"But..." Morio wanted to say something but simply looked down.
"Ugh!" Jyuzou turned to the side. "You can't even do basic things without asking others for help! Someone always has to be there for you..."
"Jyuzou. Enough." Victoria stated, in a serious tone.
"You know it too, Victoria!" Jyuzou raised his voice. "That's just how he-"
Morio suddenly stood up, as the empty bowl fell to the ground. He quickly opened the door, stepped out and shut it.
Jyuzou breathed in and out, heavily.
"Jyuzou! Damn it!" Victoria yelled out, smashing the table with her fist. "What's with you today?"
Jyuzou ground his teeth.
"I know he's different from you, but that's no reason to act all mighty about yourself," Victoria said, standing up. "Sorry if you don't like him, he's leaving tomorrow so he won't bother ya." she crossed her arms, pissed off.
"I do, but... he's just... not ready..!" Jyuzou slammed the table.
"Are you just angry that he's leaving and you are not?" she asked, standing up and putting the two bowls into some water.
"What..?"
"I know how children behave, and most importantly, I know you, Jyuzou." she looked out the window, sighing. "You're a child too."
"No. I just want him to grow up." Jyuzou said, scratching his nose. He grabbed onto the spoon without looking and got a small wound on his finger. "Ow... ow..." he cried out. "It hurts..!"
"Oh, Shin." Victoria shook her head, quickly wrapping a small cloth around Jyuzou's finger, as he kept weeping. "You're not much more mature than him, you know?" she smirked.
"Hey! I-It's a s-serious wound!"
"Sure."
So, over this little argument, Morio spent these last few hours swinging his stone sword against the trees around Mistwick, instead of doing what Bancho asked him to. Victoria quickly went out to search for him, but the moment he caught a glimpse of her, Morio ran away, hiding in a new place, sinking his face into his knees. After a few times, she gave up and went back to prepare some food for the ceremony, catching up with Bancho, and telling him what happened.
The sun finally set, the fires were lit up and the ceremony has begun, without as big of a blast as last year's. Fewer people danced, fewer people played on the guitars and fewer people showed up, to begin with. However, this time, Bancho was there, and the kids surrounded him, waiting for a story. All except for Morio and Jyuzou.
Morio sat in the same pose as before, only now near the fire. Bancho looked at him from time to time, a bit worried.
"Every child throws a tantrum from time to time. Gloria wasn't any different, eh?" Bancho thought as the young ones surrounding him passed a small wooden box around, looking at it in awe. "I'm not sure if this is just simple rebellion, though." he closed his eyes, putting his finger on his cheek.
Jyuzou slept for quite a while after dinner, putting his head under a book. After waking up, he thought about the whole situation for a bit. He then set out towards the ceremony, almost ready to apologise for what he said to Morio. He treaded through the thick snow and stopped only when his finger started hurting again. He looked at the cloth, as it got tainted in fresh blood, atop the one that dried out.
"Stupid wound. It really is that serious, Victoria!" Jyuzou said, grinding his teeth. He began walking again, before seeing something in the distance, standing in the way of the path that lead to the fire.
A ghostly apparition, with half a crown, and a chain wrapped around its transparent body.
"Hhh!" Jyuzou stepped back, in fear, before tripping on the ground. He closed his eyes, covering them with his hands. His entire body was shaking.
After a while, he decided to peak through a small gap in-between his fingers. The ghost wasn't there anymore. Jyuzou stood up, brushing the snow off his purple outfit, as he decided to walk back to the house, instead of attending the ceremony. He shook his head, still trembling.
Morio sucked his thumb, crossing his legs. Suddenly, Bancho walked up to him, and Morio didn't even bat an eyelid. He sat down against the small snowy hedge and reached for something that was in his pocket. "You always suck your thumb when you're stressed, I noticed."
"You're not Mama. Why do you care for me so much?"
"I'm starting to think that you'd like someone to take care of you. It's normal."
Morio opened his mouth, as he was about to say something, but nothing came out.
Bancho shrugged and put the Thaduk near his mouth, as a light melody flew out of its pipes and filled the entire area with a clear sound. Morians put down their guitars, and even the fire went silent. A cloud moved through the night sky.
Bancho closed his eyes, sinking into the music, as Morio breathed out, frowning. The piece he played was one that he created, titled 'Grandfather Shin'
The colours of the sky shined brighter than before. Green, blue, turning into red at times, all illuminating the snowy lands. Morians all around town who heard the tune stopped for a moment and looked up, feeling a strange blessing passing through their bodies. One, signifying a peace that already existed, combined with a mellow sadness of the things that were going to come, or leave, for that matter.
After three minutes, Bancho stopped, putting the Thaduk back into his pocket. None of the Morians clapped, they simply shared a smile with one another.
"Consider this a song I played for the last ceremony before you leave," Bancho said, putting his hand on Morio's shoulder.
"Thank you," Morio said, sighing.
Some time passed, and people started talking, guitars started to sound once more, and Morians gathered around the fire, dancing. Some threw their Metho seeds into the passing river which flew from the Whiteburn mountains, with the melody still ringing in their ears.
Bancho stood up, heading towards the chair he always sat on, now taken by one of the rather mischievous young Morians.
Morio put his hand on his forehead, feeling slight pain and dizziness.
All of a sudden, Bancho grabbed him by the arm, abruptly leaving the ceremony.
"Wait, what's happening?!" Morio raised his voice.
"Sh." Bancho shushed him. Morians looked at them, as confused as Morio was.
"Where are we going? Mr Bancho?" Morio kept asking, but he didn't answer. Each step they took seemed to be faster than the last one.
Finally, they made it towards Bancho's tree house, as he quickly opened the door, almost pushing Morio in and closing it from the inside. He put down his coat, threw it onto the bed and walked up the stairs.
"I-I don't understand! Mr Bancho! Mr Bancho?!" Morio yelled. "Why did we leave? Did I do something wrong?"
"Morio, come upstairs." Bancho peaked his head out from the railing. Morio nodded, before running up.
Bancho stepped out to a balcony area, blowing out the candle that stood on the table. He looked out into the distance, past the hills and meadows, and focused on a thick forest, further from any house in Mistwick.
He breathed out, before sitting down and rubbing the sweat off his face. "Morio, sit down please." he pointed, as Morio took the opposite seat, putting his hands to the side.
"What's happening?"
"I couldn't tell you back then, during the ceremony. People would start panicking if they even heard a murmur of my words." he breathed in. "I saw a demon in those woods."
"The Uvo F-Forest?" Morio asked. "Wait, a demon?" he asked, terrified.
"Not a Goblin or a Centura. A demon." Bancho explained, in worry.
"Oh... no..." Morio shook his head, putting his hands on his face. "We... we have to go back and tell them to end the ceremony! You need to kill it!"
"Morio, shh. Please. I don't want to cause a stir. It won't attack us, I'm sure of it."
Morio gulped. "But... my mama..." Morio looked into Bancho's eyes, which seemed to wander all over the place. "She won't wake up because of a demon. This can't happen to anyone else..!"
Bancho pressed his finger against Morio's mouth, telling him to keep silent. He listened in on the sounds of the ceremony and then focused on anything that would come out from the Uvo Forest.
"Demons won't attack people that don't have any fear they could exploit. For all the years I've lived, I made sure to keep the town of Mistwick as safe as I possibly could. I poured all of my life and soul into telling others not to be afraid, and after some time, we created a place where we're all convinced nothing will happen to us. If that rule was broken once again, they wouldn't brush it off like last time." he stood up, looking at Mistwick from above. "I want to keep it this way."
"Then... was mama afraid of something? She never seemed like it."
Bancho turned to Morio. "She didn't have to be afraid. Through all the things I've researched and seen this year... Gloria's fall must've been a targeted attack."
"What? But why would anyone want to kill my mama? She's a good person, I'm sure!"
Bancho bit his nails. "She is."
"She... was always there when I needed her. I could always... rely... on her..." Morio looked to the side.
"This isn't a conversation that we should be having on the balcony..." Bancho stepped inside, closing the door and signalling for Morio to come.
Bancho lit up a Metho seed, placed it in the other room and grabbed onto a few papers, before handing them to Morio, who sat on the bed.
"Recognize this guy?" Bancho asked, pointing to a drawing on a sheet he held. It was of a dark-haired man, smiling at the moon.
"No..." Morio answered, putting one hand to the side.
"He's a demon," Bancho answered. "...and an extremely powerful one at that. If Shin ever stepped out from the heavens, I think he might be a match for his power."
"A-Are you serious..?"
"Obviously. There must be the strongest in a race of fleas. You'd pick out the most beautiful flower for your garden, wouldn't you, Morio?"
Morio nodded.
"I've heard..." Bancho stopped for a moment. "That he was just like us back before the second war, but... something caused him to snap, killing all of the humans that were once his friends. After the war ended, he was locked up at the top of Mount Aria, with the sacrifice of two lives which keep him imprisoned. One, that strengthened and erected a massive wall, separating Life and Death, and the other... it's still unknown to this day, but I think it's better that we don't have a clue. For 170 years, nothing could be heard of him. People even started thinking that he might be dead, until... your mother fell into a coma."
"What..?" Morio asked, scared.
"News spread around Errarion faster than you'd think. Even things from Mistwick. I've consulted with many people I've found that took interest in this topic. They all believe in the same thing. Somehow, somewhere deep inside Mount Aria, something caused... Shi Hon to wake up."
Morio gulped.
"If he can't do it himself, why wouldn't he try to send out a demon to do the work for him? After all, he deemed himself their king."
"But... why would they attack someone like mama? What did she ever do to deserve this?"
"This could've just been the start of his slow rise. One day, he may kill another."
"Was it because she was a Demonear? Why aren't you dead, then?" Morio yelled out. "Why did it have to be her? Why... why me? What did I ever do wrong?!"
Bancho put his hand on Morio's shoulder and crouched, looking at his face. "We can't tell fate to do one thing or the other. None of that is up to us, Morio. However, you still hold onto something in life, don't you? Hope." he smiled a bit.
Morio ground his teeth.
"I think... it's best if you stayed in Mistwick." Bancho said. "Shimori isn't the same as the town you know so well. It isn't decorated with lights hanging above doors or with carved-out paths for you to walk. Food is scarce, and... who knows what things hide in the dark? Demons... any dangerous creatures. You're at risk the second you leave Mistwick's premises. Especially now. I had to kill many demons to travel back home. Maybe... it's better if you waited for a few more years, or-"
"No!" Morio suddenly yelled out. "I... I can't miss this opportunity, Mr Bancho! I'm old enough! I promised myself something... I would become a Demonear, so I could protect others, my mama, and my friends. So I don't have to rely on anyone's help. You won't see me as this... useless child anymore, right? I don't want anyone to help me. I'm fine on my own." Morio nodded, putting a hand on his heart.
Bancho was still unsure.
"What if this happens again? What if someone tries to ruin the peace of Mistwick, and then there is no one to protect it? Not you, not Mama... not even me. I don't want things to change. I want to come back to the town I know and see it the same way it always was. Snow that's warm, when it should be cold... Cups of Glaska passed around from one Morian to the next, feasts after the ceremonies, songs on the Thaduk..." he shook his head. "I will not let Mistwick become something that it isn't. I'm ready to become a Demonear, Mr Bancho!!!" he yelled out.
Bancho put his fingers beneath his nose, and a soft smile greeted Morio's face. "Sure you are, Morio." he put his hand on his head, feeling his soft hair in between his old fingers. He looked into his shining eyes. "This is exactly what I'm talking about. Hope. It's gleaming there, brighter than the stars." he pointed at Morio's pupils. "I won't keep you here, Morio."
Morio nodded. "I... I'll make mama proud. I'll make you proud, Mr Bancho! Jyuzou, too! I promise!"
"Phew. I was worried that you lost that sparkle in you for a moment there. When you sat there, your head buried in your knees. But I guess you still have it in you." Bancho walked towards the door. "I'll be going back to the ceremony, then. Morio, sleep here for the night. Get a good night's sleep before your journey. I'll fetch you the stuff from Victoria's house. You're all set, right?"
Morio glanced to the side, sucking his thumb again.
"Morio..?" Bancho said, in a slightly different tone.
"Y-Yes," Morio answered. "Thank you, Mr Bancho."
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