The 84th of Yule was known to many as a particularly foggy night. A rare phenomenon occurred, causing sleet to lift from the fields and slowly mix with the air, surrounding the areas in a white mist. If one were to look far into the distance, they'd see nothing, and the surrounding mountains, especially their wolves and tigers, revealed themselves the closer one was.
However, it was especially dense near the waters. The shadow of the peaks cascading over the reflective surface seemed to minger for a bit before fading into the massive landscape present, with the night lights painting the road towards a small corridor erected between the White Mountains, which couldn't be made out.
"I can't see anything," muttered Jyuzou, fixing his glasses and rubbing them against his sweater.
"It's not your glasses," Morio mentioned, staring forward. "It's really foggy."
"Is it your first time seeing something like this?" Atomu stood up after putting the boat at the lake's edge. "Lignoria's full of fog in Dear."
"Definitely not," Jyuzou uttered. "But never to this degree."
"Don't worry about anything, though!" Morio raised his voice. "It's a simple road, based on the map and what Mr Bancho said! Just follow my commands."
"Are you strong enough to row?" The other closed an eye, sighing.
"Of course, Jyuzou!"
Afterwards, he tried proving his strength by grabbing the boat by its rope and pulling it as hard as possible. With his cheeks flushing red and the same appearing all across his face and body, Morio eventually let go, turning around with a few huffs.
"My muscles are sleepy," he said.
"Surely, Morio," Jyuzou smirked, crossing his hands.
"Glassy idiot," he spoke through his teeth.
Atomu tried as well, but was unsuccessful. He ground his teeth, closing his eyes, as the boat barely teetered above the water with the next pull.
"Where is Chyuuichi?" Morio asked.
"Here!" he raised his hand, sitting up on the boat the paladian struggled with. "The boat's comfy enough! Why don't we sleep here for the night? Eh? Maybe? Okay, no." he turned to the side. "But there's some writing on the side," he pointed, as Jyuzou wandered over, fixing his glasses.
"A boat for you, Christina!" he read.
"Who is Christina?" Chyuuichi yelled.
"Shut up!" A morian stepped out of his hut, not far from the four, and yelled out, embarrassed.
"Do you think he's in love with Christina?" The mirillian looked up.
"Chyuuichi, get off the boat," Atomu added.
"Huh? But we're riding them, aren't we?"
"I can't untie the rope if it's not on the shore!"
Although morians didn't travel much with boats, they were very protective of them and needed lots of convincing to lend them. In turn, they created special ropes that became incredibly slippery when they came into contact with water. It was a simple method, but very effective. A few years ago, a bunch of people from Wendigo managed to waddle over through Lapida and tried to ride the boats in a drunken haze, but were very unsuccessful. Even the ones that sobered up couldn't seem to find the solution.
"Then just move the whole thing! You're strong, huh?" Chyuuichi continued.
"You're too h-heavy!" Atomu shook his head, closing his eyes.
"Are you-" The mirillian blinked. "Are you calling me fat?"
"Wow." Jyuzou opened his mouth slightly.
"Rude," Morio muttered.
"Stop putting words in m-my mouth...!" Atomu grabbed Chyuuichi by his collar before his hand accidentally landed on his chest.
He felt something thick and metallic underneath those strangely thin layers of attire. He furrowed his brows, pushing his palm behind the scarf.
"Why are you wearing armour?"
"I am?" he asked. "Why would I possibly be wearing armour?"
Atomu put his hand on his face and walked away, sitting down on a rock. Chyuuichi stepped off the boat and unzipped his vest, revealing a big iron chestplate with some vine-like embroidery on the side. "Wow! I AM wearing armour!"
Morio pulled the boat in. "SEE?!" he signalled to Jyuzou.
"Sleepy muscles," Jyuzou repeated before something caught his attention in the distance.
"I don't get it, how d-did you not know? Wasn't it heavy?" Atomu moved his hands around.
"Oh! I remember, Atam!" Chyuuichi tapped his shoulder twice. "Mirillians wear armour all the time!
"Really?"
"Yep! Stupid old me, haha!" Chyuuichi gave himself a thumbs up before carelessly throwing the armour to the ground. It made a loud thunk and vibrated, causing Jyuzou to step back
Atomu stood up again, putting both hands inside the piece, trying to lift it.
"T-There!" he yelled out after it finally came undone. Atomu quickly glanced at Chyuuichi, who lifted the other side without much of a problem.
"What?" Chyuuichi asked.
Atomu was shocked and disturbed at the same time. "Let me see your arm!" he immediately put his hands on his undershirt's sleeve and moved it, seeing a normal-looking, albeit bigger than normal arm, coated in a different material. "You're wearing chainmail too?!"
Chyuuichi scratched the back of his head. "I guess so!" he answered. "It's part of this armour, but it can disconnect into two pieces! Ain't that neat?"
"I'm giving up." Atomu moved back, quickly calming down. "How on Errarion is s-someone of your build this strong?"
Chyuuichi shrugged with a tight beam.
"All ready, all set!" Morio announced, sitting comfortably near the bow. He put his backpack behind him and two of the four oars in both hands, dipping them in the shallow water.
"This isn't the Christina boat, right?" Chyuuichi pointed.
Morio shook his head.
"Good! I already reserved that one!" Chyuuichi stated, lying down in the other boat.
"Stop mentioning that name!" The morian opened the window.
"CHRISTINA CHRISTINA CHRISTINA!" The mirillian shouted before the morian threw a dead fish his way, hitting his head. Chyuuichi grabbed it, put it into the boat and smirked. The morian breathed in loudly before slamming the window shut.
"Move. There are only two boats," Atomu noted.
"Ya guys will fit in one. I have to take my armour with me." Chyuuichi nodded.
"Are you serious?" Morio made a strange face.
"We're not taking that massive baggage." Atomu shook his head.
"Yer taking yer backpacks!" he pointed.
"They have items of the utmost importance!" Morio raised his voice. Jyuzou wondered where Morio had heard such a difficult word.
"...and I'm cold without it! It is also of the utblabala impromptu." Chyuuichi informed, nodding in confidence.
"Won't it be better if Morio gets in one boat with me and Jyuzou does so with Chyuuichi? I feel if a mirillian and a paladian plus... p-potential armour sat in one, it'd sink." Atomu sighed.
"Oh yeah." Morio nodded. "Balancing out the weight."
"Heeh?" Chyuuichi squinted as Atomu tiptoed over to the other boat.
"I'll sit in the back since I'm heavier. Armour goes in the middle of you and Jyuzou." Atomu explained.
"I'll be cold."
"Hug the boat!" Morio raised his voice.
"Genius, genius right there!" Chyuuichi hugged the boat, and Atomu covered his face again. "By the way, where is Jyuso?"
"Jyuzou?" Morio furrowed his eyebrows. "Jyuzou!"
Atomu stepped into the mist before something struck his knee. He backed out, in slight pain, before spotting Jyuzou, lying on the ground, kicking his feet up and down. He held his journal in one hand and the red book in the other. He quickly put them to the side and moved his hands, holding up his chin.
"Do you see that?" Jyuzou's eyes were shining and reflecting in his glasses. "I finally found it! The second variant of the Callothia flower!" he pointed, and Atomu crouched. "Isn't it pretty?"
"Yeah, it's very pretty!" Atomu answered, giggling.
Chyuuichi put his hand on his scarf, closing his eyes. "Thank ya, Morin."
"For what?"
"For not being interested in that flower."
"Dude, no way." Morio shook his head. "All that plant stuff is boring."
"You take that back right now!" Jyuzou yelled out.
"Boring, stupid flowers," Morio repeated.
"Says the one who willingly ate food out of snow. TWICE." Jyuzou's hand shook, pointing at Morio.
"Ew..." Atomu covered his mouth, moving closer.
"You ate snow?" Chyuuichi asked, gulping.
"I didn't eat snow-"
"I saw him do it! Grabbing fists full of orange snow into that greedy little mouth!" Jyuzou pointed.
"Gh! Gah! Pwah! Bh!" Morio made strange noises before putting his head on his knees and turning around, angrily. "NOT THE ORANGE YOU THINK OF!"
"Snow eater," Chyuuichi muttered.
"I'll push that chest plate into the water." Morio stood up, threatening him.
"SORRY!" Chyuuichi put his hands together, pleading. "I'M SORRY, MORIO!"
Their banter continued for a while longer, with the mirillian's yells waking up more morians than needed. Jyuzou sighed at the commotion, while Atomu bumped his shoulder when he straightened up again.
"D-Don't you have something to do, Jyuzou?" Atomu eyed him with a quiet word.
"Right." Jyuzou moved his glasses up. "Mark the flower on the map."
"You're taking the boat with Chyuuichi.".
The morian breathed out before nodding. The paladian stepped over to the boat and sat behind Morio's backpack, grabbing the two oars.
Jyuzou put his hand into his coat's pocket. He breathed out as Chyuuichi kept waving at him. He sat in the front, and soon, both boats found themselves traversing the foggy lake.
"L-Let's follow them, okay?" Jyuzou proposed.
"Yer saying all that as if I knew where to go." Chyuuichi shook his head.
"Right," Jyuzou muttered, closing his eyes.
***
The four moved through the fog, closer towards the middle of the lake, revealing the area. In the distance, trees led down a river towards Magna, as well as the first, arguably shallow peaks of the surrounding landscape. The full moon, dancing with the night lights, reflected on the water's edge and illuminated some of its depths.
Morio glanced down, trying to spot something through the darkness.
"Are these waters any dangerous?" Atomu asked. "I know I ought to h-have asked earlier, and... You seem to be cautious."
"Pff, are you scared of some water?" Morio smirked.
"It's r-rightful fear." Atomu put his hands together. "Especially if you don't know what hides in its depths."
"I always try to be cautious when I'm in new places. I heard thousands of stories about this lake, some good, others... a little worse, but people can't seem to agree on anything." Morio dipped his fingers below the surface. "Jyuzou thought this place would be full of those stupid Callothia flowers, but he only found one."
"They're not stupid." Atomu frowned.
"Some say the waters are full of tasty fish, others that some demonic whale lives below the ice," he looked at Atomu.
Atomu was startled. "I regret asking! We could've just walked around the lake after all. We're not that much faster anyway, are we?"
"Time shall tell, and much like with all those other stories, my answer is the same, all across the board!" he added. "It's better to see it all for yourself!"
Jyuzou swam up to the two. "Morio's right. There's a c-current where the lake meets the river. It speeds up things immensely," he explained. "I guess we could've trodden the shore a bit longer. Maybe we'd find more boats there?"
"This one's comfy! Never leaving!" Chyuuichi stated, closing his eyes.
Jyuzou ground his teeth. Atomu glanced at him, and Morio squinted before speeding up, leaving the two alone.
As silence grew, Jyuzou eventually turned, spotting the mirillian.
"So," The morian tried starting a conversation, hearing Chyuuichi humming something, albeit very quietly.
"Yeah?" Chyuuichi immediately sat up and looked at him.
"I'm not sure if our c-camraderie started on a high note," Jyuzou said, fixing his glasses, and Chyuuichi made a strange face. "...and I said some things that were pretty far from the actual truth. Maybe it was the stress surrounding it all, but..." he gulped. "What I'm trying to say is-"
"Look, if it's about your boot, I'm sure there's a neat store for that somewhere in Magna!"
"It's n-not about the boot, okay?" Jyuzou uttered. "I wanted to say that I'm..." he cleared his throat. "That I'm sorry."
"For what?" Chyuuichi asked.
"C-Calling you all those things. They were awful."
"Oh, it's fine, don't worry! I've been called way worse, I think!" Chyuuichi patted Jyuzou's hair, chortling.
"You're not mad at me?"
"I don't even remember most of the things ya said!" Chyuuichi smiled. "At the same time, I don't think I get it either. Why would ya want to be angry?"
Jyuzou put his hands together.
"We're all future Demonears, eh? Without a solid group, what are we, just some little humans wandering around this huge world, asking more questions than receiving answers? That especially applies to me!" Chyuuichi stated. "Ya wouldn't want to be alone, would ya, Jyuso? It'd get boring!"
"I guess so?" Jyuzou scratched his face. "...and it's Jyuzou."
"Alright, Jyuso, and I'm serious here! Those plants will never satisfy yer hunger. Of course, except for the ones that ya can eat." Chyuuichi signalled. "Ya can't find substitutes for loneliness. Ya need people,"
Jyuzou opened his mouth.
Of course, the best thing to counter his argument was mentioning the fact that, unlike the others, he wasn't going to take part in the exam. However, the morian seemed to hesitate, as if there really was nothing to go against in Chyuuichi's simple and effective words.
"I always surround myself with people, and I don't even realise it! Maybe it comes down to whether I remember how I found myself there in the first place, but whatever, ya know? Who cares about all that? We're not demons, that's what it is!"
From time to time, the morian glanced at the water, then back at the mirillian. "What would-" he spoke "-never mind."
"No, no, tell me, Jyuso." Chyuuichi signalled him to keep going.
"It's nothing." Jyuzou turned around.
The boat started shaking.
"Steady control, Morio," Atomu explained, signalling with his hand.
"You're the one swinging the oars around like a horse's tail!" Morio added.
On rare occasions, Metho seeds would fall into the animals' tails and get stuck in the hair. When morians stepped down from their horses, they shook their tails around, expecting some reward.
Atomu squinted. "I'm not doing anything."
Morio turned, holding the oars in one place. His eyes widened. "Firstly, why aren't you rowing?"
"There is a small current. Can't you feel it?" Atomu pointed.
"It's taking us backwards!" Morio replied. "Jyuzou!" he yelled into the mist.
"YEAH?" Jyuzou raised his voice.
"Is your boat shaking?!"
"NO!"
Morio stopped rowing, putting the oars up. The boat trembled, with each swing causing it to move a little faster,
"Whoa.." Atomu held onto the sides of the boat, panicking.
Morio immediately stood up, glancing around.
"Get down, Morio!" he shouted.
"Shh! Shh!" he shushed him, looking down.
The boat halted as small bubbles appeared in the water, but after a while, they faded with the fog. Morio gulped, sitting down.
Atomu blinked twice, expecting answers.
"I think a few fish swam by the boat," Morio replied.
"Really?" Atomu raised a brow.
"That's weird. Fish aren't usually this high up in the waters unless it's icy. They're very wary of anyone swimming through." Jyuzou's boat approached theirs.
"Unless they're running from something!" Morio raised a finger.
"Guys, I don't like this," Atomu announced. "Please stop assuming the worst things, every single time, because they usually end up happening,"
"Fish can't run, and if something is trying to attack us, it's better to know earlier," Jyuzou stated.
"Why would denying the inevitable make it any better?" Atomu looked terrified.
"No." Jyuzou raised his voice. "We'll know if there's a way to prevent that!"
"Then why are we just standing in the water?" Atomu asked, pointing. "Start rowing so we can get away from this monster!"
"Who told you there is a monster?" Morio looked at him, snickering.
Chyuuichi curiously peeked out from the boat and put his head into the water.
"Start rowing!" Atomu put both oars into his hands and started flapping against the water.
"Oh, Shin!" Jyuzou put his hand on his nose. "You call yourself a leader?"
"I'm not the leader, damn it! It's he who made all that up!" he pointed to the mirillian. "C-Chyuuichi?"
Chyuuichi turned to the others. Water dripped down from his lips and wet hair, and with an awkward smile, he announced. "There's a big whale below us."
"Whale? In a lake?" Jyuzou chuckled. "Please, Chyuuichi, it must be-"
Out of the blue, Morio and Atomu's boat was sent flying, with a massive spear-like attack. When the liquids shifted, a grey body was revealed, with a shining eye, clearing the mist around the lake.
It bellowed sharply, before locking eyes with Jyuzou.
"M-MORIO! ATOMU!"
When the creature fell onto the water's edge, it bounced off Jyuzou's and Chyuuichi's boat, flipping it upside down. Morio fell onto the whale and grabbed a massive fin growing on its back.
"No, no!" Atomu dropped onto its slippery body before grabbing Morio's leg and grinding its teeth.
Morio closed one eye, trying to climb further.
"DON'T MOVE, I'LL FALL!" Atomu screamed in fear. Morio forcefully put his foot up, in a mild panic, yet he tried to think of any coherent solution.
He breathed in and out, heavily.
"MORIO!" The paladian screamed before letting go of his foot. He landed on a dent, as water shot him out into the sky again. Morio's body turned, but he kept holding on. Atomu's eyes shrank in awe.
"You bastard!" Chyuuichi yelled, taking out a rope from his pants and throwing it towards the whale. It wrapped itself around a sharp spike on its head, and he smiled before letting go.
He punched the whale in its face.
"Ah." Chyuuichi fell into the water.
The whale groaned, angered, as the spike grew in size, changing into something resembling a tentacle. As it tried grabbing Morio, it hit its own body, piercing through an open hole, reaching out from the other side, and heading straight towards the paladian. With a tight grasp, it strangled Atomu, while Morio managed to take a stand on the fin, shocked.
The whale looked up, opening its mouth.
"MORIO! DO SOMETHING!" Chyuuichi screamed out.
Morio shook his head before reaching into his sheath. With a clenched jaw and Victis in both hands, he stabbed the whale's body, much to no avail. Little drops of blood splattered on his cloak, and yet another long tentacle appeared, grabbing Chyuuichi's body. He screamed, matching Atomu's yells. The morian desperately held onto the fin, sinking his feet into the whale's body.
Morio looked around, breathing in. He tried to spot Jyuzou around the waters but was unable to find anything. He looked up at the paladian and mirillian, trapped in the whale's tight grasp. He gulped.
"Dark deformities." Bancho pointed to a small knife he held in his hand. "They're normal animals, unfortunately, corrupted by a demon's touch. They lose all their beneficial characteristics, and much like demons, turn into something controlled by a primal desire to kill anything on sight. They won't go back to how they once were."
The tentacles started retracting into the whale's spiky body, and Atomu struggled, shaking around.
"We're about to be eaten!" Chyuuichi announced.
"Morio! " Atomu continued yelling. "Do something, please!"
"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."
Morio eyed the same point inside the jaw, attached to the ceiling of its mouth. He breathed heavily and then yelled out in a fit of vigour.
Without further hesitation, he jumped in.
Atomu's eyes widened, and with a loud sound, the tentacles let go of both, who started falling into the same mouth. When they were about to meet its sharp, big rows of teeth or a tongue that seemed to venture towards swallowing them whole...
...the whale closed its mouth.
The two bounced off its teeth, holding onto any fin at the side.
"M-Morio?" Atomu asked weakly.
Chyuuichi put his hands together, gulping.
Out of the blue, the whale's body flipped to the side.
A fountain of blood streamed out of the top of its body, and when the two squinted, they made out the shape of a stone sword, dancing against the crimson.
Crashing into the boat, Atomu turned to the body instantly. Chyuuichi swam out, which was followed by the whale's groan, and a figure lifting a sword inside its massive mouth. A proud smile could be seen on the morian's face, and when the eye met his determined glance, the colour seemed to fade away.
Before the jaws could close, the morian leapt into the water, only to be met with another groan, signifying its defeat.
Morio breathed in and out, heavily.
"I killed it! I killed the monster!" he yelled joyously, turning to Atomu.
"Oh, my!" Atomu put his hand on his face. "Morio, don't ever do something like that again!"
Morio chuckled before swimming up to the boat and climbing right on.
Atomu took out clothes, which, somehow, much like the other bags and equipment, didn't sink with the other boat. He stuffed some of it in Morio's hands, as the morian threw it over his head.
"I thought you were a goner for a moment there."
"Sorry, sorry!" Morio grinned. "There was no other way around it, though!"
"Oi, team!" Chyuuichi raised his voice. "Where is Jyuso?" he asked, and the two glanced, right as a few bubbles appeared out from below the water's thin surface.
Their eyes widened, and the mirillian leapt in without hesitation.
Jyuzou struggled underwater. The moon's light grew distant, and with each second that passed, his body headed into the lake's depths. He tried screaming out, but his voice was drowned out. His vision got blurry, and he closed his eyes, almost giving up.
...and when all hope was seemingly lost, something touched his hand. In a snap, he drifted out from the depths.
The mirillian quickly put the morian's body atop the boat, as he coughed some of the water out. Chyuuichi breathed heavily, holding onto the edge, and glanced at Jyuzou, who turned his head.
Atomu sighed, pushing onto his heart. Morio raised his hands, and Chyuuichi shook his wet head around.
"Man, did ya give me a fright!" he yelled out. "I'm not a good swimmer either, but ya ought to tell the others you can't do that at all!" he climbed the boat as well, sitting atop. "Guess ya could say that seals the deal!"
"What d-deal?" Jyuzou asked.
"Ya've got debt in me now! Next time I need to be saved, ya better haul right over and swim, even if ya can't!" he laughed.
Jyuzou clenched his fists, wanting to add something. In a snap, though, he gave up. Morio and Atomu moved over, and Jyuzou breathed out, turning to the night lights.
They were still there.
"T-The boat's flipped over," he eventually muttered.
"Our bags are all here!" Morio added, raising both. One almost tumbled in before the tired paladian caught its end.
"What about your armour?" The glassy-eyed turned to Chyuuichi, scratching his head.
"Oh, damn it!" Chyuuichi slapped his knee. "I'll be cold now."
"You're already wet." Jyuzou pointed.
"I'll be even colder!" Chyuuichi raised his voice before glancing down. Jyuzou grabbed his hand.
"D-Don't, okay?" he smiled. "We'll find some in M-Magna."
Chyuuichi sighed. "Right after we get ya new boots as well!"
"Who's gonna pay for that?" Atomu raised his concerned voice.
Both morian and mirillian chuckled, as Morio joined in as well. Then, the white-haired turned back to the paladian, seemingly fighting the earlier exhaustion. All was well for now, even though there was still quite a road ahead. That being said, Morio spotted a wound going right across Atomu's face.
"You're bleeding," he pointed.
"Ah, it's nothing." Atomu shook his head, wiping the blood on the boat's side. "I'll get that checked out in Magna."
"You were shocked when I jumped into that whale's mouth, but your own wounds don't seem to matter?"
"It was a much bigger sacrifice! Don't do something as reckless as that again, Morio!"
"I'm just saying!" he put both hands up. "I'll keep getting back up, and that extends to everyone here. A small wound could be the start of something bad if not cured fast enough. Jyuzou, you got more of those rossas herbs?"
"I think so?" Jyuzou turned, blinking a few times. "How's your palm, Atomu?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore," he quickly answered, stuffing his hand into a pocket. "...and as I said, we've got bigger fish to fry here."
"We're gonna eat the whale?" Chyuuichi asked, and Morio's eyes lit up.
"That was..." Atomu sighed, and Jyuzou considered the mirillian's words for a few seconds. "I meant, your life isn't worth sacrificing, Morio." Atomu shook his head. "You can always count on us."
"I'm strong, aren't I?" he asked.
"Yes, obviously," Atomu added, and Chyuuichi raised his fist.
"You lot won't be there forever, though." he shook his head.
"For now, don't be afraid to ask for help," Atomu explained. "That's what I mean. I know there wasn't much time to think things through now, but... let it be s-some warning for the future, okay?"
The four glanced at each other before at least a lukewarm smile appeared on each face.
"Of course...!" Morio gave him a thumbs-up, sticking his tongue out.
Jyuzou breathed out before staring forward. "The fog's cleared."
***
No matter where one found themselves in Errarion, every thirty days, the night would be guided under the careful watch of a full moon.
In Shimori, it sat above the colourful night lights. In Malikan, it danced above a plethora of little, dotted white points and a purple background, and in Lignoria, it was usually accompanied by a few small clouds.
With such a common occurrence came common rumours. Some people thought that the worst things in Errarion happened specifically on days like these. Beliefs stemmed from various religions. For example, the people of Pasto were taught that the moon opposed the ever-glowing sun, which was why certain things were said. Morians weren't necessarily heavy on the idea, but sometimes they'd be surprised how much of a coincidence these nights came to be.
Though thankfully, after a few hours, the sun came up, among blue skies. The four eventually followed a river that grew tighter each time the current sped up.
They travelled between the White Mountains, home to the white tigers, rumoured to be wandering around their white peaks and observing the people passing through. They were powerful, wild animals, holding as much respect for morians as they did for them. This time, however, they couldn't spot one, even when Jyuzou stood on the boat and squinted.
Near the actual river, stood a few small houses, where people walked into the waters with big straw hats, trying to find any shining specks of gold dug between the grounds. They'd take their boats and go to Magna to trade them for actual money or to buy things needed for survival.
A few days ago, one of them found a stash of below a rock, which swam down from the lakes. Chyuuichi got excited by the idea, and for a moment, dove into the water, searching for anything that would shine. Jyuzou quickly pulled him back in, though.
After the White Mountains came a long forest, where the waters connected into one, thin path, sometimes bending, but one wouldn't need to swing oars back and forth to advance. A constant sound welcomed the four, comprised of birds, chirping strangely, sitting on the striped, white and black branches.
The noise resembled a specific word of Old Manjuno: "Birching", which meant "tall trees". So, the forest was commonly referred to as the Birching Trees.
Jyuzou focused on certain spots around the river, trying to find anything of interest. The only thing he spotted were small bunnies, or deer in the distance, wandering around and minding their business.
"There can't be any more plants exclusive to Yule that you haven't already seen," Morio said.
"I agree with Morin." Chyuuichi shook his head confidently. "Belfer seeds, um... Cal- Cal- the funny flowers!"
Jyuzou flipped the pages of the red book, sighing. "Shut up, Morio."
"BACK TO YOU, GLASSY IDIOT!" Morio inched closer, almost stepping out of the different boat, only to be stopped by Atomu.
"There is one. A sweeter alternative to the nahi fruit."
"Nahi?" Atomu's eyes lit up. "They're quite tasty from what I've t-tried," he smiled.
"Exactly," Jyuzou pointed out, and Chyuuichi let out a loud groan. "They're called the big junis since they can only be found on juniper trees," he smiled. "I haven't seen one yet, but it's said to be of a thick navy colour, filling, tasty and very, very sweet."
"Let's find the big junis." Atomu clenched his fists.
"Hello?!" Morio looked at the two. "We still have a Demonear test to attend?!"
"It can't possibly take that long." Jyuzou fixed his glasses. "The book says that they can be found in the Birching Trees and the Tukman Woods, all of those being the general areas of Magna. We still have two days-"
"If you become a Demonear, you'll have all the time in this world to find those dumb fruits." Morio pointed, touching Jyuzou's nose. "I'd say, even others will help you find it! Set your priorities straight!" Morio nodded with a confident smile. Atomu glanced at him for a moment before turning to Jyuzou.
"What's with that c-confidence?" Jyuzou asked, scratching his neck. "Are you sure that you're all going to pass? Remember what Mr Bruno said?"
"Yer not taking part?" Chyuuichi added, too quiet for Jyuzou to hear.
"Well, duh!" Morio sighed. "I killed a whale with a dull stone sword. You still think I'm not passing?"
"That was reckless, by the way," Atomu muttered, and Morio quickly shushed him.
"What if a dark deformity whale were way weaker than an actual demon??" he asked, shaking his head. "I'd step back and reconsider that i-illusion of strength if I were you."
"Negative Nancy." Morio huffed.
"Stupid Simon."
"That's a new one," Atomu uttered. "Jyuzou's right, though. Demons tend to be much stronger than that. At least be wary not to fly too far into those thoughts, Morio."
"Eh?"
"Exactly what we talked about yesterday."
Morio glanced down, and his necklace fell from beneath his brown vest. He stuffed it back in and then turned to the Victis sword, resting in its sheath.
"I can know one thing for sure, I'm not staying with you, Morio." Jyuzou pointed.
"Rude." Morio folded his arms.
"If plants don't interest you, what's the point?" Jyuzou asked. "First things first, I'm going back to Mistwick. You may be a ball of energy, but I'll need rest after all that... tango."
Tango was the name of the dance the married morians performed during the ceremonies. It was taken over from a similar tradition of paladians, who danced until the moon rose during their wedding night.
"I'll explore the world." Morio beamed. "Since there's so much to see, still!"
Chyuuichi kept looking at the sky, almost dazing off. Atomu glimpsed, seeing his mouth moving. What followed was a little whistle, which changed into quiet words among the banter.
"In the cold mornings of the frosty Yule, when the snow dances around the cliffs..." he sang, very quietly. "Eat all the food until you're full, set out to explore this world's mists..."
"Oh! Oh?" Atomu opened his mouth. "You know the Travelling song?"
"Huh!" Chyuuichi immediately sat straight. "You know it too?!"
"I've heard it in Wendigo, and it kinda... flew into my ear," Atomu said, nervously.
Morio and Jyuzou looked at each other, perfectly knowing what was to unfold.
"I think it went like-" Atomu moved his hand around. "Take a bag in your hand, and an atlas of this world."
"Or a weapon to mend, or a pillow to sleep by the pond!" Chyuuichi continued, smiling from cheek to cheek.
"From the cold basin doors to the warm blue fronts!" The two started harmonising. "From the sunny boars to the great sandy shores! Come on and back it up, time to travel! From one end of the world to the beginning of sound! Come on and back it up, time to travel!" Chyuuichi's voice was rather enthusiastic, and Atomu's, as deep as a wound. "The snow melts, and Herbes comes to spring!"
"Morio." Jyuzou sighed loudly. "How long until we reach Magna?"
"Two hours," Morio replied, covering his ears. "Two. Hours."
"SING IT WITH US, THE TRAVELLING SONG!" the two yelled out, clapping their hands. A deer stared as the boats passed a rather large formation of rocks.
***
At the same time, when the sun found itself casting a fine ray upon the houses lined up near the edges of the Shimori Lake, a trail of blood led out towards a backyard.
It was unusually silent around these parts. It's not that the other morians were particularly quiet or... scared of anything nearby.
It was just that the other houses had nothing that someone was searching for.
Then, the hush snapped, as a table was thrown towards the entrance, breaking one of the two rectangular windows and, in turn, destroying the furniture itself.
"There's nothing upstairs," a feminine voice spoke, as a red-hooded figure slid down from a flight of steps. "...and judging by your reaction."
"Hold it, Lisbeth." A low scoff answered her, before the figure on the other side, much taller than the other, with long, brown hair and a fur-like attire, scanned the wall in front of him.
Moving his eyes past the doorway to the kitchen, they landed on a bookcase stretching from where the wall bent, down towards another door, presumably leading to a bathroom.
The other figure seemed to focus, before the same brutal demon launched himself on the books, throwing each one haphazardly, stopping at the last moment. Lisbeth jolted, and there it was, earlier standing behind a dozen other lectures.
A thin, triangular key, with some gold splattered on its end.
"He was right about the morians, then," the demon chuckled.
"He's never wrong, Isak," Lisbeth added.
"I'd be more natural for you to have at least some doubts. Especially if you actually listened to the words of anyone from the Zimorron, considering you were assigned as their acting leader."
"Acting is one word," she huffed. "Don't we all do exactly that, to some degree?"
"I never hide what I think about anything behind some hoods like you," he pointed out. "Rottwan's been missing, and it doesn't seem like you're trying to save the dynasty."
Isak trod over to the kitchen, taking a look through the windows, as well as the other door, leading to the backyard.
"But what do I know?" he chortled.
"Finding this key meant solidifying the plans I wasn't a part of," she said. "I was just there to make sure it sparked. I'm indebted to him, after all. Not just Rottwan."
"Whatever you say." Isak grinned, and such was followed by a deaf shout outside. The two stepped out of the house before finding a morian lying on the snow, with a broken leg, and a few pieces of shattered glass on the side.
Before him stood, presumably, another demon, bearing a black and brown attire, as well as a wolf's skull mask. They swung a chain around, as it hit the sleet next to the man, and took a cautious step back.
"I was wondering where you were, Leopold!" Isak commented.
The demon in question pointed upwards, and Isak gave Lisbeth another smirk, and she folded her arms.
The morian raised his hand. "P-Please. It was a gift! I didn't take their key!"
"It was in your house, partner," Isak uttered. "Wouldn't it be wiser to chuck it in a lake to get rid of a problem or two?"
"Ahh..." The morian gasped, with some blood falling out of his mouth. He flipped on his stomach before finding the courage to extend both arms and pray in the last moments. "Shin, spare my daughter, Shin, spare her!"
Isak chuckled, Lisbeth shook her head, and Leopold took a cautious step back.
"Spare her, Shin! Please, Shi-"
Isak's boot landed on the morian's head, solidifying it with the rest of the bloodied snow. He moved it around, with the sound of at least a few other bones in his body cracking in half. Lisbeth breathed out, and Leopold only seemed to witness every moment in relative silence.
"Alright, then," Isak muttered. "You know what's next."
***
When the boats started colliding with the rocks, the sun was nowhere to be seen, obscured by a big shadow. Atomu focused on the waters, Chyuuichi kept whispering under his nose, Jyuzou looked around the dark-green trees, and Morio eventually glanced up.
Before him, stretched a massive passage of mountains, with a ginormous statue in the middle, reaching its hand out towards the sky, holding a sword in the other. A wind picked up, and when the hill moved, red roofs could be seen, ones of smaller huts, the towers, some resembling a palace, splattered among the waters, or flowing into the Aria River.
Behind the statue stood Mount Aria, and even further to the west, the Tukman Woods. Some new, white brick huts could be spotted around the forest, and all of that before his eyes was what made up the city of...
"Magna," Morio spoke, before an unsure smile visited his face.
The others focused on the views and then looked at each other, reassuringly.
Atomu gulped, Jyuzou blinked a lot, and Chyuuichi stared excitedly.
"We've made it," The paladian announced.