Evening ti at Scholar Plateau.
The trains had arrived, humming softly as the golden light of dusk bathed the sky.Okabaru, Sunny, Rose, Toji, Sakura, and Auren sat together inside the train cabin. Scarlet and Violet stood outside, waving goodbye to the kids.
anwhile, Ponda was crying sowhere near the station, missing Cyber badly.
The train whistled.It began its journey through the glowing evening clouds. The sky shimred in shades of orange, pink, and lilac.
Inside the train—
Auren and Rose were sitting beside each other.Sunny, Okabaru, and Sakura sat just across from them, quietly watching the scenery.
Auren looked outside. "Rose… this was our first real adventure. It taught a lot."
Rose smiled. "Yes, Auren. We beca best friends through it. I loved this journey. It felt like we were part of so great mission."
They both laughed gently.
Then, Rose spoke softly, "Auren… can we hold hands?"
Auren looked into her eyes and nodded slowly. "Yes."
She reached out with her left hand. He gave his right.Their fingers intertwined—simple, warm, sincere.
Across the row, Okabaru watched them, smiling softly.In his mind, he thought—That sad kid… he's finally getting a new life.Sunny smiled too, resting his head back.
Inside Auren's heart—This touch… it feels like sothing. Sothing I don't want to lose.
Rose whispered, "Auren, I love this mont."
After a pause, she asked, "Will you co to the cliff tomorrow?"
Auren nodded. "Yes. And you?"
Rose smiled. "I'll co too."
From the side, Sunny leaned forward. "Can I co too??"
Auren looked at him and said, "Yes. You can co."
Rose tried whispering in Auren's ear, softly protesting, but he didn't hear.
Auren turned. "What happened, Rose?" This content belongs to novel{f}ire
She sighed. "You're a fool."
Auren blinked. "Why?"
Rose muttered sadly, "Why did you say yes to him… without asking ?"
Auren was confused for a second, then realized.Oh no… why did I say yes to him? I'll lose my mont…
A few minutes passed.
Auren looked at Okabaru. "Mister Okabaru, can I ask sothing?"
Okabaru nodded.
"How do you know so much about ? And Hollow Mountain?"
Okabaru smiled gently. "See, Auren… the only thing I can tell you is—soone saw sothing in you."
He looked out the window.
"That old man… he's my Sensei. His na is Master Lee Wang, a respected man in Baku City."
Auren's eyes widened. "Do you know why he called to Hollow Mountain?"
Okabaru shook his head. "Once you reach there… you'll understand."
Toji ca from the back, grinning widely."Hello, hello guys! I have a al for you!"
Everyone turned around.
Toji floated in proudly, carrying a floating pan in mid-air.
Toji: "Tonight, I present to you… Floating Pan Noodles!"
Sunny panicked: "No! No! Don't cook here! This is a train, Toji! You'll burn all of us!"
Okabaru: "Relax, Sunny. He's a professional."
Auren: "I'm excited!"Rose: " too, let's see what he makes!"
Toji: "Now watch the magic!"He raised his arms like a cooking god.
"Here cos… oil! Then fire! Then so salt, a little veggie, and—"He threw in the noodles dramatically.
BOOM!!The pan blasted in mid-air. Smoke burst across the cabin. Everyone started coughing.
Sakura: "Toji, are you trying to cook us instead?!"
Sunny, holding a burnt noodle strand: "So this is what you call… professional, brother?!"
Cyber, the lion, sneezed from the smoke and gave Toji a deadpan look.
Toji: "Uhh… needs a little more practice, I guess."
Everyone burst out laughing..
********
In Jackey's room
Aster remained unmoving, a silent, stiff statue. Jackey, driven by sake and ill will, just continued to beat him. The biting, wet slap of each strike rang out in the confined space. The won, who were reclining monts earlier, winced. Wide-eyed with fear, they struggled to put their clothes on, their naked limbs awkward with desperation, before they took flight from the room like frightened birds.
Jackey laughed, deep and rumbling. He stuck his fingers into Aster's jaw, pushing his head up, his eyes blazing with a hellish mirth. "Don't flash teeth. Your forr, good, kind boss, Raka, doesn't exist anymore. Did you forget? You two are to obey ." His fingers dug in harder. "You vow to obey the head of Yuzen. Did you rember?"
Aster's voice, uncharacteristically calm, pierced the fog of agony. "Who told you I'm not obeying?"
Jackey's hand fell, and he ceased the battering. A sadistic grin crossed his lips. "So you are obeying?" He drew nearer, the sibilant whisper of his voice. "Then lick my toes."
Aster stood still. The breath was driven from his body in a muffled gasp. Humiliation, a burning, searing wave, flooded him, infinitely worse than any actual blow. His thoughts whirled. I despise this system, he seethed, a bitter, burning venom rising in his throat. I simply detest the laws. Why did my family set us on this path?
"Did you hear?!" Jackey's voice bood, a guttural bellow that shattered Aster's thoughts. "Lick my toes!"
Aster's face grew hot with sha, a burning, gnawing embarrassnt that dug into his belly. He detested this. Detested the man. Detested the laws that held him. But the oath. The cursed oath. Slowly, unwillingly, his head dipped. His dry, blood-tasting mouth moved towards Jackey's foot.
Jackey laughed, a cold, triumphant sound that filled the room. "Hahh, I am the boss here!"
Aster obeyed.
Jackey tilted back his head and laughed, his sounds ringing out, harsh and unrelenting, as Aster finished the humiliating act.
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