"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

The mist slowly faded.

Time: 4:10 AM.

Auren stood still, taking a deep breath as his eyes caught the faint tip of the rising sun on the horizon.

He glanced down—Rose and Sunny were still sleeping peacefully.

Placing both hands on his waist, he whispered to himself:

"Auren… the reason you haven't gone to Hollow Mountain yet… is because of them."

"You never had friends your entire life. Just a lonely kid. And now that you finally have them… you're planning to leave?"

He looked up at the sky, his chest heavy.

"Hey sky… hey sun… why does it feel like this?"

"Why this… dilemma? Why does it feel like I'm lost again?"

Hoshin Maru entered the grand hall, his expression calm but firm. Every mage in the room stood at attention, the weight of battle still lingering in their eyes.

He stepped forward, his voice clear and resolute:

"Listen, mages of Ryuki — today, I am proud of you. You did what was needed."

Sia stepped forward, her expression hard, her voice steady but filled with sorrow.

"Sir Hoshin… may I give the intel?"

Hoshin nodded.

"We lost approximately 2,000 to 2,500 mages," Sia said, her gaze heavy with grief.

Hoshin closed his eyes, crossing his arms across his chest. His next words came slowly, burdened with weight:

"May their souls rest in peace. We will always be grateful. The legend of Ryuki will forever cherish those fallen."

Sia hesitated, then added with visible pain:

"Sir… in our major losses… we also lost Sir Mekamaru."

Hoshin remained still. His eyes were still closed. But now… his body didn't move at all. Like something had cracked inside.

"Mekamaru…" he whispered."Did I hear that right?"

"Yes, sir," Sia confirmed quietly.

Hoshin took a long breath. When he finally spoke, his voice was lower, more grounded.

"Sia… the troops we lost in battle — they are no less. Mekamaru was a hero… but so were they. They served us equally. And with the strength they showed… There is no difference."

The hall remained silent — no one dared to speak. The sorrow was not just for one man… but for every soul who fell in that war.

**

Sia lowered her head slightly.

"Forgive me for how I phrased it, sir."

Hoshin Maru shook his head gently.

"No need to apologize, Sia. There's nothing to be sorry for."

He took a step forward, his voice now carrying a subtle fire beneath its calm surface.

"What matters now is the road ahead. Yuzen remains a threat, and we must be ready. We cannot let their darkness take root again. The sacrifices made today… they were not in vain. They will shape a safer future."

Sia nodded, her jaw firm, her heart steadied by his words.

"Yes, sir."

Hoshin Maru turned to face the rest of the mages, lifting his voice just enough to echo through the hall.

"You may live in peace now, mages. But know this—The time will come again. Be prepared."

The room was silent for a heartbeat—Then every mage slowly nodded in unison.

A quiet vow. A shared understanding.

******

The bull arrived at Ryden's house. A mage stepped down and knocked on the door.

Inside, Lisa stood up from her prayer. Hearing the knock, she suddenly ran toward the gate, chanting, "Kaen, Kaen, Kaen!"

She flung the gate open—and froze in disbelief.

A mage was standing outside. Beside him was a bull… and on its back, Veon.

Lisa gasped, her voice trembling."Veon…?"

The mage tried to speak, calming her. "Miss… miss, he's alive. He's still breathing."

Lisa's eyes widened. "Take him inside—fast!"

The mage quickly lifted Veon onto his shoulder. The bull vanished in a flicker of light. He carried Veon into the house, heading straight for his room.

Morning was about to break.

The room's theme was r, d—decorated with paintings of hawk creatures and swirling patterns. The mage gently placed Veon on a soft waterbed.

Lisa, in panic, rushed to the orb call device. She unrolled a parchment and placed it on the orb. The orb glowed—incoming call.

Far away, a man—Doctor Oramo—was sleeping in a small hut. The orb's glow lit up the room. He blinked awake, walked over, and answered the call.

"Who is there?"

Lisa's voice came through—shaken and urgent."Doctor Oramo, please come to my house. Veon is injured."

Oramo's eyes shot open."Really? I'm coming—just wait!"

The sun had half risen. Auren stood, staring at it, deep in thought.

"Why is this decision so hard? To be alone again… to leave my friends."

He clenched his fists slightly.

"Even if I go to Mount Hollow… Rose might come. She already knows I want to go there."

Auren sat calmly beside Rose, looking at her peaceful, sleeping face… then turned his gaze to Sunny, who was also fast asleep nearby.

"What should I do…?"

His face slowly shifted—from confusion to determination.

"Whatever happens… I will go there. I've decided."

He looked at Rose once more.

"But… how do I stop her from coming with me?"

"I'm trapped in this dilemma…" Auren whispered to himself.

"I need to do something. But how?"

He looked at Rose again, his heart heavy.

"I can't hurt her feelings… but I have no choice."

He looked up at the slowly rising sun, its rays spilling gently over the cliffside.

"This is a painful choice. A very hard one… but I don't have another option."

He closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply.

"I have to go there… no matter what. Even if it means going without them."

******

Knock knock.

Lisa rushed toward the door and swung it open.

"Doctor Oramo!" she gasped. "Quick—Veon is inside!"

Without wasting a second, Doctor Oramo and Lisa hurried through the hallway.

Oramo was a hairless, middle-aged man with a round build, wearing a blue-and-white jacket. Rings of different colors shimmered on his fingers as he moved.

They entered the room.

Veon lay unconscious, his chest damaged from a powerful strike.

The red ring on Oramo's index finger began to glow.

Fssshhh— a medical box appeared in the air and opened on its own. Several tools and vials floated around it. A filled injection hovered beside a glowing bandage and cream.

Oramo worked swiftly—he applied the cream to Veon's chest, placed the bandage, and the injection automatically inserted into Veon's right arm. A drop of healing liquid then flowed into his mouth on its own.

Lisa stood silently behind, both hands held over her chest. Her face was full of sorrow.

In a trembling thought.

"Where is Kaen…? Is he okay?"