The two turned, and soon enough, the Paladian stood in the doorway.

"Atomu?" Chyuuichi asked, staring the figure down. He didn't resemble the person he used to be. His hair extended to the floor, a beard covered most of his face and his eyes barely shone from under that darkness. His body was, obviously, limp. The same scars he received in Orania now pulsated, ignited by the earlier hurt. Atomu subtly moved forward before tumbling to the ground.

Chyuuichi clenched his jaw, trembling.

"Calm down." the guard next to him stated. Chyuuichi wanted to use his power to escape from the shackles that bound him, to stand up and run towards the friend he hadn't seen for so long. Even if Atomu didn't resemble himself, he knew at first glance. Those worn-out demon horns, that limp tail, his dark nails.

Atomu finally resembled a proper demon, and yet, Chyuuichi kept looking at a friend.

Rowan on the other hand closed their eyes.

If this was going to be the end, what was to happen next? Through all those worries, one light shone even when all the eyes could see was darkness.

"Ambrosia is just as strong as you," Ace explained.

"Yes, exactly. So why couldn't they be the one sitting in this stupid boat drifting over boring, misty seas? This argument doesn't make any sense. It works both ways!" Rowan raised their voice.

Rowan raised their eyebrows. "I still haven't backed down on those words." they clenched their fist.

If they were to die now, what would everyone else say?

Atomu was lifted and dragged towards the wooden pole. His hands were quickly tied around it, and now with his back pressed against it, his body faced the court, but his face met the ground.

Chyuuichi continued eyeing him, briefly, while Rowan bit their lip.

This was the end.

"We've gathered here once again to briefly reopen the case of those who call themselves the Klakunhoi." the prosecutor spoke, standing up. "Sir Prune, would you like to continue?"

"Bancho's letter was finally seen by the person who was supposed to receive it in the first place," he uttered. "It is now solely up to the king to make the final judgement." he smiled, slyly. "You don't have to wait a day longer."

"We didn't kill Bancho," Rowan said. "Even... if I utter this a thousand times. I know you won't listen."

"This time, only the truth shall be your judge. Everyone!" Prune uttered. "Let us welcome, King Sebastian!"

...and as his words echoed around the silent courtroom, it was soon filled with cheers, handclaps, and a few words the second the figure stepped out of the darkness behind Prune. The other moved to the side, with the King taking the judge's position and glimpsing around. Golden accents, silver hues, and this copper chandelier he didn't necessarily approve of. Alas, despite the headache, there was something he was supposed to do.

"Silence now, please." The King uttered, sticking his hand out, and coughing a bit. Instantaneously, everyone hushed, and even he was a little surprised. Rowan's heart skipped a beat, as they dared to look up.

He cleared his throat, before opening the letter.

"Dear Sebastian. This is urgent. There's a traitor amongst the ranks of Demonears, waiting to pray and kill every one of our comrades. I know the person they are, they revealed their secret, hoping to find refuge. But I never lie, dear King. I always aim for the truth to be handled right to your doorstep." he stopped for a second, gazing at the three.

He spotted Rowan's determined stare. He noticed Chyuuichi's dashing gaze, from the demon back to the judge, and then he looked at the item of conflict, raising both lips.

"Atomu." The King spoke, and the Paladian in question trembled, lightly. Chyuuichi's eyes widened. "Look at me, please," he said, and as he ordered, slowly, but surely, Atomu gazed up.

Some of the hair that obstructed his face moved to the side and revealed a tired, painful expression.

Ranpa gulped, slowly. "Have you ever heard of Sebastian's Gaze?"

"I do recall." Atomu nodded. "Wasn't it a tale of the Royals in Saphrith? That, the king could tell if somebody was innocent or not with a simple glance."

Where was the knife that accented this problem, to begin with, and would it matter after the rest of the letter would be read aloud?

"There are two which will surely try to guard him against harm, in turn harming themselves. A Mirillian named Chyuuichi Gamma, and a royal Tributal, Rowan Sven. The three compose the Klakunhoi, with Atomu Turon, a demon disguised as a Paladian, right in the middle. Never trust demons, dear sir, and I'm hoping this will ignite a search for their whereabouts, to put a stop to the filthy devil's reign." he continued.

"Signed, Bancho M. Vitaglia." he continued, putting the letter on the small table in front. He sucked in air through his teeth, turning to Prune who nodded, calmly waiting for his words. "It sounds really bad."

The three didn't answer.

"Obviously." he rolled his eyes at his own words. "It's meant to sound bad when it is read incorrectly."

"Sorry?" Prune shook his head.

"Well, it was supposed to land in my hands and not yours. One careful glance and you'd see everything that's to be taken out." he pointed. "There are dots, scattered everywhere, nearing words or letters. Read them in the correct order and you get something entirely different. If it wasn't obvious enough, look." he showed Prune the paper "The words 'But I never lie dear King.' are underlined."

Rowan stared a little confused, Chyuuichi was rather awe-struck and even Atomu opened his mouth a little.

"I don't understand." Prune shook his head. "What do you mean, dear King?"

The King sighed, rolling his eyes again, putting the letter in the front and scanning certain letters, before forming words. "Dear Sebastian. I'm not sure if I'll make it out alive. I'm old, you're old." he uttered. "But there are things that I'm not certain can be saved. That's why I ask you. Chyuuichi Gamma, Rowan Sven and Atomu Turon are great Demonears. The world can't afford to lose its power. Despite the people they may be, they're strong, determined fighters."

Rowan raised their eyebrows, Chyuuichi's mouth unhinged like a snake's and Atomu only looked up.

"Protect them at all costs. One day, amongst the others, they'll put a stop to the filthy devil's reign. Know your enemy." Sebastian smiled. "Signed, Bancho M. Vitaglia."

Snatching the hammer from Prune's hands, it quickly hit the side of the table, possibly harder than ever. With the sound echoing around the courtroom, the words had to seep in, slowly, but surely.

"Bancho's a fat, old liar. Well, used to be." Sebastian spoke. "But he's never wrong about people. One glance at you and I can tell," he fixed his glasses. "What he meant to write down was what was meant to be seen. I can't possibly fix what was broken. I can't make up for the things some people have done without my command."

Prune shook a little.

"But I'll be the judge," he uttered.

A moment went silent.

"You're free."

The words bounced off the walls and eventually moved into Rowan and Chyuuichi's minds.

Atomu breathed out.

Everyone in court was completely taken aback, not even responding to Sebastian's commands.

"What are you waiting for?" he spoke, annoyed. "Untie them already!"

"But Sir, that's the devil's filth standing there!" the prosecutor uttered. "There are no Demonears to guard us from its potential harm."

"...and who was the one to accept Linno Palski's words so vigorously?" he turned to the prune, rolling his white sleeves up. "That's a good demon."

"Nonsense!" Prune yelled out. "There's no such thing as a good demon!"

"Did Atomu ever strike back? Did Atomu ever try to fight the shackles that bound him?" Sebastian asked.

"No, but-"

"He could've escaped if he wanted to. He could've fought back. But he didn't." he beamed.

The guards hesitantly moved towards the three. Rowan was let go first, hastily stepping to the side, breathing in and out. Chyuuichi was second and line, strangely enough, he sat still and continued processing everything that happened. The three in armour stopped right in front of Atomu, unsure.

A few seconds passed before the first was brave enough to untie his hands.

He stared at his palms, now brightly illuminated by the room. He turned them around, seeing his long nails, then staring down his limp and shaky body. His heart kept pumping faster than ever, blood sending rushes of warmth down every trickle of his skin. He looked up again, and the King subtly smiled, while Prune seemed completely devastated.

He wanted to say something. He wanted to thank him for this kindness, but then again, nothing came out of his mouth.

"The guards will lead you to different rooms with your items, clothes and whatnot. You'll have beds, baths, whatever you request. Afterwards, though. You're free to go." he muttered. Rowan stood still, clenching their fist and fidgeting unsurely. "However, if life doesn't chase, I'd like to see you three in my chamber. I believe we have something to discuss."

Rowan stared at the checkered floors, tuning out the cacophony of conversations, right and left. Disbelief, expressions of sadness, and even some relief among pacifists. After all, no one wanted to die, and some wouldn't even battle the idea of the King making a wrong decision.

Much like back then, it was Bancho who decided that Ambrosia would join the Star Cave Troupe and not Rowan.

They shook their head.

"Dear King," Rowan spoke, staring up. "I humbly thank you for your offer. However, there are things I must see to immediately."

Atomu turned.

"I can't stop you." The King uttered. "Some might try, but... you got my pass, dear Tributal."

Prune walked around, angrily.

"You're leaving?" Chyuuichi whispered.

"I can't waste any more time, Chyuuichi," Rowan spoke through their teeth, and one of Atomu's eyes landed on the Tributal's face. "You said it yourself."

"Listen, Atomu," they uttered, earlier signs of a beam turning into an unsure frown. "After we reach Saphrith, that concludes our camaraderie. All this Klakunhoi stuff."

Atomu groaned, before sticking his hand out towards the Tributal. Rowan took a few steps forward, and their palm landed atop. With a quick gulp, they looked around the courtroom and hastily furrowed their eyebrows.

"Maybe we'll see each other again, someday," Rowan uttered. "But I wouldn't count on it. The two of you though." they shook their head. "Don't waste this chance."

"Rowan," Chyuuichi spoke lightly, but his words weren't caught. The Tributal moved forward, without looking back, until they reached the door and breathed in. A few guards were already waiting, and as soon as it closed, the last glance seen from under their glasses faded away.

Atomu breathed out, his eyes turning to Chyuuichi. "We won't," he muttered.

The King struck one last time, and as the impact's noise echoed, the case of the Klakunhoi was officially concluded.

Gone were the worries, imprisonment or whatnot, but present were allegations, Lignoria's thoughts on this subject and... everything else which surrounded this entire dilemma. How would Atomu and Chyuuichi just go back to what they were doing? What about the knife, Ranpa or the Morians?

A lot was still to be made undone. Again, more questions than answers, but Atomu stood still, waiting.

With the noon sun shining in from above, Rowan officially stepped out of the gates below, sitting atop a white horse, with all their equipment strung in the back. With a compass in hand, they stuffed cloth above something on their back.

A few unsure glances here and there, with one finally landing on the statue in the middle of the square, with King Sebastian proudly carrying some paper in his hand. Rowan recalled the story. It was the King who ultimately created a safe space for Tributals outside of Malikan. Back then, they didn't think anything of it, until it became clear that life chased them elsewhere.

Maybe that Serpigo was looming somewhere in the distance, nevertheless, the Tributal had to run.

They ground their teeth, with the horse passing one of the bridges, ultimately leading out of Oldenklow.