1047 B.N. – May 25
In the Old Mansion
Knuckle stepped forward, his robe fluttering softly, a faint glow tracing his childlike silhouette. The heavy, expectant silence was broken only by the distant chirp of a bird flying away.
"Allow me to show you the power of the Sun Flames," the boy announced with a steady voice, still tinged with innocence. "This isn't ordinary fire… it's activation."
Giotto raised an eyebrow. He understood what that meant, though others didn't, so he explained:
"First of all, guys, activation through the Dying Will Sun Flame is the ability to stimulate the body and heal it."
Knuckle nodded.
"Exactly," he whispered. He took a breath and gathered a small flame in his hand. Its core glowed a pure white, surrounded by yellow layers that sparkled with bright specks, like tiny stars dancing in his palm. The temperature rose just slightly, but the warmth it radiated felt comforting rather than harmful.
"The Sun Flames don't deal damage because of their healing nature," he continued. "They stimulate blood flow and accelerate cell regeneration. They strengthen muscles, joints… but using them constantly in battle can be lethal if not controlled. Basically, they're support flames."
Takeshi stepped forward, cautiously:
"Could you… use a little to heal me, Knuckle-san? Sana said I've got some old injuries in my right shoulder..."
Knuckle nodded without hesitation. He placed his hand on Takeshi's shoulder, letting the flame envelop the area. A soft light spread out, and the region lit up with white sparkles moving like a river of energy. Takeshi closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, the discomfort that had plagued him for so long was gone—the pain had vanished.
"Wow! Thanks!" he exclaimed, surprised.
"This is activation," Knuckle explained. "Sana… maybe you can see how it works in more complicated cases."
Sana stepped closer, a look of amazement on her face as she watched the glow in his hands.
"It's incredible… you have a gift, Knuckle. But I understand the danger… you can't sustain it for long."
Knuckle nodded, lowering his gaze.
"I can't use more than 20%. I can barely hold it longer without exhausting myself."
"Looks like we won't need you as a healer anymore, Sana. Now you can fully focus on the bank," Takeshi said with a mocking grin.
He said it because he'd rather train than work in the bank with all those scrolls. Now that Knuckle was around, Sana's responsibilities in the Vongola Bank and Treasury would increase… and his would decrease.
Sana puffed her cheeks in annoyance. Who enjoys having the most stressful job in the organization?
G rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Expand the flame a bit… you'll see your body's real limit."
Knuckle obeyed. The flame grew, producing a more intense warmth. The gentle breeze stopped, and the sun seemed to reflect that heat. However, his legs began to tremble, and the flame suddenly shrank.
"No… that's enough," he said, breathing deeply.
He stood up, cheeks flushed.
"I could barely handle it."
Giotto stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did well," he encouraged him.
"G, you knew Knuckle couldn't do it… you only asked to mess with him."
G shrugged and said nothing.
Knuckle smiled at Giotto, relieved and proud, but shot G a mildly annoyed glance.
---
Back in the Main Hall
Knuckle walked beside Giotto.
"Are you okay?" Giotto asked the boy.
"Yeah… it's just… different being 'small' again. The flames feel heavier."
"You'll get used to it with time."
They sat at the table where scrolls and maps lay.
"We need to plan your role in the organization, Knuckle," Giotto said. "Your presence will change things. We can use activation to heal recruits and improve their performance—not just medically, but also in combat training. You'll teach some of them boxing… that doesn't exist in this world yet. But don't expose yourself too much to outsiders."
Knuckle nodded with determination:
"I'll train to become like I was before… and I'll train the recruits. I'll also help in combat… within my limits."
Giotto smiled. He knew Knuckle didn't like hurting people.
"That's the spirit. Welcome to the new team, Knuckle."
Daiki approached curiously:
"So can I ask you to heal me if I get hurt?" he asked shyly.
Knuckle looked at him with a brotherly expression:
"Yes. As long as the injuries aren't too serious, I can heal them completely…"
The afternoon went on with Haru training under Ugetsu's supervision. Haru practiced thrusts in the gravel, and after each attempt, Knuckle applied a Sun pulse to his abdominal muscles to speed up recovery. Sana, with a small kit of bandages and herbs, helped while observing the accelerated healing rate. She truly loved taking care of others; she would always do her part as a traditional healer.
Giotto supervised from an interior balcony:
"This is how the world changes," he murmured. "A flame that heals, that motivates… but that same flame can strike when it's time to protect the family."
---
That Night
The group gathered around the fire in the courtyard. Knuckle, tired from healing so many subordinates and training, yet satisfied with his usefulness, sat next to Giotto.
"Do the Sun Flames only heal?" Haru asked seriously. "I've seen the boss use Sky Flames in battle… but yours only seem good for medical stuff…"
Giotto answered:
"Sun Flames don't just heal, Sana. Let me explain: they have a white core, yellow layers, and specks like stars," he took a breath, searching for the right comparison. "They act like an inner beacon: they illuminate, restore, activate. But when used in combat, they can strengthen physical power."
"So you should be way stronger then?" Sana inquired.
Knuckle looked into the fire:
"Yeah… with training, yes. But an eight-year-old can't pull the sun alone. I need… to grow."
Everyone nodded.
G sipped some tea and confirmed:
"And you will, brat. But until you do… I'm here."
Knuckle and G exchanged a spark-filled look.
---
Later That Night
The night grew quiet in the mansion. Giotto stayed a while alone with Knuckle under the moonlight.
"Thank you, Knuckle," he said sincerely. "You've brought warmth back to this family again."
Knuckle smiled and wrapped his right arm around Giotto's neck with a happy grin:
"That's what Guardians do, Primo. Fulfill our role… for the Sky."
Giotto closed his eyes, feeling a different kind of warmth this time—one of future and trust. In the silence, only the echo of a healing flame remained… and the glow of the moon guarding their promises.
---
At the Old Mansion
Knuckle stepped forward, his tunic fluttering gently as a faint glow traced the silhouette of his small frame. The heavy, expectant silence was broken only by the distant chirping of a bird flying away.
"Allow me to show you the power of the Sun Flames," announced the boy with a firm voice, still laced with innocence. "It's not ordinary fire... it's activation."
Giotto raised an eyebrow. He knew what that meant, though the others didn't, so he explained:
"First of all, guys, activating the Dying Will Sun Flame means enhancing the body and promoting healing."
Knuckle nodded.
"Exactly," he whispered. He took a deep breath and gathered a small flame in his hand. Its core shone a pure white, surrounded by layers of yellow that flickered with glowing sparks, as if tiny stars danced in his palm. The temperature rose slightly, but the warmth it emitted was comforting, not harmful.
"Sun Flames don't deal damage due to their healing properties," he continued. "They stimulate blood flow and accelerate cellular regeneration. They strengthen muscles, joints… but using them constantly in battle can be fatal if not controlled. Basically, they're a support flame."
Takeshi stepped forward, cautiously.
"Can you… use a bit to heal me, Knuckle-san? Sana said I have some old injuries in my right shoulder…"
Knuckle nodded without hesitation. He placed his hand on Takeshi's shoulder, letting the flame wrap around the area. A soft light spread out, illuminating the spot with white flashes flowing like a stream of energy. Takeshi closed his eyes—and when he opened them again, the pain that had plagued him for so long was gone.
"Wow! Thanks!" he exclaimed in awe.
"This is activation," Knuckle explained. "Sana… maybe you can observe how it works in more complex cases."
Sana stepped closer with a look of amazement, watching the glow in his hands.
"It's incredible… you have a gift, Knuckle. But I understand the risk—you can't maintain it for long."
Knuckle nodded, lowering his gaze.
"I can't use more than 20%. I can barely hold it any longer without getting exhausted."
"We won't be needing you as our healer anymore, Sana. Now you can focus entirely on the bank," Takeshi teased with a smirk.
He said it jokingly because he preferred training over working in the bank, buried under piles of scrolls. Now that Knuckle was around, Sana's responsibilities at the bank and the Vongola Mint would increase... and his would shrink.
Sana puffed her cheeks in annoyance, clearly unhappy. Who likes having the most stressful job in the organization?
G, resting a hand on his chin, commented thoughtfully:
"Expand the flame a bit... you'll see your body's real limit."
Knuckle obeyed. The flame grew and radiated a more intense warmth. The light breeze faded, and the sun seemed to reflect that heat. But his legs began to tremble, and the flame abruptly shrank.
"No… that's enough," he said, taking a deep breath.
He stood up, his face flushed.
"I almost couldn't hold it."
Giotto stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"You did well," he encouraged him.
"G, you knew Knuckle wouldn't be able to handle it… you only asked that to mess with him."
G simply shrugged and didn't respond.
Knuckle smiled at Giotto, both relieved and proud—but shot G a slightly irritated look.
Back in the main hall, Knuckle walked alongside Giotto.
"Are you alright?" Giotto asked the boy.
"Yes… it's just… strange to be 'small' again. The flames feel heavier."
"You'll get used to it with time."
They sat in front of a table where scrolls and maps lay scattered.
"We need to plan your role in the organization, Knuckle," said Giotto. "Your presence will change things. We can use activation to heal the recruits and improve their performance—not only medically, but also in combat training. You'll teach some of them to box… that doesn't exist in this world. But don't overexpose yourself to outsiders."
Knuckle nodded with resolve.
"I'll train to become like I once was… and I'll train the recruits. But I'll also help in combat… within my limits."
Giotto smiled. He knew Knuckle disliked hurting others.
"That's the spirit. Welcome to this new team, Knuckle."
Daiki approached, curious.
"So… can I ask you to heal me when I get hurt?" he asked shyly.
Knuckle looked at him with a brotherly expression.
"Yes, of course. As long as the injuries aren't too serious, I can heal them completely..."
The afternoon went on with Haru's training under Ugetsu's supervision. Haru practiced lunges on the sandy ground, and after each attempt, Knuckle applied a pulse of Sun Flame to his abdominal muscles to speed up recovery. Sana, with a small kit of bandages and herbs, assisted while observing the accelerated healing rate. She genuinely loved caring for others; she would always play her part as a traditional healer.
Giotto watched from an interior balcony.
"This is how the world changes," he murmured. "A flame that heals, that inspires… but that same flame can strike when the family must be protected."
As night fell, the group gathered by the fire in the courtyard. Knuckle, tired from healing so many subordinates and training, yet satisfied with his usefulness, sat next to Giotto.
"Is the Sun Flame only good for healing?" Haru asked seriously. "I've seen the boss use the Sky Flames in battle… but yours only seem to be for medical stuff..."
Giotto responded.
"Sun Flames aren't just for healing, Sana. Let me explain. They have a white core, yellow layers, and dots that look like stars," he took a deep breath, finding the right example. "They work like an internal beacon: they illuminate, restore, activate. But when used in battle, they have properties that enhance hand-to-hand combat."
"So… shouldn't you be way stronger?" Sana inquired.
Knuckle stared at the fire.
"Yes… with training, yes. But an eight-year-old can't pull the sun by himself. I need… to grow."
Everyone nodded.
G took a sip of tea and added with conviction:
"And you will, kid. But while you grow… I'm here."
Knuckle and G exchanged glances that ended with a faint spark between them.
The night moved peacefully within the mansion.Giotto stayed a while alone with Knuckle, under the moonlight.
"Thank you, Knuckle," he said sincerely. "You've brought warmth back to this family once again."
Knuckle smiled, and with a joyful grin, he let his right arm rest around Giotto's shoulders.
"That's what Guardians do, Primo. Fulfill our role… under Heaven."
Knuckle closed his eyes, feeling a different kind of warmth this time—one of future and trust. In the silence, only the echo of a healing flame remained… and the moonlight that stood watch over their promises.
…
[Flashback]Italy, 19th century.A starry night hung over a village in ruins. Smoke from a recent battle still drifted in the air. At the center, Giotto—the Vongola Primo—knelt with his tattered cloak, surrounded by unconscious enemies.
Knuckle was gasping a few meters away. His right arm bled from a deep cut, but he didn't notice. A white, warm Sun Flame still burned in his fist, more like a spiritual beacon than a combat technique.
"You shouldn't have come alone, Giotto…" Knuckle murmured as he approached. "You said it was just a peaceful meeting…"
Giotto looked up, smiling faintly."It was… until they arrived. They were looking for the children. Thought the village was hiding weapons."
Knuckle clenched his teeth. The children were safe—thanks to him. But the bodies lying around weren't merely unconscious. Some would never rise again.
"I don't like this…" Knuckle said, staring at his own fists, trembling with rage. "I promised I wouldn't be an executioner on any mission, Primo. I sought a life… of forgiveness."
"And you still believe in that," Giotto replied calmly. "Your flames don't kill, Knuckle. They offer a second chance. You fight for faith… not for destruction."
Knuckle dropped to his knees in front of him. Tears burned in his eyes, fiercer than the pain in his arm.
"Then why…? Why did I have to do it again? Why was I forced to strike until they didn't get back up?"
Giotto extended a hand and rested it on his Sun Guardian's shoulder.
"Because sometimes, to protect the light… we have to extinguish the darkness, even if we don't want to. You didn't kill out of hatred. You did it for justice—and something noble."
"And they'll know it, when they wake from this world. God will know it, too."
Knuckle took a deep breath. He closed his eyes. And for a moment, between blood, smoke, and silence, the Sun Flame rose purer than ever. His wound began to close. His tears stopped.
"I'm going to train harder. To grow… not in strength, but in will. So you never have to be stained because of us again, Primo. And I promise no more lives will be lost."
Giotto smiled—that smile he reserved only for his Guardians.
"And I will keep believing in you, Knuckle. Until the end. Because as long as you keep believing, no one will ever extinguish this flame."