I stood up from the floor after we had finished talking. "Alright, I'm all rested and ready to go for another round!" I yelled.

Hyosetsu sighed as he also stood up. "You really are a beast..."

"Come on, Hyo. You got to get back in shape," Setsuko said, holding her hand to him.

"Great, I finally found you!" Eiichi yelled, running into the room without warning. In his arms was Hideo.

"What happened to him?" Setsuko asked, walking over to them.

"You didn't do something to him, did you?" I asked, glaring at him.

"No. We were going to begin training after he was done warming up, but once he finished, he suddenly fainted. The weird part was that he didn't even seem tired."

Hyosetsu turned his eyes toward Hideo's necklace. It was glowing. "Could it be..."

"Could it be what?" I asked.

"Donato's angel might've made contact with him," he responded.

I gasped. "How? Through his dream?"

"It's a possibility,"

Hanketsu had talked to me in my dream too... when we first met, and then when I supposedly died.

"Is that a common thing?" I asked. "For angels to talk to one through their dreams."

"Yes," Hanketsu responded. "But other times, one will just hear their voice. Meeting them in a dream is more common if they have a trial to give."

A trial, huh? Why did Hanketsu decide to speak to me like that the first time? The second I understood as I was in the boundary between the dead and the living.

My right hand wrapped around the rosary beneath my black t-shirt. After I first talked to him, I could feel an energy within it, yet, after I my near-death, it had begun to fade. Now, it was almost impossible to detect said energy. Was this connected to my revival?

"What's wrong with you, peasant?" Eiichi asked.

I looked up with a scowl. "What do you care?"

"Don't start fighting. You might awaken Hideo while he's talking to his angel," Setsuko said.

I bit my lip.

"Eii...chi?" Hideo asked, opening his eyes.

I stepped back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you up..." I said.

He turned to look at me. "Tetsu... ya? Where are we?"

"We're still in the tower in Munil. I came to find the others after you passed out without warning," Eiichi said, lowering him to the floor.

He blinked. "Oh, right..." He smiled and jumped to his feet. "I can now use my guardian angel!"

Good, I didn't interrupt the process.

"You can?" Eiichi asked, blinking.

"Don't believe me? I would show you... but I rather not. I plan to save him for later!" he said, puffing up his chest.

"What a prideful kid..." I muttered.

Setsuko sighed. "I'm hoping he outgrows this side of him as time goes on."

"Have you three finished your training?" Hideo asked.

"We finished a round of it, we were just about to start up again," I said, grinning.

"How about you two join us?" Setsuko asked.

I leered at Eiichi. "Is that really a good idea?"

"I must agree with the peasant. Having us spar will result in a blood bath."

Hyosetsu smirked. "I wouldn't mind seeing that."

Setsuko clapped her hands three times, causing all four of us to turn our attention to her. She smiled. "Great, now that I got your attention, let's begin planning our joint training exercise."

The Duke of Kuroyuki no San glanced at the gymnasium sized room. "Think we should move over to a bigger room," he said.

Eiichi nodded. "Yeah, we'll need a much bigger room if all five of us will be participating."

Hideo glanced back and forth between them and me. "Is this really a good idea? Last time, the barriers Tekeshi set up got destroyed in your matches."

Barriers... My golden eyes glanced at Agnes, now in its bracelet form.

"True, we don't wish to destroy the tower," Setsuko said, rubbing her right cheek. "Let's go ask Halim."

"Good idea!"

"Speaking of barriers, how about all four of you attack me?" I asked.

Eiichi scoffed. "What? You think that after a little training, that you can defeat all of us?"

I smirked. "Not saying that. I was thinking as I sparred with Setsuko and Hyosetsu, that it would be a good idea to practice our basic attacks."

The blond put his right hand on his hips. "What gain will that have for us?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

Hyosetsu gasped. "I get it."

"Same," Setsuko said.

"Do you?" Hideo asked, eyes wide.

"If you do then please explain what the peasant wishes for us to achieve," Eiichi said.

"Tetsu, you plan to have us reduce our mana consumption by making our plain attacks stronger, isn't that it?" the princess asked, her eyes directed at me.

I nodded. "Yup. At the same time, I'll also get better at defending and casting barriers!" I said, transforming Agnes into its shield form.

"Are you sure that you'll be able to handle all four of us?" Setsuko asked. "We'll be aiming to hit you this time, so you might get severely hurt."

I chuckled. "Focus on trying to hit me first before worrying about my wellbeing."

Her eyes widened. She laughed. "So that's how you wish to do things. Your cockiness will be your undoing, Tetsuya Kuroriku!" she said, pointing her index finger at me. "I, Setsuko Eina Neve Kuroriku Peña, will penetrate whatever barrier you throw at me!" Her smile grew wider. "I haven't even used the full power of my attacks."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh? So, you've been going easy on me? Serra didn't even go full power on me when I asked him to on the day that I first got Agnes." If he had, I would've been sent to the hospital...

"Then let us search for Halim," Hyosetsu said, heading toward the exit. He touched the hilt of his sword and smiled. "I'm getting used to using Baldo's Dusk Form, so don't get overly confident."

I smiled back. "I'll keep that in mind."

Eiichi narrowed his eyes at us. "When did you start becoming friendly with each other?"

"I'm not friendly with them. They're only sparring partners, nothing more," Hyosetsu said, walking past him.

Setsuko sighed. "That cousin of mine is a tough one to crack..."

"I've noticed," I said, putting my hands behind my head. Not that it matters if he or the others wish to be friends. I had my own objectives. If we could help one another achieve our personal goals then so be it. Well, all but Eiichi. He was to be destroyed once this was all over...

Eiichi turned around. "Stop glaring, peasant," he said, following Hyosetsu out.

Not until you've suffered more, you snake.

"Hey, how is training coming along?" I overheard Halim say outside the room.

Hideo, Setsuko, and I ran over to join the others.

"We're about to go train together," Setsuko responded. "Does this tower have a large room? Perhaps made up of multiple stories?"

"Multiple stories?" Hideo asked, scratching his head. He redirected his glance to Halim.

"I think we do. Though why do you need such a room?"

The crown princess smiled at Hideo. "One of us is a far distance attacker, so to make things fair. Basically, I wish for all of us to be able to fight in the element our weapons were made for."

Hideo gasped. "Right..." he said, his hand curling around his necklace. "That would help me get better at shooting."

I snickered. "Maybe I should devise a way to force you to change positions, much like how a real sniper has to move to avoid being spotted. Hmm, I could try to absorb your energy into Agnes. Though, I think that'll only work if it's fire or darkness. I can't use wind nor wood."

"You can use fire?" Setsuko asked, eyes wide.

I snickered. "Kind of. But, it's not much," I said, creating a tiny fire. Come to think about it, the right occasion to use it had never arisen. Not that some puny flame would do much damage against the opponents I had come up against.

"First metal and now fire... what other tricks do you got?" Setsuko asked, narrowing her eyes at me.

I laughed. "Stop, I don't like that look you're giving me."

"Can you use wood and water?" Halim asked, a twinkle in his eye.

"I wish. I can only use the elements of Tierra and my male angelic ancestors."

Halim sighed. "I see. I guess having four powers is impressive enough. It allows one to create several combos."

"Combos?" Hideo asked.

"You can use one and you don't even know what they are?" Eiichi asked, giving him the stink eye.

"Then how about you explain it, Mr. Know-it-all!" Hideo yelled, glaring at him.

The jerknight snickered. "I'll be happy to. There are seven types of mana in our world."

"Seven? Wait, where does that put my wind mana?"

He rolled his eyes. "I was getting to that, my noisy pupil."

I snickered. "Didn't you just insult those who wanted to be teachers earlier today?"

He shrugged. "Yeah, yeah. Don't interrupt, plebeian."

I grumbled.

Eiichi cleared his throat. "Anyway, as I was saying, there are seven types of mana which serve as the basis for all angelic techniques. As for where that puts Hyosetsu's ice, your wind, and my lightning, they're all fusions of two kinds of mana. Hyosetsu's Ice is water plus darkness, your wind is fire plus darkness, and my lightning is light plus darkness."

"And Rosalba's crystal attacks?" I asked.

"Crystal is earth plus metal," Setsuko responded for him.

"What does earth and wood make?" Hideo asked.

"That's known as insect mana," Halim responded, smiling as Hideo's eyes widened.

"Insect? Like one can control insects?"

"Yeah. It is. Wood mana is the one that allows one to control living things. Combine it with water, and one can use dragon mana. There are also those connected to life, such as your wind which is also known as air. Then there's toxic mana which is wood with flame. Fire plus dark makes dream mana."

Hideo gasped. "Dreams?" he asked. "That lady who resembled Rosalba, she had dream powers... though that was magic. What about wood plus metal and wood plus light?"

"Wood with light becomes aether, while with metal, it becomes psychic mana."

"Aether? That's life energy," I said, eyes wide.

"Indeed. It's a rare power. Those with both types of mana find it difficult to use. Then there are cases in which people lacking both kinds can use it for some unknown reason. The latter tend to be known as 'Saints of Miracles'."

"My little sister can use it... as could my mother," Setsuko said, her head lowered. "But that's due to their angel tool. Come to think about it. It makes sense that most of its wielders hailed from Makkuroyama."

Hideo blinked. "Makkuroyama?"

"Do you really not know your own people's history?" Setsuko asked.

He pouted. "I slept during those classes, but don't blame me. It's the teachers' fault for being so boring!"

"If only you had someone like my big brother," I said, snickering.

"My brother said that your history is limited to Kuroriku for the most part," Hyosetsu said.

Kohri told him that? That guy sure turned out to love gossiping...

I turned to look at Halim. "Since this topic was brought up by me mentioning my powers, what combinations are born from darkness and earth, darkness and metal, and earth and fire?"

Halim snickered. "You're really going to make me list them all, huh? Well, darkness and earth are pretty special. You get space powers."

I thought back to Serrano and Tekeshi's teleportation techniques. Wait, was my own teleportation the result of the two manas coming together? Or was it just pure darkness mana being used? I should've known, considering I had gotten better at using it, yet not knowing was rather unsettling in of itself. Then again, I did awaken it in the midst of battle.

"As for earth and fire, one gets glass," Halim continued.

"Glass? Well, that's lame," Hideo said, scoffing.

Halim snickered. "It's not just any kind of glass. Some of the strongest Barrier Angels in history tended to have this power."

"Barrier Angel?"

The angel shook his head. "Please pick up a history book once you get back..." He sighed. "Guess I might as well explain it. They're angels who tend to battle with barriers. Usually, they tend to defend the royal families and sacred sites."

"As far as I'm aware, we don't have one," Setsuko said, glancing outside. She turned to look at me all of a sudden. "Though, Tetsuya here can become one. Right? Shield Knight?"

I snickered. "I do have earth and fire, so of course!"

"How chipper," Eiichi said, side-eyeing me.

"And dark and metal mana makes what?" I asked, ignoring the pervert.

"They make spirit or 'ghost' mana as some call it. "

I snickered as I thought about Teresa's fear of them. If only she knew she had the potential to control them...

"So... I can use glass, toxic, space, and insect in addition to my wind, fire, earth, darkness, and wood," Hideo said, smiling.

"Didn't you just call 'glass' lame?" I asked, grinning.

"Well, if it has its uses, that's fine," he said, averting his gaze.

"Hmm, come to think about it, Donato's mana chamber would probably allow for easy fusion of the mana," Setsuko said, staring at his necklace.

He smiled. "Really?"

"Based on what I've studied of it. It's worth giving it a shot... though not sure how useful glass and insects would be coming from a gun..."

"Perhaps for the insect power, but a bullet made out of glass mana is very powerful," Halim said, turning around. "Come, I think I know a good room for your training."

"Alright!" Hideo said, running on ahead.

"Hey, you're going to get lost!" Setsuko yelled. "Don't go ahead of the group when you don't know the layout!"

Hideo halted. "Sorry!" he shouted.

I shifted my gaze toward Agnes. If Donato's chamber allowed for easy fusion of mana, then the dragon sphere at the center of Agnes likely did too. If only I could use water and wood mana, then I would have a vast array of powers to use. Oh well, I still needed to learn how to merge my various kinds of mana together. Hmm... how did Rosa figure out how to do it?

I sighed. Hopefully, my silly princess and Yuko were doing well. Likewise, for Tere, mom, Taku, and Serra. There was still time before their day was over, but for me it felt as if I had been away from them for a long time. It hadn't even been twenty-four hours since we last saw each other...

I shook my head. I couldn't get homesick now. Keep focus, Tetsu. Focus. You'll see them before you know it. Plus, there's still the three calls.

"Hey, before we continue with our training, can I make a 'call'?" I asked, taking out my crystal.

"Sure!" Halim said, smiling.

I smiled back. "Thanks!" I said, running back to the room I had trained with Setsuko and Hyosetsu.

"Call Rosa or Yuko. Whoever is available," I said, raising the crystal the way Satoru had.

An image of Rosalba holding a white towel appeared.

"Tetsu?" she said, running over to pick up her crystal from the table it was it. Her hair was wet as if she had just taken a shower, but her clothes were also soaked.

"Hey," I said, waving. "How is training coming along?"

She smiled. "Alright. I just came back from a training session with Ocarina." Her eyes lingered on my hair. "Your hair is reverting back to normal..."

I laughed. "Your sister mentioned the same thing."

"Is Setty there?" she asked, draping her towel over her shoulders.

"Rosa?" Setsuko asked, poking her head into the room.

"Setty!" Rosa yelled. "I miss you!"

"I miss you too! Probably more than you miss me. It feels like months since I last saw you."

"It does, doesn't it?" she asked.

I snickered. "She means literally."

Rosa gasped as her eyes returned to my hair. "Is... that why your hair has returned to normal?"

"Yeah, though it's kind of weird as time should be going slower, so my hair shouldn't be changing so quickly. Then again, this world is pretty weird, just like you!"

Rosa cheeks turned bright red. "You're the weird one for liking someone like me then," she said, sticking her tongue out.

I laughed. "I guess I am."

The second princess' face became even redder, almost as red as her ruby bracelet. "I... uh..."

Setsuko turned out and giggled. "I'll leave you two alone to flirt."

"We're not flirting!" Rosa said, burying her face in her bear-woof.

"Sure, sure," Setsuko said, laughing as she walked out of the room.

"That bear sure loves to pop out when you least expect it," I said once the crown princess was gone. I stared at the brown and red ribbon around its neck. It was me who had wrapped it around its neck back when I was a kid. That was my first clue to figuring out Rosa was that girl I had helped save over ten years ago.

"Yup! Bear-woof says hi," she said as she waved its paw.

"Hi!" I said, waving back.

Rosa giggled. "Bear-woof really misses you..."

"Is it the only one who misses me?" I asked.

"Yuko does too." She lowered her eyes. "As... does Serra."

I crossed my arms together. "Is that it? No one else?"

She buried her face once more in her plushie. "I miss you too. I want to see you in person again."

"As do I, my silly princess," I said, smiling slightly. Lately, it felt as if something or another kept us separate, be it physically or emotionally.

She grumbled.

"Rosa, food is ready!" a familiar voice called out. Poking her head into the room was Yuko. Her eyes widened as they began to water. "Master! Yuko misses you!"

"Hey, Yuko!"

Rosa turned around and began to walk away.

My face flushed as I recalled what Yuko had done before we arrived here. Though, it was a good thing to see Rosa jealous. It meant that she still cared for me."

"How is Master doing?" Her mouth widened. "Master's hair is turning brown again..."

"Yup! Both princesses pointed it out. Not sure why that is."

Yuko smiled. "Yuko's glad that Master is starting to return to his old self. Yuko likes better cheerful and kind Tetsu."

I gasped. "Hey, you said my name!"

She lowered her gaze. "Yeah... Yuko's still not used to saying it. Master, Yuko is trying her hardest to get stronger so that Master won't have to get hurt like he did!" She walked over and picked up Rosa's communication crystal. "Yuko doesn't want to see that again... Yet... it keeps appearing in Yuko's dreams."

I furrowed my brows. "Don't worry. It won't happen again, trust me. Though, be careful about pushing yourself too hard. I don't want you to experience another one of those attacks like when we were training together in Elitia."

"Yuko will be careful!" she said, giving me a small smile.

Her smile was very gentle. Befitting of someone called 'Yuko'.

"Yuko. The food will get cold," Rosa said, poking her head in.

"So, you didn't leave?" I asked, snickering.

"Of course not. I can't leave Yuko with her player of a 'Master'," she said, leering at me.

"H-hey! I'm not a player!"

"Master is," Yuko said.

"Not you too!"

Rosa walked over and took Yuko's hand. "Let's go, Yu. Bye, my silly knight!" Rosa said as she waved good-bye.

"Bye, Yuko's silly Master!" Yuko said, copying Rosa.

"Hey! Didn't you say you missed me!" I yelled. I sighed as the crystal went dead. "So much for a reunion." As I put away the crystal, I burst into laughter. Those two were really adorable...

I grumbled. Perhaps they were right about me being a player... Gah! How do you do it, Serra?

"You cousins really are alike," Setsuko said, glaring at me from the entrance.

"We're very different too," I added.

"Yeah, Serra is more mature."

I swung my hands behind my hand. "That's true. He always has been." I lowered my eyes. Rosa said that Serrano misses me. The way she said it seemed to indicate he was struggling with something. Hopefully, he was alright and the concern I heard in Rosa's voice was only my imagination.

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter, if so then please click on that 'vote' star to show your support loud and clear ^_^!**