Secrets

Seeing Solis distressed over Noir's tears, Melody took his hand and brought him to Anthem and Noir.

"Hug this one, too," she told Anthem. "Now that Tygr's reincarnation is betrothed to Noir, we're the older generation for both of them, right?"

Anthem smiled. "Indeed," he said. "I won't miss this opportunity to lord over Tygr's reincarnation." He held Noir protectively and eyed Solis up and down. "I've recognised you as my owner, but don't think that you can bully our little Noir as you please!" he warned.

Solis smiled softly and thought that he really like the two sword spirits and their protective attitude towards Noir.

"I wouldn't dare to," Solis told Anthem. "And if anyone else dares to, I'll shoot them through the head."

Anthem nodded approvingly. "Good," he said.

Noir chuckled. "You two can't bully my Solis, either," he said. "I love him very much."

"Yes, we can see that," Anthem said wryly.

"Yes, yes, we'll consider him to be another child of ours, just like you," Melody said, patting Noir as if he were a small child. "Happy now, little Noir?"

Noir grinned brightly and nodded. He pulled Solis close and the two sword spirits hugged the two humans.

"Now, little Noir, aren't you going to treat your elders to a meal to celebrate your engagement?" Anthem asked after a while.

"His culinary skills have not rusted," Melody told Anthem. "In fact, they're gotten better. There was times when I was tempted to go looking for you so that we could manifest ourselves into a corporeal form just so we could eat Noir's cooking again."

Anthem laughed. "That's good to know," he said, and turned to Noir. "Run along, then, little one."

Noir nodded obediently and went off to the kitchen.

Solis was about to follow Noir, but Anthem and Melody stopped him.

"We need to talk," Anthem said.

"All right," Solis said. "I have questions, too."

Melody chuckled. "I can answer your first question without you having to ask. Anthem and I are a couple, and we can't manifest into this form without each other," she told him. "There is an activation code, which you saw Noir use earlier, but it only works if both of us are within a hundred metres of each other. That's why you've not seen me before. Anthem was not in this world." She turned to Anthem. "Where were you? How did you get here?"

Anthem sighed. "I was in the world of demi gods," he said quietly. "A well-wisher found me and sent me to Solis." He looked at Solis and asked, "There was a potion in the package as well, right?"

Solis nodded. "I was planning to show it to Noir and ask what it was for," he said.

"Don't," Anthem said immediately. "He'll be in a dilemma once again. That potion will unseal Tygr's memories."

Solis was taken aback.

Melody nodded. "Noir has already chosen you, so don't do unnecessary things," she advised. "I know he's been upset because he had to choose between you and Tygr – but it's not really something you two need to worry over."

"Indeed," Anthem said. "Tygr had actually hoped that Noir would choose to be with his reincarnation when he cast that spell. So there is no reason for you two to feel burdened in any manner whatsoever."

Solis bit his lip. "Noir misses his master very much," he murmured.

Melody sighed. "Solis – you are Tygr's reincarnation. In a way, you *are* Tygr himself," she said softly.

"Yes, Melody is right," Anthem said. "However, I'd still advise you to keep the potion safely, because there may come a time where you may need to unseal Tygr's memories – and his powers."

Solis frowned. "Will Noir be in danger if I do that? Will Tygr's consciousness take over my body?" he asked.

"Perhaps," Anthem said. "Even I can't tell you exactly what will happen."

"Let's hope you won't need to," Melody said. "Keep it as an emergency measure – a last resort. Don't use it unless you have no other way to deal with things. From what I can see, Noir loves you so much that he would rather accompany you to death than to lose you and live a life without you. Keep that in mind, and don't take any unnecessary risks."

"I understand," Solis said in a solemn voice. "I will keep this in mind and I will do everything I can to keep Noir – and myself – safe."

"Good," Anthem said approvingly. "Do also keep in mind that when if you choose to use the potion, you will not only unseal Tygr's memories and awaken your demi god powers, but you will also draw the attention of other demi gods," he warned. "As of now, the demi gods don't know where you are and can't trace you."

"Lev knows," Melody reminded Anthem.

"Lev is harmless," Anthem said dismissively. "But not all demi gods are, and there are plenty of demi gods who harbour a grudge against Noir because Tygr cherished him so highly. Once your demi god powers are awakened, they will turn up and try their best to cajole you to return to the land of the demi gods and abandon Noir."

"I'll never abandon Noir!" Solis said hotly.

"We know, dearie," Melody said, patting Solis's arm as if she was soothing a particularly bad tempered child. "We know you won't abandon Noir – and that's where the danger is. Some of these demi gods will threaten Noir and even try to take his life."

Solis's eyes burned. "If anyone dares to harm a hair on my Noir's head, I'll send them straight to hell!" he said dangerously.

"Excellent," Anthem said. "Tygr had the same attitude, and he was extremely powerful, so the other demi gods were too afraid to approach Noir directly – and indirect attempts were almost always seen through by Tygr and dealt with before they could touch Noir. Noir still doesn't know, and we'd prefer to keep it that way for now, all right?"

Solis nodded silently.