A life-sized adult male mannequin made entirely of stone—crudely carved and assembled to an approximate height of two meters—now stood before them. Its surface was uneven, marked by cracks at every joint and characteristic fissures in the stone layers. Notably, the gap on its chest had been sealed over, replaced by a mysterious, dim brown light emanating through a network of fractures.
With this new form, Rocky sensed that his body had become easier to move, reminiscent of the fluidity he once had as a human. As he touched his face—a rough, scar-like line stretching nearly to where his ear should be (even though he had no ear, that area was still regarded as such) and two cavities in the place of eyes—he gradually realized that he could no longer see. Instead, he now perceived the world like a blind person, intuitively mapping the surroundings through sound and the movement of air (much like Toph from Avatar).
Beside him, a child of around four to five years old stood next to a mysterious old man with long, unruly hair framing his face. "Yay! It worked... Rocky! Rocky, you're perfect now!" Lylah exclaimed joyfully, hugging Rocky's leg. Even though his condition was not yet flawless, his new body was far superior to his previous form.
Overwhelmed with pride, Rocky knelt, emitting a low grinding sound as he gently stroked Lylah's hair. "Oh my! Rocky, your hands are so rough!" Lylah commented while clutching her slightly aching head.
Rocky immediately retracted his hand; at that moment, a smile spread across Lylah's face as she reached out and grasped his stony hand. "But your hands are like those of Master! I love them! Hehehe..."
Master Sage couldn't help but chime in, "Well, excuse me if these hands are not soft and wrinkle-free!" he added with a hint of playful reproach.
Lylah quickly took hold of Master Sage's hand and placed it on her head, "No! Master Sage's hand is big, warm, and comforting… I love it!" Sage smiled warmly, feeling almost like a grandfather, a reminiscence of past encounters.
Then, Master Sage turned his gaze toward Rocky, who now stirred with evident interest. "Alright, you are Lylah's creation; protect her and help her whenever needed, understood?"
Rocky responded immediately with a nod and another familiar grinding sound—an affirmation that amazed Master Sage. The golem before him nearly resembled a human now, showing signs of independent thought, which further confirmed the suspicion that it possessed a true soul.
Though Rocky was not fully aware of the dangers lurking in this new world, he chose to follow Lylah and Master Sage. "Alright! Then, Rocky, carry her… Master, Lylah is so adorable…" Lylah teased in a playful tone as Rocky happily hoisted her onto his shoulder. "Wii… so high! Look, Master! Lylah is taller than you now, hahaha!" she giggled.
Master Sage smiled contentedly and said, "Yes, yes… Be careful not to let her fall. Now, come on, let's eat!" The trio then walked together toward the dining room, led by Master Sage.
In the dining room, Master Sage produced fresh vegetables and meat from beneath his robe. With his magic, he swiftly boiled and roasted the ingredients without any spices—pure and simple. Meanwhile, Lylah fetched a cloth from her robe to cover Rocky's body.
Rocky, who could only "see" the flow of mana—a representation of what he once perceived as air—now sensed that Master Sage was manipulating delicate strands of silvery-white energy that transformed into red hues, indicating heat and an unseen yet palpable form. Although blind, he could feel that the fire was real, as he detected the shifting shadows of Lylah and Master Sage, each exuding an aura like a gentle, steady flame: calm on Master Sage and filled with exuberance on Lylah.
"Perfect! All done, hehehe... You look much better now, Rocky!" Lylah murmured softly, having unexpectedly dressed him up. His face, both hands, and legs were now swathed in long strips of cloth resembling gauze, while his torso was clothed in a simple vest and trousers—transforming him into a rustic figure, reminiscent of a country folk.
"Why did you do that, Lylah?" asked Master Sage, busy preparing the meal. Lylah just beamed with pride, "Hehehe… He looks human now, so I dressed him up a bit. How cool is that? Now I have a friend to play with!"
Master Sage shook his head gently at Lylah's antics. Meanwhile, although Rocky could neither eat, drink, nor smell, he felt an inner urge to experience these pleasures nonetheless. He came to understand that, despite no longer breathing in the old sense, there were alternative ways to "breathe" and enjoy life.
After the meal was finished, a drowsy Lylah requested that Rocky carry her to bed. Moments later, Master Sage swung his hand downward, conjuring two magic circles that released golden-silver chains to securely bind Rocky's body.
Rocky was then led to an unfamiliar chamber filled with weapons and bizarre tools. Amidst the chaos, Master Sage's tone turned accusatory as he demanded, "Who are you? I know you are the soul that has inhabited this golem body. What is the purpose of taking on this form?"
Rocky responded only with a grinding sound from his stony lips, further agitating Master Sage. "Speak up! What exactly are you? If you remain silent, I shall discover it myself!" Master Sage thundered.
The tension in the room escalated when he launched an attack, directing a burst of yellow light from his fingertips that struck Rocky's right leg. Although Rocky felt no pain, the impact shattered bits of stone, shaking both his mind and form. Yet, in a miraculous display, the scattered stones reassembled seamlessly—demonstrating the golem's regenerative power.
"Fascinating! On the outside, he appears as a mere hunk of rock, but inside, there seem to be crystals, like empty mana stone fragments. Are you like other golems? If your core remains intact, you will continue to regenerate!" Master Sage commented, tossing a fragment he had plucked from Rocky's structure.
Finally, with a forceful tone, Master Sage declared, "Hurry up—speak! Who are you truly? Otherwise, I will unravel the mystery myself!"