Despite being known as the only place where alcohol was legally served in Magna, the Midcity Bar was often visited by people who claimed to specialize in the making of meals or drinks, even though they had no way to prove their words.

Once a year, a different Paladian from Saphrith used to visit Magna and desperately tried to fool the person behind the counter into serving them meals for free, even though they were rather cheap. Until Ella started working as the bar's everywoman (as in, she cooks and prepares drinks, and keeps tabs on the inns), the mixologists and cooks were fired each year as punishment for letting those people get to their minds.

The crew there used to be made out of Morians only, and Morians weren't a race known for being as sturdy as rocks. You could tell them one thing, and they'd probably believe it, especially when you were talking to the younger ones.

That's why, when Ella stepped in, everything changed. She found a strategy for successfully shooing off the wannabe critics, by promising them a special drink.

"It was one of my first days at work here," Ella spoke, putting a cigar in her mouth, and Chyuuichi eagerly listened, holding a wooden cup of cocoa in his hand. "The guy that pays for this place didn't tell me much, treating it as some test, telling me I'd be fired if I gave in. Didn't know what that meant, until I saw that shit-eating grin on the Paladian's face."

Atomu looked at her for a moment, furrowing his eyebrows.

"He claimed to have come here to judge if the bar could be deemed as ethical and essential to the people of Magna, based on what I can make." she looked at her nails. "So I asked him to prove that, and he said he didn't have to. Something stank there, sweetheart." Ella put her hands on the counter and inched closer.

"Ooh! Did he not take a bath?" Chyuuichi asked, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. Elton looked at the two as well.

"It was a metaphor." she calmly added. "Continuing, as a Haran we're quite respected for our food and drinks, even if one would tell us they don't look like the typical food eaten elsewhere. Mix one thing with the other, and it explodes in your stomach!"

"DID HE EXPLODE?!" Chyuuichi yelled out, and soon, everyone looked at him. He sat down, rubbing his chin. "...did he explode?" he whispered, clenching both fists.

Ella chuckled. "I mixed up a few seeds I had lying around, added two different alcohols to it, and well, he didn't leave the bathroom for the next two hours. You'd think that'd be enough reason to fire me on the spot, but no. Issue solved, he and all the others never came back here." she clapped her hands, before turning around. "I take pride in working here, you know? I guess these Morians needed someone like me to shake things up a bit." she put two glasses together and jiggled them rhythmically. The liquids inside combined, changing into an orange colour and she poured such into a bigger jug, placing it on the counter, then pushing it towards the man standing near Chyuuichi. He grabbed his drink and threw some Silver coins into Ella's hand. "My pleasure."

"I'm starting to think that Chyuuichi doesn't like Paladians," Elton whispered, turning back to Atomu.

"Oh my, what? I don't think he understands metaphors, that's why I avoid them as well." Atomu explained. "I don't like sticking too much wisdom or confusion into my words. Considering..." he took a sip of the freshly made tea. "...that I barely talk to people who'd understand."

"I am one for comparisons." Elton smiled. "But I make sure everyone gets them."

"I'm not that knowledgeable. I'm not that old, after all." Atomu laughed a bit, looking into his drink.

"Hey. Thirty is young enough, right, Ella?" Elton asked.

"In my prime!" she blurted out.

Jyuzou walked by.

"Ooh, Jyuso! Where are you going?" Chyuuichi turned around.

"Um." Jyuzou scratched his head. "Outside." he nodded, putting his hand on his backpack's shoulder straps. "I need a b-breather."

"Oh, I get it!" Chyuuichi pointed. "It's the damn alcohol looming in the air! Are you drunk?!"

Jyuzou looked down. "No. I'm not drunk, Chyuuichi."

"How old are you again?" Chyuuichi raised an eyebrow.

Jyuzou sighed. "I'll be back in a bit." he looked at Morio for a moment, and their eyes met before he went downstairs and left the bar.

"Definitely drunk," Chyuuichi muttered.

"Talking about yourself, eh?" Ella smirked.

Atomu's eyes traced Jyuzou's steps, before he breathed out, taking another sip.

"Talking about wisdom," Elton uttered. "There's something I find quite funny about Demonears."

"Hm?" Atomu raised an eyebrow.

"I've met lots of them over the years, and they're all high and mighty about their positions. I mean, most of them were even older than me, so that's to be expected. At the same time, I'm not a kid." Elton stretched, closing one eye.

"Well, if they had to go through a test like the one I did, why wouldn't they? I feel like it's a position that deserves praise." Atomu said. "Deep inside, though. I hope that when it happens again it's not going to be as harsh."

"Yet, you denied having that wisdom." Elton turned. "Jeez louise."

"I'm new to all of this, I guess." he laid his head on the table.

"Yeah, I think I get it too." Elton moved back. "I'm not a Demonear, yet people tend to see me as this scary adult who knows everything, just because I make weapons, and in reality, I'm closer to just calling myself an overgrown child, in a way."

"People expect too much from adults, and then you have kids who desperately want to act mature and grown up." Atomu closed one eye. "I'd know. I've seen one, I've been one myself."

"There's something I've been meaning to tell you, actually, my friend. That kid that came after you into my hut..." Elton spoke.

"Morio?" Atomu sat up once more.

"Mhm. I'm wondering, was he a part of your team, or something?"

"Yeah. He's who I just mentioned." Atomu replied.

"Figured. He takes on a lot from you, doesn't he?" Elton continued.

"What? No, I don't think so."

"One glance into both pair of eyes, and I can tell. Morio's trying to be like you, subconsciously. Being the only adult in our group probably means he looks up to you. I think you might have a bigger influence on him than you'd think."

"H-How?" Atomu grinned. "I'm not anyone s-special."

"Your Guardian Demons are similar, and I'm not talking about the weapons they are. You both hold your swords in the same way as if you're ready to take on this world's challenges. You were both a bit fearful, yet, fascinated by your weapon. I thought you were family for a moment until Chyuuichi over here spouted all about your adventures."

"Bleh!" Chyuuichi triumphantly raised his clenched fist.

"Your glances are similar. Full of curiosity." he put a hand on Atomu's shoulder, almost inching closer. "...and a little unsure as well."

"Atomu here will be unsure if you do all that." Ella laughed, and the Paladian furrowed his eyebrows, while Elton moved back, a little confused.

Atomu stared at his reflection in the cup, recalling Morio's words on how he thought he wasn't worthy of being a Demonear. In a way, he felt the same. He didn't know what he did to earn this position, or if he should be caring as much as Morio did.

The white-haired Morian waddled over to the exit, and the Paladian turned around, hearing his footsteps. "Morio?" Atomu stopped him. "Where are you going?" he asked, as Morio put his hand on both sheaths.

"O-Outside," he answered.

"Why? It's warm and nice here!" Chyuuichi yelled out.

"Jyuzou left a while ago, and I want to find him," Morio explained.

"O-Okay, don't take too long, though," Atomu answered, turning back, and Morio sprinted down the stairs, leaving the bar.

"Atomu." Ella snapped her fingers, as he eventually looked up. "How's the tea?"

"It's good, still a bit too hot though," he replied.

"Ahh, it's those Shato seeds. They keep the temperature of the water at high levels for quite a long time. You'll need to wait a bit, then." Ella explained.

"H-How long?" Atomu squinted his eyes.

"Thirty, forty minutes? Well, that's when it'll be warm, not cold. I don't know how you like your drinks. I'm not a witch." Ella went back to mixing the liquids, sneaking a wink, and Atomu eyed the exit to the bar.

"I'll-" he glanced at Elton and Chyuuichi. "-I'll be back in thirty, forty minutes."

"More likely thirty." Ella raised her finger.

"Agh." Atomu closed his eyes. "Soon enough," he added, before essentially leaping down the stairs.

He spotted Morio in the distance, matching his speed, following him through Midcity, and all the way into the Bore Forest. Each time Morio slowed down and so did Atomu, as if he was afraid of confrontation. After a while though, he decided to step forward, when the moon met the snow.

"Morio?" Atomu asked, and Morio turned around, facing him.

Morio ground his teeth.

"You're not..." he pointed. "...searching for Jyuzou," he added. "Are you..?"

"N-No." Morio marched a bit, stressed, putting his hand on a tree. "I am. I don't know where to look."

"Jyuzou went out to take a breath. He'd be nearby, but definitely not here."

"We've been here together, so I thought." Morio stopped. "T-That maybe I'd find..." his lips shook. "...him right here." he belted out.

"Morio." Atomu's tone lowered. "Why did you come here?"

Morio breathed out, slowly putting his hands on his face, covering it completely. "I-I don't know," he uttered. "Am I angry, sad? I don't know how to feel." he shook his head, stepping towards Atomu. "I said so many awful things to Jyuzou, and I'm not sure he'll forgive me. Besides, everything else. You've seen it, haven't you?"

"The Demonear test? Morio, everyone told you the same thing. That it-"

"-doesn't matter." their words overlapped, and Morio ground his teeth. "So what matters, then? Am I really strong enough to kill a demon and make sure that all the dreams I had come true? Everyone says that I'm a liar, everyone says that I'm too childish, everyone thinks that I'm never ready, and... I'm starting to believe those words. I don't want to rely on others' help! What would that cost? A life? What if I never see my mama again? How would she feel having to face someone so... useless?!"

"You're putting way too much on yourself, Morio," Atomu uttered. "You're still young, and-"

"It's the exact same thing again! Mr Bancho once told me of a boy who saved his entire family at the Lot Thúrum cliffs, and he was only ten! Why is everyone around me so much better? Why can't I be just like them? Why can't I help others, and why do they have to help me?" Morio cried out. "It's a loop that I can't escape! Nothing will change if I don't..." he ground his teeth. "If I won't just leave."

Atomu raised an eyebrow, and Morio turned around again, weeping. "Morio..." he reached his hand out.

"Go back and tell the others that they won't have to help me again," he announced. "You won't have to carry this burden!"

Then, Atomu put his hand on Morio's shoulder, stopping him.

Morio glanced at his face, and Atomu crouched, looking into Morio's eyes. "We're not different there, Morio. I'd say, I didn't do as much work as Jyuzou and Jeffy, planning all that, yet, I'm not going to beat myself up for something so minute. No, I know of all the opportunities heading my way-"

"Everybody tells me that." Morio raised his voice. "Everyone tells me that I'll have more time when they already did something to prove themselves." Morio continued. "It never lives up to my expectations. It's always just a little bit worse than how I imagined it to be."

"...and I'd say, everything they're leading to is right. They're not meaningless words, but maybe you don't accept them since they're coming from people that you don't know or trust, for that matter."

"I..." Morio wanted to say something but paused.

"Or from people, that you've already crossed out since you think they're better than you," Atomu spoke. "Then, accept them coming from a person who's not sure about anything either." he chuckled. "Not special, even if someone would want to tell me otherwise. If I could carry all their words and put them on you, I would."

Morio's eyes shook, eyeing the distant trees.

"I went through so much anger at your age too. I desperately vowed to be just like my peers, and through all that anger, I lost what made me the Paladian I was. Even now, when that frustration comes back, I get reminded. I'm not mature or wise, and even you back then said that so many can still change. I'm taller, and maybe a bit stronger, but still the same young me, deep inside." Atomu explained. He stopped for a moment, collecting his words.

"...and the worst thing that ever happened to me, was shoving that person away. Even if they were flawed, I became just as imperfect but lost a good chunk of what I loved. I want to make sure that you never go down the path I went." Atomu's hands were a bit shaky, and they slid down onto Morio's arms. "I h-hope, and pray, that you'll remain the Morio you are. Happy, curious, and courageous. D-Determined to become an amazing Demonear, and someone who'll once make a grandeur atlas of this entire world." Atomu smiled. "I can lend you a torch to illuminate the path I one trod, but... the rest of the road is for you to create."

"I'm not sure, Atomu," Morio muttered, weakly. "I don't want people stepping out of their way so I can be protected."

"But, they will. There's nothing wrong about it." Atomu continued. "You'd protect someone too, right?"

Morio slowly nodded, and Atomu flashed a bigger smile than beforehand. The Morian sighed, shaking his head.

"A-As you said, if you want to leave, then I am in no place to tell you otherwise. It's your decision, and it's your route." Atomu said.

"You won't be angry with me?" Morio asked.

"It's your choice, but I'd tell the others." he nodded. "It'd make things even more complicated."