*Reno*

[Years Ago]

"Hey, Mom, can I have an angel tool?" I asked, giving my mom a sweet smile.

"Why do you want an angel tool?" my sister asked, leaning back on her lean.

"To fight, duh!" I returned my eyes to my mom, who was glancing at a map of the region. "So, can I?"

Mom looked up. "You can get one, but only for self-defense. You're too young to join the fight."

Emon pressed his chin against the wooden table. "I can protect big brother with mine," he said, smiling.

I huffed. It was unfair that Emon got his before me! And one of the Seven Flame weapons too! If only it had reacted to me... then I would be one of the Seven Flames Knights instead of him.

"No thanks, I don't want to be taken care of by a little kid," I said, standing up.

"Uh, you're a little kid too," Suzuki said, pointing her pencil at me.

I puffed my chest. "Maybe, but I'll be the strongest kid around!" I smiled at my seven-year-old brother. "Not even Emon will stand a chance against me."

"Good luck with that!" Emon said, sitting up. He waved at me as I opened the wooden door.

"You should wait for your dad. It's dangerous to go out alone," Mom said.

"I'll be fine!" I said, running off.

"Reno!" Emon yelled, chasing after me.

"Let him go," Suzuki said, stopping Emon. "If he gets lost, it's his fault. Right, mom?"

I glanced over my shoulder and saw my mom give me a worried look.

I gasped as I tripped and went rolling downhill.

"Reno!" Mom yelled, leaping toward me. Vines flew at me, but they failed to grab me in time as I plummeted to the valley below. I lost sight of my siblings and mom as I was thrown around the forest like a living ping-pong ball.

The whole world spun around me. I couldn't tell if I was still moving or not. The splitting headache didn't help either.

I gripped the ground and pushed myself up but ended up landing on my belly. Last night's rains made the entire place as slippery as soap.

Tears formed in my eyes. How lame of me. I said that was going to be stronger than Emon, but all I did was embarrass myself!

I crawled forward, shutting my eyes tightly. Don't cry, Reno. You're stronger than this! Just keep on going! Mom will find you.

My hands scraped against something woody. My eyes widened as I looked up and saw a giant black tree hidden in the center of the forest. What I had touched was one of its roots which extended for meters.

"What an odd tree," I mumbled. Using the giant root as stable footing, I got up. I'd never seen anything like it while gathering fruits and nuts with Suzu and Emy. Could it have popped up overnight? Or maybe it was just buried by the branches of the taller trees around it.

I furrowed my brow as I neared the trunk. It would've been nice if I could've spoken to plants like Dad and Emy could. Strangely, it felt as if the tree in front of me was calling out to me, but the words made no sense at all.

I closed my eyes and followed the path of the root I'd been walking on. Emon and Dad would sometimes close their eyes to hear the 'voice' of the forest.

"H." I opened my eyes and looked around. I managed to hear the voice more clearly this time, but only for a brief moment.

"H... what are you trying to say?" I asked, continuing to approach it. "Wait, are you asking for help?"

"H," the voice echoed again.

I ran and grabbed hold of the trunk. It seemed fine, at least until one reached the upper middle. The tree was twisted there. Had a storm damaged it in its youth?

"Cli."

"Cli?" I asked. "Are you asking me to climb you?"

"Cli."

I smiled. "Alright, but will this really help you, Mr. Tree?"

"H."

I laughed. "I'll take that as I yes." Taking a deep breath, I leaped as high as I could and grasped the thick black bark as if my life depended on it. Thankfully, I liked climbing, even if I sometimes ended up slipping back to the bottom. There was no better feeling than reaching the top.

I rushed up the tree like a monkey after juicy fruit.

"Sto," the voice said as I neared the top.

"Stop? Why?" I asked. "I haven't reached the top yet." My eyes fell to the part of the tree where its trunk had twisted. The bark hadn't wholly regrown. It looked like a series of branches groups together. Seemed like a great home for insects such as wasps. Chills ran up my spine at the thought. Was that what it needed help with? Getting rid of insects?

I gasped as a faint green light hit me straight in the eyes. It was coming from the center of the trunk.

"What's that?" I reached a finger into the tree and felt a rush of energy. It was concentrated mana. But, did the tree produce it? Or did it grow around it?

Suddenly, the branches spun outward, opening up like some kind of alien flower. At the center of the 'flower' was a black stone. I jumped up and walked on the giant 'petals'. They didn't even creak from my weight. Not that I was very heavy, to begin with.

My eyes widened as the stone gave off a green glow like the one I saw before. This time, however, green smoke rose up from the ebony rock. I stepped back but was quickly surrounded by the stuff. Had I fallen into a trap? Carnivorous plants were a thing.

I covered my nose and spread my wings. My back burned as my wings surfaced from underneath my skin. I must've broken them during my fall.

"W-what are you up to?" I asked.

"H," the voice responded.

Had I assumed right? Did it want help, or did H stand for something else?

I gritted my teeth and approached the glowing, smoke-creating rock. Was this the thing bothering Mr. Tree?

I kneeled and grasped the rock. My body felt as if it were melting, yet it wasn't. Did the stone have sensory messing abilities too?

"Hold," the voice said.

I huffed and touched the stone again. The sensation intensified, except this time, my body produced smoke of its own.

"What is this thing?" I cried, barely able to hold on.

"Please, hold on."

I gasped. It was so clear now, the tree's voice. It was that of a boy, a teenager.

"W-who are you? Or rather, what are you?"

I would've stumbled if I weren't already on my knees as the smoke around me condensed to form the image of a giant buff green man. At least the burning sensation was gone.

"A genie?" I said, thinking about the cartoons that Emy and I love to watch.

"No, a djinn," the being said, closing its eyes.

"Aren't they the same thing?" I asked.

"Yes, but I don't grant any wishes."

I sighed. It would've been nice if it did. I would've at least wished for the best angel tool in the entire world.

"You desire an angel tool?" the djinn asked, getting closer.

I nodded. "Y-yeah, but how do you know?"

The djinn smiled. "I can read your mind. We're bound together."

"Huh?"

"You picked up that stone. It's what holds me to this world. By surviving being burned alive, you've become my new master."

I jumped up. "Master? Are you like a guardian angel?"

"Sort of." He held out a hand and patted me on the head. "Find a good blacksmith and have them turn that stone into the angel tool you desire. With it, you might be able to create the best one in the world."

I smiled. "You're not kidding?"

"It's up to you. We djinn are difficult to use, so you better be ready."

"Don't worry. I'll train hard! Hmm, wonder what kind of weapon I should have you turned into. Oh, a sword sounds nice!"

The djinn glanced toward the sun in the west. "A sword, huh?" It raised its hand toward its face.

"You don't like the idea?"

It shook his head. "No, it sounds like a great one. I'll become your sword, kid."

"Hey, don't call me kid! I got a name!"

"Right, Reno."

"What about you?" I asked.

My new djinn reverted into smoke and returned to the black stone. "Alabaster."

"Alabaster? Hmm, not sure it fits. This stone is more ebony than alabaster."

The djinn laughed dryly. "Hilarious, kid."

"Reno!"

"Right, Reno."

I huffed.

"Reno!" a voice called out.

I spun around and smiled. "That's right!" I gasped as Dad walked over to me. He had a scowl on his face. "H-hey, Daddy."

"What do you think you're doing?"

I hugged the stone. "I fell and ended up here. I wanted to fly back home, but I think I sprained my wings."

He gasped. "You did? Let me see?"

I lifted the back of my shirt up.

Dad placed on hand on it, causing me to yelp. "I'll have you healed up in no time, son."

"T-thanks, Dad," I said, trying my best to smile through the pain.

"No need to thank me. I'm just glad that you're alright. Your mom, Suzu, and Emy must be worried about you."

I lowered my head. "Y-yeah, I bet. But I know how to get myself out of problems!"

"Where did you fall from?"

"Close to home."

Dad looked at me as if I had said something crazy. He stared at my back. "How did you get away without this kind of injury? Even one with Kuroriku blood should've gotten more hurt than this."

"I don't know, but I'm glad I did." Else, I probably wouldn't have been able to meet Alabaster.

"Say, what's that stone in your arms?"

I smiled. "It's Alabaster, my djinn."

Dad laughed. "I know that you want an angel tool, but a rock isn't one. Not to mention, it's near impossible to survive the covenant process with a djinn."

"But I did! Not that it didn't hurt like Cianio."

Dad furrowed his brow at me. "You sure have a wild imagination."

"I mean it! I'll show you! Alabaster, come out!"

A single hand emerged from the stone and waved at Dad.

"What in the world? How are you doing that?"

"It's Alabaster!" I frowned at my djinn. "But, I don't know why he doesn't appear completely."

"Reno, you'll faint if I do. A kid like you doesn't have the mana to sustain my form for long," Alabaster's voice echoed in my head.

I sighed. "I see."

"You see what?" Dad asked, picking me into his arms.

"I'm talking to Alabaster."

Dad stared at the now handless stone. "Is that so?"

I nodded. "Say, do you know any good blacksmiths?"

"I know a couple of average ones. Why do you ask?"

"I want to turn this stone into a more typical angel tool. A sword for its weapon form."

"Hmm, I'll see if any of the guys are up for the job. That said, creating an angel tool that houses a djinn isn't an easy task, not even for the most talented of blacksmiths."

I grumbled. How long would it take to finally get one made?

"Don't worry. We'll find someone."

I hugged Daddy. "Thanks, Pops!"

"There, there. Let's go home now before your mom has all of the Kakumeiki looking for you."

I giggled. Mom probably already did that.

***

['Present']

"So that's how you found it," Emon said, grinning.

"Your brother sure is a troublemaker," Koukyuu said, glaring at me.

"A little bit."

I pouted. "I'm adventurous, is all!"

"But, how did my brother turn into a djinn?" Mom asked, continuing to stare at the screaming Alabaster.

"Hmm, based on what I know, a djinn requires two things," Kohri said.

"And what are those?" Hyosetsu asked, crossing his arms.

"One is that they were strong in their lifetime, but the most important is a strong desire to remain in this world. Often, a negative one but not to the point that they would be reduced into a vengeful spirit."

"What could be holding Ala to this world?" Mom asked.

"I can try to find out," Emon said.

"No, let me do it. Alabaster's my djinn," I said. I held out my angel tool.

"Wait, what are you doing?" Osamu asked. "Don't recall him. It might hurt him more."

"Would it?" Miyuki asked. "I don't think anything could be worse than what he's feeling right now. For one's life to rush all of a sudden, not to mention the realization that the one he loved is now gone."

"The one he loved?" I asked.

Eiko glanced at her late husband's armor.

"Wait. Alabaster loved Eiji?" I yelled.

Mom coughed. "M-my brother liked him? W-why? Out of all the people, why that guy? He's the one who murdered most of the Makkuroyama and separated me from my little brother! How could a sweet kid like Alabaster like someone capable of that?"

"I ask myself the same question sometimes," Eiko said, snickering. She hugged the urn.

Nori gasped as his eyes traced something moving in the air. Not that I could see what he was seeing. "Eiji."

"Eiji?" I asked, following the kid's gaze. Finally, it stopped in front of Alabaster.

The smoke around my djinn faded, revealing a dark brown-haired boy with an uncanny resemblance to Dan.

"What's going on?" Zaki asked.

Eiko smiled. "Eiji's comforting him."

Alabaster broke into tears as he wrapped his arms around who I presumed to be Eiji.

"Eiji!" he cried.

"You idiot. I told you not to go ahead and die," a voice echoed in my head. It was Eita's dad! Was this what Alabaster was hearing?

"What about you? You went ahead and did the same thing."

"Well, this is how I always thought of going out. You, however, had bigger dreams. Didn't you wish to become a painter?"

Alabaster sniffed. "Y-yeah. I tried my best, but I couldn't defeat him. That guy was a monster."

"Wait, who are you talking about, Ala?" Mom asked, flying toward my uncle.

Alabaster gasped. "Z-Zaki? Is that you?"

Mom smiled slightly. "Of course it's me. Now, please tell me who this person you died fighting against was."

Uncle grabbed his forehead. "It was the prime minister, Mr. Itou."

"Kuroriku's prime minister killed you?" Koukyuu asked.

Alabaster nodded. "Yes, and in due time, he'll target all of you if you dare stand against him."

"Knew that guy was fishy," Rosa whispered.

"Camio probably does have a connection to him," Kohri mumbled.

"The guy who wanted to kidnap Serrano while he was training with me in the realm of dreams?" Tetsuya asked.

"Yeah, him," Onami said.

"I do not like this at all," Osamu said, crossing his arms.

"You're getting a bad feeling about back home, too, aren't you?" Rosa asked, glancing at her father.

He nodded and dashed ahead of us. "Yeah. We have to make haste! No more time to waste!"

"Yeah, we wasted valuable time with this squabble," Maki said, following after Kuroriku's king.

Everyone followed after them except for my mom, Alabaster, and me.

Alabaster smiled at me and faded, returning to his angel tool. "Rest for now, Uncle. We have a lot of battles ahead of us," I said, patting my necklace.

"Take good care of your uncle for me," Mom said, squeezing me on the shoulder. "He's strong and might be able to turn into a smoke-using green giant now, but I can tell he's still the same softie."

I smiled. "Yeah, I figured as much. I'll try to keep him safe, though most often it's the other way around."

Mom laughed. "I got to thank him for caring for my troublesome son next time I see him."

My cheeks flushed. "Troublesome?"

She flew ahead of me. "You heard Osamu! We got to make haste."

I followed after her. "Alright!"

I clenched my necklace. Thanks for protecting me, Uncle. I probably wouldn't be around right now without you.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Let me know your overall thoughts :)**