*Dine*

Man-kin, Roa, Etsuo, Suzuki, Reno, and I (using Kiara's body) made our way to the end of the highest cavern on the spiral rock. Making our way here had been difficult. According to Roa, the cavern had been shifted and the stone hardened in such a way that moving the new walls away would be difficult. While all of us had earth powers, they were very underdeveloped, except for those of Man-kin. So we instead traveled the full length of the cavern with Man-kin leading the way.

After a grueling walk, we finally arrived here and found a black platform with mysterious symbols drawn throughout it. On top of the platform were several sapphire monoliths forming a circle.

According to Roa, this platform connected this world to the main gates of Zionia. When I asked if this was where our enemies arrived, he said that the portal they used likely took them someplace further up the spiral rock. Likely on the outside or even on different islands. Neither he nor Etsuo seemed sure about that as they hadn't joined Kuroriku on one of their expeditions.

Etsuo and Roa stepped onto the platform and closed their eyes. They raised the stones as if they had experience doing so. Though, considering that they had gone to Zionia before, they probably had practice. Though would we appear in Grand Crater? I rather we didn't, that icy land would only bring back bad memories...

I turned around and peered at the cavern, dimly lit by the blue glow being emitted by the stones. "Who is there?" I yelled.

"Hey!" Mei said, grinning. She yanked Mai out from the shadows. "We made it!"

"Mei, Mai, why were you hiding?" Man-kin asked, putting his hands behind his head. "Wanted to wish us good luck?" He grinned. "Or are you coming with us?"

Mai averted her eyes. "I didn't want to, but Mei dragged me here."

Mei sighed. "Come on, I know you want to go too. You could drop that card in your hands into his casket, if they'll have one."

Mai winced at the mentioned of a casket.

"A card?" Suzuki asked, confused. "Like a farewell one?"

Reno frowned. "I don't think she means that kind. Dan, I heard he liked playing card games."

Suzuki gave Mai a slight smile. "How sweet."

Mai remained silent as her face reddened a little. "It's not. I actually got it from uncle. I was using it to motivate your cousin to train harder. Though I kept what it was a surprise."

"Well, I'm sure that Dan would've loved it," Etsuo said, smiling.

"Hey, focus!" Roa yelled. "It's only us two this time!"

Etsuo sighed. "Should've taught the others how to do this befo-" His voice vanished. He narrowed his eyes at Roa who had taken his voice away. He closed his eyes and focused on spinning the stones.

Suzuki stepped forward. "Hey, did anyone else come with you?"

"No, but now that you mention it..." Mei said, glancing back.

Mai gave her sister a judging look. "I told you someone was following us!"

"I thought that it was a ploy to get away," Mei said, sticking her tongue out as if to look cute.

"Come on," I said, walking over to the entrance to the 'room'. "If you do then we won't harm you."

An orange haired girl dressed in white and red robes stepped out from behind some rocks.

"Omatsu," I said, laughing. "What are you doing here?"

"Dine?" Omatsu asked, startled. "Did you take over that girl's body?"

"Sorta. She's sharing it with me." Having said that, I felt bad for getting jealous about her interactions with Etsuo. "So, what are you doing here? You're usually hanging out with..." I touched my head as I tried to recall who he usually hung out with. I knew it was one of my siblings as she would usually come over. Yet, all I could draw was a blank.

I held my head. Why? Why couldn't I remember? I thought that I had gotten all my memories back from before the incident. I even had the memories from when I was a mindless monster. Yet, I couldn't seem to recall one of my own siblings!

Omatsu furrowed her brow. "I can't recall either..." She touched her head. "I wish I could." She closed her eyes and placed a hand over her chest. "It's as if someone has died... this gap..."

I suddenly recalled the abilities those of us born as blobs enjoyed. One of those allowed one to revive themselves, but at the cost of being forgotten by everyone. It was as if they never existed. Though there was still the obvious gap their existence left behind, such as their stuff remaining, leaving people confused. Basically, in order to continue living, one would die in the memories of others. It was dying in one fashion or another.

"Where is he or she?" I asked, mortified.

Omatsu brought out a strange looking thin rectangular device. I had seen one in Kiara's memories, it was a smart phone. On its screen were several words. The name was blanked out and had no photo.

'Omatsu, if things go well, I'll be sending you another message. If not then assume that I've failed in my mission to save the boy. Regardless of what happens to me, focus on saving his sister. Master Kuroshi is depending on us!'

"Kuroshi, eh?" Mai said, forming a small knife out of shadows and pressing it against Omatsu's neck. "So you're one of his minions. It must've been that person's fault that Dan died! He must've inadvertently lead him to Satoru."

"Mai, calm down," I said. "If Omatsu is sharing this, it must mean she has no ill will toward us. Else she would've attacked rather than approach us peacefully, albeit sneakily at first."

Omatsu closed her eyes, tears streaming her face. "I should've helped... my friend. If I had, we might've been able to protect the boy better. We might've succeeded in our job, and perhaps those two would be around."

"Wait..." My eyes widened. "Do you think that..."

She nodded as Mai pulled her knife back. "Yes. Your sibling likely sacrificed itself again. It was likely it who told Dan to take down Satoru with them. It probably entered Dan's body, akin to how you are within Kiara's."

I gasped. "But wait, that'll mean that Dan is an abyssmal!"

"If he's an abyssmal now then wouldn't that mean there's a possibility that he might still be alive in that pit?" Mei asked. "LIke how you were."

"That means that my little brother might still be alive?" Kiara asked, taking back control of her body.

"But grandfather couldn't even find him. He couldn't find Satoru in the pit either," Mai said. She rubbed her chin. "Unless if the Ancient One took those two to a point in which they can't be reach, preventing grandfather from taking them out. Though it's equally likely that the Ancient One devoured their essence into himself to speed up his revival. Though why he would absorb Dan... that makes no sense. Likewise for him pulling him to the point of no return. Dan is weak, and likely so was your sibling, Dine."

I regained control over Kiara's body. "And if he does return... he'll eventually be a mindless beast, just like how I was. Though most likely, Dan will die, with only my sibling's core remaining. Afterall, my original body was destroyed and my core was assimilated to that of the umbra within the pit."

"So, my brother might still be as good as dead?" Kiara said, regaining control. She fell to her knees and punched the ground. "This is all my fault. I should've just let Etsuo take you and ran! My stupidity back then is what eventually lead to his death!"

"It wasn't stupid," Etsuo said as he turned to look at us. The sapphire stones were levitated high up and spinning rapidly. He held a hand out to her. "You did it to stop me from escaping. We were enemies at that moment."

Kiara made her way toward him. "In truth, it was because I didn't wish to lose a friend." She sniffed. "B-but my selfish desire to retain you doomed my little brother... and also Dine's sibling."

Etsuo pulled her up into the platformed and hugged her. "I know how it feels. I too blamed myself for what I believed was Dine's death."

"As do I," Roa said as he signaled for the others to step onto the platform. "Even to this day, I still have nightmares about it."

"But it was Satoru's fault, not yours," I cried.

Roa smiled slightly. "I was still the one who told you to enter the forest after Satoru called us cowards... I allowed myself to be baited and dragged you two with me."

***

[That Fateful Moment during the Festival of Light...]

"Where should we go next?" Roa asked before biting into his rokaid on a stick. Rokaid was a red fruit with a black-spotted thick skin which had sour taste to it but whose interior was soft and sweet.

"How about going to the place those fruits are from," someone called out. We spun around and saw Satoru dressed in his fluffy festival kimono.

"W-what? We can't do that! You know that," Etsuo said, hiding behind me.

Rokaid came from the forbidden forest on the far end of the floating island we called home. Despite its name, the forest was only forbidden to us kids. Though there were areas which even adults, except for a select few, were told not to go into. Any adult who did go into said areas were said to face the death penalty.

Satoru scoffed. "Chicken!" He glanced over at Roa. "So, how about you go? I'll even go with you. Unless, if you're a coward too. Not that I would be surprised, your dad is called the 'Chicken Pillar' for a reason."

Roa glared at Satoru. He turned away from the fox boy and pointed his half eaten Rokaid on a stick toward the forest."Come on, bouncy, Etsuo, let's go and show Satoru that we aren't cowards!" he said, grinning.

"B-but I am!" Etsuo protested.

Roa glared at him. "Do you got no pride? Come on, don't be such a baby!" he yelled as he grabbed Etsuo by the arm.

I grinned and helped Roa push Etsuo. "Come on, it'll be fun!"

"Fun? We'll going to die if anyone find outs," he cried.

"Well, if we get found out it'll likely be thanks to you," Roa said. He snapped his fingers and Etsuo stopped yelling, well at least his mouth let out no sound.

Etsuo killed the ground in frustration as he failed to voice his opinion, not that we didn't already know it.

"Come on, Etsy, we'll be fine! This is just to show Satoru that we aren't cowards."

Satoru snickered as he followed after us. "Well, 'Etsy' just made it obvious how much of a coward he truly is. Seriously, don't you have any pride?" he asked, glaring at Etsuo who seemed to be crying.

"Etsuo is brave! Well, half the time," I said, whispering the last part.

The fox boy scoffed and calmly walked on ahead. "I'll meet you there." He vanished into a blue cloud.

"Wow," I said, looking around. "Since when could he do that?"

"Not sure," Roa said. "Well, let's get going!" He giggled as he pulled Etsuo toward the forest.

"You're going to hurt him," I yelled, chasing after Roa.

"Don't worry too much, blobby. Etsuo might look soft, but he's actually hardy. If he weren't he wouldn't be able to sustain as many hits from his mommy during their sparring sessions as he does," Roa said, grinning.

***

[Current Moment in the Platform of Worlds]

I pulled away from Etsuo and hugged Roa. "You big dummy. You were an overexcited kid looking for adventure," I said. "You didn't know what Satoru was planning. Plus, I'm here now, aren't I? It might not be in the way I would've hoped, but I'm back."

Roa hugged me back as a brilliant blue light covered us, blinding us.

Kiara, you also shouldn't blame yourself. What happened to your brother was the unfortunate result of multiple factors. No single person is to blame, and even so, guilt won't be able to bring him back. Remember Dan for his happy moments... because at least you got those.

"Dine..." Kiara said out loud as I gave returned control over her body. She looked around and saw a grassy plain. Wild horses ran in the open terrain as freely as Roa and I once roamed our island home. "We're... back home?"

"This is a gateway to the abyss," Etsuo said, pointing to the floor. They were standing on a stone platform in the middle of several ruined columns. The platform and columns in turn were in the center of a decently sized town that looked as if it had been ravaged by weapon of war as several of the white stones were charred. The few trees that were in the area were strangely shaped.

"This... is a heathen temple," Kiara said as she let go of Roa. "But... what connections do they have with the abyss?"

Mai stepped down from the platform. "Heathens you say? The people who inhabited this very land likely worshiped an abyssmal as a deity." She looked back at the platform. Embedded on the stone was what looked like the insignia of a bull. "Looking at it, it looks as if they might've worshiped grandfather."

"The calf cult," Reno said, eyes wide. "I remember these ruins. We once used them as a hideout as few came near it for fear of it being cursed."

"Indeed," Suzuki said. "This place was destroyed because of the sins of its people. Not only did they turn away from the Heavenly One, they also sacrificed children."

"Where did they get the idea that sacrificing children would please our grandfather?" Man-kin asked. "That is, if he was the one worshiped here."

"Perhaps it wasn't our grandfather, but another bull-like abyssmal. It could also have been a demon. Some of the portals we use happen to lead to the same destinations, or so Satoru said. Or maybe, the worship of the people here became warped over time," Etsuo said, rubbing his chin.

"That wouldn't surprise me," Suzuki said, releasing her wings. "Sometimes the ideology of people becomes warped to the point of no recognition. I was like that, going as far as allowing myself to become part demon in order to awaken the hidden power within me.  Power I could've eventually awakened in other ways. I strayed from the light."

"You did, but you can now return to it," someone called out. A familiar looking blond teen made his way toward us. I had seen him in Kiara's memories. His name was Eita.

"What are you doing here? How did you find us?" Reno asked, stepping back.

Mai narrowed her eyes at Omatsu. "Was it you?" she asked, bringing her knife out again.

"It wasn't me. I don't even know who he is?" Omatsu protested.

"I'm here doing some training," Eita said as he wiped his face with his gray t-shirt. He smiled at Suzuki and the rest of us. "And don't worry. I won't attack you. Frankly, I doubt that I'll be able to win against your group Especially in the state I'm currently in."

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be with Tetsuya?" Etsuo asked.

Eita ran a hand through his hair. "I split up from the group. Though it doesn't help that Tetsuya's group dissolved soon after I had left. I heard rumors while going to town that he took advantage of the princess."

"Satoru said the same thing," Reno said, furrowing his brow.

"But she was still fighting alongside him when we saw them in Xeleria," Roa said, chuckling. "Those rumors have to be false."

"I don't believe in them either," Eita said, crossing his arms. He turned around. "By the way, are you here for the funeral of Duke Hideaki's second son?"

Kiara nodded. "Yeah, my little brother was killed thanks to Satoru."

Eita hummed. "I never really got a chance meet either one of those two, considering I was still unconscious from our training. Though I did hear about your brother from your cousins here."

Kiara looked at Suzuki and Reno. "You talked about Dan?" she asked.

Reno and Suzuki turned away, not daring to look straight at her.

Eita nodded. "Yeah, they seemed to regret what they did to him last time they were here. So, how about I take you to the funeral. If they see you with the others, they'll surely attack them. Especially your father. After all, he blames Etsuo who what happened with Dan."

She glanced back at Etsuo. "In that case, I'll go with you."

"Please let me go too," Omatsu said, running over to us. "I am the one who was supposed to save you, so if any questions arise about how you got here, I can answer them. Well, at least attempt to."

"Thanks, I would appreciate that," Kiara said, smiling. She turned her attention back to Eita. "Then lets' go."

Eita nodded. "Oh, right. The rest of you better go into hiding. My sparring partner is nearby. If he catches sight of you, he'll surely attack."

"Who is it?" Kiara asked as she got a bad feeling. She turned to look at Etsuo. "Wait, could it be that jerk who hurt you while you were in our captivity?"

Etsuo gasped and backed away. "It is! And he's getting close. Everyone, let's get far from here. We don't want to cause a raucous for Kiara's family right now."

"Good idea," Kiara said, nodding. "I better get going too. Come, Eita, Omatsu!"

The two followed after Kiara as she began her descent down the jagged mountain.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter. I've been sitting on this one for awhile now, but finally decided to release it :3. If you did enjoy it then please click on that Star icon to show your love! So, what are your thoughts on this chapter and theories for what's to come?**