AN: First off, this can be skipped and read after you finish the chapter.

I know some are probably a bit miffed at me for taking so long with getting another chapter out. And I wont make excuses. I did have some things to do IRL such as starting some projects for claases so that I could pass this year, but im a procrastinator so I could just leave that until the second to last day they were due and have stayed focused on making chapters, right?

Thats what I did a few weeks or a month ago. So I cant use that as an excuse.

Really, its cause I was lazy. I knew that I had to re-ead my previously made chapters so I could remember exactly what I wrote into the story but I for some reason have a severe aversion to re-reading my own work. I have some plot holes that need adressing so this is why im reading them, so I can remember what they are. Though if anyone wants to just give me a short numbered list of what the holes are, I would appreciate it. . .

Ah, because I put it off so long I didnt feel right about making another chapter. So I made a few chapters for my other work instead.

On that front I think my other work is a bit better. I dont see as many erorrs there.

Anyway, there should be another chapter out today or tomorrow.

I think that I need more interactions between the MC and the other characters. Hm, odd though. For some reason i think I can do interactions better with character in my other story. Or maybe its like i can show emotions better there? Though I maybe be thinking that only because the little sister of that story has a pretty strong personality. In chapter three of that story I made things mainly from her POV. I didnt make things from her POV too often in later chapters but somehow she is still the character that I find most easy to write about.

But on this story its harder for me. Maybe because the character in the other story are more normal in comparison to these ones.

But dammit in ranting once again. Sigh. I really need to stop that.

Anyway, remember to rate, review and comment on anything. Editing will be done later.

P.S: I want to stop replying to comments as much as I have been. At least I want to cut back a lot on it. I think I should take a back seat from now on. I dont want to be influenced by the opinions and desires of the readers overmuch. I mean, yeah i will read the comments, take advice and everything but ultimately i want to just feel free to write what I want. So, think thats a good idea?

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"Thanks. Sorry for the trouble." The two boys said, sighing a bit in disappointment.

Roland waved them off."...Well don't worry about it, I thought that's what this was about anyway. Still, it's good you asked early. If you tried to forcefully comprehend and use sword force with that thing you would have been struck with severe internal injuries that would have taken a good while for me to fix. That problem you guys had is exactly why I consider this thing to be utterly useless. In the Higher Planes, this weapon would be a great find for its durability and sharpness but no true swordsman would ever use it if he had a real sword by his side. That aside, try not to do something like this again without seeing me first." He warned, causing the boys to feel a bit embarrassed.

Seeing that they understood, Roland leaned back against the wall of their room and folded his arms, peering at them. " What you two did was pretty dangerous. Even if healed, you probably wouldn't be able to advance to the Celestial realm in your whole lives."

Roland said with a casual air, contrasting heavily with the cold sweat that suddenly came upon the two boys.

Celestial?

They didn't even dare hope to reach that stage of power before, now he said it as if it were simply a small matter. Plus, the total disregard he had for the weapon made them feel a deep sense of injustice.

This weapon, to them, was equal to a divine artifact that they usually wouldnt even have the qualifications to look at!

The value of something like this, was simply too large astronomical! Even a small shard from this would be enough for them to live like kings for a long while!

If he didnt put even something like this into his eyes, what would he?

They felt his sense of value was too off.

Roland, for his part, didn't really notice the effect his words had.

But the conversation went as he had suspected.

He knew that the boys, upon discovering sword force, would be eager to practice with it. And he knew how they coveted the one sword he had materialized that one day so it wasnt hard to think they would like to use that one instead of ordinary swords. When presented with a shiny new toy, who wouldnt want to play with it?

What they didn't know, however, was that because that sword didn't go through any forging process it lacked a "soul" that could produce sword force. Rather, it would simply be like a lump of lifeless metal.

See, through the forging process the sword is born from a combination of elements. Earth, from the material used to create it. Fire to make it able to be shape, water to cool it. Even air plays a small part.

These, though, only give it potential to form it's "soul".

It gives it raw energy that is not yet considered sword force.

It is when a person learns how to sense that energy and refine it that a sword forms its "soul". And once it forms its soul, it can produce sword force. Though, only someone who has comprehended Sword Laws to a sufficient degree can take a sword and let it form its soul. After that they can use its sword force. Once the sword has its soul, any other wielder only need to be able to sense the force within and make use of it.

This would, of course, require a certain understanding of the Sword Laws. The weapons the boys used that night were new and the students here didnt understand Sword Laws. Well, some were fairly proficient at it from what he could tell but they were few and far between. He felt that wasnt odd, since Laws were not something that were easily understood.

In any case Roland had allowed the weapons to form its "soul" before he gave it to them. And because his own understanding of Sword Laws was at an extremely profound level the swords' souls were much stronger than they would be usually. This is part of the reason the boys were able to faintly sense the force within the sword after only a few hours. Normally for most it would take at least several days even for talented individuals.

Roland put them into a special state of mind during that time too, further increasing the speed of their developement. He didnt dare do that too often as it would give them weak foundations if they advanced too quickly.

In a way sword force was similar to spirit energy. Spirit energy and sword force are like the "heat" from the flame that is the soul.

This is why Roland considered the sword he materialised to be trash. Because it didn't go through a real forging process, it will never have the energy that can be made into sword force, and it could never form a soul.

These brothers didnt know that and tried to activate the same feeling they had that one night to be able to produce sword force. Which was impossible for that beautiful blueish sword.

Roland, when facing that Gehenna, didnt use sword force. Rather, he used a different sort of Law to imbue the sword with its power. These two wouldnt be able to do that.

They tried forcing the the appearance of sword force and they could have caused a rebound that would have cut at their veins, force their blood backward and frozen their bones to the marrow.

Sword force was naturally cold.

Luckily they went to him when they did.

He didnt bother telling them this. It would cause them needless worries.

Roland made a move to leave." Alright, if that's it then im going. I still have to speak with LIlith's father. Oh by the, have you seen Reina around?"

James answered quickly. " I saw her walking outside.Quite hurriedly, in fact. She seemed a bit...excited? No, maybe embarrassed or something similar.

"Why, did something happen?" Saren asked.

Roland denied." No, nothing. Well, let's just say she saw something that was a bit too much for a girl her age to handle. Nothing to worry about, really." He assured. " And remember to pack. That trip I mentioned will be happening soon and you should be prepared. Im going to take you four to meet with Solomon so he can examine your curse but I also think this will be a good opportunity to have you guys train too. The Higher Planes is a good place for building up combat experience as well. "

"R-right. . ." the two showed discomfort. Solomon. . .would they really be meeting someone like that? From the rumours, they thoguht that was something they really didnt want. . .

Plus, going to that Highe rPlanes place seemed a bit dangerous. . .They had enough experiences that they didnt fear danger, but that didnt mean they would charge into it without a bit of apprehension. The life they lived revolved mainly around survival so they didnt feel too excited at the thought of going to such a place.

After saying goodbye Roland made his way from their room to another. After knocking twice, it opened.

" Hello. Is your husband in? " Roland asked te woman who appeared in the doorway.

The woman had an odd look about her. This person, she didnt know how to handle him. She had thought back to their preious meeting and remembered that it appeared as if she was ungrateful. Truth was that during the time her two older daughters had gone missing she was so sick with worry that she didnt eat or sleep much.

Her husband even had numerous forces looking for them but it seemed like they simply vanished into thin air. Though he didnt show it, he was just as worried about them. Even though they commanded a large amount of man power they still couldnt fide hide nor hair of the girls and they began to fear the worst.

Just as they were about to send an army to scour the land and post bounties for any information on the girls' whereabouts they were contacted by those silver-armoured maidens.

Then seeing the girls again. . .Hearing their circumstances, she didnt even remember to thank the man who saving them. Now that she thought of that, she felt a bit awkward.

"Ah, yes. . ." She replied after a pause.

Roland waited. He didnt see the little girl inside. Did she sleep in another room? Given her apparent age, that wouldnt be too odd.

He waited patiently. After a moment the father came out, his muscular frame and imposing manner a powerful combination.

He took a glance at Roland, his expression closed off. It was a hard face, that one. Stern, unyielding.

" So, I hear you wanted to talk to me? I apologise I couldnt be here sooner. Some complications arose that needed my attention." Roland started. His tone was mild, neither warm nor cold or even all that polite.

The man nodded. " Lets take a walk."

Nothing more was said.

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They were strolling through the school grounds idly, neither one talking. The morning sun sent warm rays of light across their backs, a pleasant contrast to the cool air.

The clouds in the sky were a tumultuous gray and the scent of ozone was in the air, signaling it may rain sometime later.

Which was fine. He loved the rain.

As they wandered aimlessly the silence dragged on and became, if truth be told, a bit awkward.

Neither of them seemed to want to be the first to speak. Roland, having been the one asked out for a talk, didn't think he should be the one to start the conversation.

However he realized that the subject of the matter must be hard to approach for the other.

He seemed to be chewing on some unspoken words, contemplating how to approach the topic which he wanted to discuss.

Finally Roland felt that it was time to talk.

He gave a sideways glance at the man and spoke in a casual tone, as if discussing the weather.

"You can trust me with the both of them you know. Reina, and Lilith too. I'll take good care of them."

The man stopped and looked at Roland with a measuring gaze.

The voice he used lacked the levity such words seemed to demand.

If taken out of context there could be various misunderstandings taken from those two sentences.

To say something like that in regards to a man's teenage daughters could, on other occasions, incite trouble.

But the man well understood his what he meantand there was no double meaning hidden in his words.

For a long moment, Roland thought he wouldn't respond.

Then, " I don't trust you." Was his abrupt reply.

Merely four words, but they spoke volumes.

Roland knew the heart of the matter instantly, without any need for explanation.

" I know." How could he not?

This distrust was not unwarranted, however.

To place the fate of your loved ones in the hands of a stranger...was there anyone who would do so without some hesitation?

The older man continued. " But I thank you for helping them thus far. Keeping them alive...you have my eternal gratitude."

Roland gave a small smile. " But you don't think I can continue helping them. Or more accurately, you feel I won't bother to help them after a certain amount of time has passed."

It wasnt a stretch to assume this. And he was right. The man did have such thoughts.

It has to be said that once a person reaches a certain level of power they usually stop caring about helping others. Even ordinary folk wouldnt selflessly help others too often if their was nothing in it for themselves. Experts like the two of them. . . why bother with another's affairs?

It was not a cruelty but rather. . .disregard.

They both knew this well. To people like them it wasnt worth it to help others out simply for the hell of it.

But Roland was different from those sort of people. Noticing the man's silent agreement, he went on. " But what you dont understand is that I, from the very start, never had any reason to help them. Why did I?" A rhetorical question. " Because I felt like it. Nothing more. I wanted to help them, and I still want to. You see, when i saved them I took responsibility for their lives. To me, it's like picking up animals off the street."

The comparison made the man twitch ever so slightly.

Roland took no notice. He turned to the older man and looked him in the eyes. The man couldnt help feeling pinned under the intensity of the gaze. When was the last time he felt such pressure?

" Which means that I am responsible for everything that happens to them from that point onward. If I saved them only to let them die after, I wouldnt be able to live it down. Someone I took the time to save, I cant allow them to be harmed. That would make my effort become wasted. So, I will continue to aid them. Because those two are people that I have taken under my wing."

His voice suddenly got harsher, colder. " I am a man that, when I decide something, I go to any lengths to follow through with that decision. No matter who or what stands in my way, once I have chosen my course of action there isnt any force that can block my path!"

The words echoed in the other man's mind.

They were spoken with a fierceness, a confidence, that lingered. The words were undoubtedly arrogant to the extreme, especially that last sentence. But when that young man said them they seemed right, as if there truly were nothing that could stop him from following whatever choice he came too.

Even he, who had always been a man to keep his emotions under a tight reign, couldnt help feeling slightly moved.

But the moment passed.

" So, you can rest assured that I wont abandon them. I said I would help them and I intend to do just that. I follow through with my words."

The father looked at him for several seconds, seeming thoughtful. He spoke slowly. " Those two are family. My daughters. Though not by blood, they are precious to me. " He hesitated. " . . .I dont know you. I dont know who you are or how reliable you can be. I wont leave everything to you: I cant. It isnt in me. But I trust that you have no bad intentions.

The father looked at him for several seconds, seeming thoughtful. He spoke slowly. " Those two are family. My daughters. Though not by blood, they are precious to me. " He hesitated. " . . .I dont know you. I dont know who you are or how reliable you can be. I wont leave everything to you: I cant. It isnt in me. But I trust that you have no bad intentions. Do what you want. I will try to help them from my end."

Which meant he wasnt sure of Roland's ability to be of help.

He couldnt put his belief in him, but didnt think he had any ill intent.

Well, that was something at least.

Roland couldnt blame him, really. If it were him, could he put Grace's life in the hands of someone else? Never. Roland didnt even know of her existence for more than a day and he knew that he didnt have it in him to let someone else be responsible for her safety.

Their father felt the same.

But at least he wouldnt get in the way of Roland offering his help. That made things simpler.

They walked together for several more moments before the other man spoke again.

"About the other day. . .Neither I nor my wife showed much appreciation for what you did. So I would like to tell you once more: Thank you. Also, please excuse my wife's words to Lord Loki. She didnt know of his identity. Still doesnt, for her own benefit. But I think she will be more careful in the future. As for you, she doesnt exactly have a bad impressions. Its simply that she doesnt know how to approach you."

Roland waved off his concern. " Dont worry, Loki isnt the type to really bother with such things. For all his posturing, he just doesnt give a damn." He said. It was true that something of that level wouldnt get Loki too worked up.

". . .I see. You seem to know him well."

" Really? Perhaps i do. We havent known each other long at all though."

The man inquired. " And how long would that be?"

Roland stopped. " Hmm. Maybe around. . .seven or eight years? Give or take a few months."

The words made the man inwardly shocked.

Such a short time and yet they already speak of one another so familiarly?

Time matters little to beings as old as Loki, the man knew.

To them it was not the amount of time spent together, but the. . .quality of it. It was a it difficult to explain. But the actual time one knows another is, to them, not really important.

That holds true for many long-lived beings.

Still, few of the core members of the greater pantheons would be befriended in such a way. They were different from the others. Colder. More distant.

They had a pride that respected only strength.

And Loki, being the type of person that the man heard of, was not easy to get along with. Even those of his own pantheon all but shunned him as an eccentric troublemaker.

There were others similar to him, gods and demons that were considered difficult people to deal with. The odd ones out that didnt play well with others.

To think that this man could become so friendly with someone like that. . .The man wondered what experiences they shared to achieve it.

" Ah, as for your wife, I dont hold any bad thoughts towards her behaviour. Actually, I found it kind of amusing, seeing Loki treated like that. " He then changed the subject. " By the way, I and many of the students, maybe all of them, are going on a trip to the Higher Planes for a bit. Are you, your wife and the little girl coming? We'll be staying for at least a few weeks so we can drop you off somewhere to stay if you would like to come."

The father looked pensive. He knew that his wife wouldnt want to leave the two older girl so soon. " That would be fine. I have some business there that needs taking care of in any case. But. . ." He frowned. His stern, controlled face showed signs of some inner concern.

"Roland felt something was amiss. " Is there something wrong?"

The father spoke in a grim tone. " Reina and Lilith's clan have contacted me some time ago and request them sent back. I dont know how they knew of their disappearance but on the way here there were some of their members that got in our way. I dont know how they knew of their reappearance. Perhaps Lord Loki contacted them? They demanded that the girls be sent back. For what reason, I dont know. But If you go to the Higher Planes and take them with you, you will find yourself in more trouble than you can handle. Theirs is a large clan that shouldnt be provoked." He warned.

Roland stared blankly at his. Shouldnt be provoked? Roland has already earned a frightening reputation among the majority of the large families in the Higher Planes.

Not many didnt know of his exploits. It wouldnt be weired if they didnt know his face but they all most likely have hear of him at the very least. In fact, he found it a bit strange that the older man in front of him hadnt recognised him or his name. Given his apparent connection to the Higher Planes, that shouldnt be the case.

But Roland supposed in a place as unbelievably vast and broken as the Higher Planes it wsant too much of a stretch that he wasnt known in some areas. Mainly only the really powerful families had taken note of him.

Disregarding that, why should he worry about some clan? If he wanted, couldnt he exterminate them? With his power, if he got a bit serious about it, he could do so easily.

Though they were the girls' family, so maybe he should do that. Still, if they caused him trouble. . .well, he had to defend himself, right?

" Dont worry about me, i can handle myself. Hmm, Loki did say some time ago that he recieved a call from their biological family. . . If I recal, he said he was annoyed and told them something along the lines of getting fornicated by their grandfathers. " Roland gave a small smile as he remembered.

The other man was less amused. Lord Loki was very powerul and influential, but that clan had strong roots and many friends. Mocking them was not a good idea.

Perhaps Loki would be daunted by them, but the man before him would probably not want their attention if he knew just how powerful they were. One man couldnt fight them himself. The number of experts they had were too numerous to count. Against sheer number, what could you do except be overwhelmed?

Its true that he thought this young-looking man was powerful in his own right, and his previous words left a bit of an impression on him, but that alone wouldnt be enough to go against an entire clan consisting of countless strong experts.

But since he said that, the man should be confident of his safety. And he didnt seem the type to foolishly cause trouble. As such, the father didnt feel the need to warn twice.

Roland, though, found something odd. . .just how did that family find out about the girls' reappearance? Not much time had passed then, they shouldnt have known of it so soon. Even Loki said he didnt know how they found out. And how did they know that Loki was with them?

Another odd point, James and Saren. . .They have curses too. Why? Reina and Lilith were from a strong clan apparently, but the boys? Loki said they were orphans. Why were they involved? The curses were likely put on them as children or even babies, why would anyone cabable of placing such powerful curses on a couple of orphans? It didnt make sense.

He should investigate their origins more. Where they were raised, who their parents might have been.

" Well then, be ready to leave. Loki has finish the preparations, we should be gone by tommorrow morning." Roland imformed him.

" Very well." Came the curt reply.

After some time the two started to go their seperate ways. That father of theirs wasnt much one for small talk, it seems.

Roland remembered that he still doesnt know the man's name. Had he heard it? If he did, he couldnt remember it.

Though it didnt matter, he could ask later. Hm. He also never told him that Reina and Lilith would be doing some training too.

He stood in front of one of the many eternally blooming cherry blossom trees, enjoying the sight.

He recalled today's earlier incident. He felt as if he somehow owed Reina an explanation but knew that such a thought was a bit irrational. Why should he care? His and Morrigan's actions should simply be between the two of them.

So then why did he feel he owed Reina any kind of explanation at all?

But the feeling persisted.

How curious.

In the end he decided to look for her in earnest to clear up any awkwardness that incident could create in the future.

He knew that she hadnt been here all that long so she didnt have may places to go. She wouldnt go near the school building as he warned her and the others against such things. Some of the students may think to bully the much weaker group of four, afterall.

So if there was one place that she knew of where she could find some peace and quiet after witnessing something like that. . .

. . .It could only be there, right?