Rosa held the unconscious Naoru's hand. Dad had him in his arms.

"Will Nao really be fine?" my sister asked.

I sighed. "Yeah, he should be. But we should probably take him to the capital for Mori to take a look at him."

She glanced up at me. "Mori?"

"Ximena's father. He helped uncle and me with sealing the demon portal that had appeared over the palace."

Rosa gasped. "Wait, but we have Xime here." She glanced around. "Have you seen her?"

"She was tending to the villagers," Serrano said with a slight smile.

I narrowed my eyes at him. Why did he sound as if he were a proud boyfriend?

My face reddened. Why was I getting jealous again?

"Are any of them badly hurt? I would've thought that they would be tended to by now," I said, trying to hide some of my annoyance from earlier.

"She's not looking for physical injuries."

I blinked. "What kind? Spiritual ones?"

"She's trying to help ease some of their stress."

"So, mental health," Dad said as he glanced at Naoru. "Seems wise. After the destruction of their homes and livelihoods, they're bound to be stressed."

"Yeah. Tetsu seemed to be helping with his rally cry to get all who can chip in to do so."

I put a hand on my hip and smiled. "Seems you were right about that guy being like a beam of sunlight."

Serrano laughed. "Yeah. Actually, he seems to be more cheerful now. He looked pretty tired when he arrived in the morning."

He petted his mom's head. Why hadn't she reverted to her humanoid form? Did she prefer being a dog? Or could it have been that she thought Serrano was more comfortable with her as a dog? He did say he felt lingering resentment toward her. Made sense, considering she hurt him while in that form, unlike her dog form, which was likely all tackles and licks.

Selena suddenly glanced at me. Had she read me? I had heard that dogs had what could be termed as a sixth sense for the feelings of others. If that was true, she knew how her children felt yet continued to hurt them. Or maybe she desensitized herself completely.

Thinking about it, it made sense why my uncle was consumed by guilt.

"Maybe we should take Nao back to the tent city after all," Rosa said.

Dad nodded. "Yeah, I'll take him back."

"Wait, before you go, can you tell me what that technique you used on the possessed Naoru was?"

Father stared at his fist. "I learned it in my youth to defeat the king of Kasai no Ki."

"My dad, huh?" Maki said as he flew overhead.

Dad nodded. "Yeah."

Maki directed his eyes toward the Kuroki mountains. The prince gasped. "Dad!"

My dad gritted his teeth. "This aura, it's him. What is he doing here?"

Selena growled. "I sense Margaret too, or at least it's a scent similar to hers. I think it might belong to her children."

Serrano nodded. "Yeah, I sense the presence of Bylet."

Maki sighed. "Thought that he would stay down after what you and Tetsu did to him."

"Seems that his family aren't the kind to stay still."

The prince chuckled weakly. "Yeah, my brother is a testament to that."

Rosa gasped. "Your brother? Are you saying that you're related to the demons who attacked you on your way to Xian?"

Maki nodded. "Yeah, the other one who attacked us is my grandfather."

I recalled what I had overhead of the conversation between Kiara and the others. It appeared that the rumors were true after all. Dad having learned an anti-demon technique lent further credence to that. The latest two generations of Kasai no Ki royals did descend from a demon.

Osamu turned to look at us. "Take care of Naoru, I'll go meet my old enemy."

"Alone?" Serrano asked as he grabbed Naoru. "You couldn't defeat him by yourself."

Dad closed his eyes. "That was when I was younger. Plus, I rather not see anyone else get hurt in front of me." He transformed two of his rings into their angel tool forms. He spun his sword and flew forward.

"I don't like this," I said. "That smoke demoness is also with them."

"The one you said was behind the portal?" Serrano asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, that one."

"Serra, hand Nao over to Setty. Let's go back Dad up!" Rosa said, looking at our cousin with fierce eyes.

Serrano sighed. "I figured one of you would say that."

"Wait, why should I stay?" I asked.

Rosa flashed me the same look she did Serrano. "You're still recovering, no? Stay here. Serra and me are Seven Hill Knights, we can take care of ourselves."

I scratched my cheek. "I'm a knight too, you know." Seriously, why didn't she want me to fight? I wasn't going to faint in the middle of the battlefield. One night's rest was enough for me.

My little sister crossed her arms. "I know, but you should rest. You and Naoru are the same as dad." She shook her head at me. "You do not rest even when told. Only once something like you passing out or getting sick happens, do you stop."

I opened my mouth but words failed to come out. Rosa got me there.

Serrano chuckled. "She has a point there, you know."

He didn't have to say that. I knew she did.

"You are not much better, Serra," Rosa said, narrowing her eyes at him. 

My fiancé stepped back and laughed nervously.

"You should probably rest too, Serra. You barely recovered the other day too. I'll accompany Rosalba and make sure neither she nor the king are hurt," Selena said, striding forward.

"I'll go too!" Maki said, stepping forward. He shut his eyes. "I want to know why dad's with those demons."

"I do too," I said, jumping into the air.

Rosa pouted. "Setsuko, get down here!"

"Sorry, sis, but I'm going to have to disobey your orders. Dad's going to need of the help he can get."

Serrano nodded. "Yeah!"

"L-let me go with you too," a voice called out. We all turned to look at the unconscious teenage boy in Serrano's arms.

"Nao!" Rosa said.

Naoru jumped off and staggered forward. "Don't worry about me. We have to help Father out against those monsters."

"Sorry, but if anyone is staying, it's-" I didn't get to finish my sentence as the daylight sky suddenly became bright orange.

https://youtu.be/PG0XUoZjjl4

My sister cupped her mouth with her hands. Maki's jaw dropped. The Kuroki mountains were on fire!

"What's going on?" Lorenzo asked as he rushed toward us. His children followed not too far behind. Tetsu and the villagers who could fly also came down in a hurry.

"My dad set the mountains on fire," Maki said in a low voice as he lowered his head.

Lorenzo's eyes widened. "Why would His Majesty do so?"

Maki curled his hands into fists. "I have no idea, but it seems he's siding with the demons."

Serra held his hands toward the sky. Rain started to fall even though it was still the middle of the summer.

"You can use water?" I asked, astonished. Even I couldn't use water mana.

He smiled slightly. "I learned how to use it while training in Xeleria."

So, even before his time in the realm of dreams. Was he truly not a genius?

Serra gritted his teeth as the surrounding era became covered in hot fog. His rain was evaporating before it could even get within reach of the flames.

"We have to push those flames back before they get here!" Maki said, flying toward the mountains.

"Setsuko, Rosa, I'm going to need you two to make a trench around the mountains that is wide and deep enough to slow them down."

"This is your father's doing, how can we be sure to trust you?" Naoru said, glaring at him.

"Nao!" Rosa said, pouting.

Naoru took a deep breath and turned to look at me. "You take the lead. Rosa is still too naive for me to trust her choice."

Rosa flew away. "I'll ignore that!"

"Watch out!" Tetsuya yelled, holding a hand forward. My sister flew straight down as a fireball nearly hit her. If it hadn't been for Tetsuya delaying it, it might've.

"Thanks, Tetsu," Rosa said, smiling nervously. Her bracelet transformed into the seven drones and formed a barrier in front of her.

"Who is it this time?" a villager asked in dismay.

"Maybe rebuilding the town is a useless endeavor after all," another said.

"Don't lose heart!" Tetsuya yelled as he kept his eyes forward. "The battle is barely about to begin. Everyone able and willing to fight, ready yourselves!"

Several of the youth glanced at one another. They held their hands forward and transformed their angel tools into weapons.

"The Duke has fought to defend the town for years while we just watched," an older woman said as she clenched her polearm with shaking hands. "It's about time we fought back too!"

Tetsuya grinned. "That's the spirit! Now, everyone, lend me some of your mana!"

"What are you going to do?" Maki asked as he channeled his mana toward Tetsuya's shield.

The shield knight chuckled. "You'll see."

I smiled. The technique he had in mind had to be 'Soudaina Tate'. Hyo and I had helped him test it out back in Munil. The principle was similar to that of his energy redirection beam. Except, the energy was used to expand the mana extension around his shield. Theoretically, the technique could defend an entire city the size of Kaguya with only the mana of us five knights. With the help of the villagers and our allies, it should've been able to defend an area the size of the Kuroki mountain range.

Selena let out a bark and ran ahead.

"Hey, don't run off, Doggo!" Serrano yelled, running after her.

What were those two doing?

I chased after them.

"Come back; it's dangerous!" Serrano yelled, trying his best to catch up to her. His mom was fast, though. It didn't take long for us to arrive at the base of the mountains.

The heat from the forest fire was intense, so much so that some of the rock appeared to be melting.

I glanced up and saw Dad with a barrier around him. His face was covered in sweat as he blocked the attacks of a tall white-haired man with blue eyes.

The flames the man spewed out turned blue. Dad held a hand out, turning the sapphire fire into spheres.

What technique was that?

"Interesting. Your mana control is as impressive as always, Prince."

Dad laughed drily. "I am no prince. I am the king of Kuroriku, and I will not let you take a single more step into my lands!"

The king of Kasi no Ki smirked. "King, you say? In front of me, I still see a boy with fear in his eyes." His eyes shifted around. "The other one who fought alongside you, where is he? That boy had my late nephew's weapon."

The man gasped as a sword slashed the back of his neck.

"Looking for the wielder of Alabaster?" Serrano asked as he jumped back. He stabbed the king of Kasai no Ki with his other sword, sending him reeling.

"So, you are its heir," the king said, smiling even as he bled. His wounds closed just like those of an abysmal's.

"He really is Margaret's grandson," Naoru said as he appeared next to me.

"You? I told you to stay back," I said.

Naoru leered at the man. "How can I when the man responsible for my father's death is in front of me?" He held one of his knives out to me. "Here, take it. Take him down with this."

"Naoru, you shouldn't be here," Dad said, running over to us.

Naoru nodded. "I know. I'll be staying out of the way. I just wanted to give Setsuko my angel tool. With it, she should be able to stop the enemy from healing."

"Oh? You think you can stay away from harm?" a black haired man with bright red eyes. A pair of large horns jutted out of his head. He covered his hands with flames and charged at Nao, only to be sent flying by a barrier.

"Is this the peasant's doing?" Dad asked, eyes wide.

Naoru nodded. "Yes. I asked the Shield Knight to do me this favor. Dad, Setsuko, don't lose to them. I'll be channeling my mana to Setsuko from afar. That way she can use my djinn's abilities."

I smiled. So, he did think this through.

"Oh, right, help Serrano. Looks like he isn't doing much damage." With those words, Naoru ran off.

Serrano sliced the king's blue flames with jets of water. Sadly, they failed to reach their real target, the fiendish king. The flames were simply too hot.

"That Serrano has really grown," Dad muttered. He reached his hand out and seized the knife from me. "I'll have to make use of this. Being the one behind its upgrades, I know how to use it better than you probably do."

I grumbled, but he was probably right.

"Who made that barrier?" the horned man asked as he staggered toward us.

"It must've been that annoying knight with the shield," a blond man dressed from head to toe in purple armor said.

The demoness from the capitol chuckled as she stepped out of the flames. "You two boys sure are weak. Might've been best if you stay back home."

"Shut up!" the black haired demon said. "I was simply caught off guard. I didn't detect any barrier around that guy."

The demoness scoffed. "Excuses!" She grinned at me. "I'll take this one. I owe her for what she did to me back at the palace."

I spin Alma around, blowing the flames back. "Didn't expect to see you so soon. Seems like I'll have to give you a bigger beating this time."

The woman laughed. "Very funny, princess! Let's see if you're still laughing once I'm done with you!"

"Hey, nephew! Let me handle that guy!" the blond guy yelled.

The king pushed Serrano back.

Serra caught himself with his swords and spun around. "Want to die that badly, demon?" he asked, smiling smugly.

The armored demon let out a growl. "I won't lose to you this time!"

"Stand back, you three! I can handle these three. Chase after the dog."

"The dog?" Camio asked.

"Yes, that's one of the Pillars of Destruction. Kill her in front of your father and his vessel shall fall into further despair."

"You won't do that!" Serrano yelled, sending blades of water at him. Like before, they evaporated before they could hit him.

"Weak, just like the other one."

"I'll show you weak!" Serrano yelled as a blue aura surrounded him. The blond demon appeared in front of him and punched him in the gut, sending him flying toward the ruined town.

"Serra!" I yelled, catching him. His aura had vanished. "You idiot! You should've listened to your mom!"

Serrano wiped the blood from his mouth. "Mom!" He flew off toward the north.

"Serrano!"

I glanced back at my dad.

The king of Kasai no Ki closed his eyes as Dad dashed at him with Naoru's knife.

The king slapped Father's wrist, sending the knife flying into the air.

Dad flew into the air and caught the weapon with his other hand and threw the knife straight at him, stabbing his shoulder.

The king of Kasai no Ki grumbled. "What's this?"

"Mom said that it can stop one from healing," the blond one said.

The king of Kasai no Ki grumbled as he yanked the knife out. "You should've told me that before we came here, Uncle!"

The demon shrugged. "I didn't expect to see him."

He gripped his bleeding shoulder and stepped back. He raised a single finger toward the sky. The heat around his finger increased exponentially until the air around him swirled uneasily.

How did Dad and Takeshi defeat him in their youth?

"Die!" he yelled, launching the beam at dad.

Dad slammed the beam with his shield, sending it flying into the  mountain below. The three other demons and I jumped out of the way as the mountain exploded. Hot ash and dirt rained down on us.

"Dad!" I yelled.

Dad flew out of the hot cloud with Naoru's knife in tow. "It's unlike you to worry. Say, have you picked up anything from your observations?"

I touched my chin. "The king seems to be plotting something as he told the others to chase Selena. Yet, only the black haired one did so. I doubt they are watching just for the entertainment. Especially that blondie." My eyes widened as I realized he was gone.

I glanced over my shoulder. My eyes shifted northward. 

Did he go after Serrano?

"If you're worried about Serrano, go after him. I can handle the other two."

I smiled. He certainly managed to show it with that shield of his.

"Alright. Be sure to comeback safely."

Dad closed his eyes and nodded. "I will. Unlike Eiji, my idea of an ideal death doesn't involve the battlefield."

I furrowed my brows. Way to raise a death flag, Dad. 

At least he had his Vishnu and Naoru's knife, both of which should be able to heal him. But it wasn't bad to lean on the side of caution. Something that the three of us should've done before rushing into battle. Neither Serrano nor Father were fully recovered. Hopefully, I was.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^. Thoughts? Theories? Predictions?**