Deva sighed as he sat between Dream and Ink while Bardo sat with Blue across from him. Gen sat in his lap while somehow asleep. All six were in a carriage that was currently going towards the Sun Empire. Thankfully the carriage was plain with no guards to not give any bandits a clue of who might be in it.

After the reveal that happened about three days ago, both Dream and Ink made Deva come to the Sun Empire with Bardo along for the ride. Deva wondered what the big deal was with his markings but Deva knew that these markings are nothing but bad news if they were causing him trouble like this. Sometimes Deva wished he never had these markings but Deva grew to like them.

Dream, Ink, and Blue were not around when the Moon Empire came for some treats and food that Deva would always serve them. He can't help but be fond of them as he had soft spots for the more insane side of the spectrum. His old life's mother had little sanity after she went through some horrible things.

His old life's mother, Nora, had PTSD, bipolar disorder, depression, and was raped by other men. She grew in a good household and had a brother. But she had the tendency to lie from time to time of which left his grandparents doubtful of her words. Though Deva does have fond memories of her, he does feel unsafe from time to time when her mind goes down a darker path but it doesn't stop him from loving her.

Though finding out that she literally cut her dog's intestines out while the dog did nothing about it did leave him feeling horrified out of his mind.

Yes, it did happen as his old life's grandparents told him it did happen. Deva heard many other things that did happen that made him wonder what was going through her mind at the time it happened. His old female human self was born a couple of months after his mother's brother died by suicide. Actually, from what little his old human family said, he should have died that following week since he was born prematurely with his umbilical cord wrapped firmly around his neck. The fact he survived baffled the doctors.

Deva internally let out a snort as he pets Gen slightly who lazily wrapped his leaves around his phalanges as Deva thought back to the Moon Empire when they last visited yesterday.

*~[Flashback Technique!!!!]~*

"And Killer decided to throw his knife right into Horror's skull while he was still asleep. But Horror didn't wake up and after a few minutes he woke up and then spit out the knife which was covered in red ecto slime. Horror then proceeded to hand back the knife to Killer then went to the kitchen to eat the cupcakes you prepared for us. Killer's face was hilarious!!!!"

"Shut it you sorry excuse for a cow!!!!!"

"At least I'm not dressed as an arrow's best friend!!!!"

Deva chuckled slightly as he walked up to Nightmare as Cross and Killer got into an argument over the wording that they used. Nightmare was talking to Error while both were enjoying their own food. Fell and Dust were snuggling each other while in a cuddle pile that Deva made for them. Both looked to be exhausted and Deva got some blankets, pillows, and plushies that both can use to get some sleep. Deva also saw how Nightmare secretly put a sleepless spell on them so both can get some good rest.

Deva internally sighed as he thought back to the Sun Empire that showed up a few days ago. Dream somehow ranged out a confirmation that Deva will come to the Sun Empire with them and Deva was dreading the conversations. Sure, Deva was powerful but he doesn't use his powers for everything. Unless he really needed to, he won't actively use them as they provide no benefit to him. Sure, it may be 'selfish' but look back on history and tell him that he's not being cautious.

"Hmm? What's on your mind, Deva?"

Deva shook his head as he saw that Nightmare and Error were looking at him with curious eye lights. Thankfully, only the Sun Empire knew of his markings so Deva can still conceal them with some makeup. Illusion magic fell off his face a few seconds after applying so the next alternative is makeup.

"Ah, the Sun Empire. I met the King and his court a few days ago, about a few hours after you guys left and they wanted me to come to the kingdom for some reason. I never got a reason but by tomorrow I may be leaving for the Empire. So you guys will probably see me after a couple of days until I can see why I'm needed then I can probably leave."

Deva saw no reason to not tell them as nobody really said that he can't tell anyone fo what's happening. His daily customers were already telling everyone in the town what's happened so nothing will be amiss. He won't reveal the full truth unless the Moon Empire finds out.

Deva looked at them to see that both were completely blank-faced. Deva blinked as he looked around to see that everyone who was awake had the same face while others looked ready to maim. Horror came out from behind the counter while treats were still in his mouth but Deva could see the bloodlust in his eye light and socket.

Deva felt that he should have kept his mouth shut. Probably for the betterment of the Sun's King and Court.

Meh.

*~[Release!!!!!]~*

Deva shook his head as he got out of his memories for a moment.

"Are you alright?"

Deva looked at Dream who looked to be worried for Deva. Deva gave him a calm smile as he answered truthfully.

"I'm alright just unsure of all of this. I'm not even sure of why you want me to come to the Sun Empire. I have a feeling it's because of my markings but it may be more than that unless you tell me otherwise."

Dream sighed as he nodded.

"It's true your markings are a reason. But lately, there have been numerous reports of people targeting many that have markings of both Empires."

Wait, what? This is the first that Deva has ever heard of this. Deva knows the local gossip people and they never once told him of this. Though, now that he thoughts about it, the gossip people have said that the Sun Empire was keeping something hush. That may be what this is. Deva frowned slightly as he was thankful that he covered his markings, it was habit by this point.

"Why are they being targeted?"

"We're not sure."

Deva looked to Ink who looked thoughtful while Blue was playing with Bardo across the seat.

"Every single one of them was unharmed but they lost a marking. Some would lose the sun while others would lose the moon. We can't figure out why this is happening and we plan to keep quiet until we can capture the main instigators or someone that may have a clue. They may come for you as they somehow know of who has both markings."

"Do you have what the civilians look like?"

Ink pulled out a folder and Deva grabbed it carefully as he looked through it. Deva then felt ice crawl into his soul as he looked at a familiar-looking elemental monster. Deva looked at the other pictures to feel the ice grow more. Every photo he saw he grew more in despair and shock. He closed the folder with a large snap as he hugged Gen while he started to rattle.

He could feel as Bardo called for him and everyone trying to calm him but he was too far gone in the memories and emotions. Then a calming sensation wrapped around him as his emotions finally sated for the time being.

"-va!!! Deva, are you with us right now?"

Deva shook his head as he focused his sight to see everyone looking at him with worry. Deva took some breathes as he nodded slowly to them.

"Yes, yes. I'm okay now, it's just.....I know these beings. I knew them from my hometown that I moved away from."

"Eh?/Woah!!!!/How convient./The same place?"

"Yes, my hometown had a number of people that had the same markings as me. I knew them as I would see them daily. The town has everyone register their markings but my family hid them and put me down as a Star, which in that town meant I had no marking. That had reasons to do this as if I was registered. Those that were registered.....vanished after a few years. Everyone knew that the government of the town had something to do with it but no evidence was present."

Deva remembered how those that were registered looked haunted or even frightened of their own shadow. Many disappeared around after a few years but Deva remembered how they looked so frightened or even fearful of the higher-ups in the town. Deva thankfully moved away to the current town he was in but he never knew what happened anymore in his town as his parents made sure to never tell him anything that happened there.

Both dusted about two years back and everyone thought it was old age but Deva knew that the town had something to do with their deaths. Deva kept silent on the matter but he made sure that he had everything on him that can easily kill a monster or human.

Deva wasn't making any chances with that town.

"Do you know why they would do this?"

Blue asked this question and everyone looked curious. Deva sighed silently as he answered truthfully.

"No, I don't know myself. But if I had to guess.....they are doing something with the Soul Changing Pill and Determination."

The three grown skeletons looked grim while Bardo hugged Deva and Gen.

Deva sighed shakily as he hugged Bardo and Gen while the carriage became grim for all the occupants.

Looks like the past is rearing its ugly head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Sir, we have gathered multiple markings from the failures. But we are missing the sacrifice."

"Hmm......"

"Sir?"

"....Gather the Assassin Grim and Information Broker Cerb. We have a Star to find."

"And what shall we do with the Star?"

"Why, what else do we need? We need the star to have the ultimate being of course~."

"As you wish, Lord 404."