Bancho put the Metho seed at the end of a wooden pipe in his mouth, and grabbed 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, with horns extending like antlers.

"No," Morio answered, putting one hand to the side. "Who's that?"

"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. "He was just like everyone else before the second war. One of the good demons, as explained. Something caused him to snap, however, killing all of the humans in Asno."

"I think Jyuzou said something about that once."

"Yeah." Bancho nodded. "He was a little intrusive with the questions."

Jyuzou, who sat on the other side of the slightly ajar window raised one eyebrow, before turning and almost peeking inside.

"After the war ended, humanity's triumph forced him to retreat to the depths of Mount Aria, with the sacrifice of two lives which kept 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 should stay that way." he closed his eyes. "For 170 years, though, nothing was heard of him. People even started thinking that he might be dead, until..."

Bancho stopped.

"Until what?" Morio asked.

"Gloria was attacked."

Morio opened his mouth, staring into the distance.

"News spread around Errarion faster than you'd think. Even things from Mistwick. I've consulted with many people I've found who took an interest in this topic. They all believe in the same thing. Demons have reasons for attacking people. Even though you could say they never feared anything... you can't resist the force of someone living for hundreds of years and brewing that strength."

Morio gulped.

"If it wasn't going to be Shi Hon himself, why not a demon he could easily control the mind of?"

"W-Why would Shi Hon attack someone like Mama? What did she ever do to deserve this?"

"There might've been thousands of reasons for this. It could also be a coincidence, but unlike everyone else, I think it's highly unlikely." Bancho nodded. "I want to deny such with every ounce and fibre of my being... but it's better to blow on cold glaska than get burnt twice."

"Why... why did it have to be her?" Morio raised his voice. "Why did something like this happen to me? Did I do something wrong? Did Mama sin against Shin for... it..." he ground his teeth, unable to utter another word.

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?" he smiled a bit.

Morio ground his teeth.

"Hope," he added, moving back a little. Morio followed his movements with his eyes, and Jyuzou slid down into a nearby snowdrift, gulping. "That being said," he turned. "I think it's best if you stayed in Mistwick," Bancho said. 

"Shimori isn't as safe as this town. It isn't decorated with lights hanging above doors or carved-out paths for you to walk. Food is scarce, and Shin knows what can hide in the dark of the night. Demons, any dangerous creatures. You're at risk the second you leave Mistwick's premises. Especially now. I had to slay through many demons to travel back home."

"B-But-" Morio spoke.

"If that isn't a telltale sign of my worries, then I don't know what is. The world was always dangerous, but it's even worse than that, especially now. I reckon it's better if you waited for a few more years, or so. When you're older-"

"No!" Morio suddenly yelled out. "I-I can't miss this opportunity, Mr Bancho! I promised myself and everyone else that I'd become the strongest Demonear!"

Bancho took a step back, a bit shocked.

"So I can protect everyone! S-So I don't have to rely on anyone's help..." he clenched his fists.

Jyuzou stared through the window, moving back a little.

"I'm old enough already, and even if all of Errarion would throw its hands at me, I'd gladly fight right back!" Morio nodded, putting a hand on his heart.

Bancho blinked.

"What if all this happens again, Mr Bancho? 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. Warm snow, when it should be cold." he counted on his fingers. "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 shouted.

Bancho put his fingers beneath his nose, and a soft smile greeted Morio's face. "There's no convincing you, as far as I can tell." he put his hand on his head, feeling his soft hair in between his old fingers. "You are just like her, Morio. You'll always have your way."

Their glances met, for a second.

Morio nodded. "I'll make everyone proud, Mr Bancho!" he added. "Pinky promise."

"Heh. You even know those Manjuno expressions. Rare to see someone easily move through the common Errarion tongue at your age. More proof, then."

Morio grinned.

Bancho walked to the door. "I'll be going back to the ceremony, then. Get a good night's sleep before your journey."

"Can I crash here, then?" he asked, sticking his tongue out.

"Well, I guess I'll be sleeping upstairs, then. I'll fetch you the stuff from Victoria's house. You're all set, right?"

Morio glanced to the side, looking around for a moment. Jyuzou eventually stood up, before running out to the main road and towards the river.

"Morio..?" Bancho said, in a slightly different tone.

"Y-Yes," Morio answered. "Thank you, Mr Bancho!"

***

The next morning, Morio woke up to the early sun cascading over his nose. He stood up, looking around for a moment. He put a dark brown vest over his white button-up, tied his pants and fixed his vast pantlegs, put some of the seeds he found earlier into a small pouch, and as he was about to grab his blue jacket, he noticed something else, laying on the table.

He picked up a small note. 'I'm leaving you with my Talia, a thick cloak, warmer than any of your coats or jackets. Wrap it around your body in the colds of the night or swing it back when it gets warmer. I'm sorry that I won't be there to see you set out on your own, or help you through to Magna. You said it yourself, though.'

'I'm going to seek more answers in the other countries of Errarion, to hopefully prevent all those worst things from happening. Through broken promises, however, I can assure you, that I'll be there in two weeks to see you flawlessly pass the exam. When we meet, tell me what you saw in your sword's blade, when the morning sun shined on it. Good luck, Morio.'

Signed, Bancho.

Morio smiled a bit, before throwing the cape over his clothes, stuffing the jacket into the backpack and putting on his big shoes, stepping out of the house. He locked it with the silver key and put it into a small hole he could barely reach.

He turned around, looking at the quiet buildings and trees which made up the city of Mistwick.

***

The coming week was comprised mostly of the last preparations. Morio's formal goodbyes to Victoria and Jyuzou, planning out routes through the many drawn copies of Shimori, making sure that he wouldn't land headfirst into danger and such.

Through vows and other words, Morio was also given lots of advice from the oldest and youngest of the village. Even the simplest of things, such as differentiating between the nutritious Metho and less desirable Shato seed could come in handy, although Morio was bored out of his mind listening to some of the adults talk.

Either way, food was prepared, clothes were made or given and on a cold, quiet morning, the day of his leaving came.

Morio wandered into the hamlet of Mistwick, finding Gloria in bed.

He looked at her face, as calm as if the dreams she had were nothing but eternal happiness, running around in flower fields for hours or simply relaxing

He took the map of Mistwick out of his pocket, folded it and put it on the inside of one of her clenched hands. "I promised you'd be the first to see it." He put his hands on her shoulder and left a quick kiss on her forehead. "I'll be fine, Mama!"

***

Victoria looked out the window and spotted Morio running towards the snowy exits. She stirred some of the glaska in her cup and sat down. "Gloria's kid, Gloria herself." she sipped. "I guess Morio wasn't as bad as she made him out to be. All that maturity Jyuzou went on about... I don't know what goes through their little minds." she smiled, muttering to herself. "I have to thank her, though. If it wasn't for her on that day, I'd still be rotting in Wendigo, heh, if not thrown into the waters below." she took a sip. "She helped me learn how to take care of my life, taught me how to make the best of glaskas. She even cut my hair into this beautiful curly bob" she smirked. "In a way, Gloria was like a mother to me too."

Jyuzou opened a drawer and put a shining necklace over his head, cushioning it below his button-up and purpur sweater. He stood up and walked out of his room.

"Where you headed to?" Victoria asked.

"Y-You're already awake?" Jyuzou asked, jumping up.

"Yep. I figured I'd say goodbye to Morio before he left," she smirked.

"He left already?" Jyuzou asked. "Oh, damn it!"

"There's my answer, then."

"R-Right." Jyuzou fixed his glasses and cleared his throat. "I meant to say my goodbyes.

"Mhm." Victoria turned around, heading to the other room. "Your backpack and that coat I made you are near the door."

"Well, it's just a quick t-trip there and back."

"I'm not stupid, Jyuzou," she uttered. "Put on your gloves. It's quite cold today."

Jyuzou looked around for a moment, before turning to the mentioned items. He stared at the coat, picked the backpack up, and eventually left the house.

"I'll be back!" Jyuzou raised his voice.

"Don't die out there!" Victoria added, snickering.

***

Morio stood in between the two junipers, signalling the exit from the town of Mistwick and into the unknowns of Shimori. He took out the stone sword from his sheath, flipping it around.

'Victis' were the words carved into the blade. He put the weapon back in and closed his eyes for a moment, taking another step.

"MORIO! WAIT!" Jyuzou yelled, running at extreme speeds. "WAIT FOR ME!"

"Jyuzou?"

The mentioned Morian leapt, accidentally tripping over the snowdrift and rolling down the hill. Morio laughed, and Jyuzou fixed his glasses, then threw something in his direction. "Hold this for a second!"

"Wait, what? I only packed one backpack! I can't carry two!" Morio said, as Jyuzou brushed the snow off his coat and went through the fluffy pads on his shoulders, which extended around his neck.

"You won't carry it," Jyuzou added.

"Then a sledge? Like the ones the older guys use to get those fish from the river into the hamlet?" Morio asked.

"You really are a dumbass, Morio." Jyuzou smiled, taking the backpack from his hands. "I'm coming with you, damn it."

Morio opened his mouth, gasping. "Really? REALLY?!"

"Am I a liar?" Jyuzou smirked, chortling.

"YAHOO!" Morio jumped up, clenching both fists. "What made you change your mind after all?"

"For one, I can't complete my journal if I always stay inside Mistwick, and, um..." he scratched his neck. "I guess you'll be needing a partner. Someone to keep you company throughout the journey." he twirled with some of his curly hair. "I guess I'll be the one to do it." he rolled his eyes.

"Always knew you wanted to come. Tsk." Morio winked. "Even if you said otherwise, here you are, joining the child in his ventures!

Jyuzou put his wounded finger into his back pocket. "Shut up."

"Okay, then we're ready!" Morio turned around. "It's a three-day walk from Mistwick to Wendigo."

"You're the one with the map." the glassy-eyed added.

"Precisely, Jyuzou! I'll lead the way!" Morio smiled, confidently, as the two began walking out of the town and into the Camp Forest.

"You don't have to be so stuck up about it!" Jyuzou yelled out, as Morio laughed, snorting.

The sun shined over Mount Aria, casting a shadow onto the lands.

The young Morians set out to the Demonear test.