"I can't believe the rebellion won."
"I can't believe Sirius was actually caught. I figured they were just gonna kill him."
"I thought they were going to kill US! Now instead we have to cook their victory banquet."
"They're opening the gates of Min Al Azal too! Those filthy commoners will be crawling over like rats just to taste our food."
"They're never gonna close the gates until the wall is completely taken down either."
"I'm a professional chef for god's sake! I work in a professional kitchen, not a soup kitchen!"
"They're doing a celebration it seems. Gonna last all day like some sort of festival."
"Some festival, celebrating the end of our boss."
"Hey, be careful, they might kill you for saying that."
"They can kill me if they want, I ain't cooking for people who can't appreciate my art!"
"We're not even getting paid."
"Oh don't even get me started on the pay!"
"Guys, face it. Like it or not, we either do this job or die. So if you don't like it, then you can just escape right now."
"I'm running. There's nothing good about working for those dirty rats. Anybody else coming?"
"If you find a way out then come back and tell me cause these rebels got Min Al Azal on lockdown."
"They can't keep us here, we did nothing wrong."
"Yeah, screw working for these ruffians, I'm leaving."
"Yeah nothing worthwhile left in this damn city."
"Yeah, let's go."
"Hey I'm coming with!"
About half of the ready chefs began moving towards the back of the kitchen to escape through a back door when the main door suddenly burst open and someone carrying a tower of groceries so high that no one could see their face walked in.
"Hello! I'm from the Earthbounds cooking team! Here to help with the celebration preparations for today's feast! I know we were on different sides but I hope we can get along!"
This person put the groceries down on a table before popping her face out from behind the supplies. Immediately a stunned silence gripped the room as the chefs stared dumbfounded.
"...L...Lady Corissa?"
"Wait, that's her isn't it?" Whispers began running around the room.
"Hold on, I thought the rumor that Corissa joined the Earthbounds was a joke."
"That can't be her right?"
"Ask her."
"YOU ask her!"
"H-H-Hey! Are...are you Lady Corissa?! F-From Cordis?"
"Y-Yes I am..." Corissa replied nervously.
"HOLY-"
"Idiot, you just take her at her word?!"
"B-but just look at her! Listen to her voice! Look at that BODY!"
"Even if she isn't Corissa, she's a real catch. More curves than a racetrack."
"Do you think she'll try my tenderloin?"
"Your dish or your meat?"
"Settle down, men." Pluteum's mom called as she and the rest of the Earthbounds' cooks walked in with more supplies, "I get you're in disbelief but we got cooking to do."
"R-Right!" Corissa yelped, "Today is the day that the city finally become reunited so we need to be ready to feed the entire city!"
"Even with everyone here it might not be enough but we've got a job to do." Pluteum's mom nodded, "Let's get along at least for today, okay?"
"Wait...Corissa is cooking?"
"Yes?" Corrissa replied, confused.
"She can COOK?!"
"D-Do I look like I can't?" Corissa sniffed worriedly as she turned to Pluteum's mom.
"Don't worry about it, girl, they're still in shock."
"I...I get to cook with Corissa?"
"This...is a lifetime opportunity."
"Aren't you married?"
"Shut up! Just don't mention it to my wife!"
"Lady Corissa, we chefs of Muldingirmus would be happy to help you with today's celebrations."
"Don't you have a girlfriend dude?"
"Shut up! Don't act like you're superior just cause you're single!"
"You sure leave quite the impression where ever you go huh?" Pluteum's mom scoffed.
"I-I'm sorry?" Corissa yelped.
"Don't be. Because of you, the celebrations will go smoothly." Pluteum's mom patted her on the shoulder, "Now come on men! We need to cook like we've never cooked before!"
A rousing cheer filled the room from both sides.
"Ms. Melia, tear down this wall!"
"Gladly!"
With Melia's earth magic, she blew a giant hole into the side of Minchir. A large hole by human standards at least, still quite a small hole compared to the rest of the wall.
"Man, this is going to take a while isn't it?" Melia whistled as she looked up at the rest of the wall.
"Eh. We can leave it to the city to do the rest." Helena shrugged, "I just wanted to say the line."
"Should I not have blown a hole in the wall then?"
"Nah, it's probably fine. Still, way to go with that earth magic now. A few days ago you weren't even able to lift a single stone from this wall."
"A bit of an exaggeration but true enough I suppose." Melia sighed, "I just wasn't used to moving stone of this density. Got a lot of training thanks to Roko though."
"Good old Roko." Helena chuckled, "So what did you think about your first Roko adventure?"
"Wouldn't this be my third now?"
"I mean the first time you were a victim so not really applicable. Second was mostly a happenstance and you didn't really get to interact with him much so..."
"Yeah yeah, I get it." Melia laughed, "I was just kidding. It was fun. Roko's certainly an interesting individual. I can see why you're enamored with him."
"As a friend right?"
"Right." Melia smirked, "Still, I've missed a lot of schoolwork because of this."
"I know, I know. You've always wanted to go to Memoria Auspice right? But hey, I'm gonna miss you bestie."
"Miss me? We go to the same school."
"Yeah but we rarely stick around there for long."
"Cause of Roko?"
"Exactly."
"You're going along next time too?"
"If I can. You know. If he asks me."
"Oh he needs to ask you now?"
"Nope. I'm coming along even if he doesn't want me."
"That's the Helena I know." Melia giggled, "Send me some letters sometimes okay?"
"That's assuming I'm some place that receives letters!"
"Hey you two."
Azimuth and Alphard walked up to the two girls, Azimuth still dressed in her armor and Alphard back in his full guard armor.
"Mind if I recruit you two real quick?" Azimuth asked almost apologetically.
"Right before the big party?" Helena replied playfully.
"I know, it's just that we're worried we might not have enough security. You know how people can be on both sides. We got rebels and officers and even some Starry Knights helping out but we the more eyes the better, you know."
"And the more supervisors for our own security the better." Alphard added, "It's an eclectic group so we need some peacekeepers within the peacekeepers."
"I gotcha." Helena nodded, "And you came to the right person. With my special spell, I can have eyes over...well not all the city but like at least half of it."
"I can maybe help out in between grabbing plates of food during the banquet." Melia offered.
"Oh, you're free to explore around the festivities." Azimuth quickly gasped, "You're practically our heroes, we could never bar you from the party you helped greatly to happen. We just want more trustworthy eyes to auto-correct things."
"So I'm free to do whatever?" Helena grinned, "Easy."
"Are you sure about these people?" Alphard whispered very audibly to Azimuth.
"Of course." Azimuth scoffed, "They may look unreliable but they do their jobs quite seriously."
"More than you, I might add." Helena smirked.
"Hmph. I bet I can capture more criminals than you." Alphard said stubbornly.
"Do you really?" Helena said with a growing sneer.
"...No..."
Off to the side, Roland and Roswell stood there, silently watching their charges goof off.
"So..." Roland said awkwardly, "Feeling better now?"
"Hm? Oh yeah, don't worry about it." Roswell chuckled, "Zhong was the type to stun you for the killing blow more than the mess you up kind of type."
"Goemul was the exact opposite."
"Hey, you came out well though."
"Yeah. But I've come to a conclusion."
"What's that?"
"I'm weak."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Oh sorry was I supposed to like refute tha-"
"No, no, no, it's..." Roland scowled, "I mean, maybe a little."
"Oh well then. Nooooo, Roland, you're plenty-"
"Aight, just stop it. The..." Roland sighed, "The moment's past now."
"Yeah, sorry man."
"No it's not your fault, I..." Roland sighed again, deeper this time, "I think I just need to become even stronger if I want to protect Helena in future journeys."
"Well I mean, Roko can-"
"Nuh uh." Roland shook his head, "I ain't relying on that guy."
"Why not?"
"He's an asshole."
"He seems pretty nice to me."
"I mean, yeah he's like not a bad person but like he's just insufferable."
"Everyone else seems to like him."
"That's cause they're too lazy to think so they let Roko do the thinking for them." Roland smirked, "But I'm going to get stronger my own way!"
"How?"
"I'm gonna learn a swordstyle!"
"Okay...how?"
"I dunno, someone's gotta be able to teach me right?"
"So...instead of letting Roko tell you what to do...you're going to get someone else to do it instead?"
"Roko doesn't know everything." Roland crossed his arms.
"I guess so." Roswell shrugged, "How about Momo then? She knows a lot about fighting."
"Nah. Her style's not for me."
"I mean, I think her style's a family treasure so she wouldn't be teaching you her-"
"Nah, I'm gonna find my own style."
"Okay…any idea what that's gonna look like?"
"I'm going to master delayed causality!"
"..."
"I'm going to slash someone and they won't realize they're slashed until I've sheathed my sword." Roland explained with a sigh.
"Oh! I mean some styles like that exist but are you going to try to do that with...two swords?"
"Yeah!"
"...Good luck with that."
"Lady Kaguya! We've finished harvesting the wisterias!"
"Good. They should make for a good vomiting agent if someone ingests something wrong."
"Yes ma'am!"
"Lady Kaguya, the Planetary Stars are awake now."
"Ah good. I'll go see them now."
Following a fellow rebel, Kaguya entered a normal room in M83 where four beds laid occupied by their former enemies.
"Let's see..." Kaguya said as she was handed the medical records, "Let's start with...Zhong."
"Ahem. Yes ma'am?"
"Need a hand?"
"...Was that a joke, ma'am?"
"Do I look like I joke?"
"Well..."
"Kidding." Kaguya smirked, "But seriously, if you need a prosthetic we'll need to order one pretty far in advance."
"No, this missing hand will be my last war trophy. Now that I'm no longer under Sirius' employ, I see no reason not to simply retire."
"Where are you going to go?"
"I don't know. Perhaps the young master Naga would like my advice. In that case, I might stay. Otherwise, I could spend some time with my family."
"You got a family gramps?"
"Yes, of course I do. I'm not a degenerate like you, Kadal."
"Hey, at least I'm still young enough to get a family, unlike you."
"You want to get married, Kadal?!" Goemul shouted with a grin.
"Me? No chance anytime soon. My taste in women are very specific."
A long silence abruptly filled the room, born of people mostly waiting for someone else to ask the very obvious question.
"So Goemul." Kaguya turned to the large man.
"Hey, what about me?!" Kadal cried.
"You're fine." Kaguya rolled her eyes, "You got slashed by Varis once. Your armor melted but it took most of the damage for you anyway."
"And who's gonna replace it?"
"Not us, I'll tell you that." Kaguya scoffed.
"You can use my armor, Kadal!"
"Your armor's too big for me!"
"You just gotta muscle up! Come on, join me at the gym!"
"Ew, no. I'd rather go looking for a girlfriend."
Another silence. Another expectation that no one dared to bring into fruition.
"My type is a nice quiet girl who can cook for me." Kadal said, answering the question that no one asked.
"So like Corissa?" Kaguya asked.
"I mean if you're offering..."
"I'm not."
"Basic!" Goemul boomed, "A nice pretty girl like that doesn't suit someone like me!"
"No one asked." Kadal replied in the most ironic of moments.
"I want someone who can keep up with me and my heroic duties!" Goemul continued, flexing his body, "Someone strong that I can rely on."
"So like Momo?" Kaguya guessed.
"Ah, no, she's a bit too girly for me." Goemul shook his head.
"So like Kajou perhaps?" Zhong suggested.
"Hmm. Perhaps! Maybe!"
"Where is Kajou anyway?" Kaguya asked.
"She left a long time ago." Zhong nodded, "Woke up before any of us and just left without saying a word to anyone."
"Wonder where she went..." Goemul nodded curiously.
"From what I heard from Momo, probably to continue her journey." Kaguya smiled, "It's been a long time coming for her."
"Wow, I'm so glad for her." Kadal said emotionlessly.
"Anyway, if you're all good then I'll just go check up on Zenith now." Kaguya sighed.
"How is Zenith by the way?" Zhong asked.
"He's sipping breakfast through a straw right now." Kaguya smirked.
"How pitiful." Kadal sneered, "He fought the weakest one and got messed up worse than any of us."
"That's what happens when you underestimate Roko." Kaguya said proudly.
"I'd have killed him in less than a second." Kadal boasted.
"I'd pay to see that fight." Kaguya crossed her arm.
"So would I." Goemul grinned.
"I'd put money on that fight." Zhong smiled.
"Oh yeah? How much we talking?"
"500 on Roko." Goemul called.
"50,000 on Roko." Zhong upped the ante.
"An entire year's worth of Kadal's salary under Sirius on Roko." Kaguya said smugly.
"Alright, you all better be ready to pay up when I beat him." Kadal frowned.
"You got enough to pay us when you lose?"
"..."
The day of Mulapin's liberation was growing dark but the festivities refused to die down. At first the posh rich folks of Muldingirmus insisted on separating themselves from the poor but the partying and cheering from the immense majority eventually drew the minority in and the two began melding and sharing stories and cultures. Families that used to used to be separate from each other were reunited. Food continued coming out without end.
"Aranea! We've brought you some food!"
"Ah!" Aranea looked up as Naga, Pluteum and Medeia all showed up carrying plates of food from the party, "You shouldn't have!"
"Come on Aranea, you should go down and join the party with everyone!" Pluteum insisted.
"Oh no, I couldn't." Aranea gulped as she looked down at the party from her rooftop, "I'd just scare everybody away."
"That's not true!"
"That's not very convincing coming from you, Medeia." Naga scoffed.
"I...well...I'm here now aren't I?!"
"Don't tease Medeia too much, Naga." Aranea said as she nibbled on a piece of garlic bread, "She's doing her best."
"I know, I know." Naga sighed as he turned to look down at the people partying in the streets with Aranea. There was a melancholy to him that all the kids understood implicitly.
"Is your mom down there?" Pluteum asked.
"...No. She's not anywhere from the sounds of it." Naga answered, "Just up and disappeared."
"Will she be okay?"
"Yeah. She wasn't hurt that badly and the poison should have no lasting effects once it wore off."
The other kids looked at each other, uncertain how to really speak to Naga. There were a lot of circumstances around him that had changed now and none of them knew how to handle them. It sure would help if there was an adult around to help broach the subject.
"Hey! There you all are!"
The kids looked up as Argo and Gallus also arrived on the roof carrying plates of food. Roko followed them but with only his hands in his pockets.
"Aranea, we bought food!" Gallus called.
"O-Oh dear..." Aranea gulped as the plates of food suddenly multiplied.
"Roko..." Naga turned to look at him nervously.
"Who knew we'd find the new king up on a random roof?" Roko smirked.
"So...it's true then?" Naga asked.
"Yep. It took a bit of convincing but in reality, no one else was willing to take up the position."
"No one?"
"No one besides Malus anyway." Roko scoffed.
"How is that guy anyway?" Gallus asked.
"Utterly humiliated." Argo grinned, "Getting one shot by you did a lot to his pride than any of the Planetary Stars ever did."
"I didn't think I hit him that bad." Gallus gulped.
"Nah, it's because he believed you were the weakest of us all." Argo smirked, "Like weaker than Roko."
"He'd be the only one insulted by something like that." Medeia nodded.
"I didn't think he thought of me so poorly." Gallus chuckled.
"And that's why we don't take him seriously." Argo grinned, "Don't worry about him."
"Hey..." Pluteum approached his dad cautiously, "Are...are you still friends with everyone?"
Gallus offered a pained smile, difficult emotions wrenching around the comfort he wanted to give to his child. But like an adult, he pushed his uncertainties aside to offer the most genuine comfort he could to Pluteum,
"Yes. Me and Argo talked about it. We're still friends."
"Heh. Don't make me try and kill you again, old friend." Argo patted, "But hey, we can still have a few bouts once in a while. I haven't proved my shield style's better than yours yet."
"And you never will." Gallus smirked, "...But I'm glad. And I'd be happy to. Maybe you won't need to fight in the future anymore now that the Earthbounds aren't needed but I certainly might need it."
"What do you mean?" Medeia asked curiously.
"I left the rebellion to be a cop remember?" Gallus smiled, "And I'm still a cop. A member of the police. No more borders though. I will be working to protect Mulapin. All of it."
"C-Cool." Pluteum said, eyes still full of wonder.
"I'm glad you decided to turn away from Sirius before it was too late." Roko said.
"Was that not part of your plan?" Gallus asked, "Wasn't that why you sent the Mulapin Police after me?"
"I hoped their feeling would come through to you. But hoping for an outcome is no plan so no, I didn't plan for you to still be here with us. But again, I'm glad you did. I hope you'll continue protecting your family in the turbulent days to come."
"You sure know the right words to say at least." Gallus stood up and shook the hand that Roko offered him, "I'm sorry for all the trouble my intel caused you."
"Well, you did tip us off about the one ambush so I'd say we're even."
"Heh."
"...You tell your wife yet?" Argo asked.
"...No...not yet." Gallus replied quietly.
"I-If you need help convincing mom...I'll come with!" Pluteum bravely volunteered.
"Thanks so much, kiddo." Gallus patted his son's head, "But I think this is a matter for us adults right now."
Despite Gallus' words, Pluteum still looked worried.
"...Aranea." Roko called over to the spider girl who had been munching on the various food she had been given this entire time, "If you're almost done, I think it's time we paid your mo- paid Corissa a visit."
"Oh. Okay." Aranea placed down the drumstick she was eating and quickly wiped her mouth clean, "Let's go!"
"Gallus, you coming with?" Roko offered.
"Huh? Oh I...I guess I should." Gallus nodded, "Argo, look after the kids for me."
"No problem old friend." Argo patted Gallus on the shoulder, "And good luck."
"That's the tenth layer of the cake done!" Momo announced, "Two more left!"
"Did we really have to make so many layers?!" One of the panicking chefs cried as he exhaustedly continued whisking his whipped cream mixture.
"Of course! Gotta make enough cake for everyone!"
"Dammit, I thought I'd be working for Corissa!"
"Hey if you're gonna cry, don't let any of it hit the batch or else you'll have to eat the entire batch by yourself!"
"Don't argue with her, she'll kick your ass!"
"Malus, are you cleaning those dishes properly?!"
"YES! LEAVE ME ALONE!"
Corissa chuckled as she watched Momo's team finish up the upcoming desserts, "Seems like it would be fun to work under Momo."
"At least she finally has a team for once." Pluteum's mom walked over with a cup of water for her, "No one else in the Earthbounds knew how to bake, at least not as good as her. Here. Things have finally quieted down for us so take a break while you can."
"Thanks." Corissa said as she placed the pot she was holding down and took the water from her colleague, "I've never been more tired in my entire life."
"Hey, we've got a few table scraps if you're still hungry." Pluteum's mom scoffed as she sipped her cup of water as well, "I call it that but it's still higher quality food than anywhere else you can find in a 50 mile radius."
"I had a bit a while ago. But maybe I'll pick some up again later."
"Watching that figure of yours?"
"Hardly. I'm just not that hungry right now."
"Damn, you're telling me you got allat without being on a diet? You really are built different."
"I didn't really intend to..."
"Chill girl, we're cool. You helped us out a ton these past few months. Got no complaints with you."
"Thanks." Corissa smiled.
"That said, you should probably find a man soon. Would make your situation much easier."
"Ahaha...I'm...trying."
"Too nervous to ask him out?" Pluteum's mom poked teasingly at her.
"N-No, it's just..." Corissa blushed, "He's...difficult to talk to."
"Heh. Speaking for me, that's a deal breaker. Autonomy is good and all but if all he focuses on is his work and can't be there for me or Pluteum, then it's no deal for me."
"Ahaha. Well in my case, he's always by my side so that's not a problem."
"Oh you weren't..." Pluteum's mom's eyes bulged in realization, "Oh you were talking about THAT guy?"
"Eh?" Corissa looked up confused, "What guy?"
"I uh...n-n-nothing." Pluteum's mom took a guilty sip as she looked away nervously, "Just...good luck with that."
"O-Okay?" Corissa blinked, "I hope I find someone as wonderful as Gallus one day though. Just like you!"
Pluteum's mom's eyes softened as she looked down at the young princess before her and couldn't help patting her on the head, "Well aren't you just the sweetest thing."
"Mind if I cut in here?"
The two girls looked up as Roko arrived with Gallus and Aranea, each of them carrying a tray with a wide variety of mixed drinks on them.
"Just a little something to reward you all for your work today." Roko said as they placed the drinks down on the table, "Just made them whatever was left in stock really so take what you want."
"Ooo, I've never seen drinks as exotic as these." Pluteum's mom said, looking over the drinks excitedly, "Corissa, which one do you want?"
"I'll take the milk tea." Corissa smiled.
"Milk tea? Which one's that?"
"This one. It's Roko's signature drink!"
"Really now? Never heard of it."
"I did not invent it." Roko cut in before Corissa could say the opposite, "Corissa, can you step outside with me and Aranea for a bit?"
"Oh is it time?" Corissa smiled, "Sure! Come on Aranea."
"Okay!" Aranea said taking Corissa's hand and following the two into the courtyard outside.
Pluteum's mom watched the two leave with a nostalgic smile on her face.
"Ummm...hi...Lilium."
Pluteum's mom picked out a random drink first and taking a sip before answering, "Finally came back now did you, Gallus?"
"I...I just wanted to apologize. For doing...a bunch of things behind your back. I'm sure you know already...if you didn't already know the whole time. I wanted to do...everything I could for you and Pluteum and...well I'm in a better place now so I hope...you'll forgive..."
"...It was all for us right?"
"Yes! Yes of course!"
"Then I'll forgive you this one time. But from now on, no more leaving us out of things anymore okay? From now on, we work as a team."
Lilium offered her glass out in a toast.
"Of...of course!" Gallus nodded relieved, "We'll take on the world together from now on!"
He picked out a random drink and clinked glasses with the love of his life, "I vow it."
And together they took a sip from their drinks.
"Okay." Corissa said as she plopped herself on a bench, "It's finally time right?"
"Yeah."
"Time?" Aranea looked confused, "Time for what?"
"Aranea, give me your hand."
Still confused, Aranea obediently offered her hand which Corissa took in one of her own. In her other hand, she took Roko's hand. On each of their hands bore the mark that bounded the two to each other. As Master and Slave. It had been so long...and her life up til now had felt so different that Aranea had forgotten. So when she realized what was about to happen, a deep panic set in and a plea for them to stop tried to burst out from her throat. But it never did. The pure and simply logical part of her that knew that this was for the better stopped her. And as if sensing her panic, Corissa looked at Aranea with a gentle smile and said,
"Don't worry. Nothing will change."
Her words unraveled the ball of emotions and regret that had so suddenly stuck itself inside Aranea's throat. They didn't disappear completely but she was...reassured. And before she knew it, it happened.
"Holy."
There was no pain. No real feeling to describe it with. The marks simply disappeared from their hands, leaving no trace behind. And like Corissa had said, Aranea felt like nothing had changed. To an almost...worrying degree. Roko on the other hand seemed to have a different reaction.
"Finally." He looked at his clean hand and sighed deeply, "I hated being a slave owner."
"Roko..."
"But I'm glad to have met you, Aranea." Roko said taking a seat on the bench next to Corissa, "So let me ask you. What are you going to do now?"
"What...am I going to do now?" Aranea repeated, the reality of her situation still not having fully hit her properly.
"You're free now, Aranea." Corissa said simply, "You can go where ever you want now. Do whatever you want now. So what do you want to do?!"
Corissa sounded excited and her plainly stating it helped Aranea really come to terms with what just happened...but she still didn't know what to really say. How to answer.
"You can return to your forest." Roko offered, "We can find where your mother is, if she's still alive. At the very least we can find the forest where you were taken from. Or there's another entirely different forest that I can introduce you to."
"I..."
"Or you can come with us!" Corissa blurted excitedly, "Doesn't that sound neat, Aranea?! Having more adventures with us?!"
It was. It sounded so exciting, so...comforting. The idea of remaining with these two no matter where they went. No matter what dangers came at them. So long as they were together, it felt...right. And she would have answered yes immediately. But...something still prevented her. And the only one to have caught onto that was Roko.
"Or..." Roko sighed, knowing what he'd have to say, "You can stay here. Where your friends are."
"Eh?" Corissa looked at him, the thought of Aranea staying in Mulapin seeming to have never even crossed her mind.
"Think about it." Roko scoffed, "Pluteum is here. Medeia is here. Naga is here. They're the first friends her own age she ever made. Of course she'd have doubts around leaving them, especially after what happened between them."
"That's...true..." Corissa bit her lip.
Aranea still didn't know how to answer. Both options were equally tempting. She didn't want to disappoint the two. But she also didn't want to leave the friends she made. Both points fought each other, unable to win the war in her head. So Roko sighed again and said,
"Do you want me to choose?"
"Huh?" Aranea looked up, surprised.
"To be clear, this is the last order I will ever give you, okay?" Roko pressed, "You can follow it if you want or you can leave. Whenever you want it to be now or later. You are free now. Remember that."
Aranea nodded.
"...Mulapin will be undergoing extreme economic and political stress as it reworks itself after Sirius' absence. And as mature as he is mentally, Naga will still have a mountain of trouble getting himself established and taken seriously. That's not even mentioning the different kinds of ideas he'll be exposed to. He is Sirius' son after all. We can't be sure he won't become something just like or worse than him."
Roko's words were harsh but rung with the need of consideration. Even if Aranea herself held no such worries herself.
"But...the city he wants to make is one that might accept you one day. For everything that you are." Roko patted the small child on the head, "And if he's serious about that then his life may certainly be in danger. So I want you to protect him. Got it?"
Tears came to Aranea's eyes. Not because anything Roko explained touched her but because she had finally came to a decision. And she understood what making that decision meant. But still, she nodded. With that decision behind her, Corissa knelt down and wrapped the spider child in her arms one last time.
"I'm going to miss you."
Aranea began crying. The last time she would be able to do so in her mother figure's arms for a long time. Roko just stared up at the moon, hiding his own feeling behind his cold exterior.
"...Sure is a bright moon out tonight."