Infinite Paths: The Raging Phoenix

"Aren't you going to assume anything?" Asche asked after she crossed her arms.

"That is what you want, but I know better than this," Rain said. "Besides, it would be too obvious to just assume that Jori and Reca's kids would still be unhinged after growing up."

"Your guess is correct…" Asche said and then sighed. "They had their own families and they lost the drive to fight after some losses… they didn't want to fight as much as your kids wanted, alongside Terra and your parents. They kept moving further South for a place that they can live in peace, we decided to stay in this area since it is peaceful enough.

The only issue are the survivors of the magic people who comes to attack us now and then, but they don't have the support of that individual, so we have the upperhand."
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Rain felt a troublesome sense of unease growing inside him from the very start of Asche's tale. The absence of a response when he used Seal only confirmed his fears. The fact that no one replied spoke volumes—he realized they were separated when he attempted to contact them.

He envisioned his family, each with their unique strengths and experiences, navigating the trials and tribulations they faced in their separate journeys. The thought of their predicament fueled a mix of emotions within him…

While Rain understood the complexities and dangers of the situation, he couldn't shake the lingering feeling of concenr. He knew his family well—knew their resilience, their sense of justice, and their fierce loyalty. He couldn't shake the belief that they would seek retribution against those responsible for the conflicts that had plagued their lives for far too long.

The thought lingered in Rain's mind, driven by a potent mix of determination to avenge, ready to confront the enemies who had sowed discord and instigated wars for countless years. The prospect of their retaliation, while carrying a sense of justice, also weighed heavily on his mind… he didn't do all that to burden them that much.

"They changed that much?" Rain asked. "Because of me?"

"... Even your mother began to train and learn how to fight, they looked like the same as usual, but it was clear in their eyes," Asche said. "We never talked about it, but we felt guilty for letting you sacrifice yourself so that we could survive… no one wanted no deny your decision, so things ended up like that. Few people followed them…"

As Rain absorbed the unfolding details of his family's journey and their separate paths, a profound sense of anguish and regret consumed him from within. It was a feeling that took over his entire being, a haunting sense of helplessness and despair that clawed at his heart.

The weight of his choices and the consequences they bore bothered him mercilessly. He felt an acute sense of disappointment in himself, as if he had made the wrong decision when facing his fate. While he understood the uselessness of trying to self-destruct and bringing down the dragon god with him, a part of him couldn't help but wish that he had chosen that path.

Rain questioned whether he had made a mistake in his decision-making. The idea of potentially sacrificing himself to take down a significant number of dragons, perhaps even tipping the scales of the ongoing conflicts, haunted him.

He couldn't shake the thought that his choice might have been misguided, that perhaps a different path could have led to a more favorable outcome—a hope for a resolution that could have alleviated the life of his family…

"You look to be the real deal… can't imagine anyone else making such a depressed face over the actions of those idiots," Asche said. "You said that I should use my head more, but you should have said the same to them as well."

Rain wanted to know why Asche didn't go with them… at the very least, she should have felt worried enough to stay with them for a while. Regardless, the people around looked confused at both of them… the last person who talked so friendly with Asche ended up swallowing their own teeth. She was good at looking after the others, but she had a short fuse.

Upon realizing what those guys were thinking, Rain looked at them and confirmed that they were pretty young… no one there looked thirty years old, even though they had powerful auras. They were trained well, and for way more than thirty years.

"... What happened to you?" Asche asked. "When we woke up, we only saw the dust for years and then only the snow."

"I can't explain the details since your brain wouldn't understand the whole process, but you can at least know that I spent a lot of time only being able to use my mind," Rain said and then blocked a punch. "You are perhaps more short fused than Jori and Reca now."

"It was out of habit, I have to do this kind of thing to keep the soldiers in line," Asche said. "The raging Phoenix ended when you died, or supposedly died and we are probably stronger than you know, so stick your condescending tone up on your ass."

Rain was troubled with a flurry of conflicting emotions as he observed Asche's demeanor. He couldn't understand if her intense reaction stemmed from genuine anger or an inherent need to maintain order and discipline among his warriors. The uncertainty left him walking on a tightrope, unsure of the most appropriate approach to take.

Eager to bridge the distance between himself and Asche, Rain toyed with the idea of establishing a more amiable conversation. Yet, he hesitated, wary that appearing overly friendly might not be well-received given the current tense situation. The need to maintain a delicate balance between camaraderie and professionalism was large in his mind.

"Sorry about that," Rain said while rubbing his eyes. "I have to look for everyone while they are all over the world, so that puts me in a bad mood."