"It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." – William Shakespeare

Colonnello didn't let Tsuna go when they departed the mine, and soothed his nausea with his small spell. Though grateful, Tsuna couldn't get rid of the chamber's stench from his nose; it was severely imprinted in his mind, alongside the images of mangled limbs and gutted bodies. He took deep, shaky breaths as a means to calm himself, but horrors like that rarely left willingly.

A cool hand touched his forehead. Viper murmured something in the same language Colonnello had spoken the day—or days?—before, their voice soft and lilting. Swiftly, the memories of the grotesque sights and smell vanished from Tsuna's mind, as if they were being drained. Tsuna blinked when Viper finally pulled away.

"This will not be routine," they said, crafting a soft ball of light between them. Their face was mostly covered by the hood of their cloak; however, Tsuna could see purple markings on their cheeks that resembled inverted triangles. "But take it as my gratitude for letting me free. I got rid of your need for basic human functions temporarily."

Tsuna furrowed his brows. "Basic human functions?"

"You won't experience hunger, thirst or the need to sleep." The ball of light grew bigger above them, illuminating some of their surroundings. "They will only hinder us from our mission. Don't worry. Your body won't waste away. It's fixed in time. Come, we should keep moving."

"Tsuna," Colonnello said, making the them pause, "I didn't know you could use magic. I thought you were only a hunter, not a mage."

Blinking, Tsuna looked down at the gloves that adorned his hands. The black leather was smooth against his skin, and when he curled his fingers into loose fists, the ring glimmered, its orange hue bright under the soft light. "I don't have magic," he said. "It was from the gloves."

Colonnello pursed his lips. "No, they are not the source of your fire."

"He's right," Viper said, floating closer to Tsuna with the ball of light following their movement. "They are artifacts that only strengthen the wearer's magic, not create it. I sensed your core when I was freed; it is potent…and dormant."

The unease that settled between the gods had Tsuna becoming a little anxious, too. Before he could voice his questions, Viper reached out to place a hand on Tsuna's chest; the sudden weight of their palm made Tsuna tense. Colonnello only stopped himself from pulling the other god away when Viper mumbled an unfamiliar incantation under their breath.

Something light coiled inside Tsuna's chest, like a current of air. It snaked through his veins, a hot, pulsing sensation that thrummed inside his body. Widening his eyes, Tsuna looked up at Viper in question. "What—What is that?" he croaked out. "What did you do?"

"Remove your hand," Colonnello said lowly, moving to swipe Viper's arm away. His hand merely passed through a small puff of smoke, much to his chagrin.

Viper jerked back as if they were stung. "Your magic was sealed."

Their voice sent shivers down Tsuna's spine; it was soft, but had a slight hiss to it that promised blood. That wasn't all. A spark of intense light flashed in Tsuna's eyes, blinding him, and the sensation of violent waves slammed into him full-throttle, much more intense than the last time he'd felt Colonnello's anger. Everything started to burn from the inside until it was doused by something cool and familiar.

"Breathe," a voice whispered in Tsuna's ear. "Breathe with me, Tsuna. You're fine. You're here with me."

Tsuna opened his eyes, unsure of when they closed to begin with, and met Colonnello's pinched face. His ragged breaths slowly evened out as he struggled to regain his bearings. His hands gripped Colonnello's arms for purchase when the god raised him carefully to his feet. "I—Thank you," Tsuna said, shaking his head.

"You forget that a mortal is unable to handle your emotions," Viper said, floating closer to them both. Their lips were tugged in a small, thoughtful frown.

Colonnello clicked his tongue. "I am trying. Besides, you lost control of yourself as well."

Tsuna looked back and forth between them in confusion, his head aching again. He let go of Colonnello when he found the strength to stand, though the god gripped his elbow to steady him. "What do you mean?" he said. Quickly, he added, "Lord Viper, or Lady…"

"Viper is fine." The god stayed quiet for a moment before turning away. "We don't have time for this. We must leave for Midori quickly, then find the others." They briefly looked over their shoulder to address Colonnello, "And you, I don't know what you've been doing until now, but keep your own magic to a minimum. You nearly outed us to Kawahira. He mustn't know we are freed."

Tsuna couldn't help himself. "Why can't you tell me now?" His brows furrowed in annoyance. "I understand you're in a rush, but I just managed to create fire with my bare hands, which I never knew I could do. You also mentioned a seal."

Viper spun around soundlessly, a brighter contrast against the shriveled up trees with their deep purple cloak. "And you are right in saying that we're in a rush. Time isn't kind on anyone, and the longer we stay here and dawdle, the worse your world will become."

Tsuna took a step forward. "You mean our world. This isn't all about you, Viper, or just the gods. Everyone that lives on this earth is being affected by the darkness, and by withholding information from me, what will that accomplish? I haven't pushed Colonnello for details…but I think I have the right to know what's going on with me, or at least an idea."

He stumbled when Viper appeared in front of him in a blink. Shadowy tendrils extended like swaying grass from their form, nearly obscuring the air with hazy mist. "You say that this isn't only about us," they said, "so why do you speak of yourself in that manner?"

"Viper," Colonnello said, his grip tightening around Tsuna's elbow.

The star-forger didn't heed his warning, and neither did Tsuna back down. "You need me," Tsuna said slowly to keep his voice firm. "I'm as very involved in this mission as you are. I'm not asking for you to kneel for me, but see me as—"

"Our equal?" Viper finished curtly. "You are more foolish than I thought, Sawada Tsunayoshi." Tsuna tensed when the god spoke his full name. "There is no one who can be an equal to the gods. The ones that have tried could barely reach the sky, the heavens, without plummeting to their dooms."

Tsuna's hands curled into fists. He could feel the foreign yet warm magic inside him hum with energy, coursing down to his fingers. Orange smoke seethed from the gloves. "High Priest Kawahira managed to imprison all of you." That was the wrong thing to say. Viper bristled and floated higher, their misty wisps coiling dangerously around Tsuna's neck. "And you need me, a mere mortal, to free you all."

"Both of you, stand down," Colonnello hissed, but no one paid him any mind. "Viper."

"Why, is it wrong to know what happened to me?" Tsuna managed to shake Colonnello off. His eyes started glowing amber. "I never even knew I could use magic. I'm not asking you to teach me, I just want answers!"

"Tsuna," Colonnello said, reaching for him again.

"No!" Tsuna swiped his arm at the god, only for a torrent of flames to lash out. He gasped, and could only stare in horror when it morphed into a horde of butterflies. They fluttered away and disappeared in the darkness, their soft wings fading away into silence.

Colonnello was unharmed, but there was an unreadable look in his eyes, his body tense. Tsuna stumbled forward; his hands trembled when he raised them. "Colonnello," he gasped out. "I didn't mean—"

Viper appeared before him again, but this time, much calmer. There were no shadows following their trail. Their voice was almost soft when they spoke, "We will handle everything. Your only duty is to free the others. Nothing else. That way, no one will get hurt and you won't have to use your magic."

Tsuna couldn't bring himself to answer. His guilt held him back, and he didn't complain when they arrived near Midori the next second.

His hands inexplicably burned, not from the strange magic, but from shame. Tsuna wished he could get rid of the gloves and ring; however, when he tried to take them off, Colonnello stopped him by placing his hands over his.

"Don't listen to Viper," the god said quietly. His eyes were gentle, and a light blue. "They're just bitter." He smiled faintly. "Grudges are more their specialty as well."

Tsuna's arms dropped down to his sides. "I didn't mean for you to get hurt," he whispered.

"Tsuna." Colonnello gripped the brunet's chin and tilted it up. "Remember, I am the god of the seas. My element easily trumps fire. Besides"—he grins a little—"I am unharmed. See? What would really hurt, is if you take this off." Colonnello tapped the ring on Tsuna's finger. "I put that there, remember?"

Despite himself, Tsuna let a tiny smile slip. His hands still trembled in Colonnello's firm grasp before a cool dousing spell made them still. "I suppose," Tsuna said weakly.

"Are you two finished?" Viper said from some feet away, their hovering figure illuminated by their faithful ball of light. "Midori is not far from here."

Colonnello chuckled at Tsuna's confused face. "Despite their prickly nature, Viper isn't completely heartless. Come, walk with me. We have time." He said the last word louder for the other god to hear, which only made Viper grumble under their breath.

"Well, not as much time as I said," Colonnello said to Tsuna, "but what do you mortals say?"

"It's the thought that counts," Tsuna said, looking down. His boots padded softly against hard, smooth dirt. They were on a road, and judging from the slightly curved indentations, horses and carriages had gone through here. "I didn't mean to hurt you…"

Colonnello sighed. "Tsuna, I'm fine and well. No harm done. You were only angry, justifiably so, and Viper is someone who can easily anger anyone, even Fon, and he's the most patient out of all of us."

Slowly, Tsuna found himself relaxing under the god's idle chatter. "The planets," he said. "There's a story where their battle created them within months."

Colonnello laughed. "It's true! And what a battle! I still remember like it happened yesterday. You should have seen it." He looked up at the black sky, the movement making the shadows contort on his face. The glow of Viper's light couldn't penetrate the darkness, but Tsuna doubted they would have seen anything else but bare trees and dead earth.

"Do you know the best place to see them?" Colonnello said softly, looking far beyond the shadowy heavens. "Merone, the village far up north. There's a monastery in the mountains where the monks study the stars. It's quite a view from up there." He huffed lightly. "Of course, there will be no mountain that can ever bridge the gap between the earth and the heavens, but Viper is fond of them."

"I didn't mean to disrespect them," Tsuna whispered, his eyes wandering to Viper's turned back. Their cloak rippled gently underneath them, as if moving with an invisible wind. "And I didn't want to push you either. I'm trying to keep my curiosity back, but…what if that happens again?" He raised his hands, which started trembling again. The rings' silver band looked duller in the darkness. "I didn't mean to…"

Colonnello remained quiet for a moment; their silence was softened only by their breaths and hushed footsteps. Lost in his muddled thoughts, Tsuna came to a stop when Viper did. He didn't know where they were; there were no signs to be seen to mark their location or any telling landmarks. It wouldn't have helped much since Tsuna had never gone to Midori before, but if he had at least some information on something, anything, it would keep him busy from the stewing guilt and frustrating in the pits of his stomach.

"As I said," Viper said, "you won't have need for your magic. It's dormant, and there is no time to teach how you to control it. That seal—tell me, where are you from?"

"Namimori," Tsuna said.

Viper seemed to mull over it before continuing to float down the road at a leisurely pace. Colonnello spoke to fill in the silence, "There are no mages in Namimori, not even a speck of magic." He sounded stiff, terse.

"Really?" Viper didn't sound convinced. "And you felt nothing when you were freed? Well, you were never the sharpest in that regard."

Tsuna swayed on his feet, as if being pushed around by shifting waves. Unconsciously, he reached out to grab Colonnello's arm, and the feeling faded. "And here I thought you'd come around," the sea god said through gritted teeth.

Viper let out a soft breath. "How quaint." Soon, flecks of burning light appeared in the murky horizon. Torches, Tsuna recognized. "It's unfortunate that your magic was sealed in the first place, Tsunayoshi, but we have no time to dwell on the matter. If you use it, there will be no doubt that Kawahira will find out you're alive, too."

Tsuna's next words were drowned out by loud shouts in the distance. They were approaching the gates to Midori, the torches growing closer with every step. Their crackling fires cast a warm glow on the tall wooden gates, which ended in spikes. Briefly, Tsuna noticed dried blood staining the sharp edges. He couldn't tell if they were human or not.

"All villagers should be in their homes!" a guard in armored garb said, his hand on his katana. An emblem of a skylark was etched onto their left breast. "Those who are found wandering the streets after curfew will be punished!"

Tsuna jumped when Colonnello pushed him past the closing gates. When he turned, they closed with a weak groan before two other guards made sure they were securely shut. The torches weren't the only light in the village. Tsuna had heard stories about Midori, about how the village was gracious enough to keep smaller towns like Namimori afloat with their opulence.

Despite the cursed darkness, there was some dignity in their worn houses and scratched shutters. Small gardens and chicken coops were cleaned out and spotless of corpses and feathers. Vaguely, Tsuna wondered if Natsu's body had already been reduced to bones. He lost count of the days…

"Do you sense anything?" Viper said, approaching a crowd of dispersing villagers.

Tsuna widened his eyes. "Viper, wa—" He stopped when a man simply stepped through Viper as if they were only smoke. "What…?"

"No one can see or hear us," Colonnello supplied, tugging Tsuna by the arm. "Come, tell us if you sense anything."

No matter what reassurances the god gave him, Tsuna couldn't help but be wary whenever someone walked through him, disintegrating his body into smoke before it re-formed again. He didn't feel anything, though it was still strange to see it happen. Distracted too long by the abnormal phenomenon, Tsuna nearly forgot what he was supposed to do. He pursed his lips and tried to focus, but couldn't help being distracted by the deathly quiet villagers and their hurried steps. They looked well-fed, and wore finer clothing than Namimori's coarse wool…

"Tsuna." Colonnello's voice snapped the hunter back to his senses. A pale mother ushered her two children inside their home before closing the door with a soft creak. "Is there something wrong?"

"Ah, no," Tsuna said. "My apologies. I was just… Never mind. I don't sense anything so far."

"Then we will move on to elsewhere," Viper said.

Before Tsuna could even blink, he was whisked away to a darker vicinity. The sudden teleportation didn't make him nauseous anymore, but then he noticed something much worse. Torches overhead on a massive wall, along with Viper's ball of light, illuminated what seemed to be the gruesome ruins of a once-grand district. Empty buildings stood desolate of life, with crude scratches on their wooden structures, and cracked shutters hung lifelessly from their hinges. With no wind, they looked like a horrifying fixture of stagnancy.

"Come," Viper said, leading the way.

Colonnello gently pushed Tsuna forward to keep up. The god's hand was a comforting weight on his back, but Tsuna still felt awfully cold. Goosebumps prickled on his skin when he noticed the shadow of a wendigo chewing on some bones of a dead soldier, the crunches echoing in the back of his head.

"I am here," Colonnello said in his ear. "No one, and nothing, will hurt you. Focus on what you have to do."

Inhaling deeply, Tsuna gradually relaxed against the god's hand. He tried hard not to look at the feeding wendigos and flinch whenever something moved at the corner of his eye. "Who are we finding now?" he said, keeping his voice quiet. Though none of the monsters could sense or see them, he'd rather be more careful than anything.

"Fon," Colonnello said.

Tsuna frowned. There was something that itched at the back of his mind, something his father had told him in passing when he explained the terrains of the Vongola Kingdom. Fon, the God of the Wind, Storm-Bringer, Protector of Innocence and Chastity, and Guardian of the Spirit. He was known as a benevolent god, generous to those who seek protection and shelter, and had a better reputation than most for his kindness. He had even taken on mortal students to teach and guide, if he found them worthy enough, the most famous of them being I-pin, a young woman from the Catafalco Islands who went on to make thousands of armies kneel at her feet.

"We're in Midori," Tsuna muttered to himself, trying to remember his father's words. "Namimori is known for their deep forests and Kokuyo is known for their rich earth. Midori, Midori…"

Colonnello's lips tugged into a concerned frown. "Tsuna?"

The hunter didn't acknowledge the god, too lost in his own ramblings. "I found Colonnello in a stream, Viper in a mine." Tsuna furrowed his brows in concentration. Remembering the mine only exposed some gaps in his memory. "Midori…" What was it that his father said about this village? Tsuna cursed. Why couldn't he remember? If he did, then it could've narrowed down where Fon was hidden. However, something deep inside him didn't agree with the notion.

A loud horn bellowed in the distance, startling Tsuna out of his thoughts. Viper paused on their path and remained unperturbed when a few wendigos snarled and sniffed the air. The horn blew once more, weaker this time, before it faded into unsettling silence. Tsuna couldn't breathe. He didn't know what that meant, but a tingle nestled on his skin, burned his veins and rested uncomfortably on his chest.

A guard shouted behind them from above before archers lined up against the walls with flaming arrows. Colonnello grabbed Tsuna's arm to teleport him elsewhere but the brunet said, "Wait!"

His chest felt warmer when a middle-aged woman stepped forward to stand alongside the grim soldiers. She wore armor over her dark blue garbs and had a katana attached to her hip. A skylark was etched on the side of her right arm. "Get rid of the vermin here!" she said, her clear voice echoing in the darkness. "And be prepared for more!"

As soon as she spoke, the wendigos turned towards her direction, hissing and gnashing their bloody, sharp teeth.

"We're leaving, Tsuna," Colonnello said.

"No," Tsuna said, tugging his arm away. "My senses, they're telling me to stay. They're telling me to stay with her. She's important."

Colonnello clicked his tongue. "Tsuna, w—"

"How many times do I have to tell you that they're not wrong? They led me to you, to Viper, to Enma." Tsuna narrowed his eyes. "If I had stayed with his friends, they would've led me to him."

Colonnello glared, and his anger nearly knocked Tsuna off his feet. "We found him anyway."

"By chance. Don't try to weed your way out of it. You knew deep down yourself that we should've stayed with them. You should've listened to me!"

A stormy look passed Colonnello's dark eyes. "Watch your tongue, Tsuna. How would you have known they wouldn't have killed you or something worse?"

Tsuna couldn't help but scoff. The gesture only angered Colonnello more. A chilling howl wailed from the shadows. "Listen to yourself. These are people who are in desperate need of hope. They think their gods have betrayed them and left them to rot in this forsaken darkness. If they had seen you, they wouldn't have laid a finger on me. You wouldn't have let them touch me. The people had faith in you and the rest; have some in them."

Without waiting for Colonnello's response, Tsuna turned away to head for the walls when several lit arrows rained from above. They landed with small thuds in the ground, setting the empty homes ablaze. Tsuna's breath hitched when the flames shed red light on the screeching wendigos; their contorting bodies didn't die, however. They only got angrier.

"I'm going," Tsuna said, "because she will lead us to Fon. I can feel it."

He stumbled when Viper appeared in a terrifying plume of billowing mist in front of him. Snarling black dogs larger than bears dashed through them, unaware of their conflict, and bayed in the darkness. "I've heard enough," the god said. "We're all leaving."

Tsuna widened his eyes when the wendigos and moving masses of shadows started scaling the walls. "No!" He reached out but fell to the ground instead, with the image of swarming creatures imprinted in his mind. Gritting his teeth, he turned to face Viper who returned to their original form. "I don't understand. What is my purpose for being here if neither of you will listen to me?"

"You're overstepping your boundaries," Viper said placidly.

"What?" Tsuna bolted to his feet, his eyes slowly glowing amber. "You never even told me what boundaries there are to begin with! How am I supposed to know what I am allowed to do or not? Why do you make everything so much more complicated than it needs to be?" He brushed past Colonnello's outstretched hand and marched towards Viper with blazing eyes. "Tell me, what am I supposed to do, Viper?"

When Viper spoke, their voice was deadly soft and a tad strained. "Your duty is to find the gods, and finding the gods means nothing else."

Tsuna glared at them. "Why? How can I possibly do nothing when there are people suffering out there against those creatures, against products of your capture? What do you expect me to do? Stand aside?"

"Yes."

Stifling silence settled heavily over them. Not even Colonnello tried to assuage the two and intervene. Tsuna inhaled sharply through his nose. "And what is your duty, Viper? I may not be well-versed in your stories, but I'm not stupid. I know you only want Kawahira to pay for what he's done, and I'm certain that all of you want the same. I get it, I understand, but this isn't right."

"You are in no place to tell us what is right or wrong," Viper hissed.

"Would Her Holiness want this?"

Both gods froze at his words. "Don't speak of her," Viper said warningly.

Tsuna didn't back down. "She stayed true to her duty protecting you instead of leaving you all in Kawahira's hands. What does it say when all you want is revenge? I think you forgot your place, Viper. You're in a position capable of helping and protecting those in need. Your duty is to protect this world, and by extension, the people."

"You don't know my duties." Tendrils of shadows wrapped around Tsuna's neck and arms, but the brunet didn't flinch. "It seems like you don't know who you're speaking to, mortal."

Falco materialized in Colonnello's hand with a soft whoosh. The sea god raised his spear against Viper's throat. "You've gone too far," he said lowly.

"No," Tsuna said, drawing their attention, "they haven't gone far enough." He stepped forward. "Kill me if that's what you want."

Colonnello's jaw clenched. "Tsuna."

Tsuna could feel the shadow slowly squeezing his throat. "But you can't, can you? Because you need me, because there's no one else who can free you like I can. You might not want to help them or any others, but I want to and I need to. That woman, whoever she is, will lead us to Fon. I know it. So why can't you just trust me?" He took another step forward. "If you don't want to fight for them, then I will. Your duty then is to protect me because I'm no use when I'm dead. At least remember what Her Holiness did for you, because I'm sure she'd want you to do the same for us mortals."

Panting, Tsuna tried to catch his breath when the pressure lessened around his throat. The shadowy trails slowly receded back to Viper's hovering form, but Colonnello didn't drop his blade. "It seems," Viper said, "that you're more than you are, Sawada Tsunayoshi. Fine, fight. But don't come back to me when those you have faith in turn out to only have false ones in you."

With a wave of their hand, they transported the three of them back to the decaying grounds. Tsuna gaped in horror when he saw soldiers strewn across the bottom of the walls, their bodies being munched on like common grub. Dark monsters crowded above the gates, hissing and screeching at the other guards fighting back, and raging infernos crackled around them. Tsuna flexed his hands, the gloves' leather stretching taut against his skin.

Colonnello then stepped in front of him with Falco poised in his hand. "It's better if you don't sully yourself with their filth," he said in an indecipherable tone. He then called Tsuna something in his ancient language that made Viper sigh beside them.

Wide-eyed, Tsuna watched as Colonnello leapt above the walls with an impressive leap, stunning the soldiers as well. But by the gods, the way Colonnello moved was utterly breathtaking. He moved with precision and calculated effort, slashing through the wendigos and large black dogs like a machine. Not wanting to be idle, Tsuna grabbed a dead soldier's bow and arrows and fired them at the wendigos preying on other soldiers.

Colonnello moved to finish them off. He ran along the walls and jumped over a snarling black dog, slicing its head off. His eyes faintly glowed under the torchlight, a beautiful, rich blue, as he swiped Falco in the air. When he turned towards the stunned soldiers, he said, "You know me as Colonnello." Tsuna gasped when he and Viper started to float to the top of the walls, drawing out amazed gasps from the guards. "Where is your general?"

The wounded soldiers murmured amongst themselves until the woman from before made her way through. Some strands of her black hair came loose from her bun, and a mix of black and red blood were streaked across her stony face and garbs. Her dark gray eyes widened when she saw the gods, but when she saw Tsuna, she dropped down onto one knee and bowed her head. "My lords."

Tsuna could only stare in confusion when the other soldiers followed suit. "You d—" He stopped when Colonnello gripped his shoulder and shook his head.

"I give you my deepest gratitude for saving my men's lives," the woman said. "What is it that you're here for, my lords?"

"We believe there's something you have that we need," Viper said.

A bout of silence passed before the woman spoke again, "I will do my best to help you."

Hibari Suzume was an impressive woman with a backbone of steel. She didn't cower at the sight of monsters, but she also didn't stray from providing her men comfort. The tingling in Tsuna's chest grew little by little as Suzume led them to the Hibari Estate, which was kept in relatively good condition. Round paper lanterns with painted cherry blossoms hung around the large wooden house along with silvery wind chimes that never swayed. The garden was dead, but there were still small statues of birds and children to maintain its dignity. Tsuna shivered when he met their soulless eyes, curved with empty mirth. Though he sensed that Suzume wasn't a bad person, there was something unsettling about the bleak grounds.

"I hope you don't mind drinking green tea, sire," Suzume said when a servant girl brought a tray of cups and a kettle. The quiet girl placed it on a floor table, her bare feet quiet against the tatami mats. "It's a staple of my family, and you won't find anything like it anywhere else."

Tsuna had never drunk tea before. The only luxury his village had was goat milk. Though he really didn't feel hungry or thirsty, just like what Viper had said, he picked up the small ceramic cup. Colonnello snatched it out of his hands before he could even get a whiff. Tsuna looked at him incredulously. "Colonnello, what are you doing?"

"Keeping you alive," the god said, swirling the contents of the cup with a nonchalant eye.

Suzume remained unoffended. "Please, Lord Colonnello, I wouldn't even think about poisoning the one who will save us."

Tsuna met her steady gaze. "Save us?"

"Yes, you are the Sky Guardian after all. You're the spitting image of Primo." Suzume waved off the servant, who slinked away soundlessly out the sliding doors. She closed it with a soft thud. "You mentioned that I might have something you need. What is it that you're looking for?"

"I'm sorry, but you said I look like…Primo?" Tsuna said before Viper could speak. "Primo as in the First King?"

Suzume slightly tilted her head. "Yes, sire. Primo was the First King of the Vongola Kingdom. He was also the first Sky Guardian to the first Priestess."

Iemitsu had briefly mentioned Primo before, but didn't emphasize any importance. Giotto Barone was the First King of the Vongola Kingdom, which he built from the ground up, and his era was known as the Age of Beginnings. Though Tsuna didn't remember if he was a good king, Iemitsu never outright said he was a bad one either. However he'd never seen Primo's face, so Suzume's comment took him off-guard.

"Wait, Sky Guardian?" Tsuna furrowed his brows. "I've never heard of such a thing." This—This must be why his intuition led him here, to Suzume. He might finally get some answers to his burning questions. When he snuck a glance at the gods, Colonnello and Viper stood silently behind him, keeping a careful eye on the door where two guards were stationed. Well, Tsuna didn't know what Viper was doing, with their cloak and all, but the god didn't voice any protest at Tsuna's question.

Suzume took a sip from her own cup and kept it in the palm of her hand. Despite her bare appearance, there was an elegance to her movement that Tsuna would never be able to replicate. "Where are you from, sire?"

"Namimori," Tsuna answered, keeping his eyes trained on Suzume's skylark crest. He remembered now what his father had said. "My father has told me about your family, Lady Hibari. He admired your bravery and men, wished that he could've gone on a hunt with them as well. He said that you'd never see a real hunt unless you saw the Hibaris."

A ghost of a smile flickered on Suzume's pale lips. "Your father is a wise man. May I ask for his name, sire?"

"Iemitsu. Sawada Iemitsu. He passed away a few years ago."

If Suzume recognized his father's name, she didn't show it. "I see. I apologize for your loss, sire."

"Thank you."

"I ask because there hasn't been a Sky Guardian since Primo himself, so seeing one in the flesh—I thought I'd never live long enough to see one. Or, if we'll ever see one again." Suzume finally placed her cup on the table with grace. "Our family's duty was to serve the Sky Guardian since that is what my ancestor, Alaude, had decreed. He was a good friend of Primo, a part of his royal council in fact."

Tsuna straightened a little. "I thought that Primo only had his duties tied to the throne." He smiled awkwardly. "But then again, I don't know what a Sky Guardian is. I've only heard of it now. We…never really had the time to discuss such matters."

"I'm afraid there's not many records left about it," Suzume said, "and my knowledge is only limited to what has been passed down in the family. From what I know, the Sky Guardian is a special position claimed through birthright. Their duties are tied to the Sky Temple and to the gods. They are the ones who protect the Sky Priestess and guard the gods' temples. My grandmother told me that in a letter Alaude wrote to his father, he wrote that he witnessed Primo wield fire as if it were his own and used it to cure the demons in a villager's sleep." She lightly traced the rim of her cup almost mindlessly. "People believed that that's how Giotto rose to power, by using his status as the Sky Guardian. Some say he was a kind soul while others say he was a liar and a cheat, but the fact remains that there were no other Guardians after him."

Tsuna stayed quiet for a moment before asking tentatively, "And why do you think so, Lady Hibari?"

"It doesn't matter what I think, sire. You are here now with the gods behind your back. I lost many of my people already. All I ask is for you to right this world again. There is no one else but you who can save us."

There were more questions that Tsuna wanted to ask, so much more he wanted to know, but he sensed that this wasn't the right time or place. He took a deep breath to calm his nerves. Now was the time to remember what he came here for. "There is something we're trying to find, Lady Hibari," he said carefully. "My hunch led me here to you."

Suzume didn't bat an eye. "And what is it that you're looking for, sire?"

"I'm traveling the kingdom to find where the gods were sealed. I found Colonnello in the woods of my home and Viper in one of the mines in Kokuyo. We are trying to find Fon, who was cast away here in Midori. Have you seen something strange around the village? Anything out of the ordinary?"

"No," Suzume said, making Tsuna's senses go haywire. "I don't think I have, sire. I'm sorry. I wish I can help more."

Tsuna frowned. "Why are you lying to me, Lady Hibari?" Suzume slightly tensed, the only break in her calm composure. "If you know something, pl—"

A rush of thumping footsteps came down the hallway before the doors slid open. A panting, wide-eyed servant boy stumbled into the room. "M—My lady, you need to—to—The—"

Suzume had already rose before the boy even spoke. She bowed towards Tsuna and the gods. "I must leave to tend to other matters, sire, my lords. I'm sorry again for not being much help. The guards will lead you back to the gates."

"Wait!" Tsuna said, rising to his feet. But Suzume had already left with the servant boy. He jumped when the guards suddenly keeled over and slumped onto the ground.

"They're only asleep," Viper said, casting an invisibility spell over them again. "Come, we should follow her. I sensed dark magic in this house since we arrived."

Tsuna didn't protest when Colonnello took a hold of his wrist and led him down the dim halls. Servants and guards ran around the house, their fear making Tsuna a little dizzy. It didn't take long for them to catch up to Suzume, who was unaware of their presence. She dashed across the dead gardens towards a large barn of sorts. The amount of ominous energy leaking from the wooden shed nearly made Tsuna stumble.

"I have you," Colonnello murmured, keeping Tsuna on his feet. "I'm here."

Terrified, bloody guards were at the closed doors, keeping it locked as securely as they could with wooden planks. Suzume glared. "What happened?"

"It—It ate Satoshi, my lady!" one of the guards said.

Tsuna had never seen the woman so pale. "What are you doing out here then?" she said.

"Satoshi got too close, let go of its chains. It was a foolish bet and—and it just grabbed him!"

"What a foul curse," Viper said. "It's very potent, quite crafty I should say."

Tsuna widened his eyes. "A curse?"

Then everyone stilled. The terrible energy somehow grew worse, wrapping around Tsuna like thick and sticky sludge. Colonnello tugged him behind his back with Falco materializing in his hand, even if nothing could touch them. Unsheathing her sword, Suzume aimed it at the rattling doors. Her men followed suit. A piercing shriek roared from inside the barn, making nearly everyone cringe.

The doors stopped moving. An eerie silence took a hold of them all. The hum in the back of Tsuna's head felt numb when a large mass of black feathers broke through the roof. The hulking creature spread its massive wings and soared higher before swooping down just as quickly. Its twisted beak snatched an unfortunate soldier from the ground and tore him apart with its sharp claws.

Tsuna couldn't keep his eyes off the creature. His senses grew warmer when the bird flew closer to the ground again for its next victim, then faded when it glided back to the skies. "Viper, I need to speak to Lady Hibari," Tsuna said. "Fon is probably with that thing!"

Colonnello pulled a face. "What?"

Tsuna ran towards Suzume, feeling the magic peel gently from his body. "Lady Hibari! Tell me where Fon is!"

The woman drew her sword on him, but Colonnello deflected it within seconds. Suzume's eyes flashed in anger. "Sire, you shouldn't be here."

"Tell me where Fon is!"

The bird-like monster shrieked again, then dove towards them with great speed. Viper was faster though. They raised a hand and inscribed a strange symbol in the air, which glowed indigo. Twisted roots and branches erupted from the seal, ensnaring the creature in a tight prison. It thrashed and screamed against its tightening binds. Tsuna drew closer to its long neck despite Colonnello and Suzume's warnings. His breath hitched when he caught sight of a bloody and mangled necklace buried underneath prickly feathers. A small red orb was wrapped tightly against it alongside a hanging, chipped skylark emblem. "I found it!" Tsuna said, reaching for the sphere.

"Tsuna!" Colonnello said.

Tensing up, the creature screeched and broke from their confines. Branches snapped as they raised one wing, then the other, spreading splinters and debris everywhere. The guards shouted in fear and ran away before the creature was completely free. Tsuna yelped when he was easily flung through the air. He winced when some broken sticks nicked his cheeks. He never met the ground as someone cushioned his fall with their hand.

"I can't contain it with higher magic," Viper said, setting Tsuna gently down back on the ground.

The brunet pursed his lips. "Can't or won't? They have very different meanings."

"Can't and won't, unless you want him to die and Kawahira to find us." Viper looked towards him. "I thought you didn't want innocent mortals to die."

"Him?"

The ground rumbled underneath their feet before a gush of water exploded from the dirt. It swirled around Colonnello's body then struck the creature from the air. Suzume widened his eyes. "Don't hurt him!" she said.

"I'll keep it distracted," Colonnello said. "Find a way to get it!" He leapt high to meet the monster head-on with Falco poised to strike. He stabbed the bird in the eye and flipped overhead with the momentum to avoid a nasty bite. Shrieking, the demon writhed in the air in pain before turning to slam Colonnello away with its lizard-like tail.

Tsuna widened his eyes. "Colonnello!"

The sea god tumbled once on the ground before skidding back on his feet. Chuckling, he straightened himself and swiped Falco in the air. "I see we have a real fighter here."

"Kyoya, stop!" Suzume said, trying to approach the raving bird. Kyoya…?

Something hard and sturdy emerged in Tsuna's hand, and instantly, he knew it was a bow. Viper flitted past him just as Colonnello went for another round with the creature. "Use it how you will," the god said. "There's no shortage of arrows. Just pull the string and it will appear. I'll help the idiot keep the creature contained."

With that, Viper appeared above the thrashing bird and created another strange symbol in the air. More branches and roots trapped the creature in its woody cage. When Tsuna saw a flash of red, he immediately raised the bow and stretched the string back, making an arrow appear. He trained it on the orb, positioning it slightly to the right to aim at the necklace's string, when Suzume blocked his path.

"No!" she said. "I won't let you kill him! I won't let you kill my son!"

Tsuna flinched but didn't lower his bow. "Lady Hibari, I'm not going to kill him. So please, move."

Suzume didn't back down either. "No, I won't." She suddenly ducked and tackled Tsuna to the ground, maneuvering to press her knee against his back. Tsuna coughed and sputtered when dry dirt entered his mouth. "Tell them to stand down."

"N—No," Tsuna gasped out. "What about your men? They're the only ones keeping them alive." He winced when Suzume grabbed his shoulder and pulled his arm back. "Listen to me! We're not trying to kill your son! I thought you'd help me!"

"The Hibaris might've sworn allegiance to the Sky Guardian then." Suzume's voice lowered. "But now, my duties are to my family."

Tsuna clenched his teeth. "Don't you consider those men your family? Don't they have loved ones of their own?" He caught Suzume's cold gaze over his aching shoulder, though he could sense her waning barriers. She must've been strong for too long, he thought sympathetically. "This isn't staying true to your family. I understand you don't want your son hurt, but right now, that isn't your son!" He hissed when Suzume's grip tightened. "I'll help him! I can bring him back to you!" He didn't know what he was saying, he didn't even know if he could do it, but he couldn't stand watching Colonnello and Viper fighting the monster on their own. He had his own duty to carry out.

"That fire—Alaude wasn't lying! I can do it! What Primo did, I can use the same fire to purify your son!"

Suzume's breath slightly hitched. "What did you say?"

"I can wield fire like he did! I'll help your son if you just let me go!"

Suzume looked down at him with icy eyes. "I don't trust you." Before she could go any further to break Tsuna's arm, a curl of rope wrenched her away, wrapping her firmly in a secure hold.

Viper manifested in a curl of smoke above her. "What were you trying to do, mortal?"

Grunting, Tsuna scrambled to his feet and pulled Viper back, though the god didn't budge. "Don't."

"Are you trying to justify her actions?"

"She had reason to be afraid." Tsuna turned to see Colonnello keeping the monster back with a steady tempest of water that acted as a barrier. He picked up his strewn bow and aimed it at the same spot again. Another arrow materialized in his hands.

"No!" Suzume said.

Tsuna hesitated again. Suzume's words echoed in his head. "My grandmother told me that in a letter Alaude wrote to his father, he wrote that he witnessed Primo wield fire as if it were his own and used it to cure the demons in a villager's sleep."

Making his decision, Tsuna threw his bow aside and flexed his hands.

"What are you doing, Tsunayoshi?" Viper hissed, blocking his path.

"I'm doing what I should be doing," Tsuna said, walking past them. "I can't just free Fon and let this monster terrorize the others."

He raised his hands, drawing on the potent, wild magic inside him. Before Viper could stop him, his eyes glowed amber and a surge of fire erupted from his palms.

"Tsuna, what are you doing?" Colonnello yelled over the roar of his flames. Smoke hissed when they came into contact with his barrier.

The creature shrieked as it was engulfed by pure orange fire. It squirmed and thrashed in the raging inferno. Tsuna had never heard such a terrifying noise, but he put all his focus on keeping the magic up. His body felt light as he expelled more fire onto the monster. Purify, purify, purify—how did this work? He could already feel his control slipping from his panic.

Fuck, he didn't think things through.

He could feel his magic slightly waning, which led the monster to clumsily dive for Colonnello. The god quickly jumped away before the demon crashed into the ground.

Colonnello turned towards Tsuna with "Tsuna, you need to stop!" When he tried to get close, the fire lashed out, forcing him to step away.

"You fool," Viper said from behind him.

A tremor wracked through Tsuna's body but he didn't stop. He couldn't. He had to do this, to purify. His feet slid back on the ground; his arms slowly felt like lead. Sweat dripped down his chin from the excruciating heat and the gloves felt too tight around his skin. A sharp ringing in the back of his head sounded off warnings.

"Tsuna, stop!" Colonnello said. "You don't have to do this!"

The demon screeched louder, this time in agony. That…wasn't right. Tsuna's breaths came out short and ragged, sounding all too loud in his ringing ears. He was fucking it up again. He was hurting the creature, hurting Kyoya. This wasn't what he wanted.

But he couldn't stop.

He sucked in a deep breath when he heard Colonnello scream his name. The heat disappeared. Kyoya wasn't screaming anymore. Everything became still and quiet. Tsuna slowly came to when he caught a whiff of Colonnello's comforting scent. His body felt weak against the god's firm chest, brittle underneath the other's embrace. Tsuna couldn't bring himself to look up.

"I just wanted to help," he mumbled tiredly.

Colonnello's voice was soft. "I know."

Something wet plopped on Tsuna's cheek. It felt cool as it rolled down his chin. He let out a shuddering breath. "Colonnello, are you…crying?"

The god huffed a small laugh. "I'm not."

When Tsuna finally looked up, thousands upon thousands of water droplets rained from the sky. It was then he noticed how soaked they both were. The creature was nowhere to be seen. "Did you…make it rain? What about Kawahira?"

Colonnello's arms tightened around Tsuna. Raindrops slid down his gentle face like falling stars. His eyes were the lightest Tsuna had ever seen them. "I was only doing my duty," Colonnello whispered, his voice clear even in the deafening rain. "We've only met recently and it's a little too soon to cut our meeting short, don't you think?"

Tsuna laughed weakly against Colonnello's drenched shirt. "I suppose."

Silently, Viper floated towards them with the shining red orb in their hand. Even if they could stay dry with their magic, their cloak was completely sodden. They sighed, the sound lost swiftly in the downpour. "You fools." There was no bite in their voice, just tired resignation.

When the god placed the orb in Tsuna's outstretched hand, the brunet felt a sweet breeze flutter against his cheek like the brush of a hand. He crushed the orb, then saw the blue heavens.

Sixteen days had passed since the world was shrouded in darkness. Aria kept a diligent count after all the sand hit the bottom of the hourglass and marked a tally on a piece of parchment. Today was the sixteenth day, the sixteenth day of no light, no sun and no wind. Sighing, Aria stretched her arms in the air and stood up from her fine wooden desk.

She poked her head out of her room and looked both ways in the candle-lit halls. Even with some light, the hallways looked darker somehow. Perhaps it was just the doom and gloom that clouded her mind. When there was no sign of anyone else, Aria left for the courtyard. Her bare feet were quiet against the wooden floors and she did her best not to disturb Talbot in the library. When word of Namimori and other villages falling into ruins reached Talbot's ears, the Highfather had buried himself in books. Aria didn't know why, but if it eased his old heart to do so, then she just left him be.

A fresh, familiar aroma wafted in her nose when she approached the east section of the temple. She froze, unbelieving it at first, before breathing in the scent again. Her heart felt like it was in her throat. Quickly snapping back to her senses, she dashed towards the doors and burst out into the courtyard. A delighted giggle burst from her chest as Aria ran out onto the stony path, twirling on her feet.

Cool rain poured out from the black skies and thrummed on the earth. This wasn't a dream! This was real! Aria couldn't stop laughing. This meant something—this meant that the gods were back, that there was hope of the world returning to normal again. When Aria sensed a presence behind her, she couldn't help the grin on her face when she turned around. "Highf—" She stopped when she saw Kawahira standing at the doorway, not stepping out into the rain.

"Please," Kawahira said, "don't let me keep you from enjoying this miracle, child."

Even though Talbot called Aria that, it didn't mean anyone else could. Aria straightened herself, standing steadily underneath the pelting rain. "I am the Sky Priestess now, Kawahira," she said. "I'd prefer it if you didn't call me a child."

The shadows on Kawahira's face contorted underneath the torchlight. "Of course. My apologies, Your Holiness." He looked above to the skies with the same placid smile on his lips. "This is a good sign, is it not? There is hope after all." Aria didn't offer an answer. "Soon, I hope to see the stars and feel the wind on my skin again. It is quite poignant when you realize what you've had after losing it, don't you think, Your Holiness?"

"Yes," Aria said. "It is."

"Do come back inside soon." Kawahira turned then, dismissing himself. Aria clenched her hands into fists. "It wouldn't do you well if you catch a cold."

When the High Priest left, Aria let herself finally exhale. She closed her eyes, letting the rain assuage her nerves. There was something off about what Kawahira said. Even though she wasn't as powerful as her mother, she still had her responsibilities to fulfill.

"Watch me, mother," she said, looking up to the black heavens. "I'll protect them all."

She waited until the rain waned before heading back inside the temples, with her will blazing inside her heart.

A/N So, I went on a month long trip, came back, had a little break, and started going back to writing again. I apologize for the long wait for my updates. :'^)

And oh, look, it's finally raining, hehe. :^)

So much love and thanks to my patient beta, nico~

Thank you so much for your patience! I hope to see you again in the next chapter (and other updated fics)!

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny