#execommunity

Kyofu stood.

"Alright. I wish for Gekido to have a new face that will be blast-resistant.

Like, you know, no matter how hard he bursts with his flames, it'll stay intact."

For a moment, the castle was dead silent.

All the Guardians looked at Kyofu in surprise.

No one dared to speak...

Then Kofuku broke the silence with a theatrical gasp:

"Did you hear that...? THAT WAS A GOOD WISH! NOT THE EVIL ONE!!!"

Disbelief and disgust crossed Yokubo's face.

Gekido gripped his cane tighter, eyes locked on Kyofu.

He whispered, barely above a breath:

"...What?"

Lord X’s smile twisted, his eyes narrowing.

"Hmm. How... selfless," he said, raising an eyebrow. "Are you sure you don't want anything for yourself, Kyofu?"

Kyofu stretched lazily, as if he didn't care.

"Nah, boss. I'm good, thanks."

Lord X watched him for a few more seconds, tapping a finger against the armrest of his throne in thought.

"Very well."

He turned to the puzzled Gekido and lifted a hand. Then he twisted it in the air and said, almost with care:

"It will hurt a little."

Gekido felt the power immediately, unable to protest.

It was agony.

He fell to his knees and screamed as the new face took shape, blood spilling as it formed.

Yokubo smiled darkly at the struggle and the pained shouts.

Kyofu couldn't look away.

He stood motionless, not blinking.

Even Kofuku felt uneasy for a moment, fidgeting with his paintbrushes.

It was unusual to see something like that happen to one of them.

When it stopped, Gekido was breathing heavily and coughing up drops of blood.

A mirror appeared before him, and he stared into his own reflection.

The new face was fully formed:

Eyebrows, a muzzle, sharp teeth, and a black hedgehog nose.

He touched it carefully with shaking fingers—

It looked exactly as it had before.

"Th-thank you, sir..." Gekido said, his voice strained with pain.

Lord X tilted his head.

"Thank Kyofu, not me. I hope you enjoy his generous gift."

Then he addressed the rest of the Guardians:

"Everyone may return to your domains. The mission is complete."

Lord X teleported away to attend to other matters.

The Guardians, too, began to leave the castle.

Kofuku cheerfully hopped over to Yokubo.

"Naaawww, don't worry! Next time it'll be your turn to get your face fixed!"

Yokubo snorted in annoyance.

"I don't need any 'fixing', clown.

I am already the standard of excellence."

"Suuuuree you aree~," the blue jester teased.

He watched Kyofu and Gekido.

"Man, what is it with those guys?"

Yokubo also glanced at them.

"It doesn't matter. I don't care."

Meanwhile, Kyofu stepped closer to Gekido and offered him the red hat that had fallen off when Lord X used his power.

"Thought you'd like it, though."

Gekido snatched it and placed it on his head.

He neither answered nor looked at him.

His face showed no sign of gratitude.

Kyofu frowned for a second, then returned to his usual posture, holding the sides of his coat.

Gekido dusted himself off with his usual stern elegance and walked past Kyofu without a word.