Effect [✔️]

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"Please follow me"

Ikki pleaded the three of us to follow him.

We decided to leave Enzo here, knowing that he'd want to stay here and sleep.

We silently walked with him out of the dorms, and he started running when we got outside.

We ran after him, confused as to why he was in such a hurry. We quickly left the castle town, and we soon came to a huge boulder blocking a huge hole in one of the mountains.

I moved it out of the way with ease, to keep Ikki from getting anymore injuries. He led us into the mountain, carefully leading us down a stone staircase.

We safely made it down, and arrived in a huge area with a small waterfall and a skylight beaming down on us.

"What is this place...?"

"It's a secret holding chamber, designed by your mother"

"A holding chamber for what though?"

"I think for that sword planted in that rock underneath that pillar"

Yoonho pointed, but I didn't see anything there.

"What sword???"

"You don't see it brother??"

Zuho questioned.

"There's nothing there..."

"Renjun can't see it yet, because he doesn't need it at this moment. Everyone can see it but him, but no one can wield it but him"

"So..., I'll only be able to see it when I need it, but everyone else can see it?!"

"Yes"

Ikki bluntly answered.

"Well that's nice... By why show it to us now Ikki?"

"I showed it to you so that you'll know where to find it when you need it. You can't tell anyone else about this, not even your family. Since they aren't your immediate family, they can't know about it until you're actually wielding it"

"Only Yoonho and Zuho can know..."

"Yes. Enzo can know too since he's a gift from your father. But no one else"

"I understand..."

"This sword has great power. It can only work in the hands of someone who is as strong as Renjun"

"What do you mean as strong as me??"

"You're both an angel and a demon. This means you have an extraordinary amount of power. Though you may think you're strong now, you're even more powerful than you realize. You'll be exceptionally powerful when you wield this sword. But, you must be able to handle all of that power"

"..."

"Learn to use your powers separately. Push yourself to the limits to master both sides of your powers. Not only will that make them stronger when used together, but that will also help you build up the nerve to handle the sword's power"

"...How powerful is the sword?"

"If you try to wield it in the time you need it, but your body isn't ready to handle its power, you will die trying"

"......"

"But..., I have faith that you'll be ready"

He lightly smiled, giving me a bit of reassurance.

"...I know you three have questions regarding who and what I am. Ask away"

He sat on the edge of the small stone stairs, ready to answer our questions.

"Did mom create you?"

Zuho asked first.

"Yes. Lady Luoyang created all of us, and this world. She made it possible for gems to emerge from these very mountains. But when she created me, she made me special"

"So, you are part gem...?"

"I am. But I'm also a fox yōkai. I have so many bandaids because I crack a lot from accidentally hurting myself. But I don't break as easily as normal gems do, since I'm part yōkai"

I knew it...

"Is that why your hair and eyes don't exactly look like a gem?"

"...No"

We stayed silent, waiting for him to explain.

"I'm not just a yōkai and a gem. There's another part of me that no one knows about. I'm also a star... Well, technically, I'm multiple stars"

"HUH?!"

We all shrieked.

"...Lady Luoyang made me from a galaxy. A pinwheel rainbow galaxy. That galaxy was dying, because no one lived in it. Before it could die, she harnessed its entire embodiment, combined it together with the embodiments of a yōkai and a gem, and boom. She created me"

"...So, your power must me Star Embodiment right?"

"Yes, as well as Constellation Manipulation. So I can create, shape and manipulate constellations, asterisms and zodiac signs"

"You're a really special kid Ikki"

"You think so? I don't know... I just hate being so different from the others here. They don't understand me, so I keep my distance. Before I knew it, I had no one. I became an outcast, waiting for my chance to be useful. And then..., you all came along. I finally became useful...~"

"Don't beat yourself up. You've always been useful. You're the sworn guardian of this entire world. That's not something that can be entrusted to just anyone. Mom knew you'd be different, but she also knew that you'd be amazing. And with such a great power like yours, it's no wonder she wanted you to be the guardian of this world and it's people~"

"Renjun..."

"You're special Ikki. And there will never be a time where you won't be useful. Don't ever question your importance"

His eyes widened for a moment, and a tear left his eyes.

He nearly broke down, but he wiped his tears before he could.

"You ok?"

I asked, helping him stand up.

"L-Lady Luoyang... I saw her in your eyes..."

"R-Really?"

"Yes. It was as if I saw her spirit for a split second. But....., I'm happy that I got to see her again.... Very happy...~"

He suddenly engulfed me in a hug.

"...Thank you"

I hugged him back, and gently pet his head.

He soon let go, and smiled brightly.

It's like he became a completely different person.

Is this what he was like before mom died?

"Follow me. I'll take you back to the dorms so you can sleep"

He happily led the way, leading us out of the mountain.

I wonder..., what did mom look like...?