Chapter 2: Learning

He doesn't know how long he has been sleeping for, but all he knows is that it wasn't enough, nor was it good quality.

It was times like these were Custodio regretted not sleeping on the bed.

Groaning, Custodio sits up on the couch, rubbing and soothing his stiff neck muscles as best he could. 'Fuck my life. . .' After adjusting to the soft yellow glow of the room, Custodio looked around to see if he was back home, thinking that what happened yesterday was nothing more than a mere nightmare. '. . . So it wasn't a nightmare. . .'

No it was not, Custodio. It wasn't unfortunately.

Turning(very painfully thanks to sleeping on the couch) to his left, Custodio saw that his sister had been asleep in the fetal position(mighty comfortable when on the bed. . . not so much when sitting on a couch). Not wanting her to continue her involuntary self-inflicted torture, Custodio walked over to her, shaking her gently."Dia, Dia, Dia," he whispered, adding a tiny bit more power into shaking her awake, "Dia, wake up Dia, Come on now, sleeping like this isn't good for you."

". . .What. . . leave me alone. . . I want to sleep."

"You can sleep once you get in bed."

"Five more minutes." 

"You'll get your five minutes if you go to sleep on the bed."

Naturally, that wasn't enough to release Custodia from her sleep.

Seeing that this was going absolutely nowhere, Custodio turned on his heels, making a beeline for the kitchen. Opening the cupboards, Custodio ending up taking out a cup, before heading to the sink and opening the tap–filling the cup with. . . bone chilling water. . . You are one of those fiends. . .

Walking back to his victim sister with water in hand, Custodio took the diplomatic approach one last time before using more, non-diplomatic route. "Dia, wake up. You can't sleep like that."

"Let me sleep. . ." Despite being well and truly asleep, Custodia was more than capable of flaring her baby blue Sonzai-no-atsuryoku in an act of intimidation– an act very much instinctive. "Five more minutes I said. . ."

Sighing in defeat, Custodio took a few moments to contemplate on what he was going to do. It might as well end his life if he wasn't careful. Taking that dark thought into account, Custodio stood on the sole of his foot–ready to jump back. 'May I survive this stupid act.'

Without wasting a second longer, he poured the cup of water over her head.

"AAH" Waking up from the couch with a loud yelp, Custodia took a moment to registered what happened, before promptly howling at her brother."Custodio!" Taking a second to assist the damage, Custodia grimace has her white, long-sleeved blouse and matching dress were now stained with charcoal as the water dripped from her hair–revealing that her hair was actually a pristine dark sliver, not dark brown. "Look at what you done!"

"I-I'm sorry! But you were sleeping in fetal position!"

"That still doesn't give you the right to pour water on me!" Grabbing Custodio by the collar, Custodia began to throttle him violently back and front. After a good two minutes of giving Custodio minor CTE, Custodia finally took the time to take a deep breath, stopping her abuse before apologetically looking at her brother. "Was my position really that bad?"

"Y-Yes."

"Thank you."

"No problem." After getting his bearing, Custodio was going to walk away, that was the plan till he felt his ear being pulled and twisted in ways he never thought possible."Ow! What was that for!?"

Holding a smug grin and Custodio's left ear, Custodia could only mockingly state the obvious. "For ruining my blouse." Letting go of his now ruby colored ear before motioning with her finger to follow. "Let's go and check this place out." 

Their little tour around the house, was in fact, little. Reason being is that, their bedrooms;that were easily comparable to a damn large living room(overfuckingboard really) and that, the position of everything was a one to one, just inverted(like reflections in a mirror). The bathroom was basically a whole bedroom–without a bed nor woredrobes– because of its sheer size. But the more interesting part, was the kitchen.

Aka, the best place in the house. Although. . .

"Why is the table so low? And where have the chairs gone?" Custodia questioned, very much confused, dumbfounded and smeckelldoffed even, by the drastic change.

"This. . . This feels very ancient Japanese. Tatami mats, the mahogany? Tables and the cushions. . ." Quick to think, Custodio turns to a dazed Custodia, shaking her out of it before going to check the living room."Check the kitchen."

Moving with a burning passion, Custodia went through each cabinet with the utmost scrutiny, flabbergasted by what she is finding. "Rice, rice, rice and more rice. Shellfish, fish, beans. . . Dried seaweed. . . And more food from the ocean!" Custodia was over the moon. She loved seafood to the much it was deemed by Custodio as an unhealthy obsession.

With a unnecessary long sigh, Custodio continued to see how the hell he should operate a smart TV. "Any poultry or meat?"

"There's wild boar, chicken, cow, "Digging further into the cupboards, Custodia pulled out a packet of Xtra spicy soba! "And there's also soba!"

'What's with the Japanese diet? More and more questions keep coming up?' Custodio didn't have anything against the Japanese diet. . . It just that he rather have to more homily food. "Keep checking."

"Ha! I found something that I can cook!" The food she was happy about? Eggs. Yeah, eggs. "And there's Tea bags! I can finally have noodles with eggs and iced tea!" 

"Any coffee?" Custodio asked, it sounding like a meek plea.

". . . Unfortunately. . . Yes. . ."

"Meraviglioso!"

Once Custodio learnt how to use the TV(leaving it on Cartoon Network as they were showing re-runs of the O.G Teen Titans and not that Go! Bullshit! Cuz really, what the fuck were they smoking? So I may stay the fuck away from it), he got to work cooking breakfast since Custodia is well. . .

"May I help?"

"So you may start a forest fire again? Not happening."

"It wasn't that large of a forest fire!"

" 500 km( 310,68 miles) of burning wood is quite large, for your information.

Not liking that she's was on the losing side of an argument with her younger sibling, Custodia resorted to more. . . physical meaning of getting the W. Strangulation was the way she was going to do so. 

Dropping onto the floor, Custodia once again began to choke the hell out of Custodio, knowing full well with the strength she's using, wouldn't be life-threatening. "You little-"

Trying to pry his sister off, Custodio couldn't help throw a stray at her. "Stop talking about your height! And get off me! Aggressive gremlin!"

"I see that you have comfortably adjusted to your new lodgings." Pinky(I know man was given a name, but He has to be properly be introduced) mused as he /tp out of nowhere, a small tuck of the corner his lips could be seen. "But letting your guests wait outside for more than a hour is beyond impertinent."

"Ahh!" Both Custodio and Custodia leaped from the kitchen floor, gaining a surprising amount of air time(It was definitely worth for sure) before landing on the wooden floor. . . Well. . . It was more Custodio landing on the floor with Custodia landing on his back.

If anything, having 55 kgs( 121,25 Ibs for you Americans) land on your back is definitely one way to have your back blown out. Just getting that out there. 

Taking a solid minute to compose themselves(something they did terribly, their faces had a bright and deep crimson hue)and now bowing(can it really be called bowing of they are on their knees like they are about to be executed), Pinky couldn't help but no longer resist the small–yes very noticeable – smile. 

Clearing his throat, Pinky motioned for twenty servants to come in, each one leaving an article of clothing before standing behind Pinky. "These are your new attire. It covers for each of the four seasons, some being formal, others informal, and even your military uniform has been provided, all suited to your tastes." Motioning the siblings to stand tall and proud before turning to face the servants–who immediately got on their knees, heads held low. "From today onwards, you all are to attend to the and needs and wants. I trust that you won't fail them or his Majesty."

"We won't Yamato-sama!"

"Go and aid in the cleaning up of the Kyōtō main palace, afterwards, both the summer, winter and private palaces will need your attention. See to it that they are cleaned by the end of the month."

"Hai! Yamato-sama!"

"You're dismissed." The servants take a bow as they leave, none turning their backs to Pinky as they do. "Those are your own private servants, answering to no-one other than you and the Kami, unless. Now, do dawn your training attire soon, your training will commerce at seventeen o hundred hours." Turning on his heels, Pinky left the room with graceful efficiency, leaving the Custo siblings shocked, confused and bamboozled beyond reasonable comprehension at the fuckery that just took place.

". . . Eh/huh?" That was the only sound that could leave the duo, quite frankly, that whole event was just like yesterday's vague background lore drop. Far too much information with too little time to absorb it.

". . . I hope this doesn't become a occurring thing. . ."

"Agreed. Let's see what the fuss over clothes was all about."

Taking a step back to allow Custodia to do her thing, Custodio watched on as Custodia felt the soft, rich and surprising durable the uniform felt, how the material used –she couldnt tell if it was high quality silk or cotton, the material was too foreign for her– sat well onto of her skin. The scent of cherry blossom and pine wood was, a weird combo, but Custodia internally was colored impressed.

"So?" 

"It feels expensive, fine yet durable. Made to handle any season it may go through, although, the military uniform isn't made of materials I know of. It feels like cotton or silk, I can't tell the difference. All I do know is that, it's as durable as you, even by the seams."

Scoffing at the 'as durable as you' line, Custodio crossed his arms, voicing his inner thoughts, "I still don't know how you get all of that from a few feels, sniffs and glances."

"Maybe if you were more fashion conscious, you would hear how they speak."

"Still don't get how clothes speak."

"And you'll never know." Throwing Custodio his militaristic uniform before picking up her own, Custodia cocked her head over shoulder."These ones here are yours. Try them on while I go and try the uniform."

Taking a second look of his uniform, Custodio scowled, while clearly remembering that everyone he had seen, where wearing a more German top. 'Why am I being singled out!?Everytime I think I have an idea about these people they keep throwing monkey wrenches in my train of thought!'

Staring at the armband more intensity, as the colors were pulling at some part of his conscience. 'Red armband, white circle with a black, eight pointed star on it. . . Red, white and black. . . Where have I seen this color scheme before?'

I have no clue myself Custodio. All I know is that, I'm sure those colors are associated with something. . . Dark. . .

Taking to 'his' room, Custodio changed his now dirty shirt and trousers, into his militaristic uniform. A stark white kimono with golden trims above a golden juban, a matching hakama, pitch black tabi socks underneath pitch black shin high boots. He even had white gloves, a golden haroi embroidered with prints of temples of all kinds(even the black, eight pointed star was there. Located at the upper middle of the coat)and with stark white fur around the collar.

'Why did I get the heavily Japanese one? It was such a damn hassle to put on.'

After checking himself in the mirror once more, Custodio found the excessive white quite. . . Bothersome. 

'I can't escape the color white can't I?' With a quick shake of the head in dismay, Custodio left the room, going for the living room to wait for Custodia.

If there's one thing about Custodia, is that,

'She takes forever to get dressed. . . Like we need to eat before training. . .' Custodio sighed, waiting for his out in this agonizing time in limbo.

The tick tock of the clock wasn't helping. Not.in.the.slightest.

'I need something to do. But they didn't leave any to read. . .may be I can learn how this 'TV' works with the wifi thing?'

"Dio~" Custodia chirped as she skipped across the room, much to Custodio's surprise and relief. "How do I look? Great right~"

Draped in a pitch-black, double breasted trenchcoat that gently hugged her slender yet quite endowed frame, adorned golden buttons that had the same eight pointed star on them, a knee-length black skirt with a golden hem, black boots that reaches just a few centimeters below her knees. Ending the look off with a pristine dark sliver haroi with golden trims and had the sleeves ending by her shoulders.

"So~ How do I look Dio?"

"In-incredible!"

Her initial confusion at her brother's poor attempt to save face soon turned into a small giggle. Wiping away the tears, Custodia took a few to stare at her brother's new fit. Rising a slender eyebrow, she couldn't help but voice her thoughts, "Pristine white? Pole opposite of what the others wear but strangely it works."

"Yeah that they are. But why am I being singled out!"

"I don't know, but those colors do look great on you." Custodia said honestly, adjusting the uniform wherever it needed to be adjusted. "And besides, it could be worse."

"You really think?"

Raising an elegant eyebrow, Custodia couldn't help but throw a glare of mock-annoyance before pouting as she finished up fixing her brother's uniform. "Of course! Whenever have I lied to you?" With a quick and elegant turn of the heel, Custodia motioned for Custodio to follow her to the kitchen. "We must finish eat breakfas–lunch soon. Otherwise we'll be late."

Confused, dumbfounded and quite possibly bamboozled beyond reasonable comprehension, Custodio had to act like an idiot–it's the CTE people!–asking the dumb question."How do you know we'll be late?"

Doing a small, melodramatic face palm, Custodia pointed to the one thing(themselves not withstanding) making some noise."That clock over there says it's 16:45. And we have to be ready by 17:00 right?"

"Oh."

"'Oh' is right. Idiot."

=====

Who knew that the place they were held prison in, was so beautiful. . .

"In-incredible/Beautiful."

This place was truly something only one could visit in their dreams.

Mirāwārudo. Who knew it was a masterpiece of a realm as much as it is the home of their captors?

The realm was an ever limitless stretch of space, the very heavens of the realm where decorated with stars that shined in a myriad of divine colors: warm reds and oranges, bright yellows and greens, calming blues and royal purples, with every other color there, also accompanied by the shimmering light show all so alien yet so spectacular, known as the Auroras. A perfect partner with the stars in this celestial dance in the skys above.

Strangely yet, no other celestial bodies can be found. No main star:aka a sun to grace upon the rich and poor, with it's warm and beautiful light, nor a moon to shine it's own light, indiscriminately among the innocent and guilty alike.

'Is this realm trapped in a permanent night?' Custodio wondered as he continued to walk in tow with his sister–making sure to stand their 'agreed upon' distance of eight feet away from Pinky. 

Other than that, the only things that would catch your attention would be the evergreen forests: dense and by first glance, stand tall and proud, untouched by any form of desecration. Then you have the giant, no, massive skyscrapers with their neon holographic billboards and signs, reaching high up into the heavens. Or, if that ain't it, then the over-sized gear clogs that appear surprisingly werever you look, rattling and turning as they do whatever they do– Custodio doesn't know it yet.

Following Pinky down a trail that took them far from the city and high up to one of the tall peaks situated deep in the forest. Oddly enough, Pinky wasn't going to murder them and buried them here. No.

"We are approaching Mount Fuji, a sacred place that we will be using for your training for the next free months."

He was showing them around, even trying to engage in conversation with the two. And surprisingly,Custodia was the one to ask questions.

Though, that daitō by his waist doesn't very little to easy their worry. And they made sure not to overstep their boundaries.

Coming to a stop, the siblings were in awe(Custodia being the more expressive one) at the massive, waterfall that cascaded into an equally grand lake that reflected the celestial lightshow. It was truly awe-inspiring to sat the least.

"A-a haven't seen something like this before!" The sounds of the crashing water was soothing to Custodia. It's like, it's like the environment was speaking to her, not using words, but with emotions. 

"Don't mind the water. Follow me." Pinky called out, breaking the siblings out of their trance as walked above the surface of the water. 

"Uh, Sir!" Custodio called out. "We can't walk on water."

"As I said. Don't mind the water and follow me."

Looking at each other before looking back at Pinky and back each other, Custodio decided to go first; tapping the water's surface. His eyes widened when his boot wasn't sinking in nor getting wet. It was bone fucking dry.

"How!?"

"I'll explain that to you later. Just follow me." Pinky replied, tapping his boot on the water's surface.

Without hesitation, Custodia and Custodio took to walking on the water(and wanted to enjoy doing it as it was impossible to stand on water) and caught up to Pinky, who in turn, continued walking till they reached the grand waterfall. With a simple gesture of his hand, the waterfall parted into two like how Moses parted the sea, still crashing down onto the lake–revealing a mammoth of a damn cave.

Walking into the cave(with the waterfall becoming one again), the siblings yet again were awestruck by the sheer size of the cave(a cave that spans for 200 km(124,27 miles) in all directions is nothing to scoff at), which for some reason, was well lit: with the same sunset(evening) orange and reds from the lanterns and floodlights. And that wasn't all.

On the far left was a dense forest, a few hundred feet away from a even more dense bamboo forest. On the far right were two pools(one turquoise-green and the other crimson-orange)that both, by their sheer sizes, were comparable to five Olympic sized swimming pools, comfortable nestled by the edges of the hills. 

In-between, was a literal sea of what seemed to be over-sized puppets? Marionettes? Dummies: with the sole purpose for having quite the experience when learning hand-to-hand or weapon training.

Or jumping. You never know. They may be trained in that JJK style.

After descending what seemed to be thousand stairs(it actually was a thousand stairs. Deadass), the trio made it to the center of the cave. After a long and anxious fifteen seconds of silence, Pinky finally spoke up.

"Welcome to your new training grounds."

"Training? Why do we need training?" The siblings ask simultaneously. Sure, they were told that they were training, but weren't given any logical reasons–nor a reason to being with but who's paying attention these days– and curiosity got the better of them.

"Before we continue with that train of thought, I think introductions are in order," Turning to face the sibling duo, Pinky cleared his throat before speaking with pride. "I'm Yamato Siegfried, when I'm training you, address me as Yamato-Sensei, and when with the general public and the other members of the court: Yamato-Sama. Clear?"

Since there has been a lot of Japanese related stuff being thrown around, that would mean Yamato is his surname. But wait. . . There's also been quite the German influence. . . So it could be his name?

Not wanting to make a fool of herself, Custodia decided to address the elephant in the room."Uh, hmm, Yamato-Sensei sir?!" She asked meekly. "But is Yamato your name or surname?"

"Surname."

"Ah! Thanks!"

With a small nod signifying that he acknowledged the thanks, Siegfried turned on his heels, motioning the siblings to follow; a motion they are getting all the too used to. "Next time you thank any of the Kami, do so with a bow, you two." Walking down the stone path(noted by Custodio, to have multiple, twenty feet(6,096 meter) tall stone torii gates. "Now with introductions out the way, I suppose it's best that you know the reason why you are here." The siblings ears perk up. "As you both know, the both of you are his Majesty's children. As such, you are to uphold his glorious name within society. Meaning that you need to be strong. Strong enough to defend it whenever the situation calls for it."

Defending the "glorious" name of the one who was clearly the mastermind of their kidnapping and some how forcefully adopted them. . . That's some twisted shit right there. But the siblings don't try to argue. They know better than to agro a vastly more powerful calamity, who so happened to command other calamities( who don't do anything else than worship that other calamity), who all can crush them in a single breath.

It was a no-brainer really. They loved their lives thank you very much.

Their short walk ended right by a typical, dark oak shirne, which Siegfried took his boots off before entering, and rang the bell. Coming from the shirne, Siegfried held in his hands, two, seemingly transparent brown sticks? Before handing them out, one for each sibling.

"Hold on to those for the remainder of your training. It's imperative that you do." Siegfried commanded as the siblings curiously inspect the sticks.

With the sky high levels of curiosity now settling in his mind, Custodio takes the opportunity to ask. "What are these?" Custodio breakes the silence. While less vocal out of the two, he's also the least likely to insult their captors. And besides, he–like Custodia–was very much interested in her heritage.

Custodia was the same. It's just that she wouldn't admit it. She has far too much of prideful child, and with a lot of ego too boot. 

Chuckling as if impressed with his question, Siegfried cleared his throat before answering. "Accursed Artifacts." He said waaayy to casually as the sibling duo nearly threw/dropped the said Artifacts with efficiency. Some how seeing the discomfort on their faces, Siegfried is quick to explain himself. "Well, the correct term would be Molds. They will become Accursed Artifacts once you spend enough time, effort and pouring out your Sonzai-no-atsuryoku into them of course."

"O-oh."

Registering the last bits of the last sentence, Custodio broke out of his trance."Wait? Did you say pour our Sonzai-no-atsuryoku?" Custodio questioned. His interest in these "molds" grew tenfold.

Nodding, the siblings were, unexpectedly joyful–controlling their Sonzai-no-atsuryoku."Yes. You heard me correctly. The first thing we need to do is control your unruly Sonzai-no-atsuryoku. It leaks out the both of you like a broken pipe due to your abysmal control. Quite frankly, even children half your age has better control."

'Harsh. . .' While not clearly on board with the whole forced adoption and the demerits that came with it, it still stung being put down like that! Like come on! Cut them some slack. It wasn't they chose to be born among a race that doesn't emit any!

"But don't fret. That's what I'm here for." The right-hand man of Ludachris proudly declared, slightly puffing out his chest and standing straighter. "Now, for the next seven to twenty days, you both are to spend a minimum of three hours pouring your Sonzai-no-atsuryoku into them while meditating. Once you go back to your temporary residence, continue the task till you fall asleep. Keep it on you when you sleep too." Siegfried ordered, sounding uncannily similar to a drill sargent; with quite the faint posh north German accent.

"Understood sir!" The siblings saluted, as if it was second nature to them, which not surprisingly it was.

"Good. Now, while you do that, you both need to take your two hour breaks in these pools. The turquoise-green pool on your left, is to restore your vitality after training. The dark crimson pool is for cleaning up the impurities that you not only pick up during training, but even those you picked up over your lives.

"Over there are the trainings dummies. Highly durable and can restore themselves no matter how much of punishment they take. Over there, are the training areas for acrobatics, gravitational training, and a few others."

"And what about the sparing grounds? Quite weird not to have a training ground." Custodia asked.

With a smug smile(it a whole surprise to them. Seeing one as emotionless as him, smiling like he's going to embarrass them), Siegfried said "The whole domain is a sparring ground." 

". . ." Something was going down. And the siblings felt that, it was probably going to be them.

Correcting his facial features back to that look of plain disinterest, Siegfried pulled out his stark white Daitō, a mystic sword that subjected the reality itself with its gracefully appearance and noble aura, and impaled it into a large rock no taller than a eight year old child. Straighting up, Siegfried turned to "look" at the sibling duo, before motioning to the impaled blade. "Your first task, is to pull out the blade from the stone. Note, that it won't be easy if your Sonzai-no-atsuryoku is too weak and unruly."

With a quick burst and a buzzing sound, Siegfried stood atop of the tallest tree, looking down as the siblings trying their best to find him, but to no avail till he calls out to them. "Your training will be now. Do try your best to last."

"How the hell did he get up there!?"

"Huh!?"

With a snap of his fingers, the all of the nearby dummies rose from their lifeless states, looking at Custodio and Custodia as if they were fresh meat, drooling at the sight of their flesh. The siblings became tense, unnerved by the zombie-like stares they were receiving.

"Arr. . . Fresh. . . Victims. . ."

They are cooked.

=====

'. . . Shit. . . Th-this. . . This is torture. . .' Custodio said to himself as he held the right side of his chest, preventing his lung and ribs from falling out. His training gi was nearly non-existent, along with his left leg, the skin on his back and two of his fingers on the right hand. He had it rough.

Yeah readers. You heard that right. It was torture. Three whole weeks in fact.

Three weeks, five days, seven hours, nine minutes and eleven seconds of being backed-handed, styled on, embarrassed and ridiculed. 

And they still couldn't come close to even touching the hilt of the blade. Everytime that they even thought that the had a opening, BOOM! They are already looking at the "You died" screen. Those dummies came from the JJK verse. With the way they got jumped was pristine. You'll all have to wait for another chapter before you see a jumping.

"For a. . . For a gentleman. . . He's more of a drill Sargent." Custodia was internally cursing their teacher to hell and back and back to hell. Her body was adorned with hundreds of cuts; with more deeper, lacerations across her back, chest and face, a black eye with her training gi now, no more than filthy cheap rags went only to cover her. Quite shocking fact is that, this was an actual improvement from the first time. . .

We don't speak of the first time. 

With a quite burst and buzz(a sound the duo loved as it meant torture is finally over), Siegfried appeared in the middle of the warzone; thousands of bodies belonging to the dummies drowning in the blood of not only their own kind, but of Ichi- the sibling duo. Looking quite pleased, the man him himself picked the siblings up, before with quick buzz brought them to the blue pool. "Please fix yourselfs, you two. It's uncouth of you to be royal family members and apper to be lowly country peasants." 

". . ."

"It would seem you both made quite the progress. Defeating over a thousand dummies in a month is noting short of impressive." Throwing the beaten sibling duo into the pool, the said duo floated back up to the surface before they adjusted themselves into a less painful position. "But it doesn't mean you can rest on your laurels. The Heimatsternsuchers are still every much capable of beating you both in combat."

"We know. You told us that thousand times!" Custodio snapped, although, the fatigue and pain made him calm down, slumping against the rocks with the face of a tired man.

"That is true. I do have the tendency to repeat myself. But can you blame me Satoshi ? Your sister finds theoretic studying a mammoth of a task, right Ichigo ?"

They have no clue about the name change(Nor why Custodia got her name changed again).All they know, is that it's their new names and can't do shit about. Like nothing. And apparently, it's what they should have been named according to Siegfried. Luckily for him, the siblings –mostly Satoshi[Custodio] – are too damn tired to engage in a battle, be it verbal or physical.

Siegfried beats them so badly in both departments that they feel changing their names to origami would be very accurate. Very accurate.

=====

With the clicking signifying that the doors to their glided cage residence had been locked– There was no reason to. They didn't even have a way out– Custodia and Custodio collapse once again on the couch; Custodio on the three-seater and Custodia this time, took to the two-seater.

Exhaustion was a bitch. It made every bone, joint and muscle ache, moaning and groaning in pain. Breathing – let alone remaining conscious – is a laborious task.

With the rhythmic tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock of the clock, Custodio took a deep painful breath, turning around on his back, exhaling once he layed down. Glancing over at Custodia, Custodio was going to call out, but holds his tongue once he hears a gentle snoring.

'She fell asleep!? Well, that throws away any conversion. . .' With a long, stretched out sigh, Custodio turned to face the ceiling. Staring at the ceiling, Custodio wandered aimlessly around his head. A place where he –at this point in time – needed to be. Why?

Forming a getaway plan, why of course.

'This place is large, and the powerful creatures here have the advantage of knowing the layout, and are all capable of beating us with their arms tied and blindfolded; which even then will considered bullying. That too, they are all armed with weapons called Accursed Artifacts. . .' Yeah, Custodio's head was a overly active place. But today, he needs a over active mind to get out of here. Normally, he'd make plan before hand, but the kami were not on his side. 'And even if we do get pass that, there's still no way out!'

Sighing in defeat and frustration, Custodio closes his eyes and turned to his side, allowing the ticking of the clock to lull him to sleep. As Custodio was being usurped by sleep, Custodio's train of thought, immediately went back. . .

Back to the thoughts of home.

'I wonder how mother and father are doing. . . I hope they are fine. . .'

["They are."] A deep, wisdom filled and authoritative voice stated as if matter-of-fact, Custodio not the least bit terrified by the voice; which, for some reason, feelings like he has known the owner of the voice for a literal years.["There's nothing to worry about."]

["Yeah! There's nothing to fear!"] A two-toned warble –sounding more like a male in his early twenties– proudly declared, easing more of the worry Custodio felt.

'I-I guess your right. Th-the both of you are right.'

Custodio, finally fell asleep, dreaming of the times back at home, and his future.

=====

Next chapter: Chapter 1: Temple and Shrine