"Saphrith is constantly changing, but its rules always stay the same," he spoke. "This means, that once something's been settled, you'll find it hard to undo." he turned to the Paladian. "I don't know if Prune and his prosecutor or any of the Royals in court spoke their tongue and spouted too much, but half a day's too little to make sure. Then again, I ask you for more patience, Atomu."

"Are we supposed to go back to p-prison?"

"No." Sebastian shook his head. "At least, for the time of the ceremony, I'd like you and Chyuuichi to do me a little favour. You two shall work and make sure everything happens. Attending Royal needs, doing things on a whim when asked, cleaning castle halls... ehe, doesn't sound too attractive, does it?"

Atomu shook his head, looking down, clenching his fist. He wanted to answer, but then again, everything grabbed at his heartstrings. Everything would've been better than those jail cells.

"You seem sold." Sebastian coughed out. "Then, I guess I'll have you two figured and started in the morning, obviously, all under the castle's protection. Don't worry, they won't see your face. Guards are required to wear helmets when interacting with Royalty."

"Thank you, d-dear King."

Sebastian sat down. He looked into Atomu's unsure and drifting eyes, but then again, they focused on the King when needed. Things were going to be complicated, but despite it all, Sebastian vowed to fix them.

Atomu didn't know how to thank him, so he smiled.

A smile would go a long way.

***

With Xard having another set of volunteers on board, and with the King's lengthy explanations on the do's and don'ts of how the two should be treated, morning came with an abrupt sound coming from the former's horn.

Xard always carried it everywhere he trod. As he said once, you could never know when an opportunity came to use it. Despite being the hardest blower, he could also play nice songs, so besides controlling everyone who wanted to work, he was also tasked with playing in a band during the ceremony and spoon-feeding everyone in the castle on a whim.

Think about how Eryk treated Lamon. Surprisingly, Xard liked his job, since it wasn't Sebastian that was the bad guy, but his attitude and the belief that things must be done his way. Then again, he'd never go against his King's word, so the first thing he did, bright and early was conduct a lengthy explanation of the things they were supposed to get ready.

He also offered a proper map of the castle and notes about certain Royals, which he mentioned never handing out to anyone else.

They were, obviously, surprised, but as Xard explained, these came from the King's request. It seemed that, if he couldn't make up the lost months, he'd do everything in his power to make things a little easier. Atomu and Chyuuichi heard words about how little the others were to be paid in comparison and subtly giggled, putting on their worksuits.

"What is crocheting?" Chyuuichi asked.

"Sorry?" Atomu turned.

"Crochet special napkins for the Makbuns." Chyuuichi read. "What a stupid name."

"It's that thing where you make clothes with like wool and stuff," Atomu said, signalling with his hands. "Like this. Pim pom."

Chyuuichi tilted his head, before opening his mouth. "Oh! You mean pewing!"

"Pewing?"

"Mama taught me that!" Chyuuichi nodded.

"Well, I'm glad." Atomu sighed. "I'm awful at... pewing."

Strolling through the castle, they quickly came to terms with the rather heinous task list for the day. The actual beginning was five hours away, but with how many Royals came into town, everyone had their hands dipped in a pool of busyness.

Chyuuichi yelled, taking off his helmet, and walking through a marbled hall. It was a long corridor, made out of arches hanging above triangular windows, facing the sides of Oldenklow, nearing the bottom levels of the castle.

"Oi," Atomu spoke. "We're not allowed to do that." he shook his head, forcing the helmet back onto Chyuuichi's head, with the Mirillian promptly refusing.

"I hate Paladian armour! How can any of ya wear this? My body's being crushed tight n' compressed!" Chyuuichi tried fidgeting around. "What the hell even happened to my old armour, eh? Just disappeared one day!"

Atomu recalled Chyuuichi's armour sinking in the Shimori Lake, the latter, however, did not. The Paladian sighed. "You'll just have to bear it, Chyuuichi. We've still got it better than the others." he took off the helmet as well, fixing some of his hair.

"Not the food they served, that's for certain. Ya know what I'd kill for right now?"

"Hm?"

"A lot of things."

"Chyuuichi..."

"Especially, though. Those fruits in Orania. Maaan were they tasty!" he stomped. "Wonder if I'll ever get to try them again."

Atomu opened his mouth slightly. With Chyuuichi's mention of Orania came a storm of memories of everything that happened since then. A few more days, and maybe they'd come to face the danger sooner than later.

...or the danger will face them.

"They were quite nice." Atomu smiled. "Although, I still think tree sap is a little sweeter."

"You have to be joking!" Chyuuichi laughed. "I guess you didn't stuff seventeen of them in your mouth!"

"SORRY?"

"I was hungry, and Rowan tried-"

All of a sudden, the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted his words.

"Huh?" Chyuuichi raised a brow. "Someone's coming!"

The footsteps quickly turned into running, followed by echoing voices that the two couldn't make out.

"Shit." Atomu put his helmet back on and immediately tried stuffing it onto Chyuuichi again.

"LEAVE US BE!" Someone screamed from around the corner, the voice belonging to a girl. Atomu took another step back, cautiously, grabbing Chyuuichi's hand.

"WE DON'T WANT TO DIE!" followed by a man's voice.

Atomu gulped, as shadows appeared from beyond the turn and eventually formed into two cohesive figures. Out of the blue, they stopped, with the girl grabbing the guy's hand and freezing them to a sliding halt.

Atomu gasped, putting a hand near his mouth.

Chyuuichi blinked a couple of times, tilting his head. "Do we know these guys?"

Katha uttered: "HE'S GOING TO KILL US!" she gritted her teeth, with Ronpi looking back and forth.

***

After hours of arguments and Ingo's constant anger, they eventually parted ways before Genni and Morio reunited at the inn in the evening.

After all, it was an agreement between the three. Ingo would retrieve their weapons, and in the morning, they'd decide what to do. Morio and Genni turned towards that small piece of advice given by the man. Despite stress invading their heart, they had to work for money, and despite a mean and unsure look from one of the people, Morio quickly got to building a wooden stall with a limited amount of tools.

Genni went exploring in the meantime. Treading cobble roads erected in between practically nothing but quiet houses, she found herself staring up at the two statues proudly standing on top of the mountain.

Would they agree with Hakate's ways? She didn't dwell on it any further and instead found herself volunteering to cook some of the hunted fish, avoiding where all the fuss was.

When the sun set, the strange chirps of birds suddenly halted, and all the lights shined a bright yellow. With bits of money and a hungry stomach, Morio and Genni found themselves inside a rectangular, flat building a few streets away from the port.

The whole area was open and meant to house as many travellers passing through. It wasn't welcoming, as most inns would be. It felt like a cheap attempt at getting some money, without any other way out. Seeing hers, Morio's and Ingo's stained bedsheets, Genni wondered if the better call was to head out already.

Albeit, Morio refused. He knew the dangers but made a promise to someone along the way. He clenched his fist but didn't speak of his troubles.

The inn was rather quiet, only broken by a few whispers, here and there.

"Did you find anything out,?"

"Nothing." she shook her head. "Almost no one spoke to me."

Morio breathed out.

"It was all different in Galliath. They cheered for us when we..." she gulped, looking around. "...killed that demon." she glanced again, but no one looked back.

Morio tapped the table, thinking. "What's the next best town?" he asked.

"Gambino." Genni replied.

"How far is it?"

"Three days on yunduls from here."

"Three days?" Morio blinked, before holding a gulp. "I..."

"We can stop by a village," Genni answered. "But I guess we've agreed on leaving Windsdale."

"First thing in the morning." Morio nodded, unsurely. "I'll have to come back, though. I promised."

Genni breathed in, before turning her head. Ingo slowly strutted inside, carrying three fabric bags. He quietly put two atop the table and laid the other flat on the ground, covering it with a blanket. "I got us food," Ingo muttered.

"Where'd you get the money?" Genni asked.

"I'm not buying shit." Ingo snickered, putting his hand inside one of the bags and taking some fried fish from the inside. He quickly dug in, eyes meeting the others. "Are you just going to stare?"

"We're not better than them if we steal," Genni replied.

"Then stay hungry." Ingo took another bite, while Morio scanned the bag on the ground. His hands felt a familiar shape, and his eyes shrunk with a gasp.

"They smell like fish. Probably because I hid them inside those damn animals and then stole them." Ingo continued. "Barely dug my club in, but it worked."

Morio sighed, nodding. "Thank you."

Ingo didn't reply and slid the other bag across the table. Genni hesitantly took a bite, while Morio put his hands together.

"We're leaving tomorrow," Genni stated, after a while. "I-I'm not sure where we're headed, but out of here seems like a good idea."

Ingo burped, and some people looked at the three. He signalled with his hand before his squinted eyes met Morio's, then Genni's. "If I could leave this shithole right now I'd be even happier. I won't take to another slapping me in the face."

Genni glimpsed. Where Hakate struck, there was a mark, with some blood pouring out. She gulped, turning to Morio, who fidgeted around with his fingers.

He gasped as if wanting to say something, but it wasn't until Ingo's gaze suggested that he caught onto his idea. "What?" he bellowed.

"Nothing," Morio replied.

Genni sighed. "Morio wants to come back to Windsdale later on."

"Heh." Ingo shook his head.

"I w-wouldn't want to do that either." he subtly raised his voice. "I promised Jyuzou that I'll be waiting here."

"Are you a moron or do you intend to piss me off, Frisks?" Ingo spoke, grinding his teeth. "Wait for Jyuzou to what, come back home and then send us off for that same journey? You're only thinking about yourself."

"What is he supposed to do? If he gets in and forgets about Koyote's words that... Hakate freak will kill him!" Genni added.

"I'm sure that at least Jyuzou is much smarter than you could ever be, and he'll have the opportunity to make things right." Ingo stuffed the fish back into the bag. "We're not coming back here,"

"F-Fine!" Morio raised his voice. "Then I will!"

"No, Morio!" Genni stood up, grabbing his hand as if Morio was ready to storm off. "We're in this together, okay? We're not abandoning one another!"

"Oh don't take his side, Genni!" Ingo smashed the table, before raising himself with his hands. "Are you two going to go against our wishes because of some flimsy promise? Maybe think for a second that someone threatened to murder us!"

His words echoed around the inn, and as he pointed towards the exit, everyone's heads, half of them suddenly awake, turned to the Haran-Morian.

Ingo ground his teeth, furrowing a brow. "What are you staring at?"

Footsteps sounded on the wooden floorboards. Ingo's gaze met the innkeeper. He gritted his teeth, and as soon as he stepped in, carrying the two other Morians, they were kicked out onto the cobble in front of the inn.

The wind hissled, battling against the tides. Except for the waves and such, everything was quiet.

No people trod the streets, and it was only the three and their groans present. Genni slid to the side, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Suddenly, two backpacks landed on her face, further solidifying her with the ground.

"You motherfucker!" Ingo raised a fist, angrily, before the fish were thrown his way. Unlike Genni, he managed to catch them, immediately turning to the limping Morio, whose elbow hit the ground a little too hard.

The white-haired opened his eyes and breathed out before the innkeeper threw the last bag present near their table. Morio tried catching the Guardian Demons midflight, but they slipped from his hands and landed on the cobble, further away.

"Damn it, Morio," Ingo said, angrily stepping forward, while the other helped Genni stand up.

Just as his hands were about to reach the bag, someone else's shadow cast over the items. Gloria and Ingo's club stuck out from the top but were quickly taken out by the person standing on the other side.

"My, my, my," Hakate uttered, holding both weapons in his hands, while the boomerang rested on the ground. "This doesn't look too good, does it?" he asked, shaking his head.

Ingo ground his teeth and squinted his eyes. Without hesitation, he tried snatching his club, but a knee kick to the stomach temporarily paralysed him.

"Ingo!" Genni yelled out.

"I vowed to bring justice to the city, even if my ways wouldn't necessarily be the purest," Hakate spoke, using the club to raise Ingo's head.

Ingo ground his teeth.

"...and I'm never going back on those words," he whispered, while Ingo clenched his fist.

Suddenly, Morio ran. Tightly clenching onto Victis with his hands, he yelled out, smacking Hakate's chest.

The hunter backed out, letting go of both weapons. Ingo tumbled to the ground, before being picked up by Genni.

Hakate quickly got back to his feet, a bloodied grin soon turning clear with a cough to the side. He kicked the Guardian Demons towards the other street, as Morio stared at him, angrily.

"Bring it on!" he shouted.