"Of course, dear Morian." Quanzi nodded.

"SERIOUSLY?!"

"Y-You didn't know?" Zhen asked, grinding his teeth. "The power in your hand, unused for years..." he whispered.

"Not years! Oh, damn it!" Morio sat back down. "The entire reason we were supposed to go to the Kabun Clan was because a man told me to ask you of all people about this and that!"

"I'm assuming it's something foreign to you." Quanzi nodded.

"Yep. Found it in Orawood," Morio explained. "Some strange creature called a Frisk gave it to me in a cave hidden behind some statue."

"Frisk?" Zhen asked. "Sure that's right?"

"Of course, no one knows." he scoffed.

"Maybe it's another name, I've seen lots." Zhen also sat back down. "You must be talking about Frins! Although... I think they're closer to the demons than some witches bestowing you with items. What are you talking about, Morian?" Zhen made a strange expression, inching closer, as Morio backed away, snatching the wand from his hand and turning back to Quanzi.

"J-Jyuzou said it's some twig, but Mr Zenon told me to bring it here along the way. O-Our goal in the first place was to come here and-"

"The Morian you mentioned told me the whole lot, with that other Paladian friend profusely apologizing, just in case. As for the Mirillian, he went to see if our orc, Muddy, was alright."

"Th-then, I don't need to be the one doing the explanations. I'm sorry, Mr Quanzi."

"Osta Quanzi." Zhen corrected him.

"Huh?" Morio turned.

"Anything goes, Morio." Quanzi nodded. "If Bancho was the one who told Sebastian we were the right people to seek, then I can't deny his words. However, there's a reason why we're only expecting enemies to step in. Callem prepared every day since he had to fight intruders every other week. That's how bad it was."

"You're talking about the letter?" Morio pointed.

"Not just the letter, but it's everything atop from there." Zhen sighed. "The attack on Hakh-Nivena, to be precise."

"W-Was it really you?"

"I think I could say no in a thousand ways and there would be someone out there desperate to find enough damning evidence. No, Morio. We'd never do something like that. Part of the statement that makes the Kabun Clan is being solitaire enough to not interrupt the world's flow. Individuals step out, but there's something we're all protecting here."

Morio's hand landed on his forehead, with a slight pulse present.

"Best bet, it was that Zimorron thing. Spare demons appeared to attack us back in the day, but it was someone's genius to disguise and frame the other party. Zimorron always shifted blame, and it was high time when something worked out, we'd take the discredit." Zhen explained, leaning against the wall with folded arms. "Then again, no demons, but just misguided humans. So there's some good in all the bad."

"I'd say, even though the world considers us enemies, Demonears do not. You ever wonder what happened to those who seemingly disappeared with tales of getting too scared to handle the task?" Quanzi asked.

"Everyone said they were hiding."

"They were hiding here, and growing in strength. We've moved past the typical Ainan abilities to make way for Demonears to constantly grow stronger. Callem isn't one, but all the others were the reason why Muddy is part of the intelligent crew." Quanzi mused. "If someone out there is willing to hear the story, they always find a reason to stay for that little while. Maybe, it's gonna be answers, but who knows?"

Zhen adjusted his sunglasses again, and Morio stared at the sun shining on Quanzi's back, casting a shadow over the room made of his silhouette.

"The world is, after all, full of twists and turns. One day, they may lead everyone to the appropriate answer. Not today, though, or tomorrow."

Morio sighed, backing away a little, breathing in.

"It was to see if we could defeat Shi Hon. To gather enough power to even try." Morio continued.

"No one's fit," Zhen muttered. "You saw it for yourself. Even though I won, all of us could've been stronger."

Morio breathed out.

"What about the other things, Morio? You mentioned something besides Bancho's wand." Quanzi continued.

"Ah. It's a-about my Guardian Demon." he lowered his voice, while Zhen inched closer. "I was told by a man in Taigase to seek the Kabun Clan for an answer."

"Hmm?"

"It's... I don't know. He said it was cursed."

Zhen raised a brow, while Quanzi straightened up, absorbing more of the sunlight.

"Cursed," he repeated. "In what way, may I incline?"

"It's like... flesh consumes it. Eyes appear and the real demon inside comes out."

"Wait. It happened when we fought, right? Back when you used dark magic to counter all the lights in the room." Zhen inclined. "I knew what I saw, but I thought that was the reason."

"Dark magic?" Morio asked. "What are you talking about?"

"You seem to have a lot to learn about." Zhen nodded.

"That's right, although we'll have to take things one step at a time. The man you talked to, was right to direct you right here. Your weapon is not cursed, though, Morio. It's just responding to something."

Morio blinked a couple of times.

"What you carry is far stronger than anything in sight. A power that some frighten, but such seems to be the testament to your strength. I feel like I might have an answer, but I'll need to see the thing for myself over time. Everyone is different."

"What about that guy? You seem to know him."

"His case seems different. The Guardian Demon he carried was made out of a demon who's still alive today. It constantly fights against him, then."

"Tsk," Zhen muttered.

"The second case might interest you even more. Axel's Guardian Demon was supposedly cursed as well." Quanzi continued.

"H-How?"

"The wise sacrificed his energy to defend Hakh-Nivena back then, signing a pact to fight against Rottwan to bind him to that church. Holding that much power meant that the Guardian Demon never listened unless he convinced himself and everyone else that he was on their side. Axel and Bancho were always full of lies, and that's why he disposed of it with the other's hands. They didn't need to say it. They both knew."

Quanzi looked through the window.

"I don't know if that was the reason why Rottwan and he disappeared, but that's beyond anyone's control at this point. I'm saying, though, it'd take much more to kill the Wise. Same with Bancho, people like these never really die." Quanzi smiled, glancing over at the wand, which Morio picked up.

"Never die because it landed in your hands." Zhen continued. "It's a sign for everyone to keep moving, despite the odds."

"I still have so many questions, though," Morio muttered. "How will everything move on from here?"

"Much like with Demonears, some things need to be seen firsthand." Quanzi nodded. "...and I doubt you'll have to scour as fast as possible to see that. We need to get to know each other before I feel I can tell you my secrets." he grinned.

"Oh, damn," Morio uttered, sighing.

"How about this, Morio?" Zhen asked, turning over, and the Morian did the same, with the taller reaching his hand out. "Just like the King of Saphrith said. Help each other out. Find information. Keep growing stronger too, like I did back then."

"Are you saying that... you're in on this?" Morio asked.

"Of course we are. Even a chance to battle the demon's tides will move the world much further ahead." Quanzi muttered.

"I've seen the things you can do, and now I know I don't need to doubt Bancho's words."

"I'm still wondering what the two of you have in common," he uttered. "...another goal."

"Heh, stories go a long way. We'll learn though, because the lot of you here will stay over like all those Demonears and train your heads off. I don't know what Shi Hon can do, but everyone has at least one weakness. Mine could be agreeing to things too easily, and... your crew could be described the same way." Zhen turned to the door, and it flung open after a few footsteps faded.

"It was Morio's idea!" Jyuzou yelled out.

"You were the first to agree about being the bad guys," Atomu noted.

"Gah. I'm sorry, again, Osta highest Sir Quanzi!" the other Morian continued, and Morio giggled, staring at the ground, slowly clenching his fist.

He raised his eyes, before meeting Zhen's smile and a bit of a cocky brow.

"How about it? Learn everything that makes Demonears and humans the most powerful beasts out there, find out everything and answer every question. The day you manage to defeat me will be the day all of us will be powerful enough to face Shi Hon."

"Little Callem can't counter everything with that pole." A man's shoulder landed on Jyuzou's, and he shook, turning around, and seeing the same, blonde man he saw on the staircase. "Guess it's high time we found some solid purpose. First time in thirty or so years, eh? Same thing with that Morian."

"Sylvi and Morio are two different people, Zack." Zhen continued, grinding his teeth.

"Right." Zack nodded. "Scar's the same."

"...another goal!" Morio whispered, closing one eye.

"Yohoho, no worries, brother! We'll shape them and ourselves into the right form! Stronger against the weaker, eh, Paladian?" Mihua put a hand over Atomu's shoulder, brushing through his own, long hair.

Atomu shook a bit, breathing out, slowly nodding.

"Great! You'll need some guide since you fought like a wuss against Muddy, yohoho!"

"T-That's mean!" Atomu raised his voice, covering his eyes.

"Chyuuichi?" Morio asked, turning to Quanzi, who pointed right outside the nearby window.

The Morian glanced over, finding the Mirillian already chasing around with the orc, and Callem in tandem, signalling for them to stop.

"We're officially pals now," Zhen muttered. "There's your answer."

"Welcome to the Kabun Clan, Demonears." Quanzi smiled, nodding.

***

A few hours after the moon peeked from beneath the clouds, Morio and Jyuzou lay on a few hammocks above Atomu and Chyuuichi, sleeping away on the sheets below. Well, Chyuuichi snored, and the Paladian moved a bit unsurely as if something continuously bothered him.

Morio stared through the window, half awake, and Jyuzou was still reading through his newly formed notes, using the small, still-lit lamplight above his bed, which illuminated some of the outer bearings of the room.

The temple was quiet, with a few shuffles sounding outside the sliding wooden door, which, likewise with the wooden and paper in the latter half walls growing towards the bamboo-like ceiling, separated them from the other Demonears on the same, third floor.

Bags and alike lay all around, with some chaos speaking near the Mirillian's bedding below Jyuzou. The ponies which were situated near the gates, kicked around the grasses for a bit, which made Morio turn and stretch, breathing out.

"O-Oh wow." Jyuzou adjusted his glasses.

"Hm?" Morio turned, rubbing his eye.

"The gardens here grow a ton of hibiscuses. They're one of the tastiest ingredients when making the Malikan tea."

"I thought it'd be something interesting," Morio muttered.

"Shin, I thought something connected with GLUTTONY would interest you!" Jyuzou closed the book, sighing out.

"Sure, but there's also everything else! Everyone said though, that we'll learn with time, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed, thinking about them!"

"That won't let you sleep."

"I'll sleep through anything."

"Right." Jyuzou rolled his eyes, taking his glasses off and placing them on a shelf specifically placed on another to accommodate Morians. Morio rolled to the side again, yawning. "It won't be the same for me. I'm a little worried about the things we'll have to endure, starting tomorrow."

"We were tossed into a volcano."

"The temple is very familiar, so don't ever doubt that!"

"Pfft! The nearest is in Harabara." Morio muttered. "That's..."

"Not as far as you think. Closer than Galliath."

"Hm, the Nosfer, as they call it." Morio turned to the ceiling. "Something bothers me about that place, you know?"

"Seems a little dangerous, that's for certain. No plants of interest there either."

"Talking about something else here. Whenever I think about it, a dream seems to come back to me."

"Again?"

"I did have another one when I was knocked out after the fight." Morio sighed. "It was even weirder than with all those flowers back then. Drat, forgot to ask about dreams too! Either way,"

He turned to Jyuzou.

"Again, still in Shi Hon's skin, and... I was talking to someone. Spouting the nonsense I can't remember. Though, I fought back during those last few moments. I wished myself good luck, and then... I was there, in Mr Quanzi's chamber, and everything reassured me that I made the right decision."

"You're now talking as if Shi Hon was the good guy."

"Pfft, no. But maybe it's easier imagining him that way in my dreams." he put his hands behind his head, smirking. "A good guy wouldn't kill you, eh?"

"...or." Jyuzou flipped to the side. "You wouldn't want to believe it."

"Yeah. They're just dreams." Morio closed his eyes.

"So, here's a toast to me, hoping this is about the weapon again. You told them, right?" Jyuzou asked.

"Mhm, although-" Morio whispered. "I'd like to keep it a small secret from now on. I've heard stories, Jyuzou, and... I still doubt it."

Jyuzou turned, his brows furrowed.

"I thought about it for a while, but Gloria's my Mama's weapon, right?"

"You're asking me?"

"You ever wonder if she met him?"

Jyuzou blinked a couple of times.

"Maybe it was his blood that made it. If she was powerful enough to fight, of course." he chuckled. "She would. She's powerful because I'm sure she's fighting to wake up. To see me strong again." he stretched, yawning. "If it was her here, we would've known. Guess, though-"

"Time will tell." Jyuzou finished his sentence.

"Yep."

"Good night, Morio."

"Night, Jyuzou!"

...and with those words, the room went silent, spare for a few shuffles.

Atomu glanced up at the hammocks above him, before taking a deep breath in.