An Ending is Also a New Beginning

The crimson light engulfed them, then everything turned pitch black. A moment of weightlessness followed—then, all at once, their eyes fluttered open.

The scent of damp stone and fresh morning air filled Yusuf's lungs. The sound of birds perching on rooftops echoed through narrow alleys. Sunlight bathed the cobblestone streets, casting long shadows on the familiar architecture.

Constantinople.

Yusuf's hometown.

Bastin rubbed his eyes, blinking against the sudden brightness. The place looked oddly familiar, yet distant, as if it were a half-remembered dream.

"Where… are we?" Baran asked, scanning the surroundings with uncertainty.

Yusuf, however, didn't need an answer. His gaze locked onto Erythros. For a moment, neither of them spoke, but something unspoken passed between them—a silent understanding.

Then, without a word, he ran.

"Yusuf!" Baran called out.

"Ani!" Bastin added, confused.

"Guys, follow him!" Erythros commanded.

Without hesitation, they took off after him, weaving through the bustling streets of Constantinople.

As Yusuf sprinted past, faces turned. Recognizing the boy, the townspeople called out to him—

"Yusuf, you're here this soon?" a woman asked, surprised.

"Missing your mum and dad, child?" an old lady inquired kindly.

"Yusuf! You've returned!" an elderly man exclaimed.

But Yusuf ignored them all. His feet barely touched the ground as he bolted forward, driven by something deeper than words.

And behind him, his companions followed, their footsteps echoing through the streets of the great city.

As they ran through the streets, the villagers muttered among themselves, their gazes cold and unwelcoming. Their expressions twisted with suspicion, their whispers laced with quiet disapproval.

"Who are these strangers?"

"Why are they here?"

It was as if the town itself rejected outsiders, as if newcomers were an unwelcome disturbance in their carefully preserved world.

Bastin noticed the murmurs, the way wary eyes followed them. It felt strange—as though Yusuf belonged here, but they did not. He glanced at the boy running ahead. Yusuf was famous here.

Among the crowd, a woman's eyes landed on Bastin. Her expression shifted slightly, recognition flickering across her face.

"Is that the child…? The one from the flood remains?"

But she quickly dismissed the thought, shaking her head and turning away.

Finally, Yusuf skidded to a stop in front of a grand house—larger than any other in sight. He doubled over, hands on his knees, gasping for air before shouting—

"Anne!"

With a swift motion, he violently clicked open the front gate and rushed inside.

Bastin, Baran, and Erythros stood outside, taking in the towering structure before them.

"That's a giant one," Bastin muttered.

"Turkish noble..." Baran added under his breath.

Inside the house, Yusuf's mother and father were busy with something—until they heard the gate.

They turned—eyes widening in shock.

Their son was home.

Xayne and Azuya were taken aback, but not entirely surprised—after all, they knew Yusuf couldn't stay away for long.

He ran straight to Xayne, clutching her clothes as if holding onto her would keep him from falling apart. His face pressed into the fabric, his body shook with quiet sobs.

"What happened, my child?" Xayne's voice was gentle, her hand instinctively rubbing his back.

Yusuf didn't answer, just kept crying.

"Come on, boy, get up." Azuya sighed, brushing his son's tears away before pulling him into a firm embrace.

Xayne watched, worry creasing her forehead. "How did you get here? Did Uncle bring you?" She wiped her damp hands on her dress, her voice laced with confusion.

Yusuf pulled away slightly, his grip on her tightening. His breath hitched.

"Anne… I have to tell you something."

Xayne kneeled to his height, cupping his face. "Tell me, my love. What is it?"

He swallowed hard, his lips trembling. "Uncle Saliz… he's gone."

Silence.

Then—

"What?!" Xayne and Azuya blurted out together.

Xayne let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "That can't be. It must be another one of Saliz's stupid pranks."

"Exactly!" Azuya nodded. "He's probably waiting outside, laughing at us."

Yusuf opened his mouth to protest, but before he could, a voice cut through the room.

"He's telling the truth."

Everyone turned.

Erythros stood at the window, her face expressionless.

"Who is this lady?" Azuya asked, narrowing his eyes at Erythros. He had never seen her before, and given the weight of the conversation, his suspicion was natural.

Xayne, still shaken, took a deep breath and quickly explained everything she knew about Erythros. Meanwhile, Yusuf had finally calmed down a little, though his face was still damp with tears.

Erythros sighed. "Yes, it's true. Saliz is no more."

Xayne's lips parted slightly, her body swaying as if the world had lost its balance beneath her feet. Then, she dropped to her knees. "Please... please don't say it's true."

Erythros' gaze softened. "It is true. If you don't believe me, ask your own child."

Yusuf, his voice still trembling, whispered, "Anne... it's correct."

Tears welled in Xayne's eyes. "How?"

Erythros inhaled sharply. "Remember Saliz's Syroche? I told you it was for good... but he was secretly practicing evil cultivation."

"This can't be true!" Xayne shouted, gripping her head. "A person like Saliz would never—he could never do something like that!"

"Calm down, Xayne." Azuya placed a firm hand on her shoulder, though his own face was lined with distress.

Outside, Bastin and Baran stood in silence, watching the heartbreaking scene unfold.

"Poor souls." Bastin muttered under his breath. "I feel pity for them."

Erythros nodded solemnly. "Trust me, Xayne. Think about it—your sibling Urui, your mother's death."

Xayne froze. Her breath hitched. "How do you know about Urui?" she asked, wiping her tears away with trembling fingers.

Erythros met her gaze. "Master Sage told us everything about your family... including the truth. Saliz was the one who killed them. Not an animal, like he told you."

A deafening silence followed.

Xayne's body went rigid. "My brother...?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

Azuya clenched his fists. His jaw tightened. "Where is his body?"

Erythros exhaled, her expression unreadable. "We buried him."

Azuya's eyes darkened. "Without even calling us?"

No one answered.

Xayne sat there in silence, her gaze empty, her body motionless—as if the weight of betrayal had drained every ounce of life from her.

They talked for a while longer, the weight of their emotions still heavy in the air. Finally, Erythros turned to Bastin and Baran.

"For now, we should leave Yusuf here with his family," she said. "You both should come with me and see your place."

Bastin and Baran nodded silently, accepting the situation even though their minds were still racing with everything that had just happened. Just as they were ready to leave, a large crowd gathered around them.

"Who are you people?" one man demanded.

"Don't you know? Newcomers are not allowed here!" another shouted.

"Get out of our village!"

The villagers weren't just yelling—they were armed. Swords and knives glinted in their hands, and some of them seemed to recognize Bastin, their eyes narrowing with suspicion.

Bastin and Baran instinctively stepped back, hiding slightly behind Erythros. Unlike them, she remained still, her confidence unshaken.

"Please, they are our guests." Xayne's voice rang out from behind, steady despite the sadness weighing on her.

The villagers hesitated, but one of them sneered. "We already told you—no outsiders."

Xayne was about to respond, but Erythros raised a hand, cutting her off. "No problem," she said calmly. "We were just leaving anyway."

Xayne frowned. "This soon?"

Her gaze then landed on Bastin, and she studied him carefully. "You've grown up so much... and it's only been a week. Not even a full week."

Bastin gave a faint, shy smile.

"Actually," Erythros continued, "we have something important to do. Yusuf will have to join us later, and we'll explain everything then. But for now, for the sake of humanity, we have to go."

The villagers murmured among themselves.

"Humanity?"

"Are they taking Yusuf away?"

Xayne took a deep breath and then nodded. "Fine. Farewell."

Bastin and Baran grasped Erythros' hands as she whispered the incantation.

"Psychos Teleportus."

As the spell activated, Xayne lifted a hand in farewell.

From the window, Yusuf watched them, his eyes filled with longing. He caught Bastin's gaze and waved.

"Bye, Ani!" he called out, his voice carrying through the air just before they vanished.