Year 474 A.F.W.

It was much like any other ceremony. Dances, night lights shining in the sky, and the soft snow that lay below the feet of Morians. Many children gathered around Bancho, who sat in his chair, and told story after story as if he was on a more giant roll than ever.

He showed three different items. One was a small bottle he once bought in a hidden store in Saphrith. It was created to counter the then-existing law that any shopfront must give half its earnings towards building the second Munian Palace. Selling certain goods, at lower prices, Bancho was more interested in the glass container that once was full of pablia-orange Juice, seeing specific patterns and decorations on its brown exterior. Every glass on the shelves looked completely different as if they told stories of things he could not learn.

The second item was a fang that he remembered ripping out of the jaw of a wandering, dark, deformed deer, somewhere around Lot Thúrum. Many of these deformities completely changed certain aspects of the creature they inhabited, and thinking that a transformed tooth was something to behold, he took its shining remains. However, that idea wasn't unprompted either. Bancho protected a family that tried passing through the nearby terrain to visit a relative. A long time ago, people still lived in Lot Thúrum, but that soon changed with incidents such as these.

The third one, was a little bit different since it didn't resemble anything any Morian had ever heard of, or recognized. Curiously, even Jyuzou joined in, who, up until now, sat further away, trying to redraw a Stem flower, unlike Morio, who listened eagerly from start to finish. Only now did it seem that he was more interested than ever.

Bancho took a small pouch out of his pocket, which at first glance didn't seem like much of a commotion, until further inspection. Its material wasn't the usual cotton, but rather, a thick, slightly red and dry skin.

"It was the deadliest demon I've seen up until then," Bancho informed, pinching his fingers. "Massive shoulders, rocky fists, and eyes which shone a bright, coppery yellow. It was spouting fire, back and forth, and even with each strike of my weapon, it didn't budge until much later."

Morio's pupils shone, as Bancho made direct eye contact with the Morian, even if, only for a moment.

"...and, for a moment there, I doubted myself. I questioned if it was even possible to defeat such a monster, seeing, that there were many more stretching in the distance."

The young Morians gasped, but Morio smiled.

"One was a hurdle, so I guess I had to somehow commemorate my little achievement." he hid the pouch in his pocket and stared forward, with a gnarly smile.

"Rocky fists!" Morio clenched his own. "You said that there were so many of these in the second war, am I right?!"

"Yes, Morio."

"So they still live on!" Morio yelled out.

"That is n-not a good thing." Jyuzou fixed his glasses.

"No, I don't think so, Morio." Bancho closed his eyes. "They've been wiped from the surface of Mainland Errarion and banished into the underground, if not killed earlier."

"They're underground. Note that!" Morio pointed to Jyuzou.

"I'm not noting anything!" Jyuzou raised his voice, indignant.

"Come on, dude." he pushed him lightly. "When I pass the Demonear test, I'll be strong enough to defeat anything!" Morio smirked.

Bancho chuckled, patting his head. "I'm sure you will, Morio, but don't go searching for trouble if there's no need to. I can assure you, you're perfectly fine without having to wander."

Jyuzou sighed, hesitantly noting the said memo down.

"Mh!" Morio folded his arms. "I want to see all of Errarion!"

"Nothing's stopping you. Just know how to tread safe paths." Bancho informed.

"Safe is everything b-but Morio," Jyuzou muttered.

"Shut it!" the other Morian screamed out.

"...and to continue answering your earlier question. The second war was said to be filled with thousands of demons alike. The demons brought up the deadliest army imaginable, surely to defeat humanity once and for all, who then combined power to finish what we haven't ignited." Bancho explained. "To exhaust a fire that only grew."

"How did the war start in the first place, Mr Bancho?" Morio asked.

"Well, a conflict. Much like any spur in life, I'd say. Quite ironic that it came from a demon, don't you think?" Bancho said. "Not many recall the exact details, and even if, they're no longer with us. Nor was it written down in books, or told from one to another. There was just a tiny little spark that started a storm, a flaw in the plan. One thing led to another, and I believe someone shouted: If you want war, then so be it." Bancho continued. "For the next years, all of humanity fought what they thought was an impossible obstacle to overcome, a hurdle so difficult that one doubt their deity."

Someone gasped again, but no one else did so they felt embarrassed.

"A conflict!" Morio snapped his fingers. "Do you think there'll be another war in Errarion?"

"Morio!" Jyuzou raised his voice.

"I'm curious."

"No." Bancho shook his head. "Maybe when we're all dead, that is." he smiled, and many of the children looked rather uncomfortable. For the first time in quite a while, the parents started to doubt Bancho's reliability. "It's been peace here in the mountains for almost two hundred years now, and hearing the songs of the birds, I can tell you that it's pretty much the same elsewhere. And even if it wasn't, It's nothing for you to worry about."

"Yeah." Morio beamed too. "Here in Mistwick, it's always safe."

***

Bancho stared at the ground for a few seconds, while the others kept yelling out Chyuuichi's name. He clenched his fists, and tightened his grasp around Julai, while his eyes twitched.

"I don't want to face it but as the old saying goes..." Bancho looked up, grinding his teeth, staring directly into Leopold's eyes.

"If you want war, then so be it," Bancho uttered before he launched Saxyo forward. It spun around its axis, before hitting the rocky wall behind the two, sticking in, without much pizazz. "If you want to fight, then I'll fight, and if you want to strike, then I'll strike too. But, never forget that we have something that you'll never even get close to obtaining." he thought.

Leopold raised his head, stepping to the side.

Bancho smiled. "Hope."

An eye opened. From the tip of the axe, came a massive waterfall, which suddenly sent the two down towards the lower levels of the same cave.

Atomu and Zuimu stared shocked, without moving a muscle until the stream grew closer. The Paladian jumped back, frightened, holding onto Zuimu's hand.

"Mhmh!" Zuimu mumbled, raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah! I know!" Atomu raised his voice, right as the wave sent Chyuuichi's body into the small pool it created before he swam towards the edge and washed up near the two. Zuimu immediately put her hands on his shoulders and dragged him out to a dried part of the cave.

"Ghh!" Chyuuichi coughed out, before turning to the side. "That mask..!" he uttered, pointing at Leopold with furrowed brows.

Bancho stuck his arm out and Saxyo flailed back into his hand. Leopold jumped out of the waters, extending his limbs as if he tried grabbing onto Bancho, but at the last moment, a big, sledgehammer appeared, and he struck the ground before the old Morian. Bancho jumped, and the rock he travelled atop flew through the open area in the middle, Leopold chased right after.

The Morian put the Julai sword in the front, waving it back and forth, as it created a wall of fire. In a second, he turned around with the rock crashed into the side as he created a small stream, which, when in contact with the fire, turned into a thick stone, frozen midair. Bancho leapt forward and hung onto Leopold's body, who immediately realised he had to retreat, at that very moment.

He struck the hammer forward, propelling himself towards the edge, but Bancho remained, hanging off like a tooth on the last thread. He jumped back, bouncing off the wall and striking the ground with Julai, creating a ring of fire which at first, the demon refused to approach. Afterwards, Bancho took the Saxyo and slammed it perpendicularly to the other weapon, creating a circular arena made out of sharp rocks.

Atomu, Zuimu and Chyuuichi ran to the sides, trying to reach the opposite end of the cave and help the Wise.

"You know him?!" Atomu yelled out.

"I'm not that forgetful of the demon that almost killed me and Jeffy back in Magna!" Chyuuichi announced, catching a breath, while Zuimu gave him a rather surprised look. "This isn't the first time he tried holding me hostage, and I don't think the last time either! But, in both cases, someone came to help me! What if there was no one there? How strong is this bastard?!"

"We need to group up and find a way to get rid of him." Atomu turned to Zuimu.

"Mhhm!" she nodded.

"Look for the answer in me, damn it! There's no way for me to escape his grasp and any weapon can barely touch his stupid body! He's one fast son of a bun!"

"He's fast. But..." Atomu glimpsed at Bancho, who jumped out above the rocks. "Mr Bancho is still faster."

"Yeah! It's the Wise or something you said! Proves your point!" Chyuuichi smirked, sticking his tongue out, as the three got closer.

Bancho flipped midair, sliding upwards the new stream towards the ceiling. Leopold followed suit, though, with the Morian barely outspeeding him. Much like on a zipline, you'd see in the forests of Prope Portam, they started sliding forth. Bancho used his hands to reach in, trusting them well enough, and Leopold put his weapon above, using it as a trolley. The stream extended forward and instantly disappeared behind Bancho, yet, the demon still held on. During a split second where he wasn't sure if he'd be able to catch up, he kicked the Morian's back, sending him plummeting forwards into the hole, below, yet, this wasn't trouble either.

The three ran up to the edge, looking in without being able to utter a word, as Bancho stuck Julai into the wall and started climbing up. Leopold gracefully plummeted and started striking the Morian's body, finally resorting to the hammer, and as he was about to make contact, the other let go, both of the sword and his grip, jumping to the side. Leopold wasn't done just yet either. He bounced off with the hammer, grabbing onto his legs.

"MR BANCHO!" Atomu screamed out.

The Morian groaned, and the two span around each other, jumping off of rocks sticking out on the sides of the adjacent walls. At one moment, though, they fell into a narrow hole, with Bancho resting on the rock above Leopold. He took this opportunity and immediately created another wave of water, which travelled downwards, as well as something resembling a knot above him, tying in the shape of an infinity.

Bancho breathed out, opening his eyes widely, but before he could strike, Leopold dug out from behind and hit his back with the same hammer.

The old Morian spat out blood and started falling away from the tight opening into the massive pool of water below, filled with sharp rocks and dangerous currents.

Atomu clenched his fists, terrified. Chyuuichi stared in awe, and Zuimu analyzed Leopold's moves. Her eyes kept following his hands, the movements of his hammer, the possibilities hidden behind it, and with each second passing things started clearing up. Something was amiss, but she didn't engage just yet.

Seeing how he plummeted, Bancho took one final glance, staring at the three, who yelled his name out in the hope that their voices would reach, which finally seemed to work. Atomu hesitantly took his sword out, Chyuuichi readied his scythe and Zuimu's Purpur Warfare sat in her hands for quite a long time already.

"Run!" Bancho yelled out.

"What?!"

"I can deal with the demon myself!" Bancho continued, taking a glimpse at Leopold, who zoomed through the air with a dark cloud of dust following behind. "I'll see you in Morta!"

"WE CAN'T LEAVE YOU BEHIND!" Atomu screamed back, with his shaky voice.

"I'LL SEE YOU IN MORTA!" Bancho repeated, slightly annoyed, before he diverted all his attention to the problem at hand.

With each swing of the hammer, Leopold edged closer, as if he was bouncing off the air itself at moments.

"Come on, you bastard," Bancho muttered, smirking, despite the blood pouring from his forehead and falling onto his pursed lips.