*Etsuo*

After leaving Serrano to fend for himself, I returned home and made my way to the dojo. As I slid open the door, I heard noises coming from inside. Sliding the door a bit more, I peered inside and saw my dad striking a several bricks mixed with orichalcum with a downward chop. The metal was said to be the strongest in all of Xeleria, the universe where he had spent most of his childhood. 

The bricks exploded in an instant a few seconds after my dad had sliced through them.

Papa looked down at his hands and sighed as more metallic dust rained over him. The dojo was already filled the the stuff. He must've broken several tons. If only I could break a pile. I couldn't even chop through one.

"They should've blown up as soon as my hand touched to first one. It seems that my strength is fading after all," he whispered.

Sliding the door fully, I entered the room. "Fading? Does that mean that the time for your sleep is near?" I questioned. I hadn't told Roa about this yet, but all of the ancient pillars were slowly losing their strength. In order to recover it they would need to go to sleep. How long that rest would be was unknown.

Papa closed his eyes and nodded. "Yeah. I will have to pass the title on to you or you siblings, at least until I reawaken." He walked over to me and allowed his back to slide against the wall toward my right. He put his left over his left knee and leaned his head back. "Let's hope that we'll be able to finish this war. I would hate to leave it to you kids to resolve it."

My glance fell to the black wooden floor. It had been formed from branches of strange tree-like abyssmals which grew in the far-flung northern edge of the island. The branches were as thick as the pines of Zionia's north, with the creature itself being as tall as a skyscraper. Strangely enough they never moved.

"You still think of me as a possible candidate for the Council of Darkness?" I asked.

Pa chuckled. "Of course I do, kiddo. While you may not be as strong as your siblings, you still have traits that would make you a good pick."

"What are those?" I asked as I sat down on the floor next to him.

He snickered heartily. "Well, for one, you're kind. There may be need for someone like you to serve as a mediator. After all, it's still our plan to do this without too many deaths."

"Can it truly be done? The destruction of Zionia and the other universes without a massive amount of casualties?" I asked, looking down.

"It does seem insane to think it's possible, but that's why I am entrusting you with a way to figure it out. You are the one those fearful people will be most likely to trust. Speaking of which, I need you to do me a favor. Go to Xeleria."

"Why?" I asked.

Pa turned to look at me. "I want you to go to Xeleria and keep an eye on Satoru for me."

"Why?"

His eyes lacked the usual cheer. Instead they reminded me of Mai and Ma's stern, calculating eyes. Man-Kin had the same look, but only when in his 'Cool' persona.

"I accepted Satoru to serve as a Lieutenant under my banner to keep an eye on him. Though Roa and you failed at doing that while in Zionia. You might still be serving as spies for us right now if you had."

I closed my eyes. "I have no idea as to why Satoru suddenly showed up at the palace when he did. We told him not to as the king had made a change of plans. Wait, were you aware of them as his uncle appeared in front of the others."

Papa nodded. "Yes... it was Satoru who told us to do so in what I think was the day prior. He also said that he was gonna head to the palace the next day."

My eyes widened. "What? How can that be if the change of plans happened on that same day itself."

Papa shook his head. "No idea. But I think Satoru knows more than he is letting on. There's something about the way he talks which makes me feel that perhaps he can see the future."

"If that's true then wouldn't he have known that Rosa would've defeated him?" I asked.

He chuckled and stood up. "True! He would've." He put a hand over his chin as a thought came to him. "Unless, if in his foresight, he saw himself not having fought Tetsuya or the princess."

I tilted my head. "How strange."

"Yeah. So, will you go to Xeleria to keep an eye on Satoru for me?"

I wanted to say yes, but I also didn't wish to leave Kiara and Dan here. Who knows how they would react without a familiar person around. Sure there was Suzuki, but I imagined it would trigger Dan's memories of the kidnapping. Especially given the similar circumstances.

"Let me think about it for awhile," I said as I scratched my head.

Papa put his hands behind the back of his head. He flashed me large, wide, monkey-like grin.

"That's fine. I understand that you want to be there for your friends." He spun me around and nudged me forward. "Go on!"

I smiled. "Thanks, dad!"

I turned right and headed straight for the stairs.

"How was training, Etsuo?" Ma asked me. She descended the wooden stairs, dressed in a red gown. I'd never asked as to why she and Mai liked to wear dresses so much. My guess was their beauty and elegance.

I thought of flowers whenever I saw them dancing in them. Abyssia, sadly, had few flowers I could observe up close without having to risk my life. I almost got eaten as a baby monkey when I had wandered off into the forest. There I had come upon a large crimson flower which reminded me of my momma. When I tried to pick it to show it to her, the thing unleashed a bunch of tendrils. Luckily, my ma wasn't too far behind.

Then there were the stinky flowers. One time I found this huge one! But as I got closer, the more I had began to notice it reeked. Uncle Skah later told me that smell was akin to that of rotten flesh. I hadn't had the chance, while in Zionia, to prove that assertion accurate or not, and I certainly didn't wish to find out. I assumed he lied as he said it in a tone used to scare little kids.

"Hey, are you paying attention?" Ma asked.

I laughed weakly. "Sorry, I was distracted by your dress."

Ma smiled as she looked down at her lace filled, crimson dress. "Thanks, but it's not like this is my first time wearing this one. So, how was training?"

"It was alright, but Man-kin had to leave. So I was left without a sparring partner," I said. I lowered my head and feign sadness. I honestly hated training, but I learned since a long time ago to not make it known to her.

She placed a hand on her hip."Then how about I spar with you? It has been a long time since we have."

"Uh, I would like to, but I sorta have to do something Pa asked me too."

She narrowed her golden eyes at me. "Is that so?"

"Yup!" Pa said as he stood behind me, causing me to jump. "I gave Etsuo here a special task, but first he needs to check up on his buddies."

Momma walked over to Pa and placed a hand on his shoulder. She leaned in close to his face. A stern look in her eye. "You aren't lying, are you?" she whispered.

Pa chuckled. "Nope. I am honest. I'm sending Etsuo to meet up with his brother and Roa in Xeleria."

Ma stepped away from him. "Xeleria? Man-kin went there with Roa?"

"Yeah, he wanted to see the place where Pa spent his time training," I responded for him. "Roa and he took up the mission grandpa gave Satoru. To find the legendary Ziz."

She crossed her arms. "So the boy wishes to walk down the same path as his old man."

Papa wrapped his arms around her back. "Hey, who are you calling 'old'?"

Ma laughed and leaned her head back on his bare chest. "You, who else?"

Papa's face redded. "I'll show you how 'old' I am," he said as he started to snuggle her.

"Hey, stop that! Etsuo's here!" she said, trying not to laugh.

I turned away and ran upstairs as fast as I could. Ma really was a different person when around Pa. How would she react when the time for his sleep comes?

I sighed just thinking about it. It wasn't gonna be easy to not have Pa around.

I shook my head. That wouldn't happen for awhile, so what use did I have thinking about it?

I glanced up and saw the door to Dan's room open. Kiara and he had been given their own rooms to stay. Originally Ma wanted to place them in the dungeon. It took me promising to train every day to convince her not to. As well as point out that they couldn't hope to escape alive if they dared to flee. The environment would destroy them before they could.

"K-kiara?" Dan muttered as I stepped inside. He was looking at Mai.

Mai applied a fresh wet towel on his forehead. "Your sister is in the next room," my sister responded in a soft tone. It had been awhile since I had seen her act so attentive.

"Hey, don't you hate wimps?" I asked, making myself known.

Sister narrowed her eyes. "Yes, but Pa told me to take care of this one so wipe that smile off your face," she snapped.

I continued to grin. "I see, so your quality handling of missions extends even outside of battle."

She gave me a blank look. "Of course. Be it spying, or even caretaking, I'll do my best to get the job done as efficiently as as top notch as I can."

I sat down on Dan's bed. The boy looked around the room, blinking as if to adjust his vision. He didn't seem to notice that Mai and I were here.

"B-big brother," Dan said weakly.

Mai touched his hand. "Unfortunately, my cousin failed to bring him here. Your sister meanwhile is still in a state of coma. She is currently being cared for by your cousin, Suzuki."

Dan's eyes widened. "Su-suzuki?" he asked, turning to look at Mai. His eyes contained pure terror.

I was right. Suzuki did trigger his past, more so than Reno. Probably only Zaki would receive a worse reaction from him.

"W-who are you?" he asked, pulling his hand away from her.

"My name is Mai. I am the younger sister of this sorry excuse for a soldier over here," she said, patting my shoulder. "Though in his defense, he has never claimed to be one."

I sighed.

"Etsuo," Dan said, eyes watery. "Kiara, is she okay?"

I lingered. I didn't know. "She's alive, but she hasn't woken up." I stood up from the bed. "Can I trust you to be there for her when she wakes up?"

Dan nodded. "O-of course!" he said, giving me a slight head nod.

I smiled. "Alright, I'll trust you to do so."

Mai turned to look at me. "Based on your actions, I would have to guess that Kiara is your girlfriend."

My face reddened. "She's not! Don't be like Mei!"

Mai turned away. "Well, regardless of your feelings, it's best for you to go to whatever mission you were given."

"How did you figure?" I asked.

"Hmph. It's obvious, based on your wording from earlier," she said as she moved away from Dan. "You want Dan to care for Kiara as you won't be able to."

I snickered. "Sometimes I feel as if you can read minds."

She scoffed. "You only think that as you're lacking in perceptiveness." She raised the back of her right hand up to her chin. "Now, go make yourself useful, big brother. Show us that we were right to save you from that cell instead of leaving you to hang."

I grimaced. "I... I will," I said as I walked out.

Wonder if I'll run into Serrano... Hope that he's still alive.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed this chapter :). I tried experimenting here with my writing style (aiming for a more active tone). Hope that it doesn't sound too strange xD. Please let me know your thought on the chapter ^_^**