*Rocio*

[Abyssia- Castle of Shadows]

I stirred awake and found myself on top of something super soft. It was a blanket of wool. Had Woolsey left it for me?

The door of my room suddenly opened. I gulped as I was met with a stern look from Daisaru.

He crossed his arms. "You told me to rest and what did you who was as tired do? You went ahead and fought someone way out of your league."

I turned my head away. "I did it to save my sister. The plan was to flee from the start. If I wanted to fight, I would've used my ability to get a couple more good hits in."

Not that they would've been enough.

Daisaru sighed and sat down on the bed. My cheeks reddened as he pet my head.

He laughed. "You really should rest now, though. I'll take care of that guy for you."

My mouse ears twitched. "Wait until you get better first."

I nodded. "Alright, but I can't wait too long." He let go of my head and stared at his hands. "My power is dwindling. If your father and I are defeat Margaret and the archdemons, we have to act now."

If only I were stronger. Time wouldn't have been much of an issue.

"What about Collin?" I asked, sitting up.

"Your father is still unsure about whether to trust him or not. Sure he was the best friend of his brother, Ratmir. But he's also the brother of Margaret."

I blinked. "My predecessor was friends with a snake?" That would be like me being friends with a cat...

"That said, I got a message from our boys," Daisaru said, raising a crystal.

"Huh? Really?" I asked, transforming back into my humanoid form. "What did they say?"

"I've yet to watch it. They left it while I was training. That's why I came here, so we could watch it together."

"What if it's an emergency? Hurry up and play it."

He nodded and tapped the crystal. Suddenly, the projection of Etsuo appeared. Man-kin waved at us. The two looked to be inside of a stone tent.

"Hey, Mom, Dad. I hope that you get this message. We just wanted to let you know that we're fine. Kiara let us use the stone that uncle Takeshi gave her."

"Yeah. Etsuo just needed to ride on her skateboard without falling off first," Man-kin said, chuckling.

Etsuo cleared his throat. "Please don't remind me. I still get chills. Anyway, other than our status, I wanted to inform you about Conrad. The Zionians managed to get him back from the demons. Though, he's currently unconscious."

How did they defeat Ifrit? Had Serrano succeeded in reaching Conrad, unlike their mother?

"Uh, I was also hoping to learn how Roa was doing. If you can, please send a message to the crystal I'm calling you from. Dine would be as happy to know as the two of us," Etsuo spoke up after a moment of silence.

"What else do we have to inform them about?" Man-kin asked, glancing at his brother.

Etsuo scratched his head. "I think that's everything." He turned his eyes back to the crystal and smiled. "Take care, Mom, Dad. I'm not sure if we'll see each other again, but know that I love you."

Man-kin wrapped an arm around Etsuo's neck and leaned toward the crystal. "Me too! Hope that we can return home sooner than we think."

Tears drip down both boys' faces. "Bye, Mom, Dad," the two said in unison before the projection ended.

Daisaru's eyes lingered on the crystal. "We should've gone to get them long ago."

I nodded as I covered my eyes with a hand. "Yeah..." The image of my crying big sister came to mind. "But, it might be best for them to remain captive for now. We need someone on our side to watch over Conrad."

"Can't we retrieve him too?"

I bit my lip. "That would be optimal, but Ifrit is a wild card right now. It's unclear who will be in control of his body once he awakens."

Daisaru crossed his arms. "Can't you put one of these on him?" He pointed at his forehead. A golden band manifested around his head.

I touched my chin. "I contemplated it, but it's hard to put it on someone by force. You were tricked by my past life to wear that."

He grumbled. "Yeah. A crown she told me it was."

I laughed. "Looks more like a tiara than a crown." My eyes widened. "Maybe if Conrad is in control, I can get him to wear one. Or have one of the kids put it on him. That way, should Ifrit take control, we can just perform the incantation."

Daisaru sighed. "Yeah, that's probably the easiest way. That said, why did you put one on by force on the Ziz?"

I averted my gaze. "That's how I learned the limits of that technique." If my past life's memories were complete, I could've saved myself the trouble. Another approach might have worked better.

Sighing, I stood up.

"Wait, you should rest some more."

I scoffed. "You won't either, so why should I? Plus, I can't stand still too long. I have to do something."

Daisaru scratched his head and sighed. "Fine. You win, Mouse."

I smiled. He might've won every battle, but arguments were where I got my victories.

Daisaru ran ahead and opened the door. "For you."

"You don't have to do that," I said, closing my eyes. My cheeks were slightly warm. Why was he trying to act like a gentleman? That was unlike him.

"Sorry. It's just, I don't want your arm to act up again."

I stared at my right arm. "It doesn't hurt any more, but thanks for your concern."

He smiled. "That's good. If it does, I'll open whatever you want me to."

I grumbled as my cheeks warmed up more.

Daisaru ran on ahead of me again. We descended the stairs, arriving at the first floor. Not too far from them was another set of stairs, leading to the basement. That's where our training facilities were located. Parts of my lab also descended down to it. If Margaret hadn't attacked, I would've moved Roa there. It was safer due to its secretive nature.

"Cio? You're feeling better?" Skah asked as he walked the hall with Plum.

"Cio should be napping," Plum said, pouting.

I sighed. "I'm fine now. By the way, thanks for healing me, Skah."

My brother smiled slightly. "It's nothing. You're my big sis, so I had to help out."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "I'm older. It should be the older siblings protecting the younger ones, not the other way around."

Daisaru laughed. "Isn't that how you got hurt in the first place? You went to Zionia to protect your older sibling."

I opened my mouth but closed it just as fast. He had a point there. Seemed I couldn't win every argument...

"How is Selena doing?" I asked, changing the subject.

"She's sparring with Sey still. She's having a hard time with his wool shields, but she's persistent," Skah said.

"Sey seemed like he was getting tired, though," Plum said.

"Maybe I should switch places with him in that case," I said, striding forward.

"You plan to fight?" Skah asked, turning around.

I sighed. "Yes. As I am right now, I am not worthy of being the next leader. Though, with Selena here, guess she might be the one who will inherit that position, as the oldest non-traitor. Regardless, this will help the next leader become stronger so she can defend Abyssia."

"Thus far, we haven't really been in the defensive," Skah said.

I side eyed him. "Yet. But, that might change. Especially with Setsuko and Azami being aware of this place."

Daisaru scoffed. "That would be suicide with ten of us pillars here. Actually, we probably don't need anyone other than me to take them all down."

"I wouldn't be too sure. Your power has waned, while the enemy have grown stronger. It might be best that we reach an armistice with them. That way, both sides can focus their attention on the demons." 

Especially Margaret. Her being at full strength, while Father and Daisaru's power continued to wane, didn't bode well for us.

"For real?" Skah said, grinning. He looked away. "I mean, why?"

I sighed. "You don't need to hide it. Your dislike for this war is as plain as day. Not that I like it any better than the five of you do. It's just, I know what will happen if we fail. Our lives depend on obtaining the energy needed to restore the sacred crystal's power. If we can do that, we will have won. Right now, that comes in the form of retrieving the Goddess of Light, or absorbing Zionia's light of creation. The third option involves collecting the energy of our battles, but that's the least optimal option for the long term."

"Though, the latter is also the least dangerous. The former being the most high risk," Skah said.

Plum glanced at him. "That so? Why?"

Skah crossed his arms. "Well, the three remaining Archangels and the creator duo of Zionia are there."

I sighed. "If only Shi hadn't stopped our plans at Grand Crater. With the divine couple asleep and Daisaru's power not as waned, we had a chance of retrieving the original source of all light."

Daisaru huffed. "Are you saying that I wouldn't be able to take down Halim, Aquarina, and Kushinahime as I am now?"

"In your prime, they would likely be easy pickings. But, as you are now, you might struggle should the three team up."

My husband chuckled. "That's what you think, but I still got my transformation. Though, I'd been hoping to save it for the creator gods."

I put a hand on my right arm. Did he forget again that by using that, his remaining time awake would burned up faster?

"I rather you not have to depend on that," I said, walking away from the three of them.

Pushing the door open, I watched as Selena rushed at Woolsey. My youngest brother covered himself in wool, absorbing the force of her attack.

Selena gritted her teeth and unleashed thorny spikes from her hand but even they struggled to get very far.

"Sey's wool sure is amazing," Plum said as she stood next to me along with the others.

I smiled. "Yeah. Only Dad has been able to produce stuff to cut it. I don't think the shield Shi made for his son has anything on Woolsey's wool."

"Yeah, that shield felt like it was going to crack when I punched it. While Sey's wool can tank most of the force from one of my punches," Daisaru said.

"Maybe Shi should've made a fluff-shield. Hmm, maybe fluffield would be a better name for it," Skah said, laughing.

I rolled my eyes at his lame joke and returned to focusing on the battle.

Selena pulled her arm out of the wool and jumped three meters away from Sey.

"If she hopes to beat Sey, she has to get him to switch to the offensive," Skah whispered. "When on the defensive, Sey's nearly unbeatable."

Selena's ears moved. She dropped to the floor and huffed.

"Huh? Are you done?" Sey asked as his wool retreated. He stepped forward her and smiled. "Or is that that you're playing dead?"

Our big sister leaped forward, causing Sey to gasp. Wool appeared at his front. His eyes widened as Selena failed to strike his wool shield. She had vanished all together. Sey fell to the ground as Selena delivered a kick to his back.

"You're rather frail without that wool," Selena said, smirking.

Sey pushed himself up. "I'm not!" He smirked as his wool shield disappeared again. "That said, I don't really like playing defense for too long."

Selena leaped into the air as Sey rushed at her. Her thorn-covered vines rained down on him. Our little brother gritted his teeth and held up his arms. A thin layer of wool covered them, softening the blows.

Sel was right, Sey did depend too much on that wool of his. That said, when one couldn't overcome their weaknesses, it was best to polish one's strengths. What he needed to work on was patience.

I stepped forward. "Sey, rest. I'll take over," I said, cracking my knuckles.

Woolsey shook his head. "No. I'm not done yet. Selena, you switch out with her."

Selena grumbled. "You're forgetting that we're doing this to help me catch up with the rest of you."

"Oh, yeah." He smirked. "I know! How about a three-way battle?"

I nodded. "Sounds good," I said as flames covered my fists. Fighting him would be good practice against Margaret. Her most durable scales were said to be sturdier than his wool.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^^**