"Ash Phantom: The Legend Reborn"

When Vivi's mother gently rubbed his hair, Auren felt a sudden heaviness in his heart. He tried hard not to burst into tears. In that tender moment, his mother's smiling face appeared in his mind — soft, warm, and distant. He clenched his chest emotionally, doing his best to hold it all inside.

Ravi clapped his hands together and said, "Now, let's enjoy our meal."

Vivi's mother smiled, "Yes, of course."

Everyone sat at the table. Vivi brought a wooden jug of juice, beautifully painted with little birds. Her mother carefully served food onto Auren's plate.

But just as the meal began, Auren felt something… heavy. Something that pulled at his chest again.

****

After finishing his meal, Auren stood up and bowed slightly. "Thank you… for the food."

Ravi smiled. "You can stay here if you like. We still have two days before reaching Baku City. Until then, spend some time with us."

Auren nodded softly. "I'm already grateful… for this meal and your time. But I need to return to my room now. I have a few things to take care of."

Ravi smiled warmly. "Of course. You're welcome anytime. And if you need anything, just call us."

Meanwhile, Vivi was busy crafting something. Her delicate hands moved quickly, twisting straw into shape. She finally held up a small straw bird, its wings slightly curved.

"Take this," she said with a gentle smile.

Auren looked at the little bird and smiled faintly. "Thank you… Vivi."

He accepted the gift, holding it carefully in his hand, then turned around and quietly stepped out. His feet carried him slowly through the corridor, back toward his room on the ship's flat.

***********

Time: 6:00 PM

Auren was asleep when—knock, knock. He yawned, "Who's there?"Pulling the blanket off, he stepped toward the door and opened it.

It was Vivi, standing with something in her hands, wrapped in cloth.

Auren: "Vivi? Why are you here?"Vivi: "Mom sent something for you."Auren: "What is it?"Vivi: "See it for yourself."

Auren gently took the item from her hands. Auren: "Thank you… for that."Vivi: "Okay. Have a nice day."

As she turned to leave, Auren hesitated. Auren: "Uh… Vivi, would you like to come in?"Vivi: (surprised) "Huh? Me? Umm… sure."

She stepped inside, stretching her arms out as she looked around. Vivi: "Auren, your flat looks amazing! These floating lamps… just wow."

Auren: "Thanks, but… It's not mine. I was just assigned this space."Vivi: "Still, it suits you. I know you're lonely... trying to sleep away the pain. Why don't you come to our place? Just for a while?"

Auren's hair was messy, and his voice quiet. Auren: "I can't come. I don't want to escape my pain. Let me bear it."

Vivi: "Auren… you can talk to me. You can share it. What happened?"

Auren's eyes lowered, his voice hollow. Auren: "I lost my brother… and I lost my friends."

Vivi's expression changed immediately. Her eyes widened in shock. Vivi: "What…?"

Auren's eyes…There were no more tears left — just a hollow face, one that had already endured every kind of pain.

Vivi: "I'm so sorry to hear that…"She hesitated, fidgeting. Vivi (panicking): "You need candy— no, no, what am I saying… You need sleep… no—ugh, I'm such a fool! What do I even do in this situation?"She looked at him helplessly.Vivi: "I'm sorry, Auren… I don't know how to react."

Auren (his voice cold, distant): "Stop it, Vivi… you don't need to react to this."

He stared at the floor, his words heavy and quiet.

Auren (softly): "Rose… I'm sorry. What I did to you was wrong."

Vivi blinked. Vivi: "Rose? Who is she?"

Auren (snapping out of it): "Sorry… I was mistaken."

Vivi, rubbing her cheek with the back of her hand, stepped closer. Vivi (firmly): "Rose… who is she?"

Auren: "She's… my friend. My best friend."

Vivi: "Then why are you saying sorry?"

Auren paused. His lips tremble. Auren: "I… I can't tell you."His voice cracked slightly, eyes filled with silent pain.

Vivi adjusted the serpent bangle on her wrist, the gems glinting under the warm light.

Vivi (softly): "Auren… you're broken inside. I can see it. You can't live like this. You can't live alone anymore."

Auren walked toward the balcony, his eyes lifted to the sky — staring at the early moon hanging quietly above.

Vivi followed him slowly, standing beside him in silence.

She looked to the left side of the balcony — her eyes landing on her own room's balcony — then looked back at Auren.

Vivi, gently biting her nail, spoke with a soft voice: "Auren… you're scaring me. I've never felt this kind of sadness before."

Auren calmly: "Then you can go now. Thank you… for listening this far."

Vivi (shaking her head quickly): "No, no, it's fine. I'm not scared. I'm just… just sad for you."

Auren stayed still. His voice was hollow — almost empty.

Auren: "Do you know, Vivi… there's no water left inside me to cry. Not even a drop."

Vivi looked at him, her heart aching. Vivi (softly ):"Then… you must be thirsty. Let me bring you water."

Auren (quietly): "No need…"

Below them, the open deck was glowing.Music played gently in the background.The trees lit up with so magical lights,People danced, laughed, and some swam in the shining pool.The whole ship sparkled like it was made of jewels —The luxury, the joy — everything felt like a celebration.

Vivi leaned over the balcony, her eyes filled with life.She looked at the world below, then glanced at Auren, standing still beside her.

Vivi:"Auren… I know you carry pain, but maybe now, just now…What's done is done.Can't you try to be a little happy?"

Auren (calm, hollow):"No."

Vivi's eyes caught something below — she giggled."Look! Auren — there's a panda dancing! Look, look!"

Auren didn't move.He kept his eyes on the moon, silent as ever.

Vivi turned to him again, pouting slightly:"Oh, Auren, how can someone stay this sad all the time?You're always so serious, always focused."She smiled brightly."Me? I can never stay sad for more than 5 minutes!"

Auren still didn't respond.

Vivi (playfully bumping his arm):"Smile a little. Just a little. Let your heart breathe, even if it's hurt."

Auren (softly, gazing at the sky):"Of course… I can smile a little.My life… has always been hell.And yet, sometimes… I do smile — even after all of it.

But not now.Not this time.Because when you know you've made a mistake —when you've hurt someone…You can't smile. Even if you try.

Someone is crying… because of me.Someone's soul, aching… because of me.And their pain… it doesn't let me sleep peacefully."

Auren turned to Vivi, his eyes sharp but trembling.

"Now you tell me, Vivi…Can you smile — knowing you've caused someone that kind of pain?"

Vivi looked at him, qquietly Then leaned closer to the balcony's edge, her voice calm but firm.

Vivi:"Auren… you're not the kind of person who would hurt anyone.If someone is hurt… There must've been a reason."

Auren's voice cracked slightly, but it was steady — heavy with truth.

"Yes. I had a reason.But even if I have one…That doesn't erase the fact — I still hurt someone.Someone I love.Someone I care about.Tell me, Vivi… does that reason erase their pain?"

Vivi nodded slowly, her gaze soft and thoughtful.

"You're right…But Auren, don't you think…If you had a reason,Then maybe that moment — that situation —Was necessary?Maybe it was written that way.Maybe they… had to feel that pain.Not because you wanted them to —But because that pain is also part of their journey."

Auren: "I just want Rose to be happy. If she's happy, then I'll be too. Then… there's no reason to be sad. My brother Kaen… he died. I have to cope with it. There's no way to bring him back. But I can avenge him. That's the whole reason I'm going to Baku City. I hope I get powers strong enough to change my life… and give justice to my people."

He paused, clenching the railing tighter.

Auren: "You know what I hate? I hate seeing my people suffer."

Vivi smiled softly: "I knew you were a good boy…"

But before she could finish, the ship suddenly shook—a powerful jolt that made the deck tremble beneath their feet.

Auren and Vivi stumbled, grabbing the balcony rail for balance.

Screams erupted from below. On the open deck, people fell to the floor, tumbling over chairs and tables. The pool water splashed out violently as a massive tide surged toward the ship.

Auren: "What is that?!"

Passenger from the deck: "What's going on?! Are we going to die?!"

Panic spread like wildfire. Voices screamed out for help. The once-beautiful luxury ship now shook uncontrollably as if the ocean itself had turned against them.

From another floor, Ravi and his wife rushed to their balcony, their eyes wide with fear as the ship trembled violently beneath them.