It began with me, and Ennyou ploughing through Malikan. Of course, were already Demonears.

We could overcome any challenge this world presented.

It would've taken us two weeks to tread to Saphrith from Fort Apharel, but that's not where we went, despite me telling everyone otherwise. Following the mountain path, we found a thrill in Orawood. Every Paladian talked about its dangers, various unseen animals, and pieces of history plastered atop an inconvenient background.

I was curious, and so was Ennyou, who was always keen on history.

They'd come to my room at unbelievable hours and tell me about some minute event in Errarion's past, or even further along the world's equator. The idea of seeing the seven war outposts or the SGC they once read about fueled a sense of adventure.

Ennyou wielded a long, thin, sharp sword resembling bone and had to get up close to scratch their enemy. Using our limited training, I learned that baiting the opponent from afar and letting Ennyou attack was the right tactic. This strategy went back to their interest in history. During the second war, the Demonear Lot from Osmania always sent their troops out in pairs according to their strengths.

Together, alas, maybe perhaps with any Demonear, we could've been undefeatable. We headed down into Westling and further into Silva Tops. Following those big, scary oaks, lakes of algae, and leaves that obstructed any rational light from seeping in... I guess we should've noticed back then that things weren't as simple as a weapon in hand.

I remember hearing a couple of noises left and right. I thought they were, at the very least, a little unnerving, but Ennyou insisted we tread forward.

A good reason why half of the Demonears that exist are nowhere to be found was exactly what they did, and... I'm partially to blame as well. Too confident, but how many times am I to repeat my own words?

"Ennyou," I muttered, fixing the Sunglow and putting an arrow back into its sheath. A noise followed right after. It creeped me out a little, but my younger Chicho smiled when turning.

Their eyes told of a curiosity that I couldn't necessarily deny. I was curious too.

"You wanna chicken out, Rowan?" they asked.

"No." I brushed sweat off my face. "I reckon we should be more cautious. You never know what you might find in Orawood."

"I'd say, right." they took a step forward. "Did you know that the algae lakes here are poisonous?"

"Of course." I shook my head. "Is there anyone who doesn't know that?"

"There's a deeper end to it, though," they smirked, their orange locks obscuring one eye, but the other suggested that Ennyou did in fact, know more than I did. "During the second war, some of the SGC survivors ran away in this direction, only to be found by demons hiding inside the hollow tree barks." they kneeled. "So, they thought the best hiding spot would've been the lakes. They ran, and some stumbled in, never to be heard from again."

I clenched my fist, looking down at my Chicho. "So they died?"

"It's a fifty-fifty, actually." they raised a finger. "People who were already severely wounded miraculously made it out on the other side of Orawood, somewhere further along in Kosmonia. There's a neat passage of water beneath the lakes connecting to one of the rivers there." they stood up.

"Wouldn't they have drowned by then?" I asked.

Ennyou shrugged. "Turns out, the woods have mercy for those who left their blood on its bedding."

"You know that's some witchtale bullshit." I grinned.

"Maybe. But if history tells otherwise, then I'm inclined to believe the impossible. People have already proven so."

Exactly. Everything that history stated to be true was what Ennyou firmly believed in. You know, stories of how deities came with this divine intervention to save their "children" or how during the second war, humans leaned towards a demonic power to defeat the evil.

It's what history always described, what the Wise thought when their hands first landed on the most primitive models of the said idea and their theory.

I probably should've caught on by then. The thin barrier, separating demons and humans could've been what had already once happened before.

"Legion flowers," I muttered, halting my words. Despite the river flowing upwards, the algae lakes were present on both sides and if it wasn't for the trees separating the main path from this one, they would've been this perfect trap for anyone passing through.

That's what I thought when glancing around, at the very least. Proof of my claims was the flowers there in the first place.

Ennyou was a little shocked. "Great!" they kneeled, putting a knife near the stalk.

"W-What are you doing?" I almost snatched the weapon out of their hands.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to rip them out," Ennyou reassured, while the blade almost pierced through a part of the crown. I saw this thin, silver liquid pour from the top, only to be caught in a small vial they carried.

My Chicho stood up, proudly holding their soil, before taking another step forward.

"It's a little strange." they giggled. "Do you know who these flowers belong to?"

"You told me and Ambrosia once. The Nusaku son died of starvation in Orawood."

"Strange that they couldn't find any food here." Ennyou looked around. Of course, the Felix Woods had a lot of these fruits plastered all around. I didn't eat them because I was too scared of the algae possibly latching onto them. "I reckon though, it was their death that brought this gift. Legion flowers are one way to indicate someone special."

When a Tributal dies, they leave those specific flowers behind, as well as some gift to this world, as far as our beliefs in One go. How could a Tributal die here from starvation with all this food around? Perhaps, they were as reasonable as me not to try it, but then again, if I was at the brink of death, I'd try the algae method, since that could work out. I learned that one from Ennyou.

"If one of us were to die here, what would we leave behind?" I asked, half-jokingly, turning around with a smirk.

"History, facts!" Ennyou yelled out. "My flowers would build a way for people to understand this world."

I looked up. "As in?"

"Not a lot can be learnt, Rowan." they continued. "You have to go to the next mile to understand every script and book, and even then, you're barely scratching the surface."

I heard them take a few steps forward, with one hand landing on a nearby tree. "So, answers?"

"The answers to questions that have been troubling the people of Errarion for decades. Hell, even to things that can't be answered, although I'm thinking that I'm biting more than I can chew!"

Ennyou was younger than me, although, much smarter, in every aspect. Half of the person that I am is because of them.

Back then I swore I wouldn't become this boring, history-spouting Tributal. They knew more and could've used that knowledge. Could've wished for everyone to learn as well.

"What about you, Rowan?" they pointed their one hand, closing one eye. "What would your flowers bring?" they asked.

I stared forward, still facing away from my Chicho. I didn't know back then. Except for being this kid who wanted to explore, a Demonear who thought the world was too small to see, my thoughts always came down to how others wanted me to think.

Back then I didn't think twice before answering.

"I'd leave nothing," I uttered.

I didn't put any weight on my words. I was confident Ennyou would think of them as some cruel, self-deprecating joke. I saw them in hindsight, for a second there. Coming up to me with a chuckle, and then ending the sentence talking about people with the same attitude as me, who, in the end, managed to accomplish something.

I had no way of knowing that the words I said back then, so... trivial and simple, would turn out to shape something anew.

"Ennyou?" I turned since there was no response.

Then, I saw it. The tree they leaned against became this... cursed, strange creature. Sunken deep in a black fur, with one, glowing, orange eye atop a white skull, staring right down into my Chicho's eyes.

I panicked. I drew my bow and missed my shot before it noticed my presence. It didn't run at me but further pushed on Ennyou's body. I saw them coughing out blood, with their face turned towards me. As if begging for mercy.

As if expecting me to save them.

But I didn't do anything.

Maybe if they died, the legion flowers would tell me of that knowledge and deny the words of me leaving nothing.

The demon stood up, and after Ennyou's whimpers and cries, I saw it raise its limp body. Legs were crushed, almost compressed together. One rib stuck out of their chest. I yelled out, furiously.

I screamed again. I cried, but I didn't do anything else.

Then, much like a used toy, as if a bone in a steak, they tossed their body into a nearby algae lake.

I saw it sink before the creature started approaching me.

That's when I found the courage to run.

***

In the depths of Mount Aria, a shadow transformed into a figure, upon its bare feet stepping out of water that didn't reflect their features.

The murk eventually took shape, and revealing its colours, transformed into a man, bearing a typical Haran attire. They took off their clothes, lightly pulling, now bearing a new, reddish outfit, they let go of the ponytail that held their long hair together, and with one more tug, those long, deer-like horns appeared on their head.

Shi Hon stared forward, back into that arch extending above the empty cave. A translucent liquid flew inside, but he couldn't see his face in it, yet, touched around his eyes. He felt his long nail almost piercing through his skin before a sound in the distance caught his attention.

Treading back upstairs, he didn't find Lisbeth, Isak or Leopold there. He already met the latter two in Gambino, but his daughter seemed to be a mystery until the answer to Leiru's disappearance made a logical continuity.

It wouldn't take a genius to understand what the two sought for. He already predicted the outcome days ago, and it seemed that a part of that came to fruition as soon as he returned to Aria.

The further he trod, the quieter everything got, and a figure revealed itself, sitting at the other side of a cave. What separated the bridge was a waterfall, going down as far as the eye could see. Atop though, were a few shining lights, firefly-like, following what could only be described as a statue, awaiting for Shi Hon.

"One could argue that the most powerful thing a human can craft is words, but when a demon possesses the same ability, what do they become?" Shi Hon pondered, sitting down. "I reckon, you're a perfect example of the opposite. Quiet, but meant to share your power via actions, and not what could be described."

Aishao moved his head down. Only half of its eye watched, with a hand extending towards Shi Hon.

"There's a reason why you came here, though. Are you seeking help, even though, I firmly believe that you and all those demons don't need it?"

Aishao huffed out. Shi Hon squinted his eyes, as his lips were infested with a light smirk. It almost felt as if he was trying to read Aishao's mind, at that very moment. Words may be nought, but thoughts could form a cohesive answer, even if they were only feelings and not solutions.

"You've proven yourself a great warrior, Aishao." Shi Hon spoke. "Don't you remember?"

Aishao reluctantly shook his head.

"That power you hold inside your heart is vast in the ways only those demons could comprehend. Why would you need my words of courage?"

Aishao continued.

"Or maybe I don't understand. Of course, your army expects to follow a certain goal. Demons can seldom act on their own accord. The weaker ones are cowards, but you're not weak. Do you expect a leader to guide you through?"

The demon stared forward. Silence meant power, in that very moment, and Shi Hon clearly understood, yet, found himself a little puzzled about how he should approach this. Standing up, he couldn't expect words to answer this riddle.

Much like praying to a statue, you wouldn't get it to respond. You'd only have to rely on what you believe in.

"My feelings can't reach that far, Aishao." Shi Hon turned around, facing the waterfall. "If Saphrith's demise is what you all want, then so be it, but I can't guide you there."

Aishao looked up.

"I'm not for fights, at least, not any longer. However, I respect your prowess. If you think you're strong enough, then you have to prove it." he furrowed his brows. "I'm sure all of those demons over there don't realise the trembling hands which hold onto your ideals."

Aishao breathed out again. Shi Hon didn't hear a sound but felt this cold air wrap around his back.

"I'm sure thousands of times such was said, be it, the others, or coming from me, when you sought advice on how to reach into that power." Shi Hon crouched, grabbing both of Aishao's hands. "Much like simple magic. Part of that comes from believing in yourself. That you can be the strongest, and channel it in a way that makes it work. Just like back then, you believed that you were strong enough to kill a Demonear, and you acted upon that feeling."

Aishao glanced.

"Although, in the very end, much like a weak human, you doubted yourself." Shi Hon whispered. "You saw the other one. As terrified as you were. So you only hurled a hurt body."

Aishao breathed in.

"I don't blame you." Shi Hon stepped away. "Much like the nine created their strongest army, so did their sons, and grandsons. By accident, you've created a great warrior, akin to the one you can be." Shi Hon put his hands on his waist, looking around. "It's that power I'm talking about."

The waterfall became gradually louder. The longer he stared into it, the more he focused on the reflection of Aishao.

"Heirs to the king, heirs to the throne. It's destiny, and it'd be poor to waste tremendous potential. Much like being born on Mount Aria's white grounds... it already means that you're bound to live thousands of lives, yet, hundreds of deaths." Shi Hon moved closer towards the exit. "Don't doubt it."