The moon finally climbed out from the range of mountains making the island of Galliath. Above green and grey peaks, soaring atop massive trees and fogs covering the city of Omer Narrows, through clouds nestling together to sleep, a crescent shine peeked from above. The cycle itself was almost finished.

Haranswere taught to believe that on every full moon, the deities from the skies above stepped down from their highly-placed pedals and moved into Errarion to watch over its people from the shadows, judging, smiling, and seeing how things changed for the better. Such nights were often associated with blessings. It wasn't rare to hear from someone that something magical and otherworldly happened while the others slept.

The moon itself always meant something to Morio. If it wasn't a sign that everyone saw it somewhere, it was almost pointing in the direction of home.

A place where no one would tell him he was weak. An abode where he could feel at peace.

Morio blinked, and the white tree with hanging leaves turned into a reflection of Jyuzou, wearingly watching the other Morian. Morio slowly turned, with half a huff, furrowing one eyebrow.

"What are you doing?" Jyuzou asked.

Morio shrugged. "Sitting by the canal."

Jyuzou sighed, looking to the side for a moment. The sounds of the winds picked up in the distance, and Morio stared at the water again. "Something's obviously on your mind. I'm not stupid."

Morio scratched his forehead. Jyuzou knew the answer. He furrowed both brows, perfectly aware of the outcome of trying to open up. He sighed as well, shifting the conversation's focus onto something else.

"Do you still have Wonder Flora with you?" he asked.

Jyuzou made a strange noise, opening his mouth. "Of course, Morio. I wouldn't leave it behind."

"I just haven't seen you using it."

"How many times do you expect me to read the same book, over and over again?"

"Even though you don't know all of its contents?"

Jyuzou squinted his eyes. "What's your problem?"

"Nothing." Morio clenched his fist, punching the ground lightly. "I'm just curious about something, that's all."

"What?" he snickered.

"The trees in the Bore Forest. What were they called?" Morio asked, staring forward. With each second that passed, his friend resembled the mentioned bark more and more, for no apparent reason.

"We're not in Shimori," he replied.

"What are they called?" Morio repeated.

Jyuzou rolled his eyes. "White willows. Although they don't necessarily resemble the trees of the same name which grow in Lignoria and such. The leaves are naturally white in Yule and change into a greenish later in the year."

Morio tapped his foot. "I guess you wouldn't see them anywhere else than in Shimori."

"Morio," Jyuzou spoke. "I already told you once. The less I think of home, the less-"

"Oh, this isn't about Shimori!" Morio snapped, finally standing up.

Jyuzou was taken aback, stepping to the right, and peering at Morio's face. The white-haired had disdain written all over, and Jyuzou's shock quickly turned into anger. The latter put their fist near their chin, trying to calm down.

"Then, tell me," Jyuzou muttered. "What is it that you want to know, huh?"

Morio sighed.

"Tell me! Because earlier you insisted on doing everything by yourself that Ms Koyote had to hurt herself to save this weak thing you are!" he raised his hand.

Morio looked away. "The conversation's already finished."

"What's your problem?!"

"Go on and talk with Genni! Maybe she's a better friend than me. Maybe stronger too." he sat back down.

"C-Considering she saved me and you didn't." Jyuzou shook his head. His clenched fist eased out, and he hid his palm in his pants, with a shaky breath. "Fuck you too, dude."

Morio didn't answer.

***

Two weeks passed since the volcano trial, and those fourteen days were full of preparations for another challenge the Morians knew nothing about. Koyote didn't have to tell them, but they were essentially trained to expect the worst at all times and Olala's attitude didn't help either.

Waking up in the morning meant the Yosei training, with each attempt introducing new obstacles. Naturally, Ingo won every time, with Morio coming in a close second at first, later taking the third or fourth spot in anger.

The trials were never easier, and the water never grew warmer. The wound and scar on his stomach seemingly didn't want to heal either, but it was rare that he concerned himself with his own body rather than his mind. Maybe he should've found something else to focus on.

Without a direction, his motivation, although once a fiery passion gleaming a hope for the future, grew weaker.

The moon never answered either.

Unexpectedly, however, Ingo spent time by Genni's side, helping her and Jyuzou train. It seemed the fear attacks sparked an interest in her, and the latter didn't want to be left out either. At first, he was hesitant, claiming that he needed to spend his free time only on himself, but later found it oddly satisfying when Genni vowed to learn something new. A victory seemed to ease up expectations he continuously put on himself, opening a door to a better person beneath all those layers of anger.

Ingo was flexible like gum, strong as a mountain and a lot of that came from Haran genes which meant Genni started following in his stride with ease, and Jyuzou was like you would've expected, rather woody with how he handled his weapons and movements. H focused on brain power, but strength is strength, so no area could be left out. Grinding his teeth, he persisted, while Morio watched from the side.

He could've never been as strong.

Approaching the half of the second half of Gorro, Galliath and a big part of Harabara always met a hefty sum of rain for the next ten days. At first, they were rather light, but later on, these changed into torrential downpours streaming down into canals, and in the case of Harabara, almost filling up the thousands of canyons spread here and there.

This time of year meant lots of plants grew on the uninhabited sides of Galliath. New life sprung, flowers were almost choking with how much thirst was quenched and the greens got just a little greener. Greys changed into a black tone, and as for the rest of Gorro, it would be pleasant to the eye, as well as rather lukewarm.

Koyote wholeheartedly looked forwards to the rains, as she stepped through the barren and open lands, moving past Mount Yosei, ignoring the tired groans of the Morians following the two.

Olala yelled out, shaking her arm. "It already started pouring!"

"It's just a few drops. You wait and see, Olala." Koyote pointed around, stuffing both hands into her pockets.

"I don't know why you're happy." Olala shook her head.

"You never see me go to town, do you?" she turned. "Mostly because I don't necessarily like too many people, and that kills the activity. Stabs it right in the gut," she explained, and Olala squinted her eyes, untrustworthily.

"But with rain?" Koyote continued. "There won't be anyone in the streets. Restaurants will be open, however. Shopfronts too, because they always expect a client. Even if a bucket full of muddy water dropped onto their heads they'd still stand there. They'll do anything for a couple of Pies to trade it into nice-looking robes."

"Glad that we're not concerned with our attire."

"We look formal, Olala." Koyote fixed her jacket. "That's what matters. Superbread too."

"Superbread." Olala raised a fist, pretending to indulge in Koyote's happiness, while the other quickly turned, one gleaming eye meeting the Morians.

"Are we there yet?" Genni asked, both arms flailing next to her sides.

"Yeah," Koyote informed, and Genni shook her head, a little shocked.

Koyote stepped backwards, almost falling off a cliff into an open, dark green valley. The four hesitantly moved, overlooking the open terrain.

The plain itself was... not a plain. Rather, it resembled a dent or a reversed mountain. Instead of climbing up like all the hills around the basin, this one evenly bent down towards one point in the middle: a red flower flailing in the wind. Various bushes and small trees surrounded the herb, and it felt like overlooking a miniature model of a massive park.

Morio once was keen on such hobbies himself. When he was five, he forced Gloria to help him recreate the entirety of Mistwick with only a few small twigs found around the forest. She shunned the idea, but Morio never gave up. Peering at the sight, he wondered where he could've possibly hidden his first steps towards creating a tiny town in his own hands.

If it was so tiny, he could've watched over home, even from here.

"Suna Valley." Koyote took a step forward, almost sliding down the grass before stopping. Gazing up, she spotted the faraway sea stretching over the barren hills, with an opening to a small cave close by. She turned to the Morians again, signalling with her hand.

Morio was the first to move, standing further away from the others.

"It looks nice." Genni nodded, putting on a smile.

"I wouldn't trust her if I were you," Ingo uttered, quickly huffing.

"Have I ever broken your trust, Ingo?" Koyote tilted her head, and Ingo quickly looked away, pouting. "...and too positive, Genni!" she pointed.

"It looks too nice for something bad to happen." Jyuzou fixed his glasses.

"Something bad? You hear that, Olala?" Koyote scratched the back of her head. "They think training is bad for them!"

Olala breathed out, silently agreeing with Jyuzou.

Morio blinked, glancing up. "What's gonna happen here?"

Koyote slowly turned to the white-haired. "Demonears can kill demons." she shrugged. "But those aren't the only creatures you must be worried about."

Jyuzou gulped, moving back. "We should've taken the pebbles!" he whispered to Genni. Morio furrowed his brows.

"For as long as humans inhabited the land of Galliath, something was out to chase them. You think and name it. Dark deformities," she counted on her fingers. "Centuras."

"They're even here?" Morio asked.

"Found a tiny one in Olala's bed last night," Koyote smirked.

"Excuse me?!" Olala raised her voice.

"But what else is dangerous, Morio?"

Morio turned to the ground again, his eyes landing on the flower in the middle.

It seemingly reminded him of something he couldn't put his finger on. "I don't know."

Koyote turned to Olala again, who shook her head in disagreement. "Have you ever heard of a chimera?"

Morio immediately looked up, his cold eyes meeting Koyote's intense gaze. Jyuzou huffed, Genni stepped back, and Ingo clenched both fists.

"They're wretched creatures, balancing on the edge of life and death." she looked at her nails. "You can't kill them, but you can weaken and wear them out. Doing so proves your strength and the power of your will to escape from its impossible grasp." she moved to the side. "That over there..." she pointed, without turning. "Isn't a flower."

...and as she uttered the words, the ground beneath shifted. What once was the stunning Suna Valley quickly turned into shaky rocky terrain, consumed by the body of a creature standing at about thirty meters. Its hands were comprised of vines, continuously shifting and creating muscles. Its head, as well as its spine, were boulders, square-like and sharp. Its legs were of a demon, with long nails sinking into the ground.

Koyote jumped up, and with one more rumble, the four Morians found themselves inside the circle.

Falling, Genni hit her head against the brown wall. She quickly looked up, spotting Koyote's watchful eye.

"Good luck, Demonears," Koyote said.

"That's-" Jyuzou spoke.

The chimera screamed out, dashing towards the Morians. The others hurried to stand up, while Genni took a few heavy breaths.

With another yell, this time coming from the girl, she covered her eyes, as the mutant's fist struck in front of her face.

One blink. One second.

With a shaky hand, she lifted her eyelids to the sight of the fist lodged into the crumbling wall. Sprinkles of dust and dirt fell on her face and after a few weary noises, it turned its shining eyes to Genni.

It bellowed an ear-piercing scream, right as she stood and ran to the side.

"The Gallian Mutant," Koyote commented, leaning back and sitting on the grass. "A threat always present to the people of this island, a sign not to venture too far into the unknown, and a guardian of the holy spoils given to us, Harans. At least, that's what the book says." she took a small journal out of her jacket's pocket and threw it to Olala.

"You're sick," Olala informed.

"I am quite healthy, thank you for your concern, Olala."

"Sick in the head!" Olala hissed. "You're doing it again!"

"They'll live." Koyote put her hand on one knee, stepping closer towards the edge. "I'm sure of it. Even if they were to struggle, you'd save them, right?"

"W-What?" Olala was taken aback.

"You're strong too." Koyote smiled.