Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The cackling of fire somewhere close by— trying to move towards the sound only causes shockwaves of pain to envelop my entire body. A throbbing headache forcing me to keep my eyes shut lest the light aggravates it further.

It was a suffocating sensation, sitting atop my chest. Weighing it down till only gasps left my lips, bruised and bitten.

"Oof..." With time, the ache subsides. The sensations of the living returning to my body as I open my eyes to examine my surroundings.

Broken pillars and debris was all that caught the eye, moonlight cascading down the rubble— enveloping the grand structures in a serene light, bringing attention to the murals drawn on the walls. A temple perhaps, a hall of worships surely.

A few earthen lamps still remain alit on the walls, a warmth contrasting the cold moonlight flooding the deserted halls of what one could only conclude being a temple for a god long forgotten by its people. The erosion of time evident on the rocks— yet it stood tall and solemn, refusing to give in to the flow of time.

Past the mountain of debris, Caelus could make out a burning structure resembling a train.

The Express compartment. 

His eyes quickly scan around, panic settling in at the loss of his companion by his side. He decided to act before letting his thoughts wander upon the implications of Dan Heng's absence. 

At the farthest end of the mountain of rubble, lay a familiar silhouette of a man clad in teal and white. 

"... Dan Heng?" 

His body remained slumped in the corner of the wreckage, his well being uncertain. 

Caelus immediately kneeled down to his fallen body, hands unsure of where to settle as his eyes scanned his entire being, trying to find any signs of him still breathing. Panic arose in his chest, his thoughts finally catching up to him— 'No! He couldn't resort to panicking now! Welt had always told him to remain calm no matter the situation.'

But... Could he truly remain calm if it was Dan Heng laying unconscious in front of him? 

'Snap out of it!'

Slapping both of his cheeks to force himself out of his mental dilemma, he tries to think of ways to calm himself. 

"Time to come up with a name for the next reincarnation..." Caelus tried to make light of the situation, after all Dan Heng is indeed capable of it. Being a Vidhyadhara and all. 

Just then... You see Dan Heng's chest rising and falling. Proof that life still lingered within him. 

His tense shoulders ease, the breath stuck in his throat finally escaping as Caelus inches closer to Dan Heng, finding the courage to finally touch him— constantly reminding himself that the coolness of his skin wasn't due to his fears coming true but instead a characteristic of his race. 

But what was he supposed to do now? 

Shake him? Slap him? Now that sounded too harsh for a man who just barely survived a train crash. 

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation? 

"Sorry, Dan Heng." Caelus earnestly apologises, closing his eyes to show just how sincere his apology was. To whom? He did not know. 

"... Sorry for what?" A pained voice echoes through the deserted walls of the prayer hall— hoarse and out of breath. 

"Dan Heng!" Caelus calls out immediately upon noticing him slowly come to, "Are you alright? Any aches?" 

A very disbalanced and disoriented Dan Heng tries to stand up on his own— but his legs give out, causing him to drop down. A groan escapes his lips as he settles against the wreckage behind him as Caelus rushed to balance his body against his own, "Ugh... How long were we out for?" 

"Take it easy, you're in no condition to walk about Dan Heng." Caelus tries to push him down but then ultimately wraps his arm around his waist when he sees how stubbornly his partner insisted on standing up despite his condition, letting Dan Heng lean on Caelus's body to stabilise himself. 

Dan Heng's gaze lands on the burning car of the express, "You passed out when our car got hit. I blacked out too, but not before dragging you out. It's a good thing we were in the car, or we would've been crushed to pieces." 

A familiar warmth blossoms in Caelus's chest at his words. Dan Heng, who seemed so aloof and distant was always the first to the rescue of those who needed it— often times almost pushing himself to the brink of harming his own body and self. It worried Caelus how warm this man could be but scared him all the same, scared of just how far he would go just to protect those he saw needing him. 

Noticing Caelus's softening gaze, Dan Heng coughs into his hand— an attempt at distracting himself, "... We should try making contact with the Express." 

Ever the cool headed trailblazer, Dan Heng reaches into the depths of his pocket as he quickly takes out his phone and types out a message which showed the notification Caelus wasn't surprised to be faced with— Message failed to send.

"How original." Caelus clicked his tongue, head throbbing from just imagining the amount of work they would need to do just to go back up. If that was even possible now.

Stranded on a distant planet with no internet or means of returning.

Nice.

"I guessed as much... It's no longer working. Looks like it's just the two of us out here now."

Caelus turns away from his phone to meet Dan Heng's gaze, the growing frown on his face not going unnoticed by the young Trailblazer. His hand move deftly, smoothing the furrows.

"... What are you doing?" Dan Heng asks, a soft rise in his usual monotonous voice yet it remained even, now used to his fellow trailblazer acting out on his intrusive thoughts randomly. 

"Preventing future wrinkles on this handsome face of yours." A boyish grin forms on Caelus's face, "And now that it's only the two of us, no use worrying over it. We'll work something out, I'm sure."

Pink dusts Dan Heng's cheeks as he diverts his gaze away, now examining the fallen rubble around them as he continues, "Let's find someplace safe to set up a base of operations first. The statue and buildings we've seen so far point to a civilization here on Amphoreus."

But soon Dan Heng's gaze grows worried, his voice growing softer, "We can only hope they're not hostile towards outsiders."

Dan Heng and his constant worries.

A fond sigh escapes Caelus's lips as he pats Dan Heng's back reassuringly, "If they are, I'll make sure to protect us."

Dan Heng let's out a short huff in response.

"Back to being fugitives again. How fun." Caelus jokes, eyes crinkling into a smile as he looks around— admiring the murals on the wall and trying to understand what they depicted. But not having the basic understanding or knowledge of history about this new world only made it all the more impossible to interpret anything from them.

Alas, a missed opportunity.

Just then soemthing pink catches his eye. A floating rabbit...?

 "What is it—"

"Shh. Someone's here." Placing a finger above Dan Heng's lips, Caelus look around in an attempt at figuring out where the sudden presence escaped to. Surely he hadn't been missing March to the extent of hallucinating her... Right?

Dan Heng's gaze narrows at his words," Someone's here? Stay cautious and ready your weapon."

Caelus nods, following his orders.

Following Dan Heng's advice, both quietly approach what seemed like a huge door— extending from the tall ceiling down to the floor. Esquisite detailing, a moon encased within the sun. It made them wonder, what did the gods in this world represent? What powers did they hold?

As Caelus walked closer to the door, excitement blossomed. This was the wonder of the trailblaze.

"Don't get distracted Caelus." Dan Heng calls out, noticing his rising excitement as Caelus immediately nods to his words— a small smile forming on Dan Heng's lips at his eager nodding but suddenly his smile gave way to a frown, "Hold on."

Dan Heng's arm extends out, blocking Caelus's path ahead as he stands before the confused boy, weapon in hand, "The door..." Both gaze in surprise at the insignia on the door suddenly coming to life, lighting up as the concentric circles engraved in the centre rotate in hypnotising patterns, "It's opening on its own?"

"Automatic doors in a temple? Innovative." Caelus comments, whistling lightly at the discovery.

"Temple?"

"I mean, considering how large and grand everything seems— shouldn't it be one? Considering how Scalegorge Waterscape, a holy ground for the Vidhyadharas was full of murals, shouldn't this also be some sort of place meant for worship or at least be sacred to the people of this civilisation?"

Dan Heng falls into thought, "I hadn't noticed, but yes. You could be right. Let's keep this in mind as we move forward— we may find a town or city close by if it is indeed one."

"Gotcha. But..." Caelus's eyes turn to look at the still rotating circles on the door, "... Isn't this taking too long to open?"

"Patience is a virtue of the Trailblaze."

"Ugh. We could just... I dunno? Break past?"

"That would just alert the person we are hoping to find."

"But they'll be long gone by the time this opens!"

Click!

As if feeling insulted by his comments, the door immediately clicks open. 

"Nice!"

Stepping outside, the two trailblazers are immediately taken by surprise at the grandness of the corridors that lay before them.

Fallen pillars speak of a time they stood tall— gold and white embellished their bodies with each arch curving elegantly into the long winded corridors, the vast expanse of the scenery extending in front of them, silencing them with their sheer beauty.

Caelus immediately runs forward and Dan Heng calls out to him, "Caelus!"

"That pink furball! I see it—"

"Caelus— WATCH OUT!"

Dan Heng rushes towards Caelus, grabbing hold of Caelus's hand as he pulls the man back—

"Ack...!"

—stopping him from falling down what seemed like a never ending abyss.

"Why is it so dark? Is it nighttime?" Rubbing his back, Caelus grumbles as he stands up— pulling a fallen Dan Heng back to his feet beside him, "Thanks, otherwise my journey would have ended right in the beginning."

Caelus grinning about his near brush with death just makes Dan Heng's glare grow more intense, the worry behind his eyes making him frown.

"Come on Mister Frown, we have a world to explore." Pulling Dan Heng by his sleeve, Caelus forces him to follow behind.

"Cael—"

Suddenly the world lights up. The vast empty night sky now splashed with the colours of warmth— the broken pillars and arches now restored to their former glory. Far more grand and intricate than even their imagination, a place worthy of reverence yet it all seemed so... Solemn. Emptiness in it's wake, deserted and lost despite restored.

"... Wha?"

Dan Heng's senses were overwhelmed by the amount of thoughts passing by, trying to make sense of the sudden changes taking place in his surroundings.

"Dan Heng." A soft call of his voice. Dan Heng turns towards it, the familiarity of his tone grounding him in this unfamiliar world. Caelus smiles, nodding to him softly— a small question about his wellbeing vieled by such a simple gesture. A quiet worry as if he wasn't the one who almost died just now.

A soft huff leaves Dan Heng's lips, smiling at his partner's boyish yet charming personality, "I'm fine."

"Look at this." Following Caelus's gaze, Dan Heng's gaze lands on a statue— now restored to its former state yet it still seemed... Odd, "It... Doesn't have a face."

"That isn't uncommon."

"Really? But why would you worship a god without a face?" Caelus scratched his head, trying to find a reason behind such an action, "Doesn't one worship a diety to save themselves from unknown dangers? Then why pray to an unknown being?"

"The fear of the unknown... The primal fear of all sentient beings. But it is also that which lead us towards the path of erudition." Dan Heng surmises, eyes taking in the figure of the faceless statue, candles scattered around it— a sign of the people's wishes and prayers, "It is in the unknown that one seeks refuge when all others fail us, even ourselves."

"So when even the danger is unknown, look towards the unknown for an answer?" Caelus purses his lips, deeply nodding his head as if having finally solved the mystery behind the very creation of the universe, "Our Cold Dragon Young is indeed very smart."

"Aeons are inherently unknown beings that we follow but seeing such statues," Dan Heng ignores Caelus's ongoing monologue, already used to his unceasing chattering, "I wonder if the people of this world have different beings of worship."

Dan Heng's musings are brought to a still at the patting of his shoulder, Caelus's touch seeming unusually hesitant, "Hmm?"

"That... That's a child, no, children?"

"What?"

Turning away from the statue, Dan Heng's eyes widen upon noticing two figures at a distance. Their jumping figures catching the eyes of any who looked in their direction, as if beconing them to follow.

Was it a good choice to?

Just as Dan Heng was weighing his options, Caelus steps forward.

"Wait-"

"There is only one way forward," Caelus answers him before he can even ask, mischief flowing in his golden eyes, "Unless you want to fall down the abyss I almost fell into?"

"Caelus." An edge to his voice, uneasiness tinged into it. A tone Caelus immediately caught but just smiled in reply, stepping back silently to intertwine their hands together. Dan Heng's eyes following Caelus's every step— each detail engraved into his mind as he unknowingly eases into it.

"I'm here. Isn't it the duty of us trailblazers to always journey forward?" Caelus smiles, holding up their intertwined hands up to show Dan Heng, "You'll save me like you always do."

Dan Heng's eyes widen at his words, mind clearing from all the worries he unknowingly allowed to fester and grow.

Noticing Dan Heng slowly calming down, Caelus tugs them forests, "How about we go greet those children? What could possibly go wrong?"

'A lot of things.'

Dan Heng wanted to immediately refute but decided against it, instead deciding to believe in Caelus.

Slow steps soon turned into a race, Caelus laughing as Dan Heng almost trips from the sudden change in pace, "Can't keep up, dear Dragon?"

"Shut up." Flushed Dan Heng, looking away to hide his embarrassment but just then—

A whisper followed by a flash. 

Night enveloped all in its ruin yet again.

Following it was a glimpse of something pink.

"Over there, that pink thing!" Dan Heng pointed forward. A dense fog blurred it's figure, small and round.

"You see it too?" Caelus kept running forward, Dan Heng in toe.

Nodding Dan Heng frowned, still confused by the constant shifting of time, "Is it doing all of this? This phenomenon... is hard to explain."

A whisper flows by yet again. So close yet far, like a hand trying to grasp the grains of sand fated to always flow through the cracks.

It was day again.

"There it is again." Dan Heng points out and Caelus nods, following it.

They end up in front of a staircase, yet another door standing in front of them.

"It's gone... That happened too fast for us to make any sense of. Did you see what the creature looked like?" Caelus smiled the smile he would always smile before blurting out something that would make Dan Heng regret asking, "You know what? Forget I ask—" 

"The mastermind being everything?"

'Oh, that was rather mild compared to other times.' Dan Heng silently judged Caelus in his mind and decided to keep his remarks to himself.

Folding his arms, Dan Heng pressed his fist under his chin— a habit he doesn't quite remember when he picked up, and continues analysing, "It's unlike any of the known species in our data bank. But I guess that's to be expected. We know nothing about Amphoreus after all."

Caelus nods, eyes closed in pretense concentration, mimicking Dan Heng's posture to which Dan Heng hits their head, earning a soft whine from the young Trailblazer.

Rolling his eyes at Caelus pouting whilst rubbing the spot he just hit, Dan Heng continues, "Back when we were trailblazing into Jarito-IV, we knew it's history and terrain even before arriving on the planet. But with Amphoreus... All we have is whatever little Black Swan told us about the world."

Recovering from his pain, Caelus now coughs into his hand— seemingly in an attempt at sounding serious, "How about finding a local?"

Dan Heng's brows furrow, eyes gazing towards the door standing atop the staircase, "We must plan for the worst. Putting the language barrier aside, the previous attack on us was quite powerful. It's hard to imagine a planet as far out and isolated as this having the expertise to create such sophisticated weaponry."

"Hey, don't bully the people here even before you meet them. Questioning their development even before experiencing their civilization? I didn't know you were so judgemental Dan Heng." Placing a hand over his chest, Caelus cries out dramatically— as if betrayed by a long friend to which Dan Heng just reacts like he always does.

Indifference.

"Oh come on! Don't leave me alone!"

Caelus cries out from behind Dan Heng, who decided to move forward than listen to Caelus any further.

"What happened to the Dan Heng who couldn't move forward unless I held his hand?" Catching up to Dan Heng, Caelus continues his teasing without a break. His words now filtered by Dan Heng who decided to focus his remaining sanity on figuring out a path forward.

The patterns on the door in front of them twist and turn again, giving way to yet another grand scene.

"One monumental city gate after another."

"Imposing and somewhat archaic." Dan Heng takes in the scene that lay in front of them, voice turning into a soft whisper, "A cultural site perhaps, like you guessed earlier."

"There's a path forward here." Dan Heng walks towards Caelus, who was busy jumping past fallen debri and pillars, "Seems to lead towards yet another huge temple like structure."

"Another? Religion must be very important to the people of this planet seeing how they build such grand structures atop such steep mountains."

"Hop on, let's go over." Caelus extends his hand from where he stood atop a fallen column, "Careful with your footing, it may look sturdy but it's just waiting for the slightest pressure to crumble down."

"You sound experienced."

"Well treasure doesn't just wait out in the open does it?" Caelus takes Dan Heng's comment as a compliment, gloating as he pulls Dan Heng up with just a tug of his hand, "See? There are similar buildings up ahead."

Dan Heng's face scrunches as he puts pressure on his feet after being pulled up— likely a wound from the previous accident, but he remains silent, eyes now trained forward, towards the archaic temples sitting atop the mountains, forgotten. 

"Let's move. It's gotta have treasure just waiting to be found."

"It looks like no one lives in the area, and that strange creature from before is nowhere to be seen. But..." Dan Heng turns away from the winding path along the mountainside, gazing towards the distant sky, "Look there."

"A gaint sphere?"

"Judging from the prevalence of these colossal structures, this civilisation has more than just great engineers and architects." Dan Heng turns towards Caelus, "It could indicate a universal belief system. If only it were closer I'd be able to make out the details." There is an underlying disappointment in his voice at the end of his sentence, one that makes Caelus laugh fondly.

"Do you want to have a closer look?" A simple question.

"What?" But that simple question was enough to catch Dan Heng off guard.

Caelus laughs yet again, a soft yet whimsical laugh that always made Dan Heng think that his partner knew more than he let on. A mysterious charm that they always seemed to hold.

"Let's go." That's all Caelus answers with, holding his hand out yet again.

Dan Heng stares at his hand in silence.

"I can walk on my own." He grumbles.

"Yes." Caelus answers him yet again, a simple answer yet it seemed to hide something behind it's simplicity. The extended hand remains, a question awaiting it's answer yet never forcing him to.

Chapter Text

"Yes." Caelus answers him yet again, a simple answer yet it seemed to hide something behind it's simplicity. The extended hand remains, a question awaiting it's answer yet never forcing him to.

This was exactly who Caelus was. 

A very eccentric yet kind man.

Dan Heng huffed, hand slowly moving to lay atop Caelus's waiting one.

"... If you want to take some photos, now would be the perfect time."

A gaint sphere stood between heaven and earth in the distance. At its top, the sky appeared to be torn open— or rather, it seemed to have willingly opened a circular rift. Inside, a swirling vortex churned, and the clouds periodically reflecting a golden glow.

"March would love to see this... wouldn't she, Dan Heng?" Caelus's smile softened, eyes gazing at the distant scenery yet they seemed out of focus. As if reminiscing.

"And that's why we must make sure to return to her," Dan Heng's grasp on Caelus's hand tightened, "... Together."

Caelus stood silently.

If March were here, she'd definitely use her girlish imagination to come up with some whimsical and creative metaphors for the scenery. 

Caelus's smile falters, growing dull. 

Dan Heng tugs him forward, carefully stepping down from the fallen column they had gotten up on. The path forward was silent, the once distant temple now growing closer, "The bridge..." 

"... It's broken." Caelus completed, "We can't make it across." 

"Let's take a picture here." Dan Heng proposed with Caelus silently following his words. 

Click! 

A familiar sound resounded. A sound that they always associated with a cheery, bubbly pink haired girl who would always complain about their lack of enthusiasm for her hobby of taking pictures no matter where they went. 

The same complains that they so dearly wished to hear now. 

"Don't forget the gate too." 

Across the cliff, the grand gates remain silent, unwilling to reveal any of the history and secrets hidden behind it. 

What could lie within the gate? Caelus can't help but let his imagination run wild. Bloody carnage, chaotic banquets, bottomless abyss... 

Then he regains his focus, a playful voice softly whispers with in his ear— "Helloo~! Snap out of it and click the shutter already!" 

Snapping the pictures, Caelus looks back at them, assessing their quality. He smiles, imagining March putting them up on her wall whilst Dan Heng and he explain their journey to her. Her shimmering eyes making up grand scenarios as he makes up elaborate explanations while Dan Heng interjects, reminding Caelus that nothing of that sort had actually happened. 

Truly... He missed March so much. 

Caelus is brought out of his reverie by Dan Heng's voice, "Watch out, Caelus!"  

"Hmm?" 

Just seconds after, an arrow flies past Caelus's neck, missing by a few meager centimeters. 

Caelus's hand flies upwards, grasping at his neck at the sudden horror now hitting him. If it weren't for Dan Heng he would have been dead. 

Putting the camera away, he manifests the bat in his hand— cosmic fragments forming into the silhouette of the first weapon he attained in his life. The sudden danger making him reach out for the weapon he was most accustomed to. 

His trusted baseball bat. 

"These things aren't breathing... Inorganic lifeforms?" Dan Heng figures out from a mere glance. 

His eyes keep glancing at Caelus's form, as if wanting to lessen the distance between them yet he kept hesitating for he didn't know what the enemy was capable of if he were to make a sudden move. 

Caelus cursed under his breath, "A cliff behind us with no way out. They intend to keep us here, we're going to have to fight them."

Readying the bat, his gaze grows sharper. Dan Heng nods— his spear appearing in his hand, both of their demeanors immediately shifting. Countless battles fought beside one another already having steeled their trust in the other's skills. 

All it took was a shared glance for them to begin their coordinated attacks. 

One. Two. Three. 

Dan Heng strikes each of their joints with effortless grace. One movement flowing into other, uninterrupted and unhindered as Caelus deflects any attacks aimed at him. Immediately shifting his weapon to his lance when an arrow is aimed at Dan Heng— tanking all the damage in an attempt at giving Dan Heng a window for attacking. 

"Caelus!" 

Dan Heng calls out and Caelus immediately nods— his stance shifting towards Dan Heng who runs towards him. Stepping upon the lance, Caelus pushes forward to help Dan Heng achieve more momentum as he leaps towards the archers in the distance. 

Seizing this opportunity, the arches aim their attacks at the man flung into the air. 

"No you don't!" 

All the arrows aimed at Dan Heng get deflected by the throw of a single hat, rendering all their attacks useless with Dan Heng using that window to rain down attacks on them mercilessly. 

Caelus rushes towards Dan Heng, "You good?" 

Breath now ragged, Dan Heng puts pressure on his spear as he stands up, "They just keep coming, how do we break free from this...?" 

Noticing Dan Heng using his spear as support, Caelus frowns, "You hurt yourself. When?" 

"I'm fine." 

"Do not lie to me." Caelus's voice grows deeper, a sudden edge to it, "Not when we've fought together so many times." 

"... It's nothing too serious." Dan Heng tries to dismiss the topic, the enemies closing in being the more important matter at hand.

"You... You always..." Caelus's voice falters, the words choking him as he turns away from Dan Heng, "... Stand back."

"... What?" Dan Heng's eyes widen upon noticing Caelus's next actions, "Caelus! DON'T—"

The hat in his hand disappears, transforming into a massive lance as he jumps right at the centre of the enemies. Scattering them as he stabbed through them all, a brutal show of power as he threw them off the cliff with his bat. 

"That's too reckless!" Dan Heng tries to catch up but just as he tries to run to him his leg gives out— gaze shifting towards his it. 

His fist lands on his leg, urging it to move. To not lose anyone else. To fight. 

Not again. 

Never. 

Just then he hears a sound.

Caelus's sound.

"Caelus!" Dan Heng cries out yet again.

'If not for this cursed body of mine—!'

"I'm fine—" Just as Caelus screams out to comfort a panicking Dan Heng— the swing of a great sword has him thrown to the opposite side of the battlefield, to which Caelus corrects himself quickly, "—I will be fine!"

"Caelus! Stop!"

"And what if I do!? Will they stop too!?" Caelus's voice strains under the constant barrage of attacks, "I can't afford to let you get hurt again!"

"I can figh—"

"Yeah? Not with that leg! No sir! You'll just worsen your condition!"

"There are far too many for you to deal with alone!" 

Caelus grins. The same smug grin he always wore when he was going to reply with something ludicrous.

"Just watch."

The lance dissipates into stars, the bat appearing in his other hand as he swings it at his opponents. The impact sending three of them flying down the cliff, a fiery lance appearing above the others enemies as Caelus jumps— throwing it at them, a blazing fire erupting from within it, disintegrating them.

That reckless way of fighting. It always made Dan Heng worried yet it also confirmed just how capable Caelus was at juggling with all weapons he had at his disposal.

A risky style.

Yet it was so very Caelus.

With the archers defeated previously, Caelus could fight much more freely. Swinging and piercing through all that stood in his way. One by one they all dropped down or got smashed to pieces— the ones that slipped past would be dealt quickly with a flick of his hat. 

Dan Heng stared in quiet awe at the excellent crowd handling capabilites of his comrade. A skill he didn't know he had previously... What made him push himself so hard? He remembered how exhausted Caelus looked after his trip to Penacony, dead eyes and a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. Was it then? When did the boy who had just picked up the bat turn into such a warrior? 

His gaze landed at his own hands. Unable to protect anyone. 

Alone. 

If this continued. He would be alone. Again. 

And it wouldn't be anyone else's fault. But him. 

The numbers weren't dwindling, the tide ever growing. Sooner or later Caelus would get overwhelmed— he had to devise a plan, quickly. 

"Hold them back!" 

Caelus immediately glanced back at Dan Heng, hands still busy with fending off the shower of attacks aimed at him. Dan Heng nodded, his tensed shoulders making Caelus laugh even amidst his predicament as he replies, "As you wish, My Dragon!" 

With a bright flash, all the mobs surrounding Caelus get thrown back— bright flames erupting from within his lance, pushing the tide back and holding it in place. 

"Won't last long! Do what you have to!" 

Soft whispers erupt from where Dan Heng knelt, a thin fog encasing his figure as his eyes shut close. The words leaving his lips a distant whisper yet with each syallbus uttered their influence grows, moving to envelop the matching troops. 

"Your orders?" Dan Heng could hear the grin that formed on Caelus's lips without even needing to look. 

"Burn them all." 

"As! You! Wish!" 

The moisture penetrated deep into the earthen surfaces of the attackers— the sudden heat from Caelus's lance now evaporating the moisture, leaving behind more cracks in its wake. 

With a single roar of his weapon, fire engulfed the entire expanse of the eroded path— a blinding explosion. 

BOOM! 

"Gotta say, you've got quite the brains Cold Dragon Young." Stabbing the lance into the ground, Caelus stood leaning against it, the same boyish grin plastered across his face, "Can't say I would've survived without you partner." 

Dan Heng's tensed figure finally relaxed, falling back onto the ground in relief. They survived. They were alive.

Caelus was still there with him.

"You were far too reckless."

"Mhmm, says the one who hurt himself and still insisted on fighting."

"That—!"

"I know." Bending down beside Dan Heng's fallen form, Caelus stares at him with quiet understanding, "I know, you are the express's guard. You have yet again fulfilled your duty, so don't sweat the unnecessary details. Let's rest up and then move onward, hmm?"

"... Yes."

Just as Caelus is about to settle down beside him, Dan Heng sits up. His senses tingle, the cloudhymn magic letting him know of approaching danger.

... But from where?

Caelus stood up silently, Dan Heng's sudden vigilance prompting him to wait quietly for his next words.

A sudden flash of blue.

An attack from above. 

Caelus immediately moved in front of Dan Heng, using his bat to deflect the attack away from them.

"Look out—!" The urgency in Dan Heng's voice stirs Caelus, the grip over his bat tightening but just then he notices...

"What...?" The bat. His bat.

Gone.

Before Caelus could look up and recover from his shock, another attack charged right at him, "You've got something... interesting."— It was his own bat against him now.

Dan Heng deflected it, the bend unnatural.

Snap!

The broken spear circled past them, landing right behind with a stab into the crumbling path.

"You." Caelus's eyes narrow in scrutiny at the man flinging the bat to the ground, playing with it as if it belonged to him. It might as well have belonged to him in the eyes of any other considering how familiar and at ease he seemed with it in his hands.

Something bubbled within Caelus. Was it anger? Perhaps. But it certainly wasn't anything good.

"I bear no harm. I just want everyone to be safe." Moonlight caught in his silver strands— illuminating them with an ethereal glow. His voice full of sincerity, a tone any would want to believe yet it ticked Caelus off even more. 

"My bat." 

Caelus grumbled under his breath, fingers curling into fists in response to his barely hidden anger. 

"Caelus. Stand back, we both are worn out from our previous encounter." Dan Heng attempts to reason with a very angry Caelus in hopes of holding him off long enough to come at some sort of agreement with the man in front of them. 

"Bu—" 

"Your bat. I promise. I will get it back in your hands."

Caelus's words come to a still, a frustrated grimace settling upon his expression as he diverts his gaze. Guilt-ridden, his shoulders remain tensed but he nods. 

Dan Heng turns to the man standing across them, a friendly grin atop their lips. 

'Hopefully he can be reasoned with.'

"Wait..." Dan Heng turns towards Caelus upon hearing his voice, "I understood him?" 

The gears in Dan Heng's mind immediately turn, this was a hint. A hint that this world might not have always been isolated from the world outside. That it's language might have been recorded in the numerous pages of history scattered across the universe— to have been translated by the Synesthesia Beacon, it could be a possibility. 

Following this thought process, Dan Heng begins, "Everyone's safety?" 

"Running around in a place like the Abyss with weapons in tow is a show of provocation. Those soldiers were the minions of the Strife Titan. They're not known to stop until all invaders fall under their feet." 

"So you just come in randomly and break his spear to prove your point?" Voice laden with scrutiny, Caelus attempts to approach the silver haired boy only to be stopped by a disapproving Dan Heng shaking his head. 

"If you continue brandishing your weapons, you won't only be putting yourselves in the crossfire..." Blue eyes turn to glance across the cliff, towards what seemed like citizens huddled close together— afraid and trembling, "Their looming blade will come down on the heads of the innocent." 

"A civil approach gets your message across all the same." Dan Heng accuses, eyes narrowing as he moves to stand before Caelus, effectively shielding the man. 

"Its difficult to tell if you're friend or foe when you appear out of thin air. Even without your weapons, a great power still lurks within you." The white haired youth's eye shifts to glance at Caelus hidden behind Dan Heng for a split second before the same amicable smile settles on his lips. 

'The stellaron... Don't tell me.' 

Caelus's eyebrow twitches, gaze darkening as he meets the man's. A few words were all that was needed to get their guard up, add on top of that the abilities the man had just shown. This trip wasn't going to as smooth as they had hoped. 

"You speak about safety and being unable to trust strangers but your previous attack..." Caelus glares, an accusatory glint to them, "... Was it truly just a mere warning? The force behind it proved otherwise." 

The man's smile remains unwavering at Caelus's accusations, "You cannot blame me after you almost blasted away half of the mountain path with a single attack. I could be putting myself in harm's way for all I know. I'd be unwise to not take precautions." 

"So," The fire in the earthen lamps crackle, the moonlight and their warmth intertwining to paint the white haired youth in contrasting colors— the colour of his eyes a striking blue, unwavering and resolute, "Care to share the reason for dropping in on us? Hmm? Visitors from above?" 

Caelus glanced at Dan Heng, a silent question.

'How much should we reveal?'

"Phai—non—! Look, what you did again! Taking off only to get yourself in trouble?" 

A childlike voice cuts through the growing tension, cheery yet held the tone of a parent scolding a disobedient child. A rather unusual combination that made both the Trailblazers blink in confusion. 

Caelus pointed at the read haired child that appeared in front of them, face barely hiding the utter confusion flowing through him to which Dan Heng could only nod that yes, yes indeed Caelus's vision was still working just fine. 

Amidst their shared confusion, the child continued with the same scolding tone, "Agh, you even ruined his weapon! Now you've really gone and done it! This is no way to be treating strangers!" 

"I was just trying to fix our problem in the safest way possible." The confident man from before now fumbled in front of a tiny child, rubbing the back of his head in a poor attempt at defending his actions. A scene that seemed so out of place yet made Caelus cheer from where he stood behind Dan Heng. 

"You tell him child!" Hanging on Dan Heng's shoulder like a child who only found the courage to speak up when behind a parent, Caelus whispered. A sense of joy taking over him at the man being scolded to which Dan Heng could only shake his head whilst sighing. 

How was it that a child was more adept at handling such situations than two grown ups? 

"How is this safe!?" The red haired child reasonably scolded, turning to the both of them with an adorable smile, "Hello, friendly strangers! Let's all simmer down and cool our jets. We're all humans here. No need for things to get so heated." 

"Jets..." Caelus mummbled, the word catching his ear as he stares at the child with poorly hidden curiosity glimmering in his eyes. 

The adorable voice continued to explain in an attempt at justifying the actions of her white haired companion, "Snowy's just worried you're baddies from above, but we know you two are nothing of the sort! Oh right, you don't know us yet. We're Tribbie from Janusopolis, and this is... Snowy!" 

"That's one hell of a name for a man who almost cut both us and our journey right into halves." Caelus scoffs. 

"Hurry up and apologize to them!" Little hands on her hips, Tribbie tries to mediate between the two opposing parties. Her adorable nature making Caelus melt in an instanf. 

Dan Heng had come to notice, Caelus had quite the soft spot for kids— especially well behaved ones. The unruly ones would usually be met with his bat. 

A scene Dan Heng wanted nothing to do with after having barely saved those Penaconian kids from having a free ride into the sky without any shooters. 

"Alright, if you say so, Tribbie... I apologize for my earlier behaviour." Now that irked Caelus right back up, a scrowl painting his face yet again. 

"Easy there." Dan Heng pat Caelus's back. A poor attempt at soothing a rabid racoon who was just a few steps away from launching at the first moving object in front of him. 

Unaware of his failed apology, 'Snowy' continued, "I was overly wary because both of you landed in this tumultuous region, it put me on high alert." 

"I understand. We're Trailblazers from beyond the sky." Hand over his chest, Dan Heng greets them formally— a show of him accepting his apology. 

"You're telling them everything already?" Caelus's voice sounded betrayed, as if Dan Heng had just revealed their greatest secret even before the climax of the story. 

"There is no point concealing anything. They saw everything. If they wanted us dead, they wouldn't be standing around talking to us." 

Listening to Dan Heng's reasoning, Caelus nodded quietly. 

"... Not from above the sky but beyond it...?" Disbelief in their voices, 'Snowy' stared at them both with wide eyes, as if trying to accept the words he had just heard. 

"Wow, that's something else altogether... You're lucky you met us, then." 

Tribbie's words implied that there were others whom they could come across. Some that could potentially be harmful as well— making the two Trailblazers look at one another before turning to question them again. 

Dan Heng spoke up first," What do you mean?" 

It was now 'Snowy' who answered them, "She means you're lucky because we won't hurt you, but the same can't be said for others." 

"Won't hurt us? Heh." Caelus whispered, his tone mocking as he gazed right at the man who spoke those words. 

'Snowy' coughed, noticing his gaze as he attempted to divert their attention from that topic, "... Let's talk somewhere else. You've seen it first-hand. It isn't safe out here. As you saw, there are still many refugees who haven't been freed in the temple." 

"Refugees? So people came to this temple till recent times?" Caelus sounded taken aback, "It looks far too unkempt to even consider it being regularly visited."

Phainon nodded, "We're here to rescue and escort them to the holy city, Okhema. They're the reason I had to be absolutely sure you were not here with ill intent, and why I wanted you to put away your weapons. If something were to occur they would have no way of protecting themselves."

Glancing back at the refugees in the back, Caelus sighs. He could no longer remain furious at the man who was simply trying to fulfil his duty towards his people— it was true that his actions would seem reckless and dangerous from the perspective of a guardian so Caelus relented.

Hand over his chest, as if to show just how sincere he was being, 'Snowy' introduced himself, "I'm Phainon of Aedes Elysiae. Sorry if I offended you just now."

Both Caelus and Dan Heng noticed how Phainon's eyes shifted towards Caelus as he apologized.

Dan Heng nudged Caelus, his eyes gesturing him to speak up to which Caelus just let out a huff— grumbling under his breath while tousling his already messy gray hair, "Tsk, a little longer and I would've shown you what I can really do ack—!"

"That isn't how you reply to an apology." Dan Heng smacks Caelus's head from the back and continues with the same cool demeanor, "I'm Dan Heng. This is—"

"I'm the Galactic Baseballer who's missing a baseball bat."

Smack! 

"Ouch! That hurts Dan Heng!" 

"It is supposed to." 

Chuckling at the bickering duo Phainon continues, "That sounds impressive, but I'm guessing it's a nickname? We're meeting each other for the first time, so shouldn't you tell me your actual name?" 

At his words, Caelus slowly turns towards Phainon— as if rusted cogs replaced his neck, creaking and groaning under the pressure of his rage, slowing the motion of his turn, "... And who do you think made me gain that title huh? Who is it that took my bat away? Hmm!? "

"Friction really does spark friendships, huh?" Seemingly unaffected by his murderous rage, Phainon rather takes it as a show of their blossoming friendship, "Here, you can have your weapon back."

Now a very conflicted Caelus stood with his bat in hand.

Yes. He got his bat back.

But why did it feel like he was the one who lost here?

Pat. Pat.

"You win some and lose some." Dan Heng comforts.

Caelus's face morphed into one of pure confusion to the point you could say he displaced his features to the degree of being anatomically impossible.

Dan Heng exhaled a soft laugh under his breath.

But then came his turn.

"And here's your spear." Tribbie handed the broken spear head to Dan Heng.

Dan Heng stood silently gazing at his broken treasure in hand.

Pat. Pat. Pat.

"Look at the bright side, at least you got the b-big end of the st-stick." Caelus shook his head, a dramatical gesture to show just how bad he felt about his friend's loss if not for...

"I can see your shoulder's shaking."

... Caelus holding back his laughter.

And Caelus was failing. Miserably.

If gazes could kill, Caelus would be floating outside the Astral Express without a space suit to sustain him.

"Don't worry! This is entirely on Snowy. I'll make sure he fixes it for you!" Taking Caelus scrambling on the floor for breath from his intense session of trying to contain his laughter as him sulking for Dan Heng's broken spear, Tribbie tries to comfort the man on the floor.

"... I'm grateful." Thanks to Caelus, the thanks Dan Heng uttered came out as sincere sounding as Caelus feeling sorry from Dan Heng's weapon.

"Ahaha... It seems I'll have to treat Chartonus to a couple of drinks again." Phainon gazes up at the starless nightsky and Dan Heng could bet he saw a singular tear streak down his cheek with how distressed his voice sounded.

'Just how many drinks does this man owe to that man named Chartonus...'

Setting those thoughts aside, Dan Heng continued because at least one of them had to be the adult in this situation and continue, "We've just arrived and still have many questions. If you two can ensure our safety, travelling together would certainly be the best choice. Please lead the way."

Chapter Text

Walking at a distance from their newly made acquaintances, Dan Heng turns towards Caelus— his voice a soft whisper only meant for his companion to hear, "How do you view the situation?"

Caelus had the peculiar talent of getting rather accurate hunches about people and places. It would do good to get any information about a place that they had little to no idea about, even if it was as inconsequential as a hunch or whim. 

"About your spear..."

Caelus's eyes flicker towards Dan Heng's empty hand, one that would usually wield his trusted weapon. One that had been beside him every since this life of his had begun.

The creation of his once trusted ally.

And it seemed like these thoughts made Caelus worry incessantly about the changes that the loss of such a sentimental object would bring about in Dan Heng.

"It's loss is unfortunate," Dan Heng starts, his gaze still on the ones leading them— eyes not meeting Caelus, "But we gained some important insight. Amphoreus's weapon-forging skills are on par with the craftsmanship that forged the Cloud-Piercer. 

"So? Deciding to take back your previous conjecture about this world being primitive?" Caelus teases.

"... Perhaps they have more to surprise us with at this 'holy city' they mentioned but..." Dan Heng's gaze sharpens, as if drilling the outline of the ones in front of him into his mind, "Their appearance was suspiciously well-timed."

"Right. And I'd reckon that there's more to this Phainon than meets the eye." Folding his hands, Caelus rubs his chin with his fingers— trying to come up with the reason behind his odd feeling.

As they both continue conversing, the bustling and loud arguments from the refugees up ahead catches their attention.

"Is someone arguing in the temple?" Dan Heng frowns, "Let's take a look, and remember—"

"Yes yes keep it friendly. I know." With that Caelus rushes off into the temple.

"Caelus—!" Dan Heng calls out, a futile attempt at keeping the curious racoon by his side, "Hah... Always so ready to just go about running."

"The temple is so cold..."

"Where will fate take us...?"

"When will this end...?"

"May Janus reveal our road."

Amidst the fallen debri and cracked stone walls of the once grand temple, the people join their hands in earnest prayer. Eyes shut tightly, heads pressed against their clasped hands in a futile attempt at making the gods respond to their helpless prayers— old and young both at the mercy of those that seemed so out of their grasp.

Caelus walked past them, eyes taking in their broken forms. Their history having bruised them far deeper than any physical wounds can yet they still prayed. Prayed for a brighter tomorrow. A future for their loved ones.

The tenacity of humanity. The same no matter where they went.

Maybe it was what made them live.

Made them human.

An uneasy feeling grew in Caelus's chest. Forcing his gaze away from them, he lowered his head, marching onwards with hurried steps into the temple where Phainon and Tribbie just walked into.

"No, I will never agree to that...!"

The angry voice of an elder breaks Caelus out of his forced reverie.

Raising his head, Caelus realised he walked into what seemed like an elaborate hallway. The many doors and archways connecting into rising staircases— the same patterns and architecture etched into the stone pillars and walls, ancient and silent.

"Virtus! You acted on your own to ask the Chrysos Heirs for help!? To bring us into their so-called holy city, no less! We are priests of Janus, born as footless birds— how could we possibly endure being confined to one place?" The angry elder continued, standing in front of what seemed like the broken remains of their once revered god, the stairs leading to him now in ruins.

"Seems like the rescue effort has reached an impasse."

"... Dan Heng." Caelus mutters softly, not realising when his companion had caught up with him.

"Let's listen closely. Maybe we can figure out something."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

"We've lost far too many to Nikador's forces, Mr. Noldus! I only want for everyone to settle down somewhere safe, and to be able to sleep soundly." The man named Virtus cried out, a futile attempt at making the elder listen to him.

To make the elder listen to the cries of the ones in the present instead of being stuck adhering to principles and rules of a past that had long gone by.

But the elder, Noldus, continued to argue. Resisting the imminent change that the times desperately required, "Lose your faith, and you lose everything. Do you seriously think you can seek shelter in Okhema? Nowhere is safe with the end times looming!"

"End times looming?" Dan Heng frowned, noticing the constant mentioning of end times and danger from all that they meet, "It seems there is a conflict between religion and survival."

"Janus... The ones outside seem to be praying whilst calling out this name. Maybe it's the name of their god? Tribbie mentioned being from Jano, uh—Janusopolis? Maybe it's the city state that worships this god?" Caelus tried to infer from the various hints that had been presented to them but with minimal basic information regarding this world, he could only guess.

"If it is so, it implies the various cities scattered across this land are separated on basis of the gods that they worship. That would also imply that this land is Tribbie's homeland, Janusopolis, for they seem to worship the god Janus."

Caelus nodded, "But then who would the holy-city worship? It seems to be the place where they're escorting the refugees, maybe a city that accepts the worshipers of all gods? But then why is that elder resisting this rescue effort?"

"There must be more to that than meets the eye. Accepting all and merely tolerating all are terms that are most often interchangeable at times like these." Dan Heng's voice turns deeper, as if the words spoken were from his own experiences, "...Where there is diversity, segregation and conflict soon follows."

It seemed that while Dan Heng and Caelus were conversing, the conversation with the elder Noldus had already come to a conclusion, "I appreciate the concern, esteemed Chrysos Heir. But please respect that we have the right to choose our own fate." 

With these parting words, Noldus turns around to leave.  

"Right to choose their own fates huh..." Caelus repeats after, the words always seeming to be spoken by those who seem deluded by their arrogance of knowing what their fate held in store for them. 

How could they truly know? How could one be so sure of their words when there were no signs to show for it? 

When their people so desperately sought salvation, how could he shut the door so cold heartedly in the name of fate? Was it truly so? Or were they merely delusions of one blinded by their faith? 

What even was religion? 

Were gods truly meant to be worshipped or was it the folly of humans to hope for kindness from someone so out of reach? 

Shaking his head, Caelus decided to set those thoughts aside for it would only result in his thoughts spiraling out of control. He could always wonder about them later, now it was necessary to grasp any new information they could. 

Caelus could already feel Himeko and Welt praising him for his growth and control. He couldn't wait to go back to them, ranting about just how much better he had gotten at extracting information from what little was presented to him. 

"Focus Caelus." Dan Heng reminded him. 

Uh oh. 

Seems like in an attempt at stopping his spiraling thoughts he ended up in another spiral. 

"Hehe, sorry." 

"I'm sorry you had to see that, esteemed Chrysos Heir. Hmm? These two with you are...?" Virtus's gaze shifts towards the two men behind Phainon, a confused expression on his face for he had never heard or seen them before but to be accompanying the Chrysos Heirs— they were bound to be someone important. 

"Travelers from afar. They're also headed for the holy city. If memory serves me right, you are... Virtus? Please, you may call me Phainon. What was that just now?" 

"It's an honour you rememeber me, Phainon. We are priests from Janusopolis. Armies of the Strife Titan destroyed our home, forcing us to flee across many lands until we arrived here."

"Oh?" Caelus let's out a soft sound, catching Dan Heng's attention, "So this isn't originally their homeland but an abandoned temple they sought refuge in. Makes sense with how worn down this place is." 

Dan Heng folds his hand, yet again pressing his hand against his chin in an attempt at joining the dots, "But what are they running away from? They keep repeating something about the Strife Titan... I suppose it has something to do with that." 

The duo whispered on, keeping an eye out for any further information from what Virtus was going on about. 

"...A few days ago, I watched another companion fall to those monsters, and I was shattered... I offered a pester to Okhema, thinking the answer would take time, at least enough for me to convince Mr. Noldus. I didn't expect your arrival to be so swift..." 

"Every place has their fair share of troubles huh..." Caelus mummbles, turning to Virtus, "If one has the right to chose their own fates then why isn't eveyone out yet?" 

Dan Heng stared at Caelus, unblinking. As if in denial of the question he just asked to which Caelus frowned— 'What? It's not like I asked something wrong!' 

"The elder spoke of the 'end times' just now and claimed that no place in Amphoreus is safe. What did he mean by that...?" 

Dan Heng's question catches Vitrus by surprise. Eyes widened, as if taken aback by the absurdity of the words leaving his lips, "Excuse me, sir? Eveyone knows about the prophecy. How is that you—" 

"Virtus, right now we mist focus on convincing Mr. Noldus to return. The Abyss is swarming with fierce enemies, and they have no way to defend themselves, leaving them vulnerable to all kinds of danger." 

Dan Heng's silently raised him brows at Phainon's swift interjection. 

"My friends, I have a rather bold request. The two of you are quite capable— might I trouble you to fetch Mr. Noldus?" 

Towards Phainon's sudden request, Caelus frowned, complaining, "Stolen and broken weapons and now free labour? Talk about exploitatio—" 

"Tribbie will join you. She can also answer any questions you may have." 

Caelus's frown deepened but noticing Dan Heng's silent gesture, he backed down. Dan Heng then stepped forward, "Please give us a moment to discuss it." 

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

"That Phainon... There's definitely more to him than meets the eye." Caelus grumbled, walking beside Dan Heng who was leading them to a more deserted corner. 

Vines crawled out from within the cracks of the forgotten temple, fallen pillars a constant in the continuous corridors of the decrepit hallways. 

"Phainon interrupted me as I was trying to gather information from that refugee, and now he's saying the girl will answer our questions. His intent is obvious." 

Walking ahead, Caelus jumps atop one of the fallen columns. Leaning backwards after settling down on it, he groans, "He's either hiding something from us or those refugees." 

Dan Heng leans back against the vine ridden walls, closing his eyes— deep in thought. 

"I believe he thinks it's worse for others to find out we know nothing about this world. He wants to hide the fact that we're visitors from beyond the sky." 

Snapping his fingers, Caelus grins, "A monopoly over information. He must hold some important position in that holy-city of theirs if he can decipher what must be said and what must not."

Dan Heng nods, agreeing with his conjecture, "They keep calling him 'Chrysos Heir'. That title is bound to hold some authority to it." 

"So? What should we do now?"

"Let's play along with Phainon for now." Pressing against the wall, Dan Heng stands back up— a soft scrowl on his face from his previous wound acting up again which Caelus immediately notices, jumping down from where he sat and comes in to support Dan Heng's weight against him.

"Easy there, you need rest. Leave the rest to me, you remain here with Phainon."

Shaking his head, Dan Heng vehemently disagrees, "Theres a rift between us and the locals. We can also learn what Tribbie thinks when we're alone with her."

Gritting his teeth, Caelus falls silent. The usually stubborn Dan Heng silently accepted Caelus's help in standing up without any arguments— this wasn't a good sign. Just how much pain was he in to accept it silently? And on top of that, his sense of duty was stopping him from resting.

Conflicting emotions arose within Caelus, no clear answer appearing in his mind. All he could do was exhale in exasperation and warn his companion, "Stick close to me and don't try to fight any enemies that appear."

Dan Heng simply nodded, already aware that Caelus wouldn't allow any room for negotiations.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

"Alright, we'll go. If we're to be companions on this journey, it's only right that we offer assistance where possible."

Dan Heng agrees to which Caelus notices Phainon visibly let out a relieved sigh, his tensed shoulders subtly relaxing.

'So he really is trying to hide something.'

"You two are truly honorable! I'll stay behind to guard Virtus and the rest. Go quickly and come back safe."

'Huh? Is this a facade or is this man really so trusting to leave Tribbie alone with us... or is there more than meets the eye to her as well?'

Penacony had been a whirlwind of people attempting to use each other for their own gains and merits. Human ambitions and greed causing eveyone to use whatever was in their disposal— even lives of each other.

So seeing Phainon's trusting nature sent Caelus's mind into a panic.

Noticing Caelus's perplexed state from just how silent the man had turned, Dan Heng places a hand atop his shoulder, "Stay aware but don't let it overwhelm you."

Caelus's hand moved up to rest atop Dan Heng's. A subtle squeeze to anchor himself back, his confusion subsiding as he gazes into Dan Heng's eyes— a reminder that he wasn't alone. That he had him... So Caelus nodded, a small smile on his face.

"Just be yourself. You'll be fine."

As if comforted by Caelus finally smiling, Dan Heng's eyes soften into something Caelus had only seen in the enveloped warmth of the Data Bank. A warm feeling overtakes his chest, a warmth Caelus experienced numerous times when interacting with his Astral family... yet he still had no idea how to deal with it, so as usual, he tucks it silently in a corner of his heart— quietly cherishing it. 

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

"I'm sure you two have a ton of questions, don't you?" Tribbie led them through the corridors, the little wings on her back fluttering with her every step. 

'So adorable!' 

Caelus couldn't help with swoon over just how adorable Tribbie was, even the way she spoke melting him with just how cute she was. 

Unaware of Caelus's growing cuteness aggression, Tribbie continues, "As for why we should speak in private, that's because quiet places are better suited for communication with one another." 

"Yes, you're absolutely right Tribbie." Caelus agreed with his whole heart, happily following Tribbie. 

Dan Heng sighed, suspecting whether this was Phainon's plan all along after having noticed just how weak his fellow Trailblazer was towards children. Seemed like it was yet again upon his shoulders to be the responsible one. 

"The road ahead is cut off." 

They reach the edge of the crumbled corridor, Dan Heng's gaze moving towards what lay below— more broken structures laying beneath. No way across. They would need to figure out a different path if they wanted to move ahead. 

"Quick Dan Heng, call your dragon and make us a bridge across." 

The disgust on Dan Heng's expression could be felt from a mile away as he oh-so judgementally stared at Caelus, who unaffected by his companion's glare, continued to gleefully blink at him with pleading eyes. 

"Hehe, judging by your reactions, you weren't lying about being newly arrived travelers. In that case, don't blink, or you'll miss the next part." Little gloved hands come to rest atop her waist, her wings fluttering under her little actions making Caelus swoon over her cuteness, "Also, Snowy wouldn't dare make plans for us. It's more like the other way around!" 

That breaks Caelus out of his swooning streak.

Dan Heng and Caelus share a look, the stretching silence after Tribbie's words threatening to turn awkward but the child remained happily ignorant about the effects of her words on the two. The childish tone with the underlying authoritarian implications of her words at odds with one another. 

Words elude Caelus as he opens his lips only for the silence to continue, fingers pointing at Tribbie as Dan Heng shakes his head having already figured out what it as Caelus was trying to say. 

'Let's simply observe for now.' 

A shared gaze but Caelus understood what it was Dan Heng was trying to say. Sighing, Caelus folds his arms behind his head— deciding to just go with the flow as he follows behind Tribbie. 

"Alright! Silence, please. We are about to summon a miracle..." 

Her tiny hands stretch out towards the book like ancient relic standing in front of them— the pages of which flutter open, acknowledging the one standing in front of them. 

"We, thy humble descendants, doth surmount the myriad of passages of Janus to stand before thee and receive the scales of judgement." 

"O, selfless arbiter Talanton, declare us innocent in the name of law. Weigh the fruits of the present in exchange for the sweetness of the past." 

"We summon thee, Oronyx, to lift the curtain of memory... Once again stir the ripples of past reverie!" 

Mere words spoken but an almost eerie silence overtakes the abandoned temple, the whistling of cold air through the broken walls turning to a quiet murmur through the winding leaves of the vines— a sudden weight pushing down on Caelus and Dan Heng. 

A sensation neither of them had felt before. 

Golden envelops all, as if the drums of heaven beat down upon the fabrics of space— rearranging them to the whims of the divine. The pressure grows, making Dan Heng and Caelus wince but then suddenly... it vanishes and they open their eyes to find the once decrepit hallways return to their glorious past. 

"This is... unbelievable." Dan Heng uttered in bewilderment, eyes wandering every corner of the now restored temple, fine fabric fluttering down from the extending arches. Their supple trails mesmerising their viewer into a sense of divinity and grandness. 

"It's... similar to what happened before." Caelus's gaze wanders, trying to decipher what it is that he was observing. An illusion or was it truly time bending to the wills of a child? 

What made time on this world work so differently? Was it truly so simple to play with its workings that even a floating pink creature could perform such a deed? 

New questions arose with every new discovery, none satiating the increasing hunger for answers that grew overwhelming. 

Stepping forward, Caelus had to admit that it wasn't a mere illusion. The broken hallways returned to their pristine state as they stepped over them— crossing the once impossible path with ease. 

It was indeed a miracle. 

But then Caelus's gaze catches something from the corner of his eye, "The miracle... Is fading?" 

Hearing Caelus's words Tribbie simply giggles, not explaining but instead instructing them to stay close, "My two friends, don't stray too far away from us!" 

Dan Heng and Caelus step closer, careful to not step away as they notice the magic of the miracle slowly only encompass Tribbie. The grand hall returned back to its present state— only the floor that Tribbie stepped on returning to it's past. 

It was truly a wonder how time worked here. 

Stepping out of the ruined path of the present using the past as guidance— the trio finally reach the other side where Tribbie happily turns around to speak to the duo, "Amazing, isn't it? Now that we're here, we can speak in peace."

'She seems rather happy to talk to us?' 

Caelus kept getting surprised by this little child to the point where he stopped even trying to predict what the next moment might bring upon them.

'It's better to just be an observer in such cases.' 

This was something Caelus had come to learn from Dan Heng. 

Her cheery expression turns contemplative, head turning to look at the door behind her, "Huh? But why does it feel a little too quiet?" 

Alarms immediately start going off in Caelus and Dan Hen's mind. 

Dan Heng moved forward to activate the mechanically operating door to open but just then a hand comes to stop him in his path. Following the arm in front of him, Dan Heng's gaze moves up to meet Caelus's intense one. A reminder to their previous conversation. 

Caelus promptly takes over, standing in front of Dan Heng with the door's insignia twisting and turning. 

Click! 

The door opened, yet another silent corridor stretching out in front of them. At the very end of the corridor was a turn— the trio walked ahead with quick steps, Caelus leading them. 

Just as they were about to turn, Caelus's hand stops them from proceeding forward. 

When Tribbie glances up at him inquisitively he simply points forward. 

"Ah! Just what I was afraid of. So much for a peaceful chat..." A small pout forms as she pokes her head out to glance at what laid in front of them past the turn, "The history lesson will have to wait, my friends. We must help Mr. Noldus!" 

Caelus glances back at Dan Heng. 

'You better stay right where you are.' 

Dan Heng could decipher what his gaze meant at a glance. Caelus's stubbornness once he had his mind set on something was an occurrence Dan Heng faced quite often but being the subject of his stubbornness, that was... A peculiar experience. So Dan Heng merely huffed, nodding for he knew very well that Caelus wouldn't have it any other way. 

With that out of the way, Caelus stepped out— the lance materialising in his hand with his body effortlessly shifting in stance to handle the weight of the huge weapon. 

But then suddenly... 

BOOM!