Supernatural: Chronicles of the Order 7

Chapter 14: The Gardening Tower

(DISCLAIMER: No, I don't own Supernatural because it belongs to Eric Kripke and Warner Bros. So, enjoy the show! Rated M for graphic violence, adult content, and adult language.)

I was seeing the girl in front of me as she was alone, but protected by both Deejatra and Kritha respectively. I sensed that she lost so much as I saw her shedding tears in which she lost her parents all those years ago. Still, I had to hear about her plight as she was also in danger as well, for I couldn't let her suffer all the live long. What I didn't expect was that she was suffering from a lot worse as I walked towards her and wiped the tears from her face, for I was assuring that no harm would come to her in the long run.

"There's no need for you to cry," I said.

"I'm all alone since my parents were dead," she said to me.

"She has no one to take care of her except for her brother," said Kritha. "It's such a tragic shame that those barbarians with black eyes had the gall to kill her loved ones in cold blood."

"It's because most demons have no sympathy whatsoever," said Deejatra.

I noticed Deejatra clenching her fist as she could never forget about the plight that she saw when her mother was possessed by a demon. Her ongoing grudge against demons was fierce as she had nothing but contempt for them. I didn't blame her as the incident with Danae being possessed and later dead from her injuries was a nail in the coffin against demons altogether. As for the little girl, however, she saw us to be heroes here in the city of Rakharo as she was also grateful that I fulfilled my duty in the shrine so far, for I also had so much to tomorrow…

I was up and alert as I had a long day to deal with. Even though today was my birthday, I wasn't alone on this as I was busy tending to both sets of twins on the beach with the other children playing in their swim clothes. I was also in my swim trunks as I was also careful with tending to the children until I spotted Moro dressed in a revealing monokini while looking after Sura. Even Reiko was there as the sight of her was more than enough for me to take her again after all this in which she was dressed in a stunning bikini, for she was mine for the taking after all, but not in front of the children right now.

"It's been a long time since we last parted ways, Sam," said Moro.

"You showed up in the nick of time with your crew," I said.

"Albus is there with the crew of the Kurokage at your temporary home in which they have different buffets for each of us."

"I heard Nathan talking about how the Kirgar Clan steers away from pork, which is unclean to their tastes."

"If Albus or I ended up eating it, we'd be beaten to a pulp by the bastard son of Sluggo by now."

"You never had an interest in pork anyway because of the fact that you once said that it clogs one's arteries."

"In a way, we're gonna have to go for the local fish here in which it is the top of the culinary arts and the most expensive of all of this planet. Miraculously, Nathan compromised into getting some fish anyway just to make eomuk or gajami yangnyeom-twigim for the birthday dinner 'cause Sura's turning one with all the trimmings with the blessing of the Judah Initiative."

"Nathan has a respect for the Judah Initiative because of their views against all evil," said Reiko.

"You guys came a long way in which you even end up being gods of this galaxy."

"I know, but there are evil people who would stop at nothing to harm us while bringing chaos to this galaxy."

It wasn't long until we noticed Sura walking on her feet while being chased by Carly, who was dressed in her swimsuit and water wings. I decided to catch up to them as I steered them clear near the shore in which we saw the ocean waves crashing near the wet sand. I was having fun with the children as I was also most likely to be celebrating my birthday today, for it was something that I got used to so far…

Deejatra was at my temporary home as she was accompanying the girl she saved yesterday. Even though she was still holding a grudge against any form of demon after all that has happened, she had her reasons to look after the young girl as she was safe from enemy hands, for she wasn't alone in this time of war. By the time they went outside, they noticed a large ruined tower behind the temporary home as it was all covered in vines and leaves. It was a grand sight to see as it was something that was there in which both Deejatra and the girl decided to go inside and explore what was there, for they wanted to know what was growing in there first.

"This place is a huge garden," said the girl as she saw some beans growing on the vines.

"There are azuki beans here," said Deejatra as she saw the evidence growing on the walls.

"What are azuki beans?"

"Azuki beans are mostly native on Alecrian soil in the regions of Clavell Valley and Shilla. They are mostly made for preparing for desserts such as mochi, jjinppang, chapssal, and many others. It's been said that these beans have been grown into a bumper crop over the years, but everyone who lived here ended up taking some of what was growing here."

"I've never been here before until now, but only the adults come here to pick them."

"Orinya!"

Deejatra saw a young Targar man burst into the gardening tower as he was concerned about the young girl's safety. With white hair and lavender eyes that contrast with the girl's looks, he was also dressed up in a cerulean clothing in which it was the main color of this planet. With a basket in his hand, he was ready to pick some of the azuki beans that were growing here in the abandoned tower, for he had his reasons to do so while looking after the girl that was saved.

"What are you doing here?" he said to the girl. "Mother Akemi told you to return after your meeting with the savior."

"She's safe after all that has happened," said Deejatra.

"Orinya is my little sister and she's all I have after what happened to our parents."

"We know, but the demons who killed your parents will suffer dearly for this."

"I saw one of them with yellow eyes while he smoked cigarettes, but he was captured by his handler who looked like that Terran from that ancient program who sold and made illegal drugs."

"Are you talking about Asmodeus the Second, who is part of the Children of Azazel?"

"He was having fun when he killed our parents, only to be given a taste of his own medicine. It's a dubious charge, but he had it coming in the end."

"There you two are," said an elderly woman as she was dressed in a yellow kimono. "Nixerys, you should be looking after your sister a little more after what Milverton did to your parents." She briefly stares at Deejatra as she knew of her very well indeed. "You're with the savior, aren't you? Still, I hear stories about he is trying not to screw up like his past self once did in the Elder Days."

"Mother Akemi," said Orinya. "This place is a garden and you're in-"

"I've been here longer before you were born and the demons don't bother to possess me after what I acquired over the years."

The old woman removed the top part of her kimono as she revealed the Winchester sigil tattooed on her back. Deejatra never expected her to have it after all those years in which the old woman was aging, but immortal at the same time. By the time that the old woman put back on the top part of her kimono, she was walking over to a stalk of azuki beans as she was making sure that they were ripe the moment she picked one to see it in season.

"It's been ages since that small boy came here to plant those beans," she said.

"You bear the Winchester sigil, don't you?" said Deejatra.

"I've had it for years, but it kept most demons at bay."

"Mother Akemi has been here for a long time here on Targaryen, but the demons steered clear of possessing her," said Nixerys.

"Sam the savior is here on this planet after he did his duty," said Orinya.

"Sam?" said the old woman. "It's been ages since his past self and I once parted ways, but his curent self has a long way to go in order to become the new god of this galaxy on the horizon..."

The old woman, who was known to be Mother Akemi, walked towards a flight of steps in which she looked out at one of the windows. What she didn't expect was that I was coming there as I was most likely to have my curiosity get the better of me, for I was there to look for what was inside of the tower soon enough…

Two thousand years in the past…

Akemi drove towards the bunker as she was eager to visit Sam after curing Dean of his demonic affliction last week. She was no stranger into coming into the bunker as she saw Sam doing a little spring cleaning after what he endured despite the fact that his right shoulder still pained him after having it in a sling during that incident in Chicago. What she didn't expect was that she noticed a new door installed in the power room as it was newly refurbished to replace the old one that was destroyed during Dean's curing process. By the time she saw Dean sitting at the switchboard still fiddling with that unholy mark on his right arm, he was feeling guilty about nearly killing Sam in which he wasn't in fine fettle in which he was desperate to make amends for what he did, for that was something that was haunting him for a while.

"It took me a while to get here, but I haven't been here since Sam felt distraught over you getting killed by Metatron," said Akemi as she brought along a six-pack of beer and put it on the switchboard.

"After what happened, I can't get it out of my head," said Dean as he grabbed a bottle of beer.

"Sam took it hard in which he was looking for you the moment he got nearly impaled where his shoulder was. It's a miracle that he can still drive with his arm in a sling, but he wasn't giving up on his search for you."

"Well Screamin' Nimi just replaced the door that got broken."

"I saw that..."

"For the record, I wasn't proud of myself for breaking the damn thing, but I almost tried to kill Sam when he tried his best to cure me..."

"Anyway, I ran into Mr. Sakane in which he wanted you guys to go to Michigan at an all-girls' school and get this; they're turning the first half of the Winchester Gospel into an all-out musical, but there's been some problems lately about-"

It wasn't long until Sam stopped what he was doing as he rushed to his laptop and searched through the news websites the moment he found what he was looking for. Showing the image of a blackboard drawing with the words, "Supernatural: The Musical," in white and pastel chalk, Dean was stunned to see that as he was ready to protest such frivolity in the form of half of the Supernatural books that were written by Chuck Shurley, also known as Carver Edlund. Even Akemi was there to bring the Winchesters back on track as she had her reasons to do so, for they were about to endure a musical journey on their way up to Michigan in the long run.

"No… friggin'… way…," said Dean as he put his beer down. "We ganked monsters, give dick angels and demons the middle finger, starved some Leviathans, and end up with losing a lot of friends, but there is no singing in Supernatural!"

"There is," said Sam as he removed the sling from his arm and noticed to be fully recovered to the point of moving it around. "We're not like the Tim Curries or Liza Minellies of the world, but we have a case after all."

"Since when did you come to admire musicals?"

"I've never watched them enough, but if we're up to par, then we'll probably go somewhere that isn't in the form of bad karaoke and stale beer all the live long."

Sam made his point as he was most likely to be driving the Impala for a while after he cleaned up all of the garbage out of it. Still, he had his work cut out for him as he also had to find lore to remove the Mark of Cain from Dean's arm as it was his primal task to save his brother from what he was truly becoming so far…

Meanwhile, back in the present…

I was dressed in clean clothes after tending to the children the moment I had a shower earlier. What I didn't expect was that the back door was open as I went outside to see what was going on. To my surprise, I saw the tower there as I ran towards it in which I had a flood of nostalgia coming back towards me. When I entered inside, I saw the evidence of the azuki beans that were there as they were ripe for the picking. What I didn't expect was that the old woman, Mother Akemi, was there as she saw me to be evolving for a new god like me, for I had a long way to go after what I went through so far.

"It's been ages since you came back here, Sam," she said to me as he had a basket of azuki beans in her hands. "Your hair may have turned silver, but the jeweled sigil on your forehead remains the same."

"Do I know you?" I aked.

"You may not know much of me, but I knew of your past self and the sins he was desperately trying to atone for."

"Akemi Sugiyama… from the Elder Days..."

"It's been said that I was thought to be dead, but I had my reasons to remain incognito on this planet until you came along with some red beans to plant all over that turned into one large bumper crop. As for you, on the other hand, there are very bad people coming after you on all three sides."

"You know of the Executive Division, the Red Inquisition, and Milverton's forces going after me, don't you?"

"I'm no stranger with dealing with Milverton because he once banked on your past self to kill me in order to lose his soul once again. In the end of it all, the latter refused to do that in which it resulted into cutting off my long hair instead. I didn't mind short hair, but I was the one who reminded your past self of the humanity that he has, not the faults he was desperately trying to atone for. As for what happened to his brother in Purgatory, he got an earful from Malcolm Hofstra directly in which he told him that he was better off in the gutter. That was when Dean and I caught up to your past self in which we saw him with his wrists cut and nearly bleeding to death. The real kicker was that he ended up in that same psych ward he got tossed in during the Leviathan Incident, only for Mr. Sakane to heal him up to full and never to kick at the wall of doubt again. Even though he dwelled on it, I got him to be with his brother for the rest of their days in the form of giving them a case that involved a LARPing tournament."

"It's a good thing that you did, but my past self once refused to forgive himself for abandoning his brother and Castiel in Purgatory, which is a sin that could never be washed away clean."

"Oh, the Dean of old told him not to dwell on his sins too much in which he told him to shut up and drink a beer. As for my line of work in the Isoldati, I remained in Chicago to assist Ennis Ross into maintaining law and order in the five monster families until I was taken away by the Draaza. As for your friend from Orianthis, I gave him the key to find this home that the Order of Letters once congregated in, for it was also a haven for storing lore in times of crisis."

I was floored to hear Akemi's wisdom clearly as she was no stranger into dealing with what went on in the Elder Days. For centuries, she remained immortal till her autumn years as she was most likely to deal with what went on for the years to come. On a whim, I saw a large beanstalk on the wall as I was staring at the azuki beans that grew on it in which I felt a memory being absorbed into me. It was a memory of my lost childhood that was there as I remembered that time when I planted those azuki beans like crazy in which they were grown and harvested till this day. I marveled at the beans as they were also known for their dessert quality in such dishes like jjinppang, mochi, chapssal, matcha rolls, matcha muffins, daifuku, and many other sweets that I tasted in my youth. When I saw Akemi walk towards the beanstalk, she picked the ripest azuki beans as she was most likely to be making paste out of them, for she was no stranger into picking them for a while.

"These beans will be perfect for azuki jam just in time to make chapssal," she said.

"Mother Akemi, it's almost time for lunch," said Nixerys.

"Don't worry, I'll be at the Order's seaside house next to this tower just in time to make azuki bean paste."

"Hey! Isn't it time for your birthday?!"

I heard Dvora's voice as I rushed to the entrance to the tower. With Akemi, Nixerys, and Orinya following me outside, we saw her with a large jar of azuki bean jam in her hands as she was most likely to be wanting me to go inside the moment I saw everyone setting up the birthday parties in the honor of those I shared the day with. Even Gyatso was there as he was busy helping out with the desserts that were on hand in which he was eager to try what was baking in the oven in the house. When I got inside, I saw Gyatso following me as we went towards the parlor, for he was floored to celebrate the day we shared together.

"I can't wait to try the sweet bean buns that are steaming in the kitchen," he said to me.

"You saw Nathan and Rie hard at work, didn't you?" I said.

"Nathan said that he has an imprint of raw power like Dean, is that true?"

"Nathan and Dean aren't the only ones with imprints of raw power. Castiel, Kotori, Dvora, and Kevin also have imprints of raw power in which they are there for a reason in this ongoing war."

"Is it true that you ended the First Galvanic Uprising?"

"I was just a newborn when the First Galvanic Uprising ended, but the Second Galvanic Uprising was started up by the Executive Division in the hopes of abusing what I have and I won't let them do it."

"Those Executive Division are meanies and they're worse than Lex Luthor!"

"There are a lot more things that are far worse than comic book villains, but the lore is the worst of them all."

"That old lady's been working her ass off with the azuki beans, but she soaks some of them for ten hours before turning them into sweet bean jam," said Dvora as she came outside with a plate full of fish-shaped bread in her hands. "It's a good thing that Nathan's on hand as substitute captain of the Kurokage because he ended up receiving some azuki bean paste and jam from the old lady. As for the fish-shaped bread, it's called bungeoppang in which Nathan added some vanilla into the batter."

Gyatso grabbed one of the bungeoppang as he took a bite of it in which he tasted something other than azuki bean jam. He tasted a chocolatey spread with a nutty taste as he finished off the whole thing. When I tried one of the bungeoppang, I tasted the azuki bean jam that was put into it as I was thankful that it was cooked in the art of what the Farragut Clan perfected over the years.

"Nathan doubled down on what he put into the bungeoppang," I said.

"Before he received the azuki paste, he was busy putting Nutella into the fish bread he was making," said Dvora. "It doesn't matter if it's either filled with that chocolatey stuff or that azuki bean jam, for it's all the same to me."

It wasn't long until I saw a set full of birthday cakes that were reserved for me, Gyatso, and Sura respectively as we were born on the same day. Even though I shared the same birthday with them, I also shared the same one as Minara's youngest children as I wanted them to be there, but there were prior engagements in other places right now. I longed for those who shared the same birthday as me to be here as I wasn't the type to hog the spotlight due to what I obtained and saw for a long time, for I was most likely to be ready for anything after this.

"Minara should bring his youngest children here to celebrate this day," I said. "The downside of being plucked from his position in the Medical Corps to being an Elder is a tough one indeed..."

"Minara would've brought them here, but he believes them to be safe with the family members that he trusts the most after that tragedy with his first wife and father-in-law," said Dvora. "Even though he married that woman he saved from the clutches of Julilla, he hasn't gone dark since because he refuses to shirk his duties while drowning in despair."

"Minara…, let's hope that you have closure after all that you endured..."

"Hey, birthday boy, you better get into the courtyard 'cause Nathan's been working his ass off with the sweets."

I was ready to follow everyone to the courtyard as I was most likely to be celebrating my birthday with those I shared the day with. Just as I was about to join everyone, I saw a dignitary ship land near the harbor as I left my temporary home and ran towards where the ship was. When I reached the harbor, I saw a familiar face emerge as he was holding a small box in his hands. It was Minara as he was there on business in which he was also there to make amends for his behavior towards me, for it was his own way of burying the hatchet after all. Still, I bore no grudge against him as he already went through too much already in which he was solely focused on his efforts and duties as an Elder of the Order.

"I see that you came without the family," I said.

"Janus and his family are on hand into protecting Mizuwa and the rest of us, but I really hate missing the birthday of my youngest twins," said Minara.

"It seems that you're on business with what's been going on, aren't you?"

"Did you see the cache drive about the factory on this planet?"

"Yeah, but we will soon stop it soon enough."

"It's on one of the Daegath Islands in the south in which it's on one of the lone ones next to a place called Squatter Island."

"Squatter Island?"

"It's one of the Daegath Islands in which it's mostly populated with Terrans who were disgruntled with the corporate masters who ran that island to the point of cutting taxes. Yes, the corporate masters wanted to cut taxes for themselves instead of taking care of the needy who worked hard for the money they earned, but that was the last straw so far. Five hundred years ago, the Terrans who endured the yoke of the corporate and wealthy staged a revolt in which they even did away with some of the businessmen by tossing them off their penthouses and skyscrapers. After the revolt, the squatting Terrans used the spoils that were left behind to establish an autonomous state known as Squatter Island in which the Targar Government recognized it after what they went through. The Terrans even stage a festival known as the Raider Revolt Day while they burn effigies of such Terran figures like Marie Antoinette and Donald Trump. Last year, it was a crooked businesswoman who worked at SucroCorp on Harkonnen, but their latest target in effigy form is the late Randal Derwent who ended up dead in the jaws of a hellhound. If you end up going to that island, you should be warned because the inhabitants there don't take kindly to the uber-wealthy. They even blew up the stock market building five hundred years ago in which they grew fed up with the 'worst gambling den to the rich.' It's a dubious karma to those who suffered in the form of poverty, for they rose up against their masters to establish a thriving colony that is widely known today."

"It seems that the squatters on that island got the last laugh and last straw to overthrow their corporate masters on the sly. Corporations who abuse their power and wealth to be richer will end up dead if they don't share with the needy."

"We should go inside and have you dig into this cake that Mizuwa baked. She knows her craft after what she went through on Essos, for she is recovering from tragedy like me."

I saw an inscription that was tattooed on Minara's left arm as it was none other than the words in Latin, "Nemo me impune lacessit," in bold letters. He meant what was written on his skin as he was most likely to defend us from harm after all that has happened. When we left the harbor, we returned to the temporary home as we saw lots of sweets being baked in which I saw Minara set the birthday cake on the table that was there. I was grateful to have everyone here as I couldn't get enough of the company that came here to celebrate the birthday that I shared. Sitting down at a table, I opened up the box that I had as I saw a cake that was decorated with green tea Kit-Kat, Pocky, and Pejoy pieces while the rest of it was in the form of matcha frosting. I decided to have a slice as I found a cake knife near the sweets and cut my surprise in slices. With a slice on a small saucer, I grabbed a fork as I tasted what was put into it in the form of matcha cake with dried cranberries. At first, I expected candied azuki beans to be put into it, but the dried cranberries sufficed for now as I didn't have any problem with it at all. By the time I finished up my slice of cake, I was ready to have another one until I saw Dvora snatch it up from me the moment she grabbed a saucer and put a slice onto it. She was no stranger into getting into cake as she always had a thing for sweets, for she got the last word when it came to digging into what was there so far.

"This is good cake, but it should've used candied azuki beans instead," she said.

"Mizuwa has a loathing for azuki beans," said Minara.

"She's giving those beans a bad name?"

"The beans she prefers are the ones that are used in savory dishes, especially when it comes to the Tex-Mex menu."

"The next time she bakes a cake, she should at least try azuki beans 'cause they don't work for savory dishes that well, but sweet ones."

"It doesn't matter if beans are made for either sweet or savory," I said. "They're a part of the food menu when it comes to bringing people together to begin with."

It wasn't long until we saw Moro rush out of the kitchen as she had a tray full of desserts in her hands. Setting it down, she stopped briefly as she saw Minara there, but she wasn't too thrilled with what he put on his arm, for the Mitani Clan was forbidden to have tattoos of any kind except for the Winchester sigil. Even though she was dressed in a blue yukata, she didn't want to be seen in a skimpy swimsuit in front of the Elders of the Order as she also didn't want any distractions, for she had her reasons to be modest after all.

"Nice artwork," she said.

"You noticed the tattoo, didn't you?" said Minara.

"Does Matsuo know that you got that?"

"He'll know eventually, but this message is what I'll live with for the rest of my life. The inscription that is etched onto my arm is the Scottish motto in which it translates to 'no one cuts me with impunity.' It was my rallying cry against the Executive Division who killed Lentulus and Penelope almost a year ago in which Julilla is long dead after she turned into a monstrous frog."

"I heard about you how kicked Sam's ass in his failed attempt to stop you. What happened next was that you stabbed Julilla after she told you about her so-called pregnancy, which turned out to be a ruse to rile you up, but her physiology was failing her with what was shoved into her in her brother's experiments with Claudian tree frogs long before she signed up to steal Sam to be the ultimate prize in this ongoing war."

"Julilla did damage to me when she killed Lentulus and Penelope by sending them to the gallows. I was on the verge of revenge to the point of going dark, only to have Sam kill the one who nearly destroyed me. Now that I have Mizuwa from the Elkins Clan as my new wife and having my family whole again, I have purpose to atone for what I did."

"You just added in a new thread just now 'cause Hector is married to a Draaza woman with four children and she's got not only Elkins blood with her Draaza heritage, but she also has Winchester blood in her veins. It's a godsend that family has your back 'cause—"

"—Family doesn't end with blood, Moro," I said. "It's always there because it's what we have when the chips are down. It's how we work and that is what truly matters the most in this time of crisis."

I made my point clear as I also had my reasons to have family with me. As for the birthday celebrations, I was happy to celebrate what I had as I was eternally grateful with all the wishes that were put in front of me. I was whole with my birthday as I even buried the hatchet—or cake knife—on celebrating what was put in front of me, for this was a day that I cherished most right now…

Dean was busy putting away some game meat that he killed earlier as he was most likely to be making future dinners for his family and the troops on his watch. Even though he was in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina, he stared at the calendar in which he saw the second day of May creeping up without warning. He was desperate to go and celebrate my birthday, but he was tied to his duties on Shiganshina as he had no other choice but to adhere to the subordinates who served alongside him. He was in a bit of a pickle as he was remembering all those years that my own birthday was always put on the back burner and never celebrated in which he was starting to regret all those times he wanted to be with me on the day I was born, for it was his grave consequence of what went on during our days on Gehenna.

By the time he left outside, he went towards the hot pond as he stripped off his clothes and decided to take a dip into it after providing for his family and comrades, for he was wanting to unwind what was found in the Dabb Mountains on Shiganshina. Just as he was about to relax, he saw Desna naked and in the water as he was reading a book by the shore in which he had a floating tray with rice balls and a large decorative bottle that was filled with something. Dean wanted to find out about what was in the bottle as he saw some small cups near it, for he was starting to get thirsty after he went hunting for game meat since he got here.

"If you're wanting to get some sake, you won't find any in that bottle, Dean," said Desna.

"If there's no sake, then what's in it anyway?" he asked.

"It's a container of tiger peach nectar that was made from the fruit that grows near the volcano. They're a much sweeter version of the peaches from Earth in which they have more antioxidants in them. That's why I prefer this beverage than alcohol because it's forbidden for us in the Order to consume it."

"If we weren't in the Order, we'd be consuming all the beer and Jack Daniels we could find, but we're part of our merry little group who are forbidden to go on a binger too much."

"I've followed the rules during my asthetic training in which alcohol will always be forbidden due to those who pilot ships or drive cars."

"That's very uncomforting to hear..."

Dean grabbed the large bottle of peach nectar as he poured a glass of it while he took one of the rice balls and ate it after a long day. Sipping a bit of the peach nectar, he found it to be satisfying as he was near the shore staring at the sky in which he raised his glass to toast something. He was thinking of me on my birthday as he wanted to be there, but his duty was to be with his comrades here on Shiganshina, for this was his group to counter the likes of the Executive Division and their allies in this ongoing war.

"Here's to you, Sam," he said.

"You're proposing a toast to your brother, aren't you?" asked Desna.

"It's his birthday today and I should've been there by his side. It's my huge regret for ignoring his needs during our years on Gehenna in which that asshat in charge made him do chores and ignore his own day of birth."

"The second day of May was also the day that the First Galvanic Uprising came to an end. That day is also a time of mourning for those who died going up against the forces of Menelaus Marquand and his thirst for power."

"I was there with Mom when we were ushered by the Medical Corps to safety at the time. When I saw Sam wrapped like a burrito with that jeweled sigil on his forehead while crying his lungs out, I was glad that he was born, but fate dealt him a cruel hand with bad luck and servitude. He even graduated from the high school wing of the fort on Gehenna, but he was disqualified from joining any group of soldiers who fought for the Order. He was stuck cleaning everything and making sure that the chickens were fed in the chicken house from time to time, but he always stayed in his room after eating a meal at that table by the window."

"Sylvanus mostly selected favorites, but his behavior to the Order was crystal clear, only for Sawney Masbath to meddle with his personal life."

"Sam was never Sylvanus' favorite 'cause he viewed him to be a nuisance instead of a part of the fort, but in the end of any form of day, he was always huddled up in bed and constantly getting sick and ending up in the infirmary. Still, he kept himself sane with the books he read and kept on task, but seeing him banished from the fort was something that was a blessing in disguise without any of us knowing it until now."

"Your brother has endured so much, for he would soon triumph over the fear that keeps him prisoner of his own mind. From what I heard for a while, there is a group who will stop at nothing to force him to bend to their will. The group is called the Red Inquisition and they don't worship the church of their God or their savior, Jesus Christ. Their true intentions is to make things celibate to the brink of genocide like my kind when they were plucked from Yock Island on Stohess. What their leader truly wants is the resurrection of Lucifer after that battle in Kanto Village on Alecrast in which Torune Mitani forced him back in his cage for all eternity. Still, it's up to the new savior to confront the unknown, for he will emerge as a new god to us all."

Desna's point was clear as he was hoping for a brighter future ahead in the time of turmoil. As for what was about to occur next, we were all on edge to confront the unknown as it was also a time for seeing the Destiny of Worlds at hand in this time of crisis…

I returned to the gardening tower as I was seeing it full of what was planted over the years. The sight of many azuki beans and other things was a memory of mine that I recovered as I went towards the beanstalk that I planted. I saw it to be more like a tree than a simple beanstalk as I saw the pods of azuki beans hanging on the vines. I was happy to see this garden until I saw everyone with the birthday fare moving it here in which I saw the food that was made to celebrate the day I shared it with. With the sight of the main food that consisted of what was there, I joined everyone for this birthday as I was glad to see Gyatso and Sura sharing the same day as me. I didn't mind it, but I was savoring everything in which I tried some of Nathan's food that he cooked. The sight of gajami yangnyeom-twigim was a sight for me as I also saw the ojingeo-bokkeum on display in which I grabbed a plate and got some. With the fish and squid cooked to perfection, I enjoyed my food with such grandeur, but I wasn't out of the eye of scrutiny in which I was caught by Moro, who was aware of the Korean cuisine that was put there in the first place.

"Didn't you just eat a piece of cake earlier?" she asked.

"I ate some cake, but for a surprising effect of my god status, I haven't become full yet," I said.

"Dvora told me how you scarfed down the queen mother of all burgers: the Ulti-Meatum, which is two cheeseburgers with a larger one with another one in a meaty shell while it is topped with bacon and that Himalayan ketchup. You even went all-out on the other stuff while you were on that train ride on Trost. If one ate so much of that, carbs and forbidden food and all, he or she would die of a heart attack in seconds. You topped it off and haven't gotten into Jabba the Hutt status in which what you eat turns into fuel for what you got all over. Even Reiko's astonished that you ended up eating all that food and haven't gained a pound."

"He rarely eats at a buffet, Moro," said Reiko as she was getting herself some food. "Even Uncle Kazuo is surprised about how Sammy utilizes that raw power that he has."

"If Dean heard of you scarfing down some of this buffet of food and desserts just to fuel your raw power, he would flip."

"My body isn't the only thing that needs fuel, for my raw power also needs it as well," I said as I finished up my food. "Therefore, it's not only my birthday, but it's also reserved for Gyatso and Sura as well, but Minara's youngest children couldn't be here due to his work and his relatives looking after his family." I see Orinya get a plate of food as she saw me glowing with a very powerful aura in which I couldn't stop. "I can't have this day all to myself right now, for this is a day that I bring everyone together, even if they're far away."

"Um, My Lord," said Orinya. "Today is also my birthday as well… Didn't Nixerys tell you about it? If not, then I'll be sharing this birthday as well."

And so, we had our fill of a birthday that was fit for us in this gardening tower as I was grateful that we were all there as a family on this day. Staring at the azuki beans in their pods, I was in my place of comfort as I wasn't bothered by the harrowing stress of the Medical Corps right now, for they had other things to do so far. I was having a good time with friends and family as I was glad that I was celebrating my birthday with those who shared it, for I could only do it once…

Later on in the evening, I was on the beach as I saw the waves crashing near the wet sand. I was happy to have this day to celebrate as I wasn't alone. Even though I stared at the moon, I saw it to be full as I was seeing a quiet night after all that bustle. I was even full after what I ate in which my raw power processed what was there, for I couldn't get enough of the birthday celebration that I had. Just as I was about to return to my temporary home, I saw Akemi walking on the beach as she was staring at me in which she was concerned about what was about to happen next, for she wanted me to know about the future danger that was causing a headache for the people who lived on Targaryen.

"I see that you're enjoying the ocean, Sam," she said as she was seen holding a lantern.

"I was about to come back into the house," I said.

"I hate to be the bearer of the brunt of bad news, but there's been a factory that set itself on Geralt Island, which is close to Squatter Island. The local humans who live on the island there near the one with the factory aren't too thrilled to see it in which it's been churning out humans who have blond hair and blue eyes while they wear that gold armor. Recently, they showed up here in which they were given orders to kill you at the behest of their new masters. For a while, I watched your past self and Dean's save people from ghosts, witches, dick angels, demons, and other forms of monsters that they came across, but they never expected artificial humans go and kill people for no reason."

"We'll shut it down like the rest. The Executive Division has no place to cause havoc on any local people they see as hostile."

"Well, your past self acted the same way as those plastic dolls while he ran all over without a soul until it was placed back in with a side effect of hallucinations that nearly killed him in the Elder Days. I was there, Sam. I even saw your past self trying to hurl himself in front of a train while he was on a mission from the Isoldati at the time. He saw Lucifer doing his worst on him, which was such torment to him since his soul was trapped in the cage for a year and six months, which is a hundred and eighty years for one who endured Hell."

"My past self was punished enough, but he isn't perfect when he had to carry that excess baggage of sins he committed."

"Even though for the bulk of it, he never forgave himself for all the bad that has happened when he was misled by Ruby to let out Lucifer, only to stop him with such a noble sacrifice to save the world from the further ravages of the Apocalypse. He was never perfect, but he was desperate to do things right in the end, even if he had to carry the burdens of his past mistakes. The last time we spoke, I caught up to your past self after he led a group of hunters to stop the British Men of Letters from slaughtering others who worked with the Isoldati or the freelanced kind like that poor deaf woman who lost her life when a hellhound killed her. He told me that Lucifer was out with his old vessel looking for that intern who bore his son. Even though he stopped the British Men of Letters' Hunter Extermination, he was stuck with Jack Kline, who was like you in a way."

"Jack Kline from the record books in the classified department was once pursued by both angels and demons alike just to get what they wanted from him as if he was some sort of pawn in a chess game, but we're both different."

"You may not like what you wanna hear, but from the look at it, you're a target that is pursued by the Executive Division, the Red Inquisition, and even the denizens under Milverton, who had cemented his status as the King of Hell for three years. Even though you think that you're fine unprotected, there are those who will always be there to protect you, even if you don't want it. No one should be alone in dark places, for we all carry burdens."

Akemi made her point as I was most likely to be going on a mission to shut down the factory that the Executive Division had set up. Still, I had plenty of work to do as I also had to be ready for what was put in front of me, for it was never easy for me anyway…

To be continued...