atomu's voice was a bit shaky.
Jyuzou breathed out. "It was nothing," he said. "I thought it might've been that shadowy thing. It's a r-relief, in all honesty."
"I shouldn't have snuck up on you like that." Atomu shook his head. "...and maybe I should've said something when Morio lashed out."
Jyuzou sighed, trying to pull his hand away from Atomu's grasp.
"It's nothing," the morian continued. "I'm fine, thanks."
The paladian stared at a wound on his finger. "What happened here?"
Jyuzou blinked. "I could ask the same thing about your hand. Your palm was bleeding the last time I saw it."
"It was s-shallow," Atomu answered. "Nothing serious," he chuckled. "Yours though, it's-"
"Bleeding," Jyuzou muttered. "It still does that."
"Oh, um."
"Then, Victoria was lying!" Jyuzou uttered.
"Victoria? Is that another person you'll direct your hate towards?" he asked, with an unsure smile.
"I don't hate anyone!" he stood up. "It's just..." he put his hands on his face before kicking some snow to the side. "Everything happens so damn fast that I'm not sure if I'm catching up! That Chyuuichi guy, too! You're all going to become Demonears in Magna, and here I am, just barely scraping by. Then, when I want to say something, it's that idiot who interrupts me and..."
He stared at Atomu, who kept blinking at him, over and over again.
The morian stepped back, gulping, before shaking his head.
Atomu laughed. "So, you were just frustrated?"
"I don't know." Jyuzou shrugged before sliding down a nearby conifer tree. He stared at the distant night lights for a bit, with a white mountain extending over a few of the orange torches placed right where a few steps led to something in the distance. "Guess I'm just flawed."
"You could say we all are." The paladian strutted up to him, crouching down. "That's what separates us and them, though."
"Huh?" Jyuzou raised a brow.
"The demons. You could say they're all flaws, and I-I'd have to agree." he looked to the side, for a second. "I feel like all of this could've been easily avoided if you just spoke out about how you're feeling."
"I'm not sure what I'm feeling. Anger?"
"Or maybe you want to be like Morio, too?" he asked. "I thought that you were going to Magna to become a Demonear as well."
"I'm not..." he put his hands together. "Grghh!" he yelled into his palms, before looking up again, fixing his glasses.
Atomu sat on the other side of the tree. "If you let small things like these affect the course of the entire journey, then the future might be stained as well. I'd know," he nodded.
Jyuzou looked down. "I'm sorry," he admitted. "I d-don't know why I said all those things to him."
"Apologise to Chyuuichi, not me," he said. "He's been hurt."
Jyuzou gulped. It seemed like he wanted to add something, but stopped himself.
"No one here is perfect enough to let insults fly over their heads," Atomu added. "We all have deeper ends."
"Like all stories do." Jyuzou stood up, fixing his glasses.
***
"So, why are ya heading to the Demonear exam?" Chyuuichi asked, snacking on some seeds, spitting them out, too sour for his liking.
"To kill demons!" Morio replied.
"Bah, there must be more than that!" Chyuuichi added.
"Did Bruno tell you that, too?"
"First time hearing that name in my life!" Chyuuichi answered, throwing another seed into his mouth. "I figured since ya seem relentless and a pain in the schwarf!" he spat the seed out. Again.
"I have lots and lots of goals." Morio beamed. "I want to go as far as possible, then mark everything down on these maps! Here!" he took one out of his pocket, sticking his tongue out. Chyuuichi unfolded it, kicking his legs up and down in excitement.
"WOW!" Chyuuichi yelled out, checking the map of Shimori. "One question, Morin! The sinkhole, where's the sinkhole?"
"The what?" Morio asked, smiling.
"Sinkhole! Sink. Hole."
Morio looked around the map. "What even is that?"
"Let me show it to ya." Chyuuichi stood up, taking off the rope that he used as his pants' belt. He swung it, and it wrapped around a tree's thick branch. "Ya see all that snow below, right?"
"Mhm!"
"Boom!" Chyuuichi let go, as sleet fell, revealing its dark brown wood, crashing down onto the drift below. The two bounced back from one another, creating an empty circle of dark green. "...and just like that! A massive hole appeared." He went back to the map. "Morio, charcoal, truna!"
"Truna?"
"Charcoal!" Chyuuichi raised his voice.
Besides charcoal, mirillians used the mineral truna to make thick black writing on the walls or to draw around the rocks.
"There!" he scribbled it down on the map. "Lot Thúrum or whatever ya call it, leads to Mirillis and Soban, my land, my home!" he put his hand on his heart. "I think."
"If you're from over there, how did you find yourself in Wendigo?" Morio asked, tracing around the map.
"Sometimes things don't have answers in my mind! Ya live yer life and wait for it to show you its gifts, day by day! I might connect the dots sometime soon, who knows?" he shrugged. "Not today, though. Haha."
"You seriously don't remember?"
"Nope! Just that I'm Chyuuichi and I'm heading to the Demonear exam! Some things stay in my brain, though. Like yer name! Morin!"
"Huh!" Morio jumped up. "But isn't that bad...?"
Chyuuichi laughed. "I'm still kicking, as dumb as ever, but I'll wreck all the competition on the Demonear exam, trust me on that one!"
As their joys echoed in and out, something cracked in the distance. The two turned, in shock.
"I've read some stuff in the book in the meantime," Jyuzou added, on the other end of the copses.
"Isn't this book kind of..." he stopped. "Weird?"
"Hm?"
"Who wrote it?"
"There are two letters on the cover. R and S."
"Can't recall..." Atomu furrowed his eyebrows.
"Well... it does have strange depictions of races. When I read about morians, it focused on our negative traits. I never knew that people considered us to be... haughty?"
Atomu coughed. "What does it say about paladians?"
Jyuzou opened the book.
"Actually, I don't wanna know. Don't read it." Atomu said.
Jyuzou smirked a bit before covering his mouth. "I've learned that there are many types of demons out there. T-To be expected, but not in the way I thought. Some are smarter, some dumber, but they all seem to have that one primary goal in mind."
"To k-kill any human they find, yeah?" Atomu turned. "That's what Bruno said."
"There's much more to it, though. It talked about smaller types, imps, the unnamed speaking bunch and those who fly or are twice the size of paladians. There used to be hierarchies as well, with the biggest ones in Mount Aria."
"Yeah." Atomu gulped. "You could figure that out."
"Not much is detailed, though. One thing it talks about the most is demons pretending to be humans. The smarter they are, the greater their impression of humans. Rich personalities, interests, hobbies, favourite things, and stuff they hate. But... that doesn't make sense. Would you still want to kill someone else if you were just like them?" he asked.
"I don't know."
"If you were someone like that, what would you do?"
Atomu stopped for a moment, thinking. "It's s-something I'd rather not think about."
"What if one of us turned out to be something so wretched?" he shook his head. "Would you still kill them?"
Atomu bit his lip in stress. "Only one comes out at the top. Either the first to strike with their sword or the one who let them get controlled by that... objective," he looked into Jyuzou's eyes.
"It's different when they act and behave like mindless creatures. You wouldn't be able to kill a human, right? Then, how about something so close to one that it's..."
"Scary," Atomu muttered.
Jyuzou whispered. "Yeah."
Atomu put his hand on his forehead. "I think I'm starting to hate how smart you are. Kids always ask many questions, but yours are different, though. I don't like that."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jyuzou asked.
"Uh, sorry." Atomu played around with his hair. "It sounded like I was trying to take a jab at you. I'm not much with wisdom, just... I've got y-younger siblings."
"Wisdom or not, screw that," he shook his head. "Morio would be the same in that department."
"Really?"
"I'd think he'd be as much of a nuisance as I just was if you gave him a chance."
Atomu snickered. "I'd rather not, then."
"Oi!" Chyuuichi yelled out, as Morio ran around the lake's edges. "Let's go, you guys!"
"The lake's unfrozen!" Morio added.
The night lights shone bright.