(Art is done by me)

Coming upon the end of the path leading to Velacera's house shadows were looming by the door. "Wonder who could be waiting for me at this hour," Velacera hummed noticing the shadows, "I told Dadaki and Lookomoor we wouldn't be home for the next few hours...... And Fundicarne is usually at his home and shop unless he gets invited somewhere else...." Velacera trailed off. Kur had already narrowed their eye to see no familiar shapes or colors of the before-mentioned friends.

"It's neither any of your friends...... They seemingly are much different color schemes than Dadaki, Lookomoor, or Fundicarne," Kur pointed out, "might there be more companions that don't visit as often as them?" Velacera's stopped walking midstep. "Velacera?" Kur questioned confused.

"I do but they are barely in Makai half of the time," Velacera gulped. "Shoot!" He gritted his teeth and took off running leaving Kur behind just starring curiously at Velacera. "Shoot, shoot," Velacera cursed under his breath. He wasn't expecting them to be swinging around until next month. Running to the door he could clearly see who it was, "Chuma, Orcus, and Futsura!" Velacera heaved out as he stopped catching his breath. "In your letter, you stated you wouldn't be here until another month," Velacera looked up, "so what calls you here so early?"

"I sensed ... a strong sense ... of purification magic," Orcus stated having a bored look. "My first thought ... was an invasion but ...  now ...  since we're here ... I see no violence besides ...... normal events of random hellspawns ......... fighting. But there's .... still this strong sense of ............ purification magic around here .................. growing stronger ..... as if it's coming closer."

"I agree" Futsura spoke in agreement, "though I sense no harm as if the miasma accepts this purification magic to reside here."

Kur came closer hearing them speak. They definitely know that the 'purification magic' was them. Frowning Kur stopped and listen further. "I can assure you that it's fine," Velacera gave a weak smile. Totally forgetting that he left Kur alone while he ran here. 'Shoot, I left Kur alone!' Velacera gritted his teeth.

"No injuries from what I can see," Chuma's voice was muffled due to his mask, "but I can sense that the purification magic is coming from a wound... might be it's finding it difficult to heal on its own." Velacera's eyes widened. Kur was fully healed however the wound on their eye was not fading in the slightest. Now he understood why King Enma was so worried, purification magic was trying to heal Kur's eye but could not so be purifying the air. Sure the bandages filtered some of that purification magic but it was still clearly healing a wound that was refusing to heal.

"Oh no," Velacera breathed out in a whisper, "Kur's eye hasn't healed for over a week now... Shoot!" Before Velacera could turn and run to get Kur he ended up turning around and bumping into Kur's chest. "Gah!" Velacera was shocked Kur was so close, "Kur! Are you alright did my flame hit you at all?" Velacera seemed panicked as he knew his flame would be close to Kur's head. Kur gave a confused look before shaking their head. 

"Well there's the source of purification magic," Chuma pointed out before walking closer, "that right eye of yours, is it the injury that the purification magic is coming from?" Chuma reached forward to touch the bandaging. Kur flinched back out of instinct, "I won't harm you I just wish to see...."

"It's alright Kur," Velacera grabbed Kur's arm trying to reassure Kur, "he's a friend and he runs a clinic here in Makai.... maybe he can know why your eye isn't healing like how the rest of your body did," Velacera spoke softly as he knew it was still sensible to hear that Kur was once gravely injured a week before and has been healing very slowly.

"Wait," Chuma froze up, "how injured was this being to say that they were injured more than just their eye?!" Chuma looked over at Velacera.

"It's a long story," Velacera sighed as he looked at Futsura and Orcus, "shall we head inside as there's suppose to be another session of acid rain soon?" Velacera tugged on Kur's arm before Kur followed inside as his other friends followed as well. "So since you guys are here early lemme introduce you to Kur" Velacera spoke softly pointing to Kur who was still standing next to him even though he had let go of their arm, "Kur these are a few friends that I have outside of Makai and well they were the ones who taught me to pay the kindness forward. This is Orcus," Velacera pointed to Orcus and moved over to each one of them, "Futsura, and Chuma. They come here every so often to visit but Chuma is here more due to the clinic he runs here in Makai."

Kur raised an eyebrow before nodded and gave a slight bow, "it's a pleasure meeting you three," Kur spoke softly as they came back up from a slight bow. Kur gave a small smile as well.

"So are you going to explain .......... why a Celestial being wounded up here in Makai ...... Velacera?" Orcus asked looking at Kur before looking at Velacera, "you have a lot to tell ..... and the fact this Celestial is so ...... formal .... meaning that they came from a high role." Orcus hummed looking at Kur with keen eyes. 

"Y-yeah," Velacera stumbled on words, "you see I found Kur severally injured and due to the past when you guys found me in a similar state and well it felt like a repeat of history and so I've been caring for them for a week but all other injuries were healed within a few days except for their right eye and I am assuming since you guys felt purification magic that the reason would be that their magic is still trying to heal the one injury that isn't healing in the slightest." Kur looked down at Velacera who was unexpectedly was stuttering a whole lot. 

"So lemme break down what you are saying," Chuma crossed his arms, "you found Kur injured beyond living though they were technically still alive, typical for a Celestial as they can survive up to decades after their wounds become deathly depending on their rank of power, you brought them home to try and save them, I am guessing that you had that old book you bought when you were living with Orcus and Futsura, back in Conjingham. Healed them to the best of your ability thought that the wound on their right eye would heal by doing what your knowledge is limited to, but due to it not healing their natural healing abilities have spiked to try and heal it but its struggling to heal it properly."

Chuma came closer as Kur took a step back, Velacera noticed and grabbed Kur's arm quickly, "It's okay Kur, Chuma won't hurt you..... he's not a hellspawn. Chuma maybe it would be best as there's no pollen in here take off your mask to see if that's why Kur is flinching away.... as up to now they haven't done this but I am wondering if its due to the mask causing them to act in such a manner?" Velacera tightened his grip as Kur tried to pull away. 

"Very well," Chuma sighed as he took off his hat before removing his hood and unfastening the mask taking it fully off, "it might be triggering some painful reflexes for them if it ties into their memories of how they were injured.... obscure facial recognition maybe what they are suffering with but I will make do without my mask can examine their eye as purification magic should have no issues in healing but since the magic is struggling there's something wrong." Chuma came close once more but Kur did not move or flinch away. "So it was my mask that was making them uncomfortable.... this might be a challenge in near future," Chuma hummed as he began to unravel the bandages around Kur's right eye.

"If their memories of their attackers were obscured ..... or their faces were covered ....... then it is reasonable that .... they are struggling to trust someone who might hide their face ...... or is in the shadows," Orcus mumbled while looking at Futsura, "I wonder..... if it would be the same if Futsura took a step closer ....... as his eyes are covered ...... you are barely able to make out his face under the shadows of his hat."

"Can we not scare Kur until after I get a confirmation that something is wrong with their healing capabilities as I need to focus and have their purification magic in a protective frenzy," Chuma mumbled begrudgingly as he took away the bandages to see a very creamy colored eye with cracks resembling cracks in glass running down the right side of Kur's face, "oh my" Chuma breathed out as he took off a glove to feel if there were any abrasions or it was part of the magic fooling him. Lifting his hand to Kur's right check Chuma gulped, "this is nothing I have ever seen before." Chuma gritted his teeth, "unfortunately certain Celestials don't display certain emotions very well but they still feel them regardless... and judging how their magic is failing to heal them meaning that they are in constant pain but maybe they are unable to voice it or express it... Orcus you pointed out how formal they are.... what ranks are there that might fit the type that tenderly can't express certain emotions that in Celestial terms, 'selfish'?"

"Well," Orcus hummed before looking at Futsura, "What might be considered emotionless... but yet caring...... would be what they call Star Celestials ...... as they show little mortal emotions ....... and show concern for others than themselves .... as they are parental figure in much lower-class Celestials... think of it as if the Star was a god or parental figure... So the best example ...... is that Kur might be a Star Celestial ...... with the absence of the foreseen rumored Star shape ornaments on either side of their head........ Which could be the results of their injuries ...... as conceding to the injury on their eye...... But normally one heals faster than any deity .......... like for example....... King Enma or I...... but seeing how it's unable to heal it .......... may have been the result of a curse created by their attacker..."

"A hex" Futsura moved slightly hearing the possibility of a curse, "if there is signs its a hex that might be dulling the purification magic there's a way to counter hex such things to make it livable for them but also counts as a permanent scar or markings... One may indulge in conclusion as it is common with many who attack Celestials to use hexes as it weakens a Celestial for a certain time dependant on the target or goal in mind," Futsura nodded his head, "but I cannot sense anything but the purification magic as if it was caused by another Celestial."

"We were just at the Castle as King Enma was worried Kur may be a threat but he approved of Kur being here as a guest as long as I care for them... but what Kur told him made him believe that Kur's attacker was a corrupted Celestial... Whatever that may be?" Velacera took the wrappings from Chuma and was at the cabinets grabbing extra supplies.

"A corrupted Celestial," Futsura frowned, "I have only heard of them on travel as they seek to wish others harm for selfish meanings... as in result leave a path of destruction and sorrows. In many encounters alone none normally survives only the rare occasions that a few make it out alive but severally traumatized or scared until they cannot look in a mirror and end up taking their own lives as a mean to not be a burden anymore as they believe they are..." Futsura became quiet again.

"Interesting," Orcus hummed in slight amusement, "I guess all those errands ..... I have sent you on has given you time to gather knowledge ..... and wisdom from other cultures many wish not to hear about....... So if Kur is in constant pain...... but is not showing that then the hex they are suffering from....... is making them feel it even more ... and with the miasma .... and how certain hellspawns use their abilities ...... to make anyone go insane then the pain is up to a hundred times more.... flinching away.... and wincing........ is a sign they are slightly showing their pain...... but not to the extent one expect to see the pain written on them......." Velacera frown deepened as he had no idea how much Kur had been in pain.

Kur always seemed so pleased and happy that Velacera did not know how Kur truly felt. But something clicked as Velacera looked up, "Celestials cannot lie. Kur is it true? Are you in pain?" Kur gave a soft look as Chuma made them slightly bow so Chuma could shine a dim light in their right eye. 

"Thy's pain is of no issue as I do concern other's emotions to remain pleasant," Kur gave a soft reply, "there is far worse pain than what becomes of me," Kur flinched away slightly as Chuma brightened the light a bit.

"Well, that took long enough," Chuma sighed, "I'd say you are partially blind in this eye permanently but judging how my light didn't affect you until the last setting which is equivalent to one of a man-made source of light to copy sun uva of extreme brightness." Chuma hummed before motioning Kur to bend more to his level, "what Futsura mentioned about hexes I have an educated guess that Kur was meant to die however something beyond had encountered it once before but due to so much trauma to the body and the purification magic it's preventing it from fighting it off..." Chuma was focusing on the cracks on Kur's right cheek, "but I suggest we hold off on casting more hexes until I can figure out why this wound is severe and why their healing abilities are unable to even heal this wound. You can stand fully up Kur."

Kur stood to their full height feeling a little stiff as they were not used to bending for a long period of time. "Kur?" Kur heard their name as they turned their head, seeing a frowning Velacera. They could sense the tension and sorrow in the atmosphere around them, "how long have you been in this much pain without telling me?" Velacera's voice cracked. Kur knew Velacera was upset. 

"I am greatly sorry for making you worry," Kur began before Velacera raised his hand.

"That's not the point Kur," Velacera gritted his teeth, "you were in pain yet you fought and were being active yet bitted down your pain in order not to upset others?!" Kur was taken aback a little when Velacera raised his voice, "you are allowed to be selfish once in a while you don't always have to think about others' wellbeing you can be selfish.... selfish isn't a bad thing if it comes to your wellbeing." Velacera's voice broke slightly as Chuma moved from the side to hold back Velacera. 

"Vel," Chuma whispered, catching Velacera's attention, "Celestials such as Star's have one of a standard of self-righteous where their beings do not concern them and the others under their care concern them first. It's built deep within their core and cannot be easily overwritten by other words..." Chuma sighed heavily as he patted Velacera's shoulder, "but with what I am thinking about they may have more of an arrange of emotions when I seal off the cracks as I remember an old professor mentioned of a paste that can heal any cut leaving the minimum scaring, just calm down old habits die hard and I know you always thought you were a burden back when we saved you but we told you it was fine... Celestials have similar mindsets of being a burden of showing certain emotions and have tuned themselves to not feel guilty emotions such as pain or sorrow."

"But I saw the pain look when they talked about the loss of everyone on their star," Velacera's voice was still cracking.

"A parental emotion as they felt as they were the one that caused the loss of many lives," Chuma pointed out, "think of it as if something happened Makai and many lives were lost during such an event... who would feel the most pain at the loss?" Velacera froze and thought about what Chuma had just said. "King Enma would be the one taking the greater pain correct?" Velacera nodded slowly and frowned, shivering slightly. "King Enma is king and creator of Makai so he would take the blame for his creations being destroyed, correct?" Velacera nodded again. "Now Kur is what King Enma would feel not only the guilt of losing many but ignoring his own touch of wellbeing as guilt takes on many forms and will break anyone to their knees. It comes in many forms. For you, your instinct told you to transform out of fear and rage. Destroying a whole village and half of the landscape. You vowed to never transform again into your monstrous form." 

Velacera choked as Chuma brought up his own grief in examples. Kur noticed the atmosphere and bite their lip noticing the pain around them. 'Is that why Velacera became so cold about the mention of Eldritch monstrous forms. He turned into it before but cause damage so great that went against his morals so he's feeling the guilt of taking lives, now I understand ' Kur frowned as they took a step forward. "Emotions are a strong asset as many can cause grief but it is natural to feel great grief for many who has caused scaring trauma to others even thy self," Kur spoke softly, they knew it was a sensitive topic seeing Velacera's reaction, "As your friend stated, I, and like my other Celestial Star siblings we have given up all self emotions to be the parental guidance that supports and cares for those who feel either guilty, sorrowful or in need of a warm home as they have been kicked from their homes due to any circumstances. You have given me warmth after an event that nearly ended my existence," Kur smiled, "my pain is drowned by the warmth you have provided and I am greatly thankful for the warmth you have given and displayed. I would never lie as I have told you many times before, you never asked so I sought it as nothing important to speak of.... just ask and I will always speak the truth to you." 

Velacera stood there staring at Kur as he looked from each side of Kur's face. Seeing the smooth skin to the texture similar to broken glass. Chuma let go as Velacera had slumped before taking a step towards Kur and embracing them. "Why are you like this?" Velacera broke out in a short sob.

"I have only concerns for others as I take up a high role of a listener," Kur whispered, "I give those who suffer the most the ears they need to speak their sorrows to, and in return, I give solace to the pain and sorrow. I give the warmth for them to heal, as you have given the warmth that most creatures would have laughed at or ignored my wounds and let me suffer until I broke away completely." Velacera heaved a heavy side before squeezing Kur more firmly. 

"See Velacera" Chuma smirked, "Kur is one of their words and most Celestials are true to their words they have high morals unlike others I know but Celestial Stars keep their morals to those to help others as a standing parental figure but in this case a supporting friend. They can either offer advice to help or bluntly put things, not sugar coating any of their words.... which in many cases many other creatures have called them heartless but it how they are made to act.... they speak the truth and many times it's bluntly put and many are insecure and call them rude." Chuma grabbed his mask and placing it on his hat. "We need to get to work on finding a way to help their healing abilities heal better and not work harder than necessary as its causing a purified atmosphere which can dangerously alert other hellspawns to them and even become deathly."

Velacera nodded his head, "I still have most ingredients in my library to make the paste... I just want to help Kur the best I can."

"I know Vel," Chuma turned to walk towards the stairs, "but remember it's not a crime to ask for help... one can only do so much that's why there are always friends to help you if you need it. Since you also made a Celestial friend some events may require them to help as well." Chuma disappeared up the stairs. 

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So to add some heights into the mix so you guys can understand why Kur had to bend

Chuma Fastrov: w/o hat: 174 cm|| w/ hat: 194 cm
Orcus Psicosi:                        170 cm
Futsura:                 w/o hat: 184 cm|| w/ hat: 214 cm

Not as tall as King Enma who I think I didn't mention I think is;
King Enma:  w/o horns: 204 cm|| w/ horns: 225 cm

Now since you know that have a nice evening/day as this is still continuing and I might add some more explanation to what Chuma was talking about with the knowledge my friend, Chao gave me about Velacera's backstory and Velacera is such a poor baby and a good bean at heart but anyways gotta get writing the next chapter! Bye!~