"O-Of course." Jyuzou fixed his glasses, sharing a similar expression. "He was kind of a wild card, wasn't he? Especially with those Yule ceremonies, since you never knew what he'd bring to the table."

"Like that amazing Malikan roasted duck!" Morio clenched his fist.

"Not the literal table, Morio, but... yeah." he scratched his head. "The only thing I can recall about the guy nowadays is Mr Bancho's continued sung praises about his choices. Well, if I had a friend for as long as he did, I'd probably want to hold onto that as desperately too, even though everything would set us apart."

"Hey, what is that supposed to mean?" Morio bumped his shoulder. "Great friendships start from huge differences! Mentioning Mistwick, you never wanted to collect the twigs for the burning, but in the end, you got more than me!"

"Not really if you stole them."

"Besides the point! Man." Morio stretched his hands around. "Now I'm starting to think of adding another goal to my journal."

His eyes landed on the stars making their way through the clouds, carving the moon's path to follow suit. Jyuzou adjusted his glasses and put his knee up, sticking his hand into his pocket.

The necklace he found earlier was now nestled in his palm, as he stared for a while longer at the emblem peeking out from beneath Morio's vest. Quickly though, it disappeared with him moving, to make room for an even bigger beam.

"If we have the time, we should try and find him."

Jyuzou breathed out. "Atop everything else that concerns the very memory of Mistwick."

Morio put his hand against his face, rubbing while making a few strange noises.

Jyuzou raised his head, curiously.

"What?"

"Don't try and make it all sad now, Jyuzou!" Morio added, almost yelling out at him without much harm to those words. "Home's supposed to be happy. Hell, I even promised Genni I'd show her around, and I know you'd have some business in that too."

Jyuzou sighed, ostentatiously. "It's not what you think."

"Little Jyuzou's got his heart in a pinch!"

"Morio!"

"Kidding!" he stuck his tongue out. "But the other part, though. We'll find the time, Jyuzou. We're stronger now. Much stronger than we were as just some kids and we'll only keep going forward now."

Morio stood up, there and then. Hands on his hips, he stared at the land stretching in the distance, as if to oppose them being as vast as they were. If he squinted his eyes hard enough, they'd seem small, and such was what Jyuzou concluded after, once again, fixing his glasses.

Maybe the road from there on wouldn't be as harsh, and... maybe Morio was right too.

"If we keep going, we'll never stop! We'll defeat Shi Hon, see Axel, and then come back home to tell the tale! Two small Morians. Oh, dude, they'll write about it in those books. Like the Paladin!"

"It's always the Paladin. I'd say you're more similar to the protagonist of Poems and Clans. Just... unwavering. Out there."

"Whatever." Morio grinned, before sitting back down, and unintentionally pushing on Jyuzou's arm. "I'm me, and that's what matters."

Perhaps that was the easiest conclusion to make. Back then, if they were to mention home again, roads were full of mist and wonder, since even a map couldn't tell what was to be seen.

Now, though? It seemed as if there was nothing out there that could stop them.

He, to be precise, as Jyuzou thought, but that was quickly occupied by a sound that echoed out of his palm. Morio raised a brow and the other Morian adjusted his position, unearthing the necklace.

"What's this?" Morio asked, taking it from his hand.

"Found it in the church. No clue what it means but it seemed at least a little important." Jyuzou added as Morio flipped it around, with the sounds of the Malikan crickets and little rhumas invading their ears.

Its shape was closer to a circle, but still rough around the edges. As Morio suspected with the moonlight, something was engraved.

"See you there," Morio muttered, reading aloud. "See you where?"

"Good question. If the Kabun clan supposedly knows why your weapon might be cursed and... everything else you said, then it might be a good way to start a few conversations."

"Cool and all, but what was that click I just heard?" Morio asked as Jyuzou sat up, taking a closer look as well.

It didn't make much for them to discover, as Jyuzou's finger pointed as Morio saw it too. There was a crease where the moon shone on the opposite side of the writing. Pulling his nail in, one quick tug split the emblem in half, with folded parchment dropping right between the two and the blown-out candle.

Jyuzou unfolded it, with writing in red seemingly fading into view by the minute.

"It's an Ú-Úgau leaf." the Morian gulped. "Morio, light the candle again."

"Ayay!" Morio added, taking out a small truna and some sharp stones from his pouch, before rubbing both together and following Jyuzou's words.

Soon, the writing appeared in crimson, with letters mixing into Old Manjuno at times, but forming into a solid, solemn conclusion.

Jyuzou breathed out, focusing. "Axel H. Skamander. This letter will never land in your hands, as they're tied to too many backs for them to be untied. Didn't you think disrespecting the Warkustons by claiming this church was a lowly move? I'd ask for more, but my reasons are way above that. Demons don't care for such. Then, it didn't matter too, that you trapped our leader, Rottwan, inside its dubious halls. For now, know that we will not forgive, and we will never trust a human lying to sit on our side. To the one reading this letter, there's no more hope for vermin like him. As weak as Bancho was."

Morio opened his mouth, raising his brows.

"S-Signed..." Jyuzou gulped. "T-The Kabun Clan."

The white-haired Morian clenched his fist.

***

The morning came with more birds leaving the country for the soon-coming Yule. A bunch perched on the walls outside, nearing the empty sheets, while Atomu took the time to stare for a few moments and note those things in his mind.

Malikan sparrows flying away signified the exact half-point of Dear, as such was a rather strange tradition first spotted in a few stories here and there. The Paladian never thought he'd see the things, but at least they were better than those Klefsenders from the other day. Or orcs, which made Chyuuichi raise his head.

Atop added a few about the others forgetting his birthday (which they didn't since Jyuzou wished him some happy words), he was still up there, trying to convince Atomu that they'd be able to talk it out.

"What other way do ya see out of this valley?" Chyuuichi asked, walking around the church's perimeter with the Paladian leading suit, as this was yet another circle they'd made waiting for the Morian.

"Morio will probably figure something out. I'm not going near those things again, Chyuuichi." Atomu shook his head.

"Things? They're probably my brothers!"

"You're only falling for the stereotype if you keep talking that way!"

"Nice for ya to assume I even know what that means! Classic Paladian hate over a Mirillian!"

"Ch- I'd never!" Atomu raised his voice, turning around.

"Hmph." the Mirillian folded his arms, before catching a few whispers behind the wall. The two stared up, with Chyuuichi quickly scratching his head. "What's taking them so long anyway?"

"No clue. Jyuzou looked a little stressed out when he woke up and I haven't seen Morio yet."

"Jyuso's always stressed out, so there's that." Chyuuichi stuck his tongue out. "Meh, my theory is they're trying to find a way out of this valley. No road here I can see that that speaks of anything Kabun."

"You're talking like you remembered the maps."

"Actually, Atomu. I don't need to know anything."

"It's Mirillian instinct."

"Great proposition! No, though!" he raised a finger, chuckling, taking a few steps towards the surrounding bushes and hills before pulling something out of a bag. "Tah-dah!"

Raised in both hands was the seashell, with the weak sunlight reflecting off its white and orange exterior. Atomu raised his brows, as that led to a tired sigh.

"The thing Mariam gave you?"

"Not any thing!"

"You tried selling it if I'm not mistaken."

"Until I figured out what it does. Listen, listen!" he brought the item right to Atomu's ear. The Paladian crouched, trying to catch anything except for the empty echoes bouncing off nothing. He sighed again, eyes darting towards the Mirillian.

"Chyuuichi, I-"

"No, no, shh. Maybe it just doesn't work for ya like it does for me, likewise with the vial!" he pointed, taking a few steps back and clearing his throat. "Oh, seashell." he mused, in a strange voice. "Which way towards the Kabun Clan from here?"

Putting it against his ear, he waited for a few seconds, before the echoes inside quickly answered.

"Where are you?" it asked, and Chyuuichi jumped in excitement, holding his smile in place.

"In front of some weird church that Jyuzou said was rare, I think."

"Chyuuichi?" Atomu blinked a few times.

"Oh." the voice inside waited for a few seconds. "Take the mountainside, right near an opening towards Cirim."

"Ya even know Cirim?!" Chyuuichi yelled.

"Up the mountain, Chyuuichi. You'll find it."

Chyuuichi smiled, before jumping up. "Yahoo!"

Atomu shook his head, completely hopeless.

"I know the way now!" Chyuuichi even accented his victory with a little dance, before his eyes met Atomu's. "What?"

"Are you sure it's the seashell, or some other voice telling you otherwise?"

"Other voice? Oh, come on! It's been just good ol' Chyuuichi since Mirillis, you big dumbo!" Chyuuichi patted his shoulder. "...and what's with the running joke of never believing in my words even though they're almost ALWAYS TRUE?!" he yelled.

"Well then." Atomu sighed. "How do we reach the Kabun Clan?"

"Uh." Chyuuichi blinked a few times, before jumping away and whispering something to the item.

"You already forgot?!" the voice inside asked.

"Shh, shh. I'm a little silly Billy that's all." the Mirillian answered, with some stress in his voice. Atomu sighed before that led to him meeting the two Morians walking down the stairs towards the others.

"Oh, Jyuzou, Morio." Atomu raised a hand. "What took you so long?"

Jyuzou didn't answer, although he heard him. As for Morio, though, his fists were clenched, and the smile from yesterday went completely amiss.

He seemed otherwise composed, however. He walked up to the pony, untied the rope wrapped around the tree and waited for some time.

"D-Did something happen?" Atomu quickly asked, turning back and forth. "Jyuzou?"

"I..." Jyuzou shook his head, holding the folded paper in both hands.

"Oh! So you did find something!" Chyuuichi announced, quickly running up and snatching the item from Jyuzou's hand. "Let's see here..." he squinted, with the Paladian joining at the side, still sneaking a few glances at both Morians.

What filled the otherwise tense silence were a few noises of the foxes and alike roaming bushes or copses.

Atomu's eyes focused and changed shape with each letter wrapping around his mind. "Axel, Bancho?" he asked, weakly."...and the Kabun Clan?"

"What the hell?" Chyuuichi ground his teeth.

"Found it in a pendant in the church. I doubt it's fake." Jyuzou replied.

"Ú-Úgau leaf too," Atomu muttered, gulping. "So... they're the ones behind this?" He pointed to the church, with Jyuzou's unsure nod.

Out of the blue, however, one of the ponies neighed, and Morio strutted forth.

"Morin?" Chyuuichi asked, stepping to the side. "Where are ya going?"

"Where else, Chyuuichi? To the Kabun Clan."

"Ya don't know the way, though. Wait for us, buddy!" the Mirillian added, quickly jumping on his horse, as Morio's eyes quickly drifted over, angered.

"What?" Chyuuichi asked, scratching his head. "Did I do something wrong?"

Jyuzou fixed his glasses, Atomu put his hands together and Chyuuichi gulped, blinking a few times.

"No, Chyuuichi. No one did anything wrong except for them." Morio spoke, breathing out. "Here I thought that everything was going to work out, in the very end. We'd be one step closer. Turns out, the world is full of thorns. First, they take Mr Bancho away from us, then... the rest of any hope."

Morio stormed forth.

"Morin, wait!" Chyuuichi jumped on the other pony, quickly following his stride down the grassy hill.

"I don't care about the King's or Zenon's words!" Morio yelled as if trying to push Chyuuichi away. "I'm strong enough! I'll show them to not pick the wrong fight!"

"No, we'll show them!" the Mirillian raised his voice, and such led to the pony stopping in its tracks.

Morio breathed in through his nose, trying to calm down.

Eyes now drifted upwards, as the moon wasn't there, but the bleak sun didn't seem to shine either.

"You don't have to." Morio continued, huffing out. "You should go back and tell them the truth. I'll take care of the rest."

Jyuzou breathed out. "If they were strong enough to hurt him, you wouldn't be able to face them all alone."

Morio let go of his clenched fist.

"Right on the money! Well, not all of us are equal, that's for sure, but ya had all the proof in the world that even without our Guardian Demons we can do amazing things!" Chyuuichi pointed, lying down on the saddle.

Morio sighed, catching a tear in a palm.

Atomu breathed out, scanning the letter again, before turning around. "We're all here for the same reason, to say the least." He glanced at the side. "T-Together."

"I want to believe it." Morio wept out, before turning around. "Why can't it ever be as easy as I want it to, though? Only questions keep piling up and still, it seems that..." he breathes out, wiping the few last tears away. "...more wrong keeps popping up. I want to believe I'd be strong enough to make things right, even by myself, but..."

"Ya don't need to! Trust me, I can be as angry at everything that happened here too! Damn brothers attacking me? I'm pumping full of fury!" Chyuuichi added. "Malikan's a place of beasts I tell you!"

"Rage isn't anything to be fueled by," Jyuzou muttered. "But it's only a small part of hanging out with you."

"Shut up, Jyuzou." Morio chuckled.

"Where do I even begin to talk about the things that pissed me off on this journey?" the Paladian crossed his arms, glancing at Chyuuichi.

"What?" the Mirillian asked, before falling off the pony, courtesy to his strange pose.

"...and were when we the ones following rules too?" Jyuzou added, glancing at the Paladian who shook at the word. "We're all Demonears for a reason. They'll understand."

"Well, that's... um..." Atomu adjusted his collar.

Morio breathed out again, jumping off and turning to the others. One hand reassuringly landed on Gloria's sheath, while the other rested above Victis.

It meant everything to him, especially at the moment. Maybe it was Jyuzou who followed suit, but he didn't seem to care, since the others were right.

Even though he was no leader, but a Morian, with a few more goals on his mind.

"W-Will you guys join me in on this?" Morio asked. "Seriously?"

"Does it look like it'd be otherwise, Morin? We've known each other for so long, dude!" Chyuuichi chuckled.

"I'm saying... they might wanna kill us out there. Seriously. If we're wrong then... we're the bad guys."

Atomu gulped.