[A while ago]

I gasped as I felt space-time distort at the entrance of the castle.

"Is something the matter?" Plum asked as we made our way to Aster's lab.

"I sense a disturbance," I said, clenching my hands over my chest.

"I better go check it out," Rocio said, turning around.

"Wait! I'll go."

Cio's eyes widened. "You? Will you be alright? You aren't much of a fighter."

I lowered my eyes. I hoped not to fight the one at the door. "I might not be as skilled as you, but I can fight. I am the only one of us who managed to push back Daisaru!"

Daisaru laughed. "Yeah, you got the raw strength for sure!"

"I'll accompany you, just in case," Skah said. "Daiyu take good care of Roa's core."

"Of course I will," Daiyu said, embracing her son.

"Woolsey, please watch over Serra for me. I'll be back as soon as I can," I said.

Woolsey nodded as he patted Serrano's pod. "No problem. I'll guard my nephew with my life!"

I smiled. "Thanks, Sey!"

"Where is Dad anyway?"

"I felt him warp over here," I said, staring at the metal. My ears wiggled as I heard footsteps outside. They belonged to Dad, Mason, and someone else. "They're coming."

The door opened, and in came my dad, half-brother, and a white-haired teen in a suit.

"Collin!" Plum yelled, running over to hug the boy.

"Hey, Plum!" Collin said, smiling.

"Plum, don't hug him," Reginald said, blocking her. "Remember, he's Margaret's brother."

Collin sighed. "I already said everything I know. My sister wanted me to participate in her plan, but I refused."

"So, you knew?" Daiyu yelled, glaring at him.

"I should be the one yelling at him," I muttered.

The teen nodded. "Her thoughts on replacing Reginald, but she didn't specify if they were violent or not." He closed his eyes. "If they were non-violent, I might've considered them."

Dad scoffed. "So, you think I'm a bad leader, huh?"

Collin scratched his face and laughed. "Well, you aren't bad, but lately, you've been lacking. I know that your heart isn't in this war. We could've finished this a lot quicker if it were."

"Daddy, why do you want to conquer Zionia?" Plum asked, glancing up at Dad. "Isn't it Mommy's home?"

Dad patted her head. "I haven't told you, have I? It's to preserve that which your mother loved the most, you six. To do that, I need to revitalize Abyssia with another universe's energy."

"Why Zionia? There are others. Plus, it's the home of my friends and nephews."

Dad glanced at Serrano. "Indeed, it is. But that dimension is also the biggest boon. It would buy us the most time."

"Why do you need time?" I asked.

"We ancient pillars going to sleep. Once we're awake, the true final battle will begin. I want to be ready for when it does."

Rocio crossed her arms. "You don't trust us to win Ragnarok, do you?"

Dad gritted his teeth. "You're all strong, but the true soldiers of the light will be born soon. By taking Zionia, we'll be nipping them at the bud."

"True soldiers of light?" I eyed my son once more.

"Shi prepared things for that time. Both of us know that this won't end with us. The generation that has yet to be born will be the one to finish things."

"So, this is merely a battle for survival," Daiyu said, staring at her son's core.

"Life itself is one. This realm is the origin of all living and non-living things. As such, its battle is the most intense. Several realms have already been devoured to keep it going."

"What happens once all of them but this one are gone?" I asked.

Dad gave me a bittersweet smile. "A great reset takes hold." He eyed Roa. "That's what I told him. Those words came in handy for his endeavor, but even I'm not sure as to what that reset will look like. If it's a world of infinite possibility or a dead one is beyond even my sight."

Chills ran down my body. We were truly shooting into the void with this one. Hopefully, Dad was making the right decision. Still, it would've been nice if we could've figured out a way to save both realms.

My ears twitched as the sound steps grew closer.

"What's the matter?" Dad asked.

"There's someone here, but I'll take care of them!" I said, rushing off.

"Wait for me!" Skah yelled, chasing after me.

This vibe, it belonged to my estranged husband. I was sure of it! If Dad or the others were to see him, they would surely hurt him or worse.

"Skah," I said, stopping.

"Yeah?" he said, slowing down as he caught up.

"Please let me talk alone with the person downstairs. Watch from afar. Even if you get mad, don't act unless I say so."

My little brother furrowed his brow. "Why would I be mad? Who's coming here?"

I continued on my way. "You'll see."

Skah sighed. "Alright, I trust you."

I smiled. "Thanks, Birdie."

He grinned and followed behind me like he often did as a kid.

I descended the stairs and found a white-haired man frantically looking around from underneath them. Did he still have a death wish? Why wasn't he hiding properly?

"Azami," I whispered, leaning on the rail.

He raised his head and gasped. I felt a wave of guilt hit me. It wasn't mine, but his.

"S-Selena. So, Itou wasn't lying," Azami mumbled.

"Itou? He's the one who brought you here, isn't he?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yeah, I chased him here." He looked straight ahead. "I lost sight of him. That guy's possessing our son's body."

I clenched my teeth. So, Itou, or Ifrit as he was actually called, had gone ahead and done it. He had assimilated Conrad.

"He sure moved quicker than I expected," I said, sinking to my knees.

"Selena!" Skah yelled, rushing over from his hiding spot behind a pillar.

"Skah," Azami said.

Skah glared at him. "Long time no see, brother-in-law."

Another wave of guilt struck me. Azami was drowning in it. How he managed to look as calm as he did was amazing. It was probably due to his training as a pop star that he could put up such a facade.

"Azami, you don't need to bottle up your emotions around me. You know that I can feel them, right? I'm feeling pain and guilt from you."

He turned away. "T-that doesn't matter. " He clenched his hands into fists. "What does is retrieving Conrad."

I closed my eyes and tried to sense my youngest son, but the other people in the castle were my siblings, Serrano, Roa, Collin, Daisaru, Dad, and him.

"Azami, get out of here. We'll find Conrad on our own. If Dad sees you, you're as good as dead," Skah said. "Given what you did to my sister, I can't blame him."

"Uncle isn't alone!" a voice echoed.

I opened my eyes and saw my niece-in-law. It had been years since I had seen her. She looked a lot like her late mother.

"How did you get here?" Skah yelled, dashing in front of me.

"Skah, I don't think she'll hurt me."

Setsuko narrowed her eyes at me. Rage bubbled up within her. Perhaps I was wrong.

"I got here by following a wisp of darkness with the memory of this place. I'm not sure who exactly left it for me, but it was accurate."

"Could it have been Conrad?" Azami asked, walking toward her.

"Both of you, get out. I mean it," Skah said, drawing his sword.

"We'll leave, but first, tell me where my cousins are."

I pushed myself up. "Conrad isn't here. Itou took over his body. It seems that he led your uncle here as part of a trap."

"I thought so," Azami whispered, lowering his head. "Wait, Itou's gone?"

I nodded. "He probably wanted us to meet, most likely so that we could kill each other."

"I wouldn't do that!"

I pressed my head against my brother's back. "You would be forced to fight my family. To recover your sons, you would fight them. Wouldn't you?"

He averted his gaze.

I snickered. "I thought so. How ironic that you now seek the family you abandoned."

Sadness hit me. This time, some of it came from me.

"I had to! You know that! Serrano told me to leave! He was done seeing me hurt you! And while at the time I felt betrayed by my own family, I'm glad he did. I'd inflicted too much pain."

"Uncle," Setsuko said, walking over to him.

"Look who's here. The Crown Princess of Kuroriku and my good for nothing brother-in-law," Rocio said as she appeared behind me.

"Cio!" I said, turning around. My sister vanished and reappeared in front of Azami, kicking him into the entrance.

"Uncle!" Setsuko yelled.

"Stop, Cio!" Skah yelled.

Setsuko dashed forward and threw her meteor hammer at my sister. Cio jumped into the air, but the weapon shot up. Rocio held out both hands and caught it, but the spikes tore holes into her skin and sent her flying into the second floor.

"Damn it!" Skah yelled, covering his sword in white flames. He vanished and appeared behind Setsuko, hitting her in the neck with the back of his sword.

Setsuko grunted as she hit the ground. The princess jumped to her feet, lifted chunks of black marble from the ground, and shot them at my brother.

Skah spun his sword, forming a ring of flames which soon contracted to create a shield. The marble melted in front of him. He turned his attention behind him as Setsuko ran around him. He elbowed her in the stomach, sending her crashing into the entrance.

"Amazing," I said, dusting myself off. "Since when could you fight like this, Birdie?"

Skah blushed. "I watched the three of you train. In the mornings, I would sometimes try to imitate what I'd seen. Though, it probably pales in comparison to what Shi can do."

"To think that guy called you the weakest Pillar," Setsuko said, standing up. She threw her weapon at him, but a fireball from above sent it pummeling to the ground before it could hit its mark.

"Cio, are you alright?" Skah asked.

I stared at her tattered dress. It didn't require my dog-levels of empathy to tell she was mad.

"You stay back. I'll take care of Osamu's daughter!"

Setsuko jumped back and kicked Cio toward me.

I caught my sister and shot spikes at the princess.

"So, you are on their side!" Setsuko said, leaping into the air.

"I know that you're my son's fiancée, but I won't allow you to hurt my siblings!" I yelled, raising my right hand.

Setsuko gasped as thick roots shot out of where my spikes had landed.

"Those were seeds?" Setsuko asked, breaking the hardy roots by spinning her weapon rapidly.

"That weapon of hers is a bother," Cio said, gripping her stomach.

"Cio, you still haven't recovered from your fight in Xeleria, have you?" I asked.

She clenched her teeth. "I need to make up for my pathetic performance."

"No, you stay put!" Skah said, forming a white fireball.

Setsuko smiled and formed a sphere of darkness.

"Stop it, Setsuko!" Azami yelled as he got up. He gripped his stomach and let out a groan. Rocio's kick must've broken some ribs. Had he fought recently too? His mana levels were low.

Setsuko ran over to him. "Alright, only because you asked. But we need to recover Serrano."

"Serrano's not our prisoner. He willingly came here!" I yelled.

Her eyes widened. "He did? That fool!"

"He must've done it to save his little brother," Azami said, lowering his eyes.

"That's right," Skah said, lowering his fireball-wielding hand.

Setsuko clicked her tongue and held out her hand, forming a vortex.

"I'm not letting you escape alive!" Rocio yelled, launching a fireball at them.

Setsuko slammed her meteor hammer against it, dispersing the flames. "We can fight when you're in a better condition to do so." With those words, the princess ran into the portal she made.

Cio let out a growl as the portal dissolved.

I patted her on the back. Her pride had taken multiple hits today. "There, there, Cio."

"Why didn't you stop them?" Cio asked, looking up at Skah as he dispersed his flames.

Skah rubbed his right ear and sighed. "I don't like hurting others. Plus, there's a spy here we need to care of."

Cio and I gasped. "A spy? Who? Collin?" Cio asked.

"No." White flames flared around him. He spun around, slashing a fly on the wall.

"Isn't that too much for a little fly?" I asked.

Skah chuckled as he sheathed his sword. "That's no simple fly. It's one of the Archdemon of Gluttony's flies."

I gasped. To think that I failed to sense it... My skills had gone rusty. Maybe I should've asked Daisaru to train me again.

"Let's go and get you to somewhere safe where you can rest," I said, helping Cio up.

My sister stared at me. "What about you? Didn't seeing that guy again drain you?"

I leaned my head against her shoulder. "I would be lying if I said it didn't." I wiped my tears before they could roll down my face. "But, I think that Azami has it worse."

Cio leered at me. "Why do you still care for him?"

My lips shook as I tried to smile. "Guess that's part of being a two-brain-cell dog, huh?"

"Selena!"

"Emotions are hard to control," Skah said as he walked over to us.

Cio furrowed her brow at me. "So, you still love him? Despite everything he put you through?"

"I-I'm not sure," I said, lowering my head. Was what I felt love or simply pity? I laughed. "Either way, you probably think I'm a fool for letting him escape like this, huh?"

"I understand," Skah said, wiping away one of my tears.

Rocio sighed and looked away. "It's your choice. You're an adult already. Simply know, if he hurts you, I'll kill him."

I snuggled her. "What an overprotective little sister you turned out to be."

Cio grumbled as her face turned red.

I giggled. It was nice to have Cio and Skah around again. The same went for Sey and Plu. If only Shi were here too. The six of us had never had a chance to be together. Would we ever?

**Solar Note: It's a bit odd to publish this chapter on April 1st xD. Hopefully, people won't think it's a prank and not read it. Thoughts? Predictions?**