The Promise

When Ashe heard Finn's words, her expression darkened. She pressed the blade of her sword even closer to his neck. This was no ordinary weapon—it was the powerful sword Sierra had entrusted to her. It wasn't quite a Divine Artifact, but it was leagues above any mundane armament. As Ashe grew stronger, so did this blade, a natural trait—after all, it was once Sierra's own weapon, back when her physical body was whole.

"Hmph! Who said I was happy to see you?!" she snapped, her voice trembling with rage. "You fooled all of us and made us look like utter fools!"

Though her tone was laced with frustration and anger, Finn noticed the truth her eyes couldn't hide. They were damp, shimmering with the threat of tears that might spill at any moment.

A wide smile spread across Finn's lips as he released the full force of his 9th Level Profound Rank aura. With a single sweep of his hand, he brushed aside her sword and anchored her where she stood, unable to move a muscle.

He stepped toward her slowly. Ashe felt her pulse quicken, her breathing turning ragged. She fixed her gaze sharply on him, her voice unsteady. "What are you doing? Why can't I—?!"

"I'm happy to see you again, too…"

Before she could finish, he pulled her into a tight embrace. His voice was a low whisper against her ear. Ashe's eyes flew wide open, her lips parting in shock. She bit her lower lip as tears finally spilled down her cheeks.

She didn't even know why she broke down the moment he closed his arms around her. All she knew was that in his hold, she felt safe again—far away from all the dangers of the world.

She couldn't make sense of everything she felt. But one thing was clear: this wasn't the same aching sorrow that had consumed her moments before, when she was only recalling the times she'd spent with Finn.

He held her for long minutes until her sobbing at last began to subside. But then, as clarity returned, she remembered something so mortifying that her entire face turned bright crimson.

"You shameless bastard!" she shouted, her voice shrill with embarrassment. "You're using your strength to take advantage of me! The moment I get free, I swear I'll cut you into pieces!"

Finn blinked and immediately let her go, rubbing the back of his neck with an awkward grin. "Can you please forget about that incident already? It was just a misunderstanding…"

Ashe glared daggers at him, her cheeks still red. She tried to move, but the oppressive force he emanated still pinned her in place. No matter how she struggled, she couldn't shake it off.

"If you'd just let me gouge out your eyes, maybe I could finally forget!" she hissed.

That filthy memory—what happened by the lake—had seared itself into her mind. No matter how she wished, it would never be erased.

After several tense minutes, Ashe forced herself to take a slow breath, steadying her voice. "How did you come back? Sierra told me you died… that you were killed by the devils. Were you lying to her? Did you ask her to play along so we'd all be tricked?"

Sierra herself had said Finn was dead after he shielded Ashe's body from harm.

Finn stiffened, staring back at her in stunned silence. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His thoughts churned.

'Sierra told her I was dead? But…why? What reason could she have…?'

He looked at Ashe gravely and withdrew the aura binding her. Then he sat down against the wall, resting his head back.

"So…Sierra said all of that…" he murmured, his voice pensive and low. "She wouldn't let me see you… She never told me when she sent you back to this world. Why would she do that…?"

Ashe heard the confusion in his voice, and something clicked in her mind too.

"Are you saying…Sierra lied to me?" she asked, her voice tight. "But…for what?"

Finn met her eyes and spoke softly. "I don't know. She trained me in a place I couldn't leave for almost three months. Maybe…maybe if she'd told you I was alive… No." He clenched his jaw. "This is my fault. I should've realized that my choice would lead to this. I was too blind to see it…"

He muttered to himself, the guilt in his voice unmistakable. Yes… Once again, he was blaming himself for another choice he'd made—choosing to prioritize Xuan. But if he hadn't, he would never have met Poll, and that starving village might have perished.

Maybe this was just another test. He couldn't save everyone. Maybe this was fate's way of reminding him how weak he still was.

"Anyway…how is your clan?" Ashe asked at last, her voice hesitant.

She could see the sadness cloud Finn's gaze. She knew well that the Azure Wood Family was in dire straits, but she had no words that could ease his pain.

"Many died… when I reached Aurora Town," Finn said quietly. "If I'd been even a few minutes later, the entire kingdom would already be hearing that my clan had been wiped out."

The sorrow didn't leave his eyes. He could still hear the wailing of those who'd lost everything. He could still see the body of Creed—his foster father—who had given his life fighting the Nine Ice Family. Even wielding a Low-tier Epic Armament had almost only hastened his demise.

Finn looked down at his hands and curled them into fists. His nails dug into his palms so hard that blood welled up, dripping onto the floor.

Ashe watched in silence, then let out a slow sigh. She moved to sit beside him, speaking gently. "I'm…sorry, for what happened to your clan."

He turned his gaze fully on her, silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

For a time, neither of them spoke. Then Finn rose to his feet, dusting off his trousers. He extended a hand to her and smiled faintly. "Miss Ashe…I'd like to see the others. I want to thank them properly for helping my family in secret."

Ashe froze, looking at his outstretched hand. Her voice was low when she asked, "…You know?"

He nodded. "I suspected it before, but Sect Master Noah confirmed it. No one but the six of you would have dared to help my clan."

She fell silent for a heartbeat, then slowly took his hand and let him help her stand. Once she was up, she quickly pulled her hand back, pretending nothing had happened.

Finn looked away, his tone casual as he added, "By the way, Lady Ashe…I'm no longer a member of the Cloud Soaring Sect. I've severed my ties."

Ashe's eyes widened in shock. "W-What?! Why? Because they didn't protect your clan? But Finn—my father and Elder Marcus had reasons—please, don't hate them! The Crown Prince threatened my father. He said he'd harm Princess Diana if the sect intervened. She's the only family my father has left—he couldn't risk it. He was trapped. So please…don't blame them…"

Finn turned back to her, startled. Noah and Marcus hadn't told him any of this. Hearing it from Ashe left him momentarily speechless.

"…The Crown Prince again," he said at last, his voice tight with anger. The Crown Prince—he was at the root of so much of this war. He had turned a blind eye to the Nine Ice Family's atrocities, all to feed his greed. Someday, Finn swore he would make him answer for it.

He exhaled and forced a small smile. "Don't worry, Miss Ashe. I don't hate Sect Master Noah or the sect's Elders. But this was something I had to do—for my clan, and for the promise I made. I will make them pay, all of them, for what they've done."

With that, Finn turned and walked from the dim room. Ashe stood there, her mind spinning. Then, a moment later, she followed.

Elsewhere, the other members of the Soaring Seven were confined in separate rooms. When they saw Finn, each of them stared in shock—but it quickly gave way to bright smiles and heartfelt greetings.

They couldn't believe their eyes. But the joy of seeing him alive was enough to push away all other questions.

Each of them wore a smile as they spoke, the bond between them whole again. The group that had carved their name into the Cloud Soaring Sect's history was together once more.

They were the only team in all of the sect's annals—and the entire Sacred Dragon Kingdom—to ever enter the Mystic Treasure Realm and return alive, every member intact. And they were all Profound Rank Adventurers, despite their youth.

As Sierra had instructed, neither Ashe nor Finn spoke a word about the Fire Phoenix Spirit's existence. That secret, they had both sworn to protect, for it was too dangerous to reveal.

The others were saddened when they learned Finn had truly left the sect. They wanted to ask why—but deep down, they knew nothing they said could change his decision.

Even Noah and Marcus had failed to make him stay.

"Lore," Finn said with a smile, "I thought you were going to use those Advance Scarlet Pills to gather strength against Azur. Why did you end up selling half of them for ten Profound Nurturing Pills instead?"

Lore scratched the back of his head, glancing awkwardly aside. "We couldn't convince our clans to help. So I decided to split the pills among the five of us instead—so we could help the Azure Wood Family. You saved us all, Finn. We owe you our lives. If we couldn't repay you in some small way, we wouldn't be worthy to call you our friend."

Finn could hear the sincerity in his voice. He looked around at the six of them, smiling softly. "Thank you…all of you. I'll never forget this favor. When I return…when I've avenged my family…I swear I'll repay you."

But as the six heard his words, their joy turned to dread and worry.

'He's planning to go after the Nine Ice Family…?'

"Finn—this is too dangerous!" Leo burst out. "From what I've heard, it's not just the Nine Ice Family you'll be facing. The Crown Prince is involved. Even Sect Mistress Sheeha is part of this. Finn—he's the Crown Prince! The future king!"

"I don't care if he's already sitting on the throne," Finn said, his voice low and cold. "My clan never wronged them. But they committed unforgivable slaughter. I'll claim the justice that's owed."

He turned his back on them and began walking for the Disciplinary Hall's exit. He'd barely taken three steps when Ashe's voice rang out behind him.

"Then I'm coming with you!" she shouted.

Finn stopped. He turned slowly, meeting her gaze with a grave expression. He exhaled and shook his head. "No. You're only a 4th Level Profound Rank. You'll only be in danger. And this war…this war is between my clan and the Nine Ice Family alone."

She fell silent, her eyes locked on his. After a long moment, she drew a deep breath. "…Then promise me you'll live."

Finn hesitated. But then, slowly, he smiled at her. Like her, ever since she'd risked her life to shield him, a feeling had begun to grow in his heart—something he'd never known before.

"…I promise."