In the expansive narrative of 'Ash Prince,' a multitude of characters populate the world. Many are side characters—figures like Kayle, James, Nana, Emma, Albert, and Anna, who contribute to the rich tapestry of the story. However, only a select few truly endure until the end, etching their names into history. These are the ones who fought relentlessly, shared profound bonds, wept for their families and friends, strayed down dark paths for vengeance, made deeply regrettable mistakes, cowered in fear, or fled the battlefield.
And among those few,
there was one girl.
A girl who lived for revenge.
A girl who would carve her name into the bones of this world.
A girl who, like Ash, survived until the very end… and witnessed the world's ruin with her own eyes.
This character, now standing before Aeon,
Itzayana.
A girl driven by the fire of vengeance—her heart scarred and soul hollowed by tragedy. She was a living storm of regret. In her obsession to avenge her parents, she had made countless mistakes, aligned with the wrong people, and let the darkness consume her path.
But that same fire—the hatred that kept her alive—was also what pushed her beyond her limits.
That fire…is what made her one of the legendary Nine-Circle Mages.
Just like Silvia.
Itzayana, the girl now kneeling before Aeon, is destined to be a Nine Circles Mage. She will fight valiantly alongside Ash and his comrades in the story's final battle.
Her story was no less cruel than Silvia's.
She too had lost everything.
She lost her loved ones—her father and mother—when she was just six years old. Her parents, esteemed researchers from the Cronos Empire, were brutally tortured right before her innocent eyes. They had developed a groundbreaking innovation in magic engineering, but where there is light, darkness inevitably follows.
Some envious individuals, consumed by jealousy, sought to claim their invention. They tried bribery. But her parents refused. It was a gift meant to serve the common people, a revolution for the betterment of lives. They wouldn't sell their work to be twisted into a tool of power or war.
Then, one night…
it happened.
A brutal attack.
Masked figures invaded their home under moonlight. Her parents were tortured, beaten, torn apart—right before her helpless eyes. They held out, even as their bones cracked and blood pooled, refusing to hand over their life's work.
Only when these merciless individuals threatened to kill their only daughter, Itzayana.
did the loving parents finally yield.
To save her life, they surrendered the blueprints.
And then… they were killed anyway.
Their house was burned to the ground, the crime masked as an accident.
The assailants left Itzayana behind, believing her fate sealed. Instead.
she survived.
A six-year-old girl alone in the ashes.
The black mages found her and took her away.
And from that moment on, her heart lived only for one thing—revenge.
Now, here she stood.
A girl with emerald hair and eyes like gleaming jade. Skin pale as snow. A haunting beauty that rivals both Silvia and Sara.
She has already made, and will continue to make, many wrong decisions on her path. Now, however, she has encountered Kayle—a being brought into this world to alter its fate. The same boy who was not meant to belong to this world—yet had been chosen to rewrite its end.
He has already changed Silvia's fate and saved Emma's life changing their destinies. Now, he stands poised to change Itzayana's fate as well.
He will rewrite her fate too.
Itzayana stared at Aeon, a deep understanding in her eyes. She knew, instinctively, that he was an insurmountable opponent.
Yet, her gaze held not the fear of death, but profound disappointment—disappointment that she wouldn't be able to avenge her parents.
She seemed ready to embrace oblivion. Aeon, discerning the meaning behind her expression, offered a faint smile.
"You're Itzayana Meeve, aren't you?" Aeon's voice, calm and clear, cut through the tense silence.
Itzayana offered no verbal response, her green eyes simply fixed on him.
"Not going to answer, huh? I know what to do," Aeon murmured, his hand moving with deceptive slowness. He reached out and, with chilling deliberate, grabbed Black by the neck.
AAHHH! AAHHH!
"What are you... doing?" Black choked out, his voice a strangled gasp.
Aeon ignored him, his grip tightening, squeezing the mage's throat.
"Ah... please... le-leave me... Itzaya...na... help!" Black pleaded, his eyes bulging.
Itzayana merely watched Black's futile struggles. She tried to move her hand, but then Aeon's gaze fell upon her, his sheer aura so overwhelmingly intimidating that she found herself unable to breathe, paralyzed by an unseen force.
"Now, tell me," Aeon's voice, low and dangerous, was directed at Black. "You were the one who brutally tortured and killed her parents, weren't you?"
Itzayana's eyes widened at Aeon's question, her gaze snapping back to Black. Black's own eyes widened in surprise and terror. "Wh-what... are you saying?" he stammered, his voice weak.
"Oh, still don't want to admit it? Okay, we can do this the hard way," Aeon said, his tone devoid of mercy.
Aeon unleashed his aura, not just around him, but directly into Black's mouth, ears, and nose.
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Black's scream ripped through the silent forest, a raw, agonizing sound. He thrashed uncontrollably, his entire body trembling, rendered helpless by the agonizing invasion of mana.
"Let me ask you again," Aeon's voice remained calm, chillingly so. "Did you brutally kill Itzayana's parents?"
Black's eyes trembled, his body convulsed, his tongue lolled from his mouth. He was sobbing uncontrollably, his face streaked with tears and snot. Aeon's aura continued to course through his body, a torment beyond imagining.
AAAAAAHHHHHHH!
"Still don't want to admit it? So just die," Aeon stated, his voice now a sinister whisper. "No, I won't give you a quick death. I'll cut off your Achilles tendons, your jugular vein, and leave you at the center of the array. When the monsters arrive, they will have a very good feast on your body. Isn't that right?"
His violet eyes glowed like a malevolent purple moon, giving him the appearance of a soul collector from a terrifying fairy tale.
"Ahh... yes!" Black finally choked out, his voice barely a wheeze.
Itzayana's eyes widened in horror and disbelief as she heard Black confess.
"What did you just say?" Aeon asked, his voice low and dangerous, prompting Black.
"Yes, I'm... one of the... people... who killed... her parents," Black rasped, every word a struggle.
Itzayana couldn't believe what she heard. She simply stared, frozen, at the despicable man.
Aeon released him. Black crumpled to the ground, gasping for breath, clutching at his throat.
Caught! caught! caught! caught! caught!
He coughed violently for a few seconds, then lay still, his face pressed against the cold, snowy earth.
"Now tell me, how did you kill them?" Aeon demanded, his voice flat and cold.
"I cut off their Achilles tendons, their small veins, to make them feel pain slowly," Black whimpered, his voice broken.
Itzayana's control snapped. A raw, primal scream tore from her throat. She lunged, grabbing Black, and began mercilessly punching him in the face.
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Sniff... sniff... weep... weep...
Tears streamed down her face, mingling with Black's blood. She cried uncontrollably, her body wracked with sobs.
AAAHHHHH!
She screamed again, a guttural sound of pure anguish. "Why?! Why did you kill them, you bastard?!" Itzayana's voice was a ragged roar.
"You fucking bastard, you son of a whore, tell me why you killed them!"
Black was already beyond coherent speech, his face a pulpy, smashed pumpkin. His teeth were broken, his nose a bleeding mess.
"I... just... foll-low... orders," Black slurred, barely audible.
Itzayana's anger burst like a volcano. She choked his throat, shaking him violently. "Who ordered you to do this?! Tell me!"
"Sir Ottoris!" Black gasped, the name barely escaping his lips.
Itzayana was shocked, hearing that name.
Ottoris Barbero, one of the high-ranking officials of the Black Mages.
"Who commissioned that? Who commissioned the death of my parents?!"
Itzayana demanded, shaking him again.
"I don't know! I was just a low-level flunky at that time! I just know that Sir Ottoris got the request to kill your parents!" he whimpered.
Itzayana slammed his face onto the ground again.
"Let him be," Aeon's voice cut through her rage, calm but firm. "He genuinely doesn't know who requested your parents' death."
He stepped forward.
"But I do."
Itzayana's eyes met Aeon's, fixating on his piercing violet gaze. She studied him, a figure radiating calm power, entirely focused on her.
"What do you want from me?" Itzayana's voice was raw, laced with a world-weariness.
"In this harsh world, someone as strong as you... why would you help without any reason until you want something in return?"
"Tell me what you want," she demanded, her gaze unwavering.
Aeon moved closer, his masked face just inches from Itzayana's.
"You," Aeon stated, his voice a low, direct whisper.
Itzayana's eyes widened in shock, and a flush instantly spread across her face.
Unacceptable thoughts flashed through her mind. She instinctively recoiled, backing away.
"Wh-what do you mean, 'you want me'?" Itzayana stammered, her face a bright, mortified strawberry red.
"Don't get any wrong ideas," Aeon clarified, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Let me finish. I want you to help me with my mission."
Hearing his explanation, Itzayana visibly calmed down, taking a deep breath. "What kind of mission?"
"You don't need to know right now," Aeon replied. "Just say yes if you agree, and I'll tell you who requested your parents' death."
Itzayana, who had lived her entire life for revenge, had just discovered that the very organization she worked for was responsible for her parents' murder. This new information, a devastating betrayal, propelled her decision.
"Okay, I agree, but on one condition," Itzayana said, her voice steadying.
"State your condition," Aeon prompted.
"You'll help me get my revenge, and in return, I'll follow your orders," Itzayana stipulated.
"Agreed," Aeon said, the deal sealed between them.
"Now, tell me who killed my parents," Itzayana demanded, her voice tight with anticipation.
"Marquis Banjamin Cerro," Aeon revealed.
"One of the two Marquises of the Cronos Empire. He requested your parents' death."
Itzayana's eyes widened in surprise. Marquis Banjamin was a formidable figure: one of the two marquises of the Empire, a cunning and sly man, and one of the eleven Grandmasters of the Cronos Imperial Knights. He was a formidable swordsman, earning himself the revered title of 'Living Beast.'
"Fourteen years ago, your parents invented the Compressed Alchemy Potion Machine," Aeon explained, his voice flat. "This machine could compress the wasted ingredients from potion-making, a significant breakthrough. Your parents wanted to sell the machine at low prices so it would benefit commoners and small merchants. However, Banjamin's daughter was also researching a similar concept, but she couldn't complete it. That's why she asked her father to get those blueprints. He tried to bribe your parents, but they refused. And we all know what happened next."
Itzayana, listening to Aeon's chilling revelation, couldn't stop her tears.
Sniff... sniff...
"They died just because of someone else's greed... sniff... sniff," she choked out, tears streaming down her face. "Why? Why did those monsters kill my parents?" she cried, her voice cracking with anguish.
Aeon gently placed a hand on her head.
"There is still another part of the story."
Itzayana looked up at him, her eyes filled with raw curiosity, tears still silently falling.
"That night, those black mages didn't leave because they thought you'd die on your own," Aeon continued, his voice low. "But someone ordered them to leave you alone that night."
"Someone very close to you." He said.
Itzayana leaned in, consumed by a desperate need for the truth. "Who ordered that?" she whispered.
Aeon grinned, a chilling sight behind his mask. "Your master, Robert Alamilla."
Itzayana gasped, utterly shocked. She couldn't believe what he had just said.
Robert Alamilla was one of the Eight Stars, an Eighth Circle Mage renowned by the title of 'Thunder Beast.'
"What do you mean my master ordered them to leave me alone?" she asked, her voice trembling.
"As you know, your master, Robert Alamilla, is the head of this organization. He has had his eyes on you, Itzayana, since your childhood," Aeon revealed. "You were special. You were born with Lightning and Earth elemental affinities—two opposite elements that don't naturally coexist. And your master, Robert, also possesses an affinity for the lightning attribute. That's why he left you alone that night and later took you in for his own research."
"He always kept you in the dark, promising you he'd help find your parents' killers," Aeon concluded, his voice laced with contempt.
"But it was the black mages who killed your parents, and you've been living with them this whole time."
Itzayana's composure shattered. She swayed, trembling, her face paling as she processed the devastating truth. Up until now, she had been living among the very people who had murdered her parents.
Sniff... sniff...
She collapsed to her knees, unable to do anything but cry, her body wracked with profound grief and betrayal.
Aeon knelt, holding her face gently with both hands, wiping away her tears with his thumb.
"It's not time to cry," Aeon said, his voice firm but compassionate. "It's time to get your revenge, Itzayana."
Itzayana gripped Aeon's hands, her gaze fixed on the masked man before her. Slowly, she regained control, rising to her feet, her eyes burning with newfound resolve.
"Thank you for telling me the truth," Itzayana said, her voice strained but determined. "As promised, you help me, and I'll help you."
"Yes," he affirmed.
Aeon looked down at Black, who was still lying on the ground, whimpering. "What should we do with him?" Aeon asked Itzayana.
"Just like he did to my parents," Itzayana snarled, a chilling malice in her voice. "I'll do worse to him."
Black, hearing her words, screamed in terror. He tried to crawl towards her, rubbing his face on her boots. "Itzayana, please... I beg... I... I didn't want... to do it... they ordered... me... please, have some mercy!"
She grabbed his face, her grip like iron.
"Go ask for forgiveness from my parents you brutally murdered, you bald fiend," Itzayana hissed, her voice dripping with pure vengeance.
After about a minute, Aeon spoke. "You took care of it pretty quick."
Itzayana had efficiently incapacitated Black, cutting off his limbs and leaving him alive, so he could experience prolonged agony before the monsters arrived and fed on his helpless body.
"Yeah, we have only two minutes left," Itzayana said, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "I altered the array to buy us some time. After that, the monsters will arrive. Now, tell me what to do."
"Just hide yourself for now," Aeon instructed rapidly. "When the monster horde is over, deliberately get caught by the Maklice knights; they will take you to Umgrad City. There, you'll find a boy named Kayle. He is a kind boy, so he'll help you. Remember this: you'll have to act like a brainwashed girl who lost her memories in front of the Maklice knights."
"By Kayle, you mean our target?" Itzayana asked, a flicker of confusion. "But this is all prepared to kill him. How can he help me?"
The teleportation array began to glow with blinding intensity. Aeon had no time left. He swiftly placed his palm over Itzayana's head.
"What are you doing?" Itzayana asked, her eyes widening.
"Change of plan. Don't forget what I said," Aeon warned.
And then...
HEAVENLY THUNDER!
He unleashed a powerful shock into Itzayana, instantly rendering her unconscious. He caught her falling body and, in a blur, vanished into the shadows.
Just as he disappeared, the teleportation array fully opened, and a monstrous tide began to pour forth. Orcs, trolls, snow bears, one-horn rhinos, and countless other grotesque creatures flooded from the shimmering portal. Before them lay Black, his limbs severed, reduced to a helpless torso and head. The orcs, their eyes gleaming with bloodthirsty amusement, descended upon him.
Black screamed, a high-pitched, agonizing wail.
AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
His scream echoed through the forest, a final, chilling testament to his gruesome end.
On the other side of the forest, Silvia, Sara, Latty, James, Nana, Rolex, and Bryan waited anxiously for Kayle.
"Don't you think he's taking longer than expected? It's already been thirty minutes," Latty said, her voice edged with worry.
"Yeah, he shouldn't take that much time," James agreed. "In this forest, who knows what kind of threat is waiting for us?"
Silvia rose from her spot, her anxiety growing. "I'm going to check. He isn't the type to take this long."
"Wait, Silvia, you still need to rest after summoning Phoenix. Your mana is drained," James cautioned.
"No, I've already drank all those mana potions. I'm fine now," Silvia insisted, already moving.
"I'll also go," Sara volunteered.
"Why do you want to go? Just stay here," Silvia snapped, her temper frayed.
"He's our leader in this assignment; I can't leave him alone," Sara retorted, maintaining her composure. "And I'm not coming with you. I'll go my separate way."
"Hmph, suit yourself," Silvia grumbled.
"Alright, alright, guys, all of you stay here. I'll go check it out, okay?" James offered, trying to mediate.
Both Silvia and Sara gave him fierce, warning glares.
Then, suddenly, the ground began to shake violently.
"What is this? An earthquake?" Nana exclaimed, startled.
"An earthquake, at this time?" Rolex questioned, bewildered.
"We don't know, but everyone get on the Falcons! Karl, Xavier, take the students with you!" Bryan commanded, his voice sharp with urgency.
"Wait! What about Kayle? He hasn't come back yet!" Silvia cried out, refusing to move.
"I'll go check on him. You guys go back!" Bryan insisted.
But the ground started shaking even more violently. Everyone lost their balance, staggering.
"What's going on here?!" James shouted.
"Get on the Falcons!" Bryan repeated, his voice strained.
"No! I won't leave Kayle behind!" Silvia defied him, tears welling in her eyes.
"Stop it, Silvia! Bryan will get him!" James tried to reason, grabbing her arm.
"Hey, look over there! Someone's coming!"
Latty exclaimed, pointing through her glasses.
Silvia and Sara quickly donned their own glasses. They saw a figure approaching rapidly, carrying someone in his arms.
As the figure drew closer, they recognized his face. It was Kayle, holding Itzayana in his arms.
"It's Kayle!" Silvia cried, relief flooding her.
"But who is he holding?" Sara questioned, a note of suspicion in her voice.
Kayle, using his enhanced boots to their maximum capacity, reached them in a blur of motion. He ran incredibly fast, then directly leaped onto a waiting Falcon.
Silvia, Sara, Latty, James, Nana, and Rolex watched in stunned silence, shocked to see Kayle jump so high and land so effortlessly on a Falcon's back.
"Kayle, what's going on?! And who's this girl?!" Silvia demanded, her questions tumbling out.
"Get on! I don't have time to explain! Monsters are coming!" Kayle shouted, his face etched with grim urgency.
"What do you mean by monsters?" Bryan asked, his own concern mounting.
"Just get on!" Kayle roared.
Everyone saw the tense, desperate expression on his face and began scrambling onto the Falcons. But it was too late. A terrifying roar ripped through the air, and the monster horde reached them. Kayle quickly tied Itzayana securely to the Falcon's saddle.
Orcs, trolls, snow bears, rhinos, wolves, and countless other monstrous creatures surged forward, a terrifying wave of destruction.
"Fuck this!" Kayle cursed, jumping off the Falcon.
"Everyone, get on the Falcon! I'll hold them here!" Kayle commanded, drawing his blade.
"No, you guys go! Karl, Xavier, take them away! I'll hold the line!" Bryan yelled, placing himself between Kayle and the incoming horde.
Kayle raised his hands, ignoring Bryan.
LIGHTNING SPEARS!
With a flick of his fingers, he unleashed multiple crackling spears of pure lightning, piercing directly through the skulls of charging monsters.
"You guys leave! I can't hold them alone!" Kayle shouted, a hint of desperation in his voice as the sheer number of monsters became apparent.
WIND BLADES!
Multiple razor-sharp wind blades erupted, slicing through the monsters.
CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT! CUT!
Then, a powerful presence manifested. It was Latty, who had just summoned her high-rank wind spirit, 'Elurin,' a majestic, lion-like spirit.
"Not without you, Kayle!" Latty declared, her voice ringing with defiance. She launched Elurin at the monsters. Elurin, a whirlwind of claws and wind, tore apart the monstrous tide.
Sara also didn't hold back, summoning her high-rank water spirit, 'Wantrix,' a colossal whale-like creature. She ordered Wantrix, and it unleashed a massive wave of water, washing away hundreds of monsters.
Then, Silvia, unwilling to be left behind, also summoned her legendary spirit, Phoenix.
Phoenix breathed a devastating wave of fire, creating an immense fire wall that roared into existence, holding back the advancing horde.
"Silvia, why did you summon Phoenix again?! It'll drain your body's mana!" Kayle shouted, looking at her with concern.
"I don't want you to fight alone, and I can handle this much!" Silvia retorted, pushing more mana into the fiery barrier.
With Silvia maintaining the impenetrable fire wall, the monsters couldn't pass. Everyone seized the chance and clambered onto the Falcons.
The Falcons began to lift off, spreading their massive wings, ready for flight. They soared into the sky, leaving the inferno below.
On the ground, the monsters, unable to pass the fire wall, began to retaliate. The orcs started throwing their axes and stones at the ascending Falcons.
"Everyone, raise your shields!" Kayle commanded.
All of them quickly raised their shields from their gloves, protecting themselves from the incoming projectiles. But the impact was immense; the Falcons began to lose control, their movements disrupted by the bombardment.
The orcs didn't stop; they even began throwing smaller monsters from the ground, launching them like living projectiles.
Bryan and his knights raised their swords, slicing the airborne monsters mid-air.
SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH! SLASH!
But it wasn't enough; other monsters joined the assault.
Then, a monstrous wolf, propelled by unseen force, came flying directly towards Silvia, who was sitting behind Kayle. She reacted quickly, and Phoenix, still circling their Falcon, incinerated the wolf. But more wolves followed, hurtling towards them.
Phoenix circled frantically around Kayle's Falcon, breathing fire, burning down all the monsters that came close.
Kayle glanced back at Silvia, who was visibly exhausted from maintaining Phoenix.
"Silvia, unsummon it! We're leaving!" Kayle urged.
"No! I can handle it!" Silvia insisted, her resolve unwavering.
Then, from behind her, another wolf, larger and fiercer, flew through the air. Silvia, focused on maintaining the fire wall, didn't notice it.
"Silvia, dodge!" Kayle screamed, his voice filled with alarm.
He spun around, grabbing the mouth of the charging wolf. The wolf was ferocious, snarling, desperately trying to climb onto the Falcon. It buried its claws into Kayle's leg, and with its other claw, tried to strike Silvia.
Kayle, to protect Silvia, made a split-second decision. He threw himself from the Falcon, dragging the wolf with him, plummeting towards the ground below.
Silvia, seeing Kayle falling, screamed.
"Kaaaaayleeeeeee!"