With Ragnarok sleeping in his body and Excalibur parading in front of him, Crona walked away from the shrine with mounting anxiety. In his hands he gripped bound copies of "The 1000 Provisions" and "Excalibur," both authored by Excalibur himself. The first novel was glorious with one provision delicately calligraphed in liquid gold on each page, the second a thick autobiography. But Crona's mind was not on the literature he carried, instead he contemplated his return to the DWMA. He could think of no one who would be pleased with Excalibur's sudden reappearance.
"FOOL!" Excalibur boomed as Crona bounced off him, the white anteater having suddenly halted. "Where was your mind? Did you not read 'The 1000 Provisions?' What of provision number five hundred and seventy-three?"
Excalibur placed his hands upon his cane as he turned to face Crona, his huge eyes staring at the boy commanding a response. Crona, who had been too preoccupied with his misery, desperately tried to think of what the provision could be. There had been no opportunity to read the provisions yet seeing as he had just received the book minutes ago.
"Uhhh…umm…d…don't run into you?"
Excalibur snapped his head to the side and closed his eyes in apparent disgust and unjustified pain as though struck by the boy's words. Slowly he turned back to the boy, tilting his head and narrowing his eyes in impatience. Excalibur raised his cane and brought it down upon the books Crona clutched, scarcely missing his fingers. Crona flinched and stared at the cane uncomprehendingly until Excalibur's intention finally worked itself into his brain. Fumbling with embarrassment and apprehension, Crona flipped through the gold inscribed pages until he reached the five hundred and seventy-third.
"Always walk three steps behind me."
Crona whispered an apology as he carefully shut the book and scurried back three steps grasping it tightly as though for protection against the deep pools of Excalibur's criticizing eyes. The Holy Sword turned a swift about-face bringing his cane behind his back.
"It would be wise to remember that. Also, turn to my three hundred and twenty-first provision."
Crona found the page, increasingly pitying himself for his poor fortunes.
"A meister should never become so absorbed by thought as to become unaware of his surroundings."
"Exactly. Now, onward to our destiny!"
Excalibur raised his cane and slashed downward creating a Spatial Rift between his shine and the DWMA.
"I would not normally bother with this, but the rain would damage my hat because you unwittingly did not think to bring an umbrella. But, I will overlook this…for now. Let us go!"
Crona lifted his foot as though to walk after Excalibur when suddenly the Holy Sword turned and pointed his cane at the boy's face.
"Do not forget. Three steps behind."
Crona hung his head and dragged his feet through the Spatial Rift after the white anteater quietly humming to himself.
Death the Kid rushed into the living room of his mansion at the sound of his weapons' screams.
"Liz! Patty!" he cried, concern and alertness laced through his voice.
"CRONA! Why would you bring that thing here?" Liz shrieked with accusing eyes darting between Crona and Excalibur.
"It's so cute!" Patty squealed as she squatted down next to the Holy Sword picking him up and holding him out from herself.
"Patty! Get away from it!"'
"But why, Kid?"
"Don't you remember? That is the Legendary Holy Sword Excalibur that you are treating like a puppy!"
"Awww he wouldn't hurt a fly, would you Excalibur?"
Patty began to rock Excalibur back and forth while she laughed and hummed. Excalibur's patience was wearing thin and he began squirming to free himself.
"Fool! Put me down! My legend began in the 12th century! That is a long time ago. Were you not raised to respect your elders?"
Patty continued laughing but placed Excalibur back on the tiled floor. Excalibur straightened his hat.
"Get me a cup of herbal tea."
"Okay, little alien! Hahaha!"
Patty skipped to the kitchen and began searching for a teakettle.
"Patty! You aren't allowed to use the stove! You know that!"
Liz ran after her sister as Excalibur walked over to the couch centered in the living room. He pondered the couch for a second and sat next to one of the arm rests.
"Ahhhh! What are you doing? Do you not appreciate the beauty of symmetry? If you are alone you must sit in the center of the couch! If there are two people they must each sit one on each end! If there are three people they must place the two with the most equal heights on the outer two seats!"
"Fool! Do you think that my seating choice was not decided upon after must deliberation? Provision number one hundred and seventy-two. Seek harmony. For years I studied the Chinese art of feng shui. Chi flows most strongly to the precise spot in which I am seated upon, thus providing the most harmony."
Kid climbed to his knees, having thrown himself to the ground in desperation. Kid tried to ignore his obsessive compulsions and to calm the repulsed look painted on his face, the one common to all who agreed upon the same word to define Excalibur. Crona continued to stare at the floor as he had done since exiting through the Spatial Rift. He sighed deeply and prepared himself for Kid's reprimand.
"Crona, what is the meaning of this? Why do you bring this abomination to my perfectly symmetrical house? What reason would you have for wanting to wield the Holy Sword when you are already bound to the Demon Sword? I will have to discuss this matter with my father."
As Kid began to crawl toward the mirror used to communicate with Lord Death, Ragnarok sprung from Crona's back. He stretched his arms and reached forward to twist Crona's nose.
"Owww, Ragnarok! I didn't even do anything!"
Ragnarok laughed spitefully and rested on top of Crona's head.
"Hey, Kid! I grabbed that sword up before Crona here even thought about doin' it. I'm Excalibur's meister, not the twerp!"
Kid turned slowly, still in crawling position, toward the sound of the Demon Sword's laughter. Lord Death had told him that Excalibur's soul wavelength was compatible with all others, but he had never considered that this also included another weapon's. The pink haired boy covered his face in despair.
"Crona, what had you done?" Kid whispered with frantic eyes.
Kid dragged his body along the floor to reach the mirror. His shaking arm reached up to press the button to signal Lord Death.
"Well, hello there Kid! Kid?"
"Dad…we…have a problem."
Kid collapsed to the floor from the stress of asymmetry as Liz and Patty returned with Excalibur's tea. Liz ran to Kid's side, but Patty, as oblivious as always, went straight to Excalibur.
"I hope you like your tea, alien-man!"
"Why thank you. Nothing beats a cup of herbal tea."
Excalibur tipped the tea cup to his lips.