On the first day, there was no sky.

The one thing that reigned true amongst whites and blacks was both birth and death. A new life sprung of something that died within that other realm, and left Errarion since then completely godless.

Dirt, rocks and alike sprung, and the sun rose while the peaks behind the conifers created shadows.

When beige was weaved in and made sure of its grey hues, trees appeared in view. There he was, the youngest of the nine, reaching his hand out to grasp.

Years passed in blinks, as at the time, everything was yet to come.

A massive bark appeared behind a stretching peak. A tale was to be told, but this side only spoke of those same whispers, of a decaying body letting those flowers bloom.

Eight were tall, strong and as beautiful as the world would think. The ninth however came out wrong. Its colour wasn't pure dark but a fine red amongst the moss, water and rocks it grew atop.

They shunned him for it. They tried to rip his leaves out and stomp it to the ground.

So the flower ran, as far as he possibly could. Away from that cruel fate, as each step meant another decade moving through the years.

The world had forsaken that old idea.

Maybe it was the black flowers blooming back then who were to be just as normal.

Alas, though, the darkness absorbed all the light, but to the keen eye of his difference...

...all flowers were equally beautiful.

***

Morio slowly opened his eyes, before rubbing around his eyebrows, yawning. His gaze turned to Jyuzou, closer to Kithanth's face, as he put his legs around the makeshift leaf saddle and focused on steering around the various trees of the Orawood Jungle.

They advanced at quick speeds, and such reminded Morio of a few words he could recall dreaming about.

It rang to him as if it was some story. As if Gloria or Bancho were the ones holding a rewritten book with him and Jyuzou sitting on the ground and carefully listening. The more he pondered, however, the more it didn't make sense.

Flowers only moved when humans picked them up and placed them elsewhere. Another story spoke of witches doing the same thing, and even one demon with a similar quest on his mind. It was one of the oldest tales ever prescribed and saved even from the olden times.

Back then, demons weren't the enemy. They were just like all those flowers but with different hues. The witch the Klakunhoi met in a forest was just like the one they were flailing through, and much like those years, things passed for everything to turn away in the blink of an eye.

"Took quite a nap there." Jyuzou raised his voice, breaking the other Morian's train of thought.

Morio yawned again, stretching, almost falling off the snish before Jyuzou's annoyed hand caught him by the cloak. "Damn dark deformity is gentle enough to let me sleep on its back. Turns out things always continue to surprise you."

"Don't swallow your own words." Jyuzou chuckled. "I don't know if I have enough of the Devil's Leaf for him to take your barrage constantly." he patted its head, and Morio rolled his eyes, turning away.

He adjusted his hands on a similar saddle near the other end before looking towards the stretching, ever-moving landscape. The mountains in the distance talked about the tallest peaks in Saphrith, and the sky's colour changed into a familiar morning.

"Either way," Morio added, scratching his head. "I have a question."

"If it doesn't involve stopping for food."

"PREDICTABLE REMARK, FOUR EYES!" Morio pointed, before clearing his throat after almost falling off again. "No, not that. Although now that you've said so... Gah!"

Jyuzou turned around with a small smirk.

"You recall if there was any single witchtale that Mama or Mr Bancho told of that talked about flowers?" he asked.

"Flowers? More likely something Mr Bancho would relay specifically to me. Thought I'd never see the day when you're so curious about those small little diamonds hidden beneath all the leaves-"

"That's not what I'm talking about! I had a dream that sounded so familiar that I swear it happened once beforehand. Some... soft voice spoke to me like I was trying to fall asleep, but then I imagined myself becoming a flower."

Jyuzou glanced at him, a little concerned.

"Picking up my stems like skirts and running throughout all of Errarion just to find all the other crowns. Anything, Jyuzou?"

Jyuzou raised one hand to put it on his chin, while the other steered the Kithanth by its horns and two fingers let go of a helping of the Devil's Leaf. "It was Victoria, I think."

Morio blinked a couple of times.

He fixed his glasses. "She mentioned hearing from some old Morian about colourful stems forming the most beautiful gardens that ended up in an allegory of life and humanity itself." he sighed. "Of course, I didn't understand much when I was eight but she had it written down in the few books that helped me learn to read." he nodded. "Though, I doubt that's what you're talking about."

 Morio sighed, looking away. "I just... I felt like I'd seen it beforehand."

"There are thousands of tales out there, Morio." Jyuzou continued. "So, maybe finding that specific one could be added to the lengthy list of your ambitious goals."

Morio's expression didn't necessarily share the same simplicity of those words.

"It feels more important than, that, though." he breathed out. "I can't put my hand on it, but..." he squinted as if focusing on something distant following them through the forest.

His heart skipped a beat, with the pulse of a headache following suit.

"Yes?" Jyuzou asked, as his hair waved with the Kithanth taking a turn.

Morio eventually quickly shook his head before turning and breathing in.

"Maybe it was just another dream."

***

Strolling through Mokota from one place to the other, the first thing Atomu and Chyuuichi spotted in those marble and alike streets was a certain change in pace.

Of course, a good chunk of a possible explanation could've been both of them disappearing for some time, but either way, some odd others were confused as well. Whispers of conversations here and there, with another glance sent their way.

A man waved, and Chyuuichi waved back before he stared right back at the Paladian.

"What the hell is going on today?" he furrowed his brows.

"You tell me," Atomu said, taking a deep breath as he adjusted his bag and the items in his hands. "I know a few kids who come by Sandy's laboratory hoping he can teach them his methods, but us Demonears? We hardly ever get anything, aside from a few gestures like these. I mean, not that I'm not enjoying the appreciation..."

"They waved twenty times already!" Chyuuichi raised his voice, as the two took a turn. "...and none of them are familiar faces too!"

"...are you telling me you can recall that but still can't pronounce Morio's name correctly?" Atomu blinked.

"Different case, Atomu!" Chyuuichi rolled his eyes. "Anyways, more people acknowledging our existence is one thing, but there's much more of them than usual too."

"You're right." Atomu glanced back and forth, stopping for a second. "Mokota's never this popular." he fixed a falling lock of hair.

"Is this some joke I'm not a part of?" Chyuuichi sighed out.

"Before jumping to these conclusions, let's focus on the task at hand, okay? Knowing Rowan, they'll probably know."

"They'll sigh and expect us to know too." Chyuuichi made a serious expression.

"You're so negative today!" Atomu added, and such concluded the quiet conversations all up until the two reached the mentioned Tributal's house.

Strangely enough, one knock was good enough for the door to be swiftly left ajar with a few shuffling noises inside.

The Paladian glanced at the Mirillian, who pointed towards the door as if expecting him to make the first move, and with a drop of sweat rolling down his cheek, he pushed, hesitating.

Rowan sat in the same position as they always did, back towards the entrance and right in front of Ambrosia, now holding something in both hands.

"P-Pardon the intrusion..." Atomu added.

"You found the leaves?" Rowan continued.

"Y-Yes!" Atomu bowed. "Seriously, though, they were quite the hassle hard to find."

"Pretty sure I pinpointed to the exact stack in Westling. Sandy did the same."

"W-Westling?" Atomu blinked, letting go of a few.

Chyuuichi quickly caught one and analyzed its hard, triangular exterior.

Rowan sighed, before finally turning around. They stood up, walking over and taking the same thing from the Mirillian's hands, while the two stood completely flabbergasted.

"Great job, Atomu." they sighed, almost reassuringly. "I'll still need a few inches of help, though."

***

The few pans and pots clicked with Chyuuichi disturbing them. Atomu sat still and proper, with the same confused expression. Even Chyuuichi couldn't be distracted for too long, as Rowan pasted something atop those leaves and placed a few on Ambrosia's body.

"Thank One the two Morians were here already." they sighed. "Angel's Twig and Devil's Leaf create a pretty neat medicine, eh?"

That, however, wasn't where their eyes ultimately landed. There was someone else placed deadpan in the middle of a wooden table, with a smile and a few blankets beneath.

Rowan turned, rubbing their tired eyes and meeting their expectant glances.

"What?" they asked.

"What is that?!" Chyuuichi asked, pointing towards the baby.

"Ah." Rowan blinked. "Not a that, Chyuuichi!" they slapped him. "...but a human being."

"YA HAD A CHILD AND YA DIDN'T TELL US?!"

"Of course not, you dumb idiot! Do I look the type to be focused on all that?! This damn thing appeared on my doorstep a few days ago and I don't know what I'm supposed to do!" they put their hands on their head as if finally letting go of that calm mask.

"A thing?" Atomu raised a finger. "Didn't you just say-"

"I'll behead you," Rowan muttered, and Atomu moved back with a quiet scream.

"O-Okay, strange story, there! Is that why we're supposed to help?" the Paladian continued.

Rowan cleared their throat, instinctively, as the baby smiled, waving their hands around. Chyuuichi glanced over and soon smirked as well. One small finger reached out to the pouting and ever-annoyed Tributal, and Rowan sighed.

"Not that I can admit to being unable to juggle a few things in my life." they fixed their glasses. "...although I'd be inclined to ask a few q-questions."

"Was that a stutter?" Atomu muttered.

"Shut up."

The baby moved around, much to Rowan's anxiety, before Chyuuichi quickly caught the little rascal in their hands and gave them 'uppies', as he'd call them.

The Tributal sighed, perhaps even groaning.

"I just... I... how on Errarion am I to take care of a baby?!" they covered their eyes. "Do the... t-two of you know anything?"

Atomu stared at the Tributal with a blank, simplistic expression. "Does it look like I'd know?"

"Chyuuichi?!"

"Not a clue in the whole freakin' world!" Chyuuichi made a couple of funny faces and in turn, the baby laughed.

"But you're..." Rowan pointed, before letting go.

"It's just instinct! Did ya never even fathom the possibility? Don't ya remember how ya were taken care of?"

"F-Frankly, most Tributal upbringing is rather selfish," they added. "When we're younger, we learn everything by ourselves."

"Brutal," Atomu muttered. "But we don't know the little thing's origin, do we?" he dared to move his finger towards the baby, with a small smile, as it grasped it with one hand and started climbing on his forearm much to Atomu's dismay.

"Any clues left, Rowan?" Chyuuichi continued.

"Someone left it during a downpour right by my doorstep." they sighed. "Not even a name."

"Rowan Junior!" Chyuuichi proposed.

"Absolutely not." Rowan shook his head. "First order of business is to find a better place than my damn house for it to foster. Okay, not first, because there's a certain smell lingering in the air."

Chyuuichi's face went blank as he instinctively dropped the baby, only for Atomu to catch it by its shoulders and place it back on the blankets. The Paladian moved forward, thinking.

"Basic things, Rowan. Get 'em a proper bed, change the cloth, replace those blankets and you'd be good to go."

"Food, though." they raised a finger. "What on Errarion do babies eat?"

"Paladians chew meat in their mouths and then give them to the youngest!" Atomu smiled.

Rowan was grossed out.

"Oh, Mirillians chew pebbles for their teeth to grow all strong!" Chyuuichi added.

"Wouldn't that do the opposite?" Atomu asked.

"One, no!" Rowan yelled out. "Something neutral, you morons! Children don't show typical racial features until they're older. Except for Mirillians, they're born fat."

Chyuuichi sighed, with his energy depleting by the minute.

"Milk? It's good for the bones." Atomu proposed, sweating and smiling.

"I'm not a cow! Damn, the two of you are useless!"

"Then why'd you ask us?!" Chyuuichi yelled.

"Who else, damn it?" they sighed. "You're Bahiim- Klakunhoi-"

The two shared extremely stupid smiles on their faces. Rowan brushed such off, however, turning to the window.

"O-Okay fine. Milk might be the best other thing except for the salad it didn't wanna eat." they took their glasses off for a second. "Hope they have plenty in the markets."

"Markets?"

"Are you two blind or deaf? The King talked of some massive announcements that even brought in the people outside of Saphrith. Much like the crowning ceremony, I suppose, but people already have certain predictions and hopes. Markets are always thriving then." they stood up, stretching about.

Well, there was the answer the two sought, although, with the Tributal's next words, they wouldn't even have to ask.

"I'll have to make this quick, though. King Sebatian requested our presence specifically."

"Wait, really?" Atomu asked.

"Saw a sparrow flying through and figured only someone who knew Bancho could relay the technique. I was to tell you either way." they chuckled. "It's something greater than you imagine."