"I need you to do something for me," Hakate explained, taking a hand out of his pocket, before taking another step into the room.

Kania scanned him with his eyes, very carefully. His brows weren't furrowed, but slightly raised, but amongst shock, there was one feeling he couldn't describe.

Hakate strolled around for a few seconds, eyes landing on the surroundings. A carpet that resembled a bear's fur, a window looking to the dark, rainy streets outside, and a few cosy paintings pasted atop comfortable beds. Kania stood up as well, finally mustering the courage to say something.

"What do you mean?"

"A favour, if you could call it that." Hakate chuckled, almost diplomatically, while Kania's gaze dove down. "I figured you might remember something about what you said all those years ago."

"Our pact?" Kania continued, facing the ground.

"Atop other things, my dear Kania. Why do you already assume that I only come for interest?"

Kania shook his head. "I'm sorry, it's just the way you implied stuff-"

"You're quietly judging my words without addressing your concerns. Without pointing me in the right direction." Hakate snickered, before putting a hand on Kania's shoulder. The other jolted up, now facing his expression again. "You know that if something seems confusing, you can always ask your buddy to explain it. It's human in the end, to not understand something, but I think it's humane to seek answers." he pointed to Kania's heart. "...and I'd call you a great example."

He continued, with a joyful tint to his words. Eventually, Kania loosened up a bit, and sat back on the bed, right as the sounds of the rain seemed to move further away from the inn.

Mentioning muffled noises, that was all that Ranpa could hear, standing outside the door. At first, he didn't want to listen, but the intrigue only caught his attention.

Kania sighed, putting his hands on his thighs. "I'm sorry, I haven't been feeling the best these past few days."

"Huh," Hakate uttered, sitting next to him. "Did you fail to impress the lady down there with your drinking stomach? That's a thing you've always been good at."

Kania chuckled, scratching the top of his head. "I guess so, too. Just..." he shrugged. "A lot of things lately, but nothing I won't be able to get out of."

"Lots of things imply that I know at least some, and I can provide help." Hakate nodded. "You know you can tell me everything, right?"

"W-Well, what do you not know?"

Ranpa's eyes widened, as he took a step back.

"A whole heap ever since you ran away from the village thirteen years ago, searching for a new thrill. But amid our 'catch-ups', I always assumed what troubled you back then."

"I don't know, Hakate. I feel like if I don't figure this out myself I'll never be able to move past it." he shook his head. "I-It's something I don't feel you can help me with."

"So you don't trust my judgment?"

"No, I do." Kania continued. "But I don't think you could relate, you know?"

"I was right, then." Hakate stood up. "You're still thinking about your position as the King's son."

Kania gasped.

"It's always the same thing with you." Hakate chuckled. "What did I tell you back then and what will I tell you again?"

Kania's heart skipped a beat. The answer almost immediately rolled off his tongue, but he bit its end.

"If I were you, I wouldn't care," Hakate said, shaking his head. "You always slip up. My buddy Kania needs to learn how to lie," he added, placing his hand on his shoulder, again.

The Haran stepped around the room, one hand clenched around Gloria's sheath, the other, searching around and underlining his statements. "Thirteen years ago, my dear friend ran away from the Norda'tun Village. Screaming on and on about how different he was from everyone else. Even if, his friend was always there to help him, tug the rope that he clung onto the cliff with." he turned. "I still remember how loud you snoozed in a bed that wasn't yours, but that was never enough, was it?"

"You taught me that," Kania muttered.

"Taught you what?"

"To seek for more."

"It wasn't about that, you absolute buffoon." Hakate hissed. "My father said humans always aim for something stronger because they're already strong. You were weak and pathetic." he stopped himself. "We both were, until that lenos' spilt blood all over my hands. The next day you were gone, and I never understood why." he nervously trod around the room. "Maybe there is someone in this bloody world that does, but that's not either of us."

Kania breathed out.

"How many times do you want me to repeat the same story?" he said, turning to the window. "You've grown from a frail, skinny boy to a strong, towering man. But deep down, you're still the same."

Ranpa put his ear against the wall, closing one eye.

"Sir?" one of the bar's women walked by. "Did you not get an assigned room? We have a few downstairs."

Ranpa shushed her. "Give me a second."

"Are you drunk?" she continued.

"Oh, damn it." Ranpa shook his head. "No, I'm not. Just give me a second, okay?"

The woman stepped away, a little anxious.

Ranpa focused again but missed out on some of Hakate's words.

"-there again. It was raining back then just like today." Hakate uttered. "Then, he found you. Asking for help, you lied that you had no place to return to, and eventually became one of the King's sons. To this day, you wonder why you don't fit in."

Kania scratched his arm. "It's because-"

"You had a place you belonged to, and you still do. I'd gladly sit back in that village, but I guess the world has chosen a different path. I guess my buddy Kania chose one as well."

"So you do hold a grudge."

Kania breathed out, then sighed. A beam appeared on Hakate's face again, a light, reassuring smile

This wasn't the first time something like this took place. A conversation where he doesn't speak much but gets berated over the same things, all over again. Ranpa immediately concluded that a part of Kania's feelings must've stemmed from this one Haran who forces the word 'buddy' whenever he can.

Hakate sat down again. It was quiet, and the rain became a little louder. The two stared out of the window for a bit. "You need to learn how to lie."

Kania blinked a few times. "If I do, could you please stop starting every conversation like this? I know what I did, and I'm sorry."

"If you go through with it, and show me results of actually changing. Becoming stronger. Apologizing over and over again won't cut it."

"Repeating the same thing won't do so either." Kania snickered.

"It seems it does, considering you're already changing your stance. Either way, I'm happy for my friend." he nodded. "Please, I'm doing all this because of my concern... and the pact we made back then."

Kania's lip shook, and his jaw was clenched. "So." he looked up. "What was that favour you talked about?"

Hakate grinned. "A pathway to getting rid of your problems, at the price of something rather dear to me, my honour. You do already know what I think about Demonears, right?"

"Obviously."

"I'll need you to help me kill them," Hakate stated, in a rather serious tone. Kania turned to him, and Ranpa's eyes shrunk.

Hakate pointed to a sketch he made of Morio, Ingo and Genni.

Kania recalled one drawing of a witch Hakate claimed to have spotted when younger. His skill has sincerely improved since then, but that didn't change the weight of his request.

"Morian, two Haran-Morians. Genni Andi, Morio Frisks and Ingo."

"H-How old are they?" Kania asked.

"They're not even human, to begin with. You'd kill a newborn demon if you could, right?"

Kania's hand shook lightly before he forcefully clenched his fist.

"They're somewhere around the Sap Dog Desert in Harabara. I'm pretty sure I saw them being taken away by some hoodlums, but then again, I figure they might fight and kill for their own, demonic survival. Whatever their goal is, it's both fulfilment to me, and your needs."

"How?" Kania asked.

"If you can kill, you can do anything else. Lenos, Kania. Other than that..." Hakate tipped his hat, standing up. He trod over to the window, flinging it wide open and pointing to the castle in the distance. Kania only looked at the Haran. "The Holy Crown is in the Shaiti Temple."

"W-What?" Kania rose.

Ranpa's eyes shrunk.

Hakate chuckled. "Finder's keeper's but I didn't know what it was back then." he tapped the nearby table. "I was simply passing through when this golden shine reflected the sunlight. On the search for the Morians, you'll find the thing you surely prize, because, most definitely, my dear Kania, the crown could help with finding your place amongst royalty." he bared his teeth. "You chose this path, and I chose a different one, but in the end... the change benefits us both."

"Right." Kania nodded.

"I know you wouldn't want to waste this opportunity." Hakate strolled back. "Will you do it, Kania?" Hakate presented him the drawing, once more.

The other Haran trembled, furrowed brows landing on the sheet, then back to Hakate's squinted eyes.

***

Hakate stepped out of the inn, fixing his hat, and looking up, right as the rain seemingly moved away from the edges of Oldenklow, and someplace else.

A light lit up in the distance, but instead of a bright, white shine that belonged to lamps or some magic items the royalty housed, a shine climbed to the top of the sky.

Hakate focused on the gleaming flame that engulfed a building in the distance. He sighed, taking a step forward.

"Someone's going to have to deal with that."

***

The same morning came with the raindrops clashing against the nearby outside sills. The window was left slightly ajar, and Jyuzou squinted upon waking up.

The sound was rather quiet, seemingly calming at first, but he stood up to look out and meet the sight with his own eyes. After adjusting his glasses, he glanced outside, with a few calm passersby, and some ringing bells around bars, inviting people for breakfast.

Amongst the streets, it felt as if a ghostly figure wandered elsewhere, but Jyuzou couldn't be too sure.

"It's raining," he muttered to himself.

"Has been for the last three hours," Atomu replied, and the Morian turned.

Everyone else was still sound asleep. The Morian found some space on the rather cosy carpet, Koyote took the other room and made a makeshift couch out of a few pillows, Katha and Ronpi snuggled in one corner, and Sandy and Chyuuichi slept on the same bed. The Mirillian snored the loudest.

Atomu sat uptight, however. Back against the wall, with tired eyes and a lukewarm smile.

"You've been awake for a while, then," Jyuzou noted, before noticing his eyebags.

"I haven't slept at all." Atomu shook his head.

"Why?" he asked.

Atomu turned to Katha and Ronpi, before facing the Morian again. "You're in the same boat. I saw you fidgeting around all night."

"The carpet isn't as comfy as it looks." he scratched his head.

The Paladian tilted his head a bit.

"...and those same thoughts kept coming back when I closed my eyes," he uttered. "About Bancho and... everything that happened. The things you guys said, and the information we've all gathered."

"It is a little stressful. Especially all that Wakon stuff. The first time these two brought it up, it seemed like some nonsensical tale, but now at least three other people have told me otherwise."

Jyuzou put his hands on his knees. "It's scary."

"Yeah. It only proves to us how little we know about this world." he chuckled, nervously, playing with some of his hair.

"B-But if we follow with Sandy's plan, we stand a chance, don't we?"

Atomu gave him a thumbs-up, turning to the ajar window. The rain only reminded him of how much it poured down only a few hours after both Bancho's and Elton's deaths. It was cold back then, and even sitting here meant that some winds managed to sneak in and send a chill or two down his spine.

Rain could easily be associated with sadness, and that's what permeated Jyuzou's face as well.

"I know it's hard for you." the Paladian spoke.

"Huh?"

"You don't have to get involved in all of this. I want to allow you to grieve since I know how hard that was." he shook his head. "You can leave this room and go to that Holy Crown ceremony. Get this over with already, and come to reunite with Morio."

Jyuzou breathed in. "I don't want to choose." he continued.

"W-Well," Atomu backed out a little. "We could take care of this by ourselves."

"I know you can. You're probably stronger than me, but if I am one asset among only a few, I don't think I have the right to decide."

"No pressure, though." Atomu smiled. "Just do whatever you think is right."

"Thank you." Jyuzou nodded. "I'm trying my best."

"Maaan..." Chyuuichi yawned, mid-word. "Ya guys were talking so loud that ya woke me up!"

"Talk about a hypocrite, snoozer." Jyuzou snickered.

"Not my fault, ya know? The air is weird here and my nose is always stuffed!" Chyuuichi pointed, trying to blow air out of his nostrils. He focused on it so hard, that he managed to roll over to the side and fall out of bed, crashing onto the carpet. "Anyways, what were the two of ya chit-chatting about? The plan? The Great Weapon?"

Atomu looked to the side.

"That reminds me of something," Jyuzou spoke. "Chyuuichi, you mentioned that Rowan isn't in Saphrith, correct?"

"Yep." he nodded.

"So what's that all about?" the Morian continued.

Chyuuichi's smile quickly faded, turning into an expression that suggested that the Mirillian thought hard, for about a few seconds.

"Like, we all have something to fight for in the real world, and yer talking about that, out of all things," he uttered. "This is the entire reason ya agreed to follow us."

"They went looking for Ambrosia." Atomu cut in. "I forgot to mention that, all because it was so abrupt."

"So are they in Malikan?" Jyuzou continued.

"Possibly," Atomu replied.

"Yeah, it was weird." Chyuuichi put a finger on his chin. "They stormed out of the courtroom the second they were freed!"

"Something important must've been on the line." Koyote stepped in, rubbing her half-awake eyes. "Also, hi, I'm awake."

"Miss Koyote." Jyuzou turned. "You said you received a letter before we came to Galliath."

"Two. One about you Morians and the other about Ingo and Genni," she recalled.

"Who were they from? Ambrosia?"

"No clue. They weren't signed, just told me that I'd have to take four Morians under my wing and that's what I did."

"You just agreed to that?" Atomu tilted his head.

Koyote scratched her ear. "Would I just tell the four to scour upon arrival? I had a whole uninhabited temple and... it seemed like the best option."