"Good thinking, still not enough! How do I get the demon seed on the tip? Shouldn't demons know that stuff?"

"W-We can keep trying!" Ronpi added, beaming.

"Do you have an actual answer?" Sandy asked.

"Nope. But that's part of the fun, isn't it?" Katha smiled. "To keep trying something different until you have a solution."

"We're running out of time, though!" Sandy stood up. "Quick thinking, quick..." he tapped his chin. "What about adding even more leaves?"

***

Treading through the upper halls of the castle, a long stretch of darkness revealed itself leaving from where the main, golden corridor could be seen. Gone were the lamps illuminating the path, and that eventually moved towards the few windows casting a thin gleam onto the dark grey bricks, building arches and moving towards the other grim passages.

Such were characteristics of practically every single squeeze and whatnot of the hidden corridors. One tap of the hand in the right spot revealed yet another maze, and if someone wasn't using it to shorten their path, it was quiet and unkempt.

A perfect place to hide, judging by the dust settled on the few wooden boxes or the empty bottles of wine.

Lisbeth stood still, looking at her hands. The yellow from the windows came from a dirty exterior, yet, if she squinted, she could make out the shapes of the Royals moving around the main square.

Although, that's not what she focused on.

Leiru wasn't there to tell her what to do, and the Wakon were, presumably, further away from the castle. Blood kept moving in and out of her palm, either appearing out of thin air or pushing through non-existent wounds.

"Leiru said I'm allowed to make mistakes." she thought. "Am I impressing you with my power, or did I fail again? I destroyed what I wanted to be. I too, danced for a second there, yet no one came to my performance. Who did I act for?"

She looked up.

"Answer me, Shi Hon," she muttered. "I'll keep fighting, thrashing my fists, creating even more daunting apparitions if need be. I'll incite the scariest of curses, bless myself with a thorn or bite my tongue when speaking. I'll gather even more lives. I'll sacrifice my own."

No one answered.

She pushed her bloodied hand against the window. The yellow tint didn't fade away, and her palm didn't stain the pane. "Will you be proud of me this time, just like Leiru promised?"

She stepped away, turning around.

"Will you be watching, Yanma?"

***

Jyuzou stood on the other side of the main floor, behind a few bookcases where armour stood on trims, next to notes left behind. The Morian noticed them only after putting the heavy pantlegs on.

Curiously, he picked it up.

It was comprised of, mainly, a few sketches detailing each bit and how it works in protecting vital muscles. There were certain words written down near arrows, which he assumed to have been corrected by Judy, with a red pencil and a frowning face next to them.

One thing that stood out the most was the heart illustration. It had a few red arrows pointing towards the middle of the body, which suggested that there was at least one chest plate out of the many left by the group, as well as ones already present, that had some kind of flaw revealing that specific weakness. Either way, the armour he wore had light chainmail in the place where the biggest protection would normally be.

The helmet he'd choose had these leather straps going right down from each ear, covering the pectoral area, but once again, if he were to be stabbed in the right place, it'd be over. All up until, when fixing the armour around, he unearthed something that shone with the light's dim gleam.

Holding the thin, silver edges of the Lina necklace, he squinted, as it lightly rested on his palm, much like silk.

The signs were there in the first place, but back then they could've been written off as a coincidence. In the face of a letter, and the fact that everything turned out to be one way or another, Jyuzou bit his lower lip, stuffing the necklace back inside the chainmail.

"Ya coming?" Chyuuichi yelled, with his muffled voice coming from under the helmet. Atomu waited, leaning against the wall.

The Morian turned. The next step would've meant a decision. Either he could push through, or step into convenience and wait for things to be sorted out. Atomu told him he could do so, but with either choice came varying outcomes, which he didn't like.

So, he trod and eventually met the two near the doorway.

"That's a different piece you're wearing," Koyote admitted, folding her arms.

"It's a little smaller than the last one." Jyuzou clapped around his chest plate. "Fits me, nonetheless."

"It doesn't look bad. I couldn't say the same thing about those two over there." she pointed to Chyuuichi's helmet, with something resembling a beak, and then the armour that made Atomu look twice bigger than he was.

"What is that supposed to mean?!" Chyuuichi yelled out, and she stepped away, giggling.

"At least it won't pull me down in the rain like last time." Atomu moved forward, fixing the empty sheath on his back.

"You got the maps?" Sam quickly asked.

Chyuuichi raised his hand. "Safe in the pouch."

"The key?" Judy stepped in as well.

Jyuzou searched his pocket and found a peculiar mould. Sandy had promised the three a universal key that could easily unlock doors, without causing a ruckus. They had access to a library of knowledge, so why resort to breaking doors open?

Judy took a step forward. "Don't take too long."

Atomu hesitantly nodded, while Jyuzou stared at him.

The Mirillian rolled his eyes, and although they couldn't see it, sooner than later, he pushed the others out of the way, slamming the door shut.

There was a moment of silence. Be it, processing Chyuuichi's on-the-nose reaction, or the fact that the main catalyst of conversation was completely gone now.

Sam sat near one of the tables, hands pushed near his cheeks. Rufus stood near the empty bottles, pondering if Judy would let him make something. The girl looked around, while Koyote sat on a table, scratching something near her nails.

"What now?" The woman finally asked, turning to the others.

"We're not Demonears." Judy sat down. "So we can just wait."

Rufus scratched his neck. "Blindly waiting for something to happen is the worst, and I can tell you from experience. If there's no one in the world to do something, then it's you who steps forward."

"Sure." Judy nodded. "But in this case, all we can do is nothing. Maybe help Sandy work on that Great Weapon, although-"

The door upstairs was flung open with a bang, following multiple footsteps. Judy turned, seeing as Sandy sprinted downstairs, with a massive thing, covered in cloth. Taking a closer look revealed the legs of both demons, swinging back and forth, which the other assumed to be unnoticeable.

"Where are you going?!" she quickly asked.

"We'll be back in a few!" Sandy announced.

"Are you taking the demons with you?"

"We've got a great plan, trust me!"

"Sandy!" Judy yelled, but before she could finish, the door to the main entrance was already shut. She stepped back, huffing, pushing her fingers near her temple. "We have nothing."

"Do you have any card games?" Sam asked. "I'm pretty good at those."

"I do, but I reckon stepping away from the tragedy that could unfold is a little ridiculous," Judy answered.

"What tragedy?" Koyote asked.

"Sandy, and his ideas." she sighed. "He always does reckless stuff, and then there I am, patching his bruises so only more can appear." she folded her arms. "This time, though, I'm not so certain. Dwelling into demon stuff... how far can he go before he crosses a dangerous line?"

"Demon stuff," Koyote repeated. "Demonears and Sandy may have one thing in common."

Judy looked up.

"That it's never enough." Koyote continued. "You could always strive for more, even if it means danger. But then, you can also protect yourself. The role of a Demonear implies it."

Sam looked up. "My older brother wanted to become a Demonear for that reason."

She turned.

"...and although he's gone now and my family thinks otherwise, I'd support him in the decision. In the end, have you met a Demonear that didn't fight for the right cause?"

"I've heard stories." Judy folded her arms. "Siding with the demons to gain power only to lose it. It's way more common than you think."

"Only heard, but never met. I am of the idea that people have a good reason to choose that scary path." Koyote added.

"Like the three." Sam breathed in. "They're heading to find their weapons on a hunch. They're willing to go against everyone in the castle just for that speck of protection."

Judy sighed.

"It's normal to worry about loved ones." Koyote continued, and hers and Judy's eyes met. "But I reckon you should trust him."

"I'm content with being in Sandy's shadow, but I wish I could be there to protect him."

"A gateway into understanding your fear is facing it. So, we're back at the very beginning." Koyote chuckled, clenching the back of her sheath.

"Mentioning that." Rufus stepped off. "Sam, I thought you stood with the mayor on this case."

"It's not like that." Sam shook his head. "Fight fire with fire until you get burned, right? But if they're our only hope, what else are we to count on?"

Judy scratched her cheek. "I'm sure that having the brawn to extract seed from other demons is one step away from becoming a Demonear. You already know the case when it comes to myself."

"What can I add?" Koyote shook her head.

Sam tapped the side of the table. "If we were Demonears, we could've joined the others instead of sitting here."

"But we're not," Rufus added.

"You're quite stubborn." Sam stood up.

"I just wouldn't want to become one myself. I have other things to take care of." Rufus smiled. "A wife, a potential kid, and the bar in Prope Portam."

"People don't become Demonears because they have virtually no other passion." Koyote rolled her eyes. "Hyaccullthianoweknowipoe. Jyuzou's one case, and don't ask me how I remembered that name."

Rufus nodded. "Although, in the face of all this, what is good a bartender here? I never agreed to take part in a situation such as this. Sure, I'll fight if need be, but I serve a different role."

"I'm a scientist," Judy spoke. "I make things and correct Sandy's mistakes. What's that have to do with demons?'

"My job in Prope Portam is hoarding sheep. I don't think of myself in any particular way, yet, I came here because I had a reason. You too, Rufus." he uttered. "...a-and though you already reached that goal, I have to battle through this to get a step closer to finding Ranpa. We're all here for that, in the end."

"You're sounding like a Demonear, now," Koyote smirked, leaping off. "But I can guarantee you, you can find use in practically anything. These clothes? Made them myself." she chuckled. "I guess what I'm trying to say is..."

The others turned to her.

"Get to work." she squinted her eyes.

"Huh?" Judy turned, with an unsure smirk.

"Sam, start with those maps. I'm sure if they'll come back with the Great Weapon to do whatever, they'll need a place to fire it from."

"R-Right." Sam nodded, sitting back down.

"Judy, settle down with that Zuimu girl downstairs, especially if she's willing to fight. If this were a book, you'd be our healer. The sun can't rise without the moon being there the earlier night."

"What about me?" Rufus continued.

Judy looked up, turning to one sheet on the table. Scrunching it up, she threw it towards the bartender. "Make pookie juice."

"Poo-" Rufus blinked. "Okay."

"I get it," Sam spoke, turning a few papers around. "If we can't be like the others, we'll fight in our way. A story without Demonears."

"It's still a story, and maybe a good one if you pay enough attention to the details," Koyote added, turning to Sam, already scribbling something out.

Of course, if the people here were to become Demonears, they wouldn't abandon their earlier passions. They'd step into a fire, that may or may not burn twice as much.

***

"Holy!" Chyuuichi uttered, as the three peeked their heads above the walls leading down the hill and towards the main square. At least hundreds of people were gathered in the middle, their voices raised to create this unison.

They too, didn't understand, and demanded answers straight away, without getting any with each passing hour. The downpour became heavier, but they vowed to stand still.

"Oh, my." Atomu moved back a little. "There's a lot..."

"Of course." Chyuuichi raised his voice. "...and they have all the rights to complain if it didn't mean gathering right in front of our treasure!"

"Everyone's too distracted with the Royals," Jyuzou muttered.

Atomu turned to him, with an unsure expression.

"I'm not one man to feed off another's tragedy." Atomu shook his head. "...and I wish this hadn't happened in the first place."

"What else is there to do, though?" Jyuzou asked.

"A lot." Chyuuichi patted him on the back.

"Huh?" Atomu turned.

"Jyuso's probably smarter than anyone else in there making a fuss!"

"Fuss is not a great word, and... no." Jyuzou shook his head. "I w-wouldn't."

Atomu looked at him for a while longer, before turning forward again.

"Give us the crown!"

"Sebastian's foul!"

"Down with the king!"

Jyuzou stepped away.

"If the King can't do it, then who else?" Atomu asked.

The Morian never considered the idea in the first place, but now it only frustrated him more.

"I'm sure ya could do it!" Chyuuichi added.

Jyuzou shook his head lightly, mainly because he didn't know what to think.

The three trod down the roads, following the Northern Tower Bridge to the streets leading to the castle, they stopped nearing a few crossroads.

"Which path did we take back then?" Atomu asked, looking up at the big, marble buildings, placed adjacent to the few closed buildings, not too far away from the crowds. The smoke from the opera still rose high in the distance.

"Don't ya have a vial that answers questions such as these?" Chyuuichi asked.

"I'm saving it for later," Atomu quickly answered. "I'm not sure how long it'll work, especially considering Sam's paths."

Jyuzou followed a roadsign, with an arrow pointing in the direction of the Goldenleaf Castle, which the two stood under. He looked around, almost zoning out, focusing on the people further away, with their muffled yells coming into his ears with each step taken.

"Jyuso?" Chyuuichi bumped his shoulder. "Do ya have an idea?"