Moving through the back-alley Cirrus would go to where Nox had said the Astraea Familia where at and to hurry.

Arriving on the scene  following the sounds of people he found some of those angry people throwing stones at them and Alise stepping up to shield her Familia.

“I’m sorry!!” She shouted with a face full of regret and pain.

The mob stopped to hear what she had to say.

“If only we were stronger…we could’ve protected someone you care!” Alise gave them a bow of her head, something she if ever rarely done. “We’re really sorry!”

“Alise…” said Ryuu looking on.

“Your words aren’t helping!!” shouted a grieving mother. “Our children would’ve been alive if it wasn’t for you guys!”

She ran up to Alise and she was about to punch her.

Grab!

“Who are you-!!” she looked to see it was Cirrus.

“C-Cirrus…” said Alise.

“Enough.” He let go of the woman’s hand.

“Kirin…”

“Blood of the Empress….”

“The Bloody Demon…”

“The Red Tower…”

Many of the people started to get scared and murmur amongst themselves as they slowly distance themselves from him. It was as Cirrus has expected and feared.

“W-w-why couldn’t you save my child!!!” shouted the mother. “She was still young!!! I saw how you fought!! You could have killed them all and saved-”

“Why didn’t you?” he said flatly.

“Huh?”

“You have every right to be angry at us and even me but know that we are only 12 people if you didn’t know. How could we possibly save your child when everyone else was screaming the same thing? You can vent out your anger on me and I won’t fight back that I promise you on my goddess’s name, but I want you all to know…”

The mob stayed silent as Cirrus’s stern emerald eyes looked at each and everyone of them.

“You could have saved them yourselves.”

“W-what!?!?” they screamed in anger and disbelief. “How!!! We don’t have a blessing like you!!!”

“Your own bodies.”

“!!” they froze.

“You could have shielded them with your own bodies and saved them, just looking at you all it seems to me you simply ran.”

“W-what are we supposed to do! We can’t fight back!!” shouted one of them.

“Oh?” Cirrus then kicked up a broken sword lying around. “What’s this then?”

“What could we do with a broken sword!!”

“Cut, stab and kill.” He then tosses it to the mob and one of them grabs it. “You could have used anything as a weapon to at least hold them back long enough for someone to save you.”

“!?!?”

“Oh? did I cut a nerve? Good instead of getting angry at us you should be helping; I know every one of you lost someone important but there are still others who can be saved. Husbands, wives, daughters, sons!! They all need saving! And if you still worried about not having a status then go get one!!”

“!?” They think about that.

“We are in desperate need of more people! And I’m sure none of you want to let this city crumple from those ones that caused this chaos do we!!”

“No…”

“What the fuck was that!? Say it again!!”

“No!”

“Fucking louder!!”

“No!!!”

“Louder!!! Dammit!!!”

“No!!!!!!”

“That’s what I want to fucking hear!! So help your fellow grieving neighbor and help! Every bit of it counts!! Join a Familia!! Join the help!! And if you still feel fear let it make you bold!! Do not give up! Do not let other’s experience your pain! Make sure this will be the last time this ever happens!!”

“URAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The crowd left in a roar when Ganesha showed up in tears.

“I have heard your words!! Come!! I shall give you my blessing my people!! No! my children!!!”

Several people started to join in and became his children, no longer will they run in fear, no they will face it so no more could feel their pain.

 

Walking back to the Familia, Cirrus looks at Ryuu. She couldn’t quiet meet his eye as well as the others.

“Go home Ryuu.”

“W-what!? There are still-“ she met his eyes to find them as stern as they ever could.

“Go home. All of you go. You have been working for too long, anymore and you will break, and unlike a broken sword a person who breaks are a danger to everyone.”

“Your one to talk.” Said Alise.

“A few cracks here and there. Unlike you I know how to heal those cracks, do you?”

“…Alright. Fair point.” She said accepting his order with surprisingly no resistance. “I’m sure you’re going to take over from here?”

“Hm, I have rested enough, tell Astraea that I’m doing well and any other people you come across, I don’t want morale to drop.”

“Hm.” Alise nodded.

Alise walked away along with some other but Ryuu.

“Cirrus…did we lose?” Ryuu said looking at him seeking something.

“What the fuck are you on about? This is a war. The only time you lose in a war is if you surrender or die. Victory is not measure by losses but by gains and they gained shit, from what I can see we both have breath in our lungs. So rest up and make sure they get nothing.”

He could see her mood slightly brighten.

“Do well, Cirrus.”

She nods and leaves.

As she leaves only one last person from the Familia remained. Kaguya comes up to him.

“How are you really doing?”

“I’m fine, but my mind still needs more to fully recover.”

“Good, the last thing we need is you and Ai going on another rampage and also-“ she grabbed his collar and brought him down him close. “You better keep you end of the promise, got it.” She said it in such intimidating tone Cirrus had to take it as serious as he could.

“It’s already seared into my mind Kaguya. I’ll hold it up.”

“That’s good to know. I assume Ai has been taking care of you?”

“Yes, she helped a get me out alive after I um…lost myself.”

“So long as when your lose yourself point that outburst on the enemy then I will gladly help Ai bring you back to your senses.”

“You just wanna hit me.”

“A little." She smirked at him.

“Hmm…make sure you talk with Ryuu, her mental state is nearing its breaking point, if I didn’t step in I’m sure she would have broken. The look in her eyes and face said it all.”

“I tried before but it seemed to fall on deaf ears. You know how thick headed that elf is."

“Try again, I’m sure this time she will listen. There’s no better time to realize your own faults when their breaking you.”

“I’ll try. Don’t work yourself too hard. When the fight begins again we need you to curb stomp them.”

Cirrus nods and Kaguya takes her leave returning to her Familia.

Looking at the destruction Cirrus mutters to himself.

“…It’s a tragedy peace must be bought with blood…I don’t think I will have time to work on the branch…but you Ardi…tch you broke-no…I will honor my end of the promise.”

He then gets to work helping the city all the while making his way to wherever he is needed.