Out of respect for this talk, Mindarch suggested the basics of what a Panacea of his current stages acquired, or what his position as Anatidae in general ant.
That was why Murai wasn't hesitant over the rest of his questions.
“Minor Perk. What have you considered to be my Chaotic Perk question? You ntioned disappointnt.”
[That is... a weird question. Do you ask ? I can't answer that. It doesn't resolve around the Anatidae?]
“Bullshit. Shall I voice it differently then? I can bend words like Gods always do without a blink.”
Mindarch grunted for once and made a simple answer.
[What a weird Minor Perk question. What a waste. Fine.]
[I consider the Chaotic Perks as the epito of interest. A full-blown projection! Question Mark doesn't always have such a Perk. You kind of wasted it, but not under your soul, I believe. You sought out what you didn't know. It was kind of bland and basic, but it has been worth more for you than my Codex. The reason is your lack of context, Mother, and instincts. How one would spend that differs, so does your ghost have her answer?] Mindarch pointed an answer to Lisa.
She knew how this went, but she didn't stop Murai from his Perks or questions. It was for him alone. Not for her to barge in.
“Chaotic Perk can be anything. Full projection of Anatidae is my idea, which revolves around no limits whatsoever, unlike your question.” She said to Murai. “Chaotic Perk question can work in principle as a full explanation of the entire species or any topic without any limits. You did ask sothing of that kind, but into a more defined category that followed your needs alone, which Mindarch did work with well. He answered enough, but he could've answered in such lengths and interest, that you would get your ideas about evolutions, their history behind strength, and various other things that other Perks couldn't get.”
[Nice rundown. Couldn't say it any better.]
Muria was kind of speechless when he thought about it, but he wasn't feeling bad or disappointed since he knew what to ask next. Chaos Perk or not, he still had the last remaining Wild Perk. He asked what he wanted anyway, so he got what he wanted. That was enough for him to not be depressed.
“Alright. No need to cry over spilled nothing. Next question.” Murai said. “Last Wild Perk will go into this then. Panacea Evolutions and how to find them? I need answers... clues, or anything of that sort. Chaotic Perk or not, Wild will have to do for them alone.”
[Good idea. But... This topic isn't finite to answer, as it depends on outer things, your limits, ways evolutions work, and other things. Finding and taking care of the next evolutions depends on Will of the Batleworld, rather than myself.]
“But you can answer that because of your Codex and research. You said it!”
[I can put clues to that, but not a whole lot of facts. Talk about Evolutions of Anatidaes is one of my favorite Codex Chapters. Fine, I will give your Wild Perk so face.]
[Panacea further evolutions? That is easy enough. There are a lot of them as Panacea is the primary evolution choice of every Seedling, second to Peniscula, and last being sothing specific to a direct Bloodline of your family. It could be anything, or sothing specific, or completely new.]
“That is... interesting.” Murai humd, rembering that he had Anatidae of the Death. It seed so duck in his family Bloodline got close to Death. “Go on.”
[Change is what evolutions do the best. The flow of Bloodline goes to the past regardless of direct family mbers, but it isn't always true. Familiarity, compatibility, and ways of blood are wild. Even soone from across the world can influence the choices of the evolution. Will of the Battleworld ensures this idea like Law within its Codex, acting for the sake of nurous new or old sub-species, or variables in species in general. Creating new beasts with fuses, or weird mixes of Bloodlines adds new complexity to the whole Codex.]
[For example, Panacea and Penisclua are known as key evolutions of Anatidaes, making each seem like a choice akin to a Pathway filled with Paths that are sub-species instead. They are all going in their respective directions without influencing one another unless one truly wants to change to sothing else. Panacea shouldn't like to follow the suit of Peniscula, but it isn't a limit. It would just add problems in many ways, or unfamiliarity because of their differences.]
“Good analogy,” Lisa added, half impressed and half amused.
[But at the end of the day, you are a Panacea. It is clear you don't want to change it. Those handle all magical proportions as mages do, but so have their respective changes that are intense. That is where Classes and sub-species of Panacea co into play, acting as pivotal changes that could change them drastically.]
[For now, what are the evolutions? Anything after the first evolutions for Anatidaes is fairly impressive and wild in requirents or locks, but if you ask how co you have none, I have no clue. I got that both of you are worried about it, or questioning the choices. There could be so ntions at least, with told requirents that would an better clarity or goal. Like reaching 120 in so attributes, for example, or a Grade of so affinity? Anyway...]
[So choices are tougher to get, but as Class D Panacea Child, the upcoming evolution for you might have drastic changes and Walls, but that depends on what you want, or what... the choices will end up like. Again...]
“You don't know the details. Sure. Continue. I am sure you know so specifics.” Murai said.
[Your choices are not up to my guess. I would even dare to say that you should've gotten more changes than a asly Aquantis that isn't that hard to get. It is in the sa vision as a Panacea, so it makes sense it is available as it is compatible with you almost 85%. That goes according to my Codex. Water, magic, and everything else poise as that kind of interest.]
“Oh, you are taking percentages into your mouth right now?”
[Compatibility matters the most in terms of evolution after the starting one. In Pathways, it doesn't matter if is sothing unkept. I am covered under Levandis' orders. It doesn't happen naturally.]
“Bumr.” Murai sighed.
[So evolutions have so knock on so other aspects besides the magical Panaceas. It is what compatibility ans, and every Anatidae is thus, very different from another when all kinds of powers rge. So of them can take specific evolutions much better than others, you see? Then, so are very dangerous, as their requirents may speak of drastic limiters, Classes, and success is like relying on luck. Reaching them may require specific accomplishnt, great powers, and progress as a Panacea. Of course, that is about you. Penisculas have their routes, while you have yours.]
“So basically, you aren't answering anything specific, but take knowledge up your ass?”
[I am answering it the best I can.]
[Oh, and we don't take refunds. So...] Mindarch laughed.
“Figured. Go on. What about the Panacea and my interest then? You are yet to answer it anyway. Are there so strengths or ways to get going quicker? Discover so evolutions?”
[That requires a new Perk. I spoke of a Wild Perk enough.]
“Done. Answer it.” Murai said wihtotu qeustion. He had a last Perk left.
[Minor one?]
“I have none other left,”
[Going and focusing on discovering evolutions is an interesting topic that is kind of deep and complicated. You've got Sharpness, Flas, and well-done Panacea properties. Next choices of your Panacea sub-species should've been opened to you, or at least spoken in their requirents like Aquantis.]
[But.. it isn't the case.]
“Sure it isn't. Why?”
[So incompatible issues or Will of the Battleworld deems Encounter as enough to cease the information away. That is my guess.]
Murai almost got depressed, but so far, he got plenty of information out of him to keep his head straight.
“So focusing on Panacea is the future. I should just continue and do my best. That allows or ets the requirents for following evolutions that might or might not appear... Huh?! I hate this approach. Can't I just evolve on my own? ”
[Right. No, you can't. Will of the Battleworld creates all of the potential, possible, or hidden evolutions. It is a system solely dedicated to this planet. The ghost must've said it to you already. No. In fact, she talked about it throughout the last day in Islands of Greatness, along with the Influence Items you are seeking. Evolutions are dedications of this world. Everyone shall take them for treasures. So they have rules, privileges, and various chances. Beasts take them for true blessings. You should too.]
“I did speak how he wanted it. Have you been eavesdropping on us all that ti, Mindarch?” Lisa asked, half smiling and half holding her anger and curiosity over what else Mindarch knew about Murai's conditions. There should be a lot of things that this thing was hiding.
[As Will of the Battleworld often says: I am encompassing and under every rock.] Mindarch laughed. [I do listen and read it all. It is my rule and power. That is what is my purpose. Across hundreds of interesting points as well, things make more sense with context and sight. Fun tis they might be, so could be often confusing when one puts them together. Oh well.]
“My condolences to your Lady then,” Murai said, surprising Mindarch and Lisa alike. “But you did answer well for what I wanted to know. Ti to get the rest of it behind and get the rewards flowing.”
[Sure...]
“Can you suggest to so Influence Item or Key Artifact from the Minor Perk? Insides of that hut is up to your benefit, right?”
[Can't.]
“But it involves the Anatidae. !”
[Well... if you ntion it like that, I can bend a knee. If it will be needed, if not then the Minor Perk is gone.]
In the end, Murai had no remaining questions so he kept one Minor Perk just in case.
Mindarch gave him more than enough information to keep going without much change. So much so, that he considered Lisa less knowledgeable.
She had no sha in that. She knew that Mindarch had a godly Codex of interest that spanned centuries and millennia. That ant he had information about millions of individuals across many points in ti and space. All the mories stored under his Codex were essentially endless. Levandis got a fine tool under her grasp, as Lisa rembered.
But still, she thought Mindarch would give Murai a better edge at figuring out his problems and ideas. He didn't change it that far. Or the way he talked was the most valuable answer to her worries.
Why?
Mindarch basically didn't help much because he couldn't do it well enough, or it was because of other problems Lisa had in mind, but not in her mouth.
The easier reason could be a lack of information about Murai, which wouldn't surprise her. He could've Breached and put many strands of problems into the flow of these worldly powers, which Mindarch's Codex wouldn't change.
Evolutions were part of that, or other choices were different and he didn't want to reveal it because of sothing specific. So rules or his inability to talk were simple ideas Lisa doubted were sensible. It may be because Murai had nothing available, so Mindarch took the easy route with his Perks or topics.
Lisa didn't like that idea. This place was far too valuable to pass it as a bunch of excuses. Information requests from Mindarch were greater than that. She should've spoken about it or offered it so clarity herself, but it was far too late.
This could explain the silence from Will of the Battleworld and Mindarch's inability to give him better clarity. Besides the generic information she heard him tell, few things surprised her.
She couldn't imagine what the true Codex of this world was like. Mindarch was just ruling over a small region after all, but the kind that allowed Levandis to grow and beco Ruler of her own Hell Haven.
That was a big deal. Lisa wondered what kind of thing allowed Lordis to be the Ruler of an entire Battleworld, setting an age where Gods flourished and countless powers rose to existence and flew Beyond the Sky.
Lisa couldn't imagine that.
It took about an hour for Murai to get over his questions and so rest, similar to Mindarch who felt his Codex heating up.
“That was fun. Much appreciation, Midnarch.” Murai said.
[I think I overdone it with Perks... Your demands are far too vast, filled with secrets but honesty.]
“Too bad. I got what I deserved. So continue and hope like you do. I think it feels fitting for my living, huh?” Murai sighed and felt that his findings and new knowledge didn't crack his options. For now, he should trust his body a little bit more. Mindarch said plenty of things about Anatidaes and his Chaotic Perk gave him a lot of assurances. He was on the right track ahead.
That was enough for him, even if Lisa ended up dissatisfied.
Mindarch chuckled, sounding more like a cry. [Enjoy what lies in that hut. I will see you soon.] Then, he went silent for the ti being, but thinly, his awareness was still around, watching and waiting.
Murai turned his attention to the next destination, which was a haggard-looking hut built on a patch of land in the middle of this strange lake. Standing there as if it had always been, it had better years behind its existence, but perhaps it was all a front?
Murai considered Sonar workable, so he rushed it ahead, feeling a tense sensation all over his mana space and core.
He felt and saw rich mana in everything, crashing his senses and overworking his mind and Sonar. He saw nothing besides painful reminders that this water was special and this cave dense in all sorts of feelings that flooded his Sonar.
So he scowled and let his mana do its thing. He won't use it for another hour. He was far too spent after the fight against Anatidae Golem. The rest didn't help him all that much, while that flight through Chaos Space was rougher than his landing.
Behind him, Lorry was surprisingly silent throughout the talks with Mindarch. Lisa was more than part of this conversation, so she floated above Murai for most of the last hour.
With so power under his legs, Murai got to his own feet and began walking. Itchy and hurt, his body endured the previous days of battles and training. Murai accepted it and hoped for so rest, or will the Boost after this Gate help him? It should, but for now, he gave that hut a proper physical look.
He left the floating pair behind him. They didn't seem to follow his steps.
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Lisa seed to have sothing in mind, so she nudged closer to Lorry, who wasn't going anywhere after what had just occurred. It took him a good while to calm down.
“What's up on your mind?” Lisa asked him. “I thought Mindarch would be better. Murai is far too interesting, so he should have his choices, and the topics of Anatidaes are vast. Evolutions too are sothing his Codex should've gotten long ago. Panacea is relatively normal, right?”
“Hm. Who knows? It was still an interesting discussion, but Lorry doesn't care for what Mindarch decides. Speaking is worth. Worth is secret. It is full of secret stuff and Anatidae knowledge that I've never reached. Perhaps I could've... Perhaps speaking more wouldn't hurt.” Lorry said while forgetting to speak in his usual style. He was still a Guide so his attention was all over the place.
Mainly, sothing about the current vision of the Reward Island looked weird. He knew all the locations of this temple like the back of his skull.
Lisa heard his words but didn't process enough of his worries. “Though so... Murai will accept it because he has no choice, but I don't like it. So, is this place fine? I don't rember the cave... but a wide area of water instead. Is this new?”
“Yes. It is recently constructed out of the parts of so topics and Gates down and up. Don't ask why or how, please.”
“Oh.”
Suddenly, a flash of light and a beam of weird energy crashed into the cave from the hole above, slamming into the hut like a thin line of light, before furthering and disappearing into the hut. There, the light spread from the windows, blinding everything as sothing changed.
[What the fuck was that!?] Mindach shouted in shock.
“What that moron caused again?” Lisa asked and turned away from Lorry.
Murai was standing a handful of distance away from the water, processing the idea of how to get into the hut. Swimming sounded easy, but he looked at the hut first before considering the water of this circular lake.
As he did so, a flash of mana and light from the few windows of the hut exploded and danced all over the cave, drowning everything in sight.
It shook the worldly mana, quivered the waters, and the hut itself trembled as if on the verge of destruction.
Then it all cald down as fast as it appeared.
“C-careful.. We don't know what was that!” Lisa's voice sounded into Murai's soul. Lorry was unaware of her worry.
But soone was. [Sothign nasty happened...] Mindarch argued as the light disappeared, leaving the hut's windows bright alone, and leaving it calm.
It ca from there. It is inside. [Soone nasty visits.]
Lisa jerked her head at the hut, arriving quickly at Murai's side. “Is sothing wrong?”
Murai took care of his vision, blinking and shaking his head. He felt normal. Nothing happened to him whatsoever.
“That surprised . What was that light? We are still inside this temple, so no worries. Is that right?” He asked Mindarch.
[Oh... Well, I don't see the end of it now. Sothing changed the outco, it seems. Not . Not . Soone else beyond.]
[Free to act... Free...] Mindarch's voice slowly disappeared away, as if fading to void.
[Levandis... Demands it. Please... be careful.] Mindarch disappeared as a whole from this cave.
“Well, he is gone.” Murai figured. “Fine or not, nothing is wrong with so privacy. Hut seems open, however.” Murai noticed a creaking door at the front of the hut that went to the light.
“There is so no need for questions, huh? No pain no gain? No end without a new gain?” Lisa asked a bunch of questions that made no sense to her. “You fear few consequences, you lunatic duck. Go on then. I can't be bothered with you, but don't be stupid either. You got what you wanted, so take what you want from that hut too.” She argued and watched how Murai jumped into the water.
He swam across glowing water that seed brighter than before. Mana of the water glid through his feathers, neck, and legs, easing frustration and fatigue away. Feathers bent to a healthy sheen and angle, his mana space cald, and Beast Core's beats and cycling reached half the revolving speed, calming down as if it was in utter bliss. Its structure was as if sleeping, and its mass seed fuller as if it ate sothing nice.
The effects of this Pool were like a healing artifact, overwhelming Murai's physicality and mana.
In a few dozen breaths, Murai felt brand new from the outside as if a God touched his head. He crashed at the other side, falling face down on the ground.
“Ungrateful landing...” He cursed as he was taken aback by what just happened.
“Were there for 24 whole seconds...” Lorry mumbled behind Lisa. Murai hadn't heard him.
“W-what?” Lisa turned to him. “Is that water... special?”
“Try that yourself.” Lorry chuckled as she did, picking a finger into it that sizzled her finger away.
“Godly pool... Why or what it is?” She didn't mind the lost finger. It can regrow.
“Shouldn't be like this. Finding a way in is part of the challenge. So jump there, but swimming is correct as this Pool is training and a small blessing.”
“...or part of what fuels or cools this place?” Lisa mumbled.
Lorry didn't follow this topic further, believing that sothing changed with that light that shook this whole cave, Pool included.
Murai got to his feet, feeling refreshed and in peak condition with his body alone. His insides had still so problems, but it wasn't anything major. He cracked his neck and stretched his wings and legs before turning back. “Felt better, but with core calm, other things will follow. What an interesting Pool. Got to the land in a half minute. Fatigue works like a curse anyway, so... Anyway, you two not coming?”
“Murai is there alone. ” Lorry shouted. “Like every Island. Alone and well, unless Lisa wants in. Lorry doesn't, so good luck.”
Murai snorted and looked at Lisa who shrugged. She could co to his side at any point since there was no fight inside the hut. Or so she thought...
She decided to not try her luck, so Murai turned back to the hut. Glaring at the creaking door in no wind, he had a clear path ahead wide open, because he was a duck. He was slim, but even though the door would fit him, he kicked the door further inside.
Mana and wind flowed out of the entrance, hitting his face and almost slapping him aside.
Murai bore his feet to the ground, cluched his wings, and curved his neck down. His eyes were wide open, unlike his back. He glared into the interior. He didn't fly away like he felt, so he took this power that bent his feathers and pushed his innards to submission. Either it was a test, or sothing happened from the way Mindarch panicked.
He was curious so he stepped forward against the storm.
Inside the hut were... There were no insides. No furniture was there, let alone a bright light. Instead, the dark twisted space of night was in the entrance. There was just a flickering empty space, but much deeper in mass as if space was bent and twisted.
It was another case of semi-close space but destroyed or altered. It was vastly different than a Space Cage, as it was a true separate dinsion, rather than a runic formation to cease senses away. It was making Murai hesitant if he should go into it.
He wasn't sure if he was supposed to co in alone, and his hesitation and wide open door made Lisa even more uncertain. She never heard of a separate dinsion being inside the hut, or was this also sothing new?
Turning to Lorry, she couldn't read his face or Soul Flas.
“Is that new?” She asked the only question that made sense.
“It isn't supposed to be like that,” he mumbled. “Mindarch is gone though. I have no clue what goes on now or before. All is up to luck, hands or wings?”
All of the reward rooms were completely open to enter for anyone. Be it Life Companions, slaves, or regular companions and friends, Guides included. Getting there wasn't easy though.
Apart from so special instances, or the ones that should challenge the Challenger to co inside, it was a place for rewards alone. It wasn't the case for Murai, so why did it happen? The light changed it. This hut wasn't a special trial.
A pair of Vaults in Gate 1 were simple. A single choice would cease the other. Rules were in this temple to let Levandis's Authority be beyond the Laws.
This looked suspicious. Lorry didn't know what the problem with that space was, but he had seen separate dinsions many tis. That by itself wasn't problematic. The hut was supposed to be a small dinsion, but comparable to the Space Cage. This looked extra crisp and altered. Normally, there would be clear widened hut interiors, allowing the room to be big enough for all kinds of rewards.
Wait, what if Lorry plays dumb? It wouldn't be the first ti he is like this. Lisa though. Hell, I didn't even know you could skip so Islands in Islands of Greatness.
She gave up and drifted toward the space to take a proper look. But just as she was above the water and far from the land, a gust of wind and mana exploded from the entrance and forced her away.
Just when Murai walked in, disappeared into the space that twisted and let him in. Whatever it was, it didn't let her in. There was so resistance just for her and Lorry, but Murai went in without any hindrance.
Lisa looked at the space in suspicion, holding her hands around the spatial ring.
And from within the space, a beak appeared. Murai ca back, but only with his head. “Not coming, huh? Well, I guess I will see you soon after my choices.” Murai sneered, unafraid of what this was about. He knew no boundaries or worries Lisa had.
He disappeared into the hut again, leaving Lisa helpless, while Lorry didn't know what to think.
“Do you know what this is?” Lisa backed away.
“Afraid not.” Lorry shook his head.
“Stop lying to !” Lisa retorted, not falling for his lies that she should know, but wasn't sure of. She was also an excellent liar after all, so liars should know the other liars. It did occur to her that so changes in this place were due because 50 years were 50 years. So things would change for sure, but perhaps this was a change that occurred now, rather than in the past.
However, all that Lorry did was shake his skull, leaving further discussion pointless.
“Lorry never heard of such mana before. It is deep and dense like the starry sky itself. Has so God played so cards behind my Lady's back? Even this cave is detached because of its value and reputation this place holds, making it lonely and unlikely for any Breaches.”
“Breaches? So God made their move again!?”
“Again?” Lorry flared his eyes, eying Lisa in curiosity. “Seems your little pet has so interests around him that one would expect. Blessed and insane, his path and lives sound like sothing many beings want. A piece of him, perhaps? How hungry one could get for him, I wonder.”
“Don't play dumb with . With him gone, we can speak how we can,” Lisa argued. “He surrounds others. Not the other way around.”
“That makes him what?” Lorry asked a useless question in unlikely seriousness that ignored his speech patterns.“I thought this would be a rare option that Manager Kil gave away from their previous topics, but I can't guess what this is any longer. Mindarch's disappearance is also suspicious. I can't contact him any longer either, so that makes his divining parts lacking, or sothing special happened that needed all his parts added together. That is weird. He is always up to as a Guide.”
Hearing his words, Lisa grunted in displeasure, changing her glance back to the hut. Her connection to Murai, as with every dinsion, wasn't working. This ti, it was severed even better, unlike before when she would sense his mild emotions and physical well-being.
Back in Gate 2, it didn't frustrate her or stop her discussions with Lorry. This, on the other hand, made her nervous. Being unaware of the situation was sothing she always hated. Whether she was alive or dead, yet alive at the sa ti, she preferred clarity over so ss.
“I am just worried,” Lisa added and decided to wait it out.
“For him or you?” Lorry laughed and piqued his Soul Flas with ideas that seed to be fine to get out of her right now. Away from Murai and Mindarch, this was the perfect opportunity for both of them.
***
Further in the hut, twisted space spread and the energy inside of this space exploded like a supernova.
Surrounded by the dense space that looked pitch black, which was made of incredibly small amounts of little swirling specks of energy, Murai stood.
He felt he had seen that sort of thing before, and not once or twice, so he didn't panic. Quite the opposite. Murai walked to the exploding matter, and at that mont, the room revealed itself as if a handful of pictures widened thousands of tis.
It was a rather surprising sight, with wide-spread walls, great details, and modern interiors. It was kind of minimalistic, which Murai didn't expect. Unlike the exterior, the insides were full of polished wood of quite a few colors and quality.
It was a single room, with blocks of shiny wood for a floor, a wide chandelier in the middle for light, and tables and rewards were all there as well. It was a rectangular room, with tables or shelves of all kinds around the wall. So were brown, others tallic or with shelves or glass boxes hiding many bottles or artifacts.
For Murai, as with many things, this room appeared quite large thanks to his lacking perspective. It wasn't made for giants at least. Everything was human-sized.
However, unlike his expectation to pick his treasures alone, he wasn't here alone. He sensed a presence hiding... Well, it wasn't hiding. Soone was there, sitting on a chair in the corner.
His Sonar picked nothing, as he didn't even consider using it. He picked sothing with his Soul Read. An existence. That was it. Nothing else. Not even emotions or sothing else. He just knew soone was sitting in a corner, working beside the table. Back facing his eyes, he could rely on his eyes.
It was an old man wearing a luxurious uniform with layered leather and a few simple tallic outlines. It looked like a craftsmanship uniform or military uniform. Probably both, or none at all because it was hard to tell what this old man was about. He ignored Murai completely, sitting beside the desk, watching, reading, or working on sothing important.
Either the old man didn't notice the new arrival, or he was too busy with work his work in this special space that he altered.
So, Murai lifted his legs, walking to the old man at the corner first without admiring the rewards at all. He felt he shouldn't do this, but sothing told him that he should take this old man seriously.
For the ti being, he ignored his surroundings for mud. His interest was in this individual because his mind and hunch were flaring like watching the sky turning red.
“What the hell is this?” He quacked, trying to see if the tongue of the Anatidae would give this old man so fright or wake-up call. Perhaps it could be sothing this old man knew, or his quacks would poise as simple call?
Surprisingly, after hearing the quacks of annoyance, the old man turned his chair on the spot, revealing his front.
He was looking wary and sharp, and his face was serious. Looking straight down, every act under his eyes, head, and the chair itself was lighting fast.
His eyes weren't that old, hiding behind glistering glasses of shiny tal and glass. His quite receded hairline didn't add anything good, but Murai bet his wings that old fools were never to be underestimated. This old man should be nothing short of impressive, or straight-up disastrous.
His remaining hair was unkept, or hardly taken care of, similar to his roughly trimd beard. At the front, the luxurious feeling of the clothes vanished, revealing clothes that seed to have better days behind them. He looked improper, albeit he looked important.
Now, he looked like an overworked grandpa scientist who had way too much on his shoulders.
“Welco. Welco. Oh, who do we have here? No knocking is there in this age? Oh, I know why. I arrived quickly... bent so rules and invited myself in. So bear the consensus behind the head.” The old man waved his hand and spoke like his acts: quickly and without any lacking movents behind. “Coming to this temple seed like an interesting notion, choice, or it was forced like Fate touching the Skies? I wonder which makes sense more? A duck or an old man with a questionable mind, or a eting between us? Perhaps we are alike.”
He was speaking in quiet, yet incredibly fast speech.
Murai heard every word, but any improper or untrained ears wouldn't pick so words for sure. So would feel overwheld by his weird accent, which, added to his speech, increased his talking speed.
Frowning in surprise, Murai didn't know what to do. Did he have a choice to speak or act before this old man? He spoke and looked at him with interest and curiosity, but the things he spoke were weird.
Alas, while his mind was preoccupied with acts and questions that he wasn't taking for granted, soone moved and decided on so acts himself.
At an unknown ti, the old man got up from the chair, leaned down to pick him up, and gently placed him on the table. He barely made any wasted movents, and Murai was far too late to notice the change in scenery or flow of wind, energy, mana, or creaks in the floor. The room was looking normal at least, with nothing bad lingering around.
Even if Murai wanted to counter his moves, he was sure he wouldn't be able to do shit.
This left him confused, speechless, and disappointed, but he felt absolutely zero danger from this old man whatsoever. And he wasn't sure if he should fear for his life because of it. He didn't feel anything good from him either, so it added to his mood.
He was... done for, wasn't he? He felt like a toy in yet another hand.
That was why it was confusing, suspicious, and terrifying at the sa ti. It was unnatural, like seeing the lakes in the sun, flaring Pools in the moon, or gardens full of birds chirping in the middle of the void.
It was either the old man was far too powerful and beyond the Extre, or he was an existence that Murai feared and hated to his bones.
He felt he was wrong in either of these ideas, or both... or everything was weird. This added to his preoccupied mind that tried to seek through this old man. One of these choices was impossible because those would never beco physical.
And Extres were... not like this? He t only a pair of Extres so far. That was Thar and Manager Kil. Nobody else.
On the table, the old man left him there. Murai was unhurt and standing like a motionless statue, glaring onward as if he lost his motor skills. He noticed a lot of stuff on the table, ranging from leather working sets, tools, and all kinds of writings, pictures, and technical docunts of all sorts of armor. There were also materials, books, and toolkits for leatherworking, blacksmithing, and other professions.
The old man watched Murai with open curiosity and unblinking eyes, and Murai bet he was frowning too.
“Hm? Hm? Feathers are smaller than I thought they would be. Age is why, I reckon. at too, possibly. als as well. Right. Growth.” He added and without much hesitation, he began to take the majority of Murai's sizes with a piece of sizing tape that held the asurents that he needed.
Once again, there were no wasted movents, so he worked quicker than a master of such craft.
Murai kept observing this man, speechless by this situation that didn't suit his tastes.
Did he co here for a reward, for Artifacts and choice of his important Influence Item? Not for... this. What he was doing even? Who was this man? What should make sense?
Those questions littered his brain for a good while until he had enough and moved his beak.
“What's on your mind, Old Child? Oh, that sounds improper. Soone would get angry if they heard . Glad I am alone, hidden too.” the old man suddenly said before Murai got his chance to quack.
Once more, talking in the sa fast pattern, this old man had no stops in his speech. His hands moved as fast as his mouth, and soon, the starting asurents were done. He took care of the neck, wings, belly, and all the most important sizes.
Then, he turned sideways, deciding to work with so leather and tallic materials with a knife in one hand. It went quickly like a sudden storm, so who knew what else was he handling and doing with that leather and pieces of tal?
Murai was at least interested in what he was doing, but he felt the weirdness of this situation seeping into his bones.
He didn't want to focus on this man's act. He wanted to hear and speak to him. And since the old man asked a question, Murai answered it as bluntly as he could.
“You.” he quacked.
“? Oh, my dear duck. This is quite a decision to make for this old man. The tongue of your Anatidae hasn't grown bold or clear. It is like a crisp deep instinct, coming out of your mouth or soul. Fascinating. Fascinating. Thrilling and exciting.” The old man replied as quickly as he worked, moving on from leather and a bunch of other materials to the new set of tools and other things.
He was working through many professions in a heartbeat. At one point, he worked in so leatherworking, then runes, engraving so tal plates, while scribbling so ideas onto paper aside.
Murai was half watching his act, but when he realized this old man was understanding his quacks, he ignored his acts. He began to move on the table, bending and turning his head. He was curious but no longer terrified.
“Who are you?” Murai asked the best question he had.
“Does it matter who is who? We are always soone. Sotis, so may decide who we are by others, or soone else decides that instead. It is all insane to .”
“Yes, it matters! I am curious and...”
“And? So what if you are curious? Does it an that the universe is cycling around you like an old dog around a piece of bone? Nonsense. Nonsense. The universe is an ever-expanding force, forming no connection to any individual. It is an entity of vastness, similar to so mind or soul that stretches across the many Skies. It all forms familiarity or vastly different disparities that few could take to their heads.” The old man talked against Murai's quacks without accounting for Murai's feelings.
He wasn't angry at him for that.
He was quick in his words so Murai heard his word even quicker. Murai took it to his head, so he ended up wondering what this old man thought he was, or what he was even doing.
There was lingering confusion in his mind, so when he looked at the man's attire carefully, there was sothing special looking indeed.
There was a necklace with a peculiar-looking pendant hanging on his chest.
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