Unknown to the two people having an important discussion in that building, there were two others who also have something important to talk about. But this time, it was to the building manager.

A sigh escaped Hideoki's lips as he laid eyes on the mysterious painting displayed in the middle of the hall. The very same painting that both Eichirou and Helen were looking at, only at different times.

"Iwasaki-san, how come I've never known that my wife would keep something like this here?"

The man in question shook his head after sighing. "Forgive me for not saying anything, Mizuhashi-san. But she made it clear to my father before that no one should know about this belonging to her until the given time. And when my father died, she made me promise the same thing when I took over the position of being this building's manager."

Out of all the words that the man said, there was one that caught the historian's attention. "Until the given time? Did she mention when would that time be?"

Iwasaki nodded and looked at the painting, as well. "Yes, she did. It would be after your son's 20th birthday. Though that time had long past, Mariko-san's will didn't occur to me until Eichirou-kun looked at this painting a few days ago. And there was also a young woman who was looking at this, as if she was trying to find some answers by doing so."

Before Hideoki could even ask about the identity of the young woman in question, it was interrupted when his companion Dr. Tsukimori Genma arrived and called his attention.

"I already have the permission to take this painting from here. But there's one other thing I'd like to show you."

Hideoki frowned at that, but chose not to say anything and waited for the scientist to continue what he intended to do. Confusing him even more was the appearance of two men carrying a rectangular item covered in grey linen. It was the same size as the Priestess painting (the one that was placed on the hall).

"What's this?"

"I found something that I learned to have also belonged to your wife and she decided to keep it here together with the painting of the priestess. But this painting represents something entirely different ― but perhaps, also related to the one we're dealing with."

Dr. Tsukimori's reply made Hideoki's heart beat fast, for some reason. How come he didn't know that there was another painting belonging to Mariko in this place? What was her reason for her to keep them here?

Before he could ask any more questions in his mind, one of the two helpers removed the cloth covering the frame.

"Is this ―?"

But Hideoki couldn't utter the continuation of the question he wanted to ask because of shock. The very same features of the priestess in the first painting was also painted in the other one. She was also wearing the same white gown. But her position in the second painting was different. She was facing the left side with a blooming lotus inside a ball of light floating on her hands. The one thing that made this entirely different from the other painting was the man on the painting facing the other way. The man who looked like an unbeatable warrior with armors and weapons and the priestess was standing back to back, as if saying that they were meant to take different paths.

Of course, there could be a different interpretation for this. But there was one thing that made it clear for the two elders. This second painting was also related to the legend of the Vessels of the Heavenly Spirit Guardians' Powers. Their proof? The lotus symbol on each of their clothing articles. They were painted there, as if making those who would look at it believe that it was a part of their clothes all this time. And the feeling that those two people looked as if they were real ― that they existed long ago...

"Why did Mariko hide these two paintings here? Both of these are important information for the Vessels..." Hideoki could only ask as he looked at Dr. Genma.

"We have no idea about Mariko's reasons for her to do that. But now that we know these two existed here, it seems that she knew more about the legend than we could ever think of. All of them, to the point that she started creating clues for the chosen Vessels to follow in order for them to grow. Or, if we're right with all the recent developments here..."

"Helen could be telling us the truth when she said that... the Vessels in our care could actually surpass the previous Vessels before them..."

But they still needed to check on the Vessels' growth both as warriors and as chosen wielders of an ancient power. Only then would they be able to know if Helen was right about her assessment.

xxxxxx

Apparently, their short peace came to an abrupt end. Macera started causing trouble in the city once again. This time, it didn't just extend to one institution and establishment. It was nearly a whole town that the Triske Monster had targeted. Not to mention that there were a lot of Gargonema all around to let that happen.

"Stop moving! You're all too fast! It's getting annoying!" Macera kept on shouting as it fired beam after beam from its camera-like hand towards the escaping and screaming citizens.

Some group got hit and were petrified on the spot, while others were able to avoid it even if it was just barely done. And yet they were scrambling in order to get away from there.

More beams were fired towards the citizens, and horrified screams resonated throughout. In the midst of the commotion, it could be seen that there were others who were shouting something different from the fearful and terrified ones.

"Everyone, this way!"

"Hurry!"

"Don't look back! Just run and get away from here!"

It appeared that several people remained in the area to help the others escape. Though they were in different areas, they all did their best to make sure that everyone would be able to escape.

"Amuro, how was it on your end?"

"No one's left in the stadium, even here on the parking space. The area's pretty much empty now," he replied to his uncle Yushiro who decided to stay and help the people in their own way. "How was it on your end, uncle?"

"They were able to get away even before that monster started attacking. In any case, let's meet at the plaza. I think I saw a few more people over there who needed help."

The other people in the plaza - at least the moving ones - were able to escape, thanks to Natsume and Akira who decided to leave the house for a bit to buy some snacks so that the Vessels could have something to eat while discussing their strategy. Unfortunately, they got caught up in the middle of the panic when they saw Macera appeared together with a group of Gargonema.

"Let's do what we can to round up everyone and help them get away from here. I'll take this direction and you take the other," Akira suggested and then pointed to the right.

Natsume nodded and the two teenage boys started running in opposite ways. Not long after, they were able to gather the unpetrified ones and have them run and take the road that most likely, Macera wouldn't consider taking.

A few more minutes passed by and the four people that helped the citizens escape inadvertently met up at the center of the plaza. All four of them were panting.

"What are you two still doing here? Shouldn't you be escaping from here, as well?" Uncle Yushiro inquired with a frown.

The two teenagers looked at each other first before Natsume decided to answer. "Well... you could say that we have to do something that duty made us do."

Pretty vague for an answer, in Amuro's opinion. But before he could say anything about that, a roar from someone enraged disrupted them. They all faced the direction to which it came from and their eyes widened at the sight of Macera approaching together with a few of the Gargonema.

"How dare you disrupt my fun, huh? How dare you?!" Macera screamed and raised its camera-like arm towards the four people's direction.

Before they knew it, the monster fired two light beams. The targets could only raise their arms and close their eyes as it was too late for them to avoid it.

But before it could hit them, a pink flash of light distracted the Triske Monster when it hit its eyes along with the appearance of a twirling pink lotus in front of the four people. That twirling lotus acted as a shield for the people who was about to get hit by the beams and it appeared to have worked.

Natsume and Akira heard the Triske Monster's vexed screams that made them put their arms down that they used to shield their eyes from the blinding light. To their confusion, they could only make out a silhouette of a pink lotus between the four of them and Macera who was still vexed, for some reason, and not just because its attack didn't hit them.

Even though curiosity was about to kick in at the sight of that, they still had important things to deal with.

"Come on! Let's get out of here before that monster start striking at us again," Akira urged just to snap everyone out and started running away from there together with Natsume.

Uncle Yushiro and Amuro started running, as well. But it could be seen that the racer looked back and saw that Macera was still shouting in frustration, probably because of what happened. And in his mind, especially with another image appearing in his mind upon recalling a certain event that made him decide to help his uncle allow the citizens to escape, his eyes showed a certain determination about something.

Whatever it was that he thought about for his eyes to show such emotion, only he knew that at the moment.

xxxxxx

Around the same time, while the Vessels were currently discussing one strategy after another aside from the one they already thought about, they froze upon hearing several familiar beeping sounds. None of them wasted any time to check on their Celestial Shifters and opening it to know the reason for the beeping.

Both Shuichi and Itsuki's Shifters projected the footage of the current situation in which Macera and the Gargonema started causing trouble and spreading fear in the town plaza. It could also be seen that a lot more people than the last time were petrified on spot. As for Misae's Shifter, it projected a map of the town, with blinking dot on the area of the attack, indicating the monster's current location.

"I guess that monster couldn't stay still and wait in the Tareus Dimension for the remaining hours, huh?" Itsuki couldn't help commenting as he could see the footage of the event.

"If it's acting on orders, then that means it got an even more sinister plan up ahead," Misae said as she closed her Shifter.

Itsuki sighed upon closing his Shifter. "Then that means we have to put that to a stop before any of the Tareans here on the surface could actually implement that."

"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Shuichi ordered with a tone full of determination. "But don't let your guard down."

"We know that."

With that, all three Vessels stood up from their seats and started running. Then again, Itsuki halted to a stop and looked around as soon as he noticed something. "Where's Erika, by the way?"

"She already went ahead," Nanami answered as she entered the room. "She was in the garden a while ago when her Shifter beeped and told me she'll go ahead of you."

Of course, what the woman said made Itsuki confuse. "Why would she do that?"

"I don't know. But I have a feeling that it has something to do with Helen-chan since there was something that she has to investigate somewhere in the town, anyway."

As much as the composer would like to feel irritated at the mention of their guest's name, it appeared that the word "investigate" had started to pick his curiosity, for some reason. But they all had other worries to deal with at the moment.

"Let's bet that Eichirou is starting to deal with that camera monster as soon as we reach the scene," Shuichi said that only made the others laugh.

Then again, it doesn't seem to be something impossible at all.

"Let's go!"

xxxxxx

I wanted to finish this up to the last scene of this episode, but it seems that it's going to take time before I actually do just that. So maybe the one thing that could help me finish writing this is to update it by chunks ― possibly 1.5k to 2k word count each part. For now, let's try this step.