"There's still much to be said about the last troupe members who'll be joining us, regardless of their talents. I'd like to think of these three as ones with minute skills, maybe undiscovered, yet, still essential, but there's no part in trying to name what we can and can't do." Bancho looked around. "There's always something a human can achieve, and whether you've been picked or not, please remember-"

"Get on with it already, Bancho," Anna uttered, all of a sudden.

"E-Excuse me?" Bancho looked a little confused.

"If I was invited here, out of the blue, then I have to be in the troupe, right? I wouldn't be sitting ducks or Lignorian squirrels," she smirked, standing up.

"Eh?" Bancho blinked twice. "K-Kashmir?"

"Anna-Pom Straus." Kashmir read, slightly bored already. "Element-"

"No need to." she raised a finger. "I know who I am, and the others will have a chance of learning eventually. Like Bancho said."

"I said that?" Bancho whispered to a Tributal standing behind.

"Maybe?" they responded.

"Even if you didn't." Anna-Pom sat down. "It was a very convoluted way of sending that message across."

Bancho beamed lightly, chuckling, rather surprised that the expression on her face didn't match his. It was more of a sour frown, combined with a melancholic look in her eyes. Bancho coughed out, staring forward, and right at Ambrosia's face, which contrasted hers. The smile didn't seem to disappear from this one.

"Ekhm." Bancho brushed the sweat off his forehead. "The next person is a Tributal." he quickly added.

"I vow to be replaced!" Rowan raised their hand. "I don't need to be on the discovery team!"

"Who would you put in your place?" Atomu asked.

"Zibun right here." Rowan pointed to the Tributal standing next to Lamon. "They seem very eager."

"HEY." Zibun raised their voice. "WHAT THE-"

"Like Bancho said, Rowan. There's nothing that stops you from saying no." Lamon muttered, slightly exhausted.

"B-But." Rowan backed out into their chair. "Yeesh. Zibun wouldn't do it."

Zibun furrowed their eyebrows, and Lamon tapped his shoulder a few times. Zibun turned to Lamon, and the other guard nodded.

"Yes, Mr Bancho." Ambrosia suddenly stood up.

"Who else?" Bancho sat straight, and Ambrosia trod forward, their long, ginger hair wrapping around their shoulders.

"Ambrosia Sven," Kashmir noted. "You're a Qurnasar, much like most Tributals."

"Precisely." Ambrosia nodded, still smiling.

"Use your powers like you normally would. Strike with precision, and don't forget about your family's power." Kashmir didn't feel like adding much more, putting a leg over his other thigh.

Ambrosia bowed, then took a few steps back and into their chair. They straightened up, pushing their hands into their thighs.

"That's right. It's them." Atomu whispered, peeking his head out from behind the still-excited Chyuuichi.

"Who's who?" The Mirillian asked.

"Didn't I tell you? Rowan's Chicho mercilessly killed a demon with Tributal magic during the test."

"Huh..." Chyuuichi turned as well, focusing. The Paladian looked into Ambrosia's eyes, which, oddly enough, seemed dull and empty, despite the smile which stained their face.

Atomu trembled a bit, and then Ambrosia turned to him.

They waved, opening their mouth, as the other eventually waved back, with an awkward smile.

"Is something wrong, my friend?" Elton asked, folding his arms.

"Tributal," he answered.

"Then, as things have almost settled, your thoughts are, rightfully, pointing to the last member of the troupe. After all, we waited an entire year for him to come. For his power to visit once more, and the hope dreaming inside to awaken."

Morio breathed heavily, squeezing his emblem, feeling a slight stab in his throat, yet, the noise that constantly rang in his ears eased out, fading into an unsure silence. He fixated on one point in the checkered floor, a small crack at its edge, resembling a thunder.

"Morio?" Jyuzou asked, again, pushing on his shoulder.

The noises disappeared, now replaced by the waterfalls hitting the surface and the whispers of those around him.

"Morio Frisks." Kashmir put down the paper, confident in his words. "I've seen your Guardian Demon once. It was crafted in this palace, after all. Much like your Morian friend, your heart belongs in the Vitaglia quadrant." Kashmir nodded.

"Th-thank you." Morio fidgeted around with his fingers. "It's an honour."

"However, despite your earlier signs of valour, there's still much for you to learn about being a Demonear, Vit Morio." Kashmir stood up, crossed his arms and walked around the circle. "In fact, all of you. I'd say my dear friend Bancho over there's a fool for his choices, but most of you can't even cast a simple spell."

"Hehe, not me though." Chyuuichi laughed, speaking to the same person he didn't know who sat beside him.

"You may have learnt a spell, Ska Chyuuichi, but your fear attacks and new elemental ones still leave a lot to be desired." Kashmir quickly turned, throwing the long end of his suit up, as it flew up from the passing wind.

Chyuuichi opened his mouth slightly.

"The Discoverers set out a few days before the Star Cave Troupe, at the end of Herbes, and I want the twelve of you to use that time to perhaps learn something useful. Be it, the simple things, yet beneficial." Kashmir put his hands behind his back. "A great Demonear doesn't appear out of the blue. It may not be enough time, but use it wisely, and with brains."

"Y-Yes, sir!" Atomu nodded, a little scared, and Kashmir turned his gaze at him for a moment.

"Well." Kashmir raised his head, pursing his lips. "I'm especially talking about one person. A human with an element found once in a Malikan moon. A great power, hidden behind a steel wall of warmth." his eye drifted towards Morio before the Zenon turned to him fully.

The others quickly looked at the Morian who backed out, gulping. "Me?" he asked, in a weak, quiet voice.

"Oh, Shin." Bancho stood up. "There's only one element that beats all of the other ones when it comes to sheer power. You've seen it, haven't you, Morio? A lot of things were surely at work at that time, but, they were carried by those thunderous bolts dreaming inside your Guardian Demon. Your element... you, y-yourself." Bancho stopped, taking a deep breath.

"M-Me?" Morio repeated.

"You're the only one that can stand a tiny chance against Shi Hon."

Morio's eyes shrunk, and he took another step back, almost tripping. Lots of people gasped, and words sounded once more.

Kashmir turned his furrowed eyebrows towards the Wise, quickly stepping over.

"There was no hiding the truth. He had to have learned eventually." The Wise explained, and it seemed like everyone felt like this was the right chance to speak their mind.

Atomu stood up, too. "That's too much of a responsibility. You can't just say that!"

"Yeh!" Chyuuichi joined in. "Nuh uh, not Morin!"

And other people joined, all exchanging thoughts on this ordeal, from both sides of the conflict. They started pushing chairs, walking into the circle, pointing fingers at each other and trying to yell louder than the other person. Through all this, Morio still wasn't sure.

He kept moving back, his hands unconsciously landing on the metal fence separating the balcony from the waters below. He gazed at the waterfalls for a moment, hearing words he couldn't make out, echoing back to him.

Looking up from the balcony, he blinked a few times, before everything grew smaller. The trees, the valleys, the waterfalls and the birds flying by. All stood behind something much more powerful looming in the front.

A white willow, weaving in the wind.

The emblem fell out from beneath his clothes and obscured his view.

The young Morian reached his hand out towards the necklace, clenching it in his palm.

Morio closed his eyes and pushed through the arguments.

"I'll kill him. I'll do it!" Morio vowed as everyone went quiet. He furrowed his eyebrows. "I'll be the one to kill Shi Hon if need be. If that's what must be done, I c-can handle the responsibility."

"Morio..." Bancho muttered.

He hid the emblem. "You won't convince me otherwise!"

Bancho breathed out. "Perhaps our argument was in vain. All along, we should've simply waited for his response."

Morio smiled, despite the unlikely odds.

"Thank you, brave, young Morian."

***

As established earlier, both groups would set out towards the end of Herbes, right before the big heatwaves on the first days of Gorro. These were known to be quite unbearable at times, especially in the more southern regions of Errarion, and in that case, it was the entirety of the Mainland. Gorro brought scorching days, as well as bountiful rainstorms in Lignoria. Most Paladians often expressed their united tiredness of such weather, but most weren't willing to admit to looking out of their huts or tents outside or feeling the fresh air that battled the dry days.

But, that wasn't something to worry about for Star Cave Troupe, as they'd be spending those unbearably hot hours in the depths of damp and cold caves. Official dates were set, after a while. The Discoverers were to set out on the 78th of Herbes, and the Star Cave Troupe three days later, on the 81st, and through Bancho's calculations, they would've made it back to Magna on the first few days of Gorro.

Seasons lasted a different amount of days. Yule was known to be the shortest and harshest in Shimori, spanning eighty-seven and marking the beginning of a new year. Herbes lasted until the ninetieth, turning into Gorro, the longest season, all up until the ninety-fifth. Then, came the contrasting Dear, at ninety-three days long.

Every four years, however, Yule had one extra day sprinkled between the 57th and 58th day, bringing the total to 365 days in a year and 366 in a leap year.

For many years, the wisest people of Errarion tried to find a way to measure time. Finally, a method was discovered on a remote island far from the Mainland a few years before the first war.

Prior to that, there was no written timeline for events, but nowadays time passed like the Shimorian sparrows leaving the warmer and warmer Shimori and heading towards Lignoria to sleep for the Gorro.

Nearing the days the groups would set out, everyone was in full swing with their training.

Morio was so dedicated to bettering himself that he never skipped a single day when it came to even the minute details of a Demonear's strength. He kept zipping around with his first elemental attack, finally getting the hang of its tricks and winding directions, but never found an opportunity to use the second one, let alone tap into his fear.

On the first few days, he trained with Jyuzou, but the other Morian quickly deduced that his methods of training were inhumane, and went elsewhere. Oddly enough, Jyuzou, even if he wasn't as dedicated as Morio, kept Kashmir's word and trained his skills in his tempo, seldom joining Chyuuichi, finding a common topic, despite the odds, and Morio dragged Atomu to most of his exercises, which also meant that Elton followed them around since he had nothing better to do other than to work on his toolmaking abilities.

Morio raised his voice, striking at the bat in Atomu's hands thrice with his dull Victis sword.

"Ah, Morio!" Atomu raised his voice, taking bigger and bigger steps back each time the hit connected. The bat snapped in half, and Atomu wobbled, almost losing his balance.

"Keep striking! Kill the demon!" Morio yelled, smirking, and ducked, attacking Atomu's leg.

Atomu pursed his lips, before falling over to the ground.

"Phew!" Morio stood up, brushing the sweat off his forehead. "Atomu, please don't hold back!"

"What do you mean?! I'm trying to make a move but you keep hitting like you mean it!" Atomu sat up. "...and what's up with those names? I'm not a d-demon!"

"I guess it helps me imagine my threat and makes me want to eliminate it!" Morio raised his sword. "Bwahaha!"

"I-I'll defeat you this time..!" Atomu furrowed his brows and kicked the purple leaves which lay around his feet, shooting up. "Elton, another bat!"

"Ah!" Elton woke up from a nap. "O-Okay, my friend!"

Despite being more versed in hard and unbendable materials, Elton knew how to make things out of wood, leaves, and even cotton. Jyuzou once spotted the Paladian sewing clothes for the Nuil, and vowed to compete, even if Elton wasn't that keen on the idea. He was brutally honest, telling Jyuzou that, "might be the worst idea I've ever heard".

From that day on, Jyuzou always gave Elton a mean look.

Either way, the toolsmith quickly got to work, while Morio wandered forward, sliding his sword against the trees before stopping in front of one with many marks near its bark.

"Don't sharpen your sword against the trees, Morio," Atomu said, slowly walking towards him, but Morio didn't respond. With a few more steps, the Paladian stood in front of the same bark, meeting Morio's frown.

"This is where we trained a year ago," Morio said. "Before heading to the test."

"You and Jyuzou?" Atomu turned to him.

"No, um... there was one more Morian." he started sliding the weapon around the marks. "Jeffy. You remember him, don't you?"

"Uh." Atomu scratched the back of his head and then played with his hair. "Morio... um."

"I know he's dead." Morio quickly uttered, looking at Atomu. "...and that there's nothing I can do about it." he put the sword back into its sheath and forced a smile. "I hope he's looking at me from where Shin sits and beams every time things go great. He'd want me to achieve great things, Atomu. But I wish he was there to witness the world with me. Do you think he'd join us?" he asked.

"If..." Atomu froze for a moment. "If he was a great Demonear, and, most importantly, a great friend, then I'm sure, Morio."

Morio beamed, clenching his fist. "Yeah. Let's continue with the training, Atomu."