For a minute, no one flinched as the news about Marcus' passing on was fast spread across the area. Ashton lurched his hand into the pyre slowly closing the opened flare of Marcus' cloth to cover him up properly. He then began to say,
"What is this, Marcus? Open your eyes, stupid! You…you cannot leave yet. I have not won a fight against you yet…wake up."
Even his words failed to bring Marcus back and he was driven to tears at that moment.
"Everything is my fault, Marcus…I'm sorry. I'm really sorry. Just for one last time, open your eyes…let us have a duel one last time. I promise I will not let your teachings go to waste…let me use your tactics against you."
Again, nothing happened and Master Chen shook his head signaling to some guards to take Ashton away from the pyre.
"NO!!!!" Ashton raged as some thoughts began to flow through his mind in acknowledgment to what was happening.