*Calamity*

"Where are we heading off to?" I asked as I removed the helmet covering my face.

Aster stopped and glanced at the clearing. "Odd, did that man really have all of available forces accompany him? No, those so called 'knights' weren't there. Nor was Takeshi." She turned toward me and snapped her fingers. My black jumpsuit transformed into a tattered white shirt and denim shorts while nothing covered my feet against the elements.

Aster meanwhile switched into an a red blouse and a white tight fitting skirt. She too had no shoes on.

"Why the change?"

"We are to blend in with the people here. And where we're going, the majority are dressed like this. Well, maybe not the no shoes part. Though there are people in this country who can't afford them."

I smiled. I didn't mind not having something covering my feet. It actually felt good to feel the dirt below one's feet.

"What do you mean by 'afford'?" I asked.

"I mean that one needs to purchase stuff using what they call 'currency'. It's usually made out of metal or a plant-based substance. It can be really convenient if one has some. You can get a bunch of stuff! Though it is inconvenient when one doesn't."

I tilted my head. "Do we got any?" I rubbed my stomach. "Kinda feeling hungry right now."

Aster sighed. "Sorry, Cal, I forgot to feed you. I'm a bad grandma, aren't I?"

"Grandma?" I asked.

She smiled. "That's what your... what Master Reginald wanted you to refer to me as."

I smiled. "Grandma sounds nice! And familiar." I put a hand to my mouth. "Is it similar to a Ma?"

She hugged me once again. "Ahh, you're so adorable!"

"I-I'm not!" I yelled, blushing.

She chuckled and slowly let go of me. "Sorry. But I guess if there's something I do well as a grandma, it's embarrass you."

"Hmm? They're supposed to do that?"

"Well, not sure if you can say 'supposed', but a great number do. As for if it's similar to a Ma, well a grandma can spoil their kids more than a Ma can. If you want a more literal explanation for what one is, a grandmother is usually what one calls the ma of one's dad or ma."

"So a grandma can be the ma of a ma or a ma of a pa? Interesting!" I said, jumping.

Aster snickered. "Basically!" Her smile faded a little. "Though, how do you know what a ma is?"

I averted my gaze. "I... I heard the word in my dreams," I said, descending the mountain. "When you told me to be obedient... that word flashed through my head. I... do I have a ma?"

Aster closed her eyes as if pained by something. "No," she said. "Y-you got none." She patted my head. "Though I can be like one to you too, even if I am your 'grandma'."

I smiled widely and turned around. This time it was my turn to hug her. "Thanks, for being my ma."

Aster rubbed the back of my head. I thought I heard her sniff. Was she... sad?

*Osamu*

[Meanwhile- Abyss]

"Help!" a peon screamed as black tendrils of a plant-like creature dragged him away on our descent of the spiral island.

"King Osamu," one of the other soldiers called out. "We have to help him."

"Ignore him," I said continuing to march down the spiral. "We must find the spot that teleported Setsuko and the others to Xeleria before nightfall back home."

"Master Osamu!" more screams vibrated. I spun around and saw jellyfish like creatures drag away a hundred of my soldiers. Their swords cut through the being's arms like jelly but they quickly formed into tinier jellyfish.

"Kill them! Aim for the core on their head!" I screamed. They aimed for their heads as I said but the small creatures continued to reform.

"They have no core, sire!" one screamed as the darkness covered her entirely.

"Tsk. Everyone in the back, aim for the head of the big one!"

"Having issues, Osamu?" a familiar voice echoed. A naked man walked over to us, his eyes filled with fury. "I was hoping that you would like my surprise." He held his left arm out. "Now, if you don't like it then I can aim higher." Black vines shot up from the ground and grabbed the soldiers in the center.

Their screams vibrated across the spiral.

I glared at the man. "You again," I said, holding out my sword toward the 'Ruler'. "You should've sent one of your pillars, you decrepit old man!"

"Old? What's old? Me? Am I truly old? Or are you simply just a child? One who has fallen into the pit of corruption? Look at you. You are barely holding on as a fallen angel. Before long you will drop down to a demon."

I gasped. How... how did he know that I...

"No such thing will happen!" I said, raising the earth around me.

Takon jumped and sent the slabs back with a pulse of darkness. I leaped over them and watched as the rock impaled the majority of my army.

"An army of a thousand angels. Some of the 'best'? It goes to show just how peaceful your realm is. Unfortunately, that peace has bred corruption."

"Stop with your moralizing! You are a being of darkness!"

Takon nodded. "True. But so are you. Darkness isn't inherently evil, just like light isn't inherently good. Alas, the darkness you're using is evil. It's one that's disgusting to even look at." He held both of his arms out. "Now, face my own army! Or better yet, the army left behind by my fellow Ruler." A grin creased across his face. "Hope that you have fun! Farewell!" He jumped down, vanishing into the everlasting Abyss.

I gave chase but was quickly pulled back by a jellyfish. "Let go of me!" I screamed, impaling it with a rock-stake. A cluster of the creatures swarmed me and formed a cocoon with their long, pitch black tentacles.

I unleashed a purple aura, sending goo in all directions, but the good rapidly came back.

"An Umbra, no wonder they had no core," I said, trying to get the stuff out of me. No matter how much I cut it, it continued to multiply and cover me. "Get off!"

I closed my eyes as the Umbra abyssmal devoured my mana. I wasn't going to last long as this rate. I closed my eyes and tried to contain my mana within me. I couldn't let it suck me dry, if it did then I would cease to be.

A sword slashed through the tentacles and a hand reached out toward me. "You alright?"

Opening one eye, I saw Takeshi giving me that superior smile of his. He grabbed me and put my arm around his neck. He turned his attention to the goo which formed a sphere around us.

"Raiten!" he yelled. A purple barrier surrounded and repealed the shadows. He pointed upward and the shield flew up, taking us out the body of the monster.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, though it pained me to even speak.

He chuckled. "I got worried when I overhead that you planned to come here. I keep having to bail you out of your issues. You owe me a lot. Now, let's head out of here before Takon return. I'm not sure if I'll be able to fight him and assure your safety at the same time. Not to mention that I might require of your assistance to defeat him later on." He snickered at that last part.

Stupid bastard. Just what are you thinking? Saving me? Don't you hate me for stealing the love of your life? For mistreating your family? Hmph, you're as foolish as my Rosa... Or maybe you're pretending to play the role of hero to mask your true nature. Tsk. That rapist had to get it from somewhere...

Rosa... why did you make the same mistake? Falling for a fake hero?

*???*

[Decades Ago]

I exited the bullet train and made my way down the glimmering train station, the crown jewel of years of the renovation of the capital. This was my first time stepping into the capital in months. Father had called me back in order to help train the newest Seven Hill Knight after the untimely death of Alabaster in the continuing war against the Kasai no Ki. The conflict had already cost the Kuroriku Empire thousands of lives and trillions of dollars. Yet the impoverished Kasai no Ki didn't seem to be willing to stop. They didn't even heed the calls by our Celestial King.

Suddenly I felt a hand pull on the sleeve of my coat. I spun around and saw a black haired girl smiling nervously at me. It's not him.

"May I help you, kind lady?" I asked.

She ruffled her hair nervously. "Uh, if it's not a bother."

"None at all. It appears that I came a bit early. So, what is required of me?"

"Do you know where the royal museum is? You see, this is the first time my boyfriend and I visit this city and it's so big. We had to retrace our steps back here to avoid getting more lost."

Wow, these people are lost.

"It is nearby. You exit the station and go straight until you see the big white oak tree. From there you go left and there you will arrive at your destination," I said.

The lady bowed slightly. "Thank you so much, kind sir," she said as her cheeks flushed.

"You're welcome," I said coolly as I walked away, ready to return to my mission.

"Hey, wait!"

Oh great! What is it now?

She looked up at me as her hands fidgeted. "Uh, what's your name?"

I put my right hand on my hips. "My name?" Did she figure out who I am?

"Paula!" a man in a gaudy golden coat barked. "Why do you want to know this twerp's name?"

I glared at the man.

"Shh, I'm talking to him. If you're in a hurry then go off. You just need to go straight until you reach the white oak and turn left. Just like how I told you to go in the first place!"

I snickered. Guy's an idiot to have gotten them lost.

He grabbed the lady by the arm. "I'm not letting you stay here. Come on, forget about this kid. You're my girl."

"Is that any way to speak to a lady?" I asked.

The guy quickly unhanded her. "Let's go."

Paula followed him, angrily stomping her feet.

That girl, she should simply dump the jerk. I glanced up and searched across the crowd exiting another one of the trains. There was no sign of a black haired boy my age wearing a crystal earring.

I took a deep breath and spun around, only to be pulled up from the ground. Gripping the collar of my coat was Mr. Gaudy.

Narrowing my eyes, I said, "Unhand me."

"No. It's because of you that Paula dumped me! She thinks that I'm a barbarian!"

'Well aren't you?' or so I would've asked, but that was likely to make things worse. There were already crowds gathering around us.

I can tell him that I'm the prince, but that would blow my cover.

Mr. Gaudy clenched his teeth. "Not going to say anything, eh? Mr. 'cool guy'. It's know-it-all twerps like you whom I hate the most!" He raised his free fist, causing some in the audience to scream. Yet none dared call for help. A bunch of useless sheep they were.

"Stop," one brave person managed to utter. It was a black haired boy my age with the face of a child. "Let...go... of him!"

Mr. Gaudy snickered. "Who are you, eh punk?"
The lone courageous bystander raised his phone. "I... recorded you and sent it to... security. You... can't escape... now."

Mr. Gaudy dropped me on my butt and rushed into the crowd.

The boy put away his phone and rushed over to me as the crowd dispersed. He held out his right hand.

I smiled and took the hand. "Thanks, but I could have handled that by myself. At least that guy will receive his due punishment."

The boy chuckled nervously. "Uh. I didn't actually call security." He stared at the blank black phone in his hands. "I didn't even turn it on."

I stepped back and broke out in laughter. "Oh Heavenly Father and Mother. You cannot be serious?"

He nodded shyly.

"No way. Oh wow!" My chest felt like it would burst from laughing so much.

The boy's face reddened. "It's... not that funny," he said, putting a hand on his chest. "Felt as if my heart would burst."

I patted him on the shoulder. "Well, that certainly makes what you just did even braver. Maybe even enough to be a knight."

He smiled and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you, I'm Takeshi Kuroriku."

I gasped. "Takeshi?" I looked at his ears. Neither one had the earring that my father had mentioned. In fact, they didn't even look pierced.

"And you are?"

I grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the crowd. "I'm the one who you were told to meet," I responded.

"Osamu?"

"Shh, don't say my name," I said, rushing toward the exit.

"Why not? Are you being followed by security yourself?"

I let go of him and burst into laughter anew. "Oh gods, you honestly don't know who I am?"

He tilted his head. "Am I supposed to? Ah, I know. You must be a model. You are good looking."

I slipped my hands into the pockets of my jeans. "I have done some modeling, but it was only a temporary thing for PR."

"I can see as to why they would use you."

Snickering, I glanced back at him. "Come on, let's go. The King awaits us."

"Got it!" he said, following me out of the station.

***

['Present']

I opened my eyes. I pushed off the golden blankets and saw Takeshi sleeping soundly in a chair next to a window. The curtains rustled around him like a veil. Despite it, his face was as peaceful as when we were kids.

Sighing, I closed the window. "What's with you and the habit of having the window open?" I asked even though I knew he couldn't hear me. I fixed the curtains and look down at him. This guy sure can sleep deeply. I smiled and squatted down until I was at his eye level. He had to be tired from working on the weapons. That he even had enough energy to go and save me was amazing. Hmm, had he foreseen that I would be in danger? But why would he save me? I had betrayed his trust. I pulled him away from the one he loved.

What is it that you're dreaming of? Is it her? Sofia? Or maybe Anis? Or maybe...

I stood upright and shook my head, cutting my thought. Takeshi's peaceful smile gradually vanished. He began to move as if in pain. His peaceful dream must've given way to a nightmare.

I turned around and grabbed a blanket and placed it over Takeshi to keep him warm. Even though it was summer, the mountains around Kaguya made the region cool, especially at night.

I put a hand on my chest as Takeshi continued to move as if suffering from an affliction. I'm... sorry... Takeshi. It's my fault. I never meant to hurt you. How could I when...

I gasped as the words of his youngest son from when I had him tortured in the dungeon echoed in my head.

Just now, I... just like...

I curled my hands into fists. Was I really no better than him? Was I no better than the one Rosa had foolishly fallen for? Or maybe, he's telling the truth... But if so then... Who was the one who attacked my daughter? And then there's the DNA test... No, it had to be him who did it.

**Solar Notes: If you wish to learn more about Osamu and Takeshi's past then read Gaiden of Darkness :3. I hope that you'll enjoy it ^_^!**