Nyra leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief.

Nyra: "Ohhh, Rose... what a beautiful name. So tell me—where is she now? What is she doing? And most importantly… how did you meet her? I want to know everything."

Dax chuckled, resting his chin on his palm.

Dax: "I'm curious too, hehe."

Auren's gaze drifted upward, locking on the ceiling lamp that flickered faintly. A gentle wind slipped in through the window, brushing his hair across his face. A soft, almost distant smile appeared.

Auren: "I met her on a cliff one night… She was my first-ever friend. I still remember her smile. We used to sit there together, every evening. I never asked about her home… or her background. I only cared about the present moment we shared."

Nyra clasped her hands dramatically.

Nyra: "Oooohhh, so cute!"

Dax couldn't hold back his laughter, giggling at the dreamy tone in Auren's voice.

Dax: "Wow, that's so romantic. I want that kind of feeling too—with Maira."

Auren's smile slowly faded. His tone grew heavier.

Auren: "…But I ruined it. I spoke harsh words to her… and broke the bond we had. I dismantled our friendship with my own hands."

Nyra and Dax's eyes flickered in shock.

Nyra leaned forward, voice quick, "What do you mean? Why? What happened? Tell me what you did."

Auren smirked faintly, though the pain behind it was clear.

"It's a long story. Whatever I did… I found it necessary."

Dax crossed his arms, refusing to let it go. "You must tell us. We're roommates, aren't we? No secrets, you hear?"

Auren's gaze dropped for a moment. His voice grew heavier.

"I was powerless. With no vita awakened, the people of the city looked at me like I was some curse. Their eyes, their whispers… they made sure I never forgot I was different."

There were many powerless people like me in the city.

But I was considered a curse—because I came from the legendary Ryuki family.

Even my brothers never looked at me.

Though, deep down, I knew my little brother wanted to talk.

But my father had trained them hard—to not even glance my way.

Hope first ignited when I met Master Lee Wang.

He guided me to Hollow Mountain.

But instead of finding what I was looking for… I met Rose.

From that moment, my whole life changed.

I found a new friend.

And then I met Sunny—

it was as if life itself was showing me a new phase, one where I could finally smile.

But his gaze lowered as he spoke.

"I lost my little brother. My father left me for dead, beaten."

He clenched his fists, trembling.

"But deep down, I know I can save him. I was a mage… I am a mage.

Deep down, I know I have to become stronger to save him."

Auren's voice cracked. His body shook.

Tears spilled as he buried his face into his palms.

"Rose… Sunny… my mother… and all the people facing injustice—I cannot live peacefully like this.

I want to fight.

I want to save people.

It doesn't matter how much life hurts me—I can bear it all.

But I cannot watch people dear to me suffer.

People who gave me even a little value… people like you, my friends… I don't want to see you die."

The room grew heavy with silence.

Hearing his words, Nyra and Dax both became emotional.

Dax stared straight ahead at the sofa, his jaw tight, trying to digest the pain behind Auren's confession.

Meanwhile, Nyra moved closer and wrapped her arms around him, pressing him into her warmth.

Dax sat calmly, his eyes fixed straight on Auren. His voice was steady, but the weight behind it pressed into the air.

"Now what, Auren? What will you do? You became a mage—I don't know how. But the real question is… which path will you choose? Do you really think becoming a Tideborn will help you?"

The room grew quiet. The faint crackle of the lamp in the corner flickered against the walls, shadows stretching and swaying like restless spirits.

Auren lowered his head, his tone soft yet heavy.

"No. First, I want to avenge my brother. Whoever killed him will pay."

His fingers trembled slightly as he clenched them into a fist. For a moment, his chest rose sharply, as if keeping the pain buried inside.

"And if possible…" he continued, his voice breaking into a whisper, "…I'll go to Ryuki City and beg Rose to forgive me. Maybe—just maybe—she might change her mind. I'll do it. I want everything to be okay."

He stopped, a faint bitter smile curling on his lips before fading away. His gaze drifted to the floor, the silence dragging.

"I hope they both become my friends once again."

A long pause filled the room. Finally, Auren exhaled, his words sinking into despair.

"But… it's highly unlikely now."

Meanwhile, a flying royal cart shaped like an eagle's face with golden arms cut through the winds and clouds. Inside, velvet sofas were neatly arranged, swaying slightly with the turbulence of the air.

The cart descended toward the top of Hollow Mountain, landing gracefully near the ancient stone temple, its pillars worn by centuries of storms.

On a wide, flat black stone, Lee Wang sat in deep meditation. His figure was still as a mountain, his long beard brushing his chest, eyes closed, breaths slow like the rhythm of the earth.

Velmore, Vivi, Ravi, and his wife stepped out of the cart. The mountain wind howled around them, tugging at their robes as they walked toward the saint.

Velmore moved ahead, lowering his head. His voice carried both reverence and command.

"O great saint Lee, accept greetings from Velmore."

Lee Wang opened his eyes slowly. His gaze was deep, and when he spoke, his voice was heavy like rolling thunder.

"What do you want?"

Velmore turned, pointing toward Vivi.

"She is Vivi Raman, a friend of Auren. Accept her as your new disciple."

Vivi's eyes stayed fixed on Lee Wang, drawn to the wisdom in his aged face and flowing beard.

But Lee Wang's tone remained firm.

"Every disciple is chosen by me. I don't take suggestions."

Velmore straightened his back, pride stiffening his frame.

"I respect and obey saints. But as king, it is my order—and you are a citizen."

Lee Wang's lips curled into a faint smile, his eyes closing again as he whispered:

"King? No different than dog or cat."

Behind Velmore, Ravi's hand trembled as he summoned his sword, his voice sharp with anger.

"You cannot speak with him like that!"

But Velmore raised his hand, stopping him. His words were edged with offense.

"I heard you are a saint. How can a saint say such things?"

Lee Wang slowly rose to his feet. His robes shifted with the mountain breeze as his voice echoed:

"Dog, cat, elephant—or any other animal, including human—all are creatures. All breathe, all think, all act in their own way.

So, king, queen, guard—it doesn't matter to me. I just see life, dancing within us all.

The role of king is one you chose. But life itself is beyond roles—it is free. The humbler a creature becomes, the closer it moves to the soul. And the soul… is peace and holiness itself.

King is nothing but your ego—pulling you away from the soul."

Velmore's memory flashed—

his teacher's voice rang sharp, echoing like thunder in the old stone hall.

Teacher: "Velmore, you are the son of a king. And when you become king, don't let that crown poison your heart. Remember—you are a servant of nature, nothing more. Just like the birds, the rivers, the winds… all play their roles. You are no different."

Velmore lowered his head, the weight of those words pressing on his chest. His fingers curled into fists, then loosened.

He bowed deeply before Lee Wang.

Velmore: "Thank you for reminding me of this wisdom. I was… distracted."

The air grew still. The sound of rustling leaves outside the temple broke the silence.

Vivi suddenly stepped forward, eyes trembling with hope. She bent down and touched her forehead to the ground.

Vivi: "Oh Saint, please… let me stay here. Make me your disciple. Auren is my only friend—I want to train with him, laugh with him… walk the same path. Accept me, please."

Lee Wang paused mid-step. His sandals scraped softly against the stone floor as he approached. The tension in the air thickened. Then, unexpectedly, he reached down and pinched Vivi's cheeks gently, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Lee Wang: "I accept you as my disciple."

Vivi giggled, her laughter echoing like bells through the quiet temple halls. She twirled in circles around her mother, her long sleeves fluttering like wings.

"Yay! Yay! Yay!" she cheered, unable to contain her joy.

But suddenly, she stopped. Her small feet pressed against the cool stone floor, eyes wide as if remembering something important.

"Where is Auren?" she asked, her voice soft but eager.

Lee Wang, standing with his hands folded behind his back, looked at her kindly. The warm torchlight flickered across his calm face.

"Go to Room Seven," he said gently. "He is there."

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