Night had fallen.

Hana gazed right outside the window inside the room as she curled up on the window ledge. Her head pressed against the glass of the window, and she had changed her outfit into a thin, white coat.

She watched the snow drifting down, landing on the streets below her. The lamppost in the streets provided some form of light, and the rustic architecture of the entire town gave off a cozy feeling. People were dressed in coats of different styles and thickness, strolling off to the next destination in their mind.

However, Hana knew she couldn't afford to feel cozy now. The warm and well-lit room didn't give her any source of comfort.

I can't rest.

I feel so nervous...

She cast her eyes down, her eyelashes fluttering as she pursed her lips. Strands of her bright red hair cascaded down, tickling the sides of her face. Somehow, she began to recall memories of her past.

Whenever she was feeling troubled, K'xug would appear from the shadows and stay by her side.

Whether it was to provide a listening ear or to provide a comforting presence.

He was always there for her.

She glanced at the door with expectant eyes, and to her surprise, she heard someone knocking on the door. Her feet touched the heated floor and she shuffled her way to the door, she opened her mouth.

"K'xug?"

"It's me."

Her blue eyes lit up.

I knew it!

She reached forward and turned the doorknob, opening the door.

He stood at the doorway, a gentle gaze in his eyes. Similar to everyone else residing in this town, K'xug was donning a coat himself but it was black in colour.

"Just as I expected, you aren't resting."

"I can't." Hana pouted, shaking her head.

"What were you doing then?" K'xug asked.

She looked at him, a small smile on her face as she pointed to the huge window at the end of the room that was installed with a window ledge.

"Watching the snow!"

She took his hand in hers, pulling him into the room and he closed the door quietly. Hana brought him to the window ledge as she sat down on it, pointing at the snow outside once again.

"It's pretty," she continued smiling softly, her blue eyes twinkling. "We never get to see something like this in the heavenly realm!"

It was true.

In the heavenly realm, unlike the mortal realm, there was no season or weather. It was constantly bright and filled with a myriad of colours due to its unique sky.

"To think the archives would be connected to this part of the mortal realm, it seems I've been away for too long. Fyth and Nerri said it constantly snowed in this continent," K'xug nodded, agreeing with her words. "The mortal realm is filled with such wonders."

"That's why Xue, Veau and Zeau liked running to the mortal realm in the past!" Hana spoke without thinking. "Ah..."

She looked at K'xug with wide eyes.

Her memories that came back to her just felt like it was yesterday she experienced everything, and yet, in reality, hundreds of years had passed.

K'xug paused before he smiled wryly, patting her on the head. "You are right, you don't need to look so guilty."

"I'm sorry..."

"There's no need to apologise."

Hana remained silent for a moment, still looking at him as her expression eased. He noticed her stare, tilting his head as his expression was full of fondness.

"What's wrong?"

"I just hope...Xue and Cecil are safe."

K'xug stepped closer to her and she leaned on his body, her eyes straying to the window. His arm wrapped around her shoulders as he looked out the window as well, his voice was low and comforting.

"They will be. Xue wasn't feared in the demon realm for nothing, and Cecil is stronger than we all thought."

"Mhmm." Hana hummed in return, nodding.

There was another reason why Hana was uneasy.

Other than the concern for their safety, she was afraid.

She was afraid to face them once again.

If I see them again...

Will they look at me kindly once again?

"Don't worry, Hana. For now, just take it easy and rest."

Hana kept those concerns deep in her heart, closing her eyes and enjoying the warm embrace of the man she loved.

***

Upon hearing the silent response from her friend, Cecil knew she shouldn't expect any positive response. She smiled to herself, sighing softly to herself.

"I guess...when the time comes, I'll have to deal with it myself."

[ ...! ]

[ Don't be silly! Are you planning to pull some self-sacrificial act again? ]

[ There's a limit to how selfish you can be! ]

"My mistake, that wasn't what I meant."

"I'll have to deal with it along with the help from others around me, including you, Tano."

[ Hmph. ]

[ That's way better~ ]

Cecil continued smiling softly to herself and she felt someone's arm going around her waist. She glanced up, knowing that the person was Xue himself.

"What are you smiling about in this kind of situation?" Xue asked in bewilderment.

"I'm just thinking of a certain friend?"

"A friend?" Xue frowned, his face twitching.

"You know him too, Xue," she chuckled, taking his hand. "I'll tell you all about it when the time comes."

Xue gave her a dubious look.

Ryo stood beside Xue, summoning away his halberd as he yawned. He stretched his arms into the air, blinking his eyes sleepily. "I'm sleepy."

"...that's too fast." Xue and Cecil said at the same time.

True to his words, Ryo plopped himself onto the ground and used his arms as a headrest, falling asleep.

"..."

"..."

On the other hand, Valoel walked towards the front of the barrier. He observed the shocked Zeau and Veau on the other side, they had no intention of breaking the barrier since they were injured from the fight with Valoel.

Valoel seemed equally exhausted, looking at the two of them with a sigh.

"Nothing will bring them back," he said to the two brothers, a sorrowful look on his wrinkled face. "Whether it is your mother, your father or Eona."

Zeau and Veau flared up.

"We know it won't bring them back, but we are honouring their last wishes!" Zeau exclaimed.

"Don't speak as if you know us, master!" Veau barked out.

"Is that what you think?" Valoel raised his eyebrows, looking at Zeau. "Do you truly think you are honouring their last wishes?"

"Father told me with his dying breath!" Zeau hissed out, the malice evident in his eyes. "Wipe all angels from this world after giving them an insurmountable misery!"

"Just like Edmund, your father has always been too hot-headed to see through reason. Even until the last moment. I am sure he would have regretted it now, telling you those words." Valoel sighed, shaking his head and he looked at Veau. "Have you told your brother?"

Veau frowned. "What are you talking about?"

"He witnessed your father's dying wish, but not your mother's," Valoel stated, gesturing at Veau. "I was there to save your mother, but I was too late. The words she uttered, I heard it clearly myself."

"Wha..." Zeau widened his eyes, glancing at Veau. "Didn't you say mother had the same wishes as father?"

"..." Veau remained silent, looking at Zeau with a conflicted glance.

Cecil witnessed the exchange between them, an inexplicable sadness coursing through her.

"That's impossible."

She turned to look at her left as Eona stepped in beside her.

"Their mother would have never said anything like that. After all, she personally seeked me out and told me..."

"Why did you lie to me?!" Zeau yelled.

It startled everyone except Veau and Valoel. Zeau was never the type to raise his voice in such a manner, and if he did, it was because he became too emotional.

"Even if I said it at that time," Veau stated with a nonchalant tone. "You would have never listened to me and insisted that wasn't what she implied."

"..."

Zeau clearly couldn't answer his words.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Zeau was trembling in anger, getting prepared to strike out anytime.

Eona stopped speaking, looking at the two of them in pain. It seemed she didn't want to speak any longer, letting out a sad sigh and disappearing once again.

"...you two have a lot to talk about, so I won't linger here any longer," Valoel took a step back, letting out another sigh. "The next time we meet again, I hope the situation will be different."

He walked back towards Xue, Cecil and a sleeping Ryo. The Kilgitsu in his arms began to stir awake, and he gave her a careful glance before looking back at the three.

"First of all, we should leave this place," Valoel smiled kindly at them, nodding his head gratefully. "This isn't the place to show my gratitude towards the three of you who stopped me from committing a silly mistake."

"We did nothing, don't think too much of it." Xue said.

"I have business with this mortal woman as well, Cecil Lan."

Xue frowned in suspicion.

"I mean no harm." Valoel reassured him.

"We'll see about that." Xue responded.

Cecil looked at Xue, a helpless look in her eyes.

"You might want to wake that young mortal man up."

Xue cast a glance towards Ryo sleeping on the ground, shrugging. "He'll live."

"Hmm..." Cecil tapped her finger on her chin as she leaned in towards Ryo, cupping a hand around her mouth. "...alcohol. Drinks. Free of charge."

Xue gave Cecil a look.

Valoel's wings expanded out and he extended his palm outwards.

The three of them were surrounded in a transparent sheen of light magic created by Valoel.

"Huh? What? Alcohol? Free drinks, I–" Ryo jolted awake, glancing around with a drowsy expression.

Just then, they disappeared from the spot.

At the same time, the barrier created by Xue dropped and revealed the two demon brothers situated behind it. The two of them were in a defensive stance, wielding their weapons and Veau narrowed his eyes at Zeau.

"This isn't the time to be fighting amongst ourselves."

"Shut up, I don't want to hear it! You, my little brother, lied to me this entire time!"

Veau dodged an attack from Zeau, his expression filled with annoyance. "You were the one who was hissing at me earlier that I was no brother of yours."

"Be quiet!"

"Seems like it'll take a while before you calm yourself down." Veau mumbled to himself, sighing in exasperation.

***

Linqin held on tight to her treasured mount, ignoring the terrified Haru still hugging her as if his life depended on it. The guardian beast was hot on their trails, and despite its maddened state, it seemed to unconsciously avoid the trees as if not wanting to devastate the Sacred Forest.

Linqin noticed this aspect, glancing back at Haru.

"You might be right."

"Wh-wh-what do you mean?"

"It doesn't seem to be mad, and..." Linqin looked back to the front. "It has no clear intention of harming anything in this forest."

"Th-then where are you bringing it to?" Haru asked.

"It's only known to the three tribes, and I'm sure my brother has never told you either," Linqin narrowed her eyes, an uneasy tone in her voice. "But I don't have a choice, since you are stuck with me."

"...?"

"There's a building in the centre of the Sacred Forest, and it's where the guardian beast always resided. Not once has it taken a step out of the area, not until..." Linqin glanced back, a sad look in her eyes. "Not until the lives of our ancestors and the children of the Sacred Forest were in jeopardy."

"..."

Haru straightened himself, looking back at the beast and his face was still rather pale. There was a sympathetic look in his orange-blonde eyes.

"What a great beast, it gave its all to help its own people."

"We owe the guardian beast our lives," Linqin nodded, a determined look in her irises. "So, I would do anything to ease its pain or sorrow, and I'm praying this will work."

"Don't worry!" Haru grinned, ruffling her hair. "If there's anything I know, it's that sincerity can even melt the coldest of hearts!"

"Stop that." Linqin pouted, smacking his hand away.

"Oh, I see something up ahead!"

"We are close."

Linqin urged her treasured mount to pick up its speed, and it obliged to her command. Haru grabbed onto Linqin once again, squeezing his eyes shut. The speed of her mount was shocking, and within a minute, they reached the entrance of the clearing.

They slowed down, greeted by an astounding sight.

Deep within the Sacred Forest, a place where one hardly traversed, there was a monument and the sound of rushing water. The monument had been segregated from the Sacred Forest, forming a small circle in the centre of the river as it flowed incessantly.

The river extended out into the Sacred Forest, serving as the main water source for the animals residing within the forest.

The monument had a small round table made out of stone, and there were four stone stools surrounding it. There were four stone pillars on each end of the monument, and it was carved in an intricate manner. Since the monument was never maintained, vines had started to curl around the area, giving it a touch of green.

"...woah..." Haru sighed out in awe.

Linqin didn't have time to take in the peaceful scenery, immediately guiding her mount to the right. They would be out of sight from the guardian beast that way.

The guardian beast would have trampled on them if they didn't swerve to the right, and just then the guardian beast entered the clearing. It stopped itself before it fell into the river, and it lifted his head, its breathing haggard.

It stiffened as it stared at the scene before its very eyes.

Their haggard breathing seemed to calm down, and their eyes seemed to waver.

Linqin could see it.

The recognition in its eyes was coming back.

She guessed it right.

This place was of great significance to this guardian beast, and seeing it would serve a reminder of what it was in the past.

"You were really right after all, Haru." Linqin spoke quietly.

"Of course I was! Have I ever lied to you?" Haru rubbed at his nose, puffing his chest proudly. "What do you take me for? A peasant?"

Linqin glanced back, shoving her elbow into his face as she rolled her eyes. "Will you ever get rid of that nasty habit?"

"Woah!" Haru avoided it, fumbling as he fell from the mount.

Unbeknownst to them, the memories of the past were replaying in the beast's mind at this moment. It was a memory from long ago, when it was created from the warm hands from a person they called the Supreme God.

The beast lived with them for almost three hundred years.

From a little cub to a juvenile beast.

"Three hundred years may be short, but in the mortal realm, it may be long."

The Supreme God reached down and patted its head.

"I am counting on you to take care of my mortal friend and its realm, Dada."

"..."

"..."

"...Tano, can't you give it a better name? Your naming sense is always, without a doubt, sickening."

"Why are you always so harsh to me, Sevont? Is this how you treat a friend~?"

The Demon Lord gave out a helpless sigh.

The young beast had no clear understanding of the situation. It only knew it would be sent away soon, and despite spending a short three hundred years with its creator, it was still very attached. Out of spite, it reached forward and gnawed at the Supreme God's hand.

"Ow."

"That's what you get for treating it carelessly. If you have any sense of decency, wipe its memories except the vow you bestowed upon it."

"...that's even more cruel! As I thought, Sevont, you are heartless."

"..."

"Don't worry, Dada. I'll come visit you again with my mortal friend. Don't forget to take good care of them, and yourself~"

Just like that, the beast was forced to close its eyes and release its mouth. The next moment, it felt itself being transported through the skies and land, and within seconds, it found itself in the centre of a forest.

It glanced around in a panic before calming itself down.

It was a familiar place.

The stone table, the stone stools and the four grand pillars. It recognised this place, since it was created by Tano to have a gathering among the representatives of the various races existing within this world.

The beast waited.

...waited.

...and waited.

For the mortal friend to come.

For the promise that Tano kept.

Just like that, a hundred years passed in the mortal realm. The disparity in time between the mortal realm, with the heavenly and demon realm was too great.

The beast became fully grown, and its size was intimidating. The Sacred Forest has grown far and wide, the animals within it and the place itself has become the beast's home.

"Wahh! A beast–gah ow! Agh, my head–my butt, oww..."

The beast lifted its head, locating the source of the noise. Since it was a magical beast, it could create floating pathways in the air with light magic, walking across the river and plopping down onto the grass.

He recognised the person resting behind the tree, their expression full of pain and fear.

"Tano's mortal friend. Found you."

The beast growled lowly, leaning in and nudging its snout against the mysterious man. In an instant, his fear dissipated and his eyes blinked in shock.

"Yo-you talk? Wait a minute, Tano? My grandfather used to talk about him–ah..."

A look of understanding dawned on the man's face and he stood up, patting the grass away from his tribal outfit. He grinned brightly, bowing towards the beast, not before hitting against its snout as the man cried out.

"My name is–ow! Sorry, m-my name is Tian. It's nice to finally meet you, the great guardian beast of Tano."

"No longer his guardian beast. Guardian beast of this forest. Me."

The man shot his head up, and his grin widened.

"I'm glad! You see, there's an issue with this forest along with my people. Great guardian beast, if you could step in as a representative..."

That day, the friendship was forged between the two.

***

Cecil, Ryo and Xue were teleported away by the old angel, Valoel. They soon found themselves outside the yard of a small hut. There was a small table that would be able to fit them all, and Valoel gestured for them to take a seat.

"Ma...master?"

The red fox in his arms started to awaken.

"Master! How dare you–!"

"Let me prepare some refreshment and quell down my Kilgitsu disciple," Valoel interrupted, looking at the three of them kindly. "You may explore the area if you wish, but do be warned not to stray too far."

At the same time, Cecil felt something strange within herself.

The lingering presence in her mind was starting to leave. She almost called him AI500 but decided not to.

She felt it wasn't appropriate at this moment.

"...Tano?"

[ Just for a moment. ]

[ I'm leaving to uphold a promise I made, long ago. ]

"Hmm, how surprising. I wonder what kind of promise it was."

[ An important one. ]

[ Something you weren't there to witness. ]

"If it is something of great importance, I won't hold you back."

[ ... ]

[ ...about your question earlier. ]

"...?"

[ This is the world you have always loved. ]

[ I'll just have to believe you are ready, Oracle. Since you were always one to throw yourself in front even if you aren't ready. ]

Cecil stood up from her seat.

"Cecil?"

"I just want to have a quiet moment."

"Don't run off recklessly again." Xue raised his eyebrows at her.

She smiled in amusement. "What do you take me for?"

"The Cecil Lan I know."

Cecil laughed.

Meanwhile, Ryo was somehow awake and exploring the area with enthusiasm.

Cecil took a few steps away from the table, staring at the aurora sky.

"You aren't wrong, Tano."

"Just like you said, I'll just believe in myself to be ready."

"Go, and take care of what you need."

[ I still couldn't prevent the tragedies from happening among the races. Even with the power you borrowed me. ]

[ However, I still pray that the ending would be a happy one for you, Oracle. ]

"Thank you."

This time, the lingering presence really left her mind.

She turned back and looked at Xue, seeing him taking in his surroundings with an unreadable expression.

I hope for a happy ending too.

She smiled, walking towards Xue and giving him a back hug.

***

《 start 》

A back hug.

...

...

Heh.

...it feels warm.

《 stop 》