Morio's grip around the sword tightened, and he locked his eyes with Isak's, feeling a drowning fear pulsing in his head.
Despite his vows and raging determination, the morian was scared. Was it death, or the demon standing before him, extending its bending horns at the idea of another victim slaughtered?
He felt powerless, sure that his sword wouldn't do him much justice. There was no other way out of this situation but plummeting down the ruins.
He thought of his mother and how she met a proverbial end, though this time, it was his life that was on the line. It felt more terrifying than what happened back in Mistwick, because no one would be there to save him.
He closed his eyes, crawling back. He couldn't dare to glance down. Isak was wary of every move taken and simultaneously let out a loud laugh before reaching his nails out towards Morio.
"S-Stay back!" Morio swung his sword forward, feeling a drop of sweat rolling down his forehead. "Go away...!"
"It's amazing!" Isak raised his voice, taking another stomp. "It's so fascinating how desperate they all get in the face of death! Look around, morian!" he extended his arms, closing an eye.
Morio's, in turn, wavered to the side, meeting exactly what he had entailed. Shining, red eyes, pulsing out of the thin fog, crawling in the shadows looming above the trees. They didn't leap at their prey, but waited patiently, as if for the stronger one to feast first.
His jaw shook as he raised the sword again, furrowing his brows.
"What are you going to do now? Pray to Shin?" he moved his head sporadically. "No more running now, morian," he chortled, with a grin, extending from eye to eye.
A snowy wind picked up from behind, with some flakes sticking to Isak's face, highlighting his shining, brutal eyes. They looked different from the pairs around. Perhaps it was the deeper, menacing colour, or the lack of light that bounced off from the distant moonlight.
The demon stepped back, readying another punch.
Morio breathed heavily, as if denying that everything here wasn't more than a dream. Maybe, in that aspect, Jyuzou could've been right. He wished none of this was real, much like everything one could consider childish or... strange.
Everything that Morio had worked towards would be gone without warning, and much like everyone said, different from what he imagined.
His eyes widened.
Isak swung before stopping right in front of Morio's face, who almost fell with a shout. His hand landed on a brick that fell off the structure, but he grabbed onto a side of some broken masonry. Then, he dared to look back at Isak, who glanced down at his stomach.
Isak breathed in and out, slowly turning.
"But-" he spouted, spotting someone, holding a sword through his body. "-how?!"
The attacker bellowed, pulling the weapon back and kicking Isak's side, as he tumbled from the ruins into the distant white puffs below, much to Morio's surprise.
The young morian pulled his cloak over his body before staring forward, seeing as a silhouette appeared from around the snowy hill.
"A-Atomu?!"
"Get up, Morio!" Atomu urged, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We need to hide."
"B-But how?!"
"I'll answer all of your questions later!" Atomu grabbed his hands as the two jumped onto the next bit of ruins, large rocks and thick tuk branches.
The demons crawled by, carefully eyeing the two. Some fell from the crowns of the many trees, others crawled up the rock, with the hailing wind pushing them away, though none dared to move in for a sneaky swipe or a bloodstained opportunity.
Morio's eyes focused on the ground below. Isak's body was gone, leaving a trail of blood behind. He gulped, turning to the paladian, as the two ventured into the woods once more.
***
Jeffy and Jyuzou went up a hill that stood among fifteen trees, circling an empty spot for the moon to shine in. Both morians paced around before Jeffy threw one of the ropes onto the big tuk.
"Are we climbing up?"
"You wanna stand here and wait for them to strike, or are you gonna come at them?" Jeffy asked, moving up.
The morian leapt where the branches formed a stair-like path between the smaller and bigger trees, up towards the ruins and some to the underground. It was exactly where they bent in such ways that leaves almost resembled plants, and someone like Jyuzou would note this detail, if not for everything else occupying his mind.
He gulped before following through. With one hand on a branch, he stopped, turning to the side. "J-Jeffy!"
"Eh?"
"T-There were demons above in the branches and crowns. I saw them all earlier," he quickly glanced to the sides. "What are we going to do?!" he whispered, panicking.
"They're not attacking us, Jyuzou," Jeffy informed.
"W-Why?" Jyuzou put his hands together. "This goes against any of the beliefs and r-rules that humans have about demons!"
"We're not demons to tell what shuckle-seeded things we can do! All this thinking will only make your head hurt, and I'd darn use the opportunity to try if nothing else works!"
"They'll kill us!"
Jeffy breathed in. "I was afraid, too, Jyuzou! When all the lights went out, the two of you disappeared for shuckle good, I was left all alone. I don't know why they're here, but... I recalled something Mama said once," he closed his eyes. "When you can't do something because you're afraid, do it scared! The thought of the two of you dying struck an even bigger nerve in my darn heart!"
Jyuzou fixed his glasses, blinking around a few times.
"You'd never leave Morio behind, would you? You don't just turn your back on your friends when they need you the most, and, I'd like to think we're that too, you know?" Jeffy nodded.
"I..." Jyuzou stopped for a moment. "A-Alright, I get it," he continued, crossing his arms and grinding his teeth, seeing a black silhouette climbing up the tree they stood on. "What's the plan?
"Kill a darn demon, at least a weak one. It'll all be over once that's done!" Jeffy explained.
"We'll need to find Morio first, though," he nodded.
"I saw that paladian chasing after him earlier; he's not alone! We need to focus on the objective and get out of here alive." Jeffy clenched his fist. "I'm acting like that's gonna be easy..."
"How do we kill a demon?!" Jyuzou put his hands in his hair, rubbing about, biting into his lip. "It's all so much!"
"Jyuzou! I'm starting to think that you're not as cool as I first made you out to darn be!" he pointed, putting his foot up.
"Ah?" Jyuzou moved back. "No! I'm..." he clenched his fist.
"I believe ya!" Jeffy yelled out, hopping around, amongst all the gazes sent their way, and a few hands signalling something to the other creatures. "We need to set up a bigger trap than any we made beforehand! We need it to destroy itself!" Jeffy shouted. "Rocks, lines, ropes, anything will work!"
"Bait?"
"That's one idea as well! You look like the darn person who'd make all these weird plans!" Jeffy continued. "...and they'd somehow work out!"
"I suck at that!" Jyuzou announced. "I'm... no!"
"Then make something out of what you have. Death or hope, what do you choose?"
Jyuzou squinted his eyes, thinking of Morio at that moment. "H-Hope!"
"Then, don't ask questions! Mama says that if you ask too many, you'll only receive more!" Jeffy climbed up a branch, and the two stopped near an open field, where the two ends of the long twigs created a bridge connecting one tuk with another.
***
Morio and Atomu passed by larger barks and moved inside a bigger entrance through the roots, hidden behind snowdrifts. The paladian signalled him to keep quiet, as he turned to a small hole in the wall, glancing out. He grabbed a big branch that had fallen off earlier, covering the tight opening.
Morio eyed him carefully as Atomu turned, squinting. "Seems we're safe for a while," he spoke up. "As you'd guess, though, we can't sit here until the test ends."
"Shouldn't you be with your team, though? I appreciate the help, but..." Morio put his hand on his shoulder, blinking.
"Yeah." Atomu huffed. "There's not much time. Sooner or later, this forest will become so swarmed that none of us will come out alive. Even if they're not attacking, per se." he took another gander, as one demon moved out of view.
"Not what I meant, Atomu." Morio ground his teeth. "We still need to kill a demon."
Atomu closed his eyes for a moment. "Our team already slaughtered one earlier."
"What?!" Morio raised his voice, and Atomu shushed him, gulping.
"I-It was that girl, Zuimu. She wandered off and brought its head back, much to our surprise. W-We tried to get her to explain what happened, but she didn't say anything." Atomu bit his thumb.
"Does she have a Guardian Demon or something...?" he whispered.
"I d-don't know." he closed his eyes. "She and Chyuuichi are safe, but I heard screams not far from where we were, so I came r-running." Atomu covered his face. "I think I might've been just fast enough, then."
Morio sighed. "Thank you."
"Remember what I said back then? We're looking out for each other, especially now. Don't be afraid to r-reach your palm out if need be."
Morio nodded again, putting his hands on his knees, frowning.
Atomu breathed out, whispering. "D-Do you know where Jyuzou and that other morian are?"
"They ran off together when Jeffy rolled a boulder down," Morio replied. "I didn't see much, though."
"Jyuzou'll probably find his way out of this. Especially when he's with someone else." Atomu continued. "Maybe he'll lose another boot, who knows? He'll squeeze through, though."
"I don't know," Morio whispered.
"Hmm?" The paladian inched closer.
The morian shook his head.
"Morio?"
"I... I'm worried." Morio said. "But I'm sure nothing will happen."
"Best if they find a safe spot, then. I don't know about the others, though," he added. "I glimpsed that tributal earlier, Ambrosia," he gulped, clenching his hand. "Th-their teammates were dead."
Morio's eyes widened.
"I found them on the ground, repeatedly stabbing a demon," Atomu explained. "One glance later, I spotted that the creature was long dead, yet they insisted on the same thing."
"How did they kill them?"
"N-No clue. There was this scary shine in their eyes as if they were possessed, at the very least. They didn't say anything either. Just... stab after stab, and blood splattered all over those beige ruins."
"Beige ruins?" Morio looked down. "That's Sig-Num Fort!"
"H-Huh?"
"Back when the demons first invaded Magna, tributals held them off in these woods, building a massive wall that they defended for weeks," Morio recalled, standing on his knees.
"Wait, I know the story. The wall fell, but they still managed to slaughter a massive one, which would've destroyed most of Magna." Atomu pointed.
"As if there was something there that helped them! L-Like a witch!" Morio stood up.
"A witch?"
"What else, Atomu? Don't you remember what I said on our way here? I saw one already!"
"Morio, Morio. Calm down. Let's not get too ahead of ourselves, alright?" Atomu proposed. "I don't even know how you came to such a conclusion..."
"Think about it! H-How did someone like Zuimu also do it?" the morian asked. "That must be the answer!"
"That's..." Atomu bit his thumb again.
"If we can't get Zuimu to tell us how she did it, then Sig-Num Fort's our only hope," Morio muttered.
"Morio, I'm telling you-"
"I saw her, Atomu!" Morio raised his voice. "Please, I'm not lying!"
"I d-don't doubt that."
"So we have to call for her," Morio asked, excitedly. "Let's kill the demon and get the hell out of here, all of us-"
Out of the blue, Atomu shushed the morian, pulling on his hand. Soon, big stomps sounded around the tree, and the two of them looked through the small gap, spotting a ten-meter-tall white creature with a black hole for its face, creating a heavy gust of snow every time it moved along the sleet.
It soon passed, but its distant stomps echoed in their minds.
"It wasn't snowing inside the forest," Morio pointed out. "This demon that caused it."
"Errarion always surprises you, eh?" Atomu asked, breathing out, with a certain strange glance in his eyes. "L-Let's go to that fort, then."
"Before it's too late!"
***
After minutes of struggling, poor planning and eventually a few wiser decisions, Jeffy and Jyuzou managed to lift a boulder, placing it atop the thicker branches using the ropes. With the other ones Jeffy still had, they crafted two, nigh-visible walls, separating the other trees from the two they stood on, netting them some reassurance for the time being.
Jyuzou gulped, spotting demons crawling around the trees. "I-I don't get it."
"Neither do I," Jeffy added. "Crackers, I thought those darn things would be head over heels to kill us, but no."
"It's like they're planning something."
"Then, we must act faster than them!" He added, and the other morian sat down, with his feet hanging from above. It wasn't a surprise that morians were naturally skilled at climbing. There were very few who were afraid of heights, unlike paladians, who usually complained when they were as low as ten meters above the ground.
Here, however, it was almost reassuring, causing Jyuzou to glance around, seeking more of the same feeling. "I-I hope the others are safe."
"Especially Morio." Jeffy continued, with a small smile.
"E-Everyone." Jyuzou turned, and Jeffy tilted his head. "...M-Morio too, then."
"Especially!" he repeated.
"Damn it." Jyuzou shook his head. "Thinking there was a chance that my last words to Morio would've been of an argument," he closed his eyes. "I need to apologise."
"Yeah..." Jeffy added, standing up and drawing some of the lines back. "Like, I didn't get to tell Mama goodbye before she left a few days ago! Only more reason to fight through and survive!"
Jyuzou nodded, sitting back. "...do you think what Morio said was right, now?"
"Come on!"
"I d-don't want the obvious answer just because we're helping each other out," the other gulped. "I mean, after this..." he sighed. "Do you think anything might change?"
"You never know, Jyuzou!" Jeffy patted his shoulder. "Did his words really hit that darn hard?"
"I just..." he gulped. "I'm really not sure."
"Well, then," he muttered. "If there's anything, don't be afraid to ask and find out."
Jyuzou slid his hand onto his forearm before one of his fingers met the one that was bandaged. It still bled beneath, but was the one reminder of where they came from, and how little danger there really was.
Seemed as if everything in this world would just keep growing bigger and stronger, with someone like him, making this haphazard decision, still being as small.
Would killing a demon be enough? Jyuzou squinted and inched closer towards Jeffy, as, down there, someone stood still, looking back at the morian.
It was a cold, empty gaze. Not a movement, not a word, but simply uneasy stares meeting his.
Leopold's eyes shone in the direction of the two before; eventually, he glanced elsewhere. One step led to another, and eventually, it moved further into the snowy forest, fixing its skull mask and straightening up.
"Again, it didn't do any shuckle thing...!" Jeffy complained.
"I-It was the same demon who knocked me out in the first place. He definitely noticed us, Jeffy," he gulped.
"But he just stared now! Maybe it knows we'd outsmart it again, eh?" he pointed.
Jyuzou shook his head, pressing his head into his palms. "I don't understand anything that's-"
Out of the blue, thick stomps sounded, before a wind drafted from above, and a few snowflakes hailed from above.
Jeffy turned, seeing the massive white demon stepping in the misty distance, treading the nearby path.
"Oh, jeez!"
***
The winds disappeared, and the snow, carried by the impact, slowly fell. Morio stepped in front, and Atomu followed, gazing around. Both had their swords ready, even if they knew they wouldn't do much harm.
Soon enough, they reached the remains of the Sig-Num Fort, and Morio jumped around the masonry, seeing the dried-up blood and the remains of the demon that Ambrosia killed.
Atomu glanced up, seeing the other creatures observing the two. He played with his hair and then turned towards Morio. "Anything?"
"It's just a corpse," Morio said, before clapping both hands. "I'll have to-"
"Morio!" Atomu pulled the morian away from the position in which his hands were ready to dive into the body.
"Maybe the magic is somewhere inside!" Morio replied, before taking out the sword which Ambrosia used. He looked at its blade, and the dried blood created a certain flowery pattern, eventually turning into a few words in Old Manjuno atop.
"I never thought demons could write. Even in the olden language."
"Aren't witches known for that?!"
At the same time, something snuck through the silence of the nearby bushes. It wasn't one of the red eyes seen in the crowns above, but a pair of another shadow hiding them, guiding a hand towards the nearby ground.
"Nothing is known about them, Morio. If you're so sure that you encountered one, shouldn't you know?" The paladian continued, and Morio looked around, climbing up a taller structure. "I-It confirms one thing."
"Huh?"
"Humans don't use Old Manjuno anymore, so it couldn't have been Ambrosia," he scanned the blade. "Or even in all the tales about witches. I swear, they were written after the Second World War. Right, Morio?"
He turned.
"M-Morio?"
Morio looked up, not budging or turning when Atomu spoke.
"Morio!" The paladian ran towards him. When he reached the top of the structures, he shook him around, but, much like a thick boulder, he wouldn't budge. "It's not a witch, Morio!"
The light changed form, and a shape resembling a figure turned towards the morian, followed by some form of hymn. Morio smiled, slowly, and Atomu looked up as well, grinding his teeth and furrowing his brows.
Its face twisted into a devilish grin, which changed into something morbid. There wasn't a head to the creature, yet. Morio didn't seem to notice until its flaps of skin reached towards him echoed a loud screech, which almost knocked the paladian down from the fort.
Morio's eyes shone at that moment, before he closed them and fell into the snow below with a loud, fearful bellow. The shadow from earlier twisted their fingers, sticking them out from the darkness, as blood trickled from the nails and sank itself into the headless, mindless creature.
In the midst of the chaos, Atomu turned to the sword stuck into the other corpse, and without thinking much, desperately tried prying it out, though to no success. The creature leapt from above, as if everything was orchestrated, now heading towards the morian again.
The paladian, in turn, ground his teeth. A flash later, and the other shadow seemed to snap out of view, pressing their sharp nails into a nearby tuk.
Atomu's hand was covered in blood, which dripped down the weapon he held, as he slid his fingers against the blade. He turned, with a thick gasp, towards where the crimson from earlier left a trail, as footsteps faded, and the headless creature, sliced in half, dropped to the ground, turning into thin, weary dust.
He sighed, grinding his teeth. "What on E-Errarion is going on in this forest?!"
***
Morio eventually woke up to the flowing water of the nearby river, upon which the fort was built. Boulders seldom cut through its path, creating a bridge-like path up the hill towards most of the ruins.
Although Eryk Nuil-Tukman couldn't walk without the help of Lamon, he always insisted on crawling up the stones and dipping his hands into the cold stream. Despite being the man he was, he still appreciated nature, and if Jyuzou had been here earlier, he would've sat down and observed the shallow body.
Except, he wasn't there when his vision unblurred. The water was frozen, with snowflakes dropping on the ice, picked up by the wind and sent flying towards his face. The sleet moved at fast speeds, in a certain rhythm, which changed directions. Only when he got back to his senses could he hear the familiar stomps in the distance, rapidly approaching.
The morian looked forward, seeing the massive demon speeding towards him. He put his hands on the snow, searching for the Victis sword, and at the last moment, he managed to hold onto its grip when the final step propelled him elsewhere.
Morio landed in a snowdrift, piercing through its side, and immediately got out, sprinting forth. He didn't let go of the sword, although his hands were slippery. He didn't stop running, although his legs begged to give in. Something, somewhere inside of him insisted on him to keep going.
"If you tread carefully, you can rescue hope."
There was no witch in the forest. All of those words were swapped for doubt that he somehow managed to push through, clenching his sword.
"NOW!"
Jeffy screamed out, as both he and Jyuzou cut through the thin ropes that held each boulder next to its respective tree. They fell, caught by another rope and clashed together, piercing through the demon's chest, and leaving a bloody, gaping hole.
Morio fell, arms first and rolled on the ground, turning back. The creature stepped around, trying to balance its steps. It slowly turned, and the boy stared into the black mass, oozing from where its face was supposed to be.
Its horns started twisting, and eventually dug underground, trying desperately to get a hold of the morian. Though a sudden vigorous scream could be heard, as Atomu jumped down from above and landed on the demon's back, sticking a different sword into its head.
It yelled in pain and immediately tried striking the paladian with its fist, as he barely managed to avoid its shot. Atomu, fearful, triumphantly raised the weapon before trying to cut through its horn with a yell.
"Oh."
It didn't work.
With one shake, he fell to the ground, and Jyuzou slid down a rope, taking his thin, stone sword out.
The demon slowly looked at him.
"F-f-f.... f..." Jyuzou struggled. "Fight me!"
"Jyuzou!" Jeffy leapt as well, helping Morio up.
"No, Jyuzou!" Atomu dug himself out of the snow. "Run!"
"Come on, you big b-bully!" Jyuzou insisted, grinding his teeth, furrowing his brows. The demon picked up speed, extending its arm. He gulped, still pointing the weapon up.
"JYUZOU!" Morio raised his voice, and the demon launched itself towards him, slamming its body onto Jyuzou's.
"Jyu..." Atomu slowly stood up and stared at the demon, in shock, dropping the sword to the ground.
All of a sudden, the creature raised its head, screaming. It stood up, and blood streamed out of an open wound, right near its heart.
Jyuzou lay still, with the sword in his hands, now covered in the demon's blood. The morian's eyes darted back and forth between the others, as well as what had just occurred, a complete, utter and trembling mess.
The demon tripped on a boulder, rolling into the thin ropes and landing headfirst into the river, breaking its stones and revealing a massive entrance to the caves below, completed with many stalagmites above the cave's shadow.
Atomu ran up towards the rift in the ground, as the screams of the creature echoed from below, before going completely silent. The waters poured in from left and right, and all the demons that clung to the barks of trees ran away at the sight. Morio turned, breathing heavily.
The paladian slowly turned to the others, and Jyuzou sat up, breathing in and out.
"It's dead," he announced. "IT'S DEAD!"
Jyuzou's eyes widened, and Jeffy raised his eyebrows.
"W-We did it!" Jyuzou uttered. "We killed a demon!" Jyuzou yelled out. "WE PASSED!" he happily ran up to Jeffy, and the two hugged. "We're damn alive...!"
"You're way darn cooler than you seem, shuckle seeds!" Jyuzou pointed.
Atomu sighed in relief, glancing over at Morio after pressing an aching point in his forehead. Eventually, he wound up waddling over and sticking his hand out to the boy with a confident smirk.
"Morio!" Jyuzou shouted, pushing past the paladian. Instead, he was the one immediately offering his hand, as Morio slapped it, out of the blue. "M-Morio?"
"I didn't do anything," the boy answered.
"It doesn't matter! We all passed!" Jeffy answered, raising both hands, leaping by.
"I don't care if I've passed!" Morio barely stood up. "I d-didn't kill the damn demon!" his voice weakened. "That means nothing!"
The white-haired morian trod through the snow.
"I still have the time. I'm going to kill one myself to settle this!" he pointed back before marching forward.
Jyuzou looked down, grinding his teeth. Morio tripped, as some of the blood that came out of the wounds on his face stained the snow.
"Morio, stop it!" Jyuzou yelled out, putting both of his hands on his head. "We won! It doesn't matter!"
"IT MEANS NOTHING!" he screamed back.
"Why do you keep acting like this?!"
Morio huffed, glancing up.
The sun rose above the various trees.
"No..." he punched the snow. "No! I need to kill a demon! IT MEANS NOTHING OTHERWISE!" he shouted through weeps.
Jyuzou breathed out, while Morio continued his tantrum. He passed by the morian, covering his face, while Jeffy and Atomu looked at each other and quickly followed suit.
Morio soon stood up again, and salty tears rolled down his cheeks. He put his hands where the emblem was and squeezed tightly.
***
As the sun illuminated the path, the group slowly reached the exit out of the Tukman Woods. Atomu stopped for a moment, finding Chyuuichi and promptly waking him up. The mirillian exploded with joy once he learnt that all of them passed and that he didn't need to do anything.
Afterwards, they encountered Zuimu again, and like earlier, she didn't say much, except for offering a quick shrug. Jeffy began his interrogation, wondering where she was during their fight, but she only kept nodding, closing her eyes from time to time. He capped that conversation off with a loud sigh and Atomu's headshakes, who turned towards the other participant.
When the trees grew shorter, they encountered Ambrosia, sat on the ground and against a tree, with their hands perched upon a pile of snow. They turned to the others with a smile, and, without a word, got up and, much like Morio, remained silent, following through.
As for the white-haired morian, he kept his distance between himself and the others until they stepped onto a familiar bridge, and the town of Magna welcomed them once more.
He glanced back at the forest before clenching his fist and jaw, as the town's various cheers sounded in its first districts.
However, some conflicts that weren't resolved stayed in the forest.
Isak scratched his shoulder, walking around.
"Good job." Lisbeth's voice sounded, and he immediately turned, alerted. She floated above the ground, and Leopold stood next to her.
Isak made a strange noise. "Sarcasm, or what?"
"I think what you two did was a rather inventive notion. Grabbing onto the lives of people who'd surely become amazing Demonears, and then trying to escort them to Shi Hon himself. You were right, from what Leopold told me. It'd be a waste letting someone like those morians or that paladian that stabbed you just die." Lisbeth put her hands on her hips.
"Of course." Isak raised his voice, chuckling. "Strong people see strength, right, Leopold?" he turned to him, bumping his shoulder, and Leopold gave him a hesitant thumbs-up.
"I guess it's on me that I didn't see through." She put her hands behind her back. "I summoned one to strike that young morian boy you talked of."
Isak rolled his eyes. "A nutcase, that one. Some paladian almost got the better of me, so it's a job unfinished."
"What did he look like?" she continued, as Isak turned, slightly surprised.
"I only saw a flock of long, brown hair. What is it to you?"
"Surprising. It must've been the same one who spoke through to my mind as to what the right things to focus on were." She moved her fingers around, as blood retracted from her fingertips and ventured beneath her nails. "If he hadn't slashed, that idea of yours would've been ashes. Why Shi Hon, Isak?"
"I'm under his calling."
"He didn't want to be involved in this."
"I don't know. Just felt like the right thing. Don't question a demon, you know how that story goes."
"Of course. The others followed my orders, and by extension, your observation."
"Tsk." Isak folded his arms.
"There is just one thing that bugs me about all of this," she muttered. "Isak, are you sure he was a paladian?"
"I had seconds to see, Lisbeth," he sighed, loudly, as Leopold leaned against a tree and glanced up at the maze-like branches.
There was now nothing but a few birds perching upon the crowns, with the demons from earlier storming further in.
"Let us wait and see, then." Lisbeth gazed at Magna after floating up above the trees.
***
"...there's only seven?" Ella asked, seeing the few stepping into the main square.
"Jeez louise." Elton was shocked, putting one of his swords back in its sheath and rubbing his forehead.
Ambrosia slowly looked up before seeing Rowan on their horse, who quickly stepped off with a concerned expression. The other tributal simply smiled, while taking a few steps towards their Chicho.
"D-Did you pass?" Rowan quickly asked.
"Yeah," they answered. "I still have a long way to go, though."
Rowan shook their head before glancing at Atomu and Chyuuichi, with raised brows.
"Shin," Jeffy muttered, playing around with his hands. "Oh, Shin!"
Morio's eyes were glued to the stone-cold ground, before an eventual glance wound up at the other morian's back. Jyuzou seemed to ignore him at any cost, fixing his glasses.
"SEVEN?!" Eryk screamed. "This is what happens when you let a Zenon do all the work!"
Kashmir loudly sighed, standing on the same pedestal as the day before. He looked at Eryk's throne.
"Do you still think that this was such a good idea?"
"Out of a hundred participants, fifteen went into the forest, and only seven came out alive." Zenon stepped forth, putting his hands behind his back. "It's a tragedy I'll take full responsibility for, but with such numbers, I have no right thinking you lot avoided encounters at any cost," he pressed his hand against his heart, gracefully.
Cheers soon shuffled into an awkward, halved silence. A few faces were twisted, others, unsure, while some insisted that, despite it all, it was a great accomplishment.
"I can see it in your eyes, your bodies and your faces. Terrified, but knowledgeable. I've decided," Kashmir closed his eyes.
Ambrosia turned, blinking a few times, and Morio clenched his fist, closing his eyes.
"All of you have passed the Demonear exam."
Chyuuichi beamed and turned to Atomu, who let out an unsure sigh. Zuimu scratched her head, Jyuzou's view narrowed, and Jeffy seemed to mostly analyse the people around.
It was a mixed bag of shuckleseeds, as he'd say. Tragedy came close to harmony when it came to Magna, and Kashmir seemed to take that in stride, raising his head.
"I know what death means, dear citizens. I had to experience it with my very own eyes as part of my brother's poor attempt at changing the world. Everyone knows that Errarion isn't safe by any means, but... if it takes a few lives to change it, then I think everyone is willing to take the risk. The dead are as noble as those who came out alive, and will be remembered as such."
Voices were raised in turn.
"Fucking apple!"
"This is what you get for trusting a rilkum."
"Why would you set this up?"
"What happens now?"
"How will you make this up?!"
"Lamon, poison him. He's killing my people!" Eryk demanded.
"I will not do that," Lamon spoke, tired.
A few of the tributal guards, including Rowan, stepped by.
"Sir Kashmir... this is-" one insisted.
"I know, Zibun," he huffed. "Take to the forest with the others to find their bodies."
"You'll be busy this Herbes," they nodded, and Kashmir repeated the same notion, raising their tired head, as the tributal moved by.
"Step forward, please, put down the weapons you had and accept your pledge," Kashmir announced, as the six quickly stood together, with Chyuuichi first in line.
Ambrosia joined the others, hesitantly stuffing something into their sheath.
"What's your name, young one?" Kashmir asked.
"Chyuuichi Gamma," Chyuuichi spoke, and Kashmir took out his club, putting it on Chyuuichi's left shoulder, then his right, and then near his heart.
"From this day on, you'll be bringing good fortune to those in need."
"The capino stole all my fortune," Chyuuichi said.
"What was that?"
"Nothing." Chyuuichi walked to the side.
"N-Next person, please." Kashmir looked up.
"I shouldn't be here," Morio whispered, and Jeffy turned.
"What are you talking about, Morio?" Jeffy raised an eyebrow. "You passed, and so did I!"
"I didn't," he shook his head. "I don't deserve this title."
"Morio..!" Jeffy put his hands on Morio's shoulders and shook him up a bit. "What about Mama, then?!"
"She'd be disappointed," Morio spoke through his teeth, closing his eyes.
"She's not here, is she? She's in Mistwick, you'll still have all the time in the world to prove your darn self!" Jeffy said. "Now, no one's expecting anything of you! We made it out alive, and that's swell!"
Morio slowly glanced at him.
"It doesn't make you any less cool!"
"Your name?" Kashmir's voice sounded, as Jeffy quickly shuffled, almost frightened.
"Jeffy Luffio!" He spoke up, putting a hand above his forehead. Morio stuffed his palms into his pockets, clenching his jaw.
When the ceremony ended, the seven were instructed to go to Elton's hut, near the bridge in Kyrkogarde, far from the cemetery. The guards were told to take care of the commotion, Lamon helped the king back to his palace, and Kashmir disappeared amongst the crowd, later to be found at the Midcity Bar.
The atmosphere was heavy. Normally, a finished Demonear test would be followed by large applause, with big drinking parties at the bar, and even outside, since there wouldn't be enough space to house everyone present. This time, it left a bad taste in everyone's mouths, as if they were expecting the sourness of the Bullion seed, only to be greeted with a Shato one.
The few families of the late participants soon came to Kashmir, only to receive a harsh answer. They knew the consequences of the test, and going into the Tukman Woods, they signed a non-existent contract. If they couldn't fight off the demons, they'd die.
Still, they demanded compensation, amidst the storm of tears thrown his way, yet Kashmir seemed to take their pleas with some stride. Yells and doubts about Demonears rose, as they always did at this time of year, not limited to just the town of Magna.
"What a stuck-up man," Zibun commented, brushing his fingers through their hair, turning to Rowan, who carried their bow in their hands, stepping off the large horse.
They eyed the area, finding trails of blood mixed with the snow spread across the Tukman Woods, next to a few more tributals, stopping by and analysing the bodies left in the distance, with a few flowers growing by the side.
It was normally a tributal trait to leave some behind, but undoubtedly, the tricks of this forest were far from over. Magic lingered, in its worst sense, only to be denied by the likes of the other tributal.
"Why couldn't it be like last time?" Zibun uttered.
"There were two deaths as well," Rowan commented.
"Amongst a hundred people, and it wasn't the fault of the Demonears. Rather, daring nature, and you know what tributal tales say about curses."
"Frankly, I never cared." Rowan furrowed their brows, staring right into Zibun's eyes. The other tributal moved over, shaking their head.
"You know my stance. If no one had tried throwing themselves into this Demonear business, we wouldn't have anything like this in the first place. Dullum would know where to step and what to conquer."
"Dullum? Isn't that an Ascordian expression?" Rowan continued.
"Witches, if they even exist, are far enough proof of telling us about rightful terrain."
"So you insist on their magic but want to deny our contributions? It's pure nonsense," they continued.
"No one would die."
"No one would be able to step out of Magna, you imbecile," Rowan spoke through their teeth before a voice echoed across the forest.
"Rowan! One of the paladians is still alive! Come, quick!"
Some hope appeared on their face, as the snow was kicked up with each step, leaving Zibun be. The tributal puffed out, stepping around a few trees before encountering more of the sleet, formed into neat snowdrifts standing at the side of a crimson circle etched into the ground.
In its middle stood a red, reversed star, which left them trembling, but all in all, with some doubts, they kicked some snow over and covered it when the sun began setting over the horizon.
At the same time, the seven started going in and out of Elton's hut, with brand new weapons in their hands.
First came Jeffy, with what appeared to be a long pickaxe, called an elshuim, which were mirillian-made tools that erans first used when climbing over the Whiteburn Mountains. The weaponsmith named it Frost, as ice particles formed around its sharper parts.
Next came Chyuuichi, carrying a big scythe in his hands, and much like Jeffy, it bore properties of the same element. He named it Morgana, even though Elton used a different word (Thine Slasher).
Afterwards, it was Jyuzou's turn, and he came bearing a spear called the Great Kowitzer, spinning its light end around his hand and drafting a small wind, as unsure as he really was. Ambrosia came through, carrying two ropes (named Lines Two) with blunt, black orbs at the end, shining as brightly as their eyes, surprisingly. Zuimu followed with a three-pronged spear, which Jeffy called a massive fork, yet its name was Purple Warfare.
Then, the paladian stepped in, greeted with a warm orange light and a soothing brown colour basking the walls. In the hut's corner stood a big fireplace, surrounded by bricks, and an anvil, next to a basket full of weapons. Elton sat on a chair near his equipment and rubbed some of the sweat off his forehead before spotting Atomu and smiling.
"Come, sit down right here."
"O-Okay," he muttered, clumsily moving below a hammock and between the other pieces of armour thrown onto the floor. He sat on a chair in front of a small barrier, separating him and the forger. He looked at Elton's short black hair and big arms, which seldom swung at the anvil.
"I already told you what weapon would suit you best."
"Did, um... did you look in the eyes of the others too?" Atomu scratched the back of his head.
"There are some things that just come with a feeling," he chuckled. "...and does a wizard ever reveal their tricks?"
"A-Are you one?"
"Ghaha, jeez louise, Atomu, no!"
"So I can assume that a wizard is nothing more than a Demonear, too. Sometimes, maybe even a tributal, but who knows about them, right?"
Elton chuckled. "A big, great sword, eh?" he turned. "I already have something that will fit you quite well, then." he walked over to the basket, grabbed its grip and hesitated for a moment.
Atomu swang back and forth.
"It isn't, however, a weapon that I forged myself," Elton spoke. "It's something I found in a temple, in Cirim, a few years back," he took a massive blade out of its sheath, and the lights bounced off its iron parts.
It had many red elements to it and a wavy design that repeated at the top. When Elton held it, it was bigger than him.
"It's heavy, but in the right hands, I'm sure it will seem as light as a feather," he carefully placed it on the pedestal between the two. "It now belongs to you, my friend."
Atomu put his hand on its grip and slowly lifted it. "Oh, wow."
"The demon steering the weapon is Knrhum himself. A Wise man once said that he vowed to be locked inside his greatest creation when he met his demise." Elton explained. "Hell knows where he found those words from, but it's all yours now,"
"Am I deserving of this...?" he chuckled. "I m-mean, I'm not anyone special."
"As a forger, I'm proud to say I rarely make mistakes." Elton nodded. "I doubt it will ever work against you, and if it does, I could craft you another."
"A-Alright then." Atomu stood up, turning. "Thank you," he hid his face with a strand of hair, and Elton chortled.
After ten more minutes, the paladian left, with only one Demonear still not bearing their weapon.
Morio eventually sat on the chair, with his eyes locked on the ground.
"Hello," Elton scratched the back of his head. "Uh. Could you please look over here?"
"I don't deserve this," Morio spoke.
Elton shook his head. "W-What?"
"I didn't kill a demon."
"If you came here in the first place, then I swear, you've earned it."
Morio slowly lifted his head, looking into Elton's eyes.
"What's your name?" Elton asked, putting his hands on his thighs.
"Morio Frisks," he answered, hesitantly.
"Frisks?" Elton's expression shifted.
Morio's eyes widened. "Yeah?"
"Y-You're Gloria's kid, right?" he pointed.
"D-Did you know my Mama?" Morio's eyes shone.
"Bancho told me all about her," he smiled, moving back. "I was surprised to learn that someone who never had experience with forging created such a fine tool all by herself."
Morio scratched his nose.
"I wanted to see her in Mistwick before the test began, but... she..." Elton continued, clearing his throat.
"I know."
"It must be tough, going out on your own, without a figure to guide you, especially when you're this young."
"I'm grateful, actually," he ground his teeth. "She doesn't have to be disappointed with me."
Elton was shocked.
"Do you think she'd be proud if she heard that her son was saved by the others and that's how he passed the Demonear test?" Morio stood up. "I'd rather..."
Elton blinked twice, and the boy sat down again.
"I'm sorry," he said, shaking his head. "It's just-"
"I tried passing the Demonear exam a few times, but it never worked out. I found my niche elsewhere, proudly representing what the Kaspers always stood for. I'm not telling you to be someone else, especially hearing all of those things about Gloria. It's like destiny, in a way," he put his hands on Morio's palm, and the morian stared at his face. "Many times, you have to realise something, and sometimes you'll have to wait for the world to shape itself to give you that opportunity. Nevertheless, you're not weak or useless. You proved that by making it out alive."
Morio's gaze softened, and Elton smiled again.
"I-I want you to have this," he lifted a light, sharp sword, resembling a royal katana.
Morio opened his mouth, completely shocked.
"That's...!"
"Gloria's weapon, Gloria itself," Elton muttered, passing the sword into his hands. Morio looked at its sharp and piercing blade, staring back at him from that one spot on the wall he could never reach
Only now did it seem clean and as powerful as her.
Morio breathed in. "I never thought I'd be right in my hands, but how?"
"Bancho left it with me in Prope Portam a year ago." Elton nodded. "He said my hands were to make sure it patiently waited for the next bearer."
"But doesn't it belong to her?" he quickly asked.
"She gave up on being a Demonear and swore to leave her weapon to time." Elton bowed, with a smile that didn't leave his face. "It's yours."
Morio was stunned, and at the same time, in pure awe and admiration. He raised the weapon, once more, as the warmth of the room reflected off its edge.
***
"Every Guardian Demon comes with its respective element, which allows you to chant powerful attacks of that sort," Elton explained, standing over a cauldron that had many seeds spinning around its white inside. "Usually, they reflect you in their unique way, and sometimes, they're passed down in your blood," he said. "Morio, please put the blade in the cauldron."
"Is the water hot?" he asked, looking at the steam above.
"It's a mixture of all seven Shimori seeds, which changes colour depending on the element of its Guardian, and its Demonear's class, as well." Elton nodded. "They use different concoction methods in other countries, but this one's the simplest," he chuckled. "Talk about some wizard magic."
"C-Class? Magic" Morio seemed confused. "I haven't had the time to learn all the things about Demonears!"
"Classes are named after the four Wise members, the first Demonears to roam Errarion. There are four of them, as expected," he continued. "Vitaglia, using enchanting magic, Skamander, conjuration, Dracona, divination, and Qurnasar, evocation. It might take some time before you find out how to chant spells, so it's nothing to worry about just yet."
"I'll see it myself, then."
Elton grinned. "Continue with your sword."
"R-Right!" Morio carefully lifted the weapon and eventually sank its blade under the water. Its colour shifted into a bright yellow, as Morio made a strange face.
Elton put his hand above the water, quickly moving back.
"As expected," Elton spoke. "Your element is lightning, and your class is Vitaglia. A symbol representing the white tigers of Shimori, mysterious in power, yet respected."
"Vitaglia, lightning." Morio smiled, repeating, now holding his sword in one hand, standing back. "M-My other weapon," he took Victis out of its sheath. "Do I have to give it up now? I mean, it doesn't have a demon resting inside. Can I somehow connect the electricity through?"
"Haha, it'd be very impressive if you could!"
***
Even if the atmosphere seemed off, the people of Magna didn't shy away from organising a drinking party in the evening, and again, everyone, especially the new Demonears, was invited to the Midcity Bar.
Rowan and Ambrosia weren't present. Chyuuichi and Atomu talked with Ella at the bar, Jeffy slept his worries off on the tables, Zuimu sat still, and Jyuzou nervously drank some cocoa.
Morio was getting through his third plate in the span of thirty minutes when he spotted Jyuzou standing up in the distance, waddling over to Jeffy, and then leaving the bar. He held a spoon in his hand and stood up, sliding the chair back with his legs, ready to follow the morian.
"Hi!" A voice sounded, and Eryk raised his hand, sitting in front of Morio, stopping him from advancing further. Lamon gave him a sketchy look, sipping on beer.
Morio's eyes widened, and he quickly bowed.
"It's fine, you great Demonear! Let's talk like buddies, alright?" Eryk asked, putting one hand on the table. Lamon let out a sigh, shaking his head.
"A-Alright?" Morio seemed a bit confused. He glanced, uncomfortably, and Eryk seemed to inch closer.
"I've heard words, here and there across the bar. Some insults coming my way, screw you, Kashmir, by the way!"
"Nuil, please!" Lamon moved closer.
"Sorry!" Eryk whispered. "You and that other guy, the one in the glasses that just left, you both come from Mistwick, eh?"
Morio blinked twice. "Yes," he answered. "...and what's with everyone just knowing that?"
"That's amazing!" Eryk raised his voice. "My mother came from Mistwick as well. I've never been there, but I always wanted to visit, just never had the time."
Lamon tried signalling something to Morio, who was only eager to leave.
"Mistwick," he beamed. "It must've been so nice growing up in that little forest, huh? You've been to the Tukman Woods," he smashed his fist against the table, eyeing Kashmir, who tried his best not to acknowledge any signs sent his way. "...and you saw its beautiful nature, right?"
"I'm not much of a nature guy," Morio replied, visibly uncomfortable. "I guess so?"
"See, that's what I want to have. It's where my heart belongs! I don't care about all this. I'd much rather live in a remote place like Mistwick, and maybe rule there too," he put his hands together. "Now... knowing that fresh Demonears are just bound to jump on any opportunity thrown their way since they must be out of cash and desperate to find their meaning in life, follow a goal or whatnot-"
Lamon shook his head.
"-Would you like to work as a guard for me and escort me there? You know the way, right? You'd fight off any demons, eh?"
Morio moved back, furrowing his eyebrows.
"Please?"
"That's enough, Nuil," Lamon spoke. "He's uncomfortable."
"Oh, come on! He'd tell me if he was, right, friend?" Eryk bumped his shoulder.
Morio pushed him off before navigating through the other tables, eventually stepping out in the open area, trying not to stumble into the people there. He clenched something under his shirt and frowned.
"D-Did I do something wrong?" Eryk asked.
"When did you ever do anything right?" Lamon whispered.
"I'm sorry, guard number five?" he mocked him. "Beer makes you one prick, Lamon!"
"Another one of his poor attempts at getting into the Entrophy," Ella commented, rolling her eyes, as the white-haired morian found himself closer to the exit.
"Morio?" Atomu stopped him. "Where are you going?" he asked, as the boy put his hand on both sheaths.
"O-Outside," he answered.
"Why? It's warm and nice here!" Chyuuichi yelled, raising a cup of cocoa, and Ella looked a little bit worried about the well-being of her drink.
"Jyuzou left, and I want to find him," Morio explained.
"O-Okay, don't take too long, though," Atomu answered, turning back, as Morio sprinted down the stairs, leaving the bar.
***
The snow slowly trickled down the distant clouds. The wind picked up from the ports and cut through the air. A few people passed through the streets, while others rested in their houses, eyes glued to the sky. Tributals stood guard around the bar, horses strung around the ports, as one morian slipped past their careful watch.
The moon shone brighter than before. The next day signalled the beginning of Herbes, and one could even say a word or two about feeling it in the air.
Morio seemed different, however. He paid no attention to anyone who passed right by or snuck a glance, travelling to the Birching Trees port. He eventually made his way into the Bore Forest, with only the moonlight following his path, as if it was the only thing that knew the answer.
When his tired legs slowed down, a figure stepped out of the shadows, causing the morian to stop.
His hand landed on his emblem.
"Morio?" Atomu asked, as the boy turned, grinding his teeth.
"You're not..." he pointed. "...searching for Jyuzou."