The past timeline - Three years before Ryoto and team rescues Aem and friends. ❤️ - represented by this symbol

The present timeline - Ryoto and team rescues Aem and friends. 🟥 - represented by this symbol

The future timeline - one year after Ryoto and team had rescued Aem and friends. ♦️ - represented by this symbol

***

[Location: Fujima's house
The present timeline] - ❤

"And then that. Was my biggest regret."

"What do you mean master?" Aem asked with genuine curiosity, his eyes fixed on Fujima's solemn expression.

Fujima sighed heavily, his gaze distant yet burdened with the weight of memories. "Well. The fact that I told Remeshi about Reichi and the others. And let Amash go with them. The fact that I let them take the dangerous species list matter into their own hands. The fact that I let them proceed to the next stage at all."

"You didn't want them to go?" Aem inquired softly, sensing the conflicting emotions in Fujima's voice.

"It's not that, Aem," Fujima replied, shaking his head slightly. "But maybe... if I could reverse time, then I would have chosen a different date or time to send them there. Not at that point, at least."

Aem nodded understandingly, his eyes reflecting compassion. "Oh. Is that right... then something serious happened after they left you, Sensei?"

"Yes, Aem. That serious incident... incidents actually, are the reason why I feel like I shouldn't have sent them away that day," Fujima explained, his voice trailing off momentarily as if reliving painful memories. "Maybe if I had trained them as their second trainer, then things would have been different?"

"I guess the events were too traumatizing for you, master," Aem said softly. "But as far as what I've heard, this team is the whole reason why we are able to use our potentials to their maximum. Like you always say, what is meant to be is meant to be."

Fujima nodded pensively. "Right. And remember how I told you all about the final exam and their results, Aem?"

"Yes... master?" Aem replied, his curiosity piqued.

"Don't you think it's time to know you and your team's results now?" Fujim suggested gently, changing the subject to lighten the atmosphere.

"Oh... well, we're not too bad," Aem began cautiously. "Some teams were even specifically called out because they didn't perform exceptionally well."

"I believe that," Fujima acknowledged with a faint smile. "So, what were your results?"

"Yes, master. We'll share that too," Sanasubi interjected eagerly. "But for now, please don't leave us hanging. Let us know the last bits of the story, please?"

"Ah... hahaha..." Drata chuckled awkwardly, his eyes darting between his Sensei and his teammates.

Fujima took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts before continuing. The dojo was quiet, filled only with the soft rustling of leaves outside and the occasional creaking of wooden floorboards underfoot.

"Alright," Fujima began, his voice steady yet tinged with nostalgia. "I will finish this, and then we'll get back to your results. There's only a little of it left anyway."

The room grew quieter as Sensei recounted the final chapter of his tale.

***

[The past
Location: The demon land
Youkai's residence] - ❤

"Are you sure you're okay going home by yourself?"

Youkai's voice echoed through the dimly lit hallway as Remeshi prepared to leave. The aftermath of their conversation still hung heavily in the air, unresolved tensions simmering beneath the surface.

"Yes, yes, Youkai. I'll be going now," Remeshi replied, his tone carrying a hint of weariness. He stepped through the doorway, the evening chill embracing him like a familiar cloak. The garden, once a verdant sanctuary surrounding Youkai's abode, now lay in ruins. Charred remnants of what was once lush greenery littered the ground, a stark reminder of recent events.

Youkai lingered in the doorway, his silhouette framed against the faint glow emanating from within. "Alright. Good luck, I guess. On your journey and everything, that is..."

Remeshi turned back briefly, meeting Youkai's gaze with a mixture of gratitude and reluctance. "Yeah. I'll visit."

"You really should just go home," Youkai muttered under his breath, a touch of bitterness edging his words.

Remeshi sighed, a weary smile playing on his lips. "Come on, Youkai. I know you want us to stay friends."

"You're delusional," Youkai scoffed, though his voice carried a note of longing that he couldn't hide.

"Emotional," Remeshi countered softly, his eyes flickering with unspoken understanding.

"Go home," Youkai repeated, more gently this time, a plea beneath the directive.

"See ya'," Remeshi murmured, turning away and beginning his solitary walk down the path that led away from Youkai's once-hospitable home.

The journey through the forest was quiet, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird. Remeshi's thoughts wandered, replaying the conversation with Youkai over and over in his mind. Their friendship had weathered many storms, but lately, tensions had been rising, fueled by misunderstandings and unspoken truths.

[Location: Fujima's house
Time: 3:54 in the evening
Date: 30th June]-❤

"That boy. I told him to be here by Four."

"We still have six minutes left, Senpai," Oya said calmly, her voice a stark contrast to Konosa's escalating frustration.

"Six minutes? Six minutes?! Who knows if he even left there in the first place!" Konosa paced back and forth in the yard, his agitation palpable. "He just loves getting late for important things. If he's even a second later, I'll skin him."

"Didn't you say he was the shy kinda' leader?" Kane asked Hizakun, his brow furrowed in concern. Hizakun nodded solemnly in response.

"What were you thinking..." Fujima muttered, his eyes fixed on the ticking clock mounted on the wall. Each passing second felt like an eternity as they waited for Remeshi's arrival.

The air was tense with anticipation, the air heavy with both expectation and unease. Konosa, his short temper and blunt demeanor, struggled to conceal his anxiety. He had put his trust in Remeshi to make it in time, yet here they were, waiting anxiously as time slipped away.

Minutes dragged on like hours, each passing moment intensifying Konosa's frustration. He ran a hand through his hair, a gesture of exasperation, while the others exchanged nervous glances. Hizakun checked his phone for the umpteenth time, hoping for a message or any sign of Remeshi's whereabouts.

The tension in the room was palpable as the clock ticked closer to four o'clock. Ishoya, who had come to wish the team well on their journey, found herself caught in a whirlwind of worry and distress as Remeshi remained conspicuously absent.

Four minutes to four and Remeshi still wasn't anywhere around. Ishoya began muttering, her brows furrowed with concern. She glanced at the others in the garden—Konosa pacing agitatedly, Remeni tapping her foot impatiently, Miyazono checking her friends anxiously, and Oya trying to maintain a sense of calm amidst the mounting tension.

Gasping for breath, his heart pounding in his chest, Remeshi sprinted towards them with all the speed he could muster. "I'm... here..." he announced breathlessly, his voice barely audible over the rush of air as he burst through the door with just two minutes left on the clock.

"I seriously was so worried. What took you so long? You left in the morning!" Remeni exclaimed, her voice a mixture of relief and exasperation.

"Yeah... wait... let me breathe..." Remeshi managed between gasps, leaning against the doorframe to catch his breath.

"Water?" Miyazono offered, concern etched on her face.

"No, I'm good. Just needed a minute. Okay, good now. GUYS! GET THIS!" Remeshi exclaimed, his earlier breathlessness replaced by excitement.

"As soon as you're good, you're hyped," Konosa remarked dryly, squinting his eyes at Remeshi.

"Yeah!! You won't believe what happened!" Remeshi continued, his words rushing out in a torrent.

"Zip it, crazy. We need to board the cart. Like now. Tell us while we're traveling," Konosa interrupted, gesturing for Remeshi to follow as he tossed him into the waiting cart. "We'll be off, Sensei Fujima, Sensei Kane, and Sensei Hizakun," he said, bowing respectfully to their mentors who nodded in acknowledgment.

"It'll be hard to come visit you guys now that you'll be farther away," Ishoya mentioned quietly, her emotions subdued yet evident.

"But we'll still be expecting you." Oya mentioned as a soft smile graced her lips.

"Wow. Grown a little sentimental, have we? Can't believe you're the same girl who used to be so nervous," Ishoya teased lightly, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Haha, some good changes there," Oya replied, managing a small chuckle.

"But we seriously gotta go. Sentiments later. This next master's house is a tricky one to find," Konosa turned to Fujima with a slight smirk. "Nice help, Sensei. Nice map."

"Oh, don't give me that. You know finding his house is kind of like a test too," Fujima retorted playfully, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

With their goodbyes exchanged and their luggage stowed away, the team settled into the cart, finding seats wherever space allowed. They waved a final farewell to their mentors and Ishoya as they rolled out of sight, setting off on their journey to an uncertain destination.

"Gosh," Konosa muttered, sinking back into his seat with a sigh, completely abandoning any pretense of proper posture. "So, what did you want to say?"

Remeshi hesitated for a moment, the weight of recent revelations settling upon him. "Ah... feeling too weird right now. We lived six months in that house..."

"Come on, sentiments out the window. It's a journey we've got to go through," Konosa replied firmly, his voice tinged with resolve.

"Yeah..." Remeshi nodded slowly, his expression bittersweet as memories of their former home flashed through his mind.

"What did you want to tell us?" Miyazono prompted, her curiosity evident.

"Yeah, I found out about a guy named Kage Liokii—" Remeshi began, only to be interrupted abruptly.

"WHAT?!" Konosa exclaimed, leaning forward in his seat.

"What? What is it?" Remeshi asked, slightly taken aback by the sudden outburst.

"No, continue," Miyazono interjected quickly before Konosa could interject further.

"Okay, so this guy, Kage Liokii, he's a high-end mage. A huge deal. And he's apparently a friend—or at least that's what it seems like," Remeshi explained, his excitement palpable.

"He said the reason I couldn't get close to him was because I lost that part of my memory," Remeshi continued, his words coming faster now. "Labetsu told me that Oni can help me find the land because she remembers it well."

"Also, the fact that this necklace can disclose information relating to Argons. Everything about the Avons. But only if the person seeking the information is an Avon themselves."

"Okay, okay, wait. Hold on," Oya interjected, her mind racing to keep up with Remeshi's rapid-fire revelations. "You mentioned your sword is called Iron Oni."

"Yeah, Iron Oni," Remeshi confirmed, nodding.

"And she's the strongest of all Etiole swords," Oya continued, her gaze intense.

"Even you know that bit?" Remeshi asked, surprised.

"Of course. Everyone knows," Oya replied matter-of-factly. "Anyway, like I was saying, she's not just any sword. The strongest sword has only one owner."

"Yeah? Go on. Maybe what you say will give me a hint," Remeshi urged eagerly.

"You don't get it?" Konosa interjected, his brow furrowed in thought. "The person who can have access to the sword is of the Avon family. Solely and only the Avons."

"And that means," Miyazono added, picking up the thread of conversation, "the owner of that sword can only be someone who holds the throne. The king, prince, or queen of the Argon land."

"And the king and queen passed the sword and the jade necklace down to their sons and daughters," Remeni chimed in, her eyes bright with realization. "The last Avon family had four children—three boys and one girl. The second oldest son was the one who took part in the last Kyogo Spirit War and went missing."

Konosa nodded gravely, his expression serious. "The children were Stake Avon, the youngest brother; Rie Avon, the sister; Ryoto Avon, the second oldest; and Mason Avon, the oldest."

"Stake and Rie were actively involved in social events and were surprisingly kind to everyone," Remeni continued, her voice taking on a thoughtful tone. "Ryoto and Mason, on the other hand, were rarely seen outside the palace, focusing mainly on military matters."

"After Mason fell severely ill, Ryoto became the official owner of the sword," Oya added, her voice soft yet resolute. "Iron Oni belonged to Ryoto—the missing prince."

"And the missing prince is you. You are Ryoto," Miyazono concluded, her eyes searching Remeshi's face for his reaction.

"I am? Whoa," Remeshi exclaimed, his mind racing with the implications of this newfound identity.

"What? You're not surprised at all?" Oya asked, incredulous.

"No? I kind of had a hunch," Remeshi admitted, a mixture of wonder and disbelief in his voice. "I mean, almost everything pointed to the fact that I was the missing prince. People bowing to me left and right, the jade necklace finding its way back to me, the light energy, and the Etiole sword... everything."

"In that sense..." Remeni began, trailing off as she considered the weight of their revelation.

"How did we miss something so important?" Konosa mused, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Well, we know now," Miyazono interjected, breaking the moment of reflection. "So, Kage immediately recognized you?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Remeshi replied, a sense of amazement coloring his words. "I'm actually surprised. The prince looked very different from you," Konosa remarked, studying Remeshi with a critical eye.

"Really? What did he— I mean, what did I— ugh, what did the prince look like, Senpai?" Remeshi asked, eager for more details.

"Yeah, dark black hair, squinty fox eyes. He was such a dark, emotionless kid, there were even rumors about him being a walking dead," Konosa explained, recalling memories from a distant past.

"Oh wow. Is that how I used to be?" Remeshi wondered aloud, struggling to reconcile this image with his current self. "But I still don't remember anything. Just the fact that I'm supposed to meet Kage and my real name."

"We've told you what we know," Konosa said, his voice tinged with empathy. "And Ishoya also told you things back when we first met you. This is all common knowledge. Maybe Kage, being a mage, can help you regain all your memories."

"So, where do we meet him anyway?" Amash asked, breaking the momentary silence that followed.

"Oh... yeah... good question," Remeshi replied, his mind racing with the implications of his newfound identity and the mysteries that lay ahead.

As the cart rumbled along the winding road, carrying them towards their next destination, the team fell into a thoughtful silence. The landscape passed by in a blur, the setting sun casting long shadows across the fields and forests.

***

❤...

In a shadowed chamber deep within an ancient fortress, a group of figures gathered around a flickering fire. The air was thick with tension and the scent of burning wood, as their hushed conversation echoed against the stone walls.

"We have waited long enough," one girl said, her voice cutting through the silence with impatience. Her eyes, sharp and fiery, reflected her frustration. "If we know where he is, why don't we just go there?"

The second girl, with a softer, more measured tone, replied, "Are you crazy? That will cause so much chaos and destruction. We can't just storm in without a plan."

"Yeah," a boy chimed in, his voice sharp and decisive. "So just wait a little longer. He'll come to us himself."

Another boy, his voice soft but filled with a weary determination, added, "It's been eight years. I don't think he is coming back."

"But he might," a young girl said, her voice slightly shrill with a mix of hope and doubt. She looked around at the others, her eyes pleading for some reassurance.

"We just have to wait and see," the first boy continued, his tone steady and calm. "If he really does come back to us, we can reveal ourselves too and get back what's ours for good."

The group fell silent, each of them lost in their own thoughts and memories of the past. The fire crackled, casting dancing shadows on their faces, as they contemplated the weight of their decisions.

"And if he doesn't come back... well, we'll have to reveal ourselves anyway," the first boy concluded, his voice growing softer. "I don't think whatever he chooses will have any impact on our final decision, so don't beat yourself up for this."

A stronger, bolder voice broke the silence, filled with resolve. The boy was lying on the bed next to the fire. "I too, have waited too long. Sadly, when I could have helped, I wasn't able to, and now that I can help, what should have been mine is gone."

The group turned to look at the boy who spoke, his presence commanding their attention.

"Whether he comes back or not, I'm taking back what is supposed to be mine, and I'm not going to show even the slightest of... whatever," he finished, his voice unwavering.

The fire continued to burn, its flames a symbol of their enduring hope and determination. As the night wore on, they prepared for the challenges ahead, united in their quest to reclaim their lost legacy.