P.S= #5: Who Was Izumi?

[2 Days has Passed Elders HQ - The Cathedral of Judgment Also Known As Veridominium Cathedral]

The Elder's HQ, known as the Cathedral of Judgment, was an awe-inspiring structure blending Gothic and Baroque styles. Towering spires with intricate carvings and gargoyles loomed above, while stained glass windows, depicting the Slayer System's history, bathed the interior in a vivid spectrum of colors.

Within the grand central hall, the high-vaulted ceiling featured ornate arches, frescoes illustrating the System's origins, and massive chandeliers that cast warm golden light. The wooden pews, with plush velvet cushions, faced a massive table where the elders convened during meetings. Tapestries, marble statues, and artifacts celebrated the System's history throughout.

The atmosphere in the Elder's HQ was charged with tension and disbelief, as the words of the prophecy sunk in.

"What!!! The prophecy was true." [Goujirou the 5th Elder] couldn't contain his shock and anxiety.

"Calm down, Goujirou," [Ichika the 1st Elder] tried to soothe his agitated comrade.

But Goujirou was far from calm. He snapped, "Calm down? Are you hearing yourself, old man?"

The room was divided as the elders exchanged their thoughts.

"1st Elder, Ichika is right. We don't have any proof that this boy is the same Cory that old man was talking about. His name is Coryeil, not Cory." [Kohaku the 9th Elder] voiced his skepticism, though a hint of fascination lingered in his voice.

"I think it's him, and he's so handsome, too. I could just eat him up. Haru, be a darling and introduce me to your brother."

[Rebecca, the 11th Elder] quipped with her characteristic wit.

"Go jump off a bridge." [Haruki the 12th Elder] teased her back.

Out of the twelve elders, only six were present at the meeting. They sat around a grand table, deep in discussion about the matter at hand. One elder, the youngest among them, was slumbering in his chair.

Kohaku was growing impatient, "Could someone wake him up, please?"

Rebecca took it upon herself to rouse the sleeping elder. She walked up to him, gently shaking him until he stirred.

"Honey, we're in a meeting; no sleeping, okay baby." said Rebecca with a smile on her face.

He turned his head towards her with a smile, offering a mumbled apology for his brief nap. Afterward, he returned to his seat.

Kohaku addressed the pressing issue, "We need to vote on what we should do about this crisis. I know he's your brother, Haru, but he's dangerous to us elders."

Haru, with a smile, rested his left hand on the table, his face partly obscured.

As long as my brother isn't killed for some arbitrary prophecy, then I'm good. said Haru with a cold look in his eyes.

Goujirou had a different perspective, "I think we should eliminate him, not just because he fits the description of the prophecy, but because he's a member of that clan. I thought the elders before us wiped them out."

Ichika reminded them, "We didn't call this meeting to discuss that. Anyways, let's see a show of hands for those who want Cory dead."

As the elders began to vote, questions loomed about the absent members of their council.

"What about the rest of the elders?" said Haru. 

[Endri, the 8th Elder] offered a solution, "We can't wait for them. The six of us will make the decision."

Goujirou raised his right hand, signifying his belief that Cory was a significant threat not only to the elders and the Slayer System but to himself as well. Kohaku and Ichika voted to spare Cory for the time being, while the remaining three elders chose to keep him alive.

As the meeting neared its end, Endri noticed something in the photograph of Cory on the table that the others had missed. He called their attention to it.

"There's something bothering me about this picture." said Endri.

The other elders turned to the photo, puzzled by Endri's statement.

"What is it? If it's about his smile, it pisses me off, too." said Goujirou.

 "I like his smile; it makes me feel safe." said Rebecca with a smile on her face.

Rebecca's suggestive comments didn't sit well with Endri, who retorted, "No, you pervert."

Endri pointed at the silver cross chain around Cory's neck, and the other elders examined the photo closely.

"He's wearing the same chain Izumi once wore." said Endri.

The revelation left the elders in stunned silence. They had overlooked a crucial detail.

Ichika broke the silence, reflecting, "I think we should keep our eyes on Mr. Coryeil Silva."

[1 Day has Passed The Kingdom of Earth]

High above the kingdom of earth, the trio, led by Cory, marveled at their new surroundings. Cory, known for his light-hearted demeanor, couldn't help but comment, "Wowww!" When they say the kingdom of earth, "I thought it would be more earthy." said Cory.

Kiyomizu, with an amused expression, questioned his assumption, "Why would it be earthy?"

Cory shrugged playfully, "I don't know, because of its name."

With a gesture, Cory signaled to Ava to descend into the kingdom. The dragon's powerful wings cut through the air as they swiftly made their descent. Upon landing, they swiftly dismounted as Ava reverted to her human form. The kingdom's residents paid them little attention, as they were accustomed to the arrival of slayers and trinities.

The group wandered the kingdom's bustling streets, where towering buildings made of glass and sand loomed above them. The architecture was strikingly different from the light kingdom. The heart of the kingdom held grand statues of the 1st generation of heavenly generals. These statues, crafted from cero stones, combined the strength of diamond, quartzite, and sand, creating the most robust stone known to man.

While admiring the statues, Cory couldn't help but notice a detail about Izumi. He shared the same chain around his neck as Cory himself. It was a revelation that gave him pause. Ava, with wisdom in her voice, noted that such coincidences weren't uncommon in their world.

The statues bore epithets beneath them. Shiki was known as the "Yellow Dragon King," Blaise earned the title of "Dark Titan," Astra was celebrated as the "Sword Saint," and Athena was revered as the "War Sage." However, for some reason, Izumi's statue lacked an epithet.

After their moment of reflection, they made their way to a nearby restaurant. The friendly waitress served them their meals.

"Here you go, sweetie," she said with a warm smile.

Cory accepted the plate with gratitude. "Thanks."

The waitress winked, "No problem, hun."

Eager to savor his meal, Cory tore into his food with an insatiable appetite, devouring the delicious pizza.

Kiyomizu, intrigued by Cory's enthusiastic eating, turned to Ava. She couldn't help but voice her curiosity.

"Isn't it weird that Mr. Izumi doesn't have an epithet?" Kiyomizu wondered.

Ava, well-versed in the traditions of their world, wore a knowing expression as she replied, "Why is that weird?"

Kiyomizu expanded on her thought, "Because the rest of them have epithets, and a slayer without one is like a slayer without a name. Take Mr. Shiki, for example; his epithet is 'Yellow Dragon King' due to his unique drive. And we know Mr. Blaise's epithet is 'Dark Titan' because of his extraordinary height and strength."

Cory, lost in thought, raised his hand to beckon the waitress once more. She promptly came over to take his second order. As she departed, Cory, his chin resting on his hand, attempted to recollect a piece of his grandfather's wisdom regarding Izumi from his youth.

"Oh, I know why," he announced.

Ava, intrigued, inquired, "Um, why?"

Cory shared his grandfather's wisdom, "My granddad said he didn't need one because he was no one."

Kiyomizu, taken aback, slammed her hand on the table and sprang to her feet, exclaiming, "What?!"

Startled patrons in the restaurant turned their attention to the sudden commotion. Realizing the scene she had caused, Kiyomizu blushed and sheepishly returned to her seat.

The friendly waitress returned with Croy next order.

"Here you go, sweetie."

Cory's excitement was palpable as he gazed upon the 7-in-1 pizza set before him.

"Wow, so this is 7-in-1," Cory marveled.

The waitress nodded, "Yes, hun."

He couldn't contain his enthusiasm, "Wow, it looks amazing. Thanks for the food."

With a sip of green tea, Kiyomizu regarded Cory and Ava.

Ava couldn't quite grasp the concept, prompting her to ask, "What do you mean by he's no one?"

Cory explained further, "He wasn't really willing to reveal his true name, to be honest."

Kiyomizu, still puzzled, inquired, "Huh, what do you mean?"

In response, Cory picked up a napkin and a pen, swiftly writing 'Izumi' on it. He continued to elucidate, mindful of the significance of an epithet among the Slayers and the Heavenly Generals.

"As you said, a Slayer without an epithet is like a Slayer without a name, and it's even more critical for a member of the 5 Heavenly Generals."

Cory went on to offer a unique perspective, saying, "But Izumi is his epithet."

Ava, intrigued by the notion, pressed for an explanation, "What do you mean?"

Cory used a metaphor to clarify, "Okay, think of him as gravity, and the others are the people."

Ava, while still grappling with the analogy, voiced her confusion, "You're not making sense."

Cory tried another approach to clarify, saying, "I mean, they didn't know his first name or his last name, so they decided to name him after his drive. That's what my granddad said."

Kiyomizu, now better informed, responded, "What? But his name is Izumi, and his drive was water. Besides, not all the generals have last names."

Cory, patient in his explanation, picked up another napkin and continued writing.

Cory sought to clarify, "Look, 'Izumi' means 'spring of water,' which was his drive, so they gave him the name Izumi. Only the other generals would know his real name. So basically, his name is his epithet."

Kiyomizu, still somewhat puzzled by the explanation, remarked, "That doesn't make sense anyway. So, the biggest question is..."

Cory interrupted, pondering, "Who is Izumi?"

Ava chimed in with a thought-provoking question, "No, who was?"

Having finished their meal, they exited the restaurant. As they strolled through the kingdom, they came across a distressed little boy, tears streaming down his face. Cory approached the boy and kindly inquired, "What's wrong?"

However, before the boy could respond, a girl with long blonde hair and pink eyes. she was wearing a white and purple top with her arms are covered by a pair of white and purple sleeves with a white skirt with purple edges she also wears a purple and white thigh length heels. She descended from the sky, brandishing her sword and aiming a lethal strike at Cory's head. With lightning-quick reflexes, Cory narrowly managed to block her attack with his sword, averting a potentially fatal blow.

The girl declared with a menacing tone, "I have come for your head, Coryeil Silva."