One Minute Later:-
After my brief, concise explanation, Takson finally understood.
"I can't believe a spell like that exists," he said, shaking his head in disbelief. "Teacher, do you think... a demon created it?"
"Rebuttal: Based on my analysis of demon psychology, this is highly improbable."
"Then who? What kind of person would create a spell like that, just for the sake of it?"
"Projection: The creator's motive was likely 'interest.' The probability of this is 95.7%. The behavioral logic of mages is often... esoteric."
"Interest?" Takson looked up at the sky, a disgusted look on his face. "To create something so dangerous, so destructive, just because they were curious? That's insane."
"Affirmative," I stated. "Mages are either geniuses, or they are madmen."
"Eh? I didn't realize you viewed mages that way, Teacher."
I glanced at my apprentice's surprised face and immediately realized his misunderstanding.
"Correction: That assessment applies only to high-functioning magical entities. Standard practitioners remain within normal psychological parameters."
We left the valley behind. The landscape was unrecognizable. Where there had once been a simple mountain pass, there was now a chaotic blend of scorched earth and frozen crags, a lingering scar from Alatreon's brief existence.
In the future, this place would likely become the source of terrifying legends. The local villagers had heard the roar, and the twisted environment would serve as proof of the "god's" wrath.
But that was no longer my concern.
We turned our backs on the ruins and resumed our journey toward the Elven Village.
….
The Elven Village.
A secluded sanctuary, hidden from the world for generations. Most humans believed it to be nothing more than a fairy tale, a story told by grandmothers to hush crying children.
But it was real. And it was our destination.
Three months had passed since the incident with the Black Dragon. The seasons had turned, and the air had grown biting and cold.
We stood at the edge of a colossal forest. The trees were ancient, their trunks thick as towers, their canopy so dense it swallowed the light.
I did not enter immediately. To wander in blindly was inefficient.
[Initiating scan... 100%]
[Topography mapped. Route calculated.]
My golden eyes, which had been glowing with intense light for over ten seconds, dimmed back to their usual amber hue.
Takson, leaning on his axe, noticed the shift. "So, Teacher? Is it really in there?"
"Affirmative. The settlement is located in the deepest sector of the forest. Multiple life signs consistent with the elven species have been detected."
"..."
"Addendum: Topographical analysis indicates no record of human entry into the central zone."
Takson whistled low, looking at the endless sea of trees. It was vast, far larger than any forest he had ever seen. It was no wonder the "Elven Village" remained a myth. No normal human could navigate this green hell.
"So, do we go in now?"
It was late evening. The temperature had dropped significantly.
Takson was shirtless.
Thanks to his daily, hellish training regimen, his body had become a furnace. He stood in the freezing wind, steam rising from his muscles, completely unfazed. The human body was truly a fascinating machine when pushed to its limits.
In the past, I would have had to cast a temperature-regulation spell on him. Now, he didn't need it.
As for me, the cold was irrelevant. An Ex-Machina does not feel a chill. My operating temperature remained optimal.
"Notice: Departure time has arrived," I stated.
"Osu! Coming!"
Takson, who had been doing calisthenics to keep warm, quickly gathered his gear.
"You have the coordinates?"
"Affirmative. Coordinates locked."
"We aren't using the 'gate'?"
He looked at me, puzzled. Usually, once I had a location, I preferred the efficiency of a portal. Why walk when you can step through space?
But this time was different.
"Negative," I corrected him. "My objective is not to explore the settlement. My target is a specific individual residing within."
Takson stopped mid-stride, his axe shifting on his shoulder. He had assumed this was just another sightseeing trip. "Someone you know, Teacher?"
"Negative. I have had no prior contact with the target."
"Huh. So, who is it? What's their name?"
"Answer: Frieren."
"Frieren..." Takson rolled the name around on his tongue, searching his memory. "Nope. Never heard of her."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. If his teacher was coming all this way just to see one person, this elf must be special. He didn't know who she was, but he wouldn't question Stell's judgment.
"So, do you have business with this elf?"
"Negative. I have no specific business."
"..."
Right, Takson thought. Teacher has her own logic. He stopped asking questions and fell into step behind her, following her deeper into the confusing sea of trees.
….
Deep in the Forest:-
"Query: Are you Frieren?"
A young elf girl with long, flowing silver hair looked up from the base of a giant tree. She was crouching down, a woven basket hooked over her arm, filled with herbs and wild plants.
Frieren blinked, looking at the two strangers who had appeared out of nowhere. Today was supposed to be a routine gathering trip. She hadn't expected visitors. It was rare for anyone to make it this deep into the woods, let alone know her name.
"That's me," she said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. "Do you need something?"
At this point in time, Frieren was still relatively innocent. She sensed no malice from the pair, so she didn't immediately reach for her staff. She simply observed them.
The man was huge, a human warrior with black hair and a massive battle-axe. He looked strong.
Then there was the girl. Violet-blue hair, human appearance. She was clearly the leader.
Something feels off, Frieren thought, eyeing Stell. The girl was wearing a disguise, Stell's Pseudo-Haniel was active, but there was something strange about her expression. It was too still. And her speech pattern was... unique.
Maybe she's just weird, Frieren decided, dismissing the thought.
"Answer: No," Stell stated flatly.
"..."
Frieren's eyebrow twitched. Her expression remained neutral, but a distinct vibe of 'Are you serious?' radiated from her.
You came all this way, found me in the middle of a secret forest, called me by name... just to tell me you don't need anything?
What a weirdo.
Behind Stell, Takson was fighting the urge to facepalm.
Teacher! You can't just start a conversation like that!
He realized that if he didn't step in, this interaction was going to die a painful death right here. His teacher might be an angel, but her social skills were non-existent.
"Ahem!"
Takson coughed loudly, stepping forward to break the awkward silence. He flashed his most charming, harmless smile.
"You're Frieren, right?" he asked, trying to salvage the situation.
Stell fell silent, stepping back to let her apprentice handle the "human" interaction.
"Yeah, I already answered that," Frieren said, her tone dry. "So, you two really did just come here because you were bored?"
She remembered Stell's blunt "No business" comment. Her impression of this duo was getting stranger by the second.
"Of course not!" Takson laughed nervously. "We heard the legends about the Elven Village. We wanted to know if they were true, so we came to pay a visit."
"I see. So you're tourists."
To Frieren, this made slightly more sense than the violet-haired girl's answer. Curiosity was a powerful motivator for humans.
"But you can't come in," she said simply. "Outsiders aren't allowed in the village without the chief's permission."
"Ah, really? That's a shame," Takson said, his shoulders sagging. He looked genuinely disappointed.
….
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