*Takuya*

I gazed up at the starry sky as the stars flashed past me like part of a meteor shower. We were on a train from Nine Petal Academy Island to the capital of Mina where we would be teleported to Wahkan usin' their teleportation crystal.

I felt a disturbance coming from the direction of the island, as if the space over it were being distorted and gradually expanding over to where we were.

"Are you alright?" a familiar voice called out.

"Pa!" I shouted. My face flushed as I saw that it wasn't him. It was the spiky blue haired young man who had defeated Akari's cousin durin' the Mahoulympics. Eri I think it was.

"Ohh, it's you," I said.

Eri walked over to the rail and stared outside of the spherical dome, watchin' as we sped past dense forest.

"Your father was the one who created that shield, right? The one Tetsu uses," he asked, keepin' his eyes on the forest.

I nodded. "Yeah... he seems to have been workin' on them all this time." At least that's what ma told me. That's why he left us all those years ago.

Eri glanced back, his ocean blue eyes lookin' at me with curiosity. "He was commissioned by Queen Saya to create the weapons, but I can't help but wonder why he was chosen out of all the blacksmiths in your universe."

***

[Years Ago-- Anis' household]

"Hey, Tetsu, don't go there!" I screamed, rushin' after my barefoot, gigglin' little brother. How a chubby three-year-old could move so fast was amazin'!

Tetsu pushed the half-closed door and entered Pa's study which laid at the end of the hall. Ma and Pa had told the three of us not ever to enter. Yet, little Tetsu wouldn't listen!

Tetsu stopped. His beady, golden eyes widened as they took in everythin'. Spread throughout the oil-lamp lit room were a multitude of books. They all appeared ancient, but that could've just have been due to the way they were handled. Though I doubted that was it, Father always took good care of his stuff, especially books.

The guy was such a history nerd... just like me.

"Got you!" I said, huggin' Tetsuya from behind. "Now come, before Pa and Ma find out."

"Wahhh," the kid cried, kickin' me with the back of his foot.

I let go of him and rubbed my leg. "Ouch. Why did ya do that?"

Tetsuya ran on ahead and climbed on top of a nearby chair. He pulled down somethin'. It was a green sphere as shiny as one of the marbles Teresa enjoyed playin' with. Only difference was its size, this marble was as big as the basketball that Tetsuya loved to dribble around.

My lil bro giggled again and jumped down. "Mine!" he said, rushin' off under the tables.

"Hey, Tetsu!" I screamed, chasin' off after him. Suddenly, my attention turned toward the door as it creaked open. In came Teresa whose face was devoid of color despite havin' ran here.

"Found them! They're here!" Teresa yelled, stumblin' into the room

"What are you doin' here?" a kind but stern pair of voices cried out. Standin' behind Teresa were our parents.

Ma was wearin' a long purple dress which matched her eyes while Pa wore a black tuxedo with an orange tie. I had no idea where they had gotten such clothes as we were rather poor. They must've been from when they were younger, back when they were better off.

"I came here to stop Tetsuya from messin' with your stuff, Pa!" I cried.

Pa turned his eyes toward the chubby kid huggin' the sphere as if it were his new stuffed bear. He snickered and walked over to him. Tetsuya didn't move, rather he kept embracin' the sphere. At some point he had closed his eyes.

"Seems that he tired himself out." He picked up Tetsuya and the sphere, causin' Tetsuya to open his eyes and cry.

"Wah!!" Tetsuya screamed, kickin' the air. He even kicked Pa in the mouth!

"Make him stop!" Teresa screamed, coverin' her ears.

Pa sighed and put the ball back in his hands. "There, happy now?"

"Mine!" Tetsuya said, huggin' it tightly. He closed his eyes anew.

Pa chuckled and hugged him tightly. "I'm glad to see that you like it this much. Maybe one day you will own it..."

***

[Present]

A tear slipped down my face. Where had such days gone off to? Those days that we got to spend with our parents, all three of us. Things hadn't become easier for our cousin since then either. He likely also wished to go back to such days.

"You okay?" Eri asked.

I wiped my tears away. "I... I was just thinkin' of how things were before Pa left us."

Eri grimaced upon hearin' this. "So, your Father also left you..."

"Also..." I recalled what Akari had said about her own dad. At least, I had the chance to meet mine. I couldn't imagine how it was to never meet a parent in one's life.

Eri nodded. "Yes... my mother did too. The two of them left me alone with Yuzuki and Hikaru."

"Hikaru... he's the boy those beings from the Abyss tried to kidnap during the Mahoulympics, right?"

He glanced up at the starry sky and reached a hand out. "Yeah, he's the child. I do not know what they want with him, but whatever it is, I will not allow them to take him. My siblings are precious to me. They have been there for me when I needed them to be, despite being so young." He pulled down his hand and put it against his chest. "I will sacrifice my own life if it's what's required to protect them."

I grinned. "Same here. Teresa and Tetsuya are what I most hold precious in this world alongside my ma and pa. I almost did give up my life..." Takon came to mind. I would've died if Pa hadn't intervened in that battle all those months ago. I still had no idea as to what his connection with that man or the Abyss in general was...

*Reginald*

[Unknown Location]

"Are you alright?" Aster asked me as she tapped my shoulder.

I averted my gaze.

"I'm fine," I said, walking on ahead of her. I took a seat next to Rocio in the circle of thrones. Seated two seats from me was my grandson, Conrad. He had come back on his own from his failed mission in Xeleria. Though, that was merely to test the waters.

"It seems that not all thirteen of you could make it," Takon said as he glanced at the four empty seats as he floated overhead. "No matter, there's no need for all thirteen of us. Besides, some of us will need to stay behind to keep the realm safe from any unwarranted guests." His red eyes shifted toward me. "Reginald, I seek for you to lead those who stay behind."

"Me? Why?" I asked, sitting up straight and putting my elbows against the black stone table in front of me. The room we were in was small, yet big enough to accommodate up to thirteen people. Each of the thrones emitted a dim light but which was strong enough when joined with the others that they lit the room.

Takon smiled. "Because, your special abilities are essential for our long-term goals. We cannot have you die on us in battle, not that I can imagine such an outcome. Simply regard this as a precaution."

I nodded. "Alright, fine. I shall stay back. Though, I do have a favor I wish to ask of you. Please, bring me my children and grandchildren."

The woman sitting next to me scoffed. She was wearing a long purple fur coat and a matching fedora hat. Letting out a billow of smoke from her pipe, she looked at me. "I honestly can't believe how you ended up having children with a stinking Zionian. For one of us to fall for someone so below our level, dear me, it's astonishing."

"Oh, long time no see, Margaret," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Still bitter that I rejected you, I see."

She scoffed. "You flatter yourself thinking that." Her violet eyes focused on the man sitting across from her.

The young man wore a blue hoodie which covered the upper portion of his face. His name was Collin and happened to be her brother.

"I really don't see what the appeal of the lower class is."

"Come on now, Margaret," said a white-haired young man. He stood out from all of us, not only due to his hair color but also his choice of clothes. They were long sleeved robes as white as the clouds of Zionia.

"It appears that not all of us made it," said a dark-haired girl with magenta eyes. Sprouting from her head were small antlers.

"It does appear that's the case," Aster said, watching them. She shifted her eyes toward Margaret and me. "It worries me that the Sheep and Pig Pillars aren't taking this threat seriously. Alas, this is yet another sign of our waning power in this world."

"Don't worry about those two, they know their duties. Though, on the topic of duties, you should consider choosing a proper successor," I said as I looked back and forth between the two rulers floating in the air. "Or, successors."

Takon snickered. "Aster and I already have a pretty good idea of who to choose. You shall know who it is once all is said and down. Now, Margaret, Collin, Skah, Daiyu, Rocio and Daisuru, please ready yourselves for the battles ahead. You best be ready, you six will be accompanying Aster and I to the surface. We are to split into two groups. There is war at foot, so we mustn't delay."

"Yes," Skah said, standing and bowing. "I shall ready my army to repeal away all who dare to invade our beautiful realm."

"As will I," Daiyu said, raising from her seat.

Margaret snickered as she leaned her head against a gloved hand. "At last, I will finally have some fun." She turned her eyes toward me. "Regi, I will be borrowing your Leviathan."

I glared at her. "Do not call me that."

A smirk dotted her face. "Oh, and why not? I used to call you Regi centuries ago and you did not appear to mind one bit. So, why do you mind now? Does it perhaps involve that Zionian woman you fell for? Or those bastard children you sired?"

Skah and Rocio narrowed their eyes at her upon hearing the remark but didn't speak up.

I slammed the table, drawing the attention of everyone, including the Rulers. "They're not 'bastards'. I recognize them as my children!"

"Oh, including that traitor, Tekeshi?"

Darkness swelled around me. "Yes, including that misguided child. He is receiving the punishment which he deserves for going against me. However, that does not make him any less my son."

"D'aww, such a nice daddy you've became," Margaret said, snickering as she got up. "Who knew that you would become such a softy. No wonder Takon and Aster wish for you to stay back."

Dark tendrils sprouted from the ground below her. "Soft you say?"

She slashed the tendrils away and shot me a fierce glare. "You are soft. The old you would've killed me on the spot."

"I cannot do that, not when the Rulers require use of you," I responded, crossing my arms. I turned my back to her and let out a snicker of my own. "Let's hope that you'll be able to survive against my grandchildren. Skah, come here, there's something I'll like to speak to you about."

Skah nodded. "Yes, of course, Pa!"

I smiled. "Thanks, Skah. Now, listen carefully. What I want you to do is..."

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter ^_^! Thoughts? Predictions?**