*Aventine*

"Wait!" I said, holding a hand up as the two boys were about to charge at me.

Tekeshi's son blinked. "What's wrong?" he asked, coming to a stop.

"I want you two to do some proper training, it'll make this a more exciting fight."

Tetsu smiled. "Ahh, I get it."

"I know from my old master that you came here to learn how to properly control mana." I glanced at my new master. "I wish for you to teach what you know to him."

Serrano turned to look at Tetsu. "Think you can teach me mana control?"

"Most of what I know I learned from Setsuko, but I'll happily teach it to ya!" he responded with a bright grin.

"Then, how about you begin?" I said. Snapping my fingers, the room exploded into a mosaic of triangles which reformed to create an arena in the middle of a black void.

"Woah," Tetsu said, glancing at the pitch-black sky. "How did you do that?"

I snickered. "Years of practice." Though, dream manipulation likely came easier to me than it did to most others; being able to materialize dreams in the outside world and all.

He laughed. "Can you teach me?"

I shook my head. "Sadly, you're going to have to practice on your own. Being able to control one's own dreams is the first step into being able to distort this one."

"Say, if we were to die in this realm, would we die in real life?" Serrano asked as he stood near the edge of the battlefield.

I nodded. "It's possible, considering this differs from a normal dream. My father and I pulled your spirits into this world. If something were to happen to you while here like this, your spirit might end up crushed."

"I see," Serrano said, slowly stepping back from the edge.

"Alright, enough talking. Let's begin your training, Serra!" Tetsu said, running over to him.

"Okay," Serrano said, smiling slightly.

I turned around and snickered. While I was Serrano's guardian angel, it was as if that boy were his true angel. It was the same case with his predecessors... each was fortunate to have a close friend whom was willing to risk their life for them and vice-versa.

I walked over to the edge as Tetsu talked to Serrano. Taking a seat, my violet eyes peered into the black dome. The space around me distorted until I was sitting in a meadow like the one my father had taken Tetsu to.

The sky here was bright blue, just like the eyes of my new master.

Brother, how are things going on your end?

Suddenly, a figure appeared behind me.

"You called, Ave?"

I turned around and smiled at the man who had an annoyed look on his face. He looked a lot like my old master's youngest son and his brother, Skah.

"Sorry about that, Caelio, I didn't mean to summon you here," I said, rubbing my right ear. "I take it that you were busy with something?"

He took a deep breath and sat down beside me. "Not really, just overlooking my master's training."

"Have you made contact with her yet?" I asked, staring at his stoic face. He might've looked like Skah and Tetsu, but his personality couldn't have been any more different than theirs.

"No. She's not ready. That girl still has much more to learn, that being said, she has started to make progress since awakening the angel tool."

I smiled. "That's good. Hopefully, she'll be able to summon you soon. Our owners might not be as capable as our previous ones, but they need our help."

"Do they? I hadn't noticed," he said, closing his eyes.

I leered at him. "Are you being sarcastic?"

"What do you think?" he asked, giving me a poker-face look.

My right eye twitched as I continued to look at his deadpan face.

"I'll say yes." Though, it was never easy to tell for sure, with his straight face and stoic tone.

He sat back and spread his arms out on the grass. "So, why did you bring me here, Ave?"

"I did it by accident..." I said, looking away.

He let out a rare laugh. "Is that so? Seems that you still got to work on controlling your dream powers."

I sighed. "I think I brought you here because I felt nostalgic."

"Is that so?" he asked, sitting up. "Whatever made you feel that way?"

My cheeks reddened a little. "I... saw my new master talking to my old master's youngest son."

He gave me a blank look. "Is that it?"

"It reminded me of when we were alive. How we, all seven of us, used to play together."

"Are you lonely?" he asked, staring at me with those cold golden eyes of his.

I turned away. "I'm not. It's just... with father's spirit gone..." I gasped as I felt a hand on my head.

"It's normal to be lonely, big sis. Just remember what big bro said, we're always with you, even when we are apart. Of course, with your abilities, that can be literal," he said.

I smiled at my little brother. "Thanks, Caelio."

"Now, go and do your job as a guardian angel," he said, removing his hand from my head.

I jumped to my feet. "Oh, I plan to! But, you should think of doing the same."

He pushed himself off the ground. "I think I'll leave her to her own devices for now, got to have her learn how to care for herself."

"That's no different than my method prior to now," I said, leering at him.

"Yeah, but it's obvious that you've been forcing yourself not to help," he said, rubbing his left ear. "A softy like you won't be able to take it for much longer."

I grumbled. "I'm not a softy!"

He turned around. "You know, I don't buy that. Plus, that boy could really use someone with a soft heart. Sure, he has that boy by his side, but you're his angel."

I smiled. "Thanks again, Cae." I gasped. "Wait, you came here on your own volition, didn't you?"

"Hmm, looks like I've been apart from the princess for too long. Better get going," he said, vanishing into blue light.

"Wait, come back here Cae!" I yelled. I sighed. That little brother of mine, always appearing and leaving when one least expects it. Would've been nice if he had stuck around to teach Serrano mana control...

I slapped myself. Focus, Ave. You're his guardian angel, not him. It's your job to teach him what he needs to know.

I held out my hand, but stopped before I could snap my fingers. Shivers ran down my spine. Something was approaching us in the real world. An energy like that of my father's but evil...

I needed to wake up Serrano, but he wasn't in any shape to face whoever's aura I was sensing. I couldn't protect him either, not without him calling upon me.

"Cae!" I yelled. I waited for a while, but he didn't appear. "Cae?" I took a deep breath. I hoped that he could listen to me... "I need you to tell your master to go to where Serrano is! He might be in danger!"

I gulped and snapped my fingers as I returned to where the boys were. Time went by slower in this space, not necessarily as slow as it did in Munil, but enough to buy us some time. But the owner of that dark aura was too close for comfort.

https://youtu.be/PYTbZKVgS5Q

*Yuko*

[Some time earlier]

"Serrano?" Lady Saya asked, giving Mr. Itou a questioning look. "What do you want with him?"

"I wish to tell him something, about his little brother. That's all," Itou answered with a smile.

Yuko gulped. What was he really after?

He turned to look at me. "Do you know where I can find him?" he asked, maintaining that smug smirk on his face.

Yuko narrowed her eyes at him. "Even if Yuko did, she wouldn't tell someone like you!"

He raised a brow and chuckled. "Oh? Whatever do you mean 'someone like me'? Are you implying there's something wrong with me? Oh dear, to think such a cute girl had such an ugly, bigoted side to her."

"Yuko's not dumb!" Yuko snapped.

Nori nodded. "Yeah!"

"That young man is in no state to talk to anyone right now," Lady Saya said, taking a step forward.

"Careful, you aren't in a good state yourself," her husband said, gently holding onto her arm.

Mr. Itou nodded. "You should listen to your husband, Queen Saya. You wouldn't want something bad to happen to that child in your womb, would you? I mean, you've already done something so risky. It's best to play it safe."

Saya gritted her teeth. "Tell me what you wish to tell that boy."

His lips formed an 'o'. "Why do you care so much for him? Is it because he reminds you of your son?"

"Maybe that is part of it, but that boy has been through a lot lately. He deserves some rest!"

"Dear, relax," Tatsu said, rubbing her shoulders. "It's bad for your health and that of the baby."

"Well, I'll get going," Mr. Itou said, waving.

"Wait, didn't you listen?" the pink-haired man who helped heal Yuko said.

The Prime Minister of Kuroriku came to a halt. "To what, xelerian?"

He gave him a stern look. "To your Celestial Queen's request that you tell us what you wish to tell Serrano. We will deliver the message."

He sighed. "Thanks for the suggestion, but I rather tell him myself. Now, if you don't delay me any longer, I can go and do that."

"Is the minister deaf?" Yuko asked. "Serrano isn't able to talk to anyone right now."

"How would you know? Perhaps, he already woke up. Also, try not to be so rude, young lady," he said, walking on ahead.

The pink-haired man took a hold of Yuko and Nori's hands. "You two, tell me where Serrano is. We need to get there before him," he whispered.

Nori whispered something into his ear.

He smiled and nodded. "Got it!" The three of us were surrounded by a pink energy and warped to a room that stunk.

"What's that smell?" Yuko asked as she covered her nose.

"Disinfectant," Ximena said, rising from her seat. "This is the infirmary. Why are you two here and who is this guy?"

"I'm Liang Mu," he responded. "I am an old friend of your Celestial Queen and her husband. We came to relocate him. There's a strange man looking for him."

Her brows furrowed with worry. "A strange man? What does he want with him?"

"I just wanted to talk to him, yet you're making things harder than they should be," a voice boomed from behind the blue drapes surrounding us.

Ximena's eyes widened. "That voice, it's the Prime Minister..."

"Indeed," he said, opening the curtain. He smiled at us. "Thanks for letting me know where he was. I expected he was taken to someplace else. such as the dorms." He held out his hand and formed a glowing black sword.

Liang jumped in his way. "Put away that sword. Need I remind you that this is a nurse's office? There's no need for weaponry here."

"Buzz off!" he said, slapping him with the hilt of his sword. "You've been as much a nuisance as that bothersome queen."

"Mister!" Nori and I yelled.

"Don't worry about me!" Liang yelled, holding his hand out to us. "Get as far away as you can!"

The four of were warped away from him and the creepy prime minister. A field of flowers surrounded us.

"Think we're safe now?" Ximena asked as she held Serrano in her arms.

"Hope so," Yuko said.

Nori dashed in front of Xime and Yuko. "Stand back!" Nori yelled as he raised his staff in front of him.

Suddenly, Nori's staff was sliced in half and a deep gash appeared on Nori's abdomen.

"Nori!" Yuko screamed. In front of us stood a displease Mr. Itou.

"Bothersome people need to die," he said, kicking Nori aside.

Yuko dashed over to her friend and caught him with her tail before he could smack into a nearby boulder. Yuko's tail grew sticky as it became dyed red with her friend's blood.

Yuko's eyes widened at the sight of blood. Tears stained her eyes. "No-Nori..."

Ximena glared at the Prime Minister. "Olivine!" she screamed.

"On it, Madam!" her angel said as it manifested. She dashed at the prime minister as Xime ran over to us.

"Yuko, take care of Serrano. I'll heal Nori!" Ximena yelled.

"I hate nuisances," Mr. Itou said with a sigh.

"Xime, look out!" Olivine yelled. The angel intercepted Mr. Itou's sword and exploded into a whirlwind of leaves.

"Oli...vine," Ximena muttered. She looked down at the silver-cross pendant of her necklace. Cracks had appeared.

Yuko laid Nori down and pulled out her pen-sword. "Xime, get behind Yuko!" Yuko yelled.

Mr. Itou took a deep breath. "None of you can hope to defeat me." He snickered. "Not even the Celestial Queen, nor her husband can."

Yuko gulped but she didn't back down.

"Yuko, be careful. If anything happens to you, Tetsu would hate himself," Xime whispered as she ran past her.

Yuko nodded. "Yuko knows, so tell master that she loves him."

Mr. Itou chuckled. "Love? Dear girl, what a ridiculous emotion. You're willing to forfeit your life for another who might not even feel the same as you? Look at the world. What has love done? Wars are fought for love as much as they are for hate. Love is pain and sorrow! Be free from the shackles of love!"

"Even if master might not end up reciprocating Yuko's love, she will stand up for him and his friends. Master gave Yuko purpose. So, sure, Yuko might be a slave for love, but she's a willful one!" Yuko said, dashing at him with all her strength.

"Yuko! Don't do it!" Ximena yelled. She launched a barrage of leaves. "Use these for help!"

"Yuko doesn't know how to use leaves like other tanuki can, but thanks," Yuko said as she appeared behind Mr. Itou.

Mr. Itou smiled. "Impressive speed, from a lonely girl whose purpose in life is to die a miserable death."

Yuko gritted her teeth. "Yuko is ready!" she yelled as she thrust the tip of her pen-sword at his back.

The man blocked it and threw Yuko along with it into the forest. Yuko let out a scream as she smacked through rows of trees.

Master... Yuko is sorry. Yuko failed to protect Serrano. Hopefully, Xime will save him and Nori.

Yuko gulped and shook her head. No! Yuko can't give up yet! Not while she still breathes!

She kicked her legs against the tree behind her and pushed herself back to where the others were.

Yuko gasped as Xime desperately blocked his sword with her rapier.

"You Kasai no Ki sure are a bothersome bunch. If only the previous kings had done away with all of you."

Xime glared at him. "The one who should be done away with is you!"

He grinned. "Brave words, coming from a girl with a hopeless love," he said, slamming his hand against her abdomen.

The air left Ximena's lungs as she was sent flying.

Yuko moved across the air and caught her with her tail. "Xime is safe!" Yuko said.

"Yuko, you're alive," Ximena said, weakly smiling as blood pooled around her mouth.

Yuko landed next to Serrano and Nori. "Heal yourself and Nori. Take Serra far away. Yuko will distract."

"How surprising, the frail slave survived! You should've fled while you had the chance," Mr. Itou said as Yuko and he approached each other. He dashed away at the last moment and appeared in front of the others.

Ximena threw her arms around Serra and Nori whom she was healing. She didn't speak, but gave Mr. Itou a glare worth more than a thousand words.

Mr. Itou smiled. "I like that look you have. I'll keep it in mind when I remember this moment!" he said, raising his sword.

"No!" Yuko yelled, activating her eyes. The scene transformed into that of a desert.

He laughed. "Futile attempt, little girl," he said, keeping his eyes on Ximena. "But worry not, you're next."

Yuko raised her hand out and grabbed a hold of his sword with her sand. "No, Yuko's not! Nor is Ximena going to be hurt!"

The sand around him suddenly turned into glass and shattered. "You were saying?" he asked as he maintained his back to Yuko.

No...

"Now, witness the end of your friends, slave!"

"No!" Yuko screamed, covering him in as much sand as she could. She pulled him away from her friends and raised him into the air. All of the sand turned into glass as an intense heat surged from underneath it; even that under Yuko's feet turned into sand.

Yuko jumped up as a beam of dark-red energy was fired off from underneath the massive layers of glass. The glass floor where the beam hit turned into a boiling red-liquid.

"You continue to impress. Perhaps, if you were whole then you would be able to actually put up a challenge. Alas, you are not, sister!"

Yuko eyes widened in shock. "Si-sister?"

*Character Section*

Caelio Kuroriku- Age: ? Sex: Male Titles: Saint of Miracles

**Solar Note: Hope that you enjoyed the chapter :)! Thoughts? Theories?**