Northern still couldn’t believe it, even as he and Terence trekked out of the woods.
“Light has an overwhelming vulnerability to mind attacks.”
“For a hero, that’s quite ironic.”
Terence chuckled.
“I know, right… Light, she is just like every other person. She’s just smarter, crazy, passionate, and good, very good.”
Northern studied her for a bit.
“You are sounding like you idolize her.”
The Oracle smiled gleefully.
“I don’t care. I am her number one fan!”
They were silent as they walked, then after a dozen seconds, Northern said:
“You are from this continent, aren’t you?”
“Yes…” Terence responded.
“Even though you’re probably our age, that’s interesting. And you are a priestess at such a young age.”
Terence raised a brow, “I’m not sure what you mean by ‘at such a young age’… I know it’s not much, but I’m pretty sure it’s not what you call ‘such a young age.'”
Northern frowned curiously.
“Wait, how old are you? If it’s alright for me to ask?”
“I’m twenty-one, what about you?”
She asked, looking at him.
Northern’s mouth opened, but no words came out.
‘Twenty-one?!!! Damn! I’m fifteen!!! Well, I did die at twenty-five, so technically, twenty-five plus fifteen is forty. Yeah, I’m older than her, but forty is too far…’
“Since you are so silent about it, I’m guessing you are very young. Let’s see, since you are one of the people that accidentally came here with Raven, you are probably around fifteen or sixteen.”
She paused and studied his face keenly as they walked, scrunching up her eyes.
Then she nodded her head.
“Yes, I’ll go for fifteen. You’re definitely fifteen.”
Northern let out a galloping laugh.
“What, what… what makes you so sure?”
Terence smiled and tilted her head to the side, just like a vixen would do to ensnare her targets.
“The fact that you just stuttered makes me so sure.”
Northern looked at her for a while, this was probably the longest he had ever looked at her.
And now he realized,
‘She actually looks old!’
Terence acted like a child, had a very small stature and lean frame. She had a babyish face too and short white hair.
So it was really hard to see the hint of adulthood that reflected in her eyes.
Except one stared deeply like Northern just did.
Truly realizing the vast difference in their age made Northern drown in embarrassment for how he had looked at her till now.
He turned away for a moment to hide his shame as they continued to walk in silence again.
After a dozen minutes or so, they were out of the forest.
And far ahead, sprawled out a somber decaying scenery:
Shades of brown filled the opposite sides, the foliage withered and decaying, casting an air of melancholy over the surroundings.
The cobblestone path was overgrown with weeds and withered vines, the stones cracked and displaced, a testament to the passage of time.
Leaves and debris littered the ground, creating a carpet of decay that crunched underfoot.
Ahead, a once grand torii gate stood as a skeletal remnant of its former glory.
Its once sturdy wooden beams had succumbed to the relentless effects of weathering, splintered and rotting, their vibrant red paint long since faded to a dull, lifeless hue.
The gate’s imposing size and intricate carvings, now obscured by moss and lichen, hinted at its former magnificence, but the ravages of time had left it a decaying behemoth, a haunting reminder of the impermanence of all things.
The cold moonlight cast a subtle light that managed to chase stark shadows to the corners, but still, an impregnable darkness accentuated the gate’s dilapidated state and the eerie stillness that permeated the scene.
In the center of this scenery stood a young lady in rags for an attire.
Despite her uncomely look, she stood like a fallen star beneath the weak glow of the moonlights. frёeωebɳovel.com
attire.
Despite her uncomely look, she stood like a fallen star beneath Quite imposing… and strangely beautiful.
Looking at the lady, Northern was tempted to call her that. But it was not also hard to look at her with bitterness and scorn.
She had played him, after all.
As they walked closer to the scene, Terence’s voice rolled out:
“I don’t know if this is going to help in any way, Mr. Northern.” She paused her steps.
Northern also did the same and looked at her.
“Yes?”
“Light did not trick you in any way… of course, she has plans of her own, which she’s not obligated to tell you or anyone, just like you too have plans of your own which you are not obligated to tell anyone.
“You also have to understand, she’s smart, incredibly whimsical, and very, very perceptive! You’d be shocked as to how much she pays attention to details. So the things she said, those things she knew about you, weren’t because she was trying to trick you somehow. She’s just that smart, and I think it was her deepest secret because she didn’t want to say it to you and hurt you.”
Northern was silent, he looked around and brought his face back to Terence, then he asked:
“How are you resistant to mind attacks?”
Terence was a bit taken aback by the question. To be honest, it wasn’t what she was expecting.
She allowed a small smile and answered:
“What do you expect? You said it yourself, I am a priestess.” She walked forward but stopped and added, “Besides, with the kind of places I go to in my trances, it’s inevitable that I have an indomitable mental fortitude.”
Northern nodded slowly, “I see.”
Terence smiled and walked away.
And he watched her meet Raven, he stayed on his own for a couple of seconds before he walked forward.
‘It’s not like that changes the fact that she might know that I have the ability to copy talents…’
If worse comes to worst, what would he do?
He had never thought about it because he never knew that someone would discover his ability.
The world knowing that he could copy more than one talent and even turn it permanently to his own after ranking up was a big deal!
He had never thought about what the consequences would be, but he knew they were going to be dire.
Northern gritted his teeth and exhaled.
‘I’ll deal with things one by one, for now let’s just focus on stealing the goddamn map from that Sage.’