Chương 331: Epilogue 5. Red mask

"Three cheers for the latest gold-ranker of Hua-Xi!" Kite called, joining the others gathered at the Tengu-Clan's holding outside of Cinnabar Rise in loud and raucous cheering while many a cup - and sometimes a blade - were raised into the air. Little Crow - man of the hour and the gold-ranker in question - sat in the seat of honor at the end of the hall next to Obsidian Crow and Amica Steiner as he graciously enjoyed the celebrations while accepting the occasional telekinetically provided snack from his lover.

As was his way, Little Crow's robes were as colorful as they were tasteful, like an onyx-haired peacock whose dark eyes and hair were only elevated by the ensemble. Glint had had a claw in that particular project, of that Kite did not have the faintest of doubts. The celebration continued throughout the meal before the clan of assassins took it one step further, the festivities spreading out into the palace grounds and into the gardens to light up the evening skies with essence powers of all kinds.

"I hope they warned the town in the distance, or people might start panicking at this lightshow," Dragonfly remarked from Kite's side while they both took in the spectacle.

"Or perhaps they are rather used to it after living so close to the clan for a time?" Kite chuckled in turn.

"I honestly thought you would be the first to join in, dear wife."

"I… Oh gods, Kite. You're right. Have I grown boring? Because the first thing I started pondering was where the children were off to."

"They're–""Off with Glint and Hunter, I know. I can sense them. Gods, with aura senses you'd think a parent wouldn't worry…"

"And yet they have the most wonderful mother, dear," Kite replied with a laugh before leaning in and kissing the top of Dragonfly's head.

"So come on now, dear. Go join in." Kite could feel the shift in her aura even before his wife turned her face up to grin at him before making a mighty leap off into the distance to join the other revelers, a conjured greataxe of pure flames joining the dance of magic in the skies as it shot great gouts of flames in all directions.

"Ah, my dear adopted cousin!" Little Crow called a short time later as he and Amica found Kite still watching his wife let loose and enjoy herself. The pair joined him, both floating as Amica carried them around through her telekinesis.

"Congratulations again, Little Crow," Kite said, raising his cup towards the celestine.

"I am all too familiar with the hardships of reaching gold. It is quite the accomplishment even for one with your skills."

"Well, I could not let my dear lady here wait forever for me to catch up," Little Crow replied with a smile towards Amica.

"Now with this gold-ranked body of mine, she doesn't need to handle me like I'm made of frail crystal anymore."

"I… see…" was all that Kite could reply as the pair lost themselves in one another's eyes and no doubt fantasies of their own particular… tastes… As such, he decided to change the subject, because from the feel of their auras, Amica and Little Crow might choose to elope at any moment.

"So, what will the two of you be up to now that you have both reached gold?"

"Oh, dear Kite, I thought you'd never ask!" Little Crow exclaimed happily, twirling his ever present parasol with one hand while draping the other across his lady love beside him.

"Now that I'm gold too, there is no end to the sights Amica and I shall be able to see, the things we can experience, the–""- the ever-trying but oh so rewarding work of overseeing our holdings in our homeland," a deep voice interrupted as Obsidian Crow suddenly joined them, stepping out of Kite's shadow even as his words caused Little Crow's smile to turn rather crooked.

"I– Senior Brother, I don't understand what you are implying," he began quickly.

"Surely, you are doing such exemplary work with your web of shadows that I could not possibly hope to match–""Both the family and I are ever confident in your abilities, Junior Brother," the older assassin replied, mirth clear in his voice as he reached up and - for the first time Kite had ever seen - removed his red mask.

Given Obsidian Crow's deep and often imposing voice, Kite was surprised to see that his features were in truth rather fine, almost delicate, his gold rank only heightening looks that would be described as beautiful rather than conventionally handsome. The family resemblance to Little Crow was rather distinct however, especially in the slightly mischievous quirk to his lips as he held out the mask, onyx eyes twinkling. This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"You know our ways, Junior Brother. The clan needs a guardian here at home. And as you are the first one to ascend to gold after me while also being deemed competent enough by the family, the case is rather clear. I shall enjoy heading out into the wider world again." Little Crow, on the other hand, was anything but smiling as he looked from the mask, to Obsidian Crow and to Amica in rapid succession, his plans for the near future crumbling in real time then and there while the mask was left hanging.

"I… But Senior Brother! I need just a little more time. Our plans. I did promise–" Then he was silenced when the mask floated up on its own and planted itself on his face, the culprit behind the action rather obvious as Amica floated up to her lover and planted a kiss on the red wooden cheek of the mask.

"Come now, dear. Much like my grip, I don't think you'll manage to slip out of this one," she laughed.

"But… Our plans…"

"Our plans can wait a decade or three. At least the longer-lasting ones," Amica said, finishing his sentence.

"If it's in Hua-Xi you will have to reside for some time, then I shall simply have to settle here as well so that I can make sure you behave. The portal couriers of Gauntlet already know this place rather well by now thanks to Kite, so it'll be no trouble to return between contracts." Amica's words brought a distinct change in Little Crow's demeanor, the assassin turning to his lover as he pushed up the mask to rest on his forehead instead where it was kept in place by some enchantment or another.

"Wait, really? You'll come stay here?"

"Well, you do have a rather nice homeland, however eccentric I might have found it over the years. And besides…" Amica replied before she leaned in and whispered something in Little Crow's ear which not even Kite could pick up. Even so, the aura was the gateway to glean the soul, and Little Crow clearly lost control of his for a moment to a degree that made Kite unsure if he should blush or start backing slowly away.

"Also, I have to make sure that you remain good and diligent now that you have so many responsibilities. Isn't that right?" she finished, looking at Obsidian Crow who nodded gravely even though his onyx eyes were still twinkling.

"I do believe that you have been a good influence to our dear Little Crow, Amica Steiner. You are most welcome to join our clan, should you wish to in the future."

"Well…" Amica said, glancing at Little Crow who looked at her with pleading eyes.

"If he keeps behaving as well as he is, I shall definitely have to consider it."

"Kite. You are up early," Amica noted as she found her friend and erstwhile teammate seated in meditation in the light of early dawn in one of the fields outside the Tengu Clan compound as the pre-dawn light started painting the grass and surrounding landscape in warm colors.

"As you well know, sleep is not what it once was to us now that we have reached gold rank. Thus, I tend to take the early morning vigil for when the first of the children wake up. So far they're all asleep, but I can already feel the aura of little Butterfly stirring. I have no idea what possesses a two-year old to spring out of bed before dawn, but can only thank Fortune for not being the least susceptible to sleep deprivation any longer."

"And I can't believe that she's two already," Amica smiled in return.

"That makes Wren - what? - nine?"

"Nine and pushing on ten," Kite smiled.

"Wow. Time surely flies."

"Oh believe me, it does. Even more when watching the little ones grow. If you don't mind me asking…?"

"Whether there will be an army of small celestines in my life anytime soon?" Amica asked with a smirk as she caught onto Kite's meaning.

"Honestly? There might be. At least in time. When Little Crow and I started becoming involved, I first thought it only fun and games. Completely consensual fun and games, mind you. I've kept making sure of that, as I don't fancy backsliding to… You know."

"I know," Kite agreed, giving Amica an approving nod.

"You were hurting rather a lot back then, weren't you?"

"I… was. And it's rather amazing how much better things became once I started actually admitting that and accepting memories rather than compensating for them. Which leaves me here. With a wonderful, cheerful, and most obedient man in my life. And the calm to actually feel like it's worth settling down even more. Not like Gauntlet won't take me all over the world, but much like you, I suppose I will finally have a bit of a home again."

"Given how Little Crow looked at you from that first time you met during mine and Dragonfly's wedding, neither of us has ever doubted his complete dedication and… willingness," Kite smiled.

"And all of us have grown quite a lot over these last years since our first meeting. I'm just happy to see that your growth was towards something safe rather than the opposite."

"Me too, Kite. I probably wouldn't have believed it once but… Me too." They sat in silence for a while before both looked back towards the compound at the same time.

"It seems my youngest has awakened. That means more will follow soon enough," Kite said as he rose, Amica floating up into the air beside him as they started making their way back towards the estate.

"And from the feel of it, Little Crow is coming to as well. I'd better head back and care for my good boy."

"Wait… He's… You wore out a gold-ranker? How– Wait, I'm not sure I want to know."

"Well, let's just say that I have my ways," Amica smiled with a distinctly smug look.

"Come now then. Let's take care of those around us until we're called out into the world again to help prevent as many people as possible from ending up the way I did back then. And show those who we're too late to save that… That things can get better again."