"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X787]
~ With Shisui, a few days later ~
Shisui paused at the edge of the unusual forest, eyes scanning the towering trees that seemed to pulse with life. Nearly a year and a half had passed since he last stood on this ground, since his first encounter with the Wizard Saint, whose presence he could now feel clearly saturated every tree around him. He had avoided this place deliberately, wary of the keen eyes that had seen through him so easily, but circumstances had changed. With the rumors of a demon spreading chaos across Fiore, he needed information that only someone of Warrod's standing might possess.
The decision to return hadn't come easily. After parting ways with Ultear and Meredy just days ago, he had spent hours deliberating whether approaching Warrod was worth the risk. The old man was perceptive—perhaps dangerously so—but also possessed knowledge that few others in this world could access.
Taking a deep breath, Shisui stepped into the forest. The sensation was immediate—a prickling awareness that he was being observed. Not just by animals or natural forces, but by something more intelligent, more focused. The forest itself seemed to track his movements, leaves turning ever so slightly as he passed, branches bending just enough to clear his path.
"So he still monitors his territory," Shisui muttered to himself, continuing forward without showing any outward sign of discomfort. "I wonder if he's been expecting me."
The path through the forest was clearer than he remembered, almost as if it had been maintained specifically for visitors—though Shisui doubted Warrod received many.
As the trees began to thin, Shisui caught sight of the modest house nestled in a clearing ahead. It was exactly as he remembered—neither grand nor humble, but perfectly suited to its environment, as though it had grown from the forest floor rather than being built upon it. Smoke curled lazily from the chimney, confirming that Warrod was indeed home.
Shisui slowed his pace as he approached the door, once again aware of the eyes upon him. Not hostile, but certainly vigilant. He stood before the wooden door for a moment, gathering his thoughts, then raised his hand and knocked firmly three times.
The sound seemed to hang in the unnaturally still air. Then, without warning, the door swung open to reveal Warrod Sequen, standing in the doorway, his bark-like skin creasing as his eyes widened with recognition.
"Ah, young traveller Shisui," Warrod said, his voice as jovial and friendly as he remembered them to be. "It has been a very long while since your last visit. I must admit that I was beginning to think that you may never return for another chat with this old man."
There was no accusation in his tone, only a good-natured warmth that made Shisui's prepared excuses feel suddenly inadequate. Instead of the carefully constructed explanation he had rehearsed, Shisui found himself responding with awkward honesty.
"Hahaha, sorry about that," he said, scratching the back of his head with an embarrassed smile. "I've been busy most of the time, you know, traveling and all that."
Warrod's eyes twinkled with amusement, but Shisui didn't miss the quick, assessing glance that swept over him from head to toe.
"I can see that," Warrod replied, nodding thoughtfully. "And more than just miles have been added to your journey since we last spoke. Your strength has grown considerably." He tilted his head slightly, branches and leaves shifting with the movement. "The young man who stood before me two years ago was but a sapling compared to the oak you've become."
Shisui maintained his smile, though inwardly he tensed at Warrod's perception. He had suspected the old Wizard Saint would notice his increased power, but hearing it stated so directly was unsettling. How much else could he perceive?
"Just trying to adapt to the world of travelling," Shisui replied with a light laugh that did nothing to disguise the truth in his words.
"Indeed," Warrod said, stepping aside and gesturing toward the interior of his home. "And adaptation is the most natural of processes, is it not? Please, come in. Whatever has brought you back to my doorstep after such an absence must be worth discussing in comfort rather than standing on the threshold."
Shisui hesitated only briefly before nodding and stepping inside. The feeling of being watched didn't diminish as he crossed the threshold—if anything, it intensified. But he had come too far to turn back now, and the answers he sought lay with the ancient mage now closing the door behind him.
"Thank you," Shisui said simply as the door clicked shut, sealing him inside with one of the most powerful beings he had encountered in this strange new world.
Inside Warrod's home, Shisui settled into a chair, and across from him, Warrod poured steaming tea into two cups. The space between them was filled with comfortable silence as Warrod completed the small ritual.
"Now then," Warrod said, pushing one of the cups toward Shisui, "what brings a wanderer like yourself back to my humble abode after so much time? I hope it's to share more tales of distant lands beyond Ishgar. Your stories were quite intriguing during your last visit."
The lightness in his tone was a contrast to the keenness in his eyes, which hadn't stopped assessing Shisui since he entered. Warrod took a long sip from his cup, waiting for Shisui's response.
Shisui took a small sip from his own cup, finding the tea pleasantly earthy with a hint of sweetness. He set it down carefully before meeting the Wizard Saint's gaze directly.
"I'm afraid this isn't a social visit," Shisui said, his tone level and direct. "I need to ask you about some things, and your position as a Wizard Saint makes you one of the few people who might have answers."
A small smile played at the corners of Warrod's mouth. "Straight to business, I see. Time has certainly hardened your approach." He set his cup down with a thoughtful expression. "I'm happy to answer what I can, of course, provided it doesn't involve confidential matters or dangerous forbidden knowledge. Even Wizard Saints have our limitations on what we can share."
Shisui nodded once in acknowledgment, then spoke a single word.
"Demons."
The effect was immediate. The ambient sounds of the house—the gentle creaking of living wood, the soft rustling of leaves, even the bubbling of water in a pot somewhere in the back—fell silent. Warrod's expression, which had been open and friendly, hardened into something severe. The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as the Wizard Saint's eyes locked onto Shisui's.
"And why," Warrod asked, his voice now stripped of all humour, "do you want to know more about demons?"
The question hung between them, heavy with unspoken warnings. Shisui met Warrod's gaze unflinchingly, refusing to be intimidated by the sudden shift in atmosphere.
"It's something personal," he replied, his voice firm.
For several long moments, neither man spoke. The staring contest between them might have seemed comical to an outside observer—a relatively young traveler and an ancient, tree-like mage locked in silent combat—but the tension filling the room was anything but amusing. Finally, Warrod released a long breath, his shoulders slumping slightly.
"These demons are dangerous, and most information is classified from the general public for a reason," Warrod began, his voice grave. "Not only due to the power that their members hold individually, but also because they are an organized group. They are the last remaining guild part of the Balam Alliance: Tartaros."
"I'm not looking for those demons," Shisui interrupted, his tone remaining even. "I'm looking for the demon that seems to have been popping up recently."
The interruption caused Warrod to stiffen, and the air in the room grew suddenly heavier, as if the very atmosphere had become dense with power. Shisui remained relaxed in his seat, confident that Warrod was not the type to start a conflict over a simple question. He had assessed the old mage during their previous and current meeting and concluded that beneath the eccentric exterior lay a fundamentally peaceful nature.
His assessment proved correct. After a moment, the pressure dissipated as Warrod released a heavy sigh that seemed to carry the weight of his countless years. Suddenly, he looked every bit his age—tired, concerned, and burdened by knowledge.
"Forgive my lack of restraint," Warrod said, rubbing a gnarled hand across his face. "The demon you speak of has been a source of considerable concern and headache for those of us who are aware of the situation."
He paused, seeming to debate how much to reveal, then continued: "Not much is known about this demon. Its abilities have only been reported through survivors of the now-destroyed villages, and those accounts are fragmentary at best."
Warrod's eyes grew distant as he continued. "The Council sent multiple Rune Knight Squads to investigate, but it's been weeks with no word from any of them. Not a single squad has returned, not even to report failure."
Shisui absorbed this information without visible reaction, though inwardly his concern deepened. For entire squads of trained magical enforcers to disappear without trace suggested an enemy of considerable power.
"The Magic Council has also posted requests to many guilds as an S-rank investigation mission," Warrod continued, "but none have yet to accept. The risk is obvious, and the reward..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "Some things, no amount of jewels can compensate for."
"Recently, we Wizard Saints debated sending one of our own," he admitted, "but with the situation still contained and not spiralling beyond control, the decision was made to refrain from direct intervention for now. We are... monitoring the situation."
Warrod leaned forward slightly, his voice lowering as if sharing a secret. "All the events seem to be isolated to villages surrounding a particular mountain zone. Although be warned that while the outskirts of the mountain zone would be relatively safe, the deeper you go, the more dangerous it gets. Even the Magic Council dare not stray too deep into the the mountain. Past a certain point, you will understand our reasons why."
He sat back, studying Shisui's face for a reaction. "That is all I know. The question now becomes: knowing how little information exists, and how dangerous this entity clearly is, are you still determined to investigate?"
~ End of Chapter 18 ~