Just as they were about to leave, amidst the fallen, burnt trees and thick bushes, they caught sight of something—movement.
All of them turned their heads toward the movement, their anticipation growing. Then, a voice called out from the bushes.
"What the hell happened here? Did the old man go mad and start burning and cutting down trees?"
A head suddenly popped out from the dense foliage.
"AAAH!" Yusuf yelped, nearly jumping out of his skin.
"No need to be scared, Yu, it's me," the figure reassured him.
Yusuf blinked in disbelief. "Baran?"
It was indeed Baran Efezade, his friend. He had arrived, likely for his usual lessons.
Erythros narrowed her eyes. "And who is this guy now?"
"He's Baran Efezade," Yusuf explained, still feeling a bit guilty. "Uncle Saliz taught him… He was his student."
Erythros tilted her head slightly, processing this new information.
"Oh, so he was his student? Hm…" She tapped her chin, deep in thought. "I think I just got an idea, but… what exactly?"
Baran's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait… what?" His voice wavered as he took a step back.
Erythros remained firm, watching his every reaction closely. If Saliz was a Titan, then his student might have inherited his dark teachings too… she thought, keeping her guard up.
Baran scanned the area again, his face growing more confused. He then turned to Bastin, handing him something wrapped in a large leaf. "Happy birthday," he said absentmindedly, still distracted by the scene around him.
Bastin accepted the gift with a small nod. "Thanks."
But Baran didn't react. His mind was elsewhere, racing for answers. His gaze darted from the burnt trees to the untouched village, then to Yusuf, who stood uncomfortably quiet. Then, all of a sudden—
"HUEEHHH?! WHERE'S SALIZ MASTER'S HOUSE?!" Baran shouted in shock, spinning around in search of the missing home.
"Oh?" Bastin muttered, surprised at his reaction.
Erythros sighed. "Your master… he's no longer."
Yusuf clenched his fists, guilt weighing him down again.
Baran's expression twisted. "Who even are you? And how can you just say he's dead?" His voice carried both suspicion and denial.
Erythros met his gaze, unfazed. "I am Erythros Galanis. Owner of the Psychic Syroche, Titan Annihilator, and a Warrior for Humanity."
Baran barely reacted to her title, his focus still on Saliz. "That's fine and all, but how can you just—"
Erythros cut him off coldly.
"Because we buried him."
"What do you mean, buried him? Ah! I get it—it's another training, right?" Baran said, forcing a grin.
No one responded.
"You're joking, right?! He's just hiding, testing me like always!" His voice grew desperate as he turned, scanning the surroundings. "Master! I know you're out there! I won't fail this test!" He shouted, waiting for a response that would never come.
Yusuf stepped forward, his eyes welling up. "She's not lying… It's true—he's gone," he said, his voice cracking.
Baran's breath hitched. If Yusuf was crying—Yusuf, who never shed a tear—then this wasn't a joke. His body tensed, his chest tightening as the realization hit him. Master is dead.
His knees buckled, and he collapsed onto the dirt. "How… how did it happen?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Yusuf swallowed hard, about to explain everything when Bastin suddenly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Erythros spoke instead. "He… suicided."
Yusuf's eyes widened. "Wait, what—?" He tried to protest, but Bastin tightened his grip, whispering urgently, "If you tell him…"
Yusuf hesitated. His hands trembled. He wanted to scream the truth, but something about Bastin's tone stopped him.
Baran, still on his knees, clenched the dirt in his fists. "But… why?" His voice was strained, broken.
Erythros exhaled. "That's a question we need to find the answer to."
Erythros watched carefully, noting Yusuf's inner turmoil. "For now, what's important is that we move forward," she said. "Your master is gone, and the world won't wait for us to grieve forever."
Baran let out a heavy breath, still staring at the ground. "I… I understand." But his voice carried uncertainty.
Baran furrowed his brows. "That's clear, but… where did his house go?"
Bastin and Erythros stiffened, exchanging nervous glances.
"Ah—just my Syroche!" Bastin blurted out, his voice slightly unsteady. "It was responsible… yeah, the earth shook, and, uh… his house collapsed. The ground just… swallowed it up." He rushed through the explanation, overlapping his own words.
nodding slightly as if to confirm the story.
"Bastin, you should control your spells," Erythros said, her tone firm but not unkind.
Bastin nodded, still catching his breath. "I'll take care of it," Dramatically assuring her.
"Ya, take care" Said Baran.
nodding slightly as if to confirm the story.
Erythros let out a subtle breath of relief.
Baran stood up, dusting off his clothes.
"Well then, Baran, I have a few questions for you," Erythros said, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Baran hesitated for a moment, wondering how she knew his name, but he simply nodded. "Ask."
"What exactly did Saliz teach you?" she inquired.
"Medicine, botany, and his magical spells. Nothing else," Baran replied firmly.
"Really? Nothing else?" she pressed.
"Yes, that's all," he confirmed without hesitation.
Erythros pondered for a moment. "So, maybe Saliz wasn't actively spreading darkness… Perhaps he was just bound by Maharshi Jivyuj."
Then, a thought struck her. "Wait… am I forgetting something?"
Baran let out a deep sigh. "So now, I'm teacherless, and you're uncleless," he said, pointing at Yusuf.
Yusuf remained silent, his eyes downcast.
Baran murmured to himself, "An orphan like me… yet he raised me, taught me everything. He even considered making me his descendant—the heir to his Syroche…"
Erythros suddenly snapped her fingers. "Oh! That's what I was forgetting—the Syroche!" She turned to Yusuf and Bastin. "Where is Saliz's Syroche? Didn't we bury it with him?"
Bastin hesitated. "Ah… Most probably, yes." Then, after a brief thought, he added, "Or maybe… it fell into the gap when Luméon was closing it."
"Oh, so I wasn't wrong!" Baran suddenly cut in, catching everyone's attention.
"What do you mean?" Erythros asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I saw a brooch on my way here," Baran explained. "At first, I thought it might belong to either Master or Bastin, but it didn't look familiar. It was red, covered in dust, and the gem was broken. So I left it there. It's not in my nature to touch things that don't belong to me—Master always taught me that."
Erythros let out a sigh of relief. "Good. Don't touch it. Just take us there—it must be Saliz's." Her voice carried a hint of urgency.
Baran nodded and led them, picking up his pace. The others followed, running steadily.
When they arrived, Baran crouched near the Syroche, his fingers hovering just above it. "Here it is," he said.
Erythros' eyes widened as she saw his fingers so close. "Aaaaah!" she shouted. "Psychos Telekinesis!"
Baran was suddenly lifted into the air, his arms flailing in shock.
"Don't touch it!" Erythros commanded. "It's still red—that means a portion of Ifrit is still alive, residing inside it. This Syroche is still a Titan Syroche. And because it's broken, if you touch it, Ifrit will transfer into your body. You'll become his vessel, lose control completely, and commit evil acts against your will."
Hearing this, Bastin and Yusuf swallowed hard.
Baran's face paled. He gulped, realizing just how close he had been to disaster.